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  • The Well of Loneliness

  • By: Radclyffe Hall
  • Narrated by: Ell Potter
  • Length: 18 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (133 ratings)
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The Well of Loneliness

By: Radclyffe Hall
Narrated by: Ell Potter
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Summary

The Well of Loneliness will go down in history as one of the world’s first published novels to depict a lesbian relationship.

After publication in 1928, it was banned for obscenity before going on to become an international best seller.

It tells the story of Stephen Gordon, an Englishwoman from an upper-class family who is ostracised for falling in love with another woman, Mary Llewellyn.

Groundbreaking in its day, Radclyffe Hall’s novel ultimately makes a very clear plea in regards to homosexuality: 'Give us also the right to our existence'.

In this exclusive production, Audible’s breakout star Ell Potter (Winter Dark, Winter Rising) breathes new life into the classic novel.

Public Domain (P)2020 Audible, Ltd

Behind the scenes

Ell Potter on recording during lockdown.
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What listeners say about The Well of Loneliness

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Masterpieces

This book is or will be for some ppl a hard to go truth since its may be depressing too sad or well its has no happy ending as the title of the book saying but the book was written with a purpose - a plea, if you like, that is expressed very openly in the closing chapters. As an example of cultural history or changes in society and attitudes, it is a fantastic read because it contains a lot of information about British upper-middle class society of the early 20th century. This is a great read .
Ell Potter what can i say this was the first book i heard from Ell and i am 100% happy with the performance she is fantastic.

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11 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Deeply affecting!

I first read this forty years ago and loved it then as much as I do re-reading it now.
Beautifully written, the sort of book that I like to listen to in small chunks so that I can make it last longer and savour every deliciously descriptive chapter for as long as possible.
Sympathetically and cleverly read by the narrator, although the Irish accent is a little off.
Romantic and tragic, insightful and meaningful, an enjoyable and educational must-read for anyone intrigued by social history and attitudes towards homosexuality.
A treasure and of my top ten favourites!

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Sad but enlightening

A lovely, well written story. The main characters are denied happiness at every turn partly because of their own self recriminations and those that are heaped upon them by society in general. Not satisfied with the ending but I suppose it is a reflection of the time and as much as you would like to change the past all you can do is observe and learn from the pieces leftover. This book is one of those pieces.

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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Boring

I didn't even finish this audiobook as I found it very, very boring. The story seemed plain and unmoving.

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2 people found this helpful

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Beautifully written.

This book was like poetry in pros! The narrator was perfect reading it to create the pictures the writer had intended. A true classic.

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1 person found this helpful

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As beautiful and moving as when I read it twenty years ago.

Engaging and transportative. Performed brilliantly. Homophobes should be forced to read it at gun point. Though I suppose the guns probably shouldn't be loaded.....

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a heartfelt book

This book talked to my very core. At times I felt so much like Stephen that my throat ached. this books speaks to the heart of the "inverted" and the silent abuse of the social rejection. A masterpiece of it's genre.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Drags on and on

Well narrated, interesting story, but I felt it just went on for far too long.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

This book is full of emotional turmoil and was brilliantly narrated by Ell Potter. I couldn’t stop listening. A masterpiece.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Performance perfection

What a desperately sad and wonderful story, read beautifully by Ell Potter. A revolutionary story, still sadly relevant today.

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