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Deeply insightful and enriching biography of Mary Rabagliati, a woman who dedicated her life to anti-poverty work and fighting for the human rights of people on the margins of society.
At the age of 20, Mary Rabagliati (1942-1992) quit a secretarial job in London to move to an emergency housing camp in France without running water or any sanitation facilities. It was 1962 when, amongst that bleak squalor and deprivation, she began a lifelong commitment to anti-poverty work and fighting for the human rights of people on the margins of society, working towards a vision that no one should have to live a life trapped by poverty. She joined fellow trailblazer Joseph Wresinski to build the foundations for ATD Fourth World to develop into an international human rights movement. Particularly committed to the girls and women whose horizons were drastically curtailed by hardship, early motherhood, and domestic violence, Mary's work took her across continents: living alongside families in poverty; speaking out at the United Nations; and helping to spark a joyful revolution for social justice.
Drawing from her own personal experiences with Mary as mentor and housemate, Diana Skelton's deeply insightful and enriching biography Joyful Revolution provides the opportunity for Mary's distinctive voice to be heard in her native language for the first time, allowing people who never met this remarkable woman to discover her story. Filled with anecdotes, correspondence, journal entries, and more, this biography is a testament to the impact Mary Rabagliati had on the lives around her. As she said, 'In the misery of poverty, joy matters even more [...] so that people excluded from society can finally join in everything that makes the world extraordinary.
At the age of 20, Mary Rabagliati (1942-1992) quit a secretarial job in London to move to an emergency housing camp in France without running water or any sanitation facilities. It was 1962 when, amongst that bleak squalor and deprivation, she began a lifelong commitment to anti-poverty work and fighting for the human rights of people on the margins of society, working towards a vision that no one should have to live a life trapped by poverty. She joined fellow trailblazer Joseph Wresinski to build the foundations for ATD Fourth World to develop into an international human rights movement. Particularly committed to the girls and women whose horizons were drastically curtailed by hardship, early motherhood, and domestic violence, Mary's work took her across continents: living alongside families in poverty; speaking out at the United Nations; and helping to spark a joyful revolution for social justice.
Drawing from her own personal experiences with Mary as mentor and housemate, Diana Skelton's deeply insightful and enriching biography Joyful Revolution provides the opportunity for Mary's distinctive voice to be heard in her native language for the first time, allowing people who never met this remarkable woman to discover her story. Filled with anecdotes, correspondence, journal entries, and more, this biography is a testament to the impact Mary Rabagliati had on the lives around her. As she said, 'In the misery of poverty, joy matters even more [...] so that people excluded from society can finally join in everything that makes the world extraordinary.
Price: $29.99
Pages: 200
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Inc.
Imprint: Lutterworth Press
Publication Date:
30 October 2025
Trim Size: 9.02 X 5.98 in
ISBN: 9780718898304
Format: Paperback
This compelling account of the life of a remarkable woman also throws light on the history of ATD. It is written with an immediacy that conveys the dignity and joy that marked Mary Rabagliati's contribution to the ongoing struggle against poverty and for the human rights of people experiencing poverty.
— Ruth Lister, Member of the House of Lords and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, Loughborough University
Joyful Revolution is a powerful and personal account of a woman whose journey holds lessons for all who are striving for a better world. Beautifully written and vividly illustrated, this book shows us what true humanity looks like and what it means to lead by example. An inspiring read that is needed now more than ever.
— Keetie Roelen, Senior Research Fellow in Poverty and Social Protection at the Open University
— Ruth Lister, Member of the House of Lords and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, Loughborough University
Joyful Revolution is a powerful and personal account of a woman whose journey holds lessons for all who are striving for a better world. Beautifully written and vividly illustrated, this book shows us what true humanity looks like and what it means to lead by example. An inspiring read that is needed now more than ever.
— Keetie Roelen, Senior Research Fellow in Poverty and Social Protection at the Open University