Download A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954–1962 Audiobook

" So far...great. 600 odd pages, the personae dramatis reads like a Tolstoyan novel; the subject matter: the Algerian war, with three , to boil it down, belligerents, a France, the Pied Noir and OAS, Algerians....among all the above you have people and groups against the dominant individual and group, breaking off, coagulating again, seperating, madness......the FLN, were they justified in their murilations, their grand guignol horrofest, the OAS retribution, the FRench forces, the innocent people.....Oran, Algiers, Casbah.....all would become famous/infamous "

" Great read on the history of the Algerian revolution. Bush administration used as a guidebook toward the invasion of Iraq. Must-read for policy hacks and contemporary historians. "

" Great book though not an easy nor a comfortable read. Very enlightening. "

" In the same vein as Lawrence's Seven Pillars, this is a wide angle view of the frustrating fight against thoroughly irrational Islamists in what should have been a benign nationalistic movement. If you want to learn what not to do when fighting an insurgency, read this book. I wish someone in the Bush administration had read it in the early 2000s instead of politely telling Mr. Horne where to stick it when he sent them a copy. "

" A bit outdated, and it gets some things wrong. But it's still an excellent read and a great piece of work overall. "

" Horne sometimes proffers ridiculously Orientalist observations, but his breadth of knowledge is impressive and the history of which he writes is fascinating. "

" The parallels with Iraq are instructive, though less so in the past year. Petraeus recommends this book to all his subordinates, and for good reason. It's a gripping account of French folly in Algeria, compellingly written. "

" While we all read Fanon back in the day, I realized on listening to a recent story on what the US could learn from the experience of the French in Algeria that I'd never actually studied the Algerian Revolution. So....Horne's history is exhaustive and at times exhausting, but remains decades later a masterful piece of work, covering in fine detail the both the military and political dynamics on the French, Algerian and Pieds Noirs sides. "

" This book will haunt me. It took me a long time to read; I needed long pauses to sit back and think through the book and its implications. The weight of the second half of the 20th century lies heavily on this book. History will break your heart. "

" Phenomenal and readable. "

" The author writes without showing obvious bias for one side or faction. This is a sad story where nobody wins. "

" Exhaustive and exhausting. "

" A well written account of a part of history Americans don't know of, but should. The fall of French colonialism. "

" Really interesting history, learned a lot and very well written. Plus, the best thing I've read about counter-insurgency. "

" Really well written. Though it was written about the Algerian war for independence, it is eerily close to the current war in Iraq. "

" One of the best books of the 20th century. "

" One of my favorite books, and one that I recommend to anyone interested in North Africa and the Middle East. A brutal, but thought provoking, depiction of colonialism, torture, terrorism, and near revolution (in France). "

" Great book though not an easy nor a comfortable read. Very enlightening. "

" Horne sometimes proffers ridiculously Orientalist observations, but his breadth of knowledge is impressive and the history of which he writes is fascinating. "

" A long and very thorough history.

The best -- and most disturbing -- part of this book is the author's description of the rise of a violent right-wing movement out of Algeria's white settlers and disgruntled members of the army in the closing days of the war. "

" One of the best books of the 20th century. "

" I really loved this book, to the point where I would list it as among my favorites. If you enjoy post-colonial history, Algeria, France, etc. you will enjoy this book. "