When Rape: My Story was first published in 1990, it broke a silence. Jill Saward's decision to speak publicly about the 1986 attack on her family's vicarage in Ealing helped to shift the shame of sexual violence from victims to perpetrators and changed the national conversation in Britain.
In this candid and unflinching memoir, Jill recounts the night that altered her life, the trial that followed, and the long journey through trauma, anger, faith and recovery. She writes not as a symbol, but as a person: a daughter, a Christian, a survivor, and a woman determined that what happened to her should not define her future.
The book examines the impact of sexual violence on family life, belief and identity, and reflects on the failures and reforms within the criminal justice system. It captures a pivotal moment in British social history, when public attitudes towards rape and survivors were beginning to change.
This new edition, published to mark the 40th anniversary of the attack, preserves Jill's original voice while placing her story in its wider historical and cultural context. It stands as a testament to resilience, faith and the power of speaking out.
