"Ethel's Love-Life" and Other Writings

The romantic experiences of Ethel Sutherland are richly shared through a series of letters that she writes to Ernest, the man she intends to marry. Within these passages she addresses her past, her troubled relationships with men and women, the passions, the desires and the similar intensity of same sex and heterosexual love. Her intent is to make Ernest aware that her prior loves and experiences are encompassed within the richness of her love for him.
Certainly controversial at the time of publication (1859), Sweat authored a sapphic like novel with the undertones of sexual and non sexual love, spiritual connection and intimacy. A very different and enriched study of relationships through the eyes of a Victorian era woman.
Thanks to NetGalley and the University of Pennsylvania Press for an ARC in exchange for a honest book review.

Ethel Sutherland had an interesting romantic life with both men and women before she met Ernest, the man who would become her husband. This book compiles the letters she wrote to Ernest that discloses her romantic attachments. The letters are vulnerable as she shares details that ensure Ernest knows all about her. The letters are also beautifully written - I almost wanted to copy some of her words in love letters to my beloved.
Margaret Jane Mussey Sweat (1823-1908), a native of Portland, Maine, and wife of a United States congressman, originally published Ethel's Love-Life in 1859. That book was hailed as the first lesbian American novel. However, Christopher Looby, the compiler of this compilation, argues that the original book is better labeled as an intimate look at relationships in a time when sexual and nonsexual boundaries were less distinct than they are today. I do agree with that and would give the first section of the book 4 stars..
The second part of the book includes essays by Sweat. I skimmed this section of the book as it covers novels I have not read and that have no connection to Ethel.

***Special thanks to NetGalley and University of Pennsylvania Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

This book portrays an honest and unflinching look into the complexities of human sexuality. It is a collection of notes written by Ethel Sutherland for her soon to be husband. In this novel she writes about her past relationships, both with men and women, so that her soon to be husband knows who she is,

I like this book, but found it to be rather slow in some areas. It is something that I had to work to read, but it is a very interesting concept and a well executed novel.

I would recommend this book

Thank you to Netgalley & the Publisher for giving me an ARC to review!

Honestly, this is probably more of a 3, but there were very well written sections, and I do think this book has historical merit that needs to be discussed. So I'm giving it a 4.

I did not read the essays at the back, mostly because I know they weren't going to interest me and I didn't want that to affect my rating.

However the main novel & the poetry were both at least solid. I do think the novel itself felt very dry at times, and like someone was trying to hit a word count rather than tell a narrative. Even though it is supposed to be about a love life, most of the letters are just regurgitating how great Ernest is. And he does sound great, I don't think it needed to be drawn out forever. The bits where we do actually go into the history of Ethel's love life were the most interesting parts and they flew by. It honestly could have been a one off short story instead of a novel, but hey its almost 200 years old so I guess I can cut it some slack.

As for the poetry it was all at least well written and one that really stuck out to me was Love's Calendar.

I had fun reading the letters and the poems. I was merely surprised to see poems in what I expected to be a purely epistolary novel.
A nice, emotional read with many beautiful poems and very personal letters.

I received a free ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an intriguing book! I can only imagine how hard it must have been to be queer in the nineteenth-century. It must have taken some bravery to write a book with a queer character.

I cannot figure out why the editor (and publisher) brought this book out. Apparently, it failed in the 1800's when first published, and in this day of much more casual speech I wouldn't expect it to be a big hit in its second go-around. As described by Mr. Looby, this novel is a collection of letters written by "Ethel" to her fiance, Ernest, as he is abroad for an extended period. Ethel is entertaining him with explicit stories of her love life with men and women and her thoughts about the whole experience. Mr. Looby takes exception to Ms. Sweat's "arch tone" especially in the essays, and yet it is exactly his own arch tone and the dry commentary in the lengthy introduction that makes this book impossible for me. Others have noted that Ethel's (and thus Ms. Sweat's) comfort and freedom in writing about varieties of sexual experience were unusual in her day, and we can appreciate her forthrightness from the vantage point of our own more sexualized era. But it's kind of a long run for a short jump. In my opinion.

Culturally important and some parts were well written, but it was very dry. I had to put it down and come back to it after every so often. I wish this had been presented in a different way by the editor that put it all together, but ultimately I think it's important and could be used academically.

This “oops” is completely on me as I thought this was a non-fiction book. I am not a huge fan of ambiguous fiction. The language is lovely as I find most books written in this time period. There is a flow and atmosphere that many authors don’t capture today even when they are writing historicals. Ethel’s Love-Life was not for me, but this does not mean it will not be for you. I just am not a particular fan of this type of fiction so the fault does lie with the author or editor, but me for not paying attention to the detail of fiction instead of non-fiction. (smh).

"Ethel's Love-Life" and Other Writings by Margaret J. M. Sweat is a delightful collection that offers a charming glimpse into the past. Sweat's writings, filled with wit and humor, provide a unique perspective on love and life during a bygone era. The collection is a nostalgic journey through the author's observations and reflections, making it a pleasant read for those who appreciate a touch of vintage charm and timeless wisdom.