What do you think?
Rate this book
Jackal: The Complete Story of the Legendary Terrorist, Carlos the Jackal
The biography of the 20th century’s most potent and ruthless terrorist, Carlos the Jackal, with exclusive revelations about his life, his missions, and his ultimate capture. On an August night in 1994 French counterespionage officers seized the world's most wanted terrorist from a villa in Sudan. After more than two decades on the run, Carlos "the Jackal" had finally been caged. For years he had murdered and bombed his way to notoriety, evading capture thanks to powerful backers and the blunders of Western secret services. Jackal is the definitive biography of this self-proclaimed "professional revolutionary," ladies' man, and cold-blooded killer. Setting his story against the larger political picture of the time, it exposes how the Soviet bloc and certain Arab regimes sponsored terrorist actions for their own ends during the cold war. The tale of Carlos's exploits, including his most daring coup--the kidnapping of eleven OPEC oil ministers in Vienna in 1975--crackles with suspence, deception, and violence to rival the best-selling fiction of Le Carré and Forsythe. Tracing Carlos's evolution from his childhood in Venezuela to London, Moscow, Paris, East Berlin, and the Middle East, Jackal uses previously untapped sources, including the archives of the East German secret police and the files of France's judicial investigations into Carlos's crimes, to tell his full story for the first time. Jackal reveals the web of intrigue, blackmail, and fear that guaranteed Carlos's survival, the helping hand of Colonel Qadhafi, and the true nature of the "Kremlin Connections." John Follain shows how the CIA and French intelligence issued their agents a license to kill in their efforts to stop Carlos; how his bravado, combined with events leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, forced him out of the Communist fold; and how betrayal and revenge sealed in a secret pact between France and his masters brought about his downfall. A cautionary tale of governments that fostered the image of an invincible criminal mastermind--who was in reality a pawn in the chilling cold war chess game between East and West--Jackal also provides fascinating insight into the making and mind of the world's most wanted terrorist.
486 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 1998
65 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 2, 2012
Interesting read about so-called "professional revolutionary" Carlos the Jackal. I had some previous 'brand awareness', if you will, of this guy, but this book did a good job of fleshing his whole story out. Venezuelan-born Ilich Ramirez Sanchez turns out to have been much more of a playboy mercenary than an ideological mastermind, but the world of state-sponsored, Cold War era terrorism of the 1970s and 80s is as fascinating to read about as his life. As a sidenote, I really REALLY appreciated that the author/journalist did not make himself and his research any part of the story (unlike, say, Riccardo Orizio in "Talk of the Devil").
March 17, 2014
Informative read about Carlos, it wasn't total propaganda like I expected. I went into this book with the intent of reading it from a Marxist perspective to see how much there is to respect about Carlos. The author presents him as a reckless, vain, professional mercenary whose politics are confused at best, a facade at worst. Perhaps in his youth he was sincere about revolution, but by the end of his career it's obvious that he is in it for the glory and the money, and to save his own skin. This is the image the author intends you to see, and even with a good dose of skepticism and reading between the lines, he is probably right. It's possible that there is more to Carlos than this book would suggest, but I doubt it. Carlos is basically an adventurist opportunist Che wannabe.
Probably the most interesting parts of this book from a leftist perspective is the picture it paints of the constant terrorism from Palestinian liberation groups in the 60s and 70s. It's amazing how little security there was on airplanes for instance. This book also tarnishes the myth of Carlos using extreme cunning to evade capture. Carlos was basically reckless and stupid, and the only reason he wasn't arrested sooner is because he had the protection of governments, and the extreme tension of the Cold War caused government agencies to tread very lightly when it came to matters diplomatic.
This book covers everything shown in the miniseries about Carlos, so I would recommend it to anyone curious about the details of events, or interested in knowing more precisely who all the characters are.
