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Lesbian Panic

Homoeroticism in Modern British Women's Fiction

Patricia Juliana Smith author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Columbia University Press

Published:4th Jun '97

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Lesbian Panic cover

For Smith, "lesbian panic" is often a fear of losing one's identity and value within the heterosexual paradigm. This book traces the history of "lesbian panic" through key works: The Voyage Out and Mrs. Dalloway; The Little Girls and Eva Trout; King of a Rainy Country; The Golden Notebook; and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

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.

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

ISBN: 9780231106214

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

258 pages