liberia a journey without maps james brabazon

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Liberia: an uncivil war.

Directed by James Brabazon , Jonathan Stack

Liberia, a nation burdened by its past. America, a nation with no memory at all." In Liberia, the summer of 2003 was pure insanity. A rebel army attempts to overthrow a government run by an indicted war criminal. Two armies engage in the final battle of a decade long civil war. Hundreds of innocent civilians die from mortar shells launched from afar and thousands more suffer hunger while the soldiers, mostly teenagers, keep the capital city under siege. The nation prays that America, the world's sole superpower, will put an end to the violence. Conceived in Washington in the early 1800s, its constitution written at Harvard, its founding fathers freed slaves who returned to Africa, Liberia is the one country in the world worthy of the title, Made in America. By the year 2000, Liberia, once considered the gem of Africa, was ranked last in the world for quality of life.

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James Brabazon Jonathan Stack

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07 aug 2004, releases by country.

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Review by Henry Ankhelyi ★★★

As much a piece of commentary about Liberia as it is about U.S foreign policy.

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Temptations Of War

James just wanted to film the war in Liberia. But bloody conflicts dirty even the cleanest of hands. Find out more about James Brabazon's story in his book, "My Friend the Mercenary."

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James Brabazon Books In Order

Publication order of max mclean books, publication order of standalone novels, publication order of non-fiction books.

James Brabazon is a reputed author, journalist, and documentary filmmaker from The United Kingdom. He is bests known for his excellent work in situations of conflict. Brabazon gained popularity for the first time when he was the only reporter to film the fighting of the LURD rebel group when they took a stand to overthrow the rule of President Charles Taylor at the time of the 2nd Liberian Civil War. While Brabazon was in Liberia, he came across a South African arms dealer & mercenary named Nick du Toit. He hired Nick as his personal bodyguard. A memoir written by Brabazon, My Friend the Mercenary, is based on his experiences of the civil war in Liberia, the friendship between him and Nick du Toit, and Nick’s subsequent failed attempt of the Equatorial Guinea coup. In 2013, author Brabazon produced a documentary for HBO that revolves around the story of Tim Hetherington, a professional photographer. He was a collaborator and close friend of Brabazon, who got killed in 2011 while covering the Civil War in Libya. This documentary was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of the Best Documentary.

Author Brabazon was born on February 18, 1972, in London, UK. He earned his master’s degree from Cambridge University in history in 1994. Immediately after, he started working as a photo-journalist in Paris and London. Later, Brabazon moved to Nairobi for working as a TV news producer with a Kenyan agency called Camerapix. As an author, Brabazon likes to write thriller, science fiction, and crime stories. Brabazon visited Liberia when the ill-fated country was going through civil war. He came in contact with the insurgent group LURD and marched along with them for covering their fight in overthrowing the president’s rule. He moved with the group towards Monrovia by taking a great risk on his life and became the first journalist to do so in Liberia. During the course of the reporting, Brabazon came across important pieces of evidence about the atrocities by LURD and recorded them. Some of the atrocities committed by them included execution and torture of soldiers, the murder of POWs, killing of government officials, etc.

Brabazon stated that the thing that disturbed him the most was that the people appear to be normal individuals once the war trappings are removed. After returning from Liberia, Brabazon underwent treatment for a post-traumatic stress disorder. He made two more visits to Liberia within a period of one year. The events that he witnessed during his reporting formed the basis of his documentaries. After encountering Nick du Toit on his Liberian visit, Brabazon became a good friend of his. He made him his bodyguard and formed a strong bond with him in spite of feeling uneasy around him because he was a veteran of the African Army during the apartheid era. In 2003, when Brabazon met Nick again in West Africa, Nick informed him about his participation in a rebellion to overthrow Teodoro Obiang’s rule and offered him the chance to film the attempt. However, Brabazon could not be present for filming the coup as he had to return to England to mourn the death of his grandfather. Later, he learned that the coup ended in failure and Nick du Toit was taken in custody. He was eventually given a sentence of 34 years in Black Beach prison. However, he was pardoned after serving over 5 years.

When Brabazon learned that Nick was tortured, starved, and beaten in prison, he expressed guilt as well as relief that he was prevented from having the same fate. Later, Brabazon wrote a memoir surrounding all these events. Other than the journalistic work, Brabazon has carried out the production of 21 films under the Unreported World series for Channel 4. In relation to this series, Brabazon has traveled to countries like Columbia, Somalia, Papua New Guinea, India, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Syria, and Angola. Additionally, he has made 6 documentaries under the Dispatches series. The written work of author Brabazon has featured in magazines like Monocle, The Independent, Newsweek, and The Guardian. He has recently started a new series called the Max McLean series, whose second book is expected to be released later in 2019. As of today, Brabazon resides in the UK and continues to work as a journalist and author.

The first book in the Max McLean series written by author James Brabazon is entitled ‘The Break Line’. It was released by the Michael Joseph publication in 2018. The book opens by describing that Max McLean works undercover for the British government. The government officials deny any knowledge of the work carried out by him for them. A time comes when the commanders of Max McLean begin to lose faith in him. He is given one final chance to prove his worth. He is asked to visit a research facility under the command of the military and meet an ex-comrade. There, Max encounters the bravest man known to him and his friend under lock up for the protection of his own. Max is told that his friend has lost control over his mind and has become a danger to himself and the ones around him. He suspects that he is not made aware of the whole truth and sets out to find the truth on his own. As moves ahead on this mission, he encounters numerous lies and betrayals and is forced to question everything that he once had a firm belief in. His search for truth brings Max to Sierra Leone, where he comes across various other obstacles.

