The Agatha d'Ascoyne Papers

 On Hallie Rubenhold's "Story of a Murder" (Doubleday, 2025). I wanted to review this book heere as a portrait of women's lives in the Edwardian era. Hallie Rubenhold's study of the Dr Crippen case is fascinating and a thumping good read. No, you really could thump a chauvinist with it and get satisfying results. But though it is a heavy book in weight terms, I immersed myself in the text and it was over far too soon. As you would expect from the author of books such as "The Five" - about the Jack the Ripper case from the perspective of the victims - this book concentrates on the three women in Crippen's life, arguably all of them victims of his quietly evil self-regard. We all know his name, but how many knew the name of the wife that he butchered? First of all, we are introduced to Charlotte, Crippen's first wife. Her death was suspicious but never investigated. Was this a "successful murder" that gave him the confidence to do it agai...

If you've been reading my Stitchwitch Directive posts and are interested in using the female stronghold of sewing as a means of empowerment, here's my thoughts on the connections between sewing and the ancient goddess Brigid.  Goddess of Smithcraft: The Stitchwitch's tools are a product of smithcraft - we wield the needle, the pin and the scissors. Thank Brigid for a finely crafted pair of scissors (Sheffield forged of course). Goddess of Creativity: We produce poetry in the form of stitches. What we make can deliver a profound message on who we are, what we want to be, our view of the world. Goddess of Healing: When we darn or patch we are healing an item of clothing so that it can continue its useful life.  Bringer of Light: If anyone needs a good source of strong light, it's us! Brigid's festival falls at Imbolc - the time of year when the light strengthens and spring begins to show its green shoots. Celebrate this time (early February) by beginning a new project...

Hastings, May 1946 The Hastings and St Leonards Observer reported on the recent assembly of the Railway Clerks Association.  Almost 600 delegates attended from around the country - and with accompanying partners this resulted in an "invasion" of an estimated 1000 people. It was a welcome invasion, as it was reckoned that between them they spent over £5,000 over the course of the week. Topics under discussion were what you might expect at a trade union meeting at that time in history - the rebuilding of Europe, Stalin, Communism, overtime and pay. And then the topic of women workers...who as we all know had just spent the war years helping to keep the trains and buses running. Here's where we were at in May 1946: Women figured prominently in the debate on a Bristol motion urging that women railway clerks should be permitted to continue their railway service after marriage. There was an amendment by Glasgow Central to introduce the words "only in exceptional circumstan...

 From Everywoman magazine, July 1947, illustrating the inherent misogyny at the heart of marriage arrangements: " A man I know was "badly treated" by a girl. She first required of him a most expensive courtship, which was ended by an equally lavish engagement ring, and she then proceeded to have all sorts of costly fancies in the fitting up of the new house. About a week before the wedding, however, she got on a plane for New York with a wealthy American.  I hope for his sake he's not the marrying kind.  Having observed the whole sad story of the engagement from what might be called a ringside seat, I asked a legal brain what redress a man has when thus treated. Can he sue for "breach"? I asked. The reply was - theoretically yes; but he would have to convince a jury that he had really suffered damage in losing the girl, whereas most of them would think that they'd had a terrific stroke of luck. "So it comes to this", I said, " a girl can ...

 A problem sent in to Home Chat's Agony Aunt in 1950...and the advice received: Dear Mrs Jim I am in rather a quandary and I wonder if you can help me. I have a very good job in London and earn an excellent salary. My boyfriend is in the army now, stationed near London, so that I see him very frequently, but soon I hope he'll be demobbed and then he says he's going back to Scotland to take up his old job as an engineer. He wants me to marry him and go back with him, but I don't feel that I want to give up my work here and go back to a place where I shall be a stranger. He will be earning sufficient to keep me comfortably,  so there won't be any real need for me to get a new job. I feel though that I'm going to miss having my own money and all my friends. What would you advise me to do? If you really love him, my dear, you won't hesitate when it comes to making the final decision. You're still young and I don't think you'll find this new life so v...

 "Did Your Husband Choose Badly?" This is the actual title of a magazine article from 1946, written by Clare Breton-Smith. I transcribe below the opening paragraphs (I doubt you can abide any more of it) with my thoughts in italics. We stood eagerly on the pavement, craning our necks as the bride and groom came out. "Isn't she lovely...? Look at her dress...I hope he's good to her..." I heard on all sides. I listened to the comments around me, gazing with stupidly misted eyes at the radiant faces of the young couple, and remembering a certain summer's day fifteen years ago. Then I thought of something. You often hear people hope that the man will be a good husband - how often do they wonder if the girl will prove a good wife? (Except that is, the man's mother, who naturally cannot believe that any girl is good enough for her boy!) Would this bride be a good wife? Are you a good wife? Am I? So far so Barbara Cartland...brace yourself, here it comes......