Elizabeth Macarthur: a life at the edge of the world

Recently a number of books have been written about Elizabeth Macarthur, the wife of John Macarthur who came to the colony with an army regiment in 1790 and later settled with his family in the colony of New South Wales. Elizabeth was born in England in 1776 and died in New South Wales on 9 February, 1850. She married John Macarthur shortly before he left England for New South Wales. John soon saw opportunities to make money in the colony including selling goods arriving from overseas. But once he aquired land he became involved with farming, especially raising sheep.

It was not long before John had developed a reputation for being quick tempered and ready to seek revenge and twice spent many years back in England defending his actions in the colony, including being a leader in the rebellion against Governor Bligh. Elizabeth was left to look after the family and the family business at home.

Recent research shows that much of the success of the enterprises promoted by John Macarthur was due to the work and dedication of Elizabeth. This was especially the case in establishing the family's sheep properties and the export of wool to England. As well as being a successful business woman Elizabeth spent much time trying to be a diplomat and smooth some of the reactions of other people, especially colonial leaders, to her husband's behaviour.

Elizabeth was also devoted to her family. She and John had nine children, seven surviving childhood.

In the book Elizabeth Macarthur, Michelle Scott Tucker has written an informative and readable account of the life of Elizabeth and her family's role in the establishment of the colony of New South Wales. At the end of the book is a bibliography, list of references and an index. There are also some photos of paintings of Macarthur family portraits and their family properties.

Spirits of the Ghan

Spirits of the Ghan by Judy Nunn is set in outback Australia, especially the Northern Territory from 1876 to 2001. At the heart of the story is the completion of the building of the Ghan railway from Darwin to Alice Springs linking with the section of the railway already in existence between Alice Springs and Adelaide. As much of the desert crossed by the railway is Aboriginal land, negotiations need to be made with Indigenous peoples to ensure that the railway will not encroach on sacred sites.

Many stories are revealed throughout the novel. Jessica Manning, an anthropologist, acts as a negotiator between the railway management and Aboriginal people. Jess' mother, Rosie, was removed from her family when she was a young child to be be brought up by white settlers. When she was 16 Rosie ran away and eventually married an Irish musician, Toby Manning. Jess gradually learns of her mother's early life though Rosie has no contact with her true family. Jess and Toby decide to investigate Rosie's story and Jess finds herself welcomed into Rosie's world.

While working in the Northern Teritory Jess meets surveyor, Matthew Witherton, and together they strive to preserve a sacred site that Jess has discovered. Throughout the book the reader is provided with exerpts of the story of this site, dating back to the 1870s, and its significance though much of the story is hidden from the main characters.

Many historical events are included in this novel including the building of the overland telegraph, the first attempts to build a railway in the desert, the importance of the Afghan camel trains in the desert, the completion of the Ghan railway, the Stolen Generation, lives of Aboriginal people in different parts of Australia as well as the importance of the land to Indigenous Australians. Throughout the novel Jess and Matt also come to a greater understanding about their own lives.

The Long Weekend: a collection of stories

The Long Weekend is a collection of six short stories by Australian author, Judy Nunn.

The Long Weekend: Five women who work together decide to spend the long weekend in a shack in the bush. This is to be a complete getaway from everyday life with all electonic devices left at home. However all does not go as planned.

The Wardrobe: When Nancy purchases a dilapidated terrace house she makes a discovery that changes her life.

The Otto Bin Empire: Clive's Story: This is the first of a proposed collection of short stories about a group of homeless people who meet regularly near a collection of rubbish bins and become friends.

Changes: Jackie looks back at the changes she has encountered in her life over sixty-five years.

The House on Hill Street: Set in a quiet suburban street in Tasmania the local residents are not prepared for the horrors that are about to occur.

Just South of Rome: This is the longest story in the book. When Jane Precott decides to explore Italy she ends up at a strange villa / hotel. Her experiences are not all positive however events occur that change her attitudes to life.

At the end of each short story Judy Nunn writes about what prompted her to write  the story.

Agatha Christie: a very elusive woman

English author, Agatha Christie 1890-1976, was one of the best known crime novelists in the twentieth century. She wrote 66 books of detective and thriller fiction, 14 books of short stories, six novels using the pen name, Mary Westmacott, a number of plays plus several non-fiction books. Many of her novels have been made into films and television plays. Two of the best known characters in her books are Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. The play, The Mousetrap has been in production since 1952.

