The Cambridge Biography
D. H . LAWRENC E 1885-1930
DAVID E L L I S MARK K I N K E A D - W E E K E S JOHN W O R T H E N
F r o m review s o f Volum e i o f th e C a m b r i d g e Biograph y 'it i s hard t o imagin e tha t thi s biograph y wil l soo n b e superseded' . Sir Fran k Kermode , The Guardian '[This is ] a wor k o f impeccabl e scholarship , an d come s provide d with a n impressiv e apparatu s o f notes , appendices , chronologica l tables, famil y trees , a n exemplar y index , an d complet e list s o f Lawrence's pros e an d vers e writing s i n th e relevan t period , makin g it a n invaluabl e resourc e fo r seriou s student s o f Lawrence ; bu t i t i s also writte n i n a lucid , unpretentiou s styl e whic h la y reader s wil l find accessibl e an d enjoyable. ' David Lodge , The New York Review of Books 'This i s a super b biography . Apar t fro m th e compellin g narrativ e there ar e judiciou s excursion s int o th e mi x o f ruralit y an d th e mining industr y tha t forme d th e backgroun d t o Lawrence' s life . There ar e portrait s o f th e famil y member s an d . . . insight s int o Lawrence's admirin g bluestocking s an d int o th e les s well-know n early work s tha t le d u p t o Sons and Lovers . . . Cambridg e hav e already give n u s . . . a decen t editio n o f Lawrence' s fiction; no w they ar e embarke d o n wha t shoul d b e th e definitiv e life. ' Anthony Curtis , The Financial Times '[Worthen] ha s researche d deeply , readin g everythin g eve n remo tely relevant , an d i s abl e t o b e authoritativ e wher e other s hav e conjectured. [This ] i s a war m a s wel l a s a seriou s book , fo r h e clearly love s hi s subject , an d make s u s shar e hi s feeling . Th e them e of th e developmen t o f th e miner' s so n an d sickl y scholarshi p bo y with warrin g parent s i s a wonderfu l one , an d h e grasp s al l it s possibilities i n th e 50 0 pages of his narrative. ' Claire Tomalin , The Independent on Sunday
'One o f thi s biography' s grea t merit s i s tha t Worthe n understand s the danger s o f creatin g a lif e fro m a wor k o f fiction. H e use s Lawrence's fiction intelligently . H e neve r forget s tha t eve n th e most apparentl y autobiographica l novel s rearrang e rea l event s i n order t o mak e a n artisti c point . The y canno t b e trusted , a s to o many biographer s trus t them , t o d o th e biographer' s wor k fo r him . The othe r grea t merit , apar t fro m th e wonderfull y detaile d an d engrossing reconstructio n o f a period an d a society, i s its attitud e t o Lawrence himself . Worthe n i s unfailingl y sympathetic , a s a biogra pher shoul d be , ye t h e neve r fall s int o th e tra p o f supposin g hi s hero t o b e perfec t . . . Thi s definitiv e boo k wil l b e a har d ac t . . . t o follow.' Allan Massie , Weekend Telegraph 'Worthen's depictio n o f Eastwoo d i s o n somethin g o f a scholarl y par wit h Lawrence' s evocatio n o f it i n Sons and Lovers? Janet Byrne , The New York Times Book Review 'Literary scholar s wh o though t the y kne w Lawrenc e an d hi s circl e well wil l b e surprise d b y th e subtlety , aptness , an d psychologica l nuance o f Worthen' s presentatio n an d interpretation . I t i s a s i f fo r the first tim e w e se e Lawrenc e whol e . . . thi s persuasiv e biogrpah y is compulsiv e readin g fro m cove r t o cover . A majo r even t i n modern literar y studies. ' Keith Cushman , Library Journal 'Worthen set s th e recor d straigh t i n a thousan d littl e ways , an d there emerge s a complex genius , ruthless, sensitiv e an d full y alive. ' Publishers' Weekly ' . . . extremel y thoroug h an d carefu l . . . ' Jeffrey Meyers , English Literature in Transition
D. H. LAWRENC E T R I U M P H T O EXIL E 1912-1922 •
MARK KINKEAD-WEEKE S
HI CAMBRIDG E ^ f p UNIVERSIT Y PRES S
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSIT Y PRES S
Cambridge, Ne w York , Melbourne , Madrid , Cap e Town , Singapore, Sa o Paulo , Delhi , Tokyo , Mexic o Cit y Cambridge Universit y Pres s T h e Edinburg h Building , Cambridg e CB 2 8RU , U K Published i n th e Unite d State s o f America b y Cambridg e Universit y Press , Ne w Yor k www.cambridge.org Information o n thi s title : www.cambridge.org/978110740300 0 © Cambridg e Universit y Pres s 1996 . Acknowledgement i s mad e t o Willia m Heineman n Lt d in th e U K an d th e Vikin g Pres s i n th e US A fo r th e authorisatio n grante d t o Cambridge Universit y Pres s throug h th e Fried a Lawrenc e Estat e for quotatio n fro m th e work s o f D . H . Lawrence . This publicatio n i s i n copyright . Subjec t t o statutor y exceptio n and t o th e provision s o f relevan t collectiv e licensin g agreements , no reproductio n o f an y par t ma y tak e plac e withou t th e writte n permission o f Cambridg e Universit y Press . First publishe d 199 6 First paperbac k editio n 201 1 A catalogue record for this publication is
available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Kinkead-Weekes, Mark . D. H . Lawrence : triump h t o exile , 1912-1922/Mar k Kinkead-Weekes . p. cm . - (Th e Cambridg e biography : D . H . Lawrence , 1885-1930 ) Includes bibliographica l reference s (p . ) an d index . 1. Lawrence , D . H . (Davi d Herbert) , 1885-193 0 - Biography . 2 . Authors, Englis h - 20t h centur y - Biography . I. Title . II. Series : Cambridg e biography . PR6023.A93Z6379 199 6 823'.912-dc20 [B] 95-3610 2 CIP ISBN 978-0-521-25420- 5 Hardbac k ISBN 978-1-107-40300- 0 Paperbac k Cambridge Universit y Pres s ha s n o responsibilit y fo r th e persistenc e o r accuracy o f URL s fo r externa l o r third-part y interne t website s referre d t o i n this publication , an d doe s no t guarante e tha t an y conten t o n suc h website s is , or wil l remain , accurat e o r appropriate .
To Paul , Tim an d Rum a
CONTENTS Authors' Preface
XV
List of Illustrations
xix
Chronology
xxiii
Maps
xxviii
PARTONE:^ May-I November 191 2 N E I II III IV V VI VII VIII
World of Promise
W LIF E
The Figh t fo r Fried a Separation Beuerberg an d Ickin g Lawrence a t Wor k Visitors Over th e Alp s New Meaning s o f Pai n 'Like life , but alway s my theme' : Sons and Lovers
5 11
18 25 29 31
39
42
November 1912-Decembe r 191 3 NE W UTTERANC E I II
III IV V VI VII VIII IX
Unhappy Christma s How t o Ge t Beyon d Sons and Lovers} (a) Fals e Start s (b) Non-autobiographica l Eastwoo d (c) Behin d th e Huma n Actio n The Las t o f Gargnan o At Sa n Gaudenzio , an d Irschenhause n In Englan d Agai n Stories fo r a Livin g Back t o Irschenhause n Across Switzerlan d Fiascherino
IX
50
55 55 59 61
66 69 79 88 90
94 98
CONTENTS ] • January-Novembe r 191 4 T H
E WEDDIN G RIG N
I 'I t just misse d bein g itsel f 10 II Startin g Agai n 11 III Th e Socia l Roun d 11 IV T h e Weddin g Ring ' 11 V Of f fo r th e Summe r 12 VI Th e Londo n Whir l 12 VII Re-seein g th e Storie s 13 VIII 'Still ' Photograph y - a Wedding 14 IX Disaste r 14 X Takin g th e Strai n 15 XI A Confession o f Faith 15 PART T W O :
7 2 6 9 6 8 7 2 6 2 8
Spear in the Side (Th e Rainbo w and the War)
Decen iber 1914-Ma y 191 5 THE RA IN BO w I A New Conceptio n II The Las t o f the Yea r III A Man Writin g IV Another Countr y V Candidates fo r Rananim? VI Lawrence's 'woman' ? VII Ursula VIII Cambridge - an d Afte r IX Re-Visions
167 169 172 180 187 197 199 208 216
Ylay-INovember 191 5 R A I N B O W ' S E N D I II III IV V VI VII
VIII
'This worl d o n top' Getting 'unstuck ' fro m Greatha m More Radica l Reconstruction ? A Last Loo k at The Rainbow Farewell to Greatham, 'thi s England ' Apocalypse, No w Thought-travelling (a) Perspectiv e fro m Travel s Pas t (b) 'Th e Crown ' - Trave l i n the Min d (c) I n the Half-ligh t Disaster
225 233 241 249 252 256 264 265 269 271 275
CONTENTS
PART T H R E E :
Cornwall
6 • Novembe r 1915-Decembe r 191 6 M I D - W I N T E
R LIF E
I Interna l Exil e 28 II Ranani m a t Porthcothan 29 III Withering s 30 IV Ranani m a t Zennor 31 V Wutherin g 31 VI 'Th e second hal f of The Rainbow' 32 VII 'Th e Sisters'III (July-November ) 33 VIII Th e Narrowing Circl e 33 7 • January-Octobe r 191 7 O R P H E U
S DESCENDIN G
I Nightmar e Begin s 34 II Voice s of Rejection 34 III Orpheu s (wit h Eurydice ) Replie s 35 IV Waitin g fo r Spring, i n Fact 36 V 'Th e Reality o f Peace' 36 VI Tension s wit h Eurydic e 37 VII Mor e Ne w Friendships, Ne w Horizons 38 VIII Lawrence' s Harves t 39 (a) Philosoph y 39 (b) Women in Love 39 (c) Look!, an d American Literatur e 39 IX Nightmar e 39 X An d What o f Frieda? 40 PART FOUR :
5 6 5 1 7 8 1 8 6 9 5 5 8 2 1 0 0 1 8 9 3
A Kind of Wintering
8 • Octobe r 1917-Septembe r 191 8 O N A LEDGE I Londo n Agai n 40 II Th e 'underworld' i n 44 Mecklenburgh Squar e 41 III A Life o n the Surface 42 IV Hermitag e 42 V A Trip t o London 43 VI ' A child o f black fury ' 43 VII ' . . . as if something importan t ha d died' 43 VIII Symboli c Meanin g 43 (a) Frankli n t o Hawthorne 44 (b) Genera l Perspective s 44 (c) Dan a and Melville 45
9 6 2 6 0 3 6 8 0 7 0
CONTENTS
(d) Whitma n 45 IX Lif e a t Mountain Cottag e 45 X Town , and the Forest of Dean 46 XI Blac k Septembe r 46 9 • Octobe r 1918-Novembe r 191 9 M A R K I N
3 7 5 7 G TIM E
I Interlud e i n the South 47 II Armistic e - Bu t Peace ? 48 III Nort h Agai n - an d a Question o f Maleness 48 IV Death , an d th e Devi l o f a Winter 49 V ' A putrid diseas e . . . a drowned ghost ' 49 VI Mountai n Cottag e Agai n 49 VII Hermitag e Agai n - Stil l Waiting 50 VIII Thames-sid e 51 IX Grimsbur y Far m 51 X Las t Week s at Hermitage 51 PART FIVE :
2 1 3 1 6 8 3 1 6 8
Italy Again
10 • Novembe r 1919-Augus t 192 0 CAPR
I AN D SICIL Y
I Th e Travelle r 53 II Bac k wit h Frieda : Picinisc o 54 III Sirenland ? 54 IV 'Si x littl e essays' on the Unconsciou s 55 V 'Cat-Cranford ' 55 VI Accumulate d Mai l 55 VII Montecassin o - an d Sicil y 56 VIII The Lost Girl 57 IX Peopl e an d Place s 57 X Mone y an d Manuscript s 58 XI To o Dar n Ho t 59 11 • A u g u s t 1 9 2 0 - S e p t e m b e r 192 1 O N T H E M O V
I Becomin g 'unstuck ' 59 II Rosalin d 60 III Bac k in Taormina 60 IV 'Luck y Noon ' 61 V Sea , and Sardini a 62 VI Fontan a Vecchi a - fo r a While 62 VII 'Ach , tha t I were out of it all!' 63 VIII T o Germany, No w 64
5 3 9 2 6 7 5 2 8 6 3 E
7 1 6 4 1 6 2 0
CONTENTS
IX Ebersteinbur g - an d Aaron ys Rod 64 X Lif e on the Surface - an d the Unconscious 65 XI Of f Again - t o Zell-am-See 66 12 • Octobe r 1921-Februar y 192 2 A SENSE OF FINALITY I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
'The thread s ar e broken ' Grumpy 'comedy ' - an d a New Prospec t A Burst o f Creativit y A Question - o f Dishonour ? An En d t o 1921 , and Englan d Laying th e Ghos t o f Magnu s Baalam's As s Tilling i n time ' A Conclusion - i n Which Nothin g I s Conclude d
Cue-titles and Abbreviations 72 Appendices I Th e Writing Life, 1912-1922 : Prose 72 II Th e Writing Life, 1912-1922 : Poetry 74
3 3 4 674 677 684 696 698 703 709 7H 717
1
9 0
Notes and Sources The Use of Sources 75
7
Notes 76
1 Acknowledgements 87
1
Index 87
4
Xlll
T H E C A M B R I D G E BIOGRAPH Y O F D . H . L A W R E N C E
•
A U T H O R S ' PREFAC E
The nee d fo r a ne w Biograph y o f a write r abou t whos e lif e - t o pu t i t mildl y much ha s bee n written , arise s fro m th e mas s o f ne w informatio n i n th e Cambridge collecte d Letters an d Works, whic h make s al l existin g biographie s ou t of date. This ca n b e sai d withou t insul t o r injur y t o previou s biographers , whos e work w e gratefull y acknowledge . Bu t i t woul d b e strang e indee d i f ove r tw o thousand unpublishe d letter s an d postcards , th e editin g an d annotatio n o f th e thousands previousl y known , an d th e researche s o f a n internationa l tea m int o how an d whe n eac h o f th e writing s cam e int o existence , di d no t substantiall y alter an d correc t th e existin g pictur e o f Lawrence's life . W e ar e deepl y indebte d to all the Cambridg e editor s wh o hav e allowed u s acces s t o thei r work , publishe d and unpublished . No amoun t o f new material , however , ca n mak e an y biographical overvie w th e final word , an d w e expres s thi s convictio n i n th e for m o f on e wor k b y thre e authors: no t onl y a ne w 'Life ' bu t also , w e believe , a ne w kin d o f biography . Each autho r ha s take n responsibilit y fo r a different perio d o f Lawrence's life , th e first volum e endin g wit h th e completio n o f Sons and Lovers, th e secon d wit h Lawrence's departur e fro m Europ e i n 1922 . Fro m th e beginning , w e hav e collaborated ver y closely , an d subjecte d on e another' s wor k t o intensiv e scrutin y and comment . W e hav e acte d a s researc h assistant s t o on e another , hav e challenged th e half-consciou s tendenc y o f ever y biographe r t o tur n a blin d ey e to inconvenien t item s o f evidenc e an d hav e argue d ou t fundamenta l positions . Nevertheless, thoug h th e whol e wil l b e join t wor k - i n tha t sens e - fro m first t o last, eac h autho r i s finally responsibl e fo r th e Lawrenc e wh o emerge s fro m hi s particular period . Thre e Lawrences , strikin g th e reade r a s bot h th e sam e an d different, wil l (w e believe ) answe r al l th e mor e t o ordinar y experienc e o f othe r people. There migh t seem , however , t o b e dange r her e o f dissonan t o r eve n contra dictory answer s t o th e questio n o f wh o Lawrenc e wa s an d wha t h e wa s reall y like. Ca n thre e people , howeve r closel y the y wor k together , b e sufficientl y i n harmony t o captur e Lawrence' s identity ? I t seem s t o u s tha t th e assumption s which promp t suc h question s ar e dubious . Ou r cultur e doe s ofte n appea r boun d by th e ide a o f a personal cor e o r centre , an 'essentia l self , ou t o f which characte r
xv
AUTHORS PREFAC E
grows i n a proces s o f development . Ye t i n Lawrence' s ow n writings , thoug h there i s plent y o f suppor t fo r th e notio n o f a n essentia l self , ther e i s als o a characteristic an d n o les s powerfu l emphasi s o n fluidity an d change . I t wa s Lawrence wh o denounce d 'th e ol d stabl e eg o o f th e character ' i n th e kind s o f novel h e n o longe r wante d t o write , an d whos e preferre d wa y o f imaginin g hi s progress throug h lif e wa s i n term s o f rebirth, agai n an d again , int o ne w state s o f being. T o hav e thre e peopl e writ e hi s lif e i s a n explici t (eve n dramatic ) acknowledgement that , howeve r importan t th e continuities , th e Lawrenc e o f th e last year s (fo r example ) i s s o differen t fro m th e 19-year-ol d wh o visite d th e Haggs Farm , tha t i t sometime s seem s onl y b y acciden t tha t the y shar e th e sam e name. Ther e i s a hardl y les s strikin g an d significan t differenc e betwee n th e writer wh o sen t of f Sons and Lovers t o it s publishe r i n Novembe r 1912 , and th e author o f Women in Love expelle d fro m Cornwall , b y orde r o f th e militar y authorities, les s than five years later . There ar e o f cours e importan t continuitie s i n Lawrence' s life , becaus e certai n elements i n hi s natur e remaine d constant : h e himsel f felt , a t th e ag e of 43, tha t ' I am somewher e stil l th e sam e Ber t wh o rushe d wit h suc h jo y t o th e Haggs. ' W e are confiden t tha t w e agre e enoug h abou t thes e no t t o produc e a contradictor y effect upo n reader s o f al l thre e volumes . Ou r biograph y overall , an d ou r individual volume s themselves , wil l no t howeve r sho w Lawrence' s lif e evolvin g with stead y emotiona l logi c fro m initia l premises . O f al l th e danger s biographer s have t o fear , th e so-calle d 'geneti c fallacy ' - explanatio n i n term s o f origin s should b e les s i n evidenc e here . W e hav e learne d t o distrus t hindsight , becaus e reading th e late r ma n bac k int o th e earlie r alway s implie s determinism . W e believe tha t ou r on e wor k b y thre e writers , eac h allowin g hi s particula r materia l rather tha n an y overvie w t o dictat e hi s form , wil l produc e th e necessar y tensio n between a continuou s an d a continuousl y changin g Lawrence , i n a wa y tha t n o synoptic vie w coul d achieve . I n biographie s whic h succee d i n risin g abov e th e conscientious enumeratio n o f on e thin g afte r another , a pattern o f interpretatio n is establishe d early , an d late r event s ar e the n selecte d an d arrange d wit h a predictability whic h play s fals e t o th e actualitie s an d unexpectednes s o f lif e especially lif e a s our subjec t himsel f saw it . Avoiding thi s predictability , throug h thre e point s o f view , ha s seeme d t o u s very importan t - an d w e hop e ou r procedur e ha s a n additiona l advantage . Because ou r biograph y i s base d o n mor e documentar y evidenc e tha n an y previous one , an d becaus e (unlik e som e biographers ) w e hav e alway s acknowl edged Lawrenc e t o b e a writer , eac h volum e ha s t o b e detailed , an d lon g - an d for th e reade r t o find th e sam e manne r i n thre e length y book s migh t b e mor e than flesh an d bloo d coul d bear . Variet y o f approach wil l at leas t mea n variet y o f style: thre e differen t voice s t o tel l Lawrence' s stor y - bu t a t th e sam e tim e giv e
xvi
AUTHORS PREFAC E
the lie , by their ver y difference , t o th e ide a tha t an y singl e view r, however detaile d and comprehensive , coul d eve r b e 'definitive' ; an y patter n o f interpretatio n the pattern. David Elli s - Mar k Kinkead-Weeke s - J o h n Worthe n Canterbury - Ramsgat e - Swanse a March 199 0
xvn
ILLUSTRATIONS Between pages 306 and joy 1 and 2 Th e weddin g photographs , 9 Selwoo d Terrace , Sout h Kensington, London , 1 3 July 191 4 Lawrence, Katherin e Mansfield , Frieda , John Middleto n Murry Murry, Frieda , Lawrenc e 3 D . H . Lawrence , 2 6 June 191 3 (by W. G . Parker ) 4 D . H . Lawrence , c. 1915 (by Bassano an d Vandyke ) 5 D . H . Lawrenc e a t Mountai n Cottage , Middleton-by Wirksworth, Derbyshire , 191 8 6 D . H . Lawrence , Octobe r 191 9 7 D . H . Lawrence , c. 19 September 192 1 8 Fried a a t Irschenhause n o n he r birthday , 1 1 Augus t 1913 , wearing th e Bavaria n costum e give n t o her b y th e Jaffe s 9 Fried a an d Lawrenc e a t Grimsbur y Farm , Hermitage , nea r Newbury, Berkshire , probabl y Septembe r 191 9 10 Frieda , Octobe r 191 9 11 Frieda , c. 19 September 192 1 12 Barones s vo n Richthofen , c . 192 4 13 Elsejaffe , 191 6 14 Edga r Jaffe, c. 1915-1 6 15 Edwar d Garnett , c. 190 8 16 Davi d ('Bunny' ) Garnett , c. 1922 17 Th e Hon . Cynthi a Asquit h wit h John, Kingsgate , Broadstairs, Summe r 191 3 18 Lad y Cynthi a Asquit h 19 Edwar d Marsh , 191 2 (by Eliott Seabrooke ) 20 Katherin e Mansfiel d an d John Middleto n Murry , c. 191 4 21 S . S . Koteliansk y 22 Mar k Gertle r 23 Mar y Cannan , c. 1910 24 Gilber t Cannan , c. 191 0 xix
LIST O F ILLUSTRATION S
25 D r Davi d Ede r 26 Viol a Meynel l 27 Catherin e Car s well, c. 191 4 28 Ickin g be i Miinchen , th e Leitner s downstairs , Alfre d Weber's flat upstair s 29 Vill a d i Gargnano , Lag o d i Garda : th e Vill a d i Paol i (left ) with Vill a Igea (rear ) 30 Th e Vill a Ige a 31 Th e Meynel l estat e i n Greatham , Sussex : She d Hal l (left ) and Humphrey s (right) , with Monic a Saleeby' s hous e i n th e background 32 Th e heraldr y o f Rananim , 3 Januar y 191 5 (misdate d b y Lawrence) Between pages 626 and 627 33 Lad y Ottolin e Morrel l 34 Bertran d Russell , 191 6 (by Hugh Cecil ) 35 E . M. Forste r 36 Dolli e Radfor d 37 Phili p Heseltine , 191 5 38 Juliett e Baillo t 39 Minni e Luci e ('Puma' ) Channin g 40 Hild a Doolittl e Aldingto n ('H.D.') , 191 3 41 Richar d Aldington , lat e 191 7 42 Doroth y ('Arabella' ) York e 191 7 43 Ceci l Gra y 44 Willia m Henr y Hockin g 45 Highe r Tregerthen , Zennor , Cornwal l 46 Mountai n Cottage , Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Derbyshir e 47 Esthe r Andrew s - a stage pos e 48 Rober t Mountsie r 49 Rosalin d Thornycrof t Bayne s (b y E. C . Beresford ) 50 Montagu e Compto n Mackenzie , 191 5 51 Emil y Kin g wit h Margare t ('Peggy' ) 52 Ad a Clark e wit h Jack 53 Dougla s Goldrin g 54 Cecil y Lamber t an d Viole t Mon k a t Grimsbur y Farm , Hermitage, nea r Newbury , Berkshir e 55 Franci s Bret t Youn g (fro m a portrait b y Cathlee n Mann ) 56 Jessic a Bret t Young , 191 4
xx
LIST O F ILLUSTRATION S
57 Ja n Juta, c. 1921 58 Mauric e Magnu s 59 Fontan a Vecchia , Taormina , Sicil y 60 Mari e Hubrech t 61 Fro m th e balcony , Fontan a Vecchi a 62 Ear l an d Achsa h Brewster , an d Harwood , i n Capri , c. 1922 63 Th e write r a t work : The Rainbow p . 30 0 (th e ne w cathedra l scene)
xxi
CHRONOLOGY (May 1912-Februar y 1922 )
(The chronolog y o f Lawrence's writing , an d o f the firs t publicatio n o f individua l poems, stories, essays and sketche s wil l be foun d i n Appendices I and II. ) 3 May 191 2
4-8 May 1912 7 May 1912 8-11 May 1912 11 May 1912 19 May 191 2 23 May 191 2 24 May 191 2 25 May-i Jun e 191 2 1 June-5 Augus t 191 2 5 August 191 2 6-8 Augus t 191 2 9 August 191 2 10-26 August 191 2 26-27 Augus t 191 2
28 August 1912 29 August 1912 29 August-1 Septembe r 191 2
London; leave s Englan d wit h Frieda , travels (vi a Dover an d Ostend ) t o Metz With Fried a i n Met z Trouble wit h militar y guar d D H L goe s to Trie r To Waldbro l (vi a Koblenz , Niederlahnstein, Troisdorf , Hennef ) To Bon n an d Drachenfel s The Trespasser D H L leave s Waldbrol fo r Munich , meets Fried a Beuerberg Icking D H L an d Fried a leav e Ickin g fo r Tyro l and Italy , reach Ba d Tbl z To Rohrlmoos ; Hubertus/Glashiitte an d Achensee; Jenbach an d Kufstei n Jenbach t o Mayrhofe n At Mayrhofen, joine d b y Davi d Garnet t 18 August, an d Harol d Hobson ' later With Garnet t an d Hobso n t o hay-hu t beyond Ginzling ; next da y t o Dominicus-Hutte Over Pfitscherjoc h t o PGastho f Elefan t near Afen s To Sterzin g (Garnet t an d Hobso n t o Munich) D H L an d Fried a i n Sterzin g xxin
CHRONOLOGY 1-2 Septembe r 191 2 3-4 Septembe r 191 2 5-18 Septembe r 191 2 18 September 1912-2 ? Apri l 191 3 11 December 1912- 2 January 191 3 February 191 3 16 February 191 3 27 Februar y 191 3 2 ? - n Apri l 191 3 11 April 191 3 14 April 191 3 19 April-17 June 191 3 29 May 191 3 17 June 191 3 i 9 j u n e - 9 j u l y 191 3
30 June-1 July 191 3
9 July 191 3
10-29 July 191 3 i6July 191 3 20 July 191 3 28 July 191 3 29-31 July 191 3 31 July 191 3 31 July-2 Augus t 191 3 2-6 Augus t 191 3 6 August 191 3
To Jaufenhaus; wron g turnin g bac k t o Sterzing, the n Boze n b y trai n To Trento ; the n Riva , Lago d i Gard a At Riv a At Villa Igea , Vill a d i Gargnano , Lag o d i Garda Harold Hobso n visit s ove r Christma s Love Poems and Others Visit t o Campion e Antonia (Cyriax ) Almgre m visit s At Sa n Gaudenzio , Lag o d i Gard a To Veron a From Veron a t o Munich (vi a Innsbruck ) At Irschenhause n Sons and Lovers publishe d Leave fo r Englan d (arriv e earl y mornin g 19 June) At The Cearne , Edenbridge (hom e o f Edward Garnett) ; several visit s t o London; mee t Katherin e Mansfiel d and John Middleto n Murr y Frieda meet s clandestinel y wit h he r children, thi s soo n discovere d b y Maude Weekle y Overnight i n Hampstead e n rout e fo r Kingsgate; see Katherine Mansfield , and mee t Norma n Dougla s At Kingsgate , Broadstairs , Ken t Visited b y Henr y Savag e Introduced t o Herbert an d Cynthi a Asquith b y Edward Mars h Weekley grante d injunctio n agains t Frieda Stay wit h Gordo n Campbell , 9 Selwoo d Terrace, Sout h Kensington . Frieda t o German y D H L a t The Cearn e At Eastwood (stayin g wit h Hopkins ) fo r his siste r Ada' s weddin g o n 4 Augus t At Downshire Hil l (Londo n flat o f Edward Garnett ) xxiv
CHRONOLOGY
7 August 191 3 8? August-17 Septembe r 191 3 17 September 191 3
18-26 Septembe r 191 3
26 September 191 3 28 September-4 Octobe r 191 3 4 October-8 June 191 4 18 October 191 3 29 November 191 3
13-15 Decembe r 191 3 c. 26 December 191 3 19 January 191 4 25 January-25 Februar y 191 4 8? March 191 4 1 April 191 4
27 April 191 4 ?30 April-?27 Ma y 191 4 5 May 191 4 16-17 Ma y 191 4 28 May-i? Jun e 191 4 8 June 191 4 9 June 191 4 10-17? June I 9 I 4
To Irschenhause n overnigh t With Fried a i n Irschenhause n D H L leave s Irschenhause n fo r Uberlingen, Switzerland ; Fried a fo r Baden-Baden Lake Constance , dow n th e Rhin e t o Schaffhausen, t o Zurich, Lucerne , over th e Gotthar d t o Airolo , Bellinzona, Lugano , Com o Joins Fried a i n Mila n Albergo dell e Palme , Leric i Villino Ettor e Gambrosie r i n Fiascherino, Gul f o f Spezi a Frieda's divorc e hearin g i n Londo n Visited b y Wilfrid Gibson , Lascelle s an d Catherine Abercrombie , R . C . Trevelyan an d Aubre y Waterfiel d Weekend a t Aubrey Waterfield' s castl e in Aull a Ezra Poun d propose s D H L fo r th e Polignac Priz e i n poetr y Visited b y Edward Mars h an d Jame s Strachey Barne s Visited b y Constanc e Garnet t an d Ver a Volkhovsky (wh o stay s longer ) Levanto, a t the hom e o f Amfiteatro v The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd published i n Ne w Yor k b y Mitchel l Kennerley Decree absolut e pronounce d i n Frieda' s divorce cas e Visited b y Iv y Lo w Herbert Trenc h visit s Weekend i n Spezi a wit h th e Consu l Thomas Dunlo p an d Madg e Dunlo p Aulla, wit h th e Waterfield s Leave Fiascherin o In Turin ; Fried a t o Baden-Bade n To Switzerlan d (wit h A . P. Lewis) : Aosta, Gran d S t Bernard , Martigny , Visp, Interlaken , Ber n
CHRONOLOGY
18-22 June 191 4 24 June 191 4 24 June-15 Augus t 191 4 27 June 191 4 c. 28 June 191 4 30 June 191 4
1 July 191 4 4-7 July 191 4 13 July 191 4 18-23 July 191 4
30 July 191 4 31 July-8 Augus t 191 4
5 August 191 4 10 August 191 4 c. 1 3 August 191 4 15? August 1914-2 1 January 191 5
24 August 191 4 19-20 Septembe r 191 4 10-11 Octobe r 191 4 16-26 Octobe r 191 4 16 October 191 4 29-30 Octobe r 191 4 c. 5 November 191 4
Heidelberg (a t Alfred Weber's ) an d rejoins Fried a Arrive i n Englan d 9 Selwoo d Terrace , Sout h Kensingto n Introduced t o Rupert Brook e b y Mars h Meet Catherin e Jackson (late r t o marr y Donald Carswell ) Accepts J. B . Pinker a s agent, an d contract fro m Methue n fo r 'Th e Wedding Ring ' (The Rainbow) Meets Wyndha m Lewi s At The Cearn e D H L an d Fried a marrie d a t th e Kensington Registr y Offic e Visits Ad a a t Ripley, Derbyshire ; Fried a identifies an d enter s Weekley' s hous e in Chiswic k Meets Am y Lowell , Richar d an d Hild a Aldington ('H.D.' ) Walking tou r i n Westmorlan d wit h A . P. Lewis, S . S . Koteliansk y an d W . K . Home; Fried a i n S . Kensingto n Barrow-in-Furness; havin g learne d tha t war ha s been declare d o n 4 Augus t Methuen return s manuscrip t o f 'Th e Wedding Ring ' (Rainbow) Meet Lad y Ottolin e Morrel l The Triangle , Bellingdo n Lane , Chesham, Buckinghamshire , nea r Gilbert an d Mar y Canna n Meet Compto n Mackenzi e London, visit s British Museu m Visited b y th e Murrys , an d (o n n t h ) Koteliansky Murry an d Katherin e Mansfiel d stay , then mov e int o cottag e nearb y Receives £5 0 fro m th e Roya l Literar y Fund London (a t Catherin e Jackson's ) Helen Dudle y To r a couple o f days'
xxvi
CHRONOLOGY
8 Novembe r 191 4 21-23 Novembe r 191 4 26 November 191 4 7?-10 Decembe r 191 4 10-12? Decembe r 191 4 25 December 191 5 3 January 191 5 21 January 191 5
22 January 191 5 23 January-30 July 191 5 1 February 191 5 8 February 191 5 10-12 Februar y 191 5 15-16 Februar y 191 5 16 February 191 5 17-24 Februar y 191 5 23 February 191 5 6-8 Marc h 191 5
8 March 191 5 13-14 Marc h 191 5 20-21 Marc h 191 5 24 March 191 5 27-28 Marc h 191 5 1-3 Apri l 191 5 3-5 Apri l 191 5
Visited b y W. K . an d Maisi e Home , an d A. P. Lewi s London; see s Home, Koteliansk y an d ?Mark Gertler' s studi o The Prussian Officer and Other Stories Visits Ad a a t Ripley, Derbyshire ; Fried a sees Ernest Weekle y i n Nottingha m Stays wit h Edwar d Garnet t i n Londo n Christmas dinne r a t the Cannans ' First mentio n o f Ranani m To Londo n (stayin g wit h D r Davi d an d Edith Eder) ; meet E . M . Forste r a t Lady Ottoline' s Visit Dunca n Grant' s studi o wit h Forster an d Davi d Garnet t Greatham, Pulborough , Susse x (Viol a MeynelPs cottage ) Lady Ottolin e visit s Lady Ottolin e bring s Bertran d Russel l t o Greatham Visited b y Forste r London: a meeting a t Koteliansky' s house Visited b y Lady Cynthi a Visited b y Murr y Visited b y Lady Ottolin e Weekend a t Cambridge wit h Russell ; meets Maynar d Keynes , G . E . Moore , G. H . Hard y (F . M. Hueffe r an d Violet Hun t cal l at Greatham ) Meets G . Lowe s Dickinso n a t Lad y Ottoline's Koteliansky an d Katherin e Mansfiel d visit London wit h Fried a (a t Barbara Low's ) Visited b y Gilber t an d Mar y Canna n Visited b y Murr y Visited b y Russel l Koteliansky an d Barbar a Lo w invite d fo r Easter; sh e stay s till 8 April
CHRONOLOGY
17-18 Apri l 191 5 29 April 191 5 6 May 191 5 7-10 Ma y 191 5 10 May 191 5
11-12 Ma y 191 5 c. 19 May 191 5 27 May-4? June 191 5 5 and 1 9 June 191 5 12-16 June 191 5 19 June 191 5 19-20 June 191 5 21 June 191 5 c. 7-20 July 191 5 I O - I I Jul y 191 5
20 July 191 5 25 July 191 5 30 July-4 Augus t 191 5 2 August 191 5 4 August-21 Decembe r 191 5 6 August 191 5 5 September 191 5 30 September 191 5 4 and 1 8 October, an d 1 November 1915 3 November 191 5 3 and 5 November 191 5
Visited b y Davi d Garnet t an d Franci s Birrell Worthing b y bu s Chichester wit h Eleano r Farjeo n In Londo n (a t Basil Proctor's ) Examined fo r bankruptc y b y th e Probat e and Admiralt y Divisio n o f the Hig h Court, Londo n Brighton wit h Lad y Cynthi a To Bogno r wit h Monic a Saleeb y Frieda i n Londo n (a t Barbara Low's ) Lady Cynthi a an d Harol d Bake r visi t At Garsington , Oxfor d (Lad y Ottoline's) Visited b y Lad y Cynthi a an d Herber t Asquith Visited b y Russel l At Littlehampton wit h Lad y Cynthi a and Herber t Asquit h Frieda i n Londo n Joins Fried a i n Londo n (stayin g wit h Dollie Radfor d i n Hampstead ) Visited b y Lad y Cynthi a an d Katharin e Asquith Leave Greatham ; Littlehampto n wit h Viola Meynell t o visit Lad y Cynthi a At 1 2 Bay ford Road , Littlehampto n To Chicheste r wit h Dolli e Radfor d 1 Byron Villas , Vale of Health , Hampstead, Londo n Formal permissio n fo r Fried a t o se e children i n lawyer' s offic e First mentio n o f the The Signature The Rainbow (3 0 November i n Ne w York) 'The Crown ' I—II I in Signature, Nos . i-3Magistrate's warran t issue d fo r suppression o f The Rainbow Police call at Methuen t o confiscat e copies and sheet s xxvin
CHRONOLOGY
5 November 191 5
8-11 Novembe r 191 5 13 November 191 5
16 November 191 5 17 November 191 5
18 November 191 5 19 November 191 5 29 November-2 Decembe r 191 5 I Decembe r 191 5
6 December 191 5
10 December 191 5 II Decembe r 191 5 21-24 Decembe r 191 5 24-29 Decembe r 191 5 29 December 191 5 30 December 1915-2 9 Februar y 1916 1 January-21? Februar y 191 6 c. 7 January-*:. 1 February 191 6
10-22 January 191 6
Obtain passport s fo r th e USA ; hea r about The Rainbow, part y i n th e studio o f Dorothy Bret t D H L a t Garsingto n The Rainbow o n tria l and ordere d t o b e destroyed, Bo w Stree t Magistrate s Court, Londo n Meets Phili p Heseltin e Lady Cynthi a visits , takes D H L t o House o f Commons t o consult wit h Philip Morrel l M.P. ; D H L call s on Robert Nichol s i n hospita l Morrell ask s question i n th e Common s about th e suppressio n o f The Rainbow Russell visit s Visit Garsingto n wit h Heseltin e an d Hasan Suhraward y Morrell ask s second questio n i n th e Commons abou t th e suppressio n o f The Rainbow Elected a member o f the Incorporate d Society o f Authors, Playwright s an d Composers Aldous Huxle y t o tea; Murr y unexpectedly arrive s fro m Franc e D H L t o Battersea recruitin g offic e t o attest, doe s no t d o s o At 2 Hurst Close , Garde n Suburb , London (Ver e Collins ) Visits Ad a a t Riple y To Londo n (a t th e Eders' ) At Porthcothan, S t Merryn , Padstow , Cornwall (J . D . Beresford' s holida y house) Heseltine stay s (joine d b y Minni e Luci e Channing 2 6 January-21? February ) Catches col d an d grow s seriousl y il l (examined b y D r Maitlan d Radfor d by 2 4 January) Visited b y Dikra n Kouyoumdjia n (Michael Arlen ) xxix
CHRONOLOGY i i Februar y 191 6 22 February 191 6 29 February-17 Marc h 191 6 17 March 1916-Octobe r 191 7 ?5 April 191 6 ante 2 2 April 191 6 25 May 191 6 c. i3~i6June 191 6 c. 15 June 191 6 24 June 191 6 28-29 June 191 6
July 191 6 c. i6July 191 6 22-23? July l 916 31 July-6? Augus t 191 6 c. 10-15 Augus t 191 6 16 September 191 6 ? September 191 6 28 September-f . 3 October 191 6 c. 7 November 191 6 22 November 191 6 Christmas 191 6
31 December 1916- 1 January 191 7 12 February 191 7 ?28-3i Marc h 191 7 6 April 191 7
First mentio n o f the 'Rainbo w Book s and Music ' publishin g schem e House-hunting i n Zenno r Tinner's Arms , Zennor , S t Ives , Cornwall Higher Tregerthen , Zennor , S t Ives , Cornwall Murry an d Katherin e Mansfiel d com e t o live at Higher Tregerthe n Relationship wit h Heseltin e broke n of f Military Servic e Bil l becomes la w Murry an d Katherin e Mansfiel d leav e for Mylor , Sout h Cornwal l Twilight in Italy General Conscriptio n goe s into effec t Bodmin; medica l examinatio n fo r military service ; granted complet e exemption Amoves publishe d i n Englan d (i n US A on 2 5 Septembe r 1916 ) Move int o cottag e a t Higher Tregerthe n formerly occupie d b y th e Murry s To Mylor , visitin g th e Murry s Visited b y Dolli e Radfor d Visited b y Barbar a Lo w Frieda t o London t o see children (stay s with Dolli e Radford ) Murry visit s with Frederic k Goodyea r Catherine Carswel l visit s Visited b y Rober t Mountsie r an d Esthe r Andrews In S t Ive s Visited b y Mountsie r (til l 3 1 December ) and Esthe r Andrew s (til l c. 1 2 January 1917) Mountsier unde r arres t a t Scotland Yar d Refused fres h passport s fo r US A Frieda t o London (a t Dollie Radford's ) to see childre n USA declare s wa r o n German y xxx
CHRONOLOGY Pafter n A p r i l - n Ma y 191 7 14-18 Apri l 191 7 19 April 191 7 19-25 Apri l 191 7 25-27 Apri l 191 7 27 April 191 7 4 May 191 7 30 May 191 7 8 June 191 7 c. 16—19 June 191 7 23 June 191 7 by August 191 7 ?3 September (o r 2 9 August) 191 7 ?29~3o Septembe r 191 7 11 October 191 7 12 October 191 7
15 October 191 7 c. 20 October-30 Novembe r 191 7
31 October 191 7 2 November 191 7
13 and 2 0 November 192 0 16 November 191 7 26 November 191 7 30 November-18 Decembe r 191 7 11 December 191 7 18 December 1917- 2 Ma y 191 8
Esther Andrew s a t Higher Tregerthe n Visits Ada a t Riple y At Nottingha m London (a t Koteliansky's , 5 Acacia Road, S t John's Wood ) Chapel Far m Cottage , Hermitage , Berkshire Returns t o Higher Tregerthe n In Penzanc e In S t Ive s In Penzanc e London t o see specialist (stay s a t Dolli e Radford's) Bodmin (fo r Arm y medica l re examination) Mail unde r surveillanc e Visit Ceci l Gra y a t Bosigra n Visit Ceci l Gra y a t Bosigra n To Penzanc e wit h Hockings ; Fried a t o Bosigran Police rai d Highe r Tregerthen ; D H L and Fried a ordere d ou t o f Cornwal l by 1 5 October unde r DOR A London (a t Dollie Radford's ) 44 Mecklenburgh Squar e (Hild a Aldington's flat) an d mee t Doroth y (Arabella) York e To th e oper a wit h Ad a Seeks permissio n fro m Wa r Offic e t o return t o Cornwal l (refuse d c. 15 November) To th e oper a wit h Cynthi a Asquit h Meets John Galsworth y Look! We Have Come Through! (i n US A by Huebsc h i n 1918 ) 13B Earls Cour t Squar e (Mr s Gray' s flat) Visited b y CID ; asks Lad y Cynthi a Asquith t o interven e Chapel Far m Cottage , Hermitage , Newbury, Berkshir e xxxi
CHRONOLOGY
28 December 1917-1 1 January 191 8 4? January 191 8 12 January 191 8 26 February 191 8
5-6 Marc h 191 8 6 March 191 8 5-12 Apri l 191 8 before 1 8 April 191 8 19 April 191 8
2 May 1918-2 4 Apri l 191 9 18-20 Ma y 191 8 21 May 191 8 i3?-26June 191 8 14 June 191 8 22-24 June 1 91& 27 June 191 8 30 June 191 8 12 July 191 8 3?-9 Augus t 191 8 12-16 Augus t 191 8 17-20 Augus t 191 8 20-22 Augus t 191 8 22-26 Augus t 191 8 26-31 Augus t 191 8 31 August 191 8 11 September 191 8
Ripley (a t Ada's ) London (a t Koteliansky's ) Hermitage Temporarily lodg e wit h Bessi e Low e i n Hermitage; introduc e themselve s t o Cecily Lamber t an d Viole t Mon k D H L t o Londo n (a t Koteliansky's ) Hermitage Ripley Frieda t o Londo n t o see the childre n Decides t o keep leas e of smaller cottag e at Higher Tregerthe n (relinquishe d 28 December ) Mountain Cottage , Middleton-by Wirksworth, Derbyshir e Visited b y Ad a an d Emil y wit h thei r children, an d Arthu r Lawrenc e Visited b y Salli e Hopki n (joine d b y Willie 2 3 May ) Dorothy York e visit s Visits Eastwood; applie s fo r assistanc e from Roya l Literar y Fun d Willie, Salli e and Eni d Hopkin , an d Kitty Allcoc k visi t Nancy Henr y visit s Eastwood an d Riple y Receives £5 0 fro m Roya l Literar y Fun d Fritz an d Ad a Krenko w visi t London (a t Kot's ) Mersea, Esse x (stayin g wit h Barbar a Low an d Edit h Eder ) London (a t Kot's ) Hermitage (wit h Margare t Radford ) Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshir e (wit h Carswells) Return t o Middleton-by-Wirkswort h Called fo r Arm y medica l re-examinatio n at Derby ; grade d 'fo r secondar y work' b y militar y authoritie s (26 September )
xxxn
CHRONOLOGY
October 191 8 7 October 191 8 c. 14 October 191 8
22 October-19? Novembe r 191 8 11 November 191 8 12 November 191 8 19? November 191 8
28 November 191 8
30 November-i Decembe r 191 8 19 December 191 8 25-27 Decembe r 191 8 29 January 191 9 8-9 Februar y 191 9 c. 15 February-17 Marc h 191 9 6 March 191 9 17 March 191 9 24 April 191 9 25 April-28 July 191 9 3-4 July 191 9 5-6 July 191 9 7 July 191 9 8 July 191 9 ?23-27july 191 9 28 July-29 Augus t 191 9
New Poems (in US A b y Huebsch o n 11 June 1920 ) London (a t Dolli e Radford's) ; visit s th e Murrys Visits G . S . Freeman , edito r o f The Times Educational Supplement, wh o requests article s Hermitage Armistice London fo r Armistic e part y (a t Montague Shearman's ) London (a t Kot's?) ; visit Catherin e Carswell, Katherin e Mansfield , Richard Aldingto n Returns t o Middleton-by-Wirkswort h (Frieda, a t Hermitage, return s t o Middleton 1 4 December ) At Ripley (an d visit s Eastwood ) Matlock Ripley Matlock Emily an d Pegg y Kin g visi t Ripley; D H L collapse d wit h influenz a Murry ask s for contribution s t o Athenaeum Return t o Mountain Cottag e wit h Ad a and Jackie Clark e Leave Middleton ; i n Birmingha m Return t o Hermitage (stayin g wit h Margaret Radford ) London t o obtain passport s (a t Barbar a Low's an d the n Kot's ) To th e Forg e House , Otford, Ken t (Helen Thomas's) , wit h Ver e Collin s London Returns t o Hermitag e London (a t Kot's) ; sees Edward Marsh , meets Thoma s Moul t Myrtle Cottage , Pangbourne, Berkshir e (at Rosalind Baynes's )
xxxin
CHRO OOLOGY
August 191 9 3~?2o Augus t 191 9 20 August 191 9 22 August 191 9 26 August 191 9 29 August-12 Septembe r 191 9
12 September-4 Novembe r 191 9 14 October 191 9 15 October 191 9 16 October 191 9 17 October 191 9 c. 20-25 Octobe r 191 9 4-14 Novembe r 191 9
14 November 191 9 15-17 Novembe r 191 9 17-19 Novembe r 191 9 19 November-10 Decembe r 191 9 20 November 191 9 3 December 191 9 10-13 Decembe r 191 9 13-22 Decembe r 191 9 22 December 191 9 23 December 191 9 25 December 1919-2 6 Februar y 1920 27 December 191 9 20 January 192 0
Second editio n o f New Poems Visited b y Ada an d Jack, an d Emil y an d Peggy Visit Margaret Radfor d a t Hermitage ; visit Cecil y Lamber t an d Viole t Mon k Joined b y Rosalin d Baynes , and b y Godwin Bayne s o n ?2 4 Augus t Mapledurham o n th e rive r Grimsbury Farm , Lon g Lane , Newbury , Berkshire (stayin g wit h Cecil y Lambert an d Viole t Monk ) Hermitage London (a t Catherine CarswelP s i n Hampstead) Frieda depart s fo r German y Visits Douglas Goldrin g Returns t o Hermitag e Ripley London (a t Kot's); visit s Goldring , Thomas Dunlop , Richar d Adington ; meets Ma x Plowma n Paris, en rout e fo r Ital y Modane; Val Salice , Turin (stayin g wit h Sir Walte r an d Lad y Becker ) Genoa; Leric i Florence; sees Norman Douglas ; meet s Maurice Magnu s Bay publishe d i n Englan d b y Cyri l Beaumont Frieda arrive s fro m Baden-Bade n Rome Picinisco (stayin g wit h Orazi o Cervi ) Naples, vi a Atina an d Cassin o To Capr i Palazzo Ferraro , Capri ; friendshi p wit h Compton Mackenzi e an d Franci s an d Jessica Bret t Youn g Breaks wit h Pinke r Gilbert Cannan' s ' A Defens e o f Lawrence' i n New York Tribune
xxxiv
CHRO 27-29 January 192 0 early Februar y 192 0 7 February 192 0 16 February 192 0 19-21? Februar y 192 0 26 February-2 Marc h 192 0 3 March 192 0 6 March 192 0 8 March-2 Augus t 192 0 9 March 192 0 10-13 Marc h 192 0 April 192 0 8 Apri l 192 0 ante 1 8 April 192 0 ante 1 8 April 192 0 24-29 Apri l 192 0
26 April-*:. 10 May 192 0 May 192 0 17-28 Ma y 192 0 c. 7 July 192 0 2-?3 Augus t 192 0 ?4-6 Augus t 192 0 7-12 Augus t 192 0
12-15 Augus t 192 0 16-18 Augus t 192 0
18 August-i Septembe r 192 0
OOLOGY
Amalfi 111 wit h 'flu ' Breaks wit h Murry , an d wit h Katherin e Mansfield Asks Mountsier t o act as his America n agent (accepte d o n 2 6 March ) Visits Magnus a t Montecassin o To Sicil y (Agrigento , Syracuse , Catania ) with Bret t Young s Giardini an d Taormin a Frieda arrive s wit h Mar y Canna n Fontana Vecchia , Taormina, Sicil y Confirms Seltze r a s American publishe r The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd produce d by Altrincham Stag e Society, Cheshir e Shestov's All Things are Possible (tr . Ko t and DHL ) Visited b y Gilber t Canna n Charcoal sketc h b y Jan Jut a Catania Randazzo wit h Jan Juta, Ren e Hansar d and Ala n Insole ; Maniace (visit s th e Duca d i Bronte, 2 5 April); Syracus e Magnus arrive s an d appeal s fo r hel p Touch and Go (in US A b y Seltze r o n 5 June) Malta wit h Mar y Cannan ; visit s Magnus , meets Bor g and Salomon e Curtis Brow n approache s D H L t o act a s agent To Montecassin o In Rom e wit h Juta an d Insol e San Filippo , Anticoli-Corrado, nea r Rome (wit h Juta an d Insole) ; Juta doe s a second charcoa l sketc h Florence Milan; Fried a t o Baden-Baden; D H L meets u p wit h Perc y an d Iren e Whittley With Whittley s t o Lake Com o an d Venice xxxv
CHRO sIOLOGY 2 September 192 0 3-28 Septembe r 192 0
8 Septembe r 192 0 16 September 192 0
ante 2 4 September 192 0 28 September-14 Octobe r 192 0 14-17 Octobe r 192 0 18 October 1920- 9 Apri l 192 1 9 November 192 0
Florence Villa Canovaia, Sa n Gervasi o (borrowe d from Rosalin d Baynes) ; sees Reginal d Turner an d Ann a d i Chiar a Picnic at Settignan o Anton Kippenber g grante d Germa n translation right s fo r on e yea r (late r extended til l 1924 ) Meets Carlot a Thrashe r Venice; sees Juta an d Insole ; joined b y Frieda 7 Octobe r Florence, Rome , Naples, Taormin a Fontana Vecchi a Women in Love publishe d i n US A b y Seltzer (i n Englan d b y Seeker , Jun e 1921)
25 November 192 0
The Lost Girl published i n Englan d b y Seeker (i n US A b y Seltzer , Januar y 1921)
29 November 192 0 4-6 January 192 1 6-13 January 192 1
c. 27 January 192 1 February 192 1
11-14 Marc h 192 1 by 1 6 March 192 1 c. 16 March 192 1 4 April 192 1 9 April 192 1 15-19 Apri l 192 1 19-20 Apri l 192 1
Cattle fai r a t Letoiann i To Messin a an d Palerm o Via Trapani t o Sardinia ; visit s Cagliari , Mandas, Sorgono , Nuoro, Terranov a (Olbia); returns t o Sicil y (Fontan a Vecchia) vi a Civitavecchia, Rom e an d Naples Visited b y Juta an d Insole ; Juta paint s DHL's portrai t i n oil s Movements in European History; The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd reissue d i n USA Palermo; sees Frieda of f t o Baden-Bade n Portrait b y Millicent Beveridg e Asks Barbara Lo w t o act a s his Englis h agent Asks Curti s Brow n t o be hi s Englis h agent Palermo Capri; meets Ear l an d Achsa h Brewster , and Fait h Mackenzi e Rome xxxvi
CHRO MOLOGY ?2i-23 Apri l 192 1 23 April 192 1 26 April 192 1 27 April-10 July 192 1 10 May 192 1
5-c. 2 7 July 192 1 10-18 July 192 1 20 July-25 Augus t 192 1 13-16 Augus t 192 1 25 August 192 1 30 August 192 1 2 September 192 1 10-17 Septembe r 192 1 12 September 192 1 19 September 192 1
20-22 Septembe r 192 1 c. 23-27 Septembe r 192 1 28 Septembe r 1921-2 0 Februar y 1922 5 November 192 1 2 December 192 1 9 Decembe r 192 1
20-26 Februar y 192 2 26 February 192 2
Florence; see s Rebecca Wes t an d Norman Dougla s Leaves fo r Baden-Bade n Baden-Baden Hotel Krone , Ebersteinburg , Baden Baden Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious published i n US A (i n England , Jul y 1923)
Mountsier visit s To Zell-am-Se e vi a Constance an d Bregenz, Austri a At Villa Alpensee, Thumersbach, Zell am-See Mountsier visits ; then leave s fo r Pari s To 3 2 Via dei Bardi, Florenc e Mary Canna n visit s Heseltine threaten s libe l action ove r Women in Love (settle d 1 5 November ) Catherine an d Donal d Carswel l visi t Percy an d Iren e Whittle y visi t First batc h o f proofs fo r Germa n translation o f The Rainbow fro m D r Anton Kippenber g To Sien a (21st ) an d Rom e (22nd ) wit h Whittleys Visit Ear l an d Achsa h Brewste r i n Capr i At Fontan a Vecchi a Begins correspondenc e wit h Mabe l Dodge Stern e Sea and Sardinia publishe d i n US A Tortoises published i n USA ; acknowledges James Tai t Blac k Memorial Priz e fo r The Lost Girl To Naples , vi a Palerm o Leave Naple s fo r Ceylo n aboar d R.M.S. Osterley
XXXVll
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Lawrence in England, 1913-19
xliv
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Mapledurham Pangbourne* Hermitage. ^Reading Newb # ury B u c k l e b u r V
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Lawrence in England, 1913-1 9
xlv
^Hfl^Kingsgate Broadstairs
D. H . LAWRENC E 1912—1922
PART ON E
•
A World
of Promise
C H A P T E R ON E
May-November 191 2 NEW L I F E
'Let us go forward, shal l we?' said Birkin. He wanted to be at the tip of their projection. S o they lef t of f looking at the faint spark s that glimmered ou t of nowhere, i n th e fa r distance , called England , an d turne d thei r face s t o th e unfathomed nigh t in front . They went right to the bows of the softly plungin g vessel. In the complete obscurity, Birkin foun d a comparatively sheltere d nook , where a great rop e was coiled up . It wa s quite nea r th e ver y poin t o f the ship , near th e black , unpierced spac e ahead . Her e the y sa t down , folde d together , folde d roun d with th e same rug, creeping in nearer an d eve r neare r t o one another, till it seemed the y had crep t righ t in to each other, and becom e one substance. It was very cold, and the darkness was palpable. (Women in Lovey 387: 21-32)
I Th e Figh t fo r Fried a Lovers movin g int o unfathome d darkness , i n transi t fro m th e dea d nowher e o f the pas t t o a ye t unbor n bu t alread y tangibl e future : thi s experienc e i s a t th e heart o f Lawrence's grea t wartim e fictions. In fact , i t is also reminiscent o f Friday 3 May 191 2 on th e ferr y fro m Dove r t o Ostend. Fried a Weekle y ha d kisse d he r husban d an d he r schoolbo y so n i n Nottingham; ha d take n he r tw o smal l girl s t o sta y wit h he r husband' s parent s i n London; an d ha d me t he r ne w youn g love r a t 2.0 0 p.m . outsid e th e ist-Clas s Ladies' roo m a t Charin g Cros s Station . Ye t ther e wer e painfu l difference s between lif e an d fiction: Ursul a i n Women in Love i s wholly committe d t o Birkin , but Fried a wa s not committe d t o Lawrence. He r ticket s wer e returns , booked b y her professo r husband . Sh e was goin g t o joi n he r famil y i n th e garriso n tow n o f Metz, wher e he r fathe r th e Baro n vo n Richthofe n was abou t t o celebrat e th e fiftieth anniversar y o f his joining th e Arm y - an d sh e ha d n o intentio n o f leavin g her childre n o r he r husband , a s she later confessed. 2 She wa s nevertheles s i n love . Fro m th e momen t th e previou s Marc h whe n a 'long thi n figure' wit h 'light , sur e movements ' strod e int o he r drawing-roo m i n Nottingham, o n a sprin g mornin g wit h th e curtain s blowin g a t ope n frenc h windows an d th e childre n playin g i n th e garden , sh e ha d bee n fascinate d b y a 5
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
strange ne w forc e i n he r life . Sh e wa s amuse d b y th e youn g man' s fierce denunciation o f women ; intrigue d b y hi s view s o n Oedipus ; an d disconcerte d later whe n h e remarke d ho w littl e sh e notice d he r husband , an d mocke d he r fo r having n o ide a ho w t o ligh t th e ga s i n th e absenc e o f he r maid . 'Suc h a direc t critic! I t wa s somethin g m y Hig h an d Mightines s wa s ver y littl e accustome d to. ' Yet hi s ferven t admiratio n - 'Yo u ar e th e mos t wonderfu l woma n i n al l England ' - restore d he r self-belie f an d lifte d he r depression . O n a n outin g t o th e Holbrooks' far m a t Moorgree n nea r Eastwood , a s she watche d Lawrenc e wholl y absorbed i n floating pape r boat s an d daisie s fo r he r littl e girl s i n th e brook , sh e suddenly kne w tha t sh e love d him . I t wa s a straightforwar d matte r fo r he r t o suggest tha t h e sta y th e nigh t on e Sunda y whe n Ernest Weekle y wa s away. 3 Freud's discipl e Ott o Gross , whos e mistres s bot h Fried a an d he r elde r siste r Else ha d been , ha d persuade d he r tha t se x shoul d b e completel y free , an d tha t she hersel f was th e Woma n o f th e Future , wit h a ric h creativ e gif t o f womanhood i t wa s he r missio n t o expres s an d share , especiall y fo r th e salvatio n of others . Th e combinatio n no w o f a 'ne w tenderness' , desir e an d somethin g a little materna l (i n a n experience d 32-year-ol d toward s a youn g ma n o f 26 , wh o had know n onl y frustratio n i n hi s sexua l relation s wit h younge r women ) wa s irresistible. Ye t h e refuse d t o slee p wit h he r unde r he r husband' s roof , an d once the y ha d don e s o elsewhere , h e wante d he r t o tel l Weekley , an d com e away wit h hi m openly . (Sh e di d no t kno w unti l late r tha t sh e ha d eclipse d a relationship wit h anothe r marrie d woman , Alic e Dax , whos e consummatio n i n her husband' s hous e ma y hav e trouble d Lawrence' s conscience. ) The y spen t a precious weeken d a t Th e Cearne , th e hom e o f Edwar d Garnett , Lawrence' s literary mentor , wh o ha d n o respec t fo r th e conventions , bu t lov e stole n a t intervals wa s no t enough . Th e prospec t o f 'a t leas t on e wee k together ' (i . 386) , using th e vo n Richthofe n celebration s i n Germany , mus t hav e seeme d a godsend. Lawrence ha d com e t o Weekley's hous e tha t da y i n Marc h t o ask advic e abou t securing a Lektorshi p i n Englis h a t a Germa n university . Afte r hi s dangerou s illness a t th e en d o f 191 1 h e ha d give n u p hi s teachin g pos t i n Croydo n o n doctor's orders ; bu t planne d t o visi t hi s uncl e Frit z Krenkow' s relation s i n th e Rhineland, 7 an d perhap s becom e fluent enoug h i n Germa n t o ad d t o hi s qualifications fo r re-employmen t i f he faile d t o mak e a living a s a writer. S o no w they arrange d t o trave l an d t o hav e a t leas t thei r wee k (o r more ) togethe r durin g (and perhap s after ) th e anniversar y celebrations . The n Lawrenc e mus t g o o n t o the Krenkows , an d Fried a remai n wit h he r famil y - havin g minimise d th e ris k o f scandal. She wa s keepin g he r option s open , o r perhap s simpl y reactin g t o unresolve d impulses. Thoug h smitte n b y Lawrence , sh e ha d successfull y manage d thre e previous affairs , an d sh e ha d n o intentio n o f giving u p he r marriag e fo r he r ne w 6
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new lover , le t alone desertin g he r children . Lawrenc e wa s sure o f no mor e tha n a week, thoug h bot h befor e the y lef t an d afte r arrivin g i n Met z h e kep t pressurin g her t o commi t hersel f an d t o fre e the m bot h fro m disguis e an d subterfuge . H e could no t tel l hi s ow n famil y o r friend s (excep t Garnett , an d Georg e Nevill e hi s boyhood companion , wh o woul d kee p th e secret) ; bu t h e insiste d tha t Fried a should tel l Weekley , an d shortl y befor e the y left , sh e tried . Sh e ma y hav e ha d her ow n reason s too . He r marriag e wa s obviousl y unsatisfying , Nottingha m wa s tedious an d ther e ma y hav e bee n a t th e bac k o f he r min d a n env y o f he r tw o sisters an d o f he r namesak e th e wif e o f Ott o Gross , wh o al l ha d ope n an d 'civilised' arrangement s wit h thei r husband s whic h permitte d the m t o liv e separate live s i n sexua l freedom . S o - perhap s testin g th e groun d a s wel l a s meeting Lawrence' s deman d fo r honest y - sh e di d ge t a s fa r a s confessin g he r affairs wit h Gros s an d wit h th e anarchis t Erns t Fric k - bu t sh e sai d nothin g o f the Nottingha m businessma n Willia m Dowson , o r he r ne w lover , o r o f travellin g to German y wit h him . Th e receptio n o f wha t sh e di d sa y migh t hav e bee n enough t o scar e her . Sh e ha d tol d Lawrenc e tha t he r husban d wa s a gentlema n in who m th e brut e coul d 'lea p up ' (i . 388) ; sh e kne w als o ho w Weekle y idolise d her, an d wha t pai n an d shoc k th e trut h woul d cause . He r daughters , playin g o n the stair s outsid e th e study , woul d remembe r thei r mothe r hurryin g ou t i n tears . However, perhap s afte r a n initia l outburst , Fried a was abl e t o writ e t o he r namesake Fried a Gros s tha t Weekle y ha d bee n 'ver y good' . Whe n sh e kisse d her so n Mont y o n hi s wa y t o schoo l an d Els a an d Barb y o n Hampstea d Heath , she ma y hav e bee n to o overwrough t t o thin k a t all clearly. I t wa s perhap s a mor e intense partin g tha n usua l sinc e sh e coul d no t kno w wha t woul d com e o f it ; bu t she ha d certainl y no t decide d anythin g - an d wa s intendin g t o consul t he r mother an d sister s i n Metz . Moreover, a s the ferr y plunge d int o th e dar k o n 3 May, th e coupl e i n th e bo w had baggage , a s couple s ten d no t t o d o i n fiction . I n her s wer e th e fashionabl e dresses sh e woul d nee d i n Metz ; an d th e letter s fro m Gros s wit h thei r ferven t sexual theorie s an d thei r imag e o f hersel f an d he r mission . I n Lawrence' s wer e some ne w clothe s too , afte r whic h expens e h e ha d onl y £1 1 i n cas h (i . 390) ; bu t also th e manuscrip t o f hi s thir d nove l 'Pau l Morel' , whic h woul d late r becom e Sons and Lovers an d ha d alread y bee n rewritten , a s hi s young-lov e Jessi e Chambers ha d suggested , t o brin g i t close r t o life. 10 Sh e ha d hope d h e woul d b e able t o diagnos e hi s emotiona l dependenc y o n hi s mother , an d retur n t o wha t Jessie though t th e tru e lov e o f hi s lif e - fo r her . Tha t woul d no w neve r happen ; but ther e wer e man y ol d hurt s an d complexe s (onl y partl y embodie d i n thos e manuscript pages ) o f whic h Fried a coul d hav e ha d n o mor e tha n glimpse s fro m a worl d utterl y remote : th e destructiv e tension s o f th e coal-miner' s home ; th e death o f th e mother ; failure s an d betrayal s wit h Jessie , Hele n Corke , Loui e Burrows an d Alic e Dax ; and th e painfu l mes s o f Lawrence's emotiona l lif e a t th e 7
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
end o f 1911 . If Fried a ha d fel t hersel f suffocatin g o r sleepwalkin g i n bourgeoi s Nottingham, Lawrence' s seriou s collaps e i n 191 1 ha d bee n mor e tha n merel y physical illness . No w eac h ha d see n an d responde d t o a vision o f ne w vitalit y i n and throug h th e other : fo r her , th e thi n youn g figure wit h hi s extraordinar y quickening life , perceptiv e an d direct , wh o 'sa w through ' he r an d reveale d he r t o herself; fo r him , a marvellou s tawn y vitality , a Juno-lik e physique , a n od d mixture o f sophisticatio n an d naivete , a spontaneou s actin g o n impulse , a fre e strange bein g trappe d i n conventiona l middle-clas s suburbia . Ye t th e baggag e would hav e t o b e carried ashor e int o th e ne w lif e an d opened . Ursul a an d Birki n in th e late r fiction o f Women in Love ar e almos t fre e o f thei r past . Fried a an d Lawrence wer e not, an d no t a t all sure o f each othe r o r themselves . In Metz , preciou s tim e frittere d awa y a s Fried a becam e involve d wit h th e anniversary, an d als o i n muc h earnes t tal k wit h he r mothe r an d he r sisters , especially Els e th e eldes t - whil e Lawrenc e spen t lon g hour s ove r th e weeken d wandering throug h th e streets , lookin g int o th e Cathedral , sittin g i n cafe s ove r beers o r gazin g dow n fro m hi s hote l bedroo m o n th e animate d scene s below . I t became clea r tha t h e wa s t o b e hidde n fro m Frieda' s father . Thoug h th e Baro n had a mistres s an d a n illegitimat e son , h e ha d ster n (an d double ) standard s concerning publi c moral s an d th e outwar d preservatio n o f marita l respectability , and dre w a lin e betwee n mistresse s an d othe r men' s wives. 12 Frieda' s mothe r and sisters , i n contrast , di d no t see m shocke d t o b e tol d tha t sh e ha d a new love r in to w an d whe n the y me t hi m wer e eve n (i n varyin g degrees ) sympathetic ; bu t they wer e als o strongl y oppose d t o Lawrence' s ide a o f a clea r an d clea n brea k with Weekley . The y ha d see n n o nee d t o brea k fro m thei r husbands . Al l wer e accustomed t o situation s o f marita l infidelity , sustaine d wit h sophisticatio n an d outward politesse. Frieda's mothe r ha d muc h t o bear fro m he r husband' s gamblin g a s well as hi s extramarital relationship , bu t sh e too k n o mora l line . Lawrenc e describe d he r t o Garnett a fe w week s late r a s 'utterl y non-moral , ver y kind ' (i . 409) , thoug h hi s dramatisings o f her , later , catc h a not e o f lamentation. 13 Sh e feare d th e publi c reaction o f which he r husband' s ange r woul d b e onl y th e start . Sh e wa s naturall y concerned les t her daughte r separat e fro m Weekle y befor e sh e had com e t o som e advantageous arrangemen t wit h him ; le t alon e forfei t he r reputation , an d th e comfort an d statu s o f a n upper-middle-clas s home , b y runnin g of f wit h a penniless nobody . Wors t o f all , Fried a riske d losin g he r childre n wer e sh e t o b e divorced a s the guilt y party ; an d i f in he r naivet e an d distractio n sh e ha d no t ye t realised this , sh e mus t d o s o now . Ther e wa s a clea r alternativ e scenari o i n th e eldest daughter' s situation . Beautifu l an d brilliant , Els e Jaffe was a feminine pat h finder wh o ha d no t onl y take n a doctorate bu t becom e a factor y inspecto r i n th e world o f men. Sh e to o wa s marrie d t o a professor, o f th e Universit y o f Munich ; 8
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but ha d bee n mistres s t o Gros s an d born e hi s son , who m sh e brough t u p wit h her tw o othe r childre n b y Edga r Jaffe ; an d wa s no w th e mistres s o f Professo r Alfred Weber , havin g finally chose n hi m rathe r tha n hi s mor e famou s elde r brother Ma x wh o ha d als o bee n i n lov e wit h her . Despit e al l this , sh e remaine d on friendl y term s wit h he r husban d wh o live d hi s ow n life , an d wa s buildin g a little plac e i n th e countr y t o improv e it . Els e ha d a hous e i n Wolfratshausen , Edgar a flat i n Munich , Webe r a flat nea r Els e a s wel l a s hi s ow n hom e i n Heidelberg. I t wa s all very civilised . Meanwhil e Frieda' s younges t siste r Johann a von Schreibershofe n (nickname d 'Nusch') , ric h an d fashionable , seem s t o hav e regarded Frieda' s affai r wit h amusement . Lawrenc e describe d he r a s 'ver y beautiful, marrie d t o a brute o f a swanky office r i n Berlin ' (i n fac t aide-de-cam p to the Crow n Prince ) 'and , i n a large, splendid wa y - cocotte ' (i . 395) . So the y wer e no t shocked . No r wer e the y unsympatheti c t o Lawrence . Els e teased hi m wit h gentl e irony , ye t like d hi m wel l enough . Sh e was perhap s intellectually mor e read y tha n th e other s t o b e intereste d i n hi m a s a promisin g writer; an d thoug h sh e ma y no t hav e though t hi m goo d enoug h fo r Fried a a t first, sh e was prepare d t o hel p i n he r ow n way . Th e Barones s pitie d hi s yout h and inexperience . Sh e woul d late r giv e hi m a thoroug h scolding , bu t sh e was also impresse d b y th e wa y h e too k it . Afte r a n unexpecte d an d embarrasse d meeting a t th e Ma y fai r whe n Lawrenc e narrowl y escape d bein g notice d b y th e Baron, Nusch , instea d o f reactin g agains t th e od d figure i n ca p an d raincoat , suddenly tol d Fried a sh e coul d trus t him . Ye t al l agree d tha t Fried a mus t no t risk a scanda l tha t migh t los e he r th e children . Sh e shoul d retur n t o England , and see k th e kin d o f accommodatio n wit h Weekle y tha t Els e ha d achieve d wit h Edgar Jaffe . Lawrenc e shoul d b e patient , an d wai t discreetl y i n th e backgroun d to see how thing s worke d out . However h e becam e mor e determine d a s Frieda apparentl y weakened . O n th e Monday, th e da y o f th e celebrations , h e wrot e t o complai n tha t sh e ha d no t come t o him earl y i n th e mornin g a s she ha d promised ; tha t h e didn' t eve n kno w where t o find her ; an d tha t thei r preciou s tim e was slipping by. For , 'i f you pu t up you r fingers, an d coun t you r day s i n Germany , an d compar e the m wit h th e days t o follo w i n Nottingham , the n yo u wil l see , yo u - I don' t mea n i t - ar e selling sovereigns a t a penny each . No , you ar e not doin g i t - bu t it' s being done ' (i- 39i) Stress an d unhappines s mounte d a s al l initiativ e wa s take n fro m hi m i n endless tal k amon g th e vo n Richthofe n women . H e fel t humiliate d a t bein g hidden s o furtivel y awa y whe n h e wante d everythin g i n th e open . H e wa s 'no t cross' wit h Els e h e said , thoug h h e coul d hardl y hel p resentin g he r influence , but ' I wis h I ha d th e managemen t o f ou r affairs. ' H e was 'no t keen ' t o lunc h a t the Baron' s hous e unde r fals e pretences . H e wante d t o ge t Fried a ou t o f Met z and awa y fro m famil y pressure ; thoug h h e stil l though t sh e woul d hav e t o g o 9
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
back t o Englan d afterwards . H e ha d hi s hai r cut , an d walke d ou t int o th e country toward s th e village o f Scy , a s h e woul d describ e i n 'Frenc h Son s o f Germany' - findin g hi s growin g antipath y t o Metz , s o dominate d b y Germa n soldiers, reinforce d b y growin g sympath y fo r it s Frenchmen , als o unde r th e control o f foreigners . B y th e nex t day , afte r havin g sa t fo r tw o hour s i n hi s roo m without movin g a muscle , h e coul d stan d i t n o longe r an d too k thing s int o hi s own hands . 'N o mor e dishonour , n o mor e lies' , h e insiste d (i . 392-3 ) - an d wrote t o Ernest Weekley . He lef t i t t o Fried a whethe r t o pos t th e lette r o r writ e hersel f i n simila r terms . She poste d it , a decisiv e move , sinc e i t coul d (an d would ) figure i n a divorc e but thoug h sh e ha d acquiesced , h e ha d take n i t upo n himsel f t o forc e he r hand , and t o rebe l agains t he r family' s attemp t t o direc t his affairs i n directin g Frieda' s future, keepin g hi m ou t o f sight . H e tol d Weekle y tha t hi s ow n positio n wa s 'torture', thoug h ther e was no comparin g thei r sufferings . I lov e you r wif e an d sh e love s me . I a m no t frivolou s o r impertinent . Mrs . Weekle y i s afraid o f bein g stunte d an d no t allowe d t o grow , an d s o sh e mus t liv e he r ow n lif e .. . largely and abundantly. It is her nature. To me it means the future. I feel as if my effort o f life was all for her. (i. 392) The pla y h e late r base d o n th e situation , The Fight for Barbara, insiste d tha t fo r both thei r sake s 'he ' ha d t o decid e fo r 'her' . No soone r wer e th e day s o f concealmen t fro m he r husban d numbere d moreover, tha n fat e too k a hand t o preven t furthe r concealmen t fro m he r father . Having a t lon g las t th e chanc e o f a fe w hour s together , Lawrenc e an d Fried a wandered ou t ove r th e rive r - an d straye d int o a prohibite d militar y area . A s they sa t talking , a guar d appeare d an d threatene d Lawrenc e wit h arres t a s a n English spy , lettin g hi m g o onl y o n conditio n h e wa s vouche d fo r b y Baro n vo n Richthofen. A meetin g ha d t o b e arrange d betwee n th e 'fierce ' Germa n aristocrat, an d th e coal-miner' s son . Socia l ritual s wer e icil y gon e through . A cigarette wa s offere d - an d Lawrenc e fumble d i n lightin g it . Ther e followe d a polite enquir y i n Frenc h - t o whic h Lawrenc e mad e a grammatica l erro r i n reply. Th e Baro n coldl y correcte d him . The n tota l silenc e . . . an d Frieda' s fathe r concluded tha t h e was dealin g wit h a n unmannerl y lout . I t seeme d bes t tha t Lawrence shoul d leav e Metz , an d Els e persuade d hi m t o g o eight y mile s awa y along th e Mosell e t o Trier , o n conditio n tha t Fried a woul d joi n hi m th e following weekend . B y th e afternoo n o f Wednesda y 8 Ma y h e wa s ther e - afte r only fou r day s i n Metz , an d ver y littl e tim e alon e together . Meanwhile, a s soo n a s Fried a ha d gon e an d befor e Lawrence' s lette r arrived , Weekley ha d begu n t o broo d ove r wha t sh e ha d tol d him , an d t o suspec t a mor e recent love r tha n th e tw o sh e ha d confesse d wer e al l i n th e past . H e wrote , demanding reassurance : a telegra m t o sa y eithe r 'nicht wahr > accordin g t o Mr 10
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Noon (no t true) , or 'ganz recent' (quite recently) . 'M y child , wha t ar e yo u doing? ' her fathe r asked . ' I alway s though t yo u ha d s o muc h sense . I kno w th e world. ' Frieda answered : 'Yes , that ma y be, but yo u neve r kne w th e best. ' II S e p a r a t i o
n
