When Mussolini decides to colonize Ethiopia, Kidane rouses men from nearby villages to fight against the Italian armies. With scarce resources and old fashioned weapons, they are hardly a threat to Italy’s modern machinery, including mustard gas. Ethiopians are disheartened when every family suffers losses and their leader, Haile Selassie, secretly absconds from the country. But when Hirut notices one of the soldiers resembles their king, Kidane dresses him as Selassie and rouses Ethiopians to fight again.
Continue reading “Maaza Mengiste’s—The Shadow King”
