Brentwood News
New book does its bit for women
7:00am Sunday 14th March 2010
DELVING into the archives of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists for her latest book, writer Sylvia Kent revealed a rich literary history.
Sylvia, from Billericay, who specialises in the field of local history, is a columnist for the Brentwood Weekly News, a freelance writer, archivist and press officer for the SWWJ, vice-president of Brentwood Writers’ Circle and a patron of the Essex Book Festival 2009/10 as well as trustee at the Cater Museum, Billericay.
The Woman Writer, Sylvia’s seventh book, looks into the workings of the society from its inception, by a male editor Joseph Snell Wood, in Fleet Street in 1894 to the modern day, documenting many of the world’s most famous women writers and those involved in the wider world of literature, film, music, theatre and entertainment.
Sylvia has brought to light many pioneering women who were members, including Lady Sarah Wilson, who reported from Mafeking on the Boer War, Marie Stopes, who campaigned for birth control and in recent years crime writer Martina Cole, novelist Elizabeth Lord and patron Sir Tim Rice, whose mother Joan was a member.
The book also marks the centenary year of Joyce Grenfell, who was once president of the society and perhaps its most famous member.
The Royal Family was shown to have a strong link to the SWWJ and attended events from Victorian times right up to the present day.
“The society was initially for upper class women, ordinary working class women were just trying to look after their families,” explained Sylvia.
“However, before then, even the upper class women didn’t get much of a chance because men ruled Fleet Street.
“Joseph Snell Wood thought women deserved a chance and set up the society and funded it for three years.”
The writer had her work cut out researching the book.
“I spent hours in the British Library. I’d get my ticket first and then do four-hour stints and would come staggering out to Kings Cross station,” reflected Sylvia.
For more information visit www.sylviakent.blogspot.com