The ‘rogue’ life of Martha Anne
CYNN CHADWICK - THE INCORRIGIBLE ROGUE REVIEW: STEVE COOKE
BEST-SELLING American author Cynn Chadwick began her research for her latest book in Rochdale.
Cynn began her research for this story, her first venture into historical fiction, after a career as a novelist and senior lecturer, emeritus, at the University of North Carolina, in 2020, when she came to Rochdale to learn all she could about the homeland of her family.
Her great-grandmother, Martha Anne Ashworth Chadwick, lived in Rochdale from 18751948. Martha’s son, Cynn’s grandfather, Harry Chadwick, migrated to the USA in the 1920s.
Throughout her life she had heard stories of her family’s ancestors and was intrigued by her great-grandmother Mary Anne and her turbulent life. At the age of ten she had been officially labelled by the police as an ‘Incorrigible Rogue’.
Cynn was driven to find out more about her great-grandmother. After extensive research, Cynn found the inspiration to write The Incorrigible Rogue.
This is the story of strong women, mill workers, wisewomen, herbalists, women who were denied a voice in a harsh paternalistic society.
Women like Rochdalians.
The Incorrigible Rogue is rich in incident and Rochdale, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is emotively realised, thanks to Cynn’s extensive on-site research and connection to her roots.
I can thoroughly recommend The Incorrigible Rogue for people with roots in Rochdale, fans of historical fiction, readers who are interested in the redemption of women who previously had no voice and anyone who likes a good read.
Visit: amazon.co.uk/incorrigible-rogue-cynn-chadwick/dp/ B0C8SCDBLX
Cynn will be giving a talk at Central Library, Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale, OL16 1XU, today (Saturday) 1-2.15pm.