Radclyffe Hall (1880–1943)

Yes, it was trying to get her under, this world with its mighty self-satisfaction, with its smug rules of conduct, all made to be broken by those who strutted and preened themselves on being what they considered normal. They trod on the necks of those thousands of others who, for God knew what reason, were not made as they were ... And the vilest of them could point a finger of scorn at her, and be loudly applauded." (p. 256)

Published in 1928, The Well of Loneliness dealt openly with the show more subject of homosexuality, at a time when it was far from well-understood, and never discussed, by "polite society." It is a searingly painful account of a young woman's coming of age and her search for love and acceptance. Her parents longed for a son, referred to her in utero as "Stephen," and then in fact baptised her as Stephen. She grew up "not like other girls," and with few friends in her community. Only a couple of people understood the situation: her father, who had read some of the research of the day, and a governess who was herself a lesbian. But they maintained their silence; Stephen's father did not even confide in her mother, and no one explained things to Stephen.

Stephen began discovering her own sexuality as she approached adulthood, through relationships with a male friend and a married woman. Later, she became part of a circle of "like" friends, and was in a committed relationship with another woman. Yet her life was not a happy one. Her mannish appearance attracted a lot of attention and gossip, she could never be "out" in public, and her relationships would never be formally recognized in the church or in the courts. She became estranged from her mother, who could not accept Stephen as she was. This is not a happy story, but Radclyffe Hall so expertly draws the reader into Stephen's life, love, and anguish, that this book is difficult to put down.

What struck me most profoundly in this novel is both how far we've come, and how far we haven't, in societal views toward gays and lesbians. On the one hand, today most people know someone who is gay, and gays themselves can find community. Some are also comfortable being open about their sexuality. None of this was possible in 1928. On the other hand, Radclyffe Hall vociferously argued that homosexuality was innate, not a choice, a subject some people still debate. And, gay and lesbian relationships are still not properly recognized in many states and countries, and in many religious denominations.

Because of its controversial subject matter, The Well of Loneliness was banned in Britain for 20 years after its publication. I read it in honor of Banned Books Week, and I'm glad I did. show less

Odd, abrupt and engaging is A Saturday Life as it veers from descriptions and insights both amusing and somber. On the surface it is the story of an unusually precocious and gifted child, Sidonia Shore, daughter of a shy and retiring widow The emotional heart of the story lies with Frances, Lady Shore’s close friend. Frances’ sexuality is presented as ambivalent and unexpressed, except in a few mannerisms of clothing and tastes. As Sidonia flits from one passion to the next, it is show more Frances who arranges for the tutors, teachers, trips, Frances who soothes and explains. A more moving picture of the ‘family friend,’ both essential and taken for granted I’ve rarely encountered. The portrait of Frances and Lady Shore enjoying being alone together again after Sidonia is married is as sweet and funny as the callous and malicious treatment of Frances by David, Sidonia’s new husband, was painful and ugly. Frances maintains her dignity, but it is a open window into the chilly life of those who are considered ���different.‘

The reason for the title becomes clear when Frances finds a book on reincarnation in a secondhand bookstall that explains “People who are living a Saturday Life are said to have no new experiences, but to spend it entirely in a last rehearsal of experiences previously gained.” It seems to explain Sidonia, perhaps. After all her different experiments at the arts, she ends up marrying a handsome English toff, once again assuming a new persona that leaves Frances in a kind of speechless despair.

After many humiliations at David’s hands (including a car ride where Frances is relegated to the open back of a new car that David races in a manner quite reminiscent of Toad) there is one final conversation where David literally bullies verbally:

“Bless you,” she said, “I’ve never wanted to marry!”
“All women do,” he told her.
“Not being a woman how can you know?”
“Because I’m a man, I suppose.”
This answer was so illogical, so naively opinionated, that Frances, in spite of her irritation, could not find it in her heart to retort. “

A Saturday Life is a bumpy book, in which so much is implied and not said, that what is NOT said, strikes the reader harder than what is as well as the questions left open-ended, such as the extent of Frances’ self-knowledge, and whether Sidonia is quite special and different or if her inconstancy is a flaw in an otherwise brilliant gem? The answers may be there and I may have missed them, but I think they are left open by design.

I gave it a four -- a very worthwhile read. show less

When her parents were disappointed that their newborn had not been the boy they expected, they went ahead with the name they had picked out pre-birth: Stephen. For 1928 that was pretty progressive, especially since no one in their society circles really questioned it, not even Stephen herself. Her full name was Stephen Mary Olivia Gertrude Gordon. It was a name that seemed to overshadow her true identity and caused her some confusion as she navigated her way through childhood. Living in an show more environment where societal norms and expectations were rigid, Stephen often found herself clashing with the traditional gender roles.
Hall uses all the clichés to make obvious Stephen's sexual orientation even as a young child: Stephen developed a strong romantic attachment to her nanny, she wanted to hunt, climb trees, and ride horses like a boy. She instinctively needed to change her appearance by cutting her hair and building her muscles and wearing pants and ties. She thought dresses were ridiculous, girlish emotions even more so. These feelings and desires were contrary to what was expected of a girl in her society, leading to a sense of internal conflict and confusion as she tried to understand and accept herself. She knew she was different but could not articulate why. As a teenager, Stephen was thrilled to make the acquaintance of a boy with whom she seemed to have so much in common. Here was a person with whom she could be her true self...until he admitted he was falling in love with her. Of course she could not love him back in the same way, as her own feelings did not align with his blossoming romantic affection. All through her formative years, Stephen's father could not tell her the truth about her "strangeness" and yet he knew. As a result, he was overprotective and sheltering. There is a naivete to Stephen throughout The Well of Loneliness. Even when she found reciprocated love with Mary, a young woman she met during the war, she was never secure in her feelings, often plagued by a persistent fear of rejection and misunderstanding. show less

Gian-Luca's mother died in childbirth, leaving her illegitimate son to be raised by his grandparents. Fabio and Teresa live in an Italian community in London; Fabio is a naturalized citizen. Gian-Luca is "English in the eyes of the law." He's different from all the boys in school both because of his ethnic background, and because he has no father. And worse yet, Teresa sees Gian-Luca as the cause of her daughter's death, and is unable to show him any affection. He grows up lonely and show more searching for love.

Fabio's salumeria is the one source of beauty in Gian-Luca's early life:
The shop! All his life Gian-Luca remembered those first impressions of the shop; the size of it, the smell of it, the dim, mysterious gloom of it -- a gloom from which strange objects would continually jump out and try to hit you in the face-- but above all the smell, that wonderful smell that belongs to the Salumeria. The shop smelt of sawdust and cheeses and pickles and olives and sausages and garlic; the shop smelt of oil and cans and Chianti and a little of split peas and lentils; the shop smelt of coffee and sour brown bread and very faintly of vanilla; the shop smelt of people, of Fabio's boot blacking, and of all the boots that went in and out unblacked; it also smelt of Old Compton Street, a dusty, adventurous smell. (p. 27)

When Gian-Luca leaves school, he begins a career as a waiter, and eventually becomes head waiter in The Doric, London's finest restaurant. Gian-Luca is talented and driven, but empty, lacking the emotional and spiritual connections so important to personal well-being. His life is a quest for identity, and for love.

Radclyffe Hall brings the Italian immigrant community to life, with delicious food and a rich supporting cast. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the early 20th-century restaurant business. But Adam's Breed is a melancholy book that explores themes of love, God, and human nature. By the end it had evolved beyond its initial premise to a moving story of one man's search for self, and meaning. show less