Cringe

by Bruce Sinclair

Why didn't Austen burn the documents as he'd been ordered? When they turn up over two hundred years later at Laudanum Grange, International Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, competition to be the first to puzzle them out is fraught. What had Captain Austen been up to in Gibraltar on the eve of The Battle of Trafalgar? And what about those letters from his foul mouthed sister? As the scholars descend to unravel these mysteries, things are not going well for Rick Callow, the centre’s CEO, and Pamela Larrup, Director of Research. He has just enraged the 1813 Society, devotees to all things Jane Austen. She has just learned she will not be the first to study The Francis Austen Morocco Manuscripts. This will be done by, of all things, an Australian. Meanwhile, Harvey Premnas is winding up the drag show at The Stonewall Hotel, Sydney, scrubbing off his makeup and packing his frocks ready for his first international outing. Harvey Premnas is passionate about literature, amongst other things. Having won a fellowship to study The Morocco Manuscripts he cannot wait to get started. However, though he had been prepared for an intellectual tussle, the resentment his award unleashes leaves him stymied until the devilish Fenella Morningstar comes to his aid. As they begin to delve through the events of the eighteenth century, a host of historical characters, questions and subterfuge plays out in the space around them in The Grimalkin Library at Laudanum Grange. An institution whose purpose is ensured through the superb management and business skills of Rick Callow, even if he does say so himself. Meanwhile, Giles Skeffington, the put upon librarian, is worried about the collections. They are very valuable and he thinks some stuff has gone missing. Part satire and comedy, part historical and literary mystery, Cringe questions how we interpret and look after information from the past, and the value this has for those with more unscrupulous motives. It also has some sartorial pointers for scholarly drag queens.

212 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2015