The Brothers' War: Biafra and Nigeria Paperback – October 1, 2009

A well documented analysis by a neutral and objective outsider; a professional who had no interest in the conflict and therefore had no reason to embellish the truth one way or another. For those that suffered the tragic consequences - the Biafran populace, this was painful reading, yet assuaging. The author makes clear the fact that Biafrans had a legitimate cause, though the session was not the only course action open to us. On the other hand, the argument that Ojukwu led the secession was an attempt to achieve personal ambitions would not carry much weight either.

There are only two real choices when looking for a decent history of this conflict - this book and Forsyth's Biafra Story. Whilst Forsyth may be a better writter all-round, this book is much the better of the two, since it covers the entire conflict properly, and since it is much more even-handed. Well worth a read.

This book is a well written succinct overview of events leading to, during and after of the NIgerian civil war. The author brings a journalist's eye for the newsworthy in the way he constructs his narrative. Events are put in a proper context and the principal protagonists in Ojukwu and Gowon are given fair and even handed treatment. For the reader interested in how the post-independence political machinations, military intrigues, ethnic mistrust, cultural pride and national identity crisis contributed to the civil war look no further than this small but powerful book!

The most objective account of the Nigerarean civil war still extant. Will hardly be bettered anytime soon. Beautifully written too.