Eighteen Layers of Hell: Stories from the Chinese Gulag (Global Issues

by Kate Saunders

Since the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, it is claimed that more than 30 million people have been starved, beaten or tortured to death, "suicided" or executed in Chinese labour camps. This study also claims that millions of people still suffer in the camps today, and that the West participates in the iniquitous system of slave labour, through trading goods produced in the laogai, and dealing in transplant organs from prisoners executed to order. The book tells the story of Harry Wu, a veteran of the laogai, and a vociferous campaigner against the Gulag, who was recently arrested on a research trip to China, and who wrote the foreword to this book. The author, Kate Saunders, is a founder of the Laogai Research Group in the UK, and led the recent campaign for Harry Wu's release from Chinese custody. The book has been published to coincide with her TV documentary on the Chinese labour camps.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

254 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

Kate Saunders (born 1960) was an English author, actress, and journalist. The daughter of the early public relations advocate Basil Saunders and his journalist wife Betty (née Smith), Saunders has worked for newspapers and magazines in the UK, including The Sunday Times, Sunday Express, Daily Telegraph, She, and Cosmopolitan.

She has also been a regular contributor to radio and television, with appearances on the Radio 4 programs Woman's Hour, Start the Week, and Kaleidoscope. She was, with Sandi Toksvig, a guest on the first episode of the long-running news quiz program Have I Got News For You.

Saunders has also written multiple books for children and for adults.

Reviews

[Sally McRogerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read, weep and STOP BUYING "MADE IN CHINA"! This book is, sadly, out of print but should be required reading for those who think we should work with China and ignore their civil rights policies. We can make a difference with our wallets if we have a collective will to do so. Be the change you wanna see, etc.

[Pungouinnn]

evzv