Ruskin Park: Sylvia, Me and the BBC

'A captivating family detective story and a poignant social history of Britain.' - Observer

After an isolated childhood of silence and secrets, Rory Cellan-Jones (broadcaster, Parkinson's podcaster and Sophie-the-rescue-dog owner) began a journey of discovery. Although he knew he was the child of a love affair between colleagues at the BBC, it wasn’t until his mother died and left him a file labelled 'For Rory' that he understood the true scandal and sadness of his parents' relationship, and the reasons for his fatherless upbringing.

A compelling, tender and emotive memoir of his difficult but ultimately heroic mother, Ruskin Park is also a tribute to an entire generation of women who were never given the chance to realise their potential.

'Ruskin Park is so much more than a memoir. It is a tribute to an individual woman and a whole generation and class.' - Justin Webb, Sunday Times

'Ruskin Park is Rory Cellan-Jones's touching tribute to both his parents, but particularly to the mother he came to know more fully from the letters she left behind' - Daily Mail

© 2023 Duckworth Books (Audiobook): 9781914613586

Release date

Audiobook: 7 September 2023