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Beneath the Lion's Gaze

Beneath the Lion's Gaze

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  • Create Date：2021-04-02 14:56:20
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
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  • Author：Maaza Mengiste
  • ISBN：0393338886
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Summary

"An important novel， rich in compassion for its anguished characters。"—The New York Times Book Review

This memorable， heartbreaking story opens in Addis Ababa， Ethiopia， 1974， on the eve of a revolution。 Yonas kneels in his mother’s prayer room， pleading to his god for an end to the violence that has wracked his family and country。 His father， Hailu， a prominent doctor， has been ordered to report to jail after helping a victim of state-sanctioned torture to die。 And Dawit， Hailu’s youngest son， has joined an underground resistance movement—a choice that will lead to more upheaval and bloodshed across a ravaged Ethiopia。

Beneath the Lion’s Gaze tells a gripping story of family， of the bonds of love and friendship set in a time and place that has rarely been explored in fiction。 It is a story about the lengths human beings will go in pursuit of freedom and the human price of a national revolution。 Emotionally gripping， poetic， and indelibly tragic， Beneath The Lion’s Gaze is a transcendent and powerful debut。

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Reviews

Rhoda ，

This was my read the world selection for Ethiopia。In Addis Ababa in 1974， as the country is on the brink of a revolution， Hailu is a doctor who is losing his wife to illness。 As chaos and bloodshed descend， Hailu’s two sons respond in very different ways。 Yonas， the older son retreats to the prayer room and pleads for an end to the violence。 Dawit， the younger son responds by joining an underground resistance movement。When Hailu helps a victim of state-sanctioned torture to die， he is ordered to This was my read the world selection for Ethiopia。In Addis Ababa in 1974， as the country is on the brink of a revolution， Hailu is a doctor who is losing his wife to illness。 As chaos and bloodshed descend， Hailu’s two sons respond in very different ways。 Yonas， the older son retreats to the prayer room and pleads for an end to the violence。 Dawit， the younger son responds by joining an underground resistance movement。When Hailu helps a victim of state-sanctioned torture to die， he is ordered to report to jail and conflict escalates both inside and outside of his family and they are forced to examine the bonds of family and friendship。 There is not a lot of plot to this story and it is more an examination and experience of the conflict from the perspective of several family members。 This is an interesting way to learn about history， despite this being a work of fiction。 Although I liked the characters， I didn’t feel fully engaged with them until a long way into the book and even then， I can’t say they really leapt off the page for me。 I did find this book interesting （and rather gruesome at times）， but I never felt as emotionally connected to it as I would have liked to have been。 Despite this， the author has a lovely writing style that I enjoyed reading and although it’s more a 3。75 rating for me， I’m rounding it up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5。 。。。more

Naomi ，

This was a hard read about the overthrow of Haile Selasssi and the red terror in Ethiopia。 Hard because at times it feels like nothing good is happening， but that's military dictatorship for you。 It's really a story of different ways of coping and resisting and about the choices and priorities of people and families living under repression。 Definitely would recommend。 This was a hard read about the overthrow of Haile Selasssi and the red terror in Ethiopia。 Hard because at times it feels like nothing good is happening， but that's military dictatorship for you。 It's really a story of different ways of coping and resisting and about the choices and priorities of people and families living under repression。 Definitely would recommend。 。。。more

Vincent ，

A tale depicting the social chaos surrounding the 1974 overthrow of emperor Haile Selassie， this book reveals the military junta to be at least as brutal as the deposed emperor， and the length people go to when their backs are against the wall: Hailu resort to indifference， Dawit to rebellion， Yonas to religion。。。。

Gabrielle ，

fascinating book set in Ethiopia during the military coup of 1974 and end of the era Haile SelassieAt times very brutal but beautifully written。 Very good character portrayals

Sonja ，

Beneath the Lion’s Gaze is about the period during and after the overthrow of Haile Selassie。 Maaza Mengiste focuses on one family but manages to show the horror of those times and includes all the political forces。 The story is very engaging but much of the time hard to read because of the violence and torture and death。 Although fictional， I believe this is an accurate portrayal of what happened under the name of revolution and socialism。 It is a huge human tragedy。 I learned much about Ethiop Beneath the Lion’s Gaze is about the period during and after the overthrow of Haile Selassie。 Maaza Mengiste focuses on one family but manages to show the horror of those times and includes all the political forces。 The story is very engaging but much of the time hard to read because of the violence and torture and death。 Although fictional， I believe this is an accurate portrayal of what happened under the name of revolution and socialism。 It is a huge human tragedy。 I learned much about Ethiopia and would like to read more。 。。。more

