Art historian Mary Kisler grew up in the early 1950s with her father, a former prisoner of war who talked little, whose affection she cherished and whose anger she feared. Photo: Massey University Press
Art historian Mary Kisler saw the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on her father, who left for war with one personality and returned with another - after being a prisoner of war in Italy and then Germany from late 1941 to 1945. Mary's search to better understand her father, whom she both loved and feared, lead her to trace his life and war record. She then uncovered the truth behind his harrowing experiences and the stigma that came with being a POW. Mary's memoir Dark Dad: War and trauma - a daughter's tale is a powerful, redemptive story and one of forgiveness.
She came into the Auckland studio to speak to Mihi.
