Another Day of Life (Penguin Modern Classics)
£3.68
Angola s descent into a nightmare. - This was the first book of Kapuscinski s I ever read(in about 1986)and I ve been a huge fan ever since.Not the archetypal war junkie that western media outlets habitually send to Africa,Kapuscinski s humanity and gift for the arresting detail shine out in this book.Two highlights in a fantastic book are:1-The passage describing roadblock etiquette.How vital it is to know the difference between camarada(comrade) and irmao(brother).Saying the wrong word at the wrong roadblock means instant death.2-When he hears a radio broadcast saying that the MPLA are a bunch of communist stooges,lackeys to their Soviet masters,and that any communists would be hunted down.At this point in time,Kapuscinski is,as far as he knows,the only citizen of a socialist country anywhere in Angola.a terrifying moment which he puts across very well.If only Kapuscinski knew that the war between the MPLA and it s enemies would go on for almost another 30 years.Fantastic journalism,and a good primer on the roots of Angola s post-independence nightmare.
A vivid description of descent into war in Angola - Kapuscinski s reportage is uniquely engaging, often showing close similarity in style to the magical realism (forgive the term!) of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In this, perhaps his best book and probably my favourite work of reportage, he describes life as a Polish foreign correspondent caught up in the last days of the Portuguese empire, in Angola in 1975. He describes the changes taking place as the Portuguese leave and Angola descends into the hell of civil war. He is not afraid (or is afraid, but still does it!) to risk his skin, travelling as a sole outside witness in hair-raising circumstances to report to the world. Kapuscinski shows a close bond to the people that he writes of - one of his great strengths - and a strong sense of humour. If you are interested in 20th century African history, and want more that a dry text, this is one of several books to read by Kapuscinski! There is no equivalent.