Godina izdanja: Ostalo
ISBN: Ostalo
Jezik: Engleski
Autor: Strani
Oblast: Vojna istorija

The riveting ‘Band of Brothers’ 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.

Black Knights is an extraordinarily vivid, gripping and moving fly-on-the-wall account of what frontline combat action meant in the first major war of the twenty-first century. Written by a young journalist who was the only British daily newspaper reporter to be embedded with the US military during the operation in Iraq, this book unflinchingly describes the modern face of battle, and the young soldiers who fought in it.

The tank and infantry company known as the `Black Knights` was the first unit in the US Third Infantry Division to engage in combat when, twelve hours after crossing the Kuwait border, it helped seize Tallil airfield. Eight hundred miles and almost a month later, it headed a column that fought its way through Republican Guard units on the outskirts of Baghdad and led the advance from the west into the centre of Saddam Hussein`s capital.

By the time the first statues of Saddam were toppled in Baghdad, the soldiers had been through a terrifying baptism of fire – and had inflicted terrible casualties on the Iraqis. 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, becoming their confidant and a sounding-board for all their hopes and fears. 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.
`The best reporter`s book of the war so far—and it deserves to be one of THE books of the whole Iraqi crisis.`—Robert Fox, Evening Standard

`This is an exhilarating, honest, often scary account of modern war as close-up spectator.`—The Sunday Times

`Poole is a great reporter . . . possessed of a cool eye, natural sympathy and curiosity, and brisk honesty. He has immortalised [the Black Knights] in a true, funny and poignant book.`—Patrick Bishop, The 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 laugh-out-loud funny, and spiced with some wonderfully colourful pen portraits`—Soldier

Oliver Poole was one of the first journalists embedded with the US tank corps known as the Black Knights as they spearheaded the push into Baghdad in spring 2003. 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? Poole has written a frank and revealing narrative of life in the US Army.

Part of the proceeds from Black Knights will go to International PEN, who helped Poole`s translator and his family flee Iraq for America.

Oliver Poole was The Daily Telegraph`s Iraq correspondent from 2003–2006. He is the author of Red Zone: Five Bloody Years in Baghdad.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins;
Product Dimensions: 16 x 2.8 x 23.4 cm