Bitten by Witch Fever - Latest Title from St Mary's Fellow Lucinda Hawksley Published

Lucinda Hawksley, Royal Literary Fund Fellow at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and author of more than 20 books, including biographies of the 19th-century artists has published her latest title, Bitten By Witch Fever. Published by Thames &Hudson, Bitten by Witch Fever is a unique volume that looks at arsenic-laden wallpapers with thought-provoking narrative, tracing the story of the manufacture, uses and effects of arsenic in the 19th-century home, in particular, the pigments ingrained in popular wallpapers. Drawing on contemporary case studies and reports in the press, she highlights how, by the middle of the century, manufacturers were producing millions of rolls of arsenical wallpaper, with devastating consequences for those working in their factories and for those living in rooms decorated with the designs. Christie Watson, Programme Director of BA and MA Creative Writing Programmes at St Mary’s commented, “We’re delighted to support the release of Lucinda’s latest work. As a Royal Literary Fund Fellow of St Mary’s, Lucinda is very much part of our growing team. “St Mary's tutors have published novels and are publishing now. We’re proud we can bring both our creative and practical experience to support our students in taking their first steps on the ladder towards becoming published authors.” The Royal Literary Fund is a UK charity that has been helping authors since 1790, part of which is encouraging writers to help students develop their skills. Royal Literary Fund Fellowships offer professional writers the opportunity to work for two days a week in a university helping students to develop their writing. Lucinda, who is also a Patron of the Charles Dickens Museum and a regular speaker at the National Portrait Gallery, is the author of three biographies of Victorian artists: Lizzie Siddal; Kate Perugini (née Dickens); and Princess Louise. She also writes about art history, social history, literature and the life and works of her great-great-great-grandfather, Charles Dickens. Drawing on its connections with the industry, the Creative Writing team at St Mary’s has, in its in the first year alone, brought in the winner of The Costa Novel award (2014), the fiction director of Bloomsbury, and The Bookseller's Agent of the Year (2014).