Searching for Charlotte

In Searching for Charlotte, two sisters, authors Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell, set out to find the true story about their great x4 grandmother, Charlotte Waring Atkinson, who travelled to Australia in 1826 to work as a governess for members of the Macarthur family. The authors knew of many family stories about Charlotte and her husband, James Atkinson, but what was fact and what was fiction?  But what were the circumstances that brought Charlotte to New South Wales, why did the daughter of an apparently well off family need to work as a governess and what were the connections between the names of houses in New South Wales with locations in England? They also knew that Charlotte was the author of the first Australian children's book, A Mother's Offering to her Children - a compilation of lessons for children told in a fictional setting.

For part of the research Kate and Belinda visited family related locations in New South Wales and in England. On the trip to England they took their two daughters with them. When in England they visited villages, looked for possible family properties, explored churches and graveyards and generally looked for clues as to what life may have been like for their ancestors. 

The sisters arrived in England in June expecting the weather to be warm but it was often cold and wet. We have made similar expeditions to England in August and walked in the rain looking for family gravestones or buildings so I can sympathise. Still it is all part of the adventure of family history research and as the authors record, there is a special feeling locating a place where ancestors lived, worked or walked.

The book provides a useful guide for those researching their own family stories. It also provides a picture of what it was like living in Kent in the early nineteenth century. Comparisons are sometimes made to the works of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte. Life in colonial New South Wales is also described -colonists attitudes to aboriginies, free seelers and convicts, bushrangers and women living in a male dominant society. 

The authors contribute different chapters to the book and repetition in the telling of the story does occur. However Searching for Charlotte generally provdes a readable account of tackling a project to reveal the truth about a family story.

Photos, detailed notes, a bibliography and an index provide clues to additional information.

Radio Girl

The subtitle of Radio Girl by David Dufty is 'The story of the extraordinary Mrs Mac, pioneering engineer and wartime legend'. This is truely the story of an incredible woman.

Florence Violet Granville was born in Melbourne in1890 and known as Violet though later in her life she was always referred to as Mrs Mac. The author records not only the story of Mrs Mac's life but also her importance in promoting equal rights for women when choosing the career they want. The book also provides valuable information about the role of signaling systems during the Second World War, particularly the use of Morse code.

Violet was initially a maths teacher but she wanted to be an electrical engineer which was an unacceptable career for a woman. She eventually managed to enrol in a course at Sydney Technical College obtaining her diploma in 1923. Meanwhile she managed a radio sales and repair shop where customers introduced her to crystal sets and amateur radio. She also increased her interest in Morse code. This led to her becoming the first female certificated radio telegraphist in Australia, the first woman in Australia to hold an amateur wireless licence and the first female member of the Wireless Institute of Australia.

In the 1930s Mrs Mac set up The Electrical Association for Women (Australia) where women could safely learn to use electrical appliances. She wrote a cookbook containing basic recipes for cooking on electric appliances as well as articles and a children's book promoting safety around electricity.

With the onset of war Mrs Mac established the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps to train women to become telegraphists. Much resistance was encountered in the acceptance of these women in military service but Mrs Mac persisted and eventually the WRANS was established allowing trained female telegraphists to assist in the war effort. The WESC also trained many servicemen, particularly potential airmen, to use Morse code and other signaling methods. Some American servicemen also attended her course. After the war she concentrated on teaching merchant seamen signaling systems.

The work done by Mrs Mac and her team during the Second World War was voluntary. Eventually the value of her work was recognised when she received an OBE in 1950. Mrs Mac died in 1982.

Until this book was published earlier this year the value of Mrs Mac's contribution to the Australian services during the war and her pioneering work in promoting safe use of electricity in this country was largely forgotten. Hopefully this book will help promote the legacy of a remarkable and determined woman.

Extensive notes, bibliography and index.

Australian Dictionary of Biography article

The Falcon Always Wings Twice

Like all the books in this series by Donna Andrews there is lots of humour and intrigue plus a horde of zany characters as well as a murder to keep the reader guessing.

In this novel Meg and other family members assist her grandmother, Cordelia, run a Renaissance Faire at her craft centre near Biscuit Mountain. As part of the attractions Michael has organised a troupe of actors to perform for visitors throughout each day of the faire. Meg and her former teacher, with the assistance of her two sons, provide demonstrations in blacksmithing throughout the day when she isn't finding solutions if things do not quite go to plan. When one of the actors is found murdered in the nearby woods Meg is involved in assisting the police with their enquiries as well as trying to ensure that there is as little disruption to the faire as possible.

In The Falcon Always Wings Twice the featured bird is the falcon and we learn much about these birds when Meg's grandfather decides to assist the falconer. The Falcon Always Wings Twice is the 27th book in the Meg Langslow Mystery series. A good holiday read.

The Thursday Murder Club

Richard Osman is well known for co-hosting the British show, Pointless, as well as appearing on a range of comedy quiz shows. The Thursday Murder Club is his first novel and the first in a new series of crime novels set in a retirement village.

