Ahmed Ben Bella was the first president of Algeria. He was a socialist, devout Muslim, a Pan-Arabist and Pan-Africanist. He fought against French colonialism to free his country from economic and social oppression and racism. This book is a series of interviews in Ben Bella's own words. Ben Bella is a wonderful storyteller of the history of himself and his nation. Some of his later comments near the book's end are very important eyeopeners into the current situation in the Middle East and Africa. After Robert Merle had published this book, Ahmed Ben Bella was overthrown in a coup and imprisoned for many years and exiled. He later returned to his country and worked as an elder statesman. He died this year at the age of 93.