My War Gone By, I Miss It So by Anthony Loyd - Book Report/Review Example

When the war started in Yugoslavia, Loyd packed small luggage and used an old Skoda to drive through Europe towards the middle of Sarajevo. In his journey, he learned a little more than a few Serbo-Croatian lessons and used contact addresses from a friend of a friend. Loyd was a dropout dope-head from Eton. He was an ex-military who had nothing of importance to do, other than sitting idle. Therefore, he decided to go into the war in Yugoslavia and become a photographer. At this time, the war in Bosnia was the only one that was taking place.

Loyd tried but none of the journalistic companies in London could employ his services because he did not have any degree, experience, or training in journalism skills. He, nevertheless, never proclaimed himself a reporter. Therefore, he bought a ticket to go to Sarajevo and traveled on his own means to join the war as a photographer. He became a photographer because he had nothing to do and could not be allowed to contribute to active military service because he was retired (Loyd 19). Anthony Loyd contributed heavily to photojournalism.

Despite the fact that he had not been trained in photography, he learned the skill slowly and became comfortable in handling the camera. His passion and involvement in the war as a photojournalist have importance because it challenges the notion that it is only training or experience that creates an outstanding photojournalist. Loyd introduces the fact that motivation, passion, personal will, and purpose in photography are some of the essential qualities needed in photojournalism. In fact, he brings another side of photojournalism when a photographer should break the rules of his profession.

He does break the rules of non-involvement by helping a wounded little girl to get help in the UN aid post. He also bullies the staff so that they can attend to taking her to the hospital. His courage and determination help him to capture many things as a photographer (Loyd 59). After reading about Anthony Loyd’s life, as well as his own book, I admired both his work and his life. Loyd re-establishes his life from an idle ex-military man to an active photographer participating in the Yugoslavian war.

He uses his courage and determination to become a useful man by beating all odds as an untrained photojournalist and an idle ex-military to become an active photographer in the war. He not only does his work as a photographer but also participates in saving the lives of people, for instance, by taking the girl that had been shot to hospital and making sure that she gets the treatment she required. Thus, he becomes an essential part of life during times of great disturbance in Yugoslavia. I would want to live his life because, unlike many retirees who turn to be idlers in society, he made his life active and busy in a justifiable course that involved saving other people’s lives and capturing momentous times in the war (Loyd 100).

The book is about not only the life and the role of Anthony Loyd in the war but also the activities of other people in those times. He shows what happens during the war; for instance, when he passes Stupni Do, he tells the reader the massacre that the Bosnian Croat Army had done upon people there. He also describes the devastating events that took place in the lives of ordinary people. For instance, he mentions a woman who had a son that was also killed after her husband was killed. He shows the lack of meaning of vengeance when the woman says, “…I have no use for anger or revenge.

I lost everything in this war. I have only poverty and six children to feed: justice will bring me nothing.” (Loyd 179) Therefore, the book does not only tell the reader about Loyd, but it also incorporates the war as the major concept and theme of the book that helps bring up the role and life of Anthony Loyd.   Loyd has brought out his ability as a photographer and a writer who is capable of using pictures and words to describe events in a clear and concise way. In conclusion, the book is an informative piece that tells the reader about Anthony Loyd, his transformation, role in and out of the war, and the war itself.

By describing the events in his journey and in the war, he helps the reader understand the environment that was existent both outside and inside the war.