I wrote a presentation piece several years ago when I was banned from attending Univeristy in England. It detailed the academic suspician after analysis of her hair that she was murdered, possibky by her family, who then went on to profit from selling her books…This being an area of interest as everything Austen is to me, because a a young woman she was my inspiration and at times comfort. Her funny ironic and at times dark literature, detailing the perception of life in England for women that a a century or so later is as true as it was in her days of writing…
The background of her family in the Church of England and Royal Navy, really rather succinctly and at times with a slight tone of sarcasm for her caracatures of the clergymen, showed us the power bases in England. Her including militia in the stories also showed us another influence in english society and not a positive one for women…
I digress, I started to write about women’s safety in England, in no small measure due to my love for Austen. This first step into the exploration of wiriting women s literature, focusing on safety and roles in society, was some years ago now. During these past years I found out what I believed to be the case the UK and Europe lack respect for women and children. Sadly the presentation I gave all those years ago may well be true. My daughters were murdered in the UK after we published survivor from USA New York.
The absolute position that no books were to be purchased was enforced so strictly that any sales were diverted to the UK via the use of IT technology… Tech exists but nothing has changed since Austens days.
After a really beautiful invite to business conference for Emirati women, I travel to Dubai. Here everything is available, nothing is unattainable and everything is acheiveing perfection. Yet unlike Europe it is safe to use public transport. Women only spaces make this even safer…. As I spend the most awe inspiring day at Dubai Mall, I wonder into Mont Blanc to quietly admire the pens, one of which I plan to purchase when the British stop stealing. I am approached by the sales woman and I ask if its ok to browse and we talk pens. I mention my writing and she immediately tells me about the Jane Austen special edition pen. She brings it to me and engraved on the lid is Chawton the last home of Austen a few miles from where I was born and lived in Hampshire.
The wooden body is made of the same wood as her writing desk ( That I have sat at) I am so overcome with emotion to see something, that may not be the most expensive pen in Dubai, but for me the most beautiful and special item I may have ever seen. Poignant for the murders of my daughters in part due to my writing, along with the research that without children Austen’s Naval/Church family may have murdered her to steal as they have from me. Then they used cyanide and postal services, in this modern era Tech and What’s app….
The price was more than I could afford but I was incredibly grateful for the chance to sign my name with a pen specially crafted to commemorate my heroine…