The Fate of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence

BUY FROM AMAZON.COM
Price: $14.93

Usually ships in 24 hours

By: Martin Meredith
(66 customer reviews)
RRP: $21.95
Buy New: $14.93
You Save: $7.02 (32%)


Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

EDITORIAL REVIEW

Fifty years ago, as Europe's colonial powers withdrew, Africa moved with enormous hope and fervor toward democracy and economic independence. Today, most African countries are effectively bankrupt, prone to civil strife, subject to dictatorial rule, weighed down by debt, and heavily dependent on Western assistance for survival. What went wrong? Focusing on the key personalities, events and themes of the independence era, Martin Meredith's magisterial history seeks to explore and explain the myriad problems that Africa has faced in the past half-century, and faces still. Acclaimed by reviewers and readers from across the political spectrum, The Fate of Africa is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how it came to this - and what, if anything, is to be done.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Publisher: PublicAffairs
Pub. Date: 26th June 2006
Catalog: Book
Media: Paperback
Number Of Pages: 768
Ean: 9781586483982
Isbn: 1586483986

ABOUT THIS BOOK

USER REVIEWS

Incredible book - very well written and informative
~ Written on Sep 12, 2009. out of users found this review helpful.

I lived in Angola for over a year and was able to travel the continent. Would have been better to have read this book prior to being there. Incredibly useful book. Should be required reading for anyone interested in the continent. Masterfully researched.

Explains nothing.
~ Written on Jul 3, 2009. 2 out of 3 users found this review helpful.

The blurb from Publishers Weekly on the back of the book has it right: this is but a digest of Africa's woes - it describes everything and explains nothing. I was hoping for an explanation of why Africa has gone backwards as they rest of the world has progressed - why Africa's leaders have been so exceptionally venal, cruel and megalomaniacal, why its people have submitted to such misrule for so long. But you won't find it here.
As a digest of African post-colonial history the book is a fine one, the writing clear and the organization sensible. It just wasn't the book I was hoping for.

Fascinating and Terrifying
~ Written on Jun 8, 2009. 1 out of 2 users found this review helpful.

It's over 600 pages in length, but it doesn't feel like it.If you want to know why Africa is the way it is, you need to read this book.

The modern history of Africa is traced from the late stages of colonialism right through to 2005. The reader gets a clear picture of the reasons why the various African dictatorships took hold; why corruption is pandemic; hence why despite it's wonderous natural resources, most of Africa is economically stunted.

Martin Meredith is adept at painting the shattered dreams of this beautiful continent. It really is a sad tale, because in the fifties Africa held such promise. Unfortunately, the governments which took control after the colonial powers withdrew were usually just as bad - and more often worse - than what they replaced. Racism was replaced by tribalism and nepotism. Oppression was replaced by corruption.

Just about every country is covered (though some only in passing). My only minor gripe is the liberal use of French phrases in the text - or rather, they are presented without translation. While the meaning of most is self-evident, it is a little distracting and disruptive to the flow of the book when one has to divine the meaning.

rekindled my interest in modern history and world affairs
~ Written on Jun 8, 2009. 1 out of 1 users found this review helpful.

Just a short note, i had this book recommended to me by a backpacker. bought it and found that it really opened my mind and made me interested in the recent history the world.On the book itself very interesting subject matter and well written.

Great book!
~ Written on Apr 25, 2009. out of 1 users found this review helpful.

A must for anyone who wants to know more and more about Africa...one of the better books out there...

SIMILAR ITEMS:

Search:
International
UK US
Browse Categories