Searching for Charlotte

by Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell
Published by NLA Publishing
ISBN 9780642279699

Once in a while, I come across a book that I can't put down. The story of Looking for Charlotte, by sisters Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell is so interesting, I wanted to continue reading long after it was time to go to sleep.

Both sisters are celebrated children's authors, who are descendants of Australia's first children's novelist, Charlotte Waring, their 5x great grandmother.

Charlotte came from an aristocratic family and was also distantly related to Charles Darwin and Mary Wollstonecraft. After finding herself in less than ideal circumstances for her position in life, she became a governess and after she  had educated the children of the well-off in England, decided at the age of 30 in 1826 to leave for the other side of the world, to become a governess to the children of Maria Macarthur, a daughter of the former governor of New South Wales, Philip King.

On her journey to Australia, travelling first class as she had insisted on doing (good for her), she met her future husband. She did take up the role of governess but after a year, married James Atkinson and became mistress of their estate n the NSW Southern Highlands where their children were born. The estate was named Oldbury, after Oldbury in Kent, England, from where James Atkinson came .

Without wanting to give too much of the story away, it is filled with excitement of the lives of theirs and early free settlers to Australia and the cruelty of the bushrangers in the Southern Highlands area. That Belangalo Forest does not have good vibes. Sadly, after James Atkinson dies, Charlotte suffers domestic violence when she remarries. However, she overcomes this through her inner strength as she makes a successful life for her children and herself.

Her strength and talents are passed down to her children, their children and each generation and to the sisters who take turns in writing chapters of these fascinating lives.

Although Charlotte Waring Atkinson was the author of the first children's book in Australia, this was unknown for 140 years! It was thanks to the relentless searching of bibliographer Marcie Muir that her name was identified from the originally named author, a Lady Long Resident in New South Wales.

At first, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy reading this book as it seemed the authors were rather naive in their expectations on their research trip to London and Kent. Did they really not know that Summer in Britain can be cold, rainy and blustery I wondered? They visited areas I know, so it seemed surprising to me that they may have expected some of the places they visited to have remained rural when they are part of the bustling metropolis. Nonetheless, this becomes part of the most enjoyable story and I am pleased I continued.

The book is easy to read and includes quotations from many passages found in their research of Charlotte Waring and some of her descendants, who also had interesting lives. It's the sort of book that will go on the bookshelf waiting to be read again.

It also includes a few drawings by Charlotte and photos of the original Oldbury, plus photos of the authors and their family. If you are looking for a gift for yourself, or a friend who is interested in Australian history, do get a copy.

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee

Find out when new books are reviewed