Carlotta's Perth brings to life our city as it once was, through the eyes of Carlotta Brockman (nee Prinsep).
As a member of a close-knit colonial family who saw Western Australia as home, Carlotta helped to create the early cultural life of Perth. Amid times of joy and sorrow, she writes of the remarkable characters and events that remained in her memory as the little town grew into a thriving city. She recalls her 'charmed life' attending fancy-dress balls, bazaars and concerts at Perth Town Hall and Government House, and recounts days boating on the Swan River and picnicking in the surrounding hills and bushland.
Carlotta's lively memories of childhood, combined with striking family photgraphs and her delicate watercolours, provide a vivid portrait of Perth in the 1870s and 1880s.
Bill is one of the founders of Boffins and has been involved in selecting the books we stock since our beginning in 1989. His favourite reading is history, with psychology, current affairs, and business books coming close behind. His hobbies are reading, food, reading, drinking, reading, and sleeping.
*As reviewed on Radio 6PR 882 5th May 2017*
Carlotta grew up in Perth in the 1870s and 1880s, and in later life wrote a memoir of her life at this time. She was the daughter of Henry Prinsep, an artist and photographer in Perth from the 1870s, and Josephine Bussell. The family lived in a house called “The Studio” down near the Perth Mint.
In this delightful book, Malcolm Allbrook and Mary Anne Jebb have used Carlotta’s memoir and Henry’s illustrations and photographs to bring to life the little town of Perth in the 1870’s through the eyes of an observant young woman.
I recommend it as a beautiful gift for anyone, especially those with even the slightest interest in our history.
