- Hardcover: 269 pages
- Publisher: The Harvill Press; 1st edition (12 Nov 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1860465129
- ISBN-13: 978-1860465123
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 321,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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'The thinking man's BRAVO TWO ZERO' SPECTATOR 'One of Britain's most decorated and experienced battlefield soldiers' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'Feisty, charismatic, combative and engaging... One of the surprises and delights of this book is its highly personal tone.' EVENING STANDARD 'Fascinating and well-written.' IRISH TIMES
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
'One of Britain's most decorated and experienced battlefield soldiers'
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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First Sentence
WHEN I ARRIVED IN SARAJEVO AT NIGHTFALL ON 23 JANUARY 1994, it had been a city under siege for two years and seemed deserted. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
WHEN I ARRIVED IN SARAJEVO AT NIGHTFALL ON 23 JANUARY 1994, it had been a city under siege for two years and seemed deserted. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book came highly recommended to me by a Bosnian friend now living in the UK and I read it after having been to Bosnia. I wished I'd read it before to have a better context for places I'd visited and the things people said. The conflict is still very present in Bosnia, from the scarred buildings, partioned country and strong feelings of the people. While in Bosnia, most things people said were biased (not without good reason).
This book I felt was really good at:
- putting across fairly the differing views on the situation (not just the three factions in Bosnia but also those of Serbia, Croatia, UN, NATO, US, Britain, Russia)
- differentiating between the different parties e.g. the Serbs and Bonsian Serbs, the US administration and American individuals within the UN
- creating an understanding of the complexities including the history of the region, the international political situation and personalities of the individuals, and never writing off an issue as just "very complex" without explaining why
- making it clear the differences between the UN, NATO and individual international governments, the the inter-dependence between them
- a good balance of detailed military maneuvers, the historical and political context, the personality of the different people/parties involved, comical events and asides, personal aspects of the author's life, day to day life in the UN
Michael Rose does on a couple of occasions try to explain the background to decisions he made which were reported in a negative light at the time in the media, and is at times critical of the negative media. However I felt the booked strived to always give both/all sides to each story and was never overly defensive. The main points - about the differing views/actions of the three Bosnian factions, and the differing roles of the UN and NATO - are put across excellently.
The book is a bit complex and confusing at first due to immense amount going on, but there's helpful maps and glossary of people to keep you guided. It's a hugely rewarding read and I can't recommend it highly enough.
This book I felt was really good at:
- putting across fairly the differing views on the situation (not just the three factions in Bosnia but also those of Serbia, Croatia, UN, NATO, US, Britain, Russia)
- differentiating between the different parties e.g. the Serbs and Bonsian Serbs, the US administration and American individuals within the UN
- creating an understanding of the complexities including the history of the region, the international political situation and personalities of the individuals, and never writing off an issue as just "very complex" without explaining why
- making it clear the differences between the UN, NATO and individual international governments, the the inter-dependence between them
- a good balance of detailed military maneuvers, the historical and political context, the personality of the different people/parties involved, comical events and asides, personal aspects of the author's life, day to day life in the UN
Michael Rose does on a couple of occasions try to explain the background to decisions he made which were reported in a negative light at the time in the media, and is at times critical of the negative media. However I felt the booked strived to always give both/all sides to each story and was never overly defensive. The main points - about the differing views/actions of the three Bosnian factions, and the differing roles of the UN and NATO - are put across excellently.
The book is a bit complex and confusing at first due to immense amount going on, but there's helpful maps and glossary of people to keep you guided. It's a hugely rewarding read and I can't recommend it highly enough.
7 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sir Michael Rose provides a vivid look at one of the seminal events of the post Cold War world from the vantage point of a military leader with a near impossible mission. As a highly experienced soldier, he took the mission to Bosnia with trepidation but an obvious professionalism that stood the test of adversity. This is more than history or an eyewitness account, but a template for future peacekeeping operations. Engaging at every level!
0 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The entwined political situation in Bosnia, dominated by impossible people with excruciating names, hardly appears ripper material for a book. But it works.
This excellent account, pitched at exactly the right level between historical text and anecdotal diary, moves at a fast pace and is coloured with superb human touches - generally involving the oversize Goose, who MUST have a book in him.
As one might expect from a career soldier, the style is clear and direct; few punches are pulled and the honesty of the account and of the opinions is backed with strong evidence.
What one wouldn't expect is the "readibility" of the book; where one could reasonably expect it to get bogged down in acronym, terminology and political manoeuvres, the author manages to keep the skeleton of the political landscape well fleshed with perceptive thoughts and human views.
All in all, an excellent book; very much a must-have.
I. Norman
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I agree with Ichabod Norman, a fascinating interesting book.
General Rose's book clearly illustrated the emense difficulties facing the 'Peacekeeper' especially when up against so many differing factions all with so many differing... Read more
Published on 9 Dec 1998
The most balanced and apolitical account of Bosnia to date!
It is odd that a soldier has managed to convey the most balanced account of the horrors of war and politics in Bosnia. Read more
Published on 30 Nov 1998
A pacy and amusing account of a difficult time
Basically, the whole Bosnia issue SHOULD be too complicated for John Doe to understand.
However, this book blows apart that stereotype. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 1998
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