Lady Chatterley's Lover Author:D. H. Lawrence Inspired by the long-standing affair between Frieda, Lawrence’s German wife, and an Italian peasant who eventually became her third husband, Lady Chatterley’s Lover is the story of Constance Chatterley, who, while trapped in an unhappy marriage to an aristocratic mine owner whose war wounds have left him paralyzed and impotent... more », has an affair with Mellors, the gamekeeper. Frank Kermode calls the book Lawrence’s "great achievement" and Anaïs Nin describes it as "artistically . . . his best novel."
This Modern Library Paperback Classics edition includes the transcript of the judge's decision in the famous 1959 obscenity trial that allowed the novel to be published in the United States.« less
Perhaps the most famous of Lawrence's novels, the 1928 Lady Chatterley's Lover is no longer distinguished for the once-shockingly explicit treatment of its subject matter--the adulterous affair between a sexually unfulfilled upper-class married woman and the game keeper who works for the estate owned by her wheelchaired husband. Now that we're used to reading about sex, and seeing it in the movies, it's apparent that the novel is memorable for better reasons: namely, that Lawrence was a masterful and lyrical writer, whose story takes us bodily into the world of its characters.
This is my favorite classic book. Even though it is a romance, it also touches on subjects like classism and shows the difference between the balance between husband and wife.
Class and perhaps the most famous of Lawrence's novels, the 1928 Lady Chatterley's Lover is no longer distinguished for the once-shockingly explicit treatment of its subject matter--the adulterous affair between a sexually unfulfilled upper-class married woman and the game keeper who works for the estate owned by her wheelchaired husband. Now that we're used to reading about sex, and seeing it in the movies, it's apparent that the novel is memorable for better reasons: namely, that Lawrence was a masterful and lyrical writer, whose story takes us bodily into the world of its characters.
I originally read this back in 1971 when I was serving in the military. I think I read it at the time because of its infamous reputation of explicit descriptions of sex. At the time, I think I did feel it was quite explicit but after rereading this, it now seems somewhat tame compared to today's standards. I decided to reread this after seeing the 2022 movie version on Netflix that was very explicit. I wanted to compare the movie with the book and for the most part, the movie did capture the book quite well in my opinion.
The book was originally published in 1928 and was available in foreign editions. The first unexpurgated edition did not appear in England until Penguin risked publishing it in 1960 which resulted in them being prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act of 1959. Penguin was acquitted after a notorious trial in which many known authors of the day appeared as witnesses.
The plot of the novel centers on Lady Constance Chatterley and her marriage to Sir Clifford who had returned from the Great War paralyzed and impotent. Clifford is a titled baronet whose property includes the surrounding coal mines of the English midlands. Connie enters into a passionate love affair with her husband's game-keeper, Oliver Mellors, who is also married but separated from his wife. She ends up pregnant by him and both she and Mellors strive to get divorces so they can be together. Although there are some explicit descriptions of the sex act, the novel is really a very powerful love story. The novel also delves into Lawrence's views on the state of modern society and the threat to culture by the tide of industrialization and capitalism.
Overall, I thought this was a very powerful novel and I'm glad I took the time to reread it. I have a couple of other Lawrence novels on my shelves including Sons and Lovers that hopefully I'll get to at some point.
Lawrence's frank portrayal of an extramarital affair and the explicit sexual explorations of its central characters caused this controversial book, now considered a masterpiece, to be banned as pornography until 1960. It is an interesting expose of women and a peek at the politics of the time. I found that it has not much of a story but must issue a warning: explicit language and dragged in parts. The best part was some of the quotes: "A woman has to live her life, or live to repent not having lived it." "We've got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen." "I only want one thing of men, and that is, that they should leave me alone." It is on the 1001 Book List to Read Before You Die.
The main reason I wasn't thrilled with this book was due to a selfish impulse: If I can't stand, relate to or wrap my head around the main character, it's going to be an uphill battle with a lot of eye rolling. I was with Connie, slowly withering away, during the first part of her marriage, but once she morphed into that apathetic, selfish and lost little child act, I was gone. Her sudden clingy nature and constant need for reassurance was repulsive, and completely discredited her "lost soul" feelings to me. It turned what could have been a metaphysical awakening, or even at least a passionate love story, into a mismatched, awkward dance.
Mellors made the book for me. This is the only Lawrence book I've touched, and I was glad of that until the end. I knew what Mellors was trying to relay to Connie the whole time (what Clifford tried to intimate obnoxiously at times), that love and fighting for your happiness vs. the world order is exhausting and often a losing battle. It's best not to rattle the cage. I think seeing her family behind her was the only thing that blew some fight and belief into him. I don't think if the book continued they would have had a happy ending but an inevitable one, more like the one Mellors had originally predicted.
Lawrence wasn't necessarily delivering quiet pessimism, he was presenting the age old reality of the working class viewpoint in stark contrast to the boring surrealism and insatiability of the upper class, a viewpoint they could never comprehend. This was my favorite aspect of the book. Second favorite part is definitely when Clifford makes Connie come home after passively aggressively requesting a divorce, but don't get me started!
All in all, took me awhile to wrap my head around and I thought the story would be a lot different walking into it. Not letting my disappointment get the best of me though, a good read.
"Lady Chatterley's Lover" is D. H. Lawrence's controversial novel written in 1928, which tells the story of an aristocratic woman, Constance (Lady Chatterley), who has an affair with the estate's gamekeeper when her husband is paralyzed and rendered impotent. Central to the theme of the novel is the need for physical stimulation as well as mental stimulation in order to feel complete as a human being. Due to the offensive language and subject matter of the book a charge of obscenity was brought against it in a famous 1960 trial in the United Kingdom. The novel and Lawrence were cleared of the charges and for the first time the novel was allowed to be published without restriction. Presented here is the original unabridged version first published privately in Florence in 1928.
D.H. Lawrence's most notorious novel. Written in 1928 was so graphic that was not published till 1959, and the publisher was arrested! An intense affair between the wife of an aristrcrat and her gamekeeper. The characters are metaphors for their social classes. A lovely copy, like new.
Perhaps the most famous of Lawrence's novels, the 1928 Lady Chatterley's Lover is no longer distinguished for the once-shockingly explicit treatment of its subject matter--the adulterous affair between a sexually unfulfilled upper-class married woman and the game keeper who works for the estate owned by her wheelchaired husband. Now that we're used to reading about sex, and seeing it in the movies, it's apparent that the novel is memorable for better reasons: namely, that Lawrence was a masterful and lyrical writer, whose story takes us bodily into the world of its characters.
CLASSIC - WOMAN MARRIES A MAN WHO BECOMES INJURED IN THE SERVICE - HE COMES HOME WHEELCHAIR BOUND. THEY WANT CHILDREN - WHAT IS SHE TO DO?? HE GIVES HER PERMISSION TO SLEEP WITH ANOTHER MAN ..............