Probably the most interesting parts of this book from a leftist perspective is the picture it paints of the constant terrorism from Palestinian liberation groups in the 60s and 70s. It's amazing how little security there was on airplanes for instance. This book also tarnishes the myth of Carlos using extreme cunning to evade capture. Carlos was basically reckless and stupid, and the only reason he wasn't arrested sooner is because he had the protection of governments, and the extreme tension of the Cold War caused government agencies to tread very lightly when it came to matters diplomatic.
This book covers everything shown in the miniseries about Carlos, so I would recommend it to anyone curious about the details of events, or interested in knowing more precisely who all the characters are.
October 22, 2022
It’s an okay book about Carlos the Jackal.
The book covers the revolutionary in the late 70s and early 80s who setup multiple bombings and executions across Europe in the name of Palestine. It also divulges the many connections he had with multiple State intelligence services and organizations. Carlos basically had protection from everybody, because they didn’t want him to start crap in their country. The enemy of my enemy is my friend was never truer in this sense. Carlos could have been removed at nearly anytime, but everyone was always afraid of the “what if?” aspect.
Today he still sits in prison, nearly 28 years later, and just had a recent case end in another prison sentence in 2017, as he is still being tried for various activities, as evidence builds.
The book covers the revolutionary in the late 70s and early 80s who setup multiple bombings and executions across Europe in the name of Palestine. It also divulges the many connections he had with multiple State intelligence services and organizations. Carlos basically had protection from everybody, because they didn’t want him to start crap in their country. The enemy of my enemy is my friend was never truer in this sense. Carlos could have been removed at nearly anytime, but everyone was always afraid of the “what if?” aspect.
Today he still sits in prison, nearly 28 years later, and just had a recent case end in another prison sentence in 2017, as he is still being tried for various activities, as evidence builds.
February 20, 2017
A pretty decent overall look at this guy. A lot of information from beginning to end and certainly gives you the broader picture. The deeper look at who he really was seems to be a difficult task to ascertain.True revolutionary or playboy gunslinger for hire? All seemed to have a different or opposing view but it's hard not to view him with contempt in the end . Too much senseless death and destruction left in his wake. This is no story of a Che or even a Fidel!! His story leans much more toward a wannabe who lost his way.
November 26, 2020
The rise and fall of an international terrorist.
Having seen the 2010 miniseries, Carlos , reading this book was a great way to learn more about the enigmatic life of Carlos the Jackal. Follain details his origins in Venezuela as he becomes a "revolutionary" terrorist and causes chaos in the Western countries (particularly France). His height of influence comes with his 1975 OPEC raid - as he said: "My name is Carlos. You know me".
After the OPEC raid, Follain details how he became a destructive, shadowy figure that was aided by Eastern European countries such as East Germany, Hungary, and Romania. However, much his anti-Western stance aligned with the geopolitical aims of the Eastern Bloc, his bombings and attacks became too much to handle. As a result, by the mid 1980s, and with the carrot of U.S. recognition and trade deals, the Eastern Bloc abandoned Carlos. From then on, Carlos became an impotent vagabond who was forced to seek refuge in Sudan before he was captured by the French in 1994, putting an end to the specter of Carlos.
One thing I appreciate about the book is that Follain goes into a lot of detail about the geopolitical conditions of the world in the 1970s and 80s (particularly in the Middle East). This allows him to provide valuable context to Carlos' actions and convey how outside forces ultimately brought him down. In particular, the tides of fortune turned against him as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union meant that he had to find a refuge away from Europe.
Follain also details the impotence of the French government in taking him down. Until the mid 1980s, the government had no effective means of combating terrorism (whether in investigations or in the courts). As such, the government of Mitterand was forced to negotiate with Carlos while its intelligence agencies clashed and fruitlessly chased any possible leads to the international terrorist. In the end, although France jailed him, they couldn't prevent the trail of destruction that Carlos left behind in the 70s and 80s.
Overall, this book is an excellent look at the circumstances and people that allowed Carlos to flourish and those who brought him down.
