Andra Putnis
Stories My Grandmothers Didn’t Tell Me
Two women's journeys from war-torn Europe to a new life in Australia.
Allen & Unwin, 2024
When she breaks an unspoken family code not to dig too deep into the past, Andra is plunged into the bleak world of the Soviet and Nazi occupations of Latvia in World War II, and secret lives of her grandmothers.
As children, we'd sneak into Grandma's bedroom on secret missions. Her cupboard was filled with old fur coats, strange woven folk costumes and small mountains of glowing amber. We were half-scared, made breathless by our discoveries, but knew we hadn't seen it all, hadn't understood what was really hidden there.
When she breaks an unspoken family code not to dig too deeply into the past, Andra is plunged into the bleak world of the Soviet and Nazi occupations of Latvia in World War II, and the secret lives of her grandmothers.
Teenage Aline is separated from her parents and sent to serve in Germany's war-time labour force. With the much-feared Soviet army on the doorstep, pregnant Milda embarks on a desperate winter escape with her young son. They each face heart-wrenching decisions and endure years of hardship before finally voyaging to Australia. Among the tight-knit Latvian migrant community, Aline and Milda forge new lives. But even there, reminders of wartime scandal and grief threaten to drag them under.
“Anyone with untold stories flowing through their DNA will find home and understanding here. I felt my own grandmother speaking to me...”
About the Author
Andra Putnis is an Australian writer working to tell powerful stories to help us better understand our world and each other. Andra is committed to sharing her experience with, and passion for, memoir, family history and narrative non-fiction storytelling. She has appeared on ABC national and local radio and been a part of many writing workshops over the years discussing tips and how to avoid pitfalls and make progress. She completed a Bachelor of Arts / Laws at the Australian National University majoring in History in 2001 and is finalising a Masters Degree specialising in qualitative research and storytelling. She lives in Canberra on Ngunnawal country with her partner and two children.
