Elena: A Hand Made Life

This is the story of the ordinary extraordinary life of Dr Elena Zadik. ''Each page of this book contains treasures'' - Lizzy Stewart, author of Alison Lives were bent in the furnaces of the twentieth century, but Elena Zadik was unbroken. With a stethoscope, a jar of herring and a hearing aid occasionally switched on, she forged an extraordinary life. Elena ran through the twentieth century without looking back. A refugee twice before she was 17, she broke glass ceilings to become a doctor during World War 2. She was as brilliant a doctor as she was terrible a driver (she never took a test). Finding community, falling in love and starting a family in Sheffield while her parents were imprisoned and killed in Auschwitz, she swam against the odds with courage and tenacity. Miriam gathers the threads of her Granny''s story, reflecting on their unconventional relationship and how trauma travels down through the generations in this gorgeous brocade of illustration and collage. Granny was an unintentionally hilarious woman, often difficult, always opinionated and deeply resourceful. Her hands were always busy and form the heart of this timely, irresistible graphic story of the ordinary extraordinary resilience of women. A heartfelt and charming graphic memoir of love, family and fearless women.

About the author

Miriam Gold is an artist and teacher from London. She has completed international residencies and been commissioned by the V&A and the Barbican, and was selected for the Emerging Writer’s Programme at the London Library for her first book. Miriam holds an MA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins and a BA in History and Politics from the University of Liverpool. She teaches Art and Photography in a large secondary school in East London.

Product details

• Authors: Miriam Gold, Gold Miriam
• Publisher: JONATHAN CAPE
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.08.2024
• EAN: 9781787335226
• ISBN: 978-1-78733-522-6
• No. of pages: 200
• Dimensions: 161 mm x 224 mm x 22 mm
• Subjects: Fiction > Comic, cartoon, humour, satire; Ukraine, FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Parenting / Grandparenting, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Historical, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Jewish, Germany, HISTORY / Jewish, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Medical (incl. Patients), Social and cultural history, True stories of heroism, endurance and survival, Local and family history, nostalgia, Biography: historical, political and military, Sheffield and Rotherham, Relating to Jewish people and groups, Refugees and political asylum, COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS / Nonfiction / History, Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Historical, FICTION / Historical / 20th Century / General