Having seen the 2010 miniseries, Carlos , reading this book was a great way to learn more about the enigmatic life of Carlos the Jackal. Follain details his origins in Venezuela as he becomes a "revolutionary" terrorist and causes chaos in the Western countries (particularly France). His height of influence comes with his 1975 OPEC raid - as he said: "My name is Carlos. You know me".
After the OPEC raid, Follain details how he became a destructive, shadowy figure that was aided by Eastern European countries such as East Germany, Hungary, and Romania. However, much his anti-Western stance aligned with the geopolitical aims of the Eastern Bloc, his bombings and attacks became too much to handle. As a result, by the mid 1980s, and with the carrot of U.S. recognition and trade deals, the Eastern Bloc abandoned Carlos. From then on, Carlos became an impotent vagabond who was forced to seek refuge in Sudan before he was captured by the French in 1994, putting an end to the specter of Carlos.
One thing I appreciate about the book is that Follain goes into a lot of detail about the geopolitical conditions of the world in the 1970s and 80s (particularly in the Middle East). This allows him to provide valuable context to Carlos' actions and convey how outside forces ultimately brought him down. In particular, the tides of fortune turned against him as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union meant that he had to find a refuge away from Europe.
Follain also details the impotence of the French government in taking him down. Until the mid 1980s, the government had no effective means of combating terrorism (whether in investigations or in the courts). As such, the government of Mitterand was forced to negotiate with Carlos while its intelligence agencies clashed and fruitlessly chased any possible leads to the international terrorist. In the end, although France jailed him, they couldn't prevent the trail of destruction that Carlos left behind in the 70s and 80s.
Overall, this book is an excellent look at the circumstances and people that allowed Carlos to flourish and those who brought him down.
November 7, 2022
As a person, Carlos was a swaggering pig, a drunk and an exploiter of women. He was a killer. His ideology, such as it existed, was confused. And yet, there was part of him that wanted to be on the right side. He lived an admittedly bourgeois lifestyle, with fine clothes, fine wine and fine women, and he was caught up in romantic notions of what it meant to be a revolutionary, but in his heart, he was still for the people. There is also no doubt that he was brave, loyal to his confederates and more often than not effective in his actions. He established methods that terrorist fighters continue to follow today. He was a contradictory mess. I can't excuse kidnapping and murder of innocent people no matter how good the cause. The ends do not justify the means, but if you start from a premise that oppressed people are entitled to fight back and the only effective means at their disposal are unsavory ones, then what's the solution? I don't have the answer.
I write of Carlos in the past tense, but he is still alive in jail in France serving a life sentence. I wonder if he will be released some day since life sentences rarely actually last for life. He is in his 70s now and is a relic of a bygone era, but I'd guess that if he were put back out into the world, he'd still have some tricks up his sleeve.
I write of Carlos in the past tense, but he is still alive in jail in France serving a life sentence. I wonder if he will be released some day since life sentences rarely actually last for life. He is in his 70s now and is a relic of a bygone era, but I'd guess that if he were put back out into the world, he'd still have some tricks up his sleeve.
April 25, 2025
Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I often heard about Carlos the Jackal in the news and read a few articles about him in my Uncle’s Newsweek and Soldier of Fortune magazines. That said, I have vague memories of his exploits which remained vague even after reading this book.
While I do not question the author’s exhaustive reporting, sources and information, a bit more rigorous editing could’ve been applied to make it more focused, cohesive and clearer. The book reads like a reporter’s notebook, lots of information and first-hand accounts but lots of repetitive passages and oblique tangents that tend to muddle the narrative. Would’ve wanted more coverage on what happened during the actual operations involving Carlos Ilyich Ramirez, from his missions to his capture, but there are a lot of asides thrown in that dilutes the mental picture.
At least, the Epilogue is clear, effectively summing up the author’s point.
