The Elected Member

This poignant novel, The Elected Member, delves into the struggles of a family as they confront mental illness, guilt, and the quest for understanding.

To mark the fiftieth anniversary of The Elected Member winning the Booker Prize, Abacus has reissued Bernice Rubens's classic novel with a striking new cover. The story centers around Norman, the brightest member of a close-knit Jewish family residing in London's East End. Once an infant prodigy and a successful barrister, his life takes a drastic turn when he succumbs to drug addiction at the age of forty-one, leading him to become a recluse in his own bedroom, battling hallucinations and paranoia.

Norman's admission to a mental hospital is perceived as the ultimate betrayal, both by him and his family. His father, Rabbi Zweck, grapples with feelings of guilt and failure as he witnesses his son's decline. The weight of this familial crisis is compounded by the emotional chasm that separates them, leaving both father and son in a state of despair. The novel poignantly explores themes of mental health, familial obligation, and the struggle for understanding amidst suffering.

Amidst this turmoil, it is Bella, Norman's unmarried sister, who emerges as a beacon of hope. Clad in her childhood white ankle socks, she attempts to bridge the emotional gap between her father and brother, seeking to restore the peace they both yearn for. The Elected Member is a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of family dynamics in the face of adversity.