A Savage War of Peace cover art

A Savage War of Peace

Algeria 1954-1962

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A Savage War of Peace

By: Alistair Horne
Narrated by: James Adams
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About this listen

 The Algerian War lasted from 1954 to 1962. It caused the fall of six French governments, led to the collapse of the Fourth Republic, and came close to provoking a civil war on French soil. More than a million Muslim Algerians died in the conflict, and as many European settlers were driven into exile. Above all, the war was marked by an unholy marriage of revolutionary terror and state torture.

At the time, this brutal, intractable conflict seemed like a French affair. But from the perspective of half a century, it looks less like the last colonial war than the first postmodern one: a full-dress rehearsal for the amorphous struggle that convulsed the Balkans in the 1990s and that now ravages the Middle East, struggles in which religion, nationalism, imperialism, and terrorism assume unparalleled degrees of intensity.

©1977 Alistair Horne (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Africa Europe France Military War Imperialism Morocco Refugee Self-Determination Crusade

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Critic reviews

"[This] universally acclaimed history...should have been mandatory reading for the civilian and military leaders who opted to invade Iraq." ( Washington Times)
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I confess to not knowing anything about the Algerian war before listening to this book. The books provided a gentle but detailed telling of the history of the conflict, providing both information and enjoyment.

The narration was excellent, with the narrator's gravitas lending poetry to the excellent prose.

Fascinating glimpse into recent history

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This is a wonderfully told story of an often horrific series of events which chronicle one of the more tragic chapters in the history of the decline and fall of colonialism. It is far more than just a telling of events - it takes great pains to examine the motivations and thinking of both sides, and explains how some of France's apparently most loyal subjects could contemplate revolt and the murder of their leader. With hindsight it all seems like tragically pointless violence, but this book puts those events on context, and clearly benefits from considerable correspondence and interviews with many of the major participants.

A good book is easily spoiled by a poor reader, but this one is top notch. Always clear, and never sounds like he is tiring of what he is reading. The reviewer that said 5% of the text was in French is talking nonsense. Yes there are a few phrases which are untranslated, and that is indeed a pity for those of us with only a long-forgotten school-boy French to rely on, but it does not materially impair a thoroughly enjoyable book that illuminates one of the more terrible episodes in the recent history of Europe's retreat from empire, and explains events that deserve to be better known in the English-speaking world.

Just superb

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Anyone with an interest in modern history will enjoy this account, it gives a classic account of the Algerian war of independence, and keeps it understandable and concise yet full of details

A comprehensive yet accessible overview

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I read this book when it was first published many years ago, and was looking forward to the updated edition. Alistair Horne tells the story of Algeria's war of independence in an absorbing and interesting way. There's plenty of detail, but he doesn't let it get in the way of the narrative and his judgements seem to the point and well balanced, particularly when he is drawing comparisions with the present day. Hindsight is wonderful, but you do wonder how politicians dont seem to learn from history.

I did find it quite hard to keep a grip of the huge cast of characters, not made easy by the foreign names, but that's me not the book's fault! But you might want to keep a map of Algeria handy if you're not familiar with the geography. Understanding and keeping track is greatly helped by a wonderfully well paced and clear narration, One of the best I've heard.

Quite a long book but well worth a listen if you are interested in modern history from off the beaten track.

A fine and interesting book

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Deeply informed account of this terrible period. The tragic parallels with more recent history make it all the more important, amazing book.

Shocking fascinating account

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Well researched,well read,and balanced coverage of the war.Sadly 5% of the language(comments, statements etc)is in untranslaed French as it is assumed you are a fluent French speaker which is very very irritating

parlez vous francais ??

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This book is a classic. It has stood the test of time and justifiably so. It is a sweeping panorama of the savage war in Algeria. This book will give you an understanding of nationalism and the roots of Islamism in North Africa; the wars of national liberation in mid-20th century; the French Army and - by extension - France herself. The psychology of 'les Paras', invested through blood and suffering, in Algérie française to the enigma of De Gaulle. It is all here. Most telling is the analysis of the corrosive effect of torture on the French Army which inflicted it. The prefaces and introductions are updated and bring this lesson home to more recent experience in Iraq. James Adams has read this book well. This book is essential listening.

Essential military history.

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A wonderful book with analysis that stands the test of the 30+ years since it has been written. It may have a few too many details for the casual listener. The narrator is good but he can't really pronounce French or Arabic which is a major handicap in a book on French North Africa

Great analysis

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The book is a great review of the war, clear and very well written. Unfortunately it is marred by the french prononciation of the reader. It is so bad that it is at time difficult to understand. It is a pity as the reading is otherwise pleasant.

Fantastic book on a gruesome subject

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Quite the best history I've listened to, and certainly one of the best that I have experienced. My aim of introducing myself to both Algerian history and that of mid-century France has been achieved, while also introducing me to aspects of European and African history of which I was not aware. So horribly apt in these troubled times I hope that current world leaders and future soldiers, diplomats and politicians have this history on their i-pods. Thoroughly engrossing stuff!

A savage war of peace

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