The ISIS Hostage: One Man's True Story of 13 Months in Captivity

by Puk Damsgård, David Young (Translator)

In May 2013, freelance photographer Daniel Rye was captured in Syria and held prisoner by Islamic State for thirteen months, along with eighteen other hostages. The ISIS Hostage tells the dramatic and heart-breaking story of Daniel's ordeal and details the misery inflicted upon him by the British guards, which included Jihadi John.

This tense and riveting account also follows Daniel's family and the nerve-wracking negotiations with his kidnappers. It traces their horrifying journey through impossible dilemmas and offers a rare glimpse into the secret world of the investigation launched to locate and free not only Daniel, but also the American journalist and fellow hostage James Foley.

Written with Daniel's full cooperation and based on interviews with former fellow prisoners, jihadists and key figures who worked behind the scenes to secure his release, The ISIS Hostage reveals for the first time the torment suffered by the captives and tells a moving and terrifying story of friendship, torture and survival.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Danish, War, Middle East, History, Audiobook

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2015

About the author

Puk Damsgård (f. 1978) er uddannet journalist fra Syddansk Universitet og har siden 2011 været DR's mellemøstkorrespondent.

Hun har senest skrevet bestselleren, Ser du månen, Daniel (2015), som hun blandt andet modtog dansk journalistiks fornemmeste hæderspris, Cavlingprisen 2015.

Hun har desuden skrevet bestselleren Hvor solen græder (2014),
Ulvehjerter (2011), De Renes Land (2009).

Hun har derudover vundet talrige andre priser for sit arbejde – deriblandt Læsernes Bogpris 2015 og Publicistklubbens Fortællerpris 2015.

Puk Damsgård is a Danish journalist and author. Since the summer of 2011 Damsgård has been Middle-East correspondent based in Cairo

She has since 2006 lived in Pakistan, Afghanistan and currently in Lebanon.

She has been covering the Syrian Civil War and has been honored with several awards for her outstanding reports.

Reviews

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

SMUK, BEVÆGENDE OG EMOTIONEL FORTÆLLING

Jeg indrømmer det - jeg så, for en gangs skyld, filmen før jeg læst bogen. Begge var store oplevelser, med mange følelser, tårer og smil. Historien var det bærende i denne bog - Daniels og familiens ukuelighed og vilje. Bare ærgerligt at den måde, fortællingen var skrevet på, slet ikke gjorde noget godt for mig.

👍 DET, JEG GODT KUNNE LIDE 👍

Følelserne: Det her var en af de bøger, der tog mig igennem hele følelsesregistret - fra gråd til latter, den spillede på alle tangenter!

Ærlighed: Der er så meget rå ærlighed i denne fortælling, hvilket gør den nærværende og ægte.

👎 DET, JEG IKKE KUNNE LIDE 👎

Skrivestilen: Jeg brugte irriterende lang tid på at finde ud af, hvad der her var for en genre - fiktion, faglitteratur, interview eller noget helt andet? Noget i fortællerstilen gjorde, at den bare ikke passede ind nogen af stederne. Jeg er normalt fan af originale bøger, der skiller sig ud, men dette irriterede mig grænseløst og ødelagde til dels læseoplevelsen for mig. Historien ville have fungeret bedst som en skønlitterær fortælling eller en memoir - den er bare ingen af delene her...

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nogen der snitter løg herinde?

[Tengku Zahasman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving and effective story of a real person's experience of not just being a hostage under Isis, but also all the ordeals involved in negotiating the release of these hostages. Ever since the infamous video of James Foley came out, I have always wanted to know the stories behind these journalists who risks their lives documenting in war zones. What prompted them to do it in the first place. How did they managed to get themselves kidnapped. I can't decide whether its stupidity or bravery that put them in such situation, and hence become very curious about what goes on in their mind and how they end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. This book gives a better picture of it all. It tells the story from the point of the hostages, the kidnappers, the families of the victims and what they do about it, how one's nationality could decide the fate of one's life, what the governments do when a fellow citizen is captured by terrorists (well done France), the communications between the affected parties, the friendships made during captivity, the activities done to keep sanity, the joy of freedom once released, and the sadness after hearing one of them fall. The details in the book made me felt almost like I have gone through the whole episode myself. It made me understand the war a bit better. I've read too many misleading stories in the mainstream media. Thank you to the writer and to Daniel Rye himself, and 'Arthur', and everyone involved in getting this true story out. I wish for the safety of any other hostages still in the terrorists captivity.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very thought-provoking book and this book is haunting me. I really wish this book was a fiction, but it wasn't. I have to remind myself that it's a true story. Some parts of this book are very difficult to read. After finished the last page, I closed the book, and don't know what to do. My heart goes out to Daniel and to every other hostage that has been captured and killed. I can't think of what their family must be going through.
I give it my highest rating. Puk Damsgård is an awesome writer.

Thank you Netgalley for this book.

