A Place for Us (1969)
by Isabel Miller
The Ohio State University Rare Books and Manuscripts Library
PS3563.I523 P3 1969
When writing this novel, Alma Routsong created the pen name Isabel Miller to avoid the dangers that accompanied publishing a lesbian novel in the 1960s. A Place for Us, later renamed Patience and Sarah, discusses the real-life struggles of Mary Ann Wilson, a painter who lived with a female companion. Despite the traditional roles of a wife starting to dissipate in the 1960s thanks to various women's rights movements, marriage was still a difficult subject for LGBTQ+ women. Patience and Sarah, the two main characters in this novel, overthink their relationship several times despite their strong love for each other due to the societal disapproval of lesbian relationships. Even when nobody suspected their love, Patience and Sarah still felt afraid that they would be separated, mocked, or threatened. This fear is even prevalent on the cover of the novel, where you see Patience and Sarah, who look like a couple. Yet, the cover remains ambiguous, as they could be mother and daughter, two sisters, or good friends.
The idea of marginalized groups establishing a safe space for themselves was gaining traction in the 60s, as seen in the song "There's a Place for Us" from the musical West Side Story. This song, perhaps influencing Routsong's title, describes Maria and Tony's dream of a world free of ethnic tension. Similar to Maria and Tony, Alma Routsong is dreaming of a world where lesbian couples can live free of judgement.