Están ante un libro excelente que relata los primeros años de la vida del escritor en Argel, cuando todavía era un niño (y pobre, además). Si bien es autobiográfico, contiene reflexiones altamente relacionadas con la filosofía existencialista - y deliciosa, por qué no - de Albert Camus. No está terminado, contiene "notas" al final como la conocida obra de Marcel Porust.. Esto se debe, creo, a que su publicación es póstuma pues Camus murió antes de terminarla. Léanla, y no se pierdan CALÍGULA, EL MITO DE SÍSIFO, EL EXTRANJERO y LA PESTE, del mismo autor. Camus es una aventura introspectiva que habla de vida, amor, libertad y muerte de una manera simplemente exquisita.

One of the very best works of contemporary fiction set in the Maghrib. Raises the issues you would want for class discussion without the aggressive "eradicatory" anti-Islamism of most Algerian writers.

Bobby Seale gives virtually sole credit to Fanon's works as inspiration for the organization of the Black Panther Party with Huey Newton. Frantz Fanon led a brief yet complex life fighting racist communist French colonialism in his adopted homeland of Algeria. This biography is not a quick read, and is intended for people that are willing to take their time getting through this 500 page monstrosity. In order to understand the opposite views of African politics through French colonialism during the same time period, reading about Leopold Senghor is an absolute must. Bravo to anyone seriously reading these philosophies! It's uncanny how much of Fanon's principles still relate to modern politics.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing this very accessible introduction to the spiritual writings of Augustine of Hippo. The fourteen selections carry just enough of the flavor of this thinker to whet the reading desire of those who have shied away from Augustine and yet, the selections are fresh so that those familiar with Augustine's work (the Confessions, City of God) will also find themselves longing to renew their contact with this seminal Christian from North Africa.

Algeria gained independence from France July 5, 1962 when the Evian accords were signed. The country had been fighting a war of independence, led by the National Liberation Front, since the 1950's. More than one million Algerian's were killed and over two million have been internally displaced. On December 26, 1991, the Algeria's first multi-party general election took place. The military intervened in the election for fear that the Islamic Salvation Front would win the election. Early February 1992 a state of emergency was declared and since that time it's believed that over 100,000 Algerian's have been killed in the eight years of civil strife. Michael Von Graffenried photography and story are timely and incredible because it captures a people who are tired of conflict and who are struggling to stay alive.

Dr Michael Willis's book is an excellent and very readable account of events that led to the present crisis in Algeria. It also provides valuable insights, applicable to different parts of the world, into what happens where an elite fails to address the democratically expressed aspirations of desperate people at the bottom of the socio-economic pile. Of particular interest is the work of fundamentalist Muslim activists attempting to alleviate social and economic pressures at the grass-roots level.

If you watched the movie "city of joy" you MUST read this book. Thousand times better than the film. Just one word : Excelent !!!

This is a real sensible book which describe the hard life of poor French colons in Algeria, region of the city of Oran. The story relates of a character who wanted to live his dreams out of metropolitan France and wanted to go to the "new world" of Algeria in 1946, just after World War II. Although I am the son of the author, I discover an extra sensibility from my father which I did not know when I was living with him as a child. Although the book is written in French it is worthwile discover it as it is written from the heart of Jacques Canteau.

Even though this book is out of print, if you research, read, and/or study Augustine and his thought, then you do not want to be without this text. John Leinenweber is a first rate translator.

The text includes letters from Augustine to students, the nuns of Hippo, Proba (a widow), Bishop Benenatus, Boniface (count of Africa), the Donatists Schimatics, etc. The letters include rebukes, theology, philosophical issues, concerns about movements or trends in the Christian Church, consultations, etc.

This text, if for no other reason, allows the reader to really pry into the mind of one of the greatest thinkers in the history of theology and philosophy. It allows us to see his concerns, his responses to others in crisis, in dealing with doctrinal issues and the like. The most intriguing thing, I think, about this text is the fact that these letters, even when read today still ring through with strong relevancy! I highly recommend this work!

C.L. Sulzberger is the best political writer I have yet to read. This non-fiction account is about Charles de Gaulle's re-emergence into power and how he handled the French Algeria crises and that African state's perhaps fated break-up. The book is based on a series of interviews which C.L. Sulzberger had with De Gaulle, as he was somewhat close to that stern and singular leader. It covers a span of about 12 years in just over 200 pages- an incredible accomplishment considering he has pinpointed the important events of causes and effects in that de-colonization. He writes a bit of the secret O.A.S. and the estrangemet felt by the French 4th (+5th) Republican Army, thus giving us insight into the complexities of the matter. Sulzberger does not mince words and has an extremely concise and effective writing style. His handle on political affairs is refreshing, even if it is in regards to events of 40 years ago. You'll finish the book wishing it was longer, for it is aggressively insightful, especially concerning de Gaulle himself, who was almost a mystical embodiment of France, and up against very difficult realities. Really quite an excellent book. I'm very surprized it is out of print. Then again, Algeria is similarly hors de service.