Reviews

Sometimes one wonders how a woman of such character as Margaret Jones managed to slip past the biographers, but thanks to the extensive research of Eirian Jones this remarkable womans life has been captured and put in print. The Welsh Lady from Canaan describes a Welsh woman from Rhosllannerchrugog in north Wales, who became a celebrated traveller and something of an adventurer. Born in 1842 into a family of strong religious beliefs, she left Wales for Birmingham at 14 years of age, where she took a post as a nurse-girl for a converted Jew, the Reverend E. B. Frankel. This was to be the turning point in her life. She accompanied him and his family to Paris, where she proved that, despite her lack of education, she had a quickness of mind and a natural ability as a linguist, which was a considerable asset when the family moved again, this time to Jerusalem. It was during this period of about four years that Margaret took to writing extensive letters home to Wales. She was surprised when she heard that the substance of her correspondence was being published as a news-sheet, and later as a book. Ill-health began to dog her and she was moved to Beirut, from where, after a further period in hospital, she was forced to return to the UK. Her health improved, and now known as the Gymraes o Ganaan, she embarked on a lecture tour, the earnings from which enabled her to travel as a missionary to Mogador in Morocco and elsewhere in Africa. Another book followed, then to America on a lecture tour. In 1889 she took an appointment as town missionary for the Congregational Church in Ipswich, Australia where in 1890 she married James Josey; Margaret died at the age of sixty in 1902. Thank you, Eirian Jones, for enlightening us on the life of this fascinating woman; a most intelligent read. Norma Penfold It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. -- Welsh Books Council