Diane Atkinson lives in Shoreditch, London. She was born in the North-East and educated in Cornwall and London, where she completed a Ph.D. on the politics of women's sweated labour. She taught history at secondary schools in London before moving to the Museum of London, where she worked as a lecturer and curator, specialising in women's history. She is the author of two illustrated history books, Suffragettes in Pictures and Funny Girls: Cartooning for Equality. She has also written two biographies, Love & Dirt: The marriage of Arthur Munby & Hannah Cullwick and Elsie and Mairi Go to War: Two Extraordinary Women on the Western Front.

Elsie and Mairi (Go) Went To The Edinburgh Fringe Festival Diane Atkinson and well-known Scottish actresses Pauline Lockhart and Clare Waugh brought the story of Elsie Knocker and Mairi Gooden-Chisholm, the most famous women of the Great War, to life. Please go to Di's Blog to read further information on the show at 2010's Edinburgh Fringe Festival Please follow this link if you would like to view the Press Pack The Press Pack contains information about the cast and production, venue, dates, times and tickets, background information, photographs and the Press Release. Please follow this link to read the Reviews

Diane Atkinson's latest book, Elsie and Mairi Go to War: Two Extraordinary Women on the Western Front has been published. If you wish to order please follow the link below to the Random House website. ISBN 978-1-84809-133-7 Publisher Random House Date of publication 9 July 2009 To order, please go to www.rhbooks.co.uk

Elsie and Mairi Go to War: Two Extraordinary Women on the Western Front The paperback edition has now been published. If you wish to order please follow the link below to the Random House website. ISBN 978-1-84809-135-1 Publisher Random House Date of publication 4 February 2010 To order, please go to www.rhbooks.co.uk

Latest News:

Performance Elsie and Mairi Go to Edinburgh
Elsie and Mairi Go To War has been adapted in to a one hour play. The performance was previewed at 2010's Edinburgh Fringe Restival. Please see Di's Blog, Reviews and the Press Pack for more details.

New Paperback Publication Elsie and Mairi Go to War
Elsie and Mairi Go To War is now available as large print book and an audio book published by Isis Publishing and BBC Audiobooks.

Latest Reviews Paperback publication
Three new reviews have been published for the launch of the paperback edition of Elsie and Mairi Go to War. The Lancashire Evening Post, the Mail on Sunday and the Daily Express.
The articles can be viewed on the Reviews page of this website.

Campaign Launch Sculpture of Elsie and Mairi
Diane Atkinson has launched a campaign to install a sculpture of Elsie and Mairi in London.
Please go to the menu item Campaign to learn more and perhaps offer your support.

Book Launch Elsie and Mairi Go to War
Click on the photos for a larger view

Above: A selection of photos taken at the launch of Elsie and Mairi Go to War on Tuesday 7 July 2009.

In Praise of Elsie and Mairi Go To War:

Kathryn Hughes Mail on Sunday
In this brilliant biography Diane Atkinson does a lot more than simply remind us of a story that deserves to be more widely known. She also gives us a ripping yarn about two plucky English gels who performed miracles while also having the time of their lives.


Val Hennessy Daily Mail
Atkinson offers us a remarkable, almost fly-on-the-wall depiction of the World War 1 battlegrounds…
All congratulations to her for a fascinating study and for offering these neglected heroines the honour and acclaim they so justly deserve.


Leo McKinstry Daily Express
The tale of the two heroines is told with relish by Diane Atkinson, who has done extensive research on their lives. She captures the essence of their characters.


Christina Hardyment BBC History Magazine
Diane Atkinson has mapped a vivid and accurate record of their valour… The story of their extraordinary perseverance and resource under fire is both enthralling, and, from history’s perspective, heartbreaking.