The judgment was given on a summons to show cause why seized. It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family whose sexual inversion homosexuality is apparent from an early age. 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. To ask other readers questions about the well of loneliness, please sign up. Many assumptions have been made about the degree to which radclyffe halls lesbian classic, the well of loneliness, may be autobiographical. Growing up, stephen is just like any other prewar aristocratic child.
First published july 1928 in england by jonathan cape, the well was soon seized and criminalized for violating the obscene. Hall was renowned for her open homosexuality, a subject dealt with in her bestknown novel, the well of loneliness 1928, a semiautobiographical work. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond. 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. With its overtly lesbian theme, the book was published in 1928, but was deemed obscene and was withdrawn from circulation, not appearing again until 1949.
Mar 17, 2020 the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall. Radclyffe halls 1928 novel the well of loneliness caused a publishing. 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. Hall s first novel the unlit lamp 1924 was a lengthy and grim tale that proved hard to sell. Before the novel delves too far into modernism, it is apparent that it is hedging out the victorian.
The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall overdrive rakuten. Publication date 1928 topics lesbians publisher new york, covici friede collection. Came a day when winter must give place to spring, when the daffodils marched across the whole country from castle morton common to ross and beyond, pitching camps by the side of the river. Oct, 2017 radclyffe halls 1928 novel, the well of loneliness, follows the story of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family. Feb 05, 20 radclyffe hall, the well of loneliness 1928 radclyffe hall. She finds love with mary llewellyn, whom she meets while serving as an ambulance driver in world war i, but their. She was educated at kings college, london, and later undertook further studies in germany. 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. 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. The first edition of the novel was published in 1928, and was written by radclyffe hall.
Born marguerite radclyffe hall in 1880, hall wrote eight novels, the most famous being the well of loneliness. The well of loneliness kindle edition by hall, radclyffe. 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. The well of loneliness is probably the most famous lesbian novel ever written, and certainly the most widely read. First published in 1928, this timeless portrayal of lesbian love is now a classic. Radclyffe hall ebook by richard dellamora 9780812204650. 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 overt lesbian themes. Radclyffe hall, the pen name of marguerite radclyffe hall, was born in bournemouth on 12 august 1880. Over 70 years ago, an opening salvo was launched in the 1928 obscenity trials of radclyffe halls novel the well of loneliness the well. March 2015 project gutenberg of australia ebooks are created from printed editions which are in the public domain in australia, unless a notice is. 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.
Reflecting upon radclyffe halls decision to write a novel about the suffering of the female homosexual, halls lover of almost three decades, una troubridge. The seminal work of gay literature that sparked an infamous legal trial for obscenity and went on to become a bestseller, the well of loneliness. 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. 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. Buy radclyffe hall ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. Radclyff hall a project gutenberg of australia ebook ebook no 0609021h. Pdf the well of loneliness book by radclyffe hall free. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. Halls first novel the unlit lamp 1924 was a lengthy and grim tale that. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 414 pages and is available in paperback format.
Jul 17, 2017 the well of loneliness radclyffe hall fromthedustybookshelf. It contains no explicit sex scenes, yet in 1928, the year in which the novel was published, it was deemed obscene in a british court of law for its defense of sexual inversion and was forbidden for sale or import into england. The novel tells the story of stephen gordon so named because. Book download the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall. The well of loneliness download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi.
The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall goodreads. Radclyffe hall has 38 books on goodreads with 38186 ratings. Radclyffe halls most popular book is the well of loneliness. 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. Descriptions of the english countryside, of london and of paris are some of the finest written in english. The well of loneliness radclyffe hall fromthedustybookshelf. 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 ebook written by radclyffe hall. 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 wrote a number of novels and volumes of poetry, but is best remembered for her novel the well of loneliness 1928, which supported lesbianism and. The well of loneliness wordsworth classics kindle edition by.
The main characters of this fiction, lgbt story are stephen gordon. Marguerite radclyffe hall was born on 12th august 1880, in bournemouth, england. The first thing i noticed about radclyffe hall s the well of loneliness, was the beautiful descriptive exposition. Many assumptions have been made about the degree to which radclyffe hall s lesbian classic, the well of loneliness, may be autobiographical. 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 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. The thinly disguised story of hall s own life, it was banned outright upon publication and almost ruined her literary career. 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. 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. Sapphic books written before the well of loneliness duration. 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. Published by radclyffe hall herself in 1928, it was immediately banned in britain due to its lesbian theme and was allowed in. Radclyffe hall at the well of loneliness internet archive.
Radclyffe hall is the pen name of marguerite radclyffe hall 18801943, an english poet and novelist. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones. The well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. The well of loneliness is a 1928 book written by radclyffe hall about homosexuality. With the publication of the well of loneliness public library, the way gender and sexual identities are formulated and articulated was forever changed. 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.
The well of loneliness by hall, radclyffe and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This early work by radclyffe hall was originally published in 1928 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. 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. A sapphic chronicle by lovat dickson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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 2014 read online free book by. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall waterstones. Rare books by radclyffe hall, including first edition and signed first edition copies of the well of loneliness and the master of the house.
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 wordsworth classics kindle edition by hall, radclyffe, saxey, esther. The well of loneliness is the thinly disguised story of radclyffe halls own life. Pdf the well of loneliness download read online free. At this moment our thoughts center upon sapphismwe have. Shockingly candid for its time, this novel was the very first to condemn homophobic society for its unfair treatment of gays and lesbians. Marguerite radclyffehall, preferred to be called john. Imagine growing up with people judging you and condemning you because you are some notquitedefinably. 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. The well of loneliness wordsworth classics hall, radclyffe isbn.
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. Free download or read online the well of loneliness pdf epub book. 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. Radclyffe hall loneliness by dickson lovat abebooks.
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