A sometimes amusing, always fascinating, often frustrating set of portraits of Sichuan warlords, Tibetan chieftains, and other memorable personalities whom the author claims to have known well. Amusing for the droll British witticisms. Fascinating because it reflects a turbulent and little-chronicled period in the history of Tibet and China. Frustrating because he often omits key details of his subjects that would help to place them in better historical context.