Bitter Harvest: The Great Betrayal and the Dreadful Aftermath

by Ian Douglas Smith

Book Overview

This book is the autobiography of Ian Smith, the last Prime Minister of Rhodesia. After discussing his early life, Smith tells how he sought to keep Rhodesia on a path to full democracy during the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1903402050
• ISBN13: 9781903402054
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: Blake Publishing
• Length: 434 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Important memoir whose veracity is confirmed by historical hindsight

Ian Smith's 1997 political memoir of his life as possibly the African continent's most famous "white African" was originally entitled "The Great Betrayal" -- a title which sums up largely the bulk of the message of this well-written, bitter-sweet historical memoir. Ian Smith, a native born Rhodesian, was the last white Prime Minister of Rhodesia, the first white ruler in African history to peaceably transition power to a black nationalist, and the voice of political reason and opposition during the first 17 years of the 37 year reign of the Zimbabwean communist dictator, Robert Mugabe. "Bitter Harvest" is the title of the American edition of The Great Betrayal and covers Smith's entire life through 1997. It is a long well-written but somewhat tedious book due to the large amount of material focused on the endless rounds of diplomatic banter during the 1970s when the UK, South Africa, and the United States tried to speed up Rhodesia's planned transition to black majority rule using tactics that sadly led to the 1980 events that put Mugabe in power. But if you are a student of Cold War, post-colonial African history like me, you will find this part intriguing. This is a controversial book on several levels. First, it's a memoir -- the "memories" -- of a controversial political figure. As this is his story, Smith unapologetically justifies his decisions and role in the transition of Rhodesia to Black African Majority Rule and his fight to keep Rhodesia/Zimbabwe independent from Great Britain and free from Communism. Such memoirs are rarely self-critical or totally honest. Fortunately, history and the witness of others to it, have largely vindicated Ian Smith's efforts to keep Rhodesia strong while he was its Prime Minister. But that doesn't mean all of the details in his memoir aren't free from bias or selective memory. How could they be? Secondly, Ian Smith, as one of the most controversial figures in 20th century politics, was largely demonized by the Western news media, Western liberal activists and academics, and the propagandist arms of both the Communist and Non-Aligned Movements of the late 20th Century. As Rhodesia has become a bit of a footnote in Cold War, post-colonialist history, if you have heard of him you likely heard only the slander of his very vocal detractors. He has been called a racist and an architect of apartheid, neither of which is true. And the venom of virtue-signalers who paint all "white" African leaders as Nazi-like colonialist is spread broadly over everyone but especially Ian Smith. Because he clearly was no racist and presented his arguments for the evolution of Rhodesia to black majority rule (via the tribal system) with intelligence and compassion. And he largely succeeded as Rhodesia did transition to a new country called "Zimbabwe Rhodesia" with a black prime minister, Abel Muzorewa, in 1979. I did find his remarks about Nelson Mandela illuminating. He expressed his opinion that of all the black nationalists who fought for black majority rule, only Nelson Mandela achieved the level of a true Statesman. Most objective witnesses to the tragic events of post-colonial Africa would agree. For the rest of his life, despite being on the enemies list of ZANU-PF, the communist-nationalist party of Robert Mugabe, Ian Smith continued to live and work his farm in Zimbabwe. He also continued as the leader of the Rhodesian Front opposition party until retiring in 1987--even as ZANU-PF thugs tried to push him off his land and eventually reduced his political party to mere token opposition under the heavy hand of Mugabe who murdered tens of thousands of his tribal and political enemies during his rapacious rule over Zimbabwe. Ian Smith died in a South African hospital in 2007. In sum, Smith comes across in Bitter Harvest as a simple, conservative yet compassionate, native-white African who loved his country and his people -- Black and White -- but who stuck to his guns, stubbornly clinging to his Rhodesian na

As long as you know what to do with it.

