商品簡介
In three extended essays, Merrill, director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, relates his travels to different parts of the world in the post-9/11 era and reflects on themes of fear and courage in the face of the political, social, technological, and environmental changes that signal the end of one world order and the beginning of another. The first essay reports on the performance of a banned ritual in Malaysia, leading to reflection on the clash between modernity and tradition in the Islamic world. The second essay retraces a French poet-diplomat's 1921 voyage from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar. The third essay recounts the author's journey to the Middle East in the spring of 2007. Throughout the book, the author describes his interactions with artists, politicians, soldiers, refugees, and ordinary citizens, portraying them in their historical, social, and cultural contexts. Annotation Ac2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
