Kirjahaku

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'What an extraordinary story... very moving indeed' Vanessa Feltz, Radio 2The astonishing true story of a daughter's search for her own past and the desperate mother who gave her up.Phyllis Whitsell began the search for her birth mother as a young woman, and although it was many years before she finally met her, their lives had crossed on the journey without their knowledge.This is a daughter's personal account of the remarkable relationship that grew from abandonment into love, understanding and selfless care.'I lit the candle and prayed for my birth mother, asking God to take care of her. Even at such a young age, I found it difficult to understand, but I always feared that she was in danger and needed my prayers.'It was the only thing at the time that I could do for her. I feared that she might be coming to some harm and that she was not happy, but I was helpless and had nobody to talk to about my feelings.'Phyllis' story continues with A Song for Bridget - also available now.

Based on the real life of Bridget Mary Larkin, aka Tipperary Mary. We journey back to Ireland, to follow the story of a young girl, growing up without her father, who dies before she is born. At the age of 15, she finds the body of her stepfather, a man with a history of mental illness, who has hanged himself in the family home, leaving behind his natural daughter (Bridget's half-sister, Philomena). Following the death of her mother, Bridget finds love with a local lad, Bill. But when her brother - now head of the household - discovers the relationship, he stops it, threatening Bill - then beating and raping Bridget. Bill is forced to flee to England, while Bridget endures a terrible life at home at the hands of her brother. Finally, after giving birth to her brother's child at a single mother's institution, she has her child removed for adoption and she flees to England in search of Bill and a new life. She eventually tracks him down - and they fall into each other's arms. However, Bill is now married with a child of his own. They begin an affair, and she adopts his surname - but Bill, wracked with guilt, returns to his wife. Now pregnant with Bill's child, Bridget's drinking becomes worse. As her life spirals out of control - her daughter, Phyllis (named after her beloved young half-sister Philomena) is born. Bridget holds onto the child she has had with the love her life for as long as she can - but is finally forced to let her go. Will they ever meet again...?

Based on the real life of Bridget Mary Larkin, aka Tipperary Mary. We journey back to Ireland, to follow the story of a young girl, growing up without her father, who dies before she is born. At the age of 15, she finds the body of her stepfather, a man with a history of mental illness, who has hanged himself in the family home, leaving behind his natural daughter (Bridget's half-sister, Philomena). Following the death of her mother, Bridget finds love with a local lad, Bill. But when her brother - now head of the household - discovers the relationship, he stops it, threatening Bill - then beating and raping Bridget. Bill is forced to flee to England, while Bridget endures a terrible life at home at the hands of her brother. Finally, after giving birth to her brother's child at a single mother's institution, she has her child removed for adoption and she flees to England in search of Bill and a new life. She eventually tracks him down - and they fall into each other's arms. However, Bill is now married with a child of his own. They begin an affair, and she adopts his surname - but Bill, wracked with guilt, returns to his wife. Now pregnant with Bill's child, Bridget's drinking becomes worse. As her life spirals out of control - her daughter, Phyllis (named after her beloved young half-sister Philomena) is born. Bridget holds onto the child she has had with the love her life for as long as she can - but is finally forced to let her go. Will they ever meet again...?

THE UNFORGETTABLE TRUE STORY BEHIND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING MEMOIR, FINDING TIPPERARY MARY. A brutal and touching account of the life of Bridget Tipperary Mary Larkin. She faced poverty, bereavement, cruelty and abandonment many times over yet never lost the heart to pursue true love. Returning to rural Ireland in 1938 and a young girl full of hope and expectation, A Song for Bridget recounts a series of tragic events that eventually bring her to Manchester and Birmingham and a desperate daily struggle to survive. Bridget s haunting story, told for her by her daughter, is a perfect example of both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'What an extraordinary story... very moving indeed' Vanessa Feltz, Radio 2 The astonishing true story of a daughter's search for her own past and the desperate mother who gave her up. Phyllis Whitsell began the search for her birth mother as a young woman, and although it was many years before she finally met her, their lives had crossed on the journey without their knowledge. This is a daughter's personal account of the remarkable relationship that grew from abandonment into love, understanding and selfless care. 'I lit the candle and prayed for my birth mother, asking God to take care of her. Even at such a young age, I found it difficult to understand, but I always feared that she was in danger and needed my prayers. 'It was the only thing at the time that I could do for her. I feared that she might be coming to some harm and that she was not happy, but I was helpless and had nobody to talk to about my feelings.' Phyllis' story continues with A Song for Bridget - also available now.