Lawrence wa s happie r i n Trier , sittin g unde r apple-blosso m amon g vineyard s above th e tow n writin g letters , the postcard s thos e i n Englan d woul d expect , an d one o r mor e o f his 'Germa n Impressions' , whil e waitin g (h e hoped ) fo r Fried a to arriv e o n Saturda y an d shar e hi s roo m a s 'm y wife ' (i . 393) . Sh e cam e o n Friday 1 0 Ma y instead , bu t chaperone d b y he r mothe r an d Nusc h (wh o soo n opted ou t o f th e embassy) ; an d unde r stric t order s fro m th e Baro n t o retur n the sam e evening . Appearance s wer e stil l bein g kep t up , i n th e hop e tha t Weekley migh t ye t b e persuade d t o overloo k everythin g shor t o f ope n betrayal ; but afte r anothe r argumen t Lawrenc e insiste d o n takin g Fried a t o th e pos t offic e to send th e 'ganz recent' telegram (i . 409) , since hi s letter ha d alread y dispose d o f the alternative . Th e lover s wer e allowe d a wal k int o th e countrysid e (an d mad e love i n a dr y ditc h unde r a beec h tree) , befor e th e vo n Richthofen s caugh t their train , presumabl y no t knowin g wha t ha d bee n done , bu t stil l anxiou s tha t Lawrence an d Fried a shoul d kee p apart . Since h e ha d i n an y cas e t o g o t o th e Krenkow s soon , Lawrenc e ha d t o agre e perforce. H e ha d probabl y alread y writte n th e firs t versio n o f a balla d abou t a 'Wayward Woman ' wh o cannot mak e u p he r min d betwee n he r husban d an d he r lovers. 23 The nex t day , h e lef t fo r Waldbro l i n th e Rhineland , hi s hope s fo r tim e alone wit h Fried a punctured . However, hi s lette r ha d alread y burne d som e boats , a s Weekley' s respons e t o Frieda woul d show : I bear him no ill-will and hope you will be happy with him. But have some pity on me .. . Let me know at once that you agree to a divorce. The thing can be managed very quietly, but unles s yo u hel p by an admission, thi s will be difficul t .. . Yo u love d m e once - hel p me now - bu t quickly. 24 Was i t stil l possibl e afte r thi s t o patc h u p jus t enoug h reconciliatio n - he r 'guilt ' not havin g gon e to o fa r - t o permi t judicial separatio n i n a civilised manner , wit h joint custod y o f th e children , o r woul d i t hav e t o b e divorce ? Th e da y afte r Lawrence left , a telegram arrive d i n Metz : 'kei n moeglichkeit ' - n o possibilit y o f reconciliation o r 'arrangement ' (i . 409) . Nearing th e en d o f a nine-hour trai n journe y o n th e Saturday , an d waitin g fo r his thir d chang e a t Henne f besid e th e water-meadow s an d th e river , Lawrenc e wrote t o Fried a fo r th e secon d tim e tha t day : 'm y detachmen t leave s me , an d I know I only lov e you. The res t i s nothing a t all. And th e promis e o f life wit h yo u 11
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is al l richness ' (i . 398) . Hi s 'detachment ' implie s it s opposite . Whe n unde r extreme stress , hi s psychologica l defenc e wa s t o g o righ t outsid e himself , t o insulate himsel f agains t al l feeling , t o b e silent , utterl y withdrawn. 25 Th e famil y opposition, an d Frieda' s wavering , ha d fastene d hi s wil l al l th e mor e firmly . H e had ha d t o fight al l th e wa y t o b e ope n wit h Weekley , detestin g th e lie s an d subterfuge whic h mad e hi m fee l unclean . Hi s lette r ha d show n hi s belie f tha t love ha d it s ow n laws , an d self-fulfilmen t it s ow n imperatives ; bu t i f thei r relationship wa s 'right ' fo r Frieda' s sake , and hi s own, i t coul d no t b e righ t t o g o on deceivin g he r husban d o r pretendin g t o her father . I t ha d bee n a young man' s letter, writte n wit h littl e imaginatio n o f what i t would b e lik e for Weekle y t o rea d it (a s Lawrence late r recognised) , 6 bu t i t wa s honest, an d Weekle y responde d t o that. Moreove r th e conspirac y ha d mean t constan t humiliation , an d isolatio n al l the mor e tens e fo r on e wh o ha d neve r bee n abroa d an d ha d onl y a smattering o f German. H e ha d bee n unabl e t o wor k o n 'Pau l Morel' . H e resente d th e aggressiveness o f th e Germa n militar y occupier s o f wha t ha d bee n a Frenc h town. Thi s wen t int o al l thre e o f th e sketche s abou t Met z whic h h e complete d within th e nex t wee k (i . 405) , includin g on e abou t hi s arrest . (O n th e journe y t o Waldbrol h e ma y hav e suffere d ye t anothe r humiliation , bawle d ou t fo r havin g the wron g kin d o f ticke t b y a n inspecto r h e coul d no t understand.) 27 Fried a ha d her famil y phalan x aroun d her , h e ha d nobod y bu t he r - an d mus t hav e fel t tha t their relationshi p to o wa s bein g occupie d an d overruled , albei t wit h civility . I t had al l bee n a n immens e strai n - bu t suddenl y 'Be i Hennef , i t lifted , hi s underlying certaint y cam e through , intens e feelin g returne d unthreateningly , t o be caugh t i n a fine poem . (Ye t par t o f it s fineness i s th e half-hear d commentar y of th e littl e rive r a t Hennef , whos e 'twittering ' i n th e twili t backgroun d migh t suggest tha t certainties , too , are only moments , i n a flow. 28) Now a t Waldbro l i t was hi s tur n t o rela x a little , an d Frieda' s t o suffe r alone . 'Here, I a m s o respectable , an d s o good' , h e wrote , 'i t i s quit e a rest ' (i . 399) . Karl Krenko w was a 'good ' i f no t ver y interestin g ma n marrie d t o hi s cousi n Hannah, an d th e famil y wer e kin d an d welcoming . Hanna h restore d hi s bruise d ego b y finding hi m quit e attractiv e an d flirting a little , bu t respectably , thoug h she di d no t lov e her husband . (Moreove r th e letter s an d 'Hai l i n th e Rhineland' , written i n Waldbrol, concea l th e fac t tha t sh e wa s 1 4 years older tha n Lawrence. ) He als o gre w fon d o f th e ol d ma n wh o ha d brough t he r up , Op a Stiilchen , wit h whom h e go t o n famously . Her e hi s Germa n wa s a source o f amusemen t rathe r than embarrassing , an d h e bega n t o practise . O n th e firs t da y ther e wa s anothe r fair, bu t thi s one hel d n o humiliation , onl y pleasur e i n th e unfamiliar : ' a Herz - a great hear t o f cake, covere d wit h sugar , an d suga r grapes , an d suga r roses , and a bird, a dov e - an d thre e piece s o f poetry ' (i . 399) . Th e littl e villag e 'mile s fro m everywhere', wit h it s slo w buf f oxe n ploddin g i n fron t o f wagon s an d it s dog drawn mil k car t (i . 410) ; an d th e countrysid e wher e ruddy-gol d broo m wa s i n 12
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flower, an d ever y peasan t greete d Hanna h a s sh e walke d wit h th e youn g Englishman befor e th e bi g hailstorm ; thes e wer e haven s o f restoration. B y no w he ha d begu n t o wor k ever y morning , an d b y 1 6 Ma y fou r Germa n sketche s were sent awa y t o th e Westminster Gazette. ° He neede d th e money . Then h e go t dow n t o revisin g th e thir d versio n o f 'Pau l Morel' , an d befor e h e left Waldbro l jus t ove r a wee k late r h e ha d finished al l bu t te n pages . Th e revision o f th e first part , th e Morels ' marriag e an d Paul' s childhood , seem s t o have bee n mostl y prunin g an d tidyin g wit h a vie w t o publication , thoug h som e social detai l abou t pedlar s wa s adde d an d a n activ e littl e Pau l lookin g afte r hi s baby brothe r n o longe r counterpointe d hi s fits o f weeping . Bu t whe n Lawrenc e had tol d Walte r d e l a Mare o n 1 1 April, before leavin g fo r Germany , tha t 'Ther e are part s I wan t t o change ' (i . 383) , he was thinkin g o f more seriou s matter s tha n these. H e ha d gone , te n day s earlier , t o ge t Jessie Chambers' s reaction s t o wha t he ha d don e t o reshap e th e nove l close r t o life , followin g he r advice . I t mus t have bee n a fraugh t occasion , an d sinc e h e ha d latterl y take n t o sendin g he r th e manuscript b y pos t rathe r tha n deliverin g i t himself , h e wa s clearl y apprehen sive. The 'defeat ' o f Miriam i n th e nove l wil l hav e kille d an y hop e o f Jessie's tha t reliving th e pas t migh t hav e change d Lawrence' s feeling s abou t her. Ther e ma y also, already , hav e bee n somethin g eve n wors e i n th e chapte r no w calle d 'Th e Test o n Miriam' , bu t sinc e tha t wa s substantiall y rewritte n i n Waldbro l an d later, w e hav e n o wa y o f knowing. 31 Jessi e woul d eventuall y se e i n th e final version o f th e 'Test ' th e mos t intimate , privat e an d risk y episod e i n he r life , when sh e agree d t o slee p wit h Lawrence , no t onl y abou t t o b e publishe d t o th e world, bu t als o treate d a s a sexua l tes t whic h sh e ha d failed ; bu t w e canno t b e certain wha t sh e rea d i n April 1912 . It ma y hav e been milder . Nevertheless, sh e ha d stron g objection s t o mak e t o th e novel . Th e weeken d before h e sa w her, Lawrenc e talke d abou t i t to Georg e Neville , and was left i n n o doubt tha t ther e woul d b e troubl e ove r 'th e bedroo m scene ' - bu t ha d remaine d 'adamant'. Ther e was , however , n o outburs t o f recrimination . I n he r memoi r twenty year s late r Jessi e recalle d ho w 'Betwee n prid e an d anguis h I foun d i t impossible t o tel l hi m tha t th e accoun t h e ha d give n o f our friendshi p amounte d to a travest y o f th e rea l thing. ' Sh e simpl y sai d sh e ha d 'pu t som e note s i n wit h the manuscript' . These , th e so-calle d 'Miria m Papers' , hav e survive d becaus e Lawrence too k the m t o German y wit h hi m t o thin k abou t whe n h e revise d th e novel an d lef t the m there . The y consis t o f th e latte r par t o f versio n Ill' s chapte r ix (whic h woul d b e revise d int o 'La d an d Gir l Love ' fo r Sons and Lovers), wit h Jessie's margina l remarks ; he r commentar y o n tha t chapter ; an d thre e scene s i n her hand : Miria m wit h he r siste r Agath a a s Pau l arrives , Pau l pinnin g flowers into Miriam' s dres s an d th e crisi s scen e o n Easte r Monda y (1906 , i n rea l life) . An additiona l descriptio n o f Miria m a t eightee n ma y b e Jessie's respons e t o th e 13
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second rathe r tha n th e thir d versio n o f 'Pau l Morel' . Togethe r thes e ar e Jessie's final attemp t t o change th e portraya l o f Paul an d Miria m befor e th e crisi s on Easte r Monday , whic h (i n he r view ) ha d damage d a relationshi p tha t ha d been 'pure ' i n the m bot h an d wholl y unconsciou s o f sexuality, but ha d the n bee n forced int o consciousness , befor e the y wer e ready , b y th e interferenc e o f Lawrence's family . Sh e insiste d tha t h e ha d back-date d tension s an d motive s which cam e onl y afte r an d becaus e o f thos e famil y pressures . Havin g though t again however , Lawrenc e hel d o n th e whol e t o wha t h e ha d done . H e accepte d many o f Jessie's criticism s i n detail ; an d he r belie f tha t Easte r Monda y marke d a watershed; bu t thoug h h e allowe d Miria m i n he r spiritualit y t o b e largel y unconscious o f sex, Paul i s troubled befor e th e en d o f th e chapte r an d th e sexua l tensions an d jealousie s ar e clearl y there , whethe r consciou s o r not , a fictive decision whateve r 'th e truth ' ma y hav e been - perhap s differen t fo r each . No 'Miria m Papers ' surviv e fo r whateve r wa s replace d b y th e 'Test' . I f anything lik e it was there, Jessie may no t hav e bee n abl e to write about that , eve n to hi m i n private . (Sh e coul d no t writ e o f the final versio n i n he r publi c memoir , after twent y years . Onl y i n privat e letter s late r still , t o a schola r o f whos e sympathy sh e fel t assured , coul d sh e sa y somethin g o f how sh e ha d fel t whe n 'a n association tha t w e eac h regarde d a s bindin g an d sacred ' wa s treate d a s a 'test ' which ha d failed ; an d ho w 'hi s attitud e t o m e a s a huma n being , struc k m e a s brutal an d false' . ) What seem s mos t likel y however , i s tha t i t wa s i n Waldbro l that Lawrenc e first deliberatel y decide d t o mak e hi s treatmen t o f th e later relationship o f Paul an d Miria m muc h mor e explicitl y sexua l - an d mor e s o still , when h e revise d agai n i n Ital y tha t autumn . H e was becomin g ruthless . Whatever ha d bee n th e cas e i n th e real-lif e sexua l relationship , an d howeve r th e reasons fo r it s failur e migh t hav e appeare d t o each , h e no w claime d th e righ t t o treat th e failur e i n hi s novel , an d t o shap e i t withi n th e tota l structur e an d pattern o f the fiction, regardles s o f other considerations . The us e o f rea l peopl e b y writer s i s alway s a vexe d problem , an d Sons and Lovers i s a particularl y challengin g case . I t ha d bee n clea r eve n earlie r tha t Lawrence woul d acknowledg e n o limi t t o a n artist' s freedo m t o use , and reshap e imaginatively, th e peopl e h e knew . H e ha d bee n quit e unmove d whe n Alic e Hal l and he r famil y objecte d t o wha t the y sa w a s a portrai t i n The White Peacock. H e had onl y half-apologise d ove r a n apparen t sligh t t o a Croydo n colleagu e i n The Trespasser, insisting tha t i t ha d bee n fo r a n artisti c reason . Quit e apar t fro m the differenc e betwee n truth-to-fac t an d th e ar t o f fiction however , th e unfairness o f Sons and Lovers wa s no t onl y tha t 'Miriam ' was s o recognisable , but als o tha t Jessi e ha d n o wa y o f answerin g tha t woul d no t increas e th e damage. Nevertheless , justic e t o Jessi e Chamber s an d justic e t o Miria m ar e questions o f a differen t order , on e o f biography , th e othe r o f literar y criticism , which shoul d no t b e confused . The y intersect , bu t th e natur e o f tha t intersec 14
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tion ca n onl y b e establishe d whe n eac h ha s bee n treate d i n it s ow n prope r terms. The questio n o f why i t seemed necessar y t o Lawrence, fo r hi s Active purposes , to trea t Miria m a s he did , ha d bette r wai t fo r th e las t revisio n i n Gargnan o whe n the for m o f his novel finall y becam e clea r t o him , 'lik e life , bu t alway s m y theme ' (i. 477) . Abou t how h e coul d d o so , however , somethin g ca n b e sai d a t once . I n Waldbrol, h e looke d bac k a t hi s forme r sel f an d al l hi s forme r relationship s a s over a ravine . Th e pas t migh t stil l b e painfu l t o recall , bu t mus t hav e seeme d increasingly anothe r country . H e di d no t fee l a t eas e abou t Jessie ; bu t th e twinges wer e mino r compare d wit h th e urg e t o explor e th e ne w understandin g of th e natur e o f pas t failure , tha t ha d com e fro m hi s relationshi p wit h Frieda . The relativ e weigh t o f feelin g becam e clea r whe n h e wrot e t o Jessi e fro m th e Rhineland, combinin g som e concer n fo r he r wit h muc h mor e ruthlessnes s abou t the novel : 'I' m sorr y i t turne d ou t a s i t has . You'l l hav e t o g o o n forgivin g me ' (i. 408) . He als o now correcte d th e proof s of'Snapdragon' , th e bes t o f his poem s about hi s ex-fiance e Loui e Burrows , fo r th e English Review - bu t hi s immediat e thought wa s tha t h e woul d neve r hav e t o writ e t o Fried a i n suc h sexua l frustration. Th e gul f tha t no w divide d hi m fro m Eastwoo d mad e i t easie r t o care less about injustic e t o th e wome n i n tha t distance d life . Meanwhile Frieda , afte r Els e returne d t o Munic h an d Nusc h t o Berlin , wa s left alon e wit h he r parent s i n Metz , an d unde r eve r increasin g pressur e fro m them an d fro m Weekley . Th e famil y vie w wa s consistentl y oppose d t o Law rence's, bu t Fried a an d he r husban d bega n t o vacillate , an d s o t o increas e eac h other's suffering . Weekle y ha d spoke n o f divorc e unde r th e firs t influenc e o f Lawrence's letter , bu t soo n foun d h e coul d no t fac e th e disgrac e - i n thos e day s considerable. H e feare d i t might damag e or eve n (i n hi s wilde r moments ) en d hi s university career , an d rui n th e prospect s o f th e children . (Indee d h e believe d al l his life tha t th e divorce , which cam e tw o years later , prevente d hi m fro m gainin g a pos t i n Cambridg e o r Oxford. ) H e determine d t o clos e th e Nottingha m hous e and mak e a new hom e fo r th e childre n wit h hi s parent s an d siste r i n London , t o protect the m fro m loca l gossip ; bu t h e coul d no t mak e u p hi s min d whethe r t o divorce o r judiciall y separat e fro m Frieda , an d ende d b y doin g nothin g wit h increasing hysteria , stoke d b y he r changin g response s t o his changing moods . H e wrote t o the Baroness : Today two letters came from Frieda ; in one she speaks of a compromise, in the second she says she will come to help me with the moving. Dear Mama , please make her understan d what a state I am in: I cannot see her handwriting without trembling like an old cripple - t o see her again would be my death. I would kill myself and the children too ... Toda y I had to lecture fo r fou r hour s an d tak e part i n a long session o f the Senate . I have desperatel y to stretch ever y nerv e in order no t t o cry out hysterically , and the n I am weak as a child and can only lie there and think - i f only for a quarter of an hour I could not think! 40 15
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Letters cam e t o Fried a fro m hi s siste r Maud e an d fro m a frien d i n Nottingham, beggin g he r t o reconside r befor e i t wa s to o late , an d t o pit y th e broken-hearted ma n an d th e childre n wh o woul d gro w u p motherless . Thes e were torture , an d mad e th e threa t o f losing th e childre n real , i f it ha d no t bee n s o before. Frieda' s letter s t o Lawrence , whic h w e can onl y gues s a t fro m hi s replies , seem t o hav e insiste d tha t sh e mus t g o to Englan d t o tr y t o tal k t o Weekley , an d soon belie d an y optimis m tha t 'Th e tragedy ' wa s goin g t o 'slacke n of f (i . 399) . Indeed th e pressure s becam e s o unbearable tha t sh e decide d t o flee from Met z t o Else's (wher e sh e too k t o he r be d fo r tw o days) , an d begge d Lawrenc e t o com e to her . Yet h e woul d no t com e a t once . H e di d no t thin k sh e shoul d o r coul d fac e a n English judicia l separation , wit h th e still-likel y consequenc e o f disgrace . H e di d not wan t t o b e lef t strande d i n Munic h i f she wen t t o England ; an d woul d muc h rather sta y i n Waldbro l i f need be , till sh e cam e back . H e was upse t an d worrie d by he r stres s an d sufferin g - bu t h e himsel f neede d th e restoratio n o f 'decen t sanity' tha t Waldbro l was providin g (i . 402) , an d th e chanc e t o mak e som e money, whic h the y woul d als o need . (H e wa s alway s practica l abou t money , a s his mothe r ha d brough t hi m u p t o be . H e sen t th e journalisti c piece s t o d e l a Mare, an d i t was ver y importan t t o finish revisin g 'Pau l Morel'. ) Mos t o f all , i f and whe n h e cam e t o Munic h i t must b e o n differen t terms . Ther e wa s t o b e n o more o f he r vacillatin g betwee n on e lif e an d anothe r whic h h e ha d embodie d i n 'The Waywar d Woman' . H e ha d originall y settle d fo r a wee k together , an d lef t the res t t o th e future . Now , i n th e relativ e peac e o f Waldbro l an d afte r th e ne w certainty o f 'Be i Hennef , h e ha d mad e u p hi s mind . Whateve r th e lega l situation, whic h was u p t o Weekley , h e wa s thinkin g ver y seriousl y no w abou t marriage i n th e sens e o f permanent commitment . Frieda had ha d n o idea of breaking one commitment onl y to create another. Sh e had probabl y hope d t o mak e th e mos t o f he r affai r wit h Lawrenc e fo r a s lon g a s it lasted , withou t havin g t o forg o he r childre n o r a comfortabl e income . No w there seeme d les s hop e o f that , bu t eve n i f i t cam e t o divorc e sh e doubte d tha t she woul d wan t t o b e marrie d agai n - wherea s Lawrenc e insiste d tha t comin g t o join he r i n Munic h woul d b e his marriage, th e star t s o far a s he wa s concerned o f a permanen t commitmen t t o thei r lif e together . H e wante d tim e t o prepar e himself, 'eve n a bi t religiously' . I t ha d becom e fo r hi m ' a grea t thin g - no t a thing t o b e snatche d an d clumsil y handled . I wil l no t com e t o yo u unles s i t i s safely, an d firmly. Whe n I hav e come , thing s shal l no t pu t u s apar t again ' (i. 401) . Now h e positivel y wante d childre n b y her , whic h h e ha d neve r though t before. (Sh e ha d momentaril y worrie d tha t sh e migh t b e pregnant. ) H e wante d 'a sor t o f vigil wit h mysel f lik e a knight o f old. H e n o longe r wante d passion ; hi s 'sex desire ' ha d becom e 'calm , a steady sor t o f force, instea d o f a storm . . . I shal l love you al l my life . Tha t als o is a new ide a to me. But I believe it ' (i . 403) . 16
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Frieda ha d le t herself in fo r somethin g fa r mor e seriou s tha n sh e had originall y intended; bu t he r feeling s ha d als o deepened . Sh e wrot e t o Garnet t tha t sh e no w loved Lawrenc e 'wit h a 100 0 differen t love s . . . w e wan t th e sam e thin g an d ou r fighting wil l b e agains t othe r peopl e never wit h eac h other ' (i . 400) . Ye t Lawrence ha d onc e mor e gon e beyon d wha t sh e wanted , whic h wa s no t thi s tal k of marriag e - an d h e was disregarding , i t mus t hav e seemed , wha t sh e mos t needed i n he r stres s jus t then : simpl y t o hav e hi m wit h her . He r letter s t o Waldbrol wer e emotiona l (wher e h e wante d a quie t an d decisiv e commitment) ; and reproachfu l (h e denie d tha t h e wa s frightene d o r reluctant , o r di d no t lov e her enough , o r wa s unnatural , a tyrant , o r lik e al l he r men , a ra t forsakin g a sinking ship) . Sh e bega n t o try , thoug h ho w seriousl y remain s unclear , t o mak e him jealou s abou t Ud o vo n Henning , a n office r an d anothe r o f th e sexuall y unfulfilled me n sh e fel t a missio n t o sav e (wh o showe d he r hi s soulfu l poetry , and ma y als o hav e ha d embarrassingl y t o mee t an d vouc h fo r Lawrenc e afte r th e arrest.) Lawrenc e riposte d wit h Hannah' s growin g attractio n t o him , 'S o there!' (i . 406) ; an d (unfortunately ) pu t a n arc h not e o f sexua l ris k int o 'Hai l i n the Rhineland' . H e no t onl y refuse d t o b e jealou s - i f Fried a wante d Hennin g she shoul d hav e him , thoug h i t wouldn' t b e muc h mor e tha n a dos e o f pain killer - bu t als o reacte d agains t th e materna l elemen t i n he r sexualit y an d he r sense o f mission . H e compare d he r wit h th e wet-nurs e i n Maupassant' s story , who satisfie d a young man' s hunge r an d relieve d he r ow n pai n b y sucklin g hi m (i. 406-7) . Th e furthe r charg e tha t suc h 'love ' babyfie d rathe r tha n restore d it s object, an d hi s desir e t o straighte n himsel f ou t befor e comin g t o her , wer e connected wit h 'Pau l Morel ' - whic h h e als o wante d (an d needed ) t o finish revising before settin g of f fo r Munich . Even thei r dream s seeme d t o suppor t Lawrence' s clai m tha t h e coul d wai t because h e wa s no w certain ; wherea s 'i t i s you wh o woul d hurr y wh o ar e undecided' (i . 403) . H e dreame d outwards , i n guilt : tha t Ernes t wa s wil d wit h fury bu t brok e down , s o tha t hi s injure r 'ha d t o comfor t him ' (i . 396) . Fried a had a nightmar e abou t a n airma n fallin g throug h th e sk y (perhap s fusin g he r lover wit h he r distan t cousi n Manfred) ; bu t Lawrenc e wa s probabl y righ t t o se e this a s distrus t o f hi s high-flyin g feelin g an d aspiration : ' I wa s onl y a wea k spo t in you r soul . Roun d th e though t o f me - al l you r fear ' (i . 404) . By contrast , o n a Sunday tri p alon g th e Rhin e fro m Bonn , th e las t trea t o f hi s sta y wit h th e Krenkows, h e looke d u p fro m writin g postcard s i n a caf e o n to p o f th e Drachenfels, t o watc h tw o butterflie s mating : 'I f the y ca n spi n an d kis s a t thi s height, ther e i n mid-air - the n wh y shoul d I bother abou t mysel f (i . 408) . As th e revisio n o f hi s nove l neare d th e en d however , h e becam e impatien t t o be wit h Frieda : 'Th e sole s o f m y fee t burn ' (i . 409) . Despit e insistin g (i n German) tha t sh e mus t marr y him , h e wa s stil l unsur e o f her. Sh e ha d originall y planned t o retur n hom e a t th e beginnin g o f Augus t an d wa s lookin g n o furthe r 17
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ahead; h e though t h e migh t g o bac k t o th e Krenkow s the n (i . 406-7) . A t last , however, wha t he though t o f a s hi s marriag e bega n o n 2 4 May , afte r a fifteenhour trai n journey . Lat e a t night , Fried a (an d Edga r Jaffe ) me t hi m a t Munic h station (bu t Edga r soo n vanished) , an d the y wen t t o a hotel. Sometim e th e nex t day the y too k th e trai n t o Else' s Jaffe's hous e a t Wolfratshausen , an d tha t nigh t went a fe w station s furthe r o n t o Beuerber g (wher e the y arrive d i n pitc h dar k and pourin g rain) . I t migh t no t hav e seeme d th e mos t auspiciou s beginning , a s they contemplate d th e larg e bare bedroo m i n th e Gasthau s (wit h it s oleograph o f Mary wit h seve n sword s i n he r heart) ; o r a s the y at e amon g th e peasant s an d their beerpot s i n th e bi g publi c room . Tha t nigh t ma y indee d hav e bee n ' a failure', a s in th e poe m 'Firs t Morning' , bu t the y awok e t o a beauty whos e ever y detail remaine d vivi d eigh t year s later . Ill Beuerber
g an d Ickin g
Morning afte r honeymoo n mornin g the y breakfaste d unde r re d an d whit e chestnut tree s i n th e garden , o n it s ledg e abov e a wei r i n th e rive r Loisach , where manne d raft s floated dow n th e pal e jad e glacie r water . Acros s th e littl e village green , wit h it s grea t trees , wer e a whit e conven t an d a white-necke d church wit h a blac k onion-dome , an d tw o whit e an d blac k farmhouse s wit h enormous sweepin g roofs . Th e water-meadow s b y th e rive r wer e vivi d wit h multicoloured Alpin e flowers; th e mountain s i n th e distanc e sparkle d blu e wit h snow; the ai r wa s crystalline. An d ('Firs t Morning ' woul d affirm , the n o r later ) i t seemed tha t al l this beaut y centre d i n thei r love . One da y the y watche d a passio n play, fo r thi s wa s Oberammerga u country . Another , the y wen t int o th e mountains, an d sa t o n a littl e pie r b y th e Kochelse e wit h thei r fee t dangling , putting Frieda' s ring s o n thei r toe s t o se e ho w the y looke d unde r wate r (i . 413). A sudde n stor m mad e the m ru n i n differen t direction s an d los e eac h othe r only t o realise thei r nee d th e more . Yet thi s littl e allegory soo n bega n t o b e teste d mor e harshly . The y visite d Els e at Wolfratshausen ; an d i t wa s fro m ther e tha t Lawrenc e woul d 'date ' th e poem s which - the n o r late r - bega n t o explor e th e crue l parado x tha t shadowe d thei r happiness an d cause d dissensio n fo r a long tim e t o come. Another lette r seem s t o have arrive d fro m Weekley : h e woul d no t no w divorc e he r (i . 415) . I n on e wa y this boun d he r t o Lawrence ; bu t i n anothe r i t spli t them , becaus e o f he r agonising, now , abou t th e childre n (whic h Weekle y ha d begu n t o tal k abou t a s his), an d Lawrence' s reactio n t o that . Neithe r coul d hel p th e divisio n withi n a s well a s between them : th e tensio n betwee n wha t the y wante d t o an d di d fee l fo r each othe r a t moment s whe n th e sufferin g was greatest , an d wha t wa s boun d t o well u p mor e hurtfull y fro m th e subconscious . W e canno t o f cours e us e th e poems i n Look! We Have Come Through! (1917) , le t alon e Mr Noon(ig2o) y a s 18
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reliable biographica l evidence . W e d o no t kno w ho w man y o f th e poem s wer e written i n 1912 , and mos t o f those w e do kno w abou t wer e significantl y rewritte n in 1917 . Th e eve n late r comi c nove l als o bear s a suspiciousl y clos e relatio n t o the poem-sequenc e whic h ha d alread y dramatise d an d rearrange d experience . Moreover th e quic k o f Lawrence's us e of imagination t o explore hi s problem s la y precisely i n th e freedo m t o select , isolat e an d heighte n certai n elements , an d t o create literar y circumstance s i n whic h thei r significanc e coul d b e explored . Nonetheless h e himsel f associate d wit h Wolfratshause n hi s first realisatio n o f what coul d surg e through , an d i n spite of, hi s longing t o comfort her , an d her s t o cling t o him : corrosiv e resentmen t agains t hi m a s th e caus e o f her sufferin g - h e had afte r al l forced matter s - an d a black nihilis m i n hi m i f she withdrew , a bitter sense o f bein g betraye d an d denied . Eve n i f contemporary , th e poem s ar e n o evidence o f the proportio n o f these feeling s t o th e lov e an d confidenc e tha t cam e from sexua l happiness , but the y d o adumbrate th e first psychologica l shadows . Immediate good , however , als o cam e fro m Wolfratshausen . Alfre d Webe r wa s there, 'suc h a joll y fellow ' (i . 413) ; an d sinc e h e wa s abou t t o retur n t o th e university i n Heidelber g h e offered the m hi s flat in Icking , rent-fre e - whic h wa s important sinc e the y ha d bee n payin g Whitsu n holida y price s a t Beuerberg , an d were runnin g shor t again . I n Ickin g the y se t u p thei r first 'home ' abov e Fra u Leitner's shop , i n fou r room s wit h a kitche n an d a balcony . Ther e Lawrenc e could write , lookin g ou t ove r th e littl e whit e hamlet , th e milk y gree n rive r Isar , 'and a plai n o f dar k wood s - al l i n shadow . The n there' s th e grea t blu e wal l o f mountains, onl y thei r tops , all snowy, glitterin g i n far-of f sunshin e agains t a pal e blue sky ' (i . 415) . Her e the y staye d fo r al l o f Jun e an d July , an d int o earl y August - whe n Fried a ha d originall y mean t t o g o back t o Nottingham . In Icking , bot h element s o f th e parado x intensified . H e no w fel t confiden t enough t o tel l a few mor e peopl e abou t Frieda : hi s siste r Ada ; Salli e Hopki n (th e older woma n h e ha d alway s truste d most) ; an d hi s closes t fellow-teache r an d friend a t Croydon , Arthu r McLeod . T o thes e few , whos e sympath y wa s assured , he fel t h e coul d no w tal k abou t hi s happiness : ' I neve r kne w wha t lov e was before . . . Th e worl d i s wonderfu l an d beautifu l an d goo d beyon d one' s wildes t imagination', h e tol d Salli e (i . 414) . O n th e basi s o f hi s ne w experienc e h e coul d be earnes t wit h McLeo d abou t th e sourc e o f th e latter' s melancholy : hi s lac k o f the trus t t o ope n himsel f t o other s (i . 418) . Fo r man y month s howeve r i t was only t o thes e ver y few , an d Garnett , tha t Lawrenc e himsel f woul d b e abl e t o confide i n letters . Ther e wa s Jessi e Chamber s also , bu t no t fo r long . Enclose d with a newsy lette r t o her famil y (no w lost ) ther e came , she tol d Emil e Delavena y many year s later , a n 'almos t hysterica l message ' fo r he r ear s only : ' I daren' t thin k of Weekle y . . . I onl y kno w I lov e Fried a . . . I ca n thin k o f nothin g bu t Ann a Karenina' (i . 412) . I t mus t hav e bee n painfu l t o imagin e Jessi e receivin g th e news an d h e certainl y continue d t o fee l agonise d abou t Weekley , ye t n o hysteri a 19
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appears anywher e i n th e letter s w e have , no r indee d detectabl y here . Th e wor d may b e Jessie' s reactio n t o emotion s tha t wer e mos t unwelcome , t o her . W e know wha t Lawrenc e though t late r o f Ann a Karenina : tha t he r traged y cam e from foolishl y allowin g th e opinion s o f other s t o spli t he r fro m Vronsky . H e would certainl y hav e though t th e sam e now ; an d i f h e wante d nobod y els e t o know abou t hi m an d Fried a ye t - no t eve n Loui e Burrows , Hele n Cork e o r Ma y Holbrook, t o who m onl y postcard s wen t - i t wa s to mak e sur e tha t Fried a staye d with hi m i n spit e o f th e disapprova l h e migh t expect . Th e mor e the y wer e committed t o eac h other , th e mor e the y woul d hav e t o sacrific e relationship s they ha d care d for . Friends wer e on e thing , however ; Monty , Els a an d Barbi e quit e another . Even though , lik e mos t childre n o f a well-to-d o middl e class , thei r closes t relationships wer e wit h thei r nurs e (th e belove d Id a Wilhelmy) , Fried a ha d bee n a loving an d playfu l mother. 48 Sh e ma y hav e exaggerate d t o herself wha t th e los s of he r woul d mea n t o them ; bu t ha d ever y excus e i f so , sinc e th e letter s whic h begged he r t o retur n mad e thi s thei r mos t powerfu l argument . Image s o f th e children's grie f an d he r ow n achin g sens e o f los s mus t hav e magnifie d an y tif f with Lawrence , i n bitte r resentmen t o f wha t th e liaiso n wit h hi m wa s costin g as sh e ha d neve r intended . Sh e woul d naturall y seiz e o n th e slightes t hop e tha t Weekley migh t com e t o a n arrangemen t tha t woul d giv e he r access , at least . Sh e would b e plunge d int o blac k desolatio n ever y tim e h e tol d he r tha t sh e n o longe r had an y rights . An d whe n Fried a wa s miserable , sh e gav e hersel f u p t o he r emotions, collapse d o n th e floor, makin g uncontrollabl e sound s o f agony . Th e more sh e fel t sh e ha d n o alternativ e bu t t o sta y wit h Lawrence , th e fiercer he r subconscious resentmen t migh t become . This woul d hav e cause d tensio n enoug h ha d Lawrenc e bee n a well-adjuste d and confiden t youn g man , wit h a happ y hom e behin d hi m t o mak e hi m sympathise wit h th e los s o f hers . Instea d h e ha d bee n struggling , befor e h e me t her, t o diagnos e i n 'Pau l More P th e sourc e o f hi s ow n psychi c malaise . Thoug h it wa s no t ye t Sons and Lovers, th e centra l insigh t wa s becomin g clear : tha t mother-love, howeve r life-giving , ca n als o b e destructive . Thi s ha d alread y barbed hi s teasin g whe n Fried a trie d t o mak e hi m jealou s o f vo n Henning , calling int o questio n th e natur e o f he r sexualit y an d he r ide a o f herself . Th e poem 'Sh e Look s Back' , wheneve r written , define s th e battl e grounds : i n her , the 'wife ' (t o Lawrence ) i n dange r o f murde r b y th e 'mother' ; i n him , he r tear s poignant t o hi s lovin g sympathy , bu t i n thei r sal t als o (lik e Lot' s wife , turnin g back t o th e lan d o f death ) corroding , denyin g th e ne w life . Th e Magn a Mater , the Mate r Doloros a wit h sword s i n he r heart , becam e hi s enemy , no t onl y because Frieda' s materna l longing s migh t tak e he r awa y fro m him , bu t als o because the y go t int o her feelin g for him , an d his , about hi s growin g dependenc e on her . 20
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Of th e tw o occasion s whe n Fried a di d leav e hi m whil e the y wer e a t Icking , taking hersel f of f t o Else' s fo r thre e o r fou r day s a t a time , on e seem s t o hav e been a quarre l ove r 'Lot' s wife' , Frieda' s mother-feelings ; bu t th e othe r ma y have com e abou t becaus e sh e foun d i n a noteboo k a poe m o f 191 0 abou t his mother-feeling, whic h seeme d evidenc e t o he r tha t mother-fixatio n ha d mad e him incapabl e o f real lov e fo r anothe r woman , t o he r outrag e an d contempt . Th e conclusion reads : You sweet love, my mother Twice you have blooded me, Once with your blood at birth-time Once with your misery. And twice you have washed me clean, Twice-wonderful thing s to see. And so, my love, Oh mother I shall always be true to thee. Twice I am born, my mother As Christ said it should be, And who can bear me a third time? —None love—I am true to thee. Frieda scribble d word s o f hat e agains t eac h stanza ; an d wrot e afte r th e whol e poem: Yes, worse luck - what a poem to write! yes, you are free, poor devil, from the heart's home life free, [ a complete misreadin g o f the poin t o f stanza 2 ] lonely you shall be, you have chosen it, you chose freely, now go your way. - Misery,
a sad, old woman's misery you have chosen, you poor man, and you cling to it with all your power. I have tried I have fought, I have nearly killed myself in the battle to get you into connection with myself and other people, sadly I proved to my self that I can love, but never you - Now I will leave you for some days and I will see if being alone will help you to see me as I am, I will heal again by myself, you cannot help me, you are a sad thing, I know your secret and your despair, I have seen you are ashamed - I have made you better, that is my reward -
These deepe r issue s tende d t o escalat e th e clashe s o f temperamen t whic h beset al l lover s i n thei r firs t adjustment s a t clos e quarters . Fried a an d Lawrenc e were ver y differen t i n characte r an d class . He r splendi d carelessnes s wa s a n effect o f he r upbringing , an d havin g alway s bee n waite d o n b y servants : sh e couldn't cook , o r launder , o r loo k afte r he r clothes , an d simpl y thre w awa y he r shoes whe n a hee l cam e off . Lawrenc e hardl y kne w whethe r t o b e mor e impressed, o r shocke d fro m hi s mother' s traditio n o f prudenc e an d thrift . Bu t Frieda's spontaneity , he r carelessnes s o f convention, he r abando n t o th e momen t and it s emotions , wer e als o par t o f he r ver y bein g - an d wer e i n th e stronges t 21
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contrast wit h hi s 'English ' hatre d o f showin g hi s feelings , an d hi s physica l guardedness, whic h occasionall y brok e ou t int o wil d temper , o r gaiety , o r mimicry, bu t wa s usuall y kep t unde r tigh t control . Thes e difference s i n background an d temperamen t wer e par t o f thei r attractio n fo r eac h other , bu t could als o see m symptomati c o f th e bigge r division s whic h threatene d thei r lif e together. Wer e hi s contro l (o r inhibition) , hi s unwillingnes s t o sa y ' I lov e you' , and hi s gloom s an d tempers , perhap s th e sign s o f a n inabilit y t o love , whic h would mea n sh e ha d abandone d he r sunshin e sel f t o somethin g dar k an d col d and underground ? Beneat h wha t sh e calle d he r 'har d brigh t shell' 51 sh e wa s no t as confiden t a s sh e seeme d - whic h i s wh y Gross' s theorie s an d hi s ide a o f he r had bee n s o important . He r defenc e whe n sh e fel t hersel f unde r threa t was t o counter-attack wit h n o hold s barred , blin d t o th e comple x ma n i n fron t o f her , and tryin g wit h devastatin g intuitio n t o moc k an d destro y hi s manhood . Fo r hi s part Lawrenc e coul d suspec t he r emotiona l nature , tha t s o attracte d him , o f being a mod e o f possessiveness , o r o f turbulen t water s runnin g shallow . A t Waldbrbl h e ha d contraste d hi s deep , stead y an d lifelon g feelin g wit h wha t seemed mor e passionat e bu t was hast y an d unsure . No t unti l the y lef t Ickin g di d he fee l an y confidenc e i n he r commitmen t t o him - an d the n h e wa s soon prove d wrong. Hi s ne w nove l was als o sharpenin g it s realisatio n o f th e possessiveness , often quasi-maternal , tha t coul d li e under effusiv e feminin e feeling . Both wer e assertiv e an d stubbor n i n argument ; bot h ha d shor t fuses . Littl e wonder the n tha t th e honeymoo n a t Beuerber g wa s followed , i n Icking , b y th e first o f a lon g (an d subsequentl y notorious ) sequenc e o f rows ; an d eve n b y th e first separations , thoug h neve r fo r long . A t th e en d o f a mont h i n thei r earlies t 'home' Lawrenc e wa s tellin g Garnet t o f the 'grea t wa r . . . wage d i n thi s littl e flat on th e IsarthaP , an d ho w 'rea l tragedy ' la y i n 'th e inne r wa r whic h i s wage d between peopl e wh o lov e eac h other ' - despit e thei r happines s an d thei r 'fearfully goo d time s together ' (i . 419) . Th e meres t trifle , i n a contex t o f joyousness, coul d prov e explosive . 'Fol k dow n her e ar e ver y nice , an d th e country i s lovely . F . rave s ove r glow-worms , I ove r fire-flies, an d w e nearl y murder eac h other ' (i . 420) . I t i s a jok e an d no t a joke , becaus e th e row s wer e over nothing , and ove r somethin g importan t o r the y woul d no t hav e happened . Years late r i n Mr Noon, Lawrenc e misremembere d th e detail s bu t probabl y located th e detonato r accuratel y enough , i n Gilbert' s reactio n t o Johanna's gus h of feeling . Fo r Lawrenc e thi s woul d b e anothe r 'Miriam ' scene : th e quasi maternal possessivenes s reveale d i n yearnin g ove r th e dea r littl e thing s on e coul d hold i n one' s hand , a s oppose d t o hi s feelin g fo r th e othe r free , quick , uncatchable spark s o f life . Bu t fo r Frieda , i t woul d b e th e dar k ma n comin g between he r an d th e sun , destroyin g - fo r n o reaso n - he r innocen t an d spontaneous joy. 52 More important , however , i t was at Ickin g tha t Lawrenc e bega n t o experienc e 22
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what wa s t o becom e th e essenc e o f ne w lif e t o him , an d th e centra l insigh t o f hi s new writin g afte r th e backwar d loo k o f Sons and Lovers: tha t th e 'war ' betwee n lovers migh t g o through 'tragedy ' t o becom e liberatio n an d enrichment . Frieda' s greatest gif t t o hi m wa s t o refus e t o le t hi m dominate , an d t o fight hi m int o self exposure an d self-knowledge . At th e beginnin g o f July, Weekle y seeme d 'hal f crazed ' again . Ne w 'storm s o f letters' implore d he r t o renounc e he r idea s o f love an d com e back t o giv e he r lif e to her children . Weekley woul d hav e her back , o n thos e conditions . The childre n ar e miserable, missin g her so much. She lies on the floor in misery - an d then is fearfully angr y with me because I won't say 'stay for my sake'. I say 'decide what you want most, to live with me and share my rotte n chances , o r g o bac k t o security , an d you r childre n - decid e fo r yourself — Choose for yourself An d then she almost hates me, because I won't say 'I love you - sta y with me whatever happens. ' I do love her. I f she left me , I do not think I should b e alive six months hence. And she won't leave me, I think. She ha d howeve r gon e jus t the n t o Wolfratshause n fo r fou r nights , t o loo k afte r Else's childre n whil e sh e was awa y - an d t o ge t awa y fro m him , o r wh y wa s h e not wit h her ? 'God , ho w I lov e he r - ' (h e goe s on ) 'an d th e agon y o f it . Sh e i s a woman wh o als o make s a ma n suffer , b y bein g blin d t o hi m whe n he r ange r o r resentment i s roused' (i . 420—1). Yet five day s late r the y ha d com e throug h 'avenue s o f tragedy' . Fried a ha d written 'definitel y sh e coul d neve r com e back' . Weekle y replied , 'the n sh e mus t forego th e children . Ther e wa s a cyclone o f letters . I wrot e also . Now thing s ar e beginning t o cal m down. ' Thoug h Weekle y ha d becom e eve r mor e desperate , Lawrence ha d com e t o thin k hi m 'rathe r fine - never , fo r on e moment , denie s his lov e fo r F , an d neve r say s anythin g agains t he r herself , onl y agains t th e previous love r . . . wh o pu t thes e "ideas " int o he r head ' (i . 424) . Fo r hi s part , Weekley sai d Lawrenc e ha d bee n 'ehrlich ' (honest , a s indee d h e had) , an d tha t he ha d a grea t future . Ther e woul d howeve r b e n o divorce ; Fried a wa s condemned t o 'liv e i n sin' , havin g give n u p he r las t chanc e no w o f eve r goin g back t o Nottingha m a s a respectabl e woman . Bu t i f ther e wa s t o b e n o mor e pretence o f being merel y o n holida y wit h he r family , thi s als o removed th e mai n reason fo r stayin g i n German y - especiall y sinc e Webe r woul d wan t hi s flat fo r the summe r vacation . Bot h o f them ma y hav e begun t o reac t agains t th e rol e an d influence i n thei r affair s o f Frieda' s oldes t sister , fo r al l Else' s kindness . Th e same letter announce d a new pla n t o walk throug h th e Tyrol int o Italy . This wa s no t merel y becaus e Ital y woul d b e cheaper , thoug h the y no w ha d only £2 3 betwee n the m (i . 424 , 430) , eve n afte r a chequ e fo r Lawrence' s 'Schoolmaster' poem s i n th e Westminster Gazette an d som e hel p fro m Frieda' s sisters, no t fo r th e first o r th e las t time . I t wa s als o becaus e the y ha d wo n 23
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through t o a ne w 'Hinterlan d de r Seele ' (i . 425) , i n Frieda' s phrase . Thei r battles ha d s o change d thei r inne r soul-scape , the y felt , tha t th e nee d t o adventure furthe r beyon d th e boundarie s o f th e know n seeme d t o follo w naturally. Indee d Fried a woul d hav e preferre d 't o clea r ou t o f Europe, an d ge t t o somewhere uncivilised' , bu t Lawrence , more pruden t a s usual, thought h e migh t have t o find som e opportunit y t o earn , bac k i n Germany , th e followin g winter . Nevertheless h e to o fel t tha t lov e had mad e hi m 'barbaric' , wit h ne w insigh t int o the 'wil d scope ' o f hi s nature , whic h th e Englis h habituall y fenc e off . No w 'al l my littl e patheti c sadnes s an d softnes s goes , an d I a m ofte n frightene d a t th e thing I find mysel f (i . 424-5) . Though Fried a continue d t o dread hi s lapse s int o cold self-containment , thei r sexua l happines s ha d sprun g no t s o muc h fro m an y prowess a s fro m wha t sh e late r calle d a generosit y - whic h mus t fo r hi m als o have bee n a courag e - o f givin g himsel f altogether . I n othe r ways , too , h e she d inhibitions wit h her . Sh e drifte d nake d roun d th e flat, an d go t u p whe n sh e fel t like it . The y bathe d nud e i n th e river , thoug h h e coul d no t shar e he r ecstasy , 'fearfully voluptuous , rollin g i n th e pal e gree n water ' (i . 425) . Sh e mad e hi m dance, recapturin g somethin g o f hi s father' s gift , thoug h no t wit h hi s o r Frieda's flamy physicalit y - ther e wa s alway s som e iron y i n th e performance . H e loosed hi s vei n o f mimicry whic h lef t he r helples s wit h laughter , a s h e acte d ou t a reviva l meeting , o r som e comi c situatio n wit h himsel f cas t a s clown . Bu t i t was als o goo d fo r hi m t o fight. Instea d o f closin g up , h e learne d t o 'figh t toot h and claw ' no t onl y t o kee p hi s mat e bu t als o against her . 'Sh e say s I' m reverting ' (to savagery) , 'bu t I' m no t - I' m onl y comin g ou t wholesom e an d myself . Sa y I'm right , an d I ough t t o b e alway s common . I loathe Pau l Morel ' (i . 427) . Her e too th e growt h wa s awa y fro m hi s mothe r toward s hi s father , an d fro m middle class to working-class behaviour ; bu t puttin g i t in merel y clas s term s falsifies . H e was learnin g a Blakean kin d o f wisdom : tha t on e ma y becom e wholesom e b y th e exposure o f unwholesomeness , an d whol e b y bein g broke n apar t an d a t peac e through passionat e antagonism . Sh e fough t hi s detachment , hi s passivity , hi s assertiveness, hi s dependency. I f she made hi m loath e th e Pau l More l i n himself , he woul d hav e looke d bac k wit h al l th e greate r scor n a t previou s surrogate s lik e Cyril an d Siegmun d i n hi s first tw o novels . Al l alon e wit h Fried a 'i n thi s tin y savage littl e place ' (i . 427) ; throug h th e flaming row s a s wel l a s th e sexua l fulfilment; an d th e 'night s i n th e littl e be d wher e w e slee p together ' (i . 430 ) a t peace agains t th e world ; h e was developin g no t onl y a happie r bu t a stronge r self. The sam e wa s tru e o f Frieda . Ott o Gros s ha d idolise d he r i n on e way , an d Weekley i n another . Bot h mad e he r thin k highl y o f herself, thoug h bot h als o lef t her miserabl y insecur e o n he r pedestal , knowin g tha t sh e coul d no t liv e u p t o their images . Sh e ha d neve r howeve r bee n criticised , contradicted , fough t wit h as Lawrenc e di d fro m th e first . Sh e ha d believed , afte r Gross , 'tha t i f onl y sex 24
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were "free " th e worl d woul d straightawa y tur n int o a paradise' . H e ha d presented he r t o hersel f a s a 'golde n child' , 'th e woma n o f th e future' , ful l o f love, laughter , an d greatnes s o f soul , whos e gif t o f hersel f coul d b e profoundl y liberating, a s i t ha d bee n t o him , an d wh o mus t abov e al l be free. 55 Weekle y ha d seen he r muc h mor e conventionally , a s th e snow-pur e wif e an d lovin g mother , in who m coul d b e invested , wit h absolut e trust , a man' s highes t an d mos t civilised domesti c ideals , an d wh o woul d b e alway s a t th e bac k o f hi m whil e h e did hi s wor k - thoug h h e waxe d sarcasti c abou t he r effort s t o improv e he r mind. 56 Cam e Lawrence , wh o no t onl y attacke d eac h idealisatio n wit h a n element o f the other , bu t also , by hammerin g a t her fault s an d lovin g her i n spit e of them , free d he r t o b e an d t o valu e jus t herself . H e believe d wit h Gros s tha t she ha d th e righ t t o fulfi l he r life , bu t sa w he r 'free-love ' affair s a s shallo w an d indulgent. H e insiste d tha t ther e woul d b e n o fulfilmen t withou t a n absolut e commitment o f the self , a marriage, tha t woul d secur e th e sel f and it s expressio n in th e world , thoug h no t i n Weekley' s terms , an d deepl y distrustin g hi s idea l o f motherhood. O n th e othe r hand , thoug h h e sa w in Fried a wha t Gros s ha d see n the yout h an d newness , th e vitality , th e largenes s o f sou l - h e wa s muc h mor e down t o earth , an d sa w als o th e spoil t an d inefficien t woman , th e gushin g an d possessive female , an d th e insecurit y behin d th e brigh t an d sometime s arrogan t mask. H e woul d no t le t he r dominate , either . H e fough t her a s wel l a s fo r her , but i n forcin g he r als o to fight him , sh e was made t o show hersel f jus t a s she was , and find tha t h e love d he r nevertheless , a s she ha d no t bee n love d before . Abov e all, wher e sh e ha d bee n establishe d a s th e life-giver , an d wa s s o again , thi s tim e she wa s overcom e b y his gif t o f life : 'Everythin g h e me t ha d th e newnes s o f a creation jus t tha t momen t com e int o being . I didn' t wan t people , I didn' t wan t anything,' - excep t o f cours e th e childre n - ' I onl y wante d t o reve l i n thi s ne w world Lawrenc e ha d give n m e . . . "Yo u hav e a geniu s fo r living, " h e tol d me . "Maybe, but yo u brough t i t out i n m e . " ' IV Lawrenc e a t Wor k She wa s also fascinate d b y watchin g hi m a t work , fo r o n th e balcon y a t Ickin g h e had begu n t o writ e again . H e soo n finished th e revisio n o f 'Pau l Morel ' tha t ha d been almos t complet e a t Waldbrol , an d sen t th e manuscrip t t o Heineman n o n 9 June. Writin g t o Walte r d e l a Mar e th e nex t day , h e wa s confident , bu t als o a little anxiou s fo r th e professiona l reader' s suppor t wit h th e publisher , sinc e h e needed th e novel to come out an d ge t him 'ont o m y feet' . H e anticipate d possibl e criticisms: tha t i t migh t see m 'loose ' t o Flaubertian s (lik e hi s earlie r 'patron ' Ford Mado x Hueffer) ; tha t 'th e childhoo d part ' migh t b e to o lon g (i f so , h e would cut) ; an d tha t 'perhap s you'l l wan t m e t o spoi l som e o f th e goo d stuf f (presumably th e sexua l scenes) . 'But' , h e wen t o n 'i t i s rathe r great . Som e 25
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Germans wh o reall y kno w a goo d thin g whe n the y se e i t spea k i n hig h praise ' (i. 417) . Els e an d Edga r Jaff e ma y hav e rea d it , an d perhap s Webe r too . O n 2 3 May, hi s las t da y a t Waldbrbl , hi s secon d nove l The Trespasser ha d bee n published; an d b y th e beginnin g o f July Garnet t ha d sen t hi m th e review s whic h were mostl y favourabl e - thoug h a Nottingham one , t o Frieda' s delight , labelle d it ' A Reprehensible Jaunt'. 58 He ha d bee n workin g o n storie s i n th e meantime : th e earl y versio n o f 'Th e Christening' (havin g it s origin perhap s i n th e birt h o f Neville's illegitimat e child , but stil l untransforme d b y th e speec h whic h no w conclude s it) ; 'Once—! ' (starting fro m comple x feeling s abou t Nusch , th e 'cocotte' , a s wel l a s Frieda) ; and rewrite s o f 'Delila h an d Mr . Bircumshaw ' (seein g a failing marriag e i n othe r terms tha n thos e o f th e Morels) , an d o f 'Th e Fl y i n th e Ointment ' (writte n a s 'The Blot ' i n Croydon , abou t a teache r surprisin g a burglar) . 'But , unde r th e influence o f Frieda,' h e wrot e t o Garnet t o n 2 9 June, referrin g particularl y t o th e first two , ' I a m afrai d thei r mora l ton e woul d no t agre e wit h m y countrymen ' (i. 420) . Mor e t o th e point , thoug h al l hav e thei r interes t fo r hi s development , none wa s ye t a s imaginativel y probin g a s Lawrenc e wa s abou t t o be . Ther e wa s also a surg e o f poems , thoug h w e canno t tel l ho w man y sinc e onl y te n hav e survived i n origina l versions . On e o r tw o o f them , also , migh t hav e shocke d contemporary readers . Lawrenc e wa s quit e unprepare d howeve r fo r th e shoc k he himsel f receive d a t th e beginnin g o f July: Heineman n rejecte d 'Pau l Morel ' outright. He though t i t lacke d unity , an d 'it s wan t o f reticence ' mad e i t unfi t fo r publication i n England , wher e th e 'tyrann y o f th e Libraries ' damne d an y outspoken book . H e proclaime d himsel f stil l ' a grea t admirer' , an d though t part s of the nove l 'a s goo d a s anything I have ever rea d o f yours'. But a s a whole: it seem s to me painfull y mistaken , i f for n o other reaso n tha n tha t on e ha s n o sympath y for any character i n the book. A writer must create interest in his characters. Even, after a while, one's interest in Paul flags,-while , in the early part, the degradation o f his mother, supposed to be of gentler birth, is almost inconceivable, (i. 421 n. 4) De l a Mar e als o wrote , an d thoug h hi s lette r t o Lawrenc e i s los t w e ca n se e from tw o letter s t o Garnet t ho w h e to o wa s critical , thoug h no t o f it s indecency : 'I rea d i t i n MS. , an d though t - apar t fro m th e fineness o f individua l passage s that i t wa s badly pu t togethe r an d a bit to o violen t her e an d there ' (i . 42 3 n.i) . I t needed 'pullin g together' , fo r 'th e rea l theme o f the stor y i s not arrive d a t til l hal f way through' (i . 42 4 n.i) . These letter s cam e a t th e heigh t o f the crisi s ove r Weekle y a t th e star t o f July, and wer e a s heav y a blo w t o Lawrence' s hope s o f bein g abl e t o suppor t Fried a financially, a s t o hi s prid e i n wha t h e rightl y though t was hi s bes t wor k yet . H e blew of f hi s rag e t o Garnett , i n a stor m o f cursin g a t th e publishe r an d hi s 26
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spineless bloodles s spunkles s countryme n - whic h calme d hi m enoug h t o concede i n a postscrip t tha t Heineman n migh t b e quit e righ t i n busines s term s (i. 422) . (Les s forgiveabl e wa s a referenc e t o hi m a fe w day s later , i.424 , a s a 'rotten littl e Jew' ; a firs t anti-Semitis m perhap s picke d u p i n Germany. ) Fortunately th e lette r crosse d wit h a proposal fro m Garnett , tol d o f the rejectio n by d e l a Mare , tha t Duckwort h migh t tak e th e boo k instea d - an d h e himsel f would hel p a s h e ha d don e fo r The Trespasser, with an y lickin g int o shap e tha t might b e necessary . Duckworth ha d n o reaso n t o regre t havin g take n ove r The Trespasser fro m Heinemann; an d Garnet t ma y hav e rea d par t o f 'Pau l More P whe n Fried a an d Lawrence spen t a weekend a t The Cearn e befor e the y lef t fo r Germany , an d lef t the earl y chapter s o f th e manuscrip t behind . A s a friend , th e lanky , ungainly , eccentric, sardonicall y kin d intellectual , wit h hi s impatienc e o f conventio n an d his cynica l vie w o f th e 'establishment' , ha d bee n th e chie f suppor t t o Lawrenc e since Octobe r 1911 . H e ha d no t bee n shocke d bu t rathe r affectionatel y an d hospitably amuse d b y Fried a an d thei r dilemma . (H e live d largel y apar t fro m bu t on friendl y term s wit h hi s wif e Constance , th e translato r mainl y responsibl e fo r the ne w vogu e o f Russian fiction.) S o bot h Lawrenc e an d Fried a though t o f hi m as th e onl y ma n i n Englan d wh o woul d giv e the m refug e i f the y neede d it . A s literary mento r h e ha d take n th e plac e o f Hueffer , an d ha d prove d eve n mor e invaluable. H e wa s les s boun d b y idea s o f wha t 'th e novel ' should be, and helpe d a numbe r o f ver y differen t writer s t o find themselve s - an d thei r market , fo r though h e ha d a more adventurou s sens e o f wha t th e Englis h publi c woul d bu y than mos t othe r publisher' s readers , hi s recor d o f succes s showe d tha t h e wa s also ver y astute . H e looke d fo r individualit y first (o f an y kind , whethe r i n Conrad, Hudson , Galsworthy , Henr y Lawso n o r E . Nesbit ) an d nex t fo r th e conviction tha t th e autho r reall y kne w th e kin d o f 'life' , b e i t oute r o r inner , tha t he or sh e was writing about . The n h e would giv e manuscripts a detailed criticis m of languag e an d imag e tha t wa s sensitiv e t o th e writer' s peculia r sensibility , bu t merciless t o indulgence . I t wa s a remarkabl e achievemen t t o hel p writer s a s different a s Conra d an d Lawrence . Mos t importan t o f al l fo r Lawrenc e wa s hi s fidelity. H e ha d com e t o th e rescu e o f The Trespasser, and no w h e wa s doin g s o again a t a fa r mor e seriou s crisis , bot h wit h overal l faith , an d wit h detaile d criticism. Whe n Lawrence' s circl e ha d narrowe d extraordinaril y becaus e o f th e 'elopement', leavin g hi m onl y fou r peopl e wit h who m h e coul d shar e an y o f hi s deepest concerns , h e coul d writ e t o Garnet t abou t bot h hi s lif e an d hi s wor k a s to a n idea l father-figur e wh o wa s yet , than k heaven , rathe r mor e lik e a muc h older brother , bot h i n age and i n outlook . The manuscrip t wa s poste d t o Englan d agai n o n 4 Jul y fo r Garnet t t o g o through, an d th e mov e t o Ital y pu t of f unti l th e parce l coul d com e back . Garnett's first note s arrive d o n th e 18th , an d th e manuscrip t itsel f wit h mor e 27
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notes o n th e 22nd . 'Wha t a Troja n o f energ y an d conscientiousnes s yo u are! ' wrote Lawrenc e i n gratitude . T m goin g t o slav e lik e a Turk a t th e nove l - se e i f I won' t d o yo u credit . I begi n i n earnes t tomorro w - havin g spen t th e da y i n thought (?) ' (i . 427) . I n thei r remainin g tw o week s i n Ickin g th e firs t 7 9 page s o f Sons and Lovers too k shape . Fortunately, si x discarde d fragment s o f th e thir d versio n o f 'Pau l More P survive - lef t behin d wit h Els e - an d b y comparin g thes e wit h th e fina l manuscript o f Sons and Lovers i t i s possibl e t o se e ho w Lawrenc e bega n t o reshape th e book , interleavin g rewritte n section s wit h bit s o f 'Pau l More P tha t still, wit h som e revision , seeme d satisfactory. 64 Th e mos t tellin g criticis m ha d been th e lac k o f clear connectio n betwee n th e firs t par t o f the boo k (th e marriag e of th e Morel s an d Paul' s childhood ) an d th e stor y o f hi s lov e affairs . S o Lawrence condense d o r cu t 'documentary ' material , les s concerne d no w wit h background, an d struc k a ne w earl y keynote , t o mak e th e stor y o f Paul' s elde r brother clearl y anticipat e a n overal l theme . No w th e brillian t littl e scen e a t th e Wakes bring s home , i n a reader's firs t experienc e o f Mrs Morel , th e intensit y o f her relationshi p wit h he r firs t born , William , an d ho w absolutel y centre d upo n her th e littl e boy's lif e ha s already become . I n chapte r il l the titl e i s changed fro m 'Morel Reap s th e Whirlwind ' t o 'Th e Castin g of f o f Morel , th e Takin g o n o f William'. Moreover , instea d o f th e firs t fragment' s pictur e o f Mr s More l i n he r doorway, contrastin g th e beautifu l sunse t an d th e fre e fligh t o f th e swift s wit h the drunke n miner s an d th e disgrac e o f he r husband , Lawrenc e create d a cheerful Walte r fo r th e reader' s firs t glimps e o f him: by n o means drunk , thoug h well-pleased wit h himsel f afte r hi s da y o f helpin g i n th e bar , an d wit h th e coconut h e ha s go t fo r th e children . Th e dramaticall y contraste d voice s sho w that th e fina l versio n wil l try fo r a more comple x balanc e tha n before : "Nay, tha niver said thankyer for nowt i' thy life, did ter?" .. . "A ma n wil l par t wit h anythin g s o lon g a s he' s drunk , an d you'r e drun k alon g wit h him," said Mrs Morel. "Eh tha mucky little 'ussy, who's drunk, I sh'd lik e ter know?" 65 A numbe r o f change s i n thes e firs t 7 9 page s confir m tha t Lawrence' s month s with Frieda , an d th e clea r brea k wit h hi s previou s life , ha d mad e i t possibl e fo r him t o se e Mr s More l mor e critically , an d t o mak e Walte r somewha t mor e sympathetic a t first , i n th e importan t earl y stage s o f a reader' s response . Lawrence expand s th e miner' s cheerfu l making-and-mendin g i n th e hous e (cf . Fragment 2 ) and th e pictur e o f him alon e i n th e earl y mornin g (cf . Fragmen t 3) ; makes i t cleare r tha t More l wa s mor e il l tha n drun k i n th e firs t 'battle ' (cf . Fragment 2) ; and cut s (cf . Fragmen t 5 ) the comi c scen e wit h Jerry an d th e bottl e of beer i n th e sick-roo m (whic h ha d survive d fro m th e secon d version ) sinc e th e amused contemp t o f th e narrativ e wa s indistinguishabl e fro m Mr s Morel's . 28
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However h e als o underline s Morel' s deterioratio n unde r hi s wife' s no w sharpened contempt : h e i s mad e meane r t o th e children , mor e dangerousl y violent i n th e secon d bi g quarre l an d (i n a ne w episod e no t i n Fragmen t 4 ) undeniably mor e contemptibl e now , i n hi s humiliatin g sho w o f leavin g home . Lawrence i s no t shiftin g sympath y s o muc h a s hardenin g contras t an d under lining theme : th e humiliatio n become s th e 'turn ' i n th e castin g of f o f th e husband an d th e takin g o n o f th e eldes t son . 'Delila h an d Mr . Bircumshaw ' ha d shown a ne w gras p o f ho w a woma n ca n destro y a man ; an d ther e ha d bee n several sign s o f ne w sharpnes s abou t th e destructivenes s o f mother-love . Th e final rewritin g o f 'Pau l Morel ' int o Sons and Lovers woul d hatc h bot h insight s into th e existin g texture , creatin g mor e complexity , thoug h i t coul d no t alte r th e main line s of the earlie r drawing . V Visitor s Two visitor s interrupte d th e wor k o f revisio n a t Icking . Th e first wa s Garnett' s son David , 'Bunny' , wh o ha d jus t complete d hi s first yea r studyin g botan y a t th e Royal Colleg e o f Scienc e an d wa s holidayin g i n Munich , attendin g als o som e lectures a t th e university . H e wa s twenty , impulsive , good-looking , energetic ; and (wha t wa s mos t charming ) warml y attracte d t o the m a s a pair , becaus e o f their happiness . 'Lawrenc e an d Fried a wer e mor e tha n twic e a s attractiv e t o m e together tha n the y woul d hav e bee n separately . I wa s completel y charme d b y each o f the m an d a t onc e worshippe d them. ' Whe n nobod y els e (wit h th e exception o f Bunny's father ) seeme d convince d tha t the y belonge d together , th e hero-worship o f thi s delightfu l la d mus t hav e bee n particularl y healing . Hi s autobiography paint s vivi d portrait s o f the m a t Icking. 66 O n th e platform , Lawrence looke d 'fearfull y English ' - thoug h als o ver y workin g clas s - wit h ' a scrubby littl e moustache' an d 'th e mos t beautiful lively , blue eyes'. He was slight in build, with a weak, narrow chest and shoulders, but he was a fair heigh t [ 5 feet 9 inches] and ver y light in his movements. This lightness gave him a sort of grace. His hair was of a colour, and gre w in a particular way , which I have never see n excep t in Englis h working men. It wa s bright mud-colour , wit h a streak o f red i n it, a thick mat , parted o n one side ... Hi s forehead wa s broad, but not high , his nose too short and lumpy , his fac e colourless, like a red-haired man's , his chi n (h e ha d no t the n grow n a beard) altogethe r too large, and roun d lik e a hairpin - rathe r a Philip I V sort o f chin - an d th e lowe r lip, rather re d an d moist , unde r th e scrubb y toothbrus h moustach e .. . [OJnc e yo u looke d into his eyes you were completely charmed, they were so beautiful an d alive, dancing with gaiety. His smile lit up al l his face as he looked a t you, asking you silently: 'Come o n .. . let's have some fun', an d the invitation of this look was irresistible, at least to me. At first Fried a seeme d 'th e handsom e siste r o f th e sweatin g Germa n mother ' who had rompe d wit h he r childre n i n th e train : 29
