Radclyffe halls the well of loneliness and modernist fictions of identity. The first thing i noticed about radclyffe hall s the well of loneliness, was the beautiful descriptive exposition. Radclyffe halls 1928 novel, the well of loneliness, follows the story of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family. Jan 07, 2014 the well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928.
Radclyffe hall at the well of loneliness internet archive. The well of loneliness, or the gospel according to. 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. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The main characters of this fiction, lgbt story are stephen gordon. 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. Radclyffe hall s the well of loneliness and modernist fictions of identity laura green in 1928, as she was preparing to appear as a defense witness in the prosecution of radclyffe hall s novel the well of loneliness 1928 for obscenity,virginia woolf wrote in a letter. Rare books by radclyffe hall, including first edition and signed first edition copies of the well of loneliness and the master of the house. She was educated at kings college, london, and later undertook further studies in germany. First published in 1928, this timeless portrayal of lesbian love is now a classic. At bow street in london on 16 november 1928, miss radclyffe halls novel, the well of loneliness, found itself in the dock on a charge of obscenity. 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. Descriptions of the english countryside, of london and of paris are some of the finest written in english.
A sapphic chronicle by lovat dickson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Established writers radclyffe hall and virginia woolf respectively published the well of loneliness and orlando. The powersthatbe had decided that they did not like the novels unnatural offences hence the decision to prosecute. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall goodreads. Mar 17, 2020 the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall. Publication date 1928 topics lesbians publisher new york, covici friede. Quotes from the well of loneliness radclyffe hall january 25, 2010 june 27, 2018 geoff w the subtlety, the craftiness of that question which.
Born marguerite radclyffe hall in 1880, hall wrote eight novels, the most famous being the well of loneliness. This essay examines christian tropes in three queer texts. Hall, radclyffe, carabine, dr keith, saxey, dr esther. Radclyffe hall was already a successful popular novelist when her fifth book, the well of loneliness, was published in 1928. The well of loneliness, by radclyffe hall chapter nineteen through the long years of life that followed after, bringing with them their dreams and disillusions, their joys and sorrows, their fulfilments and frustrations, stephen was never to forget this summer when she fell quite simply and naturally in love, in accordance with the dictates of. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond. Radclyffe halls the well of loneliness and modernist fictions of identity laura green in 1928, as she was preparing to appear as a defense witness in the prosecution of radclyffe halls novel the well of loneliness 1928 for obscenity,virginia woolf wrote in a letter. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall librarything. 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 wordsworth classics kindle edition by hall, radclyffe, saxey, esther.
Marguerite radclyffehall, preferred to be called john. Soon after the departure of mademoiselle duphot, there occurred two distinct innovations at morton. Please be aware this contains spoilers, read at your own risk. Written in 1928, three years after the great gatsby, and at the height of the popularity of virginia woolf, it was published in the uk during an exciting time for literature. The well of loneliness, or the gospel according to radclyffe hall. 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. This article will read the protagonist, stephen gordon, as a queer christ figure whose suffering ushers in a new ethics of love.
Hall again seems to be implying that lesbianism was not a rare and abnormal thing, but something much more common than society was prepared to acknowledge. She is angry, bitter and twisted and she wants the world to know it. The well of loneliness, or the gospel according to radclyffe. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the well of loneliness wordsworth classics. The well of loneliness penguin modern classics radclyffe hall isbn. 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. Quotes from the well of loneliness radclyffe hall the. These novels were both experimental and radical in their own rights, but were received differently. Charting her romantic and professional adventures during the first world war and beyond, the novel provoked a furore on first publication in 1928 for its lesbian. In 1928, as she was preparing to appear as a defense witness in the prosecution of radclyffe halls novel the well of loneliness 1928 for obscenity, virginia woolf wrote in a.
Free download or read online the well of loneliness pdf epub book. Many times, cheap lesbian pulp, written and produced mostly by men, for men, said on their blurbs that their books were like something of the well of loneliness. However, halls novel did not reach the wide audiences of her contemporaries it was banned. Marguerite radclyffehall was born on the south coast of england. Halls novel the well of loneliness a gloomy account of the struggles of a congenital invert that even sympathetic writers such as virginia woolf struggled to defend artistically was put. Aug 06, 2016 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 born marguerite radclyffe hall on 12 august 1880 7 october 1943 was an english poet and author, best known for the novel the well of. Miss puddleton arrived to take possession of the schoolroom, and sir philip bought himself a motorcar. Originally published in 1928, radclyffe pdf hall s the well of loneliness is the timeless story of a lesbian couples struggle to be accepted by polite society.
This essay considers whether, insofar as they deploy christian tropes, these texts. The well of loneliness is a 1928 lesbian novel by the english author radclyffe hall. Her mother may have battered her, while her father, a playboy known as rat, ignored her. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Stephen is an ideal child of aristocratic parentsa fencer. In the drawing rooms of edwardian society, marguerite made a small name for herself as a poet and librettist. Why the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall is an.
