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The Last Mongol Prince: The Life and Times of Demchugdongrob, 1902-1966. By SECHIN JAGCHID. Bellingham: Center for East Asian Studies, Western Washington University, 1999. xvii, 479 pp. $50.00 (paper).
This is an informative and important, but in many ways frustrating, book. The Last Mongol Prince covers an important period in Inner Mongolian (and Chinese) history through its focus on Prince Demchugdongrob (Prince De), a key actor in various Inner Mongolian movements for independence or autonomy throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Sechin Jagchid writes "[Prince De's] life embodies the history of the Inner Mongolian struggle for national survival during this century" (p. xv). While this statement is perhaps something of an exaggeration, as Prince De is one of the most important Mongolian figures of this period, a book-length work on him is a welcome addition to the literature. The Last Mongol Prince examines not only the life of Prince De, but also the events he found himself caught up in and, in most cases, helped shape or even create. Jagchid's work recounts the continuing struggles to achieve autonomy and the numerous obstacles such efforts encountered. It also provides useful background information on Inner Mongolia during the first part of the twentieth century, and follows Prince De through his time in the Mongolian People's Republic, and his eventual imprisonment in the People's Republic of China.
Jagchid, a prolific writer on early-twentieth-century Inner Mongolian history, brings a unique personal perspective to this work. From a noble family himself, Jagchid personally knew Prince De and took part in many of the events recounted here....