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  • An Unlikely Prisoner

  • How an Eternal Optimist Found Hope in Myanmar’s Most Notorious Jail
  • By: Sean Turnell
  • Narrated by: Sean Turnell
  • Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (10 ratings)

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An Unlikely Prisoner

By: Sean Turnell
Narrated by: Sean Turnell
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Publisher's Summary

For 650 days Sean Turnell was held in Myanmar's terrifying Insein Prison on the trumped-up charge of being a spy. In An Unlikely Prisoner he recounts how an impossibly cheerful professor of economics, whose idea of an uncomfortable confrontation was having to tell a student that their essay was 'not really that good', ended up in one of the most notorious prisons in South-East Asia. And how he not only survived his lengthy incarceration, but left with his sense of humour intact, his spirit unbroken and love in his heart.

©2023 Sean Turnell (P)2023 Penguin Random House Australia Audio

Critic Reviews

'Australia's most unlikely political prisoner...is known as a person of deep optimism, bubbling enthusiasm and infectious warmth.' Melissa Crouch, Sydney Morning Herald

What listeners say about An Unlikely Prisoner

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Real

I love how honest Sean was. Mixing the tragic situation he and so many others were in with a lightheartedness that helped you get through. I
Enjoyed going through this journey with Sean as if he was telling me the story face to face.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Couldn’t stop listening to it

I actually pre ordered this book when I heard it coming to audible as i am close friends of a relative of Sean Turnell and wasn’t sure what I would be getting into when I first started listening, like many I tried to keep up with Sean’s story as it unfolded on the news. The book is simply brilliant, I found myself chuckling on my train ride to work at the surprising amount of humour in the mostly serious, tense and confronting book. Sean’s reading of his work was fantastic a kind and gentle voice that was made for telling stories. Once again the book is brilliant and i recommend anyone give it a listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Honest story

Thank you professor Turnell for sharing your story. It has been emotional and sad read for me and hits it home. 😥

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Noble story with high expectations

I was certain the subject matter was going to be worth listening to. I tried three or four times to re-engage with this book but could not reach the end. Sean's story is important to be told but someone else should have told it and narrated it. Disappointed.

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