Customer Reviews

Uhuru

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

I've been wanting to read this book for many years. And now, thanks to Amazon.com, I have. I wish I could give it a more glowing review, but I can't. To be sure, the action scenes -- whether hunting animal or man -- are superb. They are also, however, few and far between. The book is overly long and congested with far more characters than Ruark knows what to do with. As a result, the reader is subjected to a dismaying amount of tedious character introspection, as well as to conversations that are redundant, inane, boring, and that never seem to end. While I agree with Ruark's analysis, through his characters, of the realities of "uhuru" (history has certainly proven him right), I found myself saying "All right, you've made your point. Now let's move on." And that's what I intend to do. My next book is "Something of Value," and I hope I can give it a better review.

"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

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.

Robert Ruark captures the political turmoil that swept though Kenya, the Congo and is still going on in Africa today. The story centers on a professional white hunter, and his friends and family. Some may object to his usage of various deragatory remarks toward Africans. Slow in beginning but picks up pace. I couldn't put down during last 100 pages

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

For anyone wishing to develop any understanding of Africa and its people, this book is a must read. While perhaps not the best of Ruark's books; it certainly is a close contender for the titlr.

This book of historical fiction brings a time (1960s) and a place (Kenya and East Africa) to life in a way that helps you get a real feel for the native peoples, the white settlers, big game hunters and their clients, the animals, the Blacks who have come to political power, and how the cultures of the Whites and Africans collide to bring about massive social change. This story starts in a previous book "Someting of Value" and is spell-binding all the way. It is as captivating as "The Thorn Birds" but offers more historical insights. Ruark has such a descriptive writing style that you feel you are there and these are your people and your experiences.

If one truly wishes to understand anything about Africa, reading Robert Ruark's Uhuru is a mandatory primer. Post-WW II, diminution of former colonial powers governmental authority and Soviet Communist subversion led to demands of "L'Independence," "Uhuru" and "self-government," for which most all the black tribes, entities and other national adhesions were then, now and have remained almost totally unprepared, incompetent and incapable.

(Further Communist Chinese guerilla activities, subversion and terrorist attacks were also mounted about the same time in Malaysia.)

Ruark's Uhuru rather accurately describes Mau-Mau terrorisism and genocide, brutal and inhuman acts of terrorism which then widely spread to Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Zimbabwe et al. To suppose all the tribes thereof could ever coalesce themselves into anything remotely resembling national entities is an utter absurdity.

United Nations (UN) military operations (Baton Rouge, Vert, Blanc and so on) against independent Katanga Province's free-enterprise leader Moshe Tshombe were an utter disaster, leaving Moscow-controlled Communist Patrice Lumumba - well, until he was soon "terminated" by rivals - in poltical control of what had formerly been the Belgian Congo.