First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers

Loung Ung

Oct 2010 · Sold by Harper Collins

About this ebook

“A riveting memoir. . . an important, moving work that those who have suffered cannot afford to forget and those who have been spared cannot afford to ignore.” — San Francisco Chronicle

From a childhood survivor of the Cambodian genocide under the regime of Pol Pot, this is a riveting narrative of war crimes and desperate actions, the unnerving strength of a small girl and her family, and their triumph of spirit.

One of seven children of a high-ranking government official, Loung Ung lived a privileged life in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh until the age of five. Then, in April 1975, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge army stormed into the city, forcing Ung's family to flee and, eventually, to disperse. Loung was trained as a child soldier in a work camp for orphans, her siblings were sent to labor camps, and those who survived the horrors would not be reunited until the Khmer Rouge was destroyed.

Harrowing yet hopeful, Loung's powerful story is an unforgettable account of a family shaken and shattered, yet miraculously sustained by courage and love in the face of unspeakable brutality.

 

Ratings and reviews

As a Korean who has grown up with the stories of Korean war from grandparents and textbooks, it was difficult to imagine what would it be like to suffer from massacre by communists simply because they could potentially be a threat to them for being educated. Thank you for sharing your thoughts which encourage me to be stronger.

I like reading a piece of our past and this one is mindblowing. Never have I realized Cambodia could be appealing and so vibrant prewar. If only this country was not destroyed by goons , it would have been a wealthier state although for sure Cambodia has always been prosperous.

Breathe taking. Loung Ung takes you on the journey she had to travel and all the while you are right beside her holding your breathe and experiencing everything she does. Based on her true story and a true part of history that mustn't be forgotten. This is a must read for sure.

About the author

Loung Ung was the National Spokesperson for the “Campaign for a Landmine Free World,” a program of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for co-founding the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Ung lectures extensively, appears regularly in the media, and has made more than thirty trips back to Cambodia. She is also the author of Lucky Child: A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind and LuLu in the Sky.