Despite the lockdown created by the global pandemic, two local authors and Frome Times columnists have seen three books under their names published throughout this period, with a further two more to hit shelves before the end of year.
‘A Visitors’ Historic Guide to Somerset’, written by Mick Davis and David Lassman, saw the light of day just before the country effectively closed down, while ‘Of Mounds and Men: Prehistoric Barrows of the Frome Area’ and ‘Frome at War 1939-45’ were respective solo efforts by each of the popular local history writers (see story page 5).
Later in the year will come ‘A-Z of Frome’, again by the duo, while their next book together will be ‘The Adventures of a Victorian Con Woman’.
It tells the story of the female fraudster history knows as Mrs. Gordon Baillie, who was born into the direst poverty and whose story is stranger than anything to be met with in the field of fiction.
Illegitimate and illiterate her beauty and intelligence nevertheless enabled her to overcome her circumstances and become a charming and wealthy socialite, living a life of luxury.
Behind her supposed perfect and contented life, however, lay one of the most notorious and compulsive swindlers of the Victorian Age. Her fraudulent fundraising and larger-than-life schemes played out across four decades and three continents, Europe, America and Australasia.
For most of her ‘career’ she kept one step ahead of the law, but finally became undone through her own compulsion for petty theft, despite her amassed fortune.
During her life she used more than 40 aliases, produced four children and spent her way through millions of ill-gotten pounds, dollars and other currencies. But at the turn of the twentieth century, her notoriety was such that she took refuge in America and disappeared from history.
David Lassman said, “When we were researching a previous book ‘The Awful Killing of Sarah Watts’, Mick came across a reference to Mrs Baillie which aroused his curiosity. And from that solitary sentence this book has now emerged.”
Although there is no local connection within her story, the cover of the hardback publication was shot by Frome Times photographer Martyn Payne.
It features the two authors, dressed in Victorian clothing, along with Adrienne Lucy Victoria, who ‘portrays’ the fraudster of the title.
Martyn said, “It’s always very exciting to be involved in projects like this. The end result was very pleasing and I think captures the look Mick and Dave gave me in their brief. It will be great to see a printed copy of the book and look forward to working with them in the future.”
Model Adrienne Lucy said, “It was amazing to be chosen to be a part of the cover image for the book. I love period dress and the whole day was great fun.”
The costumes were provided by local fancy dress hire shop Absolutely Fabulous Costume Hire, located on Bath Street. Owner Philippa Kaye said, “At Absolutely Fabulous Costume Hire we were thrilled to dress Mick, Dave and the lovely Adrienne for this remarkable book-cover!
“We have authentic Victorian costumes that fitted the bill perfectly but, of course, the cover would not have been possible without the photographic skills of Martyn Payne. It really was so great to be able to contribute and we feel so proud of the finished result. A credit to everyone involved.”
The book is published by Pen & Sword and will be in all good bookshops later in the year.