Neil MacDonald ，

“When the Italians were here， at least you could tell who the enemy was，” says a character in Maaza Mengiste’s Beneath the Lion’s Gaze。 I remember someone saying something similar to me in Brazil about the civilian government just after the fall of the military junta。 In Mengiste’s case， the enemy is the Derg， the military regime that overthrew the emperor Haile Selasse in Ethiopia。 It’s a brave book， straddling the revolutionary period of the overthrow and its brutal aftermath。 But we never rea “When the Italians were here， at least you could tell who the enemy was，” says a character in Maaza Mengiste’s Beneath the Lion’s Gaze。 I remember someone saying something similar to me in Brazil about the civilian government just after the fall of the military junta。 In Mengiste’s case， the enemy is the Derg， the military regime that overthrew the emperor Haile Selasse in Ethiopia。 It’s a brave book， straddling the revolutionary period of the overthrow and its brutal aftermath。 But we never really learn who the enemy is。 The enemy is simply the embodiment of evil， devoid of humanity and motivation。 The main characters， the family of Dr。 Hailu are different shades of good。 The doctor himself is old fashioned。 The youngest son， Dawit， is rebellious and the oldest son， Yonas， dutiful。 In a massive historical tale， such characters largely become ciphers of plot。。 There are moments of the sublime writing she went on to develop in her later novel， The Shadow King。 In that novel， the very landscape is animated by spirit， and the story is carried by flawed and fully human characters。 In Beneath the Lion’s Gaze， character is subordinate to plot。 But the plot is gripping as， the family mirrors the anguish of Ethiopia。 。。。more

Brooklyn Sr ，

Great， but tragic storyFar as I remember， 2 friends and one joins the military and the other friend doesn’t agree with。 The military harass the main characters family and him and his childhood friend are at odds。 I believe the military tries or does overthrow Hallie Sallasie。 Takes place in Ethiopia

Barbara ，

The events which tore Ethiopia apart in 1974， told through the experience of a single family， their friends， their servants。 Everyone is tested， everyone is fragile and strong at the same time。 Everyone lives in fear and dread。 There is a lot of horror， betrayal， cowardice， bravery， and poetry。

Mohammed ，

تحت نظرة الأسد المحدقةمازا منجستعودة إلى الأدب الأفريقي، هذه المرة من أثيوبيا。 بلد البُن والخيرات، بلد الحروب والمجاعة والثورات。تسجل الرواية منعطفاً حاداً في تاريخ أثيوبيا الحديث مابين سقوط الامبراطورية ووصول الشيوعيين إلى سدة الحكم。يرتفع الستار في مستهل الرواية على القلاقل التي واكبت نهاية حكم الامبراطور هيلا سيلاسي، الذي حكم البلاد انطلاقاً من حق إلهي لا تمتلك أغلبية الشعب المتدين الاعتراض عليه。 الامبراطور سليل سليمان الحكيم، قاهر الطليان، وريث امبراطورية الألف عام。 اتسمت تلك الفترة بالفساد وس تحت نظرة الأسد المحدقةمازا منجستعودة إلى الأدب الأفريقي، هذه المرة من أثيوبيا。 بلد البُن والخيرات، بلد الحروب والمجاعة والثورات。تسجل الرواية منعطفاً حاداً في تاريخ أثيوبيا الحديث مابين سقوط الامبراطورية ووصول الشيوعيين إلى سدة الحكم。يرتفع الستار في مستهل الرواية على القلاقل التي واكبت نهاية حكم الامبراطور هيلا سيلاسي، الذي حكم البلاد انطلاقاً من حق إلهي لا تمتلك أغلبية الشعب المتدين الاعتراض عليه。 الامبراطور سليل سليمان الحكيم، قاهر الطليان، وريث امبراطورية الألف عام。 اتسمت تلك الفترة بالفساد وسوء توزيع الثروة، بالإضافة إلى مجاعة إقليم وولو التي كانت بمثابة المسمار الأخير في نعش امبراطورية عتيقة。تلى ذلك ما نظن أنه انفراجه على شكل ثورة شعبية ينفذها انقلاب عسكري أبيض。 لكن ذلك البياض ينقلب إلى سواد فاحم ما إن يتمكن الجنرالات من الاستفراد بالحكم وتحويل البلاد إلى دولة ماركسية يحكمها حزب واحد بقيادة الرهيب منجستو هيلا ميريام، الذي ورد ذكره في الرواية باسم الجنرال جودو。 وهكذا انتقلت الحبشة من حكم امبراطوري إلى حكم دموي ازدهرت فيه المذابح وشُيدت فيه السجون وتفشى فيها الرعب。 سمعت من أحد الأصدقاء، وظننتها مبالغة، أن الحكومة كانت عندما تعدم أحد المواطنين لا تسلم جثمانه لذويه إلا بعد دفع مبلغٍ لقاء الرصاصة التي "خسرتها" الحكومة على فقيدهم。 وثقت هذه الرواية –وغيرها من المصادر- هذه الوقائع الوحشية。 وفي خضم تلك التقلبات والاضطرابات، تعيش شخصيات الرواية ما بين مستلم يائس، ومقاوم ثائر، ومهادن مرتزق وآخرون حائرون。 لا شك أن القرّاء من العالم العربي سيشعرون بشيء من الارتباط مع الأحداث وردود أفعال الشخصيات بنسب متفاوتة。 كما لا شك بأن الرواية صورت فظائع محطمة للأعصاب。 غير أنها –في رأيي- قدمتها في قالب درامي مؤثر متسق مع الحبكة。 اللغة سلسة والأحداث تسير بوتيرة جيدة، بعيدة عن التمهل الممل أو التعجل المخل。وددت لو أن النَص اجتهد قليلًا في تصوير الثقافة المحلية من لغة وعادات。。。إلخ。 وعلى الرغم من ذلك فإنني أزعم بأن الرواية كانت أفضل مما توقعت。 حد علمي أنها لم تترجم إلى العربية بعد، وكم من جواهر الأدب العالمي حُرمنا منها لعدم توفر الترجمة。 。。。more

