In Memorium, Ryszard Kapuscinski: Observer, Journalist, And Writer Of The World As It Currently Is

"Ryszard Kapuscinski, a Polish writer and journalist who gained international acclaim for his books chronicling wars, coups and revolutions in Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world, died of a heart attack, his literary agent said. He was 74.

Kapuscinski died Tuesday at Warsaw's Banacha hospital, Czeslaw Apiecionek, one of his literary agents, told The Associated Press.

Poland's parliament honored him with a moment of silence Wednesday morning, and Speaker Marek Jurek praised him as ''a witness of human suffering and a witness of people's hopes.''

''There is no one among Poland's writers to fill in the space left by him,'' said Marek Zakowski, president of the Czytelnik publishing house, which published several of Kapuscinski's books and is editing a new one, ''Lappidarium 6.''

He described Kapuscinski as ''a rare kind of great personality. He was always curious to learn more about the world, he was curious to meet people.''" ...

Associated Press "Polish Writer Ryszard Kapuscinski Dies" New York Times January 24, 2007

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Obit-Kapuscinski.html










Ryszard Kapuscinski, born in Pinsk, Poland [now Belarus], in 1932

His "Travels with Herodotus" is reportedly forthcoming early this year [2007].

Photo credits: Wikipedia and www.culture.pl [Poland]. With thanks.

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Also see Adam Goodman's The Being Had Times blog for more on contemporary Belarus and Pinsk.