A swashbuckling Texan; a teller of tall tales; a womanizer; and a renegade; Fred Cuny spent his life in countries rent by war; famine; and natural disasters; saving many thousands of lives through his innovative and sometimes controversial methods of relief work. Cuny earned his nickname "Master of Disaster" for his exploits in Kurdistan; Somalia; and Bosnia. But when he arrived in the rogue Russian republic of Chechnya in the spring of 1995; raring to go and eager to put his ample funds from George Soros to good use; he found himself in the midst of an unimaginably savage war of independence; unlike any he had ever before encountered. Shortly thereafter; he disappeared in the war-rocked highlands; never to be seen again.Who was Cuny really working for? Was he a CIA spy? Who killed him; and why? In search of the answers; Scott Anderson traveled to Chechnya on a hazardous journey that started as as a magazine assignment and ended as a personal mission. The result is a galvanizing adventure story; a chilling picture of "the new world order;" and a tour de force of literary journalism.
#14161 in Books Anchor 1996-02-01 1996-02-01Format: UnabridgedOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .60 x 5.20l; .54 #File Name: 0385418493246 pagesGreat product!
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Add this one to your Read Next list!!By PhyllisThomas Cahill's history of Ireland during the middle ages is so well and cleverly written that you will never know you are reading nonfiction. The theme running through is as engrossing as "Vikings" on the History Channel. It is grounded in solid facts; many of which are not well known; making it a fascinating read. The author is a scholar; whose prose is not only lyrical and learned; but paints word pictures of western civilization after the fall of the Roman Empire. You will have a whole new regard for the contributions of the "Emerald Isle."2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Excellent story; with some offensive materialBy Randolph W. OrtliebFascinating story; which gave me insight into a dark period of Christian history. Puzzled by the seemingly gratuitous descriptions of sexual misconduct. Maybe a book needs such stuff in order to sell better? Overall a very illuminating work; however. I would recommend for mature readers.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Yes; the Irish really did save civilization.By Maureen GonzalezAn amazing; beautifully written history of Ireland...no tears in the Guinness - just the facts m'am; just the facts! A great read. I have set my friends presents of Ho the Irish Saved Civilization and they all LOVE IT.
