The Maxwells of Montreal, Early Years 1870 - 1922

by Violette Nakhjavani

Volume 1 (Early Years) covers the years 1870-1922, beginning with the childhood years of May Bolles and Sutherland Maxwell; their youth, their meeting and courtship in Paris; their marriage and their first pilgrimages. It tells the story of the birth of their daughter and the historic visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to their home in Montreal just before World War I. It also describes the early development and training of young Mary, the family's activities during the war years, the reception of the Tablets of the Divine Plan, and the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which ended the Heroic Age of the Baha'i Faith.

This book draws on over 1,600 personal letters between May, Sutherland and Mary Maxwell (Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum), together with about 1,400 letters which the three Maxwells exchanged with their relatives and some of the early Bahá’ís. It includes citations from the 195 Tablets, letters and cables from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and the Greatest Holy Leaf to members of the family, which have never been transcribed before. It also contains extracts from Rúḥíyyih Khánum's notebooks, the memoirs of her mother, sketches made by her father, and articles and photographs related to the period.

422 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Brian Burriston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible information and story.
You have to be interested because of the detail but wonderful to have this information.

[SeaShore]

Quote:
"The life of a human being on this earth is very short - the years fly by - and the opportunity is past - forever. You know that the ONLY REASON for a human being's life on this earth is to attain to the Knowledge of God - all else is nothing, all else passes away as a wind passes away.”

[Samara Kianfar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down for the last 200 pages! Loved reading about the growth of the Faith in Canada the close up on the Maxwell's made me feel like I was there! Great stories to share with others :). Looking forward to reading volume II.