Life Lines : Australian Women’s Letters and Diaries 1788-1840

Women did not always travel willingly to colonial Australia and once arrived they had to work whether they wanted to or not. Isolated from family and friends, confronted with difficulties and dangers, life was often hard and painful. But there were always letters and journals to turn to.Life Lines reveals the comfort and companionship that writing diaries and letters provided. It portrays the pressures and difficulties of the early years of white settlement as well as the joys of women’s daily lives. Here, in their own words, the nature and extent of women’s contribution to white Australian history is uncovered.Much of the writing is exciting, full of a tough irony, stoicism before disaster and prolonged separation and, best of all, charm, wit and amusement. Elizabeth Lawson, Canberra Times.[recreates] the texture of women’s daily lives. Irina Dunn, Sydney Morning HeraldVivid voices emerge from a range of women, from convicts to governors’ ladies. Susan Gardner, Women’s Review of Books(Biographical details about the authors to go on half title page – taken from first edition, presumably will need to be updated)Patricia Clarke is a journalist who has written several books (The Governesses, A Colonial Woman, Pen Portraits, Pioneer Writer and Tasma) which explore the often hidden role of women in nineteenth century Australia. She is a councillor of the Canberra and District Historical Society and editor of the Canberra Historical Journal.Dale Spender is a researcher, writer, editor, broadcaster and teacher who has published more than 30 books. She is the Australian representative on a number of international academic journals, a member of a variety of advisory boards, and a consultant in the areas of editing, publishing, equity, communication, management and intellectual development. pp. 296 2nd edition #0321