An intriguing autobiography, An Emerald Green Rosebud tells the story of Jessica Allin’s remarkable life, radiating her warmth and humanity as she describes the beauty of the world about her.
“My inspiration for writing this book was that many people who had read an earlier book of mine, A Breath of Africa, asked me for a sequel,” explains the author, who currently lives in Spain. “The passing of my husband gave me the motivation to continue writing.”
The story follows Jessica as a young woman living and working in London. She has a chance encounter that takes her on the journey of a lifetime to East and Central Africa, the Sudan and on to Spain. An Emerald Green Rosebud is a delightful collage of stories and reflections about people in far away places, raising a family in Africa, and unique occurrences that Jessica has experienced.
Much later there is another chance encounter – one that magically weaves a golden thread connecting her back to the homeland she had left so many years ago.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham, Jessica Allin left London in 1950, moving to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where she married husband Roger. She had three sons, all of whom were born in Africa. Jessica lived in Africa until 1981 when she retired to Spain, where she currently resides. Jessica is the author of A Breath of Africa and Alice and Little Robbie.