Yet the story of her life has also created much interest, particularly the eleven days when she disappeared in 1926. Throughout her works there are many references to places that Agatha visited, buildings she lived in and life experiences that she encountered. In the book, Agatha Christie: a most elusive woman, Lucy Worsley endeavours to explore the life and work of Agatha Christie and attempts to explain some of the mysteries regarding the author's life.

Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller's early childhood was in Torquay, Devon, where the family led a relatively comfortable life until the death of her father in 1901. Financial difficulties necessitated altering their lifestyle. In the early twentieth century it was considered not only important for a woman to marry, but to marry well. Agatha's mother took her daughter to Egypt in the hope that a suitable husband might be found. This was the beginning of Agatha's love of travelling and exploring different countries.

1914 saw the outbreak of the First World War and Agatha volunteered to work as a VAD in a hospital and later in the hospital pharmacy. She had met Archibald Christie who joined the airforce and Archibald became her first husband. Agatha and Archie had a daughter, Rosalind. After the war problems developed in their relationship and they divorced in 1928. Meanwhile Agatha had begun her writing career and was beginning to earn a living from writing books, particularly detective fiction.

Agatha started travelling again and became interested in exploring areas where significant archaeological finds were being made. She met and in 1930 eventually married Max Mallowan. Although Max was fourteen years younger than Agatha it was a successful relationship.

Lucy Worsley provides an account of Agatha's life and the many challenges that she faced in having a successful career. The book provides information about the changes in lifestyle and challenges faced by women during the twentieth century - a period of two major wars and the depression. Although Agatha became a successful author there were financial challenges to be resolved, especially regarding the sale of her books in the USA. Lucy Worsley also examines what might have happened when Agatha 'disappeared' for eleven days during 1926 and the reaction, particularly by the media, to the disappearance.

The book is a detailed study of the life and work of Agatha Christie and her role in the Golden Age of Crime Fiction.

There are detailed notes for each chapter plus lists of sources, an index and photographs.

Wild Card

Detective Sergeant Zoe Mayer with her service dog, Harry, is sent to Echuca to investigate when a body is discovered on the Victorian side of the Murray River. Complications arise when the body is identified as Freddie Jones, a bikie who lived in Moama, New South Wales. This means that more than one police jurisdiction may become involved in the investigation.

Zoe and her team set out to learn about the local bikie gang and any related crime, particularly drug activity, in the area. The significance of a playing card found on the victim's body is also of interest to Zoe. It is not long before she learns of a possible mafia gang in New South Wales that may be involved in Freddie's death. It is obvious that drug smuggling is occurring in the area though she is assured by the police over the border that everything is under control. Then another body is discovered near where Freddie's body was found.

This is another 'cannot put down' novel in the Aussie Noir genre.

The Bodyline Fix: how women saved cricket

It is now accepted that it is perfectly normal for both men and women to enjoy playing cricket and to compete at the highest levels. However this has not always been the case and in The Bodyline Fix Marion Stell recounts the battle of female cricketers to convince cricket administrators and the public during the 1930s that they could not only play cricket at a high level but could also represent their country.

The 1932-1933 Australia versus England tests held in Australia caused much controversy when England players used aggressive bowling tactics that became known as 'bodyline'. Meanwhile women's cricket was growing and plans were being made for the first women's cricket tours of England and Australia with test matches to be held in both countries. The England women's team visited Australia in 1934-1935 while the Australian team visited England in 1937.

In 1989 the author and another researcher set out to interview the Australian players who had been involved in those tours to record their stories for the National Museum. Some of the women interviewed had kept collections of momentos relating to their cricketing adventures. The author also researched newspapers and magazines which regularly reported on the effects of bodyline on cricket and also on the rise of women's cricket in the 1930s. As well as serious reporting a number of satirical articles were written particularly regarding the attitudes of some men to women playing cricket.

Marion Stell provides information not just about the matches played by the women but the challenges faced during the Depression of being able to tour. She also records the changes in cricket uniform for lady cricketers at the time and the reactions of some of the public to the changes. Travelling overseas by ship was also a great adventure for most of the players. The women enjoyed visiting different parts of England and also visited The Netherlands to promote the game. The Australian team also had tickets to watch the  procession of horses and carriages passing by for the the King's coronation in 1937, a special event remembered by many of the players.

