LGBTQ Pulp Fiction and Lesbian Representation in 1961–1969 Paperbacks Including The Killing of Sister George

Early Lesbian Pulp Novels

Collection

Castro, Joe; Laurence, Will; Caval, Patrice; Marcus, Frank. Group of four lesbian pulp novels published between 1961 and 1969, documenting pre-Stonewall representations of lesbian identity within American and transatlantic mass-market fiction. These works emerge from a period in which same-sex female relationships were increasingly visible in paperback publishing yet remained framed through secrecy, moral tension, and social marginality. The inclusion of Frank Marcus’s The Killing of Sister George, issued in 1969 following the 1968 film adaptation of the 1963 play, situates the archive within a broader cultural moment in which lesbian characters entered theatrical and cinematic circulation with unprecedented visibility. Together, the volumes demonstrate how lesbian identity was constructed across pulp fiction and dramatic literature during the 1960s.

Castro, Joe. The Lowest Sins. New York: Midwood Tower Publications, 1961; Laurence, Will. The Go Girls. Connecticut: Monarch Books, 1963; Caval, Patrice. Satan’s Mate. Las Vegas: Neva Paperbacks, 1967; Marcus, Frank. The Killing of Sister George. Canada: Bantam Books, 1969. Four mass-market paperback volumes, each approximately 4.25" x 7" and ranging between roughly 150 and 250 pages. Cover art across the group relies on bold color palettes and staged imagery of women in intimate or suggestive proximity, often emphasizing emotional tension or secrecy. The Lowest Sins presents an early narrative of a woman navigating “forbidden” same-sex desire, framed through moralized language common to early 1960s pulp. The Go Girls follows a traveling group known as the Wildcats, incorporating an openly lesbian character whose relationships are integrated into the narrative of mobility and subcultural life. Satan’s Mate depicts a protagonist engaged in both heterosexual and concealed lesbian relationships, reinforcing themes of dual identity and hidden desire. The Killing of Sister George reproduces the stage script centered on a radio actress whose personal and professional instability unfolds alongside her relationship with another woman, with the narrative structured around jealousy, dependency, and public exposure.

Issued in the decade preceding the Stonewall uprising, these works reflect a transitional phase in the cultural visibility of lesbian identity, moving from coded pulp narratives toward more direct representation in theater and film. Publishers such as Midwood, Monarch, Neva, and Bantam contributed to a growing market for sexually themed fiction, while also shaping how lesbian relationships were framed for popular audiences. The presence of a dramatic text adapted for mass-market readership alongside pulp originals allows for comparative study of narrative tone, characterization, and audience reception across media. The archive supports research into LGBTQ literary and performance history, mid-century censorship and publication practices, and the visual and thematic conventions of lesbian pulp fiction. Light wear and minor creasing to covers with typical age toning; overall very good condition. A cohesive grouping illustrating the range of lesbian representation in popular and dramatic forms during the 1960s.

Item #22485

Price: $585.00