Product Description

A novelist’s deeply affecting account of working as a teacher in the war–torn African state of Eritrea—shortlisted for Britain’s prestigious Thomas Cook Award.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #595213 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From Booklist
Hill leaves Britain to become a teacher in Eritrea. Culturally, tiny Eritrea marks a transition point between the Middle East and Africa, its language Semitic, its spirit African. Because of Eritrea's years as an Italian colony on the strategic Horn of Africa, its capital city, Asmara, has an unexpectedly rich art-deco architectural heritage. Eritrea had long sought independence from neighboring Ethiopia, and in 1993 it achieved its goal; but Ethiopia could not accept the plebiscite. In 1996 Hill plunged headlong into Eritrean life, sharing the privations of a nation at war but also finding great hopes and dreams among its people. Hill traces the country's history from its fabled biblical past through its subjugation first to European, then African domination. Hill does not idealize those he encounters, and he tells graphic stories of female mutilation practiced by women upon each other, mothers on daughters. Although this is an autobiographical account, Hill focuses his text on Eritreans themselves, not on himself. Photographs help the reader visualize the exotic settings. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
“A love letter to the country he had to leave… a brief and beautiful moment of calm between storms.” -- The Sunday Times

“Hill digs deeply, humanely, and with political keenness into the country’s history.” -- Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher
Asmara is the capital of Eritrea. It is a surreally Italian city at the center of an ex–Italian colony that has, for more than ten years, been at war with its neighbor Ethiopia, which claims sovereignty over Eritrea. Amidst the broken palaces of the late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, nomadic desert encampments, and war–devastated towns, Justin Hill found a people remarkably resistant to everything fate has thrown at them. This book, a tribute to their resilience, will stand beside Philip Gouravitch’s We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families as a classic account of contemporary Africa.

Customer Reviews

30 years of war: the Aftermath + more war

Looking at a map of Africa, this country with so much coast line should be prime real estate. There should be harbors, hotels and snorkeling galore. Unfortunately, what it has had has been war. Maybe even more to come.

Last year I read Michela Wong's "I Didn't Do It For You" which details Eritrea's very sad history. Justin Hill's "Ciao Asmara" brings the country much more to life. His light prose style belies strong content and incisive observations.

Through his experiences teaching (teachers chase the students into the classrooms with sticks; class size may be 75 students; with only a few rooms schools have 2 shifts) making friends among the those from "The Field" (who seem to have something like a post partum depression) and meeting various long and short term travelers (from those studying rare fish to those seeking a retirement home), you learn what it is like in the aftermath of a 30 year war. Not only have the people been physically and emotionally damaged, education is hard to come by, and even if you have it, with the economy in shambles, you can't use it. Those who are best off are those with relatives abroad and the veterans who have managed to secure gov't jobs.

The book has some photos that leave you wanting more. You can get more elsewhere on the net (esp. the Art Deco buildings) by searching Eritrea.

The description of Hill's evacuation is great ("Don't jerk me around!" "Fill out the BLUE FORMS!" "I can't deal with this.") and how luggage maximums are reduced by the hour.

If, like me, you're like "travel" books that introduce you to different people more than the food or sites, this book is for you. Other good reads describing day to day life include South of the Clouds (China), The Califf's House (Casablanca) and Es Cuba.

An interesting find
I noticed this book by chance on a library shelf while searching specifically for something else; it looked interesting, so I got it out as well. Pretty comprehensive look at post-independence Eritrea at a grasp-able level, including photos. Would make a great book to take along while traveling, etc.

Good Read and Interesting Story
Like the author, I spent some time in Asmara and travelled to places like Keren and Massawa. I really enjoyed my time there, so I can relate to his story very well.

This is a good read for anyone who has worked in Eritrea and like myself, you'll probably feel a tinge of sadness when you get to the end of the book.

Good on you Justin.