Z ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 "Sofia kissed each cheek and each hand， and smoothed the creases in his wrinkled shorts。 She shifted the rigid body onto her lap， then she cradled it as best she could。 Rocking softly， she began to hum， her voice like a blowing feather， the sounds evidence of a grief that could not be contained within the confines of language。 “Daniel，” she finally said。 “He’s mine no more。 Take him and wait for me。” She paused， then looked to the car where Robel stood， shaking。 “Wait for both of us。"I honestly "Sofia kissed each cheek and each hand， and smoothed the creases in his wrinkled shorts。 She shifted the rigid body onto her lap， then she cradled it as best she could。 Rocking softly， she began to hum， her voice like a blowing feather， the sounds evidence of a grief that could not be contained within the confines of language。 “Daniel，” she finally said。 “He’s mine no more。 Take him and wait for me。” She paused， then looked to the car where Robel stood， shaking。 “Wait for both of us。"I honestly cried my eyes out。 It's been a while since I've shed tears but here we are。 I loved loved loved this book。 The thing with historical fiction（for me anyway） is that either the historical aspect takes over the story and I find my eyes glazing over or the fictional aspect takes over and I feel like I haven't learned anything about the time/place the book was set in。 This book had that perfect balance of history and fiction。 The characters were very well written and even though I usually dislike multiple perspectives in a book because I often find myself forgetting names and losing track of characters。 This was not the case here， I found myself remebering each perspective because of how distinct each character was。 The Ethiopian history and culture was also portrayed beautifully I felt at home to be honest。 Everything from Melaku's kiosk to Emama Seble had nodding me sighing contendly。 I would also like to give a lot of trigger warnings as this book is set during turbulent times。 It takes place during the transition of government from monarchy to dictatorship。 Major Guddu（ based on Mengistu Halemariam who was the leader of the DERG， the military junta） was a ruthless leader who used violence to supress any sort of opposition towards his regime or principles。 During his regime Ethiopia lost several people to brutual muders either because they opposed the rule that was hurting the people or because they were suspected to do so。In this book we follow Dr。 Hailu， his family， their neighborhood， and the country as a whole as they go through these times。 It's a beautiful tale that really touches on a broad spectrum of issues through various perspectives。 The only reason I didn't give this 5 starts is beacuse the pacing was slow at times （for me） but other than that it was amazing。 It had been a while since I truly got sucked in a book and this book did just that。 。。。more

