The book remained banned in england until 1959, when the obscene publications act was amended to. Customs had banned it from being imported into the u. 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. The banning of the book drew so much attention to the very. 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. Jun, 2017 the english writer radclyffe hall 18801943 is best known for her lesbian novel the well of loneliness 1928. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall 1928, banned and tried in england for obscenity, has gone on to become a classic of gay and. Other articles where the well of loneliness is discussed. Well of loneliness was officially banned doan and prosser 1. 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. She began her literary career by writing verses, which. In radclyffe hall london, 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. Well of loneliness, the article about well of loneliness.
The book remained banned in england until 1959, when the obscene publications act was amended to differentiate controversial works of art and literature with social merit. The obscenity trial of miss radclyffe halls novel, the. This article focuses on author radclyffe halls lesbian young adult novel the well of loneliness. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall for books. The well tells the story of the masculine female author, stephen gordon, coming to terms with her sexuality. Published in 1928, radclyffe halls the well of loneliness seemed to set the world on fire for its plot about a lesbian relationship.
The well of loneliness books that have been banned. A conversation mightve taken place, and it mightve sounded something like this. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall summary of the novels fight in both the british and american court systems. The book was banned in the united kingdom and became a cause celeb that pitted conservative journalists, moralists and the british legal system against medical experts, scientists, sexresearchers. Woolf in time and space publication of the well of loneliness. American firm covici and friede took on the act of publishing the book in the united states just months after the well of loneliness was banned in england. Nov 15, 20 sheffield independent 17 november 1928 give us also the right to our existence at bow street in london on 16 november 1928, miss radclyffe halls novel, the well of loneliness, found itself in the dock on a charge of obscenity. Marriage and male protection in the well of loneliness the novels trial cited halls campaign for samesex marriage as one of the books most profane aspects. Radclyffe hall created pure literary magic with the well of loneliness. At that time, homosexuality was illegal in england and considered immoral.
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 national shortage of men and two women in bed making beasts of themselves. Her open treatment of lesbianism in the well of loneliness occasioned a trial for obscenity. The well of loneliness 1928 by radclyffe hall might have passed unseen, except by the intelligentsia, were it not for a fiery denunciation in a popular newspaper. Bow street, london radclyffe halls the well of loneliness was published in 1928 to much outrage. Its the end of september, which means that its banned books week this year, september. When british novelist radclyffe hall published the well of loneliness, it was the first widely read novel written in english to address lesbianism. The well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928.
Lesbian themed the well of loneliness held not obscene. Lesbian novel was danger to nation uk news the guardian. The silent novel in radclyffe halls groundbreaking the well. Feb 23, 2016 bow street, london radclyffe halls the well of loneliness was published in 1928 to much outrage. 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. If you looked in the well of loneliness, you could see all the people whod borrowed the book, and approach women whod signed their name to it. Published by radclyffe hall herself in 1928, it was immediately banned in britain due to its lesbian theme and was allowed in. Jan 01, 2005 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. Its the end of september, which means that its banned books week this year, september 2329 th, an annual celebration of the freedom to read. His equivocation led to a trial and a ban, and to his undertaking a last resort. In 1949 una troubridge halls long term partner, found a publisher prepared.
James douglas, editor of the sunday express, lead a campaign against the book. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall. Pronounced obscene after a sensational and scandalous court case, it was banned in the united kingdom until the late 1940s. In november 1928, a british magistrate, sir chartres biron, found the well of loneliness to be obscene and ruled that the novel should be taken out of circulation and destroyed. Sep 30, 2010 featuring on the banned books list, the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall was published in 1928 and subsequently banned. Dec 08, 2019 published in 1928, radclyffe halls the well of loneliness seemed to set the world on fire for its plot about a lesbian relationship. Homosexuality explanation of well of loneliness, the. The case of the well of loneliness set the stage for. The obscenity trial of miss radclyffe halls novel, the well. The english writer radclyffe hall 18801943 is best known for her lesbian novel the well of loneliness 1928.
The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall goodreads. The well of loneliness essays are academic essays for citation. Hello, im carianne whitworth, an editor at the national archives, and today im in the reading rooms to look at a court case about a banned book called the well of loneliness. The well of loneliness the first lesbian book published in. Stephen grows to be a war hero, a bestselling writer and a loyal, protective lover.
The well of loneliness is the thinly disguised story of radclyffe halls own life. Banned books, publishers ploys, and the well of loneliness 37 in his desire to curtail that compromise and to avoid harmful associationthe implication that this was a surreptitious, underthecounter publication. A seminal banned classic kindle edition by radclyffe hall. I would rather give a healthy boy or a healthy girl a phial of prussic acid than this novel. Banned books part 3 the well of loneliness by radcliffe hall. The well of loneliness is a lesbian novel by british author radclyffe hall that was first published in 1928 by jonathan cape. Published in 1928, the well of loneliness, by british author radclyffe hall. Dec 07, 2019 the well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall is probably the most famous lesbian novel of the first half of the 20th century. The well of loneliness 1928 was banned for obscenity because its main character is a lesbian, and it subsequently became a notorious bestseller, thrusting hall into a literary rogues gallery of fame. Unfolding the court case that banned a 1920s lesbian novel.
