I did start to read it about 20 years ago, but got bogged down in the (to me) rather turgid early chapters.
As a Protestant, I would affirm the doctrinal statement that there is no way for a soul to be a mismatch with the physical body - we are either embodied souls or ensouled bodies, but they came as an indivisible unity. It is for this reason that whilst I would offer the best possible pastoral care to any Trans congregant, I would not be able to affirm them in their dysphoric state.
Thanks for the comment, Sarah. I agree that the pace of the novel is not what is expected nowadays. Perhaps the early chapters set up the character in depth because the idea of a masculine woman was so unusual in 1928 that it took a lot of explaining.
I read the novel years ago. It seemed to have nothing to do with the to do with the joyful, often merry lesbians I knew. It seemed to have the musty odor of a trunk full of mouldy papers.
I agree, the Well is ultimately tragic, perhaps because its author was orientated by her religious belief towards accepting punishment as a form of self-sacrifice. It's why the novel was parodied as "The Sink of Solitude". Your comment has made me wonder whether this book is the origin story for a lesbian masochism which ultimately leads to queer theory.
Queer theory is an utter fraud . At least when I've looked at it my brain cells start dying off rapidly so maybe I'm not the best person to discuss it. Too many trees have died to keep it going.
Excellent review and discussion of, “The Well of Loneliness.” Like others commenting here I tried to read this book many decades ago and had trouble getting into it. I appreciate your comments about the ending, without giving it away.
It's certainly a page-turner, except that you have taken the time to read whole pages between turnings. Which is more than I ever managed in those long-ago, dark green-spined days. Very interesting, yr article, from the standpoint of fictional role models, or if not that, then of writers one could comfortably conceptualize and whose writings were assimilable (Thom Gunn in my case). Knowing little abt it, I suppose that dykes of my late-boomer generation turned not to this, - um, er, - book (trying to be neutral there), but Maureen Duffy's 'That's How it Was', which I must reread (thought it was a gem on first acquaintance). Not believing in disembodied trends, I take the common-sense view that publishing expanded after the fifties. Thus one was not stuck just with bloody 'Maurice', the unpleasant O. Wilde, and that class-ridden 'The Tack Room' thing. Mind you ... Alan Hollinghurst and Armistead Maupin?? ...I think it's a case of my not being a fiction bod.
Thanks for the comment, Jonathan. Go into any Western bookshop today and you will find whole sections dedicated to LGBTIQA+ literature, of course. Whether much of it will be read in a hundred years’ time is anyone’s guess!
Yes to all that. I think a reality-based, unblinking narrative would have a huge audience if it could get past the censors, but it definitely won’t anytime soon.
So interesting! I’ve been wondering when the first contemporary novel (or film or HBO series) will appear depicting the credible experience of a girl who is drawn into trans ID, and whatever follows from that decision. If done well, it could be one of the best stories never published or told.
Thanks for the comment, Jenny. I doubt that a faithful version of The Well of Loneliness would be produced today, as the ending isn’t nearly ‘affirming’ enough for current broadcasters. Personal sacrifice is out of fashion too. It would be a bold choice for a Catholic film maker. The gender lobby would go on the attack before the film was even made.
I haven’t seen a movie about gender transition that I really rated since Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry, and that was twenty five years ago. It was tragic rather than affirming, based on a true story. Trans America (2005) has its moments, but is rather glib about the possibility of post-surgical complications. It’s my impression that there are more media depictions of MtF than FtM gender transition.
I did start to read it about 20 years ago, but got bogged down in the (to me) rather turgid early chapters.
As a Protestant, I would affirm the doctrinal statement that there is no way for a soul to be a mismatch with the physical body - we are either embodied souls or ensouled bodies, but they came as an indivisible unity. It is for this reason that whilst I would offer the best possible pastoral care to any Trans congregant, I would not be able to affirm them in their dysphoric state.
Thanks for the comment, Sarah. I agree that the pace of the novel is not what is expected nowadays. Perhaps the early chapters set up the character in depth because the idea of a masculine woman was so unusual in 1928 that it took a lot of explaining.
I read the novel years ago. It seemed to have nothing to do with the to do with the joyful, often merry lesbians I knew. It seemed to have the musty odor of a trunk full of mouldy papers.
I agree, the Well is ultimately tragic, perhaps because its author was orientated by her religious belief towards accepting punishment as a form of self-sacrifice. It's why the novel was parodied as "The Sink of Solitude". Your comment has made me wonder whether this book is the origin story for a lesbian masochism which ultimately leads to queer theory.
Queer theory is an utter fraud . At least when I've looked at it my brain cells start dying off rapidly so maybe I'm not the best person to discuss it. Too many trees have died to keep it going.
The book "Lives of the Wives" has an interesting section on Radclyffe Hall and her long time partner.
Thanks for the book recommendation!
Excellent review and discussion of, “The Well of Loneliness.” Like others commenting here I tried to read this book many decades ago and had trouble getting into it. I appreciate your comments about the ending, without giving it away.
Thanks James, I tried to avoid a plot spoiler! You do have to like the pre-modern novel to get the most out of The Well, I think.
It's certainly a page-turner, except that you have taken the time to read whole pages between turnings. Which is more than I ever managed in those long-ago, dark green-spined days. Very interesting, yr article, from the standpoint of fictional role models, or if not that, then of writers one could comfortably conceptualize and whose writings were assimilable (Thom Gunn in my case). Knowing little abt it, I suppose that dykes of my late-boomer generation turned not to this, - um, er, - book (trying to be neutral there), but Maureen Duffy's 'That's How it Was', which I must reread (thought it was a gem on first acquaintance). Not believing in disembodied trends, I take the common-sense view that publishing expanded after the fifties. Thus one was not stuck just with bloody 'Maurice', the unpleasant O. Wilde, and that class-ridden 'The Tack Room' thing. Mind you ... Alan Hollinghurst and Armistead Maupin?? ...I think it's a case of my not being a fiction bod.
Thanks for the comment, Jonathan. Go into any Western bookshop today and you will find whole sections dedicated to LGBTIQA+ literature, of course. Whether much of it will be read in a hundred years’ time is anyone’s guess!
Yes to all that. I think a reality-based, unblinking narrative would have a huge audience if it could get past the censors, but it definitely won’t anytime soon.
So interesting! I’ve been wondering when the first contemporary novel (or film or HBO series) will appear depicting the credible experience of a girl who is drawn into trans ID, and whatever follows from that decision. If done well, it could be one of the best stories never published or told.
Thanks for the comment, Jenny. I doubt that a faithful version of The Well of Loneliness would be produced today, as the ending isn’t nearly ‘affirming’ enough for current broadcasters. Personal sacrifice is out of fashion too. It would be a bold choice for a Catholic film maker. The gender lobby would go on the attack before the film was even made.
I haven’t seen a movie about gender transition that I really rated since Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry, and that was twenty five years ago. It was tragic rather than affirming, based on a true story. Trans America (2005) has its moments, but is rather glib about the possibility of post-surgical complications. It’s my impression that there are more media depictions of MtF than FtM gender transition.