Kathleen Dayus (1903–2003)

Her People:

This is an immensly readable memoir especially to someone from Birmingham. I loved the young Katie's spirit, and often cringed for her. Her life was unbelievably tough, we are so spoilt now! Growing up in a tiny back to back in Hockley with her siblings, father and undemonstrative mother who Katie believed never loved her,sometimes the subject of her mother's violent temper, Katie often went to bed hungary or crying.
There is some humor too, for instance the family's exploits when they go hop-picking are quite amusing - not that I would have much relished sleeping on straw beds in a barn. All in all a good read. However the ending seems very rushed to me - suddenly we are given a precis of the next twenty years or so of Kathleen Dayus's life - evnts which are covered in the next two volumes of her autobiography.

Where's there life

I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment in Kathleen Dayus's autobiography, and fairly galloped through it. Katie's recreation of life among the poorest Birmingham people between 1913 and 1945 is both poignant and funny. The life lead by Katie and her family was unbelievably difficult, misery piled upon misery, yet there are some highly entertaining moments too. The stuggles Kathleen had to endure just to survive are incredible, even sacrificing her children to the Barnardo's home to give them all a chance. I was shocked by just how draconian and inflexible the Barnardo's people were, and how difficult it was for Kathleen to get help from the Parish relief. This is a must for anyone interested in the social history of England during this period, and certainly a fascinating read for all Brummies. I am now looking forward to reading the third installment.

All my days

This is the third book in the series of autobiographies by Kathleen Dayus. Chronologically this book does pass over the years covered by the previous two volumes, but the stories contained in this book are different. I loved the first two books - but felt this was a bit more rushed through and that things weren't explored in the detail of the previous two books. Nonetheless it is still fascinating to read about how some people lived in the first half of the twentieth century, especially fascinating if, like me, you are from Birmingham. Kathleen Dayus was a remarkable woman to have survived all she did,and become an authoress despite her humble beginnings and poor education.… (más)