The Moss House

by Clara Barley

Two hundred years ago, neighbouring Yorkshire landowners Miss Lister and Miss Walker find their lives become entwined in a passionate, forbidden relationship and retreat to the Moss House, their private sanctuary away from an unaccepting world. Their tranquillity does not last long as they are drawn into the turmoil of a changing society and a divided family, testing their love for each other, eventually driving them from their home. The world was not yet ready for the likes of Miss Lister. Landowner, scholar, traveller, mountaineer and non-conformist but in The Moss House we discover her lifelong battle to be her true self as she finds Ann Walker and together they try to live life on their own terms.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Queer, Fiction, LGBT, Romance, Historical, Lesbian

210 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2019

About the author

Clara Barley lives in the Calder Valley.

The Moss House is Clara's first novel which was published by Bluemoose Books in 2019 and was selected by New Writing North for Read Regional 2020/21.

Clara has also published several non-fiction books on historic subjects under her name of Angela Clare. She has also written historical-based scripts for performance at a range of national museums and heritage sites.

Reviews

[Rhian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know this story is historically accurate, but damn Clara Barley did not hold back. Historical Romance with all the tags - it is NOT PG. As long as you can cope with that, which is present but never too overbearing, it's a fascinating book. It was easy to read, actually. I enjoyed the switching of perspectives, found the time skips easy to follow, etc. I have many more thoughts but no time to articulate them right now.

Edit: Okay, now I have time.

So, first of all the cover is LUSH. Kudos there. Secondly, this book is exactly what it says it will be. It is a historical romance, and it ticks all those boxes, everything from the will they/won't they dithering, to the pressure of society, to the tension of knowing both their innermost thoughts which they cannot share with each other - and the sex. Which, by the way, is the most accurately written that I have read for a LONG time. The prose is by no means especially beautiful, but it is straightforward and lows well. Unfortunately, with two voices, the distinction of character is made usually by opinion rather than voice and the headings showing whose voice is talking become necessary. Written in a diary-like style, you are invited into the intimacy, into the secret, and once you get used to the snap of passing time and the contest reflective view, it works really well. As previously stated, the movement back and forth between the two characters is a clever dynamic that is used to its full extent at certain points, although sometimes felt somewhat unnecessary.

It's not an incredibly accomplished novel. It's no Circe - it's a story that is well known, and it gives a valuable new insight to those who might not have thought about it much before, but it's not going so far as to rewrite history or to bring the story into modernity. It's a careful, considered account, an enjoyable and easy read. I would definitely recommend it to the right audience!

[Linda Semple · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. Just no. Watch the TV series or, preferably, read Anne Choma, Helena Whitbread, Jill Liddington or Angela Steidele on Anne Lister rather than this. I’m sure there is a great novel, or series of novels, to be written about her; this isn’t it.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lesbian woman in a man’s world, Anne Lister is Gentleman Jack.

Having so enjoyed the television series Gentleman Jack I was nervous about reading The Moss House because I wasn’t sure if it would have anything to add. My goodness it does. I loved this account of Anne Lister’s life and her relationship with Ann Walker and I actually found it hugely affecting, reducing me to tears at the end. Certainly some of the key events will be familiar to those who have watched the television series, as this is, after all, a book about real people, but Clara Barley has imbued them with a fresh vibrancy that is enormously engaging.

Clara Barley writes with such clarity, with two distinct voices as the narrative swaps between Anne Lister and Ann Walker so that I felt as if they were both speaking to me directly. There’s an almost confessional tone that ensnares the reader, making them desperate to know more.

Clara Barley is unafraid to tackle the more intimate physical aspects of the relationship between the two women, but never being gratuitous so that the reader understands the intimacy of Anne Lister’s life and sexual passions. There’s considerable emotion behind every action resulting in two warm, vivid characters that I cared about.

