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Blood & Sand

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Blood & Sand

By: Frank Gardner
Narrated by: Alistair Petrie
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About this listen

 On June 6th 2004, in a quiet suburb of Riyadh, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner and cameraman Simon Cumbers were filming a programme on al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia when they were ambushed by Islamic gunmen. Simon was killed outright. Frank was shot and lay pleading for his life. A figure pumped four more bullets into his body at point blank range. Against all the odds, he survived. This is the remarkable account of his agonising journey to where he is today.© Frank Gardner; (P)Oakhill Publishing Ltd Middle East Saudi Arabia Africa Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Iran Funny

Critic reviews

"[Gardner's] terrible experience only makes his analysis all the more telling." ( Evening Standard)
"He paints his love affair with the Middle East in vivid terms. His struggle with paraplegia as a result of his wounds has not diminished his affection for the area." ( The Herald)
All stars
Most relevant
wether or not you listen/watch the news, this book is enthralling, the information is absorbed without realisation that you might have actually learnt something!.
Informative without being boring.
The narrator is well spoken, no stumbling over words, easy to listen to.
In short, a really good listen

good listening

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A great read (listen?). The narrative is both compelling as an autobiography and full of information which helps those unfamiliar with the regions and individuals he describes to build up a clear picture of places, events and personalities.
I listen to audiobooks in the car and often found myself deliberately taking the long route so that I could listen to more of this book on my trips!
The dedicated 'arabist' may find that some of the mis-pronunciation of arabic words names and places grates occasionally but overall this is not a reason for putting this on your 'must have' list.

Compelling!

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An excellent listen. Really makes you think about when you are lucky and when you are unlucky.
Very well narrated.

Thought provoking

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Informative, and so so moving. What a brave, and knowledgeable, man. And beautifully read by Mr Petrie. The sort of listen you don't want to end

A wonderful book

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Frank Gardener gives such a personal and enlightened account of both his story and the Middle East situation. this book makes great reading and offers a truly knowledgeable insight into both his horrific shooting by terrorists and the sad death of his colleague, his recovery but also into the whole politics of the area

An author with great insight

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