The Well of Loneliness

by Radclyffe Hall, Mint Editions (Contribution by)

Overview

Stephen Gordon has always been different. Firstly, she was born a girl against her parent's wishes. Secondly, she is raised to be boyish, much to her mother's disdain. Third-but most important-is that Stephen loves women, and it is a very isolating life to lead. Revisit one of Britian's most famous banned books-the original lesbian novel, The Well of Loneliness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798888976395
Publisher:	Mint Editions
Publication date:	09/17/2024
Series:	Mint Editions (Reading With Pride)
Pages:	496
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Radclyffe Hall (1880-1943) was an English poet and novelist. Born to a wealthy English father and an American mother in Bournemouth, Hampshire, Hall was left a sizeable fortune following her parents' separation in 1882. Raised in a troubled environment, Hall struggled to gain financial independence from her mother and stepfather. As she took control of her inheritance, Hall began dressing in men's clothing and identifying herself as a "congenital invert." In 1907, she began a relationship with amateur singer Mabel Batten, who encouraged Hall to pursue a career in literature. By 1917, she had fallen in love with sculptor Una Troubridge, a cousin of Batten's. After several poetry collections, Hall's second novel The Unlit Lamp (1924) was published, becoming a bestseller shortly thereafter. Adam's Breed (1926), a novel about an Italian waiter who abandons modern life, earned Hall the Prix Femina and the James Tait Black Prize, two of the most prestigious awards in world literature. In 1928, Hall's sixth novel, The Well of Loneliness, was published to widespread controversy for its depiction of lesbian romance. While an obscenity trial in the United Kingdom led to an order that all copies of the novel be destroyed, a lengthy trial in the United States eventually allowed the book's publication. Recognized as a pioneering figure in lesbian literature, Hall lived in London with Una Troubridge until her death at the age of sixty-three.

Table of Contents

Biographical PrefaceIntroductionNote on the TextSelect BibliographyA Chronology of Radclyffe HallTHE WELL OF LONELINESSExplanatory NotesAppendix

Editorial Reviews

The bible of lesbianism—The Times

The outpouring of support Hall received from members of the public around the world, who wrote to thank her for creating, in her heroine Stephen Gordon, a character with whom they could identify—Alison Flood, Guardian

Radclyffe Hall's The Well of Loneliness still holds a place as a beacon for sexual self-discovery—Hephzibah Anderson, BBC Culture

A pioneering lesbian novel—Daily Telegraph

Beautifully written and constructed, with delightful prose. It is the standard-bearer; the lesbian The Grapes of Wrath—Lee Lynch

The archetypal lesbian novel —Times Literary Supplement

One of the first and most influential contributions of gay and lesbian literature—New Statesman

Passionately felt and courageous—Spectator

From the Publisher