Talking About Jane Austen in Baghdad
Page 33
After that we called you and Kate, then took a taxi and went to a travel agency and booked a flight with Royal Jordanian for Sunday 19 October. We should be in Heathrow by 3.45 p.m. your time. Bee, I am so happy. A whole new life is opening up before us. I thanked God. I have prayed to Him since the first day I came to Jordan and God has answered my prayers. Now you and I will meet face to face and talk and have our cup of tea together. I can’t wait for Sunday.
Numerous hugs and kisses to you all
May xxxxx
17.10.08
The last email ever
Can’t believe you tricked Ali like that, poor thing. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it, May? What a birthday present – for both of us! Well, I’ve been imagining these words for so long, May, and now at last I can say them:
SEE YOU AT THE AIRPORT ON SUNDAY.
Love and hugs
Bee XX
Acknowledgements
May: special thanks to Charles and Penelope Rowlatt, Helen Späth, Bee and Justin Rowlatt, Kate Robertson, Professor Akkar and Lucy from CARA, Dr Jim Franklin, Professor James Crabbe, Professor Alexis Weedon, University Vice-Chancellor Professor Les Ebden, Ms Christine Ross and Miss Johannah Flaherty from the University of Bedfordshire, Venetia Butterfield and Jenny Dean from Penguin, Mr Adrian Sington from Westpark Pictures for their unlimited support. My thanks also extend to my friend Ban Dhayi for putting up with me during the Amman ordeal, and deep gratitude goes to my best friend, Maysoon, who nominated me for the BBC interview in the first place. I also thank everyone whom I have yet to meet for the help and support extended through my friend and beloved sister, Bee.
Bee: my thanks and love to my mum, Helen, and to Dave, and to Penelope, Charles and all the Rowlatts. Helen and Penelope in particular stepped up in the darkest hour, and I can never thank them enough. Justin was unfailingly generous and upbeat throughout, although just wait until he actually reads it (only kidding!). Many people have been supportive, but special thanks go to Lucy Potter, Amy Neil, Terka Acton, Vicki Harrison-Neves, Talia Barry, Nicola Baird, Tina Andersson, Donna Walmsley, Andy North, Kate Utley and Ian Simpson, and to Emilio Echeverri. Also, we owe pretty much everything to the following people: Adrian Sington for his patience, advice and support throughout the endless hysterics; the fabulous Venetia Butterfield and Jenny Dean at Penguin; and finally Kate Robertson and everyone at CARA for the despair-defying work that they do every day.
The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA) was established in 1933 in response to the persecution of academics across Europe under fascist regimes. A good number of those it helped went on to become the most distinguished academics of their time, including eighteen who became Nobel Laureates. This important work continues today, and in 2008 CARA assisted academics that fled from over thirty countries. Among these were a geologist escaping the dictatorship in Eritrea, an HIV activist running from government oppression in Cameroon, an education lecturer imprisoned in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a female lecturer sentenced to death in Libya for challenging the ideology of Colonel Gaddafi and a university professor from Afghanistan who was threatened with death. For further details go to www.academic-refugees.org.