Raymond Jonas is Jon Bridgman Endowed Professor in History, University of Washington, Seattle.
Jonas’s lucidly woven account masterfully repositions the role of
contingency in the unfolding of history and uses the little-known
battle to stand for the audacious imperial quest for glory
unleashed by Western powers in the ‘scramble for Africa.’ …His
remarkable cast of characters and insightful prose will be of
interest to scholars of African history and issues related to
counterinsurgency.
*Library Journal*
On March 1, 1896, near the town of Adwa, in Ethiopia, an African
army convincingly struck down the colonizing Italian army in a
battle that decisively shaped not only the contours of Ethiopia but
also its future and that of the continent. As University of
Washington historian Jonas so deftly observes in this nimble and
artfully crafted work, the events at Adwa cast doubt upon
Europeans’ unshakeable certainty that Africans would eventually
fall under their rule. Jonas draws vibrant portraits of the
personalities at the center of these events, from the shrewd
Ethiopian monarch Menelik and his bold, aggressive wife, Taytu
Betul, to the unfortunate Italian general Oreste Baratieri, the
leader of the defeated Italian forces. As Jonas points out, the
African victory at Adwa commenced the crumbling of European
dominance of Africa; Ethiopia thus became a source of pride and
lineage often indistinguishable from Africa itself, and writers
such as W.E.B. Du Bois based their own model African states on
Ethiopia. Weaving a colorful account from the stories of a dazzling
array of characters, Jonas skillfully recreates this now mostly
forgotten event that determined the color of Africa.
*Publishers Weekly (starred review)*
Jonas offers the first comprehensive study of one of the most
important events in modern African history. He brilliantly brings
to life the story of Ethiopian leaders, Italian military officials,
and quirky European advisors and observers. Written in a
wonderfully evocative and lively style, this book firmly
establishes the Battle of Adwa’s place in world history and will
appeal to a broad readership.
*Jonathan Miran, author of Red Sea Citizens*
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
