Member-only story

My Years With Robert Fisk

Gene Simmons

·9.3k Followers· Follow

Published in Love In A Time Of War: My Years With Robert Fisk

5 min read · 2 weeks before

487 View Claps

42 Respond

Save

Listen

A Memoir of War, Journalism, and Friendship

I first met Robert Fisk in 1989, when I was a young reporter working for the BBC in Beirut. Fisk was already a legend in the world of journalism, having covered some of the most important conflicts of the late 20th century, including the Vietnam War, the Lebanese Civil War, and the Iran-Iraq War.

Love in a Time of War: My Years with Robert Fisk

by Lara Marlowe

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	17880 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	449 pages

I was immediately struck by Fisk's passion for his work. He was a fearless reporter who was always willing to go the extra mile to get the story. He was also a brilliant writer, with a gift for turning complex events into vivid and compelling prose.

I quickly became friends with Fisk, and over the next few years, I had the privilege of working alongside him on a number of stories. We covered the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Bosnian War, the Kosovo War, and the Iraq War. We also traveled together to some of the most dangerous places on earth, including Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Iraq.

Fisk was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a brilliant journalist, but he was also a deeply flawed individual. He was a heavy drinker and a chain smoker, and he often alienated his friends and colleagues with his abrasive personality.

But despite his flaws, I always admired Fisk's courage, his integrity, and his passion for his work. He was a true giant of journalism, and I am proud to have known him.

Fisk's Early Life

Robert Fisk was born in Maidstone, Kent, England, in 1946. His father was a Royal Air Force officer, and his mother was a teacher. Fisk attended King's School, Canterbury, and then Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied English and history.

Fisk began his journalism career in 1969, when he joined The Times as a trainee reporter. He was quickly promoted to foreign correspondent, and in 1972, he was sent to cover the Vietnam War.

Fisk's reporting from Vietnam was groundbreaking. He was one of the first Western journalists to write about the civilian casualties of the war, and he also exposed the My Lai massacre. Fisk's work earned him a reputation as one of the most fearless and respected war correspondents in the world.

Fisk's Work in the Middle East

After the Vietnam War, Fisk was sent to cover the Lebanese Civil War. He remained in Lebanon for 10 years, and he became one of the world's leading experts on the conflict.

Fisk's reporting from Lebanon was often critical of both the Lebanese government and the various militias that were fighting for control of the country. He also wrote extensively about the plight of the Palestinian refugees who were caught in the crossfire.

In 1989, Fisk was kidnapped by Hezbollah militants. He was held captive for 45 days, but he was eventually released unharmed.

After his release, Fisk continued to cover the Middle East. He reported on the Bosnian War, the Kosovo War, and the Iraq War. He also wrote extensively about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Fisk's Legacy

Robert Fisk died in 2020 at the age of 74. He left behind a legacy of courageous and groundbreaking journalism. He was one of the most respected war correspondents of his generation, and his work helped to shape our understanding of some of the most important conflicts of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Fisk was a complex and contradictory figure, but he was also a brilliant journalist who was deeply committed to telling the truth about the world. He will be remembered as one of the greatest war correspondents of all time.

Love in a Time of War: My Years with Robert Fisk

by Lara Marlowe

4.2 out of 5