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The Remarkable World of Frances Barkley: 1769-1845
Frances Barkley was just eighteen when she became the first European woman to set foot on the west coast of North America. After a sheltered upbringing in England, Frances found herself boarding the Imperial Eagle in 1786 to set sail on an adventurous, round-the-world voyage with her husband, Captain Charles William Barkley.
With great wisdom and wit, Frances recounted her eight years at sea in her Reminiscences as she found herself in a wider world, helping her husband in his business, giving birth to her children, surviving the tragedy of a young daughter's death and meeting strange and foreign peoples. Today's place names of Barkley Sound, Frances Island, Imperial Eagle Channel and others on Vancouver Island-as well as the ship Frances Barkley-are standing memorials to the enterprising and courageous Barkleys.
Originally researched by writer Beth Hill, The Remarkable World of Frances Barkley has been expanded on by writer and historian Cathy Converse to bring the intrepid young bride and her world to life for a new generation of readers.
With great wisdom and wit, Frances recounted her eight years at sea in her Reminiscences as she found herself in a wider world, helping her husband in his business, giving birth to her children, surviving the tragedy of a young daughter's death and meeting strange and foreign peoples. Today's place names of Barkley Sound, Frances Island, Imperial Eagle Channel and others on Vancouver Island-as well as the ship Frances Barkley-are standing memorials to the enterprising and courageous Barkleys.
Originally researched by writer Beth Hill, The Remarkable World of Frances Barkley has been expanded on by writer and historian Cathy Converse to bring the intrepid young bride and her world to life for a new generation of readers.
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
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November 1, 2019
It was so interesting to read this book about the first European woman on BC soil. She really was remarkable - insisting on going on her husband's voyages with him, even having children along the way. She visited a lot of places and crossed the world a few times. Yes, her experiences are coloured from her European and British upbringing in the late 1700s, but it's still so interesting to see what the world was like back then. I particularly liked learning about her because of the BC history, but that was only one of her travels.
About the format - the author uses parts of Fanny's journal as well as quotes from her diary from other sources. It feels a bit scattered, but the author did well with the little that she had. This is a pretty old copy, I believe first edition, from the 1980s. There's a new version out and I'm curious to read that one and see if anything is different.
Recommended if you like history and don't mind reading things written back then (it can be tough to get through).
About the format - the author uses parts of Fanny's journal as well as quotes from her diary from other sources. It feels a bit scattered, but the author did well with the little that she had. This is a pretty old copy, I believe first edition, from the 1980s. There's a new version out and I'm curious to read that one and see if anything is different.
Recommended if you like history and don't mind reading things written back then (it can be tough to get through).
Displaying 1 of 1 review