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she had th e same sturdy body , as strong as a horse, the sam e magnificent shoulders , but her hea d an d th e expressio n o f he r eye s wer e ver y different . He r hea d an d th e whol e carriage of her body were noble. Her eyes were green, with a lot of tawny yellow in them, the nos e straight . Sh e looke d on e dea d i n th e eyes , fearlessl y judgin g on e and , a t tha t moment, she was extraordinarily lik e a lioness: eyes and colouring, and the swift powe r of her lazy leap up from th e hammock where she had been lying. The attractio n wa s mutual . 'W e ar e awfull y fon d o f him' , Lawrenc e wrot e t o Edward. Swimmin g i n th e Isar , 'H e simpl y smashe s hi s wa y throug h th e water , while F . sit s o n th e ban k burstin g wit h admiration , an d I a m gree n wit h envy. ' He imitate d Mordkin , Pavlova' s partne r i n Diaghilev' s Russia n Ballet , dancing : with great orange and yellow and red and dark green scarves of F's, and his legs and arms bare; while I sit on the sofa and d o the music, and burst wit h laughter, and F . stands out on th e balcon y i n th e dark , scared . Suc h a prancing whir l o f leg s an d arm s an d ravin g colours yo u neve r saw : And F . shriek s whe n h e brandishe s th e murderou s knif e i n my music-making face ; an d somebod y call s i n Germa n fro m below : 'G o an d trampl e somewhere else/ and at last he falls panting. Oh the delightful Bunny ! (i. 429) They mad e hi m promis e t o com e an d joi n the m par t o f th e wa y (a t Mayrhofen ) in thei r wal k toward s Italy , wit h hi s frien d Harol d Hobson , who m Bunn y wa s expecting t o meet i n Munich . The secon d visitatio n wa s much mor e problematic . Frieda' s mother , o n a visit to Else, descended o n the m als o unannounced, t o make on e fina l plea . Th e mov e to Italy , sheddin g th e las t pretenc e o f being wit h he r family , wa s boun d t o see m a crownin g defianc e o f Weekley , irretrievable , a s Lawrenc e though t too . U p t o now, Fried a migh t hav e lef t a t an y time , bu t no w ' I hav e a t las t naile d F.' s nos e to my wagon' , h e tol d Garnett , i n th e sam e lette r o f 4 August tha t describe d ho w Frieda's mothe r ha d 'schimpfed ' o r scolde d him . 'A t last , I think , sh e can' t leav e me - a t leas t fo r th e present : despit e th e los s o f he r children. ' Bu t th e Barones s had don e he r best . Sh e staye d a n hour , an d spen t i t 'abusing ' hi m 'lik e a washerwoman' - i n German : I sa t an d gasped . 'Wh o wa s I , di d I think , tha t a Baronesse shoul d clea n m y boot s an d empty m y slops: she, the daughter o f a high-born an d highly-culture d gentlema n .. . N o decent man , no man wit h commo n sens e of decency, could expec t t o have a woman, the wife o f a clever professor , livin g with hi m like a barmaid, an d h e not even abl e to keep her in shoes.' - S o she went on. - Then , in Miinchen, to Else, her eldest daughter, says I am a lovable and trustworthy person . - Yo u see I saw her off gracefully fro m th e station. (i. 429-30 )
Later the y woul d becom e fir m friends . Bu t th e patienc e an d courtes y whic h impressed th e mother , enrage d th e daughter . Hi s lette r claim s no t t o kno w wh y she shoul d accus e him , alon g wit h al l th e world , o f being ' a rotte r a t th e presen t moment'. (I t seem s od d tha t h e hadn' t hear d already! ) Bu t eve n withou t th e late r 30
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'evidence' o f The Fight for Barbara (th e first ide a o f whic h h e ha d probabl y bee n sketching ou t o n 1 8 July befor e th e visit) , and year s late r o f Mr Noon, 6 th e lette r itself reveals th e reason . He though t o f retorting ' I don' t think! ' t o th e Baroness' s description o f he r husband , bu t sai d no t a word . Bot h th e late r comi c dramatisations presen t hi m a s havin g withdrawn , again , sittin g utterl y silen t an d shrunk int o himself , s o tha t th e onl y defenc e ha d com e fro m Frieda . Thi s ma y exaggerate bu t i s convincing ; a s i s Frieda' s respons e t o wha t sh e ma y wel l hav e thought pusillanimous . I n bot h fictions 'she ' proceed s t o attac k 'his ' lac k o f manliness. I f Lawrenc e trul y ha d no t learne d ye t wh y Fried a was angry , th e dramatic fictions ar e indee d fictitious - th e late r on e merel y derivin g fro m an d heightening th e earlier . Ye t th e nigh t befor e the y lef t fo r Ital y ma y no t hav e bee n among thei r mos t peaceful , an d Lawrenc e wa s righ t t o b e no t quit e sure , eve n now, tha t Fried a wa s firmly committe d t o him . VI Ove r th e Alps 6 9 On Monda y mornin g 5 Augus t the y se t out , an d walke d alon g th e Isa r t o Wolfratshausen, wher e the y avoide d Else , bu t bough t a spirit-stove (nickname d the kitchenino ) o n whic h the y coul d coo k b y th e roadsid e o r i n a bedroom , t o save money. I t wa s about t o rai n a s they reache d a station o n th e ligh t railway , s o they too k i t to Bichl, to join th e hig h roa d t o Austria a t the foo t o f the mountains , and the n walke d abou t 1 2 kilometres i n th e rai n (passin g severa l peasant-lookin g roadside Christs ) t o Ba d Tolz . Havin g foun d a chea p room , the y cheere d themselves u p b y an evenin g i n th e littl e summer theatre . Next da y wa s sunny . The y wen t u p throug h Lengrie s (8^km. ) int o th e hig h rocky valle y o f th e youn g Isar , wher e woodme n wer e buildin g rafts , befor e taking wha t looke d lik e a short-cut ove r th e ridg e t o joi n th e roa d t o Mayrhofen . However i n lat e afternoon th e pat h petere d ou t an d the y ha d t o scrambl e ove r t o the on e t o Rohrlmoos , b y whic h tim e i t was almos t dark , an d Fried a wa s dragging he r feet . I n searc h o f somewher e t o sleep , the y foun d besid e th e pat h a tiny chapel , wher e Lawrenc e li t th e alta r candle s an d wa s fascinate d b y th e ex voto picture s coverin g th e walls . He wante d t o sta y there , bu t Fried a ha d se t he r heart o n th e romanc e o f sleeping i n a hay-hut, an d ther e wa s on e clos e by . Alas , it proved col d an d uncomfortabl e i n th e hay , an d the y wok e t o an ic y gre y dawn . Frieda wen t fo r water , barefoo t ove r th e froze n grass ; Lawrence coaxe d a fire o f sticks sinc e the y ha d use d al l the fue l fo r th e cooker . The y shivere d ove r te a an d the las t o f thei r bread , an d se t of f again . A bi t furthe r o n the y sa w a ligh t an d asked th e wa y fro m a spectra l coupl e i n a n isolate d Alpin e cabi n - bu t abou t a n hour dow n th e gorg e la y a hamlet, Hubertus , an d coffe e i n th e woode n hous e o f a foreste r wh o ha d hunte d wit h th e Crow n Prince ! The y wer e no w o n th e righ t road, no t fa r fro m th e border , bu t muc h i n nee d o f res t an d i t was raining , s o 3i
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they hire d a roo m i n Glashiitt e an d slep t til l afternoon . A t fou r i t wa s rainin g again, s o the y too k th e post-bu s int o Austria , t o Achense e wit h it s Hote l Scholastika b y th e 'dark , dee p lake' . The y foun d lodgin g i n a farmhouse , wher e Frieda dive d unde r th e blue-and-whit e duvet , an d Lawrenc e forage d fo r a mea l to cook snugl y i n th e bedroo m wit h it s painted Tyrolea n furnitur e - happ y t o b e out o f Germany, amon g kin d peopl e i n easygoin g Austria . On Thursda y the y starte d of f alon g th e lake , an d walke d th e 2 0 kilometre s t o Jenbach, th e junctio n wher e th e ol d Imperia l Roa d an d th e railwa y ra n t o Innsbruck an d ove r th e Brenne r Pas s t o Italy . First , however , the y ha d t o se e t o their luggage , whic h mean t th e trai n i n th e othe r directio n t o th e borde r tow n o f Kufstein, 'unde r it s dar k castle' , wher e the y dul y unpacke d som e ne w clothes , saw thei r bag s throug h th e custom s an d sen t the m o n t o Mayrhofen , befor e taking th e trai n bac k t o Jenbac h th e nex t day . Th e silenc e o f Mr Noon abou t their journe y dow n th e Zillerta l suggest s the y ma y hav e take n th e light-gaug e railway. A t Mayrhofen , 'i n a farmhous e a t th e foo t o f th e mountains , jus t b y a lovely strea m tha t tear s alon g and i s as bright a s glass ' (i . 433) , they settle d dow n to wait fo r Bunny . There th e worl d caugh t u p wit h them . Mor e agonisin g letter s fro m Weekle y made Frieda , a s miserable a s a cat wantin g onl y t o 'craw l unde r th e bed ' (i . 438), begin t o thin k agai n tha t sh e ha d bette r g o to England soon . Ye t thi s seeme d les s likely now , fo r thei r relatio n ha d grow n firmer , an d th e earlies t Weekle y woul d allow he r t o se e th e childre n was a t Easte r (i . 440). Lawrenc e tol d Salli e Hopki n that the y ha d 'struggle d throug h som e ba d time s int o a wonderfu l nake d intimacy, al l kindled wit h warmth , tha t I kno w a t las t i s love ' (i . 440) ; though h e also tol d Garnet t the y wante d 'fre e breathing-space ' betwee n the m a s wel l a s intimacy (i . 439) , a tensio n b y n o mean s ye t resolved . Fried a confesse d tha t h e had cure d he r o f theorising an d taugh t he r a new mod e o f understanding, 'tha t i s morality, I think ' (i . 439) . The y wandere d happil y amon g wil d flower s u p th e three valley s whic h me t nea r th e house ; drinkin g sometime s wit h mountai n peasants i n a Gasthau s wher e the y als o 'dance[d ] a little ' (i . 441) . Sometime s Frieda coul d tak e he r clothe s of f an d li e i n th e sun . Lawrenc e ha d becom e interested i n th e roadsid e crucifixe s whic h wer e everywhere , particularl y a fin e one i n th e Dornauberg-Klamm , a steep valle y betwee n pine-cla d hills , where th e mule-road skirte d th e lef t ban k o f th e river . Ther e (o r i n Tuxtal ) hi s guil t suddenly mad e hi m se e Weekley's fac e i n a muleteer's wh o turne d t o loo k a t hi m - fro m whic h cam e a powerful poe m abou t knowin g himsel f hated . There wa s time t o thin k abou t wor k again . There wa s a letter fro m Hueffer , t o say tha t th e Englis h publishe r Marti n Seeke r wa s kee n t o 'run ' Lawrenc e permanently; an d i n a momen t o f lessene d confidenc e h e wondere d whethe r t o give Seeke r 'Pau l Morel ' (i . 433-4). Fo r Heineman n ha d no w refuse d hi s poem s also; an d sinc e Garnet t ha d no t writte n fo r som e time , th e silenc e ma y hav e 32
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begun t o sugges t tha t he did no t car e fo r th e nove l al l tha t much . The y neede d money, quickly . Soo n howeve r a lette r cam e fro m Garnett , an d confidenc e returned. I n repl y h e sen t th e firs t versio n o f a narrativ e poe m se t i n Wolfratshausen, 'Th e Youn g Soldie r wit h Blood y Spurs' ; an d wondere d whether Duckwort h migh t no t d o hi s poem s too . Thoug h th e Westminster Gazette ha d refuse d tw o o f th e sketche s ('Th e Englis h an d th e Germans ' an d ' A Spy i s Arrested' ) a s to o anti-German , h e no t onl y aske d Garnet t wher e els e t o send them , bu t se t t o wor k finishing anothe r tw o a t Mayrhofe n whic h couldn' t be faulte d o n thos e grounds : ' A Chape l Amon g th e Mountains ' an d ' A Hay-hu t Among th e Mountains' . H e wante d t o ge t o n wit h recastin g Tau l Morel' , bu t needed a run a t it , and bega n t o think o f settling somewher e o n Lak e Garda. 7 On Sunda y 18t h Bunn y arrive d an d too k a roo m i n th e hous e opposite . H e describes ho w Lawrenc e alread y kne w th e affair s o f everyon e i n th e village ; ho w he coul d writ e regardles s o f wha t wa s goin g o n aroun d hi m an d 'scribble d awa y at odd moment s i n th e corner , jumpin g u p continuall y t o loo k afte r th e cooking' ; while Fried a kep t 'bubblin g ove r wit h som e ne w thin g sh e ha d see n fro m th e window'. Th e ba d moment s whe n th e pos t cam e fro m Englan d wer e met , h e says, with courage , high spirit s an d self-mockery . H e though t Lawrenc e th e onl y great mimi c h e eve r knew , wit h a genius fo r bringin g Yeats , o r Pound , instantl y before one . Bu t the perso n who m Lawrenc e mos t constantl y mad e fu n o f wa s himsel f .. . o f a shy an d gawky Lawrence being patronised b y literary lions , of a winsome Lawrence charming his landlady, a sentimental Lawrenc e bein g pu t i n hi s plac e b y hi s landlady's daughter , o f a bad-tempered whinin g Lawrence pickin g a quarrel wit h Fried a ove r nothing . Ther e was more tha n a little o f Charli e Chapli n i n hi s acting : but bitterer , les s sentimental. Fried a and I laughed at him until laughing was an agony. In th e evening s the y acte d charades , Bunn y coachin g the m i n anothe r uproarious 'Diaghilev ' scen e o f Judith an d Holofernes . Soon hi s frien d Harol d Hobso n arrive d fro m Russia , wher e h e ha d gon e i n pursuit o f a gir l h e me t a t Th e Cearn e i n 1904 . Harol d wa s th e so n o f th e economist J . A . Hobson , an d wa s studyin g engineerin g i n Londo n a t King' s College: a tall , thin , handsom e an d cynica l youn g man , whos e dislik e o f th e social pretension s o f hi s America n mothe r ha d le d hi m t o se e 'th e whol e socia l structure, wit h it s pretence s an d proprieties ' a s 'th e wor k o f parasiti c wome n intent o n thwartin g th e natura l instinct s o f men' . H e tol d indecen t storie s o n principle (anti-woman , an d thei r hypocrisies) ; and ha d a good lin e of lamentatio n about bein g unloved . No t surprisingly , Fried a was immediatel y attracte d t o him , and a n amuse d Lawrenc e though t hi m ' a rippin g fellow' , an d swappe d bawd y stories, if Bunny i s to be believed. 74 On Monda y 2 6 Augus t th e fou r o f the m se t ou t togethe r ove r th e covere d 33
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bridge acros s th e river , plannin g t o follo w th e Zem m valle y int o th e mountain s and ove r th e Pfitscherjoc h pas s t o Sterzing , wher e Bunn y an d Hobso n coul d catch a trai n bac k t o Munich , whil e Lawrenc e an d Fried a woul d g o o n t o Ital y having sen t thei r baggag e ahea d again . The y wen t pas t th e 'large , pal e Christ ' once mor e an d u p throug h th e we t forest s (Bunny , wit h pressin g boo k i n hi s rucksack, botanisin g o n th e way) , beyon d Ginzlin g an d th e las t villag e o n th e road, int o th e ope n rock y uplands . Ther e the y spen t th e nigh t i n a double decker hay-hut , burrowin g dee p int o th e ha y a s th e practise d campe r Bunn y directed, an d henc e mor e warml y tha n before , thoug h i t snowe d i n th e night . The nex t da y the y wen t o n upward s i n ho t sunshine . Th e younge r me n swa m i n mountain streams , Lawrenc e an d Bunn y botanised , Harol d an d Fried a talke d o f her feeling s abou t th e children , an d hi s love-affairs . I n th e lat e afternoo n the y reached th e Dominicus-Hutte , th e las t accommodatio n befor e th e pass , ' a wonderful place—th e las t uplan d cradle' , a mil e beyon d whic h wa s ' a vas t precipice, lik e a wall , an d beyon d tha t a cluste r o f mountai n peaks , i n heave n alone, sno w an d sky-rock . Tha t wa s th e end. ' Havin g secure d thei r rooms , Lawrence an d Bunn y wen t fo r a las t bi t o f botanisin g befor e nightfall , an d Frieda an d Harol d fo r a walk, towards anothe r hay-hut . On Wednesda y the y crosse d th e Pfitscherjoch . A t th e to p o f th e pas s cam e a view ove r blunte r peak s o f a 'single grea t sky-livin g blad e o f rock' whic h Gilber t in Mr Noon think s on e o f the grea t moment s i n hi s life . No w i t was downhill t o St Jakob , an d alon g th e valle y throug h Wieden , wher e the y sa w th e brutalise d Christus Lawrenc e late r describe d wit h a kin d o f horror . Someho w th e companionship ha d go t edgier , an d Harol d an d Bunn y seeme d suddenl y anxiou s to ge t bac k t o Munich . A s th e afternoo n dre w o n toward s dusk , Fried a bega n t o drag he r fee t again , an d Lawrenc e t o na g abou t gettin g on , i f they wer e t o reac h Sterzing an d th e railwa y tha t night . Bunn y spran g t o he r defenc e an d ther e wa s nearly a quarrel . A t nightfal l the y foun d a n in n nea r Afen s stil l seve n mile s short, sai d farewell s befor e goin g t o bed , an d befor e daw n o n Thursda y Harol d and Bunn y wer e o n thei r way . Fried a an d Lawrenc e followe d mor e leisurely , arriving i n th e picturesqu e mediaeva l hig h stree t b y afternoon . The y staye d tw o nights i n Sterzing , thoug h (Mr Noon says ) no t ver y happily , whethe r becaus e they misse d th e youn g men , o r becaus e o f th e primitiv e shaft-toilet , o r becaus e Frieda seeme d tire d an d disincline d t o move whil e Lawrenc e fel t coope d up. 7 6 On Sunda y i Septembe r however , the y starte d confidentl y u p th e Jaufenta l on th e las t stag e t o Ital y b y wa y o f Meran , thoug h no t b y th e obviou s hig h road . Instead, Lawrenc e picke d anothe r pat h tha t looke d shorter , u p th e lon g valle y o f the Jaufenbach , crossin g th e strea m severa l time s a s the y went , pas t th e las t hamlet an d 'acros s th e desolate , end-of-the-worl d valley-head , toward s th e cliff s and th e shutting-i n slopes' . U p these , a s nigh t wa s falling , the y ha d a fearfu l scramble, wit h Fried a eventuall y i n tears , cryin g tha t sh e coul d g o n o further , 34
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and Lawrenc e goin g o n withou t her . Angr y an d humiliated , sh e hi t back . Sh e forced hi m t o stop , an d the n tol d hi m tha t Hobso n ha d 'had ' her , i n th e hay-hu t near th e Dominicus-Hiitte . If Mr Noon i s accurate, th e statemen t wa s vengefu l rathe r tha n confessional ; a declaration, too , tha t sh e stil l fel t hersel f free , an d woul d d o jus t a s sh e chose . Her battl e instinc t wa s alway s t o hur t hi m wher e h e fel t mos t vulnerable . Moreover, unlik e simila r storie s abou t vo n Hennin g i n Met z an d a wood-cutte r at Icking , whic h ma y b e tru e bu t ma y als o hav e bee n storie s b y Fried a t o pu t Lawrence i n hi s place , thi s on e cam e t o Bunn y direc t fro m Hobson . Ironically , Frieda woul d hav e bee n attracte d t o Hobso n i n exactl y th e sam e way s a s t o Lawrence whe n the y firs t met : pique d b y hi s attack s o n woman , move d (t o som e degree maternally ) b y hi s youn g man' s 'compleynt e o f love' , amuse d an d attracted b y hi s vitalit y an d humour , an d seein g n o reaso n wh y th e mutua l attraction shoul d no t b e consummated . Thi s wa s th e fre e spirit ; bu t i t woul d have bee n furthe r justifie d i n he r min d b y th e belie f - fostere d b y Gros s - tha t she coul d d o th e youn g ma n good , an d repai r th e damag e hi s mothe r an d hi s girls ha d done . (' / have made you better, that is my reward' sh e ha d writte n o n Lawrence's mother-poem. ) Mr Noon ha s Johanna sa y (no t i n excuse , sinc e sh e feels n o nee d t o apologise) 'h e tol d m e h e wante d m e s o badly—'. 7 7 Fo r Frieda , such a plea woul d b e all the mor e potent , a s meaning mor e tha n jus t desire . It mus t hav e bee n a painfu l blo w t o Lawrence , wh o ha d s o recentl y com e t o believe tha t sh e was committe d t o hi m a t last . H e ha d claime d tha t the y bot h wanted freedo m a s wel l a s nake d intimacy , bu t h e mean t Tre e breathing-space ' between the m an d she , clearl y now , mean t somethin g quit e different . Humilia tion, jealousy , a sens e o f betrayal , an d resentmen t o f th e privilege d yout h wh o had s o casuall y com e int o thei r lif e an d mad e suc h hast e ou t o f it , mus t hav e twisted hi s feelings . Ther e wil l hav e bee n th e greates t temptatio n t o withdra w coldly int o himself . Bu t h e ha d like d Hobson , an d whe n Fried a wa s hesitatin g over goin g bac k t o Weekley , ha d sai d tha t sh e mus t choos e fo r herself . H e remained tru e no w t o wha t h e ha d sai d an d felt , an d showe d ho w final hi s lov e for he r ha d become , by forgivin g he r i n a rush o f feeling, an d insistin g (agai n Mr Noon convinces ) tha t sh e hadn' t reall y mean t wha t sh e ha d done , an d tha t i t didn't therefor e signify . Lik e Johanna , Fried a woul d no t hav e bee n to o please d by this. 78 It wa s nin e o'cloc k befor e the y wearil y reache d th e Sterzinge r Jaufenhau s and nex t morning , perhap s stil l i n stress , the y too k th e wron g turning . Th e wooden buildin g stoo d i n a loo p o f th e highwa y t o Meran . Imaginin g tha t th e way sout h mus t li e directl y opposit e th e trac k the y ha d com e dow n i n th e darkness, the y turne d t o th e right , an d walke d nearl y al l da y alon g th e twistin g road. I n mid-afternoo n the y bega n t o recognis e things . The y ha d walke d al l th e way back t o Sterzing . 35
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They coul d no t bea r t o slee p ther e again , s o decide d t o mis s ou t Mera n altogether an d tak e th e Rom e expres s straigh t t o Boze n (Bolzano ) tha t sam e evening, i n spit e o f the expense . A t th e statio n h e wrot e t o Bunn y an d McLeod , hiding hi s feelings . O n th e trai n Fried a insiste d o n a dining-car mea l the y coul d ill afford, an d the y the n ha d som e difficult y finding a cheap roo m i n Bozen . Bu t the nex t day , havin g ha d enoug h o f walking, the y too k th e trai n agai n t o Trento , and foun d a t las t tha t thoug h th e statio n stil l fel t Austria n an d th e street s wer e full o f Austria n troops , th e tow n spok e Italia n - o f whic h the y kne w almos t nothing. 79 The y slep t i n a roo m abov e a restaurant , bu t th e priv y wa s unspeakable, an d ther e wa s a cockroac h i n th e bedroo m t o matc h th e staine d walls an d sheets . I n th e Piazz a d i Dant e Frieda , face d wit h mor e roo m huntin g in th e slac k souther n tow n tha t sh e foun d alien , and feelin g unbearabl y frumpis h in a wrinkled dres s an d Burberr y an d a battered panam a hat , ont o whic h th e dy e from th e ribbo n ha d run , slumpe d dow n an d burs t int o tears . The y ha d alway s intended t o g o t o Lak e Garda , an d a poster o f Riv a decide d the m t o g o a t once . A trai n wa s abou t t o depart , bu t i t wa s hel d u p fo r the m - an d s o t o Riv a 'an d there th e lake-hea d glitterin g i n th e sun\ 8 0 They foun d a beautifu l roo m wit h a painte d ceiling . Thoug h Fried a fel t shabbier tha n eve r i n th e resor t town , an d Lawrenc e looke d lik e a tram p i n frayed trouser s an d a shapeles s stra w ha t h e ha d bough t fo r 3/ 6 i n Munic h (i . 455), the y foun d Riv a delightful . Stil l unde r Austria n rul e (th e borde r wa s a fe w miles dow n th e lake) , an d ful l o f 'Chocolat e Soldiers ' i n fanc y uniform s promenading wit h elegan t ladie s (i. 452), it gav e the m nevertheles s thei r first ful l sense o f 'Italy' . 1 Grapes , figs, peache s wer e abundan t (thoug h Fried a overdi d them an d go t colic) . There wer e 'mile s o f vineyard s an d oliv e woods . The lak e is dark blue , purple , an d clea r a s a jewel, with swarm s o f fishes. An d th e boats hav e lemon-coloured sails ' (i . 456) . The n t o Frieda' s jo y a parce l o f dresse s an d fashionable hat s arrive d fro m Nusc h - an d the y retrieve d thei r baggage . Th e only troubl e no w wa s tha t the y ha d almos t n o mone y left . Lodgin g wit h tw o little ol d ladie s i n thei r Vill a Leonard i was relativel y expensive , s o the y wer e forced stil l t o brav e th e maid' s displeasur e an d coo k meal s i n thei r bedroom , t o get by (i . 451). Lawrence aske d Garnet t whethe r Duckwort h coul d pa y hi m a t onc e fo r The Trespasser; and afte r som e fruitles s hous e huntin g i n Riva , the y wen t of f b y steamer dow n th e lak e t o Vill a d i Gargnan o wher e the y ha d bee n recommende d to Pietr o d i Pauli , wh o owne d house s there . H e offere d the m 'th e botto m flat' o f the Vill a Ige a (i n fac t th e first floor abov e a semi-basement , wit h step s dow n t o the garden) : a larg e dining-roo m wit h thre e windows , kitchen , tw o bedrooms , furnished - 'bi g prett y rooms ' lookin g over th e garde n an d acros s th e roa d t o th e lake, an d 'clea n a s a flower' (i . 453 ) - fo r 8 0 lir e a mont h (abou t 66/- ) wit h everything supplied . Whe n Duckwort h sen t £50 , i n note s a s requeste d (i . 453), 36
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they wer e a t las t se t u p comfortabl y i n a plac e o f thei r ow n wher e Lawrenc e could work , fo r th e winte r a t least . Whethe r the y migh t g o t o Englan d i n th e spring, fo r Fried a t o se e he r childre n an d Lawrenc e t o atten d hi s siste r Ada' s wedding, wa s a decision tha t coul d wait . They move d i n on 1 8 September. 2 In th e firs t week s 'Italy' , see n wit h th e ey e (howeve r sharp ) o f a touris t jus t beginning t o lear n th e language , was essentiall y thre e things : a fres h an d liberating beaut y o f natur e a s Beuerber g ha d been , bu t her e see n behin d a tumbledown worl d o f man ; a contrastin g povert y tha t mad e Lawrenc e wit h hi s £50 see m ' a howlin g gentlema n an d swell ' (i . 466) , bu t wa s nevertheles s compatible wit h vitalit y an d pride , i f also , inevitably , wit h cheatin g an d smuggling acros s th e lake ; and a peasant communit y dramaticall y differen t fro m the clas s etho s o f hi s mother . 'Italy ' seeme d synonymou s wit h 'decrepit' : Trent o 'a pur e Italia n ancien t decrepi t town ' (i . 450) ; Riva , unde r it s Austria n veneer , 'as Italia n a s an ice-crea m man . No w I spea k i n signs ' (i . 455) ; Gargnano , wher e everything i s 'Italia n an d weir d an d tumble-down , an d seem s t o belon g t o th e past' (i . 458) . Th e peasant s seeme d desperatel y poor , an d th e currenc y trashy . Yet (h e wrote ) th e me n wer e health y an d muscular , walke d prou d an d sang ; th e women ha d straigh t shapel y backs ; th e soldier s wer e good-lookin g an d animal ; the fisherme n lounge d aroun d th e littl e harbou r lik e king s - an d th e landscap e surrounding the m was breathtakingl y beautiful , eve n a t it s darkest . I n contras t and retrospect , hi s 'England ' o f th e Midland s an d Londo n seeme d grubby , unliving, ful l o f despair ; an d hi s ne w conceptio n o f th e essenc e o f lif e was becoming th e antithesis o f what hi s mother ha d stoo d for . I can' t bea r t o b e i n Englan d whe n I a m i n Italy . I t make s m e fee l s o soile d .. . I don' t believe Englan d nee d b e s o grubby . Wha t doe s i t matte r i f on e i s poor , an d risk s one s livelihood, an d reputation . On e can have th e necessar y things , life , an d love , an d clea n warmth .. . Th e Italian s her e sing . They ar e ver y poo r .. . Bu t the y ar e healthy .. . An d they g o by the windo w proudl y .. . I thin k the y haven' t man y ideas , but the y loo k well, and they have strong blood. I g o in a little place to drink win e near Bogliaco. It i s the living room of the house .. . The famil y i s having supper. [Th e father ] bring s m e red win e to another table , then sit s down again, and th e mother ladle s him soup fro m th e bowl .. . The n h e nods and 'click clicks' to the small baby, that th e mother, youn g and proud , i s feeding wit h sou p fro m a big spoon. The grandfather, whit e moustached, sits a bit effaced b y the father. A little girl eats soup. The grandmother by the big, open fire sits and quietly scolds another little girl. It remind s m e so of home whe n I was a boy. They ar e all so warm wit h life . Th e fathe r reaches his thick brown hand to play with the baby ... (i . 460) 'It remind s m e s o o f hom e whe n I wa s a boy ' . . . Wa s Lawrenc e altogethe r aware o f the bearin g o f what h e wa s seeing , o n hi s father' s hous e an d hi s father' s world? H e woul d hav e neede d onl y t o sharpe n suc h a focus , an d Par t I o f Sons and Lovers woul d hav e bee n transformed . I t migh t hav e mad e a significan t 37
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difference ha d th e reshapin g o f th e nove l begu n a t Gargnano , instea d o f continuing fro m a poin t wher e - thoug h Walte r ha d bee n mad e a littl e mor e sympathetic a t firs t - th e marrie d lif e o f th e Morel s an d th e degradatio n o f th e father ha d alread y bee n established . A s Lawrence' s understandin g o f Italia n peasant lif e an d it s sens e o f famil y an d communit y developed , h e migh t hav e become no t onl y mor e critica l o f Mr s Morel , a s indee d di d happen , bu t als o better abl e to imagine , an d contras t wit h her , a sense o f the working-clas s vitalit y and communit y o f Nottinghamshire miners , whic h h e ha d neve r bee n allowe d t o experience, s o that th e nove l as we have it can giv e only occasiona l glimpses . The equivalent s o f Mr s More l i n Gargnan o wer e th e tw o ladie s whos e visit s made u p th e Lawrences ' socia l life , alon g wit h thei r landlor d Signo r d i Pauli . I n the letters , thes e becom e comi c figures : Pietr o wit h hi s quain t French , 'gran d manners an d a jaw lik e a dog' (i . 453), a gentleman sadl y ou t o f hi s time , wit h a wife to o youn g fo r him ; th e schoolmistres s Signorin a Feltrinelli , gloved , an d with a squint , wh o gav e the m Italia n lessons ; an d Signor a Samuell i th e proprietress o f th e Cerv o inn , a German , whos e housewifel y ey e Fried a feare d so much tha t Lawrenc e ha d t o scru b th e flat fro m en d t o en d ever y tim e sh e wa s coming fo r coffee. 83 In thes e firs t week s i n Italy , too , th e strai n betwee n the m seeme d t o lessen . Lawrence coul d fee l i t wonderfu l agai n l how on e ca n kee p goin g furthe r i n love ' (i. 458) , and jok e onc e mor e abou t Frieda' s free-and-easiness , whethe r carelessl y emptying he r slop s ou t o f th e windo w ont o som e ol d lad y (i . 462) , o r stayin g i n bed al l mornin g an d insistin g tha t h e tal k t o he r whe n (puritanica l sou l an d working ma n tha t h e was ) h e kne w h e shoul d no t b e loafin g (i . 466) . An d Frieda coul d se e his 'grea t points ' clearl y again : the absolut e freshnes s o f things , nothin g i s eve r stal e o r ol d an d i n spit e o f hi s lot s of unrealities h e i s simpl e an d rea l underneath . Lif e is good wit h him , j e n e demand e pa s mieux, yes and i t is love, but thank th e Lord passion as well - I t has really been a success, in spite of the misery left behind, in spite of the always missing the children .. . (i . 449) However, ream s o f letter s fro m Englan d wer e stil l forwarde d b y th e Baroness ; and wer e stil l liabl e t o plung e Fried a int o bottomles s misery , an d t o se t he r an d Lawrence agains t eac h othe r i n fierce battle s o f lov e an d hate . Weekley' s displa y of sufferin g wen t o n bein g 'bowel-twisting ' (i . 457) . H e sen t a photograp h o f the littl e girl s lookin g 'adorabl e bu t sad ' whic h seeme d t o tea r piece s fro m Frieda's sou l (i . 467) . Continuin g t o believ e tha t sh e woul d realis e he r mistake , he advance d th e dat e whe n h e woul d allo w her t o se e the childre n fro m Easte r t o Christmas an d then , growin g mor e desperat e i n October , eve n offere d t o le t he r have a fla t i n Londo n wit h th e childre n i f sh e woul d giv e Lawrenc e up . I t wa s too late . Onc e sh e 'woul d hav e love d it' , bu t no w sh e kne w tha t whethe r a t an y one moment sh e love d o r hate d Lawrence , sh e 'woul d rathe r di e tha n d o withou t 38
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him an d hi s lif e alon g o f mine ' (i . 467) . Lawrenc e lef t th e decisio n abou t Christmas t o her, an d sh e decide d against .
VII Ne w Meaning s o f Pai n Moreover sh e coul d fee l tha t h e to o wa s makin g th e brea k wit h hi s pas t an d it s tragedy, an d tha t sh e wa s helpin g hi m t o d o s o i n hi s wor k a s wel l a s i n hi s life . He ha d n o soone r go t t o Riv a tha n h e bega n t o writ e again : th e las t o f hi s German impression s whic h migh t hav e becom e hi s first travel-book , ha d th e Westminster Gazette returne d th e tw o manuscript s the y rejected . H e sen t 'Christs i n th e Tyro P t o d e l a Mare , alon g wit h th e 'Chapel ' an d 'Hay-Hut ' sketches, o n 5 September, th e da y afte r h e wrot e it . A slighte r an d mor e travel sketchy piec e tha n it s late r versio n i n Twilight in Italy, it s Christ s ar e describe d as h e happene d upo n them , wherea s 'Th e Crucifi x Acros s th e Mountains ' reordered th e experienc e int o post-Rainbow oppositions . Ye t th e origina l essa y has a significant them e fo r th e Lawrenc e o f September 1912 . It i s about pain ; bu t setting it s surprisin g ton e an d contex t early : 'I , wh o se e a traged y i n ever y cow , began b y sufferin g fro m th e Secessio n picture s i n Munich.' 8 6 Lawrence say s s o littl e abou t hi s first encounte r wit h th e intellectua l an d cultural lif e o f German y tha t i t seem s wort h pausin g ove r this . H e mus t hav e talked t o Edga r Jaffe , wit h who m h e staye d i n Munic h o n on e o f th e occasion s when Fried a lef t him , an d wh o wa s a fa r mor e interestin g perso n an d intellec t than th e comi c littl e professo r o f Mr Noon. Jaff e owne d a Secessionist , o r mor e strictly a Blaue Reiter, pictur e b y Fran z Marc . H e coul d hav e ha d muc h t o tel l Lawrence abou t th e bohemian s o f Schwabing , an d th e intellectua l fermen t o f their 'decadent ' attac k o n th e Germa n equivalen t o f Victorianism , o f whic h th e successive phase s o f Secessionis t paintin g wer e onl y on e example . Lawrenc e would late r nam e a characte r afte r th e Countes s z u Reventlow , artis t an d bohemian, who m Fried a to o had me t a t the Caf e Stephanie , thoug h th e Countes s had lef t Munic h b y 1912. Ther e mus t hav e bee n muc h tal k wit h Fried a o f Gross's idea s o f 'psycho-sexual ' liberatio n an d hi s brea k wit h Freu d - abou t whom Lawrenc e ha d als o begu n t o hea r fro m Fried a a t thei r first meeting , though a t thir d hand . I t wa s ther e tha t Fried a ha d me t Erns t Frick , who , sh e said, looke d 'a s thoug h h e woul d no t hur t a fly'. 87 Conversely , Lawrenc e coul d have hear d muc h fro m tal k wit h Els e an d Alfre d Webe r abou t th e opposit e culture o f Heidelber g an d it s ne w rationa l an d social-scientifi c enlightenment , centred no w o n th e Weber s an d particularl y Max . Ther e ma y eve n hav e been, as Mr Noon suggests , som e argumen t abou t Goethe , tha t arch-exempla r o f eight eenth-century Enlightenmen t - thoug h th e 192 0 comi c nove l i s n o saf e guid e t o Lawrence's idea s i n 1912 . Whethe r o r no t h e di d indulg e i n 'ignorant ' 39
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denigration o f Goeth e however , allusion s i n th e letter s sugges t tha t h e ma y hav e been readin g him , or abou t him . What i s certai n i s tha t 'Christ s i n th e Tyrol' , i n it s preliminar y an d no t to o serious way , begin s a proces s o f imaginativ e exploratio n oppose d bot h t o emotional Expressionis m an d t o rationa l Enlightenment , a s merel y differen t modes o f self-importanc e an d irreverence . Th e Christ s di d no t interes t Lawr ence i n Christianity . H e ha d renounce d tha t - a s h e ha d explaine d t o th e Eastwood Congregationa l ministe r th e Rev . Rober t Rei d - precisel y ove r wha t theologians cal l the Proble m o f Pain, whic h mad e i t impossible fo r hi m t o believ e in a lovin g God. 89 Bu t th e crucifixes , an d indee d th e ex-vot o picture s o f th e chapel amon g th e mountains , di d mov e hi m deeply , an d se t hi m ponderin g th e human significanc e o f pai n i n way s tha t migh t b e terme d religiou s (a s Expressionism an d Rationalis m wer e not ) bu t di d no t requir e belie f i n th e Christian Go d o r th e divinit y o f hi s Son . H e see s th e Christ s i n th e Tyro l a s 'carved b y me n . . . t o ge t a t th e meanin g o f thei r ow n soul' s anguish ' - wherea s what bothere d hi m abou t th e sophisticate d Blaue Reiter picture s wa s ho w the y relished th e sensatio n o f self-expressio n fo r it s ow n sake , becomin g 'epicure s i n suffering'. (Th e sam e charg e lie s against th e 'sensational ' Christu s h e ha d see n a t Wieden, whic h h e suppose d als o 'fairl y new' , thoug h i t actuall y was not. 90 ) Christianity ma y b e a s dea d an d broke n a s th e las t falle n Christu s h e cam e across, wit h onl y tw o arm s lef t swingin g fro m th e nails ; bu t th e Crucifixio n seems stil l t o projec t som e symboli c meanin g a t th e hear t o f life , whic h i s t o b e reverenced. Thes e carvings , thes e 'huma n attempt s a t decipherin g th e riddl e o f pain' an d overcomin g th e fea r o f deat h an d suffering , ar e t o b e linke d wit h 'al l tragic art' . Lawrenc e canno t himsel f deciphe r th e riddl e o f the ma n o n th e cross , and i s lef t simpl y wit h a rang e o f attitude s t o sufferin g - bu t th e essa y ha s on e further an d deepe r poin t t o make . Whateve r th e 'meaning ' ma y be , i t mus t no t be ultimatel y tragic . The T wh o i s self-mocked fo r seein g 'traged y i n ever y cow ' is th e Lawrenc e stil l sufferin g fro m bein g betraye d withi n th e las t tw o week s b y Frieda. H e i s th e autho r o f tw o tragi c novels ; an d onl y waitin g no w fo r tim e i n which t o finish rewritin g th e nex t one , abou t th e warpin g o f Pau l Morel , resulting fro m th e painfu l lif e o f hi s mother . Ye t th e Christ s h e respect s i n th e essay ar e thos e wit h som e 'kick ' i n them : th e peasan t 'strugglin g stubbornl y against th e fac t o f th e nails' ; o r th e grea t Christu s o f th e Klam m whic h ma y express bitternes s an d waste , bu t wa s als o th e creatio n o f a 'worker , wh o ha s whittled awa y i n tormen t t o se e himsel f emerg e ou t o f th e piec e o f timber , s o that h e ca n understan d hi s ow n suffering , an d se e i t tak e o n th e distinctnes s o f an eterna l thing , s o tha t h e ca n g o o n further , leavin g it. ' Tha t woul d serv e very wel l as the aim fo r rewritin g Sons and Lovers. It i s confirme d b y hi s reaction , now , t o th e acceptanc e o f sufferin g b y contemporary writers : ' I hat e Bennett' s resignation . Traged y ough t reall y t o be a 40
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great kic k a t misery . Bu t Anna of the Five Towns seem s lik e a n acceptanc e - s o does al l th e moder n stuf f sinc e Flaubert . I hat e it . I wan t t o was h agai n quick , wash of f England , th e oldnes s an d grubbines s an d despair ' (i . 459) . H e dislike s Strindberg, an d Conra d make s hi m furiou s thoug h hi s storie s ar e 'so good. Bu t why thi s givin g i n befor e yo u start , tha t pervade s al l Conrad an d suc h folk s - th e Writers amon g th e Ruins . I can' t forgiv e Conra d fo r bein g s o sa d an d fo r givin g in' (i . 465) . In th e sam e lette r (3 0 October ) h e say s h e wil l sen d Garnet t The Fight for Barbara, writte n i n th e las t thre e days , 'a s a sort o f interlude t o Pau l Morel . I'v e done al l bu t th e las t hundre d o r s o page s o f tha t grea t work , an d thos e I funk . But it'l l b e don e easil y i n a fortnight . . . Thi s comed y wil l amuse yo u fearfull y much o f i t i s wor d fo r wor d tru e - ' (i . 466) . Wha t h e was funkin g was th e assisted deat h o f Mrs Morel , an d whe n h e di d writ e it , th e tensio n mad e hi m ill . Yet th e pla y wa s mor e tha n a n interlud e - unlik e The Merry-go-Round, whic h had indee d bee n writte n t o distrac t hi m whil e hi s mothe r was actuall y dying . The ne w pla y was a first dramatisin g o f th e majo r Lawrencia n them e o f comin g through battle , fea r an d th e tragic . Fried a complaine d hal f jokingly , sinc e sh e thought i t good , tha t Lawrenc e ha d mad e himsel f 'th e "strong , silen t man" , th e wretch, he did hang o n t o me, but no t quit e s o unflinchingly an d I di d not wobbl e so . . . ' (i . 476) . Wha t i s mor e importan t howeve r tha n unmeasurabl e truth-to life, i s th e significanc e o f th e fight. Behin d th e surfac e struggl e o f Barbar a an d Wesson agains t he r parents ' idea s o f socia l an d marita l duty , an d th e emotiona l blackmail o f her husband' s displa y o f suffering, lie s th e insistenc e tha t the y hav e a righ t t o warmt h o f life , a righ t t o refus e t o b e lime d b y sufferin g whethe r i n others o r themselves . However , th e fight 'fo r Barbara ' i s ultimately als o th e fight by Wesso n agains t Barbara , an d b y Barbar a agains t Wesson , t o mak e eac h othe r stand u p fo r an d b e tru e t o thei r ow n deepes t need , a s opposed t o thei r ideas . I t is a s importan t fo r Barbar a t o needl e Wesso n int o barrin g th e doo r (not leavin g her fre e t o condem n the m bot h t o suffer) , a s i t i s fo r hi m t o insis t tha t sh e commit hersel f t o thei r relationship , a s agains t superficia l idea s o f freedom , o r putting he r husband' s sufferin g abov e he r ow n an d Wesson' s right , an d need , t o be warm wit h life . Duckworth ha d no w accepte d Love Poems and Others, and Lawrenc e correcte d the proof s i n October . Fried a di d no t hav e muc h respec t fo r th e collection : 'H e has writte n heap s nice r poem s tha n thos e "bab y ones " som e abou t hi s mothe r and lot s sinc e w e hav e bee n together ' (i . 449) . Lawrenc e sai d he r troubl e wa s that ther e wer e 'to o man y heroine s othe r tha n hersel f (i . 462) . Bu t i f thi s first collection amounte d t o a farewel l t o th e pas t an d it s wome n - an d a s suc h should (h e though t belatedly ) hav e ende d wit h th e onl y poe m i n i t addresse d t o Frieda, 'Be i Henne f (i . 462 ) - the n th e completio n o f 'Pau l Morel ' woul d b e even mor e so . 4i
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VIII 'Lik e life , bu t alway s m y t h e m e ' : Sons and Lovers He ha d don e hal f th e rewritin g o f 'Pau l Morel ' b y 3 October, an d three-fifth s b y 15 October, whe n fo r th e first tim e h e announce d th e ne w titl e Sons and Lovers (i. 458, 462). By 1 8 November i t wa s finished (i . 476). The significanc e fo r a biographe r o f thi s final shapin g o f th e nove l i s th e paradox o f its Janus face s - lookin g backward s an d forward s a t once , and lifelike , in bein g artwork . Fro m on e aspec t i t i s a 'goodby e t o al l that' , a retrospectiv e coming t o term s wit h th e past . Fro m anothe r i t i s onl y possibl e becaus e o f th e gulf whic h no w separate s a 'new ' Lawrenc e fro m tha t past ; an d i t anticipate s both ne w growt h i n lif e an d a new kin d o f art, thoug h no t ye t full y grasped . I t i s both en d an d ne w beginning ; a n appropriat e conclusio n t o on e 'volume ' o f Lawrence's lif e (th e first volum e i n thi s Cambridg e Biography) ; an d th e threshold o f another . A s John Worthen' s The Early Years reache s it s end , th e biographer's stor y an d th e fictive on e stan d sid e b y sid e - related , yes , bu t demonstrably an d significantl y different . Th e fiction ma y b e 'lik e life' , an d th e product o f Jessie Chambers' s advic e t o mak e th e thir d versio n mor e s o tha n th e second - ye t he r bitte r complain t wa s precisel y th e freedo m whic h Lawrenc e had taken , th e degre e h e wa s prepare d eve n t o distort , i n orde r t o focu s an d clarify 'm y theme ' (i . 477) . S o thoug h muc h o f th e densit y o f it s textur e draw s on memory , th e biographe r ma y als o serv e literar y criticis m b y pointin g ou t where th e fiction depart s fro m truth-to-life , freein g th e criti c t o concentrat e o n imaginative an d structura l significance . 'Walte r Morel ' i s no t a 'true ' portrai t o f Lawrence's fathe r bu t (a s th e nam e privatel y registers ) ha s bee n imaginativel y heightened b y muc h o f the drunke n violenc e o f Lawrence' s Uncl e Walter . 'Mr s Morel' i s o f 'highe r class ' tha n he r husband , bu t Mr s Lawrenc e wa s not , excep t in he r ow n aspirations , accen t an d literacy . Sh e was th e daughte r o f a n engin e fitter wh o ha d los t hi s jo b throug h injury , an d sh e ha d bee n rescue d fro m poverty b y he r marriage . 'Miriam ' recall s Jessie, bu t i n a markedly selectiv e an d heightened fictiveness, demande d b y th e novel' s them e an d th e syste m o f comparison-and-contrast whic h explore s it . 'Clara ' draw s o n memorie s o f thre e women, bu t i s thus o f course quit e differen t fro m any. 92 Frieda claime d th e credi t fo r a more sharpl y focuse d sens e o f theme . ' I thin k L. quit e misse d th e poin t i n "Pau l Morel"' , sh e wrot e fro m Riv a earl y i n September. 'H e reall y love d hi s mothe r mor e tha n an y body , eve n wit h hi s othe r women, rea l love , sor t o f Oedipus , hi s mothe r mus t hav e bee n adorabl e - h e i s writing P.M . again , read s bit s t o m e an d w e fight lik e blaze s ove r it , h e i s s o often besid e th e poin t . . . ' (i . 449) . Clearl y th e mother-poe m sh e ha d reacte d against s o angril y ha d sharpene d he r eye , an d ensure d tha t sh e woul d determin e to ope n Lawrence's , aide d b y wha t sh e ha d hear d fro m Gros s o f Freud' s ideas . Indeed, i n "Not I, But the Wind . . . " sh e turn s aroun d tha t poem' s ide a o f bein g 42
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twice bor n b y hi s mother . ' I thin k a ma n i s bor n twice : firs t hi s mothe r bear s him, the n h e ha s t o b e rebor n fro m th e woma n h e loves ' - bu t Lawrenc e ha d told he r h e coul d neve r hav e love d he r i n hi s mother' s lifetime : 'sh e wouldn' t have le t m e go' . Eve n no w o n Garda , hi s mothe r alway s seeme d "there still t o him', an d h e 'saw ' her , vividly , i n a little ol d woma n o n th e lak e steamer . A t th e end o f th e rewritin g Fried a 'go t fe d u p . . . an d wrot e a skit called : "Pau l Morel , or Hi s Mother' s Darling"' , a t whic h Lawrenc e was no t amused . Th e da y afte r the manuscrip t wa s poste d t o Garnet t sh e claimed : T fee l quit e responsibl e fo r "Paul". I wrote littl e femal e bit s an d live d i t over i n m y ow n heart ' (i . 479) . "Not /, But the Wind . . . " explain s tha t Lawrenc e use d t o as k he r ho w sh e though t both hi s mothe r an d Miria m woul d hav e felt , s o tha t sh e fel t sh e to o ha d 'live d and suffere d tha t book' . Yet Lawrenc e himsel f ha d alread y begu n t o stres s th e 'son s an d lovers ' them e in Icking , usin g th e Willia m stor y mor e clearl y an d full y t o anticipat e Paul' s and thre e version s o f th e nove l li e behin d hi s ow n growin g insight , whic h h e won slowl y an d cumulativel y fo r himself . Moreover , thoug h h e admitte d Frieda's influenc e i n makin g hi m mor e critica l o f Mr s Morel , h e als o cite d he r example t o hi s ow n critica l eye : 'Sh e save s me , bu t can' t sav e hersel f (i . 462) . Certainly hi s relationshi p wit h Fried a ha d mad e possibl e a muc h mor e critica l view o f Mr s More l i n Sons and Lovers tha n before ; bu t i t was als o Frieda' s ow n mother-feelings tha t helpe d hi m plo t wha t Mr s More l ha d i n commo n wit h Miriam yearnin g ove r he r littl e brother o r th e daffodils . Nevertheless i t wa s a ne w Lawrence , Frieda' s Lawrence , wh o coul d sa y tha t he no w loathe d Pau l Morel ; wh o woul d finall y bi d a psychi c farewel l t o hi s mother i n tw o fin e poem s abou t th e processio n t o th e grave s an d thei r flickering candles o n 1 November, th e Da y o f the Dead ; an d wh o steele d himsel f no w t o render th e merc y killin g o f Mr s More l an d th e nea r derelictio n o f Paul . I t wa s clearly Frieda' s Lawrenc e wh o wrot e o n 1 9 November - th e da y afte r h e poste d the manuscrip t - a n extraordinar y summar y o f th e nove l t o Garnett , i n defenc e of its i form\ shape d 'patiently , ou t o f sweat a s well as blood' : It follow s thi s idea : a woman o f character an d refinemen t goe s int o th e lowe r class , and has no satisfaction i n her own life. She has had a passion fo r he r husband, so the children are born o f passion, and hav e heaps of vitality. But a s her son s gro w up sh e selects them as lover s - firs t th e eldest , the n th e second . Thes e son s ar e urged into lif e b y thei r reciprocal love of their mother - urge d o n and on. But when they come to manhood, they can't love , because thei r mothe r i s the strongest powe r i n thei r lives , and hold s the m .. . As soon a s the youn g me n com e into contact wit h women , there' s a split. Willia m give s his se x t o a fribble , an d hi s mothe r hold s hi s soul . Bu t th e spli t kill s him , becaus e h e doesn't kno w where he is. The nex t son gets a woman who fights fo r hi s soul - fight s hi s mother. Th e so n love s th e mothe r - al l the son s hat e an d ar e jealou s o f the father . Th e battle goe s o n betwee n th e mothe r an d th e girl , wit h th e so n a s object . Th e mothe r 43
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gradually proves stronger, because of the tie of blood. The son decides to leave his soul in his mother's hands , and, like his elder brother, g o for passion . He gets passion. Then th e split begin s t o tel l again . But , almos t unconsciously , th e mothe r realise s wha t i s th e matter, and begins to die. The so n casts off his mistress, attends to his mother dying . He is left i n the end naked of everything, with the drift toward s death, (i. 476-7) It i s n o longe r th e traged y o f Pau l - i t i s now bot h a family traged y whic h keep s repeating itself , an d th e traged y o f 'thousand s o f youn g me n i n England ' amon g whom Lawrenc e rathe r tactlessl y include s Bunny , a s wel l a s Ruskin . 'No w tel l me if I haven't worke d ou t m y theme , lik e life, but alway s my theme. ' No worthwhil e fiction, o f course , coul d b e summarise d so . Ye t i t wa s natura l enough fo r Lawrenc e t o insis t o n hi s structura l 'form ' - hopin g t o persuad e Garnett (o r d e l a Mare) tha t Par t I had no w bee n unifie d wit h Par t I I - i n whic h the stor y o f th e More l marriage , an d th e traged y o f William , an d th e failure s i n relationship o f Paul, shoul d al l be see n a s the sam e story . Ye t thi s put s to o muc h emphasis o n 'm y theme' . Wha t make s Lawrence' s nove l 'lik e life ' a s well , i s a kind o f 'form ' tha t i s mor e lik e chiaroscur o tha n suc h heav y outlinin g an d blocked-in structur e coul d suggest , an d tha t come s (a s he wen t o n t o say ) fro m a development tha t wa s 'slo w lik e growth' . I f th e 'theme ' show s ho w fa r Frieda' s Lawrence ha s becom e abl e t o understan d hi s stor y b y gettin g outsid e it , th e 'lifelikeness' o f th e textur e ha s much t o d o wit h th e hatchin g o f ne w insigh t int o a fiction whic h ha s alread y grow n throug h thre e previou s stages , an d wit h a n authorial positio n stil l a s muc h 'within ' a s 'outside ' - th e majo r differentiatio n from Joyce . Anothe r o f th e Janu s face s the n i s tha t th e boo k i s neithe r well shaped artefact , no w quit e separat e fro m it s creator , no r disguise d autobio graphy; becaus e i t i s writte n b y a Lawrenc e wh o i s i n th e proces s o f comin g t o terms a s h e writes , an d a s h e shape s fiction ou t o f life . Her e literar y criticis m would g o o n t o demonstrat e ho w th e poin t o f vie w keep s shifting , sometime s almost sentenc e b y sentence , no w insid e on e character , no w another , no w authorial; ho w th e sympath y o f a reade r keep s shiftin g too ; an d ho w muc h denser an d mor e comple x i s th e we b o f metaphor , an d o f comparison s an d contrasts betwee n th e characters , tha n Lawrence' s bal d summary . Bu t th e poin t for th e biographe r mus t b e t o emphasis e ho w i n writin g Sons and Lovers h e was in fac t writin g a ne w sel f int o existence , slowly , lik e growth , ou t o f a pas t stil l embedded i n th e manuscrip t h e wa s immerse d in , bu t re-seein g now , mont h b y month. Though Jessi e was wrong , then , t o charg e i n he r memoi r tha t 'unde r th e domination tha t ha d rule d hi s life ' Lawrenc e ha d onc e mor e 'hande d hi s mothe r the laurel s o f victory' ; o r whe n sh e testil y contradicte d an y suggestio n tha t Lawrence ha d mean t t o criticis e hi s mother ; i n anothe r sens e sh e wa s simpl y registering th e continuin g vitalit y an d holdin g powe r o f Mr s More l withi n th e 44
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fiction. Sh e ha d hope d tha t Lawrence' s choic e woul d alte r a s h e relive d th e pas t - bu t th e sel f h e wa s writin g woul d no t b e buil t fro m denyin g wha t ha d been . The essenc e o f th e ne w insigh t (an d it s tragedy ) i s tha t vitalit y itsel f ma y tur n destructive; tha t livelines s an d deathlines s ar e th e obvers e an d revers e o f eac h other. Mr s More l i s attracte d t o Walte r becaus e hi s vitalit y i s he r opposite ; bu t by he r seekin g t o chang e hi m accordin g t o he r standards , h e become s degrade d and almos t destroyed . Whe n Willia m fall s i n love , i t i s wit h a 'gypsy ' quit e unlike an d n o riva l t o hi s mother , bu t tha t i s also wh y h e i s always criticisin g he r and unabl e t o com e t o term s wit h th e spli t i n himself ; an d wh y h e work s himsel f into a breakdown, tryin g t o cop e wit h opposit e responsibilities . Suc h judgemen t however canno t den y o r rejec t th e qualitie s an d energie s i n bot h Willia m an d hi s mother whic h mak e the m s o vivi d o n th e page , an d mak e th e strengt h o f thei r relationship life-giving , and destructive , an d apparentl y inevitable . Th e writin g became a challenge t o understandin g no t blame , stil l les s rejectio n - bu t thoug h the understandin g o f th e fathe r ha d grow n sinc e 'Pau l Morel' , i t ha d no t ye t grown enoug h t o suggest ho w suc h opposition s coul d b e mad e creative . With Miria m an d Clara , however , th e split s ar e mor e obviousl y relate d t o divisions i n Pau l himself , an d henc e t o self-diagnosi s i n Lawrence . I t i s thi s which mad e hi m rejec t Jessie's objection s t o th e 'pre-dating ' o f sexual conscious ness. I t seeme d mor e importan t t o sho w th e opposition s a s inevitabl y par t o f th e relationship, tha n t o worr y abou t whe n th e character s firs t becam e consciou s o f them. Moreove r th e structur e o f th e probin g o f Paul , cleare r i n Gargnan o tha n in Eastwood , ha d requirement s fo r 'Miriam' , whethe r jus t t o Jessie o r not . Th e decision no t t o make Pau l a writer an d intellectua l - cuttin g ou t gramma r school , teacher trainin g an d universit y - als o excise d th e ver y centr e o f Lawrence' s relationship wit h Jessie : thei r intellectua l companionship , an d wha t sh e calle d her 'year s o f devotio n t o th e developmen t o f his geniu s - devotio n tha t ha d bee n pure joy'. 97 Thi s ma y hav e begu n a s a way o f keeping th e earl y version s o f Tau l Morel' fro m gettin g to o clos e t o life , befor e Jessi e hersel f change d that ; bu t a s his visio n slowl y becam e clearer , i t wa s helpfu l i n othe r way s t o kee p Pau l a young worke r wh o painte d pictures . I t concentrate d attentio n o n thei r relation ship independen t o f hi s 'work' ; an d helpe d als o t o differentiat e th e pul l o f Miriam fro m tha t o f Mr s Morel , an d henc e t o focu s th e spli t betwee n differen t sides o f Paul. Lawrenc e coul d dra w a sharper distinctio n tha n i n life , wher e bot h households love d book s an d th e discussio n o f ideas , betwee n th e materna l life energy whic h urge d Pau l int o achievement , an d th e spiritua l an d emotiona l intensity o f respons e t o natur e an d ar t whic h make s Miria m unlik e Mr s Morel , and s o draw s Pau l t o he r - withou t a t al l makin g he r th e nurs e o f hi s talen t tha t Jessie ha d bee n i n life . This goe s with a strong emphasi s o n Miriam' s spirituality , playing agains t Mr s Morel' s muc h mor e secula r an d domesti c vie w o f things . (Fiction ma y wel l hav e bee n essentiall y tru e t o lif e here , bu t ma y als o hav e 45
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intensified fo r it s ow n purposes. ) So , onc e again , th e nove l wil l sho w th e so n strongly attracte d by , bu t als o strongl y reactin g against , wha t i s unlik e hi s mother. Bu t i n th e stor y o f th e secon d so n th e patter n get s anothe r twist , because th e gir l i s also sufficiently like th e mothe r t o fight he r fo r hi s 'soul' . No w the fiction underline s a strin g o f ironie s whic h Jessi e wa s upse t by , an d whic h may hav e bee n unjust . Miria m i s require d t o b e a s possessive , i n a differen t register, a s Mrs Morel ; s o tha t whe n th e mother , o r th e so n echoin g her , accuse s the gir l o f wantin g t o absorb , absorb , th e ironie s ar e reflexive . (Th e possessive ness i n Jessie' s memoi r however , he r jealous y an d contemptuou s dismissa l o f Louie Burrows , he r certaint y tha t he r vie w o f thing s wa s the trut h abou t Lawrence, sugges t tha t th e fiction di d hav e som e trut h t o life . Ye t som e o f Lawrence's feeling s abou t Frieda wil l have go t int o th e final portrait also , and th e fiction require d th e emphasis. ) Moreover , th e reactio n o f Mr s More l agains t th e 'brutality' o f Walter , whic h sh e ha d partl y caused , i s echoe d i n th e reactio n o f Miriam an d he r mothe r agains t th e brutalit y o f thei r menfolk , whic h the y hav e also partly caused . An d this , i n turn , ha s brought abou t i n both Miria m an d Pau l an inhibitin g 'purity ' abou t sexuality , whic h mean s tha t sh e ca n onl y giv e hersel f as a sacrifice, an d h e ca n onl y tak e he r b y deliberatel y repressin g par t o f himself . (Neville's evidenc e abou t Lawrence' s squeamishnes s suggest s tha t h e ma y hav e foisted hi s ow n feeling s ont o Miriam , wh o wa s afte r al l a farmer's daughter . Ye t familiarity wit h farm-se x ca n easil y g o wit h a vie w o f huma n se x a s merel y animal, whic h i s th e vie w o f Lawrence' s attractio n t o Loui e tha t Jessi e maintained. ) The 'lov e story ' o f Pau l an d Miria m the n become s a revelation o f how th e ver y thing s whic h attrac t hi m t o th e gir l ar e als o boun d t o repe l him , a s both treaso n t o hi s mother , an d reactio n t o ho w Miria m want s t o hu g hi s sou l (but no t hi s body) t o herself . The essentia l point , however , i s tha t Pau l an d Miria m ha d becom e fo r Lawrence les s a portrayal o f Bert an d Jessie tha n a means o f analysing th e spli t i n himself, whic h hi s relationshi p wit h Fried a wa s helpin g hi m t o se e mor e clearly . The treatmen t o f Clara' s predecesso r France s Radfor d i n 'Pau l Morel ' I I suggests th e rathe r crud e term s o f 'body ' an d 'spirit ' i n whic h thi s analysi s began, befor e Frieda . I t i s alread y implici t tha t Pau l wil l tur n fro m a girl wh o i s spiritual t o a n older , marrie d woman , wh o wil l giv e hi m physica l passion . (Thi s probably mean t tha t eve n Sons and Lovers woul d no t explore , fro m th e inside , what i n fac t it s 'lifelike ' ar t reveal s withou t exploring , tha t ther e i s a potentia l sexuality i n Miria m despit e he r fear , an d a courag e despit e he r drawin g back , which coul d hav e bee n encourage d int o fulfilmen t b y a les s mixed-u p an d immature love r tha n Paul . Lawrenc e kne w thi s perfectl y wel l abou t Jessie, a s hi s other storie s abou t 'her ' show . However , hi s us e o f Miria m t o diagnos e Paul' s malaise coul d neve r hav e resulte d i n a choic e o f he r agains t hi s mother ; o r i n making a development o f his lov e of Miriam th e wa y to richer lif e fo r Paul. ) 46
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'Paul More P I I stoppe d a t a n earl y stag e o f th e relationshi p wit h th e marrie d woman; an d unfortunatel y ou r knowledg e o f th e thir d versio n stop s a t exactl y the sam e point . Onc e agai n w e canno t tel l wha t Jessi e rea d i n Apri l 1912. Sh e wrote twent y year s late r tha t th e characte r o f 'Clara ' wa s a composit e o f 'thre e people' (presumabl y Hele n Corke , Alic e Da x an d Frieda) ; tha t th e event s 'ha d no foundatio n i n fact ' (a n over-confidence , sinc e w e no w kno w tha t Lawrenc e had slep t wit h Alice , a s wel l a s Frieda) ; an d tha t a t th e en d o f th e affai r Tau l Morel calml y hand s he r bac k t o he r husband , an d remain s suspende d ove r th e abyss o f hi s despair' . I t wa s almos t certainl y betwee n earl y Marc h an d earl y April, whil e Lawrenc e wa s writin g th e las t par t o f Tau l Morel ' Ilia , tha t h e me t Frieda (probabl y i n earl y March) , tol d Alic e Da x abou t he r i n a wa y tha t made clea r thei r affai r wa s over , an d probabl y bega n t o slee p wit h Frieda . However ther e i s n o wa y o f tellin g ho w fa r h e fictionalised fro m hi s experience s then; or whethe r th e Tassion ' chapte r (xn ) w e have now was created i n Waldbro l as another o f th e change s h e ha d i n min d t o mak e i n revising . I t ma y hav e bee n only i n Ital y wit h Fried a tha t h e wa s abl e full y t o gras p th e essentia l distinctio n in Sons and Lovers: betwee n th e impersona l unit y wit h th e livin g univers e discovered throug h sexua l passion , an d th e persona l relationshi p betwee n individuals. Again , however , i t i s no t th e correspondenc e wit h lif e tha t matter s most. On e ma y b e reminde d no w o f Helen , no w o f Alice , no w o f Frieda , an d may indee d thin k th e fusio n no t quit e perfec t - bu t i t i s much mor e importan t t o stress agai n ho w th e relationshi p i s structure d i n keepin g wit h th e diagnosi s o f Paul. ('I loathe Paul Morel.' ) The ver y titl e Tassion ' wa s loaded , afte r Waldbrol , fo r i t wa s ther e tha t Lawrence bega n t o discove r th e differenc e betwee n unstabl e passio n an d th e total commitment o f 'my marriage' , a commitment Pau l i s incapable o f making t o Clara becaus e o f th e spli t i n him . Th e structur e o f Sons and Lovers make s i t inevitable tha t th e relatio n wit h Clar a wil l fai l fo r th e reaso n opposit e t o th e failure wit h Miriam . Wit h Miriam , th e persona l relatio n feel s lik e treaso n t o hi s mother, an d th e spli t of 'body' an d 'soul ' (i n the m both ) make s th e impersonalit y and unconsciousnes s o f passio n fee l lik e brutality . Ye t withou t th e dimensio n o f 'soul' tha t come s fro m lov e betwee n uniqu e persons , th e impersona l relatio n o f sexual passio n wit h Clar a wil l satisf y les s an d less . Moreove r Clara , wh o i s a s responsible fo r th e brutalisin g o f Dawes a s Mr s More l fo r Walter , value s hersel f as person mor e tha n female , a point tha t coul d hav e bee n develope d further , an d might hav e unifie d th e suffragis t bette r wit h th e suffering . Henc e sh e belong s t o the ma n wh o need s he r a s a person, he r husband . Paul's fight wit h Baxte r Dawe s ma y hav e grow n ou t o f a sens e o f guil t abou t both husbands , Henr y Da x an d Ernes t Weekle y - imaginin g als o how , afte r a purgation o f violen t rag e an d hate , the y migh t hav e becom e (gingerly ) friends . The givin g o f Clar a bac k t o he r husban d i s als o a measur e o f Paul' s malais e 47
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however, a s The Fight for Barbara shows . Becaus e o f th e spli t hi s mother' s contempt fo r hi s fathe r ha s produce d i n him , an d becaus e h e i s draw n t o eac h woman b y onl y hal f o f himself , h e canno t figh t fo r eithe r a s Wesso n fight s fo r (and against ) Barbara , an d Lawrenc e fo r an d agains t Frieda . Hi s mothe r keep s her hold . Here howeve r Lawrence' s summar y fo r Garnet t falsifie s th e most . S o fa r fro m the mothe r 'almos t unconsciously ' realisin g 'wha t i s the matter ' an d beginnin g t o die, Mr s Morel , muc h true r t o he r character , hold s o n t o lif e wit h s o inflexible a will tha t he r so n ha s t o hel p he r ou t o f i t wit h a n overdos e o f morphia . Th e act , however, secure s a future . Fo r thoug h Pau l i s 'lef t i n th e en d nake d o f everything, wit h th e drif t toward s death ' unti l th e las t sentence , tha t sentenc e sends hi m 'toward s th e faintl y humming , glowin g town , quickly' . Th e las t word retain s it s quic k o f life , thoug h ther e i s n o knowin g wha t h e ma y fin d there. Once again , w e hav e n o wa y o f knowin g ho w 'Pau l Morel ' II I ended , an d cannot assum e tha t i t wa s a s now . W e d o kno w tha t Lawrenc e 'funked ' tacklin g the deat h o f Mr s More l i n Gargnan o (i . 466) , an d tha t whe n h e di d so , h e became ill . Thi s suggest s tha t th e previou s accoun t wa s les s harrowing , sinc e there wa s n o suc h distres s i n Eastwoo d o r Walbrol , thoug h Jessie di d remembe r seeing hi m o n Easte r Monda y a t th e statio n lookin g miserable . I t i s unlikely , too, tha t 'Pau l Morel ' wa s a s revealin g o f th e secre t knowledg e o f th e natur e o f their relationship , tha t come s t o mothe r an d so n a t th e end . I t seem s likely , an d most distressin g o f all , tha t Lawrenc e onl y no w decide d t o sho w th e killin g o f the mothe r b y th e so n - Oresteia n rathe r tha n 'sor t o f Oedipus ' (i . 449 ) especially sinc e i t ha d it s sourc e i n life . Besid e this , th e justificatio n withi n th e book o f allowin g a slive r o f hop e t o Pau l More l (an d th e writing , whenever , o f the tw o Day s o f th e Dea d poems) , fall s int o place . Fried a seem s t o confir m tha t this wa s ne w - thoug h he r memor y was no t alway s trustworth y - b y relatin g Lawrence's illnes s t o 'al l thi s "hous e o f Atreus " feeling' . Th e otherwis e inexplicable ignoring , i n hi s summary , o f th e fina l sentenc e h e ha d jus t written , might com e fro m extrem e reluctanc e t o tal k o f ho w i t connecte d wit h th e fina l 'killing' o f th e mothe r - bot h i n fictio n an d (i t woul d appea r fro m hi s admissio n a year later ) i n fact . The fina l 'kic k agains t tragedy ' ha d howeve r als o been prefigure d b y th e shap e of hi s ow n life , b y 'Christ s i n th e Tyrol' , an d b y th e rejectio n o f th e 'Writer s among th e Ruins ' (suc h a s Bennet t an d Conrad) . H e ha d don e a s muc h a s h e could t o 'understan d hi s ow n suffering , an d se e i t tak e o n itsel f th e distinctnes s of a n eterna l thing' , s o tha t h e coul d 'g o o n further , leavin g it' . His 'faintl y humming, glowin g town ' ha d ha d Fried a i n i t - an d throug h her , thoug h alway s embattled, a ne w life , whic h helpe d hi m se e an d thereb y begi n t o she d th e sickness o f the old .
