Life, Love, Laughter, Liberty

At a time when journalists all over the world from a sophisticated city like Paris to less-developed areas in the Middle East and elsewhere are being targeted by terrorists for murder, the author (himself a top 20th-century correspondent for newspapers, television and radio) dedicates his work to journalists and broadcasters everywhere, (as well as to his family). He hopes that by reading about the triumphs and disasters of his career, other wordsmiths might perhaps learn something useful about how to go about getting news and how not to do so. The book is not only an account of an adventurous and action-packed life but it is a work that is sometimes deeply serious; at other times wryly comical; but always thoughtfully reflective. The 85-years-old author worked all over the world covering historic events; meeting and interviewing famous and infamous politicians and other controversial characters; reporting wars, revolutions and upheaval of all kinds; being imprisoned in some countries and deported from others; as well as covering much more pleasant events such as royal tours by the Queen, Royal Ascot, the Centenary Gala Concert of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden; the opening of Disney World in Orlando, Florida; and the re-opening and re-erection of the old London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. From the White House in the United States of America to the Kremlin in the former Soviet Union; from Buckingham Palace in London to mud huts in Africa, caves in the Yemen and a ger or yurt in the Gobi Desert in Outer Mongolia; in 100 countries over nearly 70 years John Osman travelled impressively and has lived his long life to the full. He has enjoyed writing this book after being inspired to do so by a premature BBC report in 2012 that he was dead!