- Library Binding: 240 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd (Jun 1969)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 014052276X
- ISBN-13: 978-0140522761
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,993,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Forsyth does a good job of damning the then Nigerian military government and the British Labor government. In this Civil War, food became a valid weapon as the Nigerian government starved out and caused the deaths of millions of innocent civilians. The rest of the world turned away because of British propaganda about the evils of the Biafrian government. In addition, the massacres of captured Ibo civilians and soldiers is a damning indictment of genocide against the Nigerian government (composed of Northern Nigerian Muslim tribesmen) fronted by Colonel Gowon.
Forsyth shows in stark contrast the two governments and their leaders. Gowon is pictured as a front man for the Northern tribes sultans. Ojukwu is shown as a leader of the Ibo tribesman, seeking a democratic council with the other minority tribes in the governing of Biafra. Ojukwu is shown as civilized, using democratic principles where Gowon condones mass murder for the sake of putting down the rebel movement. Gowon is interested only in Biafra for the oil it contains, and not the people.
Forsyth writes in a slanted way. One realizes he is for the Biafrian government, and the book is structured toward proving the Nigerian government is evil and the Biafrians are good. This book could have been more objective and this is why I rated it a three star. In addition, an outcome of the Civil War would also be great for latter editions.