Simply the best

Regular readers will be delighted to learn that there's a new book coming from the pen of John Simpson, to balance the loss of income from his still-born media consultancy, Simpson Associates.

It's to be called "We chose to speak of war and strife", a line from a poem commissioned by the BBC from James Fenton to go with the ice-cream cone sculpture on top of the new east wing of Broadcasting House. It will feature John's work in compilation with that of other foreign correspondents.

But from the blurb, there's no doubt who's top dog.

"Weaving the tales of the greats of yesterday and today, such as Martha Gellhorn, Ernest Hemingway, Don McCullin and Marie Colvin, with extraordinary accounts from his own lifetime on the frontlines, this is a deeply personal book from a master of the profession, the most distinguished foreign correspondent of our time."