Radclyffe Hall (1880 – 1943) was born in Hampshire, England and self-identified as a “congenital invert.” In the early 20th century this was her best (and perhaps only) option for describing what she described as a man’s soul born into a woman’s body, and vice versa. 

She wrote about elements that were present in her life; for example, wealthy upper-class lifestyle, English culture and her attraction to women. Hall frequently dressed in masculine garb and called herself John.

Hall’s most famous work,The Well of Loneliness (1928) draws on her own life, as it features a lesbian from an upper class family in England. The main character, Stephen Gordon, lives with her partner, Mary Llewellyn. Read More→