Unforgettable, Unforgotten

by Anna Masterton Buchan, O. Douglas

The day-nursery, with a snowball tree at the window, and a cupboard full of toys (mostly broken), is only associated with material things like porridge and bread-and-butter, whereas the night-nursery had a magic casement. One of the two windows looked across the garden and the field beyond and a jumble of roofs, to the grey water of the Firth of Forth and the Inchkeith Lighthouse. As the darkening fell, we children clustered round to watch the light come and go, convinced in our own minds that it was caused by a giant waving a lantern. My bed was alongside the fireplace, and from it I could see the twinkling light, and went to sleep every night thinking warmly of the patient giant.

Genres: Biography

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1942

About the author

Anna Masterton Buchan was a Scottish novelist. She wrote under the pseudonym "O. Douglas". Most of her novels were written and set between the wars and portrayed small town or village life in southern Scotland, reflecting her own life.

Anna Buchan was the daughter of the Reverend John Buchan and Helen Masterton ands the younger sister of John Buchan, the renowned author and statesman. She attended Hutchesons' Grammar School in Glasgow, but lived most of her later life in Peebles in the Scottish Borders, not far from the village of Broughton where her parents first met.

Her first novel Olivia in India was published in 1912 by Hodder & Stoughton. Unforgettable, Unforgotten (1945) is a memoir of her brother John and of the Buchan family, while Farewell to Priorsford is her autobiography, published posthumously in 1950.

Her work is displayed alongside her brother's at the John Buchan Museum in Peebles.

Reviews

[Carolien · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely memoir by the author O. Douglas of her childhood in a manse in rural Scotland and Glasgow. She was the sister of John Buchan and her book is full of anecdotes of life with 4 brothers and little sister who died at the age of 5. The book reminds of some of the last days of the British Empire and is a reminder of the impact of the two World Wars on families.

The book sent me on a quest to find some long forgotten authors who are mentioned in the pages and a lovely reminder of an age gone by.

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography/autobiography by John Buchan's sister Anna, was a much more satisfying read for me than his autobiography, because it contained all the personal touches of life. A tale of the whole Buchan family, it was moving and very enjoyable.

[Alyssa Bohon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I stumbled across this old gem of autobiography. Perhaps you have to be a John Buchan fan to really love his sister's tales of their family life. Being such, I did. But perhaps it is the warm graciousness of her tone, and her simple delight in all that came to her that makes it a lovely experience for any gentle reader. Never married, Anne lived in the loving heart of her family, and their lives were hers. They endured the sorrows of two wars and still found many joys together.

This Proverb comes to mind-
"He who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend."

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

I often grieve for the fictional boys in the between the war books and the brief childhoods of the early 20th century and so I also grieved for “TheMohr” and it was lovely to see where her characters came from. And yet seeing it made each one a bit more real and as they are all now gone from us; I grieve more. I have never read John Buchanan and will now see if I can look out some of his stories also.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This family! The joys and the tragedies they encountered throughout their lives were beyond the norm, I think. What brought them through it all? Some would say it was their religion. Yet I did not see the flaunting of belief that some display. They were just good, good people...intelligent, helpful, curious, active, and joyful, lively. They were recognized and applauded. John became a baron and the Governor General of Canada. Whatever they did, people sang their praises and said what good people they were. I love reading Anne's books; gentle and reflective of life. This is my second review. I made a mistake and lost the first one. Here is a quote I especially liked from the youngest son, Alistair:
"I was playing quite quietly in Heaven when God came and said to me, 'Mhor, you've to go and live with the Buchans.' I said, 'The Buchans? Good Lord.'"

This memoir is full of lovely stories like that. Enjoy.

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lovely and worth reading. I loved her sense of humor and her attitude, I just gave it 3.5 stars because I found it really boring at some parts! I’m sorry!!! This is maybe more my problem than Buchan’s problem.

[Susan Grimshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle and delightful autobiography by John Buchan's sister, describing a world now totally lost for ever and full of interest for all Buchan fans.