Neil

Author's details

Date registered: December 19, 2012

Latest posts

  1. An everyday story of Victorian cross-dressers by Tim Stanley, The Telegraph — March 26, 2014
  2. ‘..a gripping and startling account of the arrest and prosecution of two Victorian drag queens’ — January 16, 2014
  3. Criminal case rocked Victorian London to its knickers, as it were! — August 15, 2013
  4. An interview with British Weekly – Southern California’s British Accent — August 15, 2013
  5. Blue Plaque recognition for ‘illegal’ cross-dressing double act ‘Stella and Fanny’ — July 23, 2013

Author's posts listings

Feb 13

You can NEVER have too much camp…

After the launching of Fanny & Stella at Wolff Olins in King’s Cross, the London Evening Standard dropped a couple of lines into the paper…   Biographer Neil McKenna launched Fanny & Stella at Wolff Olins in King’s Cross last night, the story of the notorious Victorian drag queens. “I don’t think you can ever …

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Feb 06

Fanny and Stella on Radio 3 Night Waves with Matthew Sweet

On 4th February, I was a guest on BBC 3’s flagship arts programme, Night Waves. talking with Matthew Sweet about Fanny and Stella, chirruping and the invention of camp, among other things! You can listen to the podcast here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/r3arts  

Feb 04

Drag, kissing and screaming – Review in HeraldScotland

Here, author Neil McKenna reveals the story at the centre of his new book, a tragic tale of love, lust and betrayal which scandalised society and led to a court case in which two transvestites and suspected homosexuals had their private lives laid bare Fanny And Stella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England By …

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Feb 03

Arrested for cross-dressing!

This article by Martha De Lacey appeared on USA-UK Online recently and includes an extract from the book. Meet Fanny and Stella, the Victorian gentlemen who shocked Britain and were prosecuted for the ‘unnatural offence’ of being transvestites Frederick Park, 22, and Ernest Boulton, 21, arrested in 1870 Were leaving Strand Theatre in London on …

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Jan 29

Interview with George Miller about Fanny & Stella on The Faber Podcast

Listen to me talking to George Miller about Fanny & Stella on The Faber Podcast

Jan 25

The He-She Ladies – Fanny & Stella Review by Kathryn Hughes, The Guardian

A world of ‘lush longing for embroidered handkerchiefs and soft kisses’ is interrupted by a police campaign to achieve the downfall of the cross-dressing pair.  In 1870, two tatty-looking girls were hauled before Bow Street magistrates court and charged with “the abominable crime of buggery”. After a night in the cells, with wigs slipping and stubble …

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Jan 24

Great drag queens of their day – A review of Fanny & Stella by John Preston, London Evening Standard

A review appeared in the London Evening Standard today.  John Preston says of  the Fanny & Stella You would need to be a very dull — or prim — dog indeed not to find this a terrifically entertaining story. Neil McKenna has thrown himself into it with unfettered glee. If the opportunity arises to describe …

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Jan 23

Interview on Radio 4, the Today Programme with Evan Davies

In the morning of January 22nd I appeared on the Radio 4 Today programme where I was interviewed by Evan Davies about Fanny and Stella, my latest book. You can listen to a recording further down the page.  Here is a transcript of that interview: Radio 4 Today Programme broadcast on 22nd January at 6:53 …

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Jan 21

Sunday Times Book Review by Dominic Sandbrook for Fanny and Stella

  I was delighted to have Fanny and Stella reviewed by Dominic Sandbrook in the book section of The Sunday Times on January 20th 2013.  Here are some of the best bits!   ‘This rollicking account of the trial of two middle-class cross-dressers unveils one of the most extraordinary legal dramas of the Victorian age.’ …

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