34 pages • 1 hour read
An Ordinary Man
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
An Ordinary Man is 2006 the autobiography of Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of a Belgian-owned Rwandan hotel. Rusesabagina’s story, written with the aid of journalist Tom Zoellner, centers on the struggles Rusesabagina and his family overcame to survive the inhumane, racially motivated genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994—a story later turned into the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda. The narrative uses a conversation tone, unembellished language, and an unostentatious style. After describing Paul's past and what he did to save the people targeted during the conflict, the autobiography explores his thoughts about the genocide.
Plot Summary
Rusesabagina, the son of a Hutu father and Tutsi mother, grows up on a small farm. Eventually, he becomes the first Rwandan general manager of the luxurious Belgian tourist spot, the Hotel Mille Collines. He turns the hotel into one of Africa's most profitable institutions.
In order to explain the relationship between the Hutus and the Tutsis, the author traces the history of Rwanda. When Germany and Belgium colonized the country, white Europeans amplified and manufactured tension and mistrust between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes through a policy of “divide and rule,” hoping to maintain their power and authority over the people of Rwanda by Unlock all 34 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
