Kosovo: A Short History

Noel Malcolm tries to cover the history of Kosovo in a relatively small book. To a large extent he succeeds in this task for at least the casual reader. Some of the history is quite fascinating and Malcolm is a good storyteller. There is evidence of considerable research and deep knowledge of the area. If it weren't for his irritating tendency to either destroy Serbian historical "myths" or to at least create doubt about their veracity, this would be a classic book that I could recommend to everybody. Unfortunately, like so many revisionist historians, Malcolm has a big axe to grind. He seems to think that peace in Kosovo can be achieved by "telling the truth". However, like the hammer that sees nothing but nails, Malcolm sees Serbian historical mythology and bad politicians standing in the way of lasting peace. I would have preferred more scholarly detachment on a subject of such importance to the great powers of today.

I just want to say that this book is a really Kosova's history, and I think that all people that want to know about Kosova must read this book. This is the best book for Kosova's History. I like it too much.

Like many of us, I do not know enough about the history of Kosovo or the Balkan region. I found Mr. Malcolm's book to be both thorough and insightful. He seems to give serious consideration to both sides of every story and makes every attempt to debunk the myths surrounding Kosovo and to dig out every kernal of truth. I would recommend this book to every fellow teacher of world history.

This is essentialy a book with limited scope,goals and methodics.Icould hardly imagine any reason to call it anything but an example of "what are we doing there" manual-book,a definition consistent with its perfidious sugestivness in agitating for theories that do no hold.If one was to read only this book on Kosovo,the only impression will be that Serbs are babeling with their claims on Kosovo.I do not doubt that if NATO was to occupy the whole Serbia,something like "There are Serbs,there ain't no Serbia" thesis is to be launched,and somebody is going to illustrate it with false aura of serious history work. END

Because facts about recent events,collected and interpreted by dosens of monograph authors (Noam Chomsky as the most eloquent one amoung them),have established Truth with the capital "T"-beyond reasonable doubt,Ad Hock book like this is not usefull for purpose of gaining it.The kind of nonsencical reasoning used "to prove that Serbs have no right to Kosovo",is also good for thesis "that China has not right to claim Taiwan"-during N.A.T.O.'s war with it,of course. Time and Again,this is debacle for historiographic science-and could be usefull perhaphs together with skull-measuring to justify somebody's vision of tomorow.