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In 'South Of Forgiveness,' Authors Seek To Open Dialogue About Sexual Violence

Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger captivated the audience at a TED Talk when they told the story of how Stranger raped Elva when they were teens, and met again years later.
"South of Forgiveness," by Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

In October, Thordis Elva (@thordiselva) and Tom Stranger captivated the audience at a TED Talk when they told the story of how Stranger raped Elva when they were teens, and how they met again years later.

Stranger fully accepted responsibility for his actions, and Elva extended forgiveness. The two tell the story in “South of Forgiveness: A True Story of Rape and Responsibility,” and join Here & Now‘s Robin Young to talk about the book.

[Youtube]

Book Excerpt: ‘South Of Forgiveness’

By Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger

The taxi picks me up at a quarter to five and takes me to the bus station, where I’m booked on the fly-bus. The grizzled taxi driver, hoisting my suitcase into the trunk with a smooth manoeuvre, asks me where I’m going.

‘To South Africa.’

‘Oh, really? To Johannesburg?’

‘No, to Cape Town,’ I reply, still in disbelief at my own words despite

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