Sheena Wenham's ancestors, Florence Sutherland Graeme and Flo’s father, Alexander, kept journals of visits to Scotland's Orkney Islands in the 1800s. While the elder Sutherland Graeme describes life among the upper classes in Georgian times, Flo’s stories breathe life into the social history of Victorian Orkney through the eyes of a vivacious and talented young woman. Her journal, paintings and sketches lovingly illuminate one facet of life in the Orkney of 1866.
Along with the art and journal entries by Flo and - a generation earlier - Flo's father, the author adds her own chapters illuminating Flo's life in England, details and paintings from a visit to Glamis, an Afterwards chapter and separate Who's Who chapters covering Orkney residents mentioned in both Flo's and Alexander's Orkney journals.
“... a vividly entertaining glimpse of times long gone ... a valuable addition to Orkney’s historial record.” ~ Bryce Wilson, Orkney Islands historian and artist
More from Sheena Wenham about her book and her own early life in Orkney, Scotland
More praise:
"The highly respected Orkney historian, Sheena Wenham, has written a wonderful account of her ancestors, the Sutherland Graemes, to accompany the main text. It begins with an account of a visit to Orkney by Alexander and Mary Sutherland Graeme, Flo's parents, in the summer of 1832. They mix with the great and the good of Orkney, which gives a fascinating glimpse into life among the upper classes. Then the main part is Flo's lively account of her visit to Orkney in 1866, accompanied by her brother Malcolm and her lady's maid, Emma. Again, she is entertained by the lairds of Orkney, and other well known historical figures. Sometimes she is quite forthright in her descriptions, which is very funny:
‘About 2 o.c. Mrs Cowan came in to offer to take us to Kirk with her. I refused with thanks. Then came Miss Watt, a one eyed old lady, very tall and very ugly...' '...then on to Mrs Rae [the explorer’s wife, at Berstane House] no great shakes and oh! so stupid…’ 'Supper was on the table ... I was offered oysters and beer Oh! Oh! Oh! … And we all drank, the ladies taking a potion made for them by the old Captain [Baikie, father of explorer William Balfour Baikie] of what do you think, ‘‘Brandy and Rum’’. During this, different songs were sung, the first by old Mr Fotheringham who has once had a sweet voice, and which is now none at all. Next came Captain Baikie of 70 years of age, who never had had a voice and made an awful row. … All this was great fun.’
It also features many of Flo's charming watercolour paintings that she did while in Orkney. Sheena has also written an extensive 'who was who' of the people featured in both diaries. It is a splendid book and one that will be a welcome addition to any Orkney bookshelf."
~ Tom Muir, publisher, Orkneyology Press
