The Accidental Soldier cover art

The Accidental Soldier

Dispatches from Quite Near the Front Line

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The Accidental Soldier

By: Owain Mulligan
Narrated by: Owain Mulligan
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About this listen

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'An instant classic' - RICHARD CURTIS
'A non-fiction
Catch-22' - MATT HAIG
'Made me laugh more than any book in so many years' - MARINA HYDE


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Owain Mulligan was never what you'd call a career soldier. Nor even a particularly good one. At weekends he trained with the Territorial Army and dreamt of swapping the mayhem of teaching in a tough school for the adventure of service in Iraq. At least they'd let him wear a helmet in Iraq.

But when the job in headquarters he's been expecting doesn't materialise, he finds himself on the streets of Basra during one of the most violent periods of the conflict. Between homicidal militias, a chain of command who seem determined to get him killed, and equipment which might well do it for them, he and his men have their work cut out. It certainly puts double geography with 9E into perspective.

The Accidental Soldier is a searingly honest and darkly funny account of what it was really like being in the British Army in Iraq (including all the bits they probably hoped you'd never find out). We share all the hardships, fears, and occasional lunacy of military life as Owain and his men try to navigate a war gone badly wrong. One thing's for sure; you'll never look at the phrase 'military precision' in quite the same way again...

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'This book is absolutely incredible. It made me laugh more than any book in so many years. I found the writing just so unbelievably brilliant and hilarious and affecting . . . I am crazy about it!' - Marina Hyde

'I loved it . . . relentlessly funny and really well written' - John Oliver

'Authentic and compulsive' - Richard E. Grant

'A fascinating insight into the often farcical chaos and catastrophe of war. Reads like a non-fiction Catch-22. Compelling, enlightening and bleakly funny. A jaw-dropping read.' - Matt Haig

'An instant classic - a deeply funny and mordant book about war.' - Richard Curtis


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100% of the author's royalty earnings (expected to be at least £20,000) from sales of the book in the UK & Commonwealth will be given to War Child (a registered charity, charity number 1071659) and its wholly owned subsidiary War Child Trading Limited (a registered company, company number 05100189).

©2025 Owain Mulligan (P)2025 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Afghan & Iraq Wars Military Military & War Funny Witty
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What listeners say about The Accidental Soldier

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Accidental soldier

Very funny story but moving in places told as a real squady saw the war ,

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Heart felt with humour

Well written and interesting. Moving and funny. excellent book . Written articulately explaining the war clearly about things civilians don't experience and hopefully never encounter.

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Laughed myself stupid

The honesty of his emotions and feelings was moving. He was prepared to call it when he made mistakes and gave credit where it was due for his team. Very funny and a great read.

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Excellent!!

Next book please! 2 additional deployments should make for more brilliant reads. Thanks for your service.

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Terrific

A funny but poignant story of what it was really like to do a tour of Iraq with the British army.

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Told with conviction and humour

The story showed the difference between the Military and the Politicians.
Again the Politicians made matters worse and not only did the local people suffer but money was totally wasted. The forces on the ground did their best but were limited by silly rules, probably made by “Civil Servants” with no experience of what was needed on the ground. Our (UK) military had outdated equipment and based on the diary’s events poor Intelligence. It also seems the Military leaders were also out of their depth and made poor decisions and accepted the political limitations, too easily. The story was a true reflection of the Iraq experience.

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