Prevail- The Inspiring Story of Ethiopia's Victory Over Mussolini's Invasion-1935 to 1941 by Jeff Pearce will fascinate anyone interested in World War Two history, especially in Africa, in Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, Italy's role in the war and those that love an inspiring true story meticulously researched and clearly narrated.
Italy, as Pearce details, used a trumped up affront over an imagined insult by the Ethiopian government as an excuse to invade Ethiopia. Mussolini wanted an easy victory to establish his credibility and expand his colonial Empire. Pearce lets us see how this invasion caused outrage in large communities of African Americans, especially in Harlem. Pearce lets us see how the war created animosity between Italians Americans and African Americans. Many Americans wanted to go to Ethiopia to join the war. There was quite a cast of characters, from heroes to charlatans, from America who got involved.
The Italians were using machine guns, airplanes, mustard gas as well as troops from their African possessions to fight the Ethiopians, often armed only with near Stone Age weapons. Pearce lets us see the great courage of the Ethiopian troops. I learned how things worked in the Ethiopian government, very much centered on the Emperor. The British foreign office at first seemed to promise help but did not follow through. Pearce attributes some of this to the racist views of Churchill. At the start of the war America was pursuing an isolationist policy.
Even after the Italians, who bombed intentionally hospitals and attacked unarmed groups of civilians with deadly mustard gas, the Ethiopians kept fighting on through it all. There are lots of colorful characters, from Ethiopian generals, Americans flying for the very weakly equipped Ethiopian air force, British officials to ordinary Ethiopian citizens.
This is very good work of popular history. I strongly endorse it for all those who are interested in the subject matter. I can see it as must Reading among WW Two history buffs, I suspect even they will learn a lot from this book.
Jeff Pearce has worked as a talk show host, a magazine editor in London's famous "City" district, and a journalism instructor in Myanmar. He is the author of several novels published in the United States and the United Kingdom under pseudonyms and under his own name. He has also written several books on history and current affairs. He lives in Toronto, Canada.
Mel u
1 comment:
Mel, both the subject and book are right up my alley. I did not know about Italy's invasion of Ethiopia during WW2, though I have read about British presence in Africa. Thanks for reviewing this book.
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