Product Description

This penetrating, timely portrait of Robert Mugabe is the psycho-biography of a man whose once-brilliant career has ruined Zimbabwe and cast shame on the African continent. Heidi Holland's tireless investigation begins with her having dinner with Mugabe, the freedom fighter, and ends in a searching interview with Zimbabwe's president more than 30 years later. The author charts Mugabe's gradual self-destruction, and uncovers the complicity of some of the most respectable international players in the Zimbabwe tragedy. Probing the mystery of Africa's loyalty to one of its worst dictators, Holland explores the contradictions that cloud the life of a man who had embodied the continent's promise.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11261 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 280 pages

Synopsis
This penetrating, timely portrait of Robert Mugabe is the psycho-biography of a man whose once-brilliant career has ruined Zimbabwe and cast shame on the African continent. Heidi Holland's tireless investigation begins with her having dinner with Mugabe, the freedom fighter, and ends in a searching interview with Zimbabwe's president more than 30 years later. The author charts Mugabe's gradual self-destruction, and uncovers the complicity of some of the most respectable international players in the Zimbabwe tragedy. Probing the mystery of Africa's loyalty to one of its worst dictators, Holland explores the contradictions that cloud the life of a man who had embodied the continent's promise.

About the Author
Heidi Holland has been reporting from Africa for 30 years. As a freelance journalist, she has written extensively about the continent's liberation movements as well as its people, cities and belief systems for international newspapers including the Guardian and Sunday Times, and for television channels including the BBC and Nine Network, Australia.

Customer Reviews

Unbiased writing.
I have several friends from Zim, so wanted to try to understand what has happened, why Mugabe has acted as he has. Heidi Holland seems to have achieved an explanation, and shows that there's more than one to blame.

Great praise for Holland
In this book, Holland records her travels from all over Zimbabwe (and the world), and interviews around a dozen people about Mugabe the boy, man and most recently, dictator. There is also a compelling interview with Mugabe himself, showing the lengths he'll go to to defend his policies.
Holland deserves loads of praise for this book, which comes up with reasons as to why Mugabe is the way he is. She completed this often dangerous task, and sheds new light on the African leader.
A great read, highly recommended.

Very Good Effort to be Unbiased and Fair
I am a white Zimbabwean and I was delighted to have the opportunity to read an unbiased attempt at recording history. I certainly learned a few things and being white does not make me proud. The only consolation is that blacks are no better. But I applaud the author's endeavours and the kindness with which the subject matter is managed regarding the actions of all parties involved.