The role of print publications played a central part in the rise of the public sphere in Vietnam in the 1920-1945 period, argues McHale (history and international affairs, George Washington U.). He looks at the print culture of Buddhism, Confucianism, and communism, arguing that the lattermost played a far more negligible role in shaping modern Vietnamese intellectual discourse than commonly understood. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)