Using a rich array of oral histories and archival sources, Tomboys and Bachelor Girls provides the first detailed academic study of lesbian identity and culture in post-war Britain for the scholarly and general reader. -- .
Focusing on the diverse experiences of lesbians in Britain, this book utilizes a variety of historical sources, including court records and personal papers, to weave a rich narrative. It highlights significant events and figures, such as Radclyffe Hall and her controversial novel The Well of Loneliness, while also shedding light on the lives of everyday women. The exploration of cultural representations and evolving attitudes toward female same-sex desire adds depth and context to this important history.
The first in-depth study of female same-sex desire in twentieth century Australia, Unnamed Desires explores the compelling stories of ordinary women who struggled to build lives and express their love for other women in a hostile society. Focusing on Sydney and country New South Wales in the mid-twentieth century (1930–1978), it traces the development of lesbian culture, identities and material spaces from the interwar period to the first Mardi Gras. This book offers fascinating new insights into the social and cultural history of mid-twentieth century NSW. ‘Elegantly written, Unnamed Desires … tells stories of sadness and persecution, but also accounts of bravery, ingenuity and fun … It is a very welcome and important addition to the scholarship on sexuality in Australian history.’ — Jill Julius Matthews