Sven Hedin was one of the world's greatest explorers. This is the first paperback edition of this classic book. It presents a story of adventure and discovery in Central Asia - a saleable and appealing combination. In this, the first of the classic travel trilogy - "The War", "The Road" and "The Lake" - Sven Hedin tells the story of a remarkable expedition he made to the remote Chinese province of Xinjiang. Commissioned by the Chinese to map a road through one of the most inhospitable regions in the world, Hedin set out on a journey that saw him become entangled in a bloody war for independence that was raging in the province.Struggling through the battle-scarred land, Hedin encountered rebel fighters and bandits, was imprisoned and nearly executed. The heart of the story is dominated by the legendary figure of Ma Chung-Yin - 'Big Horse' - leader of the uprising. An enthralling account of drama and high adventure, "The Trail of War" is also an extraordinary portrait of Central Asia and its people.