Robert Ruark (1915–1965)

I first read this book as a 17 year old matric student and have subsequently re-read it twice more. Amazing how he had the foresight to predict the violence and desire for land which the white man had "stolen"from the local population. What has changed today? The local population is still violent and fighting to take back "
stolen" land, farmers are still being murdered and gender violence is rife. Well written, Robert Ruark.

Truly first rate writing. The stories he relates about boyhood with his grandfather in the outdoors are some of the finest you can find. They are well written and vivid. If you ever enjoyed a day outside then there is something for you in this book.

Uhuru means “Freedom” in Swahili. The novel "Uhuru" is loosely based on real events that took place during the uprising of black Africans in Kenya in the 1960s. As Kenya prepared for open elections and independence from Great Britain, the first item on the native African’s agenda was reclaiming land from white settlers. After World War I, as many as 20,000 white people settled on large tracts of the most fertile land and thrived with successful agricultural farms. As Kenya prepares to show more hang a white man for the very first time, it quickly becomes apparent that there would be no smooth transition.

The book "Uhuru" is seldom mentioned today but in 1962 it remained on the New York Times Best Seller List for six months. Dubbed as “a massive explosive novel, a high voltage shocker”… it was indeed!

The history of Kenya prior to the start of this story was tumultuous… the Mau Mau civil war, black militant activists, white troops, and white law and order. Horrifying atrocities were committed by both sides and several hundred thousand were killed. So as "Uhuru" begins, the black Kikuya natives feel a burning desire for vengeance… if not innate hatred for white people.

To complicate this volatile situation, several black politicians are competing for power and control. Their tactics range from the immoral and unethical to barbaric and evil: forced loyalty and occult rituals often involve torture, murder, cannibalism, and decapitation.

Shifting back and forth, the story is told from several points of view which include the black politicians, white land owners, and the innocent people caught in the middle.

Unfortunately, even thought the events of this book took place over 50 years ago, there has not been much improvement in Kenya. Despite being under black political control since 1963, Kenyans in the most recent years still suffer from human rights abuse, corruption and fraud within the government, torture, political assassinations, and a massive starving population.

Aside from writing novels, Robert Ruark was also a journalist. He wrote articles for sporting magazines in which he specialized in documenting African Safaris. So in addition to the riotous domestic drama and the political upheaval, as the story unfolds, "Uhuru" offers the reader intense, highly descriptive safari scenes such as hunting for elephants and leopards. Starting out with a bit of romance and a gentlemanly sporting adventure, the story ends with an explosive catastrophe. It’s a real page turner! show less

Ruark writes best about the outdoors and hunting. This is a nice blend of columns, magazine pieces and excepts from a couple of his novels. His capture of the details, the mundane discomforts of living in the hunt for an extended period is quite good. He also seemed quite candid about misses and failures along the way. Good reading.