Pathbreaking history of the Hmong and their abandonment by the U.S.
Jane Hamilton-Merritt, Nobel-nominated scholar and photojournalist, has followed the plight of the Hmong and the war in Indochina since the 1960s. The staunchest of allies, the Hmong sided with the Americans against the North Vietnamese and were foot soldiers in the brutal secret war for Laos. Since the war, abandoned by their American allies, the Hmong have been subjected to a campaign of genocide by the North Vietnamese, including the use of chemical weapons. Tragic Mountains moves from the big picture of international diplomacy and power politics to the small villages and heroic engagements in the Lao jungle. It is a story of courage, brutality, heroism, betrayal, resilience, and hope.
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. . . absolutely gripping, haunting, compelling . . .
" - Journal of American History
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. . . a terrible, heartrending story of the savage and relentless Communist retributions against the Hmong for siding with the United States . . . compassionate, richly detailed . . .
" - San Francisco Chronicle
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. . . compelling . . . an absorbing book that will appeal to anyone with an interest in the 'secret' war in Laos and in the Hmong.
" - The Wall Street Journal
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In this bitter, tragic and disturbing saga, Asian scholar/journalist/photographer Hamilton-Merritt documents the horrible suffering endured by the Hmong since they were abandoned by the U.S. in 1975. . . . Hamilton-Merritt's impressive study, one hopes, will lead to the belated U.S. recognition of responsibility for the plight of the Hmong.
" - Publishers Weekly
