A short life of the author
Ryszard Kapuściński (1932–2007) was born on 4 March 1932 in Pinsk, Poland (now Belarus). He worked as a foreign correspondent for the Polish Press Agency (PAP) from 1958 to 1981.
Life and Career
Cesarz (The Emperor, 1978) — an account of the last days of Haile Selassie’s Ethiopian empire, told through the voices of former courtiers — is both a masterpiece of reportage and a political allegory about authoritarian rule. Szachinszach (Shah of Shahs, 1982) — about the Iranian Revolution — combines reportage, history, and philosophical meditation.
Wojna futbolowa (The Soccer War, 1978) — dispatches from Africa and Central America — and Podróże z Herodotem (Travels with Herodotus, 2004) — about his early career, interwoven with readings of Herodotus — are his other major works.
Major Works and Themes
Kapuściński wrote about revolution, power, Third World politics, and the craft of observation. His work blurs the boundary between journalism and literature — which has made him controversial, as questions about the accuracy of his reporting have emerged since his death.
Key Works
- The Emperor (1978)
- Shah of Shahs (1982)
Collecting Kapuściński
Polish originals are the primary collected form. English translations (Harcourt, Vintage, Penguin) bring $10–$25. Kapuściński died in 2007.