A Victorian's Inheritance
Anxiety. Addiction. Depression.

We associate these words with the challenges of modern life. Rarely do we consider how these conditions shaped past generations.

Using archival sources, testimonies, and her grandfather Walter Parker's experiences, the author not only paints a vivid picture of life in an English Victorian village, but she also draws upon psychological theory to explore the lives of her working-class ancestors.

What did your forebears inherit from their parents? Which psychological characteristics did your ancestors hand down?

A Victorian's Inheritance can help you find answers.

1138525783
A Victorian's Inheritance
Anxiety. Addiction. Depression.

We associate these words with the challenges of modern life. Rarely do we consider how these conditions shaped past generations.

Using archival sources, testimonies, and her grandfather Walter Parker's experiences, the author not only paints a vivid picture of life in an English Victorian village, but she also draws upon psychological theory to explore the lives of her working-class ancestors.

What did your forebears inherit from their parents? Which psychological characteristics did your ancestors hand down?

A Victorian's Inheritance can help you find answers.

43.99 In Stock
A Victorian's Inheritance

A Victorian's Inheritance

by Helen Parker-Drabble
A Victorian's Inheritance

A Victorian's Inheritance

by Helen Parker-Drabble

Paperback(Large Type)

$43.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 1-2 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

Anxiety. Addiction. Depression.

We associate these words with the challenges of modern life. Rarely do we consider how these conditions shaped past generations.

Using archival sources, testimonies, and her grandfather Walter Parker's experiences, the author not only paints a vivid picture of life in an English Victorian village, but she also draws upon psychological theory to explore the lives of her working-class ancestors.

What did your forebears inherit from their parents? Which psychological characteristics did your ancestors hand down?

A Victorian's Inheritance can help you find answers.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781916246638
Publisher: Animi Press
Publication date: 05/03/2021
Series: Who Do I Think You Were?(r) , #1
Edition description: Large Type
Pages: 346
Product dimensions: 8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Helen, a former counsellor and family historian, has become a 'geneatherapist' whose mission is to use historical and current understanding of mental health, psychology, and neuroscience to deepen our understanding of our ancestors and benefit present and future generations. Helen holds a Diploma in counselling. Fascinated by psychological theory and the stories we develop to make sense of ourselves and our family, her original quest was to understand her Victorian grandfather, Walter Parker, born in 1885 in the English village of Upwell on the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border. Walter migrated to Canada in 1907. Helen believes family history doesn't survive unless it's in print, so she pondered how to share what she had learnt. Inspired by the few trailblazers, she set out to write an engaging and accessible book that would not only explore working-class life in an English village, but could encourage other family historians to pass on what they have painstakingly discovered. During her research a transgenerational legacy of loss, trauma, anxiety, and depression unravelled. It revealed repeated patterns of behaviour that she too had unwittingly passed on. This discovery helped her understand her work's focus. It is through acknowledging and exploring psychology, neuroscience, and your ancestor's behaviour that you can develop a deeper understanding of those who came before you, and pass on a healthier legacy to your children and grandchildren.

Table of Contents

Notes to the reader 1

Currency 2

Dedication 5

Foreword 7

Preface 9

Chapter 1 Family 15

Walter's paternal Grandparents - Stephen Parker Snr and Frances née Moulton 16

The use of opium - Addiction in the family? 19

Walter's maternal grandparents - James Bates and Ann née Rands 21

Walter's parents - Stephen Parker Jnr and Ann née Bates 23

Family tree 31

Chapter 2 Upwell 33

A perilous birth - 18 April 1885 41

A working-class mother's responsibilities 44

The daily life of a working-class housewife 50

Family tree 54

Chapter 3 A New Life in Thorney 55

Exploring the village 64

Village hierarchy 78

Family tree 82

Chapter 4 An Alcoholic in the Family 83

Women and alcohol 85

The risk of public inebriation 90

Mental health: Intergenerational loss, trauma, and depression 92

The impact of trauma and addiction 99

Family tree 106

Chapter 5 School and Education 107

Girls' education 115

The school day, attendance, and wider learning 117

Expectations of children and their responsibilities 123

Family tree 130

Chapter 6 Traditional Games and Pastimes 131

A love of reading 134

Outdoor pastimes 136

Sports 139

Family tree 149

Chapter 7 Thorney Village Life 151

The Queen's birthday (and a cousin in jeopardy) 152

The Thorney annual feast 159

The church garden fete 160

The Thorney Foresters Society fete and gala 165

Children's school treats and outings 168

Music, dance, and entertainments 170

Lifelong learning 172

The horse and foal show 175

Hospital Sunday 178

Politics and unions 178

Holidays 179

Christmas 185

Church and chapel 188

Family tree 193

Chapter 8 Health 195

Common illnesses 199

The medical officer 202

Pulmonary and bovine tuberculosis 202

Family tree 205

Chapter 9 A Farm Labourer 207

The working day 209

What Walter wore 210

Farming culture on the Bedford Estates 211

Farm work 213

Agricultural pay 216

Harvest 218

Chapter 10 All Change 223

Guiding the next generation 224

Thrown out of the Tank Yard 229

Stephen Parker - A man of property 231

Walter's sisters 232

Emigration 243

Canadian propaganda 247

Postscript Walter's refusal to doff his cap 253

Appendix A Wisbech Division Petty Sessions 1887 257

Appendix B Games & Pastimes 259

What's the time, Mr Wolf? 259

Bulldog 260

Pick up Sticks 260

Blind Man's Buff 260

Pin the tail on the donkey 261

Appendix C Letter from Cousin Theo, 1900 263

Appendix D Apprenticeship Indenture 265

Acknowledgements 269

About the author 271

About the history consultant 273

Endnotes 274

Bibliography 311

Index 336

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews