Posted by Mike Field on December 04, 2006 at 06:02:39 from 203.129.46.138 user mikefield.
In Reply to: Re: Tabitha Ransome (was: Arthur Ransome manuscript and books for auction) posted by Peter Ceresole on December 03, 2006 at 12:42:48:
"Not at all unusual, though. I have some cousins to whom that happened."
Oh yes, I agree that it's not at all unusual, Peter. And I'm afraid that my experiences are actually a good deal closer to home than yours (and are subject to a long-drawn-out court battle right now.)
"Their father was a nice guy, but made a disastrous choice of wife. Each would probably have been okay without the other. "
Yes, the first part of that comment applies in the case I mention too. However, the woman is psychotic and cannot form a loving or even trusting relationship with anyone, adult or child. That's why the child is used as cannon-fodder in a perennial war game with the ex-husband -- which of course is the basis of parental alienation. (And for the sake of those who might be interested but haven't yet read the article on parental alienation, I'm posting the link again.)
"All are deeply damaged."
Yes, that's the mess these psychotics leave behind. And the quite-needless damage they do to the children -- usually life-long, permanent damage -- is what is such a crying shame.
Speaking for myself, I find it a difficult question to decide whether I would rather have foregone knowing AR's books in order to ensure the mental health of his daughter and her family. Selfishly, I suspect not.