Molly Peacock

Flower Diary by Molly Peacock tells the story of Mary Hiester Reid (1854-1921). There are very few archival records of Mary’s life. What we do know is that she did a remarkable job of combining a career as an artist with that of wife, homemaker, and community member. She studied art, travelled to Europe to immerse herself in the European masterpieces, taught, belonged to many women’s organizations, kept a home in 2 different locations, and supported her artist husband George. Her art was distinct from her husband’s and one of her last acts, when she was very ill, was to go out to vote in the first election that gave women the right to vote. Molly Peacock is a poet so the book is well written with every word chosen with care. Because so little is known about Mary Hiester Reid, she extrapolates from her own experience as a wife and poet. I highly recommend reading Flower Diary. Not only was I introduced to the work of an artist who lived most of her adult life in Canada, but it stimulated me to think about women’s roles, how they’ve changed but how they remain the same. Molly Peacock has also written The Paper Garden about Mary Delany, who began creating botanically correct, cut-paper flowers at 72.… (más)