profits have doubled. This is partly because the redefinition went with a decision to include the genre known in the trade as the “misery market”, alongside more esoteric self-help manuals.Barnsley says the misery market, typified by tales such as Dave Pelzer’s A Child Called It - his account of the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his mother - has been a peculiarly British phenomenon that seems to have replaced the “saga market”, defined by Catherine Cookson’s tales of grief down the generations.
“People want to read terrible stories about abuse,” she says. “Even celebrity memoirs now usually mention a tough childhood. It’s a weird thing about the English psyche.”
A friend has been sharing bits from “A Child Called It” with me. It’s powerful stuff.
Of course, the “misery market” is not exclusively an English phenomenon. Cheryl and I have watched dozens of “misery market” movies and tv shows over the years. The phrase “misery market” is unfortunate. The reason the genre appeals is because in a world filled with consumerist distractions it’s a necessary reminder that the awful things that happen to real people are of paramount importance.
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