Philip Hoare was born and brought up in Southampton. At college in London in 1976, he became involved in the punk movement, returning to Southampton to produce fanzines, manage groups and designing album sleeves. He is the author of four previous books and is a regular contributor to television, radio and print media. Philip has curated an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and speaks regularly at Literary Festivals. He lives in Southampton and London.

'This is a terrific idiosyncratic piece of popular history.' Sunday Times 'Philip Hoare has written of Mary Ann Girling with awe and respect' Craig Brown.' Mail on Sunday 'A rich and rewarding account of Victorian religious cults.' Independent on Sunday 'The book reveals an unglimpsed Victorian England - one pre-figured, perhaps, in late Dickens - a queasily halluncinatory, twilight place' Guardian 'A compelling history.' Scotland on Sunday 'Philip Hoare's writing is quite untrammelled by convention and opens up astonishing views at every turn.' W.G. Sebald

Philip Hoare was born and brought up in Southampton. At college in London in 1976, he became involved in the punk movement, returning to Southampton to produce fanzines, manage groups and designing album sleeves. He is the author of four previous books and is a regular contributor to television, radio and print media. Philip has curated an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and speaks regularly at Literary Festivals. He lives in Southampton and London.

'This is a terrific idiosyncratic piece of popular history.' Sunday Times 'Philip Hoare has written of Mary Ann Girling with awe and respect' Craig Brown.' Mail on Sunday 'A rich and rewarding account of Victorian religious cults.' Independent on Sunday 'The book reveals an unglimpsed Victorian England - one pre-figured, perhaps, in late Dickens - a queasily halluncinatory, twilight place' Guardian 'A compelling history.' Scotland on Sunday 'Philip Hoare's writing is quite untrammelled by convention and opens up astonishing views at every turn.' W.G. Sebald

Philip Hoare was born and brought up in Southampton. At college in London in 1976, he became involved in the punk movement, returning to Southampton to produce fanzines, manage groups and designing album sleeves. He is the author of four previous books and is a regular contributor to television, radio and print media. Philip has curated an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and speaks regularly at Literary Festivals. He lives in Southampton and London.

'This is a terrific idiosyncratic piece of popular history.' Sunday Times 'Philip Hoare has written of Mary Ann Girling with awe and respect' Craig Brown.' Mail on Sunday 'A rich and rewarding account of Victorian religious cults.' Independent on Sunday 'The book reveals an unglimpsed Victorian England - one pre-figured, perhaps, in late Dickens - a queasily halluncinatory, twilight place' Guardian 'A compelling history.' Scotland on Sunday 'Philip Hoare's writing is quite untrammelled by convention and opens up astonishing views at every turn.' W.G. Sebald