The Soccer War (Granta Paperbacks) - Softcover

In 1964 Ryszard Kapuscinski was appointed by the Polish Press Agency as its foreign correspondent, and for the next ten years was "responsible" for 50 countries. He was witness to 27 revolutions and coups. This book is his account of the revolutions he has seen, a chronicle of the Third World establishing its independece and coming into its own. The book consists of more than 20 set pieces - narrative accounts of the revolutions in Algeria, Namibia, in the Congo, the revolutions in Tanzania, Kenya, the soccer war between El Salvador and Honduras, the overthrow of Allende - connected by an account of all the business undergone to make the stories possible in the first place - dealings with the editor, having to return back home, the estrangement from the family, the irritation and boredom of being behind the desk, having to get an airplane ticket, having to get a visa and having to cross the border illegally. It also tells of how in Brundi he was sentenced to death by firing-squad; and in Nigeria of how he survived by driving through machine-gun fire and a series of burning road-blocks.