One of the better editions, relatively free of that entitled, comfortable, middle class liberal superiority that tends to characterise Granta writing,
The lead article is very good though it has the same teasing quality of a Nick Broomfield documentary, but very little of the wit.
When Stroessner is finally interviewed it's clear that stripped of his uniform and medals and flunkies he's just a confused old man, Too many punches are pulled is what I'm saying,
On the other hand Christopher Hitchens's much shorter account of a visit to Romania shortly after the coup d'etat against Ceausescu is visceral and honest.
When power suddenly switches circuits this is much more precisely what things feel like,
The Salman Rushdie speech and interview are also very good, .
Peruse The General (Granta: The Magazine Of New Writing) Formulated By Isabel Hilton Provided As PDF
Isabel Hilton