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My Name is Victoria
The Extraordinary Story of one Woman's Struggle to Reclaim her True Identity
by Victoria Donda
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Pub Date
Oct 18 2011
| Archive Date
Sep 01 2012
Description
Argentina’s coup d’état in 1976 led to one of the bloodiest dictatorships in its history—thirty thousand people were abducted, tortured, and subsequently “disappeared.” And hundreds of babies born to pregnant political prisoners were stolen from their doomed mothers and “given” to families with military ties or who were collaborators of the regime. Analía was one of these children, raised without suspecting that she was adopted. At twenty seven, she learned that her name wasn’t what she believed it to be, that her parents weren’t her real parents, and that the farce conceived by the dictatorship had managed to survive through more than two decades of democracy.
In My Name is Victoria, it is no longer Analía, but Victoria who tells us her story, in her own words: the life of a young and thriving middleclass woman from the outskirts of Buenos Aires with strong political convictions. Growing up, she thought she was the black sheep of the family with ideas diametrically opposed to her parents’. It wasn’t until she discovered the truth about her origins and the shocking revelation of her uncle’s involvement in her parents’ murder and in her kidnapping and adoption that she was able to fully embrace her legacy. Today, as the youngest member of congress in Argentina, she has reclaimed her identity and her real name: Victoria Donda. This is Victoria’s story, from the moment her parents were abducted to the day she was elected to parliament.
Argentina’s coup d’état in 1976 led to one of the bloodiest dictatorships in its history—thirty thousand people were abducted, tortured, and subsequently “disappeared.” And hundreds of babies born to...
Description
Argentina’s coup d’état in 1976 led to one of the bloodiest dictatorships in its history—thirty thousand people were abducted, tortured, and subsequently “disappeared.” And hundreds of babies born to pregnant political prisoners were stolen from their doomed mothers and “given” to families with military ties or who were collaborators of the regime. Analía was one of these children, raised without suspecting that she was adopted. At twenty seven, she learned that her name wasn’t what she believed it to be, that her parents weren’t her real parents, and that the farce conceived by the dictatorship had managed to survive through more than two decades of democracy.
In My Name is Victoria, it is no longer Analía, but Victoria who tells us her story, in her own words: the life of a young and thriving middleclass woman from the outskirts of Buenos Aires with strong political convictions. Growing up, she thought she was the black sheep of the family with ideas diametrically opposed to her parents’. It wasn’t until she discovered the truth about her origins and the shocking revelation of her uncle’s involvement in her parents’ murder and in her kidnapping and adoption that she was able to fully embrace her legacy. Today, as the youngest member of congress in Argentina, she has reclaimed her identity and her real name: Victoria Donda. This is Victoria’s story, from the moment her parents were abducted to the day she was elected to parliament.
Advance Praise
"A powerful story of a woman who defies all odds and learns her true identity, and succeeds. Victoria Donda's journey to claim her identity is exemplary, and refreshing. She represents a generational change and promise for Argentina. I highly recommend this book. You will come out stronger and full of optimism about life. The narrative is spellbinding." -David Cox, CNN journalist, author of Dirty Secrets, Dirty War and Unveiling the Enigma: Who Stole the Hands of Juan Peron
"This extraordinary book is a gift from the generous heart and bright intellect of Victoria Donda, who was the 78th grandchild identified by the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo. Victoria's triumph is to take us to the core of her resilience-her determination to fight for her dignity and her identity, while she leads the reader through the maze of Argentine politics and history. Empowered and empowering, My Name is Victoria sheds light on our quest to recover from a collective tragedy, to resist destruction at the hands of the powerful, to keep loving when an avalanche of hatred threatens our sanity." -Alicia Partnoy, author of The Little School: Tales of Disappearance and Survival
"A powerful story of a woman who defies all odds and learns her true identity, and succeeds. Victoria Donda's journey to claim her identity is exemplary, and refreshing. She represents a...
Advance Praise
"A powerful story of a woman who defies all odds and learns her true identity, and succeeds. Victoria Donda's journey to claim her identity is exemplary, and refreshing. She represents a generational change and promise for Argentina. I highly recommend this book. You will come out stronger and full of optimism about life. The narrative is spellbinding." -David Cox, CNN journalist, author of Dirty Secrets, Dirty War and Unveiling the Enigma: Who Stole the Hands of Juan Peron
"This extraordinary book is a gift from the generous heart and bright intellect of Victoria Donda, who was the 78th grandchild identified by the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo. Victoria's triumph is to take us to the core of her resilience-her determination to fight for her dignity and her identity, while she leads the reader through the maze of Argentine politics and history. Empowered and empowering, My Name is Victoria sheds light on our quest to recover from a collective tragedy, to resist destruction at the hands of the powerful, to keep loving when an avalanche of hatred threatens our sanity." -Alicia Partnoy, author of The Little School: Tales of Disappearance and Survival
Available Editions
EDITION |
Other Format |
ISBN |
9781590514047 |
PRICE |
$15.95 (USD)
|
PAGES |
272
|
Additional Information
Available Editions
EDITION |
Other Format |
ISBN |
9781590514047 |
PRICE |
$15.95 (USD)
|
PAGES |
272
|
Average rating from 3 members