Sarajevo The Longest Siege

by Amra Abadžić

An honest, powerful and often visceral account of the privations suffered by the citizens of Sarajevo during the siege. Though there is darkness and sadness throughout, there is also hope in the form of the remarkable stoicism of individuals and their use of art, theatre, music and, most importantly, camaraderie as a means of resisting the brutality that was imposed on their everyday lives. In a time in which Europe faces similar horrors, this book is all the more important.

116 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2022

Reviews

[Ziggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took the world almost four years to realise it had to actually do something to end the siege…

Interesting read which mostly sums up the situation in Sarajevo during the war. The English translation is not the best and it seems like it could have benefitted from an additional proof read though…

[Aljosa Ajanovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un relat personal i íntim, però a la vegada col·lectiu, de com van viure en primera persona els sarajevites durant els 1.425 dies que van viure sota un setge brutal, envoltats de bombes, franctiradors i metralla.

Com la vida mateixa, té parts precioses i parts dures. Explica com la vida s'obria camí entre la barbàrie, i com s'organitzava en els seus diferents àmbits: com es menjava, cuinava, aconseguia aigua, com es feia la cultura, com s'escalfava la casa, com es socialitzava, com s'enterraven els morts, com es cuidaven els malalts, com es combatia la bogeria, com s'intentava fugir. M'ha emocionat profundament.

Em quedo amb els relats de la solidaritat, l'amor entre veïnes i la determinació gairebé malaltissa dels sarajevites per mantenir la seva dignitat intacta malgrat l'infern que els va tocar viure.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book on the Siege of Sarajevo, which gives informative and heart rendering descriptions of life under siege as well as some greater political context. The author is brilliant in giving an insight to Sarajevan culture with her use of wit in the book and love of her city.

[Joseph Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though there is a lot of typos and it is pretty repetitive, it is an honest and personal account of the siege of Sarajevo. It reveals the atrocities committed by the aggressors and ineffectiveness of the UNPROFOR as well as the ways Sarajevans coped with the struggle.

[Rijk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Als je nog geen hekel had aan de Serviërs krijg je dat wel van dit boek.