'...the content is a well-balanced mix of vignettes from real lives and their historical contexts.' - Jo Lusby, City Weekend '...a meticulously researched, emotionally charged account of China's uphill battle to erect the barricade.' - David Johnson, The Asian Reporter 'Readable and informative, it's highly recommended.' - Karin Glendenning, Chattanooga Free Press '...a timely study of a condemned place.' - Washington Post Book World 'A vivid last snapshot of the communities about to come to an end with the flooding of the Three Gorges. Chetham has an intimate understanding from many return visits, informed by her Chinese language and her knowledge of history, geography, society, and politics.' - Ezra Vogel, Research Professor, Fairbank Center, and former Director, Fairbank Center and Asia Center, Harvard 'Deirdre Chetham's evocative and informative portrait of a vanishing world will fascinate anyone who has wondered about the social and cultural implications of The Three Gorges Dam...A poignant work, the significance of which will only increase after the deluge.' - Judith Shapiro, author of Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China '...a meticulously researched, emotionally charged account of China's uphill battle to erect the barricade.' - David Johnson, The Asian Reporter 'Readable and informative, it's highly recommended.' - Karin Glendenning, Chattanooga Free Press '...a timely study of a condemned place.' - Washington Post Book World 'A vivid last snapshot of the communities about to come to an end with the flooding of the Three Gorges. Chetham has an intimate understanding from many return visits, informed by her Chinese language and her knowledge of history, geography, society, and politics.' - Ezra Vogel, research professor at the Fairbank Center, and former director of the Fairbank Center and Asia Center at Harvard .,."fascinating details about what is being lost in the onrush of rising water..."--"Seattle Post-Intelligencer" .,."the content is a well-balanced mix of vignettes from real lives and their historical contexts."--Jo Lusby, "City Weekend" .,."it is from works such as this book that the memory of a lost culture will be preserved."--Andy Kegley, "Times," Roanoke, VA "Chetham's calm prose is an antidote to overheated journalistic reports...her writing comes alive."--David Armstrong, "San Francisco Chronicle" .,."a serious travel account-personal experiences, historically contexted...Recommended."--E.N. Anderson, "Choice" .,."a meticulously researched, emotionally charged account of China's uphill battle to erect the barricade."--David Johnson, "The Asian Reporter" "Readable and informative, it's highly recommended."--Karin Glendenning, "Chattanooga Free Press" .,."a timely study of a condemned place."--"Washington Post Book World" "A vivid last snapshot of the communities about to come to an end with the flooding of the Three Gorges. Chetham has an intimate understanding from many return visits, informed by her Chinese language and her knowledge of history, geography, society, and politics." -- Ezra Vogel, research professor at the Fairbank Center, and former director of the Fairbank Center and Asia Center at Harvard. "When the Three Gorges dam is built and its flood waters loosed, something very special will be lost-precious artifacts of a an ancient culture, a beauty that has awed everyone through the ages who has had the privilege to behold it, a way of life that has managed to cling even in a time of rapid change. What will be left is memory-inpictures, in people's minds, and, thank goodness, in books. Deirdre Chetham has been privileged to have spent more time on the Yangtze River than just about any other foreigner. We must all, Chinese and foreigner alike, thank her for preserving something of what will be lost and telling us what is was like for those who lived along the river when they had to face the inevitability of change. A wonderful account!" -- Anne Thurston, Associate Professor of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies "Deirdre Chetham's evocative and informative portrait of a vanishing world will fascinate anyone who has wondered about the social and cultural implications of the Three Gorges Dam. The region's historical, archaeological, and cultural uniqueness extends to China's pre-history. Yet as Before the Deluge makes clear, even those who live in the towns being inundated have an imperfect grasp of how much is being lost. A poignant work, the significance of which will only increase after the deluge." --Judith Shapiro, author of "Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China" ..."fascinating details about what is being lost in the onrush of rising water..."--"Seattle Post-Intelligencer" ..."the content is a well-balanced mix of vignettes from real lives and their historical contexts."--Jo Lusby, "City Weekend" ..."it is from works such as this book that the memory of a lost culture will be preserved."--Andy Kegley, "Times," Roanoke, VA "Chetham's calm prose is an antidote to overheated journalistic reports...her writing comes alive."