Kate Adie

The superstition was that disability of any sort was the mark of the devil. The phrases are in languages throughout read more

The superstition was that disability of any sort was the mark of the devil. The phrases are in languages throughout Europe: the devil's hoof, the devil's horn mark. It reaches back to early Christianity and the middle ages. Where a child was born out of wedlock, the church cooked up the impression that you'd done something sinful, and something dreadful would result. You will still find, particularly in Greece, people doing a little sign when they see a very badly disabled child – it needs warding off.

I remember she had these long, lovely nails with red varnish, in the middle of this shitty place we were read more

I remember she had these long, lovely nails with red varnish, in the middle of this shitty place we were in!

Historians say this will lead to civil conflict. It doesn't lead to girls being treasured. It leads to them being read more

Historians say this will lead to civil conflict. It doesn't lead to girls being treasured. It leads to them being traded as commodities and stolen.

[There is an odd grammar in that sentence, which seems wrong, but is actually precise.] Close siblings were less common, read more

[There is an odd grammar in that sentence, which seems wrong, but is actually precise.] Close siblings were less common, ... It seemed.

[it's strange to think of yourself as an only child and then suddenly find yourself with three siblings. Does Adie read more

[it's strange to think of yourself as an only child and then suddenly find yourself with three siblings. Does Adie ever feel like an outsider when the rest share a history that she doesn't?] Curiously, I went to a wedding quite near the start, and when we got to the church this charming man came up and said, 'Bride or groom?' ... Groom! You're with the groom!