Books › One day in September
One day in September
378 pages
A harrowing, meticulously researched plunge into a devastating historical tragedy that forever altered the global landscape.
What it feels like
This deeply researched narrative non-fiction reads with the steady, authoritative weight of a definitive historical account, yet pulses with the harrowing tension of a real-life crisis. The mood is dread-soaked and somber, anchoring the reader in the devastating reality of political violence and its profound human cost. Through meticulous journalistic prose, the narrative builds a precise timeline from official documents and survivor interviews, creating an atmosphere that is both intensely factual and deeply tragic. The emotional arc moves from sudden, shocking escalation to a profound sense of loss and historical gravity. It is a compelling, sobering read designed for those who seek to understand the complex, explosive events of the late twentieth century through rigorous investigation and unflinching detail.
- Mood
- tense
- dread-soaked
- harrowing
- devastating
- Tone
- authoritative
- somber
- investigative
- serious
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- historical tragedy · political violence · human cost of terrorism · geopolitical conflict
- The writing
- Meticulously researched and journalistic, balancing factual rigor with the heavy gravity of human loss.
- The arc
- Moves from sudden, shocking escalation to a profound sense of loss and historical gravity.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate deeply researched, narrative non-fiction about pivotal, tragic moments in modern history.
Content notes
- terrorism
- hostage situations
- murder
- antisemitic violence
- grief
About the book
"At 4:30 A.M. on the morning of September 5, 1972, a small band of Palestinian terrorists scaled the perimeter wall of the Olympic Village in Munich, Germany. Within minutes they had invaded the apartments of the Israelis quartered at 31 Connollystrasse and taken hostage eleven athletes and coaches. Their goal: to thrust the foundering PLO cause into the world spotlight and gain the release of several hundred Arabs held prisoner by the Israelis.
In the end, fifteen people were dead: all the Israeli athletes, five of the terrorists, and one German policeman." "Based on years of exhaustive research, thousands of official documents recently released as a result of the legal demands made by the families of the murdered athletes, and hundreds of interviews with participants and survivors, One Day in September is the definitive account of one of the most devastating and politically explosive events of the late twentieth century."--BOOK JACKET.
Description from Open Library.
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