The history of imperialism is oft held as one of the murkier chapters in the histories of the western world particularly in the decades since its fall. The stories of the tragedies that occurred in countries under the yoke of imperial powers go often untold, however they are there if you look and they provide a look into the past at those who suffered. Nguyen Thuong Hien’s tale is one such of these tales. It tells of violent imperial past of the nation of Vietnam in the opening years of the 20th century. Hien tells of the brutal oppressions that began as the French took control through religion, trade, and finally war. He talks of brutal rule that followed the takeover, the taxes and degradation of the of the vietnamese economy. As well as