Innocence Trembles: The Christian Brothers Orphanage Tragedy, a Survivor's Story by Kate Davies

Book Description

Secondhand. Good condition. Wear to book corners and edges. Previous owner has signed inside page, now covered with blank ex libris bookplate sticker. Foredges and inside covers are sunned.

In 1935, Edward 'Skinny' Davies, the illegitimate son of a 17-year-old Australian girl, was sent to a Christian Brothers' home for boys at Castledare in Western Australia. When Innocence Trembles is the compelling and often horrifying true story of Skinny's 10 years as an inmate at three Christian Brothers' institutions: Castledare, Clontarf, and Bindoon Boys' Town.

The fear of god instilled in Skinny by the Brothers was soon surpassed by the horror of his day-to-day existence in these 'homes'. It was a life of hard labour, appalling living conditions and physical, sexual and psychological abuse.

When Innocence Trembles is one boy's story, but it will ring true for thousands. How and why it could happen in our 'lucky country' are questions all Australians will ask on reading.

Warning: This is a distressing read and may trigger traumatic memories for people, particularly survivors of past abuse, violence or childhood trauma.