Description |
313 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm |
Contents |
This is the story -- A supper party -- Back home -- Visiting Doctor Kollestrom -- Marriage -- And then a baby -- Bright eyes -- Dancing with Francis Bacon -- The old Bs -- The story of Boonie and Tuggie -- Moonlight in the garden -- Don't worry, Darling -- The facts of life -- Having a dog -- Altered houses -- Father comes to tea -- Talking dirty -- Uncle guy -- Driving to Majorca -- Driving back from Majorca -- Lodger number seven -- Private -- A little family -- And then -- A red nightdress -- York Street -- Certain choices -- In the house of Aaron Juda -- Daily life -- The year comes full circle -- Thinking things over -- One spring morning -- Putting it in writing -- The scent of adrenaline in the air -- My stumbling father -- Dear Rosalie, Dear Tommy -- Seeing God -- Jubilate -- A funeral in Wales -- Rosalie -- Here. |
Summary |
This is the story of three people: Julia Blackburn; her father, Thomas; and her mother, Rosalie. Thomas was a poet and an alcoholic who was also addicted to barbiturates, which often made him violent. Rosalie, a painter, was sociable and flirtatious; she treated Julia as her sister, her confidante, and eventually as her sexual rival. After the divorce, her mother took in male lodgers, on the understanding that each would become her lover. When one started an affair with Julia, Rosalie was devastated; when he committed suicide, the relationship between mother and daughter was shattered irrevocably--until Rosalie, diagnosed with leukemia, came to live with Julia for the last month of her life. At last the spell was broken, and they were able to talk with an ease they had never known before. When she was very near the end, Rosalie said to Julia, "Now you will be able to write about me, won't you?"--Publisher description. |
Subject |
Blackburn, Julia -- Family.
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Blackburn, Thomas, 1916-1977.
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Blackburn, Julia. (OCoLC)fst00030557
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Blackburn, Thomas, 1916-1977. (OCoLC)fst01716350
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Authors, English -- 20th century -- Family relationships.
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Children of authors -- England -- Biography.
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Children of alcoholics -- England -- Biography.
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Mothers and daughters -- England -- Biography.
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Authors, English -- Family relationships.
(OCoLC)fst00821961
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Children of alcoholics. (OCoLC)fst00855292
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Children of authors. (OCoLC)fst00855325
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Families. (OCoLC)fst01728849
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Mothers and daughters. (OCoLC)fst01026997
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England. (OCoLC)fst01219920
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Chronological Term |
1900-1999
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Genre/Form |
Biographies. (OCoLC)fst01919896
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Biographies.
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ISBN |
9780375424748 |
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0375424741 |
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