It’s International Women’s Day today so I thought I would point you in the direction of Sara Wheeler’s new book: O My America – which is about middle-aged Englishwomen who travelled to America in the 19th century, to find a better life for themselves.
I must admit that I haven’t read any of Wheeler’s books but I think I’ll be trying to get a hold of her new one somehow. I especially want to read more about Anthony Trollope’s mother – Fanny Trollope. You can read a Guardian article about the book here.
This sounds really good – what a fascinating subject! It doesn’t come out here ’til August 🙁
Anbolyn,
It’ll probably be about August before I read it, if I wait and get it from the library!
Went to see the Irish group “Lunesa” for International Women’s Day AND St. Patrick’s Day! They play a uillean(?) instead of a bagpipe. Was a fun concert. I hope to see the Tannahill Weavers. Have you heard of them? “They have a mystical quality of Highland Celtic music and rollicking, almost brawling, qualities of lowlander Anglo-Scots tunes”. Also just found out there is a Scottish Society of Central Pennsylvania. Their church-meeting hall is about 20 minutes away.
Lorraine,
I have heard of the Tannahill Weavers but can’t think what they look like, so maybe just on radio! I wonder if that Scottish Society has ceilidhs with Scottish country dancing, they are exhausting but great fun – it’s a good way of keeping fit, or wearing yourself out. I had to google uilleann, there are quite a few types of pipes I think. They do look quite strange but I imagine they’re a bit easier to play.