Radclyffe Hall — The Well of Loneliness with Iris Jamahl Dunkle

Send us Fan Mail Often called “the lesbian Bible,” Radclyffe Hall’s 1928 novel The Well of Loneliness has been sparking debate for nearly a century. Banned in the UK after an infamous obscenity trial, the book remains a lightening rod for readers — some revere it, others can’t stand it. We’ll explore what makes this groundbreaking novel so remarkable (and so divisive) with returning guest Iris Jamahl Dunkle, who found inspiration in Hall’s protagonist for her forthcoming book on strong-bodied women who refuse to conform to society’s standards. Mentioned in this episode: Kim and Amy’s October 14 LitQuake appearance: “Scribbling Women” Strike Back: How Long-Silenced Voices Have Fueled a New Resistance The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall (new Oxford Press edition) Iris Jamahl Dunkle’s Substack article on Radclyffe Hall “Bad Gays” podcast episode on Radclyffe Hall Lost Ladies of Lit Episode No. 27 on Charmian Kittredge London Lost Ladies of Lit Episode No. 214 on Sanora Babb Lost Ladies of Lit Episode No. 152 on Janet Lewis Riding Like the Wind: The Life of Sanora Babb by Iris Jamahl Dunkle Charmian Kittredge London: Trailblazer, Author, Adventurer by Iris Jamahl Dunkle Womb House Books Cita Press Loving Sylvia Plath: A Reclamation by Emily Van Duyne Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi Pond Havelock Ellis Edith Ellis Djuna Barnes Natalie Clifford Barney Margaret Vandenburg Support the show For episodes and show notes, visit: LostLadiesofLit.com

You can listen to Radclyffe Hall — The Well of Loneliness with Iris Jamahl Dunkle online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Radclyffe Hall — The Well of Loneliness with Iris Jamahl Dunkle is an episode from Lost Ladies of Lit by Amy Helmes & Kim Askew.

This episode is 42:02 long.

This episode was published on Oct 14, 2025.

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