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| Author: Ryszard Kapuscinski |
In 1957, Ryszard Kapuscinski arrived
in Africa to witness the beginning of
the end of colonial rule as the first
African correspondent of Poland's state
newspaper. From the early days of independence
in Ghana to the ongoing ethnic genocide
in Rwanda, Kapuscinski crisscrossed
vast distances pursuing the swift, and
often violent, events that followed
liberation.
What emerges is a depiction of Africa
-- not as a group of nations or geographic
locations -- but as a vibrant and frequently
joyous montage of peoples, cultures,
and encounters. Kapuscinski's observations,
analysis and humanity paint a remarkable
portrait of the continent and its people.
His unorthodox approach and profound
respect for the people he meets challenge
conventional understandings of the modern
problems faced by Africa at the dawn
of the 21st century.
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From Publishers Weekly
Colorful writing and a deep intelligence highlight these essays' graceful
exploration of postcolonial Africa. A Polish journalist who has written
about the continent for more than three decades, Kapuscinski provides
glimpses into African life far beyond what has been covered in headlines
or in most previous books on the subject. The dispatches focus on the
awkward relationship between Europe and Africa. Kapuscinski, whose books
have been translated into 19 languages (they include The Emperor and The
Soccer War), makes this clear through his own personal struggle with malaria
soon after he first arrived on the continent. This emphasis also comes
through in his dispatches on African nations such as Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania
and Rwanda, which detail how the giddy optimism of the immediate postcolonial
era disintegrated into corruption, poverty and conflict. But even as he
describes a familiar story, his keen observations make it fresh. Writing
about the provincialism of Rwanda, he says, "A trip round the world
is a journey from backwater to backwater, each of which considers itself...
a shining star." But political observations are just one of the strengths
of this book. Kapuscinski's seemingly effortless writing style makes daily
life come alive whether he's covering an Arab vendor making coffee or
the efforts made at night by lizards to catch their mosquito prey. (The
lizards' "eyes are capable of 180-degree rotation within their sockets,
like the telescopes of astronomers....") Ultimately, this book is
a personal and political travelogue of one man's rocky love affair with
a continent of nations. Those looking for an engaging, literary introduction
to Africa or even for some additional knowledge should look no further.
(Apr.) Forecast: Kapuscinski is a very popular writer in Europe but has
never broken out here. With a cluster of books on Africa coming out this
season, this will get some media attention and may sell better than his
previous books.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. |
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$15.00 (softcover)
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