All of These People: A Memoir

by Fergal Keane

In a memoir of staggering power and candour, award-winning journalist Fergal Keane addresses his experience of wars of different kinds, some very public and others acutely personal. During his years of reporting from the world's most savage and turbulent regions, Fergal Keane has witnessed the violence of the South African townships and the terror in Rwanda, the most extreme kinds of human behaviour, the horror of genocide and the bravery of peacekeepers faced with overwhelming odds. As one of the BBC's leading correspondents, he recounts extraordinary encounters on the front lines. Alongside his often brutal experiences in the field, he also describes unflinchingly the challenges and demons he has faced in his personal life growing up in Ireland. Keane’s existence as a war reporter is all that we frantic filing of reports and dodging shells, interspersed with rest in bombed-out hotels and concrete shelters. Life in such vulnerable areas of the globe is emotionally draining, but full of astonishing moments of camaraderie and human bravery. And so this is also a memoir of the human connections, at once simple and complex, that are made in extreme circumstances. These pages are filled with the memories of remarkable people. At the heart of Fergal Keane's story is a descent into and recovery from alcoholism, spanning two generations, father and son; a different kind of war, but as much part of the journey of the last twenty-five years as the bullets and bombs.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, War

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Fionnuala · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something about Keane's writing that always leaves me feeling some kind of way, and as a result I never know how to review adequately without resorting to "it's good, read it." It is good, and I will always recommend his writing, but I wish I could pin down precisely what it is that it makes me feel. It's something sharp and painful but not necessarily bad; the writing comes from a place of honesty and is almost tentative in the way it presents itself, while somehow remaining very forceful. It's very clear that poetry is a big part of Keane's life, and he is one of those rare and special people who can adapt a love of poetry and its specific langauge and fold it seamlessly into prose. Reading his work is a joy.

Weaving his own story into that of his father's, Keane chronicles his career as a journalist and war correspondent and his own battle with alcoholism alongside the struggle faced by his father, Éamonn. Part memoir, part biography, and wholly a love letter, the book is filled with all of the bittersweet observations and reflections that you'd expect from something so intensely personal. It's wonderfully honest, and not a person mentioned fails to be presented and often resurrected by Keane's writing. You can really feel that all of these people were real, still are real, existed out there in the world; it creates a deeply personal connection, and it's a wonderful tribute to the many people that Keane has loved and been inspired by. He clearly has a deep sense of personal history and belonging, and it's a beautiful thing to read about.

I don't know if everyone would get as much out of it as I do, because it's all a very personal thing. Being Irish myself, being raised by an alcoholic parent... there's lots here that will hit me in a specific way, but at the same time I don't think it would matter, overall. Keane's writing is so careful and full of love; his recollections are so vibrant and his personality, both the good and the bad, so evident that I think this would be worth the read for anyone. It's just really, really great writing.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written.

It was nice to read a memoir/bio written from the point of view of someone reacting to and passing through history rather than being the center of history.

Mr. Keane is a journalist for BBC/RTE who covered some of the worst conflicts of the past 50 yeas. He has seen humanity at its worst, from N. Ireland to Rwanda to Iraq. Along the way he writes about his life, his relationships with his family and his battles with alcohol.

Also, he has seen and covered the triumphs of the past 50 years, including Mandela's freedom and witnessed international justice when he testified against those who purveyed genocide in Central Africa. Along the way, he mentions his own successes and the triumphs of those he loved.

In the end it was a personal memoir by a person, not an icon. I was able to relate to Mr. Keane's experiences, struggles, and triumphs and learned something about myself along the way. That's a good book.

[Andy Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in 2006. It was one of the last books my father chose to buy for me. Somehow he had an eye for a good book. I put it down to the knowledge he stored about the world.

[Kieran · Rating 4 out of 5]

he's irish, so am i. he went to school in cork, me too. that's why i bought the book. i read it about 2 years after, and i admit i enjoyed it. it is not a biography as such - he details his stumbling into journalism thanks to his uncle, his stumbling into alcoholism too. he has a good few digs at irish politicians (liars, money-grabbers, jew-haters, philanderers, alcoholics....). i liked those bits!

i can't understand why he rabbits on about his father so much. his mother gets barely a mention in comparison, and the importance of his wife and kids seems small.

[Robin Newbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of memoirs airbrush the truth but this succeeds because it offers a deep dive into the author Fergal Keane's chequered life - there is the on-off relationship with his alcoholic and often absent father, the subsequent panic attacks that almost blighted his career as a foreign correspondent, his meteoric rise to head the BBC's bureau in southern Africa, then his missteps courtesy of his own alcoholism and finally some kind of redemption with an attempt at family life.

All of These People is poetic, moving and frank and does not shy away from some wonderful insights, such as the author's need for escape, oblivion even, hence his addiction not only to booze but the adrenalin junkie high provided by war zones.

It is all told in emotive language that immerses the reader in Keane's world – which includes first-hand accounts of the bloody end of apartheid in South Africa and the Rwandan genocide – and ensures we are rooting for him as he finally finds solace in his family and decides to hang up his flak jacket for good.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and moving memoir by Fergal Keane about his family, his father's alcoholism and early death, Fergal's career as a war correspondence and his own battles with alcohol.

One thing that struck me was the attention on his father in his life as opposed to his mother. Maybe it's easier to focus on the flawed parent who suffered an early death rather the one who seemed to have brought up the children alone, having left her husband due to alcoholism. Seemed a bit unfair.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I read this book as in many ways it was old news. This is the Biography of Fergal Keane published in 2006. Keane has a good way of writing but to me the book was soulless. It seems despite the wonderful description of his childhood, There were many omissions. That may have been intentional but it felt like this book was just about the author. I should follow up later books.

[Adrian Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into a great journalist. Particularly insightful was his portrayal of post civil war Ireland in the 1960's and it's perception of the troubles. Also of the Rwandan genocide
I was touched by his honesty about his alcoholic father and hsi own challenges.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a long time to read this, and I found it a bit dull in the beginning. It got better as it went along though, and I'm glad I persisted.

[Shelley Marie-Sainte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A BBC commentator/reporter travels to many of the world's hot-spots, dodging shells, breath-holding traversing check-points, sleeping in bombed hotels, seeing the carnage of genocide, avoiding bandits from one adrenaline rush straight into the next: but he is also fighting a battle inside himself against alcoholism, emotional turmoil, loss and relationships. He is very honest in how he deals with the constant death and inhumanity of his fellow man. I look forward to reading more of his books.

[Mikkee · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were great points to the book, but I kept reading it b/c it was for my book club. It helped me better understand Ireland and its people. His piece on the Rwandan genocide was moving, but it ended feeling, well, I am not really sure...

[Conor]

Alcoholic, war journalist, very interesting perspectives and he actually came out the other side more with it and with more perspective.

[Clare Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read this year. Beautifully written memoir of Fergal Keane, one of Ireland's leading and award winning journalists. 'A must read.

[Maeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably much more interesting if you were familiar with the author's reporting, or have a deep interest in Irish politics.