The Great Betrayal: The Memoirs of Africa’s Most Controversial Leader (Signed)

The Great Betrayal: The Memoirs of Africa’s Most Controversial Leader by Ian Douglas Smith is a significant political memoir examining the final decades of white-minority rule in Rhodesia and the events that led to the establishment of independent Zimbabwe. Published by Blake Publishing in 1997, this book presents Smith’s personal account of his political career, his government’s decisions and the international pressures that shaped Rhodesia’s future.

Ian Smith served as Rhodesia’s prime minister from 1964 to 1979. He became internationally known following his government’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain in November 1965, an act that triggered international sanctions and a prolonged constitutional dispute. His leadership was closely associated with the Rhodesian Bush War and the increasingly difficult negotiations over majority rule.

In The Great Betrayal, Smith revisits these events from his own perspective, explaining his political convictions and his interpretation of the negotiations that ultimately brought white-minority government to an end. The title reflects his deeply held views about the settlement and the people involved in Rhodesia’s political transformation. His account offers readers an opportunity to examine the arguments and grievances of a central figure in this turbulent period of Southern African history.

For historians and readers interested in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, British colonial policy and twentieth-century African politics, The Great Betrayal provides a valuable primary source. Smith’s interpretation is unapologetically personal and politically controversial, making the memoir particularly interesting when read alongside alternative historical accounts of the same events.

This copy is signed by Ian Douglas Smith, adding considerable interest for collectors of Rhodesiana, political biographies and signed historical books. The author’s signature gives this 1997 Blake Publishing edition an additional collectible dimension beyond its historical subject matter.

Whether collected for its connection to Rhodesian history, its account of a controversial political career or its author-signed status, The Great Betrayal is a noteworthy addition to a collection of Southern African political history and memoirs.

Condition: Very Good – Light wear to the dust jacket. No other notable defects. Inscribed and signed in black ink on title page