Fryniwyd Tennyson Jesse Harwood (born Wynifried (Winifred) Margaret Jesse; 1 March 1888 – 6 August 1958) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

criminologist, journalist and author (she also wrote as ''Wynifried Margaret Tennyson'').

Early life and marriage

Fryniwyd was the second of three daughters of the Reverend Eustace Tennyson D'Eyncourt Jesse (1853-1928) and Edith Louisa James (1866-1941), and a great-niece of the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Her older sister, Stella Mary Jesse (1887-1942) was also an author, best remembered for her novel ''Eve in Egypt'' (1929). Her younger sister, Edith Mary Ermyntrude was born in 1890, but died in infancy. Fryniwyd married Harold Marsh Harwood (1874–1959), a businessman and theatre manager, in September 1918. "Fryn" is a self-made contraction of "Wynifried".

Books

Her most notable books include ''

A Pin to See the Peepshow ''A Pin to See the Peepshow'' is a 1934 novel by F. Tennyson Jesse, based on the 1922 Thompson–Bywaters murder case. Plot Julia Almond grows up in suburban poverty in Edwardian London. She longs for a better life, but makes an ill-advised ma ...

'' (London, W. Heinemann Ltd, 1934; Virago Modern Classics; British Library Women Writers), a fictional treatment of the case of

Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters Edith Jessie Thompson (25 December 1893 – 9 January 1923) and Frederick Edward Francis Bywaters (27 June 1902 – 9 January 1923) were a British couple executed for the murder of Thompson's husband Percy. Their case became a ''cause c ...

, and ''Murder & Its Motives'' (Heinemann, 1924), which divided killers into six categories based on their motivations: those who murder for Gain, Revenge, Elimination, Jealousy, Conviction and Lust of killing. This classification of motive has remained influential. She contributed many cases to the ''

Notable British Trials ''Notable Scottish Trials'' was a series of books originally published by William Hodge and Company of Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the cou ...

'' series, such as the trial of serial killer John Christie and the controversy surrounding the hanging of his neighbour,

Timothy Evans Timothy John Evans (20 November 1924 – 9 March 1950) was a Welshman who was wrongly accused of murdering his wife (Beryl) and infant daughter (Geraldine) at their residence in Notting Hill, London. In January 1950, Evans was tried, and was c ...

. Her summary of the two trials is extensive, and concludes that Christie was probably the murderer of both Beryl and Geraldine Evans, and that Timothy Evans was innocent of their deaths (Evans was hanged for the murder of his daughter Geraldine, and posthumously pardoned). She also wrote the neglected classic, ''The Lacquer Lady'' (1929), which recounts the true story of how European

maid of honour A maid of honour is a junior attendant of a queen in royal households. The position was and is junior to the lady-in-waiting. The equivalent title and office has historically been used in most European royal courts. Role Traditionally, a queen ...

Fanny Moroni helped bring about the fall of the Burmese Royal Family at the end of the nineteenth century. She reported on the German attacks on

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

for ''

Collier's Weekly ''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened in 1905 to ''Colli ...

''. Her story ''Treasure Trove'' tells of the rediscovery in modern times of the 30 pieces of silver paid to

Judas Judas Iscariot (; grc-x-biblical, Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριώτης; syc, ܝܗܘܕܐ ܣܟܪܝܘܛܐ; died AD) was a disciple and one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. According to all four canonical gospels, Judas betr ...

to betray Jesus Christ and their subsequent malign influence. The novel ''Tom Fool'' (Heinemann, 1926) deals with a young man's experiences on sailing ships, and describes shipboard life in some detail. The novel ''Moonraker'' (Heinemann,

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith becomes the first Director-General. * January 7 ...

) appears to be a typical romantic adventure, but in his 1981 introduction Bob Leeson states that it contains both an embodiment of woman's rebellion and a cry for freedom for black people. The short story ''The Mask'' is collected in ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A Baker's Dozen of Suspense Stories'' (Dell,

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...

References

Bibliography

* Joanna Colenbrander, ''A portrait of Fryn: a biography of F. Tennyson Jesse'', A. Deutsch, 1984, .

External links

Legends of True Crime Reporting: F. Tennyson Jesse
* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jesse, Fryniwyd Tennyson 1888 births 1958 deaths 20th-century English women writers 20th-century English writers British criminologists British women in World War I F British women criminologists