Coopers Chase is home to a number elderly residents from a variety of backgrounds who enjoy the many social and other activities available in the village. On Thursday mornings members of the Thursday Murder Club meet to review the files of cold cases that they have acquired. Elizabeth, Penelope, Ibrahim and Ron are the original club members but when Penelope had a stroke, resulting in permanent hospitalisation, Joyce joined the group. When someone they know is murdered The Thursday Murder Club members are determined to become involved in solving a real crime and soon manoeuvre their way into 'assisting' the police in their investigation. The four club members use their wide range of experience and contacts to gain access to information not readily available to the police. They are also not afraid to create situations to obtain information that they require.

Richard Osman has created an amusing, endearing, resourceful group of characters who discover that they are not only trying to discover the perpetrator of one murder but also need to solve two other crimes as well. I look forward to meeting the members of The Thursday Murder Club in the next volume of this series.

Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook

This novel by Celia Rees takes the reader into a world where the German people struggled to survive, where defeated Nazis maintained their now underground networks and where there was divided opinion as to whether captured Nazis should be tried for their crimes or used to provide useful information to the victorious nations establishing a new power regime - East versus West.

At the end  of the Second World War English schoolteacher, Edith Graham, decided that she needed a change so applied to join the Control Commission helping to reestablish schools in Germany. However her life became more complicated when she was also approached to report on unusual activity or people of interest to the British spy networks. 

Her friends Dori and Adeline supported Vera Atkins in an attempt to find what happened to four members of the SOE believed to have been captured during the War and Edith agreed to also share information and help them. Knowing that their mail would be censored the women developed a code hidden in information about meals and recipes that Edith collected and circulated.

Cold War Germany was a divided country with British, American and Russian sectors and Edith became aware of the emerging power struggle occurring between these nations as they targeted former Nazis who may be of benefit to their countries. Germany was definitely a dangerous place to be at this time and establishing the truth was difficult. Who should Edith trust?

Reviews in this blog of other books about the SOE (Special Operations Executive) 

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff - review

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester - review

Miss Austen

Cassandra Austen (Cassy) was the elder sister of the eighteenth century author, Jane Austen and therefore officially had the title Miss Austen. The two sisters never married and shared a close relationship living in a variety of locations in England after the death of their father. After Jane died in 1817 it is known that Cassy located and destroyed much of the correspondence written by and to Jane, especially any letters that may be misinterpreted and possibly damage Jane's reputation.

In Miss Austen by Gill Hornby the author provides a fictional account of how and why Cassy may have done this. The focus of the story is very much on Cassy though it does show the relationship between the two sisters and other family members and friends. The novel also provides a social history of village life in the first half of the eighteenth century as it focusses on the challenges of unmarried women, especially older women. Themes from some of Jane Austen's novels can also be noted as the story unfolds. Miss Austen would be enjoyed by readers who enjoy reading the novels of Jane Austen and works about the life of the novelist.

In the front of the book is a useful list of members of the Austen family and their extended family, most of whom appear in this novel.

Trust

Trust, the new novel by Chris Hammer is definitey a novel that is difficult to put down. Fortunately I borrowed a copy from the library on Friday so was able to spend the weekend reading. Trust is the third book in a series about journalist and author, Martin Scarsdale and Mandy Blonde. Scrublands and Silver were set in rural Australia but the city of Sydney is the setting for Trust. A map at the front of the book allows the reader to follow where the action is taking place. 

The novel begins with Martin playing on the beach with Mandy's son, Liam when he receives a voicemail message from Mandy - a scream. Rushing back to their house Martin discovers that Mandy has disappeared and there is a man lying on the floor.

The plot of the novel contains two main stories that as investigations proceed emerge into one. Martin soon realises that there is a large part of Mandy's former life that she has not revealed to him and the past has now come to confront her. Meanwhile Martin's former editor, Max, has asked him to help investigate and write a potentially explosive story but will not reveal any details until they meet. Martin heads to Sydney to find and support Mandy but also agrees to meet Max. When he discovers that Max has been murdered he knows that he must continue to investigate the story that has cost Max his life.

This is a story of large scale corruption in many spheres, a police undercover investigation, duplicity, nepotism, surveillance, computer fraud, kidnapping and, of course, murder. As well as investigating what has and is currently occurring, Martin has to write the story and get it out to the public before authorities prevent him from making it public or the opposition publish first. 

Mandy also has to decide to come to terms with what has happened in the past and to move on with her life. She also has to learn to trust again. 

This book is another great read in the Aussie noir genre.

The Killings at Kingfisher Hill

This is the fourth in a series of books written by Sophie Hannah in the style of Agatha Christie with the main character being the famous Hercule Poirot. Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool (the narrator of the story) travel by bus to Kingfisher Hill, a country estate in Surrey, never suspecting that an unexpected invitation to the home of Richard Devonport will result in the need to solve a series of crimes.

Richard's brother Frank was murdered by his fiancee, Helen, who confessed to the crime and is currently in prison. But did she really commit the murder and if so, why? Complications arise when Richard's sister, Barbara, also confesses to having murdered Frank. 

On the bus trip Poirot and Catchpool meet two other passengers who leave the bus before they reach Kingfisher Hill. Who are these women and how does their behaviour affect the story? Then, who is the mystery woman who is found murdered in the Devonport house and who killed her? Many questions with answers to be uncovered by Poirot.

The pace of the book is slow, especially in the first half, as the plot and its mysteries are gradually revealed and eventually solved.