Cambridge University Press, 1924, $2.75.
THE MIDDLE AGES:
_Ariosto, Ludovico_--Orlando Furioso. London, Bell, 1907.
_Labe, Louise_--Love Sonnets (trans. by Frederick Prokosch), New
Directions, 1947, $2.50, still in print.
_Shakespeare, William_--The first 27 of the "Sonnets" are generally
adjudged to be male-homosexual in emphasis and are therefore of
interest to collectors in this field.
THE ROMANTIC POETS--19th CENTURY:
_Coleridge, Samuel T._--Christabel. Long narrative poem of a curious
attachment between a guileless young girl and a female demon;
available in virtually every anthology of English literature.
_Rossetti, Christina_--Goblin Market. Lovely and fantastic poem with
distinctly variant overtones. See anthologies of English literature.
_Romani, Felice_--Norma. Italian libretto for the opera by Vincenzo
Bellini, generally adjudged to be subtly lesbian in overtones. Many
translations are available in collections of opera libretti, but
most English translations edit out the variant content or alter the
emphasis.
_Baudelaire, Charles_--The Flowers of Evil, (trans. from the French
of Les Fleurs du Mal by Edna St. Vincent Millay and George Dillon)
N. Y., Harper, 1936, also New Directions, pbr, 1958. Many other
editions and translations available.
_Swinburne, Algernon Charles_--Poems and Ballads, 2 vols, London,
Chatto & Windus, 1893, 1895. Many of the poems in this series are
explicitly or implicitly lesbian. In the interests of space
limitation, only the major titles will be listed for those who want
to sift through anthologies; Anactoria, Fragoletta, Sapphics, At
Eleusis, Sonnet with a copy of Mlle. de Maupin, The Masque of Queen
Bersabe, Erotion. The entire series of Poems and Ballads is
available in hcr no. 961, Everyman's Library, Dutton, 1940, 50, for
$1.95.
_Louÿs, Pierre_--Songs of Bilitis. Many editions available, the most
easily located probably being the Liveright "Collected works of
Pierre Louys", $3.50. There is also a paperback edition, Avon Red
and Gold Library, no date. The "Songs" have been published singly in
numerous privately printed and illustrated editions, some of which
are very beautiful collector's items.
_Brontë, Emily_--Complete Poems. N. Y. Columbia University Press,
1941 (still in print at $4.00). A scattering of these poems are (or
can be interpreted as) vaguely variant.
_Mencken, Idah Isaacs_--Infelicia. Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1875.
(Rare, and expensive.)
_Field, Michael_--(pseud. of two Englishwomen.) Entire work of
lesbian interest and a "must" for completists. Most medium to large
public libraries have some of their work.
_Dickinson, Emily_--Bolts of Melody. N. Y. Harper, 1945. Also variant
poems are scattered throughout her earlier editions. (Selected
Poems, Modern Library, 1948, $1.65.)
THE MODERN POETS:
_Lowell, Amy_--No one volume of her work can be singled out; her
poems are perhaps the most openly variant of any of the English or
American poets. Her "Complete Poetical Works" is still in print;
Boston, Houghton & Mifflin Co., 1955; Introduction by Louis
Untermeyer, $6.00.
_O'Neill, Rose_--The Master Mistress. N. Y., Knopf, 1922. The creator
of the "Kewpies" also was the writer of these sensitive,
occasionally erotic poems. Perhaps a dozen are explicitly lesbian.
_Hall, Radclyffe_--Poems of the Past and Present, London, Chapman &
Hall, 1910. Songs of Three Counties, Chapman & Hall, 1913. The
Forgotten Island, London, Chapman & Hall, 1915. Sheaf of Verses,
London, Chapman & Hall, 1905. Twixt Earth and Stars, London, Chapman
& Hall, 1906.
These poems by the author of "Well of Loneliness" are so overt that
it is almost unbelievable that they were printed at all, but they
were, and I have the books to prove it ... she managed to get away
with it, I guess, because she talks in these poems as if she were a
man, writing to a woman.
_Millay, Edna St. Vincent_--Collected Poems, N. Y., Harper, 1956,
$6.00. This is the favored anthology of Millay for this purpose,
since it contains everything of hers which is variant in tone.
