Product Description

Ryszard Kapuscinski is widely regarded as one of the twentieth century's preeminent journalists, demonstrating an almost mystical ability to discover the odd or overlooked and incorporating these sometimes surreal details into narratives that go beyond mere reportage and enter the realm of literature.

Another Day of Life is Kapuscinski's dramatic account of the three months he spent in Angola at the beginning of its decades' long civil war. The capital, Luanda, is occupied only by those not fortunate enough to flee. When even the dogs abandoned by the Europeans leave, Kapuscinski decides to go to the front, where the wrong greeting could cost your life and where young soldiers-from Cuba, Russia, South Africa, Portugal-are fighting a war with global repercussions. With harrowing detail, Kapuscinski shows us the peculiar brutality of a country divided by its newfound freedom.

Translated from the Polish by William R. Brand and Katarzyna Mroczkowska-Brand.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #133909 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-17
• Released on: 2001-04-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780375726293
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
?A completely compelling bookÉfull of subtle truths and oblique insights.??The New York Times Book Review -- Review

Review
?Despite Kapuscinski?s insistence that 'the image of war is not communicable.' He has done just that and done it very well.??Newsweek

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Polish

Customer Reviews

War correspondence as literature
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.

A tremendously informative book
Kapuscinski's "Another Day of Life" was a complete impulse buy for me. Why is it that these are very often the most enjoyable and satifying reading experiences? This slim 144-page, novella-like volume taught me so much about Angola, it's Portugese colonial heritage, the factional fighting that developed in the 60s & came to a head during Kapuscinski's three-month stay in the country in 1975, and the eye-opening level of involvement of such players as Cuba and South Africa.

The amazing thing is *how little* things have changed since 1975. Since the fall of Portugal's dictatorship, there has been constant battle for almost 30 years. Jonas Savimbi - introduced here as a very young freedom fighter - was killed in battle only a short time ago.

Added bonus: There's a wonderfully sparse little map of the country & the borders of its neighbors at the front of the book. You'll thumb back to that page no less than 50 times while reading "Another Day of Life."

The title is apropos..when one of the characters utters the it two-thirds of the way into the book, I thought it was the perfect line at the perfect time. No wonder they culled it out of the book and had it serve as the title as well.

I plan on reading the rest of Kapuscinski's works now.

VHS Pre-IB Honors World History Book Review project
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