By Ryszard Kapuściński
Published: 1985
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. Translated from the Polish by William R. Brand and Katarzyna Mroczkowska-Brand.
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Ryszard Kapuściński was a renowned Polish journalist and author, celebrated for his profound insights into global politics and culture. Born on March 4, 1932, in Pinsk, Poland, he covered significant events across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, earning a reputation for his immersive and humanistic reporting. His notable works include 'The Emperor', a critical examination of Haile Selassie's regime in Ethiopia, and 'Shah of Shahs', which offers a unique perspective on the fall of the Iranian monarchy. Kapuściński's writing style is characterized by a blend of journalism and literature, often incorporating literary techniques to convey the emotional weight of the political landscapes he explored. He received numerous awards throughout his career, solidifying his place as a key figure in modern reportage.
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