Product Description
"Part travelogue, part history, part memoir, Rebecca Haile's Held at a Distance shines a bright and unique light on Ethiopia, a country in whose fortunes we as Americans and Westerners have been concerned for some time, but which remains in large part a mystery to many of us. . . . Today, Ethiopia, for far too many people, is synonymous with poverty and warfare; but for generations of African Americans, it was the font of black civilization itself, the spiritual source of visions of a united and prosperous Pan-Africa, the living testament to the glories that were Black Africa. In her bold new book, Haile moves far beyond the one-dimensional headlines that encapsulate Ethiopia in the Western press to provide as rich and nuanced a portrait of her native land as I have seen. It's an important and beautifully written volume."--HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., Harvard University

"This is the story of an Ethiopian child who became an American adult, and then returned to rediscover her country of origin after 25 years. What she discovers is the difficulty and dangers of defining identity in our contemporary world, a well-nigh universal problem. This is a memoir that reads like a novel, and encourages thoughtful reflection on our dilemmas."--IMMANUEL WALLERSTEIN, Yale University

In this first hand account of a woman's journey back to her homeland, Rebecca Haile's Held at a Distance: My Rediscovery of Ethiopia gives readers a powerful and unique glimpse into a fascinating African country. Haile was born in Ethiopia in 1965 and lived there until she was eleven years old. When the Emperor was deposed by a military coup, Haile's father, a leading academic in Addis Ababa, was shot while "resisting arrest." Barely surviving, he escaped with his family and settled in central Minnesota where they struggled with the cultural and financial strain of their drastically changed circumstances.

Haile grew up in America harboring her precious childhood memories, but in time saw herself as more American than Ethiopian. She attended Williams College and went on to graduate from Harvard Law School. In 2001, she was the first member of her family to return to Ethiopia. Her trip profiles key family members who are still living in the country, and she writes movingly about Ethiopia's recent past and its ancient history.

Few books have dealt with the millions of Ethiopians affected by war and strife in their country. Rebecca Haile's book brings into focus the challenges and consequences of three decades of political upheaval in Ethiopia. She offers a clear-eyed analysis of the country today, and her keen observations and personal experiences will resonate with readers.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 9 reviews)

wonderful!

Rebecca's book was so informative when reading through the lens of Ethiopian adoption. It is a window into the mind of a woman who is Ethiopian and American as she works through her thoughts and relationship with Ethiopia, its politics, people and land - something our family will be doing for the rest of our lives. All the history and culture was a bonus! I loved the book.
March 13, 2008

Groundbreaking Book

As one of the first books to be published by an Ethiopian American, HELD AT A DISTANCE is significant. Categorizing this book is nearly impossible--which is a strength and should make it widely appealing. It is a seamless mixture of memoir, travelogue, history, political science, and sociology...and also, just a nice piece of personal writing. It provides both a personal perspective on and a broader introduction to contemporary Ethiopia and the growing and vibrant Ethiopian community in the US. The style is accessible and absorbing, written with a focus on individuals, moments, and places, with a flow of information and analysis (with neither apparent biases nor neat resolutions)--and some tasty language. Grounded in her memoir/travelogue are insights on specifics of Ethiopian culture, history, and politics; yet it's easy for anyone who likes reflections on/stories about family, identity, immigration, and memory to relate to and appreciate. When you finish this book, you will want to learn more about Ethiopia and hear the stories of other Ethiopians in the diaspora. Based on my students' responses after reading HELD AT A DISTANCE, I can say that this book will inspire others.
March 13, 2008

okay

I did learn a little about Ethiopia from this book, but I found it too personal to the author's story and too Amharic-centric. The author does not take a look at the historical & political things with any objectivity, nor does she explore why these things really happened to her family. She is very Amharic-centric, seeming not to fully realize that many other ethnicities make up Ethiopian society as well. This will be a fantastic book for her children to read about their parents life, but was boring for me.
January 18, 2008

Ethiopia

HELD AT A DISTANCE: MY REDISCOVERY OF ETHIOPIA
I empathized with Ms. Hailu's narrative because of the fact that I was also born in Ethiopia of Greek decent parents. I am of her father's generation and had the opportunity to have connected with several of the young men and women that in those days made the giant leap into the new world. We all shared the time's uncertainty and wondered what our fates would be when our Emperor would pass away. I remember another Hailu telling me "We do not know what awaits us, how could I imagine what your destiny wouyld be ? ". Several of my school budies fell victims of the Mangistu regime attrocities. The rest are probably in the diaspora.
NGA

November 19, 2007

Interesting, much-needed viewpoint

Ms. Haile's book was more than just an enjoyable and interesting read; it was an all-too-rare voyage into an unfamiliar culture from the viewpoint of someone who is rooted in both that culture and our own. Seeing this "mysterious" world through the eyes of a well-educated American who grew up in Ethiopia we can understand the differences in a way that someone who isn't a part of both worlds cannot. Reading the book was a fun experience and I found myself happy to devour it.
July 24, 2007

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