Book description
An extraordinary collection of reportage that tells the story of some
of the most important world events of the past 16 years, from one of the
most talented and intrepid female journalists at work today.
Since leaving England aged 21 with an invitation to a Karachi wedding
and a yearning for adventure, Christina Lamb has spent 20 years living
out of suitcases, reporting from around the world and becoming one of
Britain's most highly regarded journalists. She has won numerous awards,
including being named Foreign Correspondent of the Year a remarkable
four times.
'Small Wars Permitting' is a collection of her best reportage,
following the principal events of the last two decades everywhere from
Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. But Lamb's main interest has always been in the
untold stories, the people and places others don't visit. Undaunted by
danger, disease or despots, she has travelled by canoe through the
Amazon rainforest in search of un-contacted Indians, joined a Rio samba
school to infiltrate crime rackets behind Carnival and survived a
terrifying ambush by Taliban.
No less remarkable are the characters that Lamb meets along the way,
from Marsh Arabs who covet Play Stations instead of buffaloes to an
Armenian compère for performing dolphins with whom she travelled during
the war in Iraq.
Lamb's writing is passionate, powerful and poetic, transforming
reportage into literature. Through the stories she tells - and her own
development from a self-confessed 'war junkie' to a devoted mother -
Lamb attempts to comprehend the human consequences of conflict in the
countries she has come to know. Praise for 'Small Wars Permitting':
'Hers is the humane face of her hard profession: candid, modest and
brave. She is clear-sighted without cynicism, and amazingly unscarred by
all she has experienced. This book is a fine testament to her courage
and compassion.' Colin Thubron
'Lively … revealing … Anyone who doubts the value of professional
foreign correspondents should read “Small Wars Permitting”.' Patrick
French, Sunday Times Since leaving England aged 21 with a yearning for
adventure, Christina Lamb has spent 20 years reporting from around the
world and becoming one of Britain's most highly regarded journalists.
'Small Wars Permitting' is a collection of her best reportage,
following the events of the last two decades everywhere from Afghanistan
to Zimbabwe. Lamb's writing is passionate, powerful and poetic,
transforming journalism into literature. Through the stories she tells -
and her development from a self-confessed 'war junkie' to a devoted
mother - Lamb attempts to comprehend the human consequences of conflict
across the globe.
Christina Lamb's journalism has appeared in The Sunday Times, Sunday
Telegraph and Financial Times, amongst others. In 2007, she was named
Foreign Correspondent of the Year for the fourth time.
