In Asia is a collection of journalistic articles in which Tiziano Terzani looks back on more than thirty years of travel, experiences and work as a correspondent in different Asian countries.
Through texts written between 1965 and 1997, the author recounts some of the major events in Asia’s recent history. He also explores everyday life, religions, customs and the social transformations of the countries where he lived.
For this reason, In Asia is not simply a travel or history book. It can also be a very useful read for Italian learners who want to become familiar with journalistic language, expand their vocabulary and learn to express opinions on cultural, historical and political topics.
What kind of book is In Asia?
In Asia is not a novel and does not tell a single story from beginning to end. Published in 1998, it brings together a selection of articles written by Terzani during his long career as a correspondent in Asia.
The author first arrived on the continent in 1965, when the Olivetti company sent him to Japan. He later lived and worked in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Thailand and India, as well as travelling through Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal and other countries in the region.
This means that the book can be read in two ways: in chronological order, to observe how both Asia and the author himself change, or by selecting only the chapters devoted to the countries and events that interest us most.
For an Italian learner, the second option is particularly useful. There is no need to read almost 440 pages in one go: you can work with short, self-contained articles without losing sight of the book as a whole.
Structure of the book
The book consists of 76 short texts, arranged mainly in chronological order. Its total length varies slightly depending on the edition, but it is generally around 440 pages.
Each article has a title and a short introduction that helps readers understand where Terzani is, the historical context in which he is writing and the main subject. The texts tend to be relatively short, making them much more manageable than the chapters of a long novel.
This structure offers several advantages for Italian learners:
- it allows you to read a complete text in a single session;
- it makes it easier to choose chapters according to your interests;
- it offers a wide variety of contexts and topics;
- it avoids the need to remember a complex plot and numerous characters;
- it allows you to observe how the author’s style and thinking evolve.
Although the texts are self-contained, reading them in order also reveals how Terzani’s perspective changes. Some of the political expectations of his early years gradually give way to a more critical view of revolutions, economic progress and modernisation.
Content
The content of In Asia is extremely varied. Terzani witnessed first-hand some of the most important events in Asian history during the second half of the twentieth century.
The book covers topics including:
- the Vietnam War;
- the rise of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia;
- the death of Mao Zedong;
- the Chinese Cultural Revolution;
- the modernisation of Japan;
- political and social changes in India;
- the handover of Hong Kong to China;
- the anticipation of Macau’s transfer of sovereignty;
- Terzani’s encounters with figures such as Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
However, the texts are not simple historical summaries. Terzani was personally present in many of these places and describes what he sees, the conversations he has and the reactions of the people who live there.
For example, the handover of Hong Kong to China is not presented merely as a political agreement between two countries. Terzani also observes the local population’s uncertainty about the future of their rights and freedoms.
Similarly, his perception of the Khmer Rouge changes over time. What initially seemed like a possible way out of the Cambodian war ultimately reveals itself to be a tragedy for the population.
This development is one of the most interesting aspects of the book: Terzani does not write as someone who already knows how history will unfold, but as someone trying to interpret events while they are happening.
Everyday life and Asian cultures
The book does not focus exclusively on wars, revolutions and international relations. Terzani pays close attention to the small details that help us understand a society.
He writes about Japanese identity, Indian spirituality, the consequences of the Cultural Revolution, everyday customs and the almost timeless reality of the Kingdom of Mustang in Nepal.
In some articles, he begins with an apparently insignificant detail — a building, a conversation, a custom or even the way an everyday space is used — and uses it to reflect on a much broader cultural transformation.
For this reason, In Asia allows readers to discover different countries without reducing them to a list of dates or events. They also learn how people live and how they respond to political, economic and social change.
Style and register
Terzani’s style is primarily journalistic. His sentences are generally clear and information is presented directly, without excessively literary language.
However, the author does not write in a cold or completely neutral way. His articles alternate between:
- accounts of events;
- descriptions of places and people;
- historical explanations;
- dialogue and testimony;
- personal reflections;
- political and social criticism.
This combination makes the book more dynamic than a history textbook. Terzani provides information, but he also interprets what he sees and allows readers to understand his doubts, expectations and disappointments.
