Burning Heresies: A Memoir of a Life in Conflict, 1979-2020

by Kevin Myers

In this remarkable sequel to his critically acclaimed memoir Watching the Door , Irish journalist Kevin Myers reflects on his roller-coaster career over three decades in the Irish media, from the European conflicts he reported from to the personal conflicts he fought. Fresh from the horrors of 1970s Belfast, Myers took a job in 1979 with The Irish Times, and brilliantly evokes the comical chaos of life in the smoky newsroom of Ireland’s paper-of-record. Having taken over An Irishman’s Diary, Myers single-handedly pioneered the campaign to rehabilitate the memory of the forgotten Irish soldiers of the Great War, and in the process fell foul of the paper’s editor, the legendary Douglas Gageby. His reward were plane tickets to more perilous assignments as Myers was back in the frontline of European warzones, as communism collapsed and civil wars emerged. While Myers’s is at his brilliant best dodging bullets on the battlefields of Tel Aviv, Beirut and Sarajevo, he also keenly and unapologetically participates in the many cultural conflicts erupting within a rapidly changing Ireland, as he opines on a broad spectrum of Irish life, covering history, politics, religion, economics, culture and society; all explored in his inimitable prose and sardonic wit. This courageously trenchant account of journalistic conflict and hubris also forensically examines his very public fall from grace in 2017, and his legal battle with RTÉ for a public apology. Burning Heresies is a candid and eye-opening must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in Irish life and current affairs.

320 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2020

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Journalist, broadcaster and novelist Kevin Myers wrote for The Irish Times, The Spectator, Sunday Telegraph, Irish Independent and The Sunday Times in a career that spanned over thirty years. He reported from Africa, Central America, India and Japan, covered the wars in Lebanon and Bosnia, and was journalist of the year for his dispatches from Beirut. His first memoir, Watching the Door: A Memoir, 1971–1978, was published in 2006.

Reviews

[Jonathan Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was possibly the only person outside the Irish Jewish Community to defend Kevin against the ridiculous charges of antisemitism levelled at him on 30 and 31 July 2017; he kindly thanks me (p294). Later I met Kevin when he came to London. I found his autobiography absolutely fascinating, both for the insights into Irish history and for his account of covering the conflicts in Beirut and the Balkans. Kevin writes beautifully and takes no prisoners - eg this "Enmity from such detritus is a badge of honour". Kevin has started a blog and I really hope that his voice is heard again in a major publication where it belongs. He was badly wronged.

[Mr Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterful, profound and insightful book covering the author’s career and many aspects of modern Irish history

Kevin Myers is a rarity in that he was a journalist prepared to tilt at windmills even though he knew that he would make powerful enemies, who brought him down in the end to a very very low point. But, judging from this fantastic book, you can’t keep a good man down with baseless slander no matter how much his enemies wished it were so.

[Cathal Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book on a wide range of topics. Mr. Myers writes in a way that is enjoyable to read. Excellent descriptions of specific situations and circumstances, some of which are very serious and dangerous along with plenty of self-deprecating humour. The final chapter outlines what happened to his career as a journalist on foot of wildly false allegations made against him. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates good writing and getting the full story.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapters dealing with Kevin Myers experiences as a war correspondent, particularly in Bosnia, are excellent. As for the rest, the following review says it all:

Review

By the way, I have no idea who the linked author, Kevin T. Myers, is but whoever he is he has nothing to do with this book.

[T H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas especially about Irish republicanism
Felt sorry for him and his largely self inflicted fall from grace.
He did accomplish much by bringing to the publics attention the forgotten soldiers of the first world war among others.
Some people reading this should have looked at themselves and felt shame

[Michael Skuce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really interesting and fascinating read. I learnt a lot about our Irish history which has been uncovered by Kevin. His work to bring out into the open the part that the Irishmen played in WW1 has not been properly recognised by Irish society. Delighted that he was vindicated by the courts - but the damage to his reputation and character is unforgivable.