Williamsburg Regional Library

The Burma spring, Aung San Suu Kyi and the new struggle for the soul of a nation, Rena Pederson ; foreword by Laura Bush

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 527-535)

individual biography

platesillustrations

no index present

non fiction

The Burma spring

bibliography

898155471

Rena Pederson ; foreword by Laura Bush

Aung San Suu Kyi and the new struggle for the soul of a nation

Aung San Suu Kyi--Burma's "woman of destiny" and one of the most admired voices for freedom in the world today--comes alive through this rendering of Burma/Myanmar's tumultuous history. Award-winning journalist and former State Department speechwriter Rena Pederson brings to light fresh details about the charismatic Nobel Peace Prize winner. Suu Kyi, the daughter of the late General Aung San (who secured freedom from Britain's imperial rule in 1948) initially had no desire to enter politics, but she had always made it clear that should her country need her, she would return. She would soon find herself embroiled in civil strife, then imprisoned in her home for fifteen years. But after decades of struggle, there is cause for renewed hope. Her party will be a major contender in the 2015 elections, a potential breakthrough after years of military dictatorship. Using exclusive interviews with Suu Kyi since her release, as well as recently disclosed diplomatic cables, Pederson uncovers new facets to Suu Kyi's extraordinary story. The book will also reveal the extraordinary steps taken by First Lady Laura Bush to help Suu Kyi, and also how former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton injected new momentum into Burma's democratic rebirth. One of the few Western journalists to travel here extensively, Pederson provides a never-before-seen view of the harrowing hardships the people of Burma have endured, and of the fiery political atmosphere in which Suu Kyi has fought a life-and-death struggle for liberty.--From publisher description

adult