The Radio Operator: Robert Ford’s Last Stand in the Fight to Save Tibet

by James McGrath Morris

The riveting true tale of Englishman Robert Ford heroic efforts to remain by Tibet’s last existing radio link to the outside world when China conquered the mountainous nation in 1950, from acclaimed biographer James McGrath Morris, author of the New York Times bestseller Eye on the Struggle.Hired by the Tibetan government, Royal Air Force veteran Robert W. Ford put together a radio communications network for a nation that had up to this time relied on messages carried by foot over the highest mountains on the globe. More important, his radio connected the secluded nation to the outside world. When in October 1950 the Communist Chinese army began its march to subjugate Tibet, Ford risked his life by staying behind to send out reports over his radio to let the world know of the attack. The Radio Operator is an overdue and gripping recounting of Ford’s valiant effort to save Tibet from Chinese domination and his subsequent capture and imprisonment.James McGrath Morris is the author of the New York Times bestselling Eye on the Struggle as well as two other acclaimed biographies. His previous Kindle Single, Revolution by Murder, was selected as one of the Best Kindle Singles of 2014. His next book, The Ambulance Drivers, will be published in 2017.Cover design by Kerry Ellis.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

44 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

I'm the author of several well-received biographies, including the New York Times bestseller and Editor's Choice "Eye on the Struggle: Ethel Payne, The First Lady of the Black Press," which received the Benjamin Hooks National Book Prize and was long-listed for the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography; "The Ambulance Drivers: Hemingway, Dos Passos, and a Friendship Made and Lost in War,' as well as "Pulitzer: A Life in Politics, Print, and Power," "The Rose Man of Sing Sing: A True Tale of Life, Murder, and Redemption in the Age of Yellow Journalism," and "Jailhouse Journalism: The Fourth Estate Behind Bars."

My newest book is "Tony Hillerman: A Life."

Reviews

[Gisela Hausmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quoting from James McGrath Morris' book " The Radio Operator: Robert Ford’s Last Stand in the Fight to Save Tibet"
".... Even in the twentieth century, except for a Swedish explorer, an Italian archaeologist, a French woman disguised as a beggar, a pair of Austrians who escaped custody of the Allies in India during World War II, and an assortment of officials and writers, Tibet remained mostly closed off to the world..."

Well, it was one of these two "Austrians who escaped custody of the Allies in India during World War II," Heinrich Harrer himself, who encouraged me to travel to Tibet "as soon as possible, because the Chinese will try to destroy it." I was a teenager when I met Harrer but I managed to get there before I turned twenty-five, in 1987.

Though this happened after the described annexation, I still saw a somewhat "original" Tibet without paved roads and only hotels. And, just like Harrer and Robert Forst I fell under its spell.

Which might explain why I devoured this book. I had never heard of Frost's story and I was fascinated.
Robert Ford was an adventurer of the "original type," the ones who just embarked on an adventure and dealt with things as they happened. Bored in his post as an instructor at a Royal Air Force (RAF) radio school in Hyderabad, In 1943 he became first in line for a three-month job as a radio operator in Tibet. Having heard about the fascinating country called "the Roof of the World," its God-King, the Dalai Lama, and Lhasa, the capital, the forbidden city that no foreigner was allowed to enter, he accepted the post.

Everything went better than planned until, in New Year's Day, Ford listened in on a public pronouncement by the new Chinese government, broadcast by Radio Beijing, “The tasks for the People’s Republic of China for 1950 are to liberate Taiwan, Hainan, and Tibet.”

Ford knew what it meant - the Chinese government was going to send "he People’s Liberation" to annex Tibet. He could have escaped but he didn't. Robert Ford’s Last Stand in the Fight to Save Tibet is the story of one man trying to help Tibetans to defend themselves. Of course, todaty we know that he didn't succeed because he could not succeed. Even then China was too mighty and the Tibetans too peace loving.

It is a fascinating book. Combined with Harrer's famous "Seven Years in Tibet," it explains how how Tibet became part of China and the "magic world" with its forbidden city that no foreigner was allowed to enter, was opened up to thousands of tourists. I feel lucky, that I had a chance to see it when only three to four dozens of tourists made it there every other week. James McGrath Morris' book showed me what I missed.

Loved the book.
Enthusiastic 5 stars,
Gisela Hausmann

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating Account of an Unlikely Hero

This was a fascinating account of one man who helped Tibet during the forced takeover by the Chinese in the 1950s. A British radio operator takes an assignment in Tibet to help connect the isolated country to the world and is caught up in events beyond his control. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audio book version. Narration was a bit rote, but it was an interesting short story.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book, this quickly tells the tale of a British man in the 1950s who ran an HF radio station in Tibet. This station was one of the few communications links within Tibet and between that country and the rest of the world. The story revolves around the Chinese takeover of Tibet and the role this man played in trying to delay and prevent the takeover. He was ultimately captured by the Chinese, accused of being a spy, and held for four years before giving a false confession and being freed.

[Ted Baker]

Enlightening

Interesting accounting of one man's experience in an isolated innocent country invade by China. I have the impressing the Chinese official s had very strong views of the West

[Tamara Curtin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less a book than a longish essay, a can't be put down story of Robert Ford, who went to Tibet to be a radio operator in a search for adventure and found more than anticipated. Very interested to put his own account of the situation- Captured in Tibet, on my reading list.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this fascinating story. Interesting, eye opening account of the invasion of Tibet. Glad I learned about an unknown hero, Robert Ford. Very quick read.

[Cory Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read!

Picked this up after reading another short by this author. Very interesting story! Hits all the high points without going into much fluff.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know anything about this story and this was a good introduction. Not ready to dive much deeper st this point but I am intrigued and would like to learn more some day.

[John Carmichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Events

Certainly not historical fiction that might have drawn a reader closer to the character. The epilogue certainly was worth reading in order to better appreciate the mettle of the man.

[Ollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courage

4 stars for a "listen" to a snapshoot peek into a fascinating story. I enjoyed the storyline, the history lesson and the narration. Kudos to the author for whetting my curiosity to seek additional Tibetan lore.

[Mltyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a short story rather than a novel but a good read. Try to check it out from the library rather than purchase it. I think I read this in about an hour to an hour and half.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting while not compelling. Quick read, though, so if you're interested in this period and an interesting, lately unknown story about one of the players on the scene, this is worth reading.

[Sean Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, although tends to be brief at times in details.