Review of Olga A Daughter's Tale by Marie-Therese Browne

Olga A Daughter’s Tale is the story of Carmen Browne (Olga Browney), mother of author Marie-Therese Browne.
It is a true life history of Browne's life growing up in colonial Jamaica and journeying to England in 1939 where she stayed for the rest of her life.

The book is written mainly in journal format from the point of view of Olga. It was so interesting to read about life in Jamaica including the many prejudices and beliefs that existed during the early part of the twentieth century. There are some newspaper clippings and also diary and letter entries from Olga’s mother Becky and Aunt Lucy who had both emigrated from England. I found the details of their initial trips to Jamaica and the descriptions of the lush landscapes to be fascinating.

Olga travels to London in 1939 with the hopes of becoming a dancer and returning to her family in Jamaica. However, the dance school cannot accept her and world events mean that she cannot return home. Olga is subject to cruel and malicious attacks, but it is her courage and dignity that shine through in Campbell’s portrayal of this extraordinary woman.

Overall, this is a touching and fascinating story of Olga’s life that is very well written that I would highly recommend.