Remembering Judith
Published on 29. January 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-905170-01-2 (ISBN)
Description
A true story of shattered childhoods...
Following her escape from Nazi Germany and the loss of her family Judith searches for unconditional love and acceptance. In a bleak boarding house she meets her future husband - another Jewish refugee who cares for her when she is ill.Tragically she associates illness with love and a pattern is set. Judith's behaviour eventually spiral into anorexia - a disease little known or understood in 1950's Britain. While she starves herself, Judith forces Ruth, her daughter, to eat. She makes elaborate meals and watches her consume them. She gives her a pint of custard before bed each night. As the disease progresses roles are reversed. Ruth must care for her mother and loses any hope of a normal childhood. The generation gap is tragically bridged by loss and extreme self-loathing, in this moving true story of a family's fight to survive.
Following her escape from Nazi Germany and the loss of her family Judith searches for unconditional love and acceptance. In a bleak boarding house she meets her future husband - another Jewish refugee who cares for her when she is ill.Tragically she associates illness with love and a pattern is set. Judith's behaviour eventually spiral into anorexia - a disease little known or understood in 1950's Britain. While she starves herself, Judith forces Ruth, her daughter, to eat. She makes elaborate meals and watches her consume them. She gives her a pint of custard before bed each night. As the disease progresses roles are reversed. Ruth must care for her mother and loses any hope of a normal childhood. The generation gap is tragically bridged by loss and extreme self-loathing, in this moving true story of a family's fight to survive.
Reviews / Votes
This hauntingly moving tale of a daughter's devotion to her anorexic mother tugs at the heartstrings and plays on the mind for long after you've finished it. * PRIMA MAGAZINE *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Headline Publishing Group
Illustrations
ports.
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
174 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-905170-01-2 (9781905170012)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ruth Joseph worked as a freelance journalist for IPC magazines and has just completed an M.Phil in Creative Writing at Glamorgan University. She is a Rhys Davies Competition and Cadenza prize-winner and has been published by Honno, Loki, New Welsh review and Cambrensis. Her prize-winning story, Patchwork is featured in `Ghosts Of The Old Year' published by Parthian, 2003 (ISBN 1902638271). Her first solo collection of short stories, `Red Stilettos' was published by Accent Press Ltd in Sept 2004. (ISBN 0954489977)
Ruth lives in Cardiff, Wales.
Ruth lives in Cardiff, Wales.