Anne Choma

So this is a story about Anne Lister, a very lucky woman in the first part of the 19th century who managed to circumvent the status she was born to, through a bit of luck of a lot of intelligence, to live a life she wanted to, not one that society said she had to live. Her story is only preserved because she was diarist - she wrote every day in her journal, in code for the more scandalous parts, and in English for the day to day parts. Her story is interesting, one where she got what she wanted, skirting the line between convention and happiness.

Her various affairs, from Mariana Belcombe, Vere Hobart, And Ann Walker, with whom she finally found a companion are passionate, but yet impersonal. Its not easy in today's world to ask someone if they are gay, it Lister's world, it was next to impossible. However, Ann figured it out, and in a way that was not entirely improper.

As for Lister herself, I don't think I would like her. She is a solid conservative, a social climber who wants higher status than her current society. She's against independence of those in the she considers lower than herself. And, she's pig headed, not willing to give up an ounce of what she thinks she is owed. I find it interesting she can hold views where she agrees with the status quo, but at the same time is willing to depart from it when it suits her.

As for the book, I actually found the day to day going on at Shibden Hall - the daily interactions that a master of the house has to do just to keep everything running, than Anne's actual love life. The book was well written and I'm happy to have read it.… (altro)

Anne Choma’s Gentleman Jack: The Real Anne Lister is an excellent companion to the HBO and BBC adaptation. Supplementary and expansive, there is no hint of any partiality in this fascinating biography that succinctly tells not only of Lister’s liaisons with a lot of women but also her insatiable hunger for education despite women’s almost lack of rights then. Her detailed diary entries are not only a time capsule on 1800s lesbianism but an intricate look at mechanics of society.

Anne Lister of Shibden Hall who is perhaps most well-known as the “modern lesbian” with libertine outlook on gender and sexuality also suffered from flawed beliefs and questionable intentions. Although she was at peace with her religion and sexuality, she was conservative in her political interests (she’s a Tory Blue in fact) and had manipulative, selfish tendencies over lovers and the lower class. As is the norm with white male businessmen in this era there was no surprise there. Her need to climb up over the social ladder was a little off-putting though she eventually grew out of this. Despite these shortcomings, her courage to live her life as herself, unapologetic, is admirable; her experience of heartbreak and want of a lasting partner one after another palpable, her gentlemanly manner quite endearing that it is difficult, with her string of lovers, not to be charmed and smitten. Although her family was refreshingly accepting, she didn’t escape the lingering snide and taunt of narrow minded bigots. Heteronormativity corrupts and forces itself upon same-sex relationships (ie., rigid ideas on gender roles). Branded as an oddity, her lack of conformity on femininity with other expectations on gender in tow she made up for her travel enthusiasm and vast knowledge on a wide array of subjects.

This biography also tells and concludes her love story with Ann Walker who was as commendable and magnificent for her own bravery. Their romance is a gut-wrenching and gushing tale of communion and affinity. A “marriage” hailed as the “first same-sex marriage” in the UK, this is another fragment of the continuing persistence and presence of the LGBT community throughout history. And I quote E.M. Forster, “It comes to this then: there always have been people like me and always will be (...)” Today, Shibden Hall stands proudly in Halifax, Yorkshire and the church where Anne and Ann took their wedding vows through the holy communion bears a plaque that commemorates the event.

Gentleman Jack: The Real Anne Lister is not a diary anthology. It often inserts excerpts from Lister’s diaries which are then discussed at length by Choma; historical context included. Side-by-side with the TV series this is a brilliant addition but as a stand-alone I wouldn’t think this will suffice at all. Don’t forget to see the TV series because writer Sally Wainwright never disappoints and is a gift that keeps on giving.… (altro)

I have a sneaking suspicion that that would make more sense and would be more enjoyable if I had seen the TV series but honestly I didn't care what was happening with the people involved, I didn't really get to know them well enough to care about their situations. I'd be more curious about Anne Lister's travels than her romantic life, but then again I'm like that with people of any sexual variation.

Anne Lister was a woman certain of her sexuality and it didn't merge with contemporary mores and she tried to create a life that she wanted to lead. Between the subjugation of her sexuality, her gender and much of her freedoms she did quite well with the hand life dealt her.

It's an interesting read but I didn't really engage with the people.… (altro)