Barton Peveril student, Katie Chalk, has won first place at a creative writing competition run by Southampton Solent University.
The competition, held earlier this year to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, required entrants to write between 1,500-2,000 words on a theme linked to those of Austen’s novels.
Katie’s story, Lydia and Wickham, is a modern take on Pride and Prejudice’s Lydia Bennet and George Wickham, with a dark twist.
Of her inspiration for the story, Katie, 16, says:
“I wondered what their relationship would look like in the 21st century with the added dangers of social media.”
Dr Devon Campbell-Hall, one of the competition’s judges and Course Leader of BA (Hons) English at Solent, says:
“Lydia and Wickham is an innovative and new take on an old story with a surprise twist. It evidences the enthusiasm and potential of a local budding young author, which is very exciting.”
For winning the competition, Katie has been awarded a £50 book token, and her college, Barton Peveril, receives a set of Jane Austen novels.
Katie, who is in her first year of college and previously attended The Romsey School, says:
“It’s amazing to have won – I wasn’t expecting it at all! I’m very proud of the story and concept, and this competition has given me the opportunity to improve, which I will make the most of.”
Nicola Carcone, Director of English and Foreign Languages at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, says:
“Katie did amazingly well with her short story – such a gritty reading of Austen’s original, and I particularly liked the portrayal of the mother.
“University competitions offer students incredible opportunities to showcase talents beyond the curriculum and we remain ever in their debt for promoting a love of learning in such dynamic and different ways.”
