O Jerusalem

Day by Day and Minute by Minute the Historic Struggle for Jerusalem and the Birth of Israel

By: Larry Collins, Dominique Lapierre

Narrated by: Theodore Bikel

Length: 23 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

O Jerusalem! is the epic drama of 1948, when Arabs and Jews fought for control of the city of Jerusalem. This story traverses centuries and continents, covering the time between WWII and the creation of the independent state of Israel. Based on five years of intensive research and thousands of interviews, this is a story of courage, terrorism, heroism, and ultimately, war.

©1972 Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre (P)2003 New Millennium Audio, All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"A history that not only clarifies the military and political events of the war but brings its human dimensions vividly to life." (The National Observer)
"A story as dramatic, as miraculous, as full of wonder as any ever told." (New York Times Book Review)

Magical Road With Magical Narrator

Imagine a protagonist so vital, so colorful, so enigmatic that you want to continue in their presence. Jerusalem, in this book, is no longer a city nor a place on a map. It is of non consequence your background as the produce is even handed, fascinating in detail. And Bikel draws you in, balances the tone; understands the inflections. This is a book that will extend your car ride to 3000 miles...it is that hard to put it down.

Significant book on Israel

Must read - very good book.
If you are interested in Israel and with what is going on today, 06/14/2024 Israel at War on 3 sides Hammas
Hezballah and Iran. O Jerusalem is the most honest gritty historic work on Israel I have read. It tells so many stories I have never heard. It takes courage & love to be a Jew in Israel. I pray for blessings over Israel every day.

O Jerusalem - a review and reminiscences

Some books about history and places, and their true hidden gist can be grasped only after you touch the stones, breath the air, toddle through its streets. That was my experience about "O Jerusalem !" by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Colins. The book describes the most contested part of Jerusalem history - the time of War in 1948 - the war launched by Arabs on the news of United Nations creation of Jewish State.
It is very detailed, epic, 600 pages of reading (or about 18 hours of listening). And it is great experience. You get deep into the individual people emotions, but you also get very good account of the global and regional history of the time.
Authors are really very objective. They did not write only black & white adoration of Jewish heroes of the time. They write about the dark sides as well. This dark sides resonated in my heart with the words and thoughts of my orthodox Jewish friend - though not in a direct simple way....
But above all it shows how incredibly difficult time Jerusalem had between 1947 and 1967, until it was reunited as a consequence of another war started by Arab countries.
It shows how precious is every stone, every inch of its streets. It weeps over all the victims of the tragedies...
It also tells a lot of amazing and incredible stories about the Jerusalem area - about Hebron and its Kfar Etzion, about Latrun and the heavy fights for this fortress, about famous Burma road and Tomb of Salomon....

It describes in a fascinating, almost like a thriller, the stories of arm purchases for young Israel in Europe, about Golda Meir fund rising for the new born state and so many other fascinating stories.
When it comes to the mood - it has a kind of melancholic-epic character, but - in a very positive sense of the world - it reflects the feelings you have there.

I recommend the book to everybody who plans to go to Jerusalem. I promise - you will look at its stone from a different perspective...

Highly Informative and entertaining

This is a fascinating account of the formation of Israel that puts the current Middle East crisis in some perspective. In short, this period of time was remarkable due to the clash of cultures, widely different approaches to war, superpower influences, and incredible stakes. The prelude to the British pullout was very interesting as each side positioned themselves for the start of a certain war. The narrator used to play Tevya in "Fiddler on the Roof," so his voice provides a strong reading with pronounciations that I'd never get on my own in the book format. Highly recommended.

makes sense of current mideast madness

when seeking the roots of the current quagmire in the middle east, this book captures the seminal moments of its modern inception. its focus on people, on individuals, on the minute events of daily life give it a force no political/cultural analysis could equal. gives me goosebumps...and i'm no more 'for' one side, arab or jew, than the other. very egalitarian. non-partisan. masterful.

Outstanding work

I am not going to bore you with book synapses. If you are at all interested in the conflict, this is a great listen. I think the narrator does this book justice.

*THE* book to read on the rebirth of Israel!!!

I don't think I can adequately put into words how awesome this book is. EXTREMELY well written, fast paced, and every phrase carefully placed. The authors sucessfully bring home the personal nature of the struggle to for parties involved, the Jew & the Arab, the leaders, the fighters, & the innocents all caught up in the epic tragic, yet inspiring, struggle for a Jewish Homeland.

Detailed

Long but worth every minute. I listened twice.
Great If you love history, great narrator.
Listen to the Prime Ministers after; its a great follow up to this book.

Detailed, enthralling

Keeps one glued. Quite detailed in its story line. Makes me want to visit the place again.

Great book for those who want to know the history of the continuing conflict.

Excellent! Gives a history of the Jewish/Arab conflict that’s still going on today. A great read.