One of the most enduring images of the Ethiopian famine that shocked the world in 1984 was that of the young International Red Cross nurse who, surrounded by thousands of starving people and with limited supplies, had the terrible task of choosing which children to feed, knowing that those she turned away might not last the night. That nurse was Claire Bertschinger, and those pictures inspired Live Aid, the biggest relief programme the world had ever seen. ‘In her was vested the power of life and death,’ Bob Geldof said. ‘She had become God-like, and that is unbearable for anyone.’ Michael Buerk, whose BBC documentary first showed those pictures, persuaded Claire to return to Ethiopia almost twenty years later. For all those years she had been haunted by the memory of the terrible choices she had been forced to make. But when she met them again, the survivors welcomed her back with open arms, and called her Mamma Claire. Born in Sheering, Essex, into an Anglo-Swiss family, Claire Bertschinger had to overcome the handicap of her dyslexia to qualify as a nurse. When she joined the International Red Cross, she fulfilled a zest for adventure and a passionate vocation for relief work in dangerous places. She has worked with the war-wounded and hostages in Lebanon, with the Mujahidin in Afghanistan, and with victims of civil war and displaced persons in Uganda, Sierra Leone and the Sudan. Working in war zones she often came under fire herself while trying to save the lives of others. Moving Mountains is a remarkable tale of courage, commitment and compassion: the story of a resourceful woman who put her own life on hold in order to devote herself to others.
Moving Mountains
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'A story of resourcefulness, practicality and the need for emotional toughness combined with selfless dedication to others...Remarkable.' -- Times Literary Supplement
'Bertschinger's courage is matched only by her conviction; a beautiful story that needs to be read.' -- Janine di Giovanni, author of MADNESS VISIBLE
'Brings to life the famine and wars most of us know only through the news...Here is the reality of Africa.' -- Nursing Standard
'Heartbreaking...Reading this inspirational autobiography is a humbling experience'. -- Hull Daily Mail
'In her was vested the power of life and death.' -- Bob Geldof
'In the great tradition of personal memoirs of nursing heroism...Personal and painful.' -- Scotsman
'MOVING MOUNTAINS is her incredibly inspiring life story.' -- Sunday Express
'Moving and inspirational, full of courage, commitment, passion and compassion.' -- Choice
'She was forced to choose who would receive assistance and who would die...A harrowing, emotionally charged account.' -- Sunday Times
'The story of the woman who inspired Live Aid, one of the true heroines of our time.' -- Michael Buerk
'Bertschinger's courage is matched only by her conviction; a beautiful story that needs to be read.' -- Janine di Giovanni, author of MADNESS VISIBLE
'Brings to life the famine and wars most of us know only through the news...Here is the reality of Africa.' -- Nursing Standard
'Heartbreaking...Reading this inspirational autobiography is a humbling experience'. -- Hull Daily Mail
'In her was vested the power of life and death.' -- Bob Geldof
'In the great tradition of personal memoirs of nursing heroism...Personal and painful.' -- Scotsman
'MOVING MOUNTAINS is her incredibly inspiring life story.' -- Sunday Express
'Moving and inspirational, full of courage, commitment, passion and compassion.' -- Choice
'She was forced to choose who would receive assistance and who would die...A harrowing, emotionally charged account.' -- Sunday Times
'The story of the woman who inspired Live Aid, one of the true heroines of our time.' -- Michael Buerk
Book Description
Memoir by the International Red Cross nurse whose work during the famine in Ethiopia was first brought to the attention of the western world by the BBC’s Michael Buerk and which triggered Bob Geldof’s Live Aid.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a fascinating book that starts with the author's experiences of working in the feeding stations of Ethiopia during the 1980s famine. The choices she had to make in deciding who to take in from the overwhelming mass of starving people proved almost unbearable. Her interview with Michael Buerk for BBC news brought the situation to the world's attention and led to Bob Geldof's fund raising concerts.
She continued to work in a number of conflict zones with the International Red Cross and her work in Afghanistan proved particularly harrowing and dangerous. The intriguing aspect of the book is understanding what motivated and sustained her. There is undoubtedly a spritual search amongst the pages of the book and this ends in an intriguing way.
Highly recommended and deserves to be on the Bestseller lists.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It is not often that one reads a book that is so true to its title! As Michael Buerk of the BBC said on the back cover of the book, Claire Bertschinger was "an ordinary woman who did extraordinary things and really did move mountains". For once here is a book where the hype was amply justified! No reader could fail to be moved by her courage, convictions and commitment. I was looking for an autobiography that highlighted just such attributes. I was not disappointed!
Forbes Watson - Plymouth
Forbes Watson - Plymouth
By Lucypuppy
Format:Hardcover
An honest and vivid account of Bertschinger's amazing and humbling work in developing countries.
I found this book on the shelf in a coffee shop 10 years ago and was utterly moved and transformed by it...
I'm now a registered nurse myself and plan to work abroad in the not-so-distant future.
The work and life of Bertschinger is truly inspiring.
Please read!
I found this book on the shelf in a coffee shop 10 years ago and was utterly moved and transformed by it...
I'm now a registered nurse myself and plan to work abroad in the not-so-distant future.
The work and life of Bertschinger is truly inspiring.
Please read!
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great true story by someone who finds herself in a particular place at a particular time and just deals with it.
11 April 2013
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first came across this book when it was leant to me by someone who was fortunate enough to benefit from the feeding camps during the Ethiopian famine. I found the way she dealt with all the different circumstances amazing. I finished the book with so much respect for her determination and resourcefulness. Whether you know Ethiopia or not, it's a very good read.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
excellent, wonderful biography of a great woman who was used mightily to help people who are under privileged & very poor
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