Sisters in the wilderness

Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill were writers and artists who left England for Canada during the great wave of emigration that saw over twelve million Britons abandon their homeland for the Colonies in the 19th century. Against the odds, the sisters carved successful careers for themselves as writers, and their despatches about the harsh realities of pioneer life were avidly read in England. In this book, award-winning author Charlotte Gray vividly brings her subjects to life and draws a brilliantly clear picture of life in the backwoods of Canada. Using the women's correspondence and personal papers as well as their published works, this meticulously researched, beautifully told biography is a compelling read and valuable addition to literary history.