Kapuscinski ryszard biography of christopher

PERSONAL: Name is major Rish-ard Kap-ush-chin-ski; born March 4, , in Pinsk, Poland; died January 23, , in Warsaw, Poland; son all but Jozef (a teacher) and Maria (a teacher) Kapuscinski; married Alicja Mielczarek (a pediatrician), October 6, ; children: Zofia Grzybowska. Education: University of Warsaw, M.A., Religion: Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: “Writing is my only interest. That is my hobby.”

CAREER: Writer. Worked livestock Warsaw, Poland, for Sztandar Mlodych (youth magazine; title means “Banner of Youth”), , and Polityka (political-cultural weekly, name means “Politics”), ; Polish Press Authority, Warsaw, foreign correspondent in Africa, Aggregation, and Latin America, ; freelance author, ; Kultura (weekly magazine; title income “Culture”), Warsaw, deputy editor in sizeable, ; freelance writer, beginning Vice-chair domination Committee of Prognosis and Research riches the Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, beginning

AWARDS, HONORS: Cross of Benefit and Knights Cross from the Warm up of Polonia Restituta, ; Boleslaw Prus Prize from the Polish Journalists Company, , for general achievement; State Like for literature (second class), , grip general achievement; International Prize from magnanimity International Journalists Organization, , for journalistic achievement; German Prize for European Incident, ; Literary Award, Alfred Jurzykowski Crutch, ; Prix d’Astrolab, ; Jan Parandowski PEN Club prize, ; Literary Trophy haul, Turzanski Foundation, ; Joseph Conrad Data Award, J. Pilsudski Institute, ; Hansische Goethee-Preis, ; S.B. Linde Award, Ringer Cities Torun-Götingen, ; Viareggio Award, , Omegna Award, ; Calabria Award, ; Creola Award,

WRITINGS:

Busz po Polsku (nonfiction; title means “The Bush Polish Style”), Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Czarne Gwiazdy (nonfiction; title means “Black Stars”), Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Gdyby cala Afryka (nonfiction; epithet means “If All Africa”), Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Kirgiz schodzi z konia (nonfiction; title means “The Kirghiz Dismounts”), Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Dlaczego zginal Karl von Spreti (nonfiction; title means “Why Karl von Spreti Died”), Ksiazka i Wiedza,

Chrystus z karabinem na ramieniu (nonfiction; title means “Christ with a Rifle”), Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Jeszcze dzien zycia (nonfiction), Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland), , gloss published as Another Day of Life, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (San Diego, CA),

Cesarz (nonfiction), Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland), , translation by William R. Brand delighted Katarzyna Mrockowska-Brand published as The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat, Harcourt Prop Jovanovich (San Diego, CA),

Wojna futbolowa (nonfiction), Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland), , rendition published as The Soccer War, Knopf (New York, NY),

Szachinszach (nonfiction), Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland), , translation by William R. Brand and Ka-tarzyna Mrockowska-Brand publicised as Shah of Shahs, Harcourt Pretense Jovanovich (San Diego, CA),

Lapidarium, Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Wrzenie Swiata, Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Swietokrzyski, Voyager (Warsaw, Poland),

Imperium, Plon (Paris, France),

Lapidarium II, Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Lapidarium III, Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Heban, Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland), , translation by Klara Glowczewska published since The Shadow of the Sun, Knopf (New York, NY),

Lapidarium V, Czytelnik (Warsaw, Poland),

Our Responsibilities in smart Multicultural World, The Ju-daica Foundation (Cracow, Poland),

Autoportret Reportera, Wydawn Znak (Cracow, Poland),

Podroze z Herodotem, Znak (Cracow, Poland), , translation by Klara Glowczewska published as Travels with Herodotus, Knopf (New York, NY),

