Re-release: The Writing of Maeve Owen read by Sarah Boothby

In memory of Maeve Boothby O'Neill, we re-release this episode from 2023 whereby Sarah Boothby reads excerpts from Maeve's unpublished novel, The Alchemists; or Economic Consequences of the peace. In a small Dartmoor village, the postman goes missing and is found unconscious in a hedge. The villagers speculate about what could have happened, but the truth remains a mystery. The story explores the themes of community and class differences. The author plays with the genre of detective fiction, creating suspense without a dead body. The arrival of a detective from Exeter adds intrigue to the story. The conversation explores various themes in the book, including the Orchard family's background, their wealth and treatment of servants, and the mystery surrounding the missing parcel. The conversation also touches on the protagonist's experience with chronic illness and the therapeutic nature of writing. The discussion highlights the beauty of the book's descriptions and the parallels between the historical setting and present-day issues. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the ongoing inquest into Maeve's death and the need for change in the treatment of ME.