Saturday, January 23, 2010

Terence O'Neill's story to be published by HarperCollins

Last year I reported that Terence O'Neill had written his memoirs - Never Again - and that they were available on Authonomy.

Terence, or Terry, is the brother of Dennis O'Neill, a boy whose death at a remote farm in Shropshire in 1945 was a national scandal and led to the reform of the treatment of children in public care. Terry was with him when he died.

Terry tells me that his book has now been taken up by HarperCollins and is to be published on 4 March 2010 as Someone to Love Us.

I do hope this book will be promoted, not as another misery memoir, but as the important piece of social history it is.

6 comments:

jenny said...

read this then you`ll truly understand a monster now when i get angry at the kids ill remember dennis and terry`s story.

Anonymous said...

I have just ordered this book from UK as it is not available in Australia. I believe my mother was in contact with Terry and supported him as best she could after reading of the dreadful treatment he had recieved from the people who were supposed to care for him and his brothers. Certainly not fit to be called humans.

Anonymous said...

i started reading someone to love us this afternoon and could not put it down until i'd completely finished.i read a lot of these true life stories but i have never read one as horrifing or as sad as this one,i was in tears from start to finish.

Anonymous said...

i brought your book someone to love us today and i couldnt put it down, i was in tears thoughout this book and my heart goes out to u terry and your poor brother..i hope those two evil people never have children to look after again...

Anonymous said...

I have just finished reading someone to love us and felt compelled to write on here.I had loving parents I myself am a parent and can't begin to imagine the pain Terry and Dennis suffered.My herat goes out to Terry and I'm glad he's got a devoted wife and daughters who truly love him.God bless you Terry and god bless Dennis xx

cassy.T said...

i finished readin somebody to a while ago and have never read a book that made me feel like that i have a son myself and could not begin to imagine somebody doing that to him my heart goes out to terry and im heart broken for dennis, im only 21 i thought i had a rough upbringing but it just goes to show there are monsters out there..the book was amazing and i was fighting tears through out most of it..it gets my angry as if only 1 person took the time to look at these poor boys and take an interest things wouldhave been much better..im glad terry found what he had needed after all those years and god bless dennis xxxxx