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Published on: 01/11/26 3:23 PM

New edition of Cross-dressed to Kill!

‘Cross-dressed to Kill’ is a book featuring a unique collection of extraordinary stories by twenty women cross-dressers of English, Irish, French, Prussian, Russian, Spanish, American and Israeli nationalities. There were literally hundreds of known women cross-dressers in Britain across Europe and in the Americas yet they have been erased from both social and military history. The bravery of these women masquerading as men and the risks they took were great. The penalty for cross-dressing in this period was harsh, including the death penalty because it was seen as an unnatural act that threatened society and offended social morality. The talk answers all the questions of why young women dressed as men to fight as soldiers in the 17th to 20th centuries? I tell some of the fascinating women’s stories: fearless, ‘tomboys’, early feminists and decidedly full of what was called ‘pluck and spunk’. For them ‘patriotism had no sex’, determined to fight for their country. What did society think of them? Why was cross-dressing illegal and punishable by death? Were some lesbian or transsexual- as we debate gender today? What happened to them after they were discovered, their sex revealed while dying on the battlefield or wounded? Answers to these questions and how, unafraid to kill, their bravery was rewarded by the army and royalty. Medals, money and fame came. Their legacy? Some are hailed as the first female sailors and soldiers like Deborah Sampson and Lucy Brewer. As the late author Hilary Mantel wrote ’ their story is our story’, to be included in the re-telling past events.

Published on: 11/24/25 2:35 PM

Amalia Kussner,female painter of the Gilded Age heiresses

I've just been told about Amalia Kussner, female miniaturist and painter in the nineteenth century. She painted amongst other subjects ,some of the young American heiresses, who became known as…

Published on: 10/25/24 5:52 PM

Talk at Shoreham U3a

Full hall of members of the 700 strong Shoreham and Southwick U3a regional group. Despite the rain and grey day, it was a full house and lovely to meet many…

Published on: 03/20/24 3:33 PM

Cross-dressed to Kill book talk at Battersea WI

Had a lovely evening at the Battersea WI meeting in Battersea, having been asked to come and talk about my book Cross-dressed to Kill. It is interesting how some of…

Published on: 03/13/24 4:41 PM

Book talk at Walton on Thames Library

A short train ride away to get to the amazingly well-stocked library in Walton on Thames town. We had a good group of residents coming to hear my talk on…

Published on: 03/3/24 8:20 PM

Women’s History Month begins

Last year I wrote about a different woman every day during this important month, women who had achieved success in life but not had much recognition. Today I'm remembering Mary…

Published on: 04/2/23 1:31 PM

Down to the sea in slips- women sailors in disguise

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/women-who-went-sea-dressed-men This feature on women who disguised themselves as men. They slipped through the recruiting net to go to sea and fight in the West and East Indies and in…

Published on: 03/30/23 3:57 PM

Women who went to Sea- disguised as sailors

Vivien Morgan,author of 'Cross-dressed to Kill', at the British Fort St James on Antigua where pirates wer The highest number of cross-dressing women who became soldiers and sailors, or marines,…

Published on: 01/17/22 3:44 PM

Brave New Girl podcast-interview with me,Vivien Morgan

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-new-girl/id1462548683

Published on: 01/17/22 3:40 PM

Interview for Brave New Girl podcast

Nice to be interviewed by #LouHamilton for her podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-new-girl/id1462548683 All about my TV News career and also my newish work as a writer. Especially my new book#crossdressedtokill. Thanks to…

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