Under Fire: People, Places and Treasure in Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel – Dan Cruickshank and David Vincent

The book of the TV documentaries, except told mainly by David Vincent rather than frontman Dan. Based on visits to historical treasures and sites in the most war torn countries of the Middle East and Central Asia, it’s dated now – but for me that made it all the more interesting. We learn of the local resistance to the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, both sides of the story of the looting of the National Museum in Iraq, the vulnerability of ancient sites in Iraq and the vicious and longstanding tugs of war over Israel’s religious sites.

Amazon.co.uk link: Under Fire: People, Places and Treasure in Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel – Dan Cruickshank and David Vincent