Title: Travels with Herodotus
Author: Ryszard Kapuściński
First published September 28, 2004
288 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781400043385 (ISBN10: 1400043387)
Rating: 4.05
Overview
Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapuściński takes readers on a journey through the eyes of a young reporter exploring the world beyond the Iron Curtain. From India to Iran, China to the Congo, Kapuściński’s observations of the non-Western world are both wide-eyed and captivating.
With Herodotus as his companion, he discovers the “father of history” to be a great forerunner of globalism, helping him to make sense of events and find stories where they did not obviously exist. This book is an intimate account of one man’s thirst for discovering the broader world and a perfect companion for any reader looking to broaden their own horizons.
About the Author
At the young age of 17, Ryszard Kapuściński made his debut as a poet in Dziś i jutro. Since then, he has been a multifaceted individual, working as a journalist, writer, and publicist.
In 1964, he started working at the Polish Press Agency and began his travels across the developing world. His primary focus was to report on wars, coups, and revolutions in various regions such as Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
Astonishingly, he went through 27 revolutions and coups, was imprisoned 40 times, and survived four death sentences. During some of his travels, he also worked for the Polish Secret Service, but not much information about his role is available to the public.
Editoral Review
Ryszard Kapuściński’s 2004 work Travels with Herodotus is an engrossing memoir, in which the author reflects on his life as a journalist, traveling all over the world, and his passion for Herodotus and ancient history. This blend of travelogue, autobiography and historical analysis results in a work that is both informative and entertaining.
Kapuściński, who died in 2007, was one of the most celebrated Polish journalists and writers of the 20th century. Throughout his career, he reported on several armed conflicts, revolutions and coups across the globe.
Travels with Herodotus is his reflection on his formative years, particularly his first trip as a foreign correspondent in 1958. The book is organized chronologically, beginning with Kapuściński’s childhood and the influence of his father, who was a shoemaker and storyteller.
Kapuściński’s training as a journalist and his first assignments overseas are entertainingly portrayed, and the book gets particularly interesting when he comes to his first big assignment, in India. It was there that he discovered the writings of Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian and father of history, whose approach to journalism he would incorporate into his own work.
Kapuściński pursues different topics according to how they relate to Herodotus’s writings, from politics and culture to geography and religion. The book also moves from India to China, Africa and the Middle East, as Kapuściński’s fascination with Herodotus’ work leads him to re-examine his approaches to reporting on wars, revolution, and chaos worldwide.
However, the author also faces some personal struggles during his travels, as he becomes increasingly critical of the communist regime back home in Poland while also battling alcoholism. One of the strengths of Travels with Herodotus is the author’s narrative style, which feels both intimate and scholarly.
Kapuściński shares personal anecdotes, including his relationship with Herodotus, and fleshes them out with academic analysis of the historian’s work. He also provides vivid descriptions of the places he visits and the people he meets along the way, bringing his experiences to life for the reader.
Above all, Kapuściński seems to have a deep appreciation for his subject matter, and this shines through on every page. Despite these strengths, there are some flaws in the book.
The narrative can be slow at times, especially when Kapuściński spends too long discussing Herodotus’s work. This tends to detract from the insight into Kapuściński’s own experiences and the history of the places he visits.
Also, some readers may find the author’s admiration for Herodotus and his ways of narrating history to be overly romanticized. Overall, however, Travels with Herodotus is a well-written and perceptive work that will appeal to lovers of history, travel, and memoirs.
Kapuściński’s dedication to his subject matter is impressive, and his writing is often poetic without being too florid. His attention to detail and ability to bring together diverse cultural and historical topics make this book particularly compelling.
Anyone interested in understanding the world’s conflicts, cultures, and politics should experience this book. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
