The Conscript: A Novel of Libya’s Anticolonial War (Modern African Writing Series)

A harrowing tale of colonial abuse and human loss. In spite of its formal shortcomings, the emotional investment that the narrator makes and the story of inhumanity is as relevant today as it was when the novella was first written. The translator evinces great care in conveying the spirit of the original work, a landmark in Tigrinya narrative. The introductory essays are incredibly illuminating. Initially I read the work as part of my own research for my play Crushed at the Crossing or the Tyranny of Freedom, but I ended up rereading it several times to better capture the emotional load and each time ended up almost sobbing over the tragic events.

There's not much I could say that isn't already said in the introduction about the beauty and importance of this work, but let me at least say I concur. This is a great read, and an important one for anyone interested in World Literature (or just someone who likes a good story). I wish I could have gone through this with a good book club. There's a lot of interesting stuff to discuss in here.

This short-run book covers a memorable experience of Italian colonial army known as Askari in Eritrea. None of them lived to write their stories lack of education or literary skill. Dr. Girmay's thoughtful writing is a challenge to all Eritrean scholars who are expected to make an extenisve research related to Eritrean colonial history.-Haile Bokure

I found the book unique for its unaffected style, a genuinely compassionate recounting of the sense of alienation felt by those who were colonised and oppressed and then used to colonise and oppress others. What was moving was the realisation of the irony, a bitterness. I am writing about this period, a piece of historical fiction, and it intoned entirely with my own understandings.

Excellent.

I would recommend this product to anybody whose interested in african studies, african related subjects! It's fun and easy to read too!

A gorgeous book, if not somewhat disturbing. Following a young man who is forced (though somewhat duped as well) into fighting for a colonial power, what we have here is a powerful account of fighting a war for someone else.

The book was an easy read and had some sort of climax but did not tell much for the historical background. Book was dry and times but did have its moments