The register is generally formal and polished, while remaining accessible. As the texts were written over several decades and some originated in German or English, there are slight differences in style and vocabulary from one article to another.
For an advanced learner, this variety is valuable because it provides exposure to different ways of presenting information and constructing an argument.
What level of Italian do you need?
I would recommend In Asia mainly to learners at B2 or C1 level.
Terzani’s syntax is usually fairly clear, but the difficulty does not depend on grammar alone. The book contains a great deal of vocabulary related to:
- contemporary history;
- politics and international relations;
- war and social conflict;
- religion and spirituality;
- economics and modernisation;
- geography and Asian cultures.
The book also includes names of public figures, political movements and events that may be unfamiliar. A B1 learner could therefore read some chapters with support, but would probably struggle to follow the entire book independently.
You do not, however, need a thorough knowledge of Asian history before you begin. Terzani’s introductions and explanations usually provide enough context to understand the main idea.
Educational value for Italian learners
The main educational value of In Asia lies in its combination of language and content. Learners are not reading a text artificially created to teach Italian, but authentic articles about real events.
The book is particularly useful for working on:
Vocabulary in context
New words appear within specific situations. This makes it easier to understand their meaning and remember them than when studying an isolated list.
In addition to historical and political vocabulary, the book contains many words related to travel, cities, landscapes, emotions, customs and human relationships.
Connectors and the organisation of ideas
As these are journalistic texts, Terzani uses many connectors to explain causes, consequences, contrasts and historical changes.
As you read, pay attention to expressions such as tuttavia (however), invece (by contrast/instead), infatti (in fact), perciò (therefore), nonostante (despite), da una parte (on the one hand) and d’altra parte (on the other hand). Seeing these connectors in authentic texts can help you use them later in your own spoken and written Italian.
Past tenses
The articles combine different verb tenses to recount events, describe situations and relate earlier and later developments.
The book therefore provides an opportunity to observe the use of the passato prossimo, passato remoto, imperfetto and trapassato prossimo in an authentic context.
Expressing opinions
Terzani does not simply report what happens. He compares societies, questions certain ideas of progress and reflects on colonialism, freedom, war, globalisation and encounters between cultures.
His articles provide many starting points for conversation practice and for learning how to defend an opinion in Italian.
How to use In Asia to improve your Italian
I do not recommend stopping to look up every unfamiliar word in the dictionary. In a book with so many names, historical references and specialist terms, this approach would turn reading into an exhausting exercise.
You can work with each article in the following way:
- Read the title and introduction first to identify the country and historical context.
- Read it once without using a dictionary.
- Try to explain the main subject in two or three sentences.
- Select only five to eight words or expressions that you consider genuinely useful.
- Summarise the text in your own words.
- Explain whether you agree with Terzani’s interpretation and why.
You can also select several articles about the same country and compare how the situation changes over the years. In this way, reading becomes an activity that combines language, history and critical thinking.
Who would I recommend this book to?
I would recommend In Asia to learners interested in contemporary history, travel, journalism, international relations or Asian cultures.
It is not necessarily the best choice for someone looking for a novel with a continuous plot or a light read. I would not start with this book either if you still find it difficult to understand simple texts in Italian.
On the other hand, it is an excellent choice for learners who already have a solid foundation and want to engage with authentic, short and content-rich texts. Its structure allows you to progress gradually and choose chapters freely, without having to read them all.
If you are still unsure which book best suits your level, see my selection of Italian books recommended for learners.
Conclusion
In Asia takes readers through more than thirty years of history from the perspective of someone who experienced many of those events first-hand.
For an Italian learner, the book’s value is not limited to vocabulary. It helps readers understand how a journalistic text is organised, how historical events are connected and how to develop a personal reflection from a specific experience.
Thanks to its short articles, the book can be read gradually, and each text can become a starting point for summarising, discussing and expressing opinions in Italian.
If you would like to work on reading, conversation and speaking with guidance, in my Italian lessons we can choose texts suited to your level and use them to expand your vocabulary and help you speak with greater confidence.
