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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
An interesting read about a woman who intrigues me. Anne Lister was a woman who was way ahead of her time. I wanted to know more about her and her life.
This edition covers the 18 months that is used within Season 1 of Gentleman Jack. It offers an extension in to the thoughts of Anne and what was going on at the time. I liked that the author used Anne's own diary entries as a way of explaining situations, thoughts and feelings.
This edition covers the 18 months that is used within Season 1 of Gentleman Jack. It offers an extension in to the thoughts of Anne and what was going on at the time. I liked that the author used Anne's own diary entries as a way of explaining situations, thoughts and feelings.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
if you enjoyed the BBC series and/or want to know a little bit more about Ann Lister, this is a very interesting read.
An absolute delight as a historical read: the action moves along with references to Anne’s diaries while not being so detailed that it’s hard going. Also presenting a fair view of Anne’s character rather than a romanticized view so common in biographers. A pleasure to read.
Interesting accounting of Anne Lister's life. Much to be admired, but had dark side as well...such as her class-ism and conservative views of the world.
medium-paced
So many histories of queer lives are based on pathologizing or Othering third party accounts, so I was excited to read something that comes from the first person. In the end though, I was frustrated by the approach this book took.
The narrator's voice is of a modern researcher who has read and extensively quotes Anne Lister's diaries without the context or analysis I'd expect from a historian. Lister is accepted as a reliable narrator of any topic – including, for instance, her servants' lives & abilities – and the author presents Lister's judgements as truth even when she is dabbling in 'race science' (heavy quotes) and phrenology. The text does point out some of Lister's self interest as a landowner with power over poorer people classes, but otherwise uncomplicatedly paints her as an admirable and accomplished figure. I think Lister deserves a more thoughtful and contextualized treatment.
While it was interesting to learn about this figure, the editorial decision to regurgitate Lister's biases without a critical eye while also not presenting the diaries in their unmediated form significantly detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
The narrator's voice is of a modern researcher who has read and extensively quotes Anne Lister's diaries without the context or analysis I'd expect from a historian. Lister is accepted as a reliable narrator of any topic – including, for instance, her servants' lives & abilities – and the author presents Lister's judgements as truth even when she is dabbling in 'race science' (heavy quotes) and phrenology. The text does point out some of Lister's self interest as a landowner with power over poorer people classes, but otherwise uncomplicatedly paints her as an admirable and accomplished figure. I think Lister deserves a more thoughtful and contextualized treatment.
While it was interesting to learn about this figure, the editorial decision to regurgitate Lister's biases without a critical eye while also not presenting the diaries in their unmediated form significantly detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
This read like a novelizatipn if the series, with a few extra details, but I think I’m more interested in just the journals