The quality of research that has gone into creating an historically accurate picture of a woman’s place in society leaps from the page. Despite the fact that we are now almost two hundred years ahead in time, the themes of The Moss House feel sadly all too relevant. The role of women, sexuality, inequality, corrupt business, travel, love, family and relationships are all just as important considerations now. One of the most affecting aspects for me was Miss Lister’s constraints simply because of her gender. I felt as enraged as Anne does when she is unable to play an active role simply because she is a woman. But it was Anne Lister’s restlessness, her desperate need to be loved with equal passion and her craving desire to be true to herself and her real identity that I found the most moving.

The Moss House is a wonderful book. Clara Barley transports the reader historically whilst entertaining them emotionally. I felt a profound sadness when I finished reading The Moss House and I’ll be thinking about it for a very long time. It’s a wonderful read.

[Jocelyn H · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not good. This is a fictionalized account of Anne Lister and Ann Walker's relationship, but one where the author has made them both absolutely miserable. It's like the author took all of the worst characteristics and stereotypes that people like to project onto Anne Lister, and made an entire novel about them. In this novel, Anne Lister is depicted as a manipulative bully, and Ann Walker seems to have no personality whatsoever other than... fear? Absent are Anne Lister's humour and charm and care, and Ann Walker's kindness and quiet strength. And the two seem to hate each other in this book, right from the beginning of the relationship. The author fictionalizes the story in some very strange ways and the language choices are also bizarre and often not fitting with the time in which the women lived, or with Anne Lister's actual voice, which we know well from her five million-word diary.

If you want to know more about the real Anne Lister and Ann Walker, read Anne Lister's diaries. Read Helena Whitbread, Jill Liddington, Anne Choma; watch the brilliant tv series Gentleman Jack. For a fictionalized romp, read some fanfiction that actually respects the women it is based on.
This book feels like fluffy, anachronistic nonsense. It mostly just annoyed me.

[Jasminka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oke doch 5/5, da mich das Buch auf die Geschichte von Anne Lister aufmerksam gemacht, einer super Interessanten lesbischen Frau, Landbesitzerin und Tagebuchschreiberin, die im 19. Jahrhundert in England gelebt hat. Und eine ziemliche Obsession mit der BBC Serie Gentleman Jack gestartet hat. :D Bzw mit der ganzen Historie allgemein. Habe jetzt aufjedenfall richtig Lust, nach Hallifax und York zu reisen, und mir Shibden Hall mal ganz in echt anzusehen. Und die unhingeden original Tagebücher zu lesen. Hey Ho

[Jay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I’ve failed at being English and being gay by not knowing who Anne Lister is, so I did not realise that this book was about real people. I read a blurb that sounded like period lesbian drama and was sold on that premise, but when I started reading I quickly became suspicious. The style is very odd here and some of the word choices felt plain bizarre, so much so that I tried to look them up and stumbled across the fact that this is all real life.

You’d think that would sell the story even more, but I gave up before the halfway point. Turns out, Anne Lister is a deeply unpleasant person if this rendition of her is anything to go by, and Ann Walker, her latest partner, is in for a hell of time if the direction of the narrative was anything to go by.

The other half of this book would really have to about face to rescue this into anything resembling a love story. I’m sure I’m supposed to admire Lister as someone who did not conform to the restrictions placed upon her gender, but frankly with the way she treats Walker, there’s a reason she could be mistaken for a man of her time. I could not stand another moment of her coarse and impatient “courting”. Ann Walker deserved far better.

[Tess · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave it one star. I didn't want to. I really didn't. I wanted to like it but I couldn't. I feel bad.

Look. Wuthering Heights is one of my favourite books in the whole world. They're all so deliciously mean to each other throughout the entire book. I love it. But every single character is a bastard. A proper bastard. So they deserve it. Right?

So why are they all so mean to each other in this book? Anne is mean to Ann and Ann is mean to herself.

And I know that this is based off of two very real women and the very real life they had but when people say "based off" then surely they leave a little room for fiction? Like, Anne could have been a bit nicer to her lover. Just a bit. Just for the little bit of fiction the author allowed into this real life story? I didn't need a happy ending because I know that would be rewriting history and all that but I did need Anne to be less of a bastard.

But. Then. She was a Tory....

