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My Friend the Mercenary

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My Friend the Mercenary

By: James Brabazon
Narrated by: James Brabazon
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About this listen

James Brabazon is narrating this story of war, violence, and political intrigue. He wanted a war. And, for his sins, he got one. James Brabazon was an ambitious young war reporter when he entered the chaos of the Liberian Civil War in 2002. Running with the infamous LURD rebels, he survived numerous deadly ambushes, the privations of dysentery and a dramatic two hundred-mile escape from Government troops through dense equatorial jungle. He even had a bounty put on his head. Surrounded by child soldiers, cannibals and ruthless rebels, Brabazon was accompanied by Nick du Toit, a South African mercenary with a dangerous past.

They quickly became best friends. Before long, Nick promised James the scoop of his life: a front seat, beside Simon Mann, in an audacious coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. And the offer was too good to refuse....

©2010 James Brabazon (P)2011 Audible Ltd
Adventure Travel Biographies & Memoirs Political Science
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Critic reviews

“An outstanding memoir about the power of friendship in the morally complex theatre of war. James Brabazon is a fearless reporter and a brutally honest narrator. I couldn't put this book down.” (Andy McNab)

What listeners say about My Friend the Mercenary

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

My friend the mercenary

Just a brilliant, sad, and emotion listen about mercenary life in Africa. Shocking, heart warming, and very well read and written. You need to listen to this if you only listen to one book this year. Excellent

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    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable story. Hard to stop listening.

Loved it. A great listen. I've ordered the hard copy. Can't wait to read it again

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping story of war in Africa and being on the front line in Liberia

An incredible story of James Brabazon's experiences in Liberia and how Nick du Toit (a South African) kept him alive. A small section of the book is focused on the attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea which was really interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!

Fantastically narrated!
The twists and turns this story takes at times seem to be lifted from a metal gear solid plot line!
From start to finish it’s incredible no holds barred thrill ride into the depths of conflict and Cous.

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Highly recommended

A very interesting story very well told. It was like a real world version of the Dogs of War by Forsyth

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What an Amazing Memoir

This book is a must listen. It had me captivated from start to finish and gave me a great insight into places we don't even think about.
How lucky are we to live in relative calm , where in other parts of the world they live a nightmare we simply cannot comprehend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

"Excellent read, a truly good book"

Read this when it first came out, I was so surprised at how well it's been written. Read many books on this subject _mercenaries _ a lot from South Africa, they all included Nick De Toit, he really is a man of war. Well worth listening too or reading, even though it's written by a journalist don't let that put you off, it's up there with some of the best, well done to the author....!!!! 🍀💯

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    5 out of 5 stars

from the horses mouth

James Brabazon delivers his story better than many professional readers. it's an amazing yarn of adventure, intrigue, and mystery, set against the backdrop of a civil war. highly recommend this harrowing story of survival, journalism and friendship.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another shocking venture into the cruelty Africa

I found the fact that James Brabazon had to blow his own trumpet at the beginning of this book very off putting. He did not need to tell us all how wonderful he is or how well he has done, the narrative of the book said all that and more. If only he had left it to the more subtle references, in the book, to the prizes he won for his documentary work, one would have felt much more inclined to think him less of an egotistical big head.

However, I cannot begin to imagine how I would have felt witnessing some of the horrors that he did during his time in Africa. He writes very well telling the story of his wish to record the war in Liberia, his ventures with his friend Nick, the mercenary, into Liberia and escape out after a disastrous campaign by the LURD, his illness and bodily weakness, which took many months to overcome. It was a horrifying tale of violence and mindless cruelty witnessed by someone who could do nothing to stop some of the terrible acts of inhumanity.

Brabazon reads the book so very much better than Simon Mann read his own book about mercenary life 'Cry Havoc' but it would have been better read by a competent actor. You will find some reference to the plight of Mann, in this book as this tale relates the horrors of the time his friend Nick has, after capture, during the failed coup d'etat they were both involved in.

Not a book for the weak of stomach but a witness to some of the terrible inhumanity of man to man.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!

This is a great story a must listen for anyone that can handle the truth of world politics and how history and what. We know today and thought we new then is Enlightening to day the least
There is no good guys just lambs
An honest account of a friendship being made through war or adversity . James gives his thoughts without holding back

Well done and thanks !

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1 person found this helpful