Little Brother

Sallie Bingham's memoir, Little Brother, reflects on her youngest sibling, Jonathan, who died at twenty-two after climbing a pole and grabbing a live wire. The book combines archived material with affection and tenderness, revealing Jonathan's struggles with insecurity, isolation, and difficulty relating to his large family.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Sarabande Books, Incorporated

Rewritten text:

Sallie Bingham's 1989 memoir, Passion and Prejudice, has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape, hailed by Gloria Steinem as a significant milestone in feminist progress and democracy. In her latest offering, Little Brother, Bingham delves into the life of her youngest sibling, Jonathan, and his tragically brief existence. The book opens with a chilling account of nine close relatives who met untimely deaths due to accidents, suicide, overdoses, exposure to harsh elements, and electrocution, all before the age of 50. At the age of twenty-two, Jonathan embarked on a fateful journey when he climbed a pole, driven by a desire to provide lighting for a barn party. In a tragic twist of fate, he inadvertently grasped a live wire, resulting in his fatal fall to the ground.

Despite his young age, Jonathan grappled with profound insecurity, isolation, and difficulty forming meaningful connections with his large family. Bingham draws upon archived materials, including Jonathan's journal and letters, to craft a poignant and heartfelt account of his short history. She writes with obvious affection and tenderness, intertwining moments of survival guilt into the narrative. Little Brother is a powerful and poignant exploration of loss, resilience, and the complexities of family relationships. It serves as a testament to the enduring impact of personal experiences and the power of storytelling to shed light on the human condition.

Dimension: 215 x 139 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781946448989