Love in a Torn Land: Joanna of Kurdistan: The True Story of a Freedom Fighter's Escape from Iraqi Vengeance

“You are in every page I turn
In every word I write
All the birds here chant your name.
I am nothing without you.”

When Joanna al-Askari read these wonderful words from the man she loved, little did she know what joy—and challenges—would await her when she joined him in marriage and in the fight for Kurdish independence.

While Iraq is everywhere in today’s headlines, the story of the Kurdish people and their struggle for survival under Saddam Hussein is one that has remained largely untold—until now. In this incredible true love story, bestselling author Jean Sasson shares Joanna’s personal journey of fear and fortitude through a Baghdad childhood and life as a Kurdish freedom fighter during the Iran-Iraq War. From the threat of Iraqi patrols and raids to chemical attacks and bombings, Joanna reveals how she and her husband survived extreme physical danger as they made their way through Kurdistan’s perilous mountains and beleaguered villages to seek temporary safety in Iran.  

Inspiring and unforgettable, Love in a Torn Land shares Joanna’s passionate and unflagging determination to survive and fight—for love, life, and the freedom of her beloved Kurdistan.