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The Girl Behind the Gates

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The Girl Behind the Gates

By: Brenda Davies
Narrated by: Charlotte Strevens
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About this listen

A raw, heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting novel about a young woman cut down in her prime, and of the woman who brings her back to life.

Top 10 Kindle best seller

1939. Seventeen-year-old Nora Jennings has spent her life secure in the certainty of a bright, happy future - until one night of passion has more catastrophic consequences than she ever could have anticipated. Labelled a moral defective and sectioned under the Mental Deficiency Act, she is forced to endure years of unspeakable cruelty at the hands of those who are supposed to care for her.

1981. When psychiatrist Janet Humphreys comes across Nora, heavily institutionalised and still living in the hospital more than 40 years after her incarceration, she knows that she must be the one to help Nora rediscover what it is to live. But as she works to help Nora overcome her past, Janet realises she must finally face her own.

Based on a true story, The Girl Behind the Gates is the raw, heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting tale of a young woman cut down in her prime, and of the woman who finally brings her back to life, perfect for fans of The Girl in the Letter and Philomena.

©2020 Brenda Davies (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Medical Mental Health Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Women's Fiction Feel-Good Tear-jerking

Critic reviews

"Compelling. Poignant. Haunting. Heart wrenching. Just beautiful. Everyone needs to read this wonderful book." (Renita D'Silva, best-selling author of The Forgotten Daughter)

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I loved this book. It’s heartbreaking what happened to unmarried mothers not so very long ago. This book beautifully tells a truly incredible story and sheds light on an unbelievably ugly practice in our country.

Heart wrenching yet hopeful

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The harrowing account of her life and the pitying small moments of joy Nora wrenched from it . The characterization of Nora and slow steady decline into institutionalization.

Nora

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really good story, really sad at times, so glad there was a happy end

great book

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this had me gripped the whole way through. It was so powerful and intense. I loved it albeit very mixed emotions.

powerful listening

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Excellent listen, beautiful read. so sad at times and yet completely uplifting, the end was inspiring. Highly recommended.

totally absorbing

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