I didn't know about this book until recently. I had read and loved 'I Know My Own Heart' (republished in 2010 as 'The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister') in 1989. This, Helena Whitbread's second book, first published in 1992, is the lesser-known follow-up, covering the period Sept 1824 to Oct 1826.

In this second book almost every diary entry is preceded by a heading, which serves as a summary of that day for easy reference; and photographs, drawings, and paintings depict Anne's world.

The book begins with Anne's stay in Paris, where she courts a widow whose social standing and financial worth do not meet Anne's aspirations. Whilst continuing her affair with the love of her life, Marianna Lawton (married to Charles Lawton), Anne seeks a suitable life partner who will allow her to climb the social ranks.

About one sixth of Anne Lister's diaries (the encoded parts) reveal her desire for women and her forthright approach to satisfying that desire. Where this second book really wins out for me is that Helena Whitbread now seems less shy about sharing with her readers the finer details of Anne's lesbianism. ( )

No Priest But Love follows on the heels of I Know My Own Heart. While I Know My Own Heart was published in large part because it seals Anne Lister's claim to fame as the first "modern lesbian," it is light on lesbian content given its overall length and heavy on early 19th century Halifax gossip. Dedicated readers will appreciate Lister's sexual frankness mixed in with the banalities of provincial life, but others may find that the title of First Modern Lesbian demands a bit more. No Priest But Love delivers that "more." At the end of 1824 Lister left Halifax for an extended stay in Paris. In Paris Lister finds what the reader was probably hoping she would--unadulterated dyke drama. Lister begins a satisfyingly explicit seduction of an English widow, Mrs Barlow. Like all good lesbians of any age, Lister encourages Mrs Barlow to pack up her U-Haul, and then Lister wrecks the relationship by dragging her ex-girlfriend-wait-a-second-we're-likely-to-get-back-together-any-moment into the picture. If that isn't modern lesbianism, then I don't know what is. And so the drama continues at home and abroad.

In addition to introducing this new love interest of Lister's, No Priest But Love also introduces us more fully to someone who has been there all along--Helena Whitbread. This volume contains more numerous (and very interesting) historical asides, images, and psychological analyses of Lister and her world. (These are few and far in between in I Know My Own Heart). Ms Whitbread also included subject headings for the majority of Lister's entries, making it easier to skim back through and appreciate the overarching narrative of Lister's life at that time.

Overall, this is a faster-paced, more varied, and more sexually explicit extract from Lister's life. Even if I Know My Own Heart didn't do it for you, try giving this volume a whirl. Anne Lister isn't exactly likable, but she is at least readable. ( )