LeBor, A: Milosevic

This is the first authoritative biography of Slobodan Milosevic, currently on trial at The Hague for crimes against humanity. Adam LeBor, a critically acclaimed author and journalist who covered the Yugoslav Wars for the Independent and The Times, documents the life of a man whose policies instigated four wars, who skilfully exploited the most modern techniques of media management to whip up a nationalist frenzy, and under whose rule bloody campaigns of ethnic cleansing systematically destroyed a once sophisticated multi-ethnic country, and yet who retained for a decade the ability to wrap the ‘international community' round his little finger. It gives the inside story of Milosevic's childhood, his marriage to Mira (who gave him an entrée into the highest circles of Yugoslavia's political elite), his rise to power, the looted money (estimated at some $30 billion), the ascendancy of crime over politics (personified in his son Marko's enterprises), his relationships with key figures like Radovan Karadzic and Franjo Tujman, not to mention the many western diplomats, politicians and businessmen with whom he dealt for more than 10 years, and finally the story of his fall from power.

Adam LeBor was born in London and read Arabic, International History and Politics at Leeds University, graduating in 1983, and also studied Arabic at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He worked for several British newspapers before becoming a foreign correspondent in 1991. He has reported from thirty countries, including Israel and Palestine, and covered the Yugoslav wars for The Times and the Independent. Currently Central Europe Correspondent for The Times, he also writes for the Sunday Times, the Economist, Literary Review, Condé Nast Traveller, the Jewish Chronicle, New Statesman and Harry's Place in Britain, and contributes to the Nation and the New York Times in the US. He is the author of six books, including Milosevic and Hitler's Secret Bankers, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. His books have been published in nine languages. Visit him at www.adamlebor.com.
Adam LeBor is the thriller critic of the Financial Times and a veteran former foreign correspondent who lived in Budapest for many years. He is the author of seven novels and eight non-fiction books, including Hitler's Secret Bankers, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. He is an editorial trainer and writing coach for numerous publications and organisations and also writes for the Critic and The Times. He lives in London with his family.