The Lady: Aung San Suu Kyi: Nobel Laureate and Burma's Prisoner

by Barbara Victor

Now in paperback, the first full account of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's role in the struggle against Burma's military junta. Included is a new afterword by the author, which covers events from the time of the original publication in 1998 to Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest in May 2002.

Genres: Biography, Asia

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1998

About the author

Barbara Victor, a former Middle East specialist for the U.S. State Department, has worked in television and radio for many years.
Currently a freelance journalist, she has interviewed such Middle Eastern leaders as Menachem Begin, Ariel Sharon, Yitzhak Rabin, Colonel Muammaer Quaddafi and Abu Lyad (sic) of the PLO. She lives in Paris.
Penguin has published her novels Lovers and Enemies (later republished as Friends, Lovers, Enemies), Absence of Pain and Misplaced Lives.

Reviews

[Htet Hlaing · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Burmese, this book is a little bit offensive. The way the author describe the country is a bit harsh and exaggerated. The biography about Aung San Suu Kyi is very true and her life inspire me. She give up everything for the country and people she loves. Following her father's footsteps she give hopes to all of us, Burmese people for a better country and government. It has been 22 years since Burma is under the rule of military junta and Aung San Suu Kyi has the courage to stood up against them. Even though she is currently under house arrest she never gives up. She is a symbol of democracy and freedom of fear in Burma and without her all hope is lost. Her hard works and sacrifices are worth it because on November 7th, 2010 there is an elections in Burma. Finally Burma is shifting towards democracy and free.

[Chris Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this while in Myanmar and found it quite difficult with the different names. After I got over this, I quite enjoyed it, though I would say the title is a little misleading; it should be the Lady and the SLORC. Almost half the book is dedicated to the government's desire and efforts to cling to power, so Aung San Su Ki is not featured in a few of the latter chapters. On the downside though, this book feels a bit behind the times, given that the Lady is now in power and none of that is covered in this book.

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the main flaw I found with this book is that it was published in 1998. And yet it seems that not much has changed since then. Once again Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest, but the generals still remain in power. However, reading this book has given me a greater sense of what goes on in the generals' minds as much as in the mind of The Lady. I also found this a great book for learning the history of Burma. I'd recommend it for that reason alone.

Here's my haiku for her:

She makes me want to
reconsider my ideal
of female beauty.