We’re spoilt for
choice with suffragist and suffragette literature at the moment, and much of it
centres around Emily Wilding Davison, because June was the centenary of her
death under the hooves of the king’s horse in Epsom.
This latest offering
by Maureen Howes is something extra special, though. A Suffragette’s Family
Album is the result of ten years of exhaustive research from Maureen, who has
dedicated the past decade to uncovering every possible scrap of information
about Emily. The book aims to help us try to piece together a complete picture
of one of the best remembered suffragettes, and to try to help inform us about
her actions on that fateful derby day.
Emily’s closest surviving
relative Geoffrey Davison has written the book’s preface, which is an
indication of the close involvement of Emily’s family with Maureen’s research. And
through postcards, letters, photos – even Emily’s christening gown, Maureen
pieces together Emily’s entire life story, which really comes to life thanks to
the many photographs.
With the aid of
timelines about Emily individually as well as the suffrage campaign generally,
plus a great deal of supporting background information about the other
campaigners who worked with Emily, A Suffragette’s Family Album is an extremely
authoritative and comprehensive guide to Emily Wilding Davison. Maureen has
evidently worked extremely hard on this book, and her decade of research has
more than paid off.
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