Despised and Rejected

Under the pseudonym A.T. Fitzroy, prolific author Rose Allatini wrote her 1918 novel Despised and Rejected against the backdrop of the First World War.

Set in England slightly before and during the War, this powerful novel is considered by many an important landmark in the literature of pacifism and also early gay and lesbian literature. Its publication was risky and consequential for both the author and the publisher—who was arrested, prosecuted, and threatened with wartime imprisonment, and the British Government seized and destroyed the remaining unsold copies of the book within months of publication. The book languished for decades, until its recent revival.

Originally published in 1918.

Public Domain (P)2024 Christine Rendel

Beautiful narration - engrossing story

Glad I came across this absorbing listen. Multiple voices and complicated characters handled well, A part of history I hadn’t known about, and it feels relevant today. I couldn’t stop listening.

The remarkable story.

This 1918 novel by a forgotten writer deserves to be rediscovered. The book is set in England and spans 4 years of the First World War. It’s a love story where queerness and pacifism match struggle and bravery.
Narrated by the skilled Christine Rendel,
this book is a compelling listen.