103
Author: Thomas R Hargrove
ISBN No: 1-58544-632-7
Review date: 14/12/2025
No of pages: 336
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Year of publication:
Brief:
Dr Tom Hargrove, a Texan farming researcher, kidnapped by FARC guerrillas in Colombia in 1994, was ransomed after 11 months.
Hollywood made a film, Proof of Life – as the book cover shows, Hargrove held a newspaper to prove he was alive – after the paper came out, at least. This book is his (secret) diary of his captivity, filth, rats, boredom and all. A British former policeman and military intelligence officer helped the ransom negotiations. It’s a gruelling read with a happy ending, and security managers may want to use it to reinforce any messages about safe corporate travel.
