Uhuru

by Robert Ruark

Book Overview

Book annotation not available for this title.Title: UhuruAuthor: Ruark, RobertPublisher: Buccaneer BooksPublication Date: 1993/02/01Number of Pages: Binding Type: HARDCOVERLibrary of Congress: This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0000DRPQN
• Release Date: June 1963
• Publisher: Fawcett
• Length: 670 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Kenya independence understanding

A great book, and for the price of used, you cannot beat it. Supplier was wonderful also. Thanks, Carl

Kenyatta was a pig

"Uhuru" is the excellent sequel to Ruark's "Something of Value" and got Ruark kicked out of Kenya. This, if for no other reason, rates Ruark and "Uhuru" 5 stars. I'd give him 10 stars if I could. Ruark, using some of the same characters he used in "Something of Value" describes life in post-colonial Kenya under the tyrant Jomo Kenyatta. It is not a pretty picture of 'uhuru' i.e. 'freedom' in the Kikuyu tongue. It is, in fact, freedom for nobody other than for Kenyatta and a few of his cronies. Everyone else, white, ethnic minorities and the Kikuyu themselves must toe the mark. Kenyatta, whose name is promounced 'Kinyatta' tries to get the pronunciation of the nation 'Keenya' changed to the pronunciation of his own name i.e. 'Kinya'. Everyone suffers and corruption--like over all of 'free' Africa--becomes the fuel by which government operates. It is now an old, old story. Nations which 'groaned' under colonialism are crushed and destroyed under their new Marxist tyrants. The colonial infrastructure become as quaint as the ruins of ancient Sumer. Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on he Spanish Conquest of Mexico

A Sequel by any other name would be just as good.

UHURU is Robert Ruark's sequel to his book "Something of Value." The names may have been changed, but the characters remain the same. In UHURU, freedom has come to Kenya, and Ruark describes what Kenyans, both black and white, do with it and how they celebrate and adapt to freedom. His picture is not particularly pretty, but it is accurate. Ruark is a remarkable author who catches the tribulations and trials of a country in turmoil attempting to find its way into the future. His characters from "Something of Value" return to help us understand what is happening in a nation suddenly catapulted into a post-colonial environment. Ruark's writing captures the emotions, thoughts, and attitudes from black and white Kenyans and what they experience as both try to create a new society. Though the book was written more than 40 years ago, it is a timeless classic and its topic can be taken from newspaper headlines of today. He presents a fair appraisal of both sides of the story, and he lets us see both the good and bad of everyone involved. I am an unabashed Ruark fan. My only caveat, read "Something of Value" first.

Ruark's relevance today

Robert Ruark is complex and contraversial, but his books about the Mau Mau contain powerful and informed insights into the ways, mindset, and organization of militant terrorists. They are also fast moving and a "good read". After 9/11 I believe that his books should be read widely. While the specifics are very different, we can learn much from Ruark's insights into a microcosm of today's world with many parallels to think on. Buy "UHURU" and SOMETHING OV VALUE" (or get them from your library-- ... but the silly libraries have probably discarded them anyway). BUT by all means read them ... they will make you think-- and you will enjoy the read.

incredible

This is one of the best books I've read in many years. Not only is Ruark's style incredible, it's amazing how he managed to ruthlessly portray the changes in Kenya. Some may say he was a racist, Uhuru however portrays some Kenyans as the most intelligent inhabitants of the country at the time. Unfortunately, , they were stuck to their traditions and unable to cope with modern times. Like the British colonialists however, who were insensitive to the changes going on in the rest of the world, which was at the time so incredibly far away from their farms, their own world.A wonderful book.