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Durham, England, 1886: Your father is dead, your mother and six younger sisters are destitute. You have the chance to start a new life in Australia – alone. What would you do?

“A small girl’s fascination with a battered old box of letters and photographs from a pioneer family in Queensland leads to the discovery of a tale of industrial unrest in the mining communities of County Durham in the 1880s.

Spanning ten thousand miles and six decades, the narrative weaves between County Durham and Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, and explores the lives of ordinary folk, in Seaham and Australia, who faced extraordinary circumstances. Chronicling poverty, destitution, adventure, love, tragedy and an incredible coincidence, The Horsekeeper’s Daughter tells the story of Seaham and her people. It focuses upon one remarkable woman, Seaton farm servant Sarah Marshall, who said her farewells to the pit villages of County Durham and travelled alone to start a new life in Australia in the winter of 1886.

The book unravels the social and economic factors which resulted in thousands of British women like Sarah leaving their homes and families for the new state of Queensland, through the government-sponsored Single Female Migrant Programme. The prejudice and adversity they encountered there, through the Brisbane boom time of the 1880s, the recession of the 1890s, and the incessant cycle of flood and drought, are all explored, along with the impact of the First World War and the Depression of the 1930s.

The experiences of Sarah and her family are paralleled with those of the loved ones she left behind in Seaham, as they faced their own struggles through times of political upheaval and financial deprivation. The Horsekeeper’s Daughter reveals how the author’s obsession with the story of Sarah Marshall impacts upon her own life and reawakens a century-long friendship between two families.”

REVIEWS

“A North Eastern classic.” Amazon, 5 stars

“Absolutely riveting from the first page to the last.” Amazon, 5 stars.

“What a lovely historical read with a moving Durham-Queensland connection beautifully told by the little girl who was fascinated with a battered suitcase of old letters and photos. Highly recommended. Can’t wait to read more by the author.” Amazon, 5 stars.

“Absolutely cracking read, very informative and extremely well researched. A must read for anyone from County Durham. It has it all, intrigue, tragedy, adventure, excitement and filled with extremely interesting facts.” Amazon, 5 stars.

“A wonderful story of true dedication to wanting to have a better life . The dedication showed by the author in writing this book shows we have a up and coming writer and well worth looking out for.” Amazon, 5 stars.

“Beautifully written and extremely informative. A fascinating insight into life at the turn of the 20th century. Well worth reading.” Amazon, 5 stars.