Customer Reviews

An Evil Cradling: The Five-Year Ordeal of a Hostage

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In 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon and pursued the leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), who were operating out of Beirut. A Multinational Force, in support of the then government, was set up in an attempt to stabilise the situation by separating the Muslim and Christian communities, however, by February 1984 the risks had become so great that the MNF was obliged to pull out of Lebanon, threatened by the prospects of civil war, and fearful of further terrorist attacks.

The author of "An Evil Cradling", Brian Keenan, was taken prisoner a couple of years later, in 1986, and in this work he gives a gruelling account of his harsh and lonely imprisonment, enlightened mainly by vitally important snatches of human contact and interaction, largely with John McCarthy, a British journalist also held prisoner at the same time.

Keenan left Ireland for Beirut in an attempt to flee the interminable, religious troubles of his homeland. It is true that by birth, he should have been less implicated in the religious conflicts of Lebanon, and yet ironically he came to suffer four and a half years of imprisonment, despite being an "outsider" to the difficulties in Beirut. He was an Irishman, not a Brit, an American or a Frenchman. His country had played no role in Lebanon and yet as an Irishman on the run, perhaps mistakenly taken for a Brit, he innocently fell into the very heart of the troubles. What he lived and felt is recounted here in beautifully written poetry and prose. It is a book which I know will remain engrained in my memory, and this being the case, I can only begin to imagine how much the experience will haunt him for the rest of his life.

In my opinion, the most striking part of this book is the courage Keenan demonstrates in putting this experience on paper and confronting it head on.Rather than running away and hiding, he chooses to draw the most positive conclusions we could hope for with sanity and poise, conclusions which lead him to face the conflicts in Northern Ireland fearlessly. That is not to say that he escaped unscathed, far from it, but at least he tries to learn from what he suffered and attempts to share that learning with those willing to listen, and to try to understand. The intellectual and human strength demonstrated in this writing marked me forever.

This is undoubtedly one of the most powerful books I have ever read. It is not a chronological or day to day catalog of how one man survived an ordeal which most of us could only imagine (being held hostage in Lebanon for five? years because some terrorists mistook him for an Englishman, when he was actually Irish), but rather a look at how his inner resources helped him survive, and helps the reader understand what a resourceful and mentally strong will it takes to do so. This is a cut above, and frankly, a book that has not been far from my thoughts since I finished it...

This is perhaps the most moving piece of literature I have ever read. In Brian's journey we are forced to take a look at our own journeys through life. I remember when he was a hostage and everyday the local newspaper in Belfast would publish how many days he had been missing. As those numbers crept upward we despaired but his sisters were ever hopeful and forced us to keep him always in our minds. His account of his captivity is so inspiring. It is wonderful to see how his sense of humor and love of the written word kept him going. More recently I have read his accounts of his visit to Chile with John McCarthy. Here is a man with a real gift for using words to describe torrents of emotion and who's use of poetry illuminates the soul. If you read only one book in your life read this one!

What words describe this book?

Powerful, disturbing, haunting and yet beautiful, inspirational, darkly humorous, certainly well written. Every emotion is experienced as one is taken into the dark world and life he lived. Every emotion stays alive within you for some time after reading it.

Although the book describes in detail the horrible events of his hostage ordeal, the overwhelming theme is the absolute need and tremendous importance of human relationships, interdependancy and love. Mr. Keenan shows us the depths possible in friendship and trust. If these can sustain hostages in hell, certainly they can transform any life. He has caused me to re-evaluate my own human condition.

Equally important in today's post-9/11 world, anyone who is asking what is in a terrorist's mind to drive them to such evil will find answers here. He describes the beliefs, motivations and values of those terrorists who held him - not much removed from those of today. Their world is in every sense foreign to "Westerners."

It is an honor to have read this book. One is left thinking "God bless Brian and God help the rest of us."

'An Evil Cradling' by Brian Keenan is an amazing journey of one man's torment amongst the captivity of Lebanese militiamen. As a reader, we are able to gain a valuable insight into his physical and mental sufferings along with the ways he tried to deal with his near experiences of insanity. Along the way we meet many of his collective friends, but one who is most memorable would of course be John Macarthy. Together they were able to overcome many emotional and brutal events that otherwise, could have led to their destruction. The language in 'An Evil Cradling' is most descriptive and obviously, reflects Keenan's vivid memory of his immense ordeal. This is purely a general overview, so if anyone would like to find out more; feel free to email me. It is definitely worth finding more about!

This is undoubtedly one of the most powerful books I have ever read. It is not a chronological or day to day catalog of how one man survived an ordeal which most of us could only imagine (being held hostage in Lebanon for five? years because some terrorists mistook him for an Englishman, when he was actually Irish), but rather a look at how his inner resources helped him survive, and helps the reader understand what a resourceful and mentally strong will it takes to do so. This is a cut above, and frankly, a book that has not been far from my thoughts since I finished it three years ago.

In July 97 I was in a play where during rehersals, me and some of the rest of the cast were shut in dark rooms and verbaly abused by other cast members. Shortly after the play had ended it's run I found this book. It tells that story of Brain Keenan's imprisonment, who he was when he was taken hostage, and how he changed and coped with his years of captivity. While I was reading this book I found myself crying for no reason, it may not have even been a particulaly harowing part in the book, but it was because it was making me re-examin my life, and espeshaly those past few months. I will cherish this book forever, and I belive it is a definate must for anyone who belives there life has no direction. All I can really say is thank you for shairing your experiance.

Last Wednesday I met Brian Keenan in a restaurant in Cork Ireland. I got to shake the man's hand which he offered to me warmly accompanied with a kiss on the cheek. I was very moved. The book is an essential read and while some readers have been put off by his ordeal the book primarily deals with himself and the journey he goes on to find his true spirit. It is a revelation. The loving relationship he has with John McCarthy is moving to the point of tears. Even though this happened 6 years ago we must never forget man's amazing ability to survive in the midest of such an horrendous ordeal.

An Evil Cradling, by Brian Keenan is by far the most depressing yet utterly incapsulating book I have ever read in my life. It has been put on the Irish Educational Sylabus and I was told to read it by my teacher. Keenan's ability to describe the smallest things is what makes the book so utterly irresistible.

Eoin Blacklock

Throughout this devastating tragedy that is Brian Keenan's heart breaking story, we found ourselves mortifyingly enthralled by each and every word. With his outstanding ability to capture such dramatic tensions, he continues to entrap the readers emotions and take them on one of the most horrifying journeys that the human mind can possibly comprehend. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed every captivating word. We would recomend this book to anybody.

Bayswater Secondary College Year 11/12 VCE Literature