Hell; purgatory; heaven describes the life and times of the author Hugh M Jackson. The book is divided into three areas. In his childhood, his description of his family treatment of him falls is described as "hell" and tells of the horrors meted out to him. The next area, listed as "purgatory" tells how he adapted and strengthened his personality to cope with his family's ongoing attempts to control him. During this period, he is advised of someone's confession of love for him, from a fellow pupil who was two years younger. How to cope with that situation caused problems because no-one, had ever made him feel loved. He spent a fair amount of time in that boy's company but avoided his advances as he didn't want him to suffer what he had suffered at the hands of his own family. Having left school and started work, they were no longer able to remain in contact. A few years later, some friends visited him at home and they brought someone with them that Hugh didn't know. It was then that the "Heaven;" part of his life started, which lasted the whole period of forty six years together in real love, before tragedy tore them apart. The author continues living his life still in love with the one person who showed him "heaven".