--David Armstrong, "San Francisco Chronicle" ..."a serious travel account-personal experiences, historically contexted...Recommended."--E.N. Anderson, "Choice" ..."a meticulously researched, emotionally charged account of China's uphill battle to erect the barricade."--David Johnson, "The Asian Reporter" "Readable and informative, it's highly recommended."--Karin Glendenning, "Chattanooga Free Press" ..."a timely study of a condemned place."--"Washington Post Book World" "A vivid last snapshot of the communities about to come to an end with the flooding of the Three Gorges. Chetham has an intimate understanding from many return visits, informed by her Chinese language and her knowledge of history, geography, society, and politics." -- Ezra Vogel, research professor at the Fairbank Center, and former director of the Fairbank Center and Asia Center at Harvard. "When the Three Gorges dam is built and its flood waters loosed, something very special will be lost-precious artifacts of a an ancient culture, a beauty that has awed everyone through the ages who has had the privilege to behold it, a way of life that has managed to cling even in a time of rapid change. What will be left is memory-inpictures, in people's minds, and, thank goodness, in books. Deirdre Chetham has been privileged to have spent more time on the Yangtze River than just about any other foreigner. We must all, Chinese and foreigner alike, thank her for preserving something of what will be lost and telling us what is was like for those who lived along the river when they had to face the inevitability of change. A wonderful account!" -- Anne Thurston, Associate Professor of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies "Deirdre Chetham's evocative and informative portrait of a vanishing world will fascinate anyone who has wondered about the social and cultural implications of the Three Gorges Dam. The region's historical, archaeological, and cultural uniqueness extends to China's pre-history. Yet as Before the Deluge makes clear, even those who live in the towns being inundated have an imperfect grasp of how much is being lost. A poignant work, the significance of which will only increase after the deluge." --Judith Shapiro, author of "Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China" ..".fascinating details about what is being lost in the onrush of rising water..."--"Seattle Post-Intelligencer ..".the content is a well-balanced mix of vignettes from real lives and their historical contexts."--Jo Lusby, "City Weekend ..".it is from works such as this book that the memory of a lost culture will be preserved."--Andy Kegley, "Times, Roanoke, VA "Chetham's calm prose is an antidote to overheated journalistic reports...her writing comes alive."--David Armstrong, "San Francisco Chronicle ..".a serious travel account-personal experiences, historically contexted...Recommended."--E.N. Anderson, "Choice ..".a meticulously researched, emotionally charged account of China's uphill battle to erect the barricade."--David Johnson, "The Asian Reporter "Readable and informative, it's highly recommended."--Karin Glendenning, "Chattanooga Free Press ..".a timely study of a condemned place."--"Washington Post Book World "A vivid last snapshot of the communities about to come to an end with the flooding of the Three Gorges. Chetham has an intimate understanding from many return visits, informed by her Chinese language and her knowledge of history, geography, society, and politics." -- Ezra Vogel, research professor at the Fairbank Center, and former director of the Fairbank Center and Asia Center at Harvard. "When the Three Gorges dam is built and its flood waters loosed, something very special will be lost-precious artifacts of a an ancient culture, a beauty that has awed everyone through the ages who has had the privilege to behold it, a way of life that has managed to cling even in a time of rapid change. What will be left is memory-in pictures,in people's minds, and, thank goodness, in books. Deirdre Chetham has been privileged to have spent more time on the Yangtze River than just about any other foreigner. We must all, Chinese and foreigner alike, thank her for preserving something of what will be lost and telling us what is was like for those who lived along the river when they had to face the inevitability of change. A wonderful account!" -- Anne Thurston, Associate Professor of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies "Deirdre Chetham's evocative and informative portrait of a vanishing world will fascinate anyone who has wondered about the social and cultural implications of the Three Gorges Dam. The region's historical, archaeological, and cultural uniqueness extends to China's pre-history. Yet as Before the Deluge makes clear, even those who live in the towns being inundated have an imperfect grasp of how much is being lost. A poignant work, the significance of which will only increase after the deluge." --Judith Shapiro, author of "Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China