Free : coming of age at the end of history

Resource Information

The work Free : coming of age at the end of history represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Randwick City Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Free : coming of age at the end of history

Title remainder

coming of age at the end of history

Statement of responsibility

Lea Ypi

Creator

• Ypi, Lea, 1979-

Author

• Ypi, Lea, 1979-

Subject

• Albania -- Politics and government -- 20th century
• Albania -- Social conditions
• Albanians -- Biography
• Autobiographies
• College teachers -- Great Britain -- Biography
• Albania -- History -- 1990-
• Political scientists -- Albania -- Biography
• Ypi, Lea, 1979- -- Childhood and youth
• Families -- Albania -- Biography
• Albania -- History -- 20th century

Genre

• Biography
• Autobiographies

Language

eng

Summary

Lea Ypi grew up in one of the most isolated countries on earth, a place where communist ideals had officially replaced religion. Albania, the last Stalinist outpost in Europe, was almost impossible to visit, almost impossible to leave. It was a place of queuing and scarcity, of political executions and secret police. To Lea, it was home. People were equal, neighbours helped each other, and children were expected to build a better world. There was community and hope. Then, in December 1990, a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, everything changed. The statues of Stalin and Hoxha were toppled. Almost overnight, people could vote freely, wear what they liked and worship as they wished. There was no longer anything to fear from prying ears. But factories shut, jobs disappeared and thousands fled to Italy on crowded ships, only to be sent back. Predatory pyramid schemes eventually bankrupted the country, leading to violent conflict. As one generation's aspirations became another's disillusionment, and as her own family's secrets were revealed, Lea found herself questioning what freedom really meant. Free is an engrossing memoir of coming of age amid political upheaval. With acute insight and wit, Lea Ypi traces the limits of progress and the burden of the past, illuminating the spaces between ideals and reality, and the hopes and fears of people pulled up by the sweep of history

Biography type

autobiography

Cataloging source

NJB

Dewey number

949.65

Index

no index present

Literary form

non fiction

Target audience

adult