Two Weeks in the Trenches: Reminiscences of Childhood and War in Eritrea

by Alemseged Tesfai

Murray Last, the eminent editor of Journal of Modern African Studies, says about Two Weeks in the Trenches, “ I found it so moving that I couldn’t put it down....” He further notes that he found “The Heart,” one of the short stories in the book, “...more captivating than I did the first time around. Of course, the rhythms of the sentences, the restrained poetry of some of the phrasing and words, were as much a delight as before. It reads extraordinarily well in English (it makes me wonder how the original Tigrinya sounds), with its clarity, its near-simplicity of expression. I could imagine it being read aloud....” “Heart” is a word used in Tigrinya more than in most languages, and the heart is at the center of Alemseged Tesfai’s writing. Ranging from the heart of children and families to the heart of Eritrea’s struggle for independence, Two Weeks in the Trenches is the testimony of Alemseged Tesfai’s own heart, too. It quickens when confronted with all that remains of one particular soldier after a battle—just a human organ, a heart in the dust—and the result is an unforgettable story of war that is worthy to join the most ancient and eloquent chorus of all peace.” --Charles Cantalupo, Co-translator of We have Our Voice (RSP, 2000) and We Invented the Wheel (RSP, 2002)

Genres: Eritrea

Paperback

Published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Around the World Reading Challenge: ERITREA
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Interesting collection that includes several memoir essays of the author's childhood and experiences during the struggle for independence in Eritrea from Ethiopian occupation, as well as several short plays written by the author. I enjoyed the writing and learning more about Eritrea, which isn't a country I've much knowledge about. I do wish there'd been a bit more of the historical context here, as this really throws you into the author's remembrances and really presumes the reader has a good baseline knowledge of the Ethiopian occupation and what they were fighting for and against. It was certainly readable without that knowledge, but I think even having a brief overview of the occupation would help contextualize the essays.

[AiLuL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating; in a way, it is simply the diary of a man who experienced a war firsthand from multiple perspectives; the side of the aggressor, a bystander and a rebel fighter. I loved that I could relate to the short stories within, and I can promise that each one has left an imprint on me. It has been almost a month since I last read this book, yet my emotions still feel raw and I find myself continuously thinking back to the characters left behind in this book. Thank you Alemseged for immortalising the experiences of my people.