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EMMA JANE SMITH : 1919 - 1921 FASCINATING POST WORLD WAR I MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A PIOUS WOMAN IN SERVICE TO A CORNWALL ENGLAND FAMILY

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is a diary that provides a fascinating look into the life of a 41 year old woman who works in service to an English family immediately following WWI The notebook is in very good condition and the entries are quite legible. It measures 8 in by 6 1/2 in and contains 141 pages. It is 100% complete. It covers the time period Jan 1st, 1919 until Oct 24th, 1921. Two to three entries are made each week. Church life plays a very important role and virtually every entry contains quotes from scripture or references to going to church services quite regularly. There is little reference to her daily tasks other than passing remarks about going shopping or having a difficult day with a child. Most geographical references are to locations in Cornwall, UK. 'Wingfield' is frequently referenced as home and it was located on the edge of Plymouth. This is confirmed by numerous references to 'the Hoe', a large open space in Plymouth. She has a very active social life with a small group of friends and daily rounds of meeting for tea, going bathing [swimming] together and long walks comprise much of her entries. There is little reference to events in the outside world. "... Went down and walked along the sands, sat on high rock after and did some knitting. Peace Treaty was signed at Versailles this afternoon" [June 28, 1919]."Went over to Penhenver in the morning to see submarine k14 pass" [Sept 1st, 1919]. Most entries are similar to these: "Went to the Meeting (church service) in the morning & called to see Ethel D who is so ill. Went over to see A and H and had tea there. 12 altogether at tea and Mr. Gully was there - the blind brother. I enjoyed it very much. Went to the gospel and Mr. G preached Acts 7:55 ..." [Sept 28, 1919]. "Paid a visit at last to Mrs Bowen, felt impressed to go since getting up. I had a very happy time with her, one felt the warmth of Christian love coming out. After tea, I called to see Ethel D. She is still very ill" [Oct 8t, 1919]. "Mr. G went to Newquay today, also Mr. T to see about electric lights for "Rockland" [Mar 9, 1920]. "It is a lovely day today. We took our tea to Porth and had it on the rocks, the waves dashing up. 11 years today on a Friday, John passed away I thought about him" [Apr 16, 1920]. And so the entries go - much focused on her immediate life and those in her small circle of friends. This diary gives a wonderful look inside what may appear to be an ordinary, unremarkable life. But closer scrutiny can yield many nuggets of information for a social historian or someone involved in gender studies. It offers a great deal of local information about places in Cornwall, UK.. Illustr.: /. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good +

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