By Emma Donoghue
Alfred A. Knopf (www.randomhouse.com)
This wonderful volume charts the plot motifs of relationships between women. The author does not confine herself to the current concept of “lesbian”; she explores the various ways women’s intimate bonds have been portrayed in literature from 1100 until today. While a wonderful volume for scholars, the writing and structure make this information available to any lover of literature. I’ve read all the classics exploring lesbians in literature—this one is different in that it explores how the stories a culture tells itself change over time, while the messages remain essentially the same.
—Review: Angel Curtis
