Queer Book Club - Fanny & Stella

## ella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England by Neil McKenna

In March, our Queer Book Club turns to history and gender nonconformity with Fanny & Stella by Neil McKenna — a gripping true story that challenges the idea that non-binary and gender-expansive lives are a modern phenomenon. We’ll gather at Villa Vida Café to discuss the book together in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
Date: Sunday, March 8th, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Villa Vida Café, Vienna
In collaboration with: o*books & hint.wien

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## About the Book

Fanny & Stella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England is a meticulously researched historical account of Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park, two Victorian-era performers and friends who lived publicly in feminine clothing and personas known as “Fanny” and “Stella.”
In 1870, they were arrested at a London theatre while dressed in women’s clothing and charged with “conspiracy to commit sodomy,” sparking a sensational public trial in 1871. Their case became one of the most talked-about scandals of the time, exposing hidden queer social networks and anxieties around gender, sexuality, and identity in Victorian Britain.
Neil McKenna draws from court transcripts, letters, and contemporary reporting to reconstruct their lives, revealing a complex world of performance, friendship, desire, and survival. Rather than framing them as curiosities, the book presents Fanny and Stella as real people navigating rigid social norms while expressing gender in ways that still resonate today.
The story offers a powerful reminder that gender diversity has always existed, even when it had no accepted language or safety.