Milton Osborne is one of the world's pre-eminent writers on Southeast Asia, and this lively and easy to read guide is a distillation of a lifetime's knowledge and experience on the region. Essential reading for travellers.

Southeast Asia is a tantalising part of the world. The region has undergone dramatic changes during its long and colourful history, and is marked by enormous cultural, geographical and political diversity.

From the grandeur of the 'classical' years through the transformations that accompanied the arrival and eventual dominance of the European powers, and from the bitter wars of revolution to the joys and problems of independence, Exploring Southeast Asia is a lively chronicle of the region's past. Extensively illustrated with photographs and diagrams, it also includes handy brief histories and maps of all Southeast Asian nations.

Exploring Southeast Asia is the ideal introduction to a world waiting and deserving to be better known.

'[Milton Osborne] writes books on the region which have two qualities rarely found in combination: impeccable and authoritative scholarship, and the vividness and lightness of touch of first-rate travel writing.' - Christopher Koch