Book review: The Gingerbread House

Tackling a taboo subject in the shape of caring for an elderly relative was the inspiration for her cathartic novel, Kate Beaufoy tells Sue Leonard.

TEN years ago Kate Beaufoy found herself caring for her elderly mother-in-law.

In the throes of dementia, the elderly lady we’ll call Eleanor, lived at home in the countryside, with two carers who took it in turns doing three-week stints on duty, followed by three weeks off.