However, there are many single volumes of her poetry available, and
also pbrs; Collected Lyrics (Washington Square, 50c), and Collected
Sonnets (Washington Square, 50c).
_Sackville-West, Victoria_--King's Daughter, N. Y., Doubleday, 1930.
_Sterling, George_--Strange Waters. Privately printed, n.d., also in
American Esoterica, N. Y. Macy-Masius, 1927. Lengthy narrative poem
of supposed incestuous lesbianism ... shocker.
_Doolittle, Hilda (H.D.)_--Red Roses for Bronze, London, Lord,
Chatto & Windus. Also the Grove Press qpb, Selected Poems of H.D.,
1957; this, however, does not contain the best-known of Sappho
paraphrases, "Fragment Thirty-six". Also "Collected Poems",
Liveright, $2.50.
_Pitter, Ruth_--English poetess, whose work is rather difficult to
locate in this country. Many of her early poems are tinged with
variance and well worth the effort of locating them in large
libraries.
_Smith, Alicia Kay_--Only in Whispers. Privately printed; Falmouth,
Rockport, Maine. This is the hardest book on this list to obtain,
and of course, the most overt. Ardently but in good taste, this
tells of a lengthy and beautiful lesbian affair. A "must" book for
serious collectors who like poetry.
_Wright, James_--The Green Wall. Yale University Press, 1957, $3.00.
Two overt poems in an excellent and sensitive collection.
_Variant Films_
compiled by LauraJean Ermayne and Gene Damon
With the exception of a few privately filmed and circulated
stag films, which of course do not come within the scope of
this study, lesbianism is treated only vaguely and by
indirection in motion pictures. Hollywood codes (which
regulate distribution even of foreign films in this country)
state unequivocally that homosexuality may not be portrayed
_or suggested._ (Italics mine). Even when the predominantly
homosexual novel COMPULSION was filmed, the script--though
including a rape scene--was fudged so that the relationship
between the two boys was never hinted at--except vaguely in
one scene, where Orson Welles as the great lawyer said that
the opposition might find "something fishy" in the fact that
they had no other friends. Your editor has since been informed
that the movie NEVER SO FEW portrayed recognizable
homosexuals. Hollywood codes are growing less stringent by the
day, with the general relaxation of censorship, and by next
year there should be some additions to this list. Thanks are
due to Miss Ermayne for allowing us to reprint the material
used in her article on The Sapphic Cinema in THE LADDER for
March, 1959 ... the Editors.
THE ADVENTURES OF KING PAUSOLE. Filmed in France in 1932, with Emil
Jannings. Based on the Pierre Louys novel, this starred 366 models and
dancers from the Folies Bergère; among these near-nude and nubile
nymphs was one disguised as a male ballet dancer, with whom the King's
daughter Aline had a romance even after discovering that they were of
the same sex.
ALL ABOUT EVE took the Academy Award in 1950. There is a very lesbian
situation used to introduce the main protagonist into the movie; later
events proved the woman only pretending lesbian-type devotion, but the
inference, in the beginning, is clear and unmistakable. (GD)
THE BARKER 1928. A short silent picture which was banned in many cities
because it featured a scene in which a very butchy type in men's pajamas
got into bed with a fluffy blonde type; caused a lot of critical
hoop-la. (GD)
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, a film based on the Lillian Hellman play reviewed
in this Checklist, bears a question mark; will someone who has seen the
picture please let us know whether lesbian content was implicit in the
movie?
CHILDREN OF LONELINESS, outright anti-homophile propaganda, was mostly
male-oriented, but did contain a gay night-club scene, and picture and
office butch whose offer of affection and protection drove one girl to a
psychiatrist's couch--where she was counselled against "abnormal love".
DARK VICTORY. 1939, recently shown on TV, concerns a talented, charming
woman (Bette Davis) dying of a brain tumor; her constant companion and
secretary is clearly in love with her, and there were numerous beautiful
and heartbreaking scenes, some of which would be impossible in a movie
not dealing with such a sad situation.
CLUB DES FEMMES (Girl's Club in English) an admirable French film
starring Danielle Darieux, reviewed at length in THE LADDER. The lesbian
element is treated explicitly and with taste and charm.
