Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang
By James Millward
Why this book?
Millward’s book should be the starting point for anyone seeking to understand the complex history of the region, not least how this part of Central Asia, which has been home to so many peoples, and part of so many different empires, ended up within the People’s Republic of China. Its rich, nuanced account doesn’t shy from the challenge of presenting the encounters between many different cultures, languages, and identities, encounters that resulted in both violence and accommodation. Written in lively, readable prose, and with a keen sensitivity to both the ironies and tragedies of the region’s history, the book offers an even-handed assessment of the claims that the region can be said to exclusively ‘belong’ to anyone.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.