Sarah Mitchell
After Alison Wilson's husband Alexander Wilson died in 1963, she discovered that he had been a bigamist and had been married four times, with five other children from his other marriages. Following this revelation, she became a nun, joining the Servite Secular Institute and obtaining a theology degree from Heythrop College. The story of Alison Wilson was adapted into a TV show, Mrs. Wilson, starring her granddaughter Ruth Wilson in the titular role.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did she become a nun? | Yes |
| When did she become a nun? | 1963 |
| Why did she become a nun? | After discovering her husband was a bigamist |
| What order did she join? | Servite Secular Institute |
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What You'll Learn
Alison Wilson's husband, Alexander Wilson, was a bigamist
Alison Wilson was Alexander Wilson's third wife. They met in 1940 while working for MI6 in London. Wilson was a popular spy novelist and was in charge of translating phone calls coming in and out of the Egyptian Embassy. Alison, then 20 years old, was assigned to assist in transcribing these conversations. In 1941, she took refuge in Alexander's apartment after her home was destroyed during the Blitz. They had two sons together.
After Alexander's death in 1963, Alison discovered the truth about her husband's multiple marriages. She learned that he had been a serial polygamist, pathological liar, conman, and forger of false identities. He had lied about his early life and career, and had fabricated intelligence reports during his time in MI6, resulting in his expulsion from the agency.
Alison Wilson wrote a two-part memoir, criticising her husband's behaviour but also explaining how her commitment to God helped her forgive him. She died in 2005.
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Alexander Wilson was a spy novelist
Alexander Wilson was an English writer, spy, MI6 officer, and polygamist. He wrote under the names Alexander Wilson, Geoffrey Spencer, Gregory Wilson, and Michael Chesney. Wilson wrote and published 24 novels, edited three academic books, and left behind four unpublished manuscripts. He is best known for his spy thrillers, which were full of espionage and derring-do, and so realistic that members of the Secret Service recognised themselves and their superiors in the pen portraits.
Wilson's career in the Secret Intelligence Service ended after three years when spy chiefs decided his creativity got the better of his grasp of reality. His novel 'Wallace Intervenes', published in 1939, featured a male honeytrap sent by the British Secret Service to infiltrate Nazi Germany. The novel was striking for its dust-wrapper cover of the Nazi Swastika. 'Wallace Intervenes' is one of nine 'Wallace of the Secret Service' novels written by Wilson, which were republished in 2015-16 by Allison & Busby.
Wilson's novel 'Chronicles of the Secret Service' was first published in 1940. It includes stories such as 'Wallace at Bay', which is about gripping counter-intelligence operations taking place in and around the Little Venice area of Maida Vale—locations familiar to Wilson during the late 1930s. Wilson's other novels include 'Microbes of Power' and 'The Death of Dr Whitelaw', for which he earned critical acclaim and excellent sales.
Wilson's life was shrouded in secrecy and deceit. He had four wives and seven children, and his bigamy was only discovered after his death. He was also suspected of staging a fake burglary at his apartment and was imprisoned for two months in 1944 for impersonating an officer of the law. Wilson's spy novels revealed details of intelligence work so precise as to indicate first-hand experience. Some believe that Wilson was encouraged to write these novels by the intelligence services to portray themselves as all-powerful.
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Alison Wilson wrote a memoir
Wilson's path to becoming a nun was not traditional. She grew up in a small town in Missouri, in a non-religious family. As a young woman, she excelled in academics and athletics, and she went on to study at a secular university. However, a series of personal crises, including a serious illness and a sense of spiritual longing, led her to explore different faith traditions.
During her search for meaning, Wilson was particularly drawn to the Catholic Church. She found solace in its rituals and was inspired by the lives of the saints. She began attending Mass regularly and even volunteered at a local Catholic soup kitchen. It was during this time that she also started considering a more dedicated religious life.
Wilson's decision to become a nun was not without its challenges. She had to grapple with the expectations of her family and friends, who often struggled to understand her choice. She also had to undergo a rigorous discernment process, including psychological evaluations and spiritual direction, to ensure that she was called to this way of life.
