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[personal profile] alobear
Travelling to Infinity is the second version of Jane Hawking's memoir (revised and republished in 2007). It tells the story of her childhood, then meeting and marrying Stephen, having three kids, trying to hold everything together and then eventually finding happiness again after Stephen went off with one of his nurses.

It's an amazing story and very well written - I was completely absorbed from start to finish. Jane comes across as remarkably self-sacrificing and keen not to bad-mouth Stephen, though it's clear from a lot of what she does and doesn't say that he made life very difficult, over and above the obvious hardships caused by his illness.

It was a tough read in places - especially when she finally did ask for help at various points and was rebuffed, dismissed or outright criticised for not doing more. I was very glad things eventually turned out okay and that she got to be with the person she wanted to be with in the end, without having to give up her principles or her loyalty to her husband.

I suspect there are other accounts of their life together that cast Jane in a much harsher light and idolise Stephen a lot more, but I found her narrative incredibly compelling, realistic, believable and emotive, not to mention largely a lot more charitable and compassionate than I think I would have managed.

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