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Biography & Autobiography Women

The Unravelling

Incest and the Destruction of a Family

by (author) Donna Besel

Publisher
University of Regina Press
Initial publish date
Nov 2021
Category
Women, Personal Memoirs, Sexual Abuse & Harassment
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780889778436
    Publish Date
    Nov 2021
    List Price
    $21.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780889778450
    Publish Date
    Nov 2021
    List Price
    $21.99

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Description

It’s the antithesis of why a wedding should be memorable. In 1992, at a sister’s nuptials, Donna Besel’s family members discovered that their father, Jock Tod, had molested their youngest sister. After this disclosure, the other five sisters admitted their father had assaulted them when they were younger and had been doing so for years. Despite there being enough evidence to charge their father, the lengthy prosecution rocked Besel's family and deeply divided their small rural community.
 
The Unravelling is a brave, riveting telling of the destruction caused by sexual assault, and the physical, psychological, emotional, financial, and legal tolls survivors often shoulder.
 
Donna Besel offers an honest portrayal of the years-long police process from disclosure to prosecution that offers readers greater insight into the challenges victims face and the remarkable strength and resilience required to obtain some measure of justice.

 
 

About the author

Donna Besel grew up in Whiteshell Provincial Park, and now lives on the Winnipeg River near Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba. Her writing has appeared in various publications and accumulated honours such as second place in Prairie Fire's writing contest, shortlist in CBC's Literary Awards, finalist in CBC's "Canada Writes" and first place in This Magazine's "Great Canadian Literary Hunt." She leads creative writing workshops for all ages and also instructs in the province-wide Artists in the Schools program.

Donna Besel's profile page

Editorial Reviews

“Donna Besel’s battle for acknowledgment of the evils that infected her childhood is illumined in The Unravelling by the sheer strength of her lucid, straightforward, voice. Besel carries us along an eye-opening journey, one of healing and remarkable endurance.” —Harriet Richards, author of Waiting for the Piano Tuner to Die