Her memoir offers a honest and raw account of her experiences. She writes about the struggles she faced, the doubts she encountered, and the ultimate peace and fulfillment she found in her vocation. Wilson's story is a testament to the power of faith and the ability to find one's purpose, even in unexpected places.
The memoir also provides a rare insight into the life of a contemporary nun. Wilson describes her daily routines, her work within the community, and the joy and sacrifice that come with dedicated religious life. Through her writing, readers are offered a window into a world that is often misunderstood or misrepresented, and they are invited to reflect on their own journeys of faith and self-discovery.
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Ruth Wilson plays her grandmother in 'Mrs. Wilson'
In 2018, actress Ruth Wilson played her real-life grandmother, Alison Wilson, in the BBC drama miniseries Mrs. Wilson. The series is based on the true story of her grandmother's life and marriage to Ruth's grandfather, Alec Wilson (also known as Alexander Wilson), a former MI6 officer, novelist, and bigamist.
Ruth Wilson never met her grandfather, but he was always a "man of mystery" to her family. It was only after his death in 1963 that the family discovered he had secretly married multiple women, including Ruth's grandmother, and had several other children. In the series, Iain Glen portrays Alec Wilson, while Keeley Hawes plays Dorothy, an actress and suspected second "wife" of Alec's.
Ruth Wilson felt a great deal of pressure playing her own grandmother, as she wanted to get the story right and do justice to all the families involved. She also wanted to portray the confusion and surprise her grandmother must have felt when she discovered her husband's secrets after his death. In an interview, Ruth shared her thoughts on the experience: "It took an awful lot out of me... The life she constructed is pulled from underneath her... It was an enormous responsibility and an extraordinary experience that was, in the end, quite spiritual."
Mrs. Wilson is based on Alison Wilson's private memoirs, which she wrote long after her husband's death. In the memoirs, Alison revealed that she only learned the whole truth about her husband after his passing and that he had given her a fictitious account of his life and career. Alison Wilson died in 2005 without knowing the full extent of her husband's deceptions, including the fact that he had two additional wives.
The series explores the impact of Alec Wilson's secrets and deceptions on his family and the challenges faced by the women in his life. Ruth Wilson has expressed that, through her performance, she wanted to showcase the strength and resilience of her grandmother and the other women, who had to make difficult choices during a time when women had limited options.
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Alison Wilson's husband had a secret life
Alison Wilson's husband, Alexander Wilson, led a secret life. Alexander was a spy novelist and MI6 agent. He was also a bigamist, married four times with seven children in total. He kept this information hidden from Alison, who was his third wife.
Alison and Alexander met when she was working as a secretary for MI6 in 1940. Alexander was nearly 30 years her senior and was in charge of translating phone calls coming in and out of the Egyptian Embassy in London. In 1941, Alison took refuge in Alexander's apartment after her home was destroyed in the Blitz. They went on to have two sons together.
Alexander spent large periods of time away from his family, which he claimed was due to his work with MI6. However, in reality, he was spending time with his other wives and children. He was also involved in a number of scandals, including being accused of staging a fake burglary at his apartment and impersonating an officer of the law. He served time in prison and was dismissed from MI6.
Alison suspected that her husband might be having an affair but decided not to upset her sons with the information. She only learned the full truth about his secret life after his death in 1963. She went on to write a memoir about her experiences, which she gave to her sons when they were older.
The discovery of Alexander's secret life had a profound impact on Alison, and she eventually became a nun, dedicating herself to a spiritual life.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, after years of unexpected and unwelcome revelations about her secret agent husband’s past, Alison Wilson committed herself to a spiritual life as a nun.
Yes, she became a member of the Servite Secular Institute and obtained a theology degree from Heythrop College.
Yes, she wrote a memoir about meeting Alec, falling in love with him, and finding out about his betrayal. She gifted it to her sons when they were older.
