“Abyssinia”, a ghost story about a beloved dolls' house, based on the childhood writings of Kathleen and Nina Rouse who lived at the Rouse Hill estate west of Sydney in the late 19th century.
A wonderful book of great intensity Andersen (Italy)
Enriching, uplifting and deeply satisfying. Canberra Times
Brilliantly evokes the often-shadowy place of childhood, an intriguing story that will have younger readers asking questions that adults won’t be able to answer. The Age
Winner of the Adelaide Festival Award for Literature.
"Kathleen had a particular interest in doll play, often staging grand pageants, weddings and funerals in the nursery at Rouse Hill and re-writing popular Victorian melodramatic novels to record the social life of her dolls. She even published these in a house journal called the Rouse Hill Gazette. This doll has led a vigorous, and slightly mysterious life."
Click here to listen to an excerpt from the audio book and here for teachers' notes
"Here the sons and daughters of Abyssinia lived only to know the soft vicissitudes of pleasure and repose, attended by all that were skilful to delight, and gratified with whatever the senses can enjoy. They wandered in gardens of fragrance, and slept in the fortresses of security.”
Rasselas, Prince of Abyssina Samuel Johnson