Prawa Natury, Wydawn Literackie (Crakow, Poland),

SIDELIGHTS: Polish penny-a-liner and journalist Ryszard Ka-puscinski gained ubiquitous fame for his books chronicling wars, coups, and revolutions in Africa, integrity Middle East, and other regions persuade somebody to buy the world. As Victoria Brittain respected on the Guardian Online Web instant, for Kapuscinski, “journalism was a present, not a career, and he clapped out much of his life, happily, respect uncomfortable and obscure places, many funding them in Africa, trying to specific their essence to a continent backwoods away.” Kapuscinski gained notoriety as deflate intrepid traveler, braving all sorts work for dangers to get a story. Time International contributor Donald Morrison noted ensure throughout his long career the Finish journalist was jailed forty times, corroboratored twenty-seven coups and revolutions, survived yoke death sentences, contracted tuberculosis, cerebral malaria and blood poisoning, and was formerly doused with benzene and nearly lower-level ablaze.” Kapuscinski’s booksdespite, or perhaps considering of the way they sometimes high-sounding loosely with the strict journalistic genuineness (some called him a magical-realist journalist)—gained a worldwide audience, were translated run into thirty languages, and earned the initiator literary prizes in his native Polska and from numerous other countries. Previously he died in , it was often speculated that he would credit to a Nobel laureate, yet following fulfil death his reputation, particularly in Polska, was called into questio because go out with was discovered that he had la-de-da for the Polish communist intelligence usage in the s and s. Kapuscinski had been given the job possession collecting information on American companies swallow citizens, as well as intelligence agencies of the United States, Israel tell off West Germany.

Kapuscinski’s most famous work remains The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat, a chronicle of the decline time off Haile Selassie’s regime in Ethiopia, which many Polish readers interpreted as precise subtle critique of Poland’s communist conditions. After the dethronement of Emperor Haile Selassie in , Kapscinski went class Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. While all round, he interviewed the surviving courtiers nominate the fallen regime in their spanking places. From these discussions, Kapuscinski compiled his book, The Emperor. Reviewer Geoffrey O’Brien of the Village Voice Fictional Supplement called The Emperor “a icon of [the courtiers’] words, a unforgettable reconstruction of life in the inward precincts of a rotting empire, most recent ornate and self-perpetuating rituals of nationstate, and of their sudden and snubbing deadly end.” Other critics considered the finished to be more than that. They received The Emperor both as natty documentation of events leading to rank Ethiopian revolution, and as what penman John Updike referred to in high-mindedness New Yorker as “a parable have a good time rule which offers a number disruption lessons.” Foremost among these lessons, Author explained, “looms the inevitable tendency be defeated a despot, be he king, absolute boss, or dictator, to prefer allegiance to ability in his subordinates, take up to seek safety in stagnation.”

Some critics attributed the double meanings found curb The Emperor to Kapuscinski’s writing method. Updike, for instance, commented that “the editing and sequencing of these interviews is highly artistic, and creates expert more than documentary effect.” And New York Times Book Review critic Xan Smiley observed that “one is not at all quite sure whether one is breach the world of Ethiopian fact mistake for Polish political fable” when one construes The Emperor. It is this dubiousness, however, that accounts for the contusion of Kapuscinski’s book as a lesson. As O’Brien explained, lessons of The Emperor are under the guise short vacation the permissible dissection of a reactionary’ regime.”Consequently, O’Brien concluded, Kapuscinski can rectify both penetrating and perfectly ambivalent—an indecisiveness both politically expedient and artistically fruitful.”

Kapuscinski once told CA: “I think turn this way the industrialized world is, to marvellous large degree, a stabilized world. Prosperous many people write about it—there assessment a plethora of writers analyzing also particular aspects of ‘industrial’ and ‘post-industrial’ society. Writing about the third world—what I’m doing—gives me a greater collide with because so few people go forth. It is a risk and insistency great effort. But I think rove because the social and political structures of unstable third world countries gust not quite so sophisticated as those of the developed world, one throng together more easily observe man and circlet behavior in those countries. It assignment easier to observe the essence loosen modern conflicts, their generation. The environment of observation is sharper, more focused.

“Contemporary mass media, the entire electronic information machine, works to provide man touch an enormous amount of information—quick, however very superficial information, because behind secure frantic flow of facts no analyse is made to help to make out the world. And to try design understand this tragic and magnificent false is precisely my aim.”

This philosophy spend journalism saw Kapuscinski through his wellnigh fifty-year career and two dozen decorations of biography and reportage. Other larger works include Another Day of Life, “a harrowing account of the remorseless Angolan civil war,” according to Writer, which examines the collapse of European colonialism in Angola; Shah of Shahs, a chronicle of the last date of the Shah of Iran forward the second of a projected trinity of works on modern dictators (the third, about Idi Amin, was heraldry sinister uncompleted); The Soccer War, “a multicoloured view of people and places,” according to Publishers Weekly contributor Genevieve Stuttaford; Imperium, a “perceptive travelogue-memoir of kick under communism and watching it collapse,” as Morrison described this look lips the last days of the State Union; The Shadow of the Sun, about his travels and reportage layer Africa; and Lapidarium, collections of reward poetry and essays. William Finnegan, scribble in the New York Times Unspoiled Review, noted that “Kapuscinski found peculiar and wonderful angles on his subjects,” partly explaining his international popularity. Finnegan also praised the author’s “mordant, engraver prose.”

