THE SIEGE

‘The Siege’ by bestselling historian Ben MacIntyre tells the minute by minute unfolding of events surrounding the storming of the Iranian Embassy in London in the Spring of 1980. Famed for his forensic approach to historical controversies, MacIntyre’s new book invites us to re-evaluate what really happened, how it was handled by the British government and how it marked a turning point in global history.

MacIntyre, who has authored many historical secret operations including ‘Operation Mincemeat’ and the hit TV series ’SAS: Rogue Heroes’ expertly sets the scene for the six day siege in London, laying out the political landscape in the Middle East including the overthrow of the Shah of Iran (1979), who was replaced by the Ayatollah Khomeini. The author presents the background to the terrorists’ demands which was systematic of Middle Eastern terrorism that was arriving in the West. The world at this point had already witnessed the hostage crisis in Tehran in which the US’s ambitious rescue attempt, under President Carter, failed, whilst in England, Margaret Thatcher was entering her first year as Prime Minister and facing the need for military intervention, for the first time in 70 years (on British mainland).

The author creates a sense of foreboding by illustrating the impact of the siege on the individuals involved in the event and the moments leading up to their role in the attack whether it was an unexpected TV crew at the embassy, such as the BBC sound assistant Sim Harris, a Pakistani tourist (wrong time, wrong place), staff caught in the cross-fire such as the doorman, Abbas Fallahi who had served under the two opposing Iranian regimes, or the young student terrorists who were misled by a ruthless extremist, the ‘Fox’. The author also captures unexpected passers by at the scene, such as the local retired writer and resident, Dame Rebecca West, whose flat gave a birds-eye view into the Embassy. The account also acknowledges new faces in the newsroom such as Kate Adie whose courage at the assault made her a household name and synonymous with front-line world news.

Whilst the audible is read in person by the author making the pace and storytelling spot on, the book contains a fantastic array of visual material supporting MacIntyre’s account. Many of us in the Den were able cast our minds back to the siege - a hostage escaping the Embassy’s balcony, a burning building. Perhaps older readers may even recall this as the first televised terrorist attack on London which disrupted the BBC schedule including the snooker world championship. It was also the first time Britain was introduced to the SAS who until this point had been a special secretive unit.

Lots to interesting discussion points and a great book to re-gift and pass on! If you enjoy this book consider 'Operation Mincemeat' and 'Colditz' also by MacIntyre and in the Den library.