Editing History

  The Book Today, you don’t have to be a man to vote in most countries. But, many passionate people fought this every step of the way. Women should NOT be allowed to vote, they said. If you’re not a man, you should know that campaigners wrote letters to the editor against giving you the right to vote. Journalists wrote dedicated articles. People protested in the streets! They fought hard . But, why ? I searched history records and academic literature to find out.  What I found shocked me.  Now, you’ll see the truth - including original letters to the editor that radiate raw hate. You can expect these arguments to offer a reading experience that’s both amusing and deeply unsettling. This is part of your history even if you’re outside Australia. After all, Australia’s early decisions to make some women eligible to vote contributed to earthquakes of agitation for suffrage world-wide. This is a chance to reflect on how things happened in your country too. Were your community’s arguments a

The Book This classic tale of murder, jealousy, and greed was developed by Agatha Christie. When an aging heir is found fatally poisoned, the amazing Detective Poirot, brilliant Belgian criminal investigator, is brought out of retirement to solve the case. Agatha Christie is known for her sixty-six detective novels, fourteen short story collections and play.  This was her first book. Her sister Madge dared her to write a story, and she created something special that launched her career! The Philosophy Even today, people who study English Literature learn about the genius and works of Agatha Christie. And yet, she had to apply her incredible intellect to develop stories that celebrated the intelligence of a man (Hercule Poirot). It seems she thought this was the only feasible option. She clearly wasn't satisfied by this because, in 1927, Agatha Christie became brave enough to tentatively start publishing stories featuring a woman as the ingenious protagonist investigator (Miss Marpl

In 1921, Edith Wharton became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Literature.  Her works are still studied internationally and celebrated one hundred years later! You may ask, “How can I create such timeless works of engaging fiction?” The good news is that Edith Wharton didn’t just write 15 novels, seven novellas, eighty-five short stories and numerous other works of fiction.  She also wrote this book. In this book, you will learn how she created incredible works of fiction. Sadly, the original edition contained a true tragedy! When Edith sought publication, in 1925, her text would only be accepted if she referred to authors and readers as follows: “No writer — especially at the beginning of his career — can help being influenced by the quality of the audience that awaits him...”, and “When the reader’s confidence is gained the next rule of the game is to avoid distracting and splintering up his attention.” That’s right — his, him, and he only.  She was a Pulitzer Prize winni

The Book The Land That Time Forgot is a fantasy novel that starts with a harrowing wartime sea adventure and then develops into a mysterious lost world story. Written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, it was published as a novel by A. C. McClurg in 1924.  Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American speculative fiction writer. He created works in the adventure, science fiction and fantasy genres. His stories are creative and entertaining, but filled with misogynistic and racist narratives woven by characters that personified toxic masculinity (e.g. ‘Tarzan of the Apes’). This book is a classic literary treasure, loved by both sci-fi and naval fiction fans who are willing to look past the misogyny.  The Philosophy "The Lost U-Boat." was the author's original working title for the story. A 'U-Boat' is a submarine. The book features the bravery and danger faced by submariners and other Navy personnel.  My partner served in Oberon Class submarines for many years. He has told me some

The Book Poirot Investigates is a collection of eleven short stories, in which famed eccentric Detective Poirot ingeniously solves mysterious cases involving greed, jealousy, and revenge.  It was written by Agatha Christie, known for her sixty-six detective novels and fourteen short story collections. First published in the UK by The Bodley Head in March 1924, it's a classic literary marvel that has sold many millions of copies.  The Philosophy Even today, people who study English Literature learn about the genius and works of Agatha Christie. And yet, she had to apply her incredible intellect to develop stories that celebrated the intelligence of a man (Hercule Poirot). It seems she thought this was the only feasible option. She clearly wasn't satisfied by this because, in 1927, Agatha Christie became brave enough to tentatively start publishing stories featuring a woman as the ingenious protagonist investigator (Miss Marple).  Another indication of her disatisfaction with tha