Out of the Siege of Sarajevo: Memoirs of a Former Yugoslav

Jasna Levinger-Goy's book tells the story of a family of Jewish origin who identified as Yugoslavs and lived through the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. It provides a vivid, personal view of the war through the eyes of those who witnessed it, illustrating coping mechanisms and resourcefulness in adapting to new circumstances. The book explores themes of loss, identity, human suffering, resilience, and the prevalence of good even in difficult situations. It serves as a reminder of the human cost of war.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 27 January 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The horrors of the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the very heart of Europe in 1992, may be all but forgotten - but not by everyone. In this book, Jasna Levinger-Goy offers a vivid, personal story of a family of Jewish origin who identified as Yugoslavs. It traces their journey over a period of ten years, starting with their life in Sarajevo under siege and ending in the United Kingdom. Without belonging to any of the warring factions, this is Levinger-Goy's true story, a story that takes place on the front lines in the heart of Sarajevo. The book offers a perceptive view of the civil war through the eyes of those who witnessed it. We are presented here with the motives, reactions, and behavior of people caught in the crossfire of political and military events outside their control. It illustrates coping with dangers and the resourcefulness needed during the siege and during the perilous journey out. It also shows that almost the equal amount of coping mechanism and resourcefulness was required in adapting to new circumstances as well as in building a new life. Levinger-Goy's venture into the unknown is tangled with the sense of loss - of home, of a country, and the loss of identity. Her experience provides an insightful commentary on how these intersect, overlap, and ultimately affect an individual. It sheds light on human suffering and resilience, frailty and ingenuity, cruelty and empathy. It describes unique personal circumstances, but illustrates universal behaviors. Although the book inevitably deals with fear, pain, desperation, loss, and even hatred, it also reveals much about love, hope, and happiness, and above all about the prevalence of good even in the most difficult of circumstances. Set against the backdrop of a brutal conflict, this book reminds us of the ver.

Weight: 506g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399098625