Wendy Robertson

A Woman Scorned Wendy Robertson

Publisher Marketing: The story of Mary Ann Cotton, an alleged serial killer hanged for murder in 1873, is here seen through the eyes of Londoner Victoria Kilburn, who visits the Durham village where Mary Ann is alleged to have killed her last victim. The disfigured Victoria is drawn to the charismatic Mary Ann, and does not believe the rising tide of scandal that leads to Mary Ann's arrest. In this novel, using existing evidence, Wendy Robertson challenges the received wisdom that Mary Ann Cotton was indeed a serial killer. We see Mary Ann's tragic progress to the gallows through Victoria's eyes, even as the girl's disfigurement is cured by Mary Ann's herbal medicines . 'Robertson is a rare breed a writer with an exquisite gift for creating vivid, relatable female characters''Scottish Daily Record Historical Note One - What are the facts? Although clearly a work of fiction, this novel was inspired by the real people and events surrounding the trial and execution of Mary Ann Cotton in 1873. As well as newspapers, census, contemporary documents such as police reports, I reads Mary Ann Cotton by the late Arthur Appleton (County Durham Books 1973). Mr Appleton's concluded that Mary Ann probably killed 14 or 15 people. Tony Whitehead, whose well documented account Mary Ann Cotton, Dead but not Forgotten, (Self-published. Undated) is presented in rigorous style but in the end almost drifts to the conclusion that Mary Ann was probably guilty at least in three cases. Derek Hebden's Murder at West Auckland, a more summary account (History Snapshot Series 1987), was also useful. But as I read and thought about Mary Ann it dawned on me than by modern standards this case was at least unproven. Interestingly Appleton comments that in some programmes put out by the BBC in 1975 the actress playing Mary Ann found her role difficult because she believed Mary Ann to be innocent. Well researched as they are, in all these writers' accounts, impression and dramatic second-hand commentary tend to be used in the absence of truly substantive and connective evidence. In the end it seems that whether Mary Ann was guilty or innocent appears still to be a matter of belief. Tellingly, Appleton says in his conclusion The Mary Ann Cotton family spanned the lifetime of the Durham Coalfield. The underworld of coal was explored and known far better than the underworld mind of Mary Ann Cotton. In writing this novel I was inspired by the thought that perhaps the 'underworld mind' of Mary Ann Cotton might be further explored through the richer, more sinewy medium of fiction, which uses contemporary human insight into the rather thin available facts. In the year I wrote this I came to feel her around me, at my shoulder, cheering me on. Contributor Bio:  Robertson, Wendy Always a storyteller, after relishing and surviving academic life Wendy Robertson became a full-time writer She has published twenty-two novels, both historical and contemporary, two short story collections and continues to write occasional articles on issues close to her heart. She was for five years on and off Writer in Residence at HMP Low Newton, encouraging a wide range of women to raise their self-esteem and realise their potential through original writing. She lives in historic South Durham, in a Victorian house that has played a role in more than one of her novels. She says: 'The past-in-the-present dominates my mind, my imagination and my writing. I always 'see' individuals, unique characters in their times. And I tell their stories. I have lived through interesting times and have been a compulsive writer since I was eight. Anais Nin once said that writers taste life twice, once when they experience it and secondly when they write it. This so very much expressed my own writing experience that I named my blog Life Twice Tasted. www.lifetwicetasted.blogspot.co.uk She goes on: 'My novels are mostly set in some crosspiece of time, place and the unique lives of my characters. Look at my 'Lavender House', set in London in the 2010s but still goes back to life in the 1960s and The Woman Who Drew Buildings, set in present day Durham City, which goes back to Poland in the 1991. And 'An Englishwoman in France' set in contemporary France in 2006 and goes back through the Middle Ages to even earlier times. . My new novel, The Pathfinder is entirely set in Britain in 383 AD but in its way looks back thousands of years and forward to imperial attitudes today. More on her blog at http: //www.lifetwicetasted.blogspot.co.uk/ Or email Wendy at wenrob73@hotmail.com From the press: 'A powerful writer' Mail on Sunday 'Not only is Wendy Robertson a great storyteller, she fills her books with characters with real depth' Northern Echo 'Skilfully marries fact and fiction into an epic tale that has you turning the pages at high speed to match the pace of this compelling story' Sunderland Echo 'A blend of accessibility and total sincerity' Pat Barker 'Wendy Robertson is a rare breed - a writer with an exquisite gift for creating vivid, relatable female characters' Scottish Daily Record 'A terrific read. A world on the cusp of change and we experience it intimately' Historical Novels Review Show Less