Oh my, that last letter... Heartbreaking. Really chokes you up. But there is a quiet dignity that overrides the awfulness. Such a sad anniversary. For Edith, for womanhood.
And you are quite right:absence helps inflame a love affair in one's head. No wonder Mr Dickens and Miss Coutts did not end up together when his marriage failed. The safety net had been removed.
Great point about Angela and Dickens, EXACTLY. Yes that last letter. The dignity of it as you say. I had a jolly post all ready to go and then I thought... no. Edith.
Crooked House is interesting is it not, clearly this was under Agatha’s skin also...
Magda Leonides... 'the horror...' yes, it is a definite reference, she was bound to have been influenced by the case. Though Edith is more amiable somehow, and so young really, in this day and age she might still be at home, unmarried, living with her parents because of money would be tight, struggling with an MA in business administration and hoping to find love online...
Who could tell what this living in one's head would bring her today?
Great post, Laura. Thank you. I used the story of Edith as a basis for my novel, The Mitford Trials. I was fascinated by her case (as you did, I felt she had been persecuted on the basis of her gender) but had to include it when I discovered that Tom Mitford had worked on the case as a trainee barrister...it was a link I obviously had to use!
I first encountered the case on, I think, the Shedunnit podcast. My thoughts then, as now, were very much that she had been found guilty of transgressing the bounds of acceptable female behaviour, much more than of murder. She reminds me somewhat of Ruth Ellis in that sense. I'm so glad we no longer have the death penalty.
Yes, that’s about the size of it… although Ruth Ellis WAS guilty of murder. But a victim of prejudice for sure, I remember my grandmother telling me how little sympathy there was for her at the time.
It's so distressing. When I first read 'A Pin to See the Peepshow' I didn't know a lot about the facts, though the injustice and prejudice do come out clearly in the novel. Thank you for all your research on this, Laura.
Even in little things my luck is entirely absent...that one line above all jumped out at me, I'll likely think about that all day. Heartbreaking indeed how fate intertwines,I understand entirely that desire for a different outcome every time you revisit a case. To think that words created that brought Edith a sense of self and , dare I say, control, ultimately were picked through and 'rebranded' by a room full of men makes my blood boil...thank you for another thought provoking post Laura!
That last letter written while reading (but presumably not finishing) Dickens' last finished novel. It's these details, a tiny overlapping of fate, that move us in the end. An excellent essay, Laura. We're all on trial, but fortunately the jury isn't always against us, as it clearly was in Edith's case.
Yes - one of the twelve wrote to a paper, some 30 yrs after, saying ‘The jury performed a painful duty, but Mrs Thompson’s letters were her own condemnation.’ That was absolutely the prevailing view.
I had never thought that before, about her not finishing the novel.
Heartbreakingly brilliant. Your point that Edith was really writing for herself is perfect. It's a shame - despite those Continental buying trips - she couldn't have been content with an amitié amoureuse...
I first heard of the Thompson-Bywaters case when I was 16 in 1973 when the BBC had a dramatisation of 'A Pin to See the Peepshow'. (The performance I remember most clearly now is Bernard Hepton as Herbert Starling) My mother was a great lover of crime fiction and steered me towards the book, and also provided the background that it was based on a real crime - or as she strongly argued, a series of crimes culminating in Edith's execution.
I have longed for that show to come to YouTube but NO. Bernard Hepton, what an actor! I first encountered him in The Charmer which took me to Patrick Hamilton… TV can do good things.
Oh and as a PS Laura, is there any news about that episode one script you mentioned in the 23 June article about the Thompson-Bywaters case?? I guess these things take ages to work though the 'system' but it would be so good if someone was interested in taking it further... Fingers crossed for you.
Dear Laura, Thank you so much for your piece In memoriam - today is the day of all days to remember Edith and Freddy and of course all those whose lives were badly affected by their actions, not just Percy but also Avis. I do find it so difficult to get this case out of my thoughts. As you say there are just so many 'what ifs' about this case at every stage that along with Edith's letters just keep pulling us back to it...
I also wanted to ask about about the linked pieces on the Thompson-Bywaters case which you posted on Substack this summer. Are these also in the public domain still, like today's piece? The reason I'm asking is that from 15 January I'm leading and introducing a discussion of F Tennyson Jesse's 'A pin to see the peepshow' for the Shedunnit Re-readers Group, and alongside links to material Caroline Crampton produced on Jesse and this novel for the book club, I'm preparing a piece on the actual characters and sources of information about them.
