Kirkus
"Admiring, exhaustive portrait of a pioneering lesbian author. Overly inclusive, but focused and smoothly written-a solid contribution to the history of gay literature."
Booklist, 6/1/08
“In her detailed biography of Foster, Passet thoroughly explores the circumstances for gays in mid-to-late-twentieth-century America, revealing, as may be expected, a not-always-pretty picture…As a story of an important figure in gay literary studies as well as librarianship, this is a desirable title.”
Oregonian, 6/11/08
“Passet’s tender portrait of Foster as she ages is poignant.”
The Advocate
“Incisive…Fascinating…[Foster’s life] richly deserves Passet’s sensitive and scrupulous attention—and ours.”
PublishersWeekly.com
“Captures both the personal and professional obstacles faced by Jeanette Howard Foster…Passet does justice to Foster’s important place in both literary and lesbian culture.”
Library Journal
“[An] expressive, detailed account…Those interested in gay and lesbian issues, lesbiana, and the history of librarianship will find the book fascinating.”
Bitch, October 2008
“An obsessively detailed account…Passet maintains her detailed, unflinching depiction of Foster’s life until the end…Sex Variant Woman is a long-overdue tribute.”
Feminist Review.org
“Passet’s biography of this great woman, constructed through a historian’s careful consideration of all possible sources, offers invaluable insights…It is a book worth reading, perhaps more than once.”
Out Smart, September 2008
“I found this superbly written volume to be a true cover-to-cover read.”
Curve, November 2008
“By carefully documenting the life and loves of Foster, Passet ensures that we not only remember the life of this important lesbian literary pioneer, but that we also celebrate it.”
Gay & Lesbian Review, 11/08
“A compelling life story…This biography is enhanced by a number of nicely reproduced black-and-white images.”
Windy City Times
“Passet, a bloodhound of a biographer…has tracked the fully-fleshed woman…Passet’s book gives us a rare window into the sex life of an early 20th century lesbian…Passet does an excellent job exploring the passions, politics and perfidies of some of the lesbian-feminist presses that boomed in the 1970s.”
Windy City Times, 08/13/08
“In a lovely work that includes samples of Foster's hard-to-find poetry, Passet tells the life story of a lesbian who was ahead of her time.”
Edge Boston
“Exquisitely researched and reported”
Bay Windows, 8/21/08
“Fascinating…Carefully researched and richly detailed, the book nicely balances thoroughness and readability.”
GayWired.com, 8/20/08
“Foster may not inspire fascination but what she did and what she was involved in is definitely worth hearing about…Sex Variant Woman is worth a look.”
