Hall wrote many books but is best known for the well of loneliness, first published in 1928. Listen to the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall available from rakuten kobo. The novel is about stephen gordon, a young englishwoman who is a lesbian, in a. Nov 05, 2018 we would have a red nose day for books, as well as millions of pounds devoted to reading. 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. Stephen grows to be a war hero, a bestselling writer and a loyal, protective lover. As radclyffe halls most important work, and indeed one of the most important early calls for homosexual equality in general, the well of loneliness is here preserved successfully thanks to the formidable talents of cecilia fage. 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.
Hall was renowned for her open homosexuality, a subject dealt with in her bestknown novel, the well of loneliness. Well of loneliness signed radclyffe hall bauman rare books. This title is part of or scheduled to be part of the following subscriptions. Widely condemned on its release, and banned for decades in britain on the grounds of obscenity, the book. First published july 1928 in england by jonathan cape, the well. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Otherness and orientalism in the ring, in diagesis. As it depicts the love that dare not speak its name, the well of loneliness clearly portrays the isolation, condemnation, and struggle of lesbian life as it was in the recent past and. Jan 09, 2014 stephen gordon is an ideal child of aristocratic parents a fencer, a horse rider and a keen scholar. 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.
If books can cure loneliness why are we closing libraries. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, paperback. The well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. Bbc radio 4 riot girls, the trial of the well of loneliness. Lesbian novel was danger to nation uk news the guardian. Whether you are looking to delve into this controversial book for the first time, or rediscover why so many people. In 1928 radclyffe halls the well of loneliness, which got no more racy than she kissed her full on the lips like a lover, led to an obscenity trial which considered the implications of the.
It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family whose sexual inversion homosexuality is apparent from an early age. 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. The first edition of the novel was published in 1928, and was written by radclyffe hall. All the characters in this book are purely imaginary, and if the author has used names that may suggest a reference to living. I love this book so much that after listening to the audio book i had to buy a hard copy to read and mark my favourite pages. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall. Radclyffe hall, the pen name of marguerite radclyffehall, was born in bournemouth on august 12, 1880. She died in 1943 and is buried in highgate cemetery in london.
First published july 1928 in england by jonathan cape, the well was soon seized and criminalized for violating the obscene. The well at the worlds end full audiobook by william morris by fantasy fiction. Audio download free with audible trial learn more about literature european classics. Rbdigital audio pub library adult bestseller collection rbdigital unlimited audio. Stephen is a lesbian but, growing up, doesnt know what she. Sapphic books written before the well of loneliness duration. Forever entombed within the well of loneliness, sadako is a tragic figure and the embodiment of the themes of isolation, despair and emptiness that run throughout japanese horror film. Pdf the well of loneliness download read online free. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond. Halls model of god as it relates to inversion now known as queerness in the well of loneliness. The well of loneliness has been known as the lesbian bible and was written in 1928. I love this book so much that after listening to the audio book. She was educated at kings college, london, and later undertook further studies in germany.
The thinly disguised story of halls own life, it was banned outright upon publication. First published in 1928, this timeless portrayal of lesbian love is now a classic. 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 by radclyffe hall is a controversial novel that was banned at the time of its publication in 1928.
Beautifully written and impossible to put down, his stories range in theme from loneliness imposed by external eventssuch as worldshaking historical upheavalsto the limitations for rich social connections imposed by family structure, lack of. Imagine growing up with people judging you and condemning you because you are some notquitedefinably. The book itself is more about gender than orientation. Well of loneliness by radclyffe hall available from rakuten kobo.
She attended the trial in november 1928 dressed in a. Stephen gordon is an ideal child of aristocratic parents a fencer, a horse rider and a keen scholar. Minor characters are interesting and the heroine is a bore. The loneliness book four seasons of loneliness by j. Mar 16, 2020 a surprisingly good book that is not widely read. 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. Pronounced obscene following a sensational trial, the book has become a cultural icon as well. Mar 03, 2018 sapphic books written before the well of loneliness. Stephen is an ideal child of aristocratic parentsa fencer, a horse rider and a keen scholar. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall librarything. Written by radclyffe hall, narrated by laura kirman. Kupshik and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Stephen grows to be a war hero, a bestselling writer and a.
