As National Public Radio's senior foreign correspondent, Anne Garrels has covered conflicts in Chechnya, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. She is renowned for direct, down-to-earth, insightful reportage, and for her independent take on what she sees. One of only sixteen un-embedded American journalists who stayed in Baghdad's now-legendary Palestine Hotel throughout the American invasion of Iraq, she was at the very center of the storm. Naked in Baghdad gives us the sights, sounds, and smells of our latest war with unparalleled vividness and immediacy.
Garrels's narrative starts with several trips she made to Baghdad before the war, beginning in October 2002. At its heart is her evolving relationship with her Iraqi driver/minder, Amer, who becomes her friend and confidant, often serving as her eyes and ears among the populace and taking her where no other reporter was able to penetrate. Amer's own strong reactions and personal dilemma provide a trenchant counterpoint to daily events. The story is also punctuated by e-mail bulletins sent by Garrels's husband, Vint Lawrence, to their friends around the world, giving a private view of the rough-and-tumble, often dangerous life of a foreign correspondent, along with some much-needed comic relief.
The result is enthralling, deeply personal, utterly authentic--an on-the-ground picture of the war in Iraq that no one else could have written. As Chicago Sun-Times critic Lloyd Sachs wrote about Garrels's work in Baghdad, "a few choice words, honestly delivered, are worth more than a thousand pictures . . . In your mind's eye, they carry lasting truth."
About the Author :
Anne Garrels began her career in journalism reporting for ABC News in the Soviet Union, Central America, and at the State Department, which she also covered for NBC. Since 1988, she has been a foreign correspondent for NPR, reporting from Russia and the other former Soviet republics, China, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel, the West Bank, and most recently, Iraq.
A fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in 1996-97, she has received Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University and Overseas Press Club awards. She in on the board of the Committee to Protect Journalists. When she is not covering the world's hot spots, she lives in Connecticut with her husband, artist Vint Lawrence, and a menagerie that at last count included three dogs and three cats.
Review :
Anne Garrels risked her life to bring the war in Iraq to her listeners, even after her network suggested she leave Baghdad for her own safety. She couldn't offer pictures, but she didn't need to - her extraordinary reporting skills and personal courage combined to create a powerful and compelling portrait of war. William Cohen, former Secretary of Defense
Anne Garrels is an extraordinary person and a rare kind of journalist. Blessed with a razor-sharp intelligence and bravery in equal measures, she is also knowledgeable, fair-minded and unerringly honest. As a uniquely trustworthy American voice from the far-flung battlefields of today's new world, Garrels deserves the attention of as many of her fellow citizens as possible. Jon Lee Anderson, author of The Lion's Grave: Dispatches from Afghanistan
When I hear that a report from Annie Garrels is about to come on the radio, I stop what I'm doing and listen. I know I'm going to learn something remarkable from some place I've never been and am never likely to go. Her reports from the crumbling Soviet Union and the resurrected Russia, from Afghanistan in turmoil and Baghdad under fire stand out as some of the bravest and most enlightening reporting for any news organization over the last decade. Garrels is scrupulously fair, always thorough, unfailingly interesting and unbelievably courageous. Cokie Roberts, ABC News
Whether from Baghdad or Moscow, Jerusalem or another place of crisis, Anne Garrels infuses her reporting on warfare and politics with lucid, human accounts of lives caught in conflict. Every time her voice comes on NPR, it's a signal that you are about to hear a story with exceptional clarity and rigorous respect for the highest standards of journalism. David K. Shipler, former Jerusalem bureau chief, The New York Times
Among foreign correspondents, Anne Garrels is one of the true, brave, clear-eyed greats--a voice that cuts through and rises above the general chatter to tell you most vivdly what it's like and what's at stake in the defining moments of our time. Philip Gourevitch, author of We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families
Anne Garrels is one of America's most insightful and courageous journalists. Her reporting from Baghdad during the war was another very impressive reminder of her cool tenacity in getting the big story in the worst of conditions. Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News
Like so many of her NPR colleagues, Anne Garrels reports with eloquence and insight. Anne, however, has that additional quality that keeps you in your car even after you've pulled into your driveway, carport or garage. When Anne reports on the radio, you want to keep listening. When she has a book in her, you want to read it. Ted Koppel, Nightline
