The Fragrance of Tears: My Friendship with Benazir Bhutto

Description

A memoir of Victoria Schofield's thirty-year friendship with her Oxford contemporary, Benazir Bhutto. 'Fascinating and moving' Lord Owen 'Abounds with behind-the-scenes gems' Spectator 'Sheds light on the human side of a courageous politican' Financial Times 'Brings unique insights into the life and times of Benazir Bhutto' Lyse Doucet In the summer of 1978, Victoria Schofield travelled to Pakistan to join her friend Benazir Bhutto, whose father, the former prime minister, was facing a charge of conspiracy to murder. In the fevered context of Bhutto's appeal against the death sentence, their university friendship grew into a lifelong bond, ending only with Benazir's assassination in 2007. Schofield's memoir sheds light on the recent history of this turbulent region, and affectionately charts Benazir's transformation from Oxford undergraduate to one of the most charismatic and controversial figures in South Asian politics - a woman whose life and career were defined by tragedy.

Victoria Schofield is a historian and commentator on international affairs, with special expertise on South Asia. Her published books include Bhutto: Trial and Execution, Afghan Frontier: at the Crossroads of Conflict, Kashmir in Conflict, Wavell: Soldier and Statesman, The Highland Furies: The Black Watch 1739-1899 and The Black Watch: Fighting in the Front Line 1899-2006. She has also edited Old Roads, New Highways: Fifty Years of Pakistan and contributed to numerous media outlets including writing for the Sunday Telegraph, The Times, the Independent, and the Spectator.

Sheds light on the human side of a courageous politician who could not escape her dynastic destiny * Financial Times * Abounds with behind-the-scenes gems... Gives a vivid sense of a courageous leader, and of Pakistan's wild charms' * Spectator * The story of a remarkable woman, but not as history has already written it... Could only have been written by someone like Victoria Schofield' -- Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent Humanises Benazir, whose iconic political status has often obscured the human being * Literary Review * A moving insight into a friendship and the family life of a politician facing challenges of a kind we in the West can scarcely imagine * The Parliamentarian * A beautifully written and deeply moving account of Victoria Schofield's 33-year friendship with Benazir Bhutto. In the true style of memoir, she captures the person - dutiful daughter, erstwhile matchmaker, loyal friend, and, above all, courageous woman -- Peter Galbraith, US Diplomat and Foreign Policy Adviser