Hayat: On the Side of Life

Fanfani, vice-president of the International Red Cross-Red Crescent and the wife of a former prime minister of Italy, organized the Ship of Peace which left Italy carrying supplies, tools and water to drought-plagued Africa in 1985. This journal parallels the ship's log of the often hazardous journey. At each port of call there is so much evidence of suffering that Fan fani writes in her diary, ``Misery is a monotonous spectacle.'' As she records touching episodes in which the joy of giving is reflected in the receivers' eyes and words, she also notes the great topographical contrasts between lush southern Africa and the famine-decimated north. The journal ends with the mercy mission completed, the fulfillment of the commitment of Italian philanthropy. Yet, concludes Fanfani, who has since returned many times to Africa, ``the African drama, unfortunately, is still going on.'' Photos not seen by PW. (October)