Sarajevo Daily: A City and Its Newspaper Under Siege

by Tom Gjelten

Using the multiethnic staff of the city newspaper as a microcosm of the city itself, the author offers an account of war in Sarajevo

Genres: History, Journalism, Nonfiction, War

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1995

Reviews

[Jason Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read like a novel at times. I was very impressed everytime I was forced to realize how much of a relationship I had formed with these historical characters. My heart broke when an artillery explosion took another loved one from one of them.
It was inspiring to see the resolve to accomplish such a goal. Even if the goal seemed so arbitrary in such a violent and irrational world. However, the ending of the book really exposed how absurd peacetime politicking is.
"I'm going to go away from Bosnia after the war. I don't want to be around this ugly peace, with everybody kissing eachother. I'll know I did my best and gave everything I had, so I can forget it. My part will be finished."- Gordana Knežević

[Bruce Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super entertaining book about the horrific siege of Sarajevo in the early to mid 90's. Great character development of each of the players in the newspaper office and this gives greater relevance for the reader as they are taken through the mind numbing difficulties of being caught in the middle. A touchstone tale for so many scenarios in the world where centuries of tolerance and multiculturalism get crushed under the boot of totalitarian government actions. The siege is used as an effective vehicle to review the centuries of brewing discord in the region, and demonstrates how everyday people so often get run over as the pendulum swings once again.

[Bob Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written account of the history leading up to the siege of Sarajevo, and the hardships of that siege, told with a focus on a newspaper that persevered to publish every day throughout the siege. Although no direct blame is placed, it is clear the author, a well-known NPR reporter, faults the international community for not intervening on behalf of the Bosnian government, which faced attack from Serbian nationalists while trying to maintain a multi-ethnic, tolerant society.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable account of the Bosnian war in the 1990's, concentrating on Sarajevo and especially the daily newspaper in Sarajevo.