Letter from Reachfar

by Jane Duncan

Letter from Reachfar Hardcover Book 1975 by Jane Duncan. The "Reachfar" (My Friends) series, frrom the World War I period through to the 1960s, depicting the people she encounters and showing how her crofting upbringing influences her in whatever society and geographical location she finds herself in.

Genres: Scotland, Memoir

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Jane Duncan was the pseudonym of Scottish writer Elizabeth Jane Cameron, best-known for her My Friends series of semi-autobiographical novels. She also wrote four novels under the name of her principal heroine Janet Sandison, and some children's books. She was born in Renton, West Dunbartonshire and brought up in the Scottish Lowlands where her father was a police officer, but much of her childhood was spent in the Highlands on the Black Isle in Easter Ross, on her grandparents' croft "The Colony", the "Reachfar" of her novels. She graduated in English from the University of Glasgow and did various secretarial jobs before serving as a Flight Officer (Intelligence), WAAF during World War II. Afterward, she lived in Jamaica for ten years, returning to Jemimaville, near "The Colony", in 1958 as a widow. In 1959 Duncan became something of a publishing sensation when Macmillan Publishers announced that it would be publishing seven of her manuscripts. The "Reachfar" (My Friends) series is narrated by Janet Sandison and follows her life (which in outline parallels that of the author) from the World War I period through to the 1960s, depicting the people she encounters and showing how her crofting upbringing influences her in whatever society and geographical location she finds herself.

Reviews

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read all 26 My Friends books in order which was a wonderful and enjoyable read - and thought provoking too. Her narrator Janet Sandison is born in 1910 and the books take us right through to the 70s in a wonderful narrative arc exploring issues of class, slavery, race, friendship, love, family and more - all with a light, sensitive touch that is never preachy but also leaves the reader in little doubt of where the narrator stands.

After finishing the 26 books and by now loving all the characters in particular Janet herself and of course George, Tom and Sashie it was very sad to read of the death of the real life George - the model for George and Tom I think. She does not let on who Sashie is but I wonder if he is partly the real life Sir Frederick Ashton the choreographer she made friends with in WW2... - any thoughts anyone?

I am planning to make a trip to Cromarty this year to see the real life village that Archcraggan is modelled on and to explore some of the locations of her books!

Letter from Reachfar is a thoughtful and perceptive and very funny account of what life is like as the creator of Jane Duncan and Janet Sandison. I really enjoyed it and found it poignant at the same time.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very best loved books ever. Read my friend Annie when I was 10 and I have reread every one more times that I can count. Sickness, death, sadness - Janet makes it all better. And what a story - she published her first book at age 48 and went on to have about 35 published before dying at age 74.

[Bryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jane Duncan's fiction so much that it's impossible for me to review this brief memoir with anything like objectivity -- I'm just so happy to get the chance to hear about her everyday life in her Jemimaville cottage and the garden she has there, and the time she spent with her uncle George before his death, and so forth. I was not at all surprised by anything she said about the mix of autobiography and fiction in her books; it had always seemed clear to me that Janet must be close to her but not-her, and the books are too well-made as fiction (in both good and bad ways) to be truly autobiographical, but it was still very satisfying to read about. I only wish it was longer, or that she had lived longer after she wrote it and written more fiction -- but really, the 'My Friends' series stands well as the arc of a life, and I feel lucky to have read it & to know I can read it again.

[Fiona Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, published in 1975, is Jane Duncan's response to questions she had been asked by readers over the many years of her writing the successful Reachfar books. It's full of autobiographical details that will be fascinating to those who enjoy her work, and full of great stories. As an author she is very economical with what she tells her readers - we get enough to see that her life was the skeleton upon which she brought Janet Sandison to life, but she was adamant that her novels were not autobiographical...by her meaning. I often think she lived through Janet Sandison a parallel life, one in which she sanded down some of the corners of her own personality. Jane Duncan clearly made friends throughout her life...but also enjoyed being a solitary soul. The death of her uncle, George, in 1968 was clearly a great loss to her but she felt her family and friends remained with her...as they are with us, through her books.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the look into an author's literary choices and personal context.

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally satisfying book about Duncan's interesting life, and a glimpse into a way of life that is probably gone forever. I loved reading about her childhood in a tiny Scottish village, and how she came to writing at the age of 49. It definitely helps if you've read at least one of her "My Friend" books, otherwise you might be a bit lost.

[Gaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Duncan's autobiography. I am biased as I am related, but she had a really interesting life.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Jane Duncan and enjoyed reading this autobiography which discusses her life journey and how this has provided the basis for her book series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Answered some questions about the author's life that I've wondered about.