A Savage Dreamland

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David Eimer journeys deep into Burma, vividly exploring its complexities and rich history. For nearly fifty years, the country was under a paranoid military dictatorship, transitioning to Myanmar without local consent. Eimer chooses to use the original name, honoring the nation’s past. Following a historic 2015 election that brought an Aung San Suu Kyi-led civilian government to power, hopes for democracy and progress emerged, yet Burma remains unstable and largely misunderstood. The country is a tapestry of diverse races, religions, and resources, where temples overshadow infrastructure, fortune tellers flourish, and golf courses occupy former war zones. Beginning in Yangon, Eimer traverses this enigmatic landscape, from the tropical south to the Burmese Himalayas in the north. He shares the stories of the people he meets—former political exiles, squatters in shantytowns, radical monks, Rohingya refugees, and ethnic minorities along the borders. Through their voices, Eimer unveils layers of history and intertwines numerous narratives, crafting a sensitive and insightful portrait of this mysterious land. Authoritative and groundbreaking, this work is poised to become a modern classic in travel writing.