Anwar Sadat

Children's Literature

Anwar Sadat is exalted as a hero in this book, from the back cover which announces that "Egypt will always remember Anwar Sadat as a hero" to the opening chapter "A Hero is Born." Americans perceive him this way because of his groundbreaking role in signing a peace agreement with Israel at Camp David. That has not made him a hero at home, however, where he is much more likely to be vilified for the ostentatious lifestyle of his later years than revered for his early revolutionary fervor or his peacemaking. Although there is mention of the fundamentalist Islamic opposition to Sadat, there is no discussion of the much more general negative feelings about him in Egypt. The book is long and dry, especially for a young audience. The few photos are mostly static political poses and there are no sub-headings to break up the text. The series, "Major World Leaders," covers an unusual group of leaders from Yasir Arafat and Menachem Begin to Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin and Vicente Fox. The chronology and index are thorough, making the series useful as a reference source but not likely to come off the shelf for casual reading or enjoyment. The opening essay on leadership by noted historian Arthur Schlesinger is intellectually demanding, and unappealingly printed in small type with small margins. It would be valuable primarily for generating discussion or responsive essays by very advanced students. 2003, Chelsea House,
— Karen Leggett