Milosevic: A Biography

by Adam LeBor

The first authoritative biography of Slobodan MilosevicSlobodan Milosevic died in 2006 in his prison cell in The Hague, putting a premature end to his trial for war crimes during the Yugoslav Wars.Adam LeBor, a critically acclaimed author and journalist who covered the Yugoslav Wars for the Independent and the Times, documents the life of a man whose policies instigated four wars, who skilfully exploited the most modern techniques of media management to whip up a nationalist frenzy, and under whose rule bloody campaigns of ethnic cleansing systematically destroyed a once sophisticated multi-ethnic country, and yet who retained for a decade the ability to wrap the 'international community' round his little finger.It gives the inside story of Milosevic's childhood, his marriage to Mira (who gave him an entrée into the highest circles of Yugoslavia's political elite), his rise to power, the looted money (estimated at some $30 billion), the ascendancy of crime over politics (personified in his son Marko's enterprises), his relationships with key figures like Radovan Karadzic and Franjo Tujman, not to mention the many western diplomats, politicians and businessmen with whom he dealt for more than 10 years, and finally the story of his fall from power.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Politics, Journalism

594 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Adam LeBor was born in London and read Arabic, international history and politics at Leeds University, graduating in 1983, and also studied Arabic at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He worked for several British newspapers before becoming a foreign correspondent in 1991. He has reported from thirty countries, including Israel and Palestine, and covered the Yugoslav wars for The Times of London and The Independent. Currently Central Europe correspondent for The Times of London, he also writes for the Sunday Times, The Econdomist, Literary Review, Condé Nast Traveller, the Jewish Chronicle, New Statesman and Harry's Place in Britain, and contributes to The Nation and the New York Times in the States. He is the author of seven books, including the best-selling Hitler's Secret Bankers, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. His books have been published in nine languages.

Reviews

[Mikey B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are given a vivid and grim portrayal of the Yugoslav-Serbian dictator. From this book it is quite clear that it is Milosevic who drove Yugoslavia to self-destruction in the name of Serbian nationalism. Without Milosevic, Yugoslavia may not have disintegrated or the partitioning may have been more peaceful.

The author also provides us with details of how the Serbian state in Belgrade became increasingly dysfunctional and corrupt – with several mafia-style killings of government and police leaders. We are also given a view of the personal life of Milosevic; his wife, Mira, exerted a strong influence on the political outlook and the decision making processes of her husband. During the 1990’s they both became increasing deluded and unwilling to recognise the violence and racism spawned by their actions in Croatia, Bosnia and then Kosovo. They initiated territorial acquisitions to spread the Serbian state that led to violent wars and hatreds they were unwilling to control. They failed to constrain any of these incursions. As the Western powers eventually found out to their detriment, a Milosevic promise or agreement was merely words.

Mr. LeBor gives us a good historical background of the tragic events that occurred in Yugoslavia. We witness the gradual rise of Milosevic to power – he carefully analyzed the bureaucracy of his place of work – whether it was a bank, a company or the government. He knew well how to manoeuvre himself into a position of power.

We are never sure with Milosevic what the priority was: Serbian nationalism or the lust for power. In the end, his juggling act was a resounding failure and the scars of war will remain for a long time to come.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Library selection. Much to learn about Balkan history. More a broad history of the Balkan Wars of the 90s than a biography of Milosevic. The author routinely brushes aside or minimizes all Muslim atrocities from the Wars, but admits early on that he’s anti-Serb, allowing you to characterize his arguments. The author portrays Milosevic as an aloof drunk without proper examination of the subject’s aptitude for acquiring power. Enjoyed the coverage of Mira and M&S’s fascinating relationship.

[Nadja T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful for my research on Milosevic, offers a wide range of resources and many primary interviews conducted by LeBor. All in all very well done!

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have several connections to the former Yugoslavia. The first, in high school, was ideological. Yugoslavia and the non-aligned movement it helped to create seemed to offer an alterantive to the warring superpowers. Djilas, author and former vice president of the republic, was a respected intellectual and the country's experiments with worker self-management, just the very idea of such a thing, were followed with interest and not a little adolescent credulity. The second was that my younger brother, Fin Einar, married a girl whose parents had come from there. The third was that some of our relatives in Norway, including my mother, were accustomed to vacation on the Dalmatian coast. The fourth was that I befriended a woman from Sarajevo, becoming acquainted with a whole host of persons from the former Yugoslavia, many of them political refugees from Bosnia admitted under the Clinton administration.

These connections did not dispose me favorably towards Slobodan Milosevic, but I did want to know more about him and so read this and another biography of the man, both of which did nothing to moderate my initial prejudice.

[Beverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary. Riveting. A tale of how lies and propaganda
Move people towards violence and war.

[한 카트 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting 500 page crash course on the Yugoslav wars, and how nationalism drivel and media propaganda helped Milosevic' (and many others, now either convicted or dead) egomaniac lust for power, and heightened the sense of victimhood of different groups of people... driving them to unspeakable acts of violence and cruelty.