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Joan Nestle

The Persistent Desire: A Femme-Butch Reader Paperback – January 1, 1992

by Joan Nestle (Editor)

4.6 24 ratings

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Surveys a decade of the attempt to reconstruct and understand the meaning and value of butch-femme relations for the contemporary lesbian, drawing on oral history, fiction, poetry, and fantasy

Print length

502 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Alyson Publications
Publication date

January 1, 1992
Dimensions

5.5 x 1.25 x 8.5 inches
ISBN-10

1555831907
ISBN-13

978-1555831905
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This anthology of stories, poems, and nonfiction accounts pays homage to a host of femme and butch lesbian relationships that have flourished over four decades. The narrators recount their experiences, describing how they met, how they took care of one another, and how they tried--or defiantly tried not--to fit in. The selections themselves bubble with passion and pain. Some dive beneath the surface to explore the varied meanings of gender roles, but most describe highly ritualistic manners of dress, hairstyle, and gesture that at times left the protagonist open to ridicule. In collecting these pieces into one volume, Nestle ( A Restricted Country , Firebrand Bks., 1987) has made sure that the integrity and diversity of femme-butch relationships will not be lost. She has included narratives from women of many backgrounds and ethnic groups and from outside the United States. Highly recommended for academic and large public libraries.
- Lisa Nussbaum, Euclid P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Alyson Publications; First Edition (January 1, 1992)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 502 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1555831907
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1555831905
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.32 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.25 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,478,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,319 in LGBTQ+ Demographic Studies
- #5,071 in Essays (Books)
- #6,037 in Literary Criticism & Theory

Customer Reviews:
4.6 24 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

24 global ratings

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Could not be happier to have this book

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2007

Verified Purchase

Classic book that is strangely out of print. I had no idea how Huge the volume of essays, stories, pictures and poems this book contains.

So many fantastic selections: from Lee Lynch's short story `Jacky and the Femme' followed by her poem `Stone Butch', to the concluding work from Joan Nestle `Our Gift of Touch'.

A partial list of the many contributors -

Dorothy Allison

Pat Califia

Barbara Smith

Arlene Stein

Jewelle L. Gomez

Christine Cassidy

Amber Hollibaugh

Cherrie Moraga

Donna Allegra

Rita Laporte

Carolyn Gammon

Ina Rimpau

Merril Mushroom

Audre Lorde

Elly Bulkin

Leslie Feinberg

Judy Lederer

Lisa E. Davis

Radclyffe Hall

William Cullen Bryant

Do not skip the excellent introduction by Joan Nestle with the touching postscript.

This is a keeper from beginning to end!

8 people found this helpful

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Mara Elliott

Beautiful account of Lesbian history

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is the third time I have purchased this book. Every time I loan it out the person keeps it, which is fine with me. I am grateful to find another copy and will not be loaning this one out. I treasure this book and the history it encapsolates.

2 people found this helpful

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clr2sea

A classic

Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2014

Verified Purchase

Fantastic work hat, while it is dated in parts now, still holds up. Has spawned several imitators, but is still the classic that outshines them all. I learned a lot.

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2015

thanks

Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2017

A must have!

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2008

Verified Purchase

This is a great book about the historical and cultural background of the Butch-Femme conundrum.Highly recommended to anyone curious about gender identity and roles in the lesbian community.

2 people found this helpful

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niteone711

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2014

Verified Purchase

Everything perfect!!! 5 stars here!!

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Penny Duff

Excellent if you are interested in butch/femme issues!

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2012

I found this slow going, but worth the time and effort. Some of the essays can get a tad tedious, but overall they render an in depth understanding of butch/femme relationships. I particular recommend this to feminist lesbians who do not believe that butch/femme is a valid expression of lesbian life. It would be a real eye-opener to the prejudice that is still widespread in our community. In fact, there is plenty of room for all of us.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Yasmin

A little disappointed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 4, 2023

Verified Purchase

The book itself is excellent however I was a little disappointed in the state of this used copy Lots of highlighting, underlining and notes in the margins. I think it could of been in better condition.

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The Persistent Desire: A Femme-Butch Reader Paperback – January 1, 1992

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