|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HELP | |
|
  $18.95 List price: 26.00 You save: $7.05
HARDCOVER, USED
Ships in 1 to 3 days
More copies of this ISBN:Sex Variant Woman: The Life of Jeanette Howard Fosterby Joanne Passet
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Jeannette Howard Foster was to lesbianism in the mid-twentieth century what out authors such as Gore Vidal and James Baldwin were to gay men. She unapologetically blew the lid off Cold War sexual repression in 1956 with her Sex Variant Women in Literature-the first-ever study of homosexual, bisexual, and cross-dressing characters appearing in more than 300 works, from ancient times to the present. Joanne Passets Sex Variant Woman is a fascinating portrait of Foster, who served as the first librarian at the Kinsey Institute before leaving to publish her controversial book. It is also a riveting look into the pre-Stonewall past, the intense sexual repression and persecution endured by homosexuals, the groundbreaking advances put forth by a cadre of activists, and the rise of feminism and gay and lesbian liberation decades later. Review:"Passet, a professor of history and author (Sex Radicals and the Quest for Women's Equality), captures both the personal and professional obstacles faced by Jeanette Howard Foster, the foremother of lesbian literature. Passet begins with Foster's childhood and adolescence, a cold and confusing time with parents enthralled by their own business failures, living distantly from each other and their daughter. Tumultuous undergrad years take her through multiple colleges and her first few broken hearts. As a series of often-intellectual women traipse in and out of her life, a very driven Foster succeeds in obtaining her PhD and eventually works for famed sexual scientist Alfred Kinsey as the institute's first librarian-all before finally completing her own highly controversial book, Sex Variant Women in Literature. Somewhat ironically, Foster's personal life (especially her love life) take precedence over her accomplishments in nearly every chapter; still, Passet does justice to Foster's important place in both literary and lesbian culture. Photos." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Review:Windy City Times “Passet, a bloodhound of a biographer…has tracked the fully-fleshed woman…Passet’s book gives us a rare window into the sex life of an early 20th century lesbian…Passet does an excellent job exploring the passions, politics and perfidies of some of the lesbian-feminist presses that boomed in the 1970s.” Review:Kirkus "Admiring, exhaustive portrait of a pioneering lesbian author. Overly inclusive, but focused and smoothly written-a solid contribution to the history of gay literature."Booklist, 6/1/08 “In her detailed biography of Foster, Passet thoroughly explores the circumstances for gays in mid-to-late-twentieth-century America, revealing, as may be expected, a not-always-pretty picture…As a story of an important figure in gay literary studies as well as librarianship, this is a desirable title.”Oregonian, 6/11/08 “Passet’s tender portrait of Foster as she ages is poignant.” Review:Oregonian, 6/11/08 “Passet’s tender portrait of Foster as she ages is poignant.” Review:The Advocate “Incisive…Fascinating…[Foster’s life] richly deserves Passet’s sensitive and scrupulous attention—and ours.” Review:PublishersWeekly.com “Captures both the personal and professional obstacles faced by Jeanette Howard Foster…Passet does justice to Foster’s important place in both literary and lesbian culture.” Review:Library Journal “[An] expressive, detailed account…Those interested in gay and lesbian issues, lesbiana, and the history of librarianship will find the book fascinating.” Review:Windy City Times, 08/13/08 “In a lovely work that includes samples of Foster's hard-to-find poetry, Passet tells the life story of a lesbian who was ahead of her time.”
Edge Boston “Exquisitely researched and reported”
Bay Windows, 8/21/08 “Fascinating…Carefully researched and richly detailed, the book nicely balances thoroughness and readability.”
GayWired.com, 8/20/08 “Foster may not inspire fascination but what she did and what she was involved in is definitely worth hearing about…Sex Variant Woman is worth a look.”
Bitch, October 2008 “An obsessively detailed account…Passet maintains her detailed, unflinching depiction of Foster’s life until the end…Sex Variant Woman is a long-overdue tribute.”
Feminist Review.org “Passet’s biography of this great woman, constructed through a historian’s careful consideration of all possible sources, offers invaluable insights…It is a book worth reading, perhaps more than once.”
Out Smart, September 2008 “I found this superbly written volume to be a true cover-to-cover read.”
Curve, November 2008 “By carefully documenting the life and loves of Foster, Passet ensures that we not only remember the life of this important lesbian literary pioneer, but that we also celebrate it.” Gay & Lesbian Review, 11/08 “A compelling life story…This biography is enhanced by a number of nicely reproduced black-and-white images.”
Baton Rouge Advocate, 10/12/08 “A sensitive, captivating new book…Passet has done painstaking research in capturing an American life that is far from parochial; reading this ultimately heartwarming book, one comes to care about Foster.”
OLOC newsletter, 10/08 “[A] stunning biography…A fascinating portrait.”
Lambda Book Report, Fall 08 “A well-researched, thorough, and engaging biography…One of the most striking things about this biography is the thoughtful contextualization of lesbianism that Passet provides…An important book…A significant contribution to LGBT studies and lesbian literary studies—and a delightful and engaging read for existing Foster fans and the new ones who will certainly be minted by this book.”
Women’s Review of Books, 1/09 “Passet tackles the life of this remarkable academic with aplomb and perseverance…Passet’s book will remain an important source of information.” About the Author Joanne Passet is a professor of history at Indiana University East. Her previous books include Sex Radicals and the Quest for Womens Equality and Cultural Crusaders. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
Other books you might like
| |||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Don't Miss
