Aspect of Fear

I read this book when it was first published in 1989 and was glad to read it again in this new edition.
Grace Sheppard in the preface to the original book explains her understanding of fear and writes many wise words including ‘It is all right to be afraid, but not all right to let it do the driving’ Easier said than done, as we discover reading her story.
She had grown up in a clergy family and had always felt in control of any situation; she liked to be in control as many of us do. While on her honeymoon she developed chickenpox and ended up in an Italian hospital that fearing it might be smallpox put her into isolation. Speaking no Italian, left totally alone for hours hearing only the frantic cries of a nearby patient, when she was finally allowed to go home, she was excited, but the excitement quickly turned to panic a pattern that was to repeat itself for many years. Her husband David was a famous cricketer and becoming a famous clergyman. This meant public appearances when she had to put on a brave face, she had to suppress her fear which only made it worse until she was unable to leave her home – agoraphobia.
Again in her preface she explains ‘Facing fear squarely, and with professional help, I discovered how to manage it’. This book is the story of that lifelong journey.

Lady Sheppard died 11th November 2010 and the preface to this new edition is by Nicholas Frayling, Dean of Chichester who knew her well.