First published in 1957, Mazo de la Roche’s last autobiography is a vivid look at her life in Ontario, and a parting shot at her critics.
Mazo de la Roche, born in 1879, was an only child until her parents adopted her cousin Caroline. The two became very close, sharing a childhood filled with tragedy, gallantry, and humour. Their friendship was said to have become intimate, with people speculating on the real nature of their relationship to the present day.
In this memoir, de la Roche comments on her childhood and her desire to be a boy, and how that affected her efforts in the literary world. She confesses her personal connection with her character Finch Whiteoak, and details her romantic struggles. Ringing the Changes is the closest insight we have into Mazo de la Roche’s innermost thoughts and the private life she typically kept hidden.
