Title: Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance
Author: Ian Buruma
First published January 1, 2006
288 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781594201080 (ISBN10: 1594201080)
Rating: 3.71
Overview
In Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance, Ian Buruma delves into the complex issues surrounding the brutal murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by an Islamic extremist. This emblematic crime sent shock waves through Europe and the world, challenging Holland’s self-proclaimed identity as a bastion of tolerance.
With the narrative control of a true-crime page-turner and the intellectual resonance of a seasoned journalist, Buruma explores the collision between political Islam and the secular West, ultimately revealing the limits of tolerance in our modern age. This is a powerful and urgent book that sheds light on one of the most pressing dilemmas of our time.
About the Author
Ian Buruma, a writer and academic of British and Dutch descent, has dedicated much of his career to exploring the rich cultural traditions of Asia. With a particular focus on 20th-century Japan, where he resided and worked for an extended period, Buruma’s work offers a unique perspective on this fascinating and complex region of the world.
Editoral Review
Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance is a thought-provoking and extensively researched book by Ian Buruma. This non-fiction book published in 2006 is an astute analysis of the murder of a Dutch filmmaker, Theo van Gogh, by a young, radical Muslim named Mohammed Bouyeri.
Set in the city of Amsterdam, the book delves into the tense atmosphere that existed in the aftermath of the murder, and how it highlighted the limits of tolerance in a multicultural society. Buruma, a Dutch writer, journalist and historian who has written extensively about modern Japan, Asia, and Europe, provides a robust and lucid narrative by relying on his journalistic background.
He contextualizes the history of Muslim immigrants in the Netherlands, analyzing their assimilation and the growing disaffection of the youth with Dutch society. The story of Theo van Gogh’s life, his controversies, beliefs, and death is interwoven with the history of the Netherlands, its art, and the journeys of the immigrants.
Without giving away major twists or surprises, the book revolves around two main characters: Theo van Gogh, a charismatic filmmaker, and Mohammed Bouyeri, his alleged murderer. The setting is the city of Amsterdam, a city with a long liberal and tolerant history, but which finds itself under siege from radical, extremist groups.
The conflict in the book is the clash between the values of freedom of expression and the freedom to practice one’s religion without limitation. Buruma possesses an extensive knowledge of the history, culture and politics of Europe and the Middle East, and it is evident in his writing.
He flawlessly explains the radicalization of young Muslims in Europe who have become caught up in jihadist ideologies as he examines the controversies that arose after the murder. He meditates on a range of literary and philosophical works and meaningfully intersects them with everyday events.
However, the book is not without its limitations. While the book is well-crafted, some readers may find that it focuses too narrowly on the Netherlands and merely skims the surface of broader, global issues surrounding the Islamic and Western worlds.
Also, for readers with limited knowledge of the Netherlands and the Dutch language, some events and cultural nuances may be challenging to follow. Despite its flaws, Murder in Amsterdam is overall an insightful, insightful and thrilling read, especially for readers who enjoy book exploring the complex interaction between cultures and ideas.
The narrative is well-crafted, and the context and historical detail given to the events make the book both informative and a pleasure to read. In closing, Murder in Amsterdam is a necessary read for anyone who is interested in the issues of tolerance and its limits, jihadism, and populism.
It provides a compelling glimpse of multicultural communities where cultural and religious boundaries intersect. I highly recommend this book and rate it a 4/5.
