Prevail: Ethiopia's Triumphant Victory Over Mussolini's Invasion, 1935-1941

Amazon Customer: very good book. full of information.

Canada on Apr 11, 2023

David Freydkin: Much is known about atrocities committed by the German SS and Wehrmacht in Europe during World War II. Less but some is known about atrocities committed by Japanese forces in Asia during the same time. However, almost nothing is known about the atrocities of Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italy during the Second World War, particularly in the Italian-Ethiopian War from 1935 to 1941, an almost completely obscure and forgotten war. However, this event is brought to life in Prevail by Jeff Pearce.

During 1896, Italian forces tried to conquer Ethiopia to obtain colonies for their relatively young country. The leadership at the time had ambitions to make Italy into an empire to rival other European Empires, particularly those of Britain and France. However, they were outnumbered and defeated by a united Ethiopian force. This was a major humiliation for Italy and marked the first time an African country defeated a European one in warfare. Later, when Mussolini attained power, he wanted "revenge" and redemption of Italian prestige.

So, under his orders, his generals and armed forces invaded Ethiopia, a fellow member of the League of Nations. Although this invasion was largely...

United States on May 31, 2022

frehiwote Gebregziabher: how the story written, easy to understand!

Canada on Dec 03, 2021

Tdm: Very interesting historical fact. It was an eye-opener and educational. It's about one poor African country that stood up against western invaders and defends its sovereignty.
The writing was well-crafted. I like the fact that It slowly unravels the sequence of events that leads to the war (Adwa). It is packed with lots of surprising facts. I Loved it.

United Kingdom on Apr 20, 2021

Addisu Nibret: I got a copy of this book last week. It is written in a very easy to read format and good paper quality for the eye. Personally I don't prefer very reflective paper to do long hours reading. This book already addressed this and it came in a very comfortable paper quality.

I just started reading the book. I looked the contents tables and most of the major figures mentioned across the book. It has good coverage of the story.
I myself from Ethiopia and know some of the Mussolini's invasion stories before, this book is one of the excellent sources to learn about Ethio-Italian war of the 1930's.

United States on Mar 15, 2021

makeda semret: This is an amazing book. So exquisitely researched, accurate (I have heard many first hand accounts of that time) and - especially for a history book - written in a really compelling uncluttered style.
This should be recommended reading to all Ethiopian students and students of Ethiopia. Even if you think you know that history well enough, this book is an eye opener.
This book will be the classic reference. I hope the author will take it upon himself to write more of our history, and teach others by this outstanding example

Canada on Feb 10, 2021

Moges Abebe: Fundamentally I found this Book has magnificent positive leverages to fill the gap between the TPLF fantasy, a chronic fake stories about my country and our Grandfather's remarkable patriotic sacrifice.
I am strongly recommending for my fellows Ethiopians to read this Book.

United Kingdom on Feb 10, 2021

Reader: Prevail was written by Jeff Pearce, a historian with a solid understanding of Ethiopia, and forwarded by Prof. Richard Pankhurst, a legend in Ethiopian history.
Ethiopia has a history of resistance to foreign interference, and during the scramble of Africa, it handily defeated fascist Italy. King Menelik won over Italy not only guaranteed Ethiopian independence but also gave a psychological win over colonists worldwide. Mussolini, intimidated by Italy’s loss four decades earlier, launched an unprovoked attack on Ethiopia aided by inaction of League of nations. The action faces fierce resistance, but it also emboldens the axis of evils triggering the second world war.
Prevail covers how the Italian forces were defeated with a detailed accounting of location, stories, resistance & eventual win. It is a long but fascinating read for anyone interested in understanding the mind of resistance in Ethiopians of today’s generation.

United States on Feb 09, 2021

Tesfaye: Richard Pankhurst, Ethiopia's foremost historian attest "Jeff Pearce's writings are invaluable for they describe the workings of politicians and soldiers against the backdrop of international morality and justice...a brilliant and unique study."

I can see why Mr. Pankhurst was so impressed. Jeff Pearce loves the country and people of Ethiopia. He has travelled and saw the rugged terrain, the beautiful mountains that are the natural fortress of the nation, the ordinary men and women who are soldiers in war time; he met and chatted with the surviving patriots that were leading the resistance. I am grateful to Jeff Pearce for preserving this part of Ethiopia's history with such clarity and care.

United States on Feb 09, 2021

ware no kuni: During the long road to war, this was one of the many flashpoints on the way that set the scene for WW2 and eventually was absorbed into the wider conflict. Pearce not only tells us about how the fight went down but also the set up to the war. Of what Ethiopia was like before the war, the skill of Halie Selassie before the war as a diplomat and head of state and the details of the war itself, and what was going on in Italy at this time. Then there was the liberation of the country and what happened afterwards, including Selassie's downfall, all in rich detail.

What I felt was lacking was the way the book was written, sometimes for a lack of a better word it felt "unprofessional" , perhaps it was to also attract those who are not as big of a history buff as I am!

United States on Nov 26, 2017