Product Description

Now a major motion picture, this remarkable classic recounts, moment by moment, the spellbinding process that gave birth to the state of Israel. Collins and Lapierre weave a brilliant tapestry of shattered hopes, fierce pride, and breathtaking valor as the Arabs, Jews, and British collide in their fight for control of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem! meticulously re-creates this historic struggle.

Collins and Lapierre penetrate the battle from the inside, exploring each party's interests, intentions, and concessions as the city of all of their dreams teeters on the brink of destruction. From the Jewish fighters and their heroic commanders to the charismatic Arab chieftain whose death in battle doomed his cause but inspired a generation of Palestinians, O Jerusalem! tells the three-dimensional story of this high-stakes, emotional conflict. Now with a new introduction by Dominique Lapierre, O Jerusalem! remains, as ever, a towering testament to the fiery dawn of Israel and an unforgettable tale of faith and violence, of betrayal and indomitable courage.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64823 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 656 pages

Review
"A monumental work!"

-- Cleveland Press

"Moving, fascinating, informative.... No other book on this subject...comes close to O Jerusalem!"

-- Los Angeles Times

"It reads like a whodunit, and you turn page after page to see what happens next....The pace is so swift, the drama so heightened by alternating flashes of tragedy and comedy that one has to stop frequently to catch one's breath and marvel."

-- The New York Times Book Review

"A remarkable book...a history that not only clarifies the military and political events of the war but brings its human dimensions vividly to life."

-- The National Observer

"A story as dramatic, as miraculous, as full of wonders as any ever told."

-- The New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews

Riveting work
This monumental work is the most gripping and informative account I've read about the rebirth of Israel in 1948. Of course the focus is on Jerusalem and the text does not cover the war in Galilee or the South in any detail. The work includes the roles of famous persons and the experiences of ordinary people in equal measure.

Part 1: A Time To Mourn And A Time To Dance covers the UN decision in favour of partition, the Arab reaction, some background history - ancient Israel as well as the British Mandate period - and the various missions by both sides to procure arms.

Part 2: A House Divided, deals with the beginning of hostilities and unrest in the city, the deteriorating situation on the Tel Aviv- Jerusalem road, various horrific bombings of certain landmark buildings, the intensifying struggle for the city and the different Arab forces involved in the war.

Part 3: A City Besieged, concentrates on the harrowing struggle to hang on to the Jewish quarter of the old city from March 20 to May 13 of 1948. It includes an account of the tragic events at the village of Deir Yassin, the veracity of which is still in dispute today.

Part 4: These Shall Stand describes the movements of the various Arab forces and the Jewish response. It provides details of the Arab Legion attack on the city, Jewish counterattacks, the battle of Latrun, the loss of the Jewish quarter in the old city, and the building of a new road from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Finally Israel was established but it would only regain the old city in 1967.

The Epilogue looks at the aftermath of the war of independence and takes stock of the terrible losses. The root of the refugee problem is explored and the author briefly deals with the transformation of the new Jewish State into a flourishing economic entity.

There are extensive explanatory notes arranged by chapter, a vast bibliography of books, articles, pamphlets, periodicals, newspapers plus private documents and correspondence. The book concludes with an index.

On the inside front and back covers and in the text itself there are maps of Jerusalem and Israel, whilst the 40 pages of black and white plates encompass 60 photographs of people and places.

Both sides suffered terribly in this war. The authors succeed in being objective as regards the struggle between Jew and Arab, but it is clear that they consider the Haganah as the sole legitimate force on the Jewish side and they are openly hostile to the Irgun.

O Jerusalem is a riveting read on many levels. It holds the reader's attention by dealing with events from the perspective of a wide spectrum of individuals. The narrative is often very sad and sensitive readers should be aware that certain passages are quite disturbing. But this book is probably the very best history of the Rebirth of Israel and the part Jerusalem played in this momentous event.

Brilliant
This important non-fiction account of the struggle for a Jewish state is superbly written and extensively researched--I could not put it down. Everyone would benefit from learning some of the history behind the turmoil in the Middle East. The engaging narrative makes it as engrossing and accessible as any fast-reading fictional bestseller. A must-read!

Great historical integrity, readable style
The authors inspired me thirty years ago when I first read this work. It remains one of my all-time favorites. God's protection for His people is just as evident with the modern state of Israel as it was centuries ago.