ESCAPE TO YESTERDAY, a French film with one brief sequence in a cabaret,
where recognizably lesbian types were portrayed.
MAEDCHEN IN UNIFORM, a classic German film of the thirties, reviewed at
length in J H Foster's book, starring Hertha Thiele as Manusia and
Dorothea Wieck as her teacher. The film has recently been re-made but
has not yet reached the USA.
THE GODDESS, an art film released about a year ago, starring Kim
Stanley, shows the life of an unwanted child who grows up to be a movie
queen and ends up living with her secretary, obviously a lesbian; the
relationship is portrayed with unusual frankness. This movie is still
playing in specialty theatres around the big cities.
NO EXIT, a French film of the play by Jean-Paul Sartre; setting, limbo;
one of the characters, a lesbian who fell in love with a married woman
and drove her to suicide by spooking her.
OPEN CITY, realistic Italian film of 10 years or so ago, had a
recognizable lesbian type-cast in it.
PIT OF LONELINESS, a French film based on the novel OLIVIA and starring
Simone Simon. "Something of a disappointment" says LJE.
QUEEN CHRISTINA, 1934. This famous screen classic starred Greta Garbo;
the variant bits were minor, but they were there. (GD)
ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE 1939. Now-dated tear-jerker starring Alice
Faye; in one long scene the heroine sings standing by a piano, while a
clearly seen, very mannish and extremely obvious "type" drools over her.
Not imagination; this one was the veddy veddy correct, monocled type.
(GD)
SIGN OF THE RAM, a filming circa 1947 of the Margaret Ferguson novel,
starred Susan Peters as the wheelchaired heroine; the "crush" between
Leah and Christine was treated vaguely but recognizably to anyone who
had read the book.
TIME OF DESIRE. "Much has been made of the Uranian aspect of this film
but personally I couldn't see it...." LJE
TORST ("Thirst") directed by Ingmar Bergman, is supposed to tell the
lives of three women strangely in love, including a lesbian. As yet none
of your editors or contributors have seen the film.
TURNABOUT, the Thorne Smith sex-farce where a man's ego is transmuted
into a woman's body.
TITLE UNKNOWN; 1950 or 1951; French with English subtitles; action took
place in a girl's reformatory, much reference to lesbianism and some
overt scenes; one where a girl caressed the breast of another and
whispered love words to her, another where a tough street type tells a
young innocent "See these marks on my thighs, they are each the marks of
a lover, the left leg for boys and the right for girls." I don't see any
other way to interpret that scene. (GD)
THE END, OF COURSE, IS NOT YET.
[Illustration]
Related Publications
Information about the following publishers in the field of homosexual
studies was supplied by the editors; we at the Checklist assume no
responsibility for this information. We have, however, been constant
readers of all three of these magazines and can recommend them as
dignified, worthwhile and occasionally scholarly pioneering in a
neglected field; they deserve support.
ONE, INCORPORATED. 232 South Hill Street, Los Angeles 12, California.
Non-profit organization, established in 1952, concerned with the
problems and interests of homosexual men and women; publishers of:
ONE Magazine, monthly. Five dollars per year, fifty cents per
copy. Sent first class, sealed. Editor Don Slater; Woman's
editor, Alison Hunter. Editorials, fiction, poetry, articles,
book reviews, letters, artwork. Special attention given to the
Feminine Viewpoint. Fiction, articles, poetry by and about the
lesbian.
ONE Institute Quarterly; Homophile Studies. Official Organ of
One Institute, a university-level facility presenting classes
on the history, biology, sociology and psychology of
homosexuality. Articles include scholarly evaluation of
literary figures such as Gertrude Stein, Walt Whitman,
homosexuality and religion, etc. Five dollars per year, $1.50
single copy. Editor James Kepner, Jr.
THE DAUGHTERS OF BILITIS, INC. 165 O'Farrell St, Room 405, San
Francisco, Calif. A woman's organization for promoting the
integration of the homosexual into society; membership limited to
woman. Emphasis on education of the variant to promote adjustment
and self-understanding, and education of the public at large through
acceptance of the individual. Publishers of:
THE LADDER. Monthly, $4.00 a year, 50c single copy, mailed
first class sealed. Editor, Del Martin. Fiction and poetry of
special interest, letters from readers, book reviews and a
running column of lesbiana managed by Gene Damon, reports on
special study and discussion groups, and the conductors of a
recent survey on lesbians personally.
