With Their Backs to the World

With Their Backs to The World: Portraits of Serbia documents Norwegian journalist Åsne Seierstad's time in Serbia during a period of intense political upheaval. Through visits in 1999, 2000, and 2004, she captures the experiences of thirteen Serbian citizens during the aftermath of the Kosovo War, the fall of Slobodan Milošević, and the subsequent years of transition. Seierstad constructs her narrative through direct interviews with a diverse group of subjects, from displaced families to politicians, musicians, and media figures. The book presents their personal accounts against the backdrop of UN sanctions, NATO bombings, democratic revolution, and Serbia's complicated relationship with the International Criminal Tribunal. The interviews and observations span critical moments in modern Serbian history: the final years of Milošević's rule, the democratic uprising of 2000, and the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic in 2003. Each subject's story reveals a different perspective on these events and their impact on daily life. Through these individual portraits, the book examines larger questions about national identity, collective trauma, and the complex process of political transformation in post-war societies.

Readers note the book provides personal perspectives from Serbian citizens during a tumultuous period through interviews conducted in 1999, 2000, and 2004. Many appreciate Seierstad's focus on ordinary people rather than political figures. Readers liked: - The intimate portraits of daily life - The balanced presentation of different viewpoints - Clear writing that makes complex situations accessible - Follow-up interviews showing changes over time Common criticisms: - Some interview subjects seem one-dimensional - Lacks broader historical context - Translation feels stiff in places - Limited geographic scope (mostly Belgrade-focused) Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (272 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) "Shows the human side of a complex conflict" - Amazon reviewer "Too much focus on pro-Milosevic voices" - Goodreads reviewer "The repeated interviews with the same people over years make this unique" - LibraryThing review

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🔹 Seierstad spent several months living with local families while researching the book, a technique she also famously used for her bestseller "The Bookseller of Kabul" 🔹 The NATO bombing campaign of Serbia in 1999, covered in the book, lasted 78 days and involved over 1,000 aircraft flying 38,000 combat missions 🔹 The October 2000 Serbian revolution, one of the book's focal points, succeeded in overthrowing Slobodan Milošević without a single shot being fired 🔹 The author reported from Serbia during all three major Balkan wars (Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo) before writing this book, giving her unique historical context 🔹 Seierstad conducted all interviews in Serbian, having learned the language while working as a correspondent in Belgrade for Scandinavian media outlets