The Land of Blood and Honey: the Rise of Modern Israel

Brief Description: In this crisp one-volume history of Israel, van Creveld skillfully relates the story of a nationless people who, given a hot and arid patch of land and coping with every imaginable obstacle, founded a country that is now the envy of surrounding states. Includes maps. Review Quotes:?An unapologetic, well-written, and often convincing single volume history of Israel that regards the establishment, survival, and prospering of that nation as a remarkable and admirable achievement?a worthy effort to promote a particular vision of Israel?s past and future prospects.?"?Booklist""It's no mean feat to sketch the late 19th century rise of Zionism and creation of Israel with economy and compassion, and to deliver an honest appraisal of the country's strengths and weaknesses. That celebrated historian van Creveld ("The Culture of War") manages just this, and does so with an easy accessibility, is to be admired....[A] first-rate study.""?Publishers Weekly ""Martin van Creveld, so well known for his military histories, has produced an exemplary political, cultural, and intellectual history of Israel. It is concise without being glib, fair-minded with losing its edge and authoritative personal voice. I read this through in a sittiBiographical Note: MARTIN VAN CREVELD is the world's leading Israeli military historian and theorist. He holds degrees from the London School of Economics and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he has been on the faculty since 1971. He is the author of seventeen books on military history and strategy and has lectured or taught at virtually every strategic institute in the Western world. Review Quotes:"A concise and readable history of Israel written by someone who has lived a better part of it."--"Seattle JTNews""An unapologetic, well-written, and often convincing single volume history of Israel that regards the establishment, survival, and prospering of that nation as a remarkable and admirable achievement...a worthy effort to promote a particular vision of Israel's past and future prospects.""--Booklist""It's no mean feat to sketch the late 19th century rise of Zionism and creation of Israel with economy and compassion, and to deliver an honest appraisal of the country's strengths and weaknesses. That celebrated historian van Creveld ("The Culture of War") manages just this, and does so with an easy accessibility, is to be admired....[A] first-rate study.""--Publishers Weekly ""Martin van Creveld, so well known for his military histories, has produced an exemplary political, cultural, and intellectual history of Israel. It is concise without being glib, fair-minded with losing its edge and authoritative personal voice. I read this through in a sitting with great enjoyment and edification."--James Fallows, journalist, "The Atlantic""Martin Van Creveld uses the widest strokes of history to set up a canvas on which he paints an intriguing picture of modern day Israel. For two decades, I have interviewed Van Creveld to get an 'out of the box' understanding of the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. "The Land of Blood and Honey" proves that Martin's intimate knowledge of history has never inhibited his penchant for original thought."--Michael Schwartz, CNN correspondent in Israel"An excellent book that combines an accurate historical perspective, strategic vision, and a most fascinating way of writing."--Ehud Olmert, former prime minister of Israel"Martin Van Creveld is either the world's leading military historian, or near enough. He has now applied his celebrated skills to the modern history of an entire country, albeit one not lacking in military eTable of Contents: Prologue -- 1. Forged in Fury (1897-1949) -- 2. Full Steam Ahead (1949-1967) -- 3. The Nightmare Years (1967-1980) -- 4. New Challenges (1981-1995) -- 5. Tragedy, Triumph, and Struggle (1995-Present) -- Epilogue: No More War? -- Glossary of Hebrew Terms -- Time Line of Events -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index. Review Citations:

Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2010 (EAN 9780312596781, Hardcover)

Publishers Weekly 06/28/2010 (EAN 9780312596781, Hardcover)

Booklist 07/01/2010 pg. 21 (EAN 9780312596781, Hardcover)

Library Journal 09/15/2010 pg. 86 (EAN 9780312596781, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  Van Creveld, Martin Martin van Creveld was born in the Netherlands in 1946 and has lived in Israel from 1950. Having studied in Jerusalem and London, since 1971 he has been on the faculty of the History Department, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. A specialist in military history and strategy, he is the author of 20 books, including "The Land of Blood and Honey" and "Defending Israel", and has appeared regularly on CBS, CNN and the BBC.