Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Genre: History / Middle Eastern Studies / Urban History

Book Review:
Sir Martin Gilbert's ''Jerusalem in the Twentieth Century'' is a masterful work by one of the most distinguished historians of our time. As the official biographer of Winston Churchill and the author of dozens of acclaimed books on modern history, Gilbert brings unparalleled authority and skill to this study of a city that has been, as the San Francisco Chronicle puts it, ''one of the crucial focal points of human history.''

The book covers the period from the last years of Ottoman rule through the British Mandate, the 1948 war and the division of the city, the Six-Day War and reunification, and the ongoing struggles of the peace process. Gilbert's approach is both comprehensive and intimate: he weaves together political history with the voices of ordinary people—Jews, Christians, and Muslims—who lived through these events.

What sets this book apart is Gilbert's use of primary sources. As The New York Times Book Review notes, it is ''most noteworthy for its richness of letters, journals and anecdotes.'' Gilbert draws on diaries, personal letters, and eyewitness accounts to bring history alive. We hear the voices of soldiers and civilians, pilgrims and politicians, refugees and residents. This approach gives the book a vivid, human quality that more conventional histories often lack.

The critical reception reflects the book's quality. The Wall Street Journal calls Gilbert ''a first-rate storyteller.'' The Times (London) describes it as ''fascinating and admirably readable... unmatched for sheer breadth of acutely observed historical detail.'' The Atlanta Journal Constitution praises its ''extraordinarily vivid glimpses of Jerusalem life.''

Gilbert's credentials are impeccable. A Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, he is the author of universally acclaimed works on Churchill, the world wars, the Holocaust, and countless other subjects. He divides his time between London and Jerusalem, giving him a deep connection to his subject.

For anyone seeking to understand Jerusalem's modern history, this book is essential. It provides a comprehensive, balanced, and deeply human account of a city that continues to shape global events. For students of the Middle East, it's an invaluable resource. For general readers, it's a compelling narrative by a master historian.

''Jerusalem in the Twentieth Century'' is a work of lasting value. Highly recommended.