These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall. Banned in England “The Well of Loneliness” made waves among British society for its depiction of a lesbian relationship. Anyone could pick up this book and see clearly everything she's very clearly alluding to, so there isn't much mystery, but instead, a whole lot of straightforward honesty about an aspect of the world most overlook without even realizing. The identification of Jonathan Brockett as gay by describing his hands as being “as white and soft as a woman’s,” for example, emphasizes Stephen’s conflicted feelings about his own sexuality and the feminine sex, as well as his blossoming sense of gender dysphoria, as he feels “a queer little sense of outrage.” If one regards Stephen as a woman it seems completely illogical for Stephen's hands are not, after all “white and soft.” Rather, Stephen is full of the sense of smug entitlement that goes along with being an upper class gentleman, and so while this "Well" is certainly fascinating as historical trans-fiction, the reader is likely to find himself/herself in the end feeling as though he/she has spent way too much time with an insufferable prick, and wondering why. Here's a sample: I read this book as a teenager and was so riveted by the story I still have my copy, yellowed pages and all. Although I have seen, first hand, that it still exists, even among the young. The book is deeply moving and incredibly sad. Reading this book proved incredibly difficult. I would thoroughly recommend this book. Stock photography. They had to hide their love if they ever found anyone who returned their affection. I needed something to relate to. I felt a hundred times while reading this novel that I had never heard such a sentiment expressed so perfectly. There's a sort of integrity to it. Until the dreadful ending. Reading a few pages went from a half hour diversion, to an afternoon slog. it should be MANDATORY that everyone reads this book. If they didn't, they lived much as the governess in this novel as the unloved and lonely spinster. Most feminist … Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. Historic lesbian book “Antiques Roadshow” appraiser Catherine Williamson said “The Well of Loneliness” is “a landmark book in gay and lesbian modern literature of the 20th century” that would likely sell for between $1,000 and $1,500 at auction.. Hoopla.com, as long as you have a library card. Therefore we are natural. The Well Of Lonliness. The well of loneliness by Radclyffe Hall. In 1907 she met the singer Mabel Batten, then 51… Batten and Radclyffe-Hall entered into a long-term relationship. Despite the pleas of literary figures, including Virginia Woolf, this novel was effectively banned on the grounds of obscenity for its frank depiction of female same-sex desire. Yet there has been little sustained analysis of the biblical language of the novel. It is difficult for me to say that reading this novel was a struggle because it is culturally important. It lived under my mattress for about three days while I read it. Published by Radclyffe Hall herself in 1928, it was immediately banned in Britain due to its lesbian theme and was allowed in … Joseph Bristow, Sexuality, (Routledge, 2011) p 47. A letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Home Office commenting on a book entitled: ‘The Well of Loneliness’ by Radclyffe Hall first published by Jonathan Cape Limited. Seller Inventory # AAZ9781840224559. Banned Books Week: The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall. The Well of Loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. I can't actually imagine anything more agonising than what the protagonist, Stephen, does -- voluntarily giving up her lover to a male close friend to give her safety and security, acting as a martyr for her... And Barbara and Jamie: both of them die because of the life they lead, the way they have to live to be together. Artist. Stephen grows to be a war hero, a bestselling writer and a loyal, protective lover. --Jacket Once it was available, The Well of Loneliness sold more than 20,000 copies its first year and paved the way for other works with lesbian themes. I was unsure how to rate it, but decided for 2 stars in the end: the story is a very good one, extremely interesting, but the writing is so dull you can't begin to understand if you haven't read it. The main character in The Well of Loneliness, published in 1928, is Stephen Gordon (so named because her parents had expected a boy). They had to hide their love if they ever found anyone who returned their affection. Radclyffe Hall, The Well of Loneliness, (Virago Press, 1982) p 10 The Well of Loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. In most cases, items shipped from Amazon.com may be returned for a full refund. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Click Download or Read Online button to get The Well Of Loneliness Pdf book now. The Well of Loneliness begins before Stephen’s birth, describing the condition of Sir Phillip and Anna Gordon. Hall's Model of ‘God’ as It Relates to ‘Inversion’ (now known as 'Queerness') in ‘The Well of Loneliness’. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Please try your request again later. Funny enough I find the character of Stephen quite similar to the character of Jo in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Just ‘B’ bereavement and emotional wellbeing support services reaches across Hambleton district as well as Harrogate and Richmondshire, part of a family of services provided by Herriot Hospice Homecare in Thirsk and Saint Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate. 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. The Well of Loneliness - Lesbian or Transgender? We all feel lonely from time to time. Throughout her childhood Stephen is shown as a girl unlike others. Hall proves that imagery does not have to be tedious and overwraught. So I read this for a Lesbian Literatures course, and I have to state from the outset that I am well aware of the *significance* of the novel in such a course, and such a subset of lesbian history. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. 