Under the Wire: Marie Colvin's Final Assignment

Under the Wire is Paul Conroy's account of his final year alongside war correspondent Marie Colvin, who was killed in a rocket attack in Syria in 2012. Colvin was an internationally recognized American foreign correspondent known for her fearlessness and distinctive style, including pearls gifted by Yasser Arafat and a black eye-patch. She reported from conflict zones considered too dangerous for other journalists. Conroy, a photographer, forged a close bond with Colvin as they documented the world's most dangerous regions. When they were smuggled into Syria by rebel forces, they became trapped in a heavily bombarded neighborhood where hundreds of civilians were killed and injured. Colvin was killed by a rocket; Conroy sustained a severe leg wound. Bleeding heavily, short of supplies, and in severe pain, Conroy survived five days of intense bombardment before escaping through a tunnel on a motorbike, crawling through enemy terrain, and scaling a 12-foot wall. Conroy's account describes what it means to be a war reporter in the 21st century, told through vivid, dramatic narrative with moments of dark humor. It is a story of two journalists driven by a shared commitment to bear witness to human suffering in conflict zones.