[Julie Makin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I either liked or disliked this book, it was the March book for the book club I belong to. I liked the style of writing and the characters but there was no real story in my view, a little mundane through the middle and the ending seemed quite rushed. I found myself only reading a chapter or so at a time before becoming a little bored and putting it down for a while.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Anne Lister before this book and I am sure going to check out more information about this incredible independent woman, a true adventurer who would not accept the constraints imposed on her sex.

This book is about the forbidden relationship between Anne Lister and her neighbour Ann Walker. It is quite original, because you go inside the mind of both characters and get different points of view of the same episode. I confess Ann Walker got on my nerves, always moaning and afraid of taking risks. I wonder how a determined person like Lister could have ever fallen in love with such a feeble character!

I wish the book had more chapters with Anne Lister’s points of view. Being in Ann Walker’s mind was not a pleasant experience.

[Heidi Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having visited Shibden Hall last summer following the Gentleman Jack TV series I purchased this book from the gift shop there. I could really picture the land and the scenery described. I’m sad to learn that the Moss House was set alight and burnt in a fire. Maybe an act of Hate Crime sadly we will never know. Such a well written fictional story based on real people and real events.

[Emzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

RIP Anne Lister, you would have loved "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappell Roan

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Antes que nada, hay que destacar la hermosa portada diseñada por Kate Lycett. Cuando ves los detalles de esta en la imagen que ha compartido en redes sociales, se puede notar lo vibrante de los colores y lo cálido de la composición.

Sobre el libro, es de lectura fácil. Está diseñado como entradas en un diario, homenaje seguro a los diarios de Anne Lister. La línea temporal es fácil de seguir gracias a esto y, en general, permite una lectura fluida y un entendimiento de los eventos desde los que nace la ficción propuesta por Clara Baley. Pero esto también juega en contra en algunos pasajes, donde uno puede diferenciar claramente entre la exposición objetiva de datos substraídos de dichos diarios y la interpretación que la autora hace de estos, o la suposición de las voces internas de los personajes en cuestión. Y en consecuencia, a veces esto no me dejaba sumergirme del todo en el relato.

Independiente de esto, hay partes que realmente me gustaron. Dado que hablamos de ficción histórica, permite al lector reflexionar sobre cómo el status quo de individuos LGBTQ+ ha cambiado a lo largo de los años hasta la actualidad, y al mismo tiempo, aquellos que se identifican como minorías sexuales siguen lidiando con sentimientos tan contradictorios como la inseguridad y la liberación que conlleva el descubrimiento de la propia sexualidad, y la forma en que esta los posiciona dentro de la sociedad y sus propias familias. Es especialmente interesante leer sobre la interpretación que la autora hace de Ann Walker, de la que realmente no se sabe demasiado, y que al leer de ella, tanto en este libro como de otras fuentes, da la impresión que claramente sufría de cierto grado de trastorno en su salud mental, ya sea ansiedad social, depresión, y así. Y que en su tiempo se atribuía a causas genéricas, y obviamente no era tratado de la forma adecuada. Creo que por ello, debido a que la autora tiene mucho menos datos históricos con qué retratarla en la ficción, es que su interpretación de esta se siente algo más humana, en comparación a la de Anne Lister, que debe intentar señirse a la entregada por los diarios y las crónicas de ese tiempo.

Al terminar el libro, personalmente quedé con la impresión de que, al menos acá, Anne Lister se lee casi como la reproducción de una grabación, intentando apegarse a lo descrito en sus diarios, intentando ser lo más apegada a lo que pudiera haber pasado por la mente de esta mujer tan peculiar mientras se enfrentaba a una comunidad que no parecía comprenderla, pero nunca ahondando lo suficiente por miedo a parecer fuera de personaje. Los pasajes en que Anne Lister se siente de carne y hueso es cuando la autora transcribe sus reflexiones personales sobre su sexualidad, los prejuicios de la época y el entendimiento de su yo personal. Es por esto que, finalmente, cuando comparamos esta interpretación con la de Ann Walker, creo que el desarrollo como personaje de esta última, dentro de todas las realidades adversas que le tocó sufrir y un final más agrio que dulce, es mucho más satisfactorio y cercano al lector.

tr;dl Puede que sea un libro polarizante, sobre todo para quienes lo leyeron después de ver la serie de televisión coproducida por HBO y la BBC, ya que son interpretaciones muy distintas de Anne Lister. Sin embargo, me pareció una lectura amena y con pasajes a ratos muy interesantes.

