Held at a Distance: A Rediscovery of Ethiopia (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

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Haile's parents fled Ethiopia in 1976, two years after a brutal coup and the beatings that resulted in her father's paralysis. Her family relocated to central Minnesota, her father regained professional status as a scholar, and she eventually went to law school. The coup ended a centuries-old monarchy, replacing it with a dictatorship that was ousted by rebels in 1991. Twenty-five years after departing Ethiopia, Haile returns with her husband to explore the effect of the revolution and the upheaval that took away a sense of community. Although her family was reconstituted in the U.S., it was never the same. She gauges the change and measures the extent of her loss, even as she learns of her uncle's valiant efforts to maintain his engineering business and create jobs in a nation suffering from a faltering economy. Haile also sees firsthand remnants of timeless tradition and culture as well as a multicultural nation torn by ethnic divisions that threaten its sense of nationhood. This is a riveting and personal look at a nation still in turmoil. Vanessa Bush
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Product Description

"Part travelogue, part history, part memoir, Rebecca Haile's Held at a Distance shines a bright and unique light on Ethiopia, a country in whose fortunes we as Americans and Westerners have been concerned for some time, but which remains in large part a mystery to many of us. . . . Today, Ethiopia, for far too many people, is synonymous with poverty and warfare; but for generations of African Americans, it was the font of black civilization itself, the spiritual source of visions of a united and prosperous Pan-Africa, the living testament to the glories that were Black Africa. In her bold new book, Haile moves far beyond the one-dimensional headlines that encapsulate Ethiopia in the Western press to provide as rich and nuanced a portrait of her native land as I have seen. It's an important and beautifully written volume."--HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., Harvard University

"This is the story of an Ethiopian child who became an American adult, and then returned to rediscover her country of origin after 25 years. What she discovers is the difficulty and dangers of defining identity in our contemporary world, a well-nigh universal problem. This is a memoir that reads like a novel, and encourages thoughtful reflection on our dilemmas."--IMMANUEL WALLERSTEIN, Yale University

In this first hand account of a woman's journey back to her homeland, Rebecca Haile's Held at a Distance: My Rediscovery of Ethiopia gives readers a powerful and unique glimpse into a fascinating African country. Haile was born in Ethiopia in 1965 and lived there until she was eleven years old. When the Emperor was deposed by a military coup, Haile's father, a leading academic in Addis Ababa, was shot while "resisting arrest." Barely surviving, he escaped with his family and settled in central Minnesota where they struggled with the cultural and financial strain of their drastically changed circumstances.

Haile grew up in America harboring her precious childhood memories, but in time saw herself as more American than Ethiopian. She attended Williams College and went on to graduate from Harvard Law School. In 2001, she was the first member of her family to return to Ethiopia. Her trip profiles key family members who are still living in the country, and she writes movingly about Ethiopia's recent past and its ancient history.

Few books have dealt with the millions of Ethiopians affected by war and strife in their country. Rebecca Haile's book brings into focus the challenges and consequences of three decades of political upheaval in Ethiopia. She offers a clear-eyed analysis of the country today, and her keen observations and personal experiences will resonate with readers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Academy Chicago Publishers (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897335562
• ISBN-13: 978-0897335560
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #67,674 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > History > Africa > Ethiopia
  #5 in	Books > Travel > Africa > Ethiopia & Djibouti
  #14 in	Books > History > Africa > Central Africa

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book I've Read in a Long Time, June 26, 2007

By	DD "DD" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This is a gripping story and very well written. The author tells of her family's escape from Ethiopia when she was 11 years old. However, the story is from her perspective as an adult returning to Ethiopia for the first time more than 25 years later. The story itself is riveting and the author weaves in Ethiopian history as well as its culture and landscape. It is wonderfully written, easy to read, and a must purchase book for the summer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, much-needed viewpoint, July 24, 2007

By	Peter Stuyvesant (New York) - See all my reviews

Ms. Haile's book was more than just an enjoyable and interesting read; it was an all-too-rare voyage into an unfamiliar culture from the viewpoint of someone who is rooted in both that culture and our own. Seeing this "mysterious" world through the eyes of a well-educated American who grew up in Ethiopia we can understand the differences in a way that someone who isn't a part of both worlds cannot. Reading the book was a fun experience and I found myself happy to devour it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and insightful, May 29, 2007

By	P. Shirey (Atlanta) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Before a trip to Ethiopia, I read this book. It gave a good overview of Ethiopian history, some geography, sights, personalities, culture, modern concerns.