Ahead of Her Time

Few today have ever heard of Dora Russell (1912-1986), let alone read any of her work. At best, some might recognize the name of the wife of Ted Russell, the creator of Uncle Mose and the fictitious outport of Pigeon Inlet. But Dora was also a writer, as prolific (maybe even more so) as her husband. She was certainly much more than just the woman behind the man. Ahead Of Her Time: Selected Writings of Dora Russell offers a cross-section of her work, beginning with her years as Woman's Editor with the Evening Telegram (1945-48). Before long, she found herself in the midst of discussions emanating from the National Convention and the two referenda that led to Confederation. Two of her regular columns focused on political and social events from a uniquely female perspective, sprinkled with touches of humor and satire. She also wrote profiles of 240 prominent Newfoundland women, a superb contribution to the social history of Newfoundland in the 1940s. For her time Dora was quite remarkable. With four small children at home, she successfully carved out a niche for herself in Newfoundland journalism, setting a fine example for those who would follow. In the early 1950s, she branched out into other types of writing, notably personal essays, short stories and radio scripts. She did create one more column - All About Stars - which drew high praise from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.