My Life and Ethiopia's Progress: The Autobiography of Emperor Haile Sellassie I Volume 1: 1892-1937

by Haile Selassie I, Edward Ullendorff (Translator)

For close on 58 years Emperor Sellassie I has been ruler of Ethiopia and for 44 years her Emperor, the world's senior statesman, aloof and regal, heir to a long tradition of Semitic exclusiveness, yet founder of the Organization of African Unity; approachable as well as withdrawn, imbued with profound mystique, small in physical stature, yet commanding in personality and a symbol of regal strength and enduring power.

During the lifetime of this Emperor greater and more profound changes have occurred in Ethiopia than throughout the previous two and a half millennia of recorded Ethopian history.

Genres: Biography, Ethiopia, History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Religion, Africa

366 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Last Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974 with lineage tracing back to King Solomon and Queen Sheba and the Jewish emperor of Ethiopia Menelik I.

During world war II Selassie fled to England where he became a allied propagandist. And was reinstated by the British as the emporer of Ethiopia to be overthrown in 1974.

In 1975 he died under suspicious circumstances. The post-communist government denied him a royal funeral.

Selassie is seen as a messsiah/holy person to the rastafarian faith.

Reviews

[Hamza · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good portion of this book, especially towards the end during the war with Italy, is absolutely enthralling. For that alone, I nearly gave it five stars. Unfortunately, there's a lot of perhaps unnecessary detail in the earlier parts of the book. Included in this would be some documents and speeches which, though important as pieces of history, likely didn't need to be reproduced in full. They tend to sort of take away from the enjoyment of the book. Nonetheless, I believe everyone should read this book because of the man's historical importance.

[Simonbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haile Selassies' autobiography is a very interesting and important book. Starting with the experience of young Tafari Makonnen in 19th century Ethiopia, this book shows and reflects the political career of one of the world's most famous politicians in the 20th century. The author further elaborates on his promotion to Ras Tafari, his appointment as governor in the region of Harar in 1910, his appointment as regent and crown prince of Ethiopia in 1917 and his coronation of Ethiopian Empreror as Haile Selassie I. in 1930.
While the descriptions of the hierarchies in the Ethiopian royal family were a bit too long in my opinion, I really enjoyed reading Selassie's reflections on his efforts in modernizing Ethiopia and on global diplomacy. Especially, reading about Haile Selassies travels to Europe and the Middle East in the 1920s and his diplomatic efforts in the League of Nations was amazing. The last part about the Italian invasion is also very dramatic. The book ends with Selassies' legendary speech at the League of Nations in Geneva in 1936 and his exile. All in all, this is an amazing book, especially if you are interested in diplomacy of the inter-war period and Ethiopian politics. And of course, Haile Selassie was such an important and fascinating politician, that this book guarantees lots interesting insights into politics from an African perspective.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An autobiography with a very niche audience. I figure that there's two kinds of people who would be interested: rastafaris and folks interested in Ethiopian history. You really get the impression of how great of a man and monarch Haile Sellassie was. Some chapters are dry and they deal with genealogies or administrative functions but there are a few chapters that are amazing. My favorite section is His Majesty's tour of Europe right before he became Emperor.

[Mando · Rating 5 out of 5]

King Of Kings

[Anteneh Moges · Rating 3 out of 5]

good

[Paul Brunson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the perspective of Emperor Sellassie, namely about events leading up to Ethiopia's war with Italy. Must read.

[Jeffrey Valerie]

I can't think anything right now, as you have not given me the book to read which claim to have but cannot produce/

[Aklila Kedan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of my most favourite books. It has such a profound message within the stories. Just love it!!

[Nhlamulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good