Shimmersea
Mary D. Woodward
Mary Woodward, well-known West Auckland author of The Bethells of Te Henga, The Scent of Rosewater, Landscape of My Heart, The Piha Story, has now completed her memoir, Shimmersea. This limited edition is both compelling social history and a remarkable life story. Many New Zealanders will have similar memories of childhood holidays and wild adventures at the beach- in her case on the West Coast of Auckland. As a cash-strapped student recruited by the local Lions Club and lured by prize money of two hundred pounds, she ended up becoming Miss New Zealand 1949 - to her astonishment. She describes herself as "short and with few pretensions to glamour". Back then she was able to avoid those humiliating swimsuit episodes now associated with such events and was clearly chosen for her potential as an ambassador for New Zealand. Reading her descriptions of travelling to post-war Britain, we understand why she was the perfect choice. She was a breath of fresh air in gloomy times, intelligent, curious about the world, radiating charm and without pretension. They loved her. Shes so natural proclaimed the British media. But natural charm was no protection for later tragedies in her life, beautifully told yet inherently distressing. Her struggle to make sense of these terrible times, which enabled her to "come to a place of acceptance of myself and my life, without bitterness or regret" is what makes this book truly remarkable.
Author - Mary D. Woodward.
Narrator - Sylvia Rands.
Published Date - Sunday, 22 January 2023.
Copyright - © 2020 Mary D. Woodward ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
Mary Woodward, well-known West Auckland author of The Bethells of Te Henga, The Scent of Rosewater, Landscape of My Heart, The Piha Story, has now completed her memoir, Shimmersea. This limited edition is both compelling social history and a remarkable life story. Many New Zealanders will have similar memories of childhood holidays and wild adventures at the beach- in her case on the West Coast of Auckland. As a cash-strapped student recruited by the local Lions Club and lured by prize money of two hundred pounds, she ended up becoming Miss New Zealand 1949 - to her astonishment. She describes herself as "short and with few pretensions to glamour". Back then she was able to avoid those humiliating swimsuit episodes now associated with such events and was clearly chosen for her potential as an ambassador for New Zealand. Reading her descriptions of travelling to post-war Britain, we understand why she was the perfect choice. She was a breath of fresh air in gloomy times, intelligent, curious about the world, radiating charm and without pretension. They loved her. Shes so natural proclaimed the British media. But natural charm was no protection for later tragedies in her life, beautifully told yet inherently distressing. Her struggle to make sense of these terrible times, which enabled her to "come to a place of acceptance of myself and my life, without bitterness or regret" is what makes this book truly remarkable. Author - Mary D. Woodward. Narrator - Sylvia Rands. Published Date - Sunday, 22 January 2023. Copyright - © 2020 Mary D. Woodward ©.
Language:
English
Chapter 1
Duration:00:00:15
Chapter 2
Duration:00:03:52
Chapter 3
Duration:00:04:52
Chapter 4
Duration:00:19:37
Chapter 5
Duration:00:40:45
Chapter 6
Duration:00:22:50
Chapter 7
Duration:00:14:29
Chapter 8
Duration:00:34:15
Chapter 9
Duration:00:16:33
Chapter 10
Duration:00:18:35
Chapter 11
Duration:00:16:26
Chapter 12
Duration:00:08:24
Chapter 13
Duration:00:16:47
Chapter 14
Duration:00:10:12
Chapter 15
Duration:00:10:28
Chapter 16
Duration:00:19:15
Chapter 17
Duration:00:05:12
Chapter 18
Duration:00:12:25
Chapter 19
Duration:00:13:02
Chapter 20
Duration:00:08:35
Chapter 21
Duration:00:20:34
Chapter 22
Duration:00:22:05
Chapter 23
Duration:00:19:06
Chapter 24
Duration:00:34:04
Chapter 25
Duration:00:24:01
Chapter 26
Duration:00:34:48
Chapter 27
Duration:00:28:15
Chapter 28
Duration:00:28:24
Chapter 29
Duration:00:13:02
Chapter 30
Duration:00:35:51
Chapter 31
Duration:00:09:42
Chapter 32
Duration:00:31:32
Chapter 33
Duration:00:27:24
Chapter 34
Duration:00:00:31