[Sidsel Sander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fem stjerner, fordi det er en vigtig bog, og fordi Damsgård som sædvanligt kombinere den personlige historie smukt med den poltiske.

[Mathilde Sølvstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER!

The movie was so dang good and one of my favorites but the book is SO much better. It gives way more detail of what Daniel Rye actually went through and how kidnapping and terrorism affects him. And I can’t describe the feeling this book has left me with. I cried so many times especially when I finally understood the title “ser du månen Daniel” (do you see the moon Daniel) I am moved by this book and Daniel Rye’s story and of course his friends who were kidnapped with him, especially the kind American James Foley, and how his family fought so hard to get him back.

PLEASE READ THIS BESTSELLER!!!!!!

[Oliver Hinkaty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endnu en bog der handler om Islamisk Stat. En rå og voldsom beretning fra Daniel Rye, der viser en kold og hjerteskærende side af krigen. Utrolig svær at sætte sig ind i, men ligeså spændende at læse om hans 13 måneder i fangenskab og hvad det kan gøre ved et menneskets sind. Har efterfølgende været til foredrag med Daniel Rye, for at genhøre hans beretning.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chilling, thought-provoking read (that I could not put down) on the experience of a Danish man kidnapped by ISIS.

[Ida Marie Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rørende historie

[Mette Jessen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dette er nok en af de bedste bøger jeg har læst!
Samtidige med at den fortæller livet som fangetagende! Fortæller den om situationen i Syrien og hvor stor konflikten i det hele taget er

Sætter virkelig livet i perspektiv
Stor ros til Puk Damsgaard!
Tankerne går til Daniel, hele hans familie og de andre tilfangetagende og deres famile

[Ida Schjøtt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dette er en hel fantastisk bog, som giver stof til eftertanke. Man får ikke kun den gribende historie om Daniel, men får også en hel masse baggrundsviden om Syrien og gidseltagerne.

En helt igennem fantastisk bog, hvor man sidder tilbage med tårer i øjnene og bliver bare en smule mere taknemmelig for det gode liv i Danmark.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Den bedste bog jeg har læst i meget lang tid! Vil anbefale alle, der kan klare at læse en barsk men autentisk historie, at kaste sig over dette tankevækkende dokumentariske mesterværk øjeblikkeligt.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ISIS Hostage

One Man's True Story of Thirteen Months in Captivity



by Puk Damsgard

Pegasus Books

Biographies & Memoirs

Pub Date 09 May 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing The Isis Hostage Through Pegasus Books and Netgalley:

In May of 2013 Puk Damsgard had returned home to Beirut after two weeks of reporting in Yabrud, a Syrian City. A reporter named Daniel Rye is already being held hostage by Isis Extremists.

In August of 2014 a video is uploaded to youtube showing the murder of American Freelance Journalist James Foley.

Daniel Rye was held hostage in Syria for thirteen months, eight of those months were spent with James Foley and other weatern hostages.

In May of 2013 Daniel Rye is captured by Isis, the conditions he is forced to live in along with the others captured is deplorable, battling sickness and malnutriction. For a time eight hostages were held under the basement of a Children's hospital.

James Foley turns forty while being held hostage, on December 23,2013 the Prisoners are told they are being released but Daniel is skeptical. On June 19th after over a year in capacity, Daniel is finally released.

Six of the other Male Prisoners held in Captivity with Daniel died while still in captivity, and the female captives weren't all spared either.

I give The Isis Hostage five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.

[Ross McDougall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A harrowing, unflinching account of 13 terrifying months.
Rye & Damsgård don't omit any shocking details, drawing you further into what can only be described as depraved treatment of humans by humans.

I felt it started a bit slowly (as such books are wont to do, get the hooks in etc.) with the little teaser start then going back to before the capture, but the time that Daniel spent in captivity was really well pitched with a growing sense of dread the whole time as he fought to stay alive and the family fought to come up with the ransom.

I'd love to see the book expanded to discuss more of how Daniel has fared on his return (such details aren't hard to come by online etc. however it would still be great) because Damsgård has such a theatrical and emotive way of writing - I'd just like to hear her take on it all!

I read this at the same time as Man's Search for Meaning - not recommended because the stories started to blur together! It was helpful however to highlight some of the parallels between the two captives and the ways in which their spirits made sense of the situation and held on for so long.

A great read!

[Regitze Xenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely heartbreaking read. It's a look into the worst experience of a real man, a countryman of mine. I remember hearing about him on the news after he was freed, but I got so much new information from reading this book. It's an interesting look into the changing political environment in the Middle East. I feel weird rating this book, because I don't think it's really right to rate someone's experience. But this, man it was such a captivating story and I highly recommend it.

[Jonas Ericson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fängslande bok som berättar väldigt detaljerat om hela förloppet för fotografen Daniel Rye, från fångenskap till friheten. Det går inte föreställa sig vare sig smärtan under fångenskapen och såren som kommer finnas med hela livet efter fångenskapen. Enda minuset var att de språkliga på vissa ställen inte var det bästa, men det kanske också beror på översättningen från danska till svenska.