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In anothe r mor e pervasiv e way , Sons and Lovers look s forwar d rathe r tha n back. What i s strangest an d mos t hauntin g i s a new kin d o f utterance, behin d th e drama an d th e consciousnes s o f th e characters , suggestin g a whol e ne w perspective agains t whic h th e huma n actio n ha s t o b e seen . Whe n a t th e en d o f an ugl y battl e Mr s More l i s thrus t ou t int o he r moonli t garden ; whe n i n a moment o f guil t sh e trie s t o giv e he r bab y bac k t o th e sun ; whe n Pau l an d Miriam stan d befor e th e rose-bush ; whe n th e scent s o f madonn a lilie s an d iri s precipitate Paul' s decisio n agains t Miriam ; an d whe n i n th e field wher e th e peewits cr y Pau l an d Clar a fee l a t on e wit h th e thrus t o f th e gras s stem s an d th e wheel o f th e stars , th e boo k begin s t o mov e decisivel y beyon d 'character ' an d individual 'psychology' . Lawrenc e i s becomin g dissatisfie d wit h a n ar t confine d to th e 'personal' , an d ha s begu n t o fee l hi s wa y imaginativel y toward s a n ar t which ca n rende r impersona l force s (bot h unitar y an d 'singlin g out' ) belo w th e level o f consciousness , an d hel p t o diagnos e mor e deepl y th e 'splits ' whic h tur n what ough t t o b e creativ e int o destruction . I n suc h passages , th e shap e o f potential integratio n begin s t o appear shadowil y behin d th e experienc e o f failure . It i s stil l 'i n th e background' . Lawrenc e ha s no t ye t learne d full y t o articulat e what h e sense s - bu t i t i s there , an d i s ye t anothe r reaso n wh y Sons and Lovers holds mor e tha n a tragic sense of life .
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CHAPTER TW O
• November 1912-Decembe r 191 3
NEW U T T E R A N C E We are always just us two and we live so hard on each other .. . (i- 521 )
And think, there will something come forth fro m us, We two, folded s o small together, There will something come forth fro m us. Children, acts, utterance .. . ('Wedlock', V , 1-4 )
I Unhapp y Christma s As Lawrenc e pu t hi s nove l i n th e pos t o n 1 8 Novembe r 1912 , i t mus t hav e fel t like freedom . Th e nex t da y h e a t las t tol d Loui e Burrow s tha t h e wa s livin g wit h someone h e love d an d hope d t o marry , an d manage d t o sa y - thoug h apolog y never cam e easil y - tha t 'th e wrong ' o f thei r broke n engagemen t 'wa s al l o n m y side. I think o f you wit h respec t an d gratitude , fo r yo u wer e goo d t o me' (i . 480) . His battle s woul d begi n agai n soo n enough . On e o f the m wa s no w t o fin d a wa y beyond Sons and Lovers. At firs t h e wa s conten t t o collec t himsel f a little . H e painte d fou r picture s a s Christmas presents ; h e wandere d int o mountai n village s abov e Gargnano ; h e gathered armful s o f Christma s roses ; th e Italia n lesson s continued . McLeo d ha d sent ' a treasureful' o f books whic h kep t Fried a happ y (i . 481) , and re-introduce d Lawrence t o th e fictio n o f Mark Rutherford . Then thing s bega n t o g o wrong . A t th e en d o f Novembe r Garnet t wrot e t o say tha t Sons and Lovers wa s to o long ; thoug h h e als o propose d t o cu t i t himself . 'I si t i n sadnes s an d grief , Lawrenc e replied . ' I daren' t sa y anything . Al l right , take ou t wha t yo u thin k necessar y . . . bu t don' t scol d m e to o hard , i t make s m e wither u p . . . I' m s o afraid you'l l repres s me ' (i . 481-2) . He wa s upset enoug h t o have sai d a grea t dea l more , ha d i t no t bee n s o importan t t o ge t th e nove l accepted quickl y an d collec t a much-neede d advance ; an d ha d h e no t bee n s o dependent o n Garnett' s support , advice , agenc y an d friendship . Eve n so , piqu e shows a littl e wit h th e new s tha t h e ha s bee n approache d b y a n agen t (probabl y Curtis Brown ) fo r a n 'enterprising ' publisher ; a comfort 'afte r you r wigging' . Weekley wa s stil l bein g histrionic . No w h e sen t bac k Frieda' s Christma s 50
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postal orde r fo r th e children , threatenin g deat h fo r th e insul t sinc e 'tha t filth y hound' ha d signe d i t (i . 484) . Earl y i n Decembe r th e vo n Richthofen s mad e a 'grand onslaught ' throug h Els e (i . 485) , t o pressur e Fried a int o acceptin g a separate establishmen t wit h th e children , provide d sh e woul d brea k wit h Lawrence. Els e urge d hi m t o sacrific e himself ; but h e denie d th e valu e o f that. I f Frieda coul d liv e happil y alon e wit h th e childre n h e woul d agree , 'Bu t i f sh e would onl y b e sacrificin g he r life , I woul d no t le t he r g o if I could kee p her. ' Fo r such sacrific e woul d prov e ' a curse ' t o th e children , an d 'sa p thei r strengt h because the y woul d hav e t o suppor t he r lif e a s they gre w up' , always feelin g the y had 't o live/o r her, t o pa y back ' (i . 486 ) - a s hi s nove l ha d forcefull y disclosed . Frieda stayed . The n Weekle y countere d wit h anothe r ultimatum . H e woul d divorce he r onl y i f sh e agree d t o a complete severanc e fro m th e childre n a s wel l as fro m him ; bu t tha t sh e coul d neve r accept . No r howeve r i f ther e wer e a divorce, woul d sh e conside r marryin g Lawrence : 'Sh e say s a woma n ca n onl y have on e husban d - onl y belon g t o on e man ' (i . 489) ; an d worse , th e ide a o f remarriage gav e he r 'creeps ' (i . 498) . He r angs t ove r th e childre n an d he r no t valuing hi m enoug h t o commi t hersel f seeme d agai n tw o side s o f th e sam e coin , undoing muc h o f the goo d o f her decisio n t o stay . Into a state o f stress , then , arrive d Harol d Hobson , takin g u p a n invitatio n t o come fo r Christma s mad e i n ver y differen t circumstances . H e als o arrive d unexpectedly, ahea d o f hi s letter , a s the y sa t a t breakfas t o n 1 1 Decembe r (i. 488-9) . I t was brave, o r ver y egotistic , o r both . Th e elde r Garnett s ha d note d his thick-skinne d assurance, 6 bu t eve n s o h e mus t hav e fel t som e misgiving . Ye t Lawrence an d Fried a pride d themselve s o n bein g unconventional ; Lawrenc e had like d him ; an d al l thre e fel t the y wer e t o b e congratulate d o n tryin g t o pu t the pas t behin d the m - thoug h Lawrenc e foun d i t a greater strai n tha n h e woul d publicly admit . Hobson' s cynicis m an d comi c lamentation s wer e stil l amusing , and Lawrenc e bravel y proclaime d tha t h e coul d 'trus t H . a s m y frien d now ' (i. 489 ) - bu t ther e was tension . H e staye d til l Ne w Year ; an d thoug h h e pu t u p in th e Hote l Cerv o rathe r tha n th e Vill a Ige a wher e the y ha d roo m bu t n o bedding, an d thoug h compan y was welcom e afte r thre e month s alon e together , the strai n bega n t o show. 7 Lawrenc e i s rueful abou t Fried a pullin g hair s fro m hi s tail instea d o f lionisin g hi m (i . 493-4) , an d mus t hav e resente d bein g pu t dow n in fron t o f Hobson . H e write s a littl e sadl y t o McLeo d tha t t o hav e compan y i s 'very jolly . Bu t I' d rathe r yo u ha d come . I nee d on e o f m y ow n friend s rathe r badly jus t now ' (i . 488) . T o mak e thing s worse , abou t 2 0 Decembe r h e caugh t a 'venomous' col d an d retire d t o bed wit h th e blue s (i . 490 , 491), while Fried a an d Hobson entertaine d eac h other . Indeed th e mor e hi s letter s proclai m 'we'v e bee n awfull y joll y together , th e three o f us ' (i . 494) , th e cleare r i t become s tha t Christma s itsel f wa s a disaster . To Bunn y o n th e 2 9 Decembe r h e i s determinedl y cheerful ; ye t whe n Fried a 51
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adds he r postscrip t hi s customar y interjection s hav e non e o f their usua l humou r but ar e scrawle d irritabl y acros s th e pape r (i . 494-5) . H e woul d no t hav e like d her callin g him , a s muc h a s Hobso n wh o mad e a performanc e o f it , a 'sa d an d tragic' figure; especiall y sinc e Hobson' s 'tragedy ' i s pu t dow n t o hi s 'stron g virility' havin g n o outlet ; whil e sh e claim s t o hav e discovere d i n Lawrenc e 'abysses o f elusive , destructive , spiritua l tragedy ' - 'balls! ' h e scribbled ; an d 'ShitV whe n sh e wen t o n t o sa y tha t he r traged y ove r th e childre n was 'child' s play' compare d t o his . ' I ha d a hel l o f a time ' - th e trut h come s ou t - ' L torturing me , H bein g tha t 'umpy , bu t no w w e hav e ha d som e joll y days , peac e and goodwil l al l round' . ' I don t fink' i s Lawrence' s comment . T o a typica l Frieda-whimsy abou t th e sex y ex-sailo r postma n - 'Lawrenc e i s jealous o f him. I do lov e him , th e sailor ' - h e rejoin s 'balls-achin g rot' . Whe n sh e finally ask s Bunny no t t o 'thin k nast y thing s abou t m e . . . I a m reall y quit e goo d an d wee p no more!' , Lawrenc e scribble s 'Bitch!' ; an d whe n sh e finishes ' I appreciat e you r letters, though the y don t appreciat e me ' - 'Arse-licking' . The troubl e wen t deepe r tha n tensio n ove r Hobson , o r Lawrence' s jealou s insecurity, o r Frieda' s urg e t o stic k pin s i n hi m rathe r tha n admi t hi s claim s o n her. T o th e elde r Garnet t sh e confesses : 'Th e traged y wa s i n it s zenit h jus t a t Xmas; i n spit e o f heroi c effort s an d lofties t sentiment s [presumabl y Else' s language an d Lawrence' s reply ] on e feel s mor e lik e mincepies an d parcel s almost Xmas card s a t tha t tim e an d o f cours e I wa s ignore d b y al l m y friends , th e outcast' (i . 497) . To tel l hersel f (o r b e tol d b y Lawrence ) tha t sh e had chose n he r lot, ha d no t mad e i t fee l an y better . Ghost s o f Christmase s pas t ha d clearl y haunted thi s one . Christma s a t th e Weekleys ' ha d th e ful l German/Englis h family an d child-centre d emphasis ; an d nothin g coul d hav e brough t hom e mor e devastatingly Frieda' s childles s an d outcas t stat e tha n th e absenc e o f cards , an d the ga p wher e Monty , Els a an d Barb y ough t t o hav e been . A s ha d happene d i n Germany, Lawrence' s sufferin g ove r he r sufferin g mad e i t worse . I n February , when thing s ha d improve d again , sh e was abl e t o se e th e double-side d effec t o f her grief : 'Lawrence i s i n a state o f utte r miser y the n an d I can' t hel p i t muc h Rejoicing o n th e one hand lik e anything tha t h e cares so much[, ] on th e other th e children an d th e miser y o f it ' (i . 521) . He r mai n feelin g a t Christma s howeve r was ho w hi s constan t enquirie s torture d her : 'h e chase s m y poo r emotions , til l they dro p lik e pantin g hares ' (i . 498) . Ironically , th e mor e tende r an d concerne d he was , th e mor e irritatin g hi s question s abou t th e stat e o f he r feeling s especially i f tinge d wit h implicatio n tha t he r grie f wa s someho w treacher y t o him. A t th e sam e tim e sh e confesse s th e ambivalenc e i n hersel f whic h mad e hi m probe a t he r wit h suc h barbe d tenderness : 'ther e ar e 2 side s t o huma n love , on e that want s t o be faithful , th e other want s t o run, m y runnin g on e was uppermost , but it' s goin g to be faithful now . I used t o think I should neve r hav e enough love , now I think I have go t as much a s I can swallow ' (i . 498) . 52
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It i s i n thi s lette r howeve r tha t th e mer e ide a o f marriag e give s he r 'creeps' . Yet by 2 9 December thing s wer e on th e mend . Weekle y finall y agree d t o divorc e her, an d th e lega l requiremen t t o hav e n o direc t communicatio n mean t a t leas t that hi s hysterica l letter s woul d cease . Look! We Have Come Through! make s th e New Yea r a turnin g poin t int o ne w lif e fo r the m both , ou t o f conflict . Th e divorce paper s woul d b e serve d o n 4 Marc h — whe n 'Signo r Lavrenchy ' sa w himself describe d a s on e wh o ha d ' "habitually committe d adultery. " - Wha t a nasty habit! ' (i . 524) . Hopin g tha t Fried a migh t ye t b e awarde d access , h e approached a lawyer, Edward Garnett' s brothe r Robert . Ther e wa s still 'hafflin g and caffling ' abou t seein g th e childre n i n th e Easte r holiday s (i . 523) , bu t the y expected tha t Frieda' s 'sor t o f blind , stupi d trust ' woul d b e rewarded , an d tha t they woul d g o to England the n (i . 497) . (Easter woul d b e early , on 2 3 March. ) At th e en d o f February , however , cam e anothe r unexpecte d guest . The y ha d never me t Antoni a Almgre m - know n a s 'Tony' Cyria x (he r maide n name ) - bu t had almos t certainl y hear d o f her, probabl y eve n tha t sh e ha d helpe d Bunn y los e his virginity . Sh e ha d marrie d a fello w art-studen t i n Swede n bu t ha d recentl y left him , and wa s now i n grea t fea r tha t h e was pursuing her . Thi s ma y have bee n paranoid; ye t Constanc e Garnet t though t hi m mentall y disturbed , an d fel t i t s o urgent t o ge t Ton y ou t o f Englan d fas t tha t sh e wa s packe d of f t o Gargnano , without waitin g fo r a repl y t o th e lette r askin g i f sh e coul d come . A telegra m arrived o n 2 7 Februar y (whil e the y wer e discussin g th e letter) , b y whic h tim e i t was alread y to o lat e t o ge t t o Desenzano , th e junctio n fro m Veron a (i . 520) . S o Lawrence se t out t o meet he r an d he r youn g daughte r Gisel a at Salo (i. 522) . The visi t was no t unwelcome . Ther e wa s th e proble m o f wha t woul d happe n when Lawrenc e an d Fried a wen t t o Englan d fo r Easter ; bu t Fried a wa s gla d o f the compan y because , ne w star t o r no , 'W e ar e alway s jus t u s tw o an d w e live s o hard o n eac h other[; ] on e da y lik e th e lion s tha t at e eac h other , ther e wil l b e nothing bu t tw o tail s left ' (i . 521) . Lawrenc e though t a t leas t Ton y coul d shar e the housework ; ' I fee l I'v e cooke d cart-load s o f foo d an d scrubbe d acre s o f dirt y board' - bu t a s he wrote this , Tony was 'prodding th e cauliflowe r wit h a fountai n pen', 'I t explain s th e whol e situation ' (i . 523) . Bunn y describe s he r a s 'coo l an d brown' wit h 'hug e dar k eye s whic h seeme d t o gro w bigge r a s sh e responde d t o my father' s teasing' ; bu t sh e was als o 'ful l o f spirit ' an d woul d no t b e crushed . She ha d live d i n Lapland ; an d Lawrenc e foun d he r 'ver y interesting ' - enoug h to mak e Fried a th e jealou s on e thi s time , thoug h no t fo r long . ' I ha d a pan g o f jealousy becaus e o f her , bu t th e bubble' s pricked . L . approache s al l peopl e (women specially ) a s i f the y wer e Gothi c cathedrals , the n h e find s tha t the y ar e little house s an d hate s the m fo r it! ' (i . 533) . Fried a admire d Tony' s indepen dence, althoug h 'sh e i s chasin g greatnes s a s i f i t wer e a rabbi t an d sh e want s t o put sal t o n it s tail! ' Bu t (tartly ) sh e though t th e husban d a foo l t o pursu e someone s o cold , especiall y sinc e 'Sh e i s a sensationalist , [who ] love s al l thi s 53
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chasing game ' (i . 534) . Constance Garnett , wh o ha d no t ye t me t Frieda , though t these comment s acute . Soon the y wer e abl e t o settl e mothe r an d daughte r i n Sa n Gaudenzio , a farmhouse u p behin d Gargnan o o n th e wa y t o Muslone , 'perche d o n th e bri m o f the mountain s ove r th e lake , i n a farm-stea d o f olive s an d vines , a situatio n beautiful a s a dream'. I t cos t only 3 0 lire a month (abou t 24/- ) a s against 1.5 0 lir e a nigh t a t th e Cervo , 'an d th e fol k are nice' (i . 526 , 520) . Abou t 1 3 Marc h the y themselves wer e finding th e lakesid e gettin g to o hot , an d planne d t o leav e fo r England 'i n abou t a week' (i . 528) . This i s fro m a letter t o Jessie afte r eigh t months ' silence , tellin g he r t o expec t his spar e se t o f proof s of Sons and Lovers. 1 Sh e ha d writte n ' a damne d affecte d letter' (i . 526 ) afte r receivin g he r cop y o f Love Poems and Others; but Lawrenc e too coul d sho w tha t 'i t isn' t s o easy t o writ e naturall y t o a quondam lover' . I t was not a goo d ide a t o tel l Jessie tha t 'Fried a an d I discus s yo u endlessly ' (i . 528 ) and fa r wors e was to come . Though Easte r wa s very clos e now , the y di d no t leav e as planned. Fo r th e en d of th e wee k brough t Els e Jaffe, o n he r wa y t o Rome , wit h th e new s tha t Fried a would not be allowe d t o se e th e childre n i n th e Easte r holiday s afte r all . The ide a of going t o England was promptly abandoned , a truly bitte r blo w (i . 530) . Fried a 'had looke d o n i t a s a dea d certainty ' (i . 531) . Onc e agai n sh e wa s plunge d int o misery, wit h th e usua l effec t o n Lawrenc e wh o wa s alread y feelin g seed y wit h another cold , caugh t durin g a sudden spel l o f rain . Fo r a moment, b y hersel f a t the lakeside , Fried a was s o 'flayed ' b y 'he r misery ' tha t sh e undressed , wade d i n and fel t a n impuls e t o sli p under . Thing s wer e mad e wors e whe n Else , i n rich elder-sister mood , presse d the m t o joi n he r i n Rom e instead . 'A s sh e i s a perso n who arrange s othe r folk' s affairs, ' wrot e Lawrenc e morosely , ' I suppos e w e shal l go' (i - 530) Moreover whe n Jessi e looke d int o th e proof s sh e decide d t o brea k wit h hi m altogether. I n 193 5 sh e claime d tha t sh e ha d onl y t o glanc e a t the m t o se e tha t what ha d hur t he r mos t remaine d unaltered . Ye t he r lette r t o Hele n Cork e o n [16 March ] describe s a physica l distres s fa r wors e tha n he r respons e t o th e previous versio n i n Sprin g 1912 : ' I si t i n fron t o f th e fire an d shive r a s i f I ha d ague fits.' I n fac t th e nove l sh e ha d rea d i n 191 2 ha d bee n ver y considerabl y altered - only , fro m he r poin t o f view , infinitel y fo r th e worse . Ever y pag e o f what wa s now 'Th e Tes t o n Miriam ' ha d bee n rewritten ; ye t sh e woul d no t hav e had t o read fa r (beginnin g wit h th e hur t o f the titl e itself) t o produce th e reactio n she describe d t o Hele n Corke . Sh e quickl y sen t th e proof s o n t o Ada , a s sh e ha d been aske d t o do . The n sh e sen t bac k th e lette r Lawrenc e ha d enclose d wit h them. Thoug h a t first h e coul d no t believ e sh e ha d mean t it , th e breac h wa s absolute. 15 All thi s gav e Lawrenc e 'th e humpies t hump , O Gawd!' , sai d Frieda , ' I a m a 54
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heroic person , t o stan d hi m da y fo r day , I tel l you ! . . . I thin k I'l l pu t hi m o n a little stoo l i n th e garde n lik e hi s mother , "no w cr y there , misery" ' (i . 531). 16 However sh e late r admitte d tha t sh e ha d als o give n hi m ' a hell o f a time, that' s t o say he too k i t ove r th e children , I was s o very sur e t o se e the m a t Easter , i t wa s a fixture i n m y head' . A s th e rai n poure d down ; an d Fried a wen t o n an d o n abou t the children ; an d Lawrenc e go t humpie r an d humpie r bu t kep t askin g ' a doze n times a da y i n al l keys , ar e yo u miserable ' (i . 534) ; i t mus t hav e bee n th e Christmas miser y al l over again . However a t th e en d o f Marc h the y decide d t o joi n Ton y a t Sa n Gaudenzi o instead o f Else i n Rome, an d perhap s g o to England later .
II Ho w t o Ge t Beyon d Sons and Lovers} (a) False Starts We shoul d remembe r howeve r tha t Lawrence' s was als o a writin g life , live d perhaps a s vividl y o n pape r a s wit h people . Writing , h e coul d bot h distanc e an d focus th e othe r lif e o f relationship. Betwee n 1 9 November an d th e en d o f Marc h he wa s strugglin g no t onl y t o 'com e through ' wit h Frieda , bu t als o t o find a way beyond, around , a n unrepeatabl e achievement . Eac h differen t attemp t moreove r reveals somethin g h e though t Sons and Lovers lacke d - somethin g (then ) tha t needed t o b e adde d t o th e writin g sel f whic h wa s als o th e man' s mod e o f perceiving. Even a t Ickin g i n Augus t 191 2 h e ha d though t o f doin g a novel 'purel y o f th e common people ' (i . 431) , and o n 3 0 October, nearin g th e en d o f Sons and Lovers, he name d hi s ide a 'Scargil l Street ' - whic h ra n acros s th e hill , jus t belo w hi s birthplace i n Eastwood , 'betwee n th e squares ' o f miners ' houses . A s scholar ship boy , Lawrenc e wa s a n earl y exampl e o f a growin g phenomenon : thos e working-class childre n whos e 'higher ' educatio n cu t the m of f fro m th e worl d o f their fathers . A s long a s his mothe r was alive, his writing showe d littl e interes t i n the communa l lif e an d value s o f miner s lik e Arthu r Lawrence ; thoug h afte r he r death th e collier y sketche s o f Sprin g 191 2 bega n t o sugges t wha t h e migh t d o i n rendering th e lif e o f 'th e commo n people' , helpe d b y focusin g withou t referenc e to hi s ow n home , an d despit e hi s limite d experience . A s h e gre w mor e critica l o f his mothe r i n writin g Sons and Lovers, th e sens e ma y hav e grow n o f ho w muc h in hi s father' s worl d ha d onl y bee n glimpse d i n it s pages , thoug h b y th e tim e h e saw th e peasan t famil y i n Bogliac o th e first par t o f the nove l was alread y set . Ye t his remar k the n ho w tha t famil y i n it s vitalit y an d tendernes s 'remind s m e s o o f home whe n I wa s a boy' (i . 460) , suggest s th e possibilit y o f a very differen t vie w of a working-class home , perhaps , i n Scargil l Street . After h e finished Sons and Lovers, hi s fathe r an d hi s vivi d languag e ofte n cam e 55
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to mind . H e sen t hi m 5 / - fo r Christma s an d a lette r whic h ha s no t survive d (i. 484) . I n January, Weekley' s vacillatio n 'woul d wea r th e hear t ou t o f a wheel barrow trundle , a s m y fathe r woul d say ' (i . 506) . H e ma y hav e th e hump , bu t when Fried a sit s o n to p 'it' s a s bi g a s th e "doo m o f S t Paul's" , a s m y fathe r always says ' (i . 534) ; an d h e use s hi s father' s 'pottery ' fo r 'poetry ' whe n th e critics d o no t see m t o valu e hi s Love Poems (i . 536) . Abov e all , a lette r t o th e artist Ernes t Colling s o n 1 7 January forge s anothe r lin k betwee n th e Italia n peasant an d Walte r Morel : My grea t religio n i s a belief in the blood, the flesh, as being wiser tha n th e intellect. We can go wrong in our minds. But what our blood feels and believes and says, is always true. The intellec t i s only a bit and a bridle. What d o I care about knowledge . All I want is to answer to my blood, direct, without fribbling interventio n o f mind, or moral, or what not. I conceiv e a man's bod y a s a kind o f flame, like a candle flame forever uprigh t an d ye t flowing: an d th e intellec t i s just th e ligh t tha t i s shed ont o th e thing s around . An d I am not s o muc h concerne d wit h th e thing s around ; - whic h i s reall y mind : - bu t wit h th e mystery o f th e flame forever flowing, comin g Go d know s ho w fro m ou t o f practicall y nowhere, an d bein g itself ... Tha t i s wh y I lik e t o liv e i n Italy . Th e peopl e ar e s o unconscious. It i s being, being oneself , tha t i s all-important ; an d on e mus t (a s Blak e thought ) act o n one' s desires , for th e 'livin g of [one's] ful l flame' (i . 503-4). 19 This immediatel y recall s th e earl y contras t betwee n Paul' s mothe r an d fathe r - an d suggest s tha t Lawrenc e ha d bee n thinkin g agai n abou t ho w Mr s More l destroyed th e flame whic h attracte d he r She wa s a puritan, wh o considered everythin g on e di d shoul d b e useful , eithe r toward s improving thi s world , o r increasin g one' s chance s i n th e next . Therefor e th e dusky , golden softnes s o f his man's sensuous flame of life, that flowed from of f his flesh like the flame of f a candle, not baffled an d gripped into incandescence by thought and spirit as her life was, seemed to her something wonderful, beyond her. 20 Living i n Ital y ha d als o mad e hi m mor e impatien t wit h Englis h class consciousness. 'Scargil l Street ' woul d hav e ha d t o avoi d th e faul t h e sa w i n Stephen Reynold s whe n h e rea d Alongshore (1910 ) i n December , tha t 'h e swank s his acquaintanc e wit h th e longshoreme n s o hugely . H e write s de haut en has like any ol d sal t talkin g t o a clerk fro m Londo n - excep t tha t he' s th e cler k himself , carefully go t u p a s th e salt ' (i . 488) . H e himsel f coul d 'ge t alon g wit h anybody' , being 'common' , bu t 'Fried a i s a lady , an d I hat e he r whe n sh e talk s t o th e common people . Sh e i s no t a bi t stuck-up , reall y mor e humbl e tha n I am , bu t she makes th e de haut en has of class distinction fel t - eve n wit h m y sister . I t i s as she wa s bred an d fed , an d can' t b e otherwise' (i . 502) . However, eve n afte r layin g his mother t o rest i n his novel i t was too soo n t o be able t o writ e a n antithetica l nove l abou t a minin g community . I t woul d hav e 56
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come to o clos e t o hom e onc e more . Ther e i s n o evidenc e tha t 'Scargil l Street ' was eve r begun . Ye t readin g The Revolution in Tanner's Lane, jus t now , ma y have give n hi m a n ide a o f ho w t o creat e mor e distance ; fo r Rutherford' s 'revolution' i n th e soul s o f a jobbin g printe r an d th e chape l fol k o f Cowfol d began i n 1814 , and ende d i n 184 0 nearly hal f a century befor e h e wrote . So whe n o n 1 7 Decembe r Lawrenc e bega n t o thin k seriousl y abou t writin g again, i t was a n historica l nove l h e no w ha d i n mind . I t ha d t o b e fiction rathe r than poetr y becaus e h e wa s 'resisting too har d t o writ e poetr y - resisting the strai n of Weekley, an d th e traged y ther e i s in keepin g Frieda . T o writ e poetr y on e ha s to le t onesel f fus e i n th e curren t - bu t I daren't ' (i . 488) . Th e ne w ide a wa s ' a sort o f lif e o f Rober t Burns' , transportin g hi m t o th e Midland s an d feelin g fre e to alte r circumstances , bu t remainin g tru e t o th e man . ' I hav e alway s bee n fon d of him, a s of a sort o f brother' (i . 489) . The nove l was stil l t o b e 'o f th e commo n people', bu t a differen t kind . Thoug h i n th e survivin g fragments 21 th e girl' s father i s a collier , com e t o wor k th e gi n pit s describe d a t th e beginnin g o f Sons and Lovers, th e mai n concer n i s wit h countr y peopl e workin g lan d hire d fro m landlords, no t unlik e th e Italia n peasants . Indeed , whil e th e first episod e ha s t o do wit h gatherin g woo d i n Sherwoo d forest , th e scen e soo n shift s t o a n 'inn ' very lik e th e drinkin g place s - mer e room s i n peasan t house s - whic h Lawrenc e had visite d i n Bogliaco and village s like Muslone, thoug h als o and quit e naturall y recalling 'Rollivers ' i n Hardy's Tess. Yet i f historica l distancin g migh t solv e som e o f th e difficultie s o f 'Scargil l Street', th e affinit y betwee n Burn s an d himsel f woul d creat e others . Th e dange r was ther e fro m th e star t i n th e immediat e mov e fro m 'H e seem s a good dea l lik e myself - nice r i n mos t ways' , t o ' I thin k I ca n d o hi m almos t lik e a n autobiography' (i . 487) . He migh t imagin e simila r bu t als o refreshingl y differen t experience: th e struggl e o f a commo n ma n fo r education ; th e discussio n group s of intelligen t youn g workin g men ; th e friendshi p o f brothers ; th e growt h awa y from th e fathe r (ironicall y ove r th e son' s passio n fo r dancing , bu t wit h n o 'class ' loading an d withi n a contex t o f respect) ; th e sexua l affair s an d th e clas h wit h puritan morality ; th e shor t spel l learnin g a trade ; th e developmen t o f th e poe t (though i n dialect and convivia l folksong) ; th e feelin g fo r natur e an d animals ; th e local succes s followe d b y th e muc h greate r on e i n th e metropolis , bu t th e consequent loathin g o f class-pretension an d patronag e - an d th e takin g t o drink , as seen no w i n a man h e admire d an d love d a s a sort o f brother, an d ' a man fo r a ' that'. Al l this, together wit h th e challeng e o f imagining condition s o n th e Notts / Derby borde r i n th e secon d hal f o f th e eighteent h century , migh t wel l see m attractive. Ye t ho w (wit h th e temptatio n o f autobiography ) t o avoi d repeatin g oneself - eve n thoug h severa l o f th e abov e theme s ha d no t figured i n Sons and Lovers} Lawrenc e place d hi s singing-la d a t th e Hagg s Farm , jus t beginnin g a love-affair wit h a gir l calle d Mar y Rensha w - th e Midland s equivalen t o f 57
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'Highland Mary ' i n who m Lawrenc e ha d declare d hi s interes t i n th e lette r whic h first announce d th e ide a o f th e novel . H e give s he r a Scot' s re d hai r an d pin k complexion, ye t ther e canno t bu t b e som e deja vu i n lad-and-las s lov e i n tha t familiar landscape . Ye t ther e ar e als o ne w things , i f crud e a s yet : th e sens e o f a mysterious life , bot h i n th e snare d rabbi t whic h th e la d releases , mad e newl y sensitive b y th e firs t encounte r wit h th e girl , and i n th e wonde r o f her fac e unde r his lip s i n moonlight : S t was th e darknes s h e was kissing , discovering . I t wa s th e night h e ha d hi s mouth upon. ' As Lawrenc e sa t i n be d o n Christma s ev e however , nursin g hi s cold , chewin g Italian nouga t an d 'writin g a bit ' a t hi s ne w novel , h e himsel f judge d i t c so fa r more cleve r tha n good ' (i . 491) . (H e als o though t Colling s quit e righ t t o prefe r the contemporar y realis m o f hi s English Review 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums ' t o the historica l romanc e of' A Fragmen t o f Staine d Glass'. ) Fiv e day s late r h e ha d decided t o se t th e 'Burn s novel ' asid e fo r somethin g ver y different , an d seem s never t o have touched i t again . His ne w ide a show s wha t h e though t ha d bee n wron g wit h it : historical fiction did no t hav e distanc e enough , no r th e lif e o f Burns enoug h shape . It s successor , by contrast , woul d hav e ' a bi t o f a plot , an d I don' t thin k it'l l b e unwieldy , because it'l l b e furthe r of f fro m m e an d won' t com e dow n o n m y hea d s o often ' (i. 496-7) . I f thi s (a s seem s certain ) wa s th e fragmen t 'Els a Culverwell' , h e would ge t furthe r fro m himsel f no t onl y b y havin g a heroine , bu t b y writin g i n her first-perso n female . I n 'Pau l Morel ' I I (befor e Jessie' s advice ) Lawrenc e had place d 'Miriam ' no t a t Hagg s Far m bu t i n a famil y base d o n th e Cullen s o f Eastwood: Georg e Henry , th e shopkeepe r o f 'Londo n House ' o n th e Not tingham Road , notoriou s fo r hi s unsuccessfu l scheme s (clothin g factory , privat e colliery, brickworks , cinema) ; hi s semi-invali d wife ; thei r respecte d governes s Miss Wrigh t wh o taugh t Emil y an d Ad a Lawrenc e musi c an d youn g Ber t French; an d Mis s Pidsle y wh o manage d wha t remaine d o f th e business . Miria m takes th e plac e filled i n lif e b y Florenc e ('Flossie' ) Cullen , wh o traine d a s a nurse, the n playe d th e pian o i n th e cinema , an d wh o make s a brief appearance i n the nove l a s th e elde r siste r Lucy . Whe n Jessi e advise d bringin g 'Pau l Morel ' closer t o real life , Miria m wa s restored t o Jessie's background , an d al l the Culle n material wa s removed - t o become no w th e settin g fo r Els a Culverwell . She begin s o n a ver y firm note : 'M y mothe r mad e a failur e o f he r life . I a m making a succes s o f mine. ' Th e twent y survivin g page s establish , a s crisply , Elsa's memor y o f he r home : tha t ineffectua l enthusias t fritterin g hi s fortun e away; the highe r bor n mothe r wh o brough t t o he r loveles s marriag e som e mone y but no t enough , an d wh o s o despised trad e tha t sh e withdre w a t last entirely int o her dar k bedroo m wit h it s huge mahogan y furniture ; th e white-haire d governes s who becam e th e invalid' s pro p an d Elsa' s surrogat e mother ; an d th e soft-spoke n manageress o f th e clothin g factory , whic h onl y mad e enoug h barel y t o suppor t 58
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them becaus e i t wa s lef t i n he r capabl e hands . Th e situatio n i s created wit h brio , not onl y becaus e Lawrenc e ha d don e i t before , bu t als o becaus e hi s heroin e i s already s o sur e o f th e differenc e betwee n he r mother' s failur e an d he r ow n success. W e hea r casuall y tha t sh e ha s a husban d no w - an d a s th e fragmen t ends sh e ha s jus t recalle d meetin g a working-class lad , so n o f a stonemason, wh o has 'th e straightes t star e i n hi s blu e eye s tha t ha s eve r bee n see n sinc e th e Vikings'. H e i s clumsy , bu t ha s a mind o f hi s own , an d hi s humorou s defianc e of hi s fathe r make s he r laugh . Th e contras t woul d seem , then , t o b e betwee n a deathly marriag e i n term s o f mone y an d class , withou t sexua l love ; an d a mesalliance i n socio-economi c terms , bu t founde d o n sexua l fulfilmen t betwee n very differen t people . Th e 'bi t o f a plot ' seem s likel y t o buil d fro m Elsa' s determination t o b e independen t - sh e ha s alread y begu n t o giv e pian o lesson s (as bot h Flossi e an d Mis s Wrigh t did ) - an d t o mak e a lif e wit h th e ma n o f he r choice, thi s one , o r another , i n spit e o f everyone' s disapproval . Th e basi c contrast i s reminiscen t als o o f 'Tw o Marriages' , th e earl y an d (i n 1913 ) stil l unpublished versio n of'Daughter s o f the Vicar' . Lawrence no w fel t mor e strongl y abou t 'class ' however , an d mor e emanci pated fro m hi s mother' s world , an d thi s probabl y le d t o th e abandonmen t o f 'Elsa CulverwelP , a s w e se e fro m wha t too k it s place . Thoug h 'Scargil l Street ' and th e 'Burn s novel ' ha d prove d unworkable , th e newl y imaginativ e sympath y with 'th e commo n people ' ha d b y n o mean s lessened . I t wa s merel y comin g ou t now i n anti-bourgeoi s form . T o hav e conceive d a heroin e wh o mus t escap e th e deathly enclosur e o f class and mone y implie s a strongly satirica l purpose ; bu t th e first-person voic e o f a daughte r was no t perhap s idea l fo r excoriatin g th e worl d of he r parents . Th e sharpe r sh e became , th e les s attractiv e sh e migh t soun d and i f Lawrenc e wante d t o hi t harder , third-perso n narrativ e migh t b e mor e suitable a s wel l a s easie r t o handle . Moreover , havin g sai d h e wante d greate r distance, h e ha d alread y succumbe d t o temptatio n agai n i n givin g th e stone mason's so n a Nottingha m Hig h Schoo l education , lik e his . H e coul d onl y ge t himself ou t o f the fiction - i t woul d see m - b y havin g a cast mad e u p entirel y o f 'the commo n people' , o r b y makin g th e heroin e rebe l t o stil l greate r effec t i n third-person satire . In fac t h e chos e bot h ways , one afte r th e other . (b) Non-autobiographical Eastwood On 1 2 Januar y 1913 , apparentl y ou t o f nowhere , Lawrenc e suddenl y sen t Garnett ' a ne w pla y . . . neithe r a comed y no r a traged y - jus t ordinary . I t i s quite objectiv e . . . lai d ou t properly , planne d an d progressive ' (i . 500-1) . I t was not o f cours e ou t o f nowhere . H e ha d recentl y bee n watching , fro m Pietr o d i Pauli's bo x i n th e converte d churc h tha t serve d Gargnan o a s a theatre , a travelling compan y perfor m 'Ghosts ' an d 'Hamlet ' i n Italian , an d a pla y b y 59
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D'Annunzio - vivi d experience s tha t se t hi m thinkin g i n mor e way s tha n one . Though i t ha d com e quickly , The Daughter-in-Lam i s no t onl y well-mad e bu t (arguably) Lawrence' s best , an d hi s mos t origina l play . Fo r th e lette r t o Garnet t misses ou t th e mos t importan t feature : i t i s i n Nottinghamshir e dialect . A s Hamlet becam e revealingl y 'other ' whe n speakin g i n Italian , th e 'son s an d lovers ' theme sound s quit e differen t i n th e dialec t o f Arthu r Lawrence . Th e pla y succeeds i n bein g th e wor k abou t 'th e commo n people ' h e ha d wante d t o write ; and dram a i n dialec t preclude s th e authoria l condescensio n h e ha d dislike d i n Reynolds. A s a n exploratio n o f th e miners ' worl d moreover , ther e i s implici t criticism o f Sons and Lovers. Th e cas e agains t th e dominatin g mothe r wh o ha s sapped th e manhoo d o f he r son s ca n b e mor e powerfull y made , sinc e dialec t prevents Luthe r an d th e sharp-tongue d Mr s Gascoyn e fro m slippin g int o Lawrence-and-his-mother, o r arousin g partisa n o r guilt y feeling s attache d t o hi s own past . Eac h characte r ha s a fine part, a vital language , a fully imagine d point of-view, wit h n o authoria l thum b i n th e scale . No class-feelin g cloud s th e vision . It i s ther e howeve r a s subject , i n damagin g interpla y wit h archetypa l famil y tensions. The attitud e t o wome n o f the son s o f dominating mothers ; th e struggl e for possessio n o f a man betwee n hi s mothe r an d hi s wife ; th e instinctiv e allianc e between brother s o r mother s o r wives ; th e relatio n betwee n th e workin g man , his woma n an d hi s money ; th e more s o f work peopl e regardin g extramarita l lov e and illegitimat e babies ; ar e al l finely explore d an d dramatise d - bu t als o interestingly complicate d becaus e Minnie , th e daughter-in-la w wh o ha s take n Luther fro m hi s mother , seem s t o hav e move d int o th e gre y are a betwee n classes. Sh e ha s som e education , ha s bee n a governes s an d ha s absorbe d idea s and value s ver y differen t fro m thos e o f working-class wives . These bot h sharpe n her conflict s wit h other s an d brin g he r int o conflic t wit h herself ; fo r sh e i s no t really bourgeois . Sh e ha s learne d a n Englis h whic h differentiate s her , bu t i t i s always accented , an d slip s occasionall y an d tellingl y int o a dialec t stil l nativ e t o her. Moreover , th e proble m o f ho w t o achiev e bette r man-woma n relationship , despite th e inhibitin g an d distortin g force s i n 'class ' an d 'family' , get s ye t another dimensio n fro m th e analog y betwee n powe r relation s i n th e hom e an d those i n th e coal-mines - abou t whic h miner s an d thei r wome n ten d t o have ver y different views . I t i s a goo d play , i n whic h th e character s releas e th e problem s rather tha n th e problem s an d 'ideas ' dictatin g th e characters . Thi s ma y b e wha t Lawrence mean t b y hopin g fo r a n audienc e wh o wante d somethin g differen t from 'th e rathe r bony , bloodles s dram a w e ge t nowaday s - i t i s tim e fo r a reaction agains t Sha w an d Galsworth y an d Barke r an d Irish y (excep t Synge ) people' (i . 509) . Unfortunately , wit h th e significan t exceptio n o f Synge , Lawr ence as dialect dramatis t was far ahea d o f his time . The pla y i s indee d neithe r comed y no r tragedy . I t reflect s agai n th e ne w opposition t o traged y o f lat e 1912-13 , and hi s fait h tha t huma n being s hav e i t i n 60
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themselves an d thei r relationship s t o transcen d circumstance . Muc h i s finely comic: th e verba l duel s betwee n Mr s Gascoyn e an d Mr s Purdy , o r Jo e an d hi s mother, an d th e funn y an d touchin g scen e whe n Luthe r discover s tha t h e i s illegitimately a father . Ye t th e endin g i s b y n o mean s optimistic . A s Luthe r weeps i n th e arm s o f Minnie , afte r the y hav e apparentl y sen t bourgeoi s aspiration u p th e chimne y an d see n of f blacklegging , ther e i s stil l a crucia l ambiguity i n Minnie' s 'Oh , m y love!' , coming jus t afte r 'trus t me—trus t yoursel f to me . Let m e hav e yo u no w fo r m y own. ' Th e word s an d tear s ca n mea n suc h different thing s - liberation , o r ne w dominance ? I t i s characteristi c o f Lawrenc e to en d wit h a questio n rathe r tha n a conclusion , thoug h h e risk s leavin g th e audience unsure . In th e sam e lette r o f 1 2 January , h e announce d th e supersedin g o f 'Els a CulverwelP b y a fiction whos e satir e woul d no t b e inhibite d b y havin g he r narrate: 'I' m simmerin g a ne w wor k tha t I shal l no t tel l yo u about , becaus e i t may no t com e off . Bu t th e though t o f i t fills m e wit h a curiou s pleasur e venomous, almost . I wan t t o ge t i t of f m y chest ' (i . 501) . Thi s i s als o th e lette r which comment s o n Frieda' s inbre d class-feeling . Yet five day s later , h e tell s Colling s no t onl y abou t hi s religio n o f th e bloo d rather tha n th e consciou s intellect , bu t als o abou t th e religiou s importanc e o f Frieda t o him : 'I t i s hopeles s fo r m e t o tr y t o d o anythin g withou t I hav e a woman a t th e bac k o f m e . . . a woma n I lov e sor t o f keep s m e i n direc t communication wit h th e unknown , i n whic h otherwis e I a m a bi t lost ' (i . 503) . How woul d thes e feeling s consor t wit h satire ? By 1 7 January h e ha d alread y writte n 8 0 pages o f th e ne w venomou s novel , ' a most curiou s work , whic h give s m e grea t jo y t o write , bu t which , I a m afraid , will giv e mos t fol k extrem e annoyanc e t o read ; i f i t doesn' t bor e them ' (i . 505) . One see s why veno m abou t Eastwoo d migh t anno y thos e o f Lawrence's fol k wh o might rea d it ; bu t wh y di d h e fea r reader s migh t b e bored ? Wa s i t perhap s a s reaction t o wha t i s harde r t o understan d tha n socia l satire , becaus e i t seek s t o explore th e unknown ? B y mid-Januar y h e wa s bein g drive n no t onl y t o satiris e what h e no w though t deathl y i n hi s background; bu t als o t o clarif y hi s 'religious ' understanding o f th e source s o f new life , a s he ha d no t don e sinc e (a s a 22-year old) he had voice d hi s rejection o f Christianity t o the Rev . Rober t Reid. 31 Indee d it became necessar y t o explor e thi s secon d impuls e befor e goin g bac k t o th e ne w novel. But ho w best d o it ? (c) Behind the Human Action His first ide a wa s t o confron t th e proble m directly , b y reconceivin g wha t h e ha d rejected. O n 1 7 January, 'Fried a i s reading th e bible , and suddenl y announce s " I rather lik e Christ" . I t seem s funny ' (i . 506) . Sh e rea d anythin g tha t cam e t o 61
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hand, an d had decide d opinion s whic h the y woul d the n argu e about , bu t it is not clear wh y sh e wa s readin g th e Bibl e jus t then . Mayb e sh e ha d finishe d everything els e in the house - bu t Christmas i n a Catholic countr y ma y also hav e interested he r again i n th e Christianit y o f her youth ; perhap s particularl y i n one of th e Bible' s greates t passages , th e Gospe l readin g fo r th e Eucharis t o n Christmas Day , the opening o f the Gospel accordin g t o St John. If The Daughter-in-Law widen s th e socia l visio n o f Sons and Lovers; th e so called 'Forewor d t o Sons and Lovers'? 2 sen t t o Garnet t o n 2 0 January (i . 507), seeks t o g o behin d th e novel' s character s an d relationships , behin d eve n th e psychological dimension , t o it s religiou s significance : wha t Sons and Lovers ha d implicitly reveale d abou t th e natur e o f the universa l creativit y me n cal l God , or the Gods . 'On e has to be so terribly religious , ' h e told Collings , 't o be an artist ' (i. 519 ) - an d fo r th e firs t tim e h e though t i t necessar y als o t o b e a theologian , that is , to fin d languag e fo r th e ideolog y embedde d i n th e revelatio n o f his own text. Howeve r h e hastene d t o reassur e Garnett , confronte d b y thi s strang e document, tha t h e had no t the leas t intentio n o f publishing it . He ha d writte n i t in orde r t o understan d hi s ow n writin g mor e deeply . Wha t fo r instanc e ha d h e meant, no t only b y the record o f human failur e i n his best novel , bu t als o by his belief i n th e bloo d a s wiser tha n th e intellect ; an d hi s feelin g tha t h e coul d onl y do hi s best wor k wit h a woman behin d hi m to put him i n direc t communicatio n with th e unknown} The 'Foreword ' begin s b y assertin g tha t S t Joh n go t everythin g th e wron g way round . Fa r fro m th e Wor d havin g bee n mad e Flesh , i t i s the Fles h tha t i s infinite, 'th e Father ' (o r mor e properl y th e Mother ) o f al l tha t i s finite , i.e.'th e Son', fro m Ada m t o Christ t o ourselves. So , 'Out of the Flesh comet h th e Word , which blossom s fo r a momen t an d i s n o more. ' Thi s bodil y life-energ y whic h brings ever y livin g thin g int o being , remain s unutterabl e an d unknowabl e i n itself, bu t continue s t o animat e everything , an d b e partiall y an d temporall y uttered b y eac h thing , s o lon g a s i t remain s tru e t o it s ow n mysteriou s inbor n being. Howeve r th e comman d t o lov e one' s neighbou r a s one's sel f ca n becom e dangerous, an d den y o r desecrat e th e 'Go d th e Father ' i n us , i f w e fai l t o understand th e meanin g o f 'a s one' s self . Fo r th e primar y life-principl e o f everything i s t o b e tru e t o th e God-in-it , th e mysteriou s individualit y whic h i s aware, i n th e body an d the blood, o f what i t needs an d mus t do . If the 'Son' our conscious self , i n it s ideas o f itself an d o f the other , eithe r seek s t o sacrific e itsel f to another , o r t o use another fo r itself , thi s make s th e Son usurp th e Father an d will alway s produc e ruin , a s life-energy withdraws . (Thi s i s a deeper vie w o f the sons-and-lovers theme , an d bear s als o on Else' s an d Weekley's cal l fo r sacrifice. ) Moreover th e Wor d o f consciou s choic e an d obligation , canno t bin d fles h t o flesh. I f a man an d a woma n ar e no t on e i n th e Fles h (i n thi s religiou s bu t stil l bodily meaning ) n o Wor d (e.g.'marriage' ) ca n mak e the m s o or flowe r i n them . 62
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But i f the y are , th e Wor d wil l confir m wha t i s o f th e Father , an d wil l therefor e live and produc e Him , throug h th e finite So n (e.g . Lawrence wit h Fried a behin d him) i n utterance : the flutter of petals, the rose, the Father throug h th e Son wasting himself in a moment of consciousness, consciousness o f His own infinitud e an d gloriousness , a Rose, a Clapping of the Hands , a Spark o f Joy throw n of f fro m th e Fir e t o di e rudd y i n mid-darkness , a Snip of Flame, the Holy Ghost, the Revelation. And so, the eternal Trinity. Conversely, t o blasphem e agains t th e Fathe r i n onesel f or another i s certainl y t o perish o r become destructiv e (a s his mother an d fathe r had) . Moreover, bein g wit h Fried a ha d taugh t hi m tha t i t i s als o th e wron g wa y round t o thin k o f Woma n a s bor n o f Man ; fo r a s th e Fles h wa s mad e Wor d t o dwell amon g us , so Woman la y in travail , and gav e birth t o Man, wh o in hi s hour uttere d hi s wor d .. . An d God the Father, the Inscrutable, the Unknowable, we know in the Flesh, in Woman. She is the door for our in-going and our out-coming. In her we go back to the Father: but like the witnesses of the Transfiguration, blin d and unconscious. Rather, a s th e be e move s continuousl y betwee n th e hiv e an d th e flower, s o ma n must mov e i n a continuous creativ e rhyth m betwee n th e sourc e o f his renewa l i n his woman , and hi s utterance , 'th e gla d cr y "Thi s i s I— I a m I!"' , whic h i s hi s life's work . 'An d thi s gla d cr y whe n w e know , i s the Hol y Ghos t th e Comforter. ' But i f th e ma n doe s no t com e hom e t o an d 'utter ' hi s woma n i n thi s way , i f h e 'deny, o r b e to o weak ' (hi s father , Weekley ) sh e wil l inevitabl y expe l him ; an d i f she doe s no t find anothe r stronge r man , o r h e anothe r woman , the y wil l bot h become destructive . H e wil l consum e hi s ow n flesh an d destro y himsel f an d hi s flame o f lif e ('eithe r wit h wine , o r othe r kindling') ; an d sh e wil l wea r hersel f ou t in sickness , o r i n fighting he r man , o r sh e wil l tur n t o he r so n an d sa y 'B e yo u my Go-Between. ' Then , sinc e h e ca n neve r b e receive d a s hi s mother' s love r i n the Flesh , th e so n wil l wast e himsel f away , o r tea r himsel f i n two , 'an d hi s wif e in he r despai r shal l hop e fo r sons , tha t sh e ma y hav e he r love r i n he r hour ' except, presumably , i n th e cas e o f th e autho r o f th e 'Foreword' , wh o believe s h e has no w foun d th e ultimat e an d universa l gospe l whic h Sons and Lovers showe d only i n it s negation, a s did th e Weekley an d th e Culle n 'marriages' . Frieda say s tha t the y 'fough t over ' thi s 'Foreword ' (i . 510) ; an d thoug h tha t may b e onl y he r wa y o f claimin g credi t fo r helpin g t o shap e th e argument , it s final stat e ma y no t altogethe r hav e please d her . Sh e woul d hav e approve d th e vision o f woma n a s primar y life-give r an d creativ e source , whic h s o corre sponded t o th e pictur e o f hersel f whic h Gros s ha d give n her . Sh e migh t not , however, hav e like d th e evidenc e tha t eve n no w Lawrenc e coul d stil l sli p int o seeing hi s famil y traged y throug h hi s mother' s eyes , a s th e resul t o f hi s father' s 63
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weakness rathe r tha n primaril y he r denia l o f th e 'flame' . An d sh e migh t hav e queried th e gender-specificatio n whic h seeme d (a s yet ) no t t o allo w powe r o f utterance t o Woman - or , fo r tha t matter , bein g a source o f renewal t o Man . But wha t i s mos t significan t fo r bot h th e write r an d th e ma n i s th e ne w sens e of human fulfilmen t a s coming throug h a systole an d diastol e betwee n differently creative life-forces , fa r beyon d question s o f characte r an d motivatio n - eac h force 'divine' , bu t requirin g th e othe r i n orde r t o b e full y creative , s o tha t onl y from thei r ful l interrelationshi p woul d com e th e fruitio n whic h ha d escape d al l the peopl e o f Sons and Lovers. I n tha t sens e i t is a Foreword , no t t o Sons and Lovers bu t t o a deepe r fiction, stil l t o b e written , abou t bot h marriag e an d self integration. Shortly afte r 2 6 January Lawrenc e trie d anothe r experiment , a less conceptua l way o f understandin g th e condition s fo r vita l relationship , b y explorin g th e aridity tha t mus t resul t whe n a woma n an d a ma n den y god-lif e t o eac h othe r and i n themselves . On e o f th e editor s o f Rhythm, Katherin e Mansfield , ha d written t o ask whethe r h e ha d a story fo r th e magazine . Lawrenc e suggeste d the y might lik e t o prin t 'Th e Soile d Rose ' a t th e sam e tim e a s Forum, whic h ha d bought i t fo r America ; an d als o tha t the y migh t offe r hi m somethin g fo r review . He added , ' I shal l b e writin g a short tal e befor e man y day s ar e out , an d I'l l sen d it t o you' (i . 507) . What h e seem s t o hav e written , bu t neve r sent , wa s a symboli c fable - perhap s rememberin g E . M . Forster' s Pan-fabl e 'Othe r Kingdom' , whic h he coul d hav e rea d i n th e English Review. I n thi s fictive form , h e coul d star t from a realisti c situation , the n buil d behin d i t a psychologica l dimensio n i n th e reverie o f husban d an d wife , an d finally sugges t a kin d o f theologica l under standing i n th e symboli c rhapsod y o f a young girl , reactin g agains t thei r drynes s with he r yout h an d instinctiv e wisdom-of-the-flesh . S o 'Th e Overtone ' finally sees faile d marriag e i n th e ligh t o f a necessary relatin g o f Pan t o Christ . Just befor e Christma s a lette r ha d arrive d fro m Salli e Hopkin , on e o f th e fe w people h e ha d tol d abou t Frieda. 36 H e wrot e tw o letter s i n reply , th e secon d because h e though t h e ha d los t th e first, whic h ha d i n fac t bee n posted . I n bot h he say s ho w od d i t seeme d tha t he r lette r ha d com e jus t whe n h e an d Fried a ha d been talkin g abou t he r 'fo r tw o hours ' (i . 492) . H e speak s o f th e har d tim e the y have had , bu t i s confiden t tha t the y ar e succeeding . Moreover , 'Onc e you'v e known wha t lov e can be, there' s n o disappointmen t an y more , and n o despair. ' I f people mostl y fail , stil l 'the y needn' t doub t love. It' s thei r ow n fault . I'l l d o m y life work , stickin g u p fo r th e lov e betwee n ma n an d woma n . . . I shal l alway s b e a priest o f love, and no w a glad one ' (i . 492-3) . Similarl y i n th e first lette r h e ha d promised ' I shal l d o a nove l abou t Lov e Triumphan t on e day . I shal l d o m y work fo r women , bette r tha n th e suffrage ' (i . 490 ) - somewha t cheekily , give n Sallie's suffragism . 'The Overtone ' i s no t abou t Lov e Triumphant , bu t perhap s i t wa s anothe r 64
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necessary step . It begin s wit h a married coupl e i n thei r fifties , i n a cottage o n th e river Soa r on e 'lustrous ' summe r night ; h e o n th e sofa , pretendin g t o read ; sh e talking t o anothe r quie t woma n abou t th e suffrag e an d th e nee d fo r 'State endowment o f mothers' ; whil e th e youn g gir l Els a pay s n o attentio n t o th e words, bu t onl y accept s 'th e feelin g o f th e woman' s hear t a s sh e spoke' , whic h 'drifted als o t o th e girl' s heart , lik e a sor t o f inarticulat e music' . I t i s th e 'overtones' i n thi s 'music ' whic h th e stor y (lik e th e dream y girl ) pick s up . Wil l Renshaw i s handsome , blue-eye d an d sandy-fai r lik e a Dane , surprisingl y youthful; Edit h i s beautifu l an d apparentl y harmoniou s bot h i n he r dres s an d her natur e - the y loo k rathe r lik e Salli e an d Willi e heightene d - bu t their marriage i s childless an d wil l never ripen . Responding t o th e moonligh t now , Wil l i s carrie d bac k t o a crisis, si x month s after thei r marriage . Overcom e b y th e beaut y o f th e moon , th e sens e o f lif e everywhere 'a t a flash wit h itself , h e ha d persuade d Edit h t o com e wit h hi m u p the hil l t o a ledge o n th e clif f abov e th e river . Ther e h e begge d her , a s she stoo d back shadowy , t o stri p nake d an d mak e lov e i n th e moonligh t withou t sham e o r stain. Bu t sh e refused , an d thereafte r thei r lov e becam e mixe d wit h hat e an d sterile. Sh e think s a man's bod y ugly , h e graduall y cease s t o com e t o her . Yet th e girl , siftin g a bowl o f potpourri , feel s 'th e night s behin d lik e a purpl e bowl int o whic h th e woman' s heart-beat s wer e shed , lik e ros e leave s falle n an d left t o withe r an d g o brown'. Fo r Mr s Rensha w ha d waite d fo r him , a s a garde n waits fo r sunshin e an d rain , til l eventuall y i t goe s parche d an d hard . No w th e music th e gir l pick s u p i s a 'bitte r psalm' , th e woman-garden' s pros e poe m o f complaint, lik e a n inversio n o f th e Son g o f Solomon . Th e girl , 'hearing ' th e despair, goe s ou t int o th e nigh t an d weeps , 'Fo r wha t shoul d sh e d o fo r herself.' Renshaw call s ou t mockingl y 'Com e on , don' t b e alarmed—Pa n i s dead. ' There i s n o nee d fo r a nymp h t o fea r satyr s now . A s Edit h join s them , the y recall ho w tha t cr y i s supposed t o hav e gon e u p a t th e birt h o f Chris t - an d the y stab a t eac h othe r (an d themselves ) fo r th e lin k betwee n tha t deat h an d th e death o f thei r love . Th e gir l howeve r burst s int o a rhapsody , intuitin g tha t Pa n and Chris t ar e a s necessary , i n thei r oppositio n an d relationship , a s nigh t an d day. Sh e i s a nymp h o f Dionysos , wh o mus t loo k a t nigh t i n ever y man' s eye s for th e fau n wh o wil l harves t an d fulfi l her . I n th e daytim e o f ma n an d woma n however, ou t o f th e wood , nymp h an d fau n mus t touc h th e cros s i n consciou s promise t o 'dea l fairly'. 37 S o he r rhapsod y hymn s bot h opposites , Chris t an d Pan, an d th e absolut e nee d t o participat e i n bot h thoug h the y diffe r a s ligh t from dark . It n o longe r matter s wh o wa s t o blam e fo r th e dryin g u p o f th e marriage , th e woman wh o denie d o r th e ma n wh o failed ; an d th e gender-languag e o f th e 'Foreword' i s turnin g int o a sens e o f how , i f lov e i s t o gro w an d triump h - a s 65
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Lawrence believe d hi s an d Frieda' s woul d - wome n an d me n mus t fulfi l themselves an d eac h othe r i n both opposite modes, without fea r o r inhibition , bu t also responsibl y an d wit h commitment . T a n ' an d 'Christ ' ar e god s wh o mus t vitalise eac h love r wit h opposit e ye t complementar y life-forces , fo r i f either dies , so wil l love . 'Th e Overtone ' i s not muc h o f a story, an d perhap s over-lyricise d but i t mark s ye t anothe r ste p behin d mer e storie s o f character , motiv e an d blame. Ill T h
e Las t o f G a r g n a n o
By i Februar y Lawrenc e ha d gon e bac k t o hi s stil l untitle d nove l - i t woul d become 'Th e Insurrectio n o f Mis s Houghton ' - an d ha d writte n anothe r 2 6 pages, 10 6 i n all . Significantly , hi s vie w o f i t seem s t o hav e changed , an d th e emphasis i s n o longe r o n it s venom . H e though t Garnet t woul d hat e it , bu t 'when i t is re-written, i t might find a good publi c amon g th e Meredith y public ' presumably thos e intereste d i n th e differenc e betwee n th e tru e an d th e fals e ways o f moder n love : 'I t i s quit e differen t i n manne r fro m m y othe r stuf f - fa r less visualise d . . . An d i t i s goo d too . I think , d o yo u know , I hav e insid e m e a sort o f answer t o th e want o f today : t o th e real , dee p wan t o f th e Englis h people , not t o just wha t the y fanc y the y want ' (i . 511) . Between 5 and 1 8 February h e also worked o n th e first batc h o f proofs of Sons and Lovers. No w tha t th e ful l tex t i s availabl e on e ca n se e tha t insofa r a s i t ha d been necessar y t o cut , Garnet t ha d don e s o expertly , bu t als o ho w muc h th e cutting damage d th e we b o f compariso n an d contrast , especiall y b y truncatin g the vivi d portraya l o f William . Lawrenc e trie d t o loo k o n th e brigh t side : 'I t goes well , i n prin t . . . Don' t yo u thin k I ge t peopl e int o m y grip ? Yo u di d th e pruning joll y well , an d I a m grateful . I hop e you'l l liv e a lon g lon g time , t o barber u p m y novel s fo r m e befor e they'r e published . I wish I weren' t s o profus e - o r prolix , o r whateve r i t is. But I shall ge t better' (i . 517) . By th e 18t h h e ha d returne d t o th e nove l whic h was no w 'goin g quit e fast . I t is awfully exciting , thrilling , t o m y min d - a bit outspoken , perhaps . I shal l writ e it a s lon g a s I lik e t o star t with , the n writ e i t smaller ' (i . 517) . Th e emphasi s seems t o hav e shifte d fro m th e satirica l t o th e serious , fro m th e heroine' s rejection o f he r bourgeoi s background , t o th e exploratio n o f he r relationshi p with he r lover . Fo r th e res t o f th e mont h h e move d betwee n th e ne w wor k an d the proof s a s they cam e - growing , however , increasingl y anxiou s abou t money . Indeed hi s willingnes s t o accep t Garnett' s barberin g ha d everythin g t o d o with th e urgen t nee d t o ge t th e nove l publishe d an d earning . H e was upse t b y the review s o f hi s Love Poems - whic h mean t eve n fewe r sales . H e stil l harboured th e suspicio n (afte r Heinemann' s letter ) tha t Garnet t wa s unde r orders t o expurgat e th e sexua l scenes , bu t howeve r annoyin g - 'I'v e go t th e pi p 66
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horribly a t present ' - h e wa s prepare d t o le t Duckwort h cu t ' a hundre d shad y pages', fo r 'It' s go t t o sell , I'v e go t t o live ' (i . 526) . Coul d Duckwort h advanc e him £50 , whic h woul d 'tak e m e o n fiv e month s o r so ' (i . 527) ? (Th e previou s £50 ha d laste d sinc e 1 6 September. ) By 5 Marc h th e ne w nove l - ' a weir d thing ' (i . 525 ) - was hal f done , bu t financial anxiet y als o bega n t o affec t i t now , sinc e th e mor e seriou s i t becam e about love , th e mor e (fo r Lawrence ) i t ha d t o dea l outspokenl y wit h sexuality , and th e mor e dange r ther e woul d b e o f non-acceptanc e b y th e circulatin g libraries whic h coul d mak e a hug e differenc e i n th e sale s o f fiction. Si x day s later h e wa s telling Garnett : I am a damned curs e unto myself. I've written rathe r mor e than half of a most fascinatin g (to me ) novel . Bu t nobod y wil l eve r dar e t o publis h it . I fee l I coul d knoc k m y hea d against th e wall . Ye t I lov e an d ador e thi s ne w book . It' s al l crud e a s ye t .. . mos t cumbersome an d floundering - but I think it' s grea t - s o new, so really a stratum deepe r than I think anybod y ha s eve r gone , in a novel .. . I t i s all analytical - quit e unlik e Sons and Lovers, no t a bit visualised. But nobody will publish it . I wish I had never been born . But I' m goin g t o stic k a t it , ge t i t done , an d the n writ e another , shorter , absolutel y impeccable - a s far a s morals go - nove l .. . I'l l d o it - o r else what am I going to live on, and keep Frieda on withal, (i. 526) For thre e month s h e ha d bee n experimentin g wit h form s ne w t o him : a n historical novel , a first-person narrativ e b y th e centra l character , a dialect play , a symbolic fable , an d th e first o f hi s philosophica l writings . No w imaginatio n seemed t o b e takin g hi m int o territor y uncharte d b y anyone , wher e a ne w kin d of vision woul d nee d a new kin d o f art. The onl y hint s o f what h e wa s attemptin g (since 'Th e Insurrectio n o f Mis s Houghton ' ha s no t survived ) ar e wha t see m explicit criticism s o f Sons and Lovers b y a n autho r tryin g t o g o ' a stratu m deeper', howeve r crudel y a s yet. H e ha s becom e uneasil y awar e tha t th e struggl e to unif y Sons and Lovers ha d give n th e character s mor e definitio n tha n h e i s happy wit h now , 'puttin g a thic k blac k lin e roun d th e figures t o thro w ou t [i . e , emphasise] th e composition ' (i . 522) . Th e absenc e o f th e 'visual ' implie s les s interest i n externa l descriptio n an d drama , a s emphasis shift s fro m character-in action t o exploratio n o f wha t coul d b e fel t onl y i n th e blood . (Thi s ha d begu n i n Sons and Lovers, thoug h stil l ofte n startin g fro m th e visual : Mr s Morel' s garde n or Miriam' s ros e bush. ) '[A]l l analytical ' implie s th e psychologist' s attemp t t o understand movement s o f consciousnes s tha t th e character s themselve s cannot . Yet ho w reconcil e thi s struggl e fo r a ne w ar t wit h th e fea r tha t i t ma y no t b e publishable? In th e upse t an d depressio n tha t cam e wit h Else' s visit , an d resulte d a t th e end o f Marc h i n th e mov e fro m Vill a d i Gargnan o u p t o Sa n Gaudenzi o hig h above th e lake . Lawrence finally decide d t o se t 'Mis s Houghton ' o n on e sid e an d 67
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get o n instea d wit h th e 'impeccable ' nove l tha t woul d sell . B y 2 2 Marc h h e ha d begun 'Th e Sisters ' an d writte n 4 6 page s - bu t thoug h h e trie d t o chee r himsel f that 'Mis s Houghton ' woul d 'b e non e th e wors e fo r waitin g a while ' (i . 530) , i t remained th e one h e cared about . The nee d t o ear n som e mone y als o produced , befor e Lawrenc e an d Fried a left Gargnano , a n appropriat e farewell : th e thre e sketche s o f 'B y th e Lag o d i Garda', sen t first fo r famil y readin g t o Ada , bu t the n t o th e English Review which publishe d the m i n September . Thoug h th e Westminster ha d onl y take n three o f hi s Germa n trave l sketches , the y ha d pai d quit e well , an d mus t hav e given hi m confidenc e i n hi s talen t fo r suc h thing s an d i n th e market , especiall y since h e no w ha d sunnie r an d non-politica l subject s readil y t o hand . Th e performances o f 'Th e Theatre ' too k plac e betwee n 2 8 Decembe r an d 1 6 January. 'Th e Spinne r an d th e Monks ' i s se t o n a Saturda y i n earl y February . The weathe r too k a marked tur n fo r th e bette r then , afte r th e ba d spel l o f gale s and sno w i n th e secon d hal f o f January , an d o n Monda y 1 0 Februar y a lette r (i. 514 ) describe s th e profusio n o f flowers mentione d i n th e sketch , thoug h weather-boards woul d stil l enclos e th e lemo n garde n o f Pietr o d i Pauli . Th e same da y Lawrenc e tol d Els e th e English Review ha d asked hi m fo r a n articl e o n German wome n poets , an d suggeste d sh e shoul d d o i t instead. 42 H e ma y hav e begun t o thin k o f hi s alternativ e then , thoug h h e probabl y finished betwee n setting 'Mis s Houghton ' asid e an d startin g th e ne w nove l - an d fo r th e sam e reason. The Italia n sketche s ar e vivaciou s an d ofte n humorous , observant , evocativ e without th e 'philosophical ' significanc e the y woul d acquir e whe n rewritte n int o Twilight in Italy tw o and a half years later . Th e ol d woma n o n th e terrac e o f Sa n Tommaso spin s i n th e presen t whil e th e monk s belo w mov e onl y betwee n pas t and future : th e pal e murdere d bod y o f thei r Lor d an d th e whit e ligh t o f th e spirit t o come . I n th e Cas a d i P. , Lawrenc e reflect s o n Italia n man , wife , child ; and i n th e 'Lemo n Gardens' , o n th e economi c fact s whic h ar e changin g th e landscape. I n th e theatr e th e performance s o f Enric o Marcon i ('Enric o Perse valli') and hi s company bea r o n th e trut h o f the bloo d a s against th e intellec t and , therefore, confir m Lawrence' s dislik e o f Ibse n an d o f Hamlet . A t thei r mos t serious, th e comment s ar e thos e o f a n intelligen t ma n o n wha t happen s t o b e before him , withou t philosophica l pattern ; whil e a t it s lightes t th e vivacit y ca n thin int o whims y o r cuteness . Th e predominan t impression , however , i n thi s first extende d an d light-hearte d tribut e t o Italy , i s o f Lawrence' s shee r enjoyment an d awakening , th e fac t (a s h e wrot e t o Ma y Holbrook ) tha t 'shiftin g about break s dow n a lo t o f barriers ' (i . 499) . H e ha d mad e a hom e i n Vill a d i Gargnano, unde r n o obligation t o anyone, and thoug h ther e ha d bee n har d time s with Fried a 'th e stres s o f my ow n lif e woul d hav e bee n a hundred time s harder , if it hadn't bee n fo r thi s lake' (i. 499) . 68
