The Silent Twins - Softcover

Wallace, Marjorie

3.63

2,530 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140098593 ISBN 13: 9780140098594

Publisher: Penguin, 1987

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June and Jennifer were born identical twins in 1963. Their father was an assistant air traffic controller in the RAF; their mother was kept busy with the twins and their three siblings. When the twins were young, the family moved to Haverfordwest in South Wales. They were the only black family in the whole town. From an early age the twins had a close, almost psychic relationship. As they grew up this developed so that they became silent. They would not talk to anyone else. Communication with other people was impossible (they did all their shopping by mail order) and they were sent to a special school. They had no friends, they were operated on, their tongues were cut in the mistaken belief that they suffered speech impediment. When they were 16, they had nowhere to go except on the dole. This is the true story of the "silent twins" who turned to arson and ended up in Broadmoor.

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Review:

"Strange, riveting... Thanks to Marjorie Wallace, thanks to the twins' incorrigible brilliance, we now have some idea of what it is like to stand in front of a dark mirror" (London Review of Books)

"A remarkable (and finally tragic) story which, in its depth, penetration and detail, no less than its extraordinary subject matter, must be seen as outstanding, a testimony to something extraordinary in the author herself" (New York Times Review of Books)

"A compelling and tragic story" (Mail on Sunday)

"Breathtaking" (Independent)

Book Description:

The harrowing true story of sisters locked in a shocking childhood pact - 'remarkable' (Oliver Sacks).

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