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Father of Lions: How One Man Defied Isis and Saved Mosul Zoo
'Callaghan's portrayal of a city under siege is many-layered and brilliantly told' Sunday Times
Iraq, 2014
As ISIS laid terrible siege to Mosul, a zoo on the eastern edge of the Tigris was kept open against all odds. Under the stern hand of the zookeeper Abu Laith, whose name – loosely translated – means Father of Lions, its animals faced not only years of occupation, but starvation and bombardment by the liberating forces. Father of Lions is the story of Mosul of resilience and human decency in the midst of barbarism.
'Father of Lions captures, with heartbreaking poignancy, the human cost of these conflicts' Josie Ensor, Middle East Correspondent for the Daily Telegraphy
'Through the story of a man who loves both lions and life, Louise Callaghan shows how humour and defiance can counter cruelty' Lindsey Hilsum, author of In Extremis
Iraq, 2014
As ISIS laid terrible siege to Mosul, a zoo on the eastern edge of the Tigris was kept open against all odds. Under the stern hand of the zookeeper Abu Laith, whose name – loosely translated – means Father of Lions, its animals faced not only years of occupation, but starvation and bombardment by the liberating forces. Father of Lions is the story of Mosul of resilience and human decency in the midst of barbarism.
'Father of Lions captures, with heartbreaking poignancy, the human cost of these conflicts' Josie Ensor, Middle East Correspondent for the Daily Telegraphy
'Through the story of a man who loves both lions and life, Louise Callaghan shows how humour and defiance can counter cruelty' Lindsey Hilsum, author of In Extremis
Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 28, 2024
A brilliant portrayal of the invasion of ISIS through the lens of one colorful Mosulite. Louise Callaghan masterfully paints a portrait of Al Laith, the Father of Lions, and through his character conveys all the nuance, drama, and terror of Mosul's takeover by the Islamic State. The prose if fluid, smart, and engaging with just the right amount of humor and lightheartedness to take you through this darkest of histories. One marvels at the detail -- the knowledge of what gestures were made when something was said, the order people got out of a car -- every moment is vivid.
November 9, 2024
Slow start but got a lot better as it went on.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews