"Traces the three major periods of Begin's life and the events and influences in each that formed his personality, ideology, and opinions: his early years in Poland as a leader in the right-wing youth movement Betar, and later, during World War II, his years in a Soviet prison camp; his years during the 1940s when, as head of the underground, he directed attacks against the British while in hiding; and, since the founding of the state of Israel, his years in political life as leader of the opposition." -- Dust jacket.