The Vanishing of Margaret Small: An uplifting and page-turning mystery

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Earlier this month we learned of the death of our colleague and friend Dr Margaret (Marga) Small. Colleagues and students within and beyond the School of History and Cultures are devastated by the loss of a wonderful scholar, an inspirational teacher, and a most dedicated citizen of her Department, School, College and University. We lost an incredible friend and colleague and my thoughts are with Joel, Clara and Douglas, who lost so much more. a b Pohl, Nicole (2001). "Review of Circles otf Power: Shifting Dynamics in a Lesbian-centered Community". Utopian Studies. 12 (2): 301–303. ISSN 1045-991X. This was a lovely book, I thoroughly enjoyed it, although it was quite sad, but ultimately uplifting. You may need tissues, especially towards the end. I know I did.

There is a twist towards the end of the book, it did not come as a surprise to me. I was pretty sure I had figured it out along the way. But that did not detract from the story at all. Throughout, I only wanted the best for Margaret. But, then, I found out that I had not figured it out. What a lovely surprise! The real twist was way better than what I had in mind. Margaret encouraged all of us to share our own research interests with each other and always showed her boundless enthusiasm for our chosen topics. She provided a warm, friendly, and inclusive space for us to discuss and formulate our ideas. In doing so, she also encouraged us to share an interest in each other's work. Where do I even begin? Everyone and I mean everyone needs to read this book! I defy anyone to not fall in love with Margaret Small, she is the most loveable character you could ever meet and once you know her history you can’t help but love her more. This story is told in a dual timeline. We have present-day Margaret who is struggling to understand why she keeps receiving letters from someone called ‘C’ and Margaret as a child/teen/ young woman telling us her story inside the walls of St Mary’s. I remember Marga as a kind, generous and committed colleague, someone who was always more willing to praise than to criticise. She also explicitly recognised the importance of good quality teaching. As Head of Postgraduate Taught Courses in History and Cultures, Marga was a supporter of the value and quality of the MA in West Midlands History, which I convened and I appreciated her support for the programme. Shortly after she arrived in the University, I remember talking with her about our Canadian origins (my mother came from Saskatchewan), and I was able to share my fond impressions of visiting Edmonton, Marga’s home town. Marga was a good person and I remember her with affection. I will miss Marga enormously, for so many reasons: her humanity; her constancy; her cheer; her memorable facebook updates; and her unfailing ability to get into improbable tussles with the Arts Building lifts and almost every unfortunate piece of technology she ever laid hands on. She was my only fellow-bearer of a Celtic accent in the department; she was almost my twin in terms of birthdate. The loss is deeply painful, personally and professionally. Worse still, I keep wanting to turn to Marga, because it’s in this very sort of situation that she’d be such a tremendous strength. The agony of her own family, especially Joel, Clara and Douglas, is worst of all though. Marga and Joel were one of the best-matched couples I know; they adored each other, and together had created one of the most loving, happy families I’ve ever seen. Their loss is beyond all description. My only hope is that in time, that pain of loss is somewhat tempered by happy memories of an amazing wife and mother whose legacy is one of pure goodness and love.Shugar, Dana R. (1995). Separatism and Women's Community. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. p.27. ISBN 978-0-8032-4244-9.

Alexander is a graduate of the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course, and much of the inspiration for The Vanishing of Margaret Small came from the voices and stories he heard during the many years he worked as artist liaison manager for the charity Mencap. Marga’s love for her family shone from her and the joy she derived from her children and husband was palpable. Their loss is immeasurable and I continue to hold Joel, Clara, Douglas and the rest of Marga’s family in my thoughts at this most difficult of times. I honestly found it so hard to hear what she had endured as a child in St Mary’s and I don’t think I can have hated a character more than Nurse Cunningham! The sad fact of the matter is that whilst this book is a work of fiction it is based on real stories and my heart breaks to think of what people with disabilities, physically or mentally, went through in the 1940s-1980s. As Margaret tells us her story I wanted someone to help her and give her the life she deserved. Whether it was Joan, Eva or kind Sandra, the people she trusted kept abandoning her and each time my heart broke a little more for her.Katz, Jonathan Ned (2014). The Invention of Heterosexuality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p.148. ISBN 978-0-226-42601-3. Overall this was a quirky kind of read with lovable characters and a gut wrenching story. If I could hug Margaret I would. Her story takes a few unforeseen directions (and some you can see coming). It's a good look into some hard truths about our social care system. And ultimately an uplifting story about a woman treated badly but coming out the other side with her dignity and humour intact. Thatcher led the Conservatives to a decisive electoral victory in 1979 following a series of major strikes during the previous winter (the so-called “Winter of Discontent”) under the Labour Party government of James Callaghan. As a prime minister representing the newly energetic right wing of the Conservative Party (the “Dries,” as they later called themselves, as opposed to the old-style moderate Tories, or “Wets”), Thatcher advocated greater independence of the individual from the state; an end to allegedly excessive government interference in the economy, including privatization of state-owned enterprises and the sale of public housing to tenants; reductions in expenditures on social services such as health care, education, and housing; limitations on the printing of money in accord with the economic doctrine of monetarism; and legal restrictions on trade unions. The term Thatcherism came to refer not just to these policies but also to certain aspects of her ethical outlook and personal style, including moral absolutism, fierce nationalism, a zealous regard for the interests of the individual, and a combative, uncompromising approach to achieving political goals. Margaret tells us her story. She uses the present (2015) and the past (1947-1970) alternately. The past is very interesting, learning how she grew up. Margaret leads a hard life. But throughout it all, there are many moments of joy for her and she accepts her lot in life. She learns to live her life around her disabilities, always forging her way forward. She is so loveable for the fact that she is naive and vulnerable. But, the opportunity to make her own choices is not available to her, which affects her for the rest of her life.

Laughlin, Kathleen A.; Castledine, Jacqueline (2011). Breaking the Wave: Women, Their Organizations, and Feminism, 1945-1985. Oxon: Routledge. p.235. ISBN 978-0-415-87397-0. Alexander, who has had poems published in Magma , The Interpreter’s House and Southbank Poetry , said: “ The Vanishing of Margaret Small has been 15 years in the making, so I am delighted it has finally found a home with Jane and the wonderful team at Embla Books.

LoveReading Says

During Marga’s appointment process, she impressed everybody during her presentation with her research topic, the history of exploration, but most of all with her language ability. Latin, ancient Greek, Spanish, Italian, French and bits of German amongst them. Whenever we met, she usually greeted me with a friendly ‘Wie gehts?’. These two words and the tone in which she asked expressed Marga’s whole personality: genuine, warm and interested. This is how I experienced her as a colleague, without any sense of attitude or entitlement, totally reliable and always willing to help and do her part in the School’s routine work and events. My favorite quote in the book is: “Don’t judge yourself the way others judged you in the past.” It can apply to many of us in many situations. This comes from Wayne, who is Margaret’s support worker. He lives up to his role. I’m writing on behalf of the National Maritime Museum (Royal Museums Greenwich) to express our sadness about the loss of Marga Small, whom we remember warmly from her time as a research fellow at the Museum 20 years ago.