Wise Before Their Time

Biographies & Memoirs

synopsis

Synopsis

‘This collection of true stories is as powerful as any great classic of fiction’ Sir Ian McKellen They are young and they have a life-threatening disease… The year is 1991. Diagnoses of HIV are rising and there is no cure in sight. Coming from all corners of the world, over forty young men and women talk about living with HIV and AIDS. They must cope with the enormous stigma, blame and guilt associated with the disease. And there are challenges in telling their parents and partners, trying to stay healthy and keeping themselves in work – all while facing an inevitably shortened future. Yet they remain committed to celebrating the joys of life as much as they can. This book is a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit. First published in 1992, this book tells their unique stories in their own words.

bio

Author Biography

Ann Richardson has been a writer for many years. She is fascinated by other people’s thoughts, experiences and emotions and loves to write books where they can express their views in their own words. She writes on different subjects that capture her interest for one reason or another. This includes a book about people living with AIDS or HIV thirty years ago when there was no cure (Wise Before Their Time, Foreword by Sir Ian McKellen); a book about what it is like to work in end-of-life care (Life in a Hospice, Foreword by Tony Benn); and a book about how it feels to be a grandmother (Celebrating Grandmothers). Her most recent book. The Granny Who Stands on Her Head: Reflections on Growing Older, is a set of short pieces about the joys and challenges of becoming old, with an emphasis on the joys. It is also partly a memoir, including some stories from her life. Ann lives in London, England, with her husband of 58 years. Please visit her website www.annrichardson.co.uk

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Author Insight

Living with stigma

This is a book about people living with HIV/AIDS back when there was little treatment - and a great deal of stigma. Yet the people talking are just ordinary men and women, often very young. This woman contracted AIDS from her bisexual husband. She gives a good sense of the terror in a diagnosis.

Book Excerpt

Wise Before Their Time

I just felt so filthy, really dirty. Unclean. I kept washing myself and having baths, thinking maybe I could wash it away.

It didn't happen to women, heterosexual women. Why did it happen to me? I must have done something really wrong. You don't think sensibly when you're told. I hated myself, I felt dreadful. I felt I must have deserved this, it was like it was my punishment. You hadn't been good enough in your life. It was like the wrath of God.

I was also frightened about dying – becoming ill and dying and not being able to look after my family. It was like a nightmare. You kept wanting to wake up. I felt 'this isn't real, I can't have this. I am so well and so fit and strong.' I just didn't believe it.

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Ann Richardson

Wise Before Their Time

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

Living with stigma

This is a book about people living with HIV/AIDS back when there was little treatment - and a great deal of stigma. Yet the people talking are just ordinary men and women, often very young. This woman contracted AIDS from her bisexual husband. She gives a good sense of the terror in a diagnosis.

Book Excerpt

Wise Before Their Time

Comment on this Bubble