THE MATTACHINE SOCIETY, 693 Mission Street, San Francisco, California.
Founded 1950, Incorporated 1954; purpose, to conduct projects of
education, research and social service in sex problems, particularly
those of homosexual adults. Publishers of:
MATTACHINE REVIEW, monthly, offset printed, circulation 2250;
$5 a year, 50c single copy, mailed sealed; issued annually in
bound volumes, indexed at end of each year. Reflects the
policies and purpose of the Mattachine Society with scientific
articles, research reports, news of sexological trends, book
reviews, letters from readers, a small amount of fiction and
annual poetry supplement. Hal Call, Editor.
DORIAN BOOK QUARTERLY. $2 a year, 50c per copy. Primarily
concerned with books and periodicals on socio-sexual themes,
particularly fiction and non fiction dealing with
homosexuality and related themes. Purpose: to fight censorship
and encourage publishing in this field. Advertising accepted,
reviews and news of books in the field solicited. Controlled
circulation. Harold L. Call, Editor.
SEE ALSO FOR COLLECTORS ONLY
[Illustration]
collectors only
Every year, following the publication of the Checklist, we receive a
number of queries. Where, they want to know, can we buy these books? We
can only tell you where we buy books; and have therefore assembled the
following list of reputable dealers, mail order, who handle these books
and many others.
WINSTON BOOK SERVICE, 250 Fulton Avenue; Hempstead, New York.
Successor to the famous Cory Book Service which was founded by
Donald Webster Cory, author of "The Homosexual in America". This is
perhaps the best American source for current novels in hard covers
and non-fiction. They issue catalogs and lists, give a sizable
discount for large orders, and will also locate hard-to-find or
out-of-print books. Leslie Laird Winston, who is the presiding
genius here, is one of the nicest people to deal with that we have
ever known. Every month they feature some new or special book in the
field, at a special price. Getting on their mailing list is the
_best_ thing that can happen to a collector.
DORIAN BOOK SERVICE, 693 Mission Street, San Francisco 5,
California. A subsidiary of the Mattachine Review and the
Pan-Graphic Press. They publish the Dorian Book Quarterly, dealt
with elsewhere, and also a fat, fascinating catalogue listing
several hundred titles of current hardcover and paperback fiction.
They can also furnish, or will locate, many out-of-print titles. My
experience with them: prompt service, fast shipment, up-to-date
information on cheap reprints of rare titles.
VILLAGE BOOKS AND PRESS, 114-116 Christopher Street, New York 14,
New York. This is the outfit behind the Noel Garde bibliography of
Homosexual Literature, mentioned in the editorial. They can still
supply this biblio list for $1.50. They also issue lists at frequent
intervals, and will search for hard-to-find and out-of-print titles.
Prices seem reasonable considering the scarcity of some of the
paperbacks he handles. The proprietor, Howard Frisch, is one of the
most co-operative dealers in the business.
ONE Magazine, listed in "Related Publications" has published one
volume of short stories, and is soon to do more publishing; they
also list several dozen books sold by mail order.
THE LADDER, listed in "Related Publications", is soon to set up a
book service; their first special release will be Jeannette Howard
Foster's "Sex Variant Women in Literature", so keep your eyes open.
THE TENTH MUSE, bookshop managed by Julia Newman, 326 West 15th St,
New York 11, New York, also does some mail order business. Write for
a list.
A POINTS NORTHE, unusual bookshop at 15 Robinson Street, in Oklahoma
City, managed by James Neill Northe, into which your senior editor
virtually stumbled during a rainstorm, specializes in very rare,
esoteric and scholarly titles, curiosa, etc. He can supply even the
most fantastically rare stuff; prices are in line with the rarity of
the items wanted. (It was Mr. Northe who, with disinterested
kindness, supplied some biblio data on the real rarities on the
list; he has our thanks and endorsement.)
