“Pity the Nation” is both an historical document and an eye-witness testament to human savagery. Written by one of Britain’s foremost journalists, this book combines political analysis and war reporting; it is an account of the Lebanon conflict by an author who has personally witnessed the carnage of Beirut for over a decade. Gunmen and collaborators, bomber pilots, diplomats, guerillas, feudal politicians journalists, soldiers and kidnappers move through the pages of this history. Arabs and Israelis, East and West – all fall under Fisk’s critical, occasionally humorous, and often horrified scrutiny. He witnessed the Israeli siege of West Beirut; was among those who entered the Sabra and Chatila Palestinian camps in 1982 on the day the massacre ended; and observed the destruction of the US Marine headquarters in 1983. A 10,000 word epilogue brings the book up to date, and concludes some particular aspects of Lebanon’s story. In Beirut the struggle for power was continued with the rise and fall of General Aoun and the assasination of President Moawad. Outside Lebanon, the Gulf War changed the face of Middle Eastern politics. And in the wake of the Gulf War came the release of the British and American hostages.