Another mind-blowing book penned by Brabazon is known as ‘My Friend the Mercenary’. It was published in 2010 by the Canongate Books. This book tells the story of Brabazon’s relationship with Nick Toit, and arms dealer from South Africa who becomes his bodyguard when he takes up reporting duty in Liberia in Feb 2002. As soon as Brabazon begins his journey with Liberian guerrilla forces, he senses danger to this life. So, he hires Nick for protection. In the events that follow later, Nick and Brabazon begin a strong friendship. The narrative also shows how the warlords run a nation, rebels try to take control from them, common people suffer in the crossfire, and chaos spreads everywhere. Brabazon has also described incredible background scenes as the Liberian rebels attempt to overthrow the government and try to seize the control from them. This novel appears to be an honest description of what it takes to be a survivor, a journalist, and a friend in a dangerous environment.

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Liberia: An Uncivil War

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• Director: James Brabazon, Jonathan Stack

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My friend the mercenary

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• DOCUMENTARIES
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• ENVIRONMENT

• Liberia Country
• 30:19 Running Time
• 21 Jul, 2003 Date
• Camerapix Ltd Producer
• HD Original
• 7011 Ref No

A Journey Without Maps

Remarkable pictures, taken with exclusive access from behind LURD lines, show the route and area now being fought over in Monrovia.

On the 25th of June 2003 a group of LURD rebels (Liberian's United for Reconciliation and Democracy) march their way 35 miles from the town of Tubmanburg south east to the edge of Monrovia. They are lead by General Cobra, their Chief of Staff, real name Seeya Sheriff, who is also interviewed at the end of the tape. On the 26th June, the rebels fight their way into central Monrovia - Cobra even has to whip younger recruits to the frontline.The rebels occupy the Duala and Freeport district of Monrovia, and battle over the bridges in central Monrovia that would lead them to the Executive Mansion. LURD rebel fighters fire over the of heads of civilian looters in attempt to stop them from stealing goods from an abandoned warehouse. Around 2000 civilians are pushed back behind LURD rebel lines and congregate in an old beer factory. On the 27th June, General Cobra addresses his troops, and prepares for a 10.00hrs ceasefire. Government troops attack, and the LURD are forced to retreat in stolen vehicles, covering their escape with indiscriminate mortar fire.

The retreating rebals are ambushes repeatedly leaving Monrovia, but eventually manage to reach their secure frontline base of Tubmanburg. Soundbite General Cobra.

This is exactly the same route and area being fought over now inthe rebels' latest offensive.

James Brabazon (Camerapix) is the only journalist to have filmed the LURD rebels.

• Country Liberia
• Running Time 30:19
• Date 21 Jul, 2003
• Producer Camerapix Ltd
• Original HD
• Ref No 7011

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Journey Without Maps (Penguin Classics) Paperback – June 27, 2006

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• Print length 242 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Penguin Publishing Group
• Publication date June 27, 2006
• Grade level 12 and up
• Reading age 18 years and up
• Dimensions 5.1 x 0.6 x 7.7 inches
• ISBN-10 0143039725
• ISBN-13 978-0143039723
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Publishing Group; Reprint edition (June 27, 2006)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 242 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143039725
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143039723
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 12 and up
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.3 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 0.6 x 7.7 inches
• #2,632 in Travelogues & Travel Essays
• #3,887 in Traveler & Explorer Biographies
• #4,339 in Author Biographies

About the author

Graham greene.

Henry Graham Greene OM CH (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English novelist and author regarded by some as one of the great writers of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a reputation early in his lifetime as a major writer, both of serious Catholic novels, and of thrillers (or "entertainments" as he termed them). He was shortlisted, in 1967, for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Through 67 years of writings, which included over 25 novels, he explored the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world, often through a Catholic perspective.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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Customers find the narrative interesting and engaging. They appreciate the fascinating details about an Africa that probably no longer exists. Readers also describe the writing quality as the best they've read for a book devoted to travel experiences. They describe the author as extraordinary.

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Customers find the narrative quality interesting and engaging. They appreciate the wonderful descriptions of unique challenging travel events. Readers also enjoy the historical aspect of the book.

"...In the case of Greene, this type of book is a veritable treasure trove of information about the creative process and the influences that went into..." Read more

"...falling apart, but also new-found perspective, make it a challenging but interesting work ." Read more

"...Liberian wilds, stopping at villages overnight, makes an interesting and engaging account , never sentimentalized, and with much thoughtful insight...." Read more

"...dangers and difficulties surprisingly lightly, and gives a different insight into the journey and how it changed her from an unadventurous society..." Read more

Customers find the prose in the book the best they've read for a travel experience. They also say the author is extraordinary.

"...I just need more light to see it....Graham Green is an extraordinary writer ...." Read more

"...Greene's prose is clear as a bell and graceful...." Read more

"...on Kindle. Still, this is English writing of the very finest sort , so straightforward and unembroidered, and yet of (somehow) such near-magical..." Read more

"...and she was astonished at the accurate reporting. His prose is the best I've read for a book devoted to travel experiences." Read more

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Journey Without Maps

Author(s): Graham Greene

Location(s): Liberia

Genre(s): Autobiography/Memoirs

Era(s): 1935

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His mind crowded with vivid images of Africa, Graham Greene set off in 1935 to discover Liberia, a remote and unfamiliar republic founded for released slaves. Now with a new introduction by Paul Theroux, Journey Without Maps is the spellbinding record of Greene’s journey. Crossing the red-clay terrain from Sierra Leone to the coast of Grand Bassa with a chain of porters, he came to know one of the few areas of Africa untouched by colonization. Western civilization had not yet impinged on either the human psyche or the social structure, and neither poverty, disease, nor hunger seemed able to quell the native spirit.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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