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Read the powerful memoir of the most controversial figure of the 2021 Afghanistan Evacuation, whose story captured global headlines.

Pen Farthing is still angry. It's understandable.

Private Eye

Operation Ark was always about people and animals. Pen Farthing's actions were nothing short of heroic.

Ricky Gervais

Pen Farthing is a man who has the Commando spirit writ through him: he never gives up.

Daily Mail Online

A compelling, vivid, and distressing account of what happened in those last days and a damning indictment of foreign policy failures.

The Daily Beast

The most remarkable book. It's exciting, it's mesmerising.

Peter Egan

67 People. 171 Animals. Getting out was only half the battle.

August 2021. The Taliban invaded Kabul.

The British Government was “Missing in Action”.

The evacuation was disastrous, shambolic and deadly.

Pen Farthing refused to abandon his charity’s staff or rescue animals. Operation Ark was born.

He was branded a villain who valued “pets over people”, blamed for deserting Afghans, accused of risking British soldiers – nothing could be further from the truth.