<p><b>THE<i> SUNDAY TIMES</i> BESTSELLER </b><br><br><b>WINNER OF THE ONDAATJE PRIZE</b><br><br><b>''The best book I read last year by a mile. . . so beautifully written that anyone would be hooked'' Laura Hackett, <i>Sunday Times,</i> Best Summer Books</b><br><br><b>''Wonderfully funny and poignant. . . a tale of family secrets and political awakening amid a crumbling regime'' Luke Harding, <i>Observer</i></b><br><br><i>''We never lose our inner freedom; the freedom to do what is right''</i><br><br>Lea Ypi grew up in one of the most isolated countries on earth, a place where communist ideals had officially replaced religion. Albania, the last Stalinist outpost in Europe, was almost impossible to visit, almost impossible to leave. It was a place of queuing and scarcity, of political executions and secret police. To Lea, it was home. People were equal, neighbours helped each other, and children were expected to build a better world. There was community and hope.<br><br>Then, in December