Love Lifted Me: Stories from the Childhood of a Replacement Child

As a replacement child, William Noble was born to replace a little boy who died twenty-six years before - just before another pandemic. Born in July 1909, Little William lived for only five years-yet his short life continued to have consequences long after his death for those he knew and for those he was never to know. Now the author, who shares the same birthday with the other William, lives to tell the story. In a collection of mostly autobiographical short stories covering a timeframe from 1914 through 1958, the writer shares insight into the lives of those who surrounded Little William before and after his untimely death to illustrate the lasting and intergenerational impact of suffering and death, especially when the death is not grieved. As he invites others into his life experiences from birth until age eighteen while living in Vienna, Georgia, the writer shines a light on family dynamics, his personal story, and the diverse characters who influenced his life and views. Love Lifted Me is a collection of short stories addressing the mysterious origin of identity as located in inheritance, experience, and context.