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Lady Chatterley's Lover

By D. H. Lawrence

(171)

| Hardcover | 9780140014846

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Book Description

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 Continue

6 Reviews

I thought this book was ok. There were some interesting well written passages and it was a nice insight into the mindset of post WWI Britain. The writing style was easy to read with some nice turns of phrase. But I felt so many things let this book down.
My biggest problem was the lack of character ... (continue)

I thought this book was ok. There were some interesting well written passages and it was a nice insight into the mindset of post WWI Britain. The writing style was easy to read with some nice turns of phrase. But I felt so many things let this book down.
My biggest problem was the lack of characterisation. None of the main characters were likeable and I think the problem came from them trying to fill certain societal stereotypes rather than being real people. There was no interests in Lady Chatterley's life besides sex and babies. Lawerence took great pains to describe her as a "New woman" but she lacked any of the interests or intellectual capabilities of a new woman. Indeed it seemed all she wanted was sex and babies. The lack of interests could be justified to represent the boredom and emptiness of her life, but even with that consideration it seemed too much a literary invention and not enough like real life.
The Lover was just annoying, his switching between Derbyshire and "proper" English was just a bit mystifying. Supposedly representing the "common man" he was just oafish and annoying. While the book tried to bring up the ideas of socialism and bolshevisim it kinda did so in a very classist way. The working class people were portrayed as kinda stupid and annoying, and while the prejudice against them was clear, it almost seemed like Lawerence was trying to justify it. Likewise there seemed to be a blasting of women who wanted more out of life than simply to be mothers and that this was in some way making men "unmanly".
In many ways I felt like this was chick lit or a romance novel, but written by someone who didn't seem to like people much.
I must admit that I don't think I'll be reading anything else by Lawerence anytime soon.

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Robot-mel said on Oct 25, 2010 | Add your feedback

Introduction/critical comment(s):

A young woman's sensual awakening is at the heart of the book [the author] called 'the most improper novel in the world'. Banned for many years for its frank depiction of sex, it was first published in England in 1960 and was at the centre of a sensational obscenity trial held at the Old Bailey. ... (continue)

A young woman's sensual awakening is at the heart of the book [the author] called 'the most improper novel in the world'. Banned for many years for its frank depiction of sex, it was first published in England in 1960 and was at the centre of a sensational obscenity trial held at the Old Bailey.
'In no modern writer are sexuality and creativity more deeply and intricately connected than in D.H. Lawrence' – David Lodge, New York Review Books
'Lawrence urged men and women to live, to honour the quick of themselves, to glory in the exhilarating terror of this brief life' – Frederic Raphael, Sunday Times

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Your Sources said on May 19, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

S'okay

Cool, a bit dated maybe, but very insightful in his writing - Connie the best developed character in this respect. Um, I liked the film, too.

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mrpeterryan said on Jan 13, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Ok. At first I actually quite liked it. When Connie arrives to the house etc. Then after the first love scene with Mellors I thought: there's something weird about this... Everything turned out even more ridiculous towards the end. The characters were uninteresting in every single meaning of th ... (continue)

Ok. At first I actually quite liked it. When Connie arrives to the house etc. Then after the first love scene with Mellors I thought: there's something weird about this... Everything turned out even more ridiculous towards the end. The characters were uninteresting in every single meaning of that word and some parts were downright laughable. Irksome and not sure if I would recommend it to anyone, even if it's in the banned books list.

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s u v i said on Mar 5, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

I understand how controversial/immoral this book must have been when it came out, but nowadays I must say it's just rather boring. The lonesome aristocratic lady, whose husband is unable to fulfill her both emotionally and sexually, has a scandalous sexual affair with the gamekeeper of her own mansi ... (continue)

I understand how controversial/immoral this book must have been when it came out, but nowadays I must say it's just rather boring. The lonesome aristocratic lady, whose husband is unable to fulfill her both emotionally and sexually, has a scandalous sexual affair with the gamekeeper of her own mansion, and she is now able to feel the thrill of passion again deep inside her. Whatever. I don't even feel like bothering to finish it, to see if there's gonna be at least some sort of interesting surprise towards the end. As to the psychological intensity of the character of Lady Chatterley, I personally don't find it that much appealing. And dont' get me wrong, I love the classics.

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Valeria said on Mar 3, 2008 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback