An electrifying memoir by the blind Chinese activist who inspired millions with his fight for justice and freedom: "An amazing tale." — The Wall Street Journal It was like a scene out of a thriller: one morning in April 2012, China's most famous political activist—a blind, self-taught lawyer—climbed over the wall of his heavily guarded home and escaped. Days later, he turned up at the American embassy in Beijing, and only a furious round of high-level negotiations made it possible for him to leave China and begin a new life in the United States. Chen Guangcheng is a unique figure on the world stage, but his story is even more remarkable than anyone knew. The son of a poor farmer in rural China, blinded by illness when he was an infant, Chen was fortunate to survive a difficult childhood. But despite his disability, he was determined to educate himself and fight for the rights of his country's poor, especially a legion of women who had endured forced sterilizations and abortions under the hated "one child" policy. Repeatedly harassed, beaten, and imprisoned by Chinese authorities, Chen was ultimately placed under house arrest. After nearly two years of increasing danger, he evaded his captors and fled to freedom. Both a riveting memoir and a revealing portrait of modern China, The Barefoot Lawyer tells the story of a man who has never accepted limits and always believed in the power of the human spirit to overcome any obstacle. "It is remarkable how Chen's lone voice was able to shake the state to its foundations. . . . Poignant [and] inspiring." — The Washington Post "Riveting . . . an eminently readable, albeit chilling memoir that will grip the attention of readers everywhere." — Publishers Weekly "Tense and tightly written . . . a moving call to arms for the ideas of human dignity and the rule of law." — Kirkus Reviews "An astonishing story." — Booklist