Rating: 
Summary: Just a great book...
Review: Out of all of Kapuscinski's books this little novella probably reads the most like a straight narrative. It follows Kapuscinski's experiences in Angola during the invogorating and terrifying time of its "liberation" in the 1960's. The narrative provides a visceral and enlightening account of the tumult that lies at the edges of what we (in the West) call order and civilization.As always, Kapuscinski's vision is lyrical, penetrating, and unflinching. He holds up for our examination the ironies and absurdities laid bare when the curtain of imperial colonialism is withdrawn, and its victims are left scrambling to erect a milennia's worth of social and political institutions in a week, a month, or a year. Kapuscinski exposes the true face of this century's "limited wars": almost always fought by uncertain armies for unclear purposes, and most directly resulting in nothing more than bodies, smoke, and refugees. Yet his voice is never bitter, sanctimonious or pedantic, but rather honest, ironic, and (in a subtle way)sadly disenchanted. If you haven't ready anything else by Kapuscinki, this is a great place to start. If you have, this book is a unique and powerful gem.
Rating:
Summary: War correspondence as literature
Review: Ryszard Kapuscinski has written more celebrated books, has grappled with more complex questions of geo-politics, but this small, simple account of life on the inside of the collapse of blighted African country should be read by everyone with an interest in Africa, journalism, or plain good writing. Representing a Polish news agency, Kapuscinski stays behind when Portugal abandons Angola and the barbarians come hurtling towards the gate. He is without protection in a country mad with fear, suspicion, and messy death. His meditation on the concept of "confusao" - the Portugese version of confusion - is priceless. His accounts of travelling to battle-zones on empty roads are terrifying. How good is his information? Will they be ambushed? Will the next roadblock be friendly or will they be pulled from their car and killed? Are the risks worth taking? Does anybody out there care? Kapuscinski renders the absurdity and deep tragedy of Africa's post-colonial wars with great compassion. It is a moving, sad, funny and often breathtaking book - the mark against which other journalists' "I was there" books should properly be measured.
Rating:
Summary: VHS Pre-IB Honors World History Book Review project
Review: This fast paced book taught me so much about Angola's history and
> current dispute. It made me want to learn more about this country's history and
> its people. I enjoyed the book because it was more than just a history and an
> account of war. It was an in-depth look at the people and their culture. It is
> the story of struggle for a whole civilization after gaining their independence
> from the ruthless European nation of Portugal. Kapuscinski didn't try to confuse
> you with numerous names, groups, and organizations. He gave you the basic and
> made the past easy to understand. Characters were brought to life through his
> detail, which made you feel for them when they left or were even killed. In the
> front of the book, a map of Angola is provided allowing you to flip back many
> times while reading this book. You know at all times what part of the country
> you are in and what is going on. A detailed history of the events leading up to
> independence and civil war is also provided in the back of the book. It explains
> what occurred during the war also.
Excerpt of A.K. winning book review! Good Job A.K. Mrs. Arthur
Rating: 
Summary: Short and wonderful
Review: This is the fourth of Kapuscinski's books that I have read, and I was not disappointed. His trademark wit is once again on display, as he manages to impart jewels of wisdom while reporting from the deadliest and remotest corners of the world. For those unfamiliar with Kapuscinski, do not get this book if you are looking for a detailed political history of Angola. He gives a brief historical overview of the country in the final chapter, and it might help to start there first. Otherwise, a novice will quickly get confused by all the acronyms (MPLA, UNITA, etc.) and names; Kapuscinski does not really explain to the reader which group is fighting for what causes or what their ideological standpoints or political goals are. In a sense, however, this ambiguity is highly effective, since it conveys the actual situation in Angola in 1975. Kapuscinski's aim is not to offer a trenchant political analysis, but to simply convey to the reader what it is like to live in a desperately impoverished country in the midst of a brutal civil war. One could substitute any number of countries for Angola, and the themes would likely be the same; desperation, helplessness, ignorance, despair. Kapuscinski looks at the conflict from many points of view. He relates how the Portuguese colonialists desperately fled Angola in the months leading up to that country's independence, certain that all hell was about to break loose. He points out the general state of confusion among most Angolans, who were just as uncertain about the future as their former Portuguese rulers. He looks at the war from the point of view of the guerilla soldier, for whom death is almost inevitable, lurking unseen in the bush at every moment. He even tells how the dogs in Luanda followed the example of the Portuguese and bolted town; no dead dogs were to be seen, but they all seemingly disappeared. And, of course, Kapuscinski has lived through more near-death experiences than just about any reporter on the planet. He must look at movies like "Tears of the Sun" and simply laugh, for he himself has avoided certain death on a number of occasions. Kapuscinski's books are a blend of political commentary, narrative travelogue, abstract philosophy, and action adventure. The reason for only four stars is that because this book is so short (it can easily be read in one sitting), it falls shorts of some of his other works in terms of depth and scope. Also, this is one of his earlier works, and his style has been improved on since then. That doesn't stop me from highly recommending this one, though.
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