The Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight:Women, History, Books and Places does not contain a chapter about QueenVictoria and Osborne House, which are, perhaps, all some know about the Island. But somehow she sneaks into several chapters. Ifher daughter, Princess Beatrice, is known as her mother's companion, she may beless familiar as Governor of the Island, living in Carisbrooke Castle andresponsible for the foundation of the Carisbrooke Castle Museum, one of theIsland's jewels. She has her place in its history, as does her sister, artistand rebel Princess Louise. Given more space is Isabella de Fortibus, known as 'Ladyof the Isle'. She was the last Lord of the Island, ruling almost as a queenfrom Carisbrooke Castlein the 13th century, in defiance of the king the other side of the Solent. Before her was 9th century Queen Osburga, ofArreton Manor, mother of Alfred the Great. But the book is not only aboutroyalty, even though it includes visits from Russian, Austro- Hungarian, andFrench Empresses. The Island had earlierwithstood French invasions, following Romans who left their villas, two of themnow excavated and open to the public.

 

The Island is sometimesknown as 'Dinosaur Isle', and that chapter begins the book, not so much aboutthe creatures, but those who hunted for, and found, their fossils. It has alsobeen called 'Ghost Island', and there areplenty of those, and of witches burnt at the stake, and smugglers - all aptlynamed 'Outsiders'. There is a chapter on 'Irregular Relations' which includes asmuggler who climbed her way to the top of French society via a royal Comte, andthe delightfully-named, fast-living, 16th century Dowsabel Mills, who also openeda girls school. Nuns and philanthropists find their place, as does a notable pioneerphotographer and a now recognised marine engineer, powerboat racers,aviatrixes, sailors, those campaigning for women's suffrage, and a spy or two,one of whom was nearly hanged. That is not to forget writers and artists suchas the French Impressionist Berthe Morisot. Her delicate and evocative watercolouris not only a memento of her 1875 Coweshoneymoon, but also adorns the book's cover.