The Locust Years

The Locust Years is a wonderfully evocative memoir of life in the developing world in the last half of the twentieth century. Author Maureen McBain and husband Alan were married on St Valentine's Day in a China in the throes of revolution. It was the beginning of 40 years as an itinerant UN wife, spent almost entirely in countries of the 'Third World' afflicted by the aftermath of war, partition and the attendant evils of poverty, sickness and malnutrition. Postings were usually at short notice and unexpected. Living conditions varied, but were always unpredictable and less than luxurious. The satisfaction came with helping to lessen the problems and sometimes succeeding. The hardship was the heart-tug of unavoidable periods of separation from family and children. And the final partings. Taking joy in seeing humanitarian projects come to fruition - and delight in getting to know the local people in India, Korea, Ethiopia or wherever she found herself - Maureen McBain tells amusing anecdotes of everyday life and gives descriptions of her journeys that are travel writing at its best. This is a book for those who have lived overseas to empathise with, and for those who have stayed at home to marvel at.