Books › Patience & Sarah
Patience & Sarah
First published 2005 · 240 pages
A tender, pioneering historical romance that blooms with quiet defiance and the radical joy of two women choosing each other.
What it feels like
Reading this foundational queer classic feels like stepping into a sunlit clearing after a long walk through dense, oppressive woods. The narrative unfolds at a steady, deliberate pace, anchored by an earnest and deeply tender tone that champions the simple, radical act of two women loving each other. Its prose is unadorned yet evocative, mirroring the stark beauty and harsh realities of nineteenth-century New England while maintaining a core of unwavering warmth. The mood is intimate and pastoral, wrapping the reader in a hopeful atmosphere that stands in stark contrast to the societal constraints of the era. It is a perfect read for those who crave historical romances that prioritize emotional intimacy, quiet courage, and the triumphant, hard-won joy of forging an independent life on one's own terms.
- Mood
- pastoral
- intimate
- sun-warmed
- uplifting
- Tone
- earnest
- tender
- quietly defiant
- hopeful
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the courage to love · forging an independent life · defying societal expectations · queer joy · the sanctuary of nature
- The writing
- Simple, unadorned, and deeply sincere, reflecting the stark beauty of its historical setting.
- The arc
- Moves from the stifling constraints of puritanical society to the liberating, joyful realization of a shared, independent life.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love foundational queer literature, gentle historical romances, and stories of women finding freedom in nature and each other.
Content notes
- homophobia
- familial rejection
About the book
"Set in the nineteenth century, Isabel Miller's classic lesbian novel traces the relationship between Patience White, a painter, and Sarah Dowling, a farmer, whose romantic bond does not sit well with the puritanical New England farming community in which they live. Ultimately, they are forced to make life-changing decisions that depend on their courage and their commitment to one another." "First self-published in 1969 (titled A Place for Us) in an edition of 1,000 copies, the author hand-sold the book on New York street corners; it garnered increasing attention to the point of receiving the American Library Association's first Gay Book Award in 1971. McGraw-Hill's version of the book a year later brought it to mainstream bookstores across the country." "Patience & Sarah is a historical romance whose drama was a touchstone for the burgeoning gay and women's activism of the 1960s and early 1970s. It celebrates the joys of an uninhibited love between two strong women with a confident defiance that remains relevant today." --Book Jacket.
Description from Open Library.
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