Joby Warrick — The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World's First Super-Terrorist — at The Wharf
On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 7:00pm, Politics and Prose at The Wharf welcomes Joby Warrick for an author talk centered on his forthcoming book *The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World's First Super-Terrorist*. The Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and national security correspondent for *The Washington Post* will present his immersive account of Carlos the Jackal, the flamboyant and ruthless terrorist born Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, whose dramatic career in the 1970s and beyond helped define an era of international extremism. Warrick's book blends newly declassified archives, secret witness accounts, and a rare interview with the Jackal himself to reveal a figure whose public myth was as carefully engineered as his violent operations. The talk will explore how Carlos pioneered spectacular terrorism through hijackings, hostage crises, airport bombings, and assassination — including the notorious kidnapping of OPEC oil ministers in Vienna — and how his story illuminates the deeper roots of modern global conflict, much as Warrick did in his 2016 Pulitzer Prize–winning *Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS*.
The event is free and open to the public, with seating provided on a first come, first served basis. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the book directly from Warrick, who brings nearly three decades of reporting on Middle East conflicts, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and climate change to the conversation. The new book is available for preorder through the store.
When: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 7:00pm
Venue: Politics and Prose at The Wharf, 610 Water St SW, Washington, DC 20024
Tickets: Free; seating is first come, first served
Speaker: Joby Warrick, Pulitzer Prize–winning author and national security correspondent for *The Washington Post*
Book: *The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World's First Super-Terrorist*, preorder hardcover for $30.00 (ISBN 9781668070550), with a publish date of August 18, 2026
Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event
Note: This is an in-person author event at The Wharf location; the featured book can be preordered for pickup or signing.