Interviews With History and Power

If you've never heard the melodic name - Oriana Fallaci - or are too young to remember her fiery, rat-a-tat interviews with the world leaders of the 1960s through the 1980s, then I would put this book on your Required Reading list. Gone now, a victim of cancer and not of a fatwa, Fallaci is beautifully-served in this compilation of her most fascinating interviews.To say Fallaci was merely a feminist would be grossly underrepresenting the colors on her palette. Deeply moral, she somehow got away with treating her subjects with a frankness and disdain that would never be tolerated today."Imam Khomeini, you always talk about the West in hard or critical terms. All of your judgments make it seem as though you view us as champions of every ugliness, every perversity. And yet the West took you in when you were in exile, and took in many of your collaborators, many of whom actually studied in the West. Many studied free of charge, with scholarships. Don't you think that there might be something good in us?"Imagine that? A journalist with a point of view.Fallaci's point of view is what always set her apart from the pack. If you want to see the essence of her genius, you should read this treatise on the "humor of power" that ends with the Khomeini interview. Because she was highly critical of the Shah in power before Iran became the Islamic Republic, Fallaci was considered a hero in Teheran and was able to move about with ease in the new Republic. Surely, Khomeini expected her to immortalize him as the great savior of Iran.That was his first mistake.Fallaci has always been my hero. I used to root for her in her interviews. She always had the last word. But she was no mere provocateur. She was a brilliant writer, a light in the darkness for a lot of people, and she always told it like it was. She was warning the world. Khomeini got his hands on a copy of the transcribed interview and one month later "students" took American Embassy workers hostage.When she died, Christopher Hitchens wrote about her in Vanity Fair. They were good friends, on par with each other philosophically and stylistically. Though she didn't publish as much in her later years, she never let up on the "stupid dictators" who were no better than their predecessors, no matter how much change was promised.It's a shame she had to go so soon. She would have provided great commentary on the revolution in the Islamic world going on today.Run and get this book. Five Stars. Great Read!

I am an admirer of Oriana Fallaci and read "Interviews with History" ( translated in 1976), a good many years ago, along with several other of her booksi. I have someone on my Christmas list who I thought would enjoy the interviews by the great interviewer, and came across this edition which had something added to the title "...and Conversations with Power", which peaked my interest. I haven't given it to the gentleman yet, but, Oriana has been described as "One of the most gifted and determined interviewers alive ..." and "Fallaci brings a formidable amount of background knowledge to each interview. She knows her history." and "A truly sensational collection of Fallaci's championship bouts with the great ... it's often devastating, never less than totally absorbing." I find her to be a powerful force, bright, passionate and fearless --- unique for her times --- perhaps even these times.

Gave it to a friend as a birthday gift LOVED OT

Fallaci's journalism is superior. The book is fascinating to read, however the editorial mistakes, word substitutions, repetitions, omissions and so on, are making reading somewhat irritating. The further into the book the worst it gets. Also, the book does not have a list of chapters! You can tell that it was compiled in a rush with little attention to the details. What a shame!.... but I still would recommend it.

It is amazing how she could find all these informations. She is the best interviewer I’ve ever seen. Too bad she died too soon!

New condition, good timing, thank you

A class of History through the words of its protagonist thanks to Oriana Falaci.

Oriana Fallaci was a great writer! Terrific book lots of insight.