NO LANGUAGE BUT A CRY

by Richard D'Ambrosio ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 25, 1970

This is a significantly involving account of the slow, patient--immeasurably patient--reclamation of an autistic child walled within a Catholic institution for unwanted and disturbed youngsters and totally enclosed within her own divided self and deformed body. She had been burned alive in a frying pan when an infant of one and a half by her parents; along with her disfigured face, she had crossed eyes and curvature of the spine. Dr. D'Ambrosio, on a reluctantly undertaken visit to the Institution, found himself trapped into doing a good deed and helping one child. He chose Laura. For close to six years he worked with her week by month stretching into years when he got his first response from her (panic) and finally, playing with dolls, one of rage (""I hate her, I hate her""). From that time on it was uphill as Laura talked; as they arranged (the Sisters, equally persistent and caring and great wheeler-dealer-fixers when God did not provide) operations for all her disabilities and tuition in a private school so she could become a baby nurse. One's participation is inevitable and Dr. D'Ambrosio's No Language But A Cry should speak to a great many people.

Pub Date: Sept. 25, 1970

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1970

Categories: NONFICTION