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Norman Lewis
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A Dragon Apparent: Travels in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam Paperback – Illustrated, December 19, 2003

by Norman Lewis (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 140 ratings
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Originally published in 1951, it is said that A Dragon Apparent inspired Graham Greene to go to Vietnam and write The Quiet American. Norman Lewis traveled in Indo-China during the precarious last years of the French colonial regime. Much of the charm and grandeur of the ancient native civilizations survived until the devastation of the Vietnam War. Lewis could still meet a King of Cambodia and an Emperor of Vietnam; in the hills he could stay in the spectacular longhouses of the highlanders; on the plains he could be enchanted by a people whom he found "gentle, tolerant and dedicated to the pleasures and satisfactions of a discriminating kind."
Previous page
  1. Print length
    334 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Eland Publishing
  4. Publication date
    December 19, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    090787133X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0907871330
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the most absorbing travel books I have read for a very long time. The great charm of the work is its literary vividness. Nothing he describes is dull, and he writes as entertainingly of a Saigon nightclub as of the stupendous ruins of Angkor."

About the Author

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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Eland Publishing (December 19, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 090787133X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0907871330
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 140 ratings

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Norman Lewis

Norman Lewis

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
140 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Neb42
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, humorous, insightful writing
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2022
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I chose to read this book even though I have little interest in pre-war Vietnam, Asia and Cambodia. Reason was I had read of Norman Lewis's other books, "Naples '44" and "The Honored Society" and gad so enjoyed them I thought that "A Dragon Apparent" would be worth reading, too. I was not disappointed. Louis's description of this region in the years prior to the war that all but destroyed the cultures there is quite interesting. One is left with the impression that had someone from the US state department had sat down for a long talk with Louis, maybe the tragic Viet Nam conflict could have been avoided.
One person found this helpful
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Dawn O then A
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Old Read
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2022
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You wouldn't think this old book would be as fascinating as it is but it reads like fiction. Really interesting insight into a world and time that are long gone. Fascinating.
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Bonnie E
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting perspective
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2013
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I wish I had read this book before I went to Vietnam not immediately after. it explained so many things I saw in North Vietnam still today. Well written and interesting description of the conflict in Cambodia Laos and Vietnam.
2 people found this helpful
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Melinda McAdams
3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent writing, but little empathy
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2017
If I judged this book only on the writing, storytelling and descriptions, I'd give it 4 stars. But Lewis cared so little about the people of these countries, it frequently irritated me.

Written in 1951 by a well-traveled Englishman, this account of his travels documents a surface or superficial view of the lands then still controlled by the French and seen as their colony. I was mightily disappointed that pretty much the only people he speaks with are the French government or military officials stationed in these countries. I was somewhat awed at how he just gets invited to ride in their convoys and sleep in their villas. It was an occupied country, and he was treated sort of like a war correspondent, but he wasn't that, and the war had not yet begun.

Sometimes I was annoyed, or even saddened, by his stereotypes, his blithe generalizations about an entire nationality's traits or abilities. This is not the first travel memoir I've read by a British male in a developing country, but it made me feel more conflicted than most. For example, he very bluntly describes (with clear disapproval) how all the labor on the profit-making French plantations is conscripted indigenous people from the mountain villages, and he acutely documents how even a sympathetic governor is (in a sense) left with no choice but to turn a blind eye to slavery. But then, when he goes to Cambodia, he deems all its people lazy and even blames that on the practice of Buddhism, about which he clearly knows almost nothing.

He gives a muddled account of the history of the Khmers and their civilization as he describes the best-known temples at Angkor, but he seems to have no feeling towards anything he sees there (except that he finds the large faces of the Bayon temple "sinister"). He neither meets nor talks with any Cambodian people and apparently made no effort to do so.

Similarly, when he gets to Luang Prabang he seems to be merely bored by the town, mentioning that there is a temple on practically every block, but making no effort to learn any stories associated with them. He climbs Phousi Hill, disparages the little temple he finds there, and promptly makes arrangements to get back to Saigon.

Even when he gets to hang out with Viet Minh for several days (in the final chapter), with no other Europeans present, he learns nothing about them as people. He describes only their physical features and their actions. He has no conversations about their views of past, present, future, or their motivations.

I enjoyed Lewis's writing style and the sense of going along with him, seeing through his eyes (much like reading a Paul Theroux book), but by the end I was happy to quit his condescending attitudes. I've spent time in all these countries (since 2008 - not the same time frame as Lewis), and read their histories as well. It's very sad to think that for some readers, this book will be their introduction to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
9 people found this helpful
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Jane Gerard
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2014
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I'm planning a trip to the area. It was very interesting and informative to me. I highly recommend this book to other travelers.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2016
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I found this book both informative and entertaining. It raised questions in my mind about those countries in the period between WWII and the Viet Nam war which I intend to research.
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Grandma 1029
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2018
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Great travel writing. Writer very personally involved. Book in great condition: big, dark print. Easy to read.
One person found this helpful
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Shahla Ahy Hanska
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
Norman Lewis was a most brilliant writer with the eye of a an observer who sees what trials people and their land goes through.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Deadhead Giles
5.0 out of 5 stars Lol in Lao
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
Reading this in Lao I can’t put it down and laugh out loud every page. Yes, it’s old fashioned, written in 1950. Apparently catalysed Graham Greene to visit Vietnam, indeed some identifiable overlap, though a different view of the Rue Catenat. Should be on reading list for every traveller to modern Indochina.
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Manapools
5.0 out of 5 stars interessante
Reviewed in Italy on April 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
molto interessante per chi deve visitare il paese. Uno spaccato di storia di Laos vietnam e cambogia vista da un viaggiatore negli anni 50.
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Graham and Frances
3.0 out of 5 stars Great background before you travel there.
Reviewed in Australia on February 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
The book was wonderful preparation for our trip through SE Asia. My wife and I both read it and enjoyed it. It helped enormously in providing background to the eventual conflict that devastated the countries in the second half of the 20th century
One person found this helpful
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M. Crawford
4.0 out of 5 stars Can't get into this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2018
Verified Purchase
Can't seem to get into this book. I'll try again at a later date.
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David H
5.0 out of 5 stars beautifully written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
An excellent description of Indochina in the last days of French colonial rule. 65 years of hindsight make it particularly fascinating. It works on all levels - political, social, philosophical, spiritual and moral analysis together with adventurous journeys and historical perspective - told with insight and humour. I was very pleased to be recommended this book.
3 people found this helpful
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