Nature's Domain：Anne Lister and the Landscape of Desire

May1832:AnneListerwasmakingherwayhometoHalifaxandancientShibdenHall.Betrayedonceagainbyanotherwoman’smarriageplans,sheknewherromanticyouthwasover.Somanyofherfemalefriendshadmarriedandsettled.Annecastaroundforlornlyforthelife-companionshehadsolongsought.SheheldmelancholyspiritsatbaybyreadingnewgeologyandnewgardeningbooksinShibden’swell-stockedlibrary.
Thenachancere-acquaintancewithneighbouringheiressAnnWalkerchangedallthat.AnneListerisbestknowntousasalesbiandiarist.Nature’sDomaintracksherintensecourtshipofAnnWalker,vividlyandcandidlyrecordedinAnne’sdailyjournals-andpartlywritteninherownsecretcode.ThisinfluentialAnneListerbookalsodocumentshowshebeganredesigningtheShibdenlandscapeandplayingapowerfulnewroleinthelocalpoliticaltumultafterthepassingofthegreatReformBill.Thisdramaticstory,hithertounknownandneverbeforeunpublished,unfoldstoNewYear’sEve1832.ItrecordshowAnneLister’sindomitablewillenabledhertomouldnaturetoherownpowerfuldesires.“Nature’sDomaingivesacompellingoverviewofakeytimeinAnneLister’sremarkablelife.JillLiddingtonguidesusknowledgeablythroughthediariesof1832,offeringcrucialinsightintoAnne’sprivateandcandourobservationsaboutlove,sex,moneyandpolitics.”LauraJohansen,CulturalDestinationsManager,Halifax.JillLiddingtonisco-authorofOneHandTiedBehindUs(1978)whichbecameasuffrageclassic.SheisauthorofPresentingthePast:AnneListerofHalifax1791-1840(1994)andofFemaleFortune:theAnneListerdiaries1833-36(1998).SheisanHonoraryResearchFellowattheUniversityofLeeds,andlivesinMytholmroydnearHalifax.SallyWainwright’sBBC1dramaseries,GentlemanJackwasinspiredbyFemaleFortuneandNature’sDomain