Free

I cannot truly imagine just how bewildering it must be to have been raised with one set of beliefs, ones which you wholeheartedly embraced and thought you understood, then, just as you were about to embark on your adult life, the society that underpinned those beliefs was abruptly ripped away. You discovered that your immediate family had hidden most of your history from you and your foundations weren't the solid rock you had previously relied upon. This is Lea Ypi's early life and her book, Free, does a wonderful job of allowing readers insights into the nations that were socialist Albania, transitional Albania and, sadly, civil war-ridden Albania.

I was reminded at times of Haya Leah Molnar's memoir, Under A Red Sky, by the way in which Lea Ypi's family kept the truth about themselves from their children which ultimately led to divisions with each generation having very different experiences, expectations and political philosophies. I found it interesting that Ypi is now professor of political theory at the London School of Economics as I could see her being drawn towards philosophical study towards the end of Free as she attempts to make sense of the chaos consuming her country.

Free is a very readable memoir and one which explores and explains quite complex issues in an accessible way. I appreciated how being shown Lea's childhood solely from her younger perspective allowed me to also see why she was so convinced of the benefits of socialism. Her love of 'Uncle Enver' reflected what I learned through reading Enver Hoxha by Blendi Fevziu. There are hints from part-hidden parental conversations that perhaps not everything is as rosy and clear as her teacher, Leta, makes out, but no one can be openly honest and Lea doesn't yet know how many layers of secrets are concealed. I enjoyed Free as a coming-of-age story as well as an eloquent history of post-war Albania.