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Product Description
The Algerian War lasted from 1954 to 1962. It caused the fall of six French governments, led to the collapse of the Fourth Republic, brought De Gaulle back to power, and came close to provoking a civil war on French soil. More than a million Muslim Algerians died in the conflict and as many European settlers were driven into exile. Above all, the war was marked by an unholy marriage of revolutionary terror and state torture.
The conflict made headlines around the world, and at the time it seemed like a French affair. From the perspective of half a century, however, this brutal and intractable conflict looks less like the last colonial war than the first postmodern one—a full-dress rehearsal for the sort of amorphous struggle that convulsed the Balkans in the 1990s and that now ravages the Middle East, from Beirut to Baghdad, struggles in which religion, nationalism, imperialism, and terrorism assume previously unimagined degrees of intensity.
Originally published in 1977, Alistair Horne's A Savage War of Peace was immediately proclaimed by experts of varied political sympathies to be the definitive history of the Algerian War, a book that not only does justice to its Byzantine intricacies, but that does so with intelligence, assurance, and unflagging momentum. It is not only essential reading for anyone who wishes to investigate this dark stretch of history, but a lasting monument of the historian's art.
The conflict made headlines around the world, and at the time it seemed like a French affair. From the perspective of half a century, however, this brutal and intractable conflict looks less like the last colonial war than the first postmodern one—a full-dress rehearsal for the sort of amorphous struggle that convulsed the Balkans in the 1990s and that now ravages the Middle East, from Beirut to Baghdad, struggles in which religion, nationalism, imperialism, and terrorism assume previously unimagined degrees of intensity.
Originally published in 1977, Alistair Horne's A Savage War of Peace was immediately proclaimed by experts of varied political sympathies to be the definitive history of the Algerian War, a book that not only does justice to its Byzantine intricacies, but that does so with intelligence, assurance, and unflagging momentum. It is not only essential reading for anyone who wishes to investigate this dark stretch of history, but a lasting monument of the historian's art.
About the Author
Alistair Horne is the author of eighteen books, including The Price of Glory: Verdun 1916, How Far from Austerlitz?: Napoleon 1805–1815, and the official biography of British prime minister Harold Macmillan. He is a fellow at St. Antony's College, Oxford, and lives in Oxfordshire. In 1993 Horne was awarded the French Légion d'Honneur and in 2003 received a knighthood for his work in the history of France. He lives in England.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I ordered this book as a result of a recommendation by the journalist Robert Fiske. I worked in Algeria in 1975 and the country has been under my skin ever since. This book is a fantastic distillation of the recent history of Algeria, I wish I had read it along time ago. What lessons can be learnt for the modern world and the threats that exist, and perhaps even more relevant in the post Sept 11th world. It was a gripping read, encapsulating the drama completely as it unfolded. An intellectual challenge, sumptous writing. A profound and shocking learning experience.
44 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am somewhat of a fan of Alastair Horne's, having come to him via his trilogy of books on Franco-German conflicts, and I went looking in Amazon to see if there was anything new from him. And I came across this book, whose purchase many years ago was prompted by the desire to know more about the world of Freddie Forsyth's outstanding thriller "The day of the Jackal". Seeing it again on the Amazon website reminded me as to how relevant it is to the modern story of the US and Iraq. Of course, there are substantial differences; the US is not Iraq's colonial power and the US most certainly does not regard the place as part of the USA, the way the French did Algeria. And because of the lack of a US equivalent of "pieds noirs" (French settlers in Algeria), no matter how bad George Bush messes up, no US paratroop regiment is going to mutiny, try to assassinate him and bring the US to the brink of civil war.
However, the similarities are scary - the reliance on pure military power to win, the use of tactics (particularly in the battle of Algiers) that alienated the locals and effectively made them into allies of the FLN rebels or at least tolerant of them, and the widespread use of torture (a subject that touches raw nerves in France to this day). As with Iraq, the FLN didn't confront the French military head-on, but relied on ambush and, more particularly, on intimidating and murdering local allies of the French, policemen, local officials and the like. There were also French near-equivalents of "Mission Accomplished", even as the war was being lost where it desperately needed to be won - in the hearts and minds of Algerians themselves.
