Overview
The compelling story of Marjorie, a courageous woman who sailed to South Africa with ten children during WWII.
The compelling story of Marjorie, a courageous woman who sailed to South Africa with ten children during WWII."[Marjorie's] life and her own words bring us intimately into a very special world, one that was initially dangerous for her and the children, but which, in the end, and because of Marjorie's determination to provide each one a happy childhood, became a safe and loving one." Against the frightening backdrop of World War II, a young Scottish woman took ten children by ship through the waters of the Atlantic from Scotland to South Africa, where she set up a home for them called Bairnshaven. An unusual portrayal of motherhood, nuclear family, and love, Marjorie's story comes to life through diary pages, letters, telegrams, and photographs. This true story is a fresh take on the role that women played during the war, highlighting the strength and courage shown, and focusing on hope and unconditional kindness.Reviews
"It is testament to the triumph of the human spirit; that one woman could have achieved so much simply by force of will, in the context of a fairly miserable childhood, and against all the odds" – Scottish Affairs
"Cleghorn's text provides the contemporary reader, student, and scholar insights into the construction of white privilege and at the same time opportunities to reconceptualize notions of 'family'." Journal of the History of Childhood and YouthAuthor Biography
Ailie Cleghorn is professor emerita from Concordia University in Montreal. As a comparative sociologist of education, her research took her to several African still-developing primary and pre-primary school settings, which neatly ties in with Marjorie's story, who herself was a Montessori-trained teacher. Ailie was born and raised in Canada, however, her mother was from Scotland.