Often discussed as the first openly lesbian novel in english, the well of loneliness favors the term invert over lesbian. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the well of loneliness. On this day, however, the customs court ruled that it was not obscene and could be imported. It immediately raised the ire of the new york society for the suppression of vice, who invoked the 1873 comstock law, a piece of legislation designed at rooting out lewd and obscene literature. The history and legacy surrounding the well of loneliness. The novels exploration of lesbianism and the taboo nature of homosexuality led to a vehement backlash from some quarters of english society. 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. It follows the life of stephen gordon, an englishwoman from an upperclass family whose sexual inversion homosexuality is apparent from an early age. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. Though the novel has no erotic moments, it was banned for. London, 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. Sheffield independent 17 november 1928 give us also the right to our existence at bow street in london on 16 november 1928, miss radclyffe halls novel, the well of loneliness, found itself in the dock on a charge of obscenity. See why i gave it five out of five stars on goodreads. Banned books, publishers ploys, and the well of loneliness 35 it may be interesting to know that radclyffe halls novel about lesbians, the well of loneliness, though banned in england and under fire in new york, has escaped condemnation in france, where it now enjoys a.
Shockingly candid for its time, this novel was the very first to condemn homophobic society for its unfair treatment of gays and lesbians. 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. Woolf in time and space publication of the well of. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall 1928, banned and tried in england for obscenity, has gone on to become a classic of gay and lesbian literature. The well of loneliness lewisham library and information. The history and legacy surrounding the well of loneliness, the. Dec 19, 2011 jan usher, one of the nls curators involved in the banned books exhibition introduces the well of loneliness by radcliffe hall, banned under the obscene publications act when it was first. American firm covici and friede took on the risky act of publishing the book in the united states just months after the well of loneliness was banned in england. Find out information about well of loneliness, the. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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. Banned novel radclyffe halls the well of loneliness.
Sep 26, 20 the book remained banned in england until 1959, when the obscene publications act was amended to differentiate controversial works of art and literature with social merit. Queer christian themes mark banned book well of loneliness lesbian author radclyffe hall is a crucified christ figure in a 1928 cartoon by beresford egan a queer christ figure is the main character in the worlds best known lesbian novel, the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall. Funke said that when people read the well of loneliness, knowing that it was banned as obscene in the uk, they are often surprised and disappointed to find that there is no explicit sexual. I saw you borrowed well of loneliness from the library. Featuring on the banned books list, the well of loneliness by radclyffe hall was published in 1928 and subsequently banned. Because of its nature of the topic a woman having women lovers the novel was initially banned the year it was published 1928. The banning of the book drew so much attention to the very subject it was intended to suppress that it left british authorities wary of further attempts to censor books for lesbian content. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall being fibro mom. Reading and reassessing the construction of gender and. The silent novel in radclyffe halls groundbreaking the. The well of loneliness the first lesbian book published.
Hall was educated at kings college, london, and then attended school in germany. The well of loneliness made sexual inversion a subject of household conversation for the first time. The well of loneliness by radclyffe hall librarything. Among the most frequently challenged books in recent years have been ones that include lgbtq content or themes, such as samesex relationships or issues. Jonathan cape, its publisher, equivocated over the novels withdrawal. Queer christian themes mark banned book well of loneliness a queer christ figure is the main character in the worlds best known. The well of loneliness tells the story of stephen gordon as she struggles to find love and acceptance in a society that rejects samesex desire. The well of loneliness was banned for obscenity when stephen is an ideal child of aristocratic parentsa fencer, a horse rider and a keen scholar. Aug 10, 2016 the well of loneliness 1928 was banned for obscenity because its main character is a lesbian, and it subsequently became a notorious bestseller, thrusting hall into a literary rogues gallery of fame.
The book was banned in the united kingdom and became a cause celeb that pitted conservative journalists, moralists and the british legal system against medical experts, scientists, sexresearchers, and some of the. The novel tells the story of stephen gordon so named because. The well of loneliness 1928 lady chatterleys lover 1928 tropic of cancer 1934 the power and the glory 1940 lolita 1955 doctor zhivago 1957 naked lunch 1959 the adult life of toulouse lautrec 1978 the satanic verses 1988. The well of loneliness is a 1928 novel by british author radclyffe hall. Jan usher, one of the nls curators involved in the banned books exhibition introduces the well of loneliness by radcliffe hall, banned under the obscene publications act when it was first. The united states allowed its publication after a long court battle.
It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond. The novel was banned in england due to its immorality. A seminal banned classic kindle edition by hall, radclyffe. As her ambitions drive her, and society confines her, stephen is forced into desperate actions. 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. Jan 10, 2019 the well of loneliness was censored after a campaign by the sunday express, but archives show thousands of readers wrote to express thanks for the book. He wrote an article calling for the immediate ban of the book.
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