The Prince of the Marshes: And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraq Audiobook

" Excellent book for those looking for a genuine account of the current intervention in Iraq from the point of view of a Scottish "civilian" who worked for the interim government in the province of Maysan. "

" This is the amazing story of a Scottish Diplomat who worked in the civilian authority governing two of the provinces in post-invasion Iraq for a year, and his various struggles to maintain order, and do some good. This mind-boggling adventure will give the most cynical reader a feeling of gratitude for whatever his daily struggles may be. "

" This book is about a British diplomat trying to govern an obscure Iraqi province during the time of the occupation. He is given the task of trying to mediate between warring factions and the bureaucrats in Baghdad. What an impossible task! "

" Priceless. A window into what really goes on behind the battle lines in Iraq. Laugh and cry at the utter waste of human lives, enterprise, talents, and taxpayers money revealed in this riveting memoir. "

" Maybe it's just the political season that has made me cynical....but I just did not like this book. I kept hoping it would be more. That there would be some "aha" moments. Instead I just grew frustrated with the people, the process, and the lack of progress. Too much money wasted. A real indictment on the Bush administration (yes this is a British book, but in this context the Coalition was headed by Americans). "

" This is Rory Stewart's account of his service as a diplomat for the Coalition Provisional Authority in southern Iraq 2003-4. I found his book, The Places in Between well-written and revelatory. I struggled with this book. The Prince of the Marshes: And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraq is engagingly written with touches of self-deprecating humor and clearly tells of the challenges of "nation building" in Iraq after the coalition invasion. I think why I had a hard time dragging myself back to this book was because it was all so discouraging. No answers, simple or complex, emerged. I was reading this at the time that US troops were completing their withdrawal from Iraq and I am not sure that we are leaving a stable, healthy country even now. "

" If you wonder why things when to sh*t in Iraq, read this book "

" Stewart is a long-time diplomat for Great Britain, and his book is, as the title says, a very even-handed description of his time spent in Iraq. "

" Very good. Brutal honesty and gallows humour always a winner. Bonus points for a reference to my hometown in the unlikeliest of places. "

" Essential reading in order to understand what is going on in Iraq. "

" Not as good as The Places In Between, but pretty amazing amongst the sadness. "

" Rory Stewart honestly and openly describes his colonial superiority during his service in the occupation of Iraq by the British and the US under Bush and Blair, demonstrating that the occupation had so little understanding of the nation they were trying to run. "

" tribes make management hard "

" Dense but fascinating. "

" Droning at times, soap boxy at others, Stewart tries to inform people of how Iraq functions. While some of the stories offered good insight, others just droned on with no point to them. At times, I felt like I was reading meeting minutes rather than a book. "

" Honest account of the rebuilding process in Iraq "

" A very interesting first lesson (for me) about the social, religous and political structure of Iraq. I can see why we should get out and why we should stay. The read is sometimes to slow and tough to follow, but that's how things are in that region - convoluted and tough to follow. "

" A British civil servant and adventurer goes to Iraq in late 2003; he works with the coalition and provincial government; gives a new perspective on the Iraqi War. "

" I read this upon recommendation from Evan. Thanks. It was good. It explains fairly well how the West completely failed to understand the internal relations of Iraq. And after reading it I have decided to read The Marsh Arabs - a book referenced in The Prince of the Marshes. "

" Excellent account of the occupancy, showing the massive frustrations of trying to impose your own culture on another. "

" Droning at times, soap boxy at others, Stewart tries to inform people of how Iraq functions. While some of the stories offered good insight, others just droned on with no point to them. At times, I felt like I was reading meeting minutes rather than a book. "

" There is a slow patch at the beginning, but hang in there. You'll be glad you did. "

" I agree with another reviewer that the epilogue should be required reading for everybody. I can't believe the crazy life this guy had for a year! I've read several books on the situation in Iraq but this one was probably the best, it was just such a unique perspective and very informative! "

" A great book displaying the complexities of the fallout of the Iraq War. Stewart is an incredibly engaging writer offering a very human and real perspective of the issues, often delving deeper than most contemporary media reports of the situation in Iraq. Highly recommended. "