Each book in Oxfam's "Country Profiles" series describes the social, political, historical, environmental and economic context of Oxfam's work in one particular country. The books focus on the real lives of ordinary people and the major development issues that face them, and are illustrated with photographs, maps and diagrams. To most people in the developed world, Nepal is an unspoilt Shangri-La of spectacular scenery and remote picturesque villages. This work goes behind the glossy tourist brochures to examine the reality of a complex and rapidly-changing society. It examines the changes in people's attitudes to the traditional monarchy and rigid social structures and describes the reality of life in a society which is undergoing a major change as a result of contact with Western influences - particularly tourism.