Hmong: History of a People (Hardcover)

by Keith Quincy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
This combination of history and anthropology provides a wealth of information about this little-known Asiatic culture. Emphasis is divided between an account of the workings of Hmong society, such as its shamanistic practices, and their 20th-century history, particularly the participation in U.S.-backed fighting against communist forces in Laos and subsequent flight from Laos to, among other countries, Thailand and the United States.

But the Hmong have a long history of refusing to assimilate into any of the dominant cultures of the region. This has resulted in a nomadic existence throughout Indochina and occasionally, as the gripping first-chapter account of battles between Hmong and Chinese imperial forces reveals, in outright combat. Keith Quincy brings the reader to a closer understanding of why a culture whose people make up less than .01 percent of the world's population would put up such a fierce struggle to preserve their cultural autonomy.

Product Description
This survey of Hmong history and culture answers a keenly felt need for a study that combines comprehensive coverage with concise scope." -- C. T. Yates, Earlham College

There are slightly more than six million Hmong world-wide. Most Hmong today live in China, Laos, northern Vietnam, Thailand, and Burma and are all believed to be descendants of Hmong who originally migrated from central Siberia. More than eighty thousand have resettled in the U.S.

Hmong: History of a People is a detailed rediscovery of their rich heritage, following Hmong history and tradition from their early settlements in China, up to and including much of their contribution to the war in Vietnam. It is a book of struggle prowess, and magic, and reiterates the importance of cultural memory. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 244 pages
• Publisher: Eastern Washington University Press; 2 Sub edition (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910055246
• ISBN-13: 978-0910055246
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,932,646 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars unreliable, December 1, 1999

By	Robert Entenmann (Northfield, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is unfortunate that there is no good history of the Hmong published in any Western language. Keith Quincy must be commended on his effort, but it is disappointing. He is not a professional historian. The first chapter in particular, ostensibly dealing with the Hmong experience in China, shows his unfamiliarity with Chinese history and inability to use Chinese sources. (The story of the "Hmong" king's defeat by China actually concerns the conquest of the Jinchuan people, who were not Hmong.) Quincy uncritically uses an unreliable account by F. Savina, _Histoire des Miao_ (Hong Kong, 1924). For a better study of Hmong in China see Robert Jenks, _Insurgency and Social Disorder in Guizhou_ (University of Hawaii Press, 1994). The rest of the book is a little better, but must be read with caution and cross-checked with other sources.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should be read by those with an interest in the Hmong, July 29, 2005

By	Bryan Thao Worra (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hmong (Paperback)

Like all the books about the Hmong, there will be at times glaring inaccuracies and mistakes in the material, and Quincy has taken a lot of heat over the years for his attempts to help the Hmong reconstruct their history, most of which was lost during the 4,000 years between their roots in ancient China and the 20th century.

Considered by most to be one of the less reliable texts to work from, I nevertheless found many interesting elements within it, that, when combined with additional research, yields some fine and fun reading.

It should definitely not be taken on its own- one should try and double check statements by using other materials, but most people who read this will feel inspired to study and learn more about the Hmong and their true histories, and that's not such a bad thing.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book, July 17, 2001

By	Nicole Lee (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews

Mr. Quincy did an excellent job on putting this book together. I have not yet read a book by anyone who would have gone as far back as Mr. Quincy did with this book. As a little Hmong girl growing up, I have always been curious of where Hmong people really existed from. My father tried his best to educate me on who we- the Hmong people were. Many of what he taught me seemed to be unreal, until I read Hmong: History of A People. It really shocked me that what my father was telling me was actually in print! My suggestion to all the Hmong people out there is that EVERYONE should read this book. There is not a doubt in my mind that you will not gain a better understanding of where you came from. After I had finished reading the book, I was shocked to know that my Great-great-great-great Grandfather was the "Hmong King"- Nhia Vue Lee. My appreciation goes to Mr. Quincy and his desire in wanting to have a better understanding of our culture.