'The Well of Loneliness' is a novel that follows an upper-class Englishwoman who falls in love with another woman while serving as an ambulance driver in World War I. Marguerite Radclyffe Hall was born on 12th August 1880, in Bournemouth, England. Hardly a page went by, without me having to look up a word, or translate a phrase. Mental health care concept. Yerk. Not all readers will appreciate the Christian symbolism and theology but I did- the constant please for meaning and acceptance by a sort of outcast. I read it because it's a lesbian classic, and someone said that it was one of the first novels where horrible things don't have to happen to its lesbian protagonists. The book centers around a girl whose father desperately wanted a boy and so named her Stephen. At Bow Street in London on 16 November 1928, Miss Radclyffe Hall’s novel, ‘The Well of Loneliness’, found itself in the dock on a charge of obscenity. The Well of Loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. Hall was educated at King’s College, London, and then attended school in Germany. If one thinks of "The Well of Loneliness" as having been written by a homophobic, sexist straight man then it begins to make sense. Morton Hall, the Gordons of Bramley’s dignified, “lovely,” and ample estate near the English town of Upton-on-Severn, is Lady Anna Gordon’s new home following her marriage to Sir Philip (5). As she grow, Stephen begins to find love in women and eventually settles down with one in particular. The Well of Loneliness is a 1928 lesbian novel by the English author Radclyffe Hall. I really like this book, but found it very, very depressing. “The Well of Loneliness” made waves among British society for its depiction of a lesbian relationship. But Stephen is a woman, and her lovers are women. Her mother may have battered her, while her father, a playboy known as 'Rat', ignored her. and as it was published in France and the USA, it was easy to obtain copies. Another book thats should be mandatory as part of education. The Well of Loneliness Questions and Answers. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. A letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Home Office commenting on a book entitled: ‘The Well of Loneliness’ by Radclyffe Hall first published by Jonathan Cape Limited. Refreshing, too, for a book on the kindle, to find virtually no proofreading errors. Reviews, interviews and features from the international film magazine. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. Refresh and try again. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. With the publication of The Well of Loneliness (public library), the way gender and sexual identities are formulated and articulated was forever changed. Stephen was apparently based partially on Radclyffe Hall's life, therefore accuracy can't be doubted. What will you do when it's your turn to pick your book club's next read? To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. It is difficult for me to say that reading this novel was a struggle because it is culturally important. Throughout her childhood Stephen is shown as a girl unlike others. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond. Although both Asian woman. The main protagonist is Stephen Gordon, named Stephen because her father wanted a boy and stuck with the chosen name when a girl arrived. It follows the life of Stephen Gordon, an Englishwoman from an upper-class family whose "sexual inversion" (homosexuality) is apparent from an early age. Radclyffe Hall, The Well of Loneliness (1928) Radclyffe Hall: Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall, preferred to be called John; 1880-1943, English writer Wealthy but unhappy family background Educated in London (King’s College) and in Germany Called herself a “congenital invert,” adopting the term by Havelock Ellis and other sexologists. Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2017. there isn't anything too astounding about her writing style, and nothing too "deep" about it either. Radclyffe Hall's 1928 novel, The Well of Loneliness, is repeatedly described as a "bible" of lesbian literature. 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. Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. Because we've dug... Stephen is an ideal child of aristocratic parents—a fencer, a horse rider and a keen scholar. The handwritten note by Home Secretary added at the end, said that prosecution would follow immediately if the book was not withdrawn by the publishers. The main characters of this fiction, lgbt story are Stephen Gordon, . “The world hid its head in the sands of convention, so that by seeing nothing it might avoid Truth. 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. The Well of Loneliness begins before Stephen’s birth, describing the condition of Sir Phillip and Anna Gordon. The archaic language, and the occasional lapse into French, made this book hard to read. In the drawing rooms of Edwardian society, Marguerite made a small name for herself as a poet and librettist. this book is simply, very sad. January 7th 2014 Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The Well of Loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. 0 Ratings 46 Want to read; 3 Currently reading; 0 Have read; This edition was published in 1928 by Covici Friede in New York. AUTHOR'S NOTE. There isn't anything too astounding about her writing style, and nothing too "deep" about it either. McCarthy. This is a very English novel: what could have been a fascinating chronicle of a tough butch interloper challenging mainstream society becomes the drippy tale of a woman who just wants to be loved, and the cruel little bitch who leads her on. Woolf’s novel is an extended love letter to Vita Sackville-West, taking incidents from Vita’s life and aspects of her personality and weaving them into a fantastical narrative. This is/was obviously a very important book, so it feels a shame to give it such a low grade but jaysus it was a bit painful after the novelty of the first 200 pages had worn off. I normally try to read quickly but this time I had to take it slow. Radclyffe Hall did a fantastic job showing the agonizing reality of being a lesbian in the early 20th century. In 1907 she met a middle-aged fashionable singer, Mrs Mabel Batten, known as 'Ladye", who introduced her to influential people. Stephen is simply the sisterless, unloved, rich version of Jo. ’ Epic story. Why not? See all 5 questions about The Well of Loneliness…, 100 Best Lesbian Fiction & Memoir Books Of All Time. She published five volumes of poetry and seven novels. All the way through one just wants to tell Stephen to talk about how she feels, but of course, in those days this was neither possible or advisable. Both would have preferred to be men and both find the demeanor, dress and lifestyle expectations of women in their day to be dreary. No more than something like Twelfth Night did. