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Fanny & Stella

The gripping story of the trial that shook Victorian England – a tale of cross-dressing, cross-examinations and the invention of camp.

Find out more about Neil McKenna’s latest book.

“Fanny & Stella is a cracking read!”

Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times

“…a startling read…”

Kathryn Hughes, The Guardian

“McKenna’s new book is a page turner…”

Doug Ireland , Gay City News

 

An everyday story of Victorian cross-dressers by Tim Stanley, The Telegraph

Dr Tim Stanley wrote an article about Fanny & Stella recently in The Telegraph On April 28, 1870, two young gentlemen turned up to the Strand Theatre, London in evening frocks. Ernest Boulton went by the name of Stella and Frederick Park liked to be called Fanny. The behaviour in their box was outlandish and outrageous, …

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‘..a gripping and startling account of the arrest and prosecution of two Victorian drag queens’

I was recently interviewed by New Books in Biography about Fanny & Stella. You can read part of the review below or listen to me being interviewed here ‘Through meticulous research and lush, incisive prose, McKenna presents a gripping and startling account of the arrest and prosecution of two Victorian drag queens. It’s a deft performance that …

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Criminal case rocked Victorian London to its knickers, as it were!

Fanny & Stella has now reached Canada!  The Toronto Star recently posted a review.   By: Nancy Wigston Staff Reporter., Published on Fri Jul 26 2013 In 1870, a sensational criminal case rocked Victorian London to its knickers, as it were. Two male transvestites — who’d adopted the names Fanny and Stella — were arrested outside the Strand …

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An interview with British Weekly – Southern California’s British Accent

Fanny & Stella are going global!  Here is an article based on my interview with Gabrielle Pantera of British Weekly Exclusive interview with author Neil McKenna and a review of his new biography that traces the arrest and spectacular trial of two notorious drag queens in Victorian England  “I was struggling to think of a …

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