While I do not question the author’s exhaustive reporting, sources and information, a bit more rigorous editing could’ve been applied to make it more focused, cohesive and clearer. The book reads like a reporter’s notebook, lots of information and first-hand accounts but lots of repetitive passages and oblique tangents that tend to muddle the narrative. Would’ve wanted more coverage on what happened during the actual operations involving Carlos Ilyich Ramirez, from his missions to his capture, but there are a lot of asides thrown in that dilutes the mental picture.
At least, the Epilogue is clear, effectively summing up the author’s point.
December 18, 2021
A very well done book about a Cold War relic whose “cunning” was really just protection provided by USSR-aligned nations and the western world’s tightrope balance to keep powder kegs from going off versus his reputation as a mastermind revolutionary. Once the writing was on the wall on the Cold War, the nations that indulged and protected Carlos couldn’t get rid of him fast enough until he ended up in Sudan where they only barely tolerated him until his capture. The book also skewers his revolutionary credentials, which the book portrays someone who indulged in luxury and hedonism while professing to fight for the downtrodden, a tale as old as time unfortunately.
July 4, 2017
This is a meticulously researched and entertainingly written account of one of the cold war period's most infamous villains. The thing that stood out for me was due to the crazy socio-political climate at the time, he could intimidate powerful governments into supporting his cause. Lots of surprises in this book - including the hilarious (for me) origin of his nickname. You just can't make this stuff up.
November 27, 2020
Interesting story about a notorious figure.
Very good read about an infamous terrorist from the 70s and 80s. The research is excellent and the author paints a very detailed portrait of the man. I would only recommend to the reader interested in geopolitical events of the 70s and 80s (a fascinating time, BTW).
Very good read about an infamous terrorist from the 70s and 80s. The research is excellent and the author paints a very detailed portrait of the man. I would only recommend to the reader interested in geopolitical events of the 70s and 80s (a fascinating time, BTW).
September 19, 2025
Carlos kinda sucked as a dude. He did his thing in a pretty wild time. Puts some shit into perspective. But as far as his body count, he was an amateur. Can’t believe the shit he got away with (for a while anyway). Guess it was PRET-TEE E-ZEE to be a terrorist for hire in the 70s.
June 12, 2020
A Good biography of the mysterious Jackal! Worth a read. Though it gets bigger down in minute detail every so often.
June 24, 2020
Well written and a good look at the Jackal. Would have liked more detail.
July 8, 2022
An interesting read.
November 21, 2021
Somehow I did not pay much attention to Carlos the Jackal during his heyday. This book filled in that knowledge gap for me. Fascinating.
August 18, 2015
I had seen documentaries on Carlos and read some other books about Carlos but I don’t think I ever had read what the eventual outcome was for Carlos. This book provides that information. I hesitate to call it an ending because although Carlos is currently incarcerated in France, he will be eligible for parole in 2020.
Ilich Ramirez Sanchez a.k.a Carlos the Jackal, is a Venezuelan national who inspired by all of the student uprisings and nationalists movements in the 1970’s, joined Palestinian terrorist training organizations in order to foment what he called an International Socialist Revolution.
What was most surprising was how little success he actually had – he caused a lot of injury, death and havoc without achieving much in the way of personal or political change. I guess given the legend, I expected so much more. It seems like a life wasted since he spent almost all of it on the run.
In the end, much of the book shows how political machinations and considerations behind the scenes play such an important role in how terrorists are handled. For example, while Carlos was in Khartoum, France wanted to extradite him or grab him but due to considerations and relationships with the Sudanese government, it took quite some time to happen.
Carlos also was sheltered by East Germany, Syria and Libya during the Cold War years but as the Iron Curtain fell and relations thawed between East and West, he found it increasingly more difficult to find places to hide. It is amazing that he managed to evade capture while at the same time living a jet setting lifestyle.
A good, easy to digest book that provides insights into terrorism and the reasons why individuals choose to involve themselves in it. It also gives succinct answers to why releases of hostages and political negotiations take so long and are so complicated. What really hit home for me is how little value is placed on victims and how difficult it is for victims to get any justice. The book outlined how utterly devastated victims ended up: economically, physically, mentally and emotionally.
