Wicked Little Letters true story: The scandal behind the comedy

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As a follower of historical dramas, I was absolutely thrilled when I heard that “Wicked Little Letters” starring Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman was now available on Netflix. The intriguing plot of this comedy-drama had me hooked from the very beginning.

Wicked Little Letters staring Jessie Buckley and Olivia Colman has landed on Netflix.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, this comedy-drama follows the journey of an Irish immigrant named Rose Gooding, played by Buckley, who arrives in the quaint seaside town of Littlehampton in 1918. Initially, she befriends her conservative neighbor, Edith Swan, portrayed by Colman, who appears to be a rigid and pious woman.

Yet, as Edith begins to receive lewd letters, suspicion quickly falls upon Rose in this dramatic tale that shocks the community of Littlehampton and the country at large.

The movie draws inspiration from a true-to-life scandal that left cast member Timothy Spall, portraying Edith’s father Edward Swan, utterly surprised.

“Sometimes, despite the implausibility of it all, you find yourself saying ‘Of course it did’ because amazingly, such outlandish events can indeed occur, leaving you in disbelief.”

Are you curious? Here’s the fascinating backstory of Wicked Little Letters – keep reading to find out more.

Is Wicked Little Letters based on a true story?

The real-life Rose Gooding moved to the small seaside town of Littlehampton, Sussex, in 1918.

1. Three years prior to her marriage with Bill, Rose had already warmly received her unmarried daughter Dorothy. This practice was considered disapproved of during that period.

Despite initial differences, it wasn’t long before Rose became friends with her neighbor, Edith Swan. They found common ground in managing their households, with Edith sharing a chutney recipe and some sock knitting patterns with Rose, while Rose reciprocated by lending Edith a bath tub.

After our disagreement over the communal garden, their friendship and mine started to deteriorate. I found myself quietly planning my response.

1. Edith began writing and mailing crude postcards pretending they were from Rose, containing vulgar words, offensive content, and absurd allegations.

Initially, the insults were relatively mild, using terms like “cow” and “bloody,” but they grew progressively more vulgar as reported by the Daily Mail during that incident.

As if she were Rose, Edith penned a letter to inform her boyfriend Bert, then stationed in Iraq with the British military, that she was expecting a child from another man. This revelation led Bert to cancel their upcoming wedding.

In the contemporary perspective, historians believe Edith may have had mental health troubles. Later, she initiated a personal prosecution against Rose, who faced criminal libel charges during a court session at Littlehampton Magistrates in September 1920.

Rose returned home after spending three months behind bars.

However, Edith’s troubles persisted, for she continued to write letters, which ultimately led Rose back to the courtroom again.

As a devoted moviegoer, I eagerly watched as Rose’s lawyer fought relentlessly to establish her innocence. He presented intriguing pieces of evidence, such as the handwritten knitting instructions and chutney recipe she had received from Edith, emphasizing that the writing style on these documents mirrored the penmanship found on the letters in question.

But, despite the efforts of her barrister, Rose was jailed for 12 months with hard labour.

Who was the culprit in Wicked Little Letters?

Above it is explained that Edith was the one who arranged for the letters to be sent, including those addressed to herself, her family members, and neighbors.

What happened to the real Edith Swan?

Edith’s web of lies began to unravel shortly after Rose’s second sentence.

1. Following Rose’s sentence for the second time, Edith wrote additional vulgar remarks in a notebook and mailed it to the police, stating that she had discovered it close to the Gooding residence on the specified street.

Initially, it appeared that Edith was building a stronger argument against Rose. However, this effort backfired when the police noticed striking similarities in the handwriting within the notebook and a letter penned by Edith.

Rose was released three months into her sentence.

As a movie buff, I found myself drawn into a peculiar situation when the “Notebook Incident” unfolded. This led Scotland Yard to assign me, Inspector George Nicholls, the task of delving into the intricate world of a libel case.

I once saw George ask Gladys Moss, a local policewoman, to keep an eye on the Swans’ house from a nearby shed. One day, while on duty, Gladys noticed something suspicious. She observed Edith, a neighbor previously targeted by Rose, tossing a paper scrap near Violet May’s backdoor.

1921 saw Edith standing trial, yet the judge remained skeptical that she had the capacity to utter such offensive words.

It wasn’t until 1923 that detectives hatched a plan to get enough evidence to convict Edith.

1. Detectives secretly tagged some stamps using invisible ink and directed the post office to mail these to Edith. By doing this, they could track down Edith when she committed more crimes in June. This allowed them to trace the letters back to her.

In July, the Lewes Crown Court jury found Edith guilty.

In his courtroom, Judge Avory acknowledged the jury’s verdict and imposed a 12-month imprisonment sentence on Edith. However, it is said that he found it hard to comprehend how a “decent, seemingly respectable woman” like Edith could have authored such “explicit content”.

In March 1959, Edith passed away at North View Home, located in East Preston. Before becoming a residential home, this very place was historically known as a workhouse.

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2024-07-30 14:07