Praise for Last Post 'Just occasionally one comes across a really wonderful book. John Keay's Last Post is just such a treasure. Readable, erudite, witty, immensely enjoyable' -- Richard Gott Literary Review 'A vivid and impressive account of an extraordinary period of imperial history' -- Philip Ziegler Daily Telegraph 'A superb account ... he controls the overall shape of the complex narrative with deceptive grace, while sewing small delightful jewels of detail throughout the fabric' -- John Simpson Sunday Telegraph 'An astonishing, panoramic view of an immense process' -- Jan Morris 'An immensely well-researched and entertaining book' -- Simon Heffer, Observer 'Its digressiveness is also a boon, allowing Keay to touch on everything' -- FT Magazine 20050814 'Serves up a feast of detail on a fascinating and little-known subject' -- Sunday Telegraph 20050731 'A delightful, scholarly and thoroughly readable account' -- Geographical 20050508 'Keay's retelling of the tale is restrained yet powerful, his choice of facts compelling' -- Guardian 20050910 'Keay has produced another scrupulously researched, persuasive book.' -- TLS 20050910 'Impressively researched' -- Guardian 20060708 'Absorbing' -- Scotsman 20050806 'Fascinating new history' -- Daily Telegraph 20050723 'Fascinating! covering 3000 years of history in well-written, easy-to-read prose!The book is full of wonderful facts! Quite a lot to discuss. Exploitation, greed, values. All grist to a reading group's mill' -- Margaret Burgess, NewBooksMag 20050723

John Keay's recent books include Sowing the Wind: The Mismanagement of the Middle East 1900-1960 and Last Post: The End of Empire in the Far East. He lives in Scotland and is married to the author Julia Keay. Together they edited the Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland and are now revising the London Encyclopaedia. They have four children. John's earlier books include standard histories of India and the English East India Company. His latest is Mad About the Mekong: Exploration and Empire in South East Asia.