Part of the York Georgian Festival (Thursday 7 August to Monday 11 August) in association with York Mansion House:
Monday 11 August, 1630 start
Free, but donations are welcome
The journals and letters of Anne Lister (1791-1840) give a unique insight into the romantic and sexual life of an early nineteenth century woman. Lister’s ‘heart revolted’ at the love of men, and instead her journal reveals the experiences of a woman who ‘loved and only loved the fairer sex’. This talk explores Lister’s remarkable history through the women she seduced, flirted with, fell in love with, and ultimately, in effect, married.
Who were Lister’s lovers? How did she meet and seduce them? How did she conceive of her relationships and what were her intentions? How did female relationships differ from heteronormative relationships of the Georgian era?
This talk reveals how Lister was able to live authentically in early nineteenth century Yorkshire and how she negotiated the social, emotional, and sexual challenges of her lesbian identity. Lister recorded her life in minute detail and her use of a ciphered ‘crypthand’ in her journal created private literary spaces through which she detailed her emotional and sexual life. Join us as we delve into this intimate history.
Holy Trinity Goodramgate, York:
Holy Trinity Goodramgate is an 800 year old church building. On 30 March 1834, Anne Lister and Ann Walker visited Holy Trinity Goodramgate and took communion before starting their lives together and we are home to a rainbow plaque celebrating this.
This is an opportunity for everyone to come and experience a place which is largely unchanged since the days of Anne and Ann’s visit.
Seating will be mainly in the 16th century box pews. Please note that the seats do not all face in the same direction so sightlines are variable, but acoustics are good throughout. Seating is allocated on arrival so please consider arriving early to secure your place. You may be required to share a box pew with other visitors.
Please note that the temperature in the building is usually lower that that outside so please wrap up warmly. Blankets will be made available, but please feel free to bring your own blankets and cushions for your comfort.
Access information:
The floors are uneven and light levels will be low. The building is wheelchair accessible save for the Sunken Chapel, but we recommend that wheelchair users contact us in advance of the performance to agree the best seating plan. Please email [email protected] to discuss.
Speaker Biography:
Constance Halstead is a second year PhD student at the University of York’s Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, where she is the recipient of the inaugural Sally Wainwright Scholarship for the Study of Anne Lister. Her thesis is titled, ‘Telling ‘all as it really is’: form and formation in Anne Lister’s manuscript and digitised journal. It investigates how Lister navigated eighteenth century conventions of diary writing, adapting the genre to her own purposes, and through the journal’s pages materialising her ongoing self-invention. Constance is particularly interested in the material and written form of Lister’s journal. She holds a BA from the University of Oxford and a MLitt from the University of St Andrews where her dissertation made important discoveries about Lister’s use of different ciphers in her letters and journal.
(Photo credit: Bec Hudson Smith)