Reading Anne Lister's Diaries with Sarah Waters

Anne Lister, who lived between 1791 and 1840, is sometimes described as ‘the first modern lesbian’. Recorded in 2016, author Sarah Waters looks at the diary that reveals Lister's many sexual encounters.
A successful woman entrepreneur and landowner, she kept an extensive diary, partly in code, running to 4 million words.
The diary reveals her many sexual affairs with other women throughout her life. It shows a network of relationships between women of the gentry and aristocracy in early 19th century Halifax and beyond.
Her first sexual relationship developed in her teens, when she was boarding at King’s Manor School in York. Here she met Eliza Raine, a girl of colour and the daughter of an East India Company surgeon.
By her 20s, Anne was involved in several sexual affairs, including with the love of her life, Marianna Belcombe. In her diaries, she wrote about their passionate physical relationship in code, referring to orgasms as ‘kisses’ or by a cross in the margin.
This video was recorded in 2016 as part of our 'Pride of Place' project.
Find out more about Anne Lister and Shibden Hall: historicenglan...

[@ichi_san]

This is a very interesting look into Anne Lister. I respect her a lot for pursuing her love during time of oppression, she is also very intriguing and bold

[@aminouchepatatouche1729]

I love that this video exists

[@HistoricEngland]

We're glad you like it!

[@Violet-nq9uy]

It really makes u question how history has been laid out

[@zeeskyte]

Thanks!

[@HistoricEngland]

Welcome!

[@RB-xj9kr]

You’ve got to admire her….in a way?!

[@Pati-xl8xl]

When you stopped I ordered more more

[@zeeskyte]

Exactly! Where is the next chapter?