Benazir Bhutto was twice prime minister of Pakistan, and was campaigning for a return to power when she was assassinated on December 27, 2007. She was born into a political family - her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was Pakistan's Prime Minister from 1973-77, and was deposed, imprisoned, and finally executed after a military coup. Benazir was imprisoned repeatedly before leaving for exile in London. She began to take interest in the political activities of her father's party - Pakistan people's Party (PPP), and returned to Pakistan in 1986. And in 1988, she was elected Prime Minister. For the next decade she was one of the most prominent women leaders in the world, and was seen in particular as a symbol of progress in women's rights. Bhutto was again forced into exile in 1999 and came back to Pakistan in October 2007 to lead her party in upcoming national elections. This book provides deep insights into the life and achievements of Benazir Bhutto. Going deep into her family background, her early childhood and education, it describes how her father was hanged and how she entered politics. Her policies and achievements as Prime Minister of Pakistan has also been discussed. Her important speeches and interview have been incorporated as well.

本書は一人の政治家の足跡を超え、宿命に抗う女性の「魂の叙事詩」として圧倒的な熱量を放っています。父の刑死を背負い、民主主義を求め立ち上がるベナジールの姿はギリシャ悲劇のヒロインを彷彿とさせます。著者は肉声を緻密に織り交ぜ、激動を駆け抜けた魂の鼓動を鮮やかに描き出しました。 描かれるのは権力への渇望ではなく、抑圧された人々の権利を守る信念です。波乱の生涯は絶望の果てに希望を見出す文学的深みを持ち、読者の心を揺さぶります。最期を知りながらも、その言葉の磁力に引き込まれずにはいられない、稀有な記録文学と言えるでしょう。