March, 2026

George Bernard Shaw was known for his wit, wisdom, socialism and empathy for those who struggle against the structures of a prim society. 

 In 1928 the pioneering lesbian writer Radclyffe Hall published The Well Of Loneliness. This portrayal of women in love was declared obscene in a landmark trial, many years before that other great literary court case, Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

Hall’s book was declared obscene and was not published again until 1949, 20 years later.

The liberal-minded Shaw was approached by Radclyffe Hall’s solicitors for advice. He writes back: “I have given them the best advice in my power after carefully considering the case. It is no use raging about this business, exasperating as it is: one must think it out in the face of a powerful but thoughtless enemy. According to the definition of obscenity on which Rubenstein says the prosecution will rely, the Well is obscene. So is The Bible, David Copperfield, the Vicar of Wakefield, and Smollet’s references to Petronius Arbiter.  The definition is useful to the police in dealing with indecent photographs and the like; but to apply it to serious works of art is not playing the game, and can only reduce the law to absurdity. …

We have for sale this hand-written letter from Shaw to Radclyffe Hall, dated 25 October, 1928. He ends: “I have sketched the lie of defence more fully for Rubenstein; but the danger is that counsel will refuse to adopt it. A barrister gets very little advertisement and no judicial compliments unless his client is hanged.”