So today I'm mid-way through both your books and 'Peepshow' and my head is full of this case! I will obviously refer to your books and to other published work, but your Substack pieces are so good, so vital and compelling, I'd like people to have a chance to read them too. Plus you have included some relatively high resolution versions of photos of Edith, Freddy and Percy, whereas those on the Rene Weis website about Edith Thompson, which is quite old now, aren't nearly so clear.
Heather mentions below that she first became aware of the Thompson-Bywaters case through Caroline Crampton's Shedunnit podcast on Edith, which was issued on 9 January 2019 (of course!). So although Caroline had access to your book on the trial of course she wouldn't then have had the benefit of your edition of Edith's letters. I confess these grip and bewilder me in about equal amounts. Such writing but how confusing parts are to interpret - I'm so grateful for your commentary and your arguments about what texts might or might not have meant and how they were used in the trial.
Thank you so much Sue. I'm sure you have access to the Substacks? Let me know if not! And feel free to use them of course, that would be wonderful. I completely agree about the letters, and the near-infinitely difficult question of interpretation...
I have a meeting next week about the script, thank you again for asking!!! But period drama is such a hard sell...
So pleased about the script meeting - do hope that goes well or perhaps leads to something else further down the track. One never knows.
Yes thanks, I have access to all your Substacks posts as a subscriber, I'm hoping other Shedunnit members will be able to access them from links in my post. So kind of you support us this way.
And good luck with that January deadline you mentioned too.
A very interesting article and a reminder that we still have a two tier justice system! At least we have women on juries now although the press still has a great influence on popular public opinion!
Oh my, that last letter... Heartbreaking. Really chokes you up. But there is a quiet dignity that overrides the awfulness. Such a sad anniversary. For Edith, for womanhood.
And you are quite right:absence helps inflame a love affair in one's head. No wonder Mr Dickens and Miss Coutts did not end up together when his marriage failed. The safety net had been removed.
Great point about Angela and Dickens, EXACTLY. Yes that last letter. The dignity of it as you say. I had a jolly post all ready to go and then I thought... no. Edith.
Crooked House is interesting is it not, clearly this was under Agatha’s skin also...
Magda Leonides... 'the horror...' yes, it is a definite reference, she was bound to have been influenced by the case. Though Edith is more amiable somehow, and so young really, in this day and age she might still be at home, unmarried, living with her parents because of money would be tight, struggling with an MA in business administration and hoping to find love online...
Who could tell what this living in one's head would bring her today?
Writing! I think she’s a wonderful natural writer.
Great post, Laura. Thank you. I used the story of Edith as a basis for my novel, The Mitford Trials. I was fascinated by her case (as you did, I felt she had been persecuted on the basis of her gender) but had to include it when I discovered that Tom Mitford had worked on the case as a trainee barrister...it was a link I obviously had to use!
Thanks so much Jessica, very kind. I haven't read that book in your brilliant series but shall hasten to do so!!!!
I first encountered the case on, I think, the Shedunnit podcast. My thoughts then, as now, were very much that she had been found guilty of transgressing the bounds of acceptable female behaviour, much more than of murder. She reminds me somewhat of Ruth Ellis in that sense. I'm so glad we no longer have the death penalty.
Yes, that’s about the size of it… although Ruth Ellis WAS guilty of murder. But a victim of prejudice for sure, I remember my grandmother telling me how little sympathy there was for her at the time.
Thanks so much Heather for reading.
It's so distressing. When I first read 'A Pin to See the Peepshow' I didn't know a lot about the facts, though the injustice and prejudice do come out clearly in the novel. Thank you for all your research on this, Laura.
Thanks so much for reading Christine. I was blown away as a teenager by that novel... one longs so desperately for a different ending.
Even in little things my luck is entirely absent...that one line above all jumped out at me, I'll likely think about that all day. Heartbreaking indeed how fate intertwines,I understand entirely that desire for a different outcome every time you revisit a case. To think that words created that brought Edith a sense of self and , dare I say, control, ultimately were picked through and 'rebranded' by a room full of men makes my blood boil...thank you for another thought provoking post Laura!
Oh thanks so much Nic. Exactly how I see it. Her words were her shot at autonomy and the terrible irony is that they removed every last vestige of it.
