The Penguin Book of Lesbian Short StoriesMargaret Reynolds And more than that - sometimes women love women. Like Queen Victoria, the world has preferred to believe that sex between women is impossible, resulting in a long silence between the writings of Sappho and the flowering of talent produced by feminism and the sexual revolution. Lesbian writing has come a long way since Virginia Woolf's famous essay of 1928. Since then women have challenged traditional forms of expression and subject matter in an extraordinarily rich and varied discourse to give voice to the lesbian imagination. In this wide-ranging anthology, Margaret Reynolds has brought together the work of thirty-two women from Britain, continental Europe, and the Americas - including three specially commissioned pieces - that covers nearly a century of lesbian writing, from Sarah Orne Jewett (1897) to Jeanette Winterson (1993). The collection ranges from Frances Gapper's pastiche of a Romantic melodrama, through the wry humor of Merril Mushroom's description of butch and femme courting rituals, to the wit of Alison Bechdel's cartoon strip. The anxiety of unresolved desire is present in many stories - Radclyffe Hall's Miss Ogilvy is unable truly to find herself in this world, Djuna and Lillian hold back from each other in Anais Nin's "Cities of the Interior, " and the energy and commitment that should go into a loving relationship are stifled by convention in Jane Rule's story of passion outside marriage. But here are brave spirits, too - Renee Vivien's Sarolta and her Prince(ss) live forever in a vision of ideal tenderness, Colette's heroines preserve the sanctity of their little white bed, and Jewelle Gomez's bulldagger society survives far from the haunts of men. There arecoming-out stories, stories about cross-dressing, vampire tales, science fiction, parody, and romance. Each story is quite different from the others, yet each acknowledges a particular facet of lesbian history and makes it real. |
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Page 7
... Helena pleadingly , with all her kind young heart . The china - closet door was open a little way , and Martha heard every word . From that moment , she not only knew what love was like , but she knew love's dear ambi- tions . To have ...
... Helena pleadingly , with all her kind young heart . The china - closet door was open a little way , and Martha heard every word . From that moment , she not only knew what love was like , but she knew love's dear ambi- tions . To have ...
Page 13
... Helena was happy , and she kissed the last page where her name was written , feeling over- bold , and laid the envelope on Miss Pyne's secretary without a word . The most generous love cannot but long for reassurance , and Martha had ...
... Helena was happy , and she kissed the last page where her name was written , feeling over- bold , and laid the envelope on Miss Pyne's secretary without a word . The most generous love cannot but long for reassurance , and Martha had ...
Page 15
... Helena's young eyes forever looked at her reassuringly from a gay girlish face . Helena's sweet patience in teaching her own awkwardness could never be forgotten . ' I owe everything to Miss Helena , ' said Martha , half aloud , as she ...
... Helena's young eyes forever looked at her reassuringly from a gay girlish face . Helena's sweet patience in teaching her own awkwardness could never be forgotten . ' I owe everything to Miss Helena , ' said Martha , half aloud , as she ...
Contents
SARAH ORNE JEWETT Marthas Lady 1897 | 1 |
RENÉE VIVIEN Prince Charming 1904 translated | 20 |
The Wise Sappho c 191618 | 26 |
Copyright | |
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Adrienne Rich Alison Bechdel arms asked beautiful Beebo blood body breasts butch butch and femme Charlotte Mews dance dark daughter Delia Djuna Djuna Barnes door Dorothy Allison dress Emma Donoghue eyes face feel felt fingers friends Georgine Skeene girl hair hand head heard heart Helen Furr Helena husband Iduna JEANETTE WINTERSON KATHY ACKER Kerry kissed knew lady laughed Laura leaned legs lesbian Letty light Lillian lips living Lizzy looked lover Marcie Margaret Martha Miss Ogilvy Miss Pyne Mistress Mary MONIQUE WITTIG mother mouth never NICOLE BROSSARD night Ogilvy's Picasso pulled Renée Vivien Sappho seemed sleep smiled soft someone stay stood story sweet talk tell things thought told took turned voice wait walked watch wheat roll window woman women words writing young