Reading the first edition of this book is like opening a time capsule. This is not only because the authors give an overview of 4000 years of the history of the city of Jerusalem. The book appeared just a year after the stunning success of the Six Days War and the reuniting of the city, severed by the truce after the newly-declared state of Israel defended its existence against neighboring lands. One of the two authors, Kollek, was the first mayor of the united city, and doesn’t hide his ardor for this remarkable city. He and co-author Pearlman show awareness that this has come to be a significant location for Christians and Moslems. They single out remarkable Muslim rulers such as Saladin and Suleiman the Magnificent for praise. Yet in the end, their tale is about the feelings the city evokes in the heart of a Jew. When they reach the final chapters, their personal involvement in events and pride in the Israeli victory makes the account seem one-sided. This is understandable. But looking back after a half-century, with knowledge of the tearful events that lay ahead, it’s poignant how short that golden moment for the city of gold was.
This book appeared simultaneously in several languages, with identical layout and illustrations. It is a production of Mondadori and reflects their usual appealing graphic design. There are many well-chosen historical images, but I was especially impressed with the contemporary photographs, many by Ronald Sheridan. ( )