{"title":"Stephen McGown","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to our collection dedicated to Stephen McGown, a remarkable author whose gripping tales of resilience and survival have captivated readers worldwide. Stephen McGown is best known for his book, \u003cem\u003eSix Years a Hostage\u003c\/em\u003e, a poignant memoir that chronicles his extraordinary journey through adversity and hope.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMcGown was thrust into the world’s spotlight when he was kidnapped by Islamist militants in Mali in 2011. Held captive for nearly six years, Stephen’s narrative offers a rare glimpse into the psychological and emotional challenges faced during prolonged captivity. His story is not just one of survival but also of personal discovery and transformation amidst harrowing circumstances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe categories of Biography \u0026amp; Memoir house his profound work where readers can delve into an incredible true story of endurance and the human spirit. Stephen McGown’s storytelling provides an educational experience, offering insights into the complexities of a hostage’s life and the perseverance required to overcome unimaginable odds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a fan of real-life survival stories or looking to understand the depths of human resilience, Stephen McGown's books are sure to leave a lasting impression.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"six-years-a-hostage-by-stephen-mcgown-9781472146649","title":"Six Years a Hostage","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe Extraordinary Story of the Longest-Held Al Qaeda Captive in the World\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStephen McGown was en route from London to South Africa, on a once-in-a-lifetime trip by motorbike, returning home to Johannesburg. He had reached Timbuktu, in Mali, when he was captured, along with a Dutch and a Swedish national, by Al Qaeda Islamist militants. Steve was taken because he held a British passport. He was subsequently held hostage at various camps in the Sahara Desert in the north-west of Africa for nearly six years before eventually being released.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLife as Steve had known it changed in that instant that he was taken at gunpoint. He had nothing to bargain with, and everything to lose. For the next six years, he reluctantly engaged in what he came to call the greatest chess game of his life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThousands of kilometres to the south, in Johannesburg, the shock of Stephen's capture struck the McGown family and his wife, Cath, with whom he had, until recently, been living in London. They immediately began efforts to secure Steve's release, through diplomatic channels and in every other way they felt might have a chance of seeing Stephen freed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut as the months of captivity became years, Steve was compelled to go to extraordinary lengths to survive. Making it back home alive became his sole aim. To accomplish this, he realised that he would have to do everything he could to raise his status in the eyes of his captors. To this end, he taught himself Arabic and French, and also converted to Islam, accepting a new name, Lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo this day, Steve retains the unenviable record of being the longest-held, surviving prisoner of Al Qaeda. While he was undoubtedly always Al Qaeda's captive, through the long years he spent in intimate proximity to his captors, Steve got to see the Islamist militants as few other Westerners have ever seen them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSix Years a Hostage\u003c\/i\u003e is not only a remarkable story of mental strength, physical endurance and the resilience of the human spirit, but also, significantly, a unique and nuanced perspective on one of the world's most feared terrorist groups. Steve did not merely survive his terrible ordeal; he emerged from the desert a changed - stronger, more positive - human being.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is Stephen McGown's remarkable story, as told to Tudor Caradoc-Davies, a freelance writer, editor and author based in Cape Town, South Africa. After seven years spent working for glossy magazines such as \u003ci\u003eMen's Health\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGQ\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBest Life\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWomen's Health\u003c\/i\u003e, he now contributes to a range of publications. He also writes for the (South African) \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eRed Bulletin\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46845781180652,"sku":"9781472146649","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/3604013482712.jpg?v=1758894923"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/stephen-mcgown.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}