A compassionate story

Rhodesia may have been a short lived country, but its history still fascinates me. Listening to Peter Godwin tell his story of growing up in the country and experiencing the UDI and the war that followed as seen through his eyes makes it feels as if I was there with him.

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Must listen

Outstanding book. My father was born in Rhodesia, I am now 42 and have been many times. Peter has me in tears at points. I have sat in Bulawayo with my aunt watching the cinney footage from the 50’,s onwards, the trading posts, the lifestyle, the fauna and flora . I was born in 1980 and first visited in 86. My father was at Falcon and peters parallele description of school and his upbringing are so vivid. I felt like I was listening to part of my own life story … and the horrors that followed. Thank you Peter.

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Fascinating memoir, read by the author.

This is a wonderful book, and what an absolute treat to listen to it read by the author himself, who lived through these horrific times in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia. It’s beautifully written, informative on the historical and political context, and in spite of all the sadness and horror, the author keeps a sense of irony and humour that is very welcome. Thank you Peter Godwin for your beautiful memoir and thank you Audible for bringing it to us in this format.

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Good read

So realistic it must be true. A brief description of one man’s contribution failing to rescue the existence of Rhodesia.

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Outstanding my History

Having lives in Rhodesia and subsequently Zimbabwe, it appears I only knew a little of what was really going on.
Thank you for opening my eyes. This book was very well read by Peter and very interesting too.

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BLOOD OF MY HEART

I am two years younger than Peter and was born in Shabani - Zvishavane today.

Like Peter I suffered the preparatory abuses of boarding school, Falcon College, in preparation for National Service. In 1979 I volunteered to serve with the Selous Scouts right at the point of our spear, right at the hiatus of our 'bush war'. I was eighteen years old and despite our best collective resistance and denials, 'independence' followed in 1980.

Bewildered, I like so many left a land shortly thereafter that I have never since found to replace. Perplexed by a deep cognitive dissonance, I have by slow degree come to see how horribly wrong we were, our 'elders and betters'. It has been a process that has consumed my lifetime and cost me everything I once held dear.

'Homeland', as a white African, I have not found in my ancestral European colonial origins. Irish, Scottish, French, English and Dutch, seven generations interwoven in Southern Africa going back to Van Riebeek's time, lost to geopolitical arrogance and venality; narcissistic tectonics that began long before I was even born. I understand it all now, but the discovery has taken my soul and drained my heart.

Family and society, the intransigence that formed the backbone of our collective hubris and was given voice by Ian Smith in his doomed parody of Churchillian denial, "Never in a thousand years." No. Far, far less.

Today I feel my purpose and life-force rapidly expiring, and knowing the meaninglessness of this in the world at large there are only words I can now offer.

Hubris. Entitlement. Intolerance. The absence of reason, the incapacity for personal introspection and empathy. War. These are our collective downfall not as a post-colonial country but as an entire species, and I now understand why.

Today we face a far older, far better informed and motivated covert agenda by a similarly dysfunctional minority and it threatens us all. Every single one of us.

I hope to present this in a form anywhere near as emotively as Peter Godwin has because it needs to be as relateable, to be known about. It needs to be felt as viscerally as I have felt 'Mukiwa' but in advance warning rather than retrospective hindsight.

Peter, if you somehow come to read this, make contact bro'. You have the voice and I am fast bleeding out into unknown sands.

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Amazing Book

What a wonderful book narrated so honestly by the author. Such an interesting insight into life in Rhodesia and the following terrible trials and tribulations until the land became Zimbabwe. Shocking insight into humanity at its very worst and very best.
Is a must read to understand what really happened from someone who experienced it all and loved his country so much.

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Unique, what a life

Enjoyed every word, Never read another book like it and to think it wasn’t fiction

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Great story

Love these stories from my childhood in Africa. Everything that makes a suspense and thriller. Real life story too boot.

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An excellent story of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe

A truely evocative memoir, beautifully told. So accurate in all the names, places and events.

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