Coming to Algiers from the sea is one of the most spine tingling travel experiences in the world. In the early morning light, the view from the water of the wall of white Moorish dwellings, the Casbah, is like gazing at a shimmering desert mirage and as unreal. The entire city sweeps upward and envelops the mountain behind it in a blaze of light from the east.
Before I started reading this book, I had no idea it was a memoir! A really gripping perspective on Algerian Reconstruction and the International Section of the Black Panther Party by an American interpreter for the Algerian government and the BPP. Because she is a Jewish internationalist, I, of course, feel an affinity towards her and I am grateful to have learned about her small but important role in the anti-colonial struggle.
ALGIERS, THIRD WORLD CAPITAL
Tallies of the number of people killed vary....On the eve of independence, the 500,000 books in the University of Algiers library went up in flames. The fires were lit by the dean of the university and the head librarian, who fled... to France: they torched the books "so as not to leave them for the FLN." ..... By the time of independence.... 50% of the population was destitute, hungry, and sick.
Lots of books to be covered... The bottom shelf has already been done so I'm slowly making progress...
#BTS #LitsyLovesLibraries #books #donations #processing
