Buy this book on-line

Rusesabagina, Paul (Author/Witness) & Zoellner, Tom (Co-Author) : An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography

Viking Press, New York City, NY, 2006

ISBN 0670037524

First Edition / First Printing. Fine in Fine Dust Jacket. 207 pages. The author's autobiography. One of the greatest biographical accounts of the 20th century. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents Paul Rusesabagina's "An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography". An indispensable account for our (and all) time: Bearing witness to The African Holocaust. As his title suggests, Paul Rusesabagina was just an ordinary man (just as Oscar Schindler was) who faced a horrific situation with extraordinary courage. "For hotel manager Rusesabagina, words are the most powerful weapon for good or evil, as was the case in the Spring of 1994 in Rwanda. Within 100 days, 800, 000 people were slaughtered. Rusesabagina, the inspiration for the film, 'Hotel Rwanda', used his facility with words and persuasion to save 1, 268 of his fellow countrymen, turning the Belgian luxury hotel under his charge into a sanctuary from madness. Through negotiation, favor, flattery, and deception, Rusesabagina managed to keep his 'guests' alive despite the homicidal gangs just beyond the fence and the world's failure to act" (Publisher's blurb). As the killings were going on, President Clinton adamantly refused to call the slaughter "genocide" because of the moral responsibility the word entailed. By the time the United States and the Rest of the World intervened, more than one million dead Rwandans were rotting in the streets, a tragedy that Clinton himself described in his memoir, "My Life", as one of the most shameful chapters of the worst century in human history. At least he admits it happened during his watch. "We all knew we would die, no question. The only question was, how? Would they chop us to pieces? With their machetes, they would cut your left hand off. Then they would disappear and reappear a few hours later to cut off your right hand. A little later, they would return for your left leg. They came and went until you died. They wanted to make you suffer as long as possible. There was only one other alternative: You could pay soldiers so they would just shoot you, execution-style" (Paul Rusesabagina). An eloquently written story that tells us of the darkest side of humanity as plainly as possible, Nelson Mandela has urged all human beings, not just Africans, to read it and never forget. An absolute "must-have" title for Paul Rusesabagina collectors. This copy is very prominently and beautifully signed in black pen-marker on the title page by Paul Rusesabagina. It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. This title is now collectible. As far as we know, this is one of few such signed copies of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright, a pristine beauty. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare signed copy thus. Paul Rusesabagina received The Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the highest award the United States Government accords individual achievers and brave men and women. A fine copy. . ISBN 0670037524.

1
1

Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints.