After the Nobel Prize-winning Canadian author Alice Munro died in May, at the age of 92, tributes poured in from all corners of the literary world. She is credited for perfecting contemporary short stories. Munro’s many admirers now have to deal with the darker side of her legacy, which has recently been revealed.

In an essay written by Andrea Robin Skinner– , Munro’s youngest daughter, who is now aged 58– and published in Sunday’s Toronto Star, alongside , a companion piece reported by the paper, Skinner reveals she has been sexually abused since the age of nine by her stepfather Gerald Fremlin. When she told Munro about the abuse, she turned a blind-eye and stood by Fre

Readers and colleagues of Munro’s work were shocked by the revelation of a family secret that had been kept for many years. Munro’s explored themes such as women’s lives and complex familial dynamics. She also wrote about sex and trauma.

Skinner claims that Fremlin – a cartographer, who died in 2013 – climbed into her bed when she was nine and touched her inappropriately. She described how Fremlin, a cartographer who died in 2013, would make lewd remarks, ask her about her’sex life,’ describe Munro’s sexual needs, and masturbate before her when they were alone.

“At the moment, I did not know that this was abuse. Skinner writes, “I thought I was doing an excellent job preventing abuse by averting his eyes and ignoring the stories.”

Skinner said she revealed Fremlin’s abuse to Munro at the age of 25, after being reluctant to speak out earlier for fear of her mother’s reaction. Skinner said she had been worried about her mother’s reaction to the abuse for years. She wrote this in a letter from 1992, which was shared by parts of it with the Star.

Skinner said that Munro’s reaction after reading a short tale in which a young girl committed suicide because her stepfather had sexually abused her was what finally inspired her to tell her mother about her suffering. Munro asked Skinner at the time why the girl from the short story did not tell her mother.

When Skinner told Munro about her own encounter with Fremlin she was shocked to find that Munro had not felt the same way for her. “It turned out, despite her sympathy for a fiction character, her feelings for me were different.”

Skinner writes: “She said she was ‘told too early,’ that she loved him too, and that I should not have expected her to sacrifice her own needs for her children and compensate for men’s failings.” She was insistent that what happened was between myself and my stepfather. It was not her fault. Fremlin also denied any wrongdoing, and shifted the blame to Skinner.

Skinner and her family moved on “as if nothing happened” until Skinner got pregnant in 2002. Skinner cut off all contact with Fremlin after she gave birth to her twins. She did not want him near her children. Munro was also removed from her life.

Skinner’s estrangement remained quiet until she came across a 2004 New York Times article in which her mother praised Fremlin.

I wanted to be heard. I wanted to be honest. Skinner recalls that’s when he went to the police and reported his abuse. “For so many years, I told myself that if I held my pain, it would at least help my family. I did the right thing by contributing to the greater good of the most people. “Now, I was claiming the right to a life full of joy, and taking back the abuse that had been done to Fremlin.”

Fremlin pleaded guilty to indecent assault, and was convicted of the crime without a trial. Skinner was happy with the sentence of two years probation because she didn’t want him punished and she did not believe that he was a danger to others due to his age.

Skinner wrote in her essay, “What I wanted to do was get the truth out there and have it be public proof that what happened to me wasn’t my fault.” She also hoped that her story “would become part of the stories told about my mother.” I didn’t want to watch another interview, bio or event where the subject of my abuse was not addressed.

But it didn’t work out that way. Skinner writes, “My mother’s fame meant that the silence continued.” Munro retired from writing in 2013, and received the Nobel Prize for Literature just a few weeks later.

Skinner writes that “many influential people became aware of my story, but continued to add to and support a narrative which they knew to be false.”

Skinner’s Stepmother Carole Munro said to the star that “everybody knew” about the rumors surrounding Skinner. She confirmed they were true. Robert Thacker, the author of a bestselling biography on Munro , told the Globe and Mail that he knew about the allegations made against Skinner. He had been contacted by Skinner directly prior to the publication of his book in 2005.

Skinner’s tale remained hidden from the public. Now, after her essay sent shockwaves throughout the literary world the narrative around her mother has begun to change.

In a series comments on X, Pulitzer finalist Rebecca Makkai reflected on the recent news.

Michelle Cyca , Canadian magazine editor and writer, posted on X: “Lots are reflexively denying Alice Munro spent her entire life with a pedophile that abused her daughter or hastily claiming they didn’t like her writing.” “Harder still to accept that those who create transcendent art can commit monstrous crimes.”

Jess Row , an American novelist and essayist who writes for X, wrote: “The Alice Munro News is so tragically and completely consistent with the world that she evoked in all her stories –all those young children betrayed and destroyed by adults who should have cared for them.”

Brandon Taylor, an American novelist and writer of essays, expressed his gratitude to Skinner. In a series postings on X he wrote: “I am in awe at her courage.” He added that her story was “personally devastating” because it reminded him of his own.

In a Statement, Munro’s Books (founded by Jim and Alice Munro, but now owned independently since 2014) said that it “unambiguously supports Andrea Robin Skinner in her public sharing of her story about her abuse as a young girl.”

The statement continued, “We will need some time to digest this news, and to consider the possible impact on Alice Munro’s legacy, and her work and connections to the store, which we previously celebrated.”

In a statement published by the Munro Family, Andrea, her three siblings –Andrew and Jenny Munro, and Sheila Munro–thanked Munro Books’ owners and staff for “acknowledging Andrea’s truth and being clear about their desire to end the silence”.

Skinner claims that she did not reconcile with her mother prior to Munro’s passing, but she has with her sisters. They reached out to her in 2014 in order to find understanding and healing. Her siblings have also supported her in coming forward publicly to reveal what will surely put the reputation of their mother in a different light.

Skinner has clarified that it is not about Alice Munro’s reputation. She told the star, “I really hope this story isn’t about celebrities acting badly.” She says that while some may be attracted to it “for its entertainment value,” others will want to know more about the patterns of silence, and the tendency for families and society to do this.