The Selected Letters of D. H. Lawrence

by D. H. Lawrence, James T. Boulton

Overview

D.H. Lawrence's renowned creativity is conspicuous in his letters. He wrote to aristocrats, fellow authors, painters, publishers, and others from the intelligentsia—but with equal concern to his sisters, a childhood friend suffering from tuberculosis, a post office clerk or an Italian servant-girl. Lawrence reveled in the act of communication, using a direct, unvarnished but invariably vivid style appropriate to each correspondent. In this book, over 330 of Lawrence's letters, carefully chosen from the authoritative seven-volume Cambridge Edition exemplify Lawrence's artistry and humanness. In his introductory essay James T. Boulton provides a rare critical assessment of Lawrence's epistolary achievement. There are annotations to the letters, a biographical list of correspondents, brief chronological and descriptive introductions to each section and a full general index. This selection will appeal to Lawrence aficionados and will make good companion reading to his works.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521401159
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/16/1997
Series:	The Cambridge Edition of the Letters of D. H. Lawrence
Pages:	584
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 1.42(d)

About the Author

D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930), English novelist, storywriter, critic, poet and painter, one of the greatest figures in 20th-century English literature. Among his works, Sons and Lovers appeared in 1913, The Rainbow in 1915, Women In Love in 1920, and many others.

Date of Birth:

September 11, 1885

Date of Death:

March 2, 1930

Place of Birth:

Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England

Place of Death:

Vence, France

Education:

Nottingham University College, teacher training certificate, 1908

Table of Contents

Introduction; Biographical list of correspondents; Letters: 1. The formative years, 1885–1913; 2. The Rainbow and Women in Love, 1913–16; 3. Cornwall and Italy, 1916–21; 4. Eastwards to the new world, 1921–4; 5. New Mexico, Mexico and Italy, 1924–7; 6. Europe and Lady Chatterley's Lover, 1927–8; 7. Decline and death, 1928–30.

Editorial Reviews

"The greatest virtue of this volume is that it does present readers with an entertaining overview of the flexibility of Lawrence's talent and his mind. The Selected Letters succeeds in representing Lawrence's quirky brilliance, his always surprising common sense, and above all else the sheer beauty of his writing." Carol Siegel, English Literature in Transition 1880-1920

"Lawrence is his letters, the most vivid and engaging self-portrait left by any English writer since Keats. Unlike Keats, Lawrence traveled the world knowing that his life would be short, and he captured the spirit of each place in unforgettable phrases." The Week, Brenda Maddox

From the Publisher