We Chose to Speak of War and Strife : The World of the Foreign Correspondent

From distinguished foreign correspondent John Simpson, a fascinating history of what it is to risk life and limb to bring home news of the troubled world 'Great stories, sometimes harrowing, sometimes hilarious' Telegraph In corners of the globe where fault-lines seethe into bloodshed and civil war, foreign correspondents have, for hundreds of years, been engaged in uncovering the latest news and – despite obstacles bureaucratic, political, violent – reporting it by whatever means available. It's a working life that is difficult, exciting and undeniably glamorous. We Chose to Speak of War and Strife brings us pivotal moments in our history – from the Crimean War to Vietnam; the siege of Sarajevo to the fall of Baghdad – through the eyes of those who risked life and limb to witness them first hand, and the astonishing tales of what it took to report them. These stories celebrate an endangered tradition. Where once despatches were trusted to the hands of a willing sea-captain, telegraph operator or stranger in an airport queue prepared to spirit a can of undeveloped film back to London, today the digital realm has transformed the relaying of the news – even if the work of gathering it in the field has changed little. Weaving the tales of the greats of yesterday and today, such as Martha Gellhorn, Ernest Hemingway, Don McCullin and Marie Colvin, with extraordinary accounts from his own lifetime on the frontlines, this is a deeply personal book from a master of the profession, the most distinguished foreign correspondent of our time. From distinguished foreign correspondent John Simpson, a fascinating history of what it is to risk life and limb to bring home news of the troubled world. In corners of the globe where fault lines seethe into bloodshed and civil war, foreign correspondents have, since the early nineteenth century, been engaged in uncovering the latest news and--despite obstacles bureaucratic, political, violent--reporting it by whatever means available. It's a working life that is difficult, exciting and glamorous. These stories from the last two hundred years celebrate an endangered tradition. Where once dispatches were trusted to the hands of a willing sea captain, telegraph operator or stranger in an airport queue prepared to spirit a can of undeveloped film back to London, today the digital realm has transformed the relaying of the news--if the work of gathering it in the field has changed little. We Chose to Speak of War and Strife brings us pivotal moments in history--from the Crimean War to Tiananmen Square and Sarajevo--through the eyes of those who witnessed them, and the astonishing tales of what it took to report them. Weaving in the history of the great correspondents who went before him, such as Alan Moorhead, Martha Gellhorn, Hemingway and Charles Wheeler, and offering extraordinary accounts from Simpson's own lifetime on the frontlines, this is a deeply personal book from a master of the profession. **From distinguished foreign correspondent John Simpson, a fascinating history of what it is to risk life and limb to bring home news of the troubled world****'Great stories, sometimes harrowing, sometimes hilarious'**__Telegraph__In corners of the globe where fault-lines seethe into bloodshed and civil war, foreign correspondents have, for hundreds of years, been engaged in uncovering the latest news and – despite obstacles bureaucratic, political, violent – reporting it by whatever means available. It's a working life that is difficult, exciting and undeniably glamorous.__We Chose to Speak of War and Strife__These stories celebrate an endangered tradition.Where once despatches were trusted to the hands of a willing sea-captain, telegraph operator or stranger in an airport queue prepared to spirit a can of undeveloped film back to London, today the digital realm has transformed the relaying of the news – even if the work of gathering it in the field has changed little.Weaving the tales of the greats of yesterday and today, such as Martha Gellhorn, Ernest Hemingway, Don McCullin and Marie Colvin, with extraordinary accounts from his own lifetime on the frontlines, this is a deeply personal book from a master of the profession, the most distinguished foreign correspondent of our time. General & World History. In Corners Of The Globe Where Fault Lines Seethe Into Bloodshed And Civil War, Foreign Correspondents Have, Since The Early Nineteenth Century, Been Engaged In Uncovering The Latest News And--despite Obstacles Bureaucratic, Political, And Violent--reporting It By Whatever Means Available. It's A Working Life That Is Difficult, Exciting, And Glamorous. These Stories From The Last Two Hundred Years Celebrate An Endangered Tradition. Where Once Dispatches Were Trusted To The Hands Of A Willing Sea Captain, Telegraph Operator, Or Stranger In An Airport Line Prepared To Spirit A Can Of Undeveloped Film Back To New York, Today The Digital Realm Has Transformed The Relaying Of The News--if The Work Of Gathering It In The Field Has Changed Little. A Glamorous Existence? -- Palaeojournalism -- Genesis Of A News Story -- Getting There -- Journeys -- M.o. -- Scoops -- Facing The Dictators -- Taking Risks -- The Playground Of War -- Civilian Targets -- Back-up -- Getting Involved -- Sacrifice And Survival. John Simpson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In corners of the globe where fault-lines erupt into bloodshed and civil war, foreign correspondents have, for hundreds of years, been engaged in uncovering the latest news and--despite obstacles bureaucratic, political, and violent--reporting it by whatever means available. It's a working life that is difficult, exciting, and undeniably glamorous. These stories celebrate an endangered tradition. Where once despatches were trusted to the hands of a willing sea-captain, telegraph operator, or stranger in an airport queue prepared to spirit a can of undeveloped film back to London, today the digital realm has transformed the relaying of the news--even if the work of gathering it in the field has changed little In corners of the globe where fault-lines seethe into bloodshed and civil war, foreign correspondents have, since the early nineteenth century, been engaged in uncovering the latest news and - despite obstacles bureaucratic, political, violent - reporting it by whatever means available. It's a working life that is difficult, exciting and glamorous. These stories from the last 200 years celebrate this now endangered tradition