"Miraculously, all 24 of these continuous volumes survive"

March 11, 2022 4:31 PM

Laurie Shannon for the Anne Lister Society, "Anne Lister's Story": "On 21 March 1817, Anne Lister raised the stakes ... to propose 'from this day to keep an exact journal of my actions and studies' ... Her observations include ... engineering calculations, legal issues ... geology, landscape design, and anatomy ... and practical accounts of summiting two of the highest peaks in the Pyrenees ... Most consequentially ... direct testimony ... 'I love & only love'" women "'& thus beloved by them in turn my heart revolts from any other love than theirs.'" Early volumes have large PDF transcripts for dates beginning in Aug 1806, Aug 1816, Nov 1816, Mar 1817, Jan 1818, Apr 1819, Nov 1819, Feb 1821 & May 1822 (italics = decoded text). Reference to scans of all volumes, transcripts, edited publications, and the cipher (online encoder/decoder). More info. Gentleman Jack on Fanfare. Yesterday's trailer for Season 2, starting in April.
posted by Wobbuffet (5 comments total)

I loved this!
I really loved the show so it was kind of funny to me (in an affectionate, parasocial way) that her early journal was mostly about ER.
Sunday Sep[tem]b[e]r 21st wrote to ER [Eliza Raine] in
Answer to a packet by my Uncle and
Aunt Lister returned from Hull
Sunday Sep[tem]b[e]r 28th wrote to ER [Eliza Raine] on a large sheet filled on all sides
Tuesday 30th Had a letter from ER [Eliza Raine]
Oct[o]b[e]r Friday 3[r]d Wrote a note to ER [Eliza Raine] by Mr Lund
to Tadcaster by Mr Hill to York enclosed with
je suis lindor a Welch Air and the following
written to Raine 1st Do not play je suis
Lindon for fear you sh[oul]d take the infection
2[n]d Ah! One sad moment when you’re not aware
May plunge you in the deep abyss of care
3[r]d With love and best thanks yours Lister
Sunday Oct[o]b[e]r 5th wrote to ER [Eliza Raine]
Tuesday Oct[o]b[e]r 7th Had a letter from ER [Eliza Raine]
Sunday Oct[o]b[e]r 12th Wrote to ER [Eliza Raine]
Tuesday Oct[o]b[e]r 14th Had a letter from ER [Eliza Raine]
posted by bleep at 7:45 PM on March 11, 2022 [2 favorites]

Wow. I skimmed through the 1818 PDF you have linked, reading a fascinating set of mundane recordings of her daily activities (flute half hour at dinner, how many pages she was reading of a book, even her preference for a Jewish convert's translation of the Bible), and then getting to the hidden inner life she kept in code. I actually caught my breath in astonishment at the details she wrote in there... All the worries of her secret pursuits, and the slowly advancing intimacy in other places. Her secret queer life is such a window into the history of my community.
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 6:10 AM on March 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

I really loved the show so it was kind of funny to me (in an affectionate, parasocial way) that her early journal was mostly about ER.

Not terribly surprising though. The available transcriptions go from 1806 to 1822, but the TV show (which I love) begins in 1832.

Anne was 15 years old when she wrote those early journal entries about ER [Eliza Raine].

So looking forward to season 2!
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:05 AM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]

Not sure if this is the same transcripts but there’s been a huge amount of transcription done by crowdsourcing the fans of the show. Anne Lister is a fascinating and not always sympathetic character, she did a lot of very sketchy shit both in business and pleasure, but it really is hard to beat her for getting shit done!
posted by Iteki at 2:04 PM on March 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

Wow and thanks so much.
posted by Jody Tresidder at 4:30 PM on March 16, 2022 [1 favorite]