Set in Ethiopia the book begins and ends with a box of photographs. In 1934 there are domestic tensions between Hirut, her employer, Kidane, and his wife, Aster. The story segues into the war between colonising Italians and the Ethiopian soldiers, both men and women. Often surprisingly lyrical in parts and devastatingly cruel in others, Hirut's resilience and dignity shine through. The photographer, an Italian Jew, forms a major part of the story too. A fascinating historical read.
(Christine Miller - bwl 100 Spring 2021 ) |
