The Serbs: History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia

This is actually a pretty good book. Basic facts: Since Serbs (aka as Servs) came from Russia in the 7th century they have only caused trouble. Their main problem is arrogance and underestimating others, namely the natives, the Albanians. Serbs will probably not like the book as it tells the truth about their xenophobic Orthodox Church and how it has supported genocide and Serbian concentration camps, but the truth is the truth. Serbs have started: The First Balkan War (to get Albanian lands and Macedonia), The Second Balkan War (Turkey was their ally and they fought against Bulgaria), WWI, WWII (indirectly by starting WWI,) War against Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. Other than the battles when Russia backed them, they have them all. Their pride is the 1389 surrender to the Turks. To make peace they gave their Saint's daughter to the Sultan's harem, and they fought against Christians in Nicolisa, the Second Kosovo War and sent 1500 knights to help the Turks take Constantinople.

It seems as though anyone that raises a voice against Serbian propaganda is immediately branded a racist anti-orthodox zealot. This is certainly what's happened with Mr. Judah and it is just as certainly false. Mr. Judah does a good job of presenting the facts about the Serbian history and mentality. Like many prominent historians and journalists he draws the conclusion that the conflicts in the Former Yugoslavia were caused by two factors: 1. A leadership that preyed on it's own people to advance it's interests. 2. A population that has been spoon-fed so much revisionist history and propaganda that it is incredibly malleable and suffers from a martyrdom complex. To see many of the points in this book illustrated by time and history read Mr. Judah's next book, Kosovo: War and Revenge.

Please ignore the other reviews on this page. They have obviously been written by people with some pent up ethnic hatreds, who can't cope with the reality that some members of their group aren't as innocent as they would like them to be. I have read practically every book on this subject I could get my hands on. Judah's book is by far the most comprehensive, well-researched and fairly balanced book on Balkan history. To top it all of, Judah also has an elegant writing style. I am Serb, but my Turkish friend and I both agree that this is the best book on the history of the Balkans we have ever read, and if a Turk and a Serb can agree on one version of history, it's got to be something special...

Judah has captured the pathos of Serbia without all the cliche reference to genocide and wanton murder which so many people who call themselves historians like to use to simplify their subjects for Western readers. This is an insightful work, and the author has done his homework. He does not come down with his own personal agenda, but simply relates with powerful clarity the history of Serbia/Yugoslavia from 1389 to the present. I have not encountered a more thorough, accurate, well-written, and sensitive account of the history of this region. He has found the courage to thoroughly explain the painful past in a manner which serves to give the Serbs human faces and hearts. Absolutely a must read for anyone who is unfamiliar with the region, or who is tired of hearing the black and white rhetoric on CNN.

Compared to so many other books on the recent history of Yugoslavia Judah's book is insightful and engaging. Of the many books I have read on this topic in recent years this is by far one of the best. It is also refreshingly free from the prejudices to which many other authors fall. Oskar Lindström