BOOKPOST, C. Rogers, Box 3251, San Diego 3, California. This outfit
specializes in Americana, but can supply almost anything. The prices
here are the most reasonable I've ever encountered; if Rogers quotes
you a price, there's no point in shopping around for a lower one.
INTERNATIONAL BOOKFINDERS, P O Box 3003, Beverly Hills, California.
These people are the out-of-print bookfinders par excellence. I've
ordered many books from them; their prices are reasonable, never
exorbitant; their service is good, the books they supply are always
of high quality. They're nice to deal with. I've never had a
complaint in ten years of bookhunting.
RAYMOND TRANFIELD, Antiquarian Book Dealer, 31 Hart Street,
Henley-Upon-Thames, Oxon, England, is probably the best source for
older books published in England. His prices are reasonable, his
service is fast (he quotes by airmail and sends his parcels insured,
which is a blessing for anything which has to travel across the
ocean).
[Illustration]
paperbacks
Paperbacks. We hate them and we love them. The worst rubbish, and the
best literature brought within the reach of a slim budget. If you missed
it on the news-stands, all is not lost....
ACE BOOKS Inc., 23 West 47th Street, New York 36, New York. (25c)
AVON Books; Avon Publications, Inc., 575 Madison Ave, N. Y. 22, N. Y.
(35c & 50c)
BALLANTINE BOOKS, Inc., 101 Fifth Ave, New York 3, N. Y.(35c)
BEACON BOOKS, 117 East 31st St, New York 16, N. Y. (35c or 3 for one
dollar)
BERKLEY Publishing Corp., 146 West 57th St, New York 19, N. Y.
CREST and GOLD MEDAL books; Fawcett Publications, Greenwich,
Connecticut.
CARDINAL editions, POCKET BOOKS and PERMABOOKS, Pocket Books, Inc, 630
Fifth Avenue, New York 20, N. Y. Free catalogue on request.
NEWSSTAND LIBRARY EDITIONS, (Magenta Books, and others) 3143 Diversey
Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Free lists sent on request.
BANTAM BOOKS, 25 West 45th Street, New York 36, N. Y.
DELL BOOKS, Dell Publishing Corp. Inc, 750 Third Avenue, New York 17,
NY
PYRAMID BOOKS, 444 Madison Avenue, New York 22, New York.
POPULAR LIBRARY, Hillman Books and others, do not print their address
in the books and evidently don't want to bother with mail orders. If
you miss them on the news-stands, you'll have to root in secondhand
stores. Saber and Fabian Books can be ordered through the Dorian Book
Service, and some secondhand book dealers will locate paperbacks,
including Village Books and Press, above.
BEDSIDE and BEDTIME books, (50c each) 200 West 34th Street, New York,
N. Y.
[Illustration]
_hardcover publishers_
Compiled by Kerry Dame
A list of all obtainable addresses of the publishers of hardcover
books mentioned in the Checklist. (Paperback publishers listed
elsewhere.)
Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc--35 W. 32nd St, NYC 1, N. Y.
Arco Publishing Co, Inc.--480 Lexington Ave. NYC 17, NY
Arkham House; Publishers.--Sauk City, Wisconsin.
A. S. Barnes & Co.--11 E. 36th St, NYC 16, NY
Barnes & Noble, Inc.--105 Fifth Ave. NYC 3, NY
Beacon _Press_, Inc.--25 Beacon St, Boston 8, Mass.
Blakiston Co.--(see McGraw-Hill Book Co, Inc.)
Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc.--717 Fifth Avenue, NY 22, NY
Borden Publishing Co.--3077 Wabash Avenue, Los Angeles 63, Cal.
Boxwood Press--Box 7171, Pittsburgh 13, Penna.
C. F. Braun & Co.--1000 S. Fremont Ave, Alhambra, Calif.
Citadel Press--222 Fourth Ave, NYC 3, NY
Clarion Press--510 Madison Avenue, Room 700, NYC 22, NY
P. F. Collier & Son--Library Division, 640 Fifth Avenue, NYC 19
Comet Press Books--200 Varick St, NYC 14, N. Y.