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Anne Garrels risked her life to bring the war in Iraq to her listeners, even after her network suggested she leave Baghdad for her own safety. She couldn't offer pictures, but she didn't need to - her extraordinary reporting skills and personal courage combined to create a powerful and compelling portrait of war. William Cohen, former Secretary of Defense
Anne Garrels is an extraordinary person and a rare kind of journalist. Blessed with a razor-sharp intelligence and bravery in equal measures, she is also knowledgeable, fair-minded and unerringly honest. As a uniquely trustworthy American voice from the far-flung battlefields of today's new world, Garrels deserves the attention of as many of her fellow citizens as possible. Jon Lee Anderson, author of The Lion's Grave: Dispatches from Afghanistan
When I hear that a report from Annie Garrels is about to come on the radio, I stop what I'm doing and listen. I know I'm going to learn something remarkable from some place I've never been and am never likely to go. Her reports from the crumbling Soviet Union and the resurrected Russia, from Afghanistan in turmoil and Baghdad under fire stand out as some of the bravest and most enlightening reporting for any news organization over the last decade. Garrels is scrupulously fair, always thorough, unfailingly interesting and unbelievably courageous. Cokie Roberts, ABC News
Whether from Baghdad or Moscow, Jerusalem or another place of crisis, Anne Garrels infuses her reporting on warfare and politics with lucid, human accounts of lives caught in conflict. Every time her voice comes on NPR, it's a signal that you are about to hear a story with exceptional clarity and rigorous respect for the highest standards of journalism. David K. Shipler, former Jerusalem bureau chief, The New York Times
Among foreign correspondents, Anne Garrels is one of the true, brave, clear-eyed greats--a voice that cuts through and rises above the general chatter to tell you most vivdly what it's like and what's at stake in the defining moments of our time. Philip Gourevitch, author of We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families
Anne Garrels is one of America's most insightful and courageous journalists. Her reporting from Baghdad during the war was another very impressive reminder of her cool tenacity in getting the big story in the worst of conditions. Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News
Like so many of her NPR colleagues, Anne Garrels reports with eloquence and insight. Anne, however, has that additional quality that keeps you in your car even after you've pulled into your driveway, carport or garage. When Anne reports on the radio, you want to keep listening. When she has a book in her, you want to read it. Ted Koppel, Nightline"
"Anne Garrels risked her life to bring the war in Iraq to her listeners, even after her network suggested she leave Baghdad for her own safety. She couldn't offer pictures, but she didn't need to - her extraordinary reporting skills and personal courage combined to create a powerful and compelling portrait of war."
--William Cohen, former Secretary of Defense
"Anne Garrels is an extraordinary person and a rare kind of journalist. Blessed with a razor-sharp intelligence and bravery in equal measures, she is also knowledgeable, fair-minded and unerringly honest. As a uniquely trustworthy American voice from the far-flung battlefields of today's new world, Garrels deserves the attention of as many of her fellow citizens as possible."
--Jon Lee Anderson, author of "The Lion's Grave: Dispatches from Afghanistan "
"When I hear that a report from Annie Garrels is about to come on the radio, I stop what I'm doing and listen. I know I'm going to learn something remarkable from some place I've never been and am never likely to go. Her reports from the crumbling Soviet Union and the resurrected Russia, from Afghanistan in turmoil and Baghdad under fire stand out as some of the bravest and most enlightening reporting for any news organization over the last decade. Garrels is scrupulously fair, always thorough, unfailingly interesting and unbelievably courageous."
--Cokie Roberts, "ABC News"
"Whether from Baghdad or Moscow, Jerusalem or another place of crisis, Anne Garrels infuses her reporting on warfare and politics with lucid, human accounts of lives caught in conflict. Every time her voice comes on NPR, it's a signal that you are about to hear a story with exceptional clarity and rigorous respect for the highest standards of journalism."
--David K. Shipler, former Jerusalem bureau chief, "The New York Times"
"Among foreign correspondents, Anne Garrels is one of the true, brave, clear-eyed greats--a voice that cuts through and rises above the general chatter to tell you most vivdly what it's like and what's at stake in the defining moments of our time."
--Philip Gourevitch, author of "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families"
"Anne Garrels is one of America's most insightful and courageous journalists. Her reporting from Baghdad during the war was another very impressive reminder of her cool tenacity in getting the big story in the worst of conditions."
--Tom Brokaw, "NBC Nightly News"
"Like so many of her NPR colleagues, Anne Garrels reports with eloquence and insight. Anne, however, has that additional quality that keeps you in your car even after you've pulled into your driveway, carport or garage. When Anne reports on the radio, you want to keep listening. When she has a book in her, you want to read it."
--Ted Koppel, " Nightline"
