This collection investigates the historical and social significance of personal correspondence between children and their mothers across various eras of Australian life. Editor Nancy Keesing compiles a diverse array of letters to provide a window into the evolving dynamics of family relationships, migration, and wartime separation. By curating these primary documents, the work illustrates how the written word served as a vital emotional tether for individuals navigating distance and societal change. The analysis focuses on the intimacy of the domestic sphere as reflected through the lens of public and private history.

This anthology serves as a valuable archival resource for social historians interested in the nuances of private communication and domestic life. The collection provides a structured, accessible entry point into the emotional history of the twentieth century through authentic, unmediated voices.