Fighting Monsters

Fighting Monsters is a memoir centred on former British soldier Jim Matthews. It is presented as an intelligent and evocative account, written in his own words.

Key details

• Memoir
• Focuses on former British soldier Jim Matthews
• Discusses his arrest on terrorism charges connected to fighting against ISIS, and that the charges were later dropped
• Describes his decision to leave a career teaching English in Saudi Arabia to travel to Northern Syria
• Explores the realities of fighting ISIS for local people and for those who join them

Synopsis

Jim Matthews came to public attention after being arrested on terrorism charges for fighting against ISIS; the charges were eventually dropped. He left a career teaching English in Saudi Arabia and travelled to Northern Syria to take part in the conflict.

Reflecting on his past as a left-leaning, anti-war protestor, he examines why he returned to a war zone and questions what draws someone back into conflict. The book sets out to describe what it was like on the ground, bringing to life broken border towns, twisted roads and dusty battlefields across Syria and Iraq.

Rackhams Reference : DCEA9W1FAH