In Extremis

The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin

By: Lindsey Hilsum

Narrated by: Lindsey Hilsum

The inspiring and devastating biography of Marie Colvin, the foremost war reporter of her generation, who was killed in Syria in 2012, and whose life story also forms the basis of the feature film A Private War, starring Rosamund Pike as Colvin.

When Marie Colvin was killed in an artillery attack in Homs, Syria, in 2012, at age fifty-six, the world lost a fearless and iconoclastic war correspondent who covered the most significant global calamities of her lifetime. In Extremis, written by her fellow reporter Lindsey Hilsum, is a thrilling investigation into Colvin’s epic life and tragic death based on exclusive access to her intimate diaries from age thirteen to her death, interviews with people from every corner of her life, and impeccable research.

After growing up in a middle-class Catholic family on Long Island, Colvin studied with the legendary journalist John Hersey at Yale, and eventually started working for The Sunday Times of London, where she gained a reputation for bravery and compassion as she told the stories of victims of the major conflicts of our time. She lost sight in one eye while in Sri Lanka covering the civil war, interviewed Gaddafi and Arafat many times, and repeatedly risked her life covering conflicts in Chechnya, East Timor, Kosovo, and the Middle East. Colvin lived her personal life in extremis, too: bold, driven, and complex, she was married twice, took many lovers, drank and smoked, and rejected society’s expectations for women. Despite PTSD, she refused to give up reporting. Like her hero Martha Gellhorn, Colvin was committed to bearing witness to the horrifying truths of war, and to shining a light on the profound suffering of ordinary people caught in the midst of conflict.

Lindsey Hilsum’s In Extremis is a devastating and revelatory biography of one of the greatest war correspondents of her generation.

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.

It felt as if I was with Ms. Colvin on every journey she took, both internal and external. I found it deeply moving.

A deeply moving book. Superbly written and detailed. Ms. Colvin should never be forgotten. The weaving of history and her personal note taking made for a personal and revealing glimpse into the incredible life of an exceptional journalist and incredible human being.

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!