Providing a rare female perspective on life in colonial Canterbury, New Zealand, this collection of letters-discovered in 2008 and published here for the first time-from four middle-class women to their families in Britain presents a picture of daily colonial life. Though separated by distance and the long wait for post, the women of the Hall family sought to remain close to Britain while life in their new province took form. The collected letters focus on children, household duties, health, housing and servants, church, shopping, and social events. Preceding the annotated transcriptions of the letters is an enlightening introduction to the Hall family, which places them and the correspondence in an appropriate historical context that will appeal to history enthusiasts and casual readers alike.