Weaving together narratives local and global, this is a story of hope, power, greed, compassion, and conscience-shocking violence from the world’s most neglected patch of territory. But it is also the story of an audacious attempt to forge a state from scratch, an intervention that reflects both the best of the West and its uncomfortable reckoning with the limits of Western power amid a world in disarray.
The author’s first-hand accounts, from deadly war zones to Washington’s halls of power, bring readers inside this unique episode in global history – an unprecedented experiment and a cautionary tale.
From moonlit battlefields and glitzy hotel ballrooms to the emerald marshes of the Nile, South Sudan’s story is a richly painted canvas. Present before, during, and after independence, the author has taken tea with everyone: guerrilla fighters and corrupt ministers, teenage cattle rustlers and shadowy intelligence agents. Coupling his years on the ground with a role in the Obama administration, Zach Vertin is uniquely positioned to give the insider account of this modern-day Greek tragedy.
- For readers of The Last King of Scotland by Giles Foden and We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will All Be Killed with Our Families by Philip Gourevitch
- Pre-publication acclaim: ‘A political rollercoaster from Africa to the White House and back. Zach Vertin rode in the front car and makes us feel every curve. He guides us through a war zone like no other, where a nation is born and left for dead.' Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bart Gellman; ‘Colourful and compelling, Zach Vertin matches expert analysis with a journalist’s knack for storytelling. He was present at the creation, and at the collapse, and I can think of no one better to tell this story.’ Sir Nicolas Kay, former UK Ambassador to Sudan; 'A hugely important contribution to the debate about one of Africa's longest running tragedies.’ Rt Hon Lord (Chris) Patten of Barnes, Chancellor of Oxford University.