I am trying to make a list of classic novels—hoping early 1900s, 1800s, etc.—that involve a female character who leaves her husband / boyfriend for another woman. Considering the content, I am thinking it may be hard to find century old novels that meet this criteria (and am struggling to find any online), and so novels of a similar bent—i.e., any novel about a protagonist woman falling in love with another woman—could be useful as well. I also am only looking for literary fiction, not pulp-romance, etc.
Do you know of any literary novels which meet these criteria?
by DancingKitten33
5 Comments
Carol
It’s not a novel,, but you might check out the short story Halloween by Thomas Beer. I’m not sure of the date, but it’s 1920s-30s.
These are the only two I know of that meet your criteria:
Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule (1964). Woman meets another woman while traveling to Reno for a divorce.
The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith (1952). It is a pulp novel, technically, but in no way is it written like one. It absolutely meets the standard of literary fiction — every time I read it I’m astounded by the writing and I have a degree in English. This may be as close as you’ll get.
Some other classics involving lesbian relationships and identity:
Nightwood by Djuna Barnes (1936)
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall (1928)
Olivia by Dorothy Strachey (1949)
And here are some more modern texts with the trope you’re looking for, or something similar involving married women.
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer
The Secret of You and Me by Melissa Lenhardt
We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart
Fried Green Tomatoes is a modern classic
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters