Esther Freud on Grief and Family
Novelist Esther Freud, 63, has opened up about the profound grief she experienced when her parents died within four days of each other. In a candid interview, she described being 'engulfed' as she rushed between their bedsides. Freud, daughter of painter Lucian Freud and Bernardine Coverley, shared these reflections on life, death, and the lessons learned along the way.
Early Memories and Childhood
Freud's earliest memory is making Fanta with seawater and sand on a beach in Formentera with her sister Bella. She wanted to be an acrobat when she grew up, and her biggest disappointment is not joining the circus. Despite her literary success, she admits to being a terrible liar, often confessing halfway through a lie.
Life's Most Important Lesson
When asked about the most important lesson life has taught her, Freud replied: 'Life's too short to take offence.' She also noted that she can always see two points of view, which makes it hard to have a row, and deplores an inability to see the other side in others.
Treasures and Inspirations
Her most treasured possession is a painting by her father of her baby son. She credits her parents with giving her inspiration. When asked who she would like to be if not herself, she named author Katherine Rundell. Her celebrity crush is writer Lily King, whom she loves deeply while reading her books.
Reflections on Death and the Afterlife
Freud believes that when we die, we watch over those we love. She last cried while talking about the hardships of her mother's life, noting that her mother would not approve. Her greatest fear is decline, and what keeps her awake at night is wondering if she behaved in the right way.
Writing and Creativity
Freud, whose work has been translated into 13 languages, has a new paperback, My Sister and Other Lovers. She says that what would improve her life is for words to fly from her fingers as they occasionally do. Recently, she changed her mind about a children's book she was working on and decided to rewrite it.
