Lesbian Lists

by Dell Richards

A look at lesbian culture, history, and personalities.

Genres: Lesbian, Queer, LGBT, History, Nonfiction

254 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1991

Reviews

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative without being too detailed -- this book gave me a number of new queer authors and historical figures to investigate! The definition of "lesbian" is pretty broad and sometimes falls into trans dismissal, so any lists about "women dresses as men" are best avoided.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone needs to create an update of this book.

That being said, lists like "Famous actresses that actually f*cked or maybe even DATED, ROMANTICALLY another women!!!!" are going to be like 10000000000e+ pages long now, so who cares. Also, I don't think it's relevant (or kind!) for people still alive.

However, there's a lot of historical stuff here that's worth recognizing and remembering, and expanding upon.

I'm fascinated that within my lifetime, and I'm not even that old so like, not that long ago at all, making lists like this was 1) necessary 2) interesting 3) scant enough on content that it required research and could be printed onto ONE PAGE of a book 4) desperately longed-for by a community trying to feel legitimate by discovering and publicizing their history and now it's like... well it's a pretty different world. Damn.

For a SECOND we had a moment, eh? That was kinda nice.

"two women together is a work / nothing in civilization has made simple" -- Adrienne Rich, Twenty-One Love Poems

STILL TRUE

[Tamara Suttle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a newly minted lesbian back in the 1990's. At the time, it was life-altering to see so many lesbians and bisexual women actually named. These days, I doubt the lists would have the same impact; however, it is still a quick and useful read to see the breadth of influence that we have had in this world.

[l · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s cute and corny. I like that it exists.

[Ariel ✨]

lol idk. it's camp?

[Kesso Abuladze]

God I love Internet Archive

[Drac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating time capsule.

[Elvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

ha .. wow, I found this book at Community Thrift for $1.50, and its cheap laffs abound!

I.e., it's super corny, but very funny...lists like "top 10 historical women to dress like men," "top 10 feminist utopias," etc, etc.

A 1970s-style book, good & silly times.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not too well-researched (includes at least one male-penned novel in a list of autobiographies, cites an unconfirmed case of parthenogenesis as true); and includes historical women based on a much broader definition of "lesbian" than I would use.