For those interested in this topic and this individual, this book is a great, easy, succinct biography. I enjoyed it and it did provide me with some new insights and the story….so far.
Ilich Ramirez Sanchez a.k.a Carlos the Jackal, is a Venezuelan national who inspired by all of the student uprisings and nationalists movements in the 1970’s, joined Palestinian terrorist training organizations in order to foment what he called an International Socialist Revolution.
What was most surprising was how little success he actually had – he caused a lot of injury, death and havoc without achieving much in the way of personal or political change. I guess given the legend, I expected so much more. It seems like a life wasted since he spent almost all of it on the run.
In the end, much of the book shows how political machinations and considerations behind the scenes play such an important role in how terrorists are handled. For example, while Carlos was in Khartoum, France wanted to extradite him or grab him but due to considerations and relationships with the Sudanese government, it took quite some time to happen.
Carlos also was sheltered by East Germany, Syria and Libya during the Cold War years but as the Iron Curtain fell and relations thawed between East and West, he found it increasingly more difficult to find places to hide. It is amazing that he managed to evade capture while at the same time living a jet setting lifestyle.
A good, easy to digest book that provides insights into terrorism and the reasons why individuals choose to involve themselves in it. It also gives succinct answers to why releases of hostages and political negotiations take so long and are so complicated. What really hit home for me is how little value is placed on victims and how difficult it is for victims to get any justice. The book outlined how utterly devastated victims ended up: economically, physically, mentally and emotionally.
For those interested in this topic and this individual, this book is a great, easy, succinct biography. I enjoyed it and it did provide me with some new insights and the story….so far.
July 22, 2015
Infatuated with himself, and living the delusinal idealisms he shared with his father, Carols the Jackal executed poorly planned 'acts of terrorism' and lived under the protection of governments who believed he could be used to do their dirty work. He wanted the world to see him as a revolutionary, in the same sense Che Guevera was seen. He wanted it so bad he did not care about any cause or revolution. His indulgance in his image, his bad-body appeal to young women, his love for guns and alcohol, and boasting his ' world revolutionary' experience, meant more to him than any cause. His means were criminal in nature. His cause was a front for psychopathic narcissism. The irony is that his demise came about when the goverments who would have liked to use his services realized that even as far as terrorists go, he was useless.
July 1, 2011
Generally interesting but a tad boring. I enjoyed the evolution of the washed up revolutionary. Carlos is a pretty silly character. The book also made me realize that frank is a fucking turd. And that planes were highjacked a lot in the70s
August 6, 2011
Pretty interesting read. Gives a lot of insight into the origins, rise, and eventual fall of one of the worlds most notorious terrorists. Dispells a lot of the myths surrounding Carlos and what he did and did not do. A really good read.
July 30, 2011
entertaining, sheds the light on some underworld connections that are not so obvious. through the life of Carlos you can grasp an idea of the complicated world of terrorism.
Read
September 9, 2011Read this long time ago. Liked it, but it is too long ago for a proper review. Going to read it again soon.
Want to read
December 18, 2012I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11595061
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11595061
June 16, 2013
Effing awful. Just terrible. At times the author seems to be transcribing travel itineraries with no analysis. Don't even go near this book.
April 21, 2014
Wow
the jackals is a great book about the history of Carlos and how he was caught this in the 3rd book and best book of all
the jackals is a great book about the history of Carlos and how he was caught this in the 3rd book and best book of all
Read
March 27, 2018I eventuially did not re-read the book and sent it on, looking for new readers. This review is only to get my administration a bit back in shape :-)
March 5, 2019
A very interesting look at the life of Carlos the Jackal and how he became a mercenary and then sold his services to different countries for use In terror as well as his own revolutionary terror attacks. The book explains how it took so long to bring him to justice due in a major way to the politics and Cold War. An interesting read and not thick with technical jargon so easy to follow.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews