January 2024 - Growing wings

Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville

… is a fascinating tale of a woman whose life, in essence, reflects that of any woman in today’s world. How is that so?

Passion comes with a price

Restless Dolly Maunder is an excellent read. Grenville takes her reader on a journey through Dolly’s childhood, into the tumultuous waters of her marriage all the while portraying her ongoing passion to make a life of her own. In the face of a heavy-handed father, and betrayal by both her mother and her husband, (on the same issue), she gives up the best of her life to live according to the belief that enduring marriage is her duty. There was no place for a divorcee in her time: it came with a great deal of societal conditioning and baggage, too hard to bear.

My great aunt was of the same generation as Dolly Maunders — My Great Great Aunt Polly

What’s in a name?

It’s a story about a woman whose name isn’t really Dolly. It is Sarah Catherine. Just like my great grandmother’s sister. Just Aunty, or Aunt Polly, was probably the same woman, christened Margaret. And her sister, my great grandmother, who was always called Cissie, was Eliza. I figure that a christened name is often superseded by a term of endearment. Cissie for ‘Sister”? Unlike Restless Dolly, I do believe my great great Aunt Polly was always cheerful. To my knowledge she never married. (Make a link, if you dare!)

Of the same generation as Restless Dolly, my great great aunt. — Just Aunty or Aunt Polly, as she was known to family.

Where is a woman’s place?

Is it truly ‘in the home’?

This theme is ever-lasting, it would seem. Today’s woman isn’t so different to Restless Dolly. I’ve encountered many who long for the freedom to carve a niche in this world; to contribute to it in some measure that is ‘good’ and are thwarted by our patriarchal society.

As I see it, Dolly sought to fulfill her life in two key ways. Firstly, to experience the joy of creating a child together, within marriage, and to raise her child or children in a loving family. Secondly, to create a life of her own; to find her niche beyond the home, to serve within the wider community. It’s commonplace now, in western society to endeavor to achieve both, and it is not often questioned as heavily in the modern world I know even though there are still silent and not so silent barriers that women need to overcome.

Ahead of her time?

In a way, Dolly is ahead of her time. And in a way she is typical of her time. She is like so many women who sought to break free of traditional expectations.

I am reminded of my mother. She belonged to the generation after Dolly’s. Yet, in her time she created her own family, raised it in a loving way and was of greater service to the wider community.

My mother established two businesses and undertook several positions in the work force in pursuit of an income. This supported her as a young single woman, and subsequently assisted in supporting her family. Her primary goal, as I understood it, was financial. And, like Dolly, she found an outlet for her passion. My mother’ outlet was the love of plants. She ran two successful garden nurseries, on from a farm, the other in a country town. Restless Dolly undertook transformation of local pubs.

In my mother’s garden – her passion was growing and selling plants.

My mother stepped up and into her self-chosen role as a nursery owner with her husband’s support, and dare I, say approval. She became well-known for her willingness to go above and beyond in providing service to her customers. She sought out the right plants, searching suppliers’ ranges of plants and garden ware by personally visiting city outlets. This meant a 6 hour return trip, or longer, plus travelling through the city with a trailer in tow. No mean fete for a farm girl! Restless Dolly would have been proud of her!

Grenville’s nuanced portrayal of restless Dolly is in keeping with her meticulous research of the time, place and social mores of her day. She depicts her grandmother in a combination of family memoir and re-imagined history, creating an enjoyable read.

Learn more about Restless Dolly

You can listen to Kate Grenville talking about Restless Dolly here. And find numerous resources here.

In conclusion

Restless Dolly vividly captures an essential segment of Australian pioneering days, where women needed to stand up to the strongly patriarchal society. It is an ongoing issue, an ongoing fight for place, and the current generation strides ahead. As a 4th generation Australian, I see my children and grandchildren, today’s 5^th and 6^th generation Australians living in a very different society.

Please leave a comment below or by clicking here and scrolling to the end of the post.

***

An amazing exhibition!

What a fabulous day out with my dear friend Maureen Helen at the local exhibition of Monet in Paris. Good company made the occasion ever so much more enjoyable.

The display of works from so many artists was impressive! I simply like art and frequent art galleries and exhibitions! Where permitted; I am snap happy!

My dear friend at the Monet in Paris Exhibition in Perth WA — Creating precious memories with my good friend Maureen Helen.

Monet et al

Brief overviews, many more of individual artists than shown below, greet you as you enter the exhibition, relating key facts about the artists who inspired Impressionism.

Inside the main exhibition

Enter through the colourful garden into the pond (without getting wet) and amble through the archway of hanging flowers. It all creates a sense of wonder and pleasure.

Grab a space and enjoy the Sound of Colour

A beautiful display of oversized images from the artists’ works rolled across the many screens in the main exhibition. Written explanations covered the bare facts in the lead up to the period in history when artists’ tools and colours were available to use outdoors. The gradual shift to small visible brushstrokes that gives the impression of form and the use of colour to capture light in the unique style earned the term “impression” and subsequently Impressionism. As Paris redefined itself in the nineteenth century, the artists captured unique expressions of the life and times of that period.

Favourite!

Monet will forever remain one of my favourite artists. I am intrigued at the skill required to see the play of light, and the ability to choose just the right shades and tones to capture it and, to create an image!

As a key Impressionist painter, he masters small, visible brushstrokes that offer the bare impression of form, unblended color and an emphasis on the accurate depiction of natural light. (Source: here)

Love of art

For many years I had copies of a couple of works of Impressionists’ art. My mother bought them for me for around $25 in a garage sale in her hometown. They graced my walls for many years, until I chose to update to original paintings by local artists. You can read about local artists here.

Bucket List

One place on my bucket list is to visit Monet’s Gardens in France. We almost got there once, but it’s time to revisit and fulfil the dream!

In the meantime, my reel on Facebook captures an impression of the exhibition in Perth. You might like to check it out before it closes in February 2024.

Please feel free to leave comment below or clicking here and scrolling to the end of the post.

***

Month: January 2024

Restless Dolly Maunder: A Book Review