Grace Oakeshott's Faked Death: Escaping Victorian Constraints for Autonomy

Key Quotes

"Victorian women were typically raised to rely on a male breadwinner middle class girls were supposed to marry and not compete with men for wages providing one's daughters with a robust education and preparing them for a career as grace's family did went against the grain but by the late 19th century it had also revealed itself to be the practical choice when grace was born a recent census had shown that britain was home to roughly half a million more women than men fathers such as james cash realized that their girls might not be able to marry they needed to be able to support themselves with this in mind james cash invested in his daughter's future he bought a share in a new company which set up schools for girls."

The author explains that Grace Oakeshott's family's decision to provide her with a robust education and prepare her for a career was unconventional for Victorian times. This approach was practical due to a societal imbalance of more women than men, necessitating self-sufficiency for daughters. The author highlights James Cash's foresight in investing in his daughter's future through educational ventures.

"When grace was born in london in 1872 a groundswell of change was reshaping britain railways were stitching the country together and the telegraph was relaying information at lightning speed schools for girls began to multiply and the women's suffrage movement was growing it was an age that pulsed and crackled with possibility electric in its promise grace had two strokes of good luck not only was the tide of progress rising around her but her parents james and elizabeth cash were ambitious strivers they were determined to give their children the best possible tools for self advancement and that meant rigorous schooling not just for their son henry but also for their three daughters kate jessie and of course grace."

The author describes the transformative era in which Grace Oakeshott was born, marked by rapid technological advancements and burgeoning social movements. The author emphasizes Grace's fortunate circumstances, benefiting from both societal progress and her parents' ambition for their children's self-advancement through rigorous education. This context sets the stage for Grace's opportunities and her family's progressive approach to her upbringing.

"why did grace raised to be an independent woman choose marriage she was ambitious and hungry for her own career as an activist wives on the other hand had limited freedom coverture laws denied them independent legal status so everything a wife owned or earned was controlled by her husband what's more a new icon was sweeping the nation often depicted on her bicycle smoking a cigarette the new woman appeared in both newspapers and fiction a kind of shorthand for growing female independence why when you had a bicycle would you need a husband britain was poised on the brink of modernity reconsidering the role of women in public life unfortunately britain wasn't reconsidering that role fast enough for grace marriage was still a cornerstone of respectability and for a morally upright reformer like her that made it the rational choice."

The author questions Grace Oakeshott's decision to marry despite being raised as an independent woman with career ambitions. The author explains that societal norms and legal structures, like coverture laws, severely limited wives' freedoms and financial autonomy. The author concludes that for Grace, marriage was a "rational choice" due to its association with respectability, a crucial factor for a reformer in a Britain not yet fully embracing female independence.

"although he kept a respectful distance at first could even be tongue tied in grace's presence she was a married woman intimacy between them should have been unthinkable and yet one evening they stole a moment together rowing on the harbor by the light of the moon it might have been venice row walter the craft lay gently rocking dark specks on a vast expanse of slowly moving silver water and the slightest of mists hid where the harbor mouth became sea and sky back at home walter and grace continued to see each other walking together on ranmore common in the rolling hills near london before long they were in love."

The author details the developing relationship between Walter Reeve and Grace Oakeshott, noting the initial respectful distance Walter maintained due to Grace's marital status. The author describes a clandestine romantic moment between them, highlighting the secrecy and emotional intensity of their connection. The author concludes by stating that their relationship progressed to love, continuing even after their return home.

"divorce wasn't an option for grace not only was it ruinously expensive but it was also difficult to obtain in the 1900s the deck was stacked against women for a husband to obtain a divorce he need only prove that his wife had committed adultery but for grace to divorce harold she would have had to prove adultery plus a second cause such as cruelty desertion incest sodomy or bestiality above all divorce signified moral failure if walter's relationship with a married woman had become common knowledge while he was at medical school it would have harmed his prospects as a doctor for grace it would have meant total public shaming grace and harold's family friends and colleagues would also have been tainted by the scandal the causes they'd been fighting for overshadowed by disgrace and so walter and grace's relationship remained shrouded in secrecy."

The author explains the severe limitations Grace Oakeshott faced regarding divorce in the early 1900s, emphasizing the legal and social barriers against women. The author details how divorce was prohibitively expensive and required women to prove more than just adultery, unlike men. The author concludes that the potential for public shame and damage to their reputations and causes forced Grace and Walter to keep their relationship secret.

"the researcher jocelyn trawled the archives and began to build a picture of what had happened on that summer's day all those years ago after leaving her clothes on the beach grace is believed to have swum out into the bay and around the headland perhaps her sailor brother henry picked her up perhaps unknown friends helped her either way she was reunited with walter and they made their way to marseille where they boarded a boat bound for australia walter's medical license was in his name but grace could become someone new joan leslie reeve dr and mrs reeve gave their ages as 31 and 34 respectively at sydney they boarded a second boat to cross the tasman sea and now they reversed their age difference dr reeve was 28 while mrs reeve was 25 was this a private joke or were they trying to confound anyone who might try to follow them and expose their secret."

The author describes the researcher Jocelyn's investigation into Grace Oakeshott's disappearance and subsequent life. The author posits that Grace likely faked her death with assistance, reuniting with Walter to travel to Australia under new identities. The author notes the couple's deliberate alteration of their ages upon arrival in Sydney, suggesting a strategy to evade detection and protect their secret.