London, Nov 15 (IANS) The anonymous author of three bestselling autobiographical books on a student turning to prostitution - themselves the product of a notorious blog - has been revealed to be a British research scientist.
Dr Brooke Magnanti, a hospital researcher from Bristol, told the Sunday Times she is the pseudonymous blogger of “Belle de Jour: Diary of a London Call Girl”, which was chosen by the Guardian as its blog of the year in 2003.

Her blogs were made into three books, including “The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl”, and a television serial.

Working as a high class escort girl in London, Magnanti, now 34, charged £300 an hour to clients, using the money to fund a PhD in forensic pathology, before embarking on a career researching cancer and neurotoxicology.

The Sunday Times said that until last week, not even her literary agent knew her real name.

A month ago she revealed her double-life to colleagues working at the Bristol Initiative for Research of Child Health, who were “amazingly kind and supportive”.

She decided to reveal her identity because anonymity had become “no fun,” she said, adding: “I couldn’t even go to my own book launch party”.

The newspaper said the petite scientist has no regrets about her 14 months as a prostitute, telling the paper’s columnist India Knight: “I’ve felt worse about my writing than I ever have about sex for money.”

Her blog was also made into a British TV series, prompting speculation she might be a well-known author or even a man.