Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Sebag-Montefiori (2011)

Simon Sebag-Montefiore writes with a broad, colorful style that makes historical figures feel entertaining. However, in areas where I have read extensively, his omissions and reliance on some unlikely rumors erode his credibility. This selective approach taints the narrative and suggests a small lack of objectivity.

The history of Jerusalem inevitably suffers from a "phone book" style, cluttered with too many names and dates. This density makes it easy to lose the big picture and forget important details. Thankfully, the author provides a fantastic epilogue that summarizes the broad sweeping population changes, including mass genocides and large immigrations.

As the author notes in the introduction, archaeological evidence in the region changes daily, often rendering established facts obsolete. Because I am interested in the region, I find the older, incorrect understanding of history presented in this 2011 volume frustrating. These outdated interpretations, combined with the significant historical facts the author omitted are frustrating. Yet, Montefiore manages an indirect objectivity by listing who murdered whom in each major massacre. This record provides a clear account of the genocides, mostly of Jews,and identifies who was responsible for each travesty. He also notes which parties rejected peace  (guess who?) without adding his own color. Despite these frustrations and my doubts about the veracity of the character sketches, the book remains enjoyable. 3/5 stars.