MEMOIRS OF A HIGHLAND LADY 2 + MISS McKIRDY'S DAUGHTERS

PAIR OF AUTOBIOGRAPHIES SET IN SCOTLAND

individual details as outlined below:

 

1.  MEMOIRS OF A HIGHLAND LADY

volume 2

by Elizabeth Grant of Rothiemurchus

Canongate Classics

First published by John Murray, 1898

This edition published by Canongate Publishing Ltd, 1988

Paperback, 13 x 19.5 cm (2.4 cm thick), 345 pages

ISBN 0-86241-147-5

The cover shows some minor impression marks on the front surface. Apart from this, the outside of the book shows only minor handling wear, with spine straight and uncreased, binding sound and no loose pages.

On the inside of the front cover there is a handwritten dedication: "To my dear Moira, love Brian".

Otherwise the inside of the book is unmarked and, apart from very slight natural ageing of the paper, the contents remain in very good, clean condition throughout.

Cover notes:

"The second volume of Elizabeth Grant's classic autobiography follows the fortunes of the Grants of Rothiemurchus from her family's arrival in Edinburgh in 1814 when she was seventeen. She describes the trauma of a broken engagement and her agonies are an echo of the overall problems suffered by her father, Sir John Peter Grant, as his legal and political ambitions collapsed, with the direst of consequences for his family.

After the interlude of a continental tour of Holland in 1819, the decision is taken to retreat to Rothiemurchus. An Indian judgeship provides an unexpected avenue of escape from Sir John Peter's creditors, and her memoirs end with the thirty three year old Elizabeth finding her own future happiness in marriage to an Irish landowner."

 

2.  MISS McKIRDY'S DAUGHTERS WILL NOW DANCE THE HIGHLAND FLING

by Barbara Kinghorn

First edition published by Black Swan, 1995

Paperback, 12.5 x 19.5 cm (2.3 cm thick), 335 pages

ISBN 0-552-99637-8

The spine is moderately creased and the rest of the outside has corresponding all-round handling wear.

The binding is tight and sound with no loose pages.

The inside of the book is unmarked and the contents remains in good, clean condition throughout..

Cover notes:

"The compelling and heart-rending true story of an eccentric, tragic and indomitable family.

Miss McKirdy, a teacher of Scottish dancing, lived with her alcoholic husband and three talented daughters, Barbara, Annie and Jilly, in a Dutch-gabled house on the outskirts of Johannesburg in South Africa. Despite coming from a Calvinist background, Miss McKirdy chose to teach in a Catholic convent, for the very practical reason that her three girls could be educated for the price of one. Scottish dancing dominated their lives. An ambitious and powerful woman, Miss McKirdy believed that winning was all and drove her daughters ruthlessly to achieve her goals.

As the sisters grew up and coped with death, divorce, madness and - unknowingly - with the realities of apartheid, the indomitable strength and courage of an eccentric, funny and tragic family prevailed, proving that the ties of love, sometimes irksome, can hold strong in the face of violent and disruptive events.

Barbara Kinghorn's remarkable autobiography shows that she is a survivor, and that out of grief and sadness have come great understanding and peace."

 

Buyers outside Europe should be aware that delivery by surface mail will usually take up to 8 weeks, and sometimes more.  Please e-mail for details on airmail if more rapid delivery is required.

Any questions about the item, postage, insurance, or other delivery options please e-mail before bidding. I try to make my descriptions as helpful and accurate as possible. Any queries after delivery, e-mail me and I will do my best to sort it out. I am happy to say 'read my feedback.' 

 

... and finally, perhaps you might take a moment to look at my book Hey, Mr Big! Most of the time you should be able to find a copy of the book advertised amongst my other items for sale on e-Bay. If the latest listing has finished though, you are most welcome to send me a message via e-Bay so that I can list a new copy for "Buy it Now".

All proceeds from the sale of Hey, Mr Big! are going to fund raising for the benefit of young people. You will find more details on the item description for the book.

Even if you can't manage to buy a copy for yourself, perhaps you know a friend who might be interested ....?