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. 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. Bbc radio 4 riot girls, the trial of the well of loneliness. Published by radclyffe hall herself in 1928, it was immediately banned in britain due to its lesbian theme and was allowed in. The well tells the story of the masculine female author, stephen gordon, coming to terms with her sexuality. The thinly disguised story of halls own life, it was banned outright. The novel is about stephen gordon, a young englishwoman who is a lesbian, in a time when acceptance of this lifestyle was nonexistent.
Because of its nature of the topic a woman having women lovers the novel was initially banned the year it was published 1928. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall a copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. First published july 1928 in england by jonathan cape, the well was soon seized and criminalized for violating the obscene. She finds love with mary llewellyn, whom she meets while serving as an ambulance driver in world war i, but their. Hall is the author of 1928s the well of loneliness, the first lesbian novel published in england and the united states. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. Pronounced obscene following a sensational trial, the book has become a cultural icon as well as a source of considerable debate, especially among feminists, lesbians, and. Radclyffe hall at the well of loneliness hardcover book. 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. With the publication of the well of loneliness public library, the way gender and sexual identities are formulated and articulated was forever changed. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, paperback barnes. The well of loneliness, published in 1928, was a very brave and forthright book for its time.
The well of loneliness, describing the lesbian invert stephen, was banned on publication in 1928. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall. The well of loneliness the first lesbian book published. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, paperback. I fell in love w stephan and morton and paris through radclyffe hall whose writing brought everything alive. Pronounced obscene after a sensational and scandalous court case, it was banned in the united kingdom until the late 1940s. It is perhaps the first coming out story published let me know of others, if im wrong, and sets down the pattern for that particularly kind of bildungsroman that many other coming out stories would follow, charting stephens life from. The first thing i noticed about radclyffe hall s the well of loneliness, was the beautiful descriptive exposition. Jan 07, 2014 buy the well of loneliness wordsworth classics. 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 which considered the implications of the.
Jul 03, 2008 buy the well of loneliness vmc virago modern classics reprint by radclyffe hall isbn. 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 judgment was given on a summons to show cause why seized. 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.
The first edition of the novel was published in 1928, and was written by radclyffe hall. The history and legacy surrounding the well of loneliness. Radclyffe hall quotes author of the well of loneliness. Two years later she received the eichelbergher humane award. The classic of lesbian fiction radclyffe hall isbn. The novel tells the story of stephen gordon so named because. 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. Radclyffe hall is highly underrated i fell in love w stephan and morton and paris through radclyffe hall whose writing brought everything alive. The well of loneliness is the story of stephen gordon, an aristocratic woman who prefers to dress in a masculine fashion, and who loves women. Radclyffe hall, right, and her girlfriend, lady troubridge, with their dachshunds at a dog show in february 1923. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions.
First edition of radclyffe halls pathbreaking work of gay and lesbian literature, her own copy, with the. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall being fibro mom. She was educated at kings college, london, and later undertook further studies in germany. The well of loneliness essays are academic essays for citation. She is best known for the novel the well of loneliness, a groundbreaking work in lesbian literature. The well of loneliness ebook written by radclyffe hall. 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 silent novel in radclyffe halls groundbreaking the. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond. 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. Radclyffe hall, the pen name of marguerite radclyffehall, was born in bournemouth on 12 august 1880. Mar 27, 2020 radclyffe hall created pure literary magic with the well of loneliness. Learn about this landmark in gay and lesbian literature with catherine williamsons appraisal of a 1929 radclyffe hall the well of loneliness. Lesbian novel was danger to nation uk news the guardian. The novel tells the story of stephen gordon so named because her. In 1928, british author radclyffe hall published a novel about a lesbian relationship, a topic that was considered immoral in britains culture. The well of loneliness is a lesbian novel by british author radclyffe hall that was first published in 1928 by jonathan cape.
