The Gentleman Jack Effect: Lessons in Breaking Rules and Living Out Loud

Until HBO/BBCs 2019 period drama Gentleman Jack English landowner world traveler prolific diarist and unapologetic lesbian Anne Lister was a well-kept secret. So was Ann Walker the wealthy heiress who married her-in 1834. Now the true story of how these two daring souls rose above 19th century British social conventions is an inspiration to others yearning to be their most authentic selves.The ground-breaking LGBT TV series-based on Listers diaries-has electrified gay women worldwide and ignited an extraordinary passion among its fans to emulate and honor the infamous and little-known historical figure. Author Janet Lea has gathered 62 compelling stories from interviews with dozens of women in 16 countries to create an oral history of the global phenomenon she calls the Gentleman Jack effect. Their first-person narratives detail the epic transformations motivated by the Annes from coming out and fully embracing their lesbian identity to displaying their newfound confidence in profound ways.The Gentleman Jack Effect: Lessons in Breaking Rules and Living Out Loud introduces readers to: Recruits in the volunteer army of codebreakers taking on the monumental task of transcribing the five million words of Listers explicit diaries including more than one million words written in her secret codeThe homebodies who became world travelers as they set out on pilgrimages to walk hike and climb in Anne Listers footsteps from the Yorkshire moors to the French Pyrenees and Swiss Alps all the way to the Russian steppesThe introverts morphing into social media mavens and creating a global community of soul mates in the name of Gentleman JackThe silent sufferers defying cultural stigmas to declare themselves à la Anne Lister out-loud proud and ready for life and love on their own termsThe Gentleman Jack Effect deftly chronicles how a prime time television drama spurred the creation of an international lesbian community mobilized LGBTQ+ change agents and allies sparked a movement to update queer history and emboldened women regardless of whom they love to throw off societys restraints to live fearlessly joyfully and fully be themselves. Its timely lessons in risk-taking and self-acceptance are invaluable for every woman today.