Mary, Quite Contrary
Published on 6. June 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-914913-73-0 (ISBN)
Description
Written with charm and humour, Mary Essinger's page-turning memoir takes the reader on a highly entertaining journey from her pre-war life of spirited poverty in a Leicestershire village to a career as a lecturer in Spoken English, novelist and stand-up comedian. With a sharp eye for tragedy and a warm appreciation for joy, Mary recounts her wartime life and subsequent life as a dress designer in the economic boom conditions of the 1950s and falling in love with a German Jewish refugee who clicked his heels when he met her family. It's all here, in 'Mary, Quite Contrary'.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Canterbury
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-914913-73-0 (9781914913730)
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
Mary Essinger was born in 1932. She attended Coalville's King Edward V11 Grammar School and after leaving school in 1946 went to work in factories before becoming a dress designer. Mary taught Spoken English for twenty-five years. In 2003 she published her first novel, Wounded Bird of Paradise. In 2007, two years after the death of her husband Ted, she published 'How to be a Merry Widow: life after death for the older lady'. After living an energetic and creative life, Mary died in April 2020.
Content
Foreword by James Essinger
Preface
Part One
I My First Memory
II Infant School 1937-1939
III Junior School 1939-1942
IV Grammar School 1943 - 1946
Part Two
V The Underwear Factory
VI Before Sex was Invented
VII Going Youth-Hostelling
VIII Marsha
IX Mr Cattell
X The Dress Factory
XI The Design Office
XII Saturday Nights
XIII Christmas In The Factory
XIV The Daffodil Cardigan
XV My Big Break
XVI That First Pattern
XVII They Liked The Dress
XVIII My New Career
XIX London
XX Ascot
XXI Fitting In
XXII New York
XXIII Teresa
XXIV New Boyfriend
XXV Endpiece
Preface
Part One
I My First Memory
II Infant School 1937-1939
III Junior School 1939-1942
IV Grammar School 1943 - 1946
Part Two
V The Underwear Factory
VI Before Sex was Invented
VII Going Youth-Hostelling
VIII Marsha
IX Mr Cattell
X The Dress Factory
XI The Design Office
XII Saturday Nights
XIII Christmas In The Factory
XIV The Daffodil Cardigan
XV My Big Break
XVI That First Pattern
XVII They Liked The Dress
XVIII My New Career
XIX London
XX Ascot
XXI Fitting In
XXII New York
XXIII Teresa
XXIV New Boyfriend
XXV Endpiece