Anne Lister was a brilliant woman who lived between 1791 and 1840. She kept a meticulous record of her life in her dairies, portions of which were written in code. In code, she describes her lesbian relationship with women. Parts of Anne Lister's dairies have been depicted in the hit television show, Gentleman Jack. In this special issue, we present research articles, theoretical contributions, and commentaries centering on Anne Lister and the phenomena of Gentleman Jack. Articles part of this special issue examine Anne Lister's writing about her sexual relationships, gender, and estate. Another set of submissions examines the relationship between Lister's life and its depiction in the show Gentleman Jack. A final set of submissions explores the unique phenomenon of international lesbian fandom surrounding Anne Lister. These fans helped decode and transcribe the diaries and created scholarship, art, and vibrant communities celebrating Anne Lister.
Keywords: 19th century English History; Anne Lister; Gentleman Jack; Lesbian; Period dramas.