I am about to be left in charge of the office. I'm not sure I am ready for the responsibility, so I double-check with my boss. He reassures me. 'You'll be fine, Marianne. As long as no one kills Amanullah Khan, you'll be fine.' By midday, Amanullah Khan is dead. In 2006 Marianne Elliott, a human rights lawyer from New Zealand, was stationed with the UN in Herat. Several months into her new role a tribal leader is assassinated while she is in charge of the local UN office. She must defuse the situation before it leads to widespread bloodshed. And this is just the beginning of her story in Afghanistan. Zen Under Fire is a vivid account of Marianne's experience living in the world’s most notorious battlefield. As well as sharing the incredible details of her UN role, Marianne tells of the very personal story of the shattering effect that the high-stress environment on her and her relationships, and asks what it really means to do good in a country that is under siege from within. This is an honest, moving and at times terrifying story of a woman’s time peacekeeping in one of the most dangerous places on earth.

About the Author

Marianne Elliott is a writer, human and environmental rights advocate, and international yoga instructor. Trained as a lawyer, Marianne created the Action Plan for Human Rights in New Zealand, helped the government craft their own human rights strategy in Timor-Leste, and spent two years working in human rights in the Gaza Strip prior to her time in Afghanistan. Marianne also co-wrote a UNIFEM report on Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan. A popular blogger (www.marianne-elliott.com), Marianne is also a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post.