Lesbian Pulp Fiction J. L. Bouma Never Say No with Paul Rader Cover Art 1964

J. L. Bouma Lesbian Literature Pulp

First Edition

Bouma, J. L. Never Say No, 1964, presents a lesbian relationship through the secrecy, sexual desire, deception, and interpersonal control characteristic of mid-century pulp treatments of relationships between women. Published by Midwood under Tower Publications, the novel appeared during the expansion of inexpensive paperback fiction addressing lesbian sexuality for a mass-market readership. Its promotional language makes desire and compulsion central to the book’s presentation: “It had to be her way…or not at all!” and “A strange act of fate forced them to face up to the truth of their secret greed and lust.” These phrases record the sensational vocabulary through which commercial publishers marketed lesbian subject matter in the 1960s.

Bouma, J. L. Never Say No. New York: Tower Publications, Inc., 1964. First edition. 160 pages. Original illustrated wrappers. Mass-market paperback, measuring 4.5 x 7.25 inches. Midwood F353. Paul Rader’s cover illustration uses a vivid blue background and yellow lettering above a blonde woman kneeling beside a man lying on the floor, her hand resting on his head. The composition and accompanying taglines advertise sexual and interpersonal conflict before the reader encounters the narrative itself. Rader produced numerous covers for Midwood, whose illustrated wrappers were an important part of the publisher’s marketing of erotic and lesbian-themed paperback fiction.

Never Say No belongs to a period when lesbian relationships circulated widely in inexpensive paperback fiction while publishers frequently packaged them through language of secrecy, danger, compulsion, and sexual transgression. Midwood was particularly active in this market, publishing lesbian-themed fiction alongside romance and erotic titles and using artists including Rader and Robert Maguire for its covers. Crease across one corner of the front wrapper, staining to the lower half of the rear wrapper, and a Now & Then Books stamp at the bottom of the first page; overall good condition. The Rader illustration and surviving wrapper copy preserve the visual and promotional conventions used to market lesbian pulp fiction in 1964.

Item #19516

Price: $155.00