Lesbian Images (1975)

There are no images in this book; only words and what we make of them, as readers.

Jane Rule (1931-2007) begins her "Introduction" with reviews of her best known book, Desert of the Heart (1964).

"The Desert of the Heart is extremely frank in its treatment of lesbianism. Perhaps a little too frank. The author almost makes it seem desirable." -- Molly Frampton, St. Catherine's Standard, March 21, 1964.

And this from Vancouver, where Rule lived at the time:

"I learned a lot more about Lesbians than I care to know." -- Lorne Parton, Vancouver Province, March 21, 1964.

Capital "L" Lesbians. As in, residents of Lesbos, and the world where books like Rule's are written.

Rule moved to Vancouver from England in 1956 with scholar John Hulcoop, whom Wikipedia says she "entered into a relationship with." Before that, Rule taught in Massachusetts, where she met Helen Sonthoff, who visited often, until she stopped visiting and stayed -- with Rule.

Sonthoff does not appear in Rule's posthumously published memoir Taking my Life (Vancouver: Talonbooks, 2011). (Clues as to why can be found in Lesbian Images, where Rule discusses the life and work of Gertrude Stein, Willa Cather and others.)

As for Molly Frampton, I've done everything I can to find her online.