The Other Side of the World by Stephanie Bishop

Those of us who were around in the 1960s may remember the 'Ten Pound Pom' scheme where British citizens could apply to emigrate to Australia for just ten pounds. There was a lot of take-up for this offer because people were still recovering from the effects of the war, and it seemed like a good way to make a fresh start.

In the book, Charlotte and her husband Henry make the trip from their home in Cambridge, but the move isn't really what Charlotte wants, and her misgivings are compounded by the fact that she finds she is pregnant with their second child before they set off. Henry has Indian heritage and was bought up in a much warmer climate, so the rain and the cold of English winters upset him and he worries that the constant damp is making Charlotte and the children perpetually ill. He is the one who drives the move and Charlotte only agrees to give herself some breathing space, but before she knows it, everything has been arranged.

Having another child brings challenges to any family as there are a lot of adjustments to make for everyone, especially mothers who can't get the rest they might have enjoyed when pregnant the first time. Charlotte doesn't feel particularly maternal and all the noise and mess created by the babies gets on top of her and she struggles to cope. Anyone who has ever had a baby or babies to look after will sympathise, and recognise that level of tiredness that feels like like lead weights around your shoulders day after day.

The author, Stephanie Bishop, examines how the family tries to cope with so much change all at once and how it is possible to feel trapped by your own home and family. Before marriage, Charlotte had been working as an artist with a promising career as an artist before her, but it becomes impossible to paint with small children around so, on top of everything else, she feel as though she has lost her identity.

This is an interesting read, based on the experiences of Stephanie Bishop's grandparents, so she has included some of their photographs at the back of the book. They were part of the biggest organised migration of the twentieth century and their choices have had an impact on the generations that have followed on.

Comments

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