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Endorsements

“In a world facing the worst refugee crisis in history, this is an important and timely book, a compelling reminder of the heartrending dilemma of escaping terrible violence and leaving loved ones behind. Remarkably, the book is written entirely by Bosnian refugees and their families, and captures the Sarajevo experience better than anything else I’ve ever seen.”

John Zaritsky, Oscar-winning filmmaker

“Sanja Kulenović’s gripping account is both a universal human story of one family’s implacable resolve to retain its dignity in the face of war’s horrors and an invaluable historical source documenting the terror experienced by civilians during the Sarajevo siege (1992-1996). Drawing upon authentic voices of siege survivors as preserved in correspondence, memoirs, and her personal recollections, Kulenović skillfully juxtaposes the four years of terror her family and friends suffered in Sarajevo with her own saga of dogged determination to reunite with them.”

Robert Donia, Author of Sarajevo: A Biography

“Looking back a quarter century, it is almost incredible to think that a European capital renowned for its tolerance and widely viewed as a jewel of civilization was under armed siege for 1,425 days. It’s also hard to imagine what that meant for its citizens, who had to search for bread and water, duck snipers when they went outdoors and pray they wouldn’t be shelled in their homes. What’s truly amazing is that Sarajevans emerged from these worst of circumstances with their humanity intact. Theirs is an epic tale, and we can all learn a lot from it. This story of the Kulenovic family is written so engagingly that you feel you’re one of them. It is moving beyond words.”

Roy Gutman, Pulitzer Prize winner and Crimes of War Project chairman

“This book is a brave effort to uncover dark history of Sarajevo, and unravel memories often best kept buried. Its strength lies in bringing two stories, occurring worlds apart, together – through simple and heartfelt narrative of the author, and raw, emotional letters written from the siege. The Siege of Sarajevo shows, with each its page, that some of the best war stories are written by refugees.”

Ahmed Buric, Author

“By reading personal letters sent from Sarajevo during the siege, you become part of the story, too. Unbroken emotional connections between those who wrote them and those whom letters are addressed to draws you in, as if those letters were written to you. The raw account and description of the events is striking, explosive, and often reads as a movie screenplay, forcing you to turn page after page, letter after letter–as you become Sarajevan yourself.”

Zoran Stevanovic, UNHCR Central Europe

“A powerful, well-written account of a loving family torn apart by one of the longest sieges in modern history. Compelling and heartbreaking story but ultimately a testament to human spirit, kindness and resilience.”

Atka Reid,  Author of Goodbye Sarajevo

“The Siege of Sarajevo is a gripping, vivid, and vital reflection on a too often forgotten part of very recent history. Sanja’s story is at once sickening and beautiful, horrifying yet hopeful. In times such as these, we need stories like this.”

Paige Martini, Editor