Renowned journalist and chronicler of our life and times, Ryszard Kapuściński has died.

From Reuters: Polish chronicler of Third World Kapuscinski dies

WARSAW (Reuters) – Polish journalist and author Ryszard Kapuscinski, who chronicled despotism and strife in the Third World, died on Tuesday, the PAP news agency said. He was 74.

From 1959 to 1981, Kapuscinski covered the world’s poorest and most troubled spots as a journalist for PAP and also wrote books about Africa’s emergence from colonialism — and its descent into turmoil and war.

Best-known among his 19 books was “The Emperor”, an account of the downfall of Ethiopia’s Haile Selassie told from inside the castle walls.

He witnessed 27 coups and revolutions, befriended the likes of Che Guevara, and was sentenced to death four times, according to his American publisher, Alfred A. Knopf.

Kapuscinski’s books were translated into 30 languages. “Shah of Shahs”, published in 1982, covers the overthrow of the Shah of Iran. “The Soccer War” is a collection of dispatches from the Third World. “Imperium” chronicles the break-up of the Soviet Union…

We had awarded Mr. Kapuściński a person-of-the-month honor as part of a project we undertook via Polonia Global Fund. See 04/2002 – Ryszard Kapuscinski. There’s some great background there from a Guardian article.