Secrets Never To Be Told
The true story of a windfall inheritance and a very personal investigation
Published on 11. November 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-914913-20-4 (ISBN)
Description
'Secrets Never to be Told' is an extraordinary story, compellingly told, which unravels a century and a half of family secrets. It reveals how being born illegitimate shaped the lives of two women - one of them, the author.
Starting with a letter revealing a mystery inheritance, the author goes on a five-year quest taking her from Victorian Cambridge to modern Vancouver. She uncovers how her cousin Jessie emigrated to Canada, one of thousands of female domestic servants exported as 'surplus' women before the First World War. Woven alongside the contemporary detective investigation on the trail of one immigrant's untold story, is that of the author's strange 1960s childhood of social isolation in a Midlands city, obsessed with a world seen through TV - and with the Beatles.
Starting with a letter revealing a mystery inheritance, the author goes on a five-year quest taking her from Victorian Cambridge to modern Vancouver. She uncovers how her cousin Jessie emigrated to Canada, one of thousands of female domestic servants exported as 'surplus' women before the First World War. Woven alongside the contemporary detective investigation on the trail of one immigrant's untold story, is that of the author's strange 1960s childhood of social isolation in a Midlands city, obsessed with a world seen through TV - and with the Beatles.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Canterbury
United Kingdom
Illustrations
18 black and white photographs
Dimensions
Height: 129 mm
Width: 199 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
294 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-914913-20-4 (9781914913204)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Fiona Chesterton had a long and successful career as a television journalist, editor and producer, working mainly for the BBC and Channel 4. In recent years, she has returned to her first love of writing, contributing articles to several books about the media. This is her first full-length book.
Content
Contents
List of Illustrations 13
Prologue 15
Chapter One 29
Chapter Two 48
Chapter Three 64
Chapter Four 83
Chapter Five 100
Chapter Six 129
Chapter Seven 149
Chapter Eight 163
Chapter Nine 181
Chapter Ten 198
Chapter Eleven 217
Chapter Twelve 237
Chapter Thirteen 255
Chapter Fourteen 275
Chapter Fifteen 295
APPENDIX
Acknowledgements 315
List of Illustrations 13
Prologue 15
Chapter One 29
Chapter Two 48
Chapter Three 64
Chapter Four 83
Chapter Five 100
Chapter Six 129
Chapter Seven 149
Chapter Eight 163
Chapter Nine 181
Chapter Ten 198
Chapter Eleven 217
Chapter Twelve 237
Chapter Thirteen 255
Chapter Fourteen 275
Chapter Fifteen 295
APPENDIX
Acknowledgements 315