My Mother's Keeper

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My Mother's Keeper

Author	B. D. Hyman
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Autobiography
Published	1985
Publisher	William Morrow and Company
Media type	Hardcover paperback
ISBN	978-0688047986

My Mother's Keeper is a 1985 book by B. D. Hyman, the daughter of actress Bette Davis, in which she alleges that Davis was a bullying, alcoholic mother. The claims made in the book were overwhelmingly disputed, including by one of Davis's other children, and Davis removed her from her will.

Overview[]

My Mother's Keeper is often compared to the 1978 book Mommie Dearest by Christina Crawford, the daughter of Joan Crawford. Published after Crawford's book, My Mother's Keeper depicts Davis as a self-centered, emotionally manipulative alcoholic. Unlike Crawford, Hyman does not accuse her mother of any physical abuse. Indeed, she claims Davis was a battered wife and says Davis' husband, Gary Merrill, was a violent alcoholic. Unlike Crawford's book, which was published after the death of its subject, Hyman's book and a sequel titled Narrow Is the Way were published during Davis' lifetime, affording Davis an opportunity to respond to their allegations. Davis tried unsuccessfully to block publication of Hyman's books.^{[citation needed]}

Reception[]

Publication of My Mother's Keeper roused support for Davis, who months earlier had experienced a mastectomy, four strokes and a broken hip. Whereas Christina Crawford's book has drawn mixed denial and vindication, Hyman's account, which Hyman has maintained, has drawn virtually no support from Davis' associates. They have claimed that Davis in fact spoiled Hyman and that Hyman exaggerated and wrote out of context.

Gary Merrill called Hyman's motivation "cruelty and greed".^[1] Davis's adopted son, Michael Merrill, severed contact with Hyman and never spoke to her again, as did Davis, who disinherited her. Davis left her estate to Michael Merrill and her assistant, Kathryn Sermak.^[2] Davis' only public response to the allegations was an open letter to Hyman in her 1987 memoir, This 'N That, in which she wrote in part, "Your book is a glaring lack of loyalty and thanks for the very privileged life I feel you have been given. If my memory serves me right, I’ve been your keeper all these many years."^[3]

References[]

External links[]

• Contemporary Book Review