A Life Without Hands - Beaumont, Frances Rowley

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Résumé :
A Life Without Hands is the true story of two courageous and unconventional people whose lives become inseparably intertwined. Written with honesty, humour, and emotional clarity, it explores what it means to be creative, resilient, and true to oneself. At its centre is John Oliver, born in 1925 without hands, who refused to let his disability define him. Independent, creative and determined, John, originally trained as an artist, built a remarkable life on the River Medway aboard his tug, Hobbit. His story unfolds alongside the author's own challenges, including her dramatic year in the former Belgian Congo, and the enduring love that grew between them. Set in the evocative landscapes of rural England and the historic streets of Rochester-home to Charles Dickens-the book reveals the secrets held by the river Medway, watched over by the ancient cathedral and Rochester Castle. The people who live and work on the river, like John, move to the phases of the moon and the tides as much as their own choices. This is an unusual and moving biography and memoir of love, independence, and the courage to live life on one's own terms. It celebrates two extraordinary lives and life's hard?won lessons, offering readers an inspiring portrait of determination, creativity, and the enduring power of the human spirit....

Biographie:
Frances Beaumont was born in 1943, qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1965 and as a teacher in 1970. She had a daughter and a son during a short marriage. She has always written poetry and short stories...

Sommaire:
The story flows through time around two courageous and unusual people. It is a moving portrait of the difficulties of being creative and true to oneself, both for the author and John Oliver, who was born without hands. John would not allow the difficulties he was born with to become his defining feature. This love story and the hard lessons learned keep readers wondering and hoping through the good and bad times. Aside from the author's thrilling and challenging year in the ex-Belgian Congo, the book unfolds in the picturesque landscapes of rural England and on the river Medway in Rochester, Charles Dickens' hometown. The river Medway keeps her secrets beside the ancient cathedral and castle, as do the characters who live by or on the river, like John Oliver in his tug, Hobbit. ...