Murdered journalist’s mother speaks out, new twist on the Anne Frank tragedy and our literary prize prospects

Keane on Books

Diane Foley, mother of journalist James Foley, speaks in 2019 in Washington, DC. Photo: Getty

Madeleine Keane

A decade ago Diane Foley’s son, the US journalist James Foley, was kidnapped in northern Syria, then murdered by Islamic State in a public beheading.

Next month Bloomsbury will publish American Mother. Author Colum McCann tells Diane’s story as she recalls the months of his captivity, the days following his death and meeting her son’s killer. McCann and Foley are to be interviewed by David McWilliams in a special Dalkey Book Festival event on February 20 at 8pm at Dún Laoghaire’s Pavilion Theatre. Tickets are available from paviliontheatre.ie.​