This book is not a correct account of what happened in Rhodesia, but a correct account of what some people in power thought was happening. In some areas Mr. Smith was incredibly wrong, but in others he was very right. The western countries rubber stamp system of de-colonization allowed some very bad rulers to come to power, much worse than Botha or Smith could ever be. In principle I understand what Smith was doing, but he should have agreed to the UK's demands earlier. The only result of this positively is that South Africa learned alot from his mistakes. As long as you don't believe every single word, this is a great insightful book. I agree with Smith on his take that Rhodesia made a terrible mistake by not joining the Union of South Africa, thereby allowing the 1948 election to happen there. Regardless what has happened to Zimbabwe/Rhodesia is sad, and the west and later Africa should of never let it happen. I highly suggest reading "Tomorrow is another country," by Martin Meredith for what I think is the best account of Rhodesia's story.

A must read, fascinating account

Few books detail the truth about Mugabe's Zimbabwe and the virtual ethnic cleansing of minority communities. Smith, the last minority president of Zimbabwe(then rhodesia) tells the story behind the UDA and his fight for moderation. This excellent book is an insider look at Smith's own understanding of his country and the fate of his nation. Zimbabwe, once a net exporter of grain, is now on the brink of starvation. Smith's book is readable and sheds light on what has been proven by history, the terrible suffering of Zimbabwe's people under the near-fascist dictatorship of Mugabe. Seth J. Frantzman

The Great Betrayal

Truely the greatest betrayal of a nation by the Western Democratic countries under the influence of the Organisation of African Unity. This book besides being a great read, depicts the struggle of a nation coming to grips with a change in British foreign policy. This change strikes the beginning of the end of a democratic and economically prosperous country. The sad reality of this book is that all of the Rhodesian peoples worst fears have today come true. Ian Smith lays the facts straight. A true leader, and a hard to find honest politician struggling against innumerable odds to keep Rhodesia alive. Unfortunately in the end it was not to be and the now Zimbabwe is a single party dictatorship with horrendous human rights violations, collapsed economy, and a starving people.If you have any interest in the politics of Southern Africa during the end of British colonialism, this book is for you.

The Great Betrayal

The story of how the perfidity and backstabbing on the part of the U.S., Britain, and South Africa destroyed the nation of Rhodiesia and replaced it with the blood soaked regime of Robert Mugabe. "The Great Betrayal" provides an excellent overview of the ideas and events that have created modern Africa.

Selling-out Rhodesia

If you are British or American you will need a strong stomach to read this book. Indeed you may well want to throw-up at the political chicanery and cowardice of your politicians and diplomats. One examaple is the attitudes of Lords Carrington and Soames. During the 1980 Zimbabwe-Rhodesia election, Ian Smith, ( former Rhodesian PM, 1964-79 ) reminded Soames, the British Governor responsible for overseeing fair play, that the Lancaster House agreement was being breached by massive political intimidation by ZANU(PF) forces. Soames conceded that he had received over 1000 affidavits, many endorsed by British observers who had witnessed Mugabe's comrades distinctive campaigning style-with the point of a gun!When Smith, who had handed government over to Bishop Abel Muzorewa in mid-1979, reminded Soames to do his duty and disqualify the gangsters from participating in the poll, Soames pathetically replied that Carrington ( foreign secretary in Thatcher's new Tory government) advised that such a course would be unacceptable to the OAU (Organisation of African Unity) and that "the principles and standards on which you and I were brought up to believe in, are no longer part of this world." One could add, probably because certain British 'gentlemen' see no further need to stand up for such values!When you add the craveness of virtually every senior British politician from MacMillan onwards, plus the duplicity of the South African government under Vorster, and the incompetent Carter Administration in the US, you have a sorry history of the decline of western values, something that has endured for the latter 40 years of the 20th century.Ian Smith has written superb memoirs and his 1997 warnings in this book ( and also to this reviewer, via the phone in early Jan.1998 ) over Mugabe's politicisation of farm land is now even more apparent as the Zimbabwe gangster engages in his 'ethnic cleansing' against white farmers as a sordid distraction to his his 20 year rule of disaster and destruction.Of course those western liberals who were so distressed about the political and social life of Rhodesia, under Smith, remain strangely mute over the real atrocities of Mugabe, preferring, like those who preceded the Good Samaritan, to pass by on the other side to another 'politically correct' crusade.Whatever faults Smith had pales into insignificance besides his detractors and the hoodlums and nitwits running Zimbabwe today.