Description: "This is a Borzoi book published by Alfred A. Knopf"--title page verso.
Review Quotes: "Compelling . . . Impressive . . . With the deftness of marquetry, Sands lays down the groundwork of international law and its evolution during the Cold War . . . One of the many merits of this intriguing account of how the case against Britain was finally brought to The Hague is its human focus . . . [Sands] has done the islanders proud." --David Profumo, The Spectator
"A moving story of human tragedy and injustice with the complexities of international law to great effect. A neat work of detailed legal points and history, and a deeply felt narrative about the injustice of deportation and the dwindling number of Chagossians with strong ties to their homeland. Madame Elysé is an impressive, courageous figure and emblem, putting a human face on colonialism's continuing wrongs, both for the International Court and this book. There is much to appreciate about this little-known story in Sands's sensitive telling. A complex case of international law and a stirring tale of injustice and homecoming." --Julia Kastner, Shelf Awareness "A piercing account . . . Sands efficiently combines history, memoir, and astute legal analysis. A powerful testament to the lasting damage of imperialism." --Publishers Weekly"Sands relates the wider tragedy of the scandal with nerve and precision . . . A steely and forensic case, laced with human empathy . . . Important and welcome corrective." --Tim Adams, The Observer "A resounding history, thrilling as any novel." --Amanda Hopkinson, The Jewish Chronicle "A powerful and persuasive account . . . superb." --Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature "[S]urprisingly gripping narrative . . . [An] elegant, moving and profoundly informative book." --Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman
"A powerful and poignant book that should be read by anyone who cares about justice, humanity and human rights. Rarely does a book combine erudition and empathy so eloquently--it is stellar in every sense of the word." --Elif Shafak, author of How to Stay Sane in the Age of Division "Sands is a humane and generous presence . . . illuminating the experiences of 'real people, real lives' behind the bureaucracy of international law. Sands' book is an urgent reminder that Britain's colonial rule isn't our past. It's our present." --Hannah Rose Woods, The New Statesman "Powerful and elegantly written . . . Sands uses the story of one Chagossian woman to tell a broader story about colonialism and international human rights from the 20th century to today. An essential account of a continuing and little-known area of injustice." --Tomiwa Owolade, The Sunday Times (London)