PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
David Campbell Callender is the pen name of Ruth Finnegan. Ruth was born on the last day of 1933 in Derry, Northern Ireland, the eldest child of Dr Thomas Finnegan, Professor of Classics and President of Magee College and Agnes Finnegan n�e Campbell, teacher and writer. Largely brought up in Derry, she spent most of the war years in Donegal, 13 months of it in a small cottage in a 'gentle' (faerie) wood, an experience vividly described in her mother's entrancing 'Reaching for the Fruit' and her own semi-autobiographical novel, 'Black Inked Pearl'. This had a lasting influence on her life. In order to avoid an upbringing tainted by Ulster religious divisions, on their return to Derry in 1945 her parents sent her to a Quaker school in York (the Mount) where the experience of memorising and repeating daily 'texts' from the Bible and other literature, shaped much of her future writing, most directly in her monograph Why do we quote? and her novel Black Inked Pearl.This was followed by four joyous years (1952-56) at Somerville College Oxford, again reflected in the novel, in the delightful study of classics (a degree that then combined literature, history and philosophy), ending, to her amazement, with one of the best classics firsts of her year. After two years teaching (and repaying her student debt) at the leading public school Malvern Girls College (now Malvern St James) she decided to return to the intellectual life but this time, much though she would always love the Greek and Roman cultures, to follow her instinct, honed partly by her anti-colonialist and broadly left-wing stance, to widen her study to include learning about other cultures .She chose to focus on Africa, and completed first the postgraduate Oxford Diploma and B.Litt in Anthropology, then fieldwork (1960-61, 1963-4) on story telling among the Limba speakers of Northern Sierra Leone (her manuscript field notes are deposited in the archives of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London); digitised versions of audio taped Limba story-telling and (minimally) music are available on. She completed her D.Phil in 1963, supported by Nuffield College, under the celebrated anthropologist E. E. Evans-Pritchard.Immediately after her marriage in 1963 to David John Murray, grandson of Sir James Murray, the first editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, she accompanied her husband to the University College of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland in the then Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and from there to the more democratic if conflict-ridden setting of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria (1965-69) where their three daughters were born. From there she and her husband were recruited as founding members of the academic staff of the Open University where, apart from three years at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji and Ruthm 1989, and in the wonderful setting of the University of Texas at Austin, they very productively spent the rest of their careers. They are now both Emeritus Professors and still research active. They have five grandchildren (one in New Zealand) and live, write and talk in Old Bletchley in Buckinghamshire, round the corner from the famous Bletchley Park.
Sol Tyler 5.0 out of 5 stars A memorable and meaningful narrative This book teaches readers about the history of birds and how their way of living and evolution can be compared to that of humans. Their lifestyle is similar since they also have families, travel, and are highly intelligent. In addition, the author explores birds' connections to both art and music. Through illustrations, the author exposes the origin of birds, who they are, and what we are. She even includes some poems about birds for readers to enjoy. Even though one may think that this book is meant only for those interested in birds or those who are fans of wildlife and animals, this is not the case. Birds and Humans: Who are We? is one of those narratives intended to open minds and to be used as a resource for background knowledge on creatures with whom we coexist. Ruth Finnegan seems to have researched a great deal on this subject, and she has certainly developed a writing style that presents information in a straightforward way making this a smooth read with topics that are easy to understand. This book can easily be used in schools at number of levels, and makes a wonderful gift for children or loved ones. Nela 5.0 out of 5 stars This book delves into the study of birds, their nature, evolution, their behavior, communication, language, culture, and art. The detailed study of the species is valuable not only as an introduction for readers new to the topic, but also for deepening aspects for bird lovers. I was especially amazed by the unique behavior and personality of these animals. Throughout the book, the information is enriched with beautiful photographs and in some cases, illustrative drawings. There are also references included to further reading for those who are interested in doing independent research. The riveting approach of this book is the comparison between birds and people: the similarities, differences, and relationships. I found these reflections not only thought-provoking but also helpful for discussions and debates. It is of great value to highlight that humans share the responsibility of caring for the earth.
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