On The Bloody Road to Baghdad
With an introduction by Richard Holmes
With an introduction by Richard Holmes
/ SYNOPSIS
The riveting tale of a young British journalist embedded in a US tank corps known as the Black Knights as they spearheaded the push into Baghdad in spring 2003, in the first major war of the twenty-first century. How did the troops -- many of them under the age of twenty, some of whom had only recently acquired US citizenship -- cope with fear and injury? How did they react to the killing? How were they changed by war? What, finally, was the impact on the people of Baghdad? Oliver Poole shared the soldiers' food, living space and dangers. Here he has written a remarkably frank and revealing narrative -- testimony as much to his own courage and writing skills as to the bravery and professionalism of the combatants.
/ CHARITY
Part of the proceeds of Red Zone will go to International PEN, the world writers’ organization, who helped Ahmed Ali and his family flee Iraq for America.
/ PRESS REVIEWS
‘The best reporter’s book of the war so far – and it deserves to be
one of THE books of the whole Iraqi crisis. The eyewitness
accounts of the fighting, the terrible guilt of the soldiers and
bystanders at the killing of civilians, the overwhelming confusion,
the continuous question of why they are there are exhilarating and
chilling’ – Robert Fox, Evening Standard
“He [Poole] understands the risk of being infected by gung-ho militarism when reporting brutality and stupidity, at the same time tempering this with fellow-feeling for the men on whom his life depends… This is an exhilarating, honest, often scary account of modern war as close-up spectator” – Peter Millar, Sunday Times
‘A very honest account, devoid of false heroics, and an admirable lesson in how a reporter can share the solidarity of enduring fear and discomfort with troops to whom he owes his survival, but not lose his critical detachment’ – Jonathan Steele, Guardian
‘Poole is a great reporter…possessed of a cool eye, natural sympathy and curiosity, and brisk honesty. He has immortalised them [the Black Knights] in such a true, funny and poignant book’ – Patrick Bishop, Daily Telegraph
‘[Poole’s] account of the baptism of fire endured by a US tank company is starkly horrific in places. It is also witty, often laughout- loud funny, and spiced with some wonderfully colourful penportraits’ – Soldier magazine
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Catalogue Details
October 2008
Large Paperback Price: £9.99
16 plates and maps
ISBN: 978-1-906702-15-1
284pppp
Foreign Rights: World
“He [Poole] understands the risk of being infected by gung-ho militarism when reporting brutality and stupidity, at the same time tempering this with fellow-feeling for the men on whom his life depends… This is an exhilarating, honest, often scary account of modern war as close-up spectator” – Peter Millar, Sunday Times
‘A very honest account, devoid of false heroics, and an admirable lesson in how a reporter can share the solidarity of enduring fear and discomfort with troops to whom he owes his survival, but not lose his critical detachment’ – Jonathan Steele, Guardian
‘Poole is a great reporter…possessed of a cool eye, natural sympathy and curiosity, and brisk honesty. He has immortalised them [the Black Knights] in such a true, funny and poignant book’ – Patrick Bishop, Daily Telegraph
‘[Poole’s] account of the baptism of fire endured by a US tank company is starkly horrific in places. It is also witty, often laughout- loud funny, and spiced with some wonderfully colourful penportraits’ – Soldier magazine
-------------------------------------
Catalogue Details
October 2008
Large Paperback Price: £9.99
16 plates and maps
ISBN: 978-1-906702-15-1
284pppp
Foreign Rights: World
Reportage Press is a new publishing house specialising in books on foreign affairs or set in foreign countries; non-fiction, fiction, essays, travel books, old travel memoirs, or just books written from a stranger’s view.
Daniela Norris and Shireen Anabtawi in discussion - October 12th, London Jewish Cultural Centre
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