[Clara Winding · Rating 4 out of 5]

En rigtig fin og god bog. Den bærer læseren gennem hele forløbet og forklarer på balanceret vis lidt om verdenssituationen undervejs. I slutningen er den taktfuld glad omkring Daniels frigivelse uden at negligere de andre fangers hårdere skæbne. Klart værd at læse

[Peter Odel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skræmmende, men tankevækkende beretning om ung dansk fotograf der blev holdt som gidsel i Syrien af Islamisk Stat i 2013 og hans frigivelse efter 13 måneders brutalt fangenskab. Sørgelig aktuel stadigvæk desværre...

[Kim andrea Brofeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barsk, levende og virkeligt rørende

[bookishafterglow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find andmeldelsen her https://bookishafterglow.wordpress.co...

[Lucca Linnemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

No

[Katrine Funding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stærk historie, meget rørende og utroligt velskrevet.

[Lykke Stjernholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuldstændig SINDSSYG bog om en fuldstændig VANVITTIG oplevelse.
Tænk at sådan noget sker rundt om i verden, og at det nok vil fortsætte til evig tid............
Det er totalt ala det man hører når man tager et smut til Vietnam eller omegn....

Og tænk at det endte så godt for den kære Daniel????

Virkelig en rørende bog, med en flot fortælling om at finde det smukke i en grim situation, og få mest muligt ud af det man har at gøre med- som jo også var hans oprindelige hensigt med rejsen.

Blev helt opslugt og læste den på en dag.

[Adam Cormier · Rating 5 out of 5]

accurate recount of a Danish photographer who was held hostage by ISIS militants for 13 months and the negotiation process involved for his eventual release.

[Helena Højgaard Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ingen ord.

[Christina Eskildsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hårrejsende fortælling!

[Teresa Dohn]

Utroligt livsbekræftende?

[Frederikke Langemark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Så god og spændende. Ikke lige min normale genre, så derfor ikke 5 stjerner, men wow det var så godt skrevet. Elsker og beundrer virkelig storesøster Anita, og selvfølgelig også Daniel 🤯

[Anders Risager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeg er vant til lytte til mine bøger som lydbøger, enten i bilen til og fra arbejde, eller på mine løbeture. De fleste af de bøger jeg lytter til er enten krimier, fagbøger, eller gysere. Det er blevet til rigtig mange timer med historier der har tryllebundet mig.
For første gang har jeg læst/lyttet til en bog som denne.

Dette er den første bog jeg har skulle overvinde mig selv til at færdiggøre. Ikke fordi at den var dårlig, tværtimod, men fordi at den var så skræmmende. Jeg har ikke let til tårer, men flere gange trang tårerne sig på. Jeg troede at jeg vidste noget om krig, Isis og kidnapninger, men jeg vidste ikke en skid.

Jeg kom igennem og sidder nu her og ved ikke hvad jeg skal tænke. En skrev i et andet review at folkeskole elever burde læse den. Det tror jeg ikke er en god ide. Den er simpelthen for barsk. Jeg tror ikke mine elever ville kunne håndtere det, men alligevel bør de også vide hvad den virkelige verden også handler om.

Jeg vil gerne vide mere, jeg vil møde Daniel og af en eller anden grund kondolere, ja næsten sige undskyld. Jeg vil vide hvordan han har det nu. Jeg har så mange spørgsmål jeg ikke tør stille.
En af de bedste og frygteligste bøger jeg har læst.
Tak Daniel og tak Puk.

[keskese · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damsgård, korespondentka duńskiej telewizji opowiada o porwaniu Daniela Rye, fotografa.

Książka tak ciężka do oceny, jak i ciężkie było życie głównego bohatera za czasów pozostania w niewoli przez trzynaście miesięcy. Spodziewałam się troszkę innej formy, bardziej reportażowej i poukładanej. Gdy powoli zaczynamy wczuwać się w beznadziejną sytuację fotografa, następuje przeskok do nudnych opisów prób zbierania pieniędzy przez rodzinę. Raz - spoko. Dwa - ok. Trzy - może to celowy zabieg ukazujący żmudne zbieranie wymaganej kwoty? Cztery - no nie, zaczyna to być irytujące.

Książka z założenia ma opisywać funkcjonowanie PI "od środka", ale tak naprawdę niewiele się o nim dowiadujemy pozostając tak ślepi, jak i ten więzień przetrzymywany z opaską na oczach w nieznanych sobie miejscach.

Można przeczytać, bo i czyta się ją naprawdę szybko za sprawą nieskomplikowanego stylu, ale mam wrażenie, że na rynku istnieje masa lepszych książek o PI. Zobaczę w najbliższych dniach, zainteresował mnie sam temat.

Średniaczek. Dobrze, że pożyczyłam, bo byłabym naprawdę niezadowolona z zakupu.