Bereket Habte Selassie has written a gripping epic novel which is absolutely thrilling. This is an historical novel of modern times, full of intracacies and suspenseful drama.
The main events occur in Ethiopia during the revolutionary period of 1969-1974, ending with the overthrow of Emperor Halle Selassie. The chief protagonist and narrator, Desta, is a well-placed official of the Emperor's government who is a close confidante of the Prime Minister and is at the same time a member of an underground revolutionary movement. He also has a complicated love life.
The tension implicit in his dual roles between his private and public life, gives Desta's odyssey its peculiar quality. Desta's complex life amidst the fascinating social and political milieu grabs and holds the reader's attention as the drama unfolds.