In The Tears of Sarajevo: The Disillusionments of a Peacekeeper, Patrick Ravily offers a poignant account inspired by his mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1993 and 1994. This valuable firsthand account sheds light on the realities of war and examines the role of peacekeeping in the heart of Europe.
A former gendarme and international military police officer, Patrick Ravily served in Sarajevo during the city’s siege, between October 1993 and April 1994. In his book, published in December 2024, he recounts this experience through the eyes of a “disillusioned antihero,” a far cry from traditional heroic narratives. His work sheds light on the human suffering caused by war, the limitations of peacekeeping missions, and the importance of remembering the past. The author also pays tribute to the 222 peacekeepers who lost their lives in the former Yugoslavia—including 88 French nationals—and invites readers to reflect deeply on contemporary conflicts and peacebuilding.
