Pol Pot

The History of a Nightmare

Author: Philip Short

(1 review)

Paperback

The definitive portrait of Pol Pot, the enigmatic man behind the most terrifying regime of modern times

(1 review)

New

$43.00

Or pay later with

Free 30 day returns Secure transaction

Check delivery options

Paperback

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Summary

The definitive portrait of Pol Pot, the enigmatic man behind the most terrifying regime of modern times

Description

In the three-and-a-half years of his rule, more than a million people, a fifth of Cambodia's population, were executed or died from hunger and disease. A supposedly gentle, carefree land of slumbering temples and smiling peasants became a concentration camp of the mind, a slave state in which absolute obedience was enforced on the 'killing fields'.

Why did it happen How did an idealistic dream of justice and prosperity mutate into one of humanity's worst nightmares Philip Short, the biographer of Mao, has spent four years travelling the length of Cambodia, interviewing surviving leaders of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge movement and sifting through previously closed archives. Here, the former Khmer Rouge Head of State, Pol's brother-in-law and scores of lesser figures speak for the first time at length about their beliefs and motives.

Critic Reviews

“An extraordinary and brilliant book ... Like a clever and determined detective, Short has exposed the secrets, knitting together a story which it once seemed would never be told. The result is horrifying, but it must be read. - Scotland on Sunday A superb, chilling, yet human portrait of a monster - Simon Sebag Montefiore, Daily Telegraph A model of research ... an intelligent and compassionate account of the Cambodian nightmare - Spectator His weighty book, which is as much a history of modern Cambodia as a biography of the man who shaped it, [is written with] with great discretion and sensitivity ... As well as a model of research, this is an intelligent and compassionate account of the Cambodian nightmare. - The Spectator 'The first full biography of the man who led Cambodia into darkness.' - Sue Baker - Publishing News Like a clever and determined detective, Short has exposed the secrets ... The result is horrifying, but it must be read - Scotland on Sunday Short has written the definitive account of the nightmarish regime of 1975-1978, responsible for the deaths of some 1.5 million Cambodians. - Contemporary Review Brings clear thinking to the big questions of blame - Sunday Times”

An extraordinary and brilliant book ... Like a clever and determined detective, Short has exposed the secrets, knitting together a story which it once seemed would never be told. The result is horrifying, but it must be read. - Scotland on Sunday

A superb, chilling, yet human portrait of a monster - Simon Sebag Montefiore, Daily Telegraph

A model of research ... an intelligent and compassionate account of the Cambodian nightmare - Spectator

His weighty book, which is as much a history of modern Cambodia as a biography of the man who shaped it, [is written with] with great discretion and sensitivity ... As well as a model of research, this is an intelligent and compassionate account of the Cambodian nightmare. - The Spectator

'The first full biography of the man who led Cambodia into darkness.' - Sue Baker - Publishing News

Like a clever and determined detective, Short has exposed the secrets ... The result is horrifying, but it must be read - Scotland on Sunday

Short has written the definitive account of the nightmarish regime of 1975-1978, responsible for the deaths of some 1.5 million Cambodians. - Contemporary Review

Brings clear thinking to the big questions of blame - Sunday Times

About the Author

Philip Short was for many years a foreign correspondent for the BBC, and now lives and writes in southern France. He first encountered Pol Pot in Beijing in 1977. His last book, Mao: A Life, has been hailed as the definitive biography of the founder of modern China.

More on this Book

Pol Pot was an idealistic, reclusive figure with great charisma and personal charm. He initiated a revolution whose radical egalitarianism exceeded any other in history. But in the process, Cambodia desended into madness and his name became a byword for oppression.In the three-and-a-half years of his rule, more than a million people, a fifth of Cambodia's population, were executed or died from hunger and disease. A supposedly gentle, carefree land of slumbering temples and smiling peasants became a concentration camp of the mind, a slave state in which absolute obedience was enforced on the 'killing fields'. Why did it happen How did an idealistic dream of justice and prosperity mutate into one of humanity's worst nightmares Philip Short, the biographer of Mao , has spent four years travelling the length of Cambodia, interviewing surviving leaders of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge movement and sifting through previously closed archives. Here, the former Khmer Rouge Head of State, Pol's brother-in-law and scores of lesser figures speak for the first time at length about their beliefs and motives.

Product Details

Publisher

John Murray Press | John Murray Publishers Ltd

Published

6th June 2005

Pages

560

ISBN

9780719565694

Returns

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

11 Mar, 2024

Only half way through, and finding it a very interesting read having scratched the surface at S21 and The Killing Fields, along with Anghor Wat whilst in Cambodia December. The main reason for my purchaseis to mail to our guides daughter in Siam Reap for her to read, as this is not taught in schools in Cambodia. My mate and I spent a mega night with Jong's family, trying their palm wine, food, beer and enjoying their company. He was super impressed with my knowledge of the Vietnam War and in turn it's affects on Cambodia.
By Stephen

New

$43.00

Or pay later with

Free 30 day returns Secure transaction

Check delivery options