The Shadow of the Sun

With the greatest of simplifications, for the sake of convenience, can we say Africa.

In reality, except as a geographical term, Africa doesn't exist.

Kapuscinski has been visiting Africa since 1957. Here he attempts to hold up a mirror to the ever-changing situations and predicaments of an entire continnet.

The length of his relationship with Africa, the depth and the variety of his experiences and his determination to avoid "offical routes, palaces and big politics" create an account of post-colonial Africa seen at once as a whole and as a kaleidoscope of events entirely resistant to generalized explanations.

As always, Kapmscinski writes vividly about his experiences and the people he meets.

But more than this, he attempts to come to terms with humanity as it struggles to escape from foreign domination from the inoxications of freedom, from war and from politics as theft.

Kapuscinski has already written a highly regarded collection of essays on contemporary Africa.