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IV A t Sa n Gaudenzio , an d Irschenhause n They wer e onl y t o b e a fortnigh t i n Sa n Gaudenzi o wit h Ton y Cyria x (thoug h she staye d on , an d wrot e a boo k abou t it) ; bu t i t was a happ y time , an d significant, sinc e fro m i t date s th e beginnin g o f Lawrence's greates t work . Ther e too h e becam e 'Lorenzo' , name d b y Tony' s daughte r (i . 538) . I t wa s a 'lovel y place', wit h vine s an d olive s stretchin g t o th e cliff' s edg e abov e th e lake ; an d a sunny lemo n garde n wher e h e sa t t o write . The mountain s ar e covere d wit h sno w opposite . - The n th e Capell i - th e peopl e - ar e fearfully nice. The place is almost like an inn - illegal , there is no licence - s o that people are alway s comin g - handsom e youn g me n wh o ar e conscript s an d jus t abou t t o fle e t o America, and s o on. One need neve r be alone .. . Las t Sunda y ther e wa s a band - cello , mandoline and tw o weird guitar s — playing all evening while we danced. Nay , even ther e was a wild and handsom e one-legged ma n with a deltoid lik e a boss of brass, who danced Frieda, and then Tony, like a wooden-legged angel , (i. 535-6 ) It wil l b e see n fro m thi s tha t Lawrenc e migh t hav e gon e o n her e t o writ e earl y versions o f th e othe r essay s whic h woul d eventuall y mak e u p 'O n th e Lag o d i Garda' i n Twilight in Italy - bu t h e almos t certainl y di d not . Ther e i s n o evidence o f suc h earl y versions , an d a great dea l whic h suggest s tha t Lawrence' s 'memories' wer e reshape d unde r th e influenc e o f The Rainbow an d t o serv e th e thematic an d artisti c purpose s o f Twilight in Italy. (Sometime s the y see m invented.) What h e was writing i n th e hig h an d sunn y lemo n garden , lookin g ou t acros s the lake , was the fiction tha t ha d replace d 'Mis s Houghton ' an d woul d eventuall y turn int o his greatest work . T did 20 0 pages of a novel', he tol d Bunn y o n 5 April, 'a nove l I lov e - the n I pu t i t aside t o d o a pot-boiler - i t was too improper. Th e pot-boiler i s a t pag e n o , an d ha s develope d int o a n earnes t an d painfu l wor k God hel p i t an d me ' (i . 536) . Wha t ha d mad e 'Mis s Houghton ' imprope r ha d also transformed th e 'pot-boiler' : hi s serious concern wit h sexua l relationship . At th e sam e tim e h e was biddin g a last farewel l t o Sons and Lovers, 's o sic k o f the las t lo t o f proof s . . . tha t I hav e scarcel y patienc e t o correc t them' . H e aske d Collings t o d o a sketch o f a coal-min e fo r th e cover ; an d jus t befor e the y lef t t o meet Els e i n Veron a o n 1 1 April (i . 538 ) h e sen t of f th e las t proof s - a symboli c act. I t wa s 'th e en d o f my youthfu l period ' (i . 551) . Else was o n he r wa y bac k fro m Rom e t o Germany , bu t Lawrenc e an d Frieda' s plans ha d go t n o furthe r ye t tha n Munich . The y migh t sta y wit h Edgar , o r g o on with Els e t o Heidelber g t o se e Weber ; o r house-si t fo r he r i n Wolfratshause n before goin g o n t o Englan d (i . 539) . (Though Duckwort h ha d advance d th e £5 0 Lawrence ha d aske d for , the y stil l ha d t o watc h expenses. ) Afte r tw o day s i n 69
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Verona the y caugh t th e overnigh t trai n t o Munic h o n 1 4 April , bu t the n disagreement surfaced . Afte r th e renewe d onslaugh t b y Frieda' s famil y a t Christmas, Lawrenc e fel t uneas y abou t livin g i n thei r pockets ; an d wante d t o g o to Englan d quickly , eve n i f h e ha d t o g o alone . Naturally , Fried a wante d t o spend som e tim e nea r Else . Lawrence' s healt h settle d th e argument ; h e caugh t another 'frightfu l cold ' comin g fro m 'war m Garda ' an d finding Bavari a unde r snow. Moreover , h e ha d ' a horror ' o f Frieda's ne w notio n tha t sh e woul d se e th e children 'b y hoo k o r croo k - chiefl y b y crook ' (i . 542) , b y lyin g i n wai t a s the y came fro m school . I t seeme d bes t t o sta y a while , an d le t th e Barones s se e whether th e childre n migh t b e allowe d t o com e t o he r a t Baden-Baden , wher e the vo n Richthofen s ha d no w retired , an d Fried a coul d visi t also . Moreover , Edgar offere d th e us e o f hi s ne w chale t a t Irschenhause n - wher e the y coul d b e alone together , clos e to Else, but no t to o close. Lawrence wa s no t please d t o b e back . German y seeme d 'narro w an d cruel ' after Italy ; an d h e fel t - especiall y readin g The New Machiavelli, thoug h h e admired Well s - tha t Englan d woul d b e a s depressin g (i . 543) . Tha t wa s partl y owing t o his illness ; but h e fel t mora l disapprova l coming , as soon a s they turne d their face s north . Ital y 'i s s o non-moral ' an d 'leave s th e sou l s o free' ; wherea s over German y an d Englan d 'lik e th e gre y skies , lie s th e gloo m o f th e dar k mora l judgment an d condemnatio n an d reservatio n o f th e people . Ital y doe s no t judge . I shal l wan t t o g o back there ' (i . 544) . Though th e Jaffes probabl y mad e n o suc h judgement - give n thei r ow n situatio n - the y ma y hav e warne d hi m abou t exposing Fried a t o th e condemnatio n o f conventiona l people . The y wer e bein g hidden awa y again . 'W e fee l awfull y a t present' , wrot e Frieda , 'a s i f nobod y would hav e anythin g t o d o wit h us , quit e outcast s w e feel!'; 46 an d Lawrenc e noted ho w 'Heap s o f fol k lov e m e alon e - i f I wer e alon e - an d o f cours e al l th e world adore s Fried a - whe n I' m no t there . Bu t togethe r w e see m t o b e a pest ' (>. 546). He wa s furthe r upse t b y hearin g mor e fro m Edwar d Garnet t no w abou t Jessie Chambers's repl y t o Sons and Lovers: he r nove l 'Th e Rath e Primrose', 47 whic h he no w aske d Garnet t t o send . He r returnin g hi s lette r ha d hurt ; so , now , di d news of her judgemen t o f him : It's all very well for Miss Chambers to be spiritual - perhap s she can bring it off- I can't. She bottled m e up till I was going to burst. - Bu t as long as the cork sat tight (hersel f the cork) there was spiritual calm. When th e cork was blown out , and M r Lawrenc e foamed , Miriam said 'Thi s yeastiness I disown: it was not so in my day.' God bless her, she always looked down on me - spirituall y .. . An d look, she is bitterly ashamed o f having had me as if I had dragged her spiritual plumage in the mud. Call that love! Ah well. (i. 545) Frieda was even les s fair, a s she leape d t o his defence . Miriam's lette r [presumabl y t o Garnett ] hur t me ; tha t sh e shoul d onl y thin k wit h 70
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bitterness o f all the goo d thing s the y ha d together , seem s hardl y credible ! L. had loved her, and whe n she sent his letter back, he wouldn 't believe; the generosity lies on his side, seems to me! She says : my aim has been t o preserve th e integrit y o f the spiritua l values! Oh, thos e spiritua l values ! People mus t b e mea n an d pig s t o wan t spiritua l value s a s if they weren' t there ! He neve r di d he r th e wron g o f spiritualizing he r altogether , bu t sh e idealized him , th e wors t o f crimes i n love ! Don't yo u thin k on e want s t o b e love d wit h one's littleness, one's everything of shame and all ; but afte r al l he left her ; and he r world is nothing now , quite empty, afte r h e had mad e i t ful l fo r her ! He left he r behin d i n he r old world of'spiritual values'. 48 She ha s learne d somethin g abou t Weekle y an d herself , bu t i s unimaginativ e about Jessie's situation , i f acute abou t he r spiritualising . Sh e wa s reactin g agains t her readin g too : th e Polis h dramatis t Wyspiansk i seemed : 'Al l guil t an d ba d conscience, conscienc e mad. ' Lawrence howeve r like d th e littl e woode n hous e i n it s hill y meado w a t th e edge o f a fir-wood , lookin g ou t a t th e Alps . 'I t i s lonely . Th e dee r fee d sometimes i n th e corne r amon g th e flowers. Bu t the y fly with grea t bound s whe n I g o out. An d whe n I whistl e t o a hare amon g th e grass , he dance s roun d i n wil d bewilderment' (i . 543) . I f the y wer e t o sta y fo r ' a mont h o r two ' unti l th e schoo l summer holidays , h e woul d tr y t o finish th e ne w boo k whic h wa s growin g strangely. ' I a m doin g a novel whic h I have neve r grasped . Dam n it s eyes, there I am a t pag e 145, ' - o n 2 3 April - 'an d I'v e n o notio n wha t it' s about . I hat e it . F . says it is good. Bu t it' s lik e a novel i n a foreign languag e I don't kno w ver y wel l I ca n onl y jus t mak e ou t wha t i t i s about ' (i . 544) . A t th e beginnin g o f Ma y h e tells Garnett , wh o ha d bee n away , about th e abandonmen t o f 'Miss Houghton ' still 'nex t m y heart ' - an d th e ne w nove l whic h 'seem s t o hav e com e b y itself , now 18 0 pages. It wil l onl y hav e 30 0 pages . It wa s meant t o b e fo r th e 'jeune s filles', but alread y i t ha s fallen fro m grace . I can only write what I feel pretty strongl y about: and that, at present, is the relations between me n and women . After al l it is the problem o f today, the establish ment o f a new relation , o r th e re-adjustmen t o f th e ol d one , between me n an d women . (i. 546 ) He expecte d t o finish 'Th e Sisters ' i n a month . Th e pressur e t o complet e a novel tha t th e librarie s woul d b e sur e t o tak e wa s stronge r tha n ever . Sur e enough, Love Poems had sol d onl y 10 0 copies owin g t o th e reviews . Even friend s (he thought ) ha d bee n afrai d t o prais e 'fo r fea r o f the fol k comin g dow n o n the m for immorality ' (i . 548) . This mad e a n ironi c contras t wit h hi s ow n prais e o f th e first Georgian Poetry - includin g hi s 'Snapdragon' , omitte d fro m Love Poems when th e editor s o f Rhythm too k u p hi s offe r t o revie w fo r them . Fro m Gargnano h e ha d haile d th e antholog y a s a burst o f non-Christia n bu t religiou s joy i n natura l life , startin g fro m jo y i n bein g 'ourselves' : 'I t i s th e retur n o f th e 7i
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blood, tha t ha s bee n hel d back , a s whe n th e heart' s actio n i s arreste d b y fear . Now th e warmt h o f bloo d i s i n everything , quick , healthy , passionat e bloo d . . . To lov e passionately , bu t completely , i s ou r on e desire. ' l (Th e othe r Georgia n poets ma y hav e bee n a little surprised! ) Moreove r th e fat e of Love Poems seemed a ba d ome n fo r Sons and Lovers; fo r i f tha t 'doe s no t go , I shan' t hav e enoug h money t o return t o the South . It' s touc h an d g o with m e now ' (i . 548) . Yet h e neve r hesitate d t o follo w wher e hi s explorator y imaginatio n an d hi s deepest concern s wer e takin g him , a s the y bega n strangel y t o transfor m th e pot boiler. B y 1 3 May i t wa s two-third s done ; by th e 17t h h e ha d writte n 25 6 page s 'but stil l can' t se e th e en d ver y clear ' (i . 548 , 550) ; b y 1 June h e wa s o n p . 283 ; and h e finished a fe w day s late r (ii.20) . Onl y th e endin g ha s survived , bu t this , though novelettis h compare d t o wha t i t woul d become , reveal s tha t 'Th e Sisters ' was th e precurso r o f Women in Love (a s th e stor y o f Anna Houghton , hi s answe r to the 'acceptance ' o f Bennett's Anna , o f the Fiv e Towns , was of The Lost Girl). As 'Mis s Houghton ' ha d begu n fro m satir e o n bourgeoi s Eastwoo d befor e going o n t o dea l seriousl y wit h th e sexua l insurrectio n o f he r marriage ; s o 'Th e Sisters' bega n a t th e expens e o f Frieda , o r a t leas t on e sid e o f her . Garnet t wa s sent th e first hal f i n Ma y an d seem s t o hav e responde d sardonically . 'W e roare d over th e "remarkabl e females"' , wrot e Frieda , 'yo u jus t hi t them ! The worst , it' s like hi s impudence , the y ar e me, thes e beastly , superio r arrogan t females! ' (On e of the m ma y i n fac t hav e bee n draw n fro m Else , wit h Lawrence' s mixe d feelings.) Lawrence hated me just over the children, I daresay / was'n t all I might hav e been, so he wrote this! I know now why Gothe wrote Iphigenie ... s o superb she is, but 111 be hanged if any man wants to love her, as well be married t o the tablets of the ten commandments , though min d yo u a man look s for tha t i n a woman too ! The boo k wil l be all right i n th e end, yo u trus t m e fo r m y ow n sake , the y wil l hav e t o b e wome n an d no t superio r flounders - (i . 549 ) Lawrence fo r hi s par t say s h e kne w al l alon g wha t aile d th e book , an d promise s to mak e i t right . ' I shal l pu t i t i n th e thir d perso n . . . Bu t i t di d m e goo d t o theorise mysel f out, and t o depict Frieda s Go d Almightines s i n al l its glory . Tha t was th e first crud e fermentin g o f th e book . I'l l mak e i t int o ar t now ' (i . 550) . Until Garnett' s lette r Fried a ha d rathe r like d 'he r portrai t i n straigh t pleat s an d Athena sor t o f pose' , bu t h e ha d bee n teasing . On e vo n Richthofe n siste r was a bluestocking an d a manager o f other people' s affairs , an d thoug h Lawrenc e like d her h e di d no t enjo y bein g managed . Th e othe r ha d decide d opinion s als o - i n the sam e lette r sh e speak s o f he r tendenc y t o la y dow n th e la w a s 'Ellaing ' (i. 550) , like he r fictional counterpart . Bu t if , a s had happene d wit h th e satir e o f 'Miss Houghton' , th e teasin g ha d turne d seriou s an d 'theorising' , i t wil l hav e been abou t th e bloo d versu s th e intellec t i n th e sisters , an d whethe r suc h 72
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modern women , 'superio r flounders', super b Athena s i n pleats , coul d lov e an d be loved . Unfortunately th e Ella story ha s completely disappeared ; bu t i t is likely that th e sam e questio n wa s bein g aske d there , an d th e nove l gre w 'painful ' to o about th e men . This was certainl y th e cas e wit h Gerald , i n th e endin g (pp . 291-6 ) tha t has survived . 2 Gudrun , pregnan t wit h hi s child , confront s hi m an d Loerk e (' a decent fellow , really') . Geral d no w want s t o marr y her , an d thoug h sh e suspect s it ma y b e onl y becaus e o f th e baby , sh e take s hi m back . Loerk e howeve r accuse s him o f trustin g t o hi s positio n t o pla y wit h women , an d hi s strengt h t o threate n men; an d h e i s force d t o se e th e German' s fac e 'broke n int o line s o f rea l agony' . Gerald keep s sayin g h e didn' t i know'i whethe r h e coul d lov e Gudrun ; bu t i n thi s scene h e i s lik e ' a creatur e tha t follow s it s instinc t blindly' . No w h e ca n accep t humiliation befor e Loerke , an d find tear s o f tenderness . 'H e was somethin g h e had feare d h e neve r coul d be : h e ha d go t somethin g h e ha d pretende d t o disbelieve in . And , breathin g hard , h e kne w tha t thi s wa s hi s life' s fulfilment , and a wav e o f faith , warm , strong , religiou s fait h wen t ove r him. ' Only , h e i s forced t o measur e th e damag e hi s inabilit y t o lov e ha s caused ; an d 'hi s forehead ' is 'hard wit h pain ' a s Gudrun draw s hi m t o her a t the end . We kno w nothin g o f Ella's man , bu t sinc e th e boo k ha d bee n 'flippant ' (ii . 68 , 165) an d 'ofte n vulga r an d jeering ' (ii . 165 ) a t th e sisters ' expense , an d sinc e Lawrence ha d trie d first-person narrativ e again , th e mocker y probabl y cam e from Ella' s love r a s narrator . Thi s migh t connec t th e fiction wit h th e moo d o f the las t 'Gargnano ' poem s i n th e 191 7 sequenc e Look! We Have Come Through! - thoug h (again ) w e canno t b e certai n o f th e dat e o f these . I n 'Lad y Wife ' h e refuses t o b e gratefu l fo r he r condescensio n - lik e th e angel s t o Abraha m - i n staying with him : 'Rise up and go, I have no use for you And your blithe, glad mien. No angels here, for me no goddesses, Nor any Queen.' 'Loggerheads' mock s he r ... stock-takin g Of my manly breast; [to] Find out if I'm sound or bankrupt, Or a poor thing at best. 'Both Side s o f th e Medal ' refer s t o Hobson' s visi t an d explore s th e hatre d in sexual love . I n th e poem s 'dated ' fro m Ne w Yea r t o S t Valentine' s Da y however, cleanse d b y desir e an d hate , ma n an d woma n ar e rebor n o f eac h othe r and int o spring , 'placed ' i n Sa n Gaudenzio. 55 W e d o no t kno w ho w muc h late r 73
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hindsight wen t int o thes e poem s a s w e rea d the m now . Ye t i t ma y b e tha t Ella' s lover i n th e ne w fiction too , lik e the tal e h e narrated , migh t hav e ha d t o gro w ou t of jeerin g int o a n earnes t an d painfu l learnin g t o love ; i n whic h cas e eve n thi s 'first crud e fermenting ' ma y hav e anticipate d th e centra l story-lin e o f Ursula an d Birkin, i n th e grea t nove l tha t eventuall y gre w out o f it. Yet n o soone r was 'Th e Sisters ' finished tha n Lawrenc e realise d tha t bot h th e first-person narratio n an d th e flippanc y ha d t o g o - th e on e perhap s th e caus e o f the othe r - especiall y i f his fiction wer e t o d o hi s wor k fo r wome n an d fo r 'Lov e Triumphant'. (Ther e wa s already a formal difficult y i n tha t muc h o f the Gerald / Gudrun story , takin g plac e i n private , ha d t o b e i n th e thir d perso n anywa y like the fragmen t tha t w e have.) 56 Nor di d th e springtim e wit h Fried a outlas t th e mov e bac k t o Bavaria , an d th e disagreement abou t wha t t o do , an d hi s illness . Once agai n (i n June) 'th e troubl e about th e childre n ha s knocke d u s bot h a bit loos e a t th e joints ' (ii . 21) . Indee d Frieda ha d ru n awa y agai n t o Else' s a t Wolfratshause n fo r tw o day s - having , this time , broken a plate over hi s hea d whil e washin g th e dishes . I wa s astonishe d I though t I wa s mil d an d good ! My smal l nephe w was shocked a t m y departure, h e love s L , h e said : Tant e Frieda , no w yo u wil l ge t tire d o f thi s ma n an d 3 uncles fro m on e aun t ar e to o much ! H e wa s distressed ! Howeve r w e are L an d I suc h friends, I will wear a fragment o f that plat e in a locket roun d m y neck .. . No , no, love is no crucification, o r if it is, then i t will rise from th e grave on the third da y (after a broken plate or two!), (ii. 23-4 ) Thus th e first violenc e recorde d i n th e marriag e cam e fro m he r (howeve r deserved); but sh e signe d hersel f jauntil y b y hi s ne w nam e fo r her , 'Th e on e an d only . . . Phoenix ' - an d th e nex t da y the y lef t fo r England , a t last . The sta y i n Irschenhause n ha d als o produce d thre e storie s o f disturbin g ne w psychological probing . Lawrenc e onc e referre d t o 'Ne w Ev e an d Ol d Adam ' a s autobiographical (ii . 21) , bu t hi s titl e finally proclaime d hi s sens e o f it s generality. Wha t i s newes t moreover , i s th e concentrate d attemp t t o rende r undercurrents o f feelin g an d spasm s o f behaviou r whic h remai n largel y mysterious t o bot h wif e an d husband ; whic h the y d o no t intend ; whic h indee d run counte r t o thei r sens e o f themselve s an d th e stron g physica l attractio n tha t draws the m t o eac h other . Unde r th e surfac e o f thei r year-lon g lov e ther e goe s on 'almos t continuousl y tha t battl e betwee n the m whic h s o many marrie d peopl e fight, withou t knowin g why ' an d whic h render s the m 'elemental , lik e impersona l forces'. I t happen s almos t unconsciously . Whe n th e woma n i s fascinate d b y th e telegraph-workman suspende d fre e i n spac e abov e th e houses ; whe n sh e rebel s against Brahms' s temp o a s sh e plays ; whe n sh e use s th e telegra m fro m a mysterious 'Richard ' t o asser t he r righ t t o see k fro m othe r me n th e simpl e 74
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warmth an d res t he r husban d Pete r (sh e says ) neve r give s her ; w e see m t o b e looking no t onl y a t this character , bu t a t a n intens e femal e longin g fo r 'independence' whic h mus t inevitabl y (almos t generically ) rebe l agains t th e commitment o f lov e an d marriage . Th e respons e o f th e 'ol d Adam ' i n Pete r Moest seem s a no les s inevitabl e gu t reaction : t o th e underton e o f triumph a s sh e fondles him ; t o th e infinitesima l 'twist ' i n he r apparentl y tende r loo k 'tha t coul d not com e loos e t o him ' an d s o easil y turn s t o hate ; an d t o 'tha t curiou s littl e strain i n he r eyes , whic h wa s waitin g fo r hi m t o submi t t o her , an d the n woul d spurn hi m again'. 57 Lawrence give s t o Paul a wha t soun d lik e Frieda' s charge s a t he r angriest : tha t the ma n i s afrai d t o trus t himsel f t o lov e her ; tha t hi s lovin g seem s (stil l lik e Paul's o f Clara ) a n impersona l instinc t tha t ha s n o sens e o f her; tha t hi s ver y closeness wear s he r out ; tha t h e seem s t o us e he r u p an d giv e nothin g back . 'Sometimes' (an d her e th e stor y is 'autobiographical' , sinc e th e husban d i s a businessman no t a writer ) 'sh e though t h e was a bi g fountai n pe n whic h wa s always sucking a t her bloo d fo r ink ' - an d al l this despit e sexua l satisfaction . What the y ca n say t o eac h other , moreover , doesn' t mak e sense . Wha t doe s she mean b y sayin g sh e 'must hav e rest' , whe n sh e doe s no t d o anything ? O r tha t he 'use s [her ] sou l up' ? " ... I don' t know what you do, but it is something ghastly." .. . "It is very vague, " . . . "I kno w .. . I can' t pu t i t int o words—bu t ther e i t is—You—yo u don' t love . I pou r myself out to you, and then—there's nothing there—You simpl y aren't there." .. . "We have come to the incomprehensible . . . " Only whe n sh e ha s gon e off ostensibl y t o meet th e othe r man , whil e he r husban d lies sleeplessl y i n th e dark , doe s h e begi n t o liste n t o 'tha t dark , unknow n being , which live d belo w al l his consciousnes s i n th e eterna l gloo m o f his blood'; o n to p of whic h though t merel y spin s lik e 'th e iridescenc e o f oi l o n a dar k stream' . I n that mediu m h e ca n begi n t o sens e ho w he r inne r bein g recoil s fro m th e ver y intimacy sh e ha d desired , bu t (dee p within ) canno t bear , becaus e sh e want s he r life fo r hersel f - an d ho w hi s ow n blood , 'move d t o it s depth s b y he r revulsion' , nevertheless 'heave d an d swun g toward s it s ow n rest , surgin g blindl y t o it s ow n re-settling' - thoug h h e suffer s mor e tha n eve r before . The res t o f th e stor y switche s betwee n menta l an d blood-consciousness . Th e telegram i s soon explained : i t was mean t fo r a namesake, an d onl y use d b y Paul a to hi t a t he r husband . Ther e i s howeve r ne w caus e fo r ange r a s sh e become s excited b y a missio n t o 'save ' th e youn g sende r - anothe r vo n Henning , o r Hobson - whic h seem s t o confir m t o he r husban d tha t ther e i s 'n o cor e t o th e woman. Sh e was ful l o f generosit y an d bignes s an d kindness , bu t ther e was n o heart i n her , n o security , n o plac e fo r on e singl e man. ' Whe n h e trie s t o d o he r 75
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justice, and thin k abou t he r charge s agains t him , h e canno t understan d an d feel s only resentment . Onl y whe n hi s bloo d strike s 'lik e flame acros s hi s conscious ness' a s sh e come s t o hi m doe s h e fee l 'th e deadnes s goin g ou t o f him ; th e rea l life, released , flowing int o hi s bod y again. ' Tensio n i s suddenl y gone . Bu t wil l she eve r reall y giv e hersel f t o hi m a s a wife , rathe r tha n a s a mistress ? Wil l h e ever b e abl e t o trus t himsel f t o her ? A t th e en d the y hav e separate d again , an d are denouncin g thei r idea s o f eac h othe r i n term s o f thei r menta l consciousnes s once more . Th e stor y ha s n o resolution ; bu t th e term s o f it s questionin g see m clear, an d comin g a s a kin d o f epilogu e t o 'Th e Sisters ' i t suggest s th e kin d o f exploration th e ne w fiction was aimin g for , a t it s mos t 'earnes t an d painful' . I t i s moving beyon d th e conceptio n o f characte r whic h largel y governe d Sons and Lovers, t o som e sens e o f more hidde n an d archetypa l blood-impulse s withi n th e tensions o f marriag e - thoug h thei r ultimat e natur e an d cause , le t alon e th e wa y through them , see m n o cleare r ye t tha n (probably ) i n life . The tw o Germa n soldie r stories , 'Honou r an d Arms ' (late r rename d 'Th e Prussian Officer' ) an d 'Vi n Ordinaire ' (late r re-name d 'Th e Thor n i n th e Flesh'), ar e no t autobiographica l a t al l - bu t the y pus h t o extreme s thi s ne w sense o f ho w powerfu l bu t subconsciou s impulse s ma y driv e peopl e t o unwille d and 'abnormal ' behaviour , apparentl y counte r t o thei r conceptio n o f themselves ; and her e wholl y destructively . (' I wa s astonished' , crie d Frieda , ' I though t I wa s mild an d good.' ) Bot h probabl y derive d fro m Frieda' s anecdote s abou t he r father. H e 'appears ' i n one ; and a n inciden t wit h hi s orderl y ma y li e at a distanc e behind th e other , thoug h th e brutalit y o f it s office r i s heightene d beyon d al l portraiture. Bot h pus h t o extreme s Lawrence' s antipath y t o Germa n militaris m in th e sketche s o f 1912 ; an d hi s sens e o f cruelt y i n th e ai r o f Bavari a i n 1913 . However, bot h storie s als o hav e deepe r concern s tha n th e brutalit y tha t ca n b e involved i n soldierin g an d it s power structure s - thoug h tha t i s where the y start . 'Vin Ordinaire ' was th e las t o f th e thre e t o b e written , bu t i s perhap s wort h discussing first, sinc e i t show s a n Ev e an d a n Ada m wh o lac k courag e t o ac t o n new knowledge . Thi s i s th e stor y o f th e soldie r wh o wet s himself , i n hi s horro r of height, whe n h e i s force d t o clim b a rampart. A s th e sergeant' s fac e thrust s a t him i n rage , Bachman n throw s a n ar m u p defensively , knockin g hi s tormento r over th e edg e - an d walk s away , a deserter . Hi s action s ar e al l reflex ; t o walk away prove s h e ha s n o ide a wha t h e i s doing. Equall y o n impuls e h e seek s refug e with a maid-servant, wh o work s i n a big hous e nearby . Sh e shelter s him ; bu t i n this first versio n neithe r i s abl e t o carr y throug h th e momen t o f passio n the y experience i n thei r stress . H e spend s th e nigh t alon e i n he r room , passivel y waiting; whil e sh e share s th e roo m o f th e governess , i n frustratio n an d som e hate. 'I t was fo r hi m t o finish wha t h e ha d begun . Ever y fibre o f he r hur t wit h a kind o f painfu l sensibilit y o f him ! Wh y coul d h e no t se t he r fre e t o b e hersel f again?'61 Th e nex t da y h e i s arrested , an d a t th e en d sh e face s he r employer , 76
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unable t o understan d th e Baron' s tone , whic h oddl y blend s railler y wit h anger . Ideas of themselves hav e been rupture d b y revelations o f the blood: Bachman n i s not th e handsom e soldier , a bit o f a daredevil, tha t h e seemed ; th e gir l i s no t th e puritan virgi n proclaime d b y he r room . Bu t becaus e neithe r o f the m act s o n their ne w knowledge , th e traged y i s unrelieve d b y anythin g bu t th e Baron' s anger (unconscious , an d amoral ) a t a lif e wasted , a roa d no t take n - whic h reveals somethin g als o abou t th e Baron' s life . I t i s no t a stor y o f th e wisdo m o f the blood, but o f vin ordinaire , thin an d sour . It was howeve r 'Honou r an d Arms' 62 tha t Lawrenc e wa s mos t prou d o f a s h e was leavin g Irschenhausen : 'th e bes t shor t stor y I hav e eve r done ' (ii . 21) . I n it s extremity i t i s indee d a turnin g poin t i n hi s vie w o f character , an d (unlik e 'Vi n Ordinaire') i t achieve d virtuall y it s final shap e a t first writing . Th e previou s November, Lawrenc e ha d bee n readin g Garnett' s pla y abou t Joa n o f Ar c an d a pamphlet abou t atrocitie s i n Persia , an d conclude d tha t 'Cruelt y i s a for m o f perverted sex' , t o whic h celibat e priest s an d soldier s wit h onl y casua l wome n were particularl y liable . 'I t i s sex lus t fermente d make s atrocity ' (i . 469) . S o 'Honour an d Arms ' - th e titl e a n iron y o n idea s o f respec t an d ran k - deepen s military bullyin g int o somethin g mor e sinister . A n officer , unsatisfie d b y casua l affairs wit h women , i s attracte d t o hi s orderl y bu t wil l no t admi t wha t h e feels . Repression turn s int o sadisti c cruelty , an d eventuall y produce s i n it s victi m a n instinctive an d absolut e momen t o f revolt , no t th e 'accident ' o f 'Vi n Ordinaire ' but murder , followe d b y th e disintegratio n o f the man wh o ha s killed . Yet t o trea t th e stor y a s essentially abou t represse d homosexualit y an d sadis m - th e extrem e exploratio n o f th e ga p i n al l three storie s betwee n idea s o f th e sel f and blood-bein g - i s t o oversimplify . Fo r on e thing , i t ha s stil l a thir d o f it s length t o g o after th e murder . Fo r another , homosexualit y seem s n o mor e adequate a n accoun t o f wha t i t i s tha t i s repressed , tha n reactio n agains t sadis m explains wh y th e orderl y s o disintegrate s afte r th e killing . I f th e licenc e whic h military lif e give s t o bullyin g an d cruelt y i s th e to p laye r o f th e story , an d th e 'abnormal' psycholog y th e underlyin g exploratio n - wha t i s it , a t th e story' s heart, agains t whic h th e 'abnormal ' i s measured, an d see n a s so destructive ? It begin s wit h a serie s o f oppositions : th e ho t valle y se t agains t th e pal e blue , snowy mountains ; th e dar k sweat y hors e agains t th e pal e blu e rider ; on e ma n fair, th e othe r dark ; on e fac e marke d b y a consciousnes s a t wa r wit h life , th e other seemin g 'neve r t o hav e thought , onl y t o hav e receive d lif e direc t throug h his senses' . Th e captai n i s attracte d t o somethin g fre e an d (unconsciously ) physically sure , a kin d o f spontaneit y h e lack s - ye t i n th e ver y attractio n lie s a deeper irritan t tha n represse d homosexuality . Fo r th e opposit e kin d o f lif e call s his kin d radicall y i n question , s o tha t th e ver y attractio n seem s t o lesse n an d imperil th e self - a s in 'Ne w Ev e an d Ol d Adam' , a s much a s between me n here . And thi s i s a s tru e o f th e orderl y whe n h e meet s th e officer' s eyes , 'bluey , lik e 77
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fire' an d feel s 'somethin g sin k deeper , deepe r int o hi s soul , wher e nothin g ha d ever gon e befor e . . . Som e o f his natura l completenes s i n himsel f wa s gone' . Bu t the office r 'di d no t choos e t o b e touche d int o lif e b y hi s servant ' - there i s th e idea o f rank , an d th e repressio n o f homosexuality , an d more . Th e orderl y to o learns (a s th e powerles s ten d t o d o whe n confronte d b y th e powerful ) t o loo k past th e other , no t eye-to-eye . I t i s no t th e attraction , bu t th e repressio n o f response tha t i s 'perverted' . Fro m tha t come s th e obsessiv e physica l cruelt y o f the captain , an d th e increasin g refusa l o f consciousnes s b y th e orderly , ste p b y horribly convincin g step , until th e murde r become s inevitable . Yet her e i s the hear t o f the stor y - fo r i n killin g his tormentor , i t now become s clear tha t th e orderl y ha s kille d somethin g i n himself, whic h thirs t an d sunstrok e merely accentuat e an d complete . (Similarly , i n retrospect , th e captai n wa s deathly i n repressin g tha t par t o f himsel f whic h reache d ou t t o on e wh o embodied i t mor e fully. ) Th e consequenc e t o th e orderl y o f killin g th e captai n i s the deat h i n himsel f o f kind s o f livin g awareness , withou t whic h huma n lif e i s impossible. H e i s imprisone d no w i n a deadl y kin d o f consciousness , ou t o f touch wit h th e natura l universe , an y huma n bein g o r eve n th e need s o f hi s ow n body - feelin g onl y a now foreve r unfulfillabl e longin g fo r th e dimensio n furthes t beyond himself , a s he dies . This stor y goe s deepe r tha n 'Ne w Ev e an d Ol d Adam ' i n explorin g ho w attraction an d revulsio n ma y b e connected - an d al l thre e see m mos t intereste d now i n wha t lie s belo w consciou s awareness . The y als o intensif y a quality whic h Frieda no w realise d ha d bee n ther e i n Sons and Lovers; whil e carryin g muc h further a dimension t o which sh e wa s initially hostile . When Garnet t sen t Jessie's manuscript t o Irschenhausen , Fried a though t i t 'ver y lovable' , but becaus e Jessie had 'neve r understoo d anythin g ou t o f herself , onl y ' a fade d photograph ' o f Lawrence's. B y contrast , 'th e amazin g brutality ' i n Sons and Lovers bring s hom e a truth abou t peopl e tha t 'ough t t o develo p int o somethin g finer , ou t o f itself no t be suppressed , denied! ' (i . 550) . Bu t ho w migh t somethin g fine r gro w ou t o f such subterranea n an d unacknowledge d dualisms ? O n th e othe r hand , jus t before Sons and Lovers wa s finished , sh e ha d though t Lawrenc e 's o stupi d . . . i n seeing things , tha t canno t b e see n wit h eyes , o r touched , o r smel t o r heard ' (i. 470) . Th e mor e h e sough t t o delv e belo w personalit y an d beyon d th e dimensions o f consciou s awarenes s (fo r sh e migh t hav e adde d 'o r thought , o r spoken' t o he r list) , the mor e h e would hav e t o risk suc h criticism . Lawrence himsel f wa s certai n no w tha t Sons and Lovers marke d th e en d o f a phase, and tha t h e woul d no t writ e i n it s style again (i . 551) . The critica l essa y h e wrote a t Irschenhause n marke d a n equall y definit e rejectio n o f th e post Flaubertian sens e of'form', whic h becam e th e mar k o f modernism . 'German Books : Thoma s Mann ' wa s writte n fo r Rhythm (whic h turne d int o the Blue Review befor e printin g i t i n July) . Man n i s see n a s th e hig h poin t i n 78
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Germany o f th e Flaubertia n cravin g fo r form-as-mastery , seekin g t o impos e th e will o f th e artis t ove r th e formlessnes s an d corruptio n o f life . Followin g a ver y dubious critica l tacti c tha t wa s t o becom e habitual , Lawrenc e make s n o distinction betwee n autho r an d protagonist ; ye t thi s was als o par t o f a refusal t o draw th e shar p lin e between th e artis t wh o create s an d th e ma n wh o suffers , tha t modernism woul d postulate . S o whe n Lawrenc e find s Death in Venice unwholesome, i t i s no t merel y a matte r o f th e sicknes s insid e th e story , portraye d wit h such skill . I t i s als o becaus e Mann-as-artis t i s th e lates t 'sic k suffere r fro m th e complaint o f Flaubert': Thysica l lif e i s a disordered corruption , agains t whic h h e can fight wit h onl y on e weapon , hi s fine aestheti c sense , hi s feelin g fo r beauty , for perfection , fo r a certai n fitness whic h soothe s him , an d give s hi m a n inne r pleasure, howeve r corrup t th e stuf f o f lif e ma y be. ' Thi s radica l disjunctio n between forme d 'art ' an d corrup t 'life' , however , make s ar t unliving ; an d prevents th e artis t fro m discoverin g i n hi s wor k th e sourc e o f ne w an d bette r life. Fo r that , ar t mus t hav e 'th e rhyth m o f a living thing' : the ris e o f a poppy, the n th e afte r uplif t o f th e bud , th e sheddin g o f th e caly x an d th e spreading wid e o f th e petals , th e fallin g o f th e flower an d th e prid e o f th e seed-head . There is an unexpectedness i n this such as does not come from thei r carefully plotte d and arranged developments . Even Madame Bovary seems t o me dead i n respec t t o the livin g rhythm of the whole work. While it is there in Macbeth like life itself. Even i n storie s abou t destructiv e marriages , bruta l violenc e an d murder , then , the puls e o f lif e an d growt h shoul d b e discoverable . Eac h wor k will , however , have t o find it s ow n livin g form , thoug h thi s ma y requir e repeate d spontaneou s reconceiving (a s wa s Lawrence' s wa y o f developmen t an d revision ) rathe r tha n filling i n touc h afte r touc h t o perfec t a carefull y conceive d o r preconceive d design, a s i n Flauber t o r Joyce. Wit h this , Lawrenc e set s ou t o n a different pat h than modernist s suc h a s Mann, Ford , Pound , Elio t o r Joyce woul d take . On Tuesda y 1 7 June h e an d Fried a lef t Irschenhause n an d arrive d i n Englan d early o n Thursda y morning . V I n Englan d Agai n They cam e vi a Hollan d t o Harwich , an d wen t straigh t fro m Londo n t o Garnett's hous e Th e Cearne , nea r Edenbridg e i n Ken t - th e onl y hous e i n England (Lawrenc e felt ) wher e the y wer e sur e o f a friendl y reception . Thoug h he an d Fried a ha d bee n togethe r fo r a year , h e ha d stil l no t tol d hi s famil y (except Ada) . Th e Cearn e was a househol d s o broad-minde d tha t bot h Loui e Burrows an d Hele n Cork e ha d harboure d suspicion s abou t it ; ye t eve n ther e h e felt h e ha d t o tel l th e housekeepe r Elizabet h ('Li' ) Whal e tha t Fried a mus t pas s as 'Mr s Lawrence ' (ii . 22) . Edwar d an d Constanc e live d togethe r o r apar t a s 79
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they pleased , a t thei r flat i n Hampstea d o r i n th e country , bu t remaine d o n friendly an d civilise d terms . H e ha d hi s offic e a t Duckworth' s i n Henriett a Street; bu t a s a publisher' s reade r muc h o f hi s wor k coul d b e don e a t home . She wa s engage d o n he r translation s fro m th e Russia n whic h firs t mad e Turgenev, Tolstoy , Dostoevsky , Chekho v an d Gogo l widel y availabl e i n English - sevent y volume s i n all . H e ha d a relationshi p wit h th e painte r Nelli e Heath, o f whic h hi s wif e wa s wel l aware , ofte n sendin g Nelli e regard s whe n sh e wrote t o him , a s sh e di d regularl y wheneve r the y wer e apart . Whe n Lawrenc e first me t him , Edwar d wa s spendin g onl y a fe w day s i n tow n an d th e res t i n the country ; whil e Constanc e wa s mostl y i n Hampstea d wit h Bunn y a s h e started a t th e Roya l Colleg e o f Scienc e (s o the y ha d no t bee n a t Th e Cearn e when Lawrenc e brough t Fried a ther e i n Apri l 1912 , before goin g t o Germany) . Constance was lookin g forwar d t o meetin g he r now , despit e th e effec t th e shilly-shallying abou t date s ha d ha d o n domesti c arrangements ! Thi s tim e however Garnet t wa s mostl y i n London , an d Constanc e i n th e countr y wit h her younge r siste r Katherin e Clayton , an d Bunn y wh o was preparin g fo r a n 64
examination. The Cearn e wa s set o n a scarp (henc e th e name ) 'o n th e las t dro p o f th e nort h downs, shee r overlookin g th e Weal d o f Kent', wit h woodlan d behin d an d a wid e prospect i n front . Thoug h buil t onl y thirtee n year s earlier , Lawrenc e describe d it a s 'exactl y lik e th e 15t h century : bric k floore d hall , bar e woo d staircase , dee p ingle noo k wit h a grea t lo g fire , an d tw o tin y window s on e o n eithe r sid e o f th e chimney: an d beautifu l ol d furniture ' (i . 314) . He ha d love d bein g there , but was feeling apprehensiv e now , isolate d an d needin g support . Th e firs t lette r h e wrot e from Th e Cearn e wa s t o Frieda' s littl e nephe w Friede l wh o had stoo d u p fo r him, and thoug h i t is written (i n German ) t o interest a child, wit h description s o f the 'rose-faces ' a t the windo w an d ho w h e has been helpin g t o net th e raspberrie s against th e birds , ther e i s a distinc t touc h o f melanchol y a t bein g bac k i n hi s 'native land ' (ii . 25) . Through th e eye s o f Constanc e an d Bunn y w e ge t th e firs t outsid e impressions o f Lawrenc e an d Fried a afte r thei r yea r together . Predictably , no w that the y wer e s o clos e t o Frieda' s children , previou s argument s flare d up , an d they quarrelle d fiercel y a s soo n a s politenes s ha d wor n off . Becaus e the y ha d been livin g i n suc h isolatio n an d ha d go t use d t o behavin g withou t socia l restraint, thi s ma y no t hav e take n long . Immediatel y afte r th e weeken d Fried a consulted Rober t Garnet t i n London . If , a s seem s likely , th e lawye r counselle d her t o b e cautiou s i n th e perio d befor e th e divorc e hearing , an d no t t o tr y contacting th e childre n withou t permission , sh e wa s i n n o moo d t o listen . Th e whole poin t o f he r comin g t o Englan d was t o se e the m an d sh e was determine d to d o so , despit e (also ) Lawrence' s mora l objectio n t o goin g behin d Weekley' s back. Bunn y Garnett , wh o ha d s o love d the m a s a couple th e yea r before , seem s 80
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now t o hav e gon e ove r entirel y t o Frieda' s sid e - unles s hi s late r quarre l wit h Lawrence ha d take n ove r hi s memories b y 1953 . Though Fried a (h e says ) ha d give n u p s o much t o liv e wit h Lawrence , s o tha t any 'kind-hearte d ma n woul d hav e fel t a n adde d tendernes s an d sympath y fo r her', hi s 'spiteful , ill-conditioned , ungenerou s side ' kep t breakin g ou t i n jealous y of th e children , an d crue l ange r wit h he r fo r bein g unabl e t o forge t them . Lacking 'th e instinct s o f a gentleman' , Lawrenc e rationalise d hi s feelings , 'attributed th e whol e troubl e t o fault s i n Frieda' s characte r an d neve r admitte d the existenc e o f imperfection s i n hi s own' . So , 'm y sympath y wa s reall y al l fo r Frieda an d a s she could ge t no support fro m Lawrence , I spent severa l afternoon s in Londo n wit h her , hangin g roun d S t Paul' s Schoo l i n th e hop e tha t sh e coul d intercept he r so n an d se e hi m fo r a moment o r two.' 65 I t was t o b e alway s thus . Those wh o took Frieda' s sid e would accus e Lawrence o f jealousy and spite ; while his partisan s woul d charg e he r wit h refusin g t o accept , i n he r self-centredness , the consequence s o f he r ow n actions . Wha t doe s rin g true , however , i s Bunny' s contention tha t he r unhappines s i n bein g separate d fro m he r childre n was 'something simpl e and elemental ' an d 'a s painful t o watch a s an animal in a trap'. Constance, les s partisan , sa w differently , an d w e hav e he r reaction s a t th e time. Sh e wrot e o n Saturda y (probabl y 5 July) o f a 'blessed calm ' i n th e storms , apart fro m Fried a 'insistin g o n expectin g Pro f W . t o com e dow n her e an d shoo t Lawrence' - fo r reason s tha t wil l soo n becom e apparent . Constanc e didn' t thin k their relatio n coul d surviv e suc h conflict s - an d tol d hi m tha t 'a s a sensible man ' he should se e this, 'and par t befor e h e make s thing s to o hard fo r her' . Well, he says I don't understand - tha t his love is of the permanent sor t - an d tha t it's all that F . onl y half loves hi m - bu t he'l l make her lov e hi m altogethe r - (Thi s apparentl y involves he r forgettin g th e past! ) I thin k th e tal k ha s ha d a good effec t i n makin g hi m behave a bit better - but F. is very tactless & her denseness in some directions makes him almost scream with anguish - & I'm afraid it' s a bit beyond her to change effectually . . ,66 Yet ther e wa s more behin d th e argument s no w tha n eithe r o f th e Garnett s coul d see. Lawrenc e wa s no t bein g merel y jealou s an d spitefu l i n objectin g t o Frieda' s plan t o se e th e childre n clandestinely . H e ha d refuse d t o slee p wit h he r i n Weekley's house , h e ha d trie d t o ge t he r t o tel l Weekle y abou t hi m befor e the y left Englan d together , h e was unwillin g t o din e wit h Frieda' s fathe r unde r fals e pretences an d h e ha d foun d th e 'dishonour ' an d lie s i n Met z s o intolerabl e tha t he ha d fel t i t essentia l t o writ e t o Weekle y - a lette r tha t woul d b e use d i n th e divorce proceedings . Whil e believin g tha t peopl e ha d a righ t t o ac t o n thei r hearts' desires , i n defianc e i f nee d b e o f conventiona l morality , h e consistentl y believed i n doin g s o openly, whic h i s wha t ha d mad e Weekle y i n on e o f hi s quieter moment s cal l him 'ehrlich' . Moreover, agains t hi s bette r judgemen t (an d Bunny' s story) , h e di d i n fac t 81
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give i n t o Frieda' s feelings , an d o n 3 0 June wen t wit h he r i n a successful attemp t to wayla y Mont y o n hi s wa y hom e fro m Cole t Court , th e preparator y schoo l fo r St Paul's , i n Wes t Kensington . Mont y remember s catchin g ' a glimps e o f Lawrence a t som e distanc e an d realize d tha t h e ha d accompanie d he r bu t refrained fro m intrudin g o n ou r meeting' . Thi s mus t b e wh y ther e ha d bee n th e 'blessed calm' ; an d als o wh y a n exultan t Fried a was talkin g abou t reprisal s b y Weekley agains t Lawrence , shoul d h e find out . And find ou t h e did , throug h th e detectiv e effort s o f hi s siste r Maude , an d with result s disastrou s t o Frieda . Fried a ha d persuade d Mont y t o brin g th e girl s to se e he r th e nex t da y ( 1 July) . Maude , wh o fel t responsibl e fo r th e childre n when he r brothe r wa s abou t hi s dutie s i n Nottingham , soo n sense d tha t something was up , examine d th e childre n an d discovere d a lette r fro m Frieda , probably b y searchin g Monty' s room . (Ther e ha d bee n anothe r clandestin e meeting wit h Fried a - an d Katherin e Mansfiel d - earl y i n July.) Th e respons e of th e Weekley s wa s no t immediate , bu t i t was decisive . Weekle y first wrot e a furious lette r fo r Fried a vi a he r mothe r - wit h divorc e proceeding s unde r wa y he coul d no t writ e direct . The n h e applie d fo r a court orde r agains t her . Maude , in a swor n statemen t befor e a Commissione r o f Oath s o n 2 4 July, testifie d tha t on 1 Jul y sh e ha d 'observe d th e agitatio n o f th e sai d childre n an d questione d th e eldest', discoverin g ho w 'th e Respondent ' ha d me t him , an d the n hi s sister s o n 1 July. O n 4 July (sh e wen t on ) ' I foun d o n th e staircas e . . . a documen t i n th e handwriting o f th e Responden t whic h ha d apparentl y bee n droppe d b y th e sai d [Montague Weekley]' ; and hande d i t t o he r brother . Afte r hearin g counsel , an d affidavits b y Weekle y (date d 1 4 July ) an d Maude , th e Registra r o f th e Hig h Court signe d a n Orde r o n Summon s o n 2 8 July awardin g Weekle y lega l custod y until furthe r notic e (i.e . before th e divorce) , an d restrainin g Fried a 'fro m interfering o r attemptin g t o interfere wit h th e sai d children' . Frieda woul d hav e don e bette r t o hav e listene d t o Lawrence' s scruples , an d t o have mad e a fres h appea l t o Weekle y o n th e ground s tha t sh e wa s bac k i n England an d nearby . No w ther e coul d b e n o questio n o f that , an d sh e woul d b e breaking th e la w if she trie d t o se e th e childre n i n secre t again . Afte r the y move d to th e Ken t coas t (unawar e o f wha t wa s brewing) , Mont y remember s tha t 'Katherine Mansfiel d delivere d message s fro m m y mother' ; an d Lawrenc e meant t o sen d a half sovereig n (1 0 shillings ) o n 2 1 July fo r he r t o giv e them , bu t forgot t o put i t into hi s lette r o f instructions abou t ho w t o ge t hol d o f Monty . After th e cour t order , ther e coul d b e n o mor e o f that . O n 2 8 July, th e da y o f the cour t hearing , th e writin g was alread y o n th e wall , thoug h it s meanin g wa s still hidden : Frieda i s very sad because Mr s Murr y wen t t o S t Paul s to see Monty, an d h e sent word by another bo y 'that h e was not t o talk to people who came to the school to see him'. So 82
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she - Fried a - think s they have brought all kinds of pressure to bear, and have instilled all kinds o f horror int o th e lad . Go d knows . But Weekle y i s an unutterabl e fool . H e wrot e the most hideou s lette r t o the Fra u Baroni n [altere d fro m 'Frieda' ] - i s altogether actin g the maniacal part of the 'mari trompe'. (ii. 51) Monty ha d jus t turne d thirteen ; th e girl s were tw o year s an d fou r year s younger . There wa s mor e t o th e quarrel s o f lat e June , then , tha n jealous y an d spit e from Lawrence . Indeed , Constanc e Garnett' s sympath y ha d turne d hi s way . Two day s befor e the y wer e du e t o leave , sh e wrot e o f th e 'peacefu l time ' the y had had , nettin g th e strawberrie s together : 'Lawrenc e ver y swee t - h e i s a nic e person i n th e hous e - & F rathe r tryin g - Sh e won' t le t thing s drop. ' Sh e warned Edwar d howeve r (wh o woul d se e the m i n town ) no t t o tal k o f thei r relationship, 'o r they'l l b e a t hamme r & tong s again' . O n Wednesda y 9 Jul y they wen t t o London , o n thei r wa y t o Kingsgat e o n th e Ken t coast , betwee n Margate an d Broadstairs , wher e the y ha d take n a flat. (Fried a an d Weekle y ha d holidayed i n Margat e once , wit h th e children.) 73 This was a day give n t o th e literar y contact s Lawrenc e neede d i n orde r t o g o on livin g an d writin g abroad . The y calle d o n Garnet t an d sa w Duckwort h too . They met , an d liked , Norma n Dougla s wh o ha d becom e assistan t edito r o f th e English Review. The y calle d a t th e 'office ' i n Chancer y Lan e o f tha t 'daf t paper ' run b y 'nice ' fol k (i . 519) , for whic h Lawrenc e ha d writte n tw o review s now , an d saw Katherin e Mansfiel d agai n - havin g alread y ha d th e first sunn y meetin g recalled b y John Middleto n Murr y s o vividly i n 1935 : Frieda's lovel y fai r hai r glowe d unde r he r panama . W e rod e i n a bu s t o hav e lunc h together i n Soho , an d Fried a wa s surprise d an d delighte d t o catc h Katherin e an d m e making faces a t one another. Fo r Lawrenc e and sh e had forme d th e curious ide a that we were wealth y an d importan t people : th e kin d o f people , I suppose , wh o finance daf t magazines. We liked on e another, and whe n i t emerged, a s it quickly did , that Katherin e and I wer e no t married , an d tha t Katherin e lik e Fried a wa s waiting t o b e divorced , i t began to appear .. . tha t we were made for one another. This work s u p th e origina l accoun t o f 'Stra w hats , an d sunshine , an d gaiety ' i n Reminiscences (1933) an d i s no t altogethe r reliable. 74 Nevertheless , th e sens e o f two couple s delighte d wit h eac h othe r i s clea r i n th e account s o f bot h - thoug h Lawrence's, base d o n wha t Katherin e tol d him , ha d it s inaccuracies too . Murry was 23 . He wa s no t i n fac t 'o f th e commo n people ' (ii . 31 ) - hi s fathe r had a clerkshi p i n th e Registr y i n Somerse t Hous e an d a lower-middle-clas s home i n Peckha m - bu t he , too , had bee n a scholarship boy , t o Christ' s Hospita l School, and the n t o Oxford . (Ther e wa s no ric h bu t fickle benefacto r - ii.32 ; that was an inventio n o f Katherine's.) H e the n boldl y decide d t o liv e in Pari s and edi t Rhythm, wit h a well-of f fello w undergraduate , rathe r tha n wor k fo r Greats ; though h e di d tak e hi s Final s an d achieve d a second clas s afte r littl e preparation . 83
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He ha d bee n livin g wit h Katherin e fo r si x months . Howeve r Rhythm collapse d when it s publisher decamped , leavin g Murry liabl e fo r a large debt , whic h mean t selling u p thei r firs t rea l hom e together . The y starte d agai n wit h th e Blue Review, helpe d b y Edwar d Mars h - bu t th e Jul y numbe r (wit h Lawrence' s essay o n Thoma s Mann ) woul d prov e t o b e th e last . Murr y ha d t o suppor t himself b y reviewin g fo r th e Westminster Gazette an d sellin g th e book s after wards. Katherin e ha d a n allowanc e o f £12 0 a yea r a t thi s tim e fro m he r father , the Governo r o f th e Ban k o f Ne w Zealand , thoug h sh e ha d pledge d thi s t o pa y off the debt. 75 Katherine (ne e Kathlee n Beauchamp) , a t 24 , ha d publishe d a boo k o f storie s and worke d o n A . R. Orage' s periodica l New Age. A rebel agains t he r respectabl e colonial background , sh e ha d marrie d th e gentlemanl y Georg e Bowde n t o conceal he r pregnanc y b y someon e else , but ra n awa y o n th e marriag e night . H e had neve r reproache d o r pursue d her ; and thoug h the y ha d recentl y talke d abou t divorce (a t he r invitation ) sh e le t th e matte r drop . Thoug h Murr y di d no t kno w this, sh e ha d los t th e bab y - an d sh e hersel f di d no t kno w sh e ha d caugh t gonorrhoea fro m it s father . Sh e wa s a comple x character , a chameleon , bu t th e combination o f laughte r an d sadnes s sh e ha d projecte d a t thes e firs t meeting s made a dee p impressio n o n Lawrence ; an d Fried a was clearl y touche d b y he r sympathy ove r th e childre n an d he r readines s t o help : 'Sh e wen t t o se e them , talked t o the m an d too k the m letter s fro m me . I love d he r lik e a younge r sister.' (Katherin e woul d hav e enjoye d th e subversio n o f th e bourgeois. ) Though b y throwin g i n he r lo t wit h Murr y sh e ha d quarrelle d wit h New Age whose editor , sh e said , ha d taugh t he r t o thin k - sh e retaine d th e bohemia n iconoclasm tha t ha d draw n he r t o it s writers . Sh e was striking-looking , small , dark, wit h bobbe d hai r an d a Japanes e fringe , witty , enigmatic , formidable , funny an d deliberatel y unconventional . The y ha d foun d he r i n th e flat-cumoffice i n Chancer y Lane , sittin g o n a floor cushio n besid e a bow l o f goldfish , with he r leg s showing. 77 Murry wa s als o o n th e shor t side , wit h a scholarl y stoo p tha t mad e hi m loo k smaller tha n h e was . He ha d a little-boy-lost loo k whic h coul d b e ver y attractive ; an earnes t enthusias m whic h ha d wo n ove r artist s an d writer s t o Rhythm whe n he was stil l a cleve r undergraduate . Hi s fac e oddl y blende d sensitivit y wit h a nose broke n a t school ; h e ha d wha t Katherin e calle d a 'lovel y frightenin g mouth'; an d fin e haze l eye s tha t neve r quit e focuse d o n yo u a s he talked . Lawrence foun d 2 8 Perc y Avenue , Kingsgat e ' a mos t joll y littl e flat. Th e bi g bedroom ha s a balcony tha t look s acros s th e fields a t th e sea . The n th e hous e ha s a tent , [i.e . t o chang e in , a t th e beach ] an d th e way-dow n t o th e se a i s jus t near , so on e ca n bathe ' (ii . 32) . Soo n h e wa s describin g th e littl e ba y wher e 'grea t waves com e an d pitc h on e hig h up , s o I fee l lik e Horace , abou t t o smit e m y 84
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cranium o n th e sky' , thoug h h e coul d 'onl y swi m a littl e bi t an d a m a clow n i n the water ' (ii . 46) . (Ken t bather s wil l smil e a t a n accoun t whic h sound s lik e Bondi Beach. ) Ye t h e fel t alie n amon g th e holiday-makers ; an d th e not e o f unthinking anti-Semitism , first hear d i n Bavaria , sound s again : 'Wha t hav e I t o do wit h fa t fatherl y Jew s an d thei r moto r car s an d thei r bathin g tents ' (ii . 37) ; CI feel horribl y ou t o f plac e amon g thes e Jews ' villas , an d th e babie s an d papas ' (ii. 39) . Their sta y wa s transformed however , b y happ y accident . Out o f th e blu e cam e a chequ e fo r £ 3 fro m Edwar d Marsh , bein g a seventeenth shar e o f th e profit s o f Georgian Poetry. Lawrenc e thanke d hi m delightedly, addin g ' I shoul d lik e t o se e yo u ver y much . I suppos e yo u won' t b e Margate way ? (Don t b e insulted , a t an y rate) ' (ii . 36) . H e ha d no t graspe d th e social differenc e betwee n th e people' s Margat e an d Dickens' s Broadstair s t o which Kingsgat e belongs . Fa r fro m bein g insulted , Winsto n Churchill' s privat e secretary wa s alread y engage d t o pa y a visi t ther e th e followin g Sunday , t o Herbert ('Beb' ) Asquit h th e secon d so n o f th e Prim e Minister , an d hi s wif e th e Hon. Cynthi a Asquith , daughte r o f Lor d Elcho , wh o ha d take n a holiday hous e at th e botto m o f Perc y Avenue , neares t th e sea . Lawrenc e immediatel y invite d Marsh t o tea , bu t o n th e Sunda y mornin g (2 0 July) Mars h calle d t o sa y tha t th e Asquiths woul d lik e 'th e Lawrences ' t o com e t o the m instead . (Later , Lawrenc e apologised fo r th e deception , ii . 93.) After thei r yea r o f isolation , thi s mus t hav e bee n 'society ' indeed . Lawrenc e was alway s consciou s o f rank ; vai n o f Frieda' s an d ver y please d (whil e pretending no t t o be) a t any socia l contac t o f whic h hi s mothe r woul d hav e bee n proud. Bu t thes e wer e interestin g an d attractiv e peopl e anyway . Eddi e Mars h was dapper , clever , amusin g an d kind , an d kne w jus t abou t 'everybody' . A n 'Apostle' a t Cambridg e wit h G . E . Moore , Bertran d Russel l an d Oswal d Sickert ; a frien d o f Max Beerboh m an d Raymon d Asquit h a t Oxford ; movin g wit h equa l ease i n th e literar y salo n o f Edmun d Goss e o r th e ball s o f th e season ; inveterat e theatre-goer; h e wa s als o a schola r wh o produce d a fine translatio n o f Horace , and a civi l servan t efficien t an d astut e enoug h t o b e chose n b y Churchil l a s hi s right-hand man . H e wa s t o al l appearanc e a n Edwardia n man-about-tow n wit h eyeglass; finicky abou t goo d for m i n dres s an d speech ; an d wit h a n oddl y hig h voice fro m a child's diseas e tha t arreste d hi s sexua l developmen t an d mad e hi m a lifelong bachelo r o n eas y term s wit h bot h sexes . H e wa s intelligent , witt y an d open t o th e new . Withou t bein g exactl y rich , h e wa s alread y becomin g a Maecenas t o th e poet s an d artist s o f a younge r generation , usin g a shar e o f a state gran t t o th e famil y o f his great-grandfather , th e assassinate d Prim e Ministe r Spencer Perceval , t o hel p youn g artist s lik e Dunca n Grant , Mar k Gertler , Gaudier-Brzeska an d Stanle y Spencer . Hi s antholog y Georgian Poetry prove d a n influential boos t t o it s fifteen Britis h poets , an d th e carefu l apportionin g o f th e profits was typical. He wa s a personal frien d o f most o f them, particularl y Ruper t 85
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Brooke (whos e Londo n bas e wa s th e spar e bedroo m i n Marsh' s hom e i n Raymond Building s Chancer y Lane , whe n E . M . Forste r o r someon e els e wa s not usin g it) , an d th e mor e need y J . E . Flecke r an d W . H . Davies , who m h e helped wit h friendshi p a s muc h a s patronage . H e ha d enable d th e Murry s t o start agai n wit h th e Blue Review. Cynthia Asquit h (soo n t o b e Lad y Cynthi a whe n he r fathe r inherite d a s Ear l of Wemyss) wa s no t onl y a n aristocra t bu t als o on e o f th e mos t beautifu l societ y women i n London , wit h a n extraordinar y hea d o f reddish-gol d hai r ('th e colou r of th e bes t marmalade' , sai d th e leadin g actres s Mr s Patric k Campbell , describing i t t o Sargent) , a wide rathe r sensitiv e mout h an d wide-apart , slantin g green eyes . Sh e wa s ver y consciou s o f he r beauty , an d prou d o f th e numbe r o f painters wh o wishe d t o immortalis e i t (Burne-Jones , Sargen t an d vo n Gleh n already; Augustu s Joh n an d other s t o come) . Sh e ha d grow n u p i n no t on e bu t three grea t houses : Cloud s nea r Stourhead , he r birthplace , buil t b y he r Wyndham parents ; Stanway , th e Elch o hom e i n th e Cotswolds , whic h sh e love d 'as I hav e love d ver y fe w huma n beings' ; an d Gosfor d nea r Edinburgh , sea t o f the Earl s o f Wemyss . Sh e mad e th e round s o f a numbe r o f other s an d th e engagements o f the seaso n i n London , th e lif e o f a high-society lad y o f her time . Her fathe r howeve r was no t a t al l impresse d b y th e marriag e whic h ofte n seate d her als o a t th e Prim e Minister' s dining-table . Fo r Beb' s grandfathe r ha d worke d in th e woo l trade; he wa s a younger son ; the P.M . wa s a Liberal (an d Lor d Elch o an arch-Conservative) ; an d negotiation s abou t th e engagemen t too k plac e i n th e midst o f th e constitutiona l crisi s o f 191 0 ove r th e Hous e o f Lords , whic h inflamed politica l feelings . Th e marriag e settlemen t wa s consequentl y muc h smaller tha n migh t hav e bee n expected . Th e youn g coupl e woul d hav e £90 0 a year (thoug h te n time s wha t Lawrenc e ha d earne d a s a teacher ) - enoug h fo r Beb no t t o hav e t o practis e a t th e Ba r o r wor k otherwis e fo r a living , bu t no t enough fo r thei r taste s and expectations . However Cynthi a an d Beb , whil e neve r rebellious , wer e somewha t differen t from thei r sort . He r mothe r belonge d t o th e cultivate d circl e wh o becam e know n as th e Soul s - an d Cynthi a ha d a soul-searchin g an d self-doubtin g sid e i n od d contrast wit h he r socia l assurance . Sudde n withdrawa l an d remotenes s compli cated he r attractivenes s t o men . Intelligent , imaginative , ofte n ironic , sh e migh t have bee n a n actres s i f no t suc h a lady - indee d i n 191 0 sh e rejecte d a role i n a Herbert Trenc h productio n tha t ra n fo r 19 2 performances. An d thoug h Be b wa s by n o mean s charismati c (unlik e hi s brillian t elde r brothe r Raymond , centr e o f the Ballio l circl e t o whic h Cynthi a ha d bee n drawn ) bu t rathe r silen t an d reserved, h e share d he r interes t i n literatur e an d wrot e publishabl e poetry . Bot h were somewha t a t odds wit h thei r socia l roles. To Lawrenc e sh e seeme d th e kin d of 'dreamin g woman' , unfulfille d despit e he r poise , wh o alway s fascinate d hi s imagination. 86
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They wer e a t Kingsgat e recovering . Sh e ha d bee n suspecte d o f tuberculosi s and ha d jus t spen t thre e month s i n a sanatorium , thoug h sh e was no w pronounced well . He r so n Joh n was jus t ove r a yea r old , bu t eve n befor e th e sanatorium sh e ha d bee n awa y o n visit s muc h o f th e time , leavin g hi m i n th e nursery, s o sh e ha d see n ver y littl e o f hi m i n tha t crucia l phas e o f babyhood . A photograph a t Kingsgat e show s a chortlin g infan t (Lawrence' s 'fa t an d smilin g John'; ii . 63 ) wit h a prett y mothe r i n a fashionabl e summe r hat : se e Illustratio n 17. No shado w fall s - yet . Kingsgate mus t hav e bee n instantl y transforme d fo r 'th e Lawrences' , wh o spent much o f their tim e with thes e new friends; an d n o less for th e Asquiths. Sh e was struck a t once by his difference fro m othe r people , not in degree but kind : he was preternaturally aliv e .. . hal f fau n hal f prophet, an d ver y young .. . H e waste d n o time - h e never di d - o n small talk .. . Word s welled ou t of him .. . a t times colloquially, almost challengingly so , but ofte n wit h a startling beauty of utterance. His voice was now harsh, no w soft . On e momen t h e wa s lyrically , contagiousl y joyous ; th e nex t sardonic , gibing ... Fro m first to last I very much like d Frieda . Exuberant, warm , burgeoning, she radiated health, strength, and generosity of nature .. . One see s wh y Fried a wa s never jealous , thoug h Lawrence' s attractio n t o Cynthi a proved enduring . Fried a though t he r 'lovel y a s Botticelli' s Venus' , bu t recog nised he r remotenes s a s wel l a s Lawrence' s caution ; an d Cynthi a neve r too k sides. He r 'Soul ' quality , moreover , woul d cal l fro m Lawrenc e - thoug h no t just ye t - letter s o f a kin d h e wrot e t o fe w others , man y o f the m amongs t hi s most significant . Lawrence ha d hope d tha t 'th e Murrys ' - a convenien t term , despit e thei r unmarried stat e - woul d als o com e dow n tha t Sunday , bu t the y di d not , an d Lawrence wa s surprise d t o lear n fro m Mars h tha t the y probabl y ha d no t bee n able t o affor d th e rail-fare . H e immediatel y wrot e t o scol d Murr y fo r no t borrowing fro m him , an d enclose d a guine a - hal f fo r th e fare , an d hal f fo r Monty vi a Katherin e - insistin g tha t the y com e dow n th e followin g weeken d (ii. 45-6) . The y did , bringin g thei r frien d Gordo n Campbell , a lea n Iris h barrister wh o love d 'philosophica l discussion . The y bathe d 'nake d i n th e half light', Lawrenc e cooke d a tast y mea l an d o n th e wa y hom e i n th e trai n th e Murrys rea d Sons and Lovers wit h suc h admiratio n tha t Katherin e starte d a n autobiographical novel , thoug h sh e soo n abandone d it . Friendship s wer e confirmed, an d whe n th e Lawrence s ha d tw o night s i n tow n afte r leavin g Kingsgate, i t wa s wit h Campbel l an d hi s wif e Beatric e - a n artis t fro m Dubli n that the y stayed , a t Selwoo d Terrac e i n Kensington . Beatric e woul d remembe r Frieda drenche d an d weeping , afte r waitin g i n vai n t o se e th e childre n o n thei r way fro m school . Thi s mus t hav e bee n immediatel y afte r th e grantin g o f th e injunction, thoug h i t could no t ye t hav e been served .
s?