[Ernie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this and wanted to love it. But this was almost my first DNF. It’s not terrible, and the concept itself of the two diaries is itself interesting and novel.

However, the figures of Anne and Ann are rather reduced and one dimensional, especially Ann. Ann sadly seems based entirely on speculation, which leaves her like a stereotype. Even the choice of language in the intimate scenes infantilises her.

The wit and humour of both women doesn’t shine through, and sadly, neither does the romance due to the book’s start point and writing. Given this is fiction and romance, I have found myself disappointed as I just cannot feel any passion or allure in these pages. In fact, I don’t find it very emotive at all except a persistent irritation at the superficial characterisation.

That, and both women seem constantly miserable. The first person narratives do a great job of adding to this claustrophobia and sense of being trapped that permeates a large swathe of the book. But ultimately, the narrative is a single flow and emotion throughout. I have really struggled because it’s just so unrelentingly negative, which itself is fine, but a few high points to colour the piece and build a contrast would work wonders.

Like many, I turned to this after Gentleman Jack, but it sadly doesn’t live up to the richness and depth of character seen in the show. Much less real life.

Also readers be aware the epilogue is out of date!

[Julia Edgar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt that for a book that was supposed to be about the internal life of the characters that I never really felt like I was in their internal life. It felt a bit like lots of exposition, even though it was first person narrative. A story that should be told and should be read but it just didn’t quite clinch it for me. Please give it a go though - it’s selling loads and this is a personal opinion.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've seen the TV series Gentleman Jack, you'll recognise the characters and about half the events in Clara Barley's The Moss House, which is also based on Anne Lister's diaries. The difference for me, aside from the pleasure of reading Barley's clever writing, is that whilst Anne is still everything Suranne Jones portrayed on screen (selfish, controlling, a Tory), even in this fairly short novel you get a much deeper understanding of the context that made her that way. Anne is an extraordinary figure - a lesbian of means in a time when both same-sex relationships and (possibly more so) confidently independent women were vilified.

It would be easier for a personality like Anne's to be alone, but one of the most fascinating things about her is her absolute conviction that she will find, and in fact deserves, love on her own terms. She's unlikeable, but you can't help admiring her hutzpah.

She does find love with the hysterical drip next door, Ann Walker, though again Barley lets you see how this other Ann has been moulded by life. One of the most affecting elements of Barley's approach for me was her agonised reveal of the traumatic early incident that has so completely impacted Ann W.'s sense of worth.

The voices of both Anne and Ann are really clear here. The story continues past what we've seen (so far) on TV and if you're looking for happy endings, look elsewhere. This is a unique and genuine queer love story with all its nuances captured evocatively. I liked it a lot.

[Alison Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to give it a one star and I hate doing that because it seems mean. But the Goodreads review choices are: 5 stars = it was amazing, 4 stars = really liked it, 3 stars = liked it, 2 stars = it was okay, and 1 star = did not like it. I echo the sentiments of another reviewer who said 'Anne Lister is depicted as a manipulative bully, and Ann Walker seems to have no personality whatsoever other than... fear?' Their whole time together seemed so depressing. I actually felt depressed after finishing the book. I persevered reading only because I had hoped the book would pick up and end well, but did not.
If you're really looking to read about Anne Lister, look up authors like Helena Whitbread, Anne Choma and Jill Liddington who writes about Anne as a lesbian and her estate management. However, if you're into Anne's travel adventures, then I highly recommend Adeline Lim's In the Footsteps of Anne Lister Volumes 1 and 2.

[Katie Jackman · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was almost my first DNF of the year!

The concept (based on a true story/diaries) interested me, I thought it sounded a bit different and was intrigued.

