The Burma Spring: Aung San Suu Kyi and the New Struggle for the Soul of a Nation

(Paperback)

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Award-winning journalist and former State Department speechwriter Rena Pederson brings to light fresh details about the charismatic Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi: the inspiration for Burma's (now Myanmar) first steps towards democracy. Suu Kyi's party will be a major contender in the 2015 elections, a revolutionary breakthrough after years of military dictatorship. Using exclusive interviews with Suu Kyi since her release from fifteen years of house arrest, as well as recently disclosed diplomatic cables, Pederson uncovers new facets to Suu Kyi's extraordinary story. The Burma Spring will also surprise readers by revealing 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. Pederson provides a never before seen view of the harrowing hardships the people of Burma have endured and the fiery political atmosphere in which Suu Kyi's has fought a life-and-death struggle for liberty in this fascinating part of the world.

Reviews

"Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the towering figures of our age: a tireless champion of democracy, freedom and reconciliation. Rena Pederson captures Suu Kyi as few others have, producing a vivid account of the life of this remarkable woman. The Burma Spring is a valuable resource for anyone interested in contemporary Burma." -- Senator Mitch McConnell "Journalist Pederson delivers a penetrating portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the Burmese National League for Democracy party, in a thoughtful biography that reveals the 'moody, temperamental' side of its charismatic and visionary subject." -- Publishers Weekly "Pederson evokes the quiet, stubborn dignity of this rather improbable political icon. She draws a deeply nuanced portrait of the enigmatic, inspiring leader." -- Kirkus Reviews "The riveting story of Suu Kyi's brutal imprisonment, deplorable maltreatment,astonishing inner strength, and ultimate survival is told with a historian's appreciation for context and circumstance by journalist and former State Department speechwriter Pederson in a complex and sweeping history of Burma's centuries-old struggle to maintain a closed society, yet manifest its power on a global scale." -- Booklist (starred review) "Impressively researched and compellingly written, Rena Pederson has woven together the epic journey of Aung San Suu Kyi with the turbulent story of her country, Burma, in a fascinating and inspiring way." -- Benedict Rogers, human rights activist and author of BURMA: A Nation at the Crossroads "Writing a biography of a living legend is never easy, especially when the living legend is legendarily inaccessible. Rena Pederson has managed to break through the difficulties to publish a thick, fascinating biography. Pederson's book is as much a biography of Burma as it is a biography of a courageous, charismatic woman who has risked her life to end the dark ages through political activism. An important book." -- The Dallas Morning News "A compelling story deserving of greater international recognition. Recommended for readers of international affairs, world politics, and democracy movements." -- Library Journal

Author Bio

Rena Pederson teaches writing at Southern Methodist University. She has written on Burma for the Huffington Post, The Washington Post and the Christian Science Monitor. Pederson was the Editorial Page Editor at the Dallas Morning News, has served on the Pulitzer Prize Board, and is the author of The Lost Apostle and What's Next, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She is currently a commentator on Dallas Public Radio and lives in Dallas, Texas.