Readingpanda ，

What a beautifully written book。 I didn't want it to end。 Maaza is a truly gifted writer。 I highly highly recommend this book。 A true Ethiopian story written by an Ethiopian。 Majority of Ethiopian writers write in our language。 Maaza gives global readers a glimpse to what life was like during the Derg regime。 It is a book I want to read every few years。 What a beautifully written book。 I didn't want it to end。 Maaza is a truly gifted writer。 I highly highly recommend this book。 A true Ethiopian story written by an Ethiopian。 Majority of Ethiopian writers write in our language。 Maaza gives global readers a glimpse to what life was like during the Derg regime。 It is a book I want to read every few years。 。。。more

Melissa ，

Fascinating book， and in light of our recent attack on our capital， we aren’t far from being like any other insurrection。 Learned a lot about Ethiopia and her people。

Gerry ，

Whenever I read a book set in wartime， I recall with gratitude that it's been many decades since Americans have experienced the horrors of war at home。 Our soldiers bear the brunt of fighting， and we who remain on American soil can largely ignore the war， unless we have family members directly involved。 But in so many parts of the world， war is an all-too-familiar occurrence， bringing pain and suffering， and seldom seeming （to me） to accomplish anything of value to the people most directly impac Whenever I read a book set in wartime， I recall with gratitude that it's been many decades since Americans have experienced the horrors of war at home。 Our soldiers bear the brunt of fighting， and we who remain on American soil can largely ignore the war， unless we have family members directly involved。 But in so many parts of the world， war is an all-too-familiar occurrence， bringing pain and suffering， and seldom seeming （to me） to accomplish anything of value to the people most directly impacted。 Beneath the Lion's Gaze tells the story of one family during the Ethiopian Revolution in 1974， when Emperor Haile Selassie and his government were overthrown by members of the Ethiopian Army supported by Soviet Communist troops。 Two brothers and their physician father， along with other relatives and neighbors are divided in their views on how best to respond to events in their country， but political views become less and less important as revolutionary forces imprison their father， kidnap a neighbor's child， and commit other atrocities against members of their community。 A difficult read at times， but one that brings home the suffering that so many experience during wartime。 。。。more

Philisiwe Twijnstra ，

What a debut。 Loved it。

Steve Majerus-Collins ，

Set during an especially rough period in Addis Ababa， this novel explores the fate of a single family， and those close to it， with haunting imagery and lovely writing。 It stretches credulity at times， and compresses too much heartache and heroism into too brief a time， but it reaches deeply in its bid to make horror human and to honor those who survived those brutal years under the Derg。 I found the book fascinating in its effort to bring a distant place into focus， to bring a nightmare into the Set during an especially rough period in Addis Ababa， this novel explores the fate of a single family， and those close to it， with haunting imagery and lovely writing。 It stretches credulity at times， and compresses too much heartache and heroism into too brief a time， but it reaches deeply in its bid to make horror human and to honor those who survived those brutal years under the Derg。 I found the book fascinating in its effort to bring a distant place into focus， to bring a nightmare into the light。 Maaza Mengiste is a wonderful writer。 She may well write something that lasts。 This isn't that novel， but it shows what she's capable of doing。 。。。more

Letitia Mason ，

A very tragic book， that I found difficult to read， but it has left me with an insight into Ethiopia's recent history， and it's culture。 There are universal themes about how， even in a close family， opinions can differ， and divide。 A very tragic book， that I found difficult to read， but it has left me with an insight into Ethiopia's recent history， and it's culture。 There are universal themes about how， even in a close family， opinions can differ， and divide。 。。。more

