A Savage War of Peace

James Adams reads this detailed history of Algeria's fierce war of independence from France as if he'd written it. His strong, almost stern tone; good pacing; and vigorous, nuanced voice help draw one through the complex story. However, it's sometimes difficult to keep track of the tumultuous series of events; the many personages involved, with their French and Arab names; and the geography. In this respect, print might serve better. Adams's very British accent reflects the (sometimes quaint) Briticisms of the text; his pronunciation of the frequent French (mostly untranslated) is knowledgeable but not always graceful or sufficiently clear. But, overall, this is a strong, listenable presentation of a compelling history that has much to say about the present. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine


This detailed chronicle of Algeria also provides abundant information about the Mediterranean conflict, religion, geography, and politics that affected it. Bill Kelsey's precise pronunciation and measured pace escort one through a long and pedantic session on North Africa, but with well-told asides and anecdotes maintain the listener's interest and attention. However, one disadvantage of learning history with audiobooks is the lack of maps and pictures. Horne's rather disorganized placement of events would benefit if the timeline in the back of the printed version were available. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine