Overview

"In many works by modern British women writers, two women form a strong bond only to have that relationship stymied, paralyzed or interrupted. A female character, fearing discovery of covert lesbian desires, lashes out at another woman, resulting in emotional or physical harm to herself or others. Patricia Smith defines this narrative as ""lesbian panic"". What happens when a character or an author is unwilling to confront or reveal her own lesbianism or lesbian desire? For Smith, lesbian panic is often a fear of losing one's identity and value within the heterosexual paradigm. Smith traces the history of ""lesbian panic"" through key works: Woolfe's ""The Voyage Out"" and ""Mrs Dalloway""; Bowen's ""The Little Girls"" and ""Eva Trout""; Brophy's ""King of a Rainy Day""; Lessing's ""The Golden Notebook""; and Spark's ""The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie"". Smith reveals how and why this panic is represented and she explores how postmodern lesbian writers have attempted to break away from this narrative."

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9780231106214

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Reviews

Smith's wise, provocative, and readable volume explores the 'disruptive action or reaction that occurs when a [female] character-or, conceivably, an author-is either unable or unwilling to confront or reveal her own lesbianism or lesbian desire.'... The author addresses the work of eminent modernists (e.g., Woolf, Spark, Lessing, Bowen) along with more experimental narratives (... Emma Tennant, Fay Weldon, Jeanette Winterson).... Smith resists easy explanations by addressing the political and cultural context of narrative ideologies....A genuine addition to lesbian and narrative studies and a balancing vision to politically motivated criticism. * Choice *

Smith's wise, provocative, and readable volume explores the 'disruptive action or reaction that occurs when a [female] character--or, conceivably, an author--is either unable or unwilling to confront or reveal her own lesbianism or lesbian desire.'... The author addresses the work of eminent modernists (e.g., Woolf, Spark, Lessing, Bowen) along with more experimental narratives (... Emma Tennant, Fay Weldon, Jeanette Winterson)... Smith resists easy explanations by addressing the political and cultural context of narrative ideologies...A genuine addition to lesbian and narrative studies and a balancing vision to politically motivated criticism. Choice

Smith's wise, provocative, and readable volume explores the 'disruptive action or reaction that occurs when a [female] character -- or, conceivably, an author -- is either unable or unwilling to confront or reveal her own lesbianism or lesbian desire.'... The author addresses the work of eminent modernists (e.g., Woolf, Spark, Lessing, Bowen) along with more experimental narratives (... Emma Tennant, Fay Weldon, Jeanette Winterson)... Smith resists easy explanations by addressing the political and cultural context of narrative ideologies...A genuine addition to lesbian and narrative studies and a balancing vision to politically motivated criticism. Choice

Smith's wise, provocative, and readable volume explores the 'disruptive action or reaction that occurs when a [female] character -- or, conceivably, an author -- is either unable or unwilling to confront or reveal her own lesbianism or lesbian desire.'... The author addresses the work of eminent modernists (e.g., Woolf, Spark, Lessing, Bowen) along with more experimental narratives (... Emma Tennant, Fay Weldon, Jeanette Winterson)... Smith resists easy explanations by addressing the political and cultural context of narrative ideologies...A genuine addition to lesbian and narrative studies and a balancing vision to politically motivated criticism. -- Choice

Author Information

Patricia Juliana Smith is lecturer in English at the University of California, Los Angeles.

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