#skdsjlaljksla

[queer-classic-writers]

Radclyffe Hall (1880-1943)

born Marguerite Antonia Radclyffe Hall, but went by the name John on a daily basis

magnum opus: "The Well of Loneliness"

although Hall's person and work have been described as lesbian, "The Well" and Hall's behaviour were full of what we can now identify as transmasculine behaviour, with "The Well" focusing on the life of a writer resembling very much that of Hall

other works: "Adam's Breed", "The Unlit Lamp", "The Master of the House"

-

“For the sake of all the others who are like you, but less strong and less gifted perhaps, many of them, it's up to you to have the courage to make good.”

“Then Stephen must tell her the cruel truth, she must say: ‘I am one of those whom God marked on the forehead. Like Cain, I am marked and blemished. If you come to me, Mary, the world will abhor you, will persecute you, will call you unclean. Our love may be faithful even unto death and beyond — yet the world will call it unclean. We may harm no living creature by our love; we may grow more perfect in understanding and in charity because of our loving; but all this will not save you from the scourge of a world that will turn away its eyes from your noblest actions, finding only corruption and vileness in you. You will see men and women defiling each other, laying the burden of their sins upon their children. You will see unfaithfulness, lies and deceit among those whom the world views with approbation. You will find that many have grown hard of heart, have grown greedy, selfish, cruel and lustful; and then you will turn to me and will say: “You and I are more worthy of respect than these people. Why does the world persecute us, Stephen?” And I shall answer: “Because in this world there is only toleration for the so-called normal.” And when you come to me for protection, I shall say: “I cannot protect you, Mary, the world has deprived me of my right to protect; I am utterly helpless, I can only love you”.”

("The Well of Loneliness", Radclyffe Hall, 1928)

-

#the well is such a beautiful book please read it #the well of loneliness #radclyffe hall #literature #lgbtq authors #transgender #transmasc #lgbtq #non binary #classic authors #classic literature #british literature #queer history #queer literature #novels #books that absolutely ripped my heart out so i m recommending them to people >:) #skdsjlaljksla