--- product_id: 1706210 title: "The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat" price: "Rp662139" currency: IDR in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.id/products/1706210-the-emperor-downfall-of-an-autocrat store_origin: ID region: Indonesia --- # The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat **Price:** Rp662139 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat - **How much does it cost?** Rp662139 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.id](https://www.desertcart.id/products/1706210-the-emperor-downfall-of-an-autocrat) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat [Ryszard Kapuscinski, William R. Brand, Katarzyna Mroczkowska-Brand] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat Review: Fair, balanced and wonderfully written. - Through the years I have heard countless people speak with reverence and respect about Haile Selassie with a few detractors who have doubted his good will and accomplishments. I was always curious about who he was beyond the distinguished photos and the devout utterings of his devotees and detractors. I couldn't decide which of the many biographies to read that wasn't biased to either faction, until I came upon this book. "The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat", is unique in its presentation and storytelling. It's not a book that chronologically narrates the life of the Emperor from birth to his heavenly transition. The Emperor's life is told through clandestine interviews of various people who were closest to him in his court...who were secretly sought out under dangerous conditions within Ethiopia to shed light on the day to day life of the Emperor --both in good times and in the end darker times. The book sheds light on the psyche of the Emperor as well as the people around him, as well as the populous he served. The book shows all prospectives that make no-one, including the Emperor look like the hero nor the villain. This book is for people who want to know not only the important historical events that have great significance to the history of Ethiopia during the reign of Haile Selassie, but also what it feels like to live within the Emperor's shoes. The saying, "Never judge a man, until you've walked a mile in his shoes," apply to Haile Selassie and after reading this book, you may change your judgement in either direction or become neutral. Review: A Fascinating Look On The Autocracy - ​This is an insightful look at life inside the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. The author does a fantastic job using interviews with former staff to reveal the inner workings of the royal court and the governance of the country. It also provides great detail on Ethiopian politics, economics, and daily life for the average citizen from the 1940s through the 70s.I highly recommend this book if you want to learn the last years of the Emperror. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #292,259 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #38 in Ethiopia History #110 in African Politics #229 in Royalty Biographies | | Customer Reviews | 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (277) | | Dimensions | 5.15 x 0.5 x 8 inches | | Edition | Reissue | | ISBN-10 | 0679722033 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0679722038 | | Item Weight | 7.2 ounces | | Language | English | | Print length | 176 pages | | Publication date | March 13, 1989 | | Publisher | Vintage | ## Images ![The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61p9OnEvLoL.jpg) ![The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qNOY5AnFL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fair, balanced and wonderfully written. *by B***I on October 9, 2022* Through the years I have heard countless people speak with reverence and respect about Haile Selassie with a few detractors who have doubted his good will and accomplishments. I was always curious about who he was beyond the distinguished photos and the devout utterings of his devotees and detractors. I couldn't decide which of the many biographies to read that wasn't biased to either faction, until I came upon this book. "The Emperor: Downfall of an Autocrat", is unique in its presentation and storytelling. It's not a book that chronologically narrates the life of the Emperor from birth to his heavenly transition. The Emperor's life is told through clandestine interviews of various people who were closest to him in his court...who were secretly sought out under dangerous conditions within Ethiopia to shed light on the day to day life of the Emperor --both in good times and in the end darker times. The book sheds light on the psyche of the Emperor as well as the people around him, as well as the populous he served. The book shows all prospectives that make no-one, including the Emperor look like the hero nor the villain. This book is for people who want to know not only the important historical events that have great significance to the history of Ethiopia during the reign of Haile Selassie, but also what it feels like to live within the Emperor's shoes. The saying, "Never judge a man, until you've walked a mile in his shoes," apply to Haile Selassie and after reading this book, you may change your judgement in either direction or become neutral. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Fascinating Look On The Autocracy *by P***E on January 15, 2026* ​This is an insightful look at life inside the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. The author does a fantastic job using interviews with former staff to reveal the inner workings of the royal court and the governance of the country. It also provides great detail on Ethiopian politics, economics, and daily life for the average citizen from the 1940s through the 70s.I highly recommend this book if you want to learn the last years of the Emperror. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ In the Tradition of Swift *by D***I on June 14, 2001* I hate to write anything negative about this book because it is so highly original. The approach, that of relying upon interviews with former palace insiders, would be incredibly effective were it not for the fact that the author decided to embellish their descriptions. Had he not done so, this would be one of the all-time great descriptions of autocratic excess. Still, this description of life within the Ethiopian royal palace during the last days of the reign of Hailie Selassie (a hero in the West because of his successful opposition to the Italian invasion preceding World War II) provides a fine description of the sycophants, bullies, and idiots who hang around to lick up the slops as a totalitarian regime enters its final days. Well worth reading. If you like this book, you may be interested in The Ends of the Earth: A Journey at the Dawn of the Twenty-first Century by Robert D. Kaplan. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.id/products/1706210-the-emperor-downfall-of-an-autocrat](https://www.desertcart.id/products/1706210-the-emperor-downfall-of-an-autocrat) --- *Product available on Desertcart Indonesia* *Store origin: ID* *Last updated: 2026-05-13*