Ladies’ Close
Sarah Kilpatrick
The author has devoted herself to the sexual last rites of the over-forty female (The Phoenix Hour; 1962. . . The Cool Meridian; 1965) With their attendant psychological problems, and she has previously managed them with intelligence and perception. But Ladies’ Close finds her, grappling With a difficult subject and an even more cantankerous major character–a thirty-eight year old lesbian recovering from an abortive affair–and the contest becomes as uneven as the plot. Miss Whitehead, a tutor, has taken a year’s leave of absence at the suggestion of her psychiatrist and the prompting of her Supervisor. But Emmy, one of her charges, a young thing Who hates men, follows her and tries to force her into a relationship. Miss Whitehead, now ”anti-romantic, anti-protective; anti-involvement” resists (for one thing Emmy’s too young), and instead focuses her attentions on the pregnant wife of the artist next door. In the meantime Emmy receives some heterosex education from another, Herculean neighbor whose mistress is vaguely attracted to Miss Whitehead. Then Godfrey, a thoroughly, if superficially, divine actor moves in with this mixed sextet and eventually makes off with Emmy. . . for her dowry. . . a theatre. This leaves Miss Whitehead odd man out so to speak and leaves the reader numb at best, unsympathetic at worst. For the Ladies? ~ Kirkus Review
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Details
| Genre | Fiction; Grier Rated |
| Publication Date | 05-Apr-68 |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Language | English |
| Rating | Great |
| BookID | 6470 |