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Lawrence's affair s wen t better . H e an d Fried a dine d wit h W . L . George , th e novelist, wh o wa s t o d o a n articl e o n Lawrenc e i n th e Bookman', an d lunche d a t Raymond Building s wit h Marsh , W . H . Davie s an d Wilfri d Gibson . Collings , whom Lawrenc e ha d no t ye t met , cam e t o te a a t th e Murrys' , an d Lawrenc e visited th e Poetr y Booksho p t o mee t Harol d Monr o wh o ra n it , wit h Gibson . Though h e ha d faile d t o se e d e l a Mar e o r Hueffer , o r hi s Croydo n frien d McLeod, h e ha d dramaticall y increase d hi s circle . One mor e friendshi p ha d bee n forge d a t Kingsgat e whe n th e poe t an d reviewer Henr y Savag e cam e fo r th e day . H e ha d praise d The White Peacock, as had hi s frien d th e poe t Richar d Middleton . No w Middleto n wa s dead , a suicide; and Lawrenc e foun d Savag e rathe r a 'sa d dog ' too , worrie d abou t hi s wif e an d their comin g chil d (ii . 43) . H e alway s ha d th e gif t o f makin g peopl e tal k immediately o f their mos t intimat e an d dee p concerns , and di d th e sam e himself . Lying 'sprawle d o n th e cliffs' , h e 'suddenl y struc k hi s ches t violently . "I'v e something here , Savage , " h e said , "tha t i s harder tha n concrete . I f I don' t ge t i t out i t wil l kil l m e . " ' H e di d no t mean , Savag e thought , anythin g physical , bu t rather 'th e dark , strang e forces ' h e expresse d i n hi s work . I t wa s n o gloom y da y however; the y ha d a n 'excitin g debauch ' o f a meal (ii . 43 ) an d remembere d eac h other wit h pleasure . After tw o nights i n Londo n Lawrenc e an d Fried a wen t i n differen t directions . He ha d t o b e a t hi s siste r Ada' s weddin g o n 4 August , bu t h e coul d no t sprin g Frieda o n hi s famil y then . I n an y case , sh e was anxiou s t o ge t bac k t o Bavari a before he r mothe r lef t Else' s fo r Baden-Baden . He r whol e reaso n fo r bein g i n England ha d vanished , leavin g her wit h th e imag e of'little whit e faces ' forbidde n to speak t o her an d lookin g 'at me as if I were an evil ghost'. Sh e told Els e that i t was like having 'living pieces of flesh . .. tor n fro m one , luckily I think the childre n do not fee l i t so much' (ii . 50) . She could onl y hop e tha t Ernes t woul d cal m dow n once the divorce was complete. She was glad that Lawrence ha d had 'Muc h to-do ' made ove r him ; gla d to o tha t sh e ha d bee n a success wit h thei r ne w friends ; bu t she sa w n o reaso n t o sta y an y longer . Lawrenc e sa w he r of f o n 3 1 July, wen t t o The Cearn e fo r tw o nights, and the n t o Nottingham o n 2 August . In Eastwoo d h e staye d wit h Willi e an d Salli e Hopkin (who m h e ha d aske d no t to tel l Alic e Da x h e was coming ; ii . 42). H e wante d onl y t o se e hi s family , bu t i t must hav e bee n a n awkwar d tim e fo r hi m wit h the m too . Th e weddin g itsel f 'went of f al l right ' (ii . 55) ; bu t h e misse d Frieda , an d afte r stoppin g briefl y i n Garnett's flat, h e left fo r Irschenhause n o n th e 7th . VI Storie s fo r a Livin g His mai n affai r i n Englan d ha d bee n t o recove r al l th e unpublishe d manuscript s of sketche s an d storie s h e ha d lef t wit h o r sen t t o Garnet t an d Ada , an d t o 88
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prepare the m fo r publicatio n i n magazines . Sons and Lovers ha d bee n generall y well receive d b y th e critic s 4 bu t i t ha d no t sol d well , largel y becaus e o f th e reluctance o f th e librarie s t o tak e i t a t first . H e kne w 'Mis s Houghton ' wa s 'improper'; an d 'Th e Sisters ' too , havin g bee n intende d a s a seller , ha d alread y fallen fro m grac e i n tha t respect . So , having ha d £5 0 o f his royaltie s of Sons and Lovers i n advance , leavin g onl y £5 0 o n publication , h e ha d no w t o ear n enoug h to finance a retur n t o Ital y fo r anothe r winter . Th e publicatio n o f singl e storie s and sketche s i n magazine s o r weekl y paper s lik e th e Saturday Westminster woul d be mor e profitabl e tha n a volume. S o a s soo n a s h e reache d Th e Cearn e i n Jun e he began t o collect and revise . Garnett ha d arrange d fo r th e on e stor y s o fa r sen t t o Americ a t o b e professionally type d b y Dougla s Clayton , a printe r i n Croydon , whos e mothe r Katherine (Constanc e Garnett' s sister ) Lawrenc e ha d me t an d like d a t Th e Cearne. H e worke d o n th e manuscript s wheneve r h e ha d a chance , bot h ther e and i n Kingsgate ; sen t the m t o Dougla s vi a hi s mother ; an d ha d th e ne w typescripts bac k t o sen d t o magazines , whil e th e manuscript s wen t t o Th e Cearne o r wer e kep t b y th e Claytons . Constanc e als o acte d a s hi s banke r fo r what remaine d o f th e Duckwort h advanc e royalties . Afte r Rober t Garnett' s fee , and th e payment s t o Douglas Clayton , abou t £3 8 remaine d o n 1 8 July (ii . 42) . The unpublishe d sketche s abou t th e chape l an d th e hay-hu t i n th e mountain s could no t b e found . ('Christ s i n th e Tyrol ' ha d appeare d i n th e Westminster Gazette i n March. ) Th e stor y 'Intimacy ' (soo n t o be rename d 'Witc h a la Mode' ) was als o feare d los t bu t turne d u p amon g Frieda' s intimat e underwear . Clayto n typed thirtee n piece s i n July an d on e i n August ; an d Lawrenc e promise d t o kee p a list . I t woul d hav e rea d a s follow s (wit h th e eventua l succes s rat e u p t o Augus t 1914): 'Th e Fl y i n th e Ointment ' an d ' A Sic k Collier ' (take n b y th e New Statesman)', 'Strike-Pa y I , He r Turn ' an d 'Strike-Pa y II , Ephraim' s Half Sovereign' (take n b y th e Saturday Westminster Gazette); 'Th e Christening' , 'Th e Shadow i n th e Ros e Garden ' an d 'Th e Whit e Stocking ' (al l taken b y th e Smart Set); 'Honou r an d Arms ' an d 'Vi n Ordinaire ' (take n b y th e English Review, bu t damagingly cu t b y Norma n Douglas) ; 'Once—! ' (rejecte d b y th e Smart Set a s 'too hot ' (ii . 67 ) an d als o b y th e English Review); 'Tw o Marriages ' (retitle d 'Daughters o f th e Vicar' ) an d 'Lov e amon g th e Haystacks ' (bot h to o lon g fo r anything bu t serialisation , an d thoug h revise d now , rejecte d agai n fo r th e sam e reason); 'Th e Witc h a l a Mode ' (unplaced) ; an d th e onl y ne w one , finished during thei r sta y i n England , 'Th e Primros e Path ' (als o unplaced). 86 When Katherin e Clayto n remarke d tha t 'Ne w Ev e an d Ol d Adam ' was 'unworthy' o f him (ii . 38) , he too k he r wor d fo r i t and di d no t eve n hav e it typed . (He ma y als o hav e though t i t gav e awa y to o much. ) I t i s no t clea r wha t ha d happened t o 'Delila h an d M r Bircumshaw' , rewritte n i n German y i n 1912 ; or t o 'The Ol d Adam ' whic h h e had revise d i n 1911 . Heinemann stil l had th e Croydo n 89
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sketches ' A Lesso n o n a Tortoise' an d 'Lessford' s Rabbits' , probably throug h th e agency o f d e l a Mare. 87 Lawrenc e seem s t o hav e forgotte n ' A Prelude' , ' A Modern Lover ' an d l The Overtone ' altogether . Bu t h e ha d clearl y mad e a sustained effor t t o capitalis e o n hi s earl y writing s a s muc h a s h e possibl y could ; 'drudging away ' an d 'swottin g away ' a t the m - 'Ho w gla d I shal l b e whe n I hav e cleared tha t mes s up! ' (ii . 39 , 41) . H e als o decide d i t was tim e t o hav e a professional agent , perhap s a t Garnett' s suggestion . Garnet t ha d decline d t o hand hi m ove r t o James Pinke r - agen t t o Conrad , James , Well s an d Bennet t when Pinke r firs t offere d hi s service s i n 1912, 88 and wa s still read y t o continue a s mentor t o th e novelis t - indee d a s go-betwee n fo r th e coupl e o f stories tha t wer e to be entruste d t o Pinke r now . Howeve r placin g shorte r work s wa s not Garnett' s business, an d h e ha d no t bee n goo d a t wha t looke d lik e becomin g a n expandin g responsibility. I t woul d b e sensibl e now t o see whether Pinke r coul d d o better . Some stories , suc h a s 'Th e Whit e Stocking' , ha d bee n transforme d fro m earlier versions , bu t wer e ye t t o reac h thei r fina l form . I n thi s cas e on e o f hi s very earlies t piece s - entere d i n 190 7 fo r th e Nottinghamshire Guardian competition unde r th e categor y 'Amusing ' - ha d no w becom e a stor y o f ho w sexual jealous y coul d lea d t o violence ; bu t was stil l undevelope d i n compariso n with it s rewritin g i n 1914 , wher e i t i s bes t treated . (Se e belo w p . xxx. ) Other s such a s 'Lov e amon g th e Haystacks ' wer e t o disappea r agai n afte r magazin e rejection, despit e thei r 191 3 revision . Here , i n th e stor y o f th e firs t sexua l experience o f tw o brother s i n th e hayfields , i s both a reversal o f 'Vi n Ordinaire' , and a still-crud e anticipatio n o f To m an d Lydi a i n 77? ^ Rainbow. Tende r sexuality (a s oppose d t o th e 'passionate ' egotis m o f th e younge r brothe r an d th e foreign governess ) lead s a clumsy youn g ma n an d a displaced woma n t o ne w lif e and self-respect . Th e onl y ne w stor y 'Th e Primros e Path ' ha d it s beginnin g i n family gossip , perhap s brough t t o min d b y thinkin g i n Kingsgat e abou t hi s ow n return a s prodiga l so n fo r Ada' s wedding . Th e stor y o f hi s mother' s favourit e (though blac k sheep ) brother , wh o deserte d hi s wife , wen t t o Australi a wit h on e woman, an d returne d t o liv e with ye t anothe r an d muc h younge r one , as his wif e lay dying , woul d hav e bee n a pleasantl y sardoni c contras t t o hi s ow n mor e primrosy an d muc h bette r destine d path . VII Bac k t o I r s c h e n h a u s e n Invigorated b y bein g wit h Fried a again , h e foun d Bavari a 's o living : s o quick ' (ii. 58 ) wit h roo m t o breathe , an d was eager t o ge t t o work . Hi s visi t t o Eastwoo d had give n hi m th e ide a o f doing som e hometow n sketches , an d o n hi s fourt h da y in Irschenhause n h e tol d Willi e Hopki n tha t h e ha d writte n one , an d propose d to d o other s o n 'Artist s o f Eastwood ' an d the ' Primitiv e Methodis t Chapel ' (ii. 57) . Hi s las t message s t o Garnet t wer e abou t recoverin g hi s Eastwoo d pla y 90
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The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd, whic h Garnet t ha d intereste d Mitchel l Ken nerley, th e America n publishe r o f Sons and Lovers i n bringin g out , bu t whic h Lawrence ha d no t see n fo r nearl y tw o years . Ther e ma y no w hav e bee n a n attempt t o ge t th e Eastwoo d sketch(es ) int o th e Daily Mail - bu t nothin g wa s published, o r ha s survived , an d th e ide a o f a serie s o r column , wit h Hopkin' s help, wa s abandoned. 90 I n retrospect , Englan d seeme d 'dar k an d woolly' , a s though i n seve n week s he ha d neve r 'reall y wakene d up ' (ii . 58) . He wa s struc k agai n b y th e beaut y o f Irschenhausen : th e pine-wood s behin d the littl e woode n house , th e sweepin g clarit y o f th e Alp s i n front , th e autum n crocuses, th e dee r jumpin g u p an d dow n t o shak e of f th e rai n an d th e squirrel s (he joked ) hangin g themselve s ou t t o dr y (ii . 63 , 65) . Ther e wa s als o les s isolation. 1 1 Augus t wa s Frieda' s birthday . I n processio n cam e he r niec e 'crowned wit h flowers', an d he r nephew s carryin g fruit s an d sweet s an d perfume, t o b e receive d b y Fried a i n ne w an d colourfu l Bavaria n costum e (se e Illustration 8) , th e gif t o f Else , an d 'gorgious ' [sic ] ne w sandal s fro m Edgar . Peter (age d 7 ) recite d birthda y verse s an d Friede l ble w th e mouth-organ . Lawrence though t i t comi c an d a bi t embarrassin g - Englishma n tha t h e wa s but hi s descriptio n i s affectionat e (ii . 57-8 , 60) . Childre n rushe d abou t wildly , having a n 'ai r bath ' i n thei r stripe d bathin g costume s (ii . 57) . (Whe n i t rained , Lawrence too k a showe r runnin g roun d th e hous e i n his. ) Edga r cam e t o sta y and talke d abou t economic s an d capitalis m - no t greatl y t o Lawrence' s pleasur e (ii. 63) . One evenin g ther e wa s a candle-lit dinne r i n th e woo d behin d th e house ; and (wrot e Frieda ) 'w e se e a grea t man y mor e peopl e tha n w e use d t o las t year ' (ii. 60) , or fo r tha t matte r a few month s before , whe n sh e ha d fel t a n outcast . T o Lawrence also , 'Her peopl e ar e very friendl y again ' (ii . 67) , presumably no w tha t there coul d b e n o preventin g th e divorce . Ther e wa s muc h t o d o an d t o see ; from th e Sunda y marke t a t Wolfratshausen , t o th e bi g Munic h ar t exhibitio n which occupie d fifty room s a t th e Glaspalast , wit h picture s an d sculpture s fro m eleven Europea n countries . He an d Fried a wer e 'friends ' again , and , sh e tol d Bunny : th e Lor d ha s bee n good t o m e i n lettin g m e no t b e s o miserabl e an y mor e abou t th e children . I do enjoy thing s agai n - I a m sorr y yo u sa w m e s o muc h steepe d i n miser y an d I think yo u helpe d m e ove r i t a bit , I don' t understan d how , bu t yo u did ' (ii. 60) . Lawrence , too , wrot e t o th e Murry s tha t h e an d Fried a ha d stoppe d trying t o strangl e eac h other ! Instea d ' I hav e assume d th e forbearanc e o f a Christian martyr , an d manag e t o hu g i t roun d m e fo r a n od d te n minutes' . H e was much happie r i n himself. When a letter fro m Mars h aske d hi m 'a s a personal favour' t o pa y mor e attentio n t o th e rhythm s o f hi s poetry , h e was a t firs t rathe r snide abou t 'Eddie-dear' , t o Cynthi a Asquit h (ii . 62) . When h e replie d t o Mars h himself however , th e criticis m brough t hi s cleares t statemen t s o fa r abou t th e aim of his maturing an d no w 'freer ' poetry : 9i
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I thin k yo u wil l fin d m y vers e smoothe r - no t becaus e I consciously atten d t o rhythms , but becaus e I a m n o longe r s o criss-crossy i n myself . I think , don' t yo u know , tha t m y rhythms fit my mood pretty well, in the verse. And if the mood is out of joint, the rhythm often is . I have always tried t o get an emotion out in its own course, without altering it. It needs th e finest instinc t imaginable , muc h finer tha n th e skil l o f th e craftsme n .. . Remember, skille d vers e i s dea d i n fifty year s - I a m thinkin g o f you r admiratio n o f Flecker, (ii. 61) He mention s Yon e Noguch i (wh o 'doesn' t quit e brin g i t off') 94 an d Whitma n ('Sometimes . . . perfect' ) a s examples o f what h e means . The effor t t o ear n enoug h t o b e abl e t o winte r agai n i n Ital y seeme d t o b e prospering, a s th e firs t collier y sketche s cam e ou t i n th e Westminster an d th e three Lak e Gard a one s i n th e English Review, i n September . Fo r th e latte r h e would ge t £25 , thoug h th e English Review was a notoriousl y slo w payer . Austi n Harrison, it s editor , ha d als o accepte d 'Honou r an d Arms ' fro m Pinker , an d liked i t s o muc h tha t h e though t o f doin g 'Vi n Ordinaire' , an d tw o more , a t £1 5 apiece. A chequ e fo r $3 5 cam e fro m th e Smart Set, fo r tw o poems , an d Ezr a Pound pai d fo r anothe r tha t woul d com e ou t i n November . I f th e magazin e would pa y suc h sum s fo r poetry , storie s migh t b e eve n mor e lucrativ e i n America.95 O n suc h hopes , an d Edgar' s prais e o f th e Leghor n coas t wher e h e was abou t t o tak e a holida y a t Leric i (famou s als o fo r it s connection s wit h Shelley an d Byron) , the y decide d t o tr y fo r a new hom e thereabouts . The y wer e still ver y shor t o f cas h righ t now , an d th e Westminster chequ e neve r arrive d a t Irschenhausen - Lawrenc e ha d eventuall y t o as k fro m Leric i fo r £1 0 fro m hi s dwindling balanc e wit h th e Garnett s (iii . 79 ) - bu t th e expens e o f getting t o Ital y could a t leas t b e minimised . Sinc e Fried a insiste d o n goin g t o se e he r parent s a t Baden-Baden befor e movin g south , Lawrenc e woul d wal k again , acros s Switzerland, an d sh e woul d joi n hi m later . Sh e wante d n o mor e walkin g i t seems, though he r famil y probabl y offere d t o pa y he r train-fare . Ther e ar e trace s of th e argument s tha t alway s flared whe n the y wer e changin g places . Lawrenc e told Savag e o n 8 Septembe r tha t thoug h h e believe d a s strongl y a s eve r tha t 'stable happiness ' i s only t o b e foun d i n unio n wit h a woman: ' I wis h t o ad d tha t my stat e of bliss is by n o means perfect ' (ii . 71) . He ha d fulfille d hi s promis e t o wor k however . Havin g recovere d The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd fro m Garnet t h e immediatel y wante d t o revis e it , an d when h e ha d finishe d b y 2 4 August , wit h (h e thought ) th e pla y 'prett y muc h altered an d muc h improved' , h e sen t i t of f t o Kennerle y vi a Duckwort h (ii . 65) . It wa s a n unpleasan t surpris e the n t o hea r i n earl y Septembe r tha t Kennerle y already ha d th e pla y i n proo f fro m th e unrevise d ribbo n cop y sen t b y Garnett . Lawrence hastene d t o apologis e fo r th e troubl e hi s lat e revisio n woul d caus e but h e wante d th e alteration s mad e al l th e same : ' I hate d i t i n th e las t act , wher e the ma n an d th e woma n wrangle d rathe r shallowl y acros s th e dea d bod y o f th e 92
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husband. An d i t seeme d nast y tha t the y shoul d mak e lov e wher e h e la y drunk ' (ii. 71) . He neede d hi s revise d typescrip t back , t o mak e th e necessar y change s i n the proof s - bu t whe n th e latte r cam e i n Octobe r t o Fiascherin o o n th e Gul f o f Spezia, where h e an d Fried a ha d settled , the y cam e withou t it . At first , sittin g o n the rocks , h e trie d t o recreat e hi s Augus t revision s o n th e proof s fro m memor y (ii. 80) , bu t h e ha d t o abando n th e attemp t - an d eventually , afte r misunder standings an d vicissitude s (an d extr a expens e t o Kennerley) , th e alteration s wer e made i n Ne w Yor k b y Edwar d Bjorkman , edito r o f th e serie s i n whic h th e pla y was to appear . Thoug h onl y th e printe d tex t survives , ther e i s a last importan t clue t o Lawrence' s revision . H e ha d tol d Kennerle y tha t ther e wa s one speec h i n it which h e coul d no t creat e again : 'th e keyston e o f the play , an d I will have i t in ' (ii. 78) . Thi s mus t b e Elizabeth' s monologu e a s sh e sponge s th e dea d bod y i n the final ac t - importan t becaus e o f the play' s relatio n t o th e earlie r stor y 'Odou r of Chrysanthemums'. Holroy d ha d behave d eve n wors e tha n th e husban d i n th e story (o r tha n Walte r Morel) , makin g mor e acceptabl e th e temptatio n Blackmor e represents t o hi s wife . Ye t a s agains t th e story , wher e th e wif e was regarde d a s wholly justifie d i n havin g fough t th e 'recreant' , th e pla y ha s th e dea d bod y brin g home t o th e wido w her failure , t o lov e hi m enoug h - an d th e pit y o f it . I t i s another ste p beyon d Sons and Lovers, i n a proces s o f re-imagining . ( A las t ste p was ye t t o come , th e followin g summer. ) Garnet t ha d warne d tha t Lawrenc e might hav e t o pa y fo r excessiv e correctio n i n proof , bu t Kennerle y mad e n o charge, an d Lawrenc e professe d himsel f delighte d b y 'al l th e beautifu l an d laudatory things ' i n Bjorkman' s prefac e (ii . 80 ) - thoug h h e was les s s o i n private. Thi s wa s the first o f his plays t o be printed . It wa s 'Th e Sisters ' howeve r tha t h e mos t wante d t o ge t o n with ; but i n tryin g to los e th e mockin g elemen t i n th e first versio n h e mad e tw o fals e starts . Onc e again h e fel t tha t h e di d no t quit e kno w wha t h e was doing ; tellin g Murr y tha t i t was: 'lik e workin g i n a dream , rathe r uncomfortabl e - a s i f yo u can' t ge t soli d hold o f yourself . "Hell o m y lad , ar e yo u there! " I sa y t o myself , whe n I se e th e sentences stalkin g by. ' O n 4 Septembe r howeve r h e coul d tel l Garnet t tha t there wa s 'quit e a ne w beginnin g - a ne w basi s altogethe r . . . I t i s muc h mor e interesting i n it s ne w for m - no t s o damne d flippant ' (ii . 67-8) . Thi s involve d much mor e tha n a chang e o f tone , however , o r eve n o f narrativ e point-of-vie w into a more seriou s third-person . Thoug h th e evidenc e doe s no t appea r fo r som e time, th e boo k no w se t of f o n a pat h s o differen t tha t i t woul d eventuall y tur n into a separat e novel : The Rainbow. Th e mocker y vanishe d whe n h e decide d t o go behind the previou s story , t o discove r i n th e upbringin g o f hi s heroine s wha t had mad e the m wha t the y were . Mor e cruciall y still , hi s recen t revisitin g o f th e country o f his hear t seem s t o have influence d hi m t o plac e th e youn g sister s i n a setting tha t wa s no t Frieda' s an d Else's , o r Jessie's , bu t anothe r famil y h e kne w very well . Thi s i n tur n mean t th e stor y woul d concentrat e o n th e siste r h e ha d 93
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loved. H e decide d t o bas e th e youn g Ell a o n Loui e Burrows , th e on e woma n i n his earlie r lov e lif e abou t who m (impossibl e thoug h i t ha d prove d t o marr y an d live with her ) h e fel t n o rancour . It i s no t clea r ho w fa r bac k thi s ne w 'Sisters ' wen t int o Ella' s childhood , sinc e only th e las t bi t h e wrot e ha s survived ; bu t th e furthe r bac k i t started , th e mor e it woul d als o kee p him ou t - tha t proble m tha t ha d bese t severa l o f hi s attempt s since Sons and Lovers. H e ha d no t me t Loui e unti l the y wer e both a t the Ilkesto n Pupil-Teacher Centre ; s o h e coul d begi n an d g o a good way , usin g memorie s o f the Burrow s family , withou t bein g personall y involved . Ther e woul d o f cours e be th e proble m o f whethe r th e heroin e shoul d hav e a love-affai r befor e meetin g her love r o f th e origina l 'Sisters' ; an d i f so , wha t kin d o f affai r an d ho w 'autobiographical' i t should be . There woul d als o be th e proble m o f how t o mel d the youn g Ell a wit h th e olde r on e base d o n Frieda . Ye t (i f he though t o f these a t all) the y coul d wai t unti l a later stag e whil e h e go t o n wit h wha t wa s essentiall y a new stor y a t first, an d woul d remai n s o for som e time . He promise d t o forge t abou t shor t storie s now , an d b y 1 5 September , fou r days afte r turnin g 28 , an d tw o day s befor e h e was du e t o se t ou t o n hi s wal k through Switzerlan d t o Italy , h e ha d writte n 10 0 page s o f ' T h e Sister s IF : 'I t i s queer. I t i s rather fine, I think . I a m i n i t now , dee p . . . I shan' t d o anythin g bu t the Sister s now . I hop e t o hav e i t don e i n a month . I do wonde r wha t yo u wil l think o f it ' (ii . 74-5) . Moreove r th e ne w basi s solve d anothe r problem , al l th e more vita l sinc e i t ha d becom e clea r ho w damagin g th e initia l reluctanc e o f th e libraries t o tak e Sons and Lovers ha d been . 'It' s a weird nove l you'l l ge t fro m m e this time : bu t perfectly proper . Th e librarie s wil l pu t i t o n thei r Sunda y Schoo l prize list. ' H e sai d h e woul d tak e i t wit h hi m i n hi s rucksack , an d eve n claime d to hav e writte n a littl e a t Constanc e (ii . 76) , thoug h whe n th e walkin g bega n i t must soo n hav e left hi m to o tire d t o do more .
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Lawrence starte d fro m Munic h t o Uberlinge n b y rai l o n Wednesda y 1 7 September, the n b y steame r t o Constanc e th e nex t day . I n mist y weathe r th e lake wa s depressin g bu t h e love d th e 'ol d town s wit h roof s stickin g u p s o high , and tile s al l colour s - sometime s peacoc k blu e an d green ' (ii . 76) . O n Frida y h e took a steamer dow n th e Rhin e t o Schaffhausen . I t was misty again , but th e earl y morning su n behin d bluis h haz e mad e i t see m lik e th e beginnin g o f th e world , and h e much preferre d th e mediaeva l riversid e village s t o Schaffhause n an d eve n its falls , caugh t betwee n a bygone pas t an d moder n industry . I n th e afternoo n h e set ou t ove r flatlands , twelv e mile s t o wher e th e rive r rushe d agai n betwee n hig h banks, an d afte r nightfal l reache d Eglisa u wit h it s light s shinin g o n th e water . 94
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There was a fine covered bridge , and a Gasthaus nearb y wher e h e pu t u p fo r th e night - alon g wit h a group o f vagrants o n relie f vouchers. 1 Over th e covere d bridg e i n th e mornin g thundere d a troo p o f Swis s cavalry . These loca l citizen-soldiers wit h thei r bagg y uniform s an d thei r discussion s wit h their office r wer e ver y differen t fro m th e Germa n militar y h e ha d s o dislike d i n Metz an d Bavaria . Havin g walke d thirtee n mile s t o Oerliko n an d take n a tram t o look a t Zurich , however , h e wa s overcom e b y th e 'soulles s ordinariness ' o f thi s Switzerland. Afte r a meal, a stroll throug h th e marke t an d a rest b y th e lak e side , he wante d onl y t o ge t away , an d too k a steame r u p th e lak e i n thi n rain , t o Kilchberg. I t was gettin g dark , bu t h e walke d o n anothe r thre e mile s t o (probably) Adliswil . I n th e Gasthaus , whos e landlor d seeme d abou t t o hav e delirium tremens , h e me t a grou p o f Italia n exile s wh o allowe d hi m t o watc h them gettin g u p a play . The y ha d foun d wor k i n a silk-spinnin g mill , bu t coul d not g o home becaus e the y ha d evade d militar y service . (In transitio n betwee n th e Italy o f Lak e Gard a an d th e industria l north , the y woul d becom e th e centra l concern o f the penultimat e essa y i n Twilight in Italy.) On Sunda y mornin g (2 1 September ) h e climbe d tw o mile s u p th e Albispas s which commande d fine view s lik e a relie f map : bac k ove r Lak e Zurich , an d south t o th e lak e of Zug te n mile s away wher e h e wa s headed. Then , throug h Ta t agricultural land ' h e walke d on , feelin g ver y hostil e t o th e respectabl e church goers i n blac k broadclot h goin g hom e fo r Sunda y dinner , remindin g hi m o f th e 'null "propriety" ' o f childhoo d Sunday s i n Eastwood . Thoug h h e ha d alread y done a good day' s walk , an d i t rained , h e presse d o n fo r som e hour s o n sor e fee t beside th e 'steamy , reed y lake' , stoppin g fo r te a i n a lakesid e tearoo m kep t b y two littl e ol d ladies . H e woul d hav e spen t th e nigh t ther e (h e says) , bu t h e ha d impulsively pretende d t o b e th e so n o f a doctor fro m Graz ; an d 'ha d develope d my Austria n characte r to o far'. 1 (Th e docto r fro m Gra z h e kne w of , 'wh o wa s always wanderin g about ' wa s Ott o Gros s wh o ha d wandere d int o Frieda' s bed . Now heade d i n th e directio n o f Ascona an d Fried a Gross , Lawrenc e ha d clearl y been thinkin g abou t an d imaginin g his Frieda' s past. ) S o h e ha d t o g o o n stil l further, int o Zu g an d ' a detestable bruta l inn' , th e penalt y fo r pretence . Thi s da y he had walke d twenty-fiv e mile s an d climbe d 2,60 0 feet . Monday h e like d eve n less . I t mus t hav e take n hi m som e thre e an d a hal f hours t o clim b th e Rig i pas s (6,00 0 feet) , tw o hour s o r s o dow n th e othe r side , and anothe r thre e an d a hal f hour s t o Lucerne . H e ha d drive n himsel f s o har d that h e ha d go t ther e tw o day s earlie r tha n expected ; bu t h e di d no t lik e Lucern e either, an d woul d no t eve n spen d th e nigh t there . A t abou t 6.3 0 h e too k a n express steame r 2 2 mile s t o Fluele n a t th e othe r en d o f th e lake , arrivin g afte r nine o'clock . Ther e h e foun d a good Germa n in n an d wa s happy . I n th e dining room was a n Englis h cler k wh o ha d se t out , speakin g n o German , o n a circula r hike whic h ha d take n hi m ove r a hundre d mountai n mile s i n th e las t fou r day s 95
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and lef t hi m exhauste d - t o Lawrence' s wonde r an d pit y first , an d the n som e irritation a t a doggedly foolis h exercis e o f will without pleasure . (Yet , a s Twilight does no t clarify , h e migh t hav e bee n thinkin g o f hi s ow n dogge d pressing-o n too, and th e littl e pleasur e o f his las t tw o days. ) The mornin g o f Tuesda y wa s sunny , th e lak e was blu e an d b y nightfal l h e knew h e woul d b e a t th e cres t o f hi s journey , th e S t Gotthar d Pass . H e se t ou t up th e valle y betwee n snow-cappe d mountain s toward s Altdor f (2- miles) , passing drove s o f cow s bein g herde d hom e fro m a cattl e fair , an d quie t village s seemingly forgotten . Fo r mos t o f th e da y h e climbe d slowly , sometime s abov e and sometime s belo w th e twistin g railway , wher e village s wer e no w ledge d precariously besid e 'green , hangin g meadows , wit h pin e tree s behind , an d th e valley botto m fa r below' . Sometime s th e pat h le d throug h isolate d farmyards , and onc e throug h th e garde n o f a village pries t bus y garlandin g a n archway . Then howeve r cam e th e factor y are a o f Erstfeld , an d th e tourist y clutte r a t th e mouth o f th e S t Gotthar d railwa y tunnel ; s o h e swerve d asid e u p th e pas s itself , over Devil' s Bridg e an d alon g hig h moorlan d t o th e resor t an d barrack-tow n o f Andermatt. I t wa s twilight , bu t i n it s snowles s stat e th e ski-tow n fel t merel y touristy; an d onc e agai n h e coul d no t brin g himsel f t o stay . O n h e wen t i n gathering darkness , a nake d hil l o n on e side , th e hig h moorlan d o n th e other , with th e soun d o f ic y stream s i n hi s ears , th e tw o mile s t o Hospenthal : 'th e littl e village wit h th e broke n castl e tha t stand s fo r eve r froze n a t th e poin t wher e th e track parts' , on e wa y t o th e Furk a Pass , th e othe r ove r th e to p o f th e Gotthard . Here h e foun d a roo m an d a goo d mea l i n a silen t woode n house , kep t b y a nervous woma n wh o turne d ou t t o be deaf; but Lawrenc e fel t happ y Tree , in thi s heavy, ice-col d air , thi s uppe r world , alone' . He mus t als o have bee n ver y tire d this da y h e ha d walke d thirt y miles , climbing t o 4, 700 feet . In th e mornin g h e pai d hi s bil l - rathe r mor e tha n th e thre e shilling s a day h e had bee n tryin g t o kee p t o - an d se t off , a s the mornin g mis t cleare d t o a perfec t day, o n th e thre e hours ' clim b t o th e to p o f the pas s at 7,00 0 feet . O n th e wa y h e met a youn g Swiss , an d the y wen t alon g together . Lik e th e Englis h clerk , thi s lad wa s o n a circular holida y wal k (an d woul d b e goin g bac k throug h th e railwa y tunnel); bu t h e wa s a n athlete , stridin g alon g i n grea t boot s wit h manifes t pleasure. A t th e to p o f the pas s th e citizens ' arm y wa s on militar y exercise , firing across th e snow-slopes , an d the y wer e whistle d a t t o hurr y ove r a bridge befor e it closed . Lawrenc e characteristicall y refuse d t o ru n an d was yelle d at ; bu t hi s companion longe d fo r hi s tim e o f Nationa l Servic e t o come . A t th e hea d o f th e pass wer e reed y lake s an d a hotel , wher e a haught y Frenc h mai d serve d the m glasses o f milk . A t midday , i n ho t sun , the y starte d th e descen t throug h a 'grea t cleft' i n th e mountains , muc h steepe r tha n th e wa y up. A little rive r fel l headlon g in cascades . Rathe r tha n tak e th e road , th e youn g Swis s le d th e wa y o n narro w tracks, an d the y cascade d dow n lik e th e wate r 'leapin g fro m leve l t o level , 96
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leaping, running , leaping , descendin g headlong ' int o th e tre e line . I t wa s ver y swift bu t als o ver y tiring . Graduall y th e gull y opene d ou t int o a valley, an d the y saw Airolo below , wit h 'th e railwa y emergin g fro m it s hole' an d 'th e whol e valle y like a cornucopia ful l o f sunshine' - alon g whic h the y wen t mor e slowly , passin g more barrack s an d mor e militar y manoeuvres . A t Airol o th e youn g Germa n Swiss suddenl y looke d a foreigne r i n th e littl e Italianat e town . The y ha d a lat e lunch a t th e railwa y station , happil y sharin g Lawrence's , sinc e th e othe r ha d only bee n abl e t o affor d som e bee r an d brea d an d sausage , befor e h e caugh t hi s train bac k throug h th e tunnel . Lawrenc e decide d t o tak e 1.2 0 francs ' wort h o f rail journe y too ; th e fiftee n mile s t o Lavorgo . H e mus t hav e fel t recovere d fro m the scramble , fo r h e proceede d t o g o on a further twenty-fiv e mile s t o Bellinzon a along th e moder n highwa y dow n th e Ticin o valley . He coul d hardl y hav e walke d it all , howeve r - an d i n Twilight coul d onl y remembe r th e 'sordid ' road , an d its strip-development, no t th e valle y i t ran through . On Thursda y h e walke d thirtee n mile s fro m Bellinzon a ove r th e plai n t o Locarno, whic h h e reache d abou t noon . B y evenin g h e wa s a t Lugano , twenty five mile s on . H e clearl y walke d som e o f this , rememberin g late r a gir l wit h handsome bar e leg s th e colou r o f brass wh o calle d ou t mockingl y t o him , bu t th e zest ha d gon e ou t o f th e journe y now , an d h e probabl y rod e th e las t part . O n Friday h e too k first a steame r t o Capolago , the n th e cog-whee l an d narrow gauge railwa y t o Mont e Generoso , the n ove r th e borde r a t Chiasso , an d finally the trai n t o Como . Tha t evenin g h e me t Fried a i n Milan , 'wit h it s imitatio n hedge-hog o f a cathedra l an d it s hatefu l tow n Italians ' (ii . 88) . Switzerland , though beautiful , wa s 'too tourist y . . . spoilt ' (ii . 79) . The significanc e o f thi s journe y fo r biograph y i s th e bearin g o f th e distance s he walke d o n th e stat e o f hi s health . Bunn y Garnet t late r claime d tha t hi s ange r over Lawrence' s behaviou r t o Fried a a t th e Cearn e wa s tempere d b y forgivenes s once h e 'caugh t sigh t o f one o f Frieda's handkerchiefs , marke d wit h a coronet i n the corner , crumple d i n Lawrence' s hand , afte r a fit o f coughin g an d spotte d with brigh t arteria l blood' . Th e accoun t i s circumstantia l - Fried a ha d bough t those handkerchief s i n Munic h th e previou s sprin g bu t th e inferenc e tha t Lawrence alread y ha d consumptio n i s probabl y misleading . Afte r a sputu m tes t he ha d bee n certifie d fre e o f th e diseas e a t th e beginnin g o f 1912 ; and thoug h h e had caugh t cold s i n th e winte r o n Lak e Garda , an d i n th e sprin g o n arrivin g i n Germany whic h ma y wel l hav e lef t hi m coughin g badly , possibl y eve n coughin g spots o f blood - sinc e i t i s possibl e t o hav e lesion s whic h hea l - h e coul d hardl y have bee n seriousl y coughin g arteria l bloo d i n July bu t abl e t o wal k twenty-fiv e miles a da y uphil l o n consecutiv e day s i n September . Moreove r th e proble m o f when exactl y Lawrenc e 'had ' th e diseas e tha t kille d hi m i s continuall y compli cated b y th e tendenc y o f hi s friend s t o backdat e i t b y hindsight , i n memoir s written som e tim e afte r hi s death . 97
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Lawrence himsel f wa s unusuall y forthcomin g (an d ironicall y confident ) abou t his health a t just thi s time , when Savag e asked him . H e replie d o n 1 5 September , just befor e settin g ou t o n hi s walk , tha t h e ha d bee n 'prett y ill ' wit h pneumoni a for 'th e thir d time ' i n lat e 1911 , s o 'm y lung s ar e crocky , bu t F m no t consumptive', eve n i f 'th e type , a s the y say . I a m no t reall y afrai d o f consump tion, I don' t kno w wh y - I don' t thin k I shal l eve r di e o f that.'* A s h e alway s would do , h e attribute d hi s illnesse s t o 'shee r distres s an d nerv e strain ' whic h (being English ) h e ha d bottle d up , t o pla y havo c inside . ' I a m s o damnabl y violent, really , an d sel f destructive . On e sit s s o tigh t o n th e crate r o f one' s passions an d emotions . I a m jus t learnin g - thank s t o Fried a - t o le t g o a bit ' ("• 72-3) This wa s o f cours e wha t h e wante d t o believe , bu t ther e was som e empiri c evidence also . Hi s mos t dangerou s attack s o f pneumoni a sinc e th e on e i n babyhood: anothe r afte r th e deat h o f hi s elde r brother , an d th e thir d a t th e en d of 1911 , had indee d com e a t time s whe n 'shee r distres s an d nerv e strain ' ha d ru n him down . I t i s interestin g tha t h e shoul d s o justif y physically , a s wel l a s psychologically, th e newl y uninhibite d behaviou r whic h develope d i n hi s isolation wit h Frieda ; an d credi t he r wit h teachin g him , throug h thei r constan t battles, t o understan d an d cop e bette r wit h hi s violen t feeling s b y gettin g the m outside himself , rathe r tha n bottlin g the m up . However , supposin g h e di d carr y the tubercl e (a s thousand s di d a t th e time ) an d eve n hav e occasiona l lesions , worsened b y hi s tendenc y t o catc h cold s an d coughs , h e wa s fa r toughe r tha n many, an d hi s activ e habit s ma y hav e helpe d t o hol d bac k th e developmen t o f the diseas e - i f he had it . Now the y wer e back i n Ital y wher e winte r woul d b e warmer . IX F i a s c h e r i n
o
They arrive d i n th e Alberg o dell e Palm e i n Leric i o n Sunda y night , 2 8 September, t o joi n Edga r Jaff e wh o ha d bee n hous e huntin g fo r them . O n th e 30th Lawrenc e joyousl y announce d tha t th e perfec t plac e ha d bee n foun d a t Fiascherino, alon g the coast : There i s a little tin y ba y half shu t i n b y rocks, and smothere d b y oliv e woods that slop e down swiftly. The n ther e is one pink, flat, fisherman's house. Then ther e i s the villino of Ettore Gambrosier, a four-roomed pin k cottage among a vine garden, just over the water, and under the olive woods. There, D.V., is my next home. It is exquisite, (ii. 78) It woul d b e 6 0 lir e a month , plu s anothe r 2 5 'fo r th e woma n wh o doe s al l th e work an d washing' . A t onc e Lawrenc e wrot e t o th e Murrys , invitin g the m t o come an d promisin g t o find the m somethin g similar . The y move d i n o n 4 October, an d Fiascherin o prove d t o be one o f their happies t homes . 98
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They foun d the y coul d manag e o n abou t 13 0 lir e a mont h (abou t £ 5 10/-) , which include d th e devote d servic e no t onl y o f Felice Fior i bu t als o her daughte r Ellide wh o ofte n cam e t o help . The plac e a t first wa s very dirt y - th e owne r onl y camped ther e i n th e olive-croppin g seaso n - s o i t too k som e cleanin g (b y Lawrence!) befor e the y coul d se e 'th e dar k floor flushing crimson , th e daw n o f deep re d brick s aris e fro m ou t thi s nigh t o f filth ' (ii . 88) . (Ellide , sai d he , ha d never see n a scrubbing-brush! ) A t firs t the y wer e als o plague d b y fleas . Bu t Felice, sixty , wizened , barefoot , kisse d Frieda' s han d feudall y an d serve d the m faithfully; somethin g Fried a ma y hav e misse d mor e tha n sh e admitted . I t wa s amazing t o se e Felic e walkin g wit h hal f a hundredweight o f charcoal o n he r hea d (for fornell o cooking , again ) an d t o hea r he r whistl e i n consen t t o an y request . Figs an d orange s gre w i n th e garde n an d oliv e grove s shimmere d abov e Lawrence sai d h e alway s expecte d t o se e Chris t an d hi s disciple s walkin g there . Boats passe d continuall y alon g th e gul f o f Spezia , includin g warship s fro m th e naval base , an d ther e wer e spectacula r sunsets . H e coul d ru n fro m hi s gat e righ t into th e se a and , bein g a poor swimmer , h e revelle d i n havin g a sheltered ba y o f clear buoyan t water . Leric i wa s easies t reache d b y boa t aroun d th e headlands , and soo n the y coul d borro w on e fro m th e peasant s i n th e othe r cottag e - thoug h Frieda wa s suspiciou s o f hi s rowing , an d ther e wer e ruction s whe n the y trie d t o row together ! They mostl y love d thei r isolation , despit e it s drawbacks . Fo r th e pos t an d groceries ther e wa s a scramble ove r th e rock y pat h t o 'ou r village ' (o r conversely , that 'sea-robber s nest' ) Tellaro , perche d o n a rock y ledg e wit h th e churc h s o overhanging th e se a tha t th e surg e echoe s i n it s nave , an d th e bell-rop e allegedl y once fel l ove r th e parape t int o th e arm s o f an octopus , wh o tolle d th e bell . I t wa s very irritating , afte r a half-hour trudg e an d a hunt fo r th e postmaster , t o b e me t with ' a wav e o f th e han d tha t implie s a vacuum i n space , an d a "niente , signore , niente oggi , niente , niente" ' (ii . 22 , 86) . Sinc e ther e wa s n o road , everythin g that cam e fro m Leric i ha d t o com e b y row-boa t roun d th e headlan d - includin g the pian o tha t Fried a insiste d o n hirin g fro m Spezia , whos e arriva l wa s a mino r epic. Fo r th e dentist , o r th e bank , o r th e picture-framer , the y wen t acros s fro m Lerici b y th e workmen' s steame r t o Spezia. 109 In s o isolate d a place however , th e local s wer e friendlie r tha n i n th e relativel y tourist are a o f Lak e Garda , wher e Lawrenc e ha d drun k win e wit h th e peasant s in Bogliaco , bu t Fried a ha d onl y socialise d wit h th e hostes s o f th e Hote l Cerv o and he r Germa n visitors , o r th e schoolmistres s an d th e Signo r d i P . I t woul d have bee n th e sam e i n Lerici , associate d afte r Shelle y an d Byro n wit h a traditio n of Britis h visitors ; bu t her e the y soo n becam e friendl y wit h th e contadini i n th e other cottag e wh o turne d ou t t o b e cousin s o f Ellide. The y ha d meal s i n eac h other's houses , an d Luig i an d Gentil e woul d sometime s com e ove r wit h a guita r to pla y an d sing . Thi s i n tur n go t th e Lawrence s invite d a s guests o f honour t o a 99
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peasant weddin g o n 2 9 Novembe r (ii . 109) , a mos t elaborat e affair , fo r whic h Lawrence donne d hi s bes t blac k sui t an d patent-leathe r boots. 111 Th e churc h service, no t ver y religious , a s he describe s i t (ii . 126) , was i n Tellar o a t 7.3 0 a.m . Then afte r ' a weddin g breakfas t tha t nearl y kille d us ' a t th e bride' s house , 'w e set of f i n a troup, bride i n whit e silk , wit h bridegroom , leading , and climbe d an d climbed u p slipper y goa t roads ' a n hou r an d a hal f t o Ameglia , wher e th e civi c ceremony ha d t o b e performe d a t 1 0 b y th e Mayor , whil e th e village childre n swarmed 'lik e wolve s yellin g . . . Evviv a i Sposi' an d demandin g sweet s fro m th e bride, wh o traditionall y carrie d a white bagfu l fo r th e purpose . The n al l the wa y back t o Fiascherin o fo r th e lunc h fo r twenty-fiv e peopl e i n th e uppe r roo m o f the 'other ' house : nin e fowls , followe d b y th e octopuse s wit h arm s hal f a yar d long tha t Lawrenc e ha d watche d Ezechiel e th e bridegroo m hau l fro m th e se a (ii. 118) . In mid-mea l whe n re d win e wa s flowing Lawrenc e wa s calle d out , an d ther e were thei r firs t visitors : thre e Georgia n poets , Lascelle s Abercrombi e (wit h hi s wife Catherine) , Wilfri d Gibso n an d R . C . Trevelyan , wit h hi s frien d Aubre y Waterfield wh o wa s a painter . H e ha d hear d muc h o f Abercrombi e (wh o ha d reviewed Sons and Lovers) an d somethin g o f Trevelya n fro m Marsh , wh o ha d put the m al l i n hi s anthology . (I t ha d bee n hi s suggestio n tha t the y loo k Lawrence up , s o the y sen t hi m a join t postcar d t o sho w the y ha d met. ) Waterfield describe s ho w a sailor showe d the m th e way : You never saw such an enchanting winter place - a bay facing right into the afternoon su n until th e las t ra y o f daylight ; a peasan t hous e o n th e beac h buil t i n a hig h wal l tha t sheltered th e podere; the other side of the wall & pergola, a little stream ending in a crystal clear pool by the beach an d anothe r contadino hous e wit h a garden gat e on th e beach. In the secon d hous e Lawrence wa s living; it i s reached throug h th e gat e on th e beach clos e beside th e stream , i n fac t steppin g stone s lea d u p t o i t throug h a small garden , a child's garden of little paths and beds on its own promontory; and the house is called Bijou. Lawrence neve r confesse d t o that\ Waterfiel d ha d bee n tol d tha t h e wa s consumptive an d hi s vers e 'decadent ' (probabl y b y Bo b Trevelya n wh o di d no t admire it) , so he sa w wha t h e expected ; an d interprete d accordingl y th e pallo r o f a man wh o ha d jus t bee n walkin g fo r thre e hour s u p an d dow n stee p goat-paths : I have never seen a man look so ill as Lawrence; he was quite colourless with fine eyes full of restlessness. He ran here and there to make us all comfortable an d then returned t o his feast o f chickens. 4 A table ful l o f chickens,' h e said , 'wit h thei r leg s wild i n th e air , you know how they look.' They la y o n th e rock s t o wai t (rocks , though t Waterfield , lik e a Turne r painting i n th e settin g sun) ; the n ha d te a wit h th e Lawrence s befor e walkin g t o Sarzana. 100
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Lawrence an d Fried a like d the m all , but h e foun d i t strange t o leav e his Italia n feast 'an d descen d int o th e thi n atmospher e o f a littl e grou p o f culture d Englishman' [sic ] (ii . 118) . The y seeme d 's o shadow y an d funny , afte r th e crude, strong , rathe r passionat e me n a t th e wedding ' (ii . 116) ; but thei r manner s made hi m suddenl y an d unusuall y a bit ashame d o f his own . The Waterfield s the n 'le t u s i n fo r society ' (ii . 120 ) - tha t is , th e societ y o f well-to-do Britis h expatriate s livin g nearby . Waterfiel d an d hi s wif e Lin a ha d rented (o n a n incom e o f £600 a year) th e castl e a t Aulla abou t twelv e mile s away , 'on a bluf f o f rock , wit h al l th e jagge d Apennine s prowlin g round , tw o river s creeping ou t o f th e fastnes s t o mee t a t th e foo t o f th e fortress , wher e i s a tin y town' (ii . 127) . The Lawrence s wen t fo r a weeken d i n Decembe r an d Lawrenc e told Lin a how , a s he looke d a t the mountain s fro m th e roof-garden , i t seemed 'a s though wil d beast s wer e circlin g roun d a fir e an d h e wa s fille d wit h a feelin g o f apprehension' (ii . 122). 11 H e politel y admire d hi s host' s paintings , bu t privatel y told Cynthi a Asquit h the y wer e b y a n 'artis t gentlema n . . . i n th e manne r o f various defunc t gentlema n artist s - thei r ghost s haunte d hi s canvase s lik e th e ghosts o f old dea d soldier s hi s castl e hall ' (ii . 128-9) . The Waterfield s wer e kind , introducing the m t o th e Huntingdons an d th e Pearse s wh o live d nea r Lerici , an d taking the m t o picni c 'i n castle s o f th e Malaspin a family' , bu t Lawrenc e wa s sensitive t o patronage , an d th e Waterfields di d no t car e fo r Frieda : we both fel t sorr y fo r th e poor woman , because I do not thin k sh e is really intellectuall y his companion, an d i t will soon bore him t o hear he r tel l how she is really as responsible for his writing as he is himself. It seems she only does it to blind hersel f for desertin g the children. Sh e suffer s a great dea l a t time s on thi s account , an d I do no t thin k h e would have an y hesitatio n i n desertin g he r i f he though t fo r a moment sh e interfere d wit h th e full flight of his 'temperament'. They though t tha t i t 'woul d b e th e bes t i n th e en d fo r al l parties ' i f Weekle y would tak e he r back , bu t tha t he r livin g wit h Lawrenc e wa s boun d t o en d i n disaster. Waterfield , thoug h draw n t o Lawrence , als o though t hi m 'ver y egotis tical and unbalanced' . Bot h h e and Lin a wer e greatl y shocke d whe n h e tol d the m that Paul' s overdosin g o f Mr s More l i n Sons and Lovers wa s true . Nonetheles s the relationshi p mor e tha n survive d thes e an d othe r surprises , thoug h Lin a mus t have struggle d t o contai n her s whe n Fried a arrive d fo r thei r firs t visi t i n ful l Bavarian costume ; an d Lawrenc e his , whe n h e cooke d a bi g lunc h fo r the m i n Fiascherino an d the y turne d u p a t half-pas t two . Th e ne w acquaintance s certainly enriche d thei r secon d sta y i n Ital y an d mad e i t quit e differen t fro m th e first. Lawrenc e speciall y like d Mr s Pearse , wh o ha d ' a beautifu l hous e wher e th e Empress Frederic k o f German y spen t a winte r wit h them ' (ii . 133) ; an d wh o dined th e Lawrence s ther e wit h a Coun t Seckendor f - bu t wh o als o cam e t o Fiascherino an d allowe d hersel f t o b e rowe d bac k b y he r hos t i n th e peasants ' 101
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boat. H e wa s flattere d b y th e attentio n o f thes e people , al l a grea t dea l olde r a s well a s riche r tha n himself , bu t h e like d them , a s wel l a s Luigi , Severin o an d Gentile, a s people . H e kne w i t migh t mak e a differenc e whe n 'al l ou r dar k history come s out ' (ii . 133) , thoug h bot h couple s ha d live d i n Ital y fo r fort y years and h e hope d the y woul d no t b e to o shocked . For o n 1 3 Octobe r th e decre e nis i o f th e divorc e proceeding s ha d bee n pronounced o n ground s o f Frieda' s adulter y - atteste d t o b y Weekle y an d othe r (unnamed) witnesses , togethe r wit h a forma l depositio n b y Signor a Samuell i o f Gargnano. 115 Lawrenc e wa s cited a s co-respondent, an d hi s letter t o Weekley wa s cited i n the News of the World and quote d mor e extensively i n the Nottinghamshire Guardian. Weekle y wa s awarded custod y o f the children. There wa s only th e wai t now fo r th e decre e absolute , si x month s late r - bu t a t lon g las t h e ha d t o tel l hi s family now , an d ther e wa s muc h indignatio n (ii . 109) . Fortunately , Englan d seemed a lon g wa y awa y again , an d hi s pas t coul d b e viewe d dispassionatel y across th e gap , thoug h h e continue d t o nee d ol d friend s lik e McLeo d t o 'believ e in one rathe r generously' . H e ha d bee n worrie d tha t 'yo u ha d gon e of f fro m m e a bit, because o f Sons and Lovers. Bu t on e shed s one s sicknesse s i n book s - repeat s and present s again one s emotions, to be master o f them' (ii . 90) . It wa s howeve r t o ne w friend s tha t hi s mos t interestin g thought s wer e addressed i n thes e first fe w month s bac k i n Italy . Mars h ha d mad e hi m thin k more deepl y abou t hi s poetr y tha n before , an d - stil l unde r pressur e abou t rhythm - h e wa s abl e no w t o formulat e a quit e differen t kin d o f scansio n fro m the conventiona l one ; a wa y o f readin g whereb y rhyth m cam e abou t les s b y stresses tha n b y th e natura l movement , paus e an d 'lingering o f th e voic e according t o th e feelin g - i t i s th e hidde n emotional patter n tha t make s poetry , not th e obviou s form ' (ii . 104) . Thoug h h e ha d bee n irritate d b y Marsh' s criticism a t first, h e was gratefu l now : ' I alway s than k Go d whe n a ma n wil l sa y straight ou t t o me, wha t h e ha s to say. But it' s rare whe n on e will ' (ii . 106) . To Savage , h e pondere d wha t la y behin d th e suicid e o f hi s frien d Middleton : the relatio n betwee n th e persona l an d th e creativ e lif e o f an artist . Goin g behin d Middleton's poem s t o hi s essays , particularl y thos e o n women , Lawrenc e see s evidence o f failur e t o satisf y o r b e satisfie d sexually-and-psychicall y (fo r h e would admi t n o separation) . I t i s no goo d goin g t o woma n wit h poetry , idealism , or worshi p o f beauty ; sh e mus t b e satisfie d o r sh e wil l inevitabl y cas t th e ma n aside. Th e artist , too , canno t deceiv e o r b e deceived , bu t mus t b e satisfie d a s much i n hi s sexualit y a s i n hi s creativity , bod y an d soul . Ye t Middleto n (thought Lawrence) , lik e s o man y puritanica l Norther n Europeans , despise d th e life o f th e bod y a s a 'lowe r sel f an d secretl y 'hate d hi s flesh an d blood ' (ii . 95) . The argumen t join s tha t o f th e essa y o n Thoma s Mann : fro m Flauber t onwar d most moder n art , i n seekin g 'purity ' i n th e master y o f styl e ove r th e corruptio n of life, 'i s th e ar t o f self-hate an d self-murder ' (ii . 101) . It wa s not surprisin g tha t 102
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a literall y suicida l tendenc y ha s sprea d acros s Europ e - Middleto n takin g chloroform a t 29 is only anothe r instance . Bu t coul d anythin g hav e save d him ? Lawrence insist s tha t b y 'sex ' h e doe s no t simpl y mea n th e form s o f sexua l intercourse. 'Se x i s th e fountai n head , wher e lif e bubble s u p int o th e perso n from th e unknown ' (ii . 102 ) an d become s activity , expression , thought , spirit and-flesh a s one . S o sexua l activit y withou t creativ e relationshi p i s simpl y debauch, whic h increase s self-disgust . I n th e mos t interestin g o f th e letter s Lawrence speculate s that , i f solipsis m i s th e greates t dange r t o th e writer , heterosexual relationshi p ma y no t b e th e onl y cure . Th e lyri c poe t combust s hi s moods int o poetr y an d burn s himsel f out . Middleto n howeve r ha d 'exhauste d most o f hi s moods : hi s one-ma n sho w wa s over : i t neede d t o becom e a tw o person show' . I f he coul d hav e foun d a woman h e coul d lov e and wh o coul d lov e him, tha t woul d hav e been best ; but, Lawrenc e broods : most wome n don' t leav e scop e t o th e man' s imaginatio n .. . I shoul d lik e t o kno w wh y nearly every man that approaches greatnes s tends to homosexuality, whether h e admits it or not: so that h e loves the body of a man better tha n th e body of a woman - a s I believe the Greek s did , sculptor s an d all , b y far . I believ e a ma n project s hi s ow n imag e o n another man , lik e o n a mirror . Bu t fro m a woma n h e want s himsel f re-born , re constructed. S o he can alway s ge t satisfactio n fro m a man, bu t i t i s the hardes t thin g i n life t o ge t one s sou l an d bod y satisfie d fro m a woman, s o tha t on e i s fre e fro m oneself . And one is kept by all tradition an d instinct from lovin g men, or a man - fo r it means just extinction o f all the purposive influences . An d on e doesn't believ e in one's power t o find and t o form th e woman i n whom on e can be free - an d on e shoots oneself, if one is vital and feels powerfully an d down to the core. (ii. 115 ) He i s not sur e h e know s wha t h e i s talking about , bu t i t seem s simple-minde d t o read thi s a s a confessio n o f hi s ow n homosexuality . x Th e us e o f 'one ' show s that Lawrenc e i s tryin g t o imagin e himsel f int o wha t h e think s Middleton' s predicament ma y hav e been ; th e discussio n i s rathe r theoretica l (an d no t a t al l nervous), an d th e lette r i s writte n i n th e confidenc e tha t he ha d finally foun d a woman h e coul d lov e an d b e love d by ; wh o demonstrabl y liberate d hi s imagination; an d throug h who m h e fel t h e ha d bee n 're-born ' int o ne w selfhoo d - albei t o f cours e wit h al l th e inevitabl e difficult y involve d i n th e breakin g o f self-enclosure b y relationshi p wit h th e 'other' . H e ha d writte n a 'theological ' account o f thi s i n th e 'Forewor d t o Sons and Lovers '; an d ha d recentl y foun d i n Jane Harrison' s Ancient Art and Ritual (1913 ) a confirmation o f his belie f tha t ar t essentially cam e 'ou t o f religiou s yearning ' (ii . 90) , th e desir e t o transfor m oneself. He alway s took that t o be th e significance o f sex, rather tha n th e physica l pleasure; an d th e lette r t o Savag e clearl y implie s tha t th e greate r othernes s i n heterosexuality make s i t more transforming , thoug h (failin g that ) a homosexua l relationship migh t hav e saved Middleto n fro m fata l solipsism . 103
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However, tha t said , wha t doe s see m interestin g i s hi s willingnes s t o conside r himself no t homosexua l bu t bisexual, and t o confes s (i f that b e th e righ t wor d fo r something s o unashamed ) t o bein g attracte d eve n mor e t o th e mal e bod y (a s more lik e oneself ) tha n t o th e female . Georg e Nevill e tell s o f Lawrence' s horro r when tol d tha t wome n ha d pubi c hai r (thoug h i n a contex t o f fascinatio n wit h the femal e body) . The White Peacock created a physical attractio n an d tendernes s between youn g men , bu t i t woul d b e a mistak e t o rea d to o muc h int o that , either, sinc e hi s relationship s wit h Jessie, Louie , Hele n an d Alic e woul d see m t o suggest tha t (eve n supposin g hi s ow n sexualit y til l the n indeterminate ) h e ha d found i t rathe r to o eas y tha n otherwis e t o b e attracte d t o femal e bodie s also ! It i s a defec t o f ou r cultur e tha t w e adop t suc h crudel y binar y languag e fo r sexua l feeling, wherea s othe r culture s recognis e a muc h wide r spectru m i n which , fo r example, i t i s quit e natura l fo r youn g me n t o expres s mutua l attractio n physically, an d t o lus t afte r wome n too . Lawrence' s lac k o f sham e abou t hi s range o f feelin g ma y b e salutar y - thoug h hi s thought s abou t i t ar e stil l (h e says ) naive. Most o f all, however, h e i s thinking o f Middleton i n contrast with hi s goo d fortune i n findin g Frieda . Moreover, h e tell s Murr y i n Novembe r wha t h e ha d learne d b y committin g himself t o her . Afte r bein g reproache d b y bot h Lawrenc e an d Fried a fo r no t answering thei r invitatio n t o com e t o Fiascherino, 119 Murr y ha d writte n o f financial difficultie s afte r th e collaps e o f th e Blue Review, th e uncreativ e wea r and tea r o f making a living by reviewin g an d hi s fea r tha t thes e wer e affecting hi s relationship wit h Katherine . I n keepin g wit h wha t h e ha d writte n t o Els e abou t self-sacrifice, an d t o Savag e abou t th e nee d fo r fulfilmen t i f one wer e t o b e trul y creative, Lawrenc e ha d n o doub t abou t wha t Murr y shoul d do . H e an d Katherine shoul d 'consul t you r ow n hearts , honestly' . Wer e the y prepare d t o commit themselve s exclusivel y t o eac h other ? 'I t mean s forfeitin g something . But th e onl y principl e I can se e in thi s life , i s that on e must forfeit th e les s fo r th e greater' (ii . n o ) . I f the y were , a numbe r o f consequence s followed . Murr y would hav e t o becom e ma n enoug h t o satisf y her , an d h e coul d onl y d o s o b y fulfilling hi s ow n potentia l whic h (Lawrenc e sa w clearly ) woul d b e a s a critic . That, an d no t tha t h e shoul d slav e a t hackwor k t o giv e he r luxuries , i s wha t sh e would reall y wan t fro m him ; and , t o achiev e it , h e ough t t o respec t he r lov e enough t o liv e o n he r mone y i f necessary : 'Yo u insul t her . A woma n unsatisfie d must hav e luxuries . Bu t a woma n wh o love s a ma n woul d slee p o n a board ' (ii. i n ) . Ye t i f they cam e t o Ital y the y coul d liv e i n comfor t o n 18 5 lir e a mont h - fifty mor e tha n th e Lawrence s needed , an d th e translatio n int o lir e o f th e £j Katherine ha d tol d hi m Murr y earne d fro m th e Westminster a week . O n th e other hand , i f he hadn' t th e courag e t o trus t eithe r himself , o r he r love , i t woul d be no wonde r i f she became dissatisfie d wit h him . He di d no t realis e tha t Murry' s wor k fo r th e Westminster coul d no t b e don e 104
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abroad (thoug h h e urge d hi m t o giv e i t up , anyway) , no r tha t Katherin e ha d mortgaged he r allowanc e t o thei r creditors . Nevertheles s h e ha d pu t hi s finge r unerringly o n th e essentia l lac k o f commitmen t t o eac h othe r o f Jac k an d Katherine; an d th e soundnes s o f hi s advic e woul d b e show n whe n the y cam e t o follow i t a t Bando l tw o year s later , wher e the y ha d thei r happies t an d mos t creative month s together , an d foun d thei r tru e voice s fo r th e firs t time . Lawrence's letter , however , i s reall y abou t Fried a an d himself : a testamen t o f faith i n th e fundamenta l healt h o f thei r relationshi p an d hi s ne w selfhoo d now , because o f th e gambl e the y ha d taken . (Hi s tw o lates t stories , 'Th e Primros e Path' an d 'Th e Morta l Coil ' - th e latte r finishe d onl y a fe w week s befor e th e letter t o Murr y - wer e bot h marking s o f th e opposite : tale s o f me n wh o wer e unable t o commi t themselves , an d s o turne d thei r wome n deathly , poisonous , dissatisfied; o r i f the y gambled , gamble d fo r th e wron g thing s an d destroye d themselves an d thos e the y 'loved'. ) Th e questio n h e wante d Katherin e t o answer: 'Coul d I live in a little place i n Ital y wit h Jack, an d b e lonely , hav e rathe r a bare life , but b e happy'? (ii . n o ) , wa s one tha t coul d b e answere d triumphantl y in his own cas e and (h e clearly believed ) i n Frieda's , now . One unfortunat e resul t o f th e ne w happines s an d sociabilit y i n Fiascherino , however, wa s that 'Th e Sisters ' slowe d t o a halt. I n earl y October , Lawrenc e ha d tried t o recreat e hi s earlie r alteration s ont o th e proof s o f Mrs. Holroyd. Then , being dow n t o hi s las t 5 0 lir e afte r payin g th e advanc e o n th e villino , an d stil l waiting fo r th e cheque s fro m th e Westminster and th e English Review an d th e £1 0 he ha d aske d fo r fro m Garnett , h e jumpe d a t Austi n Harrison' s offe r t o prin t i n the Review no t onl y hi s tw o existin g Germa n soldie r stories , bu t tw o mor e a s a sort o f series, only a t £1 5 eac h whic h wa s less than Pinke r was asking. H e ha d t o ask Pinke r t o agre e - no t th e bes t star t - an d i t turne d ou t t o b e a ba d move , since havin g go t the m cut-rate , th e English Review onl y publishe d th e firs t tw o anyway. A t th e tim e howeve r i t seeme d sensible ; h e though t 'Once—! ' woul d do as the thir d i f Harrison woul d ris k it , and sa t dow n t o writ e a s th e fourt h 'on e I hav e ha d i n min d fo r a lon g time ' (ii . 82) , whic h h e wa s 'jus t finishing' o n 3 1 October (ii . 99) . Thi s wa s 'Th e Morta l Coil' , base d o n a n anecdot e tol d t o Frieda b y he r fathe r fro m hi s gamblin g days , abou t a youn g office r wh o ruin s himself a t th e table s an d i s force d als o t o confron t th e additiona l disgrac e o f th e discovery, i n hi s room , o f th e bod y o f th e mistres s h e ha d treate d wit h utte r selfishness. Lawrence als o sen t copie s o f a number o f poems t o Mars h (includin g 'Grief , inscribed b y 'Davi d Herbert/So n o f Arthu r Joh n Lawrence' , i n memor y o f hi s mother), an d som e t o Harrison. 121 Ye t th e nove l tha t i n German y ha d seeme d all-important mad e almos t n o progress . He trie d t o start agai n whe n h e ha d don e Mrs. Holroyd. O n 6 October h e tol d Garnet t h e was 'workin g away' , an d tha t i t was c so different, s o differen t fro m anythin g I hav e ye t written , tha t I d o nothin g 105
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but wonde r wha t i t i s like . Whe n I ge t t o pag e 20 0 I shal l sen d yo u th e M S . fo r your opinion ' (ii . 82 ) - bu t i t woul d b e 6 Januar y befor e th e promis e wa s redeemed (ii . 134) . A s mone y fo r hi s harves t o f storie s an d sketche s bega n t o come i n h e coul d affor d twenty-fiv e litre s o f wine , an d (fo r once ) t o loa f - sinc e the sens e o f urgenc y wa s removed . H e rationalise d hi s unwillingnes s t o ge t on : he ha d ha d a bad cold , wa s tire d i n hi s soul , o r jus t laz y an d enjoyin g himself; 122 but perhap s th e mai n reaso n wa s th e simplest : ' I wa s a fool t o mov e i n th e mids t of a flow' (ii. 99) . At th e beginnin g o f Novembe r h e di d star t again ; thoug h i t was stil l goin g slowly i n mid-December , fo r 'i t i s s o beautiful , on e can' t work ' (ii . 119) . O n 2 1 December h e promise d t o sen d th e first hal f i n a 'fe w days ' (ii . 127) ; bu t o n Boxing Da y (2 6 December) - writin g t o Ezr a Pound , wh o wante d t o pu t hi m u p for th e Poligna c Priz e fo r poetr y h e wa s stil l i n a moo d whe n h e woul d rather g o rowin g tha n 'grindin g m y nos e of f o n th e mill-ston e o f a novel ' (ii. 132) . B y th e en d o f th e mont h howeve r h e ha d though t o f a ne w title , 'Th e Wedding Ring' , an d was tellin g Garnet t t o expec t a nove l writte n almos t i n a different languag e fro m hi s last : ' I shan' t writ e i n th e sam e manne r a s Sons and Lovers again, I think: i n tha t hard , violen t styl e ful l o f sensation an d presentation ' (ii. 132) . So b y Christma s everythin g ha d com e together : happines s wit h Frieda , th e novel gettin g goin g again , nominatio n fo r a poetr y priz e an d perhap s a ne w volume o f poems i n America , a range o f new friendship s - i n marke d contras t to th e miserabl e Christma s i n Gargnano . Sixtee n peasant s cam e i n o n Christma s Eve, an d the y san g th e Pastorell a a t midnight. O n Christma s Da y Lawrenc e an d Frieda wen t 't o Englis h servic e i n th e Cochrane s privat e chape l - lamb s w e looked I ca n tel l you ' (ii . 133) . ( A ver y wealth y man , Cochran e ha d entertaine d them t o dinne r wit h a butle r an d footma n t o wai t o n th e fou r o f them . H e ha d also pai d fo r a n Anglica n parso n John Woo d t o com e out , fo r si x months. ) The y went o n t o a Christma s mea l wit h th e Huntingdons , an d lunche d wit h th e Pearses o n Boxin g Day . Time , whe n happy , seeme d t o pas s s o quickl y tha t 'On e ought t o live to be 1000 , at the rat e of these days ' (ii . 131) .
