Rita Mae Brown Books In Order

Publication Order of Mags Rogers Books

Publication Order of Mrs. Murphy Books

Publication Order of Runnymede Books

Publication Order of "Sister" Jane Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Rita Mae Brown, born 28 November 1944, is a prolific American writer and feminist. She is mostly known for her first novel, Rubyfruit Jungle. The novel dealt with lesbian themes in an explicit manner unusual for the time when the novel was written. Brown was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania to an unmarried, teenage mother and her mother’s married boyfriend. She was left at an orphanage because her mother was too young to take care of her. Instead, Brown was raised by her mother’s cousin Julia Brown and her husband Ralph who lived in York, Pennsylvania, and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

In late 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. However, she was expelled in the spring of 1964 because the administrators of the racially segregated university did not like her participating in the civil rights movement. Later she enrolled at Broward Community College with the hope of transferring to a more tolerant four-year institution.

Between the years, 1964 and 1969, Brown lived in New York City where she sometimes was homeless. In the meantime, she attended New York Univeristy where she received a degree in English and Classics. Subsequently, she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts. In addition, Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & Univeristy in 1976. Brown also has a doctorate in political science from the institute for Policy Studies in Washington. D.C.

Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles from 1973 to 1977 when she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives today. While Brown lived in Los Angeles she parodied the slasher genre by writing a screenplay named Sleepless Nights (later retitled “The Slumber Party Massacre”). The screenplay was given a limited theatrical release because the producers liked the screenplay and wanted to play it seriously.

Brown has been highly active in political movements. When she attended the University of Florida at Gainesville in 1964, Brown became active in the American Civil Rights movement. In the 1960s, she was also active in the feminist movement, Gay Liberation movement ant the anti-war movement. Brown also had an administrative position in the National Organization for Women and other lesbian organizations. In the 1970s, she became a founding member of a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, D.C., named The Furies Collectives.

RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE

Rubyfruit Jungle is the first and most popular novel written by Brown. The novel was remarkable in its time because it portrayed lesbianism in a manner that was not accepted at that time. The book was published in 1973 and marked the beginning of Brown’s career as a lesbian author. The term “Rubyfruit Jungle” is slang and refers to female genitals.

The story tells ut about Molly Bolt, an adopted daughter of a poor family. Molly is very beautiful and she is aware of her lesbianism from her early childhood. She had a troubled relationship with her mother and at a young age her mother told Bold that she is not her biological child but a “bastard”. In the sixth grade, Molly had her first lesbian experience with her girlfriend Leota Bisland. Later on, she has her second lesbian experience with the school’s head cheerleader Carolyn Simpson, when she attends Florida High School. Molly also has sexual relationships with men, for example, her cousin Leroy.

When Molly is in her junior year of high school, her beloved father passes away, leaving Molly with her mother and their troubled relationship. Her father always supported Molly’s education and goals which, however, her mother did not. The disdain for her mother made Molly push herself to be the best student in high school which resulted in a full scholarship at the University of Florida. However, Molly is denied a renewal of her scholarship when her relationship with her alcoholic roommate is discovered. With almost no money at all, Molly heads to New York where she pursues an education in filmmaking.

This novel is notable for being an early literary lesbian novel. However, it received a lot of criticism because it portrayed lesbianism in a manner that was not acceptable at the time when the book was written. On the other hand, today the novel is praised, and in 2015, Rita Mae Browns was awarded the Lee Lynch Classic Book Award from the Golden Crown Literary Society for her novel Rubyfruit Jungle.

IN HER DAY

Written directly after her successful novel Rubyfruit Jungle, In Her Day is the second novel written by Brown. The novel, that was published in 1976, takes us to the charged political atmosphere in Greenwich Village in the early seventies. The novel is full with colorful characters and written in a brilliant manner, testing Brown’s literary muscle. The novel tells us about an elegant art history professor, named Carole Hanratty. Hanratty renounces desire and lust until she meets Isle, a young, arrogant, revolutionary feminist. The ladies pursue a relationship which is filled with sexual and ideological chaos. This book tries to speak up for at the time it was published, and for the time period it traversed on. The characters in the novel are very colorful and they develop greatly throughout the novel, providing and adventurous and exciting spirit. The novel is also written in a pretty humorous matter and the characters often find themselves in amusing relationships. This is the biggest difference between this novel and Browns first novel, Rubyfruit Jungle which is written in a much more serious manner. It is quite easy for the readers to relate to this novel because it tells us a story about a young queer in an “age-inappropriate” relationship, due to the fact that the lesbian couple in the novel is 22 years apart in age. This novel also received a lot of criticism when it came out because it dealt with issues that were considered inappropriate at that time. For example, it was inappropriate to have a relationship with someone that was at a much younger age than yourself and what was more inappropriate was having a gay relationship which is the core of this novel. However, as Rubyfruit Jungle, this novel is praised today and considered a classic.

6 Responses to “Rita Mae Brown”

1. Charles: 12 months ago

   Which novel in the Mrs Murphy series introduces the Revolutionary War era flashbacks? Thanks

   Reply
   • Charles: 12 months ago

     Went to local library and looked at their collection of Mrs Murphy books. Found that Tail Gait appears to be the earliest with 18th century coverage. Nine Lives to Die doesn’t have any 18th century coverage. Answered my own question.

     Reply
2. Peter Askin: 2 years ago

   I keep waiting patiently for a new Mrs. Murphy mystery, as there are unanswered questions & I hope all will be answered in the new novel. And I do hope this finds Ms. Brown in good health.

   Reply
3. Cathy McDonald: 2 years ago

   Ms. Brown Is one of the finest writers I have ever read. Sister Jane gets me through a lot of stuff. Thank you.

   Reply
4. Deborah Veteto: 4 years ago

   I was wondering if there was going to be another
   foxhunting mystery 14. I now have the whole series.

   Reply
   • Graeme: 4 years ago

     No confirmation yet but it’s a very popular series so I expect so 🙂

     Reply