In Review

04 December 2008 04:43 BST

Heart of Darfur by Lisa French Blaker

Published by Hodder & Stoughton, out September 18th, paperback, 348 pp, £8.99.

In a nutshell...

Shocking. Heartbreaking. Unbelievable. Painful. Real.

What's it all about?

The diary-style book was written by Medecins Sans Frontieres aid worker Lisa French Blaker, who takes the reader with her during her nine-month stint in Sudan.

She describes the devastation left by the long-running civil war between the government-sponsored Janjaweed and a number of rebel groups.

Much like Rwanda, the world has largely stood by and watched as thousands of innocent people are tortured, raped and murdered in this brutal conflict, that leaves scores displaced and kills many more as a result of malnutrition and disease.

The author writes of her despair as a nurse in this setting, describing the horrific scenes she encounters and the lack of impact she feels she can have when such vast numbers are affected.

Who's it by?

This is the first book written by New Zealander Lisa French Blaker, who is a trained nurse who has worked in a number of conflicts and disaster zones around the world.

Previous to the nine-months she spent in Darfur, she has had two stints with the British forces in Iraq.

As an example...

"'You can write it if you want,' he said. 'But no one will listen. They never do. You will leave this place and you will forget us. Everyone forgets us. He turned his head away and our meeting came to an abrupt end."

Likelihood of becoming a Hollywood blockbuster

Given that a large proportion of the western world still remain unaware of the events in Darfur, it is unlikely that this will be the makings of a movie.

Furthermore, unlike real-life stories about similar atrocities such as Hotel Rwanda, as the book does not focus on any specific event, it is probably unsuitable for the cinema, although could be picked up for the small screen.

What the others say

"Heart of Darfur humanises the conflict, translating the region's morass of problems into an emotionally charged and fulfilling story." - Financial Times

So is it any good?

Offering a real-life insight into the situation in Darfur, French Baker gives a vivid description of the human cost of the long-running conflict.

Although painful at times, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the atrocities occurring in Sudan, or who want to gain an appreciation for the work done by aid workers all over the world.

Detached from the politics and simply focusing on the millions of people who are dependent on aid each day, French Baker produces an honest and highly readable account of her time spent in Darfur.

8/10

Rachel Rouse