Famous Biographer Visits Wey Valley Academy in Weymouth

The Biographer and writer Paula Byrne visited Wey Valley to talk to a Year 10 History class about her research for her latest published book Hardy Women: Mother, Sisters, Wives, Muses. Byrne is the author of the bestselling biographies The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym, Perdita, Mad World, The Real Jane Austen, Belle, Kick and The Genius of Jane Austen. She is a founder and chief executive of ReLit, the Bibliotherapy Foundation, a charity devoted to the mental health benefits of reading. She is married to Sir Jonathan Bate.

During the session, Byrne explored the relationship between Hardy's 'real' women involved in his personal life alongside his fictionalised female characters in his writing such as Bathsheba Everdene and Tess. Byrne said 'There is a paradox in Hardy between his controversial personal relationships and the women in his fiction but we need to embrace this - relationships are complicated '. The structure of the biography is intriguing as it does not follow in chronological order or a 'cradle to grave' publication. Byrne exclaimed 'I wanted to present the unsung women that have never received a chapter in other biographies to give them a voice - particularly working-class women such as the actress that played 'Tess' in Dorchester in 1924, Gertrude Bugler.

A further unsung female in the publication is Mary Mullet Moule of Fordington. The wife of the Reverend Henry Moule, Mary was the mother of Hardy's mentor and friend, Horace. Mary had an impact on the young Hardy as he regularly visited Fordington Vicarage. Mary helped the poor in Mill Street during the Cholera epidemic in1854 and 1855. Moule is also featured in the Dorchester Sheroes project as a possible candidate for a bronze sculpture to be erected in the future of a female from 'herstory'.

The GCSE students were empowered by the talk by Byrne. Byrne said 'Go out and make your own choices and research and write your own book'. One student commented, ' I was so intrigued and curious by the life of Hardy but particularly by his women as there is an ambiguity there around how he idealises his women from his life to the page '. Byrne said' Hardy was an architect and then became an architect of words'. Mr Chutter, Head of Performing Arts, Teaching and Learning Challenge Lead and the Chairman and Academic Director of the Thomas Hardy Society, said 'My thanks to Paula Byrne for such an engaging session that has made our students think about the publishing industry and future career choices'. In the evening Byrne launched her book at Waterstones in Dorchester to a packed audience from the Thomas Hardy Society.

Mr M Chutter
Curriculum Area Lead-Performing Arts
Wey Valley Academy
Part of Ambitions Academies Trust