However.. there was practically zero tension in the book, it was all very predictable. No real context or narrative around how the 2 main characters fell in love, other than to surmise that they saw each other a few times and that was that.

It very much read as a modern novel, ie someone who’s read some history books and was trying to superfluously imagine how the characters would have felt. Both the main characters had hardly any character development, and the passages where they went travelling were laughably narrated: Norway takes one paragraph, and lateron in the book I think Switzerland took two.

I carried on reading as it was a short novel and easy to read. Wouldn’t recommend.

[ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

i knew how it was going to end and still i am hurt by it. fantastic.

the back and forth of perspectives is so well done and not tedious at all. i appreciate the author’s characterization of the two ann(e)s, both distinct in voice and attitude. even when inspecting the same scene, the interiority of each character is well-defined.

all i know about the ann(e)s, i knew from gentleman jack, which sucks that it was cancelled before it got to the beefy parts of their relationship. the resentment that grows, the knowledge that love is not enough. it was so tasty and well-written. i enjoyed it very much.

and that ending? perfect usage of underrepresentation. the tragedy of it was no less effective with those two lines.

[Alva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was a joy! Anne Lister and Ann Walker, neighbours who become lovers in the early 1800s. A passionate historical romance told in both voices. The differences in both women's approach to their relationship is delicately drawn as each of them battles with their inner thoughts, fears, doubts. But ultimately, desire and attraction win out. There are moments of utter tenderness, moments of deep despair and frustration as the women work their way through family grievances, loss, grief, and their love for each other. Clara Barley tells a wonderful story, a fictional account of two real-life women at Shibden Hall. Brava!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting. Despite the fact that happiness only ever seemed to last a few pages before disaster struck again, the writing kept me intrigued. Both Lister and Walker annoyed me for different reasons and I wish we could have read more about their happier days, the end was not what I expected.
All in all, not what I wanted to read but I still finished the book and it has given me much to think about. However, I need to start reading some happier lesbian stories or I'll become as miserable as these two!

[Ruth Brumby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seems to be quite closely based on Ann Lister's diaries and it would have been helpful to have some references and more information about that. It is a convincing attempt to imagine the feelings and thoughts of the two women and to explain the context. It is an interesting description of a relationship and the characters are very believable.The difficulties caused by their environment are very sad.

[Shannon Hargreaves · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

I can't form into words how much I didn't like this book. The story was well. Okay. But Anne Lister is portrayed as this condescending, selfish and sometimes just plain nasty character. She's horrible to Ms Walker, Horrible to her own sex at times and honeslty, I was glad to get it over with.

Maybe this was her true character, maybe not, I'll be reading her published diaries soon anyway. But I won't be reccomending this work to anyone.

[han · Rating 4 out of 5]

although not historically accurate, i enjoyed the lesbian story. rather mundane at some points but the story is written from two perspectives which is interesting to read.

the conflicting reviews made me wary of whether or not i would finish the book but i feel its worth it to get through the story- i’ll be sure to watch the series too.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining fictional account

Quite entertaining. Very imaginative look into what life might have been like for Anne and Ann. It was interesting to imagine their dialogue and how their relationship might have been.

[Emma Bamford · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you’ve always wanted to read a book that a) could be a super short story, b) will make you want to throw your Kindle out of a window, c) really rams home that MEN ARE EVIL, and d) has SUPER DETAILED lesbian sex scenes, then The Moss House is the book for you!

[Alice Pickersgill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable, albeit heavily fictionalised, story of local Calderdale legend Anne Lister. After reading this I'm definitely going to be searching out more of the recorded history of her life and visiting Shibden Hall.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically the Gentleman Jack show just with out the town stuff. I just wanted more from it.

[Melissa Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was, over all, a pretty good read for amusement. I enjoyed the take on the Anne Lister/ Anne Walker romance.

[Katie Cotter]

I wish I knew in advance it was a novel, more based on truth.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemed a bit basic at first but definetely grew better towards the latter half, gorgeous and gothic and bittersweet.