The Woman in White

Dear Emily,

Let's start today buy looking at our 'Woman in White'. You met her in your book, as The White Queen, who GiGi believes was inspired by Julia Margaret Cameron.

In 'GiGi and the Cat', our Woman in White is called Mrs Cameraman

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins' was written in 1859. It is considered to be among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of "sensation novels".
The story is sometimes considered an early example of detective fiction with the hero, Walter Hartright, employing many of the sleuthing techniques of later private detectives. (Wikipedia)

Interestingly to us Emily- she was inspired by Rumour has it- Caroline Graves- when she ran screaming up to Collins in 1850 one dark north London night, having fled from a gentleman-fiend who supposedly had enslaved her with only the might of a kitchen poker and the power of hypnosis. Graves then became Collins Mistress for the rest of his life.

The character, is a good allegory for how society- and particularly the Law, viewed married Women, and how their position was weak in this area.

Our Julia, blue-stocking that she was, and her ailing disabled husband, contributed to her need to 'work' (surrepticiously) and try to create her own income to the household. I think that dear Dodgson had her in mind as a 'type' as well as herself when he cast her as 'The White Queen'.

And so, she begins her journey in our little novel, as this character. GiGi's reasoning here though is different.

Mrs Cameraman loves colour. Her muse Julia Margaret Cameron photographed in sepia, so that's a rather two-tone view of our Lady's world. Julia dressed in what was considered outlandish garb, bright emeralds, purples and reds are mentioned in letters relating to her appearance. Dimbola was awash with inlaid mother of pearl furniture blues and whites, and must have had quite a colonial feel at the time. Julia's last recorded words were about the colourful view from her bedroom in Ceylon. It is part of my thesis for my research degree to try and investigate the colours, clothing, vibe and influence that this particular woman had on Virginia Woolf her great-niece, and therefore on Bloomsbury as a whole.

So, back to mrs Cameraman...

In our story, Mrs C is outside. She wants to come back in. But there's some cleaning to do, there's some muddy waters, funghi, and the in's and out's of The Purga Tree to negotiate first.

Then, Mrs C can slowly come back to full-colour life, and return home to her house in Heaven on Earth.

So, let's give her an Angel, Emily. Our little Alice from the last post. That should help!

Good, so that's that then.

Moving on as it's nearly your bed-time. It's Daddy's birthday tomorrow. Don't forget to wake him up by sitting on his head- preferably in a wet nappy (just as he used to bring Uncle Eddie into my room in the mornings when he was your age!) Tell him, Happy Birthday Daddy, give him a kiss, and then show him this picture of you and him walking in the sunrise.

Say- 'Wake up Daddy, and take me to GiGi's house and we can go for a walk in the sunrise together!'
He won't Em, because he's got lots of work to do, and you both need to look after Mummy as she grows your new little sister for November.
But, it's a lovely thought. So, Em, a very happy un-birthday to you, and a very happy birthday to Daddy. Tell him GiGi loves him very much.
Oh, and of course, there'll be a happy birthday to ME on Sunday, so let's do some face-time before then.
Maybe Daddy, and maybe GiGi might celebrate their birthdays' with a bottle of this?

Enough for now- I shall introduce you to this character properly in our next post!

Night night my little one!

Your ever-loving Grandmother, GiGi xxx