As I write this, Zinédine Zidane is in Algeria, being feted as a hero. He is the son of harkis, the Algerians who fought on the French side and who had to leave Algeria or face severely curtailed life expectancies. Time has finally healed the wounds. One hopes it will be so with Iraq. One wishes that the Bush Administration had read this highly perceptive book before launching its ill-considered venture - and that it had had the honesty and wisdom to see the lessons therein.
However, the similarities are scary - the reliance on pure military power to win, the use of tactics (particularly in the battle of Algiers) that alienated the locals and effectively made them into allies of the FLN rebels or at least tolerant of them, and the widespread use of torture (a subject that touches raw nerves in France to this day). As with Iraq, the FLN didn't confront the French military head-on, but relied on ambush and, more particularly, on intimidating and murdering local allies of the French, policemen, local officials and the like. There were also French near-equivalents of "Mission Accomplished", even as the war was being lost where it desperately needed to be won - in the hearts and minds of Algerians themselves.
As I write this, Zinédine Zidane is in Algeria, being feted as a hero. He is the son of harkis, the Algerians who fought on the French side and who had to leave Algeria or face severely curtailed life expectancies. Time has finally healed the wounds. One hopes it will be so with Iraq. One wishes that the Bush Administration had read this highly perceptive book before launching its ill-considered venture - and that it had had the honesty and wisdom to see the lessons therein.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The book took a while coming but it was worth waiting for. As a story in itself the Algerian conflict is gripping stuff - the wrangles between the leading figures in the resistance movement - the changing attitudes of their external supporters - the political manoeuvring in Paris - the military coup - and more. The author has done a good job covering all of these subjects within the constraints of delivering an overall history of a long conflict.
The book is shocking in places but would grab your attention anyway - if you have even a passing interest in this style of warfare and the politics behind it you will enjoy this book.
The book is shocking in places but would grab your attention anyway - if you have even a passing interest in this style of warfare and the politics behind it you will enjoy this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Impossible to Put Down
I bought this to give me a better understanding of how the war in Algeria (never recognised as such by French Governments of any colour) affects life in France today. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Paul Hornsby
I'm French and would still say this is the best book on the subject
Sometimes the French and English have a bizarre relationship. France is known for its wines, but the world's best wine-tasters are English! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mark Stokle
A triumph of modern history telling.
Outside of France and Algeria, the only image that most people have of the Algerian War is the one shown in Gillo Pontecorvo's film "La Battaglia di Algeri" (1966). Read more
Published 9 months ago by Stefan Aguirre
Excellent
I knew little about the recent history of Algeria or much about French politics connected to this. The book is engaging and facnitating bringing the events to life. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. C. J. Harris
A Lesson from History
This book needs no additional review in its own right. It has already, rightly, had superlatives heaped upon it. Read more
Published 15 months ago by J. T. Rich
Positively 6 stars,
Alistair Horne is one of the preeminent historians of the 20th Century. I've read several of his books, including the entire trilogy on the three Franco - German wars. Read more
Published 17 months ago by John P. Jones III
50 years ago...very little changed in the minds of the West
The real meaning and outcome of France colonial rule in Algeria, the events and the ways of Algerian independence are still very sensitive issues in France, as proven by the recent... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Valentini Vincenzo
An intersting read
This is a book for those interested in recent conflicts involving European countries. The French attitudes to their Algerian possessions & people comes across as Paternal, without... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by Mr. R. Kerr
Blackhawk
This is the classic on the Algerian conflict. Packed with detail, a fascinating read, and a must for those who want to understand Algeria and its relationship with France.
Published on 17 Nov 2009 by John Cann
Recommended by President Bush!
Alistair Horne's masterful study of the French War in Algeria has been read and studied by President George W Bush it was announced on Radio 4 yesterday. Read more
Published on 13 July 2007 by SJ SMART
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