queerandweird's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible! Would recommend to anyone, especially queer people to know our history and anyone who enjoyed the (also incredible) show.
maryrobinette's review against another edition
4.0
Like many people, I became aware of Anne Lister through the HBO mini-series. This book is fascinating and gets into the historical details of her life during the period covered by the show. What I find most compelling is the level of introspection that Miss Lister employed on a daily basis. The book includes excerpts from her journals with the historical context in which she was writing.
sapphosgirlfriend's review against another edition
3.0
I was a little disappointed with this one, to be honest. I finished watching Gentleman Jack and now found myself fascinated by Anne Lister, and I was very excited to read more about her life beyond the scopes of the TV show. However, this book doesn't really go much beyond that, and only covers about two years of Anne's life which are mostly also portrayed in the TV series. This is a shame to me, as there is so much more of her life to explore.
That aside, this book does give fascinating new insights about what drove Lister, and what her passions were. We learn more about the academic inside her, and her drive for studying which wasn't understood or allowed in her time. Moreover, this book helps explain Anne's drive for getting a wife that really had to be upper class and rich, as status was more important than love in marriages in that time period. It was particularly interesting how she based her entire idea of lesbian relationships around heterosexual relationships, as that is all she would have known.
If you haven't seen Gentleman Jack the TV series, give it a go! It's a great portrayal of the first modern lesbian marriage.
That aside, this book does give fascinating new insights about what drove Lister, and what her passions were. We learn more about the academic inside her, and her drive for studying which wasn't understood or allowed in her time. Moreover, this book helps explain Anne's drive for getting a wife that really had to be upper class and rich, as status was more important than love in marriages in that time period. It was particularly interesting how she based her entire idea of lesbian relationships around heterosexual relationships, as that is all she would have known.
If you haven't seen Gentleman Jack the TV series, give it a go! It's a great portrayal of the first modern lesbian marriage.
emilysurface's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
ellymagson's review against another edition
4.0
This book covers the period of Anne Lister's life told in the BBC/HBO adaptation - from 1832 to 1835, but gives a good overview of her earlier life and adventures along the way. It's mostly written by the author and follows a very similar plot to the TV version, with Anne's diary entries quoted throughout.
What I got most out of this book was how Anne relied on and used her diary to cultivate her views on the world - and on her own sexuality and happiness. Her diary allowed her to articulate and work through her emotions and she emerges from the pages as an eternally optimistic and confident woman.
What I got most out of this book was how Anne relied on and used her diary to cultivate her views on the world - and on her own sexuality and happiness. Her diary allowed her to articulate and work through her emotions and she emerges from the pages as an eternally optimistic and confident woman.
ikahime's review against another edition
5.0
I saw the show first and this companion has me flabbergasted. I knew much of the dialogue and plot had been ripped straight out of AL's diaries, but the extent is mind-blowing. Anne Lister - my new patron saint.