Summary of Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda
Shake Hands with the Devil is Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire's recollection of his peacekeeping mission to Rwanda in 1993-1994. Here is a summary according to Dallaire found in the introduction: "This book is the account of a few humans who were entrusted with the role of helping others taste the fruits of peace. Instead, we watched as the devil took control of paradise on earth and fed on the blood of people we were supposed to protect." pg. 7 (Also noted in a summary from Random House).
Dallaire spares no details in his account of Rwanda which makes the book difficult to read at times. Dallaire gives a first hand account of the actions that he saw as leading to genocide in Rwanda. He discusses the challenges of his UN peacekeeping mission and the lack of response from the international community (including Canada). He provides insight to the different political groups and leaders within Rwanda and their role in the rising ethnic tensions. Finally he describes the atrocities that took place during the civil war and ultimately how peace failed in Rwanda.
Background Information on the Author
Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire, was born in 1946 in the Netherlands. He served as the Force Commander in UNAMIR, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda, from 1993 to 1994. Shake Hands with the Devil is his account of this experience. His father was a Canadian NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer), and his mother was a Dutch nurse. He came to Canada as an infant and spent his childhood in Montreal. Dallaire attended military colleges in Quebec and enrolled as a cadet in the Canadian army in 1963.
Today, Dallaire is involved in issues regarding human rights, genocide, and post-traumatic stress disorder for soldiers. He has written several articles explaining these issues and speaks out about them at conferences and universities. Shake Hands with the Devil is his first novel, and has been made into a feature film.
Shake Hands with the Devil is Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire's recollection of his peacekeeping mission to Rwanda in 1993-1994. Here is a summary according to Dallaire found in the introduction: "This book is the account of a few humans who were entrusted with the role of helping others taste the fruits of peace. Instead, we watched as the devil took control of paradise on earth and fed on the blood of people we were supposed to protect." pg. 7 (Also noted in a summary from Random House).
Dallaire spares no details in his account of Rwanda which makes the book difficult to read at times. Dallaire gives a first hand account of the actions that he saw as leading to genocide in Rwanda. He discusses the challenges of his UN peacekeeping mission and the lack of response from the international community (including Canada). He provides insight to the different political groups and leaders within Rwanda and their role in the rising ethnic tensions. Finally he describes the atrocities that took place during the civil war and ultimately how peace failed in Rwanda.
Background Information on the Author
Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire, was born in 1946 in the Netherlands. He served as the Force Commander in UNAMIR, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda, from 1993 to 1994. Shake Hands with the Devil is his account of this experience. His father was a Canadian NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer), and his mother was a Dutch nurse. He came to Canada as an infant and spent his childhood in Montreal. Dallaire attended military colleges in Quebec and enrolled as a cadet in the Canadian army in 1963.
Today, Dallaire is involved in issues regarding human rights, genocide, and post-traumatic stress disorder for soldiers. He has written several articles explaining these issues and speaks out about them at conferences and universities. Shake Hands with the Devil is his first novel, and has been made into a feature film.