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• January-November 191 4 THE W E D D I N G RIN G
You kno w tha t th e perfec t statu e i s in th e marble , th e kerne l o f it. But th e thing i s the gettin g i t out clean . (ii. 146 ) I began a novel seve n times . I have writte n quit e a thousand page s tha t I shall burn . Bu t now , than k God , Fried a an d I are together , an d th e wor k i s of me an d her , an d i t i s beautiful, I think . (ii. 161 )
I 'I t jus t misse d bein g i t s e l f On 6 January 1914 , a t last , Lawrenc e sen t of f th e first hal f o f th e ne w 'Sisters' , telling Garnet t tha t 'th e whol e schem e o f th e boo k i s change d - widene d an d deepened' (ii . 134) . Now h e hope d t o finish i n si x or eigh t weeks . Distractions continued , however . H e helpe d th e peasan t wome n harves t olives; an d wen t wit h hi s ne w frien d Joh n Wood , th e Cochranes ' clergyman , t o visit Englis h sailor s i n Spezi a harbour . Frieda , a s ever , laze d happil y i n he r hammock; bu t the y wer e als o 'alway s havin g visit s o r visiting ' (ii . 135) . O n 1 9 January h e too k th e steame r t o Spezi a t o mee t Eddi e Mars h an d hi s frien d Ji m Barnes, an d brin g the m bac k throug h th e oliv e grove s i n th e moonlight . Afte r supper outside , lookin g ove r th e bay , the y talke d - an d a scra p o f remembere d conversation show s ho w happines s a t Fiascherin o ha d quietene d grie f an d conflict. 'Isn' t "Farfalla " a beautifu l word? ' sai d Frieda . 'I f I hav e a daughte r I will cal l he r Farfalla ' (Italia n fo r 'butterfly') . 'They' d onl y cal l he r Fanny' , sai d Marsh, an d Lawrenc e laughed . Thoug h a s 'always ' h e looke d t o Mars h 'a s white a s a n appl e dumplin g . . . h e seeme d extremel y wel l fo r him , cam e fo r a long wal k withou t seemin g th e leas t tire d - i n goo d spirits' . O n 2 5 Januar y Constance Garnet t arrive d wit h he r youn g frien d Ver a Volkhovsky , t o spen d a month a t th e Alberg o dell e Palme , an d anothe r socia l roun d began . By then , however , h e ha d almos t finished th e novel . Whe n Mars h arrive d h e had don e 34 0 pages and wa s defining th e differenc e fro m Sons and Lovers i n ne w terms, sensin g how , behin d contrast s i n for m an d style , he wa s developin g a new way o f lookin g a t huma n beings . H e though t tha t th e 'Laocoo n writhin g an d 107
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shrieking' ha d gone , an d ther e wa s no w ' a bi t o f stillness , lik e th e wide , still , unseeing eye s of a Venus o f Melos': There i s something in the Greek sculpture that my soul is hungry fo r - somethin g of the eternal stillnes s tha t lie s unde r al l movement , unde r al l life , lik e a source, incorruptibl e and inexhaustible . It is deeper tha n change , and struggling . S o long I have acknowledged only th e struggle , th e stream , th e change . An d no w I begi n t o fee l somethin g o f th e source, the great impersonal which never changes and out of which all change comes. He bega n t o fee l thi s als o in himself : 's o muc h on e ha s fough t an d struggled , an d shed s o muc h bloo d an d mad e s o man y scar s an d disfigure d oneself ; bu t al l th e time i n him , an d i n others , 'ther e i s th e unscarre d an d beautifu l . . . a glimpse o f the eterna l an d unchangeabl e tha t the y are ' - albei t som e remai n 'strang e form s half-uttered' (ii . 137-8) . This wa s not o f course wholl y new . I n Sons and Lovers, afte r th e impersonalit y of sexual passion , Pau l an d Clar a momentaril y fee l somethin g o f that stillness , i n touch wit h lif e 'a t th e source' ; thoug h almos t immediatel y the y ar e caugh t u p again i n th e chang e an d struggl e o f th e persona l lif e i n whic h thei r relationshi p founders. I n th e 'Foreword ' Lawrenc e ha d begu n t o appl y religiou s languag e t o that 'sourc e . . . ou t o f whic h al l chang e comes' , an d t o th e deepe r impersonal modes o f bein g i n me n an d wome n whic h (h e sensed ) la y behin d al l persona l conflicts. Wha t wa s ne w wa s th e attemp t t o mak e tha t deepe r dimensio n th e ground (now ) o f the novel' s exploration . Th e classica l statue , perhaps focuse d b y Jane Harrison' s contentio n tha t ar t come s 'ou t o f religiou s yearning' , infuse s th e body wit h mysteriou s insight , stilled , becaus e attune d t o a n incorruptibl e 'source' o f being . Presumably , t o loo k a t th e Hellenisti c 'Laocoon ' i s t o wan t t o know abou t th e character s an d th e cause s o f th e hecti c externa l battle ; wherea s the 'unseeing ' eye s are directed inward , t o th e sourc e o f harmony - o r discord . Yet t o tr y t o ta p tha t kin d o f bein g i n th e youn g gir l growin g u p i n a larg e family, an d experiencin g he r firs t scarrin g failur e i n sexua l relationship , was t o risk alienatin g al l th e admirer s o f Sons and Lovers, wit h Edwar d Garnet t a t thei r head. Th e mor e th e ne w wor k determine d t o explor e th e inwar d an d hidden ; grown impatien t wit h th e firmly outline d personalitie s o f Sons and Lovers; th e more undefine d an d unsatisfyin g th e characterisatio n migh t seem . Abov e all , th e new 'stillness ' woul d involv e turnin g awa y fro m drama , whic h ha d bee n on e o f the grea t strength s i n Sons and Lovers. Garnet t was warne d tha t 'Yo u ma y no t find i t a s excitin g a s yo u expected' , an d McLeo d tha t i t was 'weird ' (ii . 134 , 136). So Lawrenc e wa s 'no t ver y muc h surprised , no r eve n ver y muc h hurt ' t o find Garnett highl y critica l o f th e first half . H e eve n agree d wit h tw o majo r charges : that Ella' s first love-affai r (wit h Be n Templeman ) was 'wrong ' - thoug h sh e ha d to hav e 'som e experienc e befor e sh e meet s he r M r Birkin ' - an d tha t he r 108
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character wa s 'incoherent' , whic h ha d com e fro m 'tryin g t o graf t o n t o th e character o f Loui e th e character , mor e o r less , o f Frieda' . H e wa s trouble d however abou t 'th e artisti c sid e bein g i n th e background ' (ii . 142) . I t i s not clea r whose phras e thi s i s o r wha t i t means : probabl y 'yo u hav e pushe d th e novelist' s art t o th e rear' ? O r jus t possibl y 'al l you r ar t ha s gon e int o creatin g backgroun d (rather tha n character s an d action)' ? Anyway , wha t i s interestin g abou t Law rence's refusa l t o accep t this criticis m i s tha t h e no w draw s a clea r connectio n between hi s new wa y of writing, an d a change i n himsel f because o f his marriage : 'I hav e n o longe r th e jo y i n creatin g vivi d scenes , tha t I ha d i n Sons and Lovers. I don't car e muc h mor e abou t accumulatin g object s i n th e powerfu l ligh t o f emotion, an d makin g a scen e o f them . I hav e t o writ e differentl y . . . I a m goin g through a transitio n stag e mysel f S o th e nove l i s transitiona l an d h e wil l pu t i t in th e fir e i f need be , bu t 'i t mus t produc e it s flowers'. Eve n i f thes e b e 'frai l o r shadowy, the y wil l be all right i f they ar e tru e t o their hour . - I t i s not s o easy fo r one t o b e married . I n marriag e on e mus t becom e somethin g else . An d I a m changing, on e wa y o r th e other. ' H e i s n o longe r intereste d i n 'manner s an d circumstance an d scenes ' (ii . 142-3) . Withou t bein g abl e t o sa y clearl y wher e h e is headed, i t is plain tha t i t is away fro m th e traditiona l Englis h novel . He propose s t o send Garnet t 15 0 pages of the second half ; hoping h e will agree that Ella, as shown now , had t o have had ' a love episode, a significant one ' thoug h 'it mus t no t b e a Templeman episode' . H e feel s thi s secon d hal f 'ver y beautiful' , though perhap s no t 'sufficientl y incorporate d t o pleas e you . I d o no t tr y t o incorporate i t very much -1 prefe r th e permeating beauty.' If Garnett stil l dislike s what h e ha s done , however , h e wil l abando n i t an d it s 'exhaustiv e method' , an d write 'pure object an d story ' (ii . 142-3) ; presumably fo r th e money . Garnett dislike d th e secon d batc h eve n more . Indee d thi s tim e h e wen t beyond charge s o f faile d execution , t o rejec t (Lawrenc e felt ) al l h e wa s tryin g t o do, an d henc e hi s ne w self. Fo r severa l month s h e di d no t revea l ho w muc h thi s second lette r upse t him ; bu t th e effec t o f even th e first on e o n th e ne w wor k was dramatic - fo r n o soone r ha d h e com e bac k fro m Spezia , havin g poste d th e second batch , tha n h e decide d t o abando n th e boo k unfinishe d (ii . 144) . He di d not howeve r retur n t o mor e traditiona l fiction, characte r an d plot . H e ha d t o liv e by hi s writin g - bu t h e stil l ha d £5 0 i n th e ban k a t Spezi a whic h coul d b e mad e to las t til l May. B y 3 1 January h e ha d decide d t o tr y fo r wha t h e stil l believe d in , by beginning al l over again . On 7 Februar y h e wrot e (bu t t o Mitchel l Kennerley , rathe r tha n Garnett ) t o say h e ha d starte d afresh , an d woul d ge t th e ne w versio n type d thoug h h e di d not kno w ho w h e woul d pa y fo r it . H e ha d regaine d confidenc e abou t publication; an d wa s no w beginnin g t o thin k o f Kennerle y (wh o ha d offere d t o publish a volum e o f poem s a s wel l a s th e ne w novel , an d t o plac e storie s i n America) a s a possibl e alternativ e patro n an d advise r (ii . 144) . H e spen t tw o 109
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afternoons i n th e boat , happil y proddin g fo r shellfis h unde r th e rock s - the n tol d McLeod wha t ha d happened , i n another memorabl e sculptura l image . I hav e begun m y nove l agai n - fo r abou t th e sevent h tim e .. . I had nearl y finished it. It was full o f beautiful things , but it missed - I knew that it just missed being itself. So here I am , must si t dow n an d writ e i t ou t again . I know i t i s quite a lovely nove l reall y - yo u know that th e perfec t statu e is in the marble, the kernel of it. But th e thing is the gettin g it out clean, (ii. 146 ) Already sprin g wa s coming; i t was a good tim e t o star t anew . Fortunately a few page s (373-80 ) o f 'Th e Sister s I F hav e survive d - probabl y the las t h e wrot e bu t neve r sen t t o Garnet t whe n h e abandone d th e book . Fro m these on e ca n se e wha t h e wa s after , bu t als o ho w muc h h e was prepare d t o ris k seeming 'vague ' (ii . 143 ) and 'shadowy ' an d no t 'incorporated ' enough , i n goin g for impersona l sourc e rathe r tha n persona l character , an d preferrin g t o explor e what la y half-hidden i n th e backgroun d rathe r tha n actio n front-of-stage . Ella i s abou t t o leav e Walmsle y Mil l afte r a tiff wit h Birkin . He r famil y bein g away o n holiday , sh e ha s spen t muc h o f he r tim e alone : 'Sh e fel t he r lif e wa s going on insid e her, she could no t concern hersel f with outsid e thing s . . . he r sou l was s o busy' . Whe n wit h Birki n however , underlyin g (bu t impersonal ) tension s break through . Sh e suddenl y see s hi m a s threatening , an d flinches; an d the n throws he r arm s around hi m asking 'in a muffled, torture d voice ' if he loves her . She clun g t o him . Bu t hi s breas t wa s strang e t o her . Hi s arm s wer e aroun d he r tight , hard, compressin g her , h e wa s quivering , rigid , holdin g he r agains t him . Bu t h e wa s strange t o her . H e wa s strang e t o her , an d i t wa s almos t agony . H e wa s col d t o her , however he held her hard in his power and quivered. Sh e felt he was cold to her. And the quivering ma n stiffene d wit h desir e wa s strange an d horribl e t o her . Sh e go t fre e again , and, with he r hand s to her temples, she slid awa y to the floor at his feet, unabl e to stand, unable to hold he r body erect. She must double up, for sh e could not bear it. But she got up t o g o away. An d befor e sh e reache d th e door , sh e wa s crouching o n th e floo r again , holding he r temple s i n agony . He r womb , he r belly , he r hear t wer e al l i n agony . Sh e crouched togethe r o n th e floor, cryin g lik e som e wil d anima l i n pain , wit h a kin d o f mooing noise , ver y dreadfu l t o hear , a soun d sh e wa s unawar e of , tha t cam e fro m he r unproduced, out of the depths of her body in torture. Birkin's respons e i s dealt wit h similarl y 'exhaustively' : He stood whit e to the gills, with wide, dark eyes staring blankly. His heart inside him fel t red-hot, s o that h e panted a s he breathed. His mind wa s blank. He knew she did no t fee l him an y more . H e kne w h e ha d n o par t i n her , tha t h e wa s ou t o f place . An d h e ha d nothing t o say—Bu t graduall y h e gre w a littl e calmer , hi s eye s los t thei r wide , dark , hollow look. He was coming to himself. "What did I do?" he asked. no
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It ha s littl e t o d o wit h Birki n personally , an d everythin g wit h th e comin g t o th e surface o f the dee p bruis e inflicte d o n Ella' s inne r bein g by he r earlie r lov e affair . She wil l explai n tha t sh e i s 'reall y no t hysterica l . . . i t i s workin g th e ol d strai n off tha t make s on e s o upset' . A t th e sam e tim e sh e know s 'tha t somethin g wa s taking place , implicatin g he r wit h him , whic h sh e coul d neve r revok e o r escape . And blindly , almos t shrinking , sh e lapse d forward. ' Birkin , too , i s afraid . 'I t seems', h e writes , 'tha t everythin g ha s com e topplin g dow n . . . an d her e I a m entangled i n th e ruin s an d fragment s o f m y ol d life , an d strugglin g t o ge t out . You see m t o me som e land beyond— ' The fictio n i s no t autobiographical , bu t i t ha s use d life , an d on e ca n glimps e the connectio n wit h ho w Lawrenc e fel t hi s marriag e wa s changin g him , an d therefore changin g what , an d how , h e wante d t o write . Wha t seem s mos t overdone abou t th e scen e i s i n fac t directl y adapte d fro m life : h e ha s transferred t o Ella' s traum a ove r a faile d love-affair , Frieda' s traum a ove r he r lost childre n - an d als o use d hi s ow n experienc e o f feelin g utterl y exclude d and helples s i n th e presenc e o f suc h abandonmen t t o grie f (i . 421) . Moreove r a glimps e o f Templema n a t th e en d o f th e fragmen t confirm s tha t wha t Birki n must overcom e i s onc e agai n th e charg e tha t (lik e Pau l Morel , o r Geral d i n th e first 'Sisters' , o r Moes t i n 'Ne w Ev e an d Ol d Adam' ) h e canno t giv e himself m love - henc e th e woman' s fea r o f sexua l passio n tha t seem s combine d wit h self-absorption. Thoug h ther e ca n b e n o guessin g th e stor y o f Ella' s earlie r affair, o r wha t Garnet t though t wa s 'wrong ' abou t it , tha t glimps e o f Templeman suggest s th e natur e o f th e hur t h e inflicted , an d als o wh y i t should brin g suc h a powerfu l respons e fro m th e recesse s o f he r being , whe n she feel s i t ma y b e happenin g agai n wit h Birkin . Templeman' s 'peculiar , straying walk , th e odd , separat e look' , an d hi s short-sightedness , al l see m t o point t o a ma n absorbe d i n himself , imperviou s t o al l tha t i s 'other ' - an d hence destructiv e o f th e inne r bein g o f an y woma n unfortunat e enoug h t o b e in lov e wit h him . Conversely , Birkin' s 'wide , dar k eye s starin g blankly ' because o f intens e feelin g - followe d b y a collaps e o f hi s ol d lif e an d th e longing fo r Ell a a s a 'lan d beyond ' - ar e a n indicatio n tha t h e ha s bee n touched t o th e quic k o f hi s being , th e 'source ' o f ne w unsolipsisti c life . Lawrence's ne w ar t seem s determine d t o dea l - a t whateve r cos t i n norma l novelistic term s - wit h wha t lie s behin d Ella' s collapse d mooin g cry , Birkin' s 'red-hot' heart , an d suddenl y 'unseeing ' eyes ; tha t is , wit h movement s o f inne r being whic h no w see m t o hi m muc h mor e importan t tha n al l th e form s o f outer behaviour , speec h o r character . I t seem s clea r tha t th e nove l wa s t o end , not merel y wit h a weddin g ring , bu t wit h Ell a an d Birki n beginnin g t o fin d their tru e selves , 'th e eterna l an d unchangeabl e tha t the y are' , an d ceasin g t o be 'strang e form s half-uttered' . However, Garnett' s respons e convince d Lawrenc e tha t th e nove l ha d 'misse d i n
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being itself . Thoug h h e remaine d sur e tha t a perfect statu e wa s ther e still , in the marble o f the fiction , h e ha d ye t t o find th e wa y to ge t i t out clean . II S t a r t i n g Agai n Indeed h e ha d troubl e gettin g goin g again . On 9 February h e spok e o f beginnin g for th e sevent h time ; by 7 March thi s ha d becom e th e eleventh , thoug h a t las t i t was on it s way (ii . 153) . Part o f th e troubl e was social : 'w e ar e eternall y goin g ou t t o lunc h o r dinne r when w e don' t wan t to , an d amusin g rathe r elderly , bu t ver y nic e peopl e who m we don' t wan t t o amuse ' (ii . 153) . The mai n reaso n wa s th e arriva l o f Constanc e Garnett, wit h he r youn g frien d Ver a Volkhovsky , t o spen d a mont h a t th e Albergo dell e Palme . (Ver a staye d o n longer. ) Lawrenc e wen t ove r t o Spezi a t o meet the m o n 2 5 January, an d a s wel l a s visit s t o the m i n Leric i an d fro m the m to Fiascherino , an d walk s an d expeditions , the y wer e introduce d t o al l th e ne w expatriate acquaintance s an d wer e dul y entertaine d b y all. The plac e an d it s peopl e suddenl y loo k differen t throug h th e eye s o f a rathe r sharp Englis h lady . Sh e though t he r roo m b y th e se a delightfu l enough , bu t he r first impressio n o f Leric i wa s practica l an d class-conscious . 'Thi s i s a workin g class place ' sh e tol d Edward , s o ther e ar e fe w tourist s an d eve n fewe r middl e class - henc e th e cheapnes s - onl y peasants , factor y hand s an d sailors , an d ' a large sprinklin g o f ver y uninviting-lookin g youn g women . Lawrenc e say s th e sailors brin g a lo t o f shad y character s i n thei r train. ' H e sound s suddenl y rathe r defensive! Thes e ha d no t bee n matter s o f first interes t t o him . T o Bunn y a week later sh e agai n speak s o f th e 'squali d workin g clas s population ' an d th e tal l houses an d passage s lik e ravine s 'ver y dar k & chilly. Nowher e a trac e o f car e o r of decoration' , everywher e filt h an d smells . Ye t th e beaut y o f th e countrysid e into whic h Lawrenc e walke d wit h her , an d th e view s fro m th e hills , wo n he r over. 9 She was als o tar t abou t hi s ne w friends . Sh e though t h e an d Fried a seeme d more settled , an d hi s coug h ha d gone , thoug h 'h e look s holloweye d & thin , o f course . . . Fried a bloom s lik e a rose. The y se e a great dea l o f al l th e respectabl e English peopl e here' , an d 'ar e ver y popular ' - thoug h tha t migh t b e becaus e English expatriat e communitie s ar e s o dull ; an d the y migh t no t b e s o welcom e were i t know n tha t the y wer e unmarried . (Sh e was wron g abou t that , a s i t happened.) Moreover , ' I shoul d hav e though t they' d hav e foun d al l thes e English resident s rathe r a bor e - I mea n the y strik e m e a s havin g nothin g i n common wit h the m . . . Bu t yo u kno w wha t a socia l creatur e h e i s & beside s I believe i t flatter s hi m t o fee l tha t eve n wit h thes e peopl e h e ca n b e a success.' 10 That seem s acute . Significantly , too , sh e let s u s glimps e th e cos t t o Lawrenc e o f her husband' s criticis m - whic h hi s letter s conceal . H e ha d a ro w wit h Fried a 112
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within a wee k o f Constance' s arrival ; th e first w e hav e hear d o f fo r som e time . Often th e quarrel s tha t visitor s reporte d wer e th e resul t o f th e pressure s o r temptations they introduced . W e hav e Frieda' s ow n wor d fo r i t no w (writin g t o Edward), tha t i t was 'joll y t o hav e Mr s Garnet t here ' becaus e ' I g o t o he r an d pour ou t m y Lawrenc e woe s t o he r an d sh e listen s patientl y an d feelingly , s o I never fee l I a m disloya l t o L ' (ii . 151) . Tha t migh t hav e looke d differen t t o Lawrence. Howeve r h e seeme d t o hav e take n Garnett' s criticism s wel l - a t first. On 3 1 January, onl y tw o day s afte r Lawrence' s repl y t o th e first letter , an d si x since he r ow n arrival , Constanc e report s tha t h e ha d alread y begu n writin g agai n 'with grea t spirit . H e tol d m e o f you r lette r & sai d yo u wer e quit e right . H e didn't see m downcast , a t all , bu t I fanc y ful l o f confidenc e tha t h e coul d ge t i t right.' Sh e admire d hi s pluc k an d industry , thoug h sh e feare d h e woul d soo n exhaust materia l fro m hi s previou s lif e an d find littl e i n hi s ne w one . Bu t o n 5 February ther e i s a differen t story ; sign s o f troubl e i n Lawrence , an d wit h Frieda: Lawrence has put a good face on the blow about his novel, but he has looked very white & pinched th e last two days. He says he agrees with yo u entirely. Frieda & he seem to have been having a set-to yesterday & the day before - & both looke d a s though the y had been crying - but toda y the y ar e bot h happie r again . Lawrenc e i s a queer littl e changelin g there's a sor t o f littl e demo n o f perversit y i n him , & yet h e i s s o ful l o f bonhomi e & genuine friendlines s & kindness . Fried a show s t o muc h greate r advantag e i n he r ow n house. Constance als o kne w he r better , afte r th e confidings . Howeve r (a s sh e prepare d to leave ) w e find tha t th e ro w ma y hav e bee n abou t a deepe r proble m o f loyalt y than Frieda' s impartin g of'Lawrenc e woes' . About 2 1 February , Fried a wrot e t o Garnet t i n term s tha t sho w hi s secon d letter ha d bee n critica l o f her, too . I hav e bee n s o cross wit h you ! You attacke d m e i n you r lette r an d I was cross but I am afraid yo u were right and made me realise my wrongs in a way - I had'nt care d twopenc e about L' s novel ; Ove r th e childre n I though t h e wa s beastly , h e hate d m e fo r bein g miserable, no t a moment o f miser y di d h e pu t u p with ; h e denie d al l th e sufferin g an d suffered al l the more - lik e his mother befor e him ; how we fought ove r this! In revenge I did not care about his writing. If he denies my life and suffering I deny his art, so you see he wrote without me at the back of him. (ii. 150-1) Though th e secon d 'Sisters ' migh t b e a failure, sh e though t ther e was somethin g deeper tryin g t o struggl e ou t i n i t tha n ther e ha d bee n i n Sons and Lovers, whic h she fel t ha d ha d n o 'Hinterlan d de r Seele' : ' I wh o a m a believe r thoug h I don t know i n what , t o me i t seems a n irreligiou s book' . Writer s ten d t o concentrate o n externals - th e 'prett y cur l i n th e neck' , rathe r tha n 'th e living , strivin g she' within. No w sh e wil l thro w hersel f int o th e novel , knowin g tha t 'yo u me n can t 113
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do thing s alon e - Jus t a s littl e a s w e ca n live alone' , an d feelin g tha t sh e ha s go t over th e wors t 'wit h E . an d th e children ' no w (ii . 151) . Her vie w o f Sons and Lovers i s mostl y hindsight . A t th e tim e sh e ha d bee n impatient wit h Lawrence' s firs t attempt s t o captur e a hinterlan d tha t coul d no t be see n o r touched , o r though t o r spoke n b y th e characters ; an d he r sens e o f what h e wa s u p t o i s belate d - ye t thi s lette r i s significant . Sh e ha d indee d bee n fighting t o mak e hi m brin g hi s feeling s int o th e ope n an d liv e them through ; an d to forc e hi m t o pa y attentio n an d imaginatio n t o hers , instea d o f closin g himsel f off fro m hi s ow n sufferin g an d th e othe r person' s a s h e use d t o do . Sh e ha d broken hi m open , agai n an d agai n - an d i n bot h 'Ne w Ev e an d Ol d Adam ' an d 'The Sisters' , h e ha d begu n t o imagin e sensitivel y fro m he r poin t o f view . Sinc e Christmas 1912 , no t onl y ha d th e 'religious ' sens e bee n becomin g mor e an d more articulat e i n the m both , bu t Lawrenc e ha d als o specificall y acknowledge d Frieda's par t i n this , an d generalise d i t int o th e theolog y o f th e 'Foreword' . W e have hi s word , no t onl y tha t h e di d nee d a woman a t th e bac k o f hi m t o b e trul y creative, bu t tha t thi s wa s becaus e sh e pu t hi m i n touc h wit h 'th e unknown ' not throug h an y idea s o r beliefs , bu t throug h th e encounte r wit h th e entirel y 'other', strange r an d opposite , i n sexua l relationship . Thoug h Frieda' s languag e of 'she" and th e 'curl ' i s crude , compare d wit h th e lette r Lawrenc e ha d already written t o Garnett , i t i s clea r tha t th e ro w abou t he r denia l o f hi s ar t ha d no w brought he r int o uniso n wit h hi s deepes t purpose , i n th e nove l h e ha d bee n struggling t o write . She ha d no t deepl y care d abou t hi s writing . Sh e ha d boaste d t o Dowso n tha t she kne w someon e wh o woul d b e 'bette r tha n Galsworthy' , ha d bee n fascinate d by watchin g Lawrenc e a t wor k i n Icking ; an d fel t please d an d prou d o f contributing feminin e insigh t t o th e creatio n o f Miria m an d Mr s Morel ; bu t Lawrence ha d bee n amuse d b y he r tendenc y t o judg e th e wort h o f hi s poem s b y whether o r no t sh e was th e heroine . I t wa s importan t i n he r relationshi p wit h Else tha t Lawrenc e shoul d b e recognised , s o sh e wa s happ y t o repor t th e 'to-do ' that ha d bee n mad e o f hi m tha t summe r i n Englan d - a ba d summe r fo r her but ther e i s i n th e wor d itsel f a ting e o f surprise . Moreover , th e ne w wor k ha d begun b y mockin g a 'Godalmightiness ' recognisabl y hers ; an d thoug h th e boo k had grow n t o b e mor e an d mor e seriousl y abou t a woma n finding herself , Lawrence's promise d wor k fo r woma n mor e valuabl e tha n th e suffrage , Fried a had muc h preferre d th e discarde d 'Th e Insurrectio n o f Mis s Houghton' ; an d the secon d 'Sisters ' ha d base d th e developmen t o f th e gir l Ell a no t o n her , bu t Louie Burrows . S o her lette r t o Garnet t mark s a significant chang e o f attitude. It woul d b e a ne w star t i n severa l ways . T o fee l Fried a solidl y behin d hi s writing fo r th e first time , especiall y i n it s deepe r religiou s a s wel l a s feminis t purpose, woul d hel p rebuil d th e confidenc e tha t Garnett' s disapprova l ha d undermined. H e coul d rel y o n he r t o b e critical ; bu t mor e constructivel y 114
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perhaps tha n before , sinc e sh e no w fel t sh e ha d a persona l stake . I t woul d b e more likel y that , i n th e effor t t o fus e th e youn g wit h th e olde r Ell a i n rewriting , Frieda woul d contribut e memorie s fro m he r ow n childhood . Bu t abov e all , th e change o f titl e t o 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' implie d tha t th e ne w boo k woul d b e no t merely abou t Ell a bu t abou t marriage , s o th e insight s tha t cam e fro m hi s relationship wit h Fried a migh t transfus e th e whol e imaginativ e journey , no t jus t the ending . Most significantl y o f all , give n hi s associatio n o f th e ne w wa y o f writin g wit h his 'marriage' , th e inverte d comma s wer e no w t o b e removed . O n 2 2 Februar y Lawrence quietl y announce d t o Ma y Holbroo k tha t the y ha d decide d t o marr y in Jun e (ii . 149) . Th e ver y ide a o f marryin g th e autho r o f Sons and Lovers ha d given Fried a th e creeps ; but sh e ha d committe d hersel f no w t o marr y th e autho r of the rewritte n 'Weddin g Ring' . A t th e en d o f February, however , stil l tryin g t o find a ne w beginning , h e ha d t o tak e on e mor e criticis m o f th e secon d 'Sisters' ; though i t ma y hav e bee n easie r becaus e h e ha d s o firmly abandone d it , an d because o f what ha d happene d wit h Frieda . Befor e sh e left , Constanc e spok e he r mind abou t th e book' : He sai d h e ha d begu n i t agai n becaus e i t wa s so 'boshy, don' t yo u know ' & suggested I should rea d it . Well, having no w read mos t of it, I agree wit h hi m tha t i t is awfully poo r stuff. Th e character s aren' t livin g at all, one doesn't believ e in them , or tak e them a t the author's apparent valuation . They see m simply invented t o hang the pages of description of sexual experiences and emotions on to, & the theories about these emotions. And I felt all the time that all the love part is ladled out so disproportionately tha t it isn't effective. I t palls really because there's n o light & shade - i t all seems cheap intensit y an d violenc e at the same hysterical pitch all through. It seems to me much below The White Peacock and The Trespasser & I'm gla d h e realises it isn't u p to much. Of course there are very good bits in it - & the underlying notio n i s good & strong - but it' s s o incredibly shapeles s & inartistic - s o sloppy in its presentation. I feel uneasy about his future i f he can go off like that. But th e new beginning h e has made is very promising (thoug h o f course he sets off at th e to p not e o f intensit y wit h th e fathe r o f th e heroine s & one doesn' t se e ho w th e interest can rise after tha t quite). Perhaps i t i s a s wel l tha t a fragmen t ha s survive d t o b e judge d agains t thi s slashing critique . Lawrenc e wa s obviousl y stil l learnin g hi s ne w wa y o f writing , but th e scen e between Ell a and Birki n hardl y seem s tha t ba d - thoug h Constanc e may no t hav e rea d s o far , an d th e affai r wit h Templema n ma y hav e bee n 'boshier', particularl y i f Lawrenc e ha d trie d t o inven t somethin g quit e differen t from hi s ow n experienc e wit h Louie . Th e forc e o f Constance' s reaction , however, hold s som e threa t eve n fo r a development beyon d th e relativ e crudit y of th e secon d 'Sisters' . Th e complain t o f unvarie d pitc h an d lac k o f ligh t an d shade ma y wel l hav e bee n jus t - bu t th e charge s o f excessiv e sex , violence , 115
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hysteria, anticipat e th e reaction s o f readers wh o woul d objec t t o th e whol e visio n of the huma n bein g whic h Lawrence' s late r for m an d styl e tr y t o articulate . However, Constanc e als o provide s a valuabl e clu e t o th e lates t se t o f fals e starts. Th e secon d 'Sisters ' ha d gon e behin d th e firs t one , t o discove r ho w an d why Ell a ha d becom e wha t sh e wa s an d behave d a s sh e did , whic h mean t goin g into he r girlhoo d an d first love-affair , perhap s eve n he r childhoo d (thoug h tha t is no t certain) . Wha t doe s see m clea r now , i s tha t fo r 'Th e Weddin g Ring' , concerned no t merel y wit h Ell a bu t wit h marriag e - Lawrenc e ha d decide d t o g o even furthe r back , befor e th e birt h o f his heroine , an d t o begi n th e sevent h tim e with th e 'intensity ' o f he r father , an d (presumably ) hi s courtshi p o f he r mother . Constance implie s tha t thi s wa s quit e differen t fro m th e star t o f 'Sister s IF . Bu t four mor e attempts , befor e th e fiction finally too k off , sugges t tha t h e wa s stil l dissatisfied. Anothe r luck y surviva l reveal s tha t 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' finally began - thoug h probabl y no t i n muc h detai l - wit h Ella' s grandparents. 14 On Februar y 2 5 Constanc e lef t fo r home . O n 7 March Lawrenc e tol d Savag e that h e ha d starte d 'fo r abou t th e elevent h time' , bu t tha t a t las t 'I t i s o n it s leg s and i s going strong' (ii . 153) . Ill T h
e Socia l R o u n d
Yet socia l distraction s continued . Ver a Volkhovsk y staye d o n fo r a while . I n early Marc h Lawrenc e an d Fried a wer e invite d t o an extraordinar y cosmopolita n lunch fo r twenty-si x guest s i n Levanto . Th e hos t was th e popula r an d prolifi c Russian write r Aleksande r Amfiteatrov , ' a grea t fa t laughin g man' ; an d amon g the guest s wa s one Peshko v wh o claime d t o be (bu t actuall y was not) 'a n adopte d son o f Maxim Gorky , little , dark, agile , full o f life, an d a great wil d Cossac k wif e whom h e ha d marrie d fo r passio n an d ha d com e t o hate'. 15 Th e od d assortmen t at tabl e mad e Lawrenc e fee l suddenl y 'Englis h an d stabl e an d soli d i n comparison' thoug h h e love d thei r 'absolut e carelessnes s abou t everythin g bu t just wha t intereste d them ' (ii . 155) . They woul d se e mor e o f thes e Russians . O n a lovel y sprin g da y the y wen t picknickin g 'hig h up ' i n th e hills , probabl y wit h the Waterfields , lookin g ove r a t th e Carrar a mountains , th e valle y o f th e Magr a and th e se a coast sweepin g roun d (ii . 156) . Else came o n a visit i n April . There wer e ne w friend s amon g th e local s too . A 24-year-ol d seminaria n fro m Sarzana go t tips y visitin g i n Tellaro , an d los t hi s wa y back , requirin g stron g coffee an d redirection ; afte r whic h h e bega n t o brin g Fried a music . (Th e fragment o f 'Sister s I F describe s Ell a singing , alon e a t he r piano : 'He r ide a o f time was sketchy , bu t sh e ha d a strong , rathe r beautifu l voice'. 16 ) Th e Tellar o schoolmistress Ev a Rainuss o woul d com e by , partl y t o hel p Lawrenc e wit h hi s Italian, bu t als o because sh e was in lov e wit h th e handsom e guitar-playin g Luigi , though h e ala s les s s o wit h her . O n Hol y Thursda y nigh t (b y custo m here , th e 116
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crucifixion was o n Thursday ) the y watche d th e processio n i n Tellar o carryin g Jesus t o th e tomb . A new Italia n acquaintance , Gamb a - a friend o f the Futurist s Boccioni an d Marinett i - maintaine d tha t th e Renaissanc e ha d see n a resurgenc e of th e Roma n spiri t (mathematic , rational , material , individualist ) overthrowin g the Germa n mysticis m o f th e Middl e Ages 1 - bu t Lawrenc e remaine d puzzle d by th e mixtur e o f rationa l materialis m wit h superstitio n i n th e religio n o f Tellaro. Ye t th e processio n throug h th e dar k stair-lik e streets , th e flickerin g candles o n th e sills , th e nois e o f clapper s i n fron t ('th e grindin g o f th e bone s o f Judas'), th e hoars e soun d o f th e se a mingle d wit h th e mournfu l chanting , mad e 'a fearfu l impression ' o n him . 'I t i s th e mystery tha t doe s i t - i t i s Deat h itself , robbed o f it s horrors , an d onl y Fea r an d Wonde r goin g humbl y behind ' (ii. 164) . At Easter a priest arrive d t o bless thei r hous e (ii . 163) . Though th e decre e absolut e o f Frieda' s divorc e was publishe d i n The Times law report o n 2 7 April , th e Englis h expatriate s remaine d friendly . O n 5 May th e poet an d playwrigh t Herber t Trenc h cam e t o se e them , an d invite d the m t o Florence. Th e Baroness a d i Rescis , a frien d o f Mr s Pearse , invite d the m t o th e Abruzzi. The y ha d becom e suc h friend s no w wit h th e Britis h Consu l a t Spezia , Thomas Dunlop , tha t hi s wif e Madg e offere d t o typ e 'Th e Weddin g Ring' . (They als o too k th e new s o f th e divorc e 'ver y nicely' ; ii . 168. ) Th e Lawrence s spent a weekend wit h the m i n mid Ma y (ii . 174) . They ha d themselve s acquire d a hous e gues t i n May . Iv y Lo w ha d writte n Lawrence a fan-letter , hailin g him , afte r Sons and Lovers, a s th e mos t importan t new novelis t fo r he r generation , an d tellin g hi m tha t admiratio n fo r hi s wor k ha d become a touchston e t o literar y friend s suc h a s Viol a Meynel l an d Catherin e Jackson. H e replie d (o n th e Baronia l notepape r the y ha d bee n usin g up ) an d after a brie f correspondenc e invite d he r t o visit . Sh e came , 'rigge d out ' i n he r friend Catherin e Jackson' s 'onl y "tailo r m a d e " ' outfit , an d a n embroidere d Rumanian blouse . She wa s a sprightly 25-year-old , niec e t o Barbar a Lo w ( a pionee r o f Freudia n psychoanalysis i n Britain ) an d alread y th e autho r o f tw o novels , th e secon d o f which th e librarie s ha d refuse d t o take . Thoug h he r memor y canno t alway s b e relied upo n sh e give s a livel y accoun t o f th e villin o an d it s inhabitants . Onl y from he r d o w e lear n o f th e littl e buildin g a t th e gate , covere d wit h vine s an d with pin k an d blu e flowers wavin g fro m it s roo f - an d ove r it s doo r 'i n charmingly space d capitals ' th e wor d 'latrina' , ne w t o her , bu t clearl y fo r strangers wh o cam e t o hel p Ettor e wit h hi s harvest . Wit h he r to o w e ca n ente r the house , and se e where the y ha d thei r meal s outside . The villa itself was divided in the middle by a stone staircase - o n one side was the sitting room, and a bedroom ove r it ; on th e other, th e kitchen , an d a bedroom ove r that . The y had a table and a cottage-piano and a bookshelf and a sofa and a chair or two in the sitting 117
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room, an d a bed an d a washstand i n eac h o f th e bedrooms . I n fron t o f th e vill a wa s a vegetable garde n an d t o th e lef t a little pat h leadin g u p t o a rustic summerhous e wit h a mushroom-like stone table in the middle. She coul d no t recal l he r firs t impressio n o f Lawrence i n Spezia , bu t sh e though t Frieda ver y pretty , thoug h ' a bi t slopp y an d arty ' an d wit h 'th e limpes t han d I had eve r take n i n mine ; i t simpl y fel l ou t o f m y clasp' . Lawrenc e aske d whethe r he struc k he r a s workin g class , and the n complaine d whe n sh e sai d ye s (albei t i n a quiet , tired , skilled-workma n sor t o f way , no t on e o f a factor y mob) , wherea s he ha d ha d muc h mor e complimentar y thought s abou t he r i n th e boat . Sh e probably too k hi m altogethe r to o seriousl y - fo r wha t sh e wante d t o sa y wa s ' I loved yo u th e momen t I saw you', an d t o change place s wit h he r hostess . The visit , unsurprisingly , ra n int o difficulties . Lawrenc e though t he r 'rathe r a nice girl ' (ii . 169) , an d enjoye d walk s wit h he r t o ge t th e groceries , talkin g endlessly. Frieda , Iv y remembered , 'use d t o sa y tha t th e las t thin g sh e sa w o f u s as w e wen t dow n th e garde n pat h wa s ou r waggin g head s incline d towar d on e another, an d tha t whe n w e returned , th e first thin g sh e sa w was ou r jaw s opening an d shutting' . Th e firs t week , fo r Ivy , 'wa s th e happies t I ha d eve r known'; bu t the n - inexplicabl y t o he r - sh e bega n t o b e foun d faul t with , fo r having n o sens e o f rhyth m (whe n sh e kep t bumpin g int o Lawrenc e a s the y walked), fo r no t helpin g i n th e hous e an d kitche n (thoug h Fried a seldo m did) , for he r musica l taste , fo r no t understandin g people , fo r bein g fidget y an d garrulous. Wha t neve r seem s t o hav e occurre d t o he r wa s tha t sh e was simpl y outstaying he r welcome . Lawrenc e ha d though t sh e wa s only comin g fo r ' a shor t time' (ii . 168) , ' a fe w days ' (ii . 169) . Sh e say s sh e staye d si x weeks , an d thoug h this i s almos t certainl y misremembered , an d Catherin e Carswell' s 'month ' mor e likely, i t was stil l fa r to o lon g fo r a ma n wh o wa s tryin g t o finis h a book - an d whose wif e was gettin g restiv e abou t th e hero-worship . Eac h woul d ge t irritate d when th e othe r pai d muc h attentio n t o o r go t muc h fro m som e ne w acquain tance. Iv y record s a visi t b y th e 'Peshkovs ' whe n Frieda , 'wh o alway s love d a new man , contribute d hone y t o th e atmosphere ' bu t Lawrence , havin g carefull y discussed a stor y o f th e man's , the n pulle d hi m t o piece s a s soo n a s the y ha d gone, perhaps 'unconsciously ' (say s Ivy ) 'irritate d b y Frieda' s enthusiasms' . (Sh e saw som e jealousie s mor e clearl y tha n others. ) Whe n finall y the y too k he r t o Sarzana - on e o f th e peasant s wa s drivin g hi s car t t o th e statio n - sh e an d Lawrence wer e gloom y (sh e says) , bu t 'Fried a chatte d pleasantl y a t first an d then relapse d int o on e o f he r luxuriou s catlik e trances , i n whic h sh e coul d enjo y God's sunshin e an d scener y withou t botherin g hersel f abou t th e complicate d people H e ha d pu t int o them. ' Ther e wer e tear s a t the tin y dust y station , an d Iv y says sh e fel t he r self-confidenc e i n ruin s fo r som e tim e afterwards , bu t th e friendship hel d an d was to be renewe d i n th e summer . 118
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Lawrence's sociabilit y wa s deal t anothe r blow . Ther e ha d bee n silenc e fro m Murry sinc e Lawrenc e ha d urge d the m t o com e t o Ital y o n Katherine' s allowance. I n fac t the y ha d gon e t o Pari s t o escap e creditor s an d write ; bu t Murry coul d no t liv e o n review s o f Frenc h book s fo r The Times Literary Supplement', an d whe n h e wa s offere d th e pos t o f ar t criti c t o th e Westminster h e decided t o return , a t th e cos t o f sellin g everythin g the y had , an d goin g throug h bankruptcy proceeding s o n 2 7 March . Th e sam e day , Katherine' s constan t acolyte Id a Bake r ha d lef t fo r Rhodesi a t o loo k afte r he r ailin g father. 21 S o Murry wa s keeping hi s courag e u p whe n h e wrot e no w tha t the y wer e al l right but Lawrenc e wa s relieve d t o hav e a lette r a t last . H e ha d feare d the y though t him 'a n interferin g Sunday-schoo l Superintenden t sor t o f perso n wh o wen t to o far i n hi s superintendin g an d becam e impossible : - steppe d th e jus t to o far , which i s th e crim e o f crimes ' (ii . 160) . H e fel t guilty . H e was 'alway s goin g i n headlong an d crawlin g ou t ignominiou s an d furious , mostl y wit h myself . Behind th e self-reproac h howeve r la y anothe r hurt . Fo r Murr y seem s t o hav e reported Mars h an d Campbel l a s sayin g tha t Lawrenc e trie d t o b e al l thing s t o all men. 'It i s s o horribl y difficult' , write s a n obviousl y hur t Lawrence , 'no t t o betra y oneself, somehow , wit h al l th e differen t peopl e . . . Bu t really , on e can onl y b e towards eac h perso n tha t whic h correspond s t o him , mor e o r less. ' Th e charg e was only hal f tru e o f his friendship s acros s classes , fro m peasant s t o ric h Englis h expatriates, an d intellectuals , bu t Constanc e Garnet t ha d als o perceive d ho w h e wanted t o b e a socia l succes s - an d ther e wa s enoug h trut h t o mak e hi m angry : 'Oh, I thin k t o myself , i f onl y on e coul d hav e a fe w rea l friends , wh o wil l understand a bi t alon g wit h one . The y ar e al l agains t one . I fee l Mars h agains t me wit h th e whol e o f hi s being : an d Campbel l woul d lik e t o be , fo r h e i s a perverse devil ' (ii . 160-1) . Whateve r Mars h ma y actuall y hav e sai d abou t peasants, poet s an d plutocrat s i n Fiascherin o h e was well-dispose d t o Lawrenc e (and ha d befriende d Murr y eve n more) . Campbel l wa s abou t t o invit e the m t o stay i n Selwoo d Terrac e whe n the y cam e t o England . Lawrence' s ange r perhap s betrays a n ato m o f trut h i n th e charge , thoug h i t was hardl y kin d o f Murr y t o pass i t on . IV 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' The wee k afte r th e Amfiteatro v lunc h hi s nove l was goin g 'slowly ' (ii . 156) , bu t by 3 April h e coul d tel l Murry that , despit e th e fals e start s an d 'quit e a thousan d pages tha t I shal l bur n . . . Fried a an d I ar e together , an d th e wor k i s o f m e an d her . . . I hav e don e two-thirds ' (ii . 161) . O n 2 2 Apri l h e poste d Garnet t wha t had bee n typed , expectin g ther e woul d onl y b e 8 0 page s t o writ e now , whic h h e thought migh t tak e thre e mor e weeks . H e coul d gues s th e length , an d g o 119
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quickly, becaus e h e was nea r th e en d o f 'Th e Sister s I F (Ell a havin g me t he r school inspector ) an d was revisin g fro m th e las t o f 'Th e Sister s F : ' I a m sur e o f this now , thi s novel . I t i s a bi g an d beautifu l work . Before , I coul d no t ge t m y soul int o it . Tha t wa s becaus e o f th e struggl e an d th e resistanc e betwee n Fried a and me . No w yo u wil l find he r an d m e i n th e novel , I think , an d th e wor k i s o f both o f us' (ii. 164) . Though h e ha d restraine d hi s feeling s abou t Garnett' s criticism , th e mor e h e thought abou t tha t secon d lette r th e sharpe r th e distinctio n h e wante d t o dra w now, betwee n criticis m o f failure s i n execution , an d refusa l t o accep t th e whol e purpose o f th e author . H e ha d prove d himsel f willin g t o accep t critica l advic e but h e wa s 'no t afte r al l a chil d workin g erratically . Al l th e time , underneath , there i s something dee p evolvin g itsel f ou t i n me . And i t i s hard to expres s a new thing, i n sincerity ' (ii . 165 ) H e wante d perceptiv e hel p - no t t o b e tol d th e ne w work was 'common' an d sen t bac k t o th e first 'Sisters' , whic h ma y hav e hel d 'th e germ o f this novel : woman becomin g individual , self-responsible , takin g her ow n initiative', bu t whic h h e no w though t immaturel y flippan t an d jeering . Fo r 'primarily I a m a passionatel y religiou s man , an d m y novel s mus t b e writte n from th e dept h o f my religiou s experience. ' I t wa s when hi s 'dee p feelin g doesn' t find it s wa y out ' tha t ' a sor t o f jee r come s instead , an d sentimentality , an d purplism. Bu t yo u shoul d se e th e religious , earnest , sufferin g ma n i n me' . Constance ha d tol d hi m h e ha d 'n o tru e nobilit y - wit h al l m y clevernes s an d charm. Bu t tha t i s not true ' (ii . 165) . A lette r t o Pinke r th e sam e da y show s hi m beginnin g t o wonde r whether , i f Garnett prove d lukewar m abou t 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' too , i t migh t b e bette r t o take i t t o another publisher , a s Garnett ha d sai d h e was free t o do . He stil l fel t h e ought t o giv e Duckwort h first option ; bu t no w a s a matte r 'o f gratitude , o r perhaps o f mora l obligation , tha t i s all ' (ii . 167) . Bot h Pinke r an d Curti s Brow n implied - a s the y naturall y woul d - tha t Sons and Lovers ough t t o hav e don e better. H e ha d receive d onl y £2 5 fro m Kennerle y s o far, 22 an d £10 0 i n advance s from Duckworth , wh o ha d sen t a n accoun t showin g th e boo k stil l £1 5 shor t o f repaying hi s advance . Ther e wa s onl y a littl e lef t i n th e bank . H e di d no t thin k Garnett believe d i n hi s wor k commercially , an d di d no t wan t t o involv e hi s friend i n Duckwort h losin g money; 23 ye t h e wa s no w bein g tol d tha t h e coul d earn £30 0 fo r th e ne w boo k fro m th e publishe r Methuen , mor e tha n al l three o f his novel s ha d mad e together . O n th e othe r hand , i f h e brok e wit h Duckwort h he coul d hardl y expec t Garnet t t o g o o n readin g an d advisin g o n everythin g h e wrote. H e owe d hi m a great dea l - bu t mor e wa s ridin g o n hi s respons e t o 'Th e Wedding Ring ' tha n ha d eve r bee n th e cas e before . For th e pas t fortnight , Lawrenc e tol d Savag e o n 7 May , h e ha d fel t 'seedy' , often a sig n o f stress . Iv y wa s wit h them , h e was strugglin g t o finish th e book , and h e feare d i t migh t b e rejecte d becaus e 'i t i s wha t the y cal l improper ' 120
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(ii. 169) . Howeve r h e urge d Murr y th e nex t da y no t t o 'giv e u p feelin g tha t people do want t o hear wha t yo u say' : Four days , and I shal l hav e finished my novel , pra y Go d .. . Ca n yo u understan d ho w cruelly I feel th e wan t o f friends wh o will believe i n me a bit. Peopl e thin k F m a sort of queer fish that can write: that i s all. And ho w I loathe it. There isn' t a soul cares a damn for me, except Frieda - an d it's rough to have all the burden put on her. (ii. 171 ) The followin g da y wit h abou t 3,00 0 word s t o go , h e tol d Garnet t tha t Fried a wanted th e nove l calle d ''The Rainbon? (i i 173) . B y th e 16t h i t was finished an d typed, an d h e was checking th e las t of the typescrip t a t the Dunlops ' hous e i n L a Spezia (ii . 174) . Remembering th e cuttin g o f Sons and Lovers, Lawrenc e expecte d Garnet t t o 'swear whe n yo u se e th e length . It' s a magnu m opu s wit h a vengeance ' (ii. 173). 24 Anothe r survival , th e repor t o n i t b y Kennerley' s reade r Alfre d Kuttner, confirm s tha t i t ha d no t onl y fuse d 'Sister s P wit h 'Sister s I P bu t no w dealt wit h thre e generation s o f Brangwens . (Kuttne r complaine d becaus e h e thought th e 'rea l story ' ha d t o d o wit h Ell a an d Gudrun , an d i t was not 'unti l w e are almos t hal f wa y through ' tha t 'w e dea l wit h them'. ) S o 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' had grow n toward s The Rainbow, bu t wit h man y difference s stil l - an d th e action wen t wel l o n int o wha t i s no w Women in Love. Th e Ell a an d Birki n stor y must hav e ende d wit h thei r marriage ; an d a remar k o f Kuttner' s abou t Geral d 'raping Gudru n i n th e boathouse ' - perhap s hi s wa y o f describin g a n earl y version o f th e scen e i n chapte r twenty-fou r o f Women in Love — migh t sugges t that th e denouemen t o f thei r stor y ma y hav e staye d broadl y a s i t was i n 'Th e Sisters P : a n illegitimat e child , bu t a hopefu l endin g also . Kuttner , wh o ha d written a Freudia n revie w o f Sons and Lovers, though t Lawrenc e ha d repeate d himself, wa s to o obsesse d b y sex an d ough t perhap s t o ge t himsel f psycho analysed, thoug h h e als o expresse d som e admiration . A s Lawrenc e poste d duplicate typescript s t o Garnet t an d t o Kennerle y however , h e wa s confiden t o f the future . In hi s las t thre e week s i n Fiascherin o h e fel t laz y again . H e ha d a n ide a fo r hi s next nove l whic h woul d requir e readin g i n th e Britis h Museu m (n o hin t a s t o what an d why ) - an d h e als o though t h e 'ough t t o d o som e Liguria n sketches ' though no t jus t ye t (ii . 175) . What h e di d d o was som e readin g i n th e Futurists . He ha d initiall y com e acros s the m i n translation , i n th e first issu e o f Harol d Monro's Poetry and Drama i n 1913 . (In Augus t tha t yea r h e chose poem s t o sen d Monro tha t h e hope d h e 'migh t find futuristic' ; ii . 5 3 - thoug h ho w muc h knowledge tha t implie s i s a question . ) No w o n 2 June 191 4 h e tol d McLeod , always th e corresponden t h e though t mos t intereste d i n discussin g ne w ideas , that h e ha s been readin g ' a fa t book ' o f Futurist poetry , an d a 'book o f pictures and I read Marinetti' s an d Paol o Buzzi' s manifestation s an d essay s - an d Soffici s 121
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essays o n cubis m an d futurism ' (ii . 180) . Al l wer e i n Italian , an d th e las t onl y recently published . Th e book s (an d impetus ) mus t hav e com e fro m hi s ne w acquaintance Gamba , wh o may als o have discusse d the m wit h him . 7 Lawrence's reaction s wer e decidedl y mixed . H e like d thei r determinatio n t o be 'hones t an d stic k b y wha t i s i n us ' (eve n i f tha t tende d t o mea n wha t i s 'horrid'); an d t o purg e 'ol d form s an d sentimentalities ' - thoug h i t wa s sill y an d like college student s 't o den y ever y scra p o f tradition an d experience' , an d h e di d not agre e wit h thei r alternativ e ide a o f progres s 'dow n th e purel y mal e o r intellectual o r scientifi c line' . They wil l even us e thei r intuitio n fo r intellectua l an d scientifi c purpose . Th e on e thin g about thei r ar t i s that i t isn V art, but ultr a scientific attempt s t o make diagrams o f certain physic o r menta l states . I t i s ultra-ultr a intellectual , goin g beyon d Maeterlinc k an d th e Symbolistes .. . th e most sel f conscious, intentional, pseud o scientifi c stuf f o n the fac e of the earth . Marinetti begin s 'Italy i s like a great Dreadnought surrounde d b y her torped o boats'. Tha t i s i t exactl y - a grea t mechanism . Ital y ha s go t t o g o throug h th e mos t mechanical and dead stage of all — everything is appraised accordin g to its mechanic value - everythin g is subject to the laws of physics, (ii. 180-1 ) Since th e seed s o f a goo d dea l o f Lawrence' s late r thinkin g li e here , i t i s a s wel l to b e carefu l abou t wha t i s bein g said . I t i s no t (yet ) a n attac k o n scienc e no r o n the intellect , thoug h h e di d no w thin k ther e was anothe r an d greate r wisdo m i n the bod y an d th e blood . Math s ha d bee n hi s bes t subjec t a t school ; botan y th e study an d 'Botany ' Smit h th e professo r h e ha d mos t care d fo r an d learne d fro m at university , an d th e teachin g o f botan y a s wel l a s ar t an d literatur e wha t h e liked an d di d bes t a t Croydon . H e kne w somethin g o f science , an d too k hi s knowledge seriously . Marinett i an d th e Futurist s wer e no t scientists , bu t painters an d poets , an d Lawrenc e i s speaking , a s artist , no t agains t th e Futuris t enthusiasm fo r movement , power , spee d an d th e beaut y o f machines, bu t agains t trying t o tur n ar t int o pseudo-science . Ar t fo r hi m canno t b e 'ultra-ultr a intellectual', intentional , conscious . No r ca n th e artist' s portraya l o f th e whole human bein g aspir e (o r b e reduced ) t o intellectua l abstractio n lik e geometry , o r the functionalis m o f a machin e workin g wholl y b y th e law s o f physics . Scienc e may b e require d t o 'progress ' alon g 'purely ' intellectua l line s (thoug h it s progress surel y depend s o n intuition , too?) ; bu t t o requir e 'everything' , an d especially art , t o d o s o i s deadening . Lawrenc e i s no t necessaril y attackin g science i n arguin g tha t ther e i s mor e t o huma n an d nationa l lif e tha n scientifi c intellect. The 'Forewor d t o Sons and Lovers', i n callin g woma n th e embodimen t o f th e creative bein g o f 'Go d th e Father' , an d ma n th e embodimen t o f th e knowin g o f the 'Son' , ha d prepare d fo r namin g th e intellec t 'male ' here . Lawrence' s gende r specification raise s al l sort s o f problems , bu t als o hint s a t wha t th e natur e o f hi s 122
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answer t o th e Futurist s wil l be , ensurin g anothe r kin d o f 'progress' , i n different , less exclusive, and les s conscious terms : I think the only re-sourcing of art, re-vivifying it , is to make it more the joint work of man and woman . I thin k the one thin g t o do , i s fo r me n t o hav e courag e t o dra w neare r t o women, expose themselves to them, and be altered by them: and for women to accept and admit men. That i s the only way for art and civilisation t o get a new life, a new start - b y bringing themselve s together , me n an d wome n - revealin g themselve s eac h t o the other , gaining great blind knowledg e and suffering an d joy , which i t will take a big further laps e of civilisation t o exploit an d wor k out . Because th e sourc e o f all life an d knowledg e i s in man an d woman , an d th e sourc e o f all livin g i s in th e interchang e an d th e meetin g an d mingling of these two: man-life an d woman-life , ma n knowledg e an d woman-knowledge , man-being and woman-being, (ii. 181 ) The las t sentenc e point s toward s a greater an d welcom e doubleness , beyon d th e earlier simple r gende r division . As always, he i s generalising fro m hi s own experienc e o f how hi s marriag e ha d resourced an d revivifie d hi s ar t - an d hintin g (b y hindsight ) ho w an d wh y th e focus o f his novel ha d shifte d fro m woma n finding herself , t o a series o f men an d women 'bringin g themselve s together ' i n marriage . Hi s emphasi s fall s wholl y o n the experienc e ou t o f whic h (h e thinks ) ne w artisti c visio n comes , an d no t o n technique o r for m - whic h see m t o b e secondar y an d consequen t mode s o f articulating wha t ha s bee n gaine d b y revelation , throug h 'grea t blin d knowledg e and sufferin g an d joy' . Hi s sens e - to o simpl e perhap s - o f th e ga p whic h separated hi m fro m th e aspiratio n t o forma l an d linguisti c master y whic h h e sa w linking Flauber t an d th e Symboliste s wit h Maeterlinc k an d Mann , i s growin g stronger. Three day s late r cam e Garnett' s intensel y disappointin g respons e t o 'Th e Wedding Ring' . H e foun d i t stil l 'shaky' , objecte d t o it s 'psychology' , an d thought tha t onl y Lawrence' s clevernes s migh t 'pul l th e thin g through ' (ii . 183 , 182). (H e als o seeme d t o accep t tha t i t wa s no t settle d wh o shoul d publis h th e book, an d tha t Lawrenc e shoul d se e Pinke r a s soo n a s h e go t t o London. ) Th e letter o f 5 June i n whic h Lawrenc e expresse d hi s disagreemen t wit h Garnett , i s probably th e mos t widel y quote d o f al l th e letter s i n whic h h e discusse d hi s art , but i t is so important tha t i t must bea r repeating . H e ha s also been thinkin g agai n about th e possibl e usefulnes s o f Marinetti's pseudo-science . I don' t thin k th e psycholog y i s wrong : i t i s onl y tha t I hav e a different attitud e t o m y characters, an d tha t necessitate s a differen t attitud e i n you , whic h yo u ar e no t a s ye t prepared t o give ... I think the book is a bit futuristic - quit e unconsciously so . But when I read Marinett i - 'th e profoun d intuition s of life adde d on e to the other, wor d b y word, according t o thei r illogica l conception , wil l giv e u s th e genera l line s o f a n intuitiv e physiology of matter' I see something of what I am after, (ii . 182 ) 123
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Here Marinett i paradoxicall y seem s t o fus e a n artisti c proces s o f languag e wit h his scientifi c materialism . Lawrenc e though t th e Italia n 'obfuscated' , an d i t was not th e physiolog y o f matte r h e care d about , bu t h e struggle d t o explai n wh y Marinetti ha s a n importan t poin t i n refusin g t o separat e huma n being s fro m th e rest o f the physica l univers e - thoug h h e i s also 'stupid ' i n reducin g humanit y t o what ca n b e deal t wit h i n th e language s o f th e materia l sciences . Migh t th e artis t not fin d a language whic h coul d trac e i n huma n being s th e operatio n o f force s o r 'wills' no t merel y human , bu t affectin g human s an d natur e alike ? Tha t interest s Lawrence muc h mor e 'tha n th e old-fashione d huma n elemen t - whic h cause s one t o conceiv e a character i n a certain mora l schem e an d mak e hi m consistent' . Even i n th e grea t Russians , Turgenev , Tolstoy , Dostoevsky , 'th e mora l schem e into whic h al l th e character s fi t - an d i t i s nearly th e sam e schem e - is , whateve r the extraordinarines s o f th e character s themselves , dull , old , dead ' (ii . 182-3) . (Constance Garnett' s husban d woul d no t lik e that! ) T o g o on definin g humanit y as sapiens , henc e distinc t fro m th e res t o f th e world , an d t o b e characterise d i n terms o f thought, choic e an d mora l value , ha s becom e (fo r Lawrence ) deadenin g now. So , eve n i f Marinett i i s sill y t o sa y tha t th e hea t o f meta l o r woo d i s 'mor e passionate, fo r us , tha n th e laughte r o r tear s o f a woman', Lawrenc e to o want s to ge t beyon d wha t th e woma n ''feels* - whic h 'presume s a n ego to fee l with ' - t o what sh e '«' , a s a resul t o f force s a s world-wid e an d phenomena l a s thos e studied i n scientifi c languages . However , humanit y mus t no t b e reduce d t o th e merely material , either : 'Tha t i s wher e th e futurist s ar e stupid . Instea d o f looking fo r th e ne w huma n phenomenon , the y wil l only loo k fo r th e phenomen a of th e scienc e o f physic s t o b e foun d i n huma n being . The y ar e crassl y stupid . But i f anyon e woul d giv e the m eyes , the y woul d pul l th e righ t apple s of f th e tree . . . ' (ii . 82-3) . He i s strugglin g no w fo r a subtle r wa y o f lookin g a t th e relatio n betwee n science an d ar t tha n th e simpl e oppositio n o f his previou s letter . Ar t mus t find by Marinetti' s 'profoun d intuition s o f life adde d on e t o th e other , wor d b y word ' - a languag e a s universa l an d therefor e bot h huma n an d preterhuma n (Law rence's perhap s misleadin g wor d i s 'inhuman' ) a s thos e whic h stud y al l matte r and energ y i n physic s o r al l livin g thing s i n physiology . Ther e i s alread y a hin t that th e ne w languag e ma y b e i n som e sor t o f continuit y wit h a ver y ol d one : Adam an d Ev e i n th e garden , Go d th e Fathe r (o r Mother ) an d th e Son , an d a n apple, o f knowledg e o f good-and-evi l deepe r tha n th e 'certai n mora l scheme ' o f the nineteent h century . Therefore : You mustn' t loo k i n m y nove l fo r th e ol d stabl e eg o of th e character . Ther e i s anothe r ego, according to whose action th e individual i s unrecognisable, and passe s through, as it were, allotropic states which it needs a deeper sense than any we've been used t o exercise, to discover ar e state s o f the sam e single radically-unchange d element . (Lik e a s diamond 124
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and coa l are the same pure single element o f carbon. The ordinar y nove l would trac e the history o f th e diamon d - but I sa y 'diamond , what ! This i s carbon. ' An d m y diamon d might be coal or soot, and my theme is carbon.) You must not say my novel is shaky - I t is not perfect, becaus e I am not expert in what I want to do. But it is the real thing, say what you like. And I shall get my reception, if not now, then before long . Again I say, don't loo k for th e development o f the novel to follo w the line s of certain [i.e . consistently defined ] characters : the character s fal l int o the for m of som e othe r rhythmi c form , lik e whe n on e draw s a fiddle-bow acros s a fine tra y delicately sanded, the sand takes lines unknown, (ii. 182-4 ) The ide a o f th e huma n bein g tha t la y behin d characterisatio n i n th e nineteenth century nove l i s attacke d o n tw o fronts . O n th e on e han d th e fictio n o f th e Future mus t subver t th e ol d stabl e ego (th e ide a o f th e huma n bein g a s self determining b y wil l an d choice ) b y goin g deepe r tha n eve r before , unde r th e surface o f consciou s motivation , revealin g wha t lie s hidde n i n th e depth s o f th e psyche wher e th e huma n bein g i s move d b y preter-huma n forces ; th e seven eighths o f th e iceber g hidde n fro m ordinar y view . O n th e othe r hand , i t mus t also subver t th e ide a o f th e ol d stable eg o - a n assumptio n behin d ever y character-reference - an d sho w huma n being s a s continuall y fluctuating an d changeful, definabl e onl y i n thei r respons e t o differen t pressure s an d tempera tures (i n eac h ne w situation ) o f force s withi n an d relationship s without . A s carbon remain s elementall y th e sam e whe n pressure d an d heate d int o apparentl y quite differen t form s - o r wate r whethe r solid , liqui d o r ga s - th e uniqu e elemental huma n bein g wil l alway s b e there . Ye t th e them e o f th e ne w fiction will no t b e th e dramaticall y differen t appearance s fo r thei r ow n sake , bu t th e revelation in thes e o f th e force s whic h ar e determinin g them . Hidde n pattern s and rhythm s wil l appea r i n eac h situatio n (a s the y d o i n th e Chladn i acousti c experiments, l a differen t patter n produce d b y eac h differen t note) ; bu t revealing th e previousl y unknow n operatio n o f 'forces ' a s universa l a s thos e i n the physic s of sound . It doe s no t o f course follo w tha t 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' ha d achieve d th e tas k o f revealing th e deepes t force s a t wor k i n Ella , an d showin g he r a s infinitel y fluctuating an d changefu l ye t alway s recognisabl y herself . Indeed , Lawrenc e admits tha t h e i s 'no t exper t i n wha t I wan t t o do' . Ye t i n respondin g t o th e Futurists h e ha d gon e a long ste p toward s clarifyin g wha t i t was tha t h e wanted . (He ha d tol d Colling s i n March , havin g receive d a book o f drawings dedicate d t o him, ' I think , unles s on e i s s o pur e b y instinc t tha t on e doe s th e righ t thin g without knowing , the n on e must kno w wha t on e i s after' ; ii . 159. ) H e no w realised h e was 'after ' n o les s tha n a revolutionar y brea k wit h th e classica l European novel ; an d tha t thi s mean t inevitabl e difficulty , eve n fo r th e mos t intelligent an d sympatheti c o f reader s whos e sensibilitie s ha d bee n develope d within nineteenth-centur y concept s o f character an d o f form. Ther e i s also, now , 125
