{"product_id":"free-coming-of-age-at-the-end-of-history","title":"Free: Coming of Age at the End of History","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'We\u003cem\u003e never lose our inner freedom; the freedom to do what is right.\u003c\/em\u003e'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLea 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTo 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThen, in December 1990, 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThere was no longer anything to fear from prying ears. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBut 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAs 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. \u003cem\u003eFree\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lea Ypi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42979848814849,"sku":"9780141995106","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0573\/8600\/8738\/files\/websitecovertemplate-2023-07-20T155219.828.png?v=1689864844","url":"https:\/\/rarebirdsbooks.live\/products\/free-coming-of-age-at-the-end-of-history","provider":"Rare Birds Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}