| The true story that inspired 'A Woman's Place'. |
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| This is the story of two women, mother and daughter, based on true events.
In 1899, Julia, at the age of twenty, travels on her own to New York in hot pursuit of the man whose child she carries. Living life with passionate intensity, across the social realm, Julia struggles to survive in turbulent times.
Her daughter Sonja, born of that first tempestuous union but brought up in Finland by a stepfather when Julia remarries, has the same spirit and courage as her mother. Her wanderlust takes her to Paris and then on to New York, where she leads a 'Great Gatsby' - life in the aftermath of the Wall street crash.
The backdrop of the Great Depression and its impact on society then provides an interesting parallel to the present times.
Set in Stockholm, Helsinki, Monte Carlo, Paris and New York from 1899 through to the 1930's, this is a story with a true eye-witness feel.
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The real story :
I few years ago, I was looking through my late grandmother's photo album. I found a number of photos there that turned out to be my grandmother's very beautiful sister Julia. I had heard her mentioned briefly from time to time when we talked about the old days and my grandmother's family but never really knew her story. Around the same time, I also came across a collection of letters, postcards, photos and other memorabilia from the time when Julia was a young woman and her sister Karin (my grandmother) still a child. Through these letters, I discovered the fascinating life of a woman with an indomitable spirit and enormous courage. As I read on, I realised this was a story worth telling, not only because of the adventures Julia embarked on without worrying about conventions but also because of the eye witness accounts of a fascinating period in history.
Sonja's Story
When I later discovered that Julia's daughter Sonja had been as brave and independent as her mother, I decided to make her story the second part of my novel, especially as her letters vividly describe what life was like in 1920's Europe and also in New York just after the Wall Street crash in 1929.
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| Julia at 25 |
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| Julia and Edwin, the love of her life |
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| Sonja at 30 |
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