JESSIE KESSON: WRITING HER LIFE by Isobel Murray

Jessie had a very harsh and deeply stressful introduction to life when she was born in the North east of Scotland.Born illegitimately , growing up in an under-resourced slum like part of Town , shipped out to an orphanage , then spending a spell in a mental institution having been diagnosed as suffering from neurasthenia ( the so called intellectuals disease that afflicted Virginia Woolf and so many clever people of the post feminist generation ), all before her 18th birthday.

Jessie not only overcame these tremendous hardships , but used the experiences to create a rich and diverse prose that led to many radio plays ; short stories and novels that laid ground for not only Woman writers to follow , but also ones from the regions , both those who managed to make it in London , but also those who were found to produce work in their own regions once local programmers found that local home produced work had a large and captive audience if only they were brave enough to encourage and develop the pool of local available talent.

Jessie ended up in London where she had many ungrateful and uninspiring jobs until she made her mark on Womans Hour , a career making break that gave her wonderful understated dramas a platform in the national arena.The real strength of her work was sticking to her experiences when forming the characters of her works as well as a fond childlike memory for the scenes and natural environments of her earliest recollections of youth.One aspect that gave her work the feel of release , rather than entrapment , of her early life experience is the kind and empathetic treatment of the authority and institutional figures.You always get the feel that all parties in the experience are victims deserving understanding and sympathy , the general effect is of any potential resentment being evaporated by forgiveness , goodwill and understanding.

Isobel Murray has written a gloriously detailed analysis of the role and place of Kessons work in the field of Woman writers in this piece which richly compliments the themes outlined in the Book.

And Linda Cracknell , in her superb blog gives a most illuminating description of the sights;sounds and smells that formed the natural elements of Jessies Human landscapes.

From what you have read so far it would be very wrong to assume Kessons forte was merely in the field of prose , on the contrary she was a very accomplished and highly skilled academic , more than able to research and make deeply penetrating observations on the life of Marie Currie as well as many other interesting and varied personalities.

Two nice quotes are worth recalling from the Book , on page 159 we find the code of honour that made life in the North Eastern farming communities a success or failure " Ask any cotter wife what is her greatest blessing , and she will tell you , " a good neighbour".And her greatest curse , and shell tell you , " a bad one".

And on page 245 we find Kesson describing the situation Marie Currie found herself in , a position that can be equally applied to the one Kesson would fully understand " Marie ( Currie) discovery as a girl is she is a Pole living unfree under Russian Rule...she has infinite determination in a life of much self-sacrifice..." we must believe we are gifted for something.And that this thing , at whatever cost , must be obtained"...." one must never let oneself be beaten down by persons or events."....Humanity needs " dreamers" who will make " tenacious efforts" without regard to material gain."

And that just about sums up the life and attitude of Jessie Kesson.