The Other Woman
Private Secretary to a Daughter of Exxon Oil
February 29, 2012 written by "Anonymous" at the request of Indiana University Press:
Review: Undercover Spunk: A Memoir of the Private Secretary to a Daughter of Exxon Oil.
By Karen Chadwick.
Chadwick's memoir will no doubt be the fîrst of many books that will be written about Jane Blaffer Owen, a daughter to Texas oil wealth, who moved to New Harmony, Indiana in the early 1940's. The history of New Harmony is the story of an early Indiana community that began as a religious experiment, then home to a number of intellectuals with a variety of cultural and scientific interests, only to eventually slip into a forgotten moment of the past.
One might just consider that Jane Owen, prior to her death, was the embodiment of these early settlers. Her deeply religious convictions led to the creation of several architectural
structures and religious sites in Historic New Harmony, and over the years became a destination for a number of national and international scientists, educators, philosophers, artists, architects, and musicians, all traveled to New Harmony at the invitation of Jane Owen.
Over the past century a number of scholarly books have been written about New Harmony and the extraordinary men and women who lived in this small historic community. Each book has looked at the people and events that took place in the first two and three decades of the town's history. Chadwick’s memoir will not only allow the reader to discover the true nature of Jane Owen, but will reveal the story of New Harmony today, as envisioned by this
dedicated woman who had a deep interest in what New Harmony had been; and a dream of what it could become again. It is a story of determination and inspiration by Jane Owen, who discovering a somewhat tarnished jewel on the Wabash, subsequently used her wealth to enrich both the past and present. Jane Owen was gracious to all the many people who over time visited New Harmony and could speak at ease with visiting scholars, curious visitors,
and most happily with students of all grade levels. It is for all these reasons that the proposed memoir would be of interest to a wide variety of readers who have an interest in Indiana history, architecture, cultural history, and human relationships.
Chadwick has written an entertaining, insightful, and charming memoir that is full of detail about a job that was at times extremely frustrating; yet fulfilling. She freely writes about a woman who was often difficult to work for, somewhat miserly in her finances, tough on her staff, but could also be warn, kind, compassionate, and generous with her time despite her extremely busy schedule. The memoir will shed light on a personal world that could only be
known by someone who experienced it, and is willing to share this experience before it is lost with the passing of time. Karen’s skill at writing provides an easily readable and fast paced account of life in a small Hoosier town.
Comment: While I understand the purpose of the Introduction and feel that it has a proper place in the memoir, I found the interaction between Karen and Bruce to be somewhat distracting in the second chapter. I don't know if there is some way to rearrange some of the
paragraphs or merge both as an Introduction.
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