'As a man loved a woman, that was how I loved...It was good, good, good...'

Stephen is an ideal child of aristocratic parents - a fencer, a horse rider and a keen scholar. Stephen grows to be a war hero, a bestselling writer and a loyal, protective lover. But Stephen is a woman, and her lovers are women. As her ambitions drive her, and society confines her, Stephen is forced into desperate actions. The Well of Loneliness was banned for obscenity when published in 1928. It became an international bestseller, and for decades was the single most famous lesbian novel. It has influenced how love between women is understood, for the twentieth century and beyond.

The Well of Loneliness is among the most famous banned books in history. A pioneering work of literature, Radclyffe Hall's novel charts the development of a 'female sexual invert', Stephen Gordon, who from childhood feels an innate sense of masculinity and desire for women. After relocating from Malvern to London and then to Paris, Stephen encounters fellow queer characters from all walks of life, from the sapphic salon hostess Valérie Seymour to the 'miserable army' of outcasts that frequents the 'merciless, drug-dealing, death-dealing' bars of Montmartre. Although Stephen and her acquaintances, allies, and antagonists are of their time, Hall's novel has offered support and solidarity to generations of LGBTQ+ readers, and it continues to shape debates about gender and sexuality today.

This edition highlights previously overlooked points of influence, inspiration, and connections with other texts as well as situating the novel in historical contexts. In addition, the editors provide vital insights into Hall's engagement with religion, sexology, literary history, and popular culture.

First published in 1928, The Well of Loneliness is Radclyffe Hall's semi-autobiographical pioneering work of lesbian literature. The story follows Stephen Gordon, a girl born to upper class parents in late Victorian England. Her parents having expected a boy decided to christen her with the name that they had chosen for him. A strangely coincidental choice as the youth begins to take on a boyish appearance, cutting her hair short and eschewing girly things. Soon it is clear that Stephen sees herself as a man who is attracted to women. This hugely influential work of homosexual or possibly transsexual fiction was harshly criticized by people who were offended by the subject at the time when it was first published. However since then it has been heralded as a seminal and still important work of gay literature. Presented her is the original edition of Radclyffe Hall's most important novel, The Well of Loneliness. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

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.

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.

The Unlit Lamp (1924) is a novel by Radclyffe Hall. After publishing several collections of poems, Hall turned to fiction in 1924 with two successful novels. The Unlit Lamp is the story of a young woman with an unhappy home life who falls in love with an older teacher and dreams of moving to London to become a doctor. Despite her independent spirit, Joan struggles to escape the clutches of her controlling mother. Mrs. Ogden put her hand up to her head wearily, glancing at Joan as she did so. Joan was so quick to respond to the appeal of illness. Mrs. Ogden would not have admitted to herself how much she longed for this quick response and sympathy. [...] There were times, growing more frequent of late, when she longed, yes, longed to break down utterly, to become bedridden, to be waited upon hand and foot, to have arresting symptoms of her own, any number of them. Unhappily married to the Colonel, a cold and distant man, Mrs. Ogden depends on her daughters for emotional support. As Joan and Milly draw closer the age of independence, however, their mother begins thinking up ways to keep them at home, stifling their personal interests and desires. When Elizabeth Rodney, a governess, arrives to teach the sisters, Joan develops not only an attraction to the older woman, but a desire to move with her to London, where she dreams of becoming a doctor. Tragic and psychologically piercing, The Unlit Lamp is a story of friendship, family, and desire that continues to be recognized as a groundbreaking work of lesbian literature. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Radclyffe Hall's The Unlit Lamp is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

The Unlit Lamp (1924) is a novel by Radclyffe Hall. After publishing several collections of poems, Hall turned to fiction in 1924 with two successful novels. The Unlit Lamp is the story of a young woman with an unhappy home life who falls in love with an older teacher and dreams of moving to London to become a doctor. Despite her independent spirit, Joan struggles to escape the clutches of her controlling mother. Mrs. Ogden put her hand up to her head wearily, glancing at Joan as she did so. Joan was so quick to respond to the appeal of illness. Mrs. Ogden would not have admitted to herself how much she longed for this quick response and sympathy. [...] There were times, growing more frequent of late, when she longed, yes, longed to break down utterly, to become bedridden, to be waited upon hand and foot, to have arresting symptoms of her own, any number of them. Unhappily married to the Colonel, a cold and distant man, Mrs. Ogden depends on her daughters for emotional support. As Joan and Milly draw closer the age of independence, however, their mother begins thinking up ways to keep them at home, stifling their personal interests and desires. When Elizabeth Rodney, a governess, arrives to teach the sisters, Joan develops not only an attraction to the older woman, but a desire to move with her to London, where she dreams of becoming a doctor. Tragic and psychologically piercing, The Unlit Lamp is a story of friendship, family, and desire that continues to be recognized as a groundbreaking work of lesbian literature. This edition of Radclyffe Hall's The Unlit Lamp is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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Renowned lesbian author Radclyffe Hall's collection of poetry is a breathtaking tribute to the beauty of the natural world and the human experience. With poignant and evocative verse, Hall explores themes of love, loss, longing, and redemption. From the depths of despair to the heights of joy, Twixt Earth and Stars captures the full spectrum of human emotion and the sublime power of language.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Controversial at the time of its first publication in 1928 but regarded now as a significant contribution to the exploration of sexual identity and societal attitudes toward homosexuality, the novel tells the story of Stephen Gordon, an Englishwoman who struggles with her identity in a society that is largely intolerant.

This new large print edition comes with a layout designed to make reading comfortable.

Henry Dobbs is born into ugliness and squalor in the Kensington slums in London. He is a strange boy in many ways; he cares a great deal for well-made and rare things and the beauty that he sees in them, but people are a different matter. They seem relatively unimportant to him, really only there for his convenience.

As he grows up, despite a savage and loveless relationship with his harridan mother, Henry begins to flower. His one-eyed attention to lovely things is translated slowly into knowledge, which eventually earns him a job with Riley's, an up and coming firm of removalists. As his career blossoms, he reaches the position of foreman of what the company hopes will be the finest team in the land, the one to get them the best contracts.

One day it seems as if their hopes have been fulfilled. Sir Isaac Epstein hires Riley's to transport his priceless collection to his new home in the country. Henry comes face to face with items he has dreamed about, and which bring out in him a strange new sense. Is it that he wants to protect them? Or is it something more mixed and concerning that secretly comes out in his beauty-loving soul? The extraordinary effect of the beautiful pieces of the Epstein collection precipitates an action that will change Henry's life...

The Lover of Things was first published in 1934. Radclyffe Hall's insightful and careful delineation of a character who would now be seen as neurodiverse (on the autism spectrum) was way ahead of its time, and confirmed her reputation for exploring challenging and less usual territory.