Miss Martindale
Marianne Martindale (Catherine Tyrell, Mari de Colwyn) is an English writer and columnist.[1] As Miss Martindale, she was a prominent public face of Aristasia, an all-female subculture inspired by the Traditionalist School and early twentieth-century culture, many members of which attended a "school" at her West London home.[1] Aristasia is a feminine version of the Greek word aristos, which means 'the best'.[2] Martindale received national attention in the British press in the 1990s for her advocacy of corporal punishment.[3]
Writings
Martindale's writings include The Female Disciplinary Manual, Disciplined Ladies and other stories, and The District Governess, published by The Wildfire Club, which Martindale co-founded.[1] From 2003 to 2005, Martindale wrote the Ladies' Column in The Chap magazine and was Aristasia's media representative. She discontinued this in accordance with the then-nascent Bridgehead Doctrine, which discourages Aristasians from publicly commenting on "foreign" (i.e. Earth) culture and politics.[4]
Attention in the press
Martindale is known for her practice and advocacy of corporal punishment, with a related 1992 conviction for actual bodily harm.[1] This led to criticism from some Aristasians, who felt that in the public eye she was associating the movement too much with its minor disciplinary aspect. Some non-Aristasians have characterized Aristasia as an "S/M fantasy group" as a result of this. However, Martindale's recorded statements and interviews made clear her dislike of S/M, and her belief in discipline as spiritual and purifying.
Some British newspapers, notably The Guardian, criticized Martindale for her correspondence with John Tyndall of the far-right British National Party,[1] but Martindale always maintained that, as an Aristasian, she was neutral on matters of "Tellurian" (i.e. Earth) politics. Martindale is a royalist and imperialist, but with loyalty only to the Aristasian monarchy and empire.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Miss Kinky Denies Right Wing Smear", This is Local London
- ↑ Rosie Millard (1995-03-03). "Whips? Canes? Silly Monkeys! - Life and Style". The Independent. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
- ↑ "Who Is Miss Marianne Martindale?". Article featuring quotations from articles on Martindale in the British national press.
- ↑ Operation Bridgehead, Encyclopaedia Aristasiana
External links
Official
Media
- Miss Martindale is interviewed by Toyah Willcox
- A Weekend at Miss Martindale's – Channel 4 documentary, aired 1996. Part I, Part II, Part III.
- Interview with Miss Martindale from the time she was Aristasia's media representative.