Happy Baby
4994110
206871807
2008-04-20T12:17:15Z
JzG
760284
cleaning up after move war using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]]
[[Image:Happy-baby.jpg|thumb|210px|''Happy Baby'' book cover]]
'''''Happy Baby''''', is a [[2004]] [[novel]] by [[Stephen Elliott (author)|Stephen Elliott]].
Theo is addicted to [[Sadism and masochism|sadomasochism]]. He insists on being hurt - whether by one he loves or by a professional [[dominatrix]]. Theo is a victim of the [[child welfare]] system. Told in reverse chronological order, 'Happy Baby' begins when 36-year-old Theo returns to [[Chicago]] after six years away, to visit an ex-girlfriend called Maria. He knows Maria from their years growing up together in a state institution, where Theo was sent aged thirteen after his [[child abuse|abusive]] father was killed and his mother died from multiple sclerosis. Theo then drifts into relationships with women who are willing to abuse him.
His need for pain stems from the brutal treatment he received as a child in state custody. He recalls the memory of Mr. Gracie, a [[pedophilia|paedophile]] caseworker who regularly [[sodomy|raped]] him when he was aged twelve but also protected him from the other boys. Elliott explores the[[ psychology]] of [[child sexual abuse]] and physical abuse.
==See also==
*[[List of books portraying paedophilia or sexual abuse of minors]]
==External links==
*[http://www.stephenelliott.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/elliott/nytimes.html/ New York Times Review]
*[http://archive.salon.com/books/review/2004/04/15/elliott/index.html Salon.com Review]
*[http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/elliott/elliott3.html Book Excerpt]
[[Category:2004 novels]]