Comrades and Strangers: Behind the Closed Doors of North Korea
by Michael Harrold
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Description
In 1987 Michael Harrold went to North Korea to work as English language adviser on translations of the speeches of the late President Kim Il Sung (the Great Leader) and his son and heir Kim Jong Il (then Dear Leader and now head of state). For seven years he lived in Pyongyang enjoying privileged access to the ruling classes and enjoying the confidence of the country's young elite. In this fascinating insight into the culture of North Korea he describes the hospitality of his hosts, how they show more were shaken by the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and many of the fascinating characters he met from South Korean and American GI defectors to his Korean minder and socialite friends. After seven years and having been caught passing South Korean music tapes to friends and going out without his minder to places forbidden to foreigners, he was asked to leave the country. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
An interesting book. The author spent several years working for the North Korean government helping to translate government propaganda into English. He describes his experiences working for (and putting up with) the regime. Not many westerners could write such a book.
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Author Information
1 Work 57 Members
Common Knowledge
- Important places
- North Korea
- Dedication
- To Kasia, my wife, with love. And to Dominik and Antony growing up in a very different world.
- First words
- It has never been my intention in writing this book to cause embarrassment or difficulty of any sort to people I knew in North Korea.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 951.93043092 — History & geography History of Asia East Asia: China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea Korean Peninsula North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
- LCC
- DS932 .H37 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania Asia History of Asia Korea Democratic People's Republic, 1948-
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 57
- Popularity
- 538,773
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 1
