Strangers and Intimates

Strangers and Intimates (2025) traces the evolution of private life from ancient Athens through the Victorian era to our digital present, arguing that privacy is a historical construct rather than a natural right. It examines key transformations including Luther’s development of individual conscience, the Victorian cult of domesticity, and the 1970s feminist movement’s politicization of personal experience. 

• History buffs seeking a fresh perspective on how privacy has shaped Western culture
• Activists who want a historical primer on the “right” to privacy
• Anyone concerned about the rise of surveillance in contemporary life

Tiffany Jenkins is a writer and academic who specializes in the intersection of culture, politics, and social history. She’s known for her accessible approach to complex historical topics and her ability to connect past developments to contemporary debates about privacy, surveillance, and digital culture.