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.

The Author

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.