The Penguin Book of Lesbian Short StoriesAnd 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. |
From inside the book
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Page 29
Though they stand among tall spotted lilies and the cup of jacynth and the Lesbian iris , she yet extolls beyond Kypris and the feet of Eros , wisdom . ' Ah , ' she says of this one , beloved for another beauty than that of perfect ...
Though they stand among tall spotted lilies and the cup of jacynth and the Lesbian iris , she yet extolls beyond Kypris and the feet of Eros , wisdom . ' Ah , ' she says of this one , beloved for another beauty than that of perfect ...
Page 144
“ They named me Betty Jean , ' she said , smiling . ' Which is even worse . ' ' It's a pretty name . ' ' It's a lousy name . Even Mother couldn't stand it . And she could stand damn near anything . But they had to call me something .
“ They named me Betty Jean , ' she said , smiling . ' Which is even worse . ' ' It's a pretty name . ' ' It's a lousy name . Even Mother couldn't stand it . And she could stand damn near anything . But they had to call me something .
Page 175
The glare they shed when they stand still and turn to face one makes the eye turn elsewhere unable to stand the sight . When the moon is full the drum is sounded on the main square . Trestle tables are erected .
The glare they shed when they stand still and turn to face one makes the eye turn elsewhere unable to stand the sight . When the moon is full the drum is sounded on the main square . Trestle tables are erected .
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The Penguin book of lesbian short stories
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictIn the last half-dozen years, collections of lesbian plays, coming-out stories, mysteries, and poetry have been published, mostly by small presses. Now, The Penguin Book of Lesbian Short Stories ... Read full review
Contents
ISAK DINESEN The Blank Page 1957 117 | 1 |
SARAH ORNE JEWETT Marthas Lady 1897 I | 20 |
The Wise Sappho c 191618 | 26 |
Copyright | |
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