Terry Waite - “Footfalls in Memory"

Terry Waite is a remarkable man who was held captive in solitary confinement for nearly five years in Beirut from 1986-1991. He was working to negotiate the release of several captive Britons in Lebanon by the Islamic jihad organisation. He was assistant for the Anglican Communion Affairs for the then, Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie in the 80s. This delightful anthology demonstrates his powerful imagination which saved him, and his mind during his captivity. Without books until he pleaded and pleaded with the guards for them, he recreated in his mind all the books from his childhood, particularly travel books to remain sane. Chained to a damp wall his conditions were abomidable,and with no company it took him all his strength to manage each day. As a choir boy in his youth he had memorised his prayers plus services of the prayer book, so he said them to himself as a daily ritual. Books finally dribbled in but he had no choice in their selections & this book tells us his findings. Imaginings his trauma & seeing his strength of character, I loved this book and can just imagine his delight upon release. Do read this book. Thank you Terry. Thank you St Aidans library for shelving this book.
Peninsula library 708, Coronet Books, Hodder&Stoughton, 1996.