Father of Lions: How One Man Defied Isis and Saved Mosul Zoo
Louise Callaghan
Oct 2026 · Bloomsbury GB Audio · Narrated by Saul Reichlin
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11 hr 49 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
Bloomsbury presents Father of Lions by Louise Callaghan, read by Saul Reichlin.
'Callaghan's portrayal of a city under siege is many-layered and brilliantly told' Sunday Times
Iraq, 2014
As ISIS laid terrible siege to Mosul, a zoo on the eastern edge of the Tigris was kept open against all odds. Under the stern hand of the zookeeper Abu Laith, whose name – loosely translated – means Father of Lions, its animals faced not only years of occupation, but starvation and bombardment by the liberating forces. Father of Lions is the story of Mosul Zoo: of resilience and human decency in the midst of barbarism.
'Father of Lions captures, with heartbreaking poignancy, the human cost of these conflicts' Josie Ensor, Middle East Correspondent for the Daily Telegraphy
'Through the story of a man who loves both lions and life, Louise Callaghan shows how humour and defiance can counter cruelty' Lindsey Hilsum, author of In Extremis
'Callaghan's portrayal of a city under siege is many-layered and brilliantly told' Sunday Times
Iraq, 2014
As ISIS laid terrible siege to Mosul, a zoo on the eastern edge of the Tigris was kept open against all odds. Under the stern hand of the zookeeper Abu Laith, whose name – loosely translated – means Father of Lions, its animals faced not only years of occupation, but starvation and bombardment by the liberating forces. Father of Lions is the story of Mosul Zoo: of resilience and human decency in the midst of barbarism.
'Father of Lions captures, with heartbreaking poignancy, the human cost of these conflicts' Josie Ensor, Middle East Correspondent for the Daily Telegraphy
'Through the story of a man who loves both lions and life, Louise Callaghan shows how humour and defiance can counter cruelty' Lindsey Hilsum, author of In Extremis
Bloomsbury presents Father of Lions by Louise Callaghan, read by Saul Reichlin.
'Callaghan's portrayal of a city under siege is many-layered and brilliantly told' Sunday Times
Iraq, 2014
As ISIS laid terrible siege to Mosul, a zoo on the eastern edge of the Tigris was kept open against all odds...
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About the author
Louise Callaghan is the Middle East correspondent for the Sunday Times. She was named New Journalist of the Year in 2017, and won the Marie Colvin Award at the British Journalism Awards in 2018. The citation read, in part: 'Louise Callaghan's work fights to get to the truth of what is happening on the ground in rebel-held Syria... She bore witness to crimes governments and armed groups would rather were hidden away.' Forbes Magazine named her as one of their '30 under 30' key people in the media.
Louise Callaghan is the Middle East correspondent for the Sunday Times. She was named New Journalist of the Year in 2017, and won the Marie Colvin Award at the British Journalism Awards in 2018. The citation read, in part: 'Louise Callaghan's work fights to get to the truth of what is happening o...
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