Flora Lyndsay Or, Passages In An Eventful Life Vol. I is a historical novel that explores the emotional complexities of a young family facing difficult decisions. The narrative follows the protagonist as she navigates the pressures of financial instability, love, and duty. At the heart of the story lies the conflict between personal desires and the practical realities of life, as the protagonist and her husband contemplate emigration in search of a better future. Flora's initial reluctance toward leaving her English home and the comforts of familiar surroundings highlights the emotional tension between the safety of the known and the uncertainties of a new life. The novel delves into the sacrifices one makes for family, as the protagonist's decision to support her husband's aspirations ultimately reflects a deep commitment to her loved ones and their future. The story sets the stage for the emotional and physical journey that lies ahead, as Flora faces the challenges of adapting to a new life in an unfamiliar land.
English-born Susanna Moodie, who lived in Canada from 6 December 1803 to 8 April 1885, wrote about her experiences as an immigrant in what was then a British province. On the banks of the River Waveney in Suffolk, Susanna Moodie was born in Bungay. In a family of authors that also included Agnes Strickland, Jane Margaret Strickland, and Catharine Parr Traill, she was the youngest sibling. In addition to publishing books about Spartacus and Jugurtha, she wrote her first children's book in 1822 and other children's stories in London. She participated in the Anti-Slavery Society in London and transcribed Mary Prince's story, a former slave from the Caribbean. She wed retired officer and Napoleonic War veteran John Moodie on 4 April 1831. Moodie immigrated to Upper Canada in 1832 together with her husband, a British Army officer, and daughter. Her brother Samuel Strickland (1804–1867) worked as a surveyor on a farm in Douro Township, close to Lakefield, north of Peterborough, where the family eventually lived. The farm now serves as a museum and houses antiquities. The museum, which Samuel founded, was formerly an Anglican church and has a view of Susanna's former canoeing spot on the Otonabee River.