Synopses & Reviews
"A multifaceted journey that is geographical, personal and political . . . A complex, nuanced view of United States–Latin American politics and relations of the last forty some years." —
Durham Herald-Sun "One of the most important voices coming out of South America." — Salman Rushdie
In September 1973, the military took power in Chile, and Ariel Dorfman, a young leftist allied with President Allende, was forced to flee for his life. In Feeding on Dreams, Dorfman portrays, through visceral scenes and with startling honesty, the personal and political maelstroms that have defined his life since the Pinochet coup. Dorfman’s wry and masterfully told account takes us on a page-turning tour of the past several decades of North-South political history and of the complex consequences of revolution and tyranny, excavating for the first time his profound and provocative journey as an exile and the consequences for his wife and family.
"Fascinating." — San Francisco Examiner
"A great book that will simultaneously undo us and sustain us." — Tikkun
Review
"A beautifully crafted, searing memoir . . . A somber, moving tribute to a life of ideals and struggle."
-- Kirkus Reviews "Gorgeously evokes his lifelong search for home, country, and belonging."
-- Publishers Weekly (review) "A tender and merciless memoir of what it means to change deeply because you have no choice." -
- Publishers Weekly (fall announcements)
Synopsis
Some believe him to be a living reincarnation of the Buddha; some despise him as a counterrevolutionary. He has charmed Hollywood celebrities and the heads of nations, while fearlessly defending his beliefs. Freedom in Exile explores the amazing life of the fourteenth Dalai Lama: his discovery at age four; his dangerous escape from Chinese-occupied Tibet in 1959; his diplomatic efforts on behalf of his country; his Nobel Peace Prize in 1989; his personal spirituality and his continuing popularity.
In this astonishingly frank autobiography, the Dalai Lama reveals the remarkable inner strength that allowed him to master both the mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism and the brutal realities of Chinese Communism. He describes the five decades of Chinese rule which have left 1.25 million Tibetans dead and the Tibetan natural and religious landscapes decimated, yet his story is one of hope. Inspiring in every way, Freedom in Exile is both a historical document and an example of deep trust in humanity.
Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. His tireless efforts on behalf of human rights and world peace have brought him international recognition. He is a recipient of the Wallenberg Award (conferred by the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Foundation), the Albert Schweitzer Award, and the Nobel Peace Prize.
"A simple and powerful autobiography. The Dalai Lama's story of exile must serve, of course, as a vital historical witness, not only to inhumanity but to compassion as well, not only to betrayal and treachery but to generosity and faithfulness." -- Los Angeles Times Book Review
Synopsis
In this astonishingly frank autobiography, the Dalai Lama reveals the remarkable inner strength that allowed him to master both the mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism and the brutal realities of Chinese Communism.
Synopsis
Acclaimed author and human-rights activist Ariel Dorfman delivers a memoir excavating, for the first time, his profound and provocative journey through revolution and exile.
About the Author
Chilean-American author and human rights activist Ariel Dorfman's many internationally acclaimed works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction include his bestselling memoir, Heading South, Looking North, which was the basis for the documentary film A Promise to the Dead, directed by Peter Raymont and shortlisted for the Oscars in 2008. His play Death and the Maiden, staged in over 100 countries, was made into a feature film by Roman Polanski. Dorfman is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, New York Times Book Review, and Huffington Post. He is Walter Hines Page professor of literature and Latin American studies at Duke University, and his numerous international honors include his delivery of the Mandela Lecture in Johannesburg in 2010.