Faith and Loyalty – Bosniaks and the Austro-Hungarian

Reviewed by: Abdullah Drury, University of Waikato, New Zealand

Published by: London/Washington: International Institute of Islamic Thought, 2024, xxvii+218pp. ISBN: 979-8891930452.

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This book is perhaps the most comprehensive narrative history of Bosnia between 1878 and 1918 available in English. Author Dževada Šuško explores the diverse religious and ethnic communities of Bosnia, a land shaped by the overlapping political and cultural influences of multiple empires. By disentangling the myths and legends that have obscured Bosnia’s past and the experiences of her Muslim population, Šuško sheds light on the true forces behind the country’s complex historical evolution.

To fully understand any historical era, one must explore the thoughts and perspectives of its people. Achieving this insight also relies on the presence of adequate written records and physical artefacts. The overt aim of this book is to “to examine the reorientation of loyalties among the Bosniaks. It will try to detect, illuminate and analyse elements or examples of loyalty as well as disloyalty” (p.xxiv). This challenging task demands an empathetic imagination and a profound understanding of human nature and psychology.