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Sinnin' - All Over The Place: A Glimpse at Small-Town Life in the Early 1900's

by T. J. Madsen

283 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-2855; ISBN 1-4120-5047-2; US$24.50, C$28.75, EUR20.50, £14.50

Join nine-year-old Polish-born Andy Tzweki on his educational journey from his home in a logging camp to a bustling mining town during the early twentieth century

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About the Author

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About the Book

For Andy and Frank Tzweki, sons of Polish immigrants of the Catholic faith, whose early years were spent at a British Columbia logging camp high in the mountains it seemed that everything they did, or even thought of doing was a sin. For nine years their only contact with the outside world came by way of their fathers employees who periodically took it upon themselves to teach the boys English. In 1916 they are discovered by School Authorities for the coal mining town of Nugget. At ages nine and six respectfully they are suddenly thrust onto a train and taken to a thriving town filled with streets; stores; houses; churches; people with eccentric superstitions and prejudice; a school full of children and spinster teachers who re-name them Andy and Frank. During his first few days in school Andy meets ten year old Ted Lundell who will become his mentor and life-long friend.

It was a life of discipline at home, school and in the church where an all-seeing God saw sinners everywhere. For Andy, thoroughly convinced he was awash in sin, this new life brings the apprehension of learning a new language and making hilarious mistakes along with exhilaration that comes through new experiences fraught with new sins lurking around every corner. In 1918 at the age of twelve he returns to the bush as a flunky where he learns about hard work and how to get along in a closed community for a long period of time. The experience helps him to decide what kind of work he would like to do and how to achieve that goal.

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About the Author

Born during the Depression T.J. Madsen received her education in small schools throughout the East and West Kootenay area of British Columbia. She never graduated as she left home in her early teens to go to work. A Bookkeeping course helped improve her employment picture as well as other courses taken in later years. She began writing in the sixties, but had nothing published until the 1980's when she was involved in the publication of a history book and submitted community articles to the local newspaper.

She makes her home with her husband in the British Columbia interior. They have one son and one grandson.

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