Gerda Stevenson

In 2018 Gerda Stevenson's Quines: Poems in tribute to women of Scotland (Edinburgh, Luath Press) included Eliza Junor in the 68 women to whom she gives a voice.

My research on Eliza Junor (born 1804, Demerara, died Fortrose, 1861) was the ground for her poem 'Demerara'. Eliza was the daughter of Hugh Junor, slave owner from the Black Isle, and an unknown mother, probably a slave, or a ‘free coloured’ woman. She won a prize for penmanship at Fortrose Academy.

The poem, with the title 'Demerara', is available on the Scottish Poetry Library site.

Quines was the catalyst for an exhibition by Edge Textile Artists Scotland, launched on the eve of International Women’s Day 2020 at the Central Library in Edinburgh The collaboration between the poet and artists resulted in Edge members creating a piece of work inspired by selected poems from the book. Shan Press created the piece Demerara for this exhibition.