Out of Darkness - by Denise Chong (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of The Concubine's Children and The Girl in the Picture, a gripping story of a domestic assault that shocked the world, of the exercise of power and political influence, and of the Bangladeshi woman whose irrepressible spirit found light in sudden darkness.

From the outside, Rumana seemed an unlikely victim of domestic abuse: married to a man of her own choosing and progressing in her career as a professor of international relations at Dhaka University. But in 2011, on return from graduate studies at the University of British Columbia, her husband attacked and blinded her in front of their young daughter. As Rumana's horrifying story garnered international headlines, and connections brought her to Vancouver in an attempt--ultimately futile--to restore her sight, her plight underscored the fact that there are no typical victims of intimate-partner violence.
Denise Chong goes behind the headlines to reveal the devolution of a love story into a tale of tyranny behind closed doors, and the pursuit of justice that proved all the more elusive during the rise of social media. Out of Darkness tells a globe-spanning narrative of loyalty, perseverance and a woman's determination to face the future and rebuild a life with meaning.

Review Quotes

"In this gripping, moving account of human resilience, Denise Chong thoughtfully unwinds the cultural, political and personal circumstances surrounding the brutal attack on Rumana Monzur and her subsequent fight for justice. Dread builds slowly in these pages; Rumana is the steel spine that cuts through the story, standing at the end, unbowed." --Stephanie Nolen, Global Health Reporter, The New York Times

"Out of Darkness unravels the full, terrifying story behind the headlines. Misogyny and the assertion of power over women's bodies are on the rise. Chong and Monzur both insist we must speak out." --Rosemary Sullivan, author of Where the World Was: A Memoir

"I hope this book will help many women see the world and their lives from a new perspective." --Tanzimuddin Khan, professor of international relations, University of Dhaka

"Out of Darkness is an important read [for] anyone who cares about the violence perpetrated against women every day." --Hana Shams Ahmed, former coordinator of the International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission, and PhD candidate in Social Anthropology at York University

About the Author

RUMANA MONZUR was born in Dhaka, lost her sight in 2011, and graduated from law school in 2017. She practices law and champions the rights of women and of persons with disabilities in Vancouver.