Alfonso D'agostino ，

Bellezza di un giro del mondo letterario: la scoperta di autori， titoli， storie che probabilmente non avrei incrociato。 E， di più， la scoperta di storie e Storie， con la S minuscolo e maiuscola all’occorrenza。 Lo sguardo del leone dell’etiope Maaza Mengiste racconta una storia incastrata ineluttabilmente nella Storia: una vicenda ambientata nella bellissima e sfortunata Addis Abeba， una città – e una nazione – uscita da una occupazione coloniale e che nel 1974 è incendiata dalle proteste che int Bellezza di un giro del mondo letterario: la scoperta di autori， titoli， storie che probabilmente non avrei incrociato。 E， di più， la scoperta di storie e Storie， con la S minuscolo e maiuscola all’occorrenza。 Lo sguardo del leone dell’etiope Maaza Mengiste racconta una storia incastrata ineluttabilmente nella Storia: una vicenda ambientata nella bellissima e sfortunata Addis Abeba， una città – e una nazione – uscita da una occupazione coloniale e che nel 1974 è incendiata dalle proteste che intendono portare alla rimozione del dittatore Hailé Selassié。 E come è mille molte accaduto nel continente africano durante la Guerra Fredda， le cronache ricordano il più classico “dalla padella alla brace”: in Etiopia si instaura un regime comunista guidato dal Derg， una sorta di consiglio rivoluzionario che darà una delle migliori prove di tragicità unita a manzanza del senso del ridicolo degli ultimi cent’anni。 Lo sguardo del leone racconta di Hailu， medico che lavora presso l’ospedale pubblico di Addis Abeba， della moglie Sara （personaggio pazzesco！） e dei loro figli: il primo professore universitario e il secondo studente ribelle affascinato dai rivoluzionari。 Nel raccontare la saga della famiglia la Mengiste ci racconta la Storia del suo paese: il secondogenito sconvolto dalla piega che hanno preso i suoi ideali rivoluzionari （e che quindi passa nuovamente all’opposizione）， il medico che riceve in ospedale una donna torturata dal regime in quella che sarà la scena cardine e decisiva del romanzo （a cui non accenno minimamente ma che mi ha costretto ad un groppo alla gola che levati）。Oppressi che diventano oppressori， uomini miti che scoprono un coraggio inimmaginabile， un’altra vita che è sempre possibile: Lo sguardo del Leone avvince， commuove， fa riflettere。 。。。more

