All Things Consoled

Elizabeth Hay's memoir, All Things Consoled, was awarded the 2018 Hilary Weston Writers Trust Award for Non-fiction. It is a poignant and complex account of the transition from daughter to guardian and caregiver, exploring the drama of her parents' end and the longer drama of being their daughter. Hay's writing is praised for its skill, poignant truth, and potential to change the way we see families and our place within them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 03 September 2020
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

Winner of the 2018 Hilary Weston Writers Trust Award for Non-fiction, "All Things Consoled" is a poignant, complex, and hugely resonant memoir by a prizewinning author that delves into the transition from being a daughter to a guardian and caregiver. This remarkable work showcases the sheer skill of the writing, the poignant truth of even the smallest details, the depth of Hay's understanding, and the immense potential this book holds to reshape our perception of families and our own roles within them.

From the pen of Elizabeth Hay, one of Canada's most celebrated novelists, emerges a startling and beautiful memoir that delves into the drama of her parents' end and the longer drama of being their daughter. Jean and Gordon Hay were a formidable pair, with Jean being an artist and incredibly frugal, while Gordon was a proud and principled schoolteacher with an explosive temper. Elizabeth, often referred to as the "difficult child," harbored a sense of guilt for her childhood misdeeds, believing that she would ultimately end up caring for them in their final years as a form of atonement.

Philip Roth once remarked that old age is a massacre. "All Things Consoled" takes readers on a poignant journey into the heart of this massacre as Hay's fiercely independent parents become increasingly reliant on her. With remarkable wit and honesty, Hay lays bare the agony of a family coping with the tragedy of living too long. Through her memoir, she arrives at a more nuanced understanding of her mother and father, as well as herself as their daughter. They remain the two vivid giants in her life, shaping her in profound ways.

"All Things Consoled" is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, as well as the complexities of family relationships. It is a must-read for anyone who has ever faced the challenges of caring for loved ones, as it offers a glimpse into the emotional toll that comes with such a responsibility. Elizabeth Hay's writing is a tour de force, and this memoir is a testament to her talent and her ability to capture the essence of life's most challenging moments.

Weight: 184g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780857059130