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Kurzbeschreibung

NEW: “AHMIĆI: THE EIGHT DAYS OF THE 13 YEAR OLD ADNAN” is now also available in an eBook-version (format: PDF, ISBN: 9783991262138, price: €11,99) via diverse platforms, e.g. here [thalia.de]


This is the story of thirteen-year-old Adnan. In the turmoil of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina he witnesses the brutal murder of his parents and sister, himself severely wounded by gunshot. This moment marks the beginning of his struggle for survival. Completely on his own, he manages to save himself with his last ounce of strength to a house damaged by the fires that have been set, hoping to escape the still raging battles, to survive and to finally be rescued. But in his hiding place, a period of martyrdom begins for him.


A psychological masterpiece of historic importance – the tragedy of a small Bosnian village at the 20th century. A shocking example of how ethnically different groups that have lived together and accepted each others’ religion, customs and habits for many generations were sucked into a human abyss. The boy, badly injured himself, had witnessed the killing of his parents and his little sisters. Only his irrepressible will allowed him to survive these eight days.
Hon. Prof. Mag. Dr. Thomas Müller, criminal psychologist, former head of Kriminalpsychologischer Dienst, Austrian Ministry of the Interior – Vienna

An exceptional text of greatest importance to grab – after almost three decades – the madness of the »ethnic cleansing« in former Yugoslavia. Thomas Obruča, who investigated the HVO forces attack on the village of Ahmići on April 16th, 1993 for the International Yugoslavia Tribunal in The Hague, describes the inconceivable. The unimaginable experience of the thirteen-year-old Adnan to watch the killing of his family and live through eight days full of anxiety before being found by UN-peace forces. By delving into the matter there might be a way out of similar atrocities. Hopefully!
Manfred Nowak, Univ. Prof. for Human Rights – Vienna, General Secretary of the Global Campus of Human Rights – Venice


[Translated from the German by Douglas Montjoye]


For background information about the book go to www.tomoideas.com/ahmici

[Title: Ahmići]

Rezensionen

Lorraine Mixon-Page: [Ref.]

I’m not even sure where to start in terms of reviewing this story. From the prologue page which used the words “nationalist propaganda” to Adnan’s own words, I don’t think I’ve ever read a more compelling, griping and timely story. The fact that it is based on real events makes it all that more heart-breaking. I can’t imagine the horrors of what happened to Adnan and others who experienced similar tragedy. I see so many parallels with what is happening in today’s world and it saddens me. To think that we still have these kinds of conflicts in so many places in the world is unacceptable. But to the story itself – I felt the retelling of the story was done in such a way that I was right there with Adnan. Not just rooting for him, but feeling the pain (on some level) that he was experiencing as he tried to lift his wounded leg to make himself mobile, as he tried to shrink his size to hide, as he resorted to eating things, anything, just to survive. Tears welled up each time he hallucinated and saw his family, relived an event from the past or imagined an event that should have happened in the future. My words just don’t fully capture my emotions regarding this book, but I appreciate you sharing the story. To be honest, I have questions – lots of questions. But, those are things that I’ll have to hold on to, as I’m sure there are things that no one will ever know about this very tragic event in Adnan’s life.

(Lorraine Mixon-Page, MA, SPHR, Associate Director of Human Resources, University of Missouri, School of Medicine)