The Lesbian in Contemporary

Literature

BY LENNOX STRANG

From 1926 UNTIL 1950 THE VAJORITY OF 30CKS MICH DEALT WITH LESBIANIS MERL EXCLUSIVELY LESBIAN. LOST OF THESE NOVELS WEHE EITHER LOVE STORIES OR HALF-CLINICAL CASE STUDIES. IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS A NUMBER OF OOKS ON LESSIANISK HAVE BLEN EROADER IN SCOPE. THE LESBIAN IN CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE IS FREQUENTLY TRESINTED AS JUST ONE FACET OF THE JAMY VARIATIAS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

IN 1953 YOST OF THE ECOKS ON LESBIANISM RECEIVED GOOD CRITICAL NOTICES AND 50 TITLES, SUCH AS "THE PASSIONATE EXILES” BY AURICE LEVAILLANT, "DANGEROUS CRLDS AND OTHER STORIES" BY JOAN (*)ono= VAN, "THE HEEL OF LARTH" BY HELGA SANDBURG, "AS USIC AND SPLENDOUR" BY KATE ('BRIEN, AN "HEROES AND ORATORS" BY ROBERT PHELPS RECEIVED EXCELLENT REVIES IN SUCH OVINENT LITERARY ORGANS AS "THE SATURDAY EVIEW" AND "THE YE. YORK TITES ACON REVIEW

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THE TOTAL PICTURE IN 1958 WAS ONE OF CREAT HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF LELBIAN LITERATURE. THERE WERE 12 TITLES WHICH DEALT ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WITH LESBIANISM. OF THERE, FOUR WERE PAPERBACK ORIGINALS AND EIGHT WERE HARDBOUND; SEVEN WERE SYMPATHETIC AND FIVE WERE CONDEMNING IN TONE. THERE WERE SEVEN OTHER TITLES WHICH HAD MINOR LESBIAN ROLES, ALL TREATED SYMPATHETICALLY. THE YEAR ALSO SAW THE REPRINTING OF || POPULAR LESBIAN TITLES FROM PAST YEARS.

BOOK REVIEWS

I AM A MOMAN BY ANN BANNON. FAWCETT PUBLICATIONS, 1959. GOLD MEDAL GIANT #0833

IN MARCH, 1957, ANN BANNON'S FIRST NOVEL "ODD GIRL OUT" WAS PUBLISHED. THE HEROINE OF THE BOOK, LAURA LANDON, DISCOVERS HER LESBIANISM, HAS AN AFFAIR WITH HER ROOMMATE AND IN THE END, REALIZING THAT LESBIANISM IS RIGHT FOR HER AND NOT FOR HER ROOMMATE, SHE SAYS: "I'LL LIVE MY LIFE AS HONESTLY AS I CAN."

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