Magnanti

Sexonomics – to be published in the UK next spring – is based on Magnanti's new blog of the same name.

Belle de Jour, aka Brooke Magnanti, stands up to her feminist critics 2011

But Magnanti immediately found herself under attack, accused of pushing the male fantasy of prostitution – a glamorous sex bomb in stockings who loved her work – and of ignoring the fact that many sex workers live unsafe and substance-addicted lives, often with an abusive man in tow.

Belle de Jour, aka Brooke Magnanti, stands up to her feminist critics 2011

In Sexonomics: An Examination of Third-Wave Feminism Through the Prism of the Sex Trade, Magnanti looks to ignite even more controversy with this book than she did with her exploits as Belle.

Belle de Jour, aka Brooke Magnanti, stands up to her feminist critics 2011

Now the real Belle de Jour is to produce a third book, her first to be published under her true name, Dr Brooke Magnanti, now a 35-year-old research scientist at Bristol University.

Belle de Jour, aka Brooke Magnanti, stands up to her feminist critics 2011

It was not until November 2009 that Magnanti "outed" herself as Belle after tabloid reporters were caught trying to break into her office and she realised her identity was about to be compromised.

Belle de Jour, aka Brooke Magnanti, stands up to her feminist critics 2011

Brooke Magnanti at the Oxford literary festival last year.

Belle de Jour, aka Brooke Magnanti, stands up to her feminist critics 2011

It seems that one of the leading 'sex bloggers' in the UK took up the oldest profession in order to pay for her 'education habit' — her Ph.D. Magnanti said she was working on a doctoral study for the department of forensic pathology of Sheffield University in 2003 when she began her secret life.

Discourse.net: Meanwhile, in the British News 2009

"One of the best kept literary secrets of the decade was revealed ... when 34-year-old scientist Dr Brooke Magnanti announced she was the writer masquerading as call girl Belle de Jour."

Cheerful business cards (link roundup) 2009

Dr Brooke Magnanti was revealed as the author of Belle de Jour (which was about her life as a “high class” prostitute) earlier this month, with hilarious results.

Not A NaNoWriMo Post… Honest. « The Graveyard 2009

Magnanti says she has never advocated prostitution as a career choice.

Belle de Jour, aka Brooke Magnanti, stands up to her feminist critics 2011