Mary Cunningham lived in the Canberra region from the late 1800s. Her life was bound up with some of the great stories of early nationhood: the prosperity brought by wool, the arrival of Federation, the imperial enthusiasms of the Edwardian era, the creation of the national capital, and the sorrows and losses of the Great War. 'Anyone who enjoys reading about the minutiae of lives caught up in the sweep of history will appreciate this biography.' - Canberra Times. '...both a deeply affecting personal story and a record of rural life...a valuable addition to the local history of Canberra and district.' - Canberra Historical Journal. '...fine biography...' - Weekend Australian. '...a valuable insight into the history of the ACT and the life of women on outlying properties.' - Reviews in Australian Studies