The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies
A Tale of Two Farmer's Wives 1882-1944
By Mary Holmes, Marion Orr | Publisher: Rosebine Press
About the book
In 1956, the editor's father, John Holmes Johnson, cleared out his mother Janet's house after she died. Among her stuff, he found three old diaries, written by his maternal grandmother Marion Orr and her mother Mary Holmes (John's great-grandmother). He took the ancient notebooks home, put them in a brown manilla envelope and placed them in his filing cabinet. There they remained until he retired in the mid-1980s. For several years prior to his death in 2008, he took on the mammoth task of transcribing the handwritten diaries. He laboured over them for several years, deciphering the sometimes difficult to read handwritten script, and typing them up on his Amstrad computer and later on his Windows desktop.
Both diarists were born and brought up on farms in the countryside surrounding the villages of Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir in the West of Scotland. Both married farmers.
Spanning the years between 1882 and 1944, the diaries paint a fascinating picture of the lives of these hard-working country folk during those sixty-two years. Not only did the two grannies record family fortunes and tragedies, they also mentioned international events of interest to them, such as the International Glasgow Exhibition, the 'Spanish Flu' epidemic and other events that affected them during the First and Second World Wars.
Readers will be fascinated by the details recorded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by these strong and characterful women.
Editions of The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781739744335
Read an Excerpt
In 1956, the editor's father, John Holmes Johnson, cleared out his mother Janet's house after she died. Among her stuff, he found three old diaries, written by his maternal grandmother Marion Orr and her mother Mary Holmes (John's great-grandmother). He took the ancient notebooks home, put them in a brown manilla envelope and placed them in his filing cabinet. There they remained until he retired in the mid-1980s. For several years prior to his death in 2008, he took on the mammoth task of transcribing the handwritten diaries. He laboured over them for several years, deciphering the sometimes difficult to read handwritten script, and typing them up on his Amstrad computer and later on his Windows desktop.
Both diarists were born and brought up on farms in the countryside surrounding the villages of Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir in the West of Scotland. Both married farmers.
Spanning the years between 1882 and 1944, the diaries paint a fascinating picture of the lives of these hard-working country folk during those sixty-two years. Not only did the two grannies record family fortunes and tragedies, they also mentioned international events of interest to them, such as the International Glasgow Exhibition, the 'Spanish Flu' epidemic and other events that affected them during the First and Second World Wars.
Readers will be fascinated by the details recorded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by these strong and characterful women.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies about?
In 1956, the editor's father, John Holmes Johnson, cleared out his mother Janet's house after she died. Among her stuff, he found three old diaries, written by his maternal grandmother Marion Orr and her mother Mary Holmes (John's great-grandmother). He took the ancient notebooks home, put them in a brown manilla envelope and placed them in his filing cabinet. There they remained until he retired in the mid-1980s. For several years prior to his death in 2008, he took on the mammoth task of transcribing the handwritten diaries. He laboured over them for several years, deciphering the sometimes difficult to read handwritten script, and typing them up on his Amstrad computer and later on his Windows desktop.
Both diarists were born and brought up on farms in the countryside surrounding the villages of Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir in the West of Scotland. Both married farmers.
Spanning the years between 1882 and 1944, the diaries paint a fascinating picture of the lives of these hard-working country folk during those sixty-two years. Not only did the two grannies record family fortunes and tragedies, they also mentioned international events of interest to them, such as the International Glasgow Exhibition, the 'Spanish Flu' epidemic and other events that affected them during the First and Second World Wars.
Readers will be fascinated by the details recorded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by these strong and characterful women.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Published diaries, letters and journals
Where can I read a sample of The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781739744335
How long is The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies and how many pages does it have?
The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies has 664 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies?
Mary Holmes, Marion Orr
Who is the Publisher of the book The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies?
Rosebine Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781739744335)
Where can I buy The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy The Secret Diaries of Two Auld Grannies?