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The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things is a 2001 novel by Laura Albert
, using the pen name and fictional persona of JT LeRoy
. It is a catalogue of drug abuse, child sexual abuse, physical abuse centred around Jeremiah, a young boy, and his prostitute mother Sarah. Although published second, the book was written before Sarah
, LeRoy's first published novel.
to live with Sarah, a drug addict and lot lizard prostitute, who has recently turned 18 and legally gained custody.
Jeremiah moves with his mother from truck driver to truck driver as he gets older, though his age in each chapter is never clearly established. Sarah forces Jeremiah to take on various roles of siblings and offspring (gender determined by Sarah). After wetting his bed
, Jeremiah gets viciously belted
by her then-boyfriend, Luther, while his mother fondles his penis
. He is made to shoplift
by Sarah and is left home alone and unattended for six days when Sarah marries one of her men. The man returns alone from their honeymoon, explaining how Sarah abandoned him after he lost his money in Atlantic City, sodomises
Jeremiah, then dumps him outside a hospital.
After some ineffectual psychotherapy
, he goes to live with his repressive Christian grandparents' home. Jeremiah is abused there as well; he is being forced to get into scalding water.
Two years later, Jeremiah's mother unexpectedly turns up and takes him away, aware of the lack of power her parents have over the custody decision. She makes him grow shoulder-length hair and act as a girl, on occasion for the sexual satisfaction of her clients. With Sarah as the only influential figure in his life, Jeremiah starts to adopt his mother's seduction techniques. After dressing up as a 'baby doll', Jeremiah seduces Jackson, his mother's latest man, who initially tries to rebuff the boy's advances, but then rapes him.
The book has been adapted into a feature film of the same name
, directed by and starring Asia Argento
.
Laura Albert
Laura Victoria Albert is the author of writings credited to the fictional teenage persona of JT LeRoy, a long-running literary hoax in which LeRoy was presented to the public and publishers as a transgender, sexually questioning, abused, former homeless drug addict and male prostitute...
, using the pen name and fictional persona of JT LeRoy
JT LeRoy
Jeremiah "Terminator" LeRoy was a pseudonym created by American writer Laura Albert. The name was used from 1996 on for publication in magazines such as Nerve and Shout NY. After his first novel Sarah was published, "LeRoy" started making public appearances...
. It is a catalogue of drug abuse, child sexual abuse, physical abuse centred around Jeremiah, a young boy, and his prostitute mother Sarah. Although published second, the book was written before Sarah
Sarah (novel)
Sarah is a novel by Laura Albert using the fictional teenage persona of JT LeRoy, a long-running literary hoax.- Plot introduction :Sarah is a story told by a 12-year-old boy called Cherry Vanilla, whose real name is Jeremiah...
, LeRoy's first published novel.
Plot summary
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things is told from Jeremiah's perspective and is a collection of interlinked chapters that focus on his early life with his mother. At the start of the novel, five-year-old Jeremiah is taken away from his foster parentsFoster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
to live with Sarah, a drug addict and lot lizard prostitute, who has recently turned 18 and legally gained custody.
Jeremiah moves with his mother from truck driver to truck driver as he gets older, though his age in each chapter is never clearly established. Sarah forces Jeremiah to take on various roles of siblings and offspring (gender determined by Sarah). After wetting his bed
Bedwetting
Nocturnal enuresis, commonly called bedwetting, is involuntary urination while asleep after the age at which bladder control usually occurs. Nocturnal enuresis is considered primary when a child has not yet had a prolonged period of being dry...
, Jeremiah gets viciously belted
Belting (beating)
Belting is the use of belts made of strong materials as a whip-like instrument for corporal punishment . It is most often associated with educational institutions where it has been used as disciplinary measure but it has also been applied domestically by parents...
by her then-boyfriend, Luther, while his mother fondles his penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
. He is made to shoplift
Shoplifting
Shoplifting is theft of goods from a retail establishment. It is one of the most common property crimes dealt with by police and courts....
by Sarah and is left home alone and unattended for six days when Sarah marries one of her men. The man returns alone from their honeymoon, explaining how Sarah abandoned him after he lost his money in Atlantic City, sodomises
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
Jeremiah, then dumps him outside a hospital.
After some ineffectual psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
, he goes to live with his repressive Christian grandparents' home. Jeremiah is abused there as well; he is being forced to get into scalding water.
Two years later, Jeremiah's mother unexpectedly turns up and takes him away, aware of the lack of power her parents have over the custody decision. She makes him grow shoulder-length hair and act as a girl, on occasion for the sexual satisfaction of her clients. With Sarah as the only influential figure in his life, Jeremiah starts to adopt his mother's seduction techniques. After dressing up as a 'baby doll', Jeremiah seduces Jackson, his mother's latest man, who initially tries to rebuff the boy's advances, but then rapes him.
The book has been adapted into a feature film of the same name
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things
The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things is a 2004 film directed by and starring Asia Argento. It is based on JT LeRoy's novel of the same name...
, directed by and starring Asia Argento
Asia Argento
Aria Asia Anna Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model and director.-Family and early life:...
.