I spend a lot of my life reading. I always have, and consider it one of my greatest joys. As a child I was taken to the library every Saturday morning, and I still remember the thrill of graduating to the adult library, at around the age of 13, and being able to go upstairs. 

I buy books all the time, far too many, but am always tempted by an Amazon special offer, or a National Trust second hand bookshop, or charity shop. Often I get completely free books, all our campsites have a book exchange, and I have come across some lovely things on my travels.

I love books that have a historical aspect to them, either in the whole setting, or the very popular genre of duel timeline books. Most of the time though I don’t really consider the history of the book itself. Where has it been, who bought it originally, how many people have read it, and what impact did it have on them?

Ballachulish, centre of known civilisation around here, as it has the Co op, and a hotel with a pool and jacuzzi, (very handy at the moment as the campsite boiler has broken so no showers!), has a little wellbeing hub. It is full of books, toys, and often surplus veg, that people can help themselves to for a small donation. 

It was there I found this wonderful book a few weeks ago, and it really got me thinking about this book’s journey.

The original manuscript was written in Tasmania, or Van Diemen’s Land, in the late 1800s, so it in itself must have had a journey to be printed and distributed. 

It was published in London in 1852. It was reprinted in Tasmania in 2003, by a local historical society.

The author, Lousia Anne Meredith, although the original title page has her as Mrs Charles Meredith, wrote a dedication to Queen Victoria for her book, and I wonder if the Queen ever read it? Louise became famous in Tasmania for her work, but it is a hefty tome and maybe Victoria was too busy.

The book was absolutely fascinating, though quite difficult to read at first. The language is very much of its time, very formal and very convoluted. 

Louisa was an enthusiastic naturalist, and spends a lot of time describing the flora and fauna. She runs a homestead and so has a kitchen garden, and often compares what she sees or can grow to life in England. She also discusses social issues and everyday life.

She was born in England, and went to Tasmania after marrying her cousin Charles, who had emigrated there with his family 18 years previously but had returned to England, possibly just to marry her? The following year they returned to Tasmania. 

She was an illustrator, as well as writing other books for children, and may also have been an early photographer. She died in Melbourne aged 83. Her contribution to knowledge about Tasmanian wildlife is still celebrated there.

Here are a couple of her beautiful coloured illustrations, taken from the Wikipedia page about her life.

An amazing life, and to hear it firsthand is very special, but it also got me thinking about where this book has been, and the impact it might have had on its readers. 

There is a handwritten note on the second page, which leads to so many questions. 

Were the givers and recipients all still in Tasmania at the time? Who was Uncle David and what was his story? Was he a settler, or one of the many people transported to the colonies for crimes committed in England.

Where did Sheila and Barbara get the book from? Did they buy it new, or was it a happy find as for me?

And the biggest question of all, how did it travel from Australia to a little Scottish village, and end up being donated?

I used to love it when I went to the library as a child and you could see all the date stamps showing when the book had to be returned by. That gave you a little glimpse into the history of the book. Was it a popular one that was constantly being borrowed, or had it languished on the shelf for months?

I have no way of knowing what has happened to this book, or all the people who have read it, but hope that they have found it as interesting as I have.

My current read is a Kindle one, so no physical book to pass through hands. I do love the convenience of Kindle’ especially as I travel so much. I have 119 books unread in my library at the moment, one of which is the complete Sherlock Holmes collection, so those would never fit in Katy!

However there is something so lovely about a physical book, especially a second hand one that can get passed on, so I am also enjoying the 40 plus of those I have got as well.

It has been lovely and sunny for the past few days, so we have managed to get some painting done of the backpacker huts.

We are due some wetter weather this weekend, but my days off today and tomorrow look good so amongst the knitting, more fundraising reindeer, and batch cooking, I will be having a couple more walks.

Hope you are having fun whatever you are doing, take care and thanks for visiting.