South of Forgiveness: A True Story of Rape and Responsibility

One ordinary spring morning in Reykjavik, Iceland, Thordis Elva kisses her son and partner goodbye before boarding a plane to do a remarkable thing: fly seven thousand miles to South Africa to confront the man who raped her when she was just sixteen. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Australia, Tom Stranger nervously embarks on an equally life-changing journey to meet Thordis, wondering whether he is worthy of this milestone. After exchanging hundreds of searingly honest emails over eight years, Thordis and Tom decided it was time to speak face to face. Coming from opposite sides of the globe, they meet in the middle, in Cape Town, South Africa, a country that is no stranger to violence and the healing power of forgiveness.South of Forgiveness is an unprecedented collaboration between a survivor and a perpetrator, each equally committed to exploring the darkest moment of their lives. It is a true story about being bent but not broken, facing fear with courage, and finding hope even in the most wounded of places. Personable, accessible, and compelling, South of Forgiveness is an intense and refreshing look at gendered violence, rape culture, personal responsibility, and the effect that patriarchal cultures have on both men and women.Contains mature themes.

Thordis Elva is known in Iceland as a writer, journalist, public speaker, playwright, and Woman of the Year 2015. Her book about gender-based violence, Á mannamáli (The Plain Truth) was one of the most awarded Icelandic books of 2009.

Tom Stranger worked in outdoor recreation until he shifted his focus toward working with young people with complex needs: drug and alcohol rehabilitation, homelessness, neurological impairment, and mental health challenges. He lives with his wife in Sydney, Australia.

Tom Bromhead is a uniquely international voice artist. Having grown up in Australia and England has given him an ear for accents and characters, including the GEICO Gecko, whom he voiced for several years. Tom has also starred in commercials and performed voices for video games and animated series. He lives in Los Angeles.

Audie Award finalist Tavia Gilbert is a classical theater and public radio-trained actress who has earned AudioFile Earphones and Parents' Choice awards for her audiobook narrations. Tavia has narrated more than 250 multicast and single-voice audiobooks.