Elizabeth Goudge 1900 - 1984

Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, played an important part in Elizabeth Goudge's life and writings.

Elizabeth Goudge's mother, Ida Collenette, was born and grew up in Guernsey. Visits to the Channel Islands were an annual affair of Elizabeth Goudge's childhood - even after her mother's poor health meant that she could not accompany Elizabeth.

In Goudge's time, the trip by steamer was a rough one and visitors were glad when they arrived safely in port. Goudge notes that the Islanders were a proud people. She quotes one of her Aunts as saying, "We think a lot of ourselves."

When England had to abandon the Islands to the Germans, Elizabeth said that she experienced one of the only outbursts she ever saw from her mother. " My mother burst into a storm of grief and fury which shocked me speechless. "I will hate England till I die," her mother said." and Elizabeth adds, "And she did." [Source: Joy of the Snow, p. 53.]

A visitor to Guernsey today will see remnants of WWII fortifications along the shore. Despite the inevitable development of recent years, many of the places that Elizabeth Goudge refers to and uses in her Children's books and novels can still be found.

For those who are not likely to visit, the following Guernsey pages may add enjoyment to their reading [and rereading] of Elizabeth Goudge's works:

Click here for photos of Guernsey  You can click on any photo to enlarge it. [Note: will open in separate window.]

For those wanting to know more about the Channel Islands, this site may be of use: Channel Islands