Fergal Keane with Allan Little: The Scars of War Reporting

Captioned

‘The suffering of others was my daily bread.’ This brutally honest, heartfelt assessment of the job of a war reporter is central to Fergal Keane’s memoir, The Madness: a riveting account of how he survived war, fear, and PTSD, against a backdrop of alcoholism and a troubled Irish history. Keane talks with fellow BBC reporter, Allan Little, about the importance of bearing witness and what drives foreign correspondents to risk their lives on the frontline.

Book Festival News

Celebrating the 2024 Book Festival Celebrating the 2024 Book Festival
Monday 26 August

Enjoying this event? You can help us produce more like it.

Donate

Share

Watch more

The New York Times Book Review: The Power of Words The New York Times Book Review: The Power of Words This year is the 125th anniversary of The New York Times Book Review, a key part of the paper’s coverage of culture and news since 1851. Francis Brown, who edited the Book Review for 21 years from 1949, described it as ‘the period of Trollope and Dickens… Jura Unbound: Literary Death Match (2013 event) Jura Unbound: Literary Death Match (2013 event) Four talented author-illustrator teams pit their live storytelling skills against one another in this all-star cartoon caper version of the legendary Literary Death Match… Jeremy Atherton Lin: Coming Out, Going Out Jeremy Atherton Lin: Coming Out, Going Out For the past generation it has been possible for LGBTQIA+ people in most of Britain and the USA to go out in an open display of solidarity and sexual freedom that was long denied to those who came before them. The culture of the Gay Bar is the subject of… Outriders: Mariana Enriquez & Kevin MacNeil (2017 Event) Outriders: Mariana Enriquez & Kevin MacNeil (2017 Event) As part of our Outriders project to explore the Americas, Scottish novelist Kevin MacNeil travelled around Argentina with journalist, novelist and short story writer Mariana Enriquez. Starting in Buenos Aires, the writers set off in search of lost voices… Mary Robinson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Mary Robinson at the Edinburgh International Book Festival While the realities of climate change are not always visible, the realisation that our grandchildren will live in troubled times can catalyse action. After becoming a grandmother, former Irish president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary… Eileen Myles: 'They' Contain Multitudes Eileen Myles: 'They' Contain Multitudes Prolific poet and activist Eileen Myles is back with a “Working Life”, a new collection which captures the many dualities of human life: loneliness and companionship, travel and stasis, fear and wonder. Join us to hear Myles discuss the immense anxieties… George Alagiah speaks to Allan Little at the Edinburgh International Book Festival George Alagiah speaks to Allan Little at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Join popular BBC broadcaster George Alagiah as he takes off his reporting hat and plunges into a new career as political thriller writer, drawing on his knowledge and experience of working in Africa. The Burning Land sees South Africa torn apart by… Merryn Glover & Hamish Napier: In a New Light Merryn Glover & Hamish Napier: In a New Light The Cairngorms have inspired authors, poets, and songwriters for centuries. 'The New Light' is a performance by writer Merryn Glover and multi-instrumental musician Hamish Napier, a transporting experience of imagery and music. In The Hidden Fires, Glover… Sarah Crossan with Sally Magnusson: The Other Woman Sarah Crossan with Sally Magnusson: The Other Woman Sarah Crossan, former Irish Children’s Laureate has been delighting and moving younger readers for years with her award-winning books — 2016’s One about the life of conjoined twins won the Carnegie Medal — and her move to adult fiction is a cause for… Elena Pala, John Retallack & Sandro Veronesi: The World of the Hummingbird Elena Pala, John Retallack & Sandro Veronesi: The World of the Hummingbird Sandro Veronesi’s international bestselling novel, The Hummingbird, is transformed into an exclusive, experimental and immersive event for the Book Festival by the team who adapted it for BBC Radio 3. Experience the impressionistic, dreamlike life of ‘the…