The Elected Member

Publisher details

Author
Bernice Rubens
Publisher
Hachette
Genres
Fiction, Man Booker Prize winner
Released
01 January, 1969

The Elected Member

Buy now

Retail partners

    Synopsis

    Norman is the clever one of a close-knit Jewish family in the East End of London. Infant prodigy; brilliant barrister; the apple of his parents' eyes... until at forty-one he becomes a drug addict, confined to his bedroom, at the mercy of his hallucinations and paranoia.For Norman, his committal to a mental hospital represents the ultimate act of betrayal. For Rbbi Zweck, Norman's father, his son's deterioration is a bitter reminder of his own guilt and failure. Only Bella, the unmarried sister, still in her childhood white ankle socks, can reach across the abyss of pain to bring father and son the elusive peace which they both desperately crave.
    Bernice Rubens
    About the author

    Bernice Rubens

    Bernice Rubens was born is Wales and worked as both a writer and a film maker. She is the winner of the Booker Prize for The Elected Member, and was shortlisted for the same prize for a subsequent novel: A Five Year Sentence. She died in 2004.

    Books by Bernice Rubens

    Related articles

    PODCAST: Francesca Albanese on War and Power

    Podcast

    1 June 2026

    PODCAST: Francesca Albanese on War and Power

      PODCAST: Dervla McTiernan on Ruthless Editing and Finding Home in Australia

      Podcast

      25 May 2026

      PODCAST: Dervla McTiernan on Ruthless Editing and Finding Home in Australia

        What Should You Read Next? Let WAYR? The App Decide

        News

        19 May 2026

        What Should You Read Next? Let WAYR? The App Decide

          The Best Podcast Episodes You’ll Find on WAYR? The App

          News | Events & Festivals

          19 May 2026

          The Best Podcast Episodes You’ll Find on WAYR? The App

          How to Download What Are You Reading? The App

          News

          19 May 2026

          How to Download What Are You Reading? The App

          PODCAST: Antoinette Lattouf on Books, Battles and Breaking Barriers

          Podcast

          18 May 2026

          PODCAST: Antoinette Lattouf on Books, Battles and Breaking Barriers

            3 Reasons Why You Should Read The Farmer's Pyjamas by Ruth Paul

            News

            11 May 2026

            3 Reasons Why You Should Read The Farmer's Pyjamas by Ruth Paul

            Q&A: Judith Katherine, Author of Simply Beside Herself

            News | Author Related

            11 May 2026

            Q&A: Judith Katherine, Author of Simply Beside Herself

              PODCAST: Ann Mossop on the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival

              Podcast

              11 May 2026

              PODCAST: Ann Mossop on the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival

                The Culture of WAYR? The App

                News

                6 May 2026

                The Culture of WAYR? The App

                  COMMENTS

                  Leave a Reply

                  Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *