Stephen Gordon defies societal norms. An Englishwoman born in the late 19th century, Stephen struggles with navigating the isolation and the societal rejection she faces for loving women. As she explores her desires, love, friendship, and identity intertwine and her plea for acceptance echoes in the heart of readers. A groundbreaking and controversial novel that defied its time, ´The Well of Loneliness´ is ideal for fans of Selby Wynn Schwartz's ´After Sappho´ and the 2015 film ´Carol´ starring Cate Blanchett. Radclyffe Hall (1880-1943) was a trailblazing British author best known for her groundbreaking work ´The Well of Loneliness,´ which explored LGBTQ themes in the early 20th century.

The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall is a groundbreaking and controversial novel that explores lesbian identity, social ostracism, and the struggle for personal authenticity in early twentieth-century England. Considered one of the first English-language novels to depict same-sex love explicitly, it became a focal point for debates on sexuality, morality, and censorship. The story follows Stephen Gordon, an aristocratic woman who recognizes from an early age that she is different from other girls. As she matures, Stephen grapples with her identity, seeking meaningful relationships while confronting societal prejudice and isolation. Her struggle is both deeply personal and emblematic of the broader challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals in a repressive cultural context. Hall portrays Stephen's inner life with sensitivity and psychological insight, emphasizing her longing for acceptance, love, and understanding. The narrative combines a compelling personal story with incisive social critique, highlighting the rigid moral codes and hypocrisy of the society around her. Written in lyrical and emotive prose, The Well of Loneliness is both a poignant novel and a courageous act of social advocacy. Despite facing censorship and legal challenges, its publication marked an important step in the recognition of marginalized voices in literature. The novel remains a landmark work in queer literary history-a moving and daring exploration of identity, love, and the human need for connection in the face of societal rejection.

The Classic Collection of Radclyffe Hall (5 Books) gathers the most significant works of Radclyffe Hall, one of the pioneering voices in twentieth-century literature. This illustrated edition presents a rich and varied portrait of Hall's literary vision, blending explorations of identity, social struggle, and human resilience with her characteristic psychological depth. At the center of the collection is The Well of Loneliness, Hall's groundbreaking and controversial depiction of lesbian identity and social ostracism, a landmark in LGBTQ literary history. It is joined by Adam's Breed, which won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and explores themes of isolation, spiritual longing, and personal transformation. The collection also includes A Saturday Life, The Unlit Lamp, and The Forge, works that examine human ambition, moral conflict, and the struggle for authentic living in the face of societal expectations. Each novel reflects Hall's precise, evocative prose and her interest in the inner lives of complex characters. Contents: The Forge The Unlit Lamp A Saturday Life Adam's Breed The Well of Loneliness

Fin XIXe. La jeune Joan Ogden vit dans une petite ville anglaise étouffante. Sa mère, soumise à un mari tyrannique, voue à sa fille un amour excessif. L'arrivée d'Elizabeth, une gouvernante, vient illuminer leur quotidien. Elizabeth croit en Joan, l'aime et dessine son avenir. Ensemble elles luttent pour des droits qui restent encore à conquérir : étudier, travailler, vivre dans l'indépendance. Elizabeth devient sa compagne mais, écartelée sans cesse entre ses sentiments et son devoir dans un triangle amoureux dérangeant, Joan doit faire face à sa mère pour gagner sa liberté. Deuxième ouvrage publié par l'autrice, La flamme vaincue est en réalité le premier que Radclyffe Hall a écrit. Vaste roman psychologique, étude poignante et philosophique sur l'émancipation, il dit la difficulté d'assumer ses choix. Les passions tristes guettent et, si l'on n'y prend garde, peuvent l'emporter sur le désir de vivre. L'autrice propose ici toute une réflexion sur la condition de la femme; en cela, La flamme vaincue préfigure Le puits de solitude.

Fin XIXe. La jeune Joan Ogden vit dans une petite ville anglaise étouffante. Sa mère, soumise à un mari tyrannique, voue à sa fille un amour excessif. L'arrivée d'Elizabeth, une gouvernante, vient illuminer leur quotidien. Elizabeth croit en Joan, l'aime et dessine son avenir. Ensemble elles luttent pour des droits qui restent encore à conquérir : étudier, travailler, vivre dans l'indépendance. Elizabeth devient sa compagne mais, écartelée sans cesse entre ses sentiments et son devoir dans un triangle amoureux dérangeant, Joan doit faire face à sa mère pour gagner sa liberté. Deuxième ouvrage publié par l'autrice, La flamme vaincue est en réalité le premier que Radclyffe Hall a écrit. Vaste roman psychologique, étude poignante et philosophique sur l'émancipation, il dit la difficulté d'assumer ses choix. Les passions tristes guettent et, si l'on n'y prend garde, peuvent l'emporter sur le désir de vivre. L'autrice propose ici toute une réflexion sur la condition de la femme; en cela, La flamme vaincue préfigure Le puits de solitude.