The Bodyline Fix should interest most readers interested in the history of cricket. The book also provides an insight into some of the social history in the 1930s.

Notes, bibliography, index plus some photos are included in the book

Forever Home

Carol Crottie lived in number 7 Stable Row in Ballytoor with her partner Declan Barry. Life was settled until Declan became ill and his son and daughter moved him into a nursing home. They then sold his house forcing Carol to return home to live with her elderly parents, Moira and Dave. Declan had always stipulated that the house must never be sold. When a body is discovered in a freezer in the basement Carol realises that there is much that she does not know about Declan.

Forever Home by Graham Norton is written with grim humour as the reader learns of the lives of Declan, his two children and wife, Joan, who moved away when the children were young. Carol also learns much more about her parents, particularly her mother, as Moira endeavours to solve the unexpected problems faced by her family.

Falling Forward

Margaret Hamilton has spent most of her life working with books, particularly children's literature, as a librarian, bookseller and publisher. In this memoir she recounts the story of her life and how she came to make the decisions and take the opportunities that she did. Part of the telling of her life story, away from books, can be repititious at times, but in the rest of the book Margaret provides an interesting guide to the development of children's literature in Australia since the 1960s.

Margaret Hamilton was born in 1941 and when she left school her first job was working as a library assistant. She then completed her library studies enabling her to be appointed to more challenging roles including working as a children's librarian. After taking a short break she was offered work in a bookshop promoting children's books. Later Margaret and her husband became involved with a number of book publishing firms before starting their own children's book publishing company - Margaret Hamilton Books. Margaret was also very involved in the Children's Book Council of Australia.

The 1960s was a period for the development of children's literature in Australia. Prior to that children's books from England were the mainstay in bookshops and libraries. Authors such as Ivan Southall, Colin Thiele, Nan Chauncy, Hesba Brinsmead, Patricia Wrightson were becoming accepted as writers of books for Australian children in the 1960s. Picture books by Australian authors are now accepted as the norm but this was not always so. Margaret Hamilton was particularly interested in promoting book illustration. Margaret and her husband also had a cottage - Pinerolo - were she ran occasional workshops for artists plus talks about books presented by authors and artists.

As a children's librarian in the late 1960s / early 1970s when promoting new Australian books was an important aspect of the work, I was particularly interested in reading this account of the development of Australian children's literature.

Falling Forward was published at the end of 2022. Margaret Hamilton died on 24 November 2022.

Winters in the World: a journey through the Anglo-Saxon year

In Winters in the World Eleanor Parker looks at the Anglo-Saxon calendar, especially the four seasons Winter, Spring, Summer and Harvest. Throughout the book she quotes from the few pieces of Anglo-Saxon poetry and other writing that remain today to illustrate how the Anglo-Saxons viewed the change in the seasons and how the seasons affected the daily life of people living at that time. The author looks at the various festivals and special days celebrated throughout the year and the affect of Christianity on the celebration of some of these events. 

A major feature of the Anglo-Saxon year were the winter and summer solstice and the two equinoxes. Events celebrated in the Christain church often also occur at these times. Throughout the year, whatever happens life goes on. Eleanor Parker ends, in the acknowledgements (p259), with a quote from St Augustine's Soliloquies going back to the time of Alfred the Great:

You rule the year, and govern it through the turning of the four seasons, that is, spring and summer and harvest and winter. These change places, each with another, and turn so that each of them is again exactly what it was before, and where it was before; and likewise all heavenly bodies change places and turn in the same way, and the sea and rivers too. In this way all created things undergo change.

NB: On page 219 mention is made in reference to Shakespeare's play, MacBeth, that Malcolm, who becomes king of Scotland, would marry Edward the Confessor's great niece, Margaret, - "thus uniting himself to the last surviving branch of the the Anglo-Saxon royal family and helping to ensure its continuation after the Norman Conquest". The Normans on arrival in England also valued connections with Anglo-Saxon England. William the Conquoror's wife, Matilda had Anglo-Saxon royal connections on one side of her family as did Henry I's wife, Edith (later Matilda), the daughter of King Malcolm of Scotland and Queen Margaret.

At the end of the book is an extensive list of references, a bibiography and an index.