JC ，

I won’t rate this book for now。 I should start by saying it was an emotionally moving novel。 While I did find it difficult keeping track of all the different characters， I felt very sympathetic to the hardships faced during the Ethiopian revolution。 I accept alongside Mengiste that the revolution in many ways failed and horrible atrocities were committed。I have seen a number of reviewers accept the premise that Mengiste does not judge her characters but simply portrays them。 I generally disagree I won’t rate this book for now。 I should start by saying it was an emotionally moving novel。 While I did find it difficult keeping track of all the different characters， I felt very sympathetic to the hardships faced during the Ethiopian revolution。 I accept alongside Mengiste that the revolution in many ways failed and horrible atrocities were committed。I have seen a number of reviewers accept the premise that Mengiste does not judge her characters but simply portrays them。 I generally disagree。 I found that her political sympathies do often come through。 Her portrayal of Emperor Selassie seemed very sympathetic to me， and many of the characters who you are meant to sympathize with throughout the novel have positive views of the Emperor。 The New Left Review （not under the orbit of Soviet socialism） called the Haile Selassie regime tyrannical， and the New York Times in a review of this book emphasized Selassie’s quiet exodus from Ethiopia to the town of Bath in England during Mussolini’s invasion and occupation。 Both of these seemed absent from the novel。 I am less sympathetic to Emperor Selassie and I think the early goals of the revolution were positive and not ignorantly naïve。 I think the question of political instability during a famine was part of the calculation of student radicals and I think student protests were a necessary way of denouncing the famine ongoing in a country with an Emperor busy attending to pet lions in his palace。I found the denunciations made by the Derg against ‘anarchists’ a very interesting window into the sort of leftist infighting that occurred throughout Ethiopia。 From a number of things I’ve read on the Ethiopian revolution there were two main factions on the left， one which was basically co-opted by the military regime and remained what Ian Scott Horst called a ‘left talking’ party that ended up slaughtering thousands of young radicals and committed revolutionaries alongside other ‘counter-revolutionaries’ in Ethiopia。 The other faction of the left was of course composed of these radicals killed of by the Derg。 The EPRP （Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party） was accused by the Derg of being infiltrated with anarchists， Trotskyists， and Maoists。 Another anti-government force that ended up helping to topple the Derg was the TPLF （Tigray People's Liberation Front） composed of Hoxhaist radicals that eventually also came to be in conflict with the EPRP。 The TPLF ruled Ethiopia since the fall of the Derg up to 2018。 However their radical Albanian socialism morphed quickly after the fall of the Soviet Union， dropping all references to Marxism-Leninism within their political discourse。 This is a far way off from the period in which Meles Zenawi （a TPLF politician） jokes about in this way: "The joke at the time was that if the TPLF overthrew Mengistu they would immediately take down the posters of Marx and Lenin in government offices and put up bigger ones。"Dawit， one of the characters in this novel， is part of this underground resistance to the Derg， likely cadre of the EPRP。 He is less compelled by fighting for some ‘true’ notion of socialism than to resist the forces that jailed and tortured his father。 Mickey， a poorer childhood friend who ends up joining the Derg， is also less driven by political convictions and more for providing for his poor family。 Dawit’s partner Lily seems only convicted of the Derg’s reforms because she is concerned with her medical scholarship to Cuba。 I’m sure there were people like this during the revolution。 But I’m also sure there were people who had strong political convictions。 Who did things because they believed another world， a better world， was possible。 These types of political convictions seemed largely absent from the novel， and the result seemed rather cynical and dismissive of revolutionary socialist ideals altogether。 I think that’s my own impression from the book。 I want to emphasize that I’m not denying the atrocities committed under the Derg and even by leftist forces fighting against the Derg happened。 A criticism of this novel that I read in a review of it in the Guardian was that Mengiste， who did not experience these years herself and left Ethiopia at the age of four， seemed to draw so heavily from Amnesty International reports to the extent that the violence of the years overshadowed the everyday mundaneness of the times。 Vijay Prashad does point out important land reforms carried out early in the Derg’s regime， but almost all leftist accounts of the time describe the Derg of abandoning mass popular mobilization in favour of highly concentrated power in the hands of a left-talking military government that hardly stood up to the proletarian ideals it espoused and committed terrible atrocities。 What I want to read more about is how the Soviet Union and Cuba saw the Derg and the atrocities they did commit。 Most of the characters in this novel despise personnel sent over from Cuba and the Soviet Union who they perceived as receiving better treatment than local Ethiopians。 Again， I hardly saw the other side: Ethiopians who felt some sense of solidarity with other socialist countries and were proud to host Cuban soldiers helping to fend of a Somali invasion。 I think those narrative decisions do show a type of judgement。 I am not commenting here on the correctness or incorrectness of this judgement， but simply that like any narrative， this is not a neutral portrayal as many seem to think it is。 Weirdly enough I've seen some comments criticizing this book of being pro-communist which I could not glean from my reading of it whatsoever。As someone who identifies as a Christian， I can sympathize with committed communists who believe there is still something were holding onto in their revolutionary project。 The task is not to deny the failures of the past nor to claim genocide committed under the banner of Christianity or communism was done by people who were not true Christians or true communists。 These flaws are woven into the past fabric of these ideologies。 They are materialist manifestations of ideas put into practice and cannot be ignored or explained away by purity politics。 The task is to fully confront these flaws， to recognize that they happened and are in many ways integrated into these traditions， and to root them out and be perpetually watchful that they never happen again， and ultimately， to proceed on to the task of liberation。 If the left continues to either deny these atrocities happened， deny they are part of the legacy of 'true' leftist politics， or keeps trying to justify them as acceptable revolutionary acts， it will continue to make these awful mistakes which will not only hamper their cause， but hurt the other oppressed people they are claiming to work with towards liberation。 It is only to the benefit of the ruling class。 In that sense， this novel was important even if unsettling。 I am brought back to an image in this novel: Sara crawling on her knees on the glass shards sprinkled around St Gabriel’s church for seven consecutive mornings of angry and anguished prayer。 Sometimes confronting the atrocities of past revolutionary socialist movements feels like this。 It is awful reading about terrible things committed in the name of something you still believe in。 Yet this type of painful contemplation is necessary if we truly still want to dismantle an oppressive system of capitalism and believe in an egalitarian world where people all work and produce according to their ability and receive according to their need， and all the objects on are planet are no longer commodities but things we share in common so that no one is left behind。 A Jewish peasant two thousand years ago used to quote Psalm 37:11 often: "the meek shall inherit the earth"。 I still have faith that this other world is possible。 。。。more

Pam Mezaraups ，

A debut novel and absolutely compelling。 Haile Selassi is emperor but not for long。 Revolution in the face of a horrific famine takes place and the characters in the story are all caught up in it。 Hailu ， a doctor and his children Yonas and Dawit participate in various ways。 Friendships are ended and a lot of people die。 Torture becomes a way to get information and several of the characters suffer。 Extremely well developed。。。you hurt for Ethiopians， for the fictional extended family of Hailu， an A debut novel and absolutely compelling。 Haile Selassi is emperor but not for long。 Revolution in the face of a horrific famine takes place and the characters in the story are all caught up in it。 Hailu ， a doctor and his children Yonas and Dawit participate in various ways。 Friendships are ended and a lot of people die。 Torture becomes a way to get information and several of the characters suffer。 Extremely well developed。。。you hurt for Ethiopians， for the fictional extended family of Hailu， and for humanity。 。。。more

