Three Years in Tristan Da Cunha

by Katherine Mary Barrow

Katherine Mary Barrow. Wife of the Rev. J. G. Barrow, Missionary Clergyman in Tristan Da Cunha and fellow-worker with him on that island

Genres: Memoir, Tristan Da Cunha

140 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A meticulous diary of life on Tristan da Cunha at the turn of the century by the wife of a vicar stationed on the island for three years. Occasionally humorous but mostly delicate and sensitive depictions of island life in a small community in the south Atlantic ocean. The rhythm of life is described nicely, with cries of 'Sail, ho!' and minor medical issues for Katherine to attend to, reports of the construction of houses, educating the children, visits from passing ships, and expeditions to inaccessible parts of the island and, indeed, neighbouring Inaccessible Island. The text is rarely boring and Katherine's vivid descriptions of day to day life meld nicely with her careful recording of the names of the members of the small community.

My only sadness was that this edition lacks Katherine's photographs which apparently pepper the original. The formatting and corrections are for the most part fine - only a handful of errors and these don't detract from the fascinating text.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty interesting for a book written 100 years ago by a minister's wife. there are still people living on this remote volcanic island in the south atlantic. probably still eeking out a living on potatoes and sheep and what they can barter from passing ships.

[John Gwynant · Rating 2 out of 5]

not a lot

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a diary of the wife of a missionary to Tristan da Cunha, the world's most remote inhabited island, from the early 20th century. On one level, it's a fascinating slice of history of one of the weirdest places on Earth (I like weird places). On the other hand, it could use more editing.

It's available free for the Kindle, as it is out of copyright. Sadly, the version I read lacked illustrations.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating.