Despite the lack of consensus among scholars regarding Ethiopia's Haile Selassie, fundamental questions persist: Who was Haile Selassie? How did he manage to survive for over fifty years? And how did he end up as a de facto exile in his own country, only to be eventually assassinated as the last emperor in a centuries-old dynasty? Haggai Erlich's book on Haile Selassie offers an abundance of fresh perspectives and profound insights that greatly contribute to our comprehension of this remarkable ruler. By incorporating newly uncovered archival sources and drawing upon extensive research on Ethiopia spanning several decades, Erlich presents a nuanced and at times tragic account, illuminating not only the life of an individual but also the complex narrative of modern Ethiopia within its domestic and global context.
