A dissolving dream: A New Zealander in Amin's Uganda

Description

Heather Benson's memoir is the story of a writer's idealism colliding with one of the most brutal political realities of the 20th century. As a young New Zealander, she arrives in Uganda with a romantic vision of the continent and a mission to write about it. But the continent she finds is governed by Idi Amin, and her vision is forced to dissolve under the weight of his regime.\n\nBenson documents the loss of innocence that occurs when the poetic vision of a place is replaced by the stark reality of authoritarian rule. Her prose captures the disquieting experience of watching the familiar become unrecognizable and the hopeful become impossible. It is a powerful meditation on the limits of idealism and the courage required to witness truth in the face of devastation.

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