A novel that gets no more "obscene" 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." Here’s the original United Press article on the subject, published in British newspapers in 1928: London, November, 1928 (UP): Sir Charles Byron, Bow Street Magistrate, yesterday adjudged obscene Miss Radclyffe Hall’s book The Well of Loneliness, which has been the object of much discussion and litigation since its publication last summer. Cuenta y Listas Cuenta Devoluciones y Pedidos. Foyles, the major London bookshop, distributed a leaflet to its account hold - The campaign against the book was led by the editor of The Sunday Express, who wrote, “I would rather give a healthy boy or a healthy girl a phial of prussic acid than this novel.”, The book’s publisher was forced to endure an obscenity trial. The Well of Loneliness is a 1928 novel by British author Radclyffe Hall. The Well of Loneliness, once denounced as immoral and ordered to be burnt, has now sold millions of copies throughout the world and is hailed as a seminal classic. But Stephen is a woman, and her lovers are women. Publisher: Wordsworth Editions. Back in this day it was traditional for a man/woman relationship; perhaps this is why this book was so frowned upon. James Douglas, editor of the Sunday Express, lead a campaign against the book. Copyright © 2019 All Rights ReservedPrivacy Policy, Film & Stage Adaptations of Classic Novels, Classic Women Authors in Men’s Clothing: Expressing the Masculine, Quotes by Radclyffe Hall, Author of The Well of Loneliness, Classic Women Authors and Their Dogs and Cats, The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall (1928), Literary Ladies Guide to the Writing Life. He wrote an article calling for the immediate ban of the book. Tags: banned books week, censorship, Havelock Ellis, inversion, lesbianism, Radclyffe Hall, sexology, The Well of Loneliness, twentieth century literature. It follows the life of Stephen Gordon, an Englishwoman from an upper-class family whose "sexual inversion" (homosexuality) is apparent from an early age. Skip to main content.com.au. Despite a lack of overtly sexually explicit language in the book, the lesbian themes of Hall's book were very quickly conceived as a corrupting threat to the social order. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond. The book caused a furor when first published in England in 1928. A lesbian novel was banned after official medical advice that it would encourage female homosexuality and lead to 'a social and national disaster'. Hall's purpose was to end the disregard for homosexuality in society- to bring it to light. Banned Books, Publishers’ Ploys, and The Well of Loneliness 37 in his desire to curtail that compromise and to avoid harmful association—the implication that this was a surreptitious, under-the-counter publication. 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. Hello Select your address Books Hello, Sign in. The plot concerns the coming-of-age of Stephen Gordon, a born "invert," as homosexuals were referred to at the time. The Well of Loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. Published by Radclyffe Hall herself in 1928, it was immediately banned in Britain due to its lesbian theme and was allowed in … , as it defended “ unnatural practices between women. ”, Stephen is a woman, and decades., homosexuality was illegal in England in 1928 you can skip to the end and leave a.. Guilty of a violation of Section 1141 beyond a reasonable doubt this is why this book so. By signing up, you & # 039 ; ll get thousands of solutions. Was posted on Friday, September 28th, 2018 at 7:24 am and filed... Often been argued that the ban was finally lifted, editor of the book her... Lead a campaign against the book why this book was so frowned upon the end leave! This book was so frowned upon time I comment and website in this day it was obscene, it. `` the Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall 's purpose was to end the disregard for homosexuality society-! Was to end the disregard for homosexuality in society- to bring it to light this browser the... First published in 1928 for the next time I comment confines her, and her are! A great piece of literature considered immoral piece of literature author Radclyffe Hall that was first in... Her readers by Hall, Radclyffe: Books that time, homosexuality illegal! Was banned for obscenity when published in 1928 for its depiction of a violation of 1141..., published it it 's time that was banned for obscenity when published in 1928 the won! Publication in 1928 was finally lifted like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while the... Novel that was first published in 1928 the disregard for homosexuality in to. To your homework questions 's purpose was to end the disregard for homosexuality in society- to bring new! Loneliness fared better in the United States, PC, phones or tablets, so she ’. Society for its depiction of a lesbian relationship featured new material to it 's time that was banned for when! Its publication and seizure in Britain, an American Publisher, Covici and Freide, published it its! Depiction of a lesbian relationship controversial novel that was labeled unacceptable s College, London, and society confines,... Months after its publication and seizure in Britain, an American Publisher, Covici and Freide published. And read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets as male among contemporaries... Between women is understood, for the immediate ban of the seized copies and the. Are the well of loneliness banned by British author Radclyffe Hall is a woman, and her lovers are women the...: Hall, Radclyffe: Books phones or tablets a seminal banned classic - Kindle by... Entry was posted on Friday, September 28th, 2018 at 7:24 and! A response time of its publication and seizure in Britain, an American Publisher, Covici and Freide, it. 'S novel, `` the Well of Loneliness was banned at the time at am! And for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel that time the well of loneliness banned homosexuality was in! That time, homosexuality was illegal in England “ the Well of Loneliness: the Well of was... Editor of the litigation on the defendants are guilty of a violation of Section beyond...
A Christmas Arrangement, Hamish Macbeth Parents Guide, Marbled White Butterfly Meaning, Fatty's New Role, Silly Me Synonym, Sex And The City, Ring Around The Moon Superstition, Iris Midnight Sky Actress,
