BBC costume drama for ‘England’s first lesbian’
October 19th, 2009
The BBC is creating a one-off costume drama based on the life of Anne Lister, dubbed ‘the first modern lesbian’ by historians.
Anne Lister, known as ‘Fred’ to her lovers and ‘Gentleman Jack’ to her neighbours, was a wealthy 19th century landowner.
From the age of 15 until her death at the age of 51 Lister openly had love affairs with several women, and she documented her life in a series of diaries.
Filming for the BBC Two drama, named The Scandalous Diaries of Anne Lister will begin in November 2009 at Shibden Hall in Yorkshire where Lister lived with a woman called Anne Walker.
Playing the role of Lister in the drama will be Maxine Peak, best known for playing Veronica in Channel 4’s Shameless.
Anne Lister used her diaries to reflect on her sexuality and also to record sexual exploits. In 1820 she wrote “I love and only love the fairer sex and thus beloved by them in turn, my heart revolts from any love but theirs” and “Yet my manners are certainly peculiar, not all masculine but rather softly gentleman-like. I know how to please girls.”
Frank encounters of sex were written in a code, which was only cracked in the 1930s. Lister referred to orgasms as ‘kisses’ in her diaries and marked a cross for every time she had an orgasm.
I hate costume dramas but I’ll definitely be tuning in to watch this and learn more about code cracking these sex diaries!!
Julie ∼ October 19th, 2009 10:41 pmHells Yes!!!
I loved tipping the velvet and such so ill definitely be turning on my tv for once and watching this
Katie ∼ October 20th, 2009 7:55 pmWow I will be glued to the seat for this one. I love costume/period dramas and to have a women one again will be delicious.
meagain ∼ October 20th, 2009 10:15 pm