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The Boy in the Cellar

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The Boy in the Cellar

By: Stephen Smith
Narrated by: Oliver J. Hembrough
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About this listen

Stephen Smith is the boy who did not exist. Born out of wedlock in the early 1960s, Steve's parents - both devout Catholics - had felt so 'shamed' by their son's illegitimate birth that they hid him away from the world by locking him in the cellar...for 13 years. Apart from a few admissions to hospital as a result of his 'imprisonment', Steve remained in the coal cellar of the family home where he was deprived of daylight, his childhood, school and human contact until he'd reached his teenage years.

Starved and beaten, the little boy's world was a darkened room that measured just 8 feet by 10 with a single makeshift bed, a bare light bulb and a solitary table. Steve would spend his days conjuring up an imaginary world full of monsters he would draw to try to block out the physical and mental torture inflicted on him by his brutal father. Locked away like an animal with a bucket to urinate and defecate in, the only human contact he received was from his father, who'd regularly beat him with a shovel and whip him with a belt.

Eventually, he escaped only to fall prey to the instigators of two of the worst cases of institutional abuse in the UK at Aston Hall hospital and St. William's Catholic School.

A horrifying true story of torture and cruelty that reveals a human's full capacity to fight for survival and search out happiness and hope.

©2019 Stephen Smith (P)2019 Bonnier Books UK
Abuse Child Abuse Dysfunctional Families Dysfunctional Relationships Parenting & Families Relationships Emotionally Gripping Inspiring Scary Heartfelt Nonfiction True
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A tragic life story but what a revenge on hardship he has taken. His resiliency is phenomenal and inspiring.
All my respect Stephen Smith.

Heartbreaking

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Gripping from the start… did not want to put the earplugs down…. A must listen to book.. loved the narrators voice… hard to imagine that someone can come from a place of hell and still be able to see good in the world!

Unbelievable

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So well written and narrated... worth the read. You will not be able to stop listening.

Such a sad story with a truly happy ending.

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Read it. A story that needed to be told and needs to be heard by one seriously strong mofo.

One of the most powerful reads of my life.

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the horrific start to life that you had is terrifying. So good to hear you have found a happiness you deserve!!

Fantastically sad and horrific

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Loved it. My first book on Audible and it got me hooked.
Heartbreaking story and I couldn't stop listening. Highly recommended.

Shocking.

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very sad but totally enjoyed listen to it. opened up my eyes what happened ti Steven just wanted to help him

good stories

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Stressful to listen to. Stephen had a horrific childhood and to hear his sufferings and him being failed by countless adults- parents, doctors, teachers, social workers, priests -over and over again is so heartbreaking.
The language is gripping and the narrator's voice is full of emotions too. I want to give the boy a hug.

'Brave'.

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What an amazing book how any child could survive what he has been through is absolutely amazing. My heart goes out to him and all the other children. I’m so pleased he has made it in his life.

Freedom at last

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Steven Smith is inspirational. It’s unbelievable how authorities by turning a blind eye allowed this absolute atrocity to continue for so many years. I loved this book. It must of been so hard to relive the abuse.

The cruelty of so many people!

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