'Grey Ghosts and Voices', preface by Sir Basil Blackwell (of the publishing firm)...

"May Wedderburn Cannan, who died in 1973, left this first part of her autobiography in manuscript written some years ago. She was the second of three talented sisters who grew up in the shadow of Magdalen Tower in the gracious conditions of Edwardian Oxford, a poet - one of the last authentic voices of the traditional modes - a natural but untutored scholar, a mountaineer, and in practical affairs resolute and able. She was of the generation which, as she writes, "said good-bye to their youth" in 1914, to emerge, such as survived, "into a new and terrible world".

There is beauty in her story and tragedy, and the comfort of noble friendships, and there can be few readers who will not be deeply moved by it, the more so for the quality of her writing informed, like her poems, by integrity, courage and loyalty to the traditions of gallant Scots forebears. Few indeed will put the book down without a sense of "chastening by pity and fear", and of high privilege in sharing for a space in the life of a rare spirit.

During this period May, encouraged by "Q" *, maintained her practice of poetry, and years later was glad to think "at least I wrote a salute to my generation". In her modesty she "did not treasure the extravagant hope of leaving anything that would be remembered." 

She has left this memorable book.

Basil Blackwell

January, 1976

* Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, 1863-1944, Professor of English Literature at Cambridge

FAMILY HISTORY

Andrew Wedderburn [b. 1821, Wedderburn-Maxwell from 1879, 4th & ygst. s. of James W., Solicitor-Gen. for Scotland, & Isabella Clerk (m. 1813)] m. Joanna Keir [2nd d. of James Keir, M.D.] on 14/9/1847, at the Episcopal Chapel in Edinburgh. - Midlothian IGI - �Andrew entered the Madras Civil Service in 1842, where he continued for 36 years. In 1879 he succeeded his cousin, James Clerk-Maxwell, in the estate of Middlebie, Dumfries & Glenair, Kirkcudbrightshire, and took the name and arms of �Maxwell of Middlebie & Glenair� in addition to his own�. (He & Joanna had 4 sons & 2 daughters: James Andrew Colvile (b. 1849); Harry George (b. 1850); Alice (b. 1853); twins, Francis Edward Keir & Mary (b. 1857) & Charles Alexander (b. 1858). - Andrew died at Bath on 12/5/1896, and is buried at Corsock, Kirkcudbrightshire. - His widow Joanna was living at Oxford in 1898. - W.B. p. 316

Francis Edward Keir Wedderburn [twin with Mary, below], 3rd s. Andrew W. [b. 1821, Wedderburn-Maxwell from 1879] & Joanna Keir [m. 1847], b. 11/3/1857, on board the s.s. �Columba� off Malta, on its voyage home from India, & bap. at St. Paul�s, Knightsbridge, London. - �Francis was educated at Clifton College & Balliol College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1878 but, passing into the Civil Service of India, did not proceed a degree. He went to India in 1880, and entered the Madras Civil Service; and was acting assistant-resident at Mysore, and (1891) special assistant to the Collector of Gangam. - He died unm. on 2/2/1893. at Calingapatam, Madras. - W.B. p. 316

Mary Wedderburn [twin with Francis Edward Keir, above], younger d. of Andrew W. [b. 1821, Wedderburn-Maxwell from 1879] & Joanna Keir [m. 1847], b. 11/3/1857, on board the s.s. �Columba� off Malta, on its voyage home from India, & bap.. at St. Paul�s, Knightsbridge, London. Mary m. Charles Cannan (s. of David Cannan, & a fellow of Trinity College, Oxford) on 18/12/1891 at Corsock Parish Church, Kirkcudbrightshire. - They had 4 daughters, who were b. & bap. at Oxford: Margaret Dorothea Cannan (b. 21/11/1893); Frances Keir Cannan (b. 14/10, d. 27/12/1894); May Wedderburn Cannan (twin with Frances Keir) - who wrote a biography, �Grey Ghosts & Voices� (pub. by �The Roundwood Press� in 1976, three years after May�s death); & Joanna Maxwell Cannan (b. 27/5/1896). - W.B. p. 317