So anonymous sex-blogger Belle de Jour has finally revealed her true identity and reminded many of us she existed at all in the process. Hmmm, big news... five years ago.
An early blogging sensation, best-selling writer and the subject of a couple of series of a successful, if pretty lightweight, ITV drama, Belle de Jour was the subject of much speculation as to her true identity back in the first half of this decade.
But as people's attention turned elsewhere and the speculation quietened down it seems revelation was the inevitable throw of the 'difficult second album' dice for Belle. The Google Trends graph, right, shows how interest in Belle has been on the wane largely since she burst onto the scene in 2004.
Now it's at pretty negligible levels and has been all year, perhaps hence the revelation.
So wait for it... apparently Belle's real name is Dr Brooke Magnanti.
I admit it's far more interesting to know this was a real woman struggling to make ends meet and finding fame and fortune through the blogosphere, rather than any number of other conspiracy theories and alleged publicity stunts that circled Belle's anonymity.
The blog won't dry up over night of course. Magnanti tells India Knight in the Times:
“I’ll keep on for a bit. I’d like her to have a happy ending.”
That's extra right?
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/olivermarre/100004809/the-shocking-truth-about-belle-de-jour-she-cant-write-for-toffee/
this is a very good piece about why she is a bad writer
Posted by: belle-is-bad | Nov 16, 2009 at 11:05
Ha! Nice ending. Perhaps too subtle for some?!
Posted by: Warren Richard | Dec 01, 2009 at 11:40
Thanks Warren, nobody has ever accused me of being too subtle before. Glad you enjoyed the joke.
Posted by: Will Sturgeon | Dec 01, 2009 at 16:32