Skeletons in the Closet

By Sandra Brandeis Crawford

"Skeletons in the Closet" is set in various locations with atmospheric descriptions of locations in Australia, England, Austria and the Czech Republic and travels through accounts of war experiences, post-war immigration to Sydney, Australia, culture shock, life behind the Iron Curtain, the moon landing, and later student life during the 1970's and the IRA bombings. Family dynamics are often a challenge! This family drama plays out over a twenty-year period between 1963 and 1983 in Australia, England and Austria, highlighting the lasting effects of the 2nd World War and the Holocaust on all protagonists in very different ways. All the events in the story are researched historical facts interwoven around the main characters, and their ability or especially inability in Miriam's case in dealing with the way world politics determine their lives. In the early 1950's Bill and Miriam immigrate to Sydney on the assisted 10/- passage initiated by the Australian Government together with Brian, Bill's son from a previous marriage. The couple come from very divergent backgrounds; Bill, a working-class orphan from the East End in London, who is interested in left-wing politics, and Miriam, a Jewish refugee from Vienna, and a displaced person after the 2nd WW; she is cultured and plays the piano very well. Soon after their arrival in the migrant camp in La Perouse Brian is considered wayward, becomes a ward of the state and is sent to a juvenile delinquent centre until he is eighteen. He behaves very threateningly, especially towards Bill. Their daughters, Shelley and Claire are born in Sydney in the mid to late 1950's. The sisters know very little about their parent's backgrounds, as life before leaving England is never spoken about. Bill and Miriam's traumatic memories unravel throughout the story.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B091DWW5CS
• ISBN13: 9798728866381
• Release Date: March 2021
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"