Andrew Hankinson

How much would your family stump up for your ransom?

Researching The Price of Life, Jenny Kleeman interviews Stephen Collet, who describes haggling for a year with the Somali pirates who kidnapped his sister in October 2009

Rachel Chandler with her husband Paul (right) after being freed from by Somali pirates. Jenny Kleeman describes Rachel’s brother’s protracted negotiations over the ransom. [Alamy]
  • Comments

  • The Price of Life: In Search of What We’re Worth and Who Decides

    Jenny Kleeman

    Picador, pp. 352, £16

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Trending

Limor Simhony Philpott

Why Netanyahu sacked his defence minister

Benjamin Netanyahu dropped a bombshell this evening when he fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Outside observers might wonder why the Prime Minister would fire the only member of his government with meaningful military experience when Israel is engaged in a prolonged and complex war on several fronts. Israelis however, have been expecting this to happen

More on assassination

Also by Andrew Hankinson

Latest

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in