HANNAH DUFF: GOING HOME Book 2

by Jim Burnside, Jessica Macdonald (Editor), Karamjeet Nahal-Macdonald (Editor)

By 1909 Hannah’s education has been curtailed. On her last day she plans to daub the bustle of Queen Victoria’s statue in Leith with an emblem of Women’s Suffrage. In solidarity with the memory of her mother she assumes her lapsed Christian name and leaves childhood behind to take a job in Liverpool. With evolved wisdom beyond her years, Hannah becomes Governess to Lady Christina Leslie’s daughters. Through the turmoil of Red Sunday to the tragedy of the Great War, she sustains balance through political activism while letting love into her life. But can she ever find peace?

480 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2014

Reviews

[Richard Tearle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on from the first book in the series, Fever Therapy, John Harper is a widower with 3 young children to bring up. Slowly he finds love again with Margaret Kemp and we see John rebuilding his life. But this story concerns his youngest daughter, Hannah, affectionately known to all as Duff. We watch as the precocious and lovable Duff learns silently from her father and sisters, storing all that knowledge throughout her school years. Duff longs for a University education, but this is vetoed by Margaret and reluctantly by her father. Margaret isn't exactly the wicked stepmother, but the two rarely see eye to eye . When she does leave school, she obtains a position with a wealthy family in Liverpool. She becomes a valued member of the household - governess to their two young children - and becomes involved in the Suffragette movement, advocating affiliation with the growing power of the Unions. Duff has a few platonic relationships, but becomes reacquainted with William Macdonald, an Edinburgh tram driver she had met following a fatal accident during her last days at school and whose letters Margaret had neglected to send on.
Throughout all that happens, we see Duff grow from child to woman, we experience her feelings, laugh and cry with her - and this is due much to the wonderful and sensitive writing of the author. Hannah Duff is a fabulous character and a beautifully written book. Highly recommended - especially to any television producers looking for a down to earth family saga.