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The fifth sparrow: An autobiography
171 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1972
6 people want to read
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April 16, 2018
This was an interesting if frustrating book. A memoir, it was at times both dull and absorbing. Molly Skinner was born to an influential and well-connected family in Perth in 1876 and her account of her and her forbears' life in the city in 19th century is fascinating. She went to England and became a nurse and her account of the British class system and the snobbery towards colonial Australians is illuminating and somewhat shocking viewed from a 21st century perspective. She went backwards and forwards between England, India and Australia, nursing as she went, although I found this section tedious and dull.
Back in WA she ran a boarding house and it was there that she met D.H. Lawrence and his wife Frieda in 1922 when they came and stayed for a couple of months. He encouraged her to write a novel, which she did, and he then edited and rewrote the ending and it was published under both their names and called the "Boy in the Bush". Her description of her friendship with Lawrence, their collaboration and subsequent correspondence is where this book really shines, and it is well worth reading for this alone.
Back in WA she ran a boarding house and it was there that she met D.H. Lawrence and his wife Frieda in 1922 when they came and stayed for a couple of months. He encouraged her to write a novel, which she did, and he then edited and rewrote the ending and it was published under both their names and called the "Boy in the Bush". Her description of her friendship with Lawrence, their collaboration and subsequent correspondence is where this book really shines, and it is well worth reading for this alone.
Displaying 1 of 1 review