Selina's Legacy

Shortly before her death, Selina of 'Selina of Sussex 1818-1886', hands her eldest daughter Ruth the manuscript of her writings, suggesting she might like to continue the story of the Page family into the next generation. With some trepidation Ruth takes up the challenge. Her story is a worthy successor to her mother's 'autobiography'. The reader is given fresh insight into life in rural Sussex, both from a child's point of view and then from an adult's perspective, when Ruth herself marries and moves to Patcham with Dan Holder. A lively, readable story emerges from the skilful combining of historical fact with imaginary detail drawn from extensive research into nineteenth century Sussex life and from Ruth s own account of her spiritual journey, edited by her son and published in the Gospel Standard subsequent to her death. Expressing many of her personal thoughts, feelings and spiritual concerns, Ruth reveals the way God graciously led her into a firm faith in Jesus Christ, sustained her through a period of severe depression, gave her eight children and enabled her to run a blacksmith s business during more than thirty years of widowhood. The author, Leonard Holder, is Ruth s great grandson.