Daffodils: A Memoir

Louise Beech

Apr 2022 · Bolinda · Narrated by Lesley Harcourt

About this audiobook

2019. Dawn. The River Humber. A misty February walk. Surprise early daffodils. A picture taken. Then forgotten. Because five hours later my world shattered. My mother jumped off the Humber Bridge. Had those yellow flowers not delayed me, I might have been there. Could I have stopped her? In the aftermath of this violent act, I turned to my writing, to my beloved siblings, to our only uncle. I was forced to look at events that led to this suicide attempt. At relationships wrecked by alcoholism. At chronic depression. At our care records. At my childhood. At my mother. At buried trauma never fully explored before. At myself ... When I much later found the picture of those surprise daffodils, I knew it was time to write about that day. I began typing the story that inspired so many of my fictional characters, that shaped the testing things they endured. My own story. This book contains sensitive themes. If it raises any issues for you, you can contact Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or QLife (1800 184 527)

About the author

Louise Beech writes travel pieces for the 'Hull Daily Mail', where she was a columnist for 10 years. Her short fiction has won the Glass Woman Prize, the Eric Hoffer Award for Prose, and the Aesthetica Creative Works competition, as well as shortlisting for the Bridport Prize twice and being published in a variety of UK magazines.

Lesley Harcourt has worked extensively in theatre, film and television, including Coronation Street, Eastenders, Castles in the Sky and Casualty, with regular roles in Taggart & Doctors. Highlights include playing Maggie in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' for Nottingham Playhouse/Belgrade/Royal Lyceum and National tour, and playing the role of Princess Diana in 'William & Catherine: A Royal Romance' for Hallmark.