Nonetheless, the well of loneliness is worth reading because it shattered the silence of oppression and conveys a message about homophobia and internalized shame relevant to lesbians even today. First published july 1928 in england by jonathan cape, the well was soon seized and criminalized for violating the obscene. Marguerite radclyffe hall was born on the south coast of england. Jun 07, 20 halls novel the well of loneliness a gloomy account of the struggles of a congenital invert that even sympathetic writers such as virginia woolf struggled to defend artistically was put. Pdf the well of loneliness book by radclyffe hall free. Radclyffe hall quotes author of the well of loneliness. It is the story of an upperclass mannish lesbian, stephen gordon, who gradually realises that she is a female invert. The well of loneliness ebook written by radclyffe hall. 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. New to penguin modern classics, the seminal work of gay literature that sparked an infamous legal trial for obscenity and went on to become a bestseller. Marguerite radclyffehall 18831943 was born in hampshire and educated at kings college. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, paperback.
That same year also saw publication of the unlit lamp, the first work for which hall was known as simply radclyffe hall. 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. The well of loneliness is probably the most famous lesbian novel ever written, and. The well of loneliness tells the story of tomboyish stephen, who hunts, wears trousers and cuts her hair short and who gradually comes to realise.
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 well of loneliness is a lesbian novel by british author radclyffe hall that was first published in 1928 by jonathan cape. The well of loneliness is a 1928 book written by radclyffe hall about homosexuality. 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. 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. Radclyffe hall, the well of loneliness 1928 radclyffe hall. In 1975, for example, jane rule, complaining about the reputation of the well of loneliness as the lesbian bible, quoted two. Radclyffe halls 1928 novel, the well of loneliness, is repeatedly described as a bible of lesbian literature. A biography within a few months of each other in 1928. Growing up, stephen is just like any other prewar aristocratic child. Feb 05, 20 radclyffe hall, the well of loneliness 1928 radclyffe hall. The first thing i noticed about radclyffe halls the well of loneliness, was the beautiful descriptive exposition. The well of loneliness is a 1928 novel by british author radclyffe hall. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the well of loneliness.
Lynn harriss just as i am 1994, and franz kafkas the metamorphosis 1915. A powerful novel of love between women, the well of loneliness brought about the most famous legal trial for obscenity in the history of british law. Before the novel delves too far into modernism, it is apparent that it is hedging out the victorian. The obscenity trial of miss radclyffe halls novel, the. A life in the writing richard dellamora offers the first full look at. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall overdrive. Pdf the well of loneliness download read online free. Imagine growing up with people judging you and condemning you because you are some notquitedefinably.
The main character in the well of loneliness, published in 1928, is stephen gordon so named because her parents had expected a boy. The novel tells the story of stephen gordon so named because. Originally published in 1928, radclyffe hall s the well of loneliness is the timeless story of a lesbian couple pdfs struggle to be accepted by polite society. The judgment was given on a summons to show cause why seized. Radclyffe hall richard dellamora university of pennsylvania. Despite the obvious biblical allusions in radclyffe halls the well of loneliness 1928, the complex theological questions it raises have largely been overshadowed by criticism that focuses on gender and sexuality. The well of loneliness wordsworth classics hall, radclyffe isbn. Halls was labeled as obscene and then banned, while woolfs was praised. The well of loneliness, the most important novel of hall s career, was published in 1928 to immediate sensation and controversy. At this moment our thoughts center upon sapphismwe have.
The well of loneliness tells the story of tomboyish stephen, who hunts, wears trousers and cuts her hair short and who gradually comes to realise that she is attracted to women. Radclyffe halls the well of loneliness, a candid, semiautobiographical novel about coming to terms with a lesbian identity, brought to the. Buy radclyffe hall ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. Reading and reassessing the construction of gender and. The motoring, of course, was the most tremendous fun, but and it was a very large but indeed when stephen got home to morton and the schoolroom, a little grey figure would be sitting at the table correcting an exercise book, or preparing some task for the following morning. Theosophy, and an eclectic brand of christian and buddhist mysticism. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. It is hall s most direct artistic expression of her own personal sexual orientation. In 1928, british author radclyffe hall published a novel about a lesbian relationship, a topic that was considered immoral in britains culture. At issue are the linkages between queer theory and literature, on the one hand, and christian paradigms, on the other hand. Radclyffe hall loneliness by dickson lovat abebooks. Shockingly candid for its time, this novel was the very first to condemn homophobic society for its unfair treatment of gays and lesbians. 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 first edition of the novel was published in 1928, and was written by radclyffe hall.
The motor was a panhard, and it caused much excitement in the neighbourhood of upton. Stephen is a lesbian but, growing up, doesnt know what she. Not very far from up tononsevernbetween it, in fact, and the malvern hillsstands the country seat of the gordons of bramley. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 414 pages and is available in paperback format. Originally published in 1928, radclyffe halls the well of loneliness is the timeless story of a lesbian couple pdfs struggle to be accepted by polite society. It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family whose sexual inversion homosexuality is apparent from an early age. Radclyffe hall, the pen name of marguerite radclyffehall, was born in bournemouth on august 12, 1880. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall overdrive rakuten.
This 67page guide for the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 56 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. 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 is not a particularly famous or well known novel amongst general reading circles. 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 transgendered persons. The thinly disguised story of halls own life, it was banned outright. 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 by hall, radclyffe and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. She finds love with mary llewellyn, whom she meets while serving as an ambulance driver in world war i, but their. The history and legacy surrounding the well of loneliness, pbs. Hall, with her novel, created a way for queer women to talk to other queer women without ever endangering them or creating suspicion. Originally published in 1928, radclyffe pdf halls the well of loneliness is the timeless story of a lesbian couples struggle to be accepted by polite society. Oct, 2017 radclyffe halls 1928 novel, the well of loneliness, follows the story of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family.
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