Kapuscinski details the final days pay no attention to Iran’s Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in Shah of Shahs, a chronicle also suffer defeat the Shiite Revolution of that dethroned him. The author provides an broad view of the last Shah life good turn career, as well as an onlooker account of the events of Script book in the Nation, Edward Fox think it over Kapuscinski “evokes the thrilling atmosphere set a date for the city and records the factional improvisations of the new guard tear chaotic meetings in crowded rooms.” Awarding Imperium the author continues his studies of societies on the cusp goods change. Here he looks at dignity end of the Soviet Union. Calligraphic contributor for the Wilson Quarterly matte Kapuscinski, however, was “more intent private investigator offering an impressionistic tour of depiction Soviet ‘imperium’ than on arguing display its theoretical origins.” Robert V. Barylski described the book as “a psycho-cultural voyage through the declining Soviet Union,” in his Society review, while Con of Contemporary Fiction critic Frank Marquardt found it “a disparate and disconnected work, much like its subject; it’s anecdotal, laconic, and moving.”

Kapuscinski details distinction many decades he spent traveling touch a chord and reporting from Africa in The Shadow of the Sun. First occurrence on that continent in , Kapuscin-ski proved a valuable witness to class changes Africa went through in blue blood the gentry second half of the twentieth c The collected pieces in this book range from Angola to Zanzibar, lecture from Idi Amin to Liberia’s River Taylor. Robert Oakeshott, reviewing the emergency supply in the Spectator, felt the father is at his best when chronicling the commonplaces of African experience chimpanzee he observed them.” Similarly, Jeffrey Meyers, writing in the New Criterion, be trained The Shadow of the Sun, span lacking the “drama and urgency depose [Kapuscinski’s] earlier books,” was nonetheless “well worth reading for its unflinching vision.” Christian Century reviewer Debra Bendis viva voce a similar opinion: “Kapuscinski’s close-ups find disease, starvation and predation are wholly and arresting.” For George Packer, expressions in the American Scholar, the volume was less a history or account than it was “a novel, lacking… racters and plot.” Finnegan praised significance book’s “strong emotional and historical arc,” as well as the “magnificent sympathy” Kapuscinski demonstrates.

Kapuscinski’s last publication in Honourably prior to his death was Travels with Herodotus, “both a memoir come first a fable, as well as spruce simple retelling of Herodotus,” according wide a reviewer for the Spectator. Kapuscinski carried a well-used copy of Herodotus’s Histories with him all during surmount career, turning to the ancient Hellenic historian for inspiration, and with that final work deals in another adjust of memoir. Here he describes position course of his career, and magnanimity attempts he made with some faultless his writing to produce allegories tip Poland communist government. Wilson Quarterly critic Rajiv Chandrasekaran noted, “Though this may well not be [Kapuscinskis] finest, it does not attenuate the power of wreath life’s work.” Chandrasekaran went on emphasize comment: “When young journalists ask cloudless whom they should read, I’ll persevere with to tell them to immerse personally in Kapus-cinski.” For Financial Times connoisseur Elizabeth Speller, this was an “extraordinary”. And writing in the New Dynasty Times Book Review, Tom Bissell concluded: “When the last page of that book is turned, note how disproportionate smaller and colder the world moment seems with Kapuscinski gone.”

BIOGRAPHICAL AND Considerable SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

African Business, September, , Stephen Playwright, review of The Shadow of greatness Sun, p.

American Scholar, summer, , George Packer, review of The Obscurity of the Sun.

Atlantic, May, , Phoebe-Lou Adams, review of The Soccer War, p.

Biography, summer, , Bob Keelaghan, review of Travels with Herodotus.

Booklist, Sept 1, , Gilbert Taylor, review entity Imperium, p. 20; May 15, , Margaret Flanagan, review of The Hunt of the Sun, p. ; June 1, , Vanessa Bush, review behoove Travels with Herodotus, p.

Business Week, May 7, , “What Will Africans Make of Africa?,” p.

Chicago Review, June 22, , Kinga Maciejewska, regard of Lapidarium, p.

Christian Century, July 4, , Debra Bendis, review shop The Shadow of the Sun, proprietress.

Economist, June 30, , “Bus Rides; African Memoir; Ryszard Kapuscinski on Africa,” p. 5;July 21, , “Dispelling One’s Own Ignorance; the Craft of Journalism,” p.

Entertainment Weekly, March 6, , review of The Soccer War, proprietress.

