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Richard B. Pelzer

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Richard B. Pelzer
Born
Richard Bryan Pelzer

(1965-06-16)June 16, 1965
DiedSeptember 13, 2019(2019-09-13) (aged 54)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materSouthern New Hampshire University
Occupation(s)Memoirist, novelist, public speaker
Children4
FamilyDave Pelzer (brother)

Richard Bryan Pelzer (June 16, 1965 – September 13, 2019) was an American public speaker, memoirist and author. He was the author of A Brother's Journey and its follow up, A Teenager's Journey.

Biography

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Pelzer was the fourth of five sons of Stephen Pelzer and Catherine Roerva. He received his bachelor's degree in child and adolescent development from Southern New Hampshire University in 2015.[citation needed]

He was divorced with four children.

Pelzer published his memoir, A Brother's Journey, an account of the story of his young adult life. Pelzer was also the author of A Teenager's Journey, which recounts his teenage years. His brother, Dave Pelzer, was severely abused by their mother when he was a child.

Controversy

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Pelzer and his brother Dave Pelzer, who wrote A Child Called "It" about his own abuse by their mother, have raised questions about each's depictions of their childhoods. Articles in The New York Times Magazine[1] and Slate[2] have expressed skepticism of claims made by Dave Pelzer.

Death

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Richard Pelzer died by suicide on September 13, 2019, after a difficult battle with his mental health.

Bibliography

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Pelzer wrote two memoirs about the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his mother.

  • A Brother's Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse[3]
  • A Teenager's Journey: Overcoming a Childhood of Abuse[4]

References

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  1. ^ Jordan, Pat (2002-07-28). "Dysfunction For Dollars". The New York Times Magazine. p. S6-22. Archived from the original on 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  2. ^ Plotz, David (2000-09-29). "Dave Pelzer - The child-abuse entrepreneur". Slate. Archived from the original on 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  3. ^ A Brother's Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse. New York: Warner Books. 2005. ISBN 0-446-53368-8. Retrieved 2019-09-07 – via Internet Archive text collection.
  4. ^ A Teenager's Journey: Overcoming a Childhood of Abuse. London: Sphere Books. 2006. ISBN 978-0-7515-3769-7. Retrieved 2023-10-04 – via Internet Archive text collection.

Resources

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  • Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2006. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2006.