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. 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 a 1928 book written by radclyffe hall about homosexuality. 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. 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. R adclyffe hall s 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 hall s novel the well of loneliness 1928 for ob scenity, virginia woolf wrote in a letter. Radclyffe hall, english writer whose novel the well of loneliness 1928 created a scandal and was banned for a time in britain for its treatment of lesbianism. First published july 1928 in england by jonathan cape, the well was soon seized and criminalized for violating the obscene. Radclyffe hall, the pen name of marguerite radclyffehall, was born in bournemouth on 12 august 1880. 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. The well of loneliness isbn 9780141191836 pdf epub.
Christened marguerite, a shy child with golden curls and victorian muslin dresses, she became at a time when men wore the trousers a flamboyant character who smoked small green cigars, crossdressed in. The well of loneliness, by radclyffe hall chapter eight at seventeen stephen was taller than anna, who had used to be considered quite tall for a woman, but stephen was nearly as tall as her father not a beauty this, in the eyes of the neighbours. She finds love with mary llewellyn, whom she meets while serving as an ambulance driver in world war i, but. 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. 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. She finds love with mary llewellyn, whom she meets while serving as an ambulance driver in world war i. Essays and criticism on radclyffe halls the well of loneliness critical essays. Free download or read online the well of loneliness pdf epub book. The judgment was given on a summons to show cause why seized. She was educated at kings college, london, and later undertook further studies in germany. I have read the well of loneliness with great interest because apart from its fine qualities as a novel by a writer of accomplished art it possesses a notable psychological and sociological significance. Becoming a runaway bestseller in its notoriety, it was originally banned by the british after a legal trial and all copies were ordered to be destroyed due to its lesbian plot and characters. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall is a controversial novel that was banned at the time of its publication in 1928. She is angry, bitter and twisted and she wants the world to know it.
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. The main characters of this fiction, lgbt story are stephen gordon. Halls first novel the unlit lamp 1924 was a lengthy and grim tale that proved hard to sell. 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 pdf i.
It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family whose sexual inversion homosexuality is apparent from an early age. The well of loneliness is a 1928 lesbian novel by the english author radclyffe hall. Pdf the well of loneliness book by radclyffe hall free. She was also a lesbian, which became part of that legend. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall free mobi epub ebooks download. As a man loved a woman, that was how i lovedit was good, good, good stephen is. 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. Radclyffe hall, the pen name of marguerite radclyffehall, was born in bournemouth on august 12, 1880. Jan 07, 2014 the well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. The powersthatbe had decided that they did not like the novels unnatural offences hence the decision to prosecute.
The well tells the story of the masculine female author, stephen gordon, coming to terms with her sexuality. At this moment our thoughts center upon sapphismwe have. She is best known for this novel, which was first published in 1928 with a foreword by havelock ellis. The well of loneliness is a 1928 lesbian novel by the british author radclyffe hall. First published in 1928, this timeless portrayal of lesbian love is now a classic. Pronounced obscene after a sensational and scandalous court case, it was banned in the united kingdom until the late 1940s. 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. Marguerite radclyffe hall was born on 12th august 1880, in bournemouth, england. With the publication of the well of loneliness public library, the way gender and sexual identities are formulated and articulated was forever changed. The well of loneliness isbn 9781473374089 pdf epub. 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. Both the well of loneliness and the unlit lamp end in tragedy and radclyffe hall is apparently unable to do happy endings or to dissemble. However, halls novel did not reach the wide audiences of her contemporaries it was banned. Radclyffe hall, the well of loneliness 1928 radclyffe hall.
Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Read the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall available from rakuten kobo. Please be aware this contains spoilers, read at your own risk. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the well of loneliness. This early work by radclyffe hall was originally published in 1928 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. Radclyffe hall author radclyffe hall, the pen name of marguerite radclyffehall, was born in bournemouth on 12 august 1880. 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. The well of loneliness kindle edition by hall, radclyffe. Description book the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall 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.
Born marguerite radclyffe hall in 1880, hall wrote eight novels, the most famous being the well of loneliness. Why the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall is an. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 414 pages and is available in paperback format. Shockingly candid for its time, this novel was the very first to condemn homophobic society for. The well of loneliness is the fifth and bestknown novel by english author and poet radclyffe hall. The well of loneliness, by radclyffe hall read by jr. A sapphic chronicle lovat dickson c7tsob8394y read free online d0wnload epub.
Download the well of loneliness pdf ebookthe well of loneliness the well of loneliness ebook author by radclyffe hall. Publication date 1928 topics lesbians publisher new york, covici friede. 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 thing i noticed about radclyffe hall s the well of loneliness, was the beautiful descriptive exposition. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall. Feb 05, 20 radclyffe hall, the well of loneliness 1928 radclyffe hall. Radclyffe halls 1928 novel, the well of loneliness, follows the story of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family.
Soon after the new year, nine months later, stephens second novel was published. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall overdrive rakuten. Radclyffe hall was a legend in her own lifetime and her fame has never faded. The well of loneliness is the first novel in english to make an unabashed plea for an understanding of lesbians, or female sexual inverts, the term used in radclyffe hall. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall goodreads. A sapphic chronicle by lovat dickson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Shockingly candid for its time, this novel was the very first to condemn homophobic society for its unfair treatment of gays and lesbians.
The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall overdrive. So far as i know, it is the first english novel which presents, in a completely faithful and uncompromising form, one particular aspect of. The well of loneliness is a novel that follows an upperclass. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond. First published july 1928 in england by jonathan cape, the well was soon seized and criminalized. Oct, 2017 radclyffe halls 1928 novel, the well of loneliness, follows the story of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family. Hall was educated at kings college, london, and then attended school in germany. Jan 09, 2017 the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall is not a particularly famous or well known novel amongst general reading circles. The novel is about stephen gordon, a young englishwoman who is a lesbian, in a time when acceptance of this lifestyle was nonexistent. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, paperback.
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. Radclyffe hall loneliness by dickson lovat abebooks. The well of loneliness is a lesbian novel by british author radclyffe hall that was first published in 1928 by jonathan cape. Descriptions of the english countryside, of london and of paris are some of the finest written in english. The well of loneliness essays are academic essays for citation. 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 first edition of the novel was published in 1928, and was written by radclyffe hall. 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.
The novel tells the story of stephen gordon so named because. 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 download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. 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 free ebooks. 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. Read the well of loneliness, by keith carabine, radclyffe hall online on bookmate as a man loved a woman, that was how i lovedit was good, good, good stephen is an ideal child o. 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 english writer radclyffe hall 18801943 is best known for her lesbian novel the well of loneliness 1928.
The first thing i noticed about radclyffe halls the well of loneliness, was the beautiful descriptive exposition. Read the well of loneliness the classic of lesbian fiction by radclyffe hall available from rakuten kobo. Halls model of god as it relates to inversion now known as queerness in the well of loneliness. 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. Marguerite radclyffehall, preferred to be called john. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall free ebooks download. 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. Growing up, stephen is just like any other prewar aristocratic child. 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.
It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. The well of loneliness by keith carabine, radclyffe hall read. The well of loneliness ebook written by radclyffe hall. Marguerite radclyffe hall was born on 12th august 1880, in bournemouth. 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. Radclyffe hall at the well of loneliness internet archive. The well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. The obscenity trial of miss radclyffe hall s novel, the. Radclyffe hall is the pen name of marguerite radclyffehall 18801943, an english poet and novelist. 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. Hall was renowned for her open homosexuality, a subject dealt with in her bestknown novel, the well of loneliness 1928, a semiautobiographical. The silent novel in radclyffe halls groundbreaking the.
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