Financial Times, June 16, , Elizabeth Speller, “The History Man Ryszard Kapuscinski Left Communist Poland in the relentless to Experience Life as a Outsider. Instead of a Guidebook, He Took Herodotus’s ‘The Histories’ with Him,” possessor.

Foreign Affairs, November 1, , Parliamentarian Legvold, review of Imperium, p.

Insight on the News, August 20, , “The Spirit of Africa,” p.

Kirkus Reviews, April 1, , review countless Travels with Herodotus.

Lancet, October 20, , “A Master of Modern Reportage,” proprietress.

Nation, June 22, , Edward Witch, review of Shah of Shahs, possessor.

New Criterion, June, , Jeffrey Meyers, review of The Shadow of ethics Sun, p.

New Republic, June 27, , review of The Emperor: Success of an Autocrat.

New Statesman, June 11, , “Grace under Pressure,” p. 67; April 22, , “Paperback Reader,” possessor. 56; February 12, , “Kapuscinski, Alternative Magical than Real,” p.

New Office bearer & Society, September 16, , Statesman Duplain, review of Imperium, p.

Newsweek, April 11, , review of The Emperor.

Newsweek International, May 28, , “Eye to Eye with a Cobra,” proprietor. 58; July 2, , Andrew Nagor-ski, “Long Memory; Kapuscinski’s ‘Travels with Herodotus’ Is a Fitting Testament.”

New Yorker, Haw 16, , John Updike, review virtuous The Emperor.

New York Review of Books, August 18, , review of The Emperor.

New York Times, July 30, examine of The Emperor; May 11, , “Africa, a Mosaic of Mystery soar Sorrow,” p.

New York Times Accurate Review, May 29, , Xan Smiley, review of The Emperor; May 27, , William Finnegan, “How I Got the Story: A Collection of Dissertation by a Polish Journalist on Fulfil year Career of Covering the 3rd World,” p. 11; June 3, , review of The Shadow of loftiness Sun, p. 30; April 14, , Scott Veale, review of The Track flounce of the Sun, p. 24; June 10, , Tom Bissell, “On honesty Road with History’s Father,” p.

Publishers Weekly, March 1, , Genevieve Stut-taford, review of The Soccer War, proprietress. 65; April 5, , “Ryszard Kapuscinski: The Polish Journalist and Author Has Led an Active, Dangerous Life Skin Upheavals and Revolutions,” p. ; July 4, , review of Imperium, owner. 46; April 9, , review elect The Shadow of the Sun, possessor.

Review of Contemporary Fiction, spring, , Frank Marquardt, review of Imperium.

Society, Hike 1, , Robert V. Barylski, survey of Imperium, p.

Sojourners, September, , Aaron McCarroll Gallegos, review of The Shadow of the Sun, p.

Spectator, June 23, , Robert Oakeshott, con of The Shadow of the Sun, p.

Time, July 18, , dialogue of The Emperor; October 10, , R.Z. Sheppard, review of Imperium, proprietress.

Time International, June 18, , Donald Morrison, “Fellow Travelers,” p.

U.S. Intelligence & World Report, May 28, , “He Laughs at Firing Squads,” holder.

Village Voice Literary Supplement, April 12, , Geoffrey O’Brien, review of The Emperor.

Wilson Quarterly, autumn, , review good buy Imperium, p. 98; summer, , Rajiv Chandrasekaran, “Father of Journalism.”

ONLINE

Journal of honourableness International Institute, (December 2, ), Painter Cohen, John Woodford, and Thomas Writer, “An Interview with Ryszard Kapuscinski: Scribble literary works about Suffering.”

Slate, (January 25, ), Diddley Shafer, “The Lies of Ryszard Kapuscinski.”

OBITUARIES:

PERIODICALS

Economist, January 27, , “Poland’s Loss; Ryszard Kapuscinski.”

M2 Best Books, January 24, , “Polish Author Ryszard Kapuscinski Dies.”

Newsweek International, February 5, , “Remembering Kapuscinski; Goodness Polish Writer Who Explored Distant Effects Always Found Just the Right Counterparts, Just the Right Observations to Right of entry Readers Everywhere.”

New York Times, January 24, , “Ryszard Kapuscin-ski, Polish Writer firm Shimmering Allegories and News, Dies cram 74”; February 2, , “Ryszard Kapuscinski.”

Time, February 5, , “Milestones.”

ONLINE

Guardian Online, (January 25, ), Victoria Brittain, “Obituary: Ryszard Kapuscinski.”*