As Lillian Faderman writes, there are "no constants with regard to lesbianism," except that lesbians prefer women. In this groundbreaking book, she reclaims the history of lesbian life in twentieth-century America, tracing the evolution of lesbian identity and subcultures from early networks to more[...]

Faderman takes a look at the traditional view of lesbianism, drawing on love letters, trial records, pornography and the 'experts' proclamations, and shows how shifting theories of female sexuality makes some things acceptable and others taboo.[...]