Extraordinary ordinary lives
Latest from Breton Books looks at 15 women
A book that examines the stories of everyday Cape Breton women who lived courageous lives will be launched at the McConnell Library on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
“Women of Courage” is a new book from Breton Books that examines the lives of 15 women who led extraordinary ordinary lives. To further celebrate their stories, a one-act play by Ken Jessome adapts the life of one of the women, Margaret Neil James MacNeil, that will be performed at the launch.
“It seems like a good and unusual idea for a book launch,” said Ron Caplan of Breton Books. “None of these women can speak for themselves today, but each of them has left behind her own story, in her own words.
“Ken Jessome has taken one of those life stories, Margaret Neil James MacNeil of Gillis Point near Iona, and created a compelling show that allows actress Carol Anne Gillis to bring Margaret to life.”
Caplan says all of the women in this book are people who dared to live what we often refer to as extraordinary ordinary lives. They took up life’s challenges and lived those lives to the fullest.
The pages of “Women of Courage” offer intimate conversations with 15 Cape Breton women whose lives leap with energy, humour, pathos and power. Hard work, high spirits and abiding love are the threads through the unforgettable lives of these courageous women.
Everyone is invited to the stage performance and book launch of “Women of Courage.”
Caplan will give a short introduction about the making of the book, and then Gillis will perform Jessome’s play. There will be punch and cookies. There is no admission charge.