The Rebel of Rangoon by Delphine Schrank [BOOK REVIEW]
Follow my blog with Bloglovin“The Rebel of Rangoon” by Delphine Schrank is a captivating narrative that unfolds against the backdrop of Burma (Myanmar)’s oppressive dictatorship. It paints a vivid picture of courage and sacrifice across generations, capturing a pivotal moment of hope and possibility amidst dire circumstances.
About the Author:
Delphine Schrank is an American journalist and author who has extensively covered human rights issues and political conflicts around the world. With a keen focus on Southeast Asia, Schrank brings her expertise and firsthand reporting experience to shed light on the inspiring story of Aung San Suu Kyi and the fight for democracy in Burma.
The Rebel of Rangoon by Delphine Schrank [BOOK SUMMARY]
At its core, the book portrays Burma’s descent from a beacon of promise in Southeast Asia to one of the world’s most oppressive and impoverished nations by May 2009. Under the rule of a formidable military junta, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi who is under house arrest, the country appears to be under the tight grip of tyranny. However, amidst this bleak landscape, a resilient and diverse group of dissidents emerges. Bound by a shared defiance against the oppressive regime, these individuals, ranging from eccentric misfits to seasoned elders, refuse to surrender to the status quo.
The narrative delves into the lives of key figures within this resistance movement, such as Nway, a daring maverick; Nigel, his occasional ally and rival; and Grandpa, a senior strategist freshly released after nearly two decades of imprisonment. As they navigate the labyrinthine streets of Rangoon and clandestine Internet cafes, they prepare for a battle that has been fifty years in the making.
Schrank’s meticulous research, garnered from four years of undercover reporting among dissidents, provides an intimate and authentic portrayal of their struggle. From the confines of prison cells to the secrecy of safe houses, the book chronicles the inner workings of the movement, revealing its origins, near-collapse, and eventual triumph in pressuring the government towards political reform.
“The Rebel of Rangoon” is not merely a historical account; it is a profoundly human exploration of daring and defiance. Through its pages, readers are invited to ponder the power and meaning of freedom, and to witness firsthand the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression. Schrank’s narrative is both poignant and enlightening, offering insights into the complexities of political struggle and the enduring quest for justice.
Overall, “The Rebel of Rangoon” is a compelling and thought-provoking read that sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of history, while also serving as a testament to the indomitable will of those who dare to challenge injustice.
The Rebel of Rangoon by Delphine Schrank [BOOK DETAILS]
FROM AMAZON: An epic, multigenerational story of courage and sacrifice set in a tropical dictatorship, The Rebel of Rangoon captures a gripping moment of possibility in Burma (Myanmar).
Once the shining promise of Southeast Asia, Burma in May 2009 ranks among the world’s most repressive and impoverished nations. Its ruling military junta seems to be at the height of its powers. But despite decades of constant brutality-and with their leader, the Nobel Peace Prize-laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, languishing under house arrest-a shadowy fellowship of oddballs and misfits, young dreamers and wizened elders, bonded by the urge to say no to the system, refuses to relent. In the byways of Rangoon and through the pathways of Internet cafes, Nway, a maverick daredevil; Nigel, his ally and sometime rival; and Grandpa, the movement’s senior strategist who has just emerged from nineteen years in prison, prepare to fight a battle fifty years in the making.
When Burma was still sealed to foreign journalists, Delphine Schrank spent four years underground reporting among dissidents as they struggled to free their country. From prison cells and safe houses, The Rebel of Rangoon follows the inner life of Nway and his comrades to describe that journey, revealing in the process how a movement of dissidents came into being, how it almost died, and how it pushed its government to crack apart and begin an irreversible process of political reform. The result is a profoundly human exploration of daring and defiance and the power and meaning of freedom.
My Goodreads Review:
The Rebel of Rangoon: A Tale of Defiance and Deliverance in Burma by Delphine SchrankMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Nice to know how the activists survived the military dictatorship in Burma (Myanmar).
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