Century of Genocide: Eyewitness Accounts and Critical Views (Garland Reference Library of Social Science) [Paperback]

Samuel Totten (Editor), William S. Parsons (Editor), Israel W. Charny (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0815323530 | ISBN-13: 978-0815323532 | Publication Date: May 1997 | Edition: 1

Although acts of genocide are undeniable historical facts, they soon come under assault by doubters, deniers, and "interpreters, " who try to shape the events to fit their own purposes, often creating confusion and doubt.

This book is important to keep the record straight. Filled with eyewitness accounts, scholarly analyses, and historical data, this first-of-its-kind overview is the work of leading scholars and thinkers. It meticulously documents atrocities and crimes against humanity that have been perpetrated for reasons that range from "the will of God" to "ethnic cleansing."

Focusing on the major atrocities of our time, the book provides accurate and verifiable historical information on how and why particular genocides were committed. Each original essay is accompanied by excerpts from personal accounts of survivors that vividly remind us that the statistics and plain facts represent men, women, and children who were persecuted and killed. Since each contributor addresses the same questions and issues, the essays provide a unified framework for analyzing and comparing the various historical events. An index facilitates research, and bibliographies point to sources where the subject can be pursued in greater depth.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Focusing on the major atrocities of our time, Century Of Genocide provides accurate and verifiable historical information on how and why particular genocides were committed. Each original essay is accompanied by excerpts from personal accounts of survivors that vividly remind us that the statistics and plain facts represent men, women, and children who were persecuted and killed. Since each contributor addresses the same questions and issues, the essays provide a unified framework for analyzing and comparing the various historical events. An index facilitates research, and bibliographies point to sources where the subject can be pursued in greater depth. The coverage encompasses the genocides in Armenia (1915-1923); Bangladesh (1971); Burundi (1972); Cambodia (1975-1979); East Timor (1975-1979); The Holocaust (1933-1945); Indonesia (1965-1966); Rwanda (1994); South-West Africa (1904); Ukraine (1932-1933), and others. Century Of Genocide represents a wealth of scholarship and research of inestimable value. -- Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Samuel Totten is an independent scholar of genocide, and a member of The Council of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, Israel. William Parsons is Chief of Staff for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Israel Charny is Executive Director of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, Israel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 532 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815323530
• ISBN-13: 978-0815323532
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,506,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful, July 16, 2007

By 

B (Atlantic City, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Century of Genocide: Critical Essays and Eyewitness Accounts (Paperback)

This is a great book for a student who is looking for an overview of genocides from around the world. It is a good first step in holocaust and genocide education.

4.0 out of 5 stars GENOCIDE TEXTBOOK, March 16, 2009

By 

Severin Olson (Hyattsville, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Century of Genocide: Critical Essays and Eyewitness Accounts (Paperback)

This can probably best be described as a genocide textbook. It starts with the massacre of the Hereroes of South West Africa in 1904, and ends with Rwanda and Bosnia. Each chapter follows the same format, beginning with a brief description of events and concluding with eyewitness accounts. The historical material in the introductions is a bit dry and matter of fact, but this is more than made up for by the eyewitness accounts, which are both horrific and riveting. Some readers may feel the need to consult an atlas, as chapters refer to such out of the way places as Burundi, Timor and Cambodia.

The biggest weakness here is that the authors don't make clear why each genocide is unique. What factors in Armenia, for instance, are also present in Rwanda? Are the massacres in Bangledesh likely to reccur in other situations? Why is the holocaust thought of as different from other genocides? These and other questions are not explored adequately.