- Paperback: 456 pages
- Publisher: Virago Press Ltd; New edition edition (29 April 1982)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0860682544
- ISBN-13: 978-0860682547
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.6 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 155,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
'The archetypal lesbian novel, the one whose title, at least, is familiar to everyone' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
Book Description
The bible of lesbianism' THE TIMES
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the most gripping books I have read in a long time. I could not put it down! It is an intense, yet wonderful book of a lesbian trying to find her place and love in the world. She battles against her own mother even to find a piece of happiness. Well worth a read for real romantics and anyone who knows what it is like to be in love.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book was groundbreaking in it's day and still shocking to read in that it aches with a sense of isolation and discomfort at not fitting in. I thought that the area of the novel that dealt with young Stephen and her awakening desires and confusion was particularly heart rending, yet never does it give in it sentimentality or mawkishness. It is a strong, self-assured novel. The real tragedy is the elusive sense of happiness that haunts the pages, yet always seems to slip by.
27 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I love this book, it was given to me by my cousin, and I have to be honest, was not particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of reading it to begin with, but as soon as I got into it, I couldn't put it down.
However, I do not agree with the claim on the front of the cover describing it as "The Bible of Lesbianism" because in all honesty it is not. Radclyffe Hall may have herself been a lesbian, but in some ways this novel skirts over the issue and almost gives the impression that homosexuality is a negative thing. Obviously at the time that the novel is set in, she has to conform to certain social regulations, but referring to lesbians as "inverts" is not a particularly positive description in my eyes. Also trying to disguise the gender of the protagonist to a certain degree by calling her "Stephen" seems to also be an attempt to distract the reader from the issue of homosexuality that is clearly being conveyed.
However, this is beautifully written, it is a haunting piece of literature, that once read will never be forgotten. Hall may have been ahead of her time when the novel was first released, but she is now remembered as a classic and wonderful novelist whose words echo deeply within the heart of her readers.
This will reduce you to tears, I have never been so emotionally drained after finishing a book, but I truthfully believe that regardless of your view on sexuality, this is a love story, showing that love will force you to do anything to protect the one you truely care about and adore.
Exceptional.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Well of loneliness
This beautifully written account of a woman's awakening, struggle and eventual acceptance of her lesbian sexual orientation in the early 1930s is both moving and shocking by... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Phabphil196
Worth a read for historical puposes, but hard going.
I would have given this book two stars for readability, but I really felt it deserved three due to the fact that not only was she brave to write it but it was legendary for it's... Read more
Published 3 months ago by London_nurse
Deeply disturbing, insightful, touching and a must read
I loved this book. From the start I was surprised how easy I found it to read. I felt Radclyffe Hall must be pouring her whole self into this book. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. Susanne Lancaster
Interesting concept marred by poor characterisation
Described as the archetypal lesbian novel and banned on publication, this book is disappointing not only in its completely dowdy depiction of a lesbian relationship, but also in... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Rosamund
Efficient
As soon as purchase was made the company were in contact via email. Product arrived within 2 days. Thank you
Published 23 months ago by Elly
A fascinating and challenging book
I've known of this book for many years, but, as a vaguely heterosexual male, had avoided reading it. What a treat I had been missing. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2010 by Alun Williams
Not so lonely - but very over-rated.........
'The Well of Loneliness' was the first true classic of
lesbian literature - but that was in 1928 and there have been
far better books by other writers since then,... Read more
lesbian literature - but that was in 1928 and there have been
far better books by other writers since then,... Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2009 by Peter S. Kinnison
The love that dare not speak its name...
Radclyffe Hall was an amazingly perceptive person who was born not only in the wrong body but the wrong era... Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2006 by smurf
Interesting book but not a great one
This is an interesting book, but suffers from the hype surrounding it. The early chapters describing Stephen's childhood and her relationship with her father (and to a lesser... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2004
Not worth the scandal it caused
If you're studying lesbian literature, obscenity trials or queer history in general, this book has unfortunately become foundation stuff and might be worth trawling through. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2002
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