Jerusalem Paperback – 18 September 2012

"Jerusalem is the universal city, the capital of two peoples, the shrine of three faiths" reads the jacket of the book. An enticing statement which made me pick up this book and disappoint it doesn't! Jerusalem has been in the news from time immemorial and I have always wondered where the fiction and propaganda ended and fact began. This is thus a great book to get a clear, unbiased and comprehensive narrative on Jerusalem presented in the form of a biography of the ancient revered city.The book revisits the history of Jerusalem right from pre-Solomon days when even in the absence of current religious motivations the city was still a sought after prize and takes us through the inception of all the Abrahamic religions and their claims to Jerusalem over recorded history. "Nothing makes a place holier than the competition of another religion" and the author covers all the struggles be it the Romans, Greeks, Babylonians, Assyrians, Ottomans, Mamluks, the Crusades and the widely known struggle between the Arabs and the Israelites.From a barren mount to the golden city of Solomon era, from the fights against foreign foes to the vicious infighting, from a sovereign city to a mere puppet in the hands of imperial powers the book covers every thinkable and unthinkable facet of the enigma that surrounds Jerusalem. The ailment described as "the Jerusalem Syndrome" affecting hundreds of patients every year is one of the few arcane but intensely interesting topics the author brings forth in the book. The 20th century political grandstanding and the motivations and far reaching consequences of the Balfour declaration, the UN plans are discussed in full.The book is a tour de force of the massacres, pilgrimages, conquerors, cooperation, human stupidity, poetry along with a whole host of other things pertaining to Jerusalem. The author feels the "history of Jerusalem is the history of the world" and reflecting on the book makes one see how Jerusalem has shaped the history and policies that affect us to even this day. The city of chaos with intermittent periods of order has been a political hot potato for generations. The book doesn't aim to clear this political quagmire, rather it lets the reader come to his own conclusion after the factual bombardment.The book in itself is not a light read but the lucid narrative interspersed with behavioural humour makes it a book of its own kind. The 600 page book is neither too long nor too short, it is simply a page-turner! Family trees of the ruling families along with maps at various points in history are a welcome addition.The book is structured in a balanced manner and each epoch is provided its fair share of visibility. Remarkably unbiased, the epilogue of the book describing "just another day" in the life of Jeruslalem-ites and the fragile peace that exists at the time provided the much needed human touch and the first sign of the author's close association with the history of the place. His ideas regarding a possible future solution are a breath of fresh air.Thus a reader looking for more insights into the post WW period may be a bit disappointed but someone looking for a holistic history will find this book to be a treat. No piece of work can provide such an exhaustive account of the God's city and going through millions of articles cannot possibly provide the kind of comprehensive insights this book alone can provide.The terrible story of 3000 years is wonderfully told and is remarkably objective!

Packed with overwhelming and astonishing information. If you are interested in the history of Jerusalem, why everyone wants to possess that city and how it became the motherland of all Abrahamic religions.....Just go for it.

It was helpful for my assessment

Jerusalem has always been in limelight ever since it was founded. This books gives a great details of how things unfolded and Jerusalem assumed more and more importance among followers of 'Abrahamic Religions'. The language is simple and story telling is riveting. If you are intrigued by Jerusalem, just as I have always been, and want to know about it, go for this book.

The book which delivers the vast history of Jerusalem and the author presents research based events of the very old and important city of the world.

A very confusing and complicated history of violence and how has been made as easy as possible to understand. Very well researched and good book.

Jerusalem---among the top (say) half dozen of the world's great cultural & religious centres.But its history: oh what a depressing chronicle of power-struggles & massacres!Not that there isn't a connection between these two facts. It wasn't so much its strategic position as its religious cachet that made (makes) it the object of desire & rivalry for Jews, Christians & Muslims.Simon Sebag Montefiore writes a pacy narrative in an easy-to-read style, but tends to be short on analysis. My mind got fatigued & could hardly keep track of the endless comings & goings & battles & buildings.Not for me to suggest how to present such an intractable mass of material in a way that will be memorable as well as readable. SSB does his best, introducing, with sometimes more sometimes less relevance, contextual issues from Egyptian, Syrian, Persian, Turkish & European history. A background sketch of European political & religious history in the 12th century, for instance, is necessary to make any kind of sense of the Crusades. I also enjoyed the snippet about the meeting of Tamerlane & Ibn Khaldun in the former's tent outside Damascus, though it didn't have a lot to do with Jerusalem.Probably better used as a work of reference than read straight through, this fact-filled compendium could certainly be included with advantage in the luggage of visitors to the city.

Beautiful cover is worth the price. However, the book itself is not just some useless atheist commentary. Rather fact based account of what happened (or most likely happened) in one of the most important cities of the world.