- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (7 Sep 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747599963
- ISBN-13: 978-0747599968
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.4 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
101,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #72 in Books > History > Countries & Regions > Asia > Central Asia > Afghanistan
Desperate Glory
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'There is no one better to tell this story than Sam Kiley. One of the most intrepid foreign correspondents of our generation, he delves into the heart and soul of battle. Kiley has never been afraid to tell the truth - his long career in Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East is a testament to that. If you want to know why men wage war - read this' --Janine di Giovanni
Kiley describes the business with great originality and perception. Without hyperbole, without any softening or glamourising effects, he takes us to the battlefield and shows us its grimness.
He clearly achieved a real intimacy with the people he was observing and writes about them with insight and affection. In the process he lights up the great paradox - that people trained to kill ... can at the same time display a humanity and generosity of spirit often lacking in civilian life. -- Evening Standard
"Riveting. Evocative. Spine Chilling. Taste the bullets and the fear. Kiley writes like a dream, taking the reader into the heart of the heat, blood and dust of the Afghan nightmare"
--Damian Lewis
Kiley is a remarkable reporter, a verteran of countless conflicts. The dust jacket notes that he has been kidnapped twice and shot once. To write this extraordinarily vivid account of modern war, he accompanied 16 Air Assault Brigage, at the sharp end, through its entire tour in Helmand. He came to know its men intimately and writes of them with affection as well as insight, through turbulent and bloody experiences... he offers a strikingly convincing portrait of how Britain's part in the Afghan war seems to those who are fighting it. --Sunday Times - Max Hastings
Sam Kiley has produced an outstanding book which will join the classics of military history.... He makes the reader feel that he was there at the lung-bursting sprint to cover, as the bullets kick up the dust --Bruce Anderson, The Independent
a vivid rifle-sight's view of the war, and probably the best battlefield account yet of the British in Afghanistan --The Economist
Kiley describes the business with great originality and perception. Without hyperbole, without any softening or glamourising effects, he takes us to the battlefield and shows us its grimness.
He clearly achieved a real intimacy with the people he was observing and writes about them with insight and affection. In the process he lights up the great paradox - that people trained to kill ... can at the same time display a humanity and generosity of spirit often lacking in civilian life. -- Evening Standard
"Riveting. Evocative. Spine Chilling. Taste the bullets and the fear. Kiley writes like a dream, taking the reader into the heart of the heat, blood and dust of the Afghan nightmare"
--Damian Lewis
Kiley is a remarkable reporter, a verteran of countless conflicts. The dust jacket notes that he has been kidnapped twice and shot once. To write this extraordinarily vivid account of modern war, he accompanied 16 Air Assault Brigage, at the sharp end, through its entire tour in Helmand. He came to know its men intimately and writes of them with affection as well as insight, through turbulent and bloody experiences... he offers a strikingly convincing portrait of how Britain's part in the Afghan war seems to those who are fighting it. --Sunday Times - Max Hastings
Sam Kiley has produced an outstanding book which will join the classics of military history.... He makes the reader feel that he was there at the lung-bursting sprint to cover, as the bullets kick up the dust --Bruce Anderson, The Independent
a vivid rifle-sight's view of the war, and probably the best battlefield account yet of the British in Afghanistan --The Economist
Product Description
His mates watch, and giggle, when tracer bullets from Spongebob's machine gun rip through a Taleban fighter. A wounded colonel high on morphine mistakes a helicopter for a train. Young men and teenagers fight the toughest battles for fifty years. Then play like puppies in the sand of their isolated bases, cooling off in paddling pools. Almost no one out there understands why Britain is at war in Helmand. They would not have missed it. Sam Kiley joined 16 Air Assault Brigade and got unescorted and unrestricted access to the front line for a full six month tour of duty. .
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A superb read.,
By
This review is from: Desperate Glory: At War in Helmand with Britain's 16 Air Assault Brigade (Hardcover)
I was serving in Helmand with c company 2 para last summer and was injured on July 7th. C company and their exploits form a large part, in fact the backbone of Desperate Glory. I met Sam Kiely on the dark side last summer and because his book followed our clan so closely I was waiting with trepidation to recieve my copy. I can honestly say that it is one of the best accounts of men at war in modern battle that I have read (and believe me I have read quite a number). I found the book increadibly well observed, compelling, at times touching but above all very very well written and structured. Sam thanks for such a great tribute to what we did last summer. See you at the book launch.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding!,
By
This review is from: Desperate Glory: At War in Helmand with Britain's 16 Air Assault Brigade (Paperback)
I was deployed in Afghanistan and met Sam Kiley a few times, in the book he gives a frank, honest and very realistic view of the work out there as well as the fundamental gallantry of the youg lads serving and fighting every day. I bought the book at lunch time and had finished it by dinner! I really cannot recommend this highly enough! The best Afghanistan account that is out there.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a must read!,
By BeccaB123 "Becca B" (SOUTHAM, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Desperate Glory: At War in Helmand with Britain's 16 Air Assault Brigade (Hardcover)
I found this book intriguing and very enlightening. I for one appreciate the motive SK had for writing this book, to be the voice for those fighting on our behalf. I feel I have a slightly better understanding of what those brave men endure and some of their motivation....we will never fully understand! I found myself moved to tears by the accounts of the loss of their colleagues / brothers and the compassion (amidst the jokes) these fighting men have for each other.
A real eye opener.... definitely worth reading, you wont be able to put it down!
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