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The Mad and the Brave
- Author
- Colin Freeman
- Narrator
- John Sackville
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 17 July 2025
- Run Time
- 10 hours 30 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
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What to expect
A Telegraph Best Book 2025
'Elegant and terrifying, the story of those who gave up life in the West for Ukraine's frontlines – some to save democracy, some to save themselves. A modern-day Homage to Catalonia – and Fight Club on steroids.' – Oliver Poole, London Standard
‘A great read’ – Mark Galeotti
'Brilliant' – The Daily Express
With real-life echoes of SAS Rogue Heroes – this is an astonishing account of Europe’s biggest major conflict, told through the eyes of a ragbag collection of foreign fighters
Three days after Russian tanks roll into Ukraine, President Volodymr Zelensky issues a desperate appeal for foreign military volunteers to help defend his country. Thousands answer the call from all over the world: some of them experienced soldiers, others novices who’ve never held a gun before.
Among their ranks are high-minded idealists, adventure-seekers bored with civilian life, and ex-criminals seeking redemption – all risking their lives against the world's most vicious superpower. Some flee at the first sign of trouble, others become heroes; many are killed, and a few turn their guns on each other.
This is their story – often terrifying, often tragic, sometimes comic, and sometimes glorious…
Critics Review
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'A fascinating, multi-layered portrait of the foreign fighters battling the might of Russia. Colin Freeman is one of the most intrepid and perceptive war correspondents of our time.' Toby Harnden, Orwell Prize Winning Author of Dead Men Risen
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‘A fascinating and gritty account of life on the frontline in Ukraine’ Sean Rayment, ex-Para and author of Bomb Hunter
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'A gripping new account of the conflict, told not from the perspective of generals or governments, but through the eyes of the outsiders who answered President Zelensky's call to arms.' Michael Portillo
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'Lays bare a few uncomfortable and untold realities… The Mad and the Brave is a solid piece of journalism and as much as a story of human nature as old as war itself.' Cliff Caswell, Soldier magazine
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'Freeman writes in an easy style, treating squaddie humour, military incompetence and the chaos of a Ukrainian army suddenly thrust into a hot war with a sense of detachment… An interesting and thought-provoking read.' Army Rumour Service website
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'Russia’s war against Ukraine is one of the most documented in human history. And yet, often the experience of soldiers on the frontline is the least mentioned aspect of its story, with most books focusing either on broad battle histories or the experience of civilians. Colin Freeman’s excellent new book remedies this imbalance from a unique angle: it’s a historical account of Russia’s invasion, told from the perspective of a rag-tag group of overseas volunteers… Freeman succeeds with a careful balance of sensitivity and honesty, as well as a dash of dark humour.' Ada Wordsworth, Daily Telegraph
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'Freeman is a veteran journalist and he knows how to tell a story bloody well. Fascinating stories, without too much of the sugarcoating one sometimes expects…It is very much a ground-level account, including stories of people who were prisoners of war, and frankly it is all the better for its ground-level perspective. It is a great read.' Mark Galeotti
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Details
- Author
- Colin Freeman
- Narrator
- John Sackville
- Duration
- 10 hours 30 minutes
- Release Date
- 17 July 2025
- ISBN
- 9780008722494
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- True war and combat stories, Irregular or guerrilla forces and warfare, Reportage, journalism or collected columns, War and defence operations, Geopolitics, Battles / military campaigns, Land forces and warfare, Special and elite forces
Synopsis
A Telegraph Best Book 2025 'Elegant and terrifying, the story of those who gave up life in the West for Ukraine's frontlines – some to save democracy, some to save themselves. A modern-day Homage to Catalonia – and Fight Club on steroids.' – Oliver Poole, London Standard ‘A great read’ – Mark Galeotti 'Brilliant' – The Daily Express With real-life echoes of SAS Rogue Heroes – this is an astonishing account of Europe’s biggest major conflict, told through the eyes of a ragbag collection of foreign fighters Three days after Russian tanks roll into Ukraine, President Volodymr Zelensky issues a desperate appeal for foreign military volunteers to help defend his country. Thousands answer the call from all over the world: some of them experienced soldiers, others novices who’ve never held a gun before. Among their ranks are high-minded idealists, adventure-seekers bored with civilian life, and ex-criminals seeking redemption – all risking their lives against the world's most vicious superpower. Some flee at the first sign of trouble, others become heroes; many are killed, and a few turn their guns on each other. This is their story – often terrifying, often tragic, sometimes comic, and sometimes glorious…
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