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2017. The Question and Answer section for The Well of Loneliness is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and … The Well of Loneliness is a path-breaking novel. Certainly it was landmark, insofar as the book was one of the (perhaps THE?) THE WELL OF LONELINESS, describing the lesbian 'invert' Stephen, was banned on publication in 1928. The terrible mark of Cain" compels Stephen to forsake the woman she loves to protect her from a life of ostracism. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Not all readers will appreciate the Christian symbolism and theology but I did- the constant please for meaning and acceptance by a sort of outcast. 79 quotes from The Well of Loneliness: ‘The world hid its head in the sands of convention, so that by seeing nothing it might avoid Truth. Not depressing in a 'Im gonna slit my wrist with the sharp edges of the pages' depressed, more like a 'why is the word so cruel, where is my God now?' All the characters in this book are purelyimaginary, and if the author has used names that may suggest areference to living persons, she has done so inadvertently. The Well of Loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. Practically from birth, Stephen is described as different, yet while Radclyffe Hall delivers the powerful message that lesbianism is natural, she also asks the reader to have pity on Stephen Gordon, for, along with the popular psychoanalysts of her day, Radclyffe Hall describes lesbianism as an inversion. The Well of Loneliness Summary. The Well of Loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. Radclyffe Hall's The Well of Loneliness, a candid, semi-autobiographical 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. In November, The Well of Loneliness faced an obscenity trial at Bow Street Magistrates Court. In addition, many readers today may find the language long-winded and the characters one-dimensional, with the exception of the thinly-veiled portrait of the author as Stephen Gordon. Radclyffe Hall's 1928 novel, The Well of Loneliness, is repeatedly described as a "bible" of lesbian literature. anyone could pick up this book and see clearly everything she's very clearly alluding to, so there isn't much mystery, but instead, a whole lot of straightforward honesty about an aspect of the world most overlook without even realizing. Download The Well Of Loneliness Pdf PDF/ePub or read online books in Mobi eBooks. The identification of Jonathan Brockett as gay by describing his hands as being “as white and soft as a woman’s,” for example, emphasizes Stephen’s conflicted feelings about his own sexuality and the femin. It is clear that the character is an outcast both by society and the resulting self-loathing. The Well of Loneliness is a lesbian novel by British author Radclyffe Hall that was first published in 1928 by Jonathan Cape. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. Do not give up in the first one hundred pages. Great design for any purposes. Tweet Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The Well of Loneliness is a path-breaking novel. But Stephen is a woman, and her lovers are women. Everyone. Please try again. As her ambitions drive her, and society confines her, Stephen is forced into desperate actions. 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. She … I read it because it's a lesbian classic, and someone said that it was one of the first novels where horrible things don't have to happen to its lesbian protagonists. A few times I sort of experienced Stephen as unrelatable because of how ridiculously wealthy she was, but then there were people like Jamie and Barbara to add counterpoint to it, there was just enough shown of the servants to undo the idea that Stephen's class were the important people. In publishing The Well of Loneliness in 1928, the novelist Radclyffe Hall has been credited with creating the archetypal lesbian novel. Well, this is what you won't do: panic. I enjoyed it then as the third lesbian book I'd ever read (after. I'm sorry to have to say this, but it's what I felt about this book. In today's liberal, and more inclusive society, it is hard to reflect on what must have been so heartbreaking and soul destroying for those not conforming to such harsh social norms and expectations of the early twentieth century. Written in English — 506 pages Stephen is an ideal child of aristocratic parentsa fencer, a horse rider and a keen scholar. Yet there has been little sustained analysis of the biblical language of the novel. Please try again. 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. No, I can't say it's true that terrible things don't happen to the protagonists because of their sexualities. The central character (and stand-in for author Radclyffe Hall) is not a self-loathing lesbian at all, he's a transgendered man, and he's not exactly gay-friendly. The Well of Loneliness is a lesbian novel by British author Radclyffe Hall that was first published in 1928 by Jonathan Cape. And I still generally stand behind these sentiments. Album. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond. With Batten, Radclyffe-Hall converted to Catholicism; in the company of Una, she pursued an interst in animals and spiritualism. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. everyone. 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