Mukiwa
A memoir tracing childhood and youth in Rhodesia. Against the end of colonial rule and the reality of violence, it vividly portrays the instability of the white community and one person's coming of age.
Work Information
A memoir that reexamines a disappearing homeland through both memory and history.
Peter Godwin recounts growing up at the point where white Rhodesian society gave way to independent Zimbabwe. It is both an adventure story and a personal reckoning with the collapse of colonial order.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Picador
- Published
- 1996-03-22
- Pages
- 432 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 15.3 x 3.5 x 23.4 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780330339834
- ISBN-10
- 0330339834
- Price
- 49908 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Biographies & Memoirs/Historical
This autobiography is the story of Peter Godwin, who grew up in Rhodesia in the 1960s, aware, but only dimly, of the divisions that would lead to civil war. His childhood was spent among African children who could never be his friends, and white adults who were beginning to perceive the anachronism that their late colonial lifestyle represented. Guerilla killings began, and Peter began to get used to violent death. Conscripted into the army at 17, he was commanding units of 100 Africans fighting guerillas in the bush. After a period studying law in England he returned to Zimbabwe and began to report for the "Sunday Times" on the tribal atrocities being inflicted in Matabeleland. He discovered an horrific campaign of malignity being visited by African upon African in the name of political rectitude and patriotism.
Peter Godwin is an award winning author and journalist. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, he studied law and international relations at Cambridge and Oxford. He worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa and Eastern Europe for The Sunday Times of London . He was founding presenter and writer of Assignment/Correspondent, BBC TV's premier foreign affairs program. He now lives in Manhattan and contributes regularly to National Geographic , New York Times Magazine , and BBC Radio, among others.
Reviews
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Incredible book and very reasonable buy
Stunningly written and informative for anyone with an ounce of interest in African history. I love buying old library books too, there's something a but magical about giving a book a new home.
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Another Rhodesian
Reading this has reminded me of my life during the 40 s and 50 s so similar , so real , from being a pre school boy who ate his lunch in the back yard with our African staff . To doing army training at Lewellan (sic) baracks, Then out into the world still proud of being an African from Rhodesia
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Well-written, engaging memoir
Mr. Godwin’s account of growing up and coming of age during the turbulent period of change as Rhodesia became Zimbabwe is extraordinary. As he points out in his opening remarks, this is not a research-driven history, but the memories of someone who lived, was educated, and did his national service during this time in his country’s history. It is engrossing and emotionally charged, and much more centered on the author’s day-to-day life and immediate surroundings than his more recent When the Crocodile Eats the Sun, which is fitting, as this is the story of a much younger, less worldly man. Highly recommended.
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Five Stars
Really enjoyed this book. Peter Godwin is a great storyteller.
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Well written book.
The book brought back memories. I was born and bred in Zimbabwe where the book is set. I laughed and cried. Couldn't put the book down.
Related Literary Awards
- Orwell Prize Edition 4 (1997) ・Winner