Radclyffe Hall's 1928 book, The Well of Loneliness, has been referred to as the "Bible of Lesbianism." Outrage and controversy upon its release launched a series of sensational obscenity trials that brought the topic of woman loving women to the forefront of the cultural conversation. The book had been ban for close to 30 years. While she had 8 novels, the Well of Loneliness is her real claim to fame, which was groundbreaking work in lesbian literature, and is now noted as the predecessor to the golden age of lesbian pulp fiction. She often did as she pleased, having inherited a large inheritance, dressed mostly as a man and went by the name John often. In 1915 Hall fell in love with Una Troubridge, a cousin to Hall's current lover, Mabel Batten, who was 26 years her senior. Una, was a sculptor and the wife of Vice-Admiral Ernest Troubridge. Needless to say the romance caused great tension between Batten, Hall, Una and Ernest. Once Batten died, Radclyffe and Una took up residence and would be lovers for the remainder of their lives until Hall's death. Today her book, The Well of Loneliness is both praised and criticized for it's depiction of gender and sexuality. But for many women of the 20th century, it gave them the power, as Hall put it. "to face up to a hostile world in it's true colors and face it with courage and dignity.
Happy Pride🌈
OMG this book, Giovanni's Room and Maurice were some of the first queer books I read. So brave!
ReplyDeleteI love people who defy all conventions.
XOXO
It's been a long time since I read the Well of Loneliness. I knew Hall was a lesbian but not her history.
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat post, thank you.
ReplyDeleteRadclyffe Hall was a courageous groundbreaker alright. "The Well of Loneliness" is difficult to read today because it very much reflects the often self-loathing views of homosexuality (or "inversion" as it was termed then) and gender common to the Edwardian and First World War eras. I could never get through it. It contains no explicit sex scenes but one chapter ends with the sentence "And that night they were not parted" (or words to that effect) about the heroine and her woman friend. That's the line that resulted in the infamous trial for obscenity in the 1920s. Radclyffe Hall had the courage to be openly and unapologetically lesbian in pre-Stonewall times. Today she is considered to have been transgendered as well.
ReplyDeleteThat's good insight Debs. I have not read that book, so I appreciate your input. These people were especially brave since it seemed to be uncharted territory of sorts.
DeleteA true great of her time. We can’t judge her writing based on our modern sensibility. She was brave and, I’m sure, an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteAw. Lovely story.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard of "Gentleman jack?"
Her real name was Anne Lister and she lived at Shibden hall in yorkshire.
I have books of her diaries. You should Google her. A very intelligent and determined lady!
I will have to look that up Christina. The name I have heard but now must see more. Thanks for that tip.
DeleteSounds like essential reading - even for gay and bi boys.
ReplyDeleteI agree Pat. And saldy many gay boy can't be bothered to learn about lesbian issues or figures. Sad
DeleteThank you for sharing her story. Fascinating. I love me some gay history! Gay history IS history. Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteBooks like this are important because it reminds us of what being gay meant all those eyars ago; we can see how far we've come, and how far we still have yet to go.
ReplyDeleteI agree Bob...and shows us , still, how all these years later acceptance is still challenged.
DeleteHoney, have you seen Gentleman Jack on HBO? It's sooo good. Such compelling characters. I did not know that "jack" was the disparaging term of the time before dyke and other ugly use of words.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Welcome back Janie!!!! I have not heard of the show but your the second visitor to mention Gentleman Jack...stay tuned.
DeleteIt's so important to recognize that LGBT people have been fighting for representation and acceptance on so many fronts for decades. Your community owes so much to creators like Radclyffe for using their voice and talents to raise awareness. I enjoyed this post Mistress.
ReplyDeleteJust the name says a lot. These people fascinate me.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of this book nor it's writer until I was well into my 40s - though have read it three times since. It certainly leaves a mark on one's inner self, though it does need reading with an awareness of prevailing attitudes of the time in which it was written, and this itself only underlines its extraordinary achievement.. .
ReplyDeleteHello Raybeard!!!! So good to see you pop in. Hope you have been well. After reading your comment, I think I need to find a copy of the book.
DeleteI'm well, thanks M.M. - even better than many others of my advanced age so I must be grateful and not complacent. Trust you are okay too.
DeleteDo try to find 'Well of Loneliness' . If it's read with awareness of the time of it being created you surely will be impressed.
All is well and I'm here and settled in the new hamlet. Just had my second booster today. Glad to hear you're in good spirits. And so nice to hear from you.
DeleteI've heard of the name but wasn't what she wrote. Now I know. I'll have to seek that book out.
ReplyDeleteYou grab a copy too and come here...we can have book club night.
DeleteI never knew about this. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteIm so glad...I think thats part of what gay pride month is about.
DeleteUntil now I don't recall having seen photos of the author; again I learn something. You do a nice job with this.
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