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The Girl with Seven Names

A North Korean Defector’s Story

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The Girl with Seven Names

By: Hyeonseo Lee, David John
Narrated by: Josie Dunn
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An extraordinary insight into life under one of the world’s most ruthless and secretive dictatorships – and the story of one woman’s terrifying struggle to avoid capture/repatriation and guide her family to freedom.

As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee was one of millions trapped by a secretive and brutal communist regime. Her home on the border with China gave her some exposure to the world beyond the confines of the Hermit Kingdom and, as the famine of the 1990s struck, she began to wonder, question and to realise that she had been brainwashed her entire life. Given the repression, poverty and starvation she witnessed surely her country could not be, as she had been told “the best on the planet”?

Aged seventeen, she decided to escape North Korea. She could not have imagined that it would be twelve years before she was reunited with her family.

 Emigration & Immigration Freedom & Security Politics & Government Social Sciences Women Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Inspiring China Imperial Japan
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Critic reviews

‘The most riveting TED talk ever’ Oprah
‘Hyeonseo Lee brought the human consequences of global inaction on North Korea to the world's doorstep … Against all odds she escaped, survived, and had the courage to speak out’ Samantha Power, U.S. representative to the U.N.
‘This is a powerful story of an escapee from North Korea. In the hallowed meeting rooms of the United Nations in New York, ambassadors from North Korea recently sought to shout down stories like this. But these voices will not be silenced. Eventually freedom will be restored. History will vindicate Hyeonseo Lee and those like her for the risks they ran so that their bodies and their minds could be free. And so that we could know the truth’ Michael Kirby, chair of the U.N. commission on human rights abuses in North Korea
‘When I first met Hyeonseo Lee, the unflinching manner in which she told her story was inspirational. She experienced hunger, coldness, fear, terror, threats and pursuit. All this she had to endure, simply for being a North Korean refugee. But the one thing that she held onto was her humanity, ever stronger as she continuously sublimated her hardships into hope. This is a sad and beautiful story of a girl who could not even keep her name, yet overcome all with the identity of what it is to be human’ Jang Jin-sung, author of ‘Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee – A Look Inside North Korea’
All stars
Most relevant
I loved the book. great listening. will be recommending this to my book club. 🙂

wow

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I couldn't stop listening to this or talking about this. It has taught me so much on what life is like in and escaping north Korea - fantastically written and read. I would 100% recommend this!

Amazing, heart-wrenching insight

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This audiobook has open my mind to a complete parallel universe that for common citizen of a developed country couldn’t imagine.
Also give you a 1st hand experience what it is to live in the country of extremes, with the proof that the answer isn’t capitalism or communism, but a fine balance between then.
An extraordinary story with a mixture of ignorance, resilience, and self belief, and experience how a small gesture can transform someone’s else life.
Love it.
Thank for sharing your story, this is beyond a single testimony but a voice for a whole nation.

What a story

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This book is heart warming, stressful and exciting.

It provides facinating incite into North Korea, and there people's plight. But also the strength of human character.

Brilliant

If it wasn't true it wouldn't be believable.

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If a book was a journey this was an outside of body experience. My life is so much richer for it wow wow and wow

Best experience I've ever had without a doubt

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