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The Accidental Soldier

The hilarious, must-listen account of serving in Iraq - as recommended by Marina Hyde on THE REST IS ENTERTAINMENT

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The Accidental Soldier

By: Owain Mulligan
Narrated by: Owain Mulligan
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A Times Best Audiobook of the Year 2025

The instant Sunday Times bestselling true story of how one man found himself (quite near) the frontline in Iraq - and what happened next . . .

'Reads like a non-fiction Catch-22. Compelling, enlightening and bleakly funny. A jaw-dropping read.' - MATT HAIG

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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'One of the funniest books you will ever read' - READER REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I absolutely loved it - it's so very funny but also very poignant in parts. I can't recommend it enough' - READER REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Very funny, thought-provoking and a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed it' - READER REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I've spent 15 years waiting for a book which entertainingly brings to life the humour, mundanity & absurdity of serving in Iraq . . . Thankfully this is that book and it is excellent' - READER REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Absolutely brilliant from start to finish . . . Just when you feel the situation is about to drop off a cliff (again!), Mulligan turns it around with a jab of wit as amusing yet as honest as the chance of surviving in a Snatch Land Rover in Basra. Read it in three evenings' - READER REVIEW ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Acclaim for The Accidental Soldier

'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©2025 Owain Mulligan Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Military Military & War Politicians Politics & Activism Funny Witty Middle East Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking War Solider
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Critic Reviews

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 realised it was brilliant within three or four pages. I am crazy about it as you can see!
I loved it . . . relentlessly funny and really well written
Authentic and compulsive
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.
An instant classic - a deeply funny and mordant book about war.
In a time of global conflict, The Accidental Soldier catapults you into the heart of active duty. Terrifying, exhilarating, life-shattering and profoundly sobering, Mulligan takes you through the clumsy brutality and "raging bin-fire" of war, witnessing the quiet heroism of its foot soldiers. This book is a fitting and vital memorial to all those lost. I could not put it down. (Abi Morgan)
All stars
Most relevant
Very funny story but moving in places told as a real squady saw the war ,

Accidental soldier

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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.

Heart felt with humour

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I heard this book being recommended by Marina Harding on ‘The Rest is Entertainment’ podcast. His observations and hilarious anecdotes kept me laughing out loud. I love his self- deprecating humour.

Wow! Such interesting anecdotes

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A great story of one man’s journey into war. A personal as it happen story told with humour and wit

The human side of the story

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It was the funniest take on military service that wasn’t unwashed fiction I’ve ever read. As an “ex” , it was so refreshingly relatable.
It was definitely hard to put down.

The self deprecating humour

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