Just a small bit of contrary opinion, to balance out all the enthusiastic reviews. In particular, I wanted to disagree with the reviewer below who wrote "This book is a must read if you're the least bit interested in Chinese-Tibeten (sic) relationship."

Fair warning: this book will tell you all you every wanted to know about the relationship between China and Tibet, and much, much more. If you aren't likely to be overwhelmed by details and a lot of rather complicated and dry history of Tibet, then this is the book for you. If you want more of an introduction, then perhaps better is HH the Dalai Lama's "My Country, My People."

A number of people have written excellent reviews of this book so I'm just here to say that they're all right! This book is a must read if you're the least bit interested in Chinese-Tibeten relationship of the past, present and future...

This is a wonderful book to introduce some of the basic issues and history that lead to the current state of Tibet, its government, its people and its religion. Hilton walks you through some historical passages so that by the time she is delving into the search for the 11th Panchen, you have a good sense of the urgency of the situation and why both the Tibet government in exile and China were desparately trying to control the outcome. The fact that Hilton was privy to some top secret information and met with a variety of other key figures allows her to provide more emotion and intimacy to the story than perhaps otherwise. While we all now know the terrible outcome of the search, reading the details and chronology are still suspenseful and gripping. I felt so hollow at the end, knowing that little has changed in Tibet and wondering if it ever will. Where is the true Panchen (I can't believe China has not been forced to free him) and what is the fate of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism after the passing of the 14th Dalai Lama??? Reading about China's cruelty made me wonder if Tibet can survive even the next thirty years but yet, there is hope when thinking of the courage Tibetans have demonstrated thus far.

The only reason I got this issue of the magazine was because of the interview with General Alfredo Stroessner. Which was well done. But the magazine GRANTA over all is a terrible, biased and it is so far left it would make Castro blush.

If you are looking for factual articles with little slant then you have come to the wrong place. If you want lots of "Long live the proletariat..hail Marx!" type of stuff..then you will want to fill in an subscription post haste.

But, my reason for getting this issue was the Stroessner interview, and it was the only thing of real value IMHO..

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to you, and I am looking for help, I am currently doing a story about Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, I know there is a book named The Search For The Panchen Lama, the author is Isbel Hilton, is there anyone who can help me to get the email address and the contact with her? I heard that she is travelling in India, one of my colleague is going to travel in India, so, if some one can provide me the contact with her, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Charles