The Harrowed Path

About the Book

The Harrowed Path describes the experience in 1972 of a 21 year old man struggling to come to terms with experiences diagnosed as Schizophrenia. It is a vivid and compelling account of events both within and out-with his fractured consciousness. The story describes the breakdown of all his normal ability and perception and their replacement with a terrifying, debilitating and self-destructive inner world. It depicts his extraordinary struggle and many lost battles. It describes the various types of help offered, both medical and non-medical. Finally it outlines the experience of his healing. All this takes place within the vivid landscapes of London, Gloucestershire and Hampshire.

About the Author

John was born within a seafaring family in the cradle of the Hampshire Downs. First published in Hampshire Poets in 1969, he formed The Famous Five poetry group, publishing his poetry pamphlet ‘Turning’ in 1972. In 1973 he read to over 10,000 at the Windsor Free Festival. John’s unique 1985 translations of poems by Pushkin and Lermontov were published by 'Chapman'. His narrative cycle "Change is my Name - A Poem in five Acts" - was performed at Edinburgh Folk Festival in 1989. “Two Brothers” was published in 2012 in Anglo Chilean News and on The Wounded Warrior website. John grew up experiencing trauma and mental illness at the heart of his family and was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early twenties. He devoted much of his subsequent life to supporting marginalised people as campaigner, advocate and policy specialist. He shaped policy and education for Scottish Government and local authorities on mental health, as well as playing a pivotal role in the development of minority ethnic carers’ services in Scotland. John and his wife Karen live in Dunfermline, Fife. He is the founder leader of ATCOR, a ground breaking community interest company engaging with key issues for marginalised people. In 2012 he launched the Alan Macdonald and Roderick Macdonald endowments in support of artists in Chile and the United Kingdom.