Released 12.05.23

The Conversation

In this episode, Sophy and British author and adventurer Leon McCarron discuss Wounded Tigris: A River Journey Through the Cradle of Civilisation — his new book, described by the Sunday Times as 'daring' 'engaging' and 'hard-hitting'.

Leon travelled along the River Tigris from source to sea, through Turkey, Syria and Iraq, to unravel one of the most important stories of human civilisation.

Using this river as a narrative thread, they talk about the ancient history, the recent wars, the realities of working in post-conflict, militia-held zones, and the future of a region ravaged by climate change. Iraq used to be home to the Biblical Garden of Eden, watered by the river. Now it's the fifth most vulnerable country in the world to climate change. That's what makes Leon's book modern: a rigorously reported, deeply experienced counter narrative to conventional travel writing that focuses on the picturesque.

Leon’s book, Wounded Tigris: A River Journey Through the Cradle of Civilisation, is published by Corsair.