NECESSARY TO READ ALL OF THEM IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE. THE EXISTENCE OF A PAST AFFAIR BETWEEN JUSTINE AND CLEA IS ALLUDED TO IN THE NOVEL, JUSTINE. THEN IN BALTHAZAR THE AFFAIR IS DESCRIBED IN PART WITHOUT RESOLVE. BUT IN CLEA THE RESULTS OF THIS AFFAIR ARE DISCUSSED AND WE ARE TOLD THAT FOR CLEA LIFE (EMOTIONAL LIFE) ENDED WHEN JUSTINE AND SHE SEPARATED.

"NOW, I INCLUDED CLEA IN MY ARTICLE ('LESBIAN LITERATURE IN 1960' LADDER, APRIL 1961) AS AN IMPORTANT BOOK FOR A NUMBER OF REA-

·

SONS:

1.

IT RESOLVES AND CLARIFIES THE HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS DISCLOSED IN THE FIRST THREE BOOKS.

2.

IT IS A MASTERPIECE OF ENGLISH PROSE BY A WRITER HIGHLY SYMPATHETIC TO FREEDOM OF SEXUAL EXPRESSION.

3.

MY CONCEPT OF IMPORTANT BOOK' IS NOT HOW MANY BEDROOM SCENES DOT THE LANDSCAPE BUT HOW VALID THE EXPERIENCES PRESENTED ARE IN THE FIELD OF LESBIAN LITERATURE.

"ALSO, NOT TOO LONG AGO, ALL FOUR OF THE NOVELS IN QUESTION WERE COVERED IN AN INCLUSIVE REVIEW IN MY LESBIANA COLUMN. IN AN ARTICLE SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH 1960 AND LIMITED IN SPACE I COULD HARDLY TOSS IN AN ELABORATE EXPLANATION OF WHY CLEA IS AN IMPORTANT BOOK."

GENE DAMON

"ENCLOSED PLEASE FIND $5 FOR A FURTHER YEAR'S SUBSCRIPTION TO THE LADDER. I WOULD NOT MISS IT FOR ANYTHING AND PRESUME MY ANNUAL PAYMENT IS DUE RIGHT NOW. PLEASE KEEP THE DIFFERENCE TO COVER POSTAGE AND ENVELOPES.

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" I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT I HAVE NO FRIEND WHO WOULD LIKE A SUBSCRIPTION BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED TO BE DISCOVERED HOW I WOULD NEVER KNOW SINCE I SHOWED THEM HOW YOU MAIL THE LADDER. IT SEEMS TO BE A BOOK FOR BRAVES ONLY.

"GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WORKING ON AND FOR A GOOD CAUSE,"

W. K., BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

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