When Slaves Became Masters

About the Book

Rattana Pok survived the unthinkable, savage and brutal regime of Pol Pot in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The prophecy of doom stated: "There will be bloodshed of an elephant's abdomen; there will be houses in which no one lives; and there will be walkways on which no one walks." In his childhood memoir, "When Slaves Became Masters," Pok wrote a tragic and gripping real-life narrative of his experiences growing up in Cambodia, one of the cruelest regimes that the world had ever experienced, after the fascist regime of Adolf Hitler.

The United Nations' official death toll of the Cambodian holocaust is 1.75 millions, about 1/4 of the entire national population, died from starvation, mistreated illnesses, excessive forced hard labor, and murder. Pok's experiences and his family represent the experiences of several hundreds of thousands of families who had fallen victims to the Khmer Rouge regime.

This non-fiction book will provide the readers with comprehensive understanding of Cambodia's history, tragic past, custom and culture. The book does not only describe the compelling tragedy, survival and reunification of his family members but also humors and romances of the times.

About the Author

Pok was born in the southwest of Cambodia, in Kampot province, in 1964. Before immigrating to the U.S. in September 1981, he had lived in several other places: Takeo, Phnom Penh, Battambang and Thailand. He graduated from high school in Denver, Colorado. In 1985, he moved to Stockton, California, where he attended San Joaquin  Delta College and graduated with an AA degree. Since March of 1993, he has been working as a registered court interpreter in northern California. Since July 1996, he has also been working as a contract interpreter for the U.S. Dept. of State, interpreting for numerous Khmer delegates and dignitaries on tours, conferences and training sessions throughout the U.S. and abroad.