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Source Record

'Well of loneliness'

Why this source is used

National Archives source on Home Office and Director of Public Prosecutions material concerning The Well of Loneliness in 1928.

Start with the answer

Start with the answer How did lesbian visibility develop in the 20th century? Lesbian visibility developed through literature, censorship battles, community publications, parliamentary representation and Black lesbian feminist writing. Read the topic guide Lesbian Literature and Organising Lesbian visibility grew through censored literature, private networks, community publications, parliamentary representation and Black lesbian feminist writing.

Source Status

Publisher
The National Archives
Type
archive
Reliability
high
Cited by
3 pages

Source Links

Open original source https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/twenties-britain-part-two/well-of-loneliness/ Accessed 2 June 2026 Open archived copy https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/twenties-britain-part-two/well-of-loneliness/

Used by Topics

Lesbian Literature and Organising

Used by Questions

How did lesbian visibility develop in the 20th century?

Used by Timeline Events

27 July 1928 CulturalDiscriminationUK

The Well of Loneliness — Landmark Lesbian Novel Banned

Radclyffe Hall published The Well of Loneliness, a novel depicting a woman's love for another woman. Despite being relatively tame by modern standards, the book was the subject of an obscenity trial in London, where the Chief Magistrate declared it obscene and ordered all copies destroyed. The ban sparked international debate about censorship and homosexuality. The book remained effectively banned in the UK until 1949.