RaveTimes Literary Supplement (UK)There is a strikingly infamous cast list in Jason Burke’s fascinating new book ... The Revolutionists focuses on Europe and the Middle East during the years 1967–83, describing the activities of some of those who sought to change the world through political violence. There are two main centres of gravity: the radical, frequently leftist violence of transnational terrorists, and the revolutionary violence associated with Islamic extremism. Burke, international security correspondent for the Guardian, has reported thoughtfully on political violence for several decades. His previous books include his impressive The 9/11 Wars (2011). He therefore brings considerable experience to this detailed chronicle of hostage-taking, bombings, assassinations and other adventures. Full of vivid, intriguing detail, it draws on interviews conducted by the author as well as published and archival sources ... Though many of his characters have been villainized elsewhere, Burke treats them as complex human beings rather than caricatured monsters. But he does not avoid documenting some of the terrible effects experienced by victims of these people’s callous violence ... It would have been fascinating to hear Burke’s reflections on some of those revolutionists from these years whom he mentions only in passing, including the Basque separatist organization ETA and some of the US radical terrorists very active in his period ... But no book can cover everything, and Burke’s compellingly readable account already ranges widely.