The thinly disguised story of halls own life, it was banned outright upon publication and almost ruined her literary career. Radclyffe halls pioneering novel about love between women becomes the centre of a 1928 obscenity trial. Dec 24, 2019 learn about this landmark in gay and lesbian literature with catherine williamsons appraisal of a 1929 radclyffe hall the well of loneliness victory edition from hotel del coronado hour 3. 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. Halls first novel the unlit lamp 1924 was a lengthy and grim tale that proved hard to sell. Free download or read online the well of loneliness pdf epub book. The english writer radclyffe hall 18801943 is best known for her lesbian novel the well of loneliness 1928. Marguerite radclyffe hall was born on 12th august 1880, in bournemouth, england. Perhaps it was the rather sedentary plot that made virginia woolf another lesbian writer dismiss the well of loneliness as a meritorous dull book. R adclyffe halls the well of loneliness and modernist fictions of identity laura green i n 1928, as she was preparing to appear as a defense witness in the pros ecution of radclyffe halls novel the well of loneliness 1928 for ob scenity, virginia woolf wrote in a letter. First published in 1928, this timeless portrayal of lesbian love is now a classic.
Sep 26, 20 radclyffe hall s 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. 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. The well of loneliness penguin modern classics radclyffe hall isbn. 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. Hall was educated at kings college, london, and then attended school in germany. Radclyffe hall, the pen name of marguerite radclyffehall, was born in bournemouth on august 12, 1880. The well of loneliness is a 1928 lesbian novel by the english author radclyffe hall. Pdf the well of loneliness download full pdf book download. It feels like an autobiography of stephens entire life, partly because you cant help but think stephen is based heavily on radclyffe i mean, stephen is even a writer.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the well of loneliness. With the publication of the well of loneliness public library, the way. The well of loneliness audiobook by radclyffe hall. 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 deal with. 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. The main characters of this fiction, lgbt story are stephen gordon. Not until some time later was halls work accepted as the literature it was intended and.
The history and legacy surrounding the well of loneliness, pbs. Marguerite radclyffe hall was born in 1880 at sunny lawn, durley road, bournemouth, hampshire now dorset, to a wealthy philandering father. She began her literary career by writing verses, which. Marguerite radclyffe hall was an english poet and author. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall goodreads.
Its author, radclyffe hall, sought to communicate her own plight to those in society who could not. Published by radclyffe hall herself in 1928, it was immediately banned in britain due to its lesbian theme and was allowed in the united states only after a long court battle. The well of loneliness is a 1928 book written by radclyffe hall about homosexuality. Descriptions of the english countryside, of london and of paris are some of the finest written in english. Hall, born marguerite radclyffe hall but known to her loved ones as john, was an out lesbian who dressed in mens clothes in a society and era when samesex love was considered not only. Radclyffe hall created pure literary magic with the well of loneliness. Marguerite radclyffe hall 12 august 1880 7 october 1943 was an english poet and author. It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family whose sexual inversion homosexuality is apparent from an early age. Well of loneliness first edition radclyffe hall bauman. Before the novel delves too far into modernism, it is apparent that it is hedging out the victorian. A seminal banned classic kindle edition by hall, radclyffe. 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. 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.
Pdf the well of loneliness book by radclyffe hall free. She is angry, bitter and twisted and she wants the world to know it. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall august 6, 2016 mrvolpone the well of loneliness is the story of stephen gordon, an aristocratic woman who prefers to dress in a masculine fashion, and who loves women. Drama by shelley silas, starring kate fleetwood and anastasia hille. Marguerite radclyffehall 18831943 was born in hampshire and educated at kings college cambridge. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall is a controversial novel that was banned at the time of its publication in 1928. Marguerite radclyffe hall 18831943 was born in hampshire and educated at kings college cambridge. Stephen is an ideal child of aristocratic parentsa fencer. The well of loneliness wordsworth classics 9781840224559.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the well of loneliness. The well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. The well of loneliness, by radclyffe hall chapter eight at seventeen stephen was taller than anna, who had used to be considered quite tall for a woman, but stephen was nearly as tall as her father not a beauty this, in the eyes of the neighbours. The first thing i noticed about radclyffe halls the well of loneliness, was the beautiful descriptive exposition. Octavo, original black cloth, uncut, original dust jacket. 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. The well of loneliness is a 1928 novel by british author radclyffe hall. She published five volumes of poetry and seven novels.
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