Review by Choice Review
Pankhurst's book is a compilation of European accounts about aspects of Ethiopian social history from the Middle Ages to the early 19th century. Readers who are acquainted with Pankhurst's numerous works on Ethiopia will recognize the style for which he is well known. His works bring out the observations of European travelers at different periods. This is both the strength and the weakness of the book. The immense material gathered from the works of foreign visitors can be an invaluable source of information, but it can also be misleading if not used with care. Europeans come with their own cultural baggage and view things from their own cultural perspective. In some instances Pankhurst takes statements of foreign observers at face value. Often the statements are denigrating, but even when complimentary they tend to be overstated. The book is presented in essentially "who-said-when-about-what" form and can be tedious. It is anecdotal in its approach, but overall, it is a useful compendium of information on the social history of Ethiopia. Graduate.
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
