Reviews

The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister by Helena Whitbread, Anne Lister

ailsahatton's review against another edition

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5.0

She was such a twat, I love everything about her. What a delight.

kasermoose's review against another edition

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Had to read for book club. Do not enjoy non-fiction. Really do not enjoy Anne Lister.

frances_frances's review against another edition

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4.0

Anne Lister's writing is an important queer and historical artifact. It provides insight into the lives of wealthy white women in 19th century England as well as how queerness was conceived of and experienced in that specific time and place in history.

Lister herself was a fascinating person who in many ways was ahead of her time. But I find it strange that so many reviewers wholeheartedly praise her. Lister was complex and had many problematic traits. Her masculinity was very much in line with the norms of her time, which is to say rather toxic. She belittles most women and sees herself as socially and intellectually superior to them. Basically, she's kind of misogynistic. Her own sense of self relies on putting other women down (perhaps the original "I'm not like other girls"). Her wealth was acquired through being a landlord (charging poorer people for shelter) and through coal mining (horrible for the environment and for workers). Lister did many things that could be viewed as progressive for the time. It's important to understand that she was able to educate herself, succeed in business, and engage in relationships with women largely because of her wealth and social status. Poorer women wouldn't be able to financially make it without a male breadwinner. And also, is it really progressive to emulate wealthy white men?

Lister's diaries are important and informative but also limited by her socioeconomic class. I thinks it's important to hold multiple truths at once. Like any human, Lister was complicated, contradictory, and flawed.

jazzyjbox's review against another edition

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challenging informative slow-paced

3.0

hannah_0708's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

starlesslyra's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

i love anne lister with all my heart <3 her diaries are just so incredible and insightful and she slept with so many women lmaoooo. if i could have one wish it would be to travel back in time and show anne lister rina sawayama's entire discography because i think she'd like it. anyway, slay slay slay anne ily <3

amyisabookworm's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

oatcappuccino's review

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adventurous slow-paced

4.0

27agraham's review against another edition

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informative slow-paced

4.0

readmedo's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.0