It’s always under one’s skin, this story.
That last letter written while reading (but presumably not finishing) Dickens' last finished novel. It's these details, a tiny overlapping of fate, that move us in the end. An excellent essay, Laura. We're all on trial, but fortunately the jury isn't always against us, as it clearly was in Edith's case.
Yes - one of the twelve wrote to a paper, some 30 yrs after, saying ‘The jury performed a painful duty, but Mrs Thompson’s letters were her own condemnation.’ That was absolutely the prevailing view.
I had never thought that before, about her not finishing the novel.
Thank you so much Jeffrey for reading.
So much dignity and heartbreak in that letter
Yes indeed - it's desperate. Thank you so much Mark for reading.
Heartbreakingly brilliant. Your point that Edith was really writing for herself is perfect. It's a shame - despite those Continental buying trips - she couldn't have been content with an amitié amoureuse...
I do agree - Freddy filled such a complicated role... more than he was fit for really, but I think that was partly the point. If that makes any sense.
And thank you!
I first heard of the Thompson-Bywaters case when I was 16 in 1973 when the BBC had a dramatisation of 'A Pin to See the Peepshow'. (The performance I remember most clearly now is Bernard Hepton as Herbert Starling) My mother was a great lover of crime fiction and steered me towards the book, and also provided the background that it was based on a real crime - or as she strongly argued, a series of crimes culminating in Edith's execution.
I have longed for that show to come to YouTube but NO. Bernard Hepton, what an actor! I first encountered him in The Charmer which took me to Patrick Hamilton… TV can do good things.
Oh and as a PS Laura, is there any news about that episode one script you mentioned in the 23 June article about the Thompson-Bywaters case?? I guess these things take ages to work though the 'system' but it would be so good if someone was interested in taking it further... Fingers crossed for you.
Dear Laura, Thank you so much for your piece In memoriam - today is the day of all days to remember Edith and Freddy and of course all those whose lives were badly affected by their actions, not just Percy but also Avis. I do find it so difficult to get this case out of my thoughts. As you say there are just so many 'what ifs' about this case at every stage that along with Edith's letters just keep pulling us back to it...
I also wanted to ask about about the linked pieces on the Thompson-Bywaters case which you posted on Substack this summer. Are these also in the public domain still, like today's piece? The reason I'm asking is that from 15 January I'm leading and introducing a discussion of F Tennyson Jesse's 'A pin to see the peepshow' for the Shedunnit Re-readers Group, and alongside links to material Caroline Crampton produced on Jesse and this novel for the book club, I'm preparing a piece on the actual characters and sources of information about them.
So today I'm mid-way through both your books and 'Peepshow' and my head is full of this case! I will obviously refer to your books and to other published work, but your Substack pieces are so good, so vital and compelling, I'd like people to have a chance to read them too. Plus you have included some relatively high resolution versions of photos of Edith, Freddy and Percy, whereas those on the Rene Weis website about Edith Thompson, which is quite old now, aren't nearly so clear.
Heather mentions below that she first became aware of the Thompson-Bywaters case through Caroline Crampton's Shedunnit podcast on Edith, which was issued on 9 January 2019 (of course!). So although Caroline had access to your book on the trial of course she wouldn't then have had the benefit of your edition of Edith's letters. I confess these grip and bewilder me in about equal amounts. Such writing but how confusing parts are to interpret - I'm so grateful for your commentary and your arguments about what texts might or might not have meant and how they were used in the trial.
Thank you so much Sue. I'm sure you have access to the Substacks? Let me know if not! And feel free to use them of course, that would be wonderful. I completely agree about the letters, and the near-infinitely difficult question of interpretation...
I have a meeting next week about the script, thank you again for asking!!! But period drama is such a hard sell...
So pleased about the script meeting - do hope that goes well or perhaps leads to something else further down the track. One never knows.
Yes thanks, I have access to all your Substacks posts as a subscriber, I'm hoping other Shedunnit members will be able to access them from links in my post. So kind of you support us this way.
And good luck with that January deadline you mentioned too.
A very interesting article and a reminder that we still have a two tier justice system! At least we have women on juries now although the press still has a great influence on popular public opinion!
Exactly so. There’s a lot in this case that feels uncomfortably contemporary… Many thanks Wendy for reading.