Siege
The Remarkable Story of the Greatest SAS Hostage Drama
By Ben Macintyre | Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
About the book
‘Unforgettable’ Independent
‘Fresh and gripping’ Telegraph
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
On April 30, 1980, six heavily armed gunmen burst into the Iranian embassy on Princes Gate, overlooking Hyde Park in London. There they took 26 hostages, including embassy staff, visitors, and three British citizens.
A tense six-day siege ensued as millions gathered around screens across the country to witness the longest news flash in British television history, in which police negotiators and psychiatrists sought a bloodless end to the standoff, while the SAS – hitherto an organisation shrouded in secrecy – laid plans for a daring rescue mission: Operation Nimrod.
Drawing on unpublished source material, exclusive interviews with the SAS, and testimony from witnesses including hostages, negotiators, intelligence officers and the on-site psychiatrist, bestselling historian Ben Macintyre takes readers on a gripping journey from the years and weeks of build-up on both sides, to the minute-by-minute account of the siege and rescue.
Recreating the dramatic conversations between negotiators and hostages, the cutting-edge intelligence work happening behind-the-scenes, and the media frenzy around this moment of international significance, The Siege is the remarkable story of what really happened on those fateful six days, and the first full account of a moment that forever changed the way the nation thought about the SAS – and itself.
'The pre-eminent historian of the secret world . . . His books have set the gold standard for accurate historical reporting, but read like heart-pounding thrillers' Mick Herron
‘Macintyre does true-life espionage better than anyone else’ John Preston
BEN MACINTYRE'S NEXT BOOK, REDWOOD, IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW
Editions of Siege
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780241675670
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780241675687
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781405961745
- EBook
- ISBN 9781405961752
Read an Excerpt
‘Unforgettable’ Independent
‘Fresh and gripping’ Telegraph
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
On April 30, 1980, six heavily armed gunmen burst into the Iranian embassy on Princes Gate, overlooking Hyde Park in London. There they took 26 hostages, including embassy staff, visitors, and three British citizens.
A tense six-day siege ensued as millions gathered around screens across the country to witness the longest news flash in British television history, in which police negotiators and psychiatrists sought a bloodless end to the standoff, while the SAS – hitherto an organisation shrouded in secrecy – laid plans for a daring rescue mission: Operation Nimrod.
Drawing on unpublished source material, exclusive interviews with the SAS, and testimony from witnesses including hostages, negotiators, intelligence officers and the on-site psychiatrist, bestselling historian Ben Macintyre takes readers on a gripping journey from the years and weeks of build-up on both sides, to the minute-by-minute account of the siege and rescue.
Recreating the dramatic conversations between negotiators and hostages, the cutting-edge intelligence work happening behind-the-scenes, and the media frenzy around this moment of international significance, The Siege is the remarkable story of what really happened on those fateful six days, and the first full account of a moment that forever changed the way the nation thought about the SAS – and itself.
'The pre-eminent historian of the secret world . . . His books have set the gold standard for accurate historical reporting, but read like heart-pounding thrillers' Mick Herron
‘Macintyre does true-life espionage better than anyone else’ John Preston
BEN MACINTYRE'S NEXT BOOK, REDWOOD, IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Siege about?
‘Unforgettable’ Independent
‘Fresh and gripping’ Telegraph
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
On April 30, 1980, six heavily armed gunmen burst into the Iranian embassy on Princes Gate, overlooking Hyde Park in London. There they took 26 hostages, including embassy staff, visitors, and three British citizens.
A tense six-day siege ensued as millions gathered around screens across the country to witness the longest news flash in British television history, in which police negotiators and psychiatrists sought a bloodless end to the standoff, while the SAS – hitherto an organisation shrouded in secrecy – laid plans for a daring rescue mission: Operation Nimrod.
Drawing on unpublished source material, exclusive interviews with the SAS, and testimony from witnesses including hostages, negotiators, intelligence officers and the on-site psychiatrist, bestselling historian Ben Macintyre takes readers on a gripping journey from the years and weeks of build-up on both sides, to the minute-by-minute account of the siege and rescue.
Recreating the dramatic conversations between negotiators and hostages, the cutting-edge intelligence work happening behind-the-scenes, and the media frenzy around this moment of international significance, The Siege is the remarkable story of what really happened on those fateful six days, and the first full account of a moment that forever changed the way the nation thought about the SAS – and itself.
'The pre-eminent historian of the secret world . . . His books have set the gold standard for accurate historical reporting, but read like heart-pounding thrillers' Mick Herron
‘Macintyre does true-life espionage better than anyone else’ John Preston
BEN MACINTYRE'S NEXT BOOK, REDWOOD, IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Siege?
History and Archaeology > History > Military history
Where can I read a sample of Siege?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780241675670
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Siege?
Ben Macintyre
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Siege is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780241675670) and paperback(ISBN 9780241675687) and paperback(ISBN 9781405961745) and ebook(ISBN 9781405961752)
Where can I buy Siege online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Siege from below