The Girls of Radcliff Hall

A record of a book that sold about 5 years ago - current whereabouts unknown.

The Girls of Radcliff Hall, by 'Adela Quebec'- i.e. Lord Berners. Berners  took the title from the name of the notorious lesbian novelist Radclyffe Hall. A roman a clef, privately printed about 1935. It sold for £1400.



Foreword by the "Bishop of Brixton" 8vo., original printed wrappers. 100 pages. 'Well of Loneliness' spoof. Printed in a small edition possibly as low as 100. Very uncommon as copies were reputedly destroyed by a few of those in his coterie who were parodied and it was cheaply produced - it has the appearance (probably intentional) of under counter erotica / smut of the time. Cecil Beaton was especially incensed by his portrayal and wanted the whole edition pulped, but it is said that he deserved his treatment by Berners. Grey printed wraps slightly soiled, spine slightly faded and slightly rubbed; overall about very good  with no chips or nicks. 

Signed presentation from the author to Lady Harrod. The inscription reads: "To Billa with love from the Authoress and Gerald Berners. Xmas 1940.' Wilhelmine 'Billa' Harrod was married to the economist Roy Harrod and co - authored the Shell Guide to Norfolk with  John Betjeman, to whom she had been briefly engaged. Berners was a close friend of Billa and she often stayed at his country house near Oxford - 'Farringdon.' He stayed with the Harrods in Oxford particularly at a time when he had according to Mark Amory his biographer 'a mania for teashop life...' Billa would accompany him to endless tea rooms.  Billa and Berners are both the basis for characters in Nancy Mitford's 'The Pursuit of Love' -- Fanny Logan and Lord Merlin, respectively.