The Girl with Seven Names Audiobook By Hyeonseo Lee, David John cover art

The Girl with Seven Names

A North Korean Defector’s Story

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The Girl with Seven Names

By: Hyeonseo Lee, David John
Narrated by: Josie Dunn
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

An extraordinary insight into life under one of the world’s most ruthless and secretive dictatorships – and the story of one woman’s terrifying struggle to avoid capture/repatriation and guide her family to freedom.

As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee was one of millions trapped by a secretive and brutal communist regime. Her home on the border with China gave her some exposure to the world beyond the confines of the Hermit Kingdom and, as the famine of the 1990s struck, she began to wonder, question and to realise that she had been brainwashed her entire life. Given the repression, poverty and starvation she witnessed surely her country could not be, as she had been told “the best on the planet”?

Aged seventeen, she decided to escape North Korea. She could not have imagined that it would be twelve years before she was reunited with her family.

Biographies & Memoirs Emigration & Immigration Fascism Freedom & Security Ideologies & Doctrines Politics & Government Social Sciences Women Inspiring Emotionally Gripping China Imperial Japan

Critic reviews

‘The most riveting TED talk ever’ Oprah

‘Hyeonseo Lee brought the human consequences of global inaction on North Korea to the world's doorstep … Against all odds she escaped, survived, and had the courage to speak out’ Samantha Power, U.S. representative to the U.N.

‘This is a powerful story of an escapee from North Korea. In the hallowed meeting rooms of the United Nations in New York, ambassadors from North Korea recently sought to shout down stories like this. But these voices will not be silenced. Eventually freedom will be restored. History will vindicate Hyeonseo Lee and those like her for the risks they ran so that their bodies and their minds could be free. And so that we could know the truth’ Michael Kirby, chair of the U.N. commission on human rights abuses in North Korea

‘When I first met Hyeonseo Lee, the unflinching manner in which she told her story was inspirational. She experienced hunger, coldness, fear, terror, threats and pursuit. All this she had to endure, simply for being a North Korean refugee. But the one thing that she held onto was her humanity, ever stronger as she continuously sublimated her hardships into hope. This is a sad and beautiful story of a girl who could not even keep her name, yet overcome all with the identity of what it is to be human’ Jang Jin-sung, author of ‘Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee – A Look Inside North Korea’

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Captivating Memoir • Eye-opening Account • Excellent Narration • Inspiring Journey • Educational Content • Clear Voice

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Such a riveting, well written and wonderfully narrated true tale of life and it’s dangers in North Korea. Such a brave and determined young girl, to escape North Korea and then return for her family! There are not many books that “I can’t quit reading” but this was one, for sure!

Incite and Intrigue In North And South Korea

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well written, an eye opener, great reader too. I recommend this book, a primer to North Korea polices

excellent book

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This is an awesome recounting of life inside North Korea, and the rest of the world through a defector's eyes. Extremely enlightening and emotional.
I didn't like the choice of narrator as her English accent is quite jarring, especially with so much Korean and Chinese terminology and pronunciation. It broke the flow for me on many occasions.

Amazing story

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What a story this woman tells of courage, resilience, love and honesty.
I cried, laughed & feared with and for her.

Amazing courage

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Incredible story and well-written. I couldn’t put it down! However, I was bothered by the fact that it had British narration, which makes no sense.

Loved the book! But why a British narrator?

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