Inside Out: The Extraordinary Legacy of April Ashley

by Douglas Thompson

‘April Ashley was born, aged twenty-five, on 12 May 1960. It was a difficult birth at the Clinique du Parc on rue Lapébie, a back street running parallel to the admired avenue d’Amade in Casablanca, on a day when the Moroccan sunshine was behaving the way the guidebooks say it should . . .’Through her own – often bloody-minded – determination and the medical skill of others, April Ashley became the woman she had always believed herself to be.

And for half a dozen decades she soared around, over and above momentous and turbulent times, difficult, and changing times when, finally, who you wanted to be and who you could be became the cultural topic of the day.

She overcame opprobrium and penury and became renowned and celebrated for one specific being April Ashley.

This raw, moving and funny memoir reveals April’s life as never before.

304 pages, Paperback

Published June 25, 2024

About the author

Douglas Thompson is the author of more than 20 books. A biographer, broadcaster and international journalist, he is a regular contributor to major newspapers and magazines worldwide. His books, published in a dozen languages, include the television-based anthology Hollywood People and bestselling biographies of Madonna, Clint Eastwood, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dudley Moore, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, and Leonardo DiCaprio. He collaborated with the billion-dollar dancer Michael Flatley on his top-ten story ‘Lord of the Dance’.

His books have been serialised in newspapers and magazines throughout the world.

With Christine Keeler he wrote her revealing memoir 'The Truth At Last'. He worked as a consultant on the tie-in television documentary on the Profumo Affair.

Following the death of John Profumo the book was updated as ‘Secrets and Lies’ and published to huge interest in 2012.

Working with eminent psychotherapist Pauline Sutcliffe, he told the poignant story of her brother Stuart, who named and helped found the Beatles with John Lennon, in The Beatles’ Shadow.

His book‘The Hustlers’, about gangsters and gambling in 1960s London, is being developed for the screen and was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary.

His latest successes include the trilogy ‘Mafia Princess’, ‘Mafialand’ and ‘The Dark Heart of Hollywood’ which are all being developed for film.

In 2012 his authorised biography of international statesman Youssef Nada, ‘Inside the Muslim Brotherhood’, was published in English and Arabic.

Douglas Thompson divides his time between a medieval English village, the Middle East and California, where he was based as a Fleet Street foreign correspondent and columnist for more than 20 years

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I had never heard of April Ashley but the description just drew me in and I am so glad I chose to read about this extraordinary woman.
April was born “into the wrong body” in Liverpool in 1935, and used to pray every evening that she would wake up the next morning a girl. Yet despite never feeling comfortable in her male body, she was desperate to conform and even joined the Merchant Navy as a teenager. None of these efforts ever made her feel happy and eventually April was one of the first people to undergo gender reassignment surgery in 1960. Upon her return to England, she registered as a woman and her striking looks meant that she became a successful model and also acted alongside Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in the film ‘The Road To Hong Kong’. However, her career came to a grinding halt when a ‘so called’ friend outed her to the British press thus cutting off the many modelling and acting offers that had been coming her way.
This is just one of the many ‘bumps in the road’ that April had to endure in her remarkable life but her determination and character was never dented by any of the many obstacles she faced in her life.
This book is full of surprises and a fair bit of name dropping from Elvis and Micheal Hutchence to her unlikely ally and long time friend John Prescott MP, who was instrumental in April winning her long battle to finally be able to receive her authentic Birth Certificate in 2005. This in turn led to legal changes to our laws which have benefitted trans people throughout England.
I would like to thank Douglas Thompson, Ad Lib Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the amazing story of April’s life.

[Debumere · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing story - the tale of April Ashley and her battle to be recognised as a woman. April’s life had many peaks and troughs but there was no doubt she was much loved and admired. When April was in court battling with Rowallan, she was subjected to horrendous medical examinations, and was diminished by old men who put themselves in the place of the all-knowing.

April Ashley’s lifelong battle for acceptance lead to legal changes which have brought positive outcomes for trans people today.

Thanks to #netgalley and # for this ARC.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born in Liverpool in 1935, April Ashley MBE was a Vogue model, author, activist and socialite. Her tireless campaigning for transgender equality made her an icon and inspiration to many. This is a fascinating study of her life and achievements. April, who died in 2001 aged 86, went through many tough and challenging times including being "outed" by the press in the 1960s, undergoing a public divorce and ending up with hardly any money. She still managed to keep a sense of humour and her advice was "chins up....be as brave as you can."

[Helen Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compared to many biographies this is very short. The benefit is that it is easy to read but I felt I could have done with a little more detail; but I suppose getting the balance right is always going to be tricky and very dependent on the read. What the book does get right is helping you to know April as human being rather than a study in transgender rights. It also appears to be a truthful portrait of her in that it doesn't seek to hide any side of her character. In short, a great biography about a hugely interesting woman.

[Jessica Milliner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir tells the life of April Ashley. She’s a transgender woman who goes through so much to live as a person she wanted to be. Having to live through the struggle, ups and downs, and other things. It's a great read.

Thanks to Ad Lib Publishers and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this memoir and do a review.

[Pallas · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the structure goes I was a little confused to when and where at times, and the author is friends with her.
But it’s a nice portrait of April and it was nice to get to know her a little. I had never heard of her before.

I was a nice read in the end because April is fascinating and author has written a flattering picture of her.

I enjoyed it. 4 stars all due to April.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting story about an amazing person, model and LGBTQ+ activist April Ashley, who I had never heard of before this. tysm for the arc