The Boy in the Cellar Audiobook By Stephen Smith cover art

The Boy in the Cellar

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The Boy in the Cellar

By: Stephen Smith
Narrated by: Oliver J. Hembrough
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About this listen

Stephen Smith is the boy who did not exist. Born out of wedlock in the early 1960s, Steve's parents - both devout Catholics - had felt so 'shamed' by their son's illegitimate birth that they hid him away from the world by locking him in the cellar...for 13 years. Apart from a few admissions to hospital as a result of his 'imprisonment', Steve remained in the coal cellar of the family home where he was deprived of daylight, his childhood, school and human contact until he'd reached his teenage years.

Starved and beaten, the little boy's world was a darkened room that measured just 8 feet by 10 with a single makeshift bed, a bare light bulb and a solitary table. Steve would spend his days conjuring up an imaginary world full of monsters he would draw to try to block out the physical and mental torture inflicted on him by his brutal father. Locked away like an animal with a bucket to urinate and defecate in, the only human contact he received was from his father, who'd regularly beat him with a shovel and whip him with a belt.

Eventually, he escaped only to fall prey to the instigators of two of the worst cases of institutional abuse in the UK at Aston Hall hospital and St. William's Catholic School.

A horrifying true story of torture and cruelty that reveals a human's full capacity to fight for survival and search out happiness and hope.

©2019 Stephen Smith (P)2019 Bonnier Books UK
Abuse Child Abuse Dysfunctional Families Parenting & Families Relationships Hospital Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Scary Nonfiction True
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Heartbreaking True Story • Inspiring Survival Story • Excellent Narration • Captivating Personal Account • Powerful Voice
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This book was hard to listen to, especially at first as the details are incompressibly deranged. With that said, it is written very well. It is a very good book but be ready to hear about humanity at it's worst.

great book, horrible story

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This is an excellent abuse survival memoir. Very gripping I could not put this one down.

Excellent abuse survival memoir

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What an amazing writer and narrator! The book had me on the edge of my seat with tears the entire time! It truly makes you wonder how there can be so many evil people in this world. It is so wonderful that he had the courage to write it! That is awesome. Strongly encourage others to read this survivor’s story.

Heart wrenching but so inspirational

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the strength of the human spirit is awesome. I really enjoyed this listen. what a survivor story

must read for anyone with cptsd

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this book will tear at your soul. the amount of abuse is so painful. yet, this man is still a shining light. cannot say enough of how wonderful this story is for the triumph it imparts

A very hard listen

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Oh that people have learned something from what Stephen and others endured. Speak up and out!

Thank you Stephen your strength is amazing.

A travesty

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great narration, heart breaking story but a great one . all my love to the author .

so sad but a good story

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A masterfully written story detailing this brave boy’s/man’s life story of survival. The performance was superb. Total 5 despite the disturbing details of abuse.6

Masterful!

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loved it, it angered me that such evil exists. praise God Stephen was able to rise above it

riveting and heartbreaking

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Heartbreaking but amazing story must listen to. Take the time. Will not regret it.

heartbreaking but amazing story.

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