F. E. Compton & Co.,--1000 N. Dearborn St, Chicago 10, Illinois
Coward-McCann, Inc.--210 Madison Avenue, N. Y. C. 16, NY
Creative Age Press--(see "Farrar, Straus & Cudahy")
Criterion Books--257 Fourth Ave, NYC 10, NY
Thomas Y. Crowell Co.--432 Fourth Ave, NYC 16, NY
Crown Publishers, Inc.--419 Fourth Avenue, NYC 16, NY
Dial Press, Inc.--461 Fourth Ave, NYC 16, NY
Dodd, Mead & Co.--432 Fourth Avenue, NYC 16, NY
Dorrance & Co., Inc.--131 N. 20th St, Philadelphia 3, Penna.
Doubleday & Co., Inc.--mail orders; Garden City, New York.
Dover Publications, Inc.--180 Varick Street, NYC 14, NY
Duell, Sloan and Pearce, Inc.--19 W. 40th St, NYC 18, NY
E. P. Dutton & Co.,--300 Fourth Avenue, NYC 10, NY
Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, Inc.--101 Fifth Avenue, NYC 3, NY
Frederick Fell, Inc.--386 Fourth Ave, NYC 16, NY
Fleet Publishing Corp.--70 E. 45th St, NYC 17, NY
Funk & Wagnalls Co.--153 E. 24th St, NYC 10, NY
Greenberg--(see Chilton Co, Book Division, 56th & Chestnut St,
Philadelphia 39, Penna.--what became of Greenberg; NY?)
Grosset & Dunlap, Inc.--mail orders; 227 E. Center St, Kingsport,
Tennessee.
Grove Press, Inc.--64 University Place, NYC 3, NY
Harper & Brothers--49 E. 33rd St, NYC 16, NY
Hastings House, Publishers--151 E. 50th St, NYC 22, NY
Henry Holt & Co.--383 Madison Ave, NYC 17, NY
Houghton, Mifflin Co.--2 Park St, Boston 7, Mass.
Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana.
Alfred E. Knopf Inc.--501 Madison Avenue, NYC 22, NY
Lane Publishing Co.--Menlo Park, Calif.
J. B. Lippincott Co.--East Washington Square, Philadelphia 5, Penna.
Little, Brown & Co.--34 Beacon Street, Boston 6, Mass.
Liveright Publishing Corp.--386 Fourth St, NYC 16, NY
Robert M. McBride--235 Fourth Avenue, NYC 3, NY
McDowell, Oblensky, Inc.--219 E. 61st St, NYC (no zone listed)
McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.--330 West 42nd St, NYC 36, NY
David McKay Co., Inc.--119 West 40th St, NYC 18, NY
Macauley Co.--(Book Sales, Inc, 352 Fourth Ave, NYC 10, NY)
Macmillan Co.--60 Fifth Avenue, NYC 11, NY
Julian Messner, Inc.--8 W. 40th St, NYC 18, NY
Wm. Morrow & Co., Inc.--425 Fourth Avenue, NYC 16, NY
New Directions--333 Sixth Avenue, NYC 14, NY
Noonday Press, Inc.--80 E. 11th St, NYC 3, NY
Ottenheimer Publishers--4805 Nelson Avenue, Baltimore 15, Md.
Pageant Press, Inc.--101 Fifth Avenue, NYC 3, NY
G. P. Putnam's Sons--210 Madison Avenue, NYC 16, NY
Rand McNally & Co.--Box 7600, Chicago 80, Illinois
Random House, Inc.--457 Madison Avenue, NYC 22, NY
Rinehart & Co, Inc.--232 Madison Avenue, NYC 16, NY
Simon & Schuster, Inc.--Mail Orders; 136 West 52nd St, NYC 19, NY
Sagamore Press, Inc.--11 E. 36th St, NYC 16, NY
St. Martin's Press, Inc.--175 Fifth Avenue, NYC 10, NY
Charles Scribners Sons--597 Fifth Avenue, NYC 17, NY
Tudor Publishing Co.--(Order From; Harlem Book Co, 221 Fourth Ave. NYC
3, NY)
University of California Press, Berkeley 4, Calif.
Vanguard Press, Inc.--424 Madison Ave. NYC 17, NY
Vantage Press, Inc.--120 West 31st St, NYC 1, NY
Viking Press--625 Madison Avenue, NYC 22, NY