My Mother's Keeper
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My Mother's Keeper is a 1985 book by B. D. Hyman, daughter of legendary film star Bette Davis, which recounts her view of their mother/daughter relationship.
An expose of sorts, it is often compared to the 1978 book Mommie Dearest by the daughter of Joan Crawford. Published after Christina Crawford's book, Hyman also paints a very unflattering portrait of her mother, depicting her as a self-centered, emotionally abusive alcoholic. Unlike Crawford, Hyman does not accuse her mother of any physical abuse. Indeed, she claims Davis was a battered woman and states that Davis's actor husband Gary Merill was a violent alcoholic. Unlike Crawford's book, which was published after the death of its subject, Hyman's book and a sequel titled Narrow Is the Way were published during Davis's lifetime, thereby affording the actress an opportunity to respond to their allegations. Davis tried unsuccessfully to block publication of the books.
After publication of My Mother's Keeper there was a groundswell of public sympathy for Davis, who had suffered a broken hip, a mastectomy, and a series of strokes only months prior to the book's release. Many celebrities came forward to defend her, stating that far from being emotionally abused, B.D. Hyman had been spoiled by Davis. Many came forward to dispute Hyman's version of events as being exaggerated and taken out of context. 60 Minutes re-ran an earlier interview with Hyman, conducted a few years prior to her writing the book, in which she praised her mother's abilities as a parent. Among others, Gary Merrill publicly refuted Hyman's allegations, stating in a CNN interview that Hyman was motivated by "cruelty and greed." By and large, she was portrayed as an ungrateful daughter trying to cash in on her mother's name. To this day, Hyman stands by the statements made in her two books.
Davis's only public response to her daughter's allegations was an open letter to her daughter published in the actress's own book, This 'N That (1987). Davis wrote:
"Dear Hyman, I am now utterly confused as to who you are or what your way of life is. Your book is a glaring lack of loyalty and thanks for the very privileged life I feel you have been given. If my memory serves me right, I've been your keeper all these many years. I am continuing to do so, as my name has made your book about me a success."
Davis never spoke to her daughter again after the book was published. Moreover, she disinherited not only her daughter, but her grandchildren from Hyman's marriage.
B.D. Hyman is now a fundamentalist preacher with her own television ministry. She has continued to publish controversial material about her famous mother, which she sells on her ministry's website.
