This memoir recounts the extraordinary story of a man straddling two worlds: a progressive lawyer and high-ranking official of the government of Emperor Haile Selassie who struggled for justice within an archaic system. As Attorney General acting to advance progressive ideas in the context of an unreconstructed feudal society, the author was often involved in clashes. The fact that he is Eritrean further complicated his position. Eventually, he resigned and, after the overthrow of the Emperor in 1974, he joined the Eritrean freedom fighters.