Often, lesbian pulp novels tend to focus on the relationship between women in a way that was quite bold for their time of publication. They might explore themes like forbidden love, as homosexuality was not as accepted in the past.
Many lesbian pulp fiction novels from the past were written in a way that was somewhat subversive for their time, as they were dealing with a taboo topic. They might also include elements of romance and passion, much like regular pulp fiction but centered around lesbian relationships.
Some of the best include 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker. While it's not strictly a lesbian pulp novel in the traditional sense, it contains strong lesbian themes and relationships that are central to the story. 'Annie on My Mind' by Nancy Garden is another good one. It's a young - adult - focused story that deals with the challenges of a lesbian relationship in a school setting. 'Desert of the Heart' by Jane Rule also stands out. It's set in a desert landscape and tells a poignant story of love between two women.
Lesbian pulp fiction typically refers to a genre of fiction written mainly in the mid-20th century that focused on lesbian themes and relationships, often with a sensational or titillating approach.
Basically, a lesbian pulp novel was popular in a certain era. They were usually cheaply produced and aimed at a mass audience. These novels often presented lesbian experiences in a way that was sometimes controversial or sensationalized.
One key period was the 1950s - 1960s. This was a time when lesbian pulp novels first started to gain some popularity, albeit in a very underground way. Another important period was the 1970s when the sexual revolution was happening. It allowed for more open discussion and a growth in the production of lesbian pulp novels. They became more diverse in their themes and less coded.
One well - known lesbian pulp novel is 'The Price of Salt' by Patricia Highsmith. It's a classic that explores the relationship between two women in a rather nuanced way.
The 1950s lesbian pulp novels were a unique product of their time. They were often printed on cheap paper, which is part of what made them 'pulp' novels. In terms of content, they were one of the few places where lesbian relationships were even hinted at in popular literature. However, they also had to be careful not to be too explicit due to censorship laws. So, the relationships were often described in a veiled or coded way. For instance, there might be a lot of glances and unspoken tensions between the female characters rather than outright declarations of love. This added an air of mystery to the novels.
One famous lesbian pulp novel is 'The Price of Salt' by Patricia Highsmith. It was quite revolutionary for its time in depicting a lesbian relationship.