At 18, with a baby, Leah Purcell fled violence with her mother’s book. It became her life’s work
In 1988, she had fallen pregnant at 17, turned 18 in August, given birth to her daughter in September and lost her mother in October. Bound for Brisbane, she was determined to set her life on a new course and pursue her dream of a career on stage.As a child who hated reading, it was an odd choice to keep a book she’d scribbled in the margins of, to the horror of Florence, an avid reader. Purcell’s father, Les Haack, was a white man, a boxing trainer and the town’s butcher, but Purcell was not allowed to acknowledge him as her dad.
- ▪In 1988, she had fallen pregnant at 17, turned 18 in August, given birth to her daughter in September and lost her mother in October.
- ▪Bound for Brisbane, she was determined to set her life on a new course and pursue her dream of a career on stage.As a child who hated reading, it was an odd choice to keep a book she’d scribbled in the margins of, to the horror of Florence,
- ▪Purcell’s father, Les Haack, was a white man, a boxing trainer and the town’s butcher, but Purcell was not allowed to acknowledge him as her dad.
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.