oddismycopilot:

The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall. 1928. The mother of all lesbian classics. The story of Stephen Gordon and her “sexual inversion.” So ground-breaking that, due to its lesbian subject matter, it was banned upon its initial publication. I haven’t read it; it’s supposed to be a downer, but some people like it; a period piece for sure.

We Too Are Drifting by Gale Wilhelm. 1935. Subtitled “The Story of a Lesbian,” shocking in its time. FWIW, the blurb on the period cover says “Better than The Well of Loneliness.” I read this a long time ago and vaguely remember being disappointed, but again, it’s a classic and YMMV.

The Friendly Young Ladies by Mary Renault. 1944. A witty romantic comedy of the bohemian set in 1930s England, reportedly written as a response to The Well of Loneliness and therefore may be best appreciated in that context. I haven’t read it; it’s supposed to be good.

The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith (aka Claire Morgan). 1952. Ahead of its time, this novel tells the story of a love affair between two women in the 1950s. This book was a powerfully formative one for me, and I have revisited it multiple times over the years. Recommended.

Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule. 1964. Later made into the movie Desert Hearts, about a love affair between two women in the late ‘50s. Not action-packed, but thoughtful, well written, and a landmark in its time. Other lesbian-themed books by this author include This Is Not For You and After The Fire.

Patience and Sarah by Isabel Miller. 1972. A major classic. In this historical novel set in 1830s New England, two women defy their families and their community to make a life for themselves. I remember liking this one a lot.

May Sarton (1912-1995). A lesbian writer, perhaps better known for her poetry and journals, she published several fiction titles as well (not all lesbian-themed). I tried reading her once or twice and Did Not Like; however, lots of people swear by her, so there she is.