The well of loneliness is an engaging story that shows the challenges, indignities suffered and, yes, the loneliness of being gay, particularly at the time this book was written. Originally published in 1928, radclyffe halls the well of loneliness is the timeless story of a lesbian couples struggle to be accepted by polite society. She was educated at kings college, london, and later undertook further studies in germany. Sir charles byron, bow street magistrate, yesterday adjudged obscene miss radclyffe halls book the well of loneliness, which has been the object of much discussion and litigation since its publication last summer. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The well of loneliness, describing the lesbian invert stephen, was banned on publication in 1928. Imagine growing up with people judging you and condemning you because you are some notquitedefinably. The trial of radclyffe hall and virginia woolfs exquisite case for the freedom of speech writers produce literature, and they cannot produce great literature until they have free minds. Like movies and music, all genres appeal to me, and i give all books a chance to be heard. Radclyffe hall is highly underrated i fell in love w stephan and morton and paris through radclyffe hall whose writing brought everything alive. Hall was renowned for her open homosexuality, a subject dealt with in her bestknown novel, the well of loneliness 1928, a semiautobiographical. The novel tells the story of stephen gordon so named because her.
The novel is about stephen gordon, a young englishwoman who is a lesbian, in a time when acceptance of this lifestyle was nonexistent. She began her literary career by writing verses, which. First published in 1928, this timeless portrayal of lesbian love is now a classic. Marguerite radclyffe hall 12 august 1880 7 october 1943 was an english poet and author. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, paperback barnes. The well of loneliness the radclyffe hall novel at times referred to as the bible of lesbianism was released in britain in 1928 and was immediately controversial. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall radclyffe hall created pure literary magic with the well of loneliness. Find the well of loneliness 0385416091 by hall, radclyffe. First published july 1928 in england by jonathan cape, the well was soon seized and criminalized for violating the obscene. The novel was successfully prosecuted for obscenity when if first came out, and remained banned in britain until 1948. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall summary of the novels fight in both the british and american court systems.
The well of loneliness 0385416091 by hall, radclyffe. Jan 07, 2014 buy the well of loneliness wordsworth classics. Because of its nature of the topic a woman having women lovers the novel was initially banned the year it was published 1928. It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family whose sexual inversion that is, homosexuality is apparent from an early age. A novel about lesbian love congenital inverts the book was suppresed both here and in the u. The history and legacy surrounding the well of loneliness, the. The well tells the story of the masculine female author, stephen gordon, coming to terms with her sexuality. Hall is the author of 1928s the well of loneliness, the first lesbian novel published in england and the united states. Hall was educated at kings college, london, and then attended school in germany.
The well of loneliness ebook written by radclyffe hall. She is most famous today for the well of loneliness which she wrote in 1928. In 1928 radclyffe hall s the well of loneliness, which got no more racy than she kissed her full on the lips like a lover, led to an obscenity trial. This early work by radclyffe hall was originally published in 1928 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. She is best known for the novel the well of loneliness, a groundbreaking work in lesbian literature. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, signed abebooks. The well of loneliness addressed its themes in a subtle and completely nongraphic manner, and yet, shortly after its publication, copies of the book were seized. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall goodreads. It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass.
The novel tells the story of stephen gordon so named because. Stephen is an ideal child of aristocratic parentsa fencer. When an unconventional woman named stephen gordon falls in love with an ingenue named mary, their love affair gives stephen her first taste of. The free mind has access to all knowledge and speculation of its age, and nothing cramps it like a taboo. Born marguerite radclyffe hall in 1880, hall wrote eight novels, the most famous being the well of loneliness.
Featuring on the banned books list, the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall was published in 1928 and subsequently banned. The well of loneliness by hall, radclyffe and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The well of loneliness is a 1928 lesbian novel by the english author radclyffe hall. Jan 10, 2019 radclyffe halls 1928 novel the well of loneliness was subjected to a vicious campaign of attack led by the sunday express for its depiction of lesbian relationships, eventually being suppressed. The thinly disguised story of halls own life, it was banned outright. The first thing i noticed about radclyffe hall s the well of loneliness, was the beautiful descriptive exposition. The well of loneliness 9780385416092 by hall, radclyffe and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Court cases led to the book being banned in both the united kingdom and the united states. Halls first novel the unlit lamp 1924 was a lengthy and grim tale that proved hard to sell. The main characters of this fiction, lgbt story are stephen gordon. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall 1928, banned and tried in england for obscenity, has gone on to become a classic of gay and lesbian literature. It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family whose sexual inversion homosexuality is apparent from an early age.
The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, 9781840224559, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Published by radclyffe hall herself in 1928, it was immediately banned in britain due to its lesbian theme and. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the well of loneliness. Published in 1928, the well of loneliness, by british author radclyffe hall, was a sensation at the time for its depiction of a lesbian relationship. Banned upon publication due to its lesbian theme, it tells the story of stephen gordon, an upperclass englishwoman and who struggles as a lesbian with the confines of society. The first edition of the novel was published in 1928, and was written by radclyffe hall. Well of loneliness first edition radclyffe hall bauman. The well of loneliness trials of radclyffe hall by diana souhami. The well of loneliness is a novel that follows an upperclass englishwoman who falls in love with another woman while serving as an ambulance driver in world war i. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall is a controversial novel that was banned at the time of its publication in 1928.
Published in 1928, the well of loneliness deals with the life of stephen gordon, a masculine lesbian who, like hall herself, identifies as an invert. With its overtly lesbian theme, the book was published in 1928, but was deemed obscene and was withdrawn from circulation, not appearing again until 1949. The well of loneliness is a 1928 book written by radclyffe hall about homosexuality. Literary ladies guide inspiration for readers and writers from classic women authors. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. The love letters of radclyffe hall by joanne glasgow. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 414 pages and is available in paperback format. Marguerite radclyffehall 18831943 was born in hampshire and educated at kings college cambridge. Pdf the well of loneliness book by radclyffe hall free. On july 27, 1928, radclyffe halls the well of loneliness, the first long and very serious novel entirely upon the subject of sexual inversion, according to its author, appeared in bookshops and lending libraries throughout britain. The well of loneliness audiobook by radclyffe hall. In 1928 radclyffe halls the well of loneliness, which got no more racy than she kissed her full on the lips like a lover, led to an obscenity trial. The well of loneliness download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi.
The well of loneliness kindle edition by radclyffe hall. The well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. Radclyffe halls the well of loneliness, a candid, semiautobiographical novel about coming to terms with a lesbian identity, brought to the forefront the question of whether or not the frank portrayal of lesbianism in a book was grounds for charges of obscenity. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous. Jul 03, 2008 marguerite radclyffe hall 18831943 was born in hampshire and educated at kings college cambridge. Stephen knew well and puddle knew also that this book fell far short of its authors. Much of radclyffe halls literary reputation rests on her best known novel, the well of loneliness, but her earlier books enjoyed a slew of successes in the years just preceding its publication. If one thinks of the well of loneliness as having been written by a homophobic, sexist straight man then it begins to make sense.
Pronounced obscene after a sensational and scandalous court case, it was banned in the united kingdom until the late 1940s. However, the novel on which radclyffe halls reputation rests primarily is the well of loneliness 1928. The well of loneliness is a 1928 novel by british author radclyffe hall. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, paperback. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature.
Both the well of loneliness and the unlit lamp end in tragedy and radclyffe hall is apparently unable to do happy endings or to dissemble. Before the novel delves too far into modernism, it is apparent that it is hedging out the victorian. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond.
Radclyffe hall, the pen name of marguerite radclyffe hall, was born in bournemouth on august 12, 1880. I would rather give a healthy boy or a healthy girl a phial of prussic acid than this novel. One of my favorite ways to rest is by curling up with a good book. Vilified as the bible of lesbianism by fireandbrimstone reactionaries. Radclyffe hall 18801943 is best known as the author of the controversial lesbian novel, the well of loneliness. Pronounced obscene following a sensational trial, the book has become a cultural icon as well as a source of considerable debate, especially among feminists. Lesbian novel was danger to nation uk news the guardian. The thinly disguised story of hall s own life, it was banned outright upon publication and almost ruined her literary career.
Octavo, original black cloth, uncut, original dust jacket. Jan 07, 2014 the well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. The judgment was given on a summons to show cause why seized. Free download or read online the well of loneliness pdf epub book. Radclyffe hall s 1928 novel the well of loneliness was subjected to a vicious campaign of attack led by the sunday express for its depiction of lesbian relationships, eventually being suppressed. The well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in. The edition contains extra material which tells the fascinating story behind the books controversial publication, trial and ban in 1928. As her ambitions drive her, and society confines her, stephen is forced into desperate actions. Radclyffe hall, english writer whose novel the well of loneliness 1928 created a scandal and was banned for a time in britain for its treatment of lesbianism.
The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall free ebooks download. The english writer radclyffe hall 18801943 is best known for her lesbian novel the well of loneliness 1928. In 1928, british author radclyffe hall published a novel about a lesbian relationship, a topic that was considered immoral in britains culture. She is angry, bitter and twisted and she wants the world to know it. The history and legacy surrounding the well of loneliness. The well of loneliness is a lesbian novel by british author radclyffe hall that was first published in 1928 by jonathan cape. Descriptions of the english countryside, of london and of paris are some of the finest written in english. Buy a cheap copy of the well of loneliness book by radclyffe hall. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, signed abebooks passion for books. First edition of radclyffe hall s pathbreaking work of gay and lesbian literature, her own copy, with the bookplate of hall and her lover una troubridge. Radclyffe hall 1880 1943 was a british author best known for her semiautobiographical novel about a young womans coming to terms with her lesbian identity the book caused a furor when first published in england in 1928. Hall was renowned for her open homosexuality, a subject dealt with in her bestknown novel, the well of loneliness 1928, a semiautobiographical work and the only one of her eight novels to. She finds love with mary llewellyn, whom she meets while serving as an ambulance driver in world war i, but their.
Marguerite radclyffe hall was born on 12th august 1880, in bournemouth, england. The central character and standin for author radclyffe hall is not a selfloathing lesbian at all, hes a transgendered man, and hes not exactly gayfriendly. The well of loneliness the first lesbian book published in. She published five volumes of poetry and seven novels. Sep 30, 2010 featuring on the banned books list, the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall was published in 1928 and subsequently banned. Aug 26, 2017 the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall free mobi epub ebooks download. Radclyffe halls the well of loneliness, a candid, semiautobiographical novel about coming to terms with a lesbian identity, brought to the. Hall s bestknown work was the well of loneliness, the only one of her eight novels to have overt lesbian themes.
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