The Well of Loneliness, by Radclyfee Hall, published in London at the beginning of the 20th century. At the time of this books publishing, it was very controversial. London authorities believed it to be obscene and forbade it to be sold probably because it dealt with the gay and lesbian lifestyle at the turn of the century.

The book was finally published in the US, although it was also called immoral and authorities tried to get it off the shelves here too. At any rate because of the publicity, the book sold over a million copies during Hall’s lifetime and has now become a great international read.

The story line is set in England and portrays a girl who is born into a wealthy English family. She is very tomboyish throughout her childhood and is even given the nickname of Stephen because she is such a tomboy.

As she grows older her style doesn’t change, and her family becomes concerned. After much research her father realizes that she is an invert, but never tells her. When her father dies, she becomes a novelist and falls in love with a younger woman named Mary. Both women decide to live together in Paris, and in their life they meet other female and male inverts. Stephen finds this Paris lifestyle tragic and sad, and regrets bringing Mary into this life, the life of an invert in an un-accepting society. In the end, Stephen decides to commit suicide and give Mary her freedom to let her marry a friend of theirs. At the end she pleads for understanding of their way of life.

The book was controversial when it was first published and still is. Many lesbians of the 30’s and 40’s found it liberating, but others were offended by the apologetic way of writing and the pleas for pity. In Halls book lesbians and gays are depicted as being tragic, alcoholics and prone to suicide. Many gays and lesbians today feel this is not an adequate portrayal of the lifestyle, but Halls objective was to emphasize the oppression of society on gay people.