Fanny and Stella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England – in pictures

In Neil McKenna's latest book, Fanny and Stella, he tells how two young men who liked to dress as women were feted about town – and ended up as the subjects of a sensational show trial

  • Stella (Ernest Boulton) was Victorian England's most beautiful female impersonator, Fanny (Frederick Park) her inseparable companion. Here, Stella rests her head on Fanny's shoulder as the pair are photographed
    Fanny and Stella: Stella rests her head on Fanny's shoulder

  • Stella as a shepherdess of the golden age, circa 1880
    Fanny and Stella: Stella as a shepherdess of the golden age, circa 1880

  • Stella Boulton, 'the most wonderful impersonator of female character ever before the public' with 'the most perfect soprano voice', photographed in Scarborough in October, 1868
    Fanny and Stella: Stella Boulton

  • Stella and Charles Pavitt on tour in Essex in 1869. They toured to small country houses and market-town assembly rooms
    Fanny and Stella: Stella and Charles Pavitt on tour in Essex in 1869

  • Fanny (standing) and Stella with Lord Arthur Pelham-Clinton, with whom Stella conducted a lengthy relationship
    Fanny and Stella: Fanny (standing) and Stella with Lord Arthur Pelham-Clinton

  • Bewigged, dressed in silk, suitably padded and with a very generous application of paint, Fanny made a handsome woman
    Fanny and Stella: Fanny made a handsome woman

  • Stella and Fanny (back right, holding mallets), appear here dressed in character for the drawing-room entertainments they toured to small country houses and market-town assembly rooms
    Fanny and Stella: Stella and Fanny (back right, holding mallets) dressed in character

  • 'Rose of the Garden, blushing and gay' – the captivating Stella Boulton dressed as a man
    Fanny and Stella: the captivating Stella Boulton dressed as a man

  • An excited crowd looks on as Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park, both in full drag, leave Bow Street Magistrates' Court on 9 April 1870, the morning after their arrest at the Strand Theatre
    Fanny and Stella: Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park leave Bow Street Magistrates' Court

  • Stella with blonde hair in New York circa 1875. The portrait was taken by celebrity photographer Napoleon Sarony
    Fanny and Stella: Stella with blonde hair in New York circa 1875
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