Exit the Colonel: The Hidden History of the Libyan Revolution

The four-decade reign of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi springs to life in this complicated history. Centering on an in-depth retelling of the 2011 Libyan uprising, Chorin traces Gaddafi%E2%80%99s rise from 27-year-old army colonel,to head of state, followed by his violent end after being pulled from a drainage pipe near his hometown of Sirte. Chorin provides context to the dictator%E2%80%99s extended rule, highlighting the West%E2%80%99s gentle hand%E2%80%94and even complicity%E2%80%94in dealing with rampant human rights abuses and connections to international terrorism (like the Lockerbie bombing), while angling for opportunity in the oil-rich country, thus justifying any challenges of working with the regime. He also contrasts Gaddafi%E2%80%99s often bizarre, paranoid behavior%E2%80%94rambling, hours-long speeches (with a government minister literally whipping the crowd to applause) and long-held grudges over minor political slights%E2%80%94with the fearless cunning and greed that seems to have kept him in power. U.S. economic and commercial attach%C3%A9 in Tripoli from 2004 to 2006, Chorin translated contemporary fiction from the region in 2008%E2%80%99s Translating Libya: The Modern Libyan Short Story. His leap to historical and political analysis of a largely underexamined regime isn%E2%80%99t perfectly cohesive, but its broad scope offers a timely glimpse into the story of modern Libya. (Dec.)