When Kitty Came To London

What a wonderful book! I found it well written and astonishing in its feats of meticulous research. Teresa Pyott makes everyone come alive in this true story of two families and how they met and comingled over the latter part of the the 19th century and well into the 1st half of the 20th. There are many twists and turns along the way, proving that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. I knew very little about Orkney and now I very much want to visit! I also enjoyed looking up the various locations and houses mentioned, and discovering Peter Maxwell Davies wistful "Farewell to Stromness", etc. And I appreciated hearing about the interlacing of lives spent in varying vocations, from seafaring, to teaching, and to the theatre. The action takes us from Scotland to London, to Australia and the Americas and other places. Pyott's compassion for her subjects is moving as is her labor of love in relaying this saga, and in it, the act of generosity which changed her family's life, one which she returns engagingly with this homage to those who went before.

Thanks to Teresa Pyott's meticulous research, "When Kitty Came to London" is not only an engaging read, but a wonderful window into a bygone era. From Orkney to the London docklands to Australia, the book is full of insight into late Victorian life and the changes brought by the early 20th century. The book really drew me in, and I found myself speculating alongside the author about the lives of the individuals she portrays so well. Her book should also serve as an inspiration to anyone interested in genealogical or social research; it is amazing what she has been able to discover in the public record by doggedly pursuing various leads. Hats off to Teresa Pyott!

I can not thank Teresa Pyott enough for the writing and publishing of this book. For many years myself and other family members have been trying to end the "mystery" of what became of my great grandfather Terence Clarke of Devonport, Plymouth, England in the late 1890's. We knew he was 56 in 1891 and earlier that year had signed the English 1891 Census of being at home in Devonport with his wife and 2 youngest sons. He described himself on the Census as being a retired naval man. Obviously, at that age he would have needed to retire from the Royal Navy but, would still have to find work. We knew he had returned to sea but not sure when, where or with whom? After searching the "Seamen's Register of deaths at sea" for this period in 1891 leading forwards a year or two, it informed us that he had died onboard the "Blair Drummond" a Scottish sailing vessel whilst it was docked in TalTal, Chile from heart failure. I then Googled the ships name for more info. as to during it's voyages for 1891 and to my amazing surprise Teresa's book "When Kitty came to London" came up and even revealed a certain page of that book referring to Terence Clarke, the ships Steward, how he died at the port in Chile and that they had to bury him ashore there. Alas, so sad that my dearest great grandpa died so far away from home but I only wish I could have had a conversation with Teresa to tell her of the amazing life he had before 1891. At a very young age he previously had joined one of Queen Victoria's Scottish Regiments, the "62nd Sterlingshire Regiment" and had travelled the world and done and seen the most amazing things. And then later joined the Royal Navy. Unfortunately, all of his children, but one and his wife died within a few years of his passing. The remaining child became my grandfather but died 3 years before I was born. We therefore only had my Mums stories of what happened when, where and almost how! Hence the mystery of Terence Clarke. Thank you so much Teresa for mentioning my dear great grandpa in your book, I think he would have been thrilled!!! ( I have ordered 2 copies but now news around the family has spread and several more are to be ordered. I can not receive the book as it has just been published to read until June/July 2024).