Oculeus is the Ayrshire Archaeological and Natural History Society published non-fiction book from Ayr Writers’ Club Archivist, member, Carolyn O’Hara.
A 6-year undertaking to research the work of her great grandfather, W.G. Wallace – sparked by an old scrapbook and a casual conversation with family – led to the gathering of newspaper cuttings, photographs, illustrations, from the time, and has produced a compelling insight into how we used to live, in Ayrshire, in 1898.
It’s the sort of book that you can dip in and out of. The chapters – Roads and Transport, Poverty and Health, Entertainment and Leisure – to name but three, make it so easy to compare life way back when, to today.
It might surprise you to find that the things that concerned the late Victorians in Ayr in 1898 are the same things that concern us now: pavements, for one –
‘Hech! That’s the second time I’ve nearly broken ma eggs!’ Thus exclaimed a country woman as she passed a certain engineering establishment at South Street on Tuesday morning. If at the next try she succeeds, she will have a good claim upon the Town Authorities to make good the damage. I do not know whether it is Mr Copland who is responsible, or the town, but one thing I do know, the pavement is in a dangerous state and should be looked to at once. The levels are all wrong, and it is just a question if the neighbouring pavements should be levelled up to Mr Copland or Mr Copland should be levelled down. What do you think? – Oculeus (1898)
Carolyn’s online, live, Book Launch, took place on Monday 12th October at 7pm, to a large, welcoming audience.
Carolyn talked with Ken of the development process, the research years, and read out little snippets and amusing gems from the book, all illustrating the delightful way with words that Oculeus had.
Watch Carolyn’s official Book Launch recording HERE
If you would like any further information, or to buy a copy of Oculeus, have it posted out to you, full details are on Carolyn’s public Facebook page HERE