D.H. Lawrence: A Literary Life (Literary Lives)

From Library Journal This biographical study of Lawrence as a professional writer offers an account "not only . . . of what he earned, but of how in a much larger sense he made his way as a writer." Lawrence enjoyed a moderate early success, experienced great difficulties during World War I, and in the early Twenties was able to earn what he needed from the American market while creating something of a split between "serious" and more popular writings. The privately printed Lady Chatterley's Lover , published not long before his death, gave him his biggest commercial success. Though this story is familiar in outline, Worthen supplies many new details and writes both readably and with commanding expertise, finally offering a valuable, persuasive "new way of understanding the change in his writing" after the war. Thus, this book, though seemingly modest in its aims, proves to be one of the most suggestive, original studies of Lawrence of recent years.- Keith Cushman, Univ. of North Carolina, GreensboroCopyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.