I Loved Him From The Day He Died
My Father, Forgiveness and a Final Pilgrimage
(Author) Michael Harding'I wanted him to be someone he wasn't. I wanted me to be someone I wasn't.' A stunning new book from the number one bestselling, award-winning author of All the Things Left Unsaid and Staring at Lakes. To mark his 70th birthday Michael Harding travelled to Spain and walked the Camino de Santiago. Yet, as he set off on his pilgrimage, he found he wasn't alone. Accompanying him on his 126-kilometre walk in the heat of the Spanish sun was the ghost of his long-dead father, a distant and aloof figure whom he lost when he was only twenty-two years old. Here, with searing honesty and beautifully wrought prose, Harding examines how this man, who had died almost half a century ago, could have had such a profound effect on the writer's life. From the Ireland of his youth, to the time of his father's death, and to the holy wells and pubs he frequented in search of a connection with a man he never really knew, I Loved Him From The Day He Died is a heartfelt examination of love, forgiveness and letting go - told with simple vulnerability and profound insight.
Michael Harding
Michael Harding is an Irish author and playwright known for his deeply personal memoirs and novels that explore themes of identity, family, and spirituality. His most notable works include "Staring at Lakes," "Hanging with the Elephant," and "Talking to Strangers." Harding's writing style is characterized by its introspective and contemplative tone, as well as his keen observational skills and knack for storytelling. His contributions to literature have been praised for their honesty, vulnerability, and ability to connect with readers on a deep emotional level. "Staring at Lakes" is arguably his most famous work, in which he reflects on his own struggles with depression and the healing power of nature and solitude. Harding's impact on the literary genre of memoirs and personal essays has been significant, inspiring others to share their own stories with courage and authenticity.