Author:James Bluemel,Renad Mansour
In war, there is no easy victory.
When troops invaded Iraq in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime, most people expected an easy victory. Instead, the gamble we took was a grave mistake, and its ramifications continue to reverberate through the lives of millions, in Iraq and the West. As we gain more distance from those events, it can be argued that many of the issues facing us today – the rise of the Islamic State, increased Islamic terrorism, intensified violence in the Middle East, mass migration, and more – can be traced back to the decision to invade Iraq.
In The Iraq War, award-winning documentary maker James Bluemel collects first-hand testimony from those who lived through the horrors of the invasion and whose actions were dictated by such extreme circumstances. It takes in all sides of the conflict – working class Iraqi families watching their country erupt into civil war; soldiers and journalists on the ground; American families dealing with the grief of losing their son or daughter; parents of a suicide bomber coming to terms with unfathomable events – to create the most in-depth and multi-faceted portrait of the Iraq War to date. Accompanying a major BBC series, James Bluemel’s book is an essential account of a conflict that continues to shape our world, and a startling reminder of the consequences of our past decisions.
At a moment when basic agreement over simple truths has become a political battleground and history a weapon, the publication of the book, Renia’s Diary, offers a reminder of the power of bearing witness
—— Joanna Berendt , New York TimesExtraordinary... It is a privilege to read these pages, and an impertinence to review them. Renia Spiegel was an astonishingly brave girl who developed into a remarkable young woman. (5* review)
—— Frances Wilson , Daily TelegraphAstonishing... A new invaluable contribution to Holocaust literature
—— Robin Shulman , Smithsonian MagazineIt is as though the murderous machine of Hitler's vision and the barbarity being brought upon her people couldn't silence the integrity of her voice... Renia emerges as a poet of real lyricism and emotional heft, which makes her demise all the more tragic
—— Hilary A. White , Irish IndependentRecall[s] moments of intense happiness in the gathering gloom
—— Will Pavia , TimesA work which shows us that the worst atrocities of the twentieth century did not happen overnight, they happened slowly and painfully against the backdrop of the lives and loves of ordinary people
—— Andrew McMillan, author of physical and playtimeSimultaneously devastating and astounding... incredible
—— StylistA terribly poignant work that conveys the brutal reality of the time through intimate connection with a young person
—— Kirkus ReviewMoving [and] riveting... this epic, layered story of survival serves as an important Holocaust document
—— Publishers WeeklyMoorehead skilfully weaves…threads of individual stories together to create a web of interconnected lives… broad narrative is dotted with flashes of detail; the colour of a piece of clothing, the wording of a letter… Moorehead captures a sense of hope and vitality among the women of the Resistance, fighting with courage and determination for a future they believed in
—— Elsa Maishman , Scotland on SundayMoorehead … takes up the story of four friends in Turin who decided passive resistance was no longer enough [against Mussolini’s reign] and joined a growing partisan movement based in the remote valleys of Piedmont. This is a bittersweet tale, not of betrayal, exactly, but of subtle excision from the script
—— The TabletA House in the Mountains is a page-turner… This book is to be welcomed as a highly readable story in its own right, and as an accessible introduction to the role of women in the Resistenza
—— Christian Goeschel , BBC HistoryA deeply-researched, fast-paced account of the Italian Resistance, a story not widely known to the general reader
—— History of WarThis is a highly satisfying conclusion to the author's series. Excellent, well-presented evidence of the incalculable strengths and abilities of women to create and run a country
—— Starred Review , Kirkus[A] moving finale of a quartet of books on resistance to fascism
—— Economist[An] encyclopedic new account... a vivid, meticulous tapestry, densely weaving the threads of German and Soviet military strategy, political calculation from Washington and London to Moscow, and war's pitiless human cost
—— Julian Evans , The Telegraph[Dimbleby] skilfully tracks the shifts and turns of the campaign, sparing no detail . . . a riveting account
—— Tony Rennell , Daily Mail, Book of the WeekDimbleby tells the story of strategic miscalculation and (self-)deception on all sides, and then Hitler's 'war of extermination', magnificently
—— Allan Mallinson , The SpectatorAmazing . . . fascinating
—— Jeremy VineMy best history book of 2021 -- a masterful account of maybe the biggest event ever . . . essential!
—— Lee ChildA very open and honest account of a centenarian's life . . . You cannot help but be amazed
—— Who Do You Think You Are?Embark on an enchanting journey into our country's past hundred years through the remarkable life of Captain Sir Tom Moore
—— Eastern Daily PressThis minute-by-minute retelling tackles the big questions, but also - by drawing on the letters and diaries from the Dresden City Archive - never loosed sight of the experiences of people who witnessed, and suffered, the attach first-hand
—— BBC History Revealed, Book of the MonthIt's a wonderful book, so absorbing, thoughtful and thought provoking, I didn't want it to end
—— Maureen Waller, author of London 1945: Life in the Debris of WarThe story of the Allied bombing of Dresden in 1945 is well known, but McKay's searing account is in a league of its own. His research is first-class, his writing elegant and emotive. He is brilliant at portraying the city's prewar beauty, grimly powerful on the horror of the firestorm, and moving and thoughtful about Dresden's rise from the ashes. By the end, I was itching to jump on a flight to Germany. That tells you about the skill and spirit of this terrific book
—— Dominic Sandbrook , The Times/Sunday Times Books of the Year