Description

Discover the extraordinary diaries of the real Anne Lister the inspiration for Gentleman Jack and Emma Donoghues new novel Learned By Heart

Engaging revealing at times simply astonishing SARAH WATERS

Anne Listers sense of self and selfawareness is what makes her modern to us The diaries gave me courage JEANETTE WINTERSON

The Lister diaries are the Dead Sea Scrolls of lesbian history EMMA DONOGHUE

When this volume of Anne Listers diaries was first published in 1988 it was hailed as a vital piece of lost lesbian history The editor Helena Whitbread had spent years painstakingly researching and transcribing Listers extensive journals much of which were written in an elaborate code what Lister called her crypthand which allowed her to record her life in intimate and at times explicit detail Until then Anne Listers lesbianism had been supressed or hinted at this was the first time her story had been told Anne Lister defied the role of nineteenth century womanhood she was bold fiercely independent a landowner industrialist traveller and lesbian a woman who lived her life on her own terms

These diaries include the years 18161824 The second volume continuing Annes story THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS ANNE LISTER NO PRIEST BUT LOVE is now available