The Lady Magazine

20 November 2015

Dear Readers, There are many things that can be said about the Reading-born actress Kate Winslet, and the most obvious one is her chameleon-like quality. This month, she appears as a worldly-wise vixen in search of revenge in The Dressmaker, and then again as a considerably less glamorous assistant in the film about the Apple guru, Steve Jobs. At 40 years old, her publicity photos are rarely re-touched – she won’t agree to it. As she tells us, her concern is less about her looks and more about becoming a success to overcome the bullying she experienced during her childhood. In a more playful experiment in altering our perceptions, Mallory Ortberg imagines what life would have been like if Mr Rochester and Jane Eyre had conducted their courtship via text messaging. Would their love have survived? Certainly it might not have been quite as angstridden as Julia Hartley-Brewer’s all-consuming love for her guinea pigs. For those of us who like to keep our desires more simple, our festive food special is literally packed with irresistible goodies. Almond-and-prosecco sponge, anyone? Until next time, best wishes Sam Taylor, Editor