In Shah of Shahs Kapuscinski brings a mythographer's perspective and a novelist's virtuosity to bear on the overthrow of the last Shah of Iran, one of the most infamous of the United States' client-dictators, who resolved to transform his country into "a second America in a generation," only to be toppled virtually overnight. From his vantage point at the break-up of the old regime, Kapuscinski gives us a compelling history of conspiracy, repression, fanatacism, and revolution.
A psychologist arrives at a research space station called Prometheus, his
mission to ascertain whether research into the mysterious planet of Solaris
should be terminated. He finds Prometheus all but deserted, its straggling
crew seemingly haunted by hallucinations of figures from their pasts.
Just out of university in 1955, Kapuscinski, the novice reporter, told his editor he'd like to go abroad, dreaming no farther than Czechoslovakia. Instead he was sent to India. Kapuściński gives us the non-Western world through virginal Western eyes.
In November 1942, Bruno Schulz, teacher of drawing and handicrafts at a boys'
college in Drohobycz, was shot dead by a Gestapo officer as he brought home a
loaf of bread.
Ryszard Kapuscinski's last book, The Soccer War, garnered acclaim for its profound insights into war, leading John le Carre to praise him as a master of modern reportage. In his equally powerful work, Kapuscinski offers a personal exploration of the intricacies of the Soviet empire. He begins with childhood memories of Soviet-occupied Pinsk, Poland, describing the incomprehensible nature of that world. His journey takes us through the desolate landscapes of Siberia and the diverse cultures of the Soviet Union's southern and Central Asian republics, which thrived despite the oppressive Soviet regime.
From 1989 to 1991, he undertook extensive travels through the crumbling empire, bypassing official routes to explore the vast territory alone. Covering over 40,000 miles, he visited numerous cities and engaged with the lives of ordinary people, seeking to understand the complexities of a society in disarray. The book concludes with notes reflecting on his experiences and the state of the ex-USSR, highlighting the contrast between televised events and the lived reality he encountered. This dual perspective allowed him to reveal the most significant aspects of a tumultuous society. Kapuscinski's work is a compelling narrative, driven by his insatiable curiosity and a deep appreciation for history, emphasizing the importance of understanding our evolving roles within it.
