Enemy

Ruth Clare's father came back from the Vietnam War a changed man: a violent, controlling parent and a dominating, aggressive husband. Through a childhood of being constantly on guard, with no one to protect her but herself, Ruth learned to be strong and fierce in the face of fear.After escaping her difficult upbringing, Ruth went on to have a family of her own. Facing the challenges of parenting brought her past back to life, and she lived in fear that she was doomed to repeat her father's behaviour. Wanting to understand the experiences that had damaged her father, she met with other veterans and began listening to their stories of war, conscription and returning to civilian life. What Ruth uncovered left her with a surprising empathy for the man who caused her so much pain and heartache.

'Ruth Clare brings history into the home with piercing intelligence, unflinching honesty and total, terrifying recall. By drawing a direct line from the violence of war to the brutality of domesticity, Enemy refuses to excuse the tormentor yet tries to understand the legacy of torment. I wanted this book to stop and I couldn't put this book down.' -- Clare Wright, author of the Stella Prize-winning The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka
'Powerful and heart-rending memoir, told with grace and empathy.' -- Kate Forsyth, bestselling and award-winning author of The Chain of Charm series
'Brilliantly moving.' -- Annabel Crabb, bestselling author of The Wife Drought
'A beautiful memoir about how our childhood shapes us and the scars it leaves.' -- Amra Pajalic, award-winning author

Ruth Clare is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker, actor, qualified scientist and expert on resilience, authenticity and change. A master storyteller both on the page and on the stage, in addition to spending decades as a professional writer, Ruth has performed in Australian television, film and theatrical productions. Her TEDx talk 'The Pain of Hiding Your True Self' has had more than a half a million views. Ruth lives in Melbourne with her husband and two children. Visit ruthclare.com or connect with her on the socials @ruthclareauthor to find out more. Ruth Clare is an award-winning author, TEDx speaker, actor, qualified scientist and expert on resilience, authenticity and change. A master storyteller both on the page and on the stage, in addition to spending decades as a professional writer, Ruth has performed in Australian television, film and theatrical productions. Her TEDx talk 'The Pain of Hiding Your True Self' has had more than a half a million views. Ruth lives in Melbourne with her husband and two children. Visit ruthclare.com or connect with her on the socials @ruthclareauthor to find out more.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.