Miss Florence Southam of S.Norwood, England, 23 years old, has dared to approach her beau, Mr. Corby, about his intentions. His response is less than favourable leaving Florence quite mystified about what their relationship had actually been. She felt her father did not even notice her; her mother and sister blamed her for the defection of Mr. Corby. Shortly following, she receives an invitation to her cousin Mary’s wedding in Canada. The location? Cannington Manor in the district of Assiniboia on the Canadian Prairies. Feeling quite lost, Florence accepts the invitation and, accompanied by the widow of Cannington Manor’s founder, she boards a ship to this new and strange land. Her ship docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she then travels by train and wagon to Moosomin, in the District of
Assiniboia, where she is met by her cousin Mary and her driver. She is lifted from the wagon by the driver, unknown to her, with what seemed a familiarity not entirely unpleasant.
Allison Kydd has masterfully given us a history of the pioneer prairies, the hard work and dangers. Many had big dreams, some successful, some still works in progress. Pioneers who tried to transplant class distinctions and the finer things of England to the rough and ready land that was Canada in the late 1800’s. Florence Southam was witness and participant on her trip. A trip that was intended to be mere weeks for a June wedding, and was extended almost to winter. Having a small inheritance from an aunt, she was able to do so easily. This author walks Florence through the woods on her own before she is aware of what dangers there may be; has her scrubbing floors on her hands and knees because there is only one maid; listen to and judge town gossip; attend church and community events. And still she is left feeling lonely. The longer she is there, she becomes more attached to this new way of life and to a certain Scottish man with a fine tenor voice. Aware that he is ‘below her station’, as she is reminded by her aunt, she decides it is time to return to England. A letter arrives from her mother, suggesting that she stay for the winter. Mr. Corby, her once beau, is now seeing her sister. Her mother doesn’t wish Florence to disturb that budding relationship. On another lonely walk in the countryside, she gets lost and is rescued…..and that’s all I’ll say about that.
This was a fascinating read about the culture shock men and women must have experienced on these grand transitions. Especially most women, as regardless their ‘station’ they had to roll up their sleeves without much assistance. Most of her characters were people that lived; Florence Southam and several others are fictitious and become our eye, ear and heart into the past. At the back of the book in A Note on Sources, she details the extensive research into the location of Cannington Manor; all complements of Saskatchewan sources.
“You must be the best judge of your own happiness.”
~ Jane Austen, Emma
**Allison Kydd is a self-professed Jane Austen fan.
Title: Few and Far
Author: Allison Kydd
Copyright: 2017
Publisher: Stonehouse Publishing Inc.
Type: Historical Novel
Format: Soft Cover
ISBN: 978-1-988754-01-7
No comments:
Post a Comment