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a definit e chang e i n hi s relationshi p wit h Garnett . Confiden t tha t th e futur e i s ultimately o n hi s side, he no longe r speak s a s to a mentor . This wa s the las t lette r h e wrot e fro m Fiascherino . V Of f fo r th e Summe r As th e en d o f waitin g fo r th e decre e absolut e dre w near , Frieda' s thought s fixed again o n th e possibilit y o f a new star t i n gettin g acces s t o her children . Lawrenc e was no t hopeful . H e though t Weekle y acte d a serie s o f stoc k role s bu t wa s no t humanely 'flexible ' (ii . 162) . H e remembere d onl y to o wel l how , 'gon e ma d o n his injurie s an d hi s rights , [he ] rave s abou t shootin g th e miserabl e m e an d himself an d othe r vagu e people , i f ther e i s an y mentio n o f Frieda' s eve n seein g the children ' (ii . 163) . Bu t i n mid-Apri l the y bega n t o wonde r whethe r th e divorce an d thei r marriag e migh t mak e a difference ; especiall y sinc e the y ha d been tol d tha t a bo y ha d th e righ t t o elec t hi s ow n guardia n a t th e ag e o f 14 . Monty woul d b e 1 4 in July, whic h migh t giv e the m som e 'pull ' ove r hi s father . By 6 Ma y thei r plan s wer e becomin g mor e definite : 'leavin g her e abou t Jun e 14th - comin g t o Londo n - stayin g thre e week s t o ge t marrie d . . . the n Fried a will tr y t o se e th e childre n . . . Weekle y i s stil l raving , bu t slightl y abated . I hav e hopes' (ii . 167-8) . After that , the y migh t 'g o int o th e countr y fo r a month', o r t o Germany, bu t woul d b e i n Ital y agai n b y th e en d o f Septembe r (ii . 170) , perhap s taking i n Florenc e an d th e Abruzz i o n th e wa y back . Fried a eve n ha d a lette r direct fro m Weekle y afte r th e divorce , 'muc h milder . H e wil l com e roun d i n th e end. The divorc e i s a load of f him, I suppose' (ii . 174) . Lawrence toye d wit h th e ide a o f goin g t o Englan d b y ship , first wit h Frieda , and then , whe n sh e decide d t o g o by wa y o f Baden-Baden, b y tram p steame r o n his own (ii . 175) . Finally h e decide d t o wal k throug h Switzerlan d onc e more , bu t by a differen t rout e an d wit h a ne w friend . A . P . Lewi s wa s a skille d enginee r with Vickers-Maxi m i n Spezi a (ii . 184) , but w e know virtuall y nothin g els e abou t him. Sinc e Lawrenc e tol d Garnet t o n 5 June h e wa s no t goin g b y se a 'becaus e of th e filthy weather ' (ii . 184) , thoug h thre e day s earlie r h e ha d stil l intende d t o sail, the decisio n seem s t o have been mad e ver y late . It wa s not financial necessit y this time . Sinc e 2 2 Apri l £3 0 ha d com e in . An d o f cours e ther e woul d b e a bi g down paymen t i n Londo n fo r 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' if , a s seeme d likely , h e wer e to accep t Pinker' s offer . Ther e ha d bee n farewel l entertainment s b y th e Huntingdons, th e Pearse s an d th e Cochranes . O n 8 Jun e the y left , full y intending t o retur n 't o thi s beloved , beautifu l littl e cottage ' (ii . 149) , a t th e en d of the summer . Unlike hi s tw o previou s Alpin e expeditions , Lawrenc e neve r describe d thi s one . We hav e onl y fou r postcard s writte n durin g th e journey , an d a brief not e fro m 126
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Heidelberg afterwards , fro m whic h t o establis h hi s rout e an d it s timing ; thoug h there ar e also a few clue s fro m th e late r fiction. On Tuesda y 9 June h e an d Fried a wer e i n Turin , wher e (h e tol d Ada ) ther e was ' a grea t strik e commotion ' (ii . 18 4 and n . 4). A general strik e ha d bee n calle d for th e followin g da y but ther e wa s violence beforehand. The Times reported tha t 'rioting o n Tuesda y le d t o thre e death s an d t o th e woundin g o f som e fort y persons . . . th e cit y yesterda y looked , a s ou r Corresponden t tell s us , lik e a "cit y of th e dead"' . O n th e 10th , however , whe n th e strik e began , Fried a wa s o n he r train an d Lawrenc e e n rout e t o Aost a (wher e h e spen t th e night ) an d th e Grea t St Bernar d Pass . On th e Wednesda y evenin g h e wrot e Ad a a second postcard , wit h a picture o f St Bernard' s famou s eleventh-centur y hospic e an d monastery . The y ha d struggled u p throug h snow , fo r th e las t par t mor e tha n a yar d deep . 'Yo u hav e no ide a ho w beautifu l i t is . Tonight I sleep i n th e monaster y - suc h a lovely littl e panelled roo m - an d tomorro w o n again . I lov e i t dearly. ' Tw o day s late r h e tol d Bunny ho w 'hospitabl e an d courteous ' th e monk s ha d bee n (ii . 185) . He poste d tw o picture-postcard s (o f Zermat t an d th e Matterhorn ) a t Vis p o n the 13th . Th e on e t o Bunn y tell s o f havin g 'walke d fro m Aost a ove r th e G d S t Bernard t o Martigny ' - s o i t was probabl y a t Martign y tha t h e ha d spen t th e night o f th e n t h , havin g com e 4 5 kilometre s downhil l fro m th e monastery . From Martign y hi s route swun g eas t along th e valle y o f the Rhone , followin g th e poplar-bordered roa d buil t b y Napoleon' s engineer s toward s Brigue ; an d the n through th e uplan d Va l d e Conche s t o Gletsch , clos e b y th e grea t Rhon e Glacier. Fro m ther e h e coul d eithe r follo w th e Furk a pass , t o touc h hi s previou s route int o Ital y a t Andermat t befor e turnin g toward s Meiringe n (94km.) ; or , more probably , tak e a shorter bu t steepe r rout e close r t o th e Jungfrau, followin g the rive r Aa r toward s Meiringe n (37km.) ; fro m whic h Interlake n wa s another 2 9 km. H e ha d tol d Ad a t o writ e t o hi m poste restante a t Interlaken , an d tha t h e expected t o b e i n Switzerlan d ' a wee k o r so ' (ii . 184 ; i.e . til l abou t 16-1 7 June) ; but ther e i s n o wa y o f knowin g wher e h e stoppe d o r stayed . Eve n th e Vis p postmark i s dubiou s evidence . Thoug h h e ofte n wrot e hi s postcard s a t th e en d of th e da y an d poste d the m th e nex t morning , Vis p i s too fa r (66km. ) fo r a day' s walk fro m Martigny . I f h e an d Lewi s di d spen d a nigh t there , the y ma y hav e gone muc h o f th e wa y b y bus . O n th e othe r hand , ther e ha d bee n littl e sno w o n Lawrence's tw o previou s walks , s o i t i s als o possibl e tha t hi s descriptio n o f th e Alpine resor t i n th e final chapter s o f Women in Love ma y hav e bee n base d o n a visit t o on e o f th e famou s one s e n route . (H e ha d neve r experience d an y suc h snowscape, an d woul d hav e n o othe r opportunit y befor e h e wrot e tha t novel , whose origina l 'Prologue ' describe s tw o friend s i n th e mountains . ) Vis p wa s the junctio n fo r Zermatt , s o th e postcard s ma y hav e com e fro m side-trackin g there. Fro m Zermatt , o n a highly-recommende d i ^ hou r expeditio n b y rai l t o 127
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see the fabulou s panoram a fro m Gornegra t - a pull-out i n Baedeke r - h e coul d have seen , amongs t a flowering o f peak s o n al l sides , th e twi n peak s (Zwillinge n and Jumeaux ) abov e th e Gorne r glacier , lookin g ver y lik e th e woman-shap e tha t Gudrun worshipped . Al l w e know , however , i s tha t h e an d Lewi s 'wandere d over Switzerlan d - mi d sno w an d ic e lik e Excelsio r - finishing u p wit h Exhibitions i n Bern' (ii . 186) . From ther e h e coul d hav e joine d Fried a i n Baden-Baden , bu t b y Thursda y the 18t h h e wa s stayin g i n Heidelber g wit h Alfre d Webe r (Else' s lover , wh o ha d loaned the m hi s apartment i n Ickin g i n 1912) . The Baro n wa s il l - Fried a sai d 'il l and broken ' - an d Fried a hersel f wa s 'not quit e well , so she wil l stay o n i n Bade n until Monda y o r Tuesday', whe n the y woul d g o to England together . Meanwhil e 'I a m wit h Pro f Webe r . . . hearin g th e lates t thing s i n Germa n philosoph y an d political economy . I a m lik e a little hal f fledged bir d openin g m y bea k Very wid e to gul p dow n th e fa t phrases . But i t is all very interesting ' (ii . 185-6). 36 They arrive d i n Londo n o n Wednesda y 2 4 June. VI Th e Londo n Whir l The previou s sprin g Lawrenc e ha d fel t tha t Th e Cearn e wa s th e onl y hous e i n England tha t woul d hav e them . No w fro m th e Campbells ' i n Selwoo d Terrac e Beatrice bein g i n Irelan d fo r th e birt h o f her secon d bab y (ii . 187 ) - h e se t ou t t o meet las t year' s friend s again , an d mad e man y ne w contacts . H e was soo n i n touch wit h Georgians , Imagists , Vorticists , Bloomsbury ; bein g entertaine d b y Marsh an d b y Bunn y Garnett , b y Lad y S t Helier, 38 b y H . G . Wells , b y Lad y Ottoline Morrell . Ther e was a new grou p o f friend s an d contact s i n Hampstead , among the m th e first Englis h Freudians . Befor e mid-Jul y h e ha d accepte d a fa t contract (£300 ) fo r hi s nove l wit h Methuen ; ha d agree d t o compensat e Duck worth an d Edwar d Garnet t b y puttin g togethe r a volum e o f shor t stories ; an d had take n o n a new contrac t fro m anothe r publisher , Nisbet , fo r ' a littl e boo k o n Hardy's people ' (ii . 198) . H e opene d a Londo n ban k account . An d h e go t married. The mos t immediatel y necessar y busines s was , of course, th e decisio n abou t wh o should publis h hi s novel . (Thoug h Lawrenc e definitel y preferre d th e ne w titl e now, w e ha d bette r continu e t o us e 'Th e Weddin g Ring' , sinc e i t wa s stil l ver y different fro m th e - a s ye t unwritte n - wor k w e kno w a s The Rainbow.) H e rushed roun d 'bus y an d breathless ' (ii . 187 ) to see Duckworth o n th e 26th , whe n the ide a o f th e compensator y boo k o f storie s wa s mooted , an d o n Tuesda y 30 June h e mad e u p hi s mind . Garnet t was no t i n hi s office ; Lawrenc e hun g around o n th e pavemen t wonderin g whethe r t o g o t o Pinker ; 'An d ther e wa s very littl e time , becaus e w e ha d t o lunc h wit h Lad y St . Helier . An d Fried a wa s 128
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so disappointe d sh e couldn' t hav e an y money. ' Mos t o f al l h e remembere d Duckworth's rathe r 'peremptory ' ton e whe n h e refuse d t o matc h Methuen' s offer - 'S o I wen t t o Pinker , an d signe d hi s agreement , an d too k hi s cheque , an d opened a n ace . wit h th e Londo n Count y an d Westminste r Ban k - e t m e voila . I am sorry ' (ii . 189) . Thoug h h e woul d b e spendin g th e nex t weeken d a t Th e Cearne, an d woul d b e workin g wit h Garnet t o n th e boo k o f stories , thei r way s were parting . 'Me voila ' indee d - thi s was prosperity , wit h mor e t o come . Pinke r probabl y gave hi m a persona l chequ e fo r £100 , i n advanc e o f Methuen' s fo r £150 , wit h another £15 0 t o com e o n publication , les s o f cours e Pinker' s 10 % commission . Yet ther e wa s als o caus e fo r regret . Garnet t ha d faile d t o respon d t o hi s ne w work. Ye t Lawrenc e wa s breakin g wit h hi s mos t sympatheti c critic , a mento r who kne w wha t th e marke t woul d accept , an d wh o wa s a close enoug h frien d t o have hi s advic e take n seriously . Fo r goo d o r ill , Lawrenc e woul d hav e onl y hi s own judgemen t t o rel y on , now . Pinke r was a successfu l agen t t o a numbe r o f important writers , bu t h e wa s n o critic , an d woul d remai n a n agen t o n commission rathe r tha n a friend . Waiting fo r the m a t Selwoo d Terrace , was a n invitatio n fro m Lawrence' s 'poetic adviser ' (ii . 154 ) Marsh , t o lunc h a t th e Mouli n d'O r wit h Ruper t Brooke, wh o ha d bee n i n Americ a whe n the y wer e las t i n England . Lawrenc e knew o f Brooke throug h bot h Mars h an d Bunn y Garnett , an d poeticall y throug h Georgian Poetry an d New Numbers, an d wante d t o mee t him . Brook e ha d (mostly) admire d Sons and Lovers. 'It' s s o extraordinaril y vivi d i n conceptio n o f scenes. He' s alway s hectic, isn't he , a little? Bu t I mus t proceed . He' s a big man. ' Brooke struc k everybod y a s glamorous , wit h blu e eye s an d brown-gol d hai r 'jus t a shade longe r tha n i t nee d hav e been' ; suntanne d fro m hi s sta y i n Tahiti , bu t s o fair (Fried a recalled ) tha t h e blushe d easily . Her e sa t o n on e sid e o f th e tabl e the erstwhil e Eastwoo d 'pagan' , scholarship-bo y an d pupil-teacher , on e o f th e young progressive s wh o gathere d i n Willi e Hopkin' s provincia l sitting-room ; and o n th e othe r th e golde n Rugbean , Cambridg e Apostle , an d 'neo-pagan' , a s Virginia Wool f calle d thos e lover s o f th e countrysid e an d outdoor-life , camping , boating, nud e bathing , informa l relation s betwee n th e sexes , who centre d o n hi m and th e Olivie r girls . (Th e Lawrence s wer e abou t t o mee t the m too. ) H e an d Frieda woul d probabl y no t hav e know n muc h - thoug h Bunn y kne w somethin g - o f th e mes s Brook e ha d mad e o f hi s emotiona l life : hi s flirtation s wit h homosexuality, hi s hopeles s lov e fo r Noe l Olivie r an d hi s mess y affai r wit h K a Cox, followe d b y th e near-suicida l depressio n fro m whic h h e ha d fled t o America an d th e sout h Pacific . Ye t Fried a di d remembe r tha t 'H e wasn' t a bi t happy o r fulfilled' , an d tha t 'th e beaut y o f hi m wa s strangel y sad' , thoug h tha t might hav e bee n wit h hindsight . Ther e was contrast , bu t als o similarity , especially wit h th e Lawrenc e o f earl y 191 2 whe n h e wa s Brooke' s ag e now , an d 129
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before h e me t Frieda ; an d ther e wer e grav e ironie s fo r th e future . Bu t the y go t on well , and promise d t o meet again . Lawrence ha d no w me t th e mos t importan t Georgian s (excep t Edwar d Thomas an d Rober t Frost , wh o ha d no t bee n i n th e firs t antholog y bu t woul d last th e bes t o f all) . H e ha d haile d Marsh' s collectio n a s matchin g hi s ow n optimism an d acces s o f jo y i n 1913 , an d ha d like d Abercrombie , Gibso n an d Trevelyan whe n the y me t (an d D e l a Mar e who m h e alread y knew ) - bu t hi s differences fro m the m wer e alread y fa r greate r tha n th e similarities . To b e fai r t o th e Georgian s w e shoul d contras t the m wit h th e predecessor s they rebelle d against , rathe r tha n wit h th e greate r an d late r poeti c revolutio n o f Modernism. I n tha t perspectiv e on e ca n se e how Lawrenc e coul d see m Georgia n at first . I f Howards End b e th e archetypa l Georgia n novel , th e autho r o f The White Peacock and The Trespasser might see m somethin g o f a Georgian a s wel l as an aesthete ; an d i t i s eas y t o se e wh y Georgian s woul d admir e Sons and Lovers, while findin g i t somewha t hecti c an d ill-formed . Lawrence , too , se t th e natura l world a s a n endurin g valu e agains t moder n socia l an d individua l failure ; thoug h his evocatio n i s alread y mor e powerfu l an d comple x tha n Forster' s rathe r weekend lyricism . Georgia n to o ar e Lawrence' s complaint s agains t th e pessi mism o f th e Edwardians : Conrad' s gloom ; Bennett' s acceptance ; th e sense , fo r all hi s admiratio n o f Wells , o f a deprived littl e bo y wit h hi s nos e presse d agains t a col d shop-window . Nevertheles s h e ha d n o soone r writte n hi s enthusiasti c review o f the c joy' i n th e Georgians , tha n h e becam e increasingl y critica l o f bot h their poetic s an d thei r underlyin g attitudes . His argument s wit h Mars h ove r rhyth m clarifie d th e differenc e betwee n hi s 'ear' an d th e on e whic h ha d selecte d th e anthology . Lawrence' s maturin g vers e now aime d t o fin d it s rhyth m throug h integrit y o f feelin g exactl y expresse d i n the fre e movemen t an d lingerin g o f th e poet' s voic e - i n th e lin e o f Whitman , rather tha n th e pattern s o f stresse d an d unstresse d syllable s i n conventiona l English scansion . H e criticise d i n Hodgso n th e banalit y o f feelin g whic h existe d only i n th e autho r an d th e stoc k respons e o f th e reader , bu t wa s no t create d i n the poem ; an d h e connecte d th e 'habituate d ear ' i n Marsh' s admiratio n o f Flecker wit h 'feeling ' tha t 'crouche s subservient ' t o th e metr e (ii . 102-5) . However muc h Lawrenc e share d th e Georgia n reactio n agains t Edwardia n poetic rhetoric , an d thei r counte r ai m o f a poetr y o f direc t speec h an d genuin e experience, 'jus t lookin g a t thing s a s themselve s - neithe r a s usefu l no r mora l nor ugly , no r anythin g else' , an d fre e fro m moralising , posin g o r Ideas ; nevertheless hi s passionatel y intimat e exploratio n o f th e inne r sel f was boun d t o seem 'hectic ' whe n oppose d t o Georgia n lyricis m an d restraint , hi s line s undisciplined, an d hi s leap s o f feelin g obscure . H e fo r hi s par t denounce d th e bucolics o f Abercrombie' s 'Th e En d o f th e World ' (se t i n a villag e pub) ; an d detected behin d it s iron y a suppresse d hatre d an d 'gloatin g ove r th e comin g 130
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destruction' (ii . 176-7) . H e migh t hav e foun d simila r dar k spot s i n th e plangen t lyricism o f Brooke ; a sens e o f thing s goin g wron g i n th e psych e belo w th e surface. Brook e kne w thi s himself . H e ha d recentl y written , i n term s Lawrenc e would hav e greatl y approved , o f th e contras t betwee n Englan d an d th e civilisa tion - hi s wor d - h e ha d foun d i n Tahiti : ... whil e the y ar e no t s o foolis h a s t o 'think' , thei r intelligenc e i s incredibl y livel y an d subtle, their sense of humour an d thei r intuition s of other people' s feeling s ar e very keen and living ... A white man living with them .. . soo n learns to be his body (and s o his true mind), instead of using it as a stupid convenienc e for his personality, a moment's umbrella against the world. If Brook e sai d tha t kin d o f thin g a t lunch , n o wonde r the y go t o n well . B y contrast, th e enlistmen t o f th e grea t go d Pa n b y suc h a s James Stephen s seeme d merely absur d t o Lawrence . H e woul d continu e t o b e represente d i n th e Georgian anthologies , bu t whe n h e ha d hailed , a s Georgian , a n 'exceedin g kee n relish an d appreciatio n o f life ' wit h th e 'return ' o f 'quick , healthy , passionat e blood' h e had spoke n mostl y fo r himself . 4 Bunny Garnet t linke d th e Georgia n wit h th e neo-paga n an d wit h Blooms bury (wher e hi s grandfathe r ha d bee n th e Britis h Museum' s Librarian , an d a web o f contact s remaine d throug h hi s literar y parents) . Bunny , too , pu t o n a dinner fo r th e Lawrence s t o mee t mor e o f hi s friend s tha n ha d bee n possibl e the previou s year . I n th e bac k roo m o f Gustave' s i n Soh o ther e wer e 'abou t eighteen' guests : Franki e Birrell , Daphn e an d Noe l Olivier , Adria n Stephe n and hi s futur e wif e Kare n Costello , Katherin e Mansfiel d an d Murry , Gilber t and Mar y Canna n (sh e ha d bee n marrie d t o J . M . Barrie ) an d (les s certainly ) James Strache y an d Arthu r Waley . Throug h th e Cannans , Lawrenc e woul d soon mee t Lad y Ottolin e Morrel l an d Compto n Mackenzie . I n 191 4 Canna n and Mackenzie , togethe r wit h Forster , Walpol e an d sometimes , an d les s certainly, Lawrence , wer e regarde d a s th e pic k o f th e ne w generatio n o f novelists. S o W . L . Georg e ha d writte n i n th e Bookman; an d Henr y Jame s i n The Times Literary Supplement, thoug h h e place d Lawrenc e 'i n th e dust y rear ' (and Mackenzi e i n th e lead) . 6 ( A surve y i n th e Athenaeum i n Sprin g 1914 , however, omitte d hi m entirely. ) Bunn y remembere d tha t 'Lawrenc e an d Fried a were extremel y sociabl e an d agreeable' . Th e we b o f literar y contact s wa s growing wide r again . Through Iv y Lo w cam e anothe r circl e o f ne w friendships , whic h w e ma y think o f a s 'Hampstead' . Ver y soo n afte r thei r arriva l h e me t he r agai n wit h Catherine Jackson , wh o live d almos t nex t doo r i n Holl y Bus h Road , an d whos e suit sh e ha d wor n t o Fiascherino . Als o presen t wa s Viol a Meynell , daughte r o f the poetes s Alic e Meynell , thoug h w e d o no t hea r muc h o f he r yet . Iv y ha d come t o Fiascherin o a s ambassadres s fo r al l three , bu t i t woul d hav e bee n 131
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Catherine's admiratio n whic h counte d mos t whe n h e me t them . Fo r sh e wa s n o young fan , bu t a n experience d reviewe r fo r th e Glasgow Herald an d nearl y fiv e years olde r tha n Lawrence . Sh e ha d bee n brough t u p i n Glasgow , ha d studie d at th e Ar t Schoo l an d ha d als o bee n allowe d t o follo w th e degre e cours e i n English Literatur e a t Glasgo w Universit y b y Si r Walte r Raleigh , wh o late r moved t o Oxfor d (an d ha d enjoye d meetin g Lawrenc e an d Fried a a t Kingsgate) . The hea d o f th e Lif e departmen t a t th e Ar t Schoo l ha d bee n Mauric e Greiffenhagen, whos e Idyll ha d s o obsesse d Lawrence' s imagination . Afte r th e tragic collaps e o f Catherine' s marriag e - whic h ende d i n a violent attac k o n her , the confinemen t o f he r husban d i n a mental hospita l sufferin g fro m progressiv e paranoia an d a pioneerin g struggl e t o hav e th e marriag e annulle d - sh e becam e involved i n ' a lon g an d hopeles s affair ' wit h Greiffenhagen , thoug h whe n sh e met Lawrenc e tha t was al l over . Sh e woul d soo n agre e t o marr y Donal d Carswell, a journalis t an d (later ) lawye r wh o ha d bee n devote d t o he r sinc e student days. 48 Sh e to o ha d writte n a novel. Characteristically, Lawrenc e a t onc e offere d t o rea d it , an d spen t fou r hour s discussing i t i n detai l i n hi s first wee k i n London , amongs t al l hi s othe r affairs . As sh e remembere d whe n sh e cam e t o writ e hi s biography , h e wa s no t 'critical ' as that i s usually understood . He rea d tha t h e might find out wha t th e write r woul d b e at, and, having found out , that he migh t expoun d i t t o th e write r who , a s ofte n a s not , i s onl y hal f consciou s o f th e character of the impulses underlying all literary effort . It wa s this , wit h hi s astonishin g patience , hi s delighte d recognitio n o f an y sig n o f vitality and his infectious insistenc e upon th e hardest work, that made him unique among • •
critics.
49
He sa w rea l potentia l i n he r novel , despit e it s ''beastly style' (ii . 188) ; an d sh e found hi m 'swif t an d flamelike', wonderfull y lively , helpfu l an d unpretentious . As the y walke d t o th e bu s afte r thei r first meeting , pas t th e churchyar d wher e her chil d la y buried , sh e foun d hersel f 'talkin g t o hi m a s i f I ha d know n hi m al l my life' . I t was not , sh e immediatel y add s wit h th e Scot s qualit y h e like d i n her , that h e encourage d confidence s o r offere d intimacies ; bu t 'h e gav e a n immediat e sense o f freedom , an d hi s response s wer e s o perfectl y fresh , whil e the y wer e puzzling, tha t i t seeme d a waste o f tim e t o tal k abou t anythin g wit h hi m excep t one's rea l concerns' . Fried a struc k her , a t first, a s ' a typica l Germa n Frau o f th e blonde, gushin g type' . She wor e a tight coa t an d skir t o f horse-clot h chec k tha t positivel y obscure d he r finely cut, rather angry Prussian features . To discover ho w magnificent sh e could look , I had to see he r marchin g abou t a cottag e hatles s an d i n a n overal l or , stil l better , i n peasan t costume. After tha t her handsomeness never escaped me, and I admired her greatly. 3 132
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Though good-looking , Catherin e wa s no beauty , an d he r friendshi p was give n t o them bot h (i f at different levels) , representing n o threa t t o Frieda. I t woul d last . Through Ivy , also , came friendshi p wit h a radical an d Jewish Hampstead : he r aunt Barbar a Low , an d anothe r pioneerin g Englis h Freudia n Dr . Davi d Ede r (also socialis t reforme r an d Zionist ) wh o wa s marrie d t o Barbara' s siste r Edith . Lawrence ha d rea d Ede r i n New Age an d ha d allude d t o hi s pamphle t o n 'Th e State Endowmen t o f Motherhood ' i n The White Peacock an d 'Th e Overtone' . Soon h e woul d mee t th e psychoanalys t Ernes t Jones too , and hi s firs t wife . Thi s was rathe r mor e challengin g tha n Frieda' s memorie s o f conversation s wit h Gross. I t woul d brin g Lawrenc e t o denounc e Freudia n reading s o f Sons and Lovers, an d graduall y t o formulat e wha t h e though t a radica l disagreemen t wit h Freudianism (thoug h h e seems neve r t o have rea d muc h i f any Freu d himself) ; but ther e wer e hour s o f livel y an d highl y intelligen t discussio n wit h Barbar a an d the Eders, and agai n th e friendship s lasted . Lawrence alway s wante d hi s friend s t o lik e on e another , an d thoug h th e Murrys wer e no t enthusiastic , a picni c was arrange d o n Hampstea d Heath . Lawrences, Murry s an d Campbel l emerge d fro m th e undergroun d station , t o walk u p th e hill . Murry recall s ho w the y hung back a little, so that the Lawrences were well ahead. Suddenly, there was a piercing cry o f 'Lawrence! ' an d w e ha d a hast y glimps e o f a youn g lady , cla d i t seeme d i n a kimono, rushin g wit h enthusiasti c arm s outsprea d dow n th e hill . 'Goo d God! ' sai d Campbell, ' I won' t hav e thatV said Katherine . Wit h on e accor d w e sped dow n th e hill , round th e corner, and fled. When Lawrenc e turne d t o introduc e the m nobod y wa s there ; h e fel t a foo l an d was furious. Katherin e explaine d late r tha t sh e couldn' t bea r effusivenes s - 'Lik e her ow n Kezia, ' sai d Murry , 'sh e coul d no t bea r thing s tha t rushe d a t her. ' H e sounds rathe r prou d o f thei r stand-offishness . I n mid-Augus t the y wer e al l invited b y H . G . Well s t o a part y i n Churc h Row , an d sinc e h e an d Katherin e admired Well s (say s Murry ) the y accepted , bu t stil l withou t pleasur e i n suc h occasions - especiall y sinc e Lawrenc e insiste d o n goin g in evenin g dress . Now Lawrence , wh o looke d hi s lith e an d limbe r sel f i n man y kind s o f attire , di d no t resemble himsel f a t al l whe n locke d int o a dress-suit .. . Bu t somethin g warne d m e .. . that this initiation int o the dress-suit worl d was for hi m a serious and ritual affair .. . S o I held my peace, and tried to make his bow-tie a little more dashing - i n vain, for Lawrenc e had bought the kind of bow-tie which I associated wit h nonconformist parson s Then Murr y 'bega n t o b e annoye d wit h Lawrence , fo r allowin g himsel f t o b e turned int o thi s unnatura l exhibition' , an d wit h Fried a 'fo r bein g totall y unawar e that he r husban d looke d silly . Sh e ha d th e blissfu l habi t o f bein g completel y preoccupied wit h he r ow n appearance. ' The y mad e ' a forlor n an d somewha t 133
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irritable procession' , an d Katherin e onl y mad e thing s wors e b y tryin g t o mak e a joke o f it . Unsurprisingly , the y ha d a miserabl e time , and , 'a s w e returned , Lawrence wa s apocalypti c i n hi s denunciatio n o f H . G . Wells , wh o ha d nevertheless bee n ver y decent , an d genuinel y please d t o mee t him \ 4 Katherin e teased tha t th e effusivenes s o f th e ladie s ther e ha d bee n lavishe d o n Wells , no t him, an d thi s 'discree t insinuatio n tha t h e ha d bee n lettin g himsel f dow n touched Lawrenc e o n th e raw' . (Sh e als o fel t 'indignan t wit h hi m fo r makin g himself cheap ' whe n the y first wen t t o Lad y Ottolin e MorrelP s i n August , an d so behave d 'icily ' herself.) 55 Th e episod e i s ful l o f ironies . Wells , give n hi s ow n background, coul d easil y hav e imagine d wha t mad e Lawrenc e behav e a s h e did , where th e ric h banker' s daughter , an d th e clerk' s so n wh o ha d mad e i t t o Christ's Hospita l an d Oxford , sa w onl y foolis h hobbledehoydo m an d conceit . Yet ther e wa s als o a clash o f temperamen t whic h ha d no t ha d tim e t o sho w itsel f in thei r brie f meeting s th e previou s year . Before th e en d o f Augus t Lawrenc e wa s als o i n touc h with , an d differentiatin g himself from , th e othe r ne w movement s i n th e Londo n scene : Imagis m an d Vorticism - bot h connecte d wit h Ezr a Pound . He an d Poun d ha d me t throug h Hueffe r i n 1909 ; an d sinc e the n Poun d ha d been instrumenta l (wit h characteristi c energ y an d generosity ) i n helpin g hi m t o get publishe d i n magazine s ove r whic h h e ha d influence : th e Smart Set, th e Egoist an d Harrie t Monroe' s Poetry i n Chicago . However , thoug h h e coul d 'recognize' Lawrence' s qualities , an d gran t hi s pros e 'firs t plac e amon g th e younger men ' (i n 1913) , an d eve n conced e tha t hi s poem s i n th e English ha d 'learned th e prope r treatmen t o f moder n subject s befor e I did' ; i n fac t h e go t little pleasur e fro m the m an d though t Lawrenc e himsel f a 'Detestabl e person' , though h e 'need s watching' . Lawrenc e i n tur n though t th e youn g Poun d somewhat o f ' a mountebank ' - an d mad e hi m on e o f hi s specia l mimi c turns . Moreover h e wa s ver y muc h awar e (b y 1914 ) o f Poun d th e publicis t b y faction , and thoug h willin g t o benefit , neve r incline d t o b e a camp-follower . 6 Indee d from th e ver y first evenin g the y spen t togethe r i n Pound' s comfortabl e atti c studio i n Churc h Walk , Lawrenc e ha d hi s finger o n th e essentia l differenc e between them , thoug h th e for m i t too k i n Novembe r 190 9 wa s temporary . 'H e i s a well-know n America n poe t - a goo d one . H e i s 24 , lik e m e - bu t hi s go d i s beauty, mine , life ' (i . 145) . Thi s wa s th e ninetyis h an d Provenca l Pound . Ha d Lawrence sai d 'art ' instea d o f 'beauty', th e contras t woul d hav e don e fo r th e late r Imagist an d Vorticis t too . In Apri l 1912 , Pound , Richar d Aldingto n an d Hild a Doolittl e ( 'H.D.' ) ha d proclaimed thre e principle s o f goo d writing : 'Direc t treatmen t o f th e "thing " whether subjectiv e o r objective' , 'T o us e absolutel y n o wor d tha t doe s no t contribute t o th e presentation ' an d 'A s regardin g rhythm : t o compos e i n th e 134
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sequence o f th e musica l phras e no t i n sequenc e o f a metronome' . Thes e ar e rather vague . Bot h Brook e an d Lawrenc e coul d tic k th e first, thoug h no t necessarily i n th e sam e sens e a s th e Imagists . Lawrenc e ha d writte n t o Mars h i n terms ver y clos e t o th e third , thoug h h e woul d hav e preferre d 'voca l phrasing ' t o 'musical phrase' . Th e secon d mean s littl e withou t definin g th e natur e o f th e 'presentation'. Shortl y afterward s however , Poun d coine d th e ter m Imagiste , and wen t o n t o defin e th e Imag e a s 'tha t whic h present s a n intellectua l an d emotional comple x i n a n instan t o f time'. 58 Thi s i s mor e helpful , thoug h whether th e presenc e o f images (s o defined) in a poem woul d suffic e t o mak e th e poem an d th e poe t Imagist , woul d becom e a disruptiv e question . Ther e wer e such image s i n Lawrence' s poem s i n th e English Review, bu t h e wa s not feature d in Des Imagistes (planne d b y mid-191 3 thoug h no t publishe d unti l 1914) . Whe n Pound cam e t o revie w Love Poems, i t wa s onl y th e dialec t 'narrative ' poem s h e was abl e t o admire , thoug h i n tha t cas e highly . B y 191 4 howeve r Poun d was tiring o f Imagism , an d th e other s wer e gettin g 'fed-u p wit h Ezra ' an d hi s dictatorship. The y welcome d int o thei r mids t anothe r America n poet , Am y Lowell - rich , Bostonian , mor e tha n ampl y proportioned , patrician , ye t amiabl e - bu t a t a dinner sh e gav e t o celebrat e th e antholog y Poun d treate d he r 'wit h ill bred, impertinen t levity' , an d ther e wa s a rift whic h le d t o his cuttin g himsel f of f from th e group . Imagis m becam e (i n Pound' s view ) 'Amygism' , a dilutio n int o vers libre wit h strikin g images , whic h coul d o f cours e includ e Lawrenc e - a s Pound specificall y objected . O n 3 0 July 191 4 Amy invite d Lawrenc e t o dinne r in her suit e a t the Berkeley , wher e h e met Aldingto n an d H.D. : As guest o f honour Lawrenc e sa t next t o Amy, and the y mad e a curious contras t i f only because one was so lean and the other so plump .. . Amy came out well that evening. There was not a trace of condescension in her and she did a difficul t thin g wel l - sh e expresse d he r war m admiratio n fo r Lawrence' s wor k without flattery or insincerity and without embarrassing him. In th e ne w Imagis t anthologie s whic h wer e t o appea r unde r he r editorship , Lawrence woul d b e regularl y include d - makin g hi m th e onl y poe t wh o appeared a s both Georgia n an d Imagist , whic h wer e mean t t o b e opposed . Tha t of course migh t b e a way of saying that h e reall y belonge d t o neither group . Indeed, betwee n th e stricte r kin d o f Imagism , an d th e Lawrenc e o f 1914 , there wer e majo r difference s - thoug h thei r ful l exten t onl y becam e apparen t later whe n Poun d joine d force s wit h T . S . Elio t (wh o arrive d i n Englan d i n August 1914) , an d bega n als o t o admir e Joyce a s muc h as , and the n mor e than , Lawrence. Fo r Imagis m (thoug h H.D . was it s onl y importan t poe t beside s Pound) wa s a forerunner o f the Modernism o f Pound, Elio t an d Joyce. Lawrenc e was profoundl y anti-Modernis t i n thei r sense , wantin g ar t t o elici t th e uncon sciously creativ e rhythm s o f livin g rathe r tha n ai m a t deliberat e selectio n an d 135
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discipline, Flaubertia n 'form' , le t alon e a separate an d self-sufficien t ar t worl d i n which th e creativ e artis t coul d b e quit e distinc t fro m th e ma n wh o suffered . Moreover Imagis m derive d als o fro m th e classicis m o f T . E . Hulme , wh o attacked th e Romanti c ide a 'tha t man , th e individual , i s a n infinit e reservoi r o f possibilities' - whic h Lawrenc e religiousl y believe d - an d wh o calle d fo r 'dry , hard, classica l verse' , distille d int o achieve d for m b y banishin g th e discursive , the confessiona l an d th e descriptive , al l ver y Lawrencian . (I n th e pur e Imagis t poem th e experienc e ha d t o b e evoke d entirel y throug h sharpl y focuse d visua l perceptions, create d 'ou t there' , no t describe d o r told. ) Onl y thu s coul d poeti c art becom e self-contained , self-existent , n o longe r attache d t o it s author . Law rence's insistenc e tha t h e wrot e i n orde r t o chang e peopl e wa s old-fashione d the Imagist s wer e contemptuou s o f th e public , an d sa w themselve s a s appealin g only t o a tin y discriminatin g elite . Moreove r th e instant i n whic h th e Imag e presented it s intellectua l an d emotiona l comple x mean t insistenc e o n spatia l rather tha n tempora l form , henc e tende d t o stasis , rathe r tha n narrativ e o r dramatic development . Indeed i t ma y hav e bee n this , a s muc h a s clashe s o f personality , tha t mad e Pound brea k fro m Imagis m i n searc h o f somethin g mor e dynamic . Befor e th e Berkeley dinne r i n 1914 , h e ha d joine d Perc y Wyndha m Lewi s i n Vorticism , and it s short-live d periodica l Blast (subtitle d 'Revie w o f th e Grea t Englis h Vortex'), whos e firs t issu e wa s publishe d o n 2 0 June. O n 1 July Lawrenc e me t Lewis, an d ther e was suc h ' a heate d an d vivi d discussion ' (ii . 193 ) tha t h e faile d to ge t bac k t o Selwoo d Terrac e t o kee p a dat e wit h th e faithfu l McLeod . Blast was primaril y concerne d t o explod e literar y orthodoxy , shatte r th e 'enemie s o f culture' - amon g the m th e publi c library , th e genera l reader , an d th e weekl y press - an d generall y d o th e demolition-wor k t o clea r th e wa y fo r a new dynami c poetry (Pound) , paintin g (Lewis ) an d sculptur e (Gaudier-Brzeska) . I t wa s wildl y rhetorical, s o ther e i s a temptatio n t o se e i t a s on e o f Pound' s publicit y stunt s but al l thre e wer e powerfu l artists , and thoug h Vorticis m neve r cam e t o muc h a s a movemen t th e centra l imag e o f th e vorte x i s mos t suggestive , an d appear s i n many guise s in twentieth-centur y literature . For Poun d an d Lewi s i n 1914 , th e accen t fel l o n th e energ y o f th e vorte x rather tha n th e stillnes s a t its centre; indeed th e stil l centr e i s seen a s the poin t a t which th e energ y i s a t it s radian t maximum ; an d als o th e poin t a t whic h th e 'swirl' become s shap e an d pattern . Thi s ha s stil l som e continuit y wit h Imagis m (only mor e dynami c now) , becaus e th e artis t mus t creat e th e for m whic h hold s the energ y i n th e achieve d forma l stabilit y o f th e poem , o r th e Gaudie r sculpture, o r th e Lewi s painting . Lawrence ha d alread y spoke n o f a 'stillness ' a t th e 'source ' o f 'th e struggle , the stream , th e change' , an d s o onc e agai n ther e wer e significan t affinities . A s with Futuris m however , th e difference s wer e mor e important . Fo r Poun d (an d 136
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Eliot an d Joyce ) th e centra l goa l aspire d to , throug h th e whirlpool , was Flaubertian artistr y - al l th e mor e a s th e swir l gre w mor e violen t - th e forma l mastery tha t Lawrenc e ha d attacke d i n hi s essa y o n Mann . A s ' a passionatel y religious man ' he though t th e creativ e force s wer e i n al l livin g thing s an d therefore availabl e t o al l huma n beings , no t th e creatio n o f th e artist . Th e function o f ar t wa s t o revea l thei r natur e t o a s wid e a n audienc e a s possible . H e refused t o se e ar t a s essentiall y oppose d t o life . H e wante d t o communicat e a s widely a s possible . Bu t mos t o f all , wher e Modernis t emphasi s fel l o n th e artist self a s creator , Lawrenc e emphasise d transformation o f th e sel f a t th e hand s o f the Othe r - henc e th e vita l importanc e o f sexua l relationship . I t woul d becom e ever cleare r i n th e nex t fe w month s ho w h e sa w th e stillnes s a t th e centr e o f th e vortex a s incorruptibl e sourc e no t jus t o f art , bu t o f ne w life . A fortnigh t afte r meeting Wyndha m Lewis , hi s rewritin g o f earlie r storie s int o The Prussian Officer woul d sho w hi s ne w fictio n pointin g i n a ver y differen t directio n fro m Modernisms whic h h e woul d hav e see n a s dangerousl y enclose d - tha t deadl y self-enclosure fro m whic h h e ha d struggle d t o escap e an d whic h (h e thought ) had bee n th e deat h o f Middleton . VII Re-seein g th e Storie s The astonishin g transformatio n o f thes e storie s i n les s tha n thre e week s o f intense activit y show s how Lawrence' s ar t ha d achieve d ne w visio n an d sureness , through th e struggl e t o ge t hol d o f 'Th e Weddin g Ring' . Sinc e th e latte r ha s largely disappeared , th e revisio n i s our bes t pointe r t o th e chang e sinc e Sons and Lovers, an d indee d 'Th e Sisters' . When th e ide a o f th e volum e o f storie s was moote d o n 2 6 June , h e aske d McLeod t o gathe r copie s o f everything tha t ha d appeare d i n magazines , sinc e h e didn't himsel f hav e a singl e cop y an d 'reall y don' t kno w wha t storie s I'v e published an d wha t I haven' t - Go d hel p me ' (ii . 187) . On 2 July, th e da y afte r he me t Lewis , h e wrot e t o Clayto n t o as k fo r manuscript s an d typescript s o f th e unpublished one s (ii . 190) . B y 1 4 July, however , h e ha d mad e u p hi s mind . Al l those h e finally chos e ha d bee n published , excep t fo r 'Daughter s o f th e Vicar ' which wa s probably to o lon g fo r th e magazines . Howeve r h e ha d als o no w 'gon e over th e storie s ver y carefully ' (ii . 197) , al l bu t 'Vi n Ordinaire' , whic h h e sen t three day s late r unde r a new title , 'Th e Thor n i n th e Flesh' , wonderin g whethe r that migh t d o also for th e titl e of the book (ii . 198-9) . The revisio n wa s a n astonishin g burs t o f creativity . Th e differenc e hi s struggle fo r 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' ha d mad e ca n b e see n i n th e virtua l rewritin g of eve n som e o f th e best : 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums' , 'Th e Whit e Stocking' , 'Daughters o f th e Vicar' . Thi s wa s mor e tha n stylisti c improvement ; i t wa s a re seeing, changing the m int o a wholly ne w kind o f story. T o b e able to do thi s wit h 137
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such assuranc e s o quickl y wa s a clear sig n tha t hi s visio n wa s operating o n a ne w plane, drawin g o n al l h e ha d discovere d throug h hi s relationshi p wit h Fried a (and feelin g he r wit h hi m i n hi s work) . I t wa s ap t tha t th e finishing o f th e revision shoul d coincid e wit h puttin g hi s weddin g rin g on Frieda' s finger. The shif t o f dimensio n i s plai n i n 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums ' - th e stor y about a faile d marriage , ende d b y th e husband' s deat h i n a minin g acciden t because th e bul k o f th e tal e i s lef t largel y a s i t wa s i n th e English Review, bu t th e ending i s totall y re-see n an d transform s th e significanc e o f th e whole . I n 191 1 (before Sons and Lovers), Elizabet h seeme d entirel y justifie d i n he r battl e agains t the 'recreant ' he r husband , thoug h wit h som e rathe r ponderou s authoria l reflection o n ho w societ y faile d suc h men . Deat h ha s banishe d th e drun k an d 'disfigured coward , whic h graduall y replace d he r man' ; bu t ha s restore d t o he r again th e 'clea n youn g knight ' sh e married , agains t whos e degradatio n sh e ha d justly fought . Afte r Sons and Lovers however , Mrs . Holroyd' s lamen t ove r th e dead bod y i n th e closel y relate d pla y ha d voice d a n agonise d sens e o f he r ow n responsibility: fo r neve r havin g love d him , an d henc e fo r 'killing ' hi s sens e o f th e value o f his life . No w however , i n th e ne w endin g o f the 191 4 story, question s o f personal feelin g o r blam e ar e tellingl y relegate d t o th e self-indulgen t lamenta tions o f the ol d mother . Now , a s Elizabeth embrace s th e dea d body , sh e 'seeme d to b e listening , inquiring ' - wit h a n entirel y ne w kin d o f question . Suddenly , a s though sh e ha d neve r see n he r husban d before , h e i s revealed a s utterl y strange: a 'separat e strange r wit h who m sh e ha d bee n livin g a s on e flesh'. I n ic y dread , questions multiply : 'Wh o a m I ? Wha t hav e I bee n doing ? I hav e bee n fighting a husband wh o di d no t exist . He existe d al l th e time . Wha t wron g hav e I done? ' All th e time , i n sex , parenthood , persona l relationship , blame , 'sh e ha d fel t familiar wit h him' , bu t deat h reveal s th e utte r othernes s o f th e other , whic h i n her self-enclosur e sh e ha d denie d - a s responsibl e therefor e a s he r husban d fo r turning th e relationshi p fals e an d destructive . T an d 'he ' are not merel y persona l pronouns; an d th e questio n o f identit y - n o longe r 'who' , bu t 'wha t i s he ' demands a kin d o f aw e fo r th e strangenes s o f anothe r being . Thi s i s a ne w judgement, wit h fa r greate r clarit y tha n tha t o f Sons and Lovers, o n th e marriag e like tha t o f Lawrence' s parents , throug h th e growt h o f hi s sens e o f th e strangeness o f Frieda . (Elizabeth' s eyes , a s sh e appear s t o listen , coul d b e thought o f as unseeing o n on e plan e becaus e seein g more deepl y o n another. ) The negativ e analysi s o f failur e ha s a positive counterpar t i n th e transformin g of 'Vi n Ordinaire ' int o 'Th e Thor n i n th e Flesh' , whic h become s a story o f ho w the body , freein g itsel f fro m shame , ca n hea l damag e t o th e self . Th e crucia l change i s i n th e relatio n o f Bachman n an d th e girl , als o changin g th e impor t o f the stor y a s a whole . Sh e i s n o longe r acquaintanc e bu t sweetheart , an d he , made mor e sensitiv e tha n before , i s al l th e mor e deepl y ashame d o f wha t th e incident a t th e rampar t ha s reveale d t o hi m abou t himself : 'Withi n hi s ow n flesh 138
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burned an d smouldere d th e restles s shame ' seemin g 't o displac e hi s strengt h an d his manhood' . I n th e rewritin g howeve r the y d o no t spen d th e nigh t apart , bu t overcome fea r an d sham e i n th e unio n o f thei r bodies , followe d b y th e los s o f themselves, i n unconsciousness , ou t o f whic h com e a ne w gratitude , reverenc e and pride . A t th e en d th e power-situatio n remain s a s before , bu t wherea s th e arresting lieutenan t see s Bachman n a s object , th e Baro n see s 'th e man\ howeve r helpless. Th e shel l o f hi m ma y b e give n ove r t o militar y disciplin e a s a prisone r standing t o attention , bu t a t a deepe r leve l 'H e remaine d tru e t o himself ; an d the gir l hardl y see s he r employe r becaus e 'Sh e was to o much hersel f Th e Baro n saw th e dark , nake d sou l o f he r bod y i n he r unseein g eyes.' 68 I t i s a n extraordinary phrase , 'th e sou l o f he r body ' - an d wil l nee d The Rainbow t o work ou t wha t i t involves . If th e 'unseeing ' inwar d gaze , i n thes e tw o stories , begin s t o clarif y wha t Lawrence mean t b y sayin g tha t h e wa s concerne d no w wit h th e incorruptibl e 'source' o f truer selfhoo d rathe r tha n th e scarrin g dram a o f battling egotisms , th e nature o f th e sourc e (o r sources ) remain s obscure . I n th e rewritin g o f 'Th e White Stocking ' th e focu s sharpens . H e ha d alread y expande d i t i n 191 3 fro m a slight anecdot e o f embarrassment, int o a story o f jealousy (no t unconnecte d wit h his ow n experience) , becaus e th e youn g wif e feel s stil l a t libert y t o flirt , an d th e husband demand s commitment . No w i t turn s int o somethin g deeper , bu t als o more frightening . Th e temperatur e o f th e 191 3 versio n was fairl y low . Elsie' s flirtatiousness wa s a relativel y superficia l an d thoughtles s expressio n o f vitality . She ca n tak e risk s becaus e sh e feel s sur e o f he r husband ; an d i s perversel y defiant a t th e en d sinc e sh e know s sh e i s i n th e wrong . Thoug h Whisto n becomes 'stif f wit h murderou s rage' , h e manage s t o contro l himsel f fo r fea r o f hurting her , an d th e mai n effec t o f th e episod e i s t o jol t th e marriag e int o awareness o f ne w depth s o f feelin g i n the m both . A t th e en d sh e love s hi m 'down i n th e ver y kerne l o f he r . . . I t ha d neve r gon e s o dee p before'. 7 I n 191 4 however Lawrenc e no t onl y increase s he r livel y sexuality , bu t create s a mor e disturbing sens e o f the powerfu l attractio n a t th e dance , no t s o much o f her bos s Sam Adam s himself , thoug h h e i s les s vulga r now , bu t o f wha t h e offer s Elsi e that seems , later, t o be missin g fro m he r marriage . Consequentl y he r ne w displa y of defianc e i s mor e sexuall y taunting , an d Whiston' s respons e a fa r mor e dangerous rag e - a blo w - a bleedin g mouth . Th e stor y no w end s wit h a question rathe r tha n a resolution . What th e danc e focuses , however , i s no t sexua l satisfactio n (a s usuall y understood) o r it s lack , bu t a distinctio n betwee n differen t dimension s i n sexuality. I n 191 3 the danc e ha d merel y registere d Adams , the ma n o f the world , who know s wha t h e wants , an d whos e savoir-fair e contrast s wit h he r rathe r clumsy an d dul l youn g suitor . I n 191 4 however , i n thre e cumulativ e passages , Adams himsel f i s lost t o sight i n th e extraordinar y impersona l experienc e sh e ha s 139
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through him . A t firs t th e emphasi s i s o n flowing wit h him , unite d i n on e movement: 'carrie d i n a kin d o f strong , war m flood, he r fee t move d o f themselves, an d onl y th e musi c thre w he r awa y fro m him , thre w he r bac k t o him'. T h e second time , however, 'sh e felt hersel f slippin g awa y fro m hersel f ou t of contac t wit h th e room whic h feel s 'lik e unde r sea ' (anticipating a n importan t scene i n The Rainbow). Th e ma n too is 'give n up , oblivious, concentrated , int o the dance . His eye was unseeing.' Sh e feels sh e might giv e way any moment 'and sink molten : th e fusio n poin t wa s comin g whe n sh e woul d fus e dow n int o perfect unconsciousness' . Bu t the third tim e (whe n sh e drops th e white stockin g which shoul d hav e bee n a pocke t handkerchief) , sh e i s tor n no t onl y b y embarrassment bu t conflict , betwee n loyalt y t o Whiston , an d th e los t 'peace ' o f her dance . Stronge r still , howeve r i s th e fea r i n whic h sh e agree s t o marr y Whiston, beggin g hi m to be good t o her, the fear o f losing herself . Just so , even after marriage , i t is his 'yearning fo r surety' tha t make s hi m 'tense b y not gettin g it'. What i s missin g i n thei r reason s fo r marrying , an d i n th e marriag e itself , i s not the n se x i n th e ordinar y sense , bu t se x tha t involve s an d accept s complet e surrender o f the self . I t become s clea r wh y Elsie's refusa l o f commitmen t - le t alone he r flaunting o f herself i n Sam' s whit e stocking s - shoul d produc e i n thi s version a more ungovernabl e rage , an d finally th e ugly crashin g blo w acros s th e mouth. Thi s i s somethin g deepe r tha n jealous y now , o r betrayal , o r eve n insecurity, thoug h i t i s all these . (I f we are to discove r th e bearin g o f the stor y on th e Lawrenc e marriage , w e nee d t o se e ho w muc h mor e deepl y h e i s probing th e causes of marital violenc e now , whatever th e actua l stat e o f things. ) The impuls e o f th e sel f towar d th e othe r ma y see m t o threate n th e self , an d produce powerfu l reactions . Fea r o f self-los s lie s behin d bot h Elsie' s defianc e and Whiston' s violen t rage . Th e greate r th e fear , th e mor e vulnerabl e th e self , the mor e intolerabl e th e pressur e o f th e othe r - especiall y i f lov e seem s replaced b y contempt . Indeed , unde r enoug h pressure , th e reactio n o f th e sel f that feel s it s ver y bein g threatened , ma y become annihilatin g rage ; a s had bee n clarified i n 'Honou r an d Arms' . Th e nee d t o be , assert , defen d onesel f i s a force, a 'source ' a s powerful , fo r goo d o r ill , a s th e opposit e desir e t o los e oneself i n unio n wit h th e other. Bot h 'sources ' ca n heal, o r destroy . (Medicine s are poisonous ; poison s ca n heal. ) Her e i t i s clearl y fo r ill . Whisto n stop s himself 'i n sham e an d nausea ' a t wha t h e has done. Ther e i s no endorsement o f violence. Orwell' s jib e tha t th e wa y to improv e a woman' s behaviou r seem s t o be t o soc k he r o n th e ja w i s a n uncharacteristi c travesty . Th e blo w ha s no t solved o r improve d anythin g - unles s b y revealing wha t ha s been thoughtlessl y risked, an d clarifyin g wha t th e choice s fo r th e youn g coupl e are . A t th e end , she sobs : ' " I neve r mean t " "M y love—m y littl e lov e " h e cried , i n anguish o f spirit , holdin g he r i n hi s arms.' Bu t whic h wa y their marriag e wil l 140
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go depend s altogethe r o n wha t the y mea n b y 'love' , sinc e marriag e increase s the pressur e o f suc h opposit e forces . The stor y o f th e 'Tw o Marriages ' o f th e daughter s o f th e vica r was alread y there i n 1911 : the middle-class famil y strande d i n gentee l povert y i n an uncarin g mining district ; th e marriag e o f on e daughte r fo r purel y materia l reason s (disguised a s spiritua l ones ) t o a clergyman wh o i s hardl y a physical bein g a t all ; the rebellio n o f the other , i n a very differen t marriag e t o a young mine r afte r th e death o f hi s dominatin g mother . Thes e wer e alread y don e wit h th e realis m an d characterisation o f 'Pau l Morel ' III , thoug h als o wit h som e o f it s schematism . Then, int o th e 191 3 revision, ha d gon e th e insight s o f Sons and Lovers an d 'Th e Insurrection o f Mis s Houghton' , sharpenin g th e focu s o n bot h th e mother dependence fro m whic h Louis a rescue s Alfred , an d th e deadenin g gentilit y an d snobbery fro m whic h h e help s he r t o escape . Som e uneas e abou t th e inequalit y of th e matc h remaine d a t th e en d o f th e 191 1 story , bu t th e 191 3 versio n i s already a powerfu l re-imaginin g o f wha t th e stor y o f Walte r an d Mr s More l might hav e been , i f th e vitalit y o f physica l lov e ha d overcom e th e spiritua l an d intellectual denia l o f th e body , whic h reveal s it s ful l deathlines s i n th e 'sacrifice ' of Mary t o Massy, wh o i s all mind an d will . In 1914 , however , visio n i s transfigure d agai n a t tw o vita l moments . A s th e middle-class gir l washe d coal-dus t fro m th e youn g miner' s back , i n 'Tw o Marriages', th e physica l surpris e - 'Hi s ski n wa s beautifull y whit e an d unblemished, o f a n opaque , soli d whiteness ' - rapidl y modulate d int o extrem e embarrassment t o the m both , thoug h blushe s betra y thei r sexua l attraction . I n 1914 Lawrenc e first make s Louis a more consciou s o f socia l differenc e an d intrusion: sh e feel s a n 'almos t repulsiv e intimac y bein g force d upo n her . I t was all s o common , s o lik e herding . Sh e los t he r ow n distinctness. ' S o consciou s i s she o f differenc e 'fro m th e commo n people ' that , wit h hi s arm s i n th e blac k water, sh e 'coul d scarcel y conceiv e hi m a s human'. Bu t the n come s revelation , i n a quite differen t impersona l dimension . A s th e beautiful whit e ski n appears : Gradually Louis a sa w it : thi s als o wa s wha t h e was . I t fascinate d her . He r feelin g o f separatenes*passed away : she ceased to draw back from contac t with him and his mother. There wa s thi s livin g centre . He r hear t ra n hot . Sh e ha d reache d som e goa l i n thi s beautiful, clear , male body. She loved him in a white, impersonal heat. But the sun-burnt, reddish nec k an d ears : they wer e more personal, mor e curious . A tenderness ros e i n he r ... Sh e put down the towel and went upstairs again, troubled i n her heart. Similarly, th e betrotha l scen e i s n o longe r primaril y concerne d wit h physica l passion arisin g ou t o f he r partl y materna l respons e t o hi s grie f an d despai r afte r his mother' s death . I n th e 191 3 text the y ar e unabl e t o ge t nea r eac h othe r until , turning t o go , sh e catche s sigh t o f hi s fac e 'al l distorte d wit h suffering ' - an d a s she comfort s him , hi s hea d presse d o n he r bosom , graduall y 'th e grie f i n hi m 141
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resolved int o passion ' an d the y kiss , 'with long , hurting kisse s wherei n deat h wa s transfused int o desire' . I n 191 4 however , a crucia l experienc e take s plac e before desire, an d i t n o longe r look s anythin g lik e materna l comforting . No w th e emphasis fall s o n thei r bein g drive n togethe r b y impersonal force , belo w th e leve l of conscious feelin g o r choice ; and the n o n a n oblivion , ' a kin d o f death ' i n both , before th e comin g t o new selfhood . The y ceas e to be merely persons : 'Sh e wa s t o him somethin g stead y an d immovabl e an d eterna l presente d t o hi m . . . Sh e sa w his fac e al l sombr e an d inscrutable , an d h e seeme d eterna l t o her. ' Louis a take s the initiative , agains t decorum , bu t i t i s becaus e 'Somethin g wa s carryin g her ' beyond herself , he r word s comin g 'withou t he r intervention' . Alfre d i s 'com pelled' toward s her , th e expressio n o n hi s face 'strang e an d inhuman' : Then, gradually , a s he hel d he r gripped , an d hi s brain reele d round , an d h e fel t himsel f falling, fallin g fro m himself , an d whils t she , yielde d up , swoone d t o a kind o f deat h o f herself, a moment o f utter darknes s cam e over him , and the y bega n t o wake up agai n as from a long sleep. He was himself... And a t las t sh e dre w bac k he r fac e an d looke d u p a t him , he r eye s wet , an d shinin g with light. 74 This i s mor e importan t tha n passion , thoug h tha t wil l follow . Startin g fro m aw e at th e strangenes s o f th e other , thi s i s Lawrence' s accoun t o f th e 'eternal ' force s in peopl e (strangel y 'inhuman ' onl y becaus e share d i n th e unconsciou s wit h al l living things) ; and o f wha t happen s a t th e stil l centr e whe n th e sel f doe s not fea r to be give n ove r t o th e othe r — so takin g hi s art i n a very differen t directio n fro m Futurists, o r Vorticists . Wha t no w matter s mos t t o hi m i n sexua l relationship , focused b y hi s ow n marriage , i s how th e enclose d sel f has t o 'die' a t th e hand s o f the othe r fo r ther e t o b e ne w life . Th e las t uneas e abou t th e inequalit y o f Louisa's marriag e t o a mine r disappears , an d th e contras t betwee n thei r lif e an d the deathl y snobber y an d gentilit y o f th e Lindley s stand s uncompromised . Moreover, a s the y ar e force d t o brea k wit h a class-ridde n Englan d an d mak e a life elsewher e (cal l it Canada) , Lawrence seem s newl y read y t o think o f the lif e o f a ma n an d a woman apparentl y withou t referenc e t o societ y a t al l - perhap s als o the resul t o f his las t tw o years . I n a novella, thi s allow s a n effectiv e ope n ending ; but migh t no t suc h surger y rais e a s many problem s a s it solves ? On 1 3 Jul y - th e da y befor e h e sen t al l bu t th e las t stor y t o Garnett , an d proceeded t o writ e 'Th e Thor n i n th e Flesh ' - h e an d Fried a wen t t o b e married, i n th e Kensingto n Registr y Office . VIII 'Still ' P h o t o g r a p h y - a Weddin g The witnesse s wer e th e Murry s an d Gordo n Campbel l wh o too k photograph s afterwards i n th e backyar d o f 9 Selwoo d Terrace , includin g a towe l o n th e 142
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washing-line. (Lawrenc e ha d aske d Eddi e Marsh , bu t h e ha d bee n unabl e t o come tha t mid-Jul y da y becaus e o f essentia l meeting s an d pressur e o f wor k a t the Admiralt y - som e crisi s seeme d t o b e brewin g ... ) Accordin g t o Frieda , th e author o f 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' ha d forgotte n t o bu y one , s o the y ha d t o sto p th e cab an d das h int o a goldsmit h o n th e way . Fried a too k of f Weekley' s rin g an d gave it t o {Catherine , wh o was buried wit h i t on he r finger. 'Heavens , ho w happ y we al l were! ' Murr y remembered . 'Th e tim e o f bein g joll y togethe r ha d reall y begun.' 75 The friendship s o f th e previou s summe r ha d bee n renewe d i n Selwoo d Terrace, batin g th e Murrys ' dislik e o f the Lawrences ' newe r friends . Campbell' s housekeeper san g 'Angel s eve r brigh t an d fair ' i n th e basement , whil e intens e discussions too k plac e i n th e littl e drawing-room , an d Campbel l alternatel y waxed gloom y ove r breakfas t abou t 'Areland' , o r tease d Fried a abou t 'th e man y new feminin e admirer s (on e o f the m i n especia l goo d t o loo k at ) wh o wer e no w attracted t o Lawrenc e an d hi s work' . Tha t sound s lik e Hild a Doolittle . Eve n a n awful tri p t o Richmon d o n a Thames steame r - wit h a ma n endlessl y playin g a harmonium, an d urchin s divin g fo r sixpence s i n th e vil e river-ban k mu d ended i n laughte r whe n th e dignifie d Campbel l tro d o n th e bus-conductor' s to e on th e wa y home , an d wa s greete d wit h 'Hallo , clumsy' , t o Frieda' s an d Katherine's delight. 76 It seem s wort h pausin g t o loo k a t this Lawrenc e an d Frieda , i n Campbell' s wedding photograph s (se e Illustration s i an d 2) , two year s an d tw o month s afte r they caugh t th e Osten d ferr y - an d les s tha n a mont h befor e the y an d thei r world bega n t o be altered almos t beyon d recognition . The photograp h o f the fou r look s uncomfortable, a s such thing s do . Lawrenc e and Katherine , thoug h self-conscious , ar e puttin g th e bes t face s o n it , handsom e enough besid e eac h other . H e wear s a snazzy stra w boater , a wing colla r an d hi s best suit , an d i s quit e good-lookin g wit h a moustach e (n o bear d yet) , thoug h slim an d a littl e stooped . Katherin e look s nea t an d demure , he r fac e i n shado w under th e slantin g bri m o f a dark stra w ha t wit h a coloured scar f tie d roun d it , t o tone wit h th e blous e unde r he r dar k suit . Fried a (i t mus t b e said ) look s dumpy . She wear s a plai n stra w ha t uncompromisingl y straight , a n elaborat e shawl collared blous e wit h a big brooch , ove r a jacket whic h clearl y wil l no t butto n bu t is secured wit h a sash, throug h whic h i s stuck wha t look s like a large ros e straigh t from th e bush . Murry , besid e her , i s i n three-piec e sui t an d watc h chain , walking stic k an d book-under-arm , an d a hug e ha t whic h hide s ho w muc h shorter h e actuall y i s than Lawrence . Tha t become s clea r fro m th e secon d muc h less forma l phot o o f jus t Lawrence , Murr y an d Frieda . Th e hat s ar e gone , an d Frieda i s no w i n somethin g altogethe r looser , an d look s muc h prettie r an d happier a s a result . Jac k reveal s surprisingl y band y legs . Lawrenc e (th e su n shining o n hi s bang of hair) i s now th e on e wh o look s over-formal . H3
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But i t i s no t tha t kin d o f 'still ' I hav e i n mind . Rather , b y freezin g th e biographical narrativ e a t jus t thi s point , a s i t wer e a t a crossroads , on e become s dramatically awar e of a path blocke d off . Ho w different th e live s and character s o f Lawrence an d Fried a migh t hav e become, i f their worl d ha d allowe d the m t o liv e as the y planne d - t o hav e thei r Augus t i n Ireland , an d the n g o bac k t o belove d Fiascherino unti l nex t summer , whe n the y coul d pic k u p al l thei r contact s i n London agai n . . . This unbearde d Lawrenc e i s approachin g (i n hi s ow n view , a s i n mos t people's now ) th e pea k o f his powers . Hi s finest wor k s o fa r i s with Methuen , h e has a ban k accoun t int o whic h anothe r £15 0 wil l b e pai d whe n th e nove l i s published, an d i n thre e day s h e wil l have finished hi s boo k o f short storie s whic h should complet e th e financing o f anothe r yea r abroad . Hi s writin g (a s th e las t three week s have demonstrated ) ha s develope d a new assurance . H e ha s an agen t who als o work s fo r Arnol d Bennet t an d Josep h Conrad . Hi s reputatio n seem s certain t o grow . A s a poet, h e i s claimed b y bot h Georgian s an d Imagist s thoug h he belong s t o neither . H e ha s affinitie s wit h Futurist s an d Vorticists , thoug h h e differs radicall y an d creativel y fro m both . Eve n hi s caree r a s a playwrigh t no w looks promising . The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd, ha s wo n golde n reviews , an d two theatr e manager s see m intereste d i n producin g it. 77 H e i s als