Ryszard Kapuscinski

The brilliant Polish reporter and travel writer Ryszard Kapuscinski recently passed. As a sort of homage The New Yorker has published his remembrance of his first trip abroad.

Kapuscinsky grew up and became a writer in Communist Poland during the Stalinist era. This informed so much of what he wrote. I have become familiar with his work over the years because he wrote a great deal about Africa. Perhaps because of his eastern European roots, or perhaps because of the peculiarities of translation Kapuscinsky's writing has its own unique rhythm, simultaneously staid and lyrical. I would strongly encourage anyone reading this to go and purchase one of his books or collections. He wrote during a time of tremendous change and he was able to document and observe so much of the transforming world and in so many ways his work serves as a model of reportage.

Update: Today's New York Times has an appreciation from Verlyn Klinkenborg on Kapuscinski's life and work.