Dark Age: The Political Odyssey of Emperor BokassaMcGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 2002 - 257 σελίδες Dark Age recounts the turbulent political career of recently deceased Jean-Bedel Bokassa, the flamboyant president-for-life and later emperor of the Central African Republic/Empire. Brian Titley examines the myths and legends surrounding the man, probes their origins and veracity, and attempts to provide a more balanced perspective on this controversial and misunderstood figure. Following a lengthy career in the French army, Bokassa seized power in the Central African Republic in 1966. His flamboyance and excesses soon became legendary: he was accused of cannibalism, feeding enemies to lions and crocodiles, and beating schoolchildren to death. Bokassa's tendency for self-aggrandisement culminated in 1977 when he named himself emperor and orchestrated a coronation in the style of Napoleon's. He was overthrown by French paratroopers in 1979 and went into exile, but returned to his homeland in 1985 to face a sensational trial. Titley interprets Bokassa's authoritarian and self-aggrandising style as an attempt to legitimise his regime in a context devoid of indigenous political structures and explores the troubled relations between France and its former colonies. Combining techniques of historical inquiry and investigative journalism, he has produced a fascinating account of a pivotal chapter in contemporary African history. |
Περιεχόμενα
Coup détat | 19 |
Papa Bok | 33 |
Extended Family | 51 |
The French Connection | 65 |
La folie des grandeurs | 82 |
Oui Majesté impériale | 99 |
Barracuda | 125 |
The New Republic | 152 |
La vérité et lhonneur | 166 |
Accounting for His Stewardship | 181 |
A Note on Sources | 239 |
Άλλες εκδόσεις - Προβολή όλων
Συχνά εμφανιζόμενοι όροι και φράσεις
Abel Goumba Abidjan airport April army arrested arrived Bakouma Bangui Banza Barracuda became began Berengo Birao Boganda Bokassa Ier Bouar Camp de Roux Canard cannibalism Caravelle Catherine centrafricaine Centrafrique Central African Empire Central African Republic CFA francs château claimed colonial coronation coup court David Dacko death December defence diamonds documents Elysée empire Equatorial February former emperor France's François French Gadhaffi Gaulle Georges Bokassa Giscard d'Estaing Goumba guards Hardricourt Houphouët-Boigny imperial Interview Jacques January Jean-Bedel Jean-Bedel Bokassa Jeune Afrique journalists Journiac Kolingba later lawyers leaders Libyan Lobaye M'Baka M'Bongo Mbodou Meanwhile ment MESAN military Mitterrand never Ngaragba November Obrou October official Oubangui River Oubangui-Chari Palais Paris Patassé Péan political politique president presidential prison radio regime return to Bangui Robert Galley Roger Delpey role Saint-Sylvestre SDECE September soldiers Szpiner Tapie Tchad tion took trial vérité villa wanted