John Simpson’s book describes the most powerful, shocking and sometimes downright hilarious experiences from his often dramatic career as a TV news journalist.
Drawing on John Simpson's acclaimed volumes of autobiography and hitherto unpublished material, Twenty Tales from the War Zone brings together some of the highlights of his remarkable journalistic career. Whether dodging guerrillas at a cocaine market in Colombia, narrowly escaping a murderous Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, interviewing a flatulent Colonel Gadaffi, crossing the border into Afghanistan dressed in a fetching bright blue burka or being kidnapped at gunpoint - or was it a finger in a pocket - in the backstreets of Belfast at the height of the troubles, Simpson paints a vivid picture of what being a journalist on the front line is all about, from low comedy to high drama. It's a rollercoaster ride that is sure to thrill anyone who dares to join it.
John Simpson is the world affairs editor of the BBC. He has written four books about his life and travels, Strange Places, Questionable People, A Mad World My Masters, News from No Man’s land and The Wars Against Saddam. He lives in London with his South African wife, Dee.