An intellectual who faults the communist party for not being left enough; a tibetan poet who has become the conscience of her nation; and the bestselling novelist who has began to enjoy the fruits of capitalism-here are some of the people through whom pankaj mishra explores the contradictions and dynamism of modern-day china journeying to tibet on the newly built express from beijing, to mongolia on the trans-siberian railway, and then through indonesia, malaysia and taiwan, he draws, too, a vivid portrait of chinas neighbours, and the shadow the restless giant casts over its stage full of unexpected ideas and fresh insights, a great clamour is an extraordinary account of contemporary asia from one of our finest essayists.