Yaroslav Trofimov Boeken

Drawing on reporting from more than a dozen Islamic countries, "Wall Street Journal" reporter Trofimov offers an unforgettable portrait of the Muslim world after September 11. What emerges is a penetrating portrait of people, faith, and countries.

In The Siege of Mecca, acclaimed journalist Yaroslav Trofimov pulls back the curtain on a thrilling, pivotal, and overlooked episode of modern history, examining its repercussions on the Middle East and the world. On November 20, 1979, worldwide attention was focused on Tehran, where the Iranian hostage crisis was entering its third week. That same morning, gunmen stunned the world by seizing the Grand Mosque in Mecca, creating a siege that trapped 100,000 people and lasted two weeks, inflaming Muslim rage against the United States and causing hundreds of deaths. But in the days before CNN and Al Jazeera, the press barely took notice. Trofimov interviews for the first time scores of direct participants in the siege, and draws upon hundreds of newly declassified documents. With the pacing, detail, and suspense of a real-life thriller, The Siege of Mecca reveals the long-lasting aftereffects of the uprising and its influence on the world today.

This acclaimed work received high praise from the Washington Post Book World in 2005, highlighting its exceptional narrative and compelling themes. The book delves into intricate character development and explores thought-provoking ideas, making it a standout in contemporary literature. Readers can expect an engaging story that resonates on multiple levels, combining emotional depth with insightful commentary on society.

A foreign correspondent from the 'Wall Street Journal' who has reported extensively from the Middle East, Yaroslav Trofimov here tells the story of the 1979 siege of Mecca. Hardly covered at the time, the event is now opened up through interviews with direct participants and the use of declassified documents.