Lisa ，

I was able to keep reading the harrowing descriptions of brutality during the early days of Ethiopia's Civil War because it was anchored it in one family's experience。 I came to care for this family and needed to know how Hailu and Dawit and Yonas and Sara and Tizita were affected。 To call it beautiful doesn't make sense - because this is a heartbreaking， horrifying novel。 But it is beautiful in the way it draws the reader in， shows us the humanity of a family and allows us to hope even in the m I was able to keep reading the harrowing descriptions of brutality during the early days of Ethiopia's Civil War because it was anchored it in one family's experience。 I came to care for this family and needed to know how Hailu and Dawit and Yonas and Sara and Tizita were affected。 To call it beautiful doesn't make sense - because this is a heartbreaking， horrifying novel。 But it is beautiful in the way it draws the reader in， shows us the humanity of a family and allows us to hope even in the midst of terror。 。。。more

Gumble's Yard ，

He recognises those eyes， that face。 Dr Hailu: the famed physician from Black Lion Hospital …I operated on a boy， Hailu repeats。 He is controlling himself with difficulty。 Just a child。 One of those protestors who wants to pretend he’s a soldier …… from The Shadow King This book was the debut novel by the Ethiopian-American author Maaza Mengiste: published 10 years before her second novel （The Shadow King） was shortlisted for the Booker Prize。And to a large extent this book functions as somet He recognises those eyes， that face。 Dr Hailu: the famed physician from Black Lion Hospital …I operated on a boy， Hailu repeats。 He is controlling himself with difficulty。 Just a child。 One of those protestors who wants to pretend he’s a soldier …… from The Shadow King This book was the debut novel by the Ethiopian-American author Maaza Mengiste: published 10 years before her second novel （The Shadow King） was shortlisted for the Booker Prize。And to a large extent this book functions as something of an earlier written sequel to The Shadow King。 The quote with which I open my review is taken from the last pages of the latter book （which ends， as it begins， in 1974） – with Dr Hailu acting as a go between for the Italian Ettore and Ethiopian Hirut， nealy 40 years after their paths cross in the 1935 invasion of Ethiopia by Mussolini （the story told in that second book）。Dr Hailu is one of the main characters in this earlier written book – which starts in 1974 （and with the very operation referenced in the quote） – very shortly before the Emperor Haile Selassie （who in both books has brief point of view chapters） is， after sixty years， deposed by the military。 This novel then explores the subsequent events – the rule of the Marxist Derg， their mass arrests and executions of the imperial government， their various wars and most of all their vicious Red Terror and use of arbitrary detention， torture and summary executions。The story is told via Dr Hailu and his family。 At the book’s opening Hailu’s wife Selim is dying – and their two sons: the older University lecturer Yonas and the younger， radical revolutionary Dawit （named I think after Hailu’s brother that dies in The Shadow King） react differently: on one level Yonas with fear and Dawit with fervour and determination （although one thing the book questions is what true courage actually is in testing times）。 Dawit quickly realises the Marxist revolution is no better than the regime his protests helped depose and finds himself over time turning into something of a legendary rebel due to his high risk removal of army-dumped bodies （returning them to their families）。 Hailu is dragged into danger when he allows a torture victim to die。 Other characters include Sara （Yonas’s wife， mother of their daughter， racked with religious guilt but one of the only one able to counsel Dawit）， Lily （Yonas’s girlfriend who unlike him buys into the Derg’s revolution）， Mickey （Dawit’s poor childhood friend who finds himself rapidly promoted and morally compromised in the Derg army） and some older veterans of the earlier war。 If there is an issue with the book it is perhaps a little too concentrated on this small group – around whom too many issues and events seem to resolve。Overall this is a more conventional novel than The Shadow King – no chorus， no photo descriptions。 I found it equally hard going earlier on （I just don’t think the author’s narrative technique is one that draws a reader in） but a smoother read once the story started。 It is however a much more difficult novel for another reason - as the story progresses the description of the Derg atrocities and tortures become very explicit。 Overall definitely worth reading as a companion volume to The Shadow King and a record of another part of Ethiopian history little known to Western readers。 。。。more

John Coatney ，

An absolutely outstanding and riveting （and terrifying） historical novel set during the Derg's takeover of the Ethiopian monarchy。 The book focuses on one family's experience of this time， and the horrors and atrocities that the encounter bring this awful time to life。 It is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about modern Ethiopian history and culture。 An absolutely outstanding and riveting （and terrifying） historical novel set during the Derg's takeover of the Ethiopian monarchy。 The book focuses on one family's experience of this time， and the horrors and atrocities that the encounter bring this awful time to life。 It is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about modern Ethiopian history and culture。 。。。more

Linda Kenik ，

Really enjoyed this book。

Kelsey Mangeni （kman。reads） ，

A family tale told from multiple points of view during the Ethiopian revolution in the capital Addis Ababa。 I’m not gonna lie， this one is brutal， very violent， but I always figure if other people can live through it the least I do is read about it。 I also found I had to pay attention very closely to this one because POV changes very suddenly without notice。

Sarah Carroll ，

This was a great read。 Maaza Mengiste tells a gripping and emotional story set in a time and place I knew very little about prior to reading this book。 I look forward to reading here newest release next！

Lisa ，

This book was emotionally tough to read。 It spans the time from the overthrow of the monarchy and the violent control of the people of Ethiopia under the rule of the Derg。 While it’s a fictional story， it is based on a period of history many in the West don’t really learn about in school。 The struggle of people and the cruelties endured during that time are mind boggling。 This was very well written and certainly not a feel-good tale， but one that should be known。

Don ，

Eithiopa in 1974 is on the verge of a revolution。 Hailu a prominent doctor has two sons， Yonas and Dawit each have their approaches to the violence that the revolution unleashes and this family suffers。 It is a grim tale of inhumanity but very well written。 Perhaps a little too grim for a fifth star but it is a book very well worth reading。 Perhaps， if you have not read Mengiste's "The Shadow of the King，" that would be a better book to start with as it is a prequel to this one。 Recommended。 Eithiopa in 1974 is on the verge of a revolution。 Hailu a prominent doctor has two sons， Yonas and Dawit each have their approaches to the violence that the revolution unleashes and this family suffers。 It is a grim tale of inhumanity but very well written。 Perhaps a little too grim for a fifth star but it is a book very well worth reading。 Perhaps， if you have not read Mengiste's "The Shadow of the King，" that would be a better book to start with as it is a prequel to this one。 Recommended。 。。。more

Dianna ，

Heart-wrenchingly sad。

Kiprop Kimutai ，

A fascinating story about an Ethiopian family and how their lives are shaped by the freedom struggles of their country。 It takes you through the end of the reign of emperor Haille Selassie， and the installation of the Marxist 'Derg' goverment， revealing the costs of Ethiopia's tempestuous history。 Dawit was most memorable with his naive， astonishing optimism that change was possible。 A fascinating story about an Ethiopian family and how their lives are shaped by the freedom struggles of their country。 It takes you through the end of the reign of emperor Haille Selassie， and the installation of the Marxist 'Derg' goverment， revealing the costs of Ethiopia's tempestuous history。 Dawit was most memorable with his naive， astonishing optimism that change was possible。 。。。more

Peg Lotvin ，

It seems to happen time and again， a despot is removed， but there is nothing of substance to replace him （or her）。 Gadaffi， Saddam Hussain， Mubarak in Egypt and Haile Selassi in Ethiopia。 The dictators are removed leaving the country and its people in limbo。 Beneath the Lion's Gaze explores exactly this。 The father in the family is a respected doctor， one son is trying to be a good citizen of whatever sliver of government he can find。 and the other son joins an underground group fighting for fre It seems to happen time and again， a despot is removed， but there is nothing of substance to replace him （or her）。 Gadaffi， Saddam Hussain， Mubarak in Egypt and Haile Selassi in Ethiopia。 The dictators are removed leaving the country and its people in limbo。 Beneath the Lion's Gaze explores exactly this。 The father in the family is a respected doctor， one son is trying to be a good citizen of whatever sliver of government he can find。 and the other son joins an underground group fighting for freedom， whatever that means。 Sad and distressing， but not rare in our world then or now。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Beneath the Lion's Gaze

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Beneath the Lion's Gaze&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Beneath the Lion's Gaze&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0