‘Grade B Reporter’, Martin Bell, has covered major international conflicts, from Vietnam to Bosnia, from Northern Ireland to the Six-Day War and Iraq.

One of the outstanding journalists of our times, he provides a moving, personal account of the travesties of war and issues an impassioned call to put the substance back into our news.

Martin Bell is a former BBC war correspondent and MP. He has served as a corporal in a colonial army, been embedded with British forces, gone on missions with Americans and crossed the Suez Canal with the Israelis. He has kept the company of soldiers, warlords, mercenaries and militias, and even attended one of Idi Amin’s weddings. His books include Through Gates of Fire and An Accidental MP. He is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Oliver Kamm is a leader writer and columnist for The Times. He is the author of several books, including Accidence Will Happen: The Non-Pedantic Guide to English and Accidence Will Happen: A Recovering Pedant’s Guide to English Language and Style.