Product Description

Bestselling author, Jean Sasson tells the dramatic true story of a young woman caught up in Saddam Hussein's genocide of the Kurdish people of Iraq. One morning Joanna, a young bride living in the Kurdish mountains of Iraq, was surprised to see dead birds drop silently out of the clear sky. They were followed by sinister canisters falling to the ground, bringing fear and death. It was 1987, and Saddam Hussein had ordered his cousin 'Chemical Ali' to bombard Joanna's village, Bergalou, with chemical weapons. Temporarily blinded in the attack, Joanna was rescued by her husband, a Kurdish freedom fighter. After being caught in another bombardment and left for dead in the rubble, they managed to flee over the mountains in a harrowing escape. Now living in the UK and working for British Airways, Joanna has told the story of her eventful life to Jean Sasson, the bestselling chronicler of oppressed women's lives in the Princess trilogy and Mayada. "Love in a Torn Land" is published while the world watches the trial of the notorious 'Chemical Ali', Saddam Hussein's most bloodthirsty henchman, for crimes including the genocide of the Kurdish people.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #88149 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

From the Inside Flap
Bestselling author Jean Sasson tells the dramatic true story of a young woman caught up in Saddam Hussein's genocide of the Kurdish people of Iraq.

One morning Joanna, a young bride living in the mountains of Kurdistan, was surprised to see dead birds drop silently out of the clear sky. They were followed by sinister canisters falling from bombers, bringing fear and death.

It was 1987, and Saddam Hussein had ordered his cousin 'Chemical Ali' to bombard Joanna's village, Bergalou, with chemical weapons. Temporarily blinded in the attack, Joanna was rescued by her husband, a Kurdish freedom fighter. After being caught in another bombardment and left for dead in the rubble, they managed to flee over the mountains in a harrowing escape.

Now living in the UK and working for British Airways, Joanna has told the story of her eventful life to Jean Sasson, the bestselling chronicler of oppressed women's lives in the Princess trilogy and Mayada. Love in a Torn Land is published while the world watches the unfolding of Saddam's trial for his crimes against humanity, including the genocide of the Kurdish people.

From the Back Cover
Bestselling author Jean Sasson tells the dramatic true story of a young woman caught up in Saddam Hussein’s poison gas attacks on the Kurdish people of Iraq.

One morning Joanna, a young bride living in the Kurdish mountains of Iraq, was surprised to see dead birds drop silently out of the clear sky. They were followed by sinister canisters falling to the ground, bringing fear and death.

It was 1987, and Saddam Hussein had ordered his cousin ‘Chemical Ali’ to bombard Joanna’s village, Bergalou, with chemical weapons. Temporarily blinded in the attack, Joanna was rescued by her husband, a Kurdish freedom fighter. After being caught in another bombardment and left for dead in the rubble, they managed to flee over the mountains in a harrowing escape.

Now living in the UK, Joanna has told the story of her eventful life to Jean Sasson, the bestselling chronicler of oppressed women’s lives in the Princess trilogy and Mayada.

‘A very human look at the struggle of the Kurds in Iraq and one woman’s heroism’ Booklist

About the Author
Jean Sasson is the author of the worldwide bestsellers Princess, Daughters of Arabia, Desert Royal and Mayada, Daughter of Iraq. She lived in Saudi Arabia for twelve years before moving back to the USA in 1990. She has recently returned to live in the Middle East. For more information on Jean Sasson and her books, see her website at www.jeansasson.com

Customer Reviews

brilliant
This was a brilliant book. Jean Sasson is a brilliant writer and the story in the book is worth reading. I warmly recommend this amazing and captive book for you!

Freedom Figthers
I have read a few books by Jean Sasson and really like her way of writing.
A really gripping story from the start till the end, while reading the book it was hard to put it down as the book will draw you into it and you want to know what is happening next and will they see each other again and does she really give up her job and leave her family behind to live in the mountains with no luxury (which she wasn't completely aware off)
The understanding for her husband to help their people fight against Sadam Hussain and be herself part of it made the read so much worth while.

Got to be the best book I've ever read
This book was just simply so captivating that I have never enjoyed reading a book so much! Jean's style of writing actually makes you feel as though you are the person in the story. Fantastic!