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. Sep 26, 20 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. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall on free audio. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall overdrive rakuten. Discover the groundbreaking and moving lesbian novel that rocked the british establishment. People who liked the well of loneliness also liked these free titles. Whether you are looking to delve into this controversial book. The female lead, stephen, leads a tomboyish childhood. Unlike male inversion the female kind was not officially acknowledged to exist in england. The detective in mystery and suspense fiction by david schmid audiobooks.
The well of loneliness essays are academic essays for citation. Hall 18801943 was legendary in her own timeor infamous, some might sayfor her fifth novel, the well of loneliness 1928. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall, paperback barnes. Goodreads members who liked the well of loneliness also liked.
The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall goodreads. The well of loneliness is a 1928 lesbian novel by the british author radclyffe hall. On 19 august 1928, a month after its publication, james douglas, editor of the sunday express, wrote an article calling for the immediate ban of the well of loneliness. References balmain, colette 2004 lost in translation. The well of loneliness 2014 read online free book by. Jan 25, 2010 quotes from the well of loneliness radclyffe hall january 25, 2010 june 27, 2018 geoff w the subtlety, the craftiness of that question which in common decency could have but one answer. Hall, a flamboyant lesbian, wrote the well of loneliness to put my pen at the service of some of the most misunderstood people in the world. She finds love with mary llewellyn, whom she meets while serving as an ambulance driver in world war i, but their. As her ambitions drive her, and society confines her, stephen is forced into desperate actions. This 67page guide for the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 56 chapters, as well. 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.
Not very far from up tononsevernbetween it, in fact, and the malvern hillsstands the country seat of the gordons of bramley. It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family whose sexual inversion. This study examined the influence of loneliness and volunteerism on the well being of a unique sample of selfidentified successfully aging older adults. English author radclyffe halls groundbreaking 1928 novel, the first piece of lesbian literature in the english language. Quotes from the well of loneliness radclyffe hall the. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. Radclyffe halls pioneering novel about love between women becomes the centre of a 1928 obscenity trial. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. The well of loneliness, by radclyffe hall read by jr.
Perhaps it was the rather sedentary plot that made virginia woolf another lesbian writer dismiss the well of loneliness as a meritorous dull book. The well of loneliness provided an open treatment of lesbianism at a time when homosexuality could not be discussed in english books or in the english press. Download and keep this book for free with a 30 day trial. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall overdrive. The well of loneliness is a lesbian novel by british author radclyffe hall that was first published in 1928 by jonathan cape.
Not very far from uptononsevern between it, in fact, and the malvern hills stands the country seat of the gordons of bramley. It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family. The novel is about stephen gordon, a young englishwoman who is a lesbian, in a time when acceptance of this lifestyle was nonexistent. The main character in the well of loneliness, published in 1928, is stephen gordon so named because her parents had expected a boy. The endlessly dreary well of loneliness deserved this is a book where the message matters more to the author then the tale. The well of loneliness project gutenberg selfpublishing. Audible publishes well of loneliness as audiobook the. Read the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall available from rakuten kobo. Hall was renowned for her open homosexuality, a subject dealt with in her bestknown novel, the well of loneliness 1928, a semiautobiographical. The well of loneliness audiobook by radclyffe hall. I hope the government, and tracey crouch s successor as minister for loneliness, reads the report and. Free download or read online the well of loneliness pdf epub book.
Sapphic books written before the well of loneliness youtube. Listen to well of loneliness audiobook by radclyffe hall. The book was banned for obscenity because its main character is a lesbian. Freiberg explores the vast territory of human loneliness with cases from his fascinating law practice. Find books like the well of loneliness from the worlds largest community of readers. She hunts, fences, rides her horse but not side saddle fashion. Pdf the well of loneliness book by radclyffe hall free.