The author of the book “Wounded Nation: How a Once Promising Eritrea was Betrayed, and it’s Future Compromised” Bereket Habte Selassie was a Chairman of the Constitutional Commission of Eritrea. This book is a follow-up of the first part “The Crown and the Pen”. According to the author, the book is his memoir, in which he tries to answer a difficult question and find out the cause of a present chaos in Eritrea. The author provides a better understanding of what is happening in this country. Therefore, confusion disappears as the reader discovers the plot and gains full awareness.

Dr. Bereket provides a political and historical research and reveals the hidden facts that led to a sudden deterioration of Eritrea from being a democratic and developing land to being isolated and ruled by a dictator. This book is a real treasure for those, who study the political situation and history of Eritrea. What makes it so remarkable, is the author, of course, as he has been involved in the freedom fight and making of the constitution.

The main theme of the volume is represented in its title that hints at the current hardships of this country. The title and the subtitle indicate the sour dissatisfaction of Eritreans towards their officials and freedom fighters, who did not keep their promises. Although the constitution was ratified, it has been put off, and the country was ruled by a dictator. The destructive conflict with Ethiopia developed into a war in 1998, and a hundred thousand people were killed. Nowadays, fourteen years later, not all the clashes between two countries have been resolved.

Another issue discussed in this volume is continuing exodus of young people to the adjoining countries, who do not wish to stay in their homeland under such horrendous circumstances. This issue along with the other ones raises a serious question about the future of Eritrea.

In his book, Dr. Bereket is a representative of all Eritreans; he personifies the quenchless thirst of freedom and expresses the hope for his nation. In his two memoirs, he reveals the past and predicts the future, by saying that the best and most prosperous days for Eritrea are yet to come.