In Extremis

The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin

By: Lindsey Hilsum

Narrated by: Lindsey Hilsum

Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The devastating biography of Marie Colvin, the foremost war reporter of her generation, who was killed in Syria in 2012.

When Marie Colvin was killed by an IED in Homs, Syria, in 2012, at age 56, the world lost one of its most fearless, accomplished, and iconoclastic war correspondents, an eye-patch wearing, party-throwing, and risk-taking female combat reporter who covered the most significant and destructive global calamities of her lifetime.

In Extremis: The Life and Death of War Reporter Marie Colvin, written by Colvin’s friend and prizewinning fellow reporter Lindsey Hilsum, is a thrilling and powerful investigation into Colvin’s epic life and tragic death.

After growing up in a middle-class Catholic family on Long Island, Colvin got her start working for The Sunday Times, where she was driven with reckless abandon to tell the stories of the victims of the major conflicts of our time. She lost an eye reporting in Sri Lanka at the end of their civil war, interviewed Gaddafi twice, and risked her life covering conflict in Chechnya, East Timor, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe.

Unsurprisingly, her personal life was as unpredictable as her professional: bold, driven, and complex, she was married multiple times, had many lovers, drank heavily, suffered from PTSD, and refused to be bound by society’s expectations for women.

With exclusive access to Colvin’s intimate diaries from age 13 to her death in 2012, interviews with people from every corner of Colvin’s extraordinary life, and expert research worthy of Colvin herself, Lindsey Hilsum’s In Extremis is a timely and propulsive biography of the foremost war correspondent of her generation.

©2018 Lindsey Hilsum (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Troubled Charismatic Brilliant

Honest and painful view of a woman who was part of all of us fierce females of the sixties. Marie Colvin sought refuge in all of our escapes and rebellions- sex and drugs and alcohol and parties. But where she displayed her greatest courage was not only on the front lines - it was in her internal battle for love and self acceptance. Her rejection of fear and danger on behalf of those who pay the price of being pawns in the wars of super powers was necessary to the larger world and to the world of herself. She collected the injuries of war. She could not treat them all. She did triumph in friends and in her work.

Lindsay Hilaum has written a fine and compassionate story. It is tragedy on the grand scale. Thank you. you are more than equAl to the task.

What an extraordinary story

So well told, and so well written. It really makes a difference that Ms. Hilsum has so much access to Colvin's memos, diaries, etc. An unforgettable portrait of a seriously complex and brave person. Thank you.

What a life

This was such a fascinating biography. The world needs more brave people like Marie Colvin.

Inspiring! Love it!

Marie is a hero and a true inspiration! Loved every second of this book! I wish she wrote some books by herself to continue learning about her extraordinary life

A treasure

Fantastic behind the scenes look at war time journalist passion, dedication & sacrifice. This account takes you there!

Marie Colvin's life story is beyond the personal.

A riveting tale of an idealistic, committed, exceptional woman. Her bravery & determination to tell the stories of the significant conflicts that reshaped the post WWII order have much to teach us. She created a framework whose import will last for decades. The vulnerabilities in her personal life that caused her so much pain seemed to feed her energy & resolve to expose the sufferings of others. She died as she lived but too soon.

inspirational and real.

I watched "a Private War" about the last decade or so of Colvin's career and was fascinated. This book delivered the intricacies and complexities of her life and career. I loved how Hilsum is able to portray Colvin in all of her contradictions. the book certainly inspired me to take more risks, love more, and take accountability for what I can change in the world. Next up: "The Face of War" by Martha Gellhorn.

A fascinating listen

A flawed, and brilliant reporter… made me appreciate how brave these war correspondents are. I also found it interesting hearing about her complex life.

Exceptional Storytelling and Performance

This was a gift to readers, as was Colvin’s life. This book does rare justice to an extraordinary life of a talent and personality that is usually too large for the page.