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The Shadow of the Sun

Front Cover
239 Reviews
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Jul 5, 2001 - History - 325 pages
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 has crisscrossed vast distances pursuing the swift, and often violent, events that followed liberation. Kapuscinski hitchhikes with caravans, wanders the Sahara with nomads, and lives in the poverty-stricken slums of Nigeria. He wrestles a king cobra to the death and suffers through a bout of malaria. What emerges is an extraordinary 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 trenchant observations, wry analysis and overwhelming 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 twenty-first century.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

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An amazing and descriptive overview of Africa. - Goodreads
Kapuscinski is a fantastic writer. - Goodreads
A fantastic introduction to this mysterious continent. - Goodreads
A wonderful insight to an unkown universe. - Goodreads
Incredible collection of writing. - Goodreads
... stunning prose, and razor-sharp analysis. - Goodreads

Review: The Shadow of the Sun: My African Life (Penguin Great Journeys #20)

User Review  - Peter - Goodreads

This book has been my companion for ages, and I will miss it. I have been reading these snapshots of life in Africa for about a year, on the bus to work. This is the Africa that I have lived with for ... Read full review

Review: The Shadow of the Sun (Penguin Great Journeys #20)

User Review  - CR Miller - Goodreads

Another great read from Kapuscinski, this one a series of essays and narratives from different places in Africa. I always relish his painting of place and time, not to mention his analysis of cultural ... Read full review

All 239 reviews »

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About the author (2001)

Ryszard Kapuscinski lives in Warsaw, Poland.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Bibliographic information