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Sue Leonard

(MS patient) Marie Fleming

An Act of Love: One Woman's Remarkable Life Story and Her Fight for the Right to Die with Dignity Paperback – 4 Sept. 2014

by Marie Fleming (Author)

39 ratings

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Marie Fleming became a household name in Ireland with her trail-blazing campaign for the right to die with dignity, when she took a landmark case against the Irish State to lift the ban on assisted suicide. But behind the Multiple Sclerosis sufferer's brave fight lay a remarkable life story known to few.

From her young years growing up in Donegal, as she struggled to keep her family together after her mother left, to her battle to keep her own baby - born when Marie was still a teenager - to her later quest for education and self-betterment against the odds, An Act of Love is an unforgettable story of ambition, of sorrow, and of life lived to the full. In it, she also describes coming to terms with MS and the ordeal of her later court case.

Completed just before Marie's death in late 2013, most of all, this is a story of the power of abiding love.

Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Hachette Books Ireland
Publication date

4 Sept. 2014
Dimensions

16.6 x 2.1 x 19.6 cm
ISBN-10

1444791222
ISBN-13

978-1444791228
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Product description

Review

An unflinching account of the relentless march of a dreadful disease...compelling (Irish Mail on Sunday)

Written in simple and forthright prose, [An Act of Love] depicts a formidable character who may have ultimately lost her legal battle but could count herself as a survivor in the truest sense of that word... Brave and touching (Sunday Business Post)

There are books that should be written and books that need to be written and then there are books like An Act of Love, that push and fight their way out into the world against all the odds (Anne Enright Irish Independent)

Remarkable (Irish Times)

About the Author

Marie Fleming was born and raised in Donegal. She left school early and became a mother at just sixteen, before returning to college in her twenties where she later gained her MBA. In her mid thirties, she was diagnosed with MS, which led her to take a landmark case, years later in 2010, against the Irish State to lift the ban on assisted suicide. Although she lost her case, she gained a huge groundswell of public support and brought the 'right to die' issue into the forefront of public debate. Marie had two grown up children and lived in Woodenbridge, County Wicklow, with her partner and carer, Tom. Marie died from MS in December 2013.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hachette Books Ireland (4 Sept. 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1444791222
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1444791228
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.6 x 2.1 x 19.6 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 1,352,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 1,534 in Ethical Issues
- 2,311 in Aging
- 2,461 in Living with Cancer & Illnesses Biographies

Customer reviews:
39 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		68%
4 star		14%
3 star		8%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		9%

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

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mintymoor

Formulaic and saccharine style - co-author wrote this I think

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 October 2020

Verified Purchase

Hence it is very formulaic - lots of unrealistic made-up “homey” conversations, in the style of “Chat” magazine or cheap pulp fiction. For such a compelling subject, it was surprisingly dull and unrevealing. I had no idea at the end who this woman was except for the saccharine and cliche presentation here. I was interested in the subject so found this to square with her campaigning. However, ONCE I realised there was in actual fact a “co-author“ who was a journalist - the complete lack of authenticity in the writing made sense.

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m lyons

A Remarkable brave and funny woman.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 April 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a book about a very brave woman. We all came to know her as a woman with Multiple Scleroses and who went through the courts here in Ireland for the right to die when she chose.that the time was right for her. Her case was not successful but she certainly raised the issue and received great admiration when she appeared in court everyday. But her early life was equally interesting and I found this part of the book a great read. I will just say buy this book. You wont be disapointed

Helpful

D.O.C

Marie Fleming, what a woman.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 October 2014

Verified Purchase

FANTASTIC book. Such a brave and dignified family. Marie took everything thrown at her right through her life such a brave, articulate and intelligent woman. Tom was her guardian angel on earth. She fought everyday to the end but unfortunately Irish law chose to let her die in pain and made the end of her life unnecessarily painful and made the short time she had left with her family and her guardian angel Tom extremely stressful and upsetting for everyone. All she wanted to do was have Tom grant her final wish without fear of punishment to him by the Irish judicial system. It's very sad to think such antiquated laws still exist today. This book is beautifully written and WELL worth the money. RIP Marie Fleming.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2014

Verified Purchase

I loved this poignant book. I had watched the court case on the tv news and was very interested to know more about Marie herself. What a wonderful brave, caring woman and her family must be so proud of her. A must read!

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Clarabel

a must read for all who wish to understand living, loving and death.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 March 2014

Verified Purchase

I found reading about the early part of Marie's life difficult. I marveled at how she survived all she went through in those days. I am in awe of the person she subsequently became in spite of what seemed to be an impossible beginning. This lady was, and is, a Legend. Her legacy lives on through the continuing work of her wonderful partner, Tom Curran. I wish him well in his endeavors.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 April 2014

Verified Purchase

This was one of the most inspirational books I have ever read. I admire so much what she felt she needed to do and was very touched by her story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2014

Verified Purchase

This was a wonderful book I read it in a matter of hours, I suffer from Ms so I had a reason for reading it but will read it again

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 August 2015

Verified Purchase

Happy with the book and in good condition

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