Kuwait City, Monday 25 February 1991 It is dark and black, but humid rather than warm. From the top of the roof it is still possible to hear the roar from the oilfields. I am sure that is what it is. Now we have no water, no electricity, no gas, no petrol and no food. I suppose, if necessary, we will have to do what the British and Americans did - dig a well. These words were written by Jehan Rajab in the final desperate hours before Kuwait was liberated after seven months of Iraqi occupation following the first war with Iraq in 1991. The entries in her journal form the basis for this powerful and often harrowing account of life after the invasion. Events, including death and devastation, are described with striking immediacy and sharp observation to provide a valuable document on one of the most extra-ordinary episodes in recent history. One enduring aspect of this story is the fierce desire to preserve normality against the odds - shown in the efforts to save the Tareq Rajab Museum from destruction - and to start life again as soon as possible. The final departure of Saddam Hussein from the international political scene in 2003 gives Jehan Rajab's experience a special poignancy. But ultimately, this is a tale of courage and resilience in the face of great adversity. 'A significant first-person account of the occupation of Kuwait'. MESA BULLETIN 'A brave and pragmatic woman, [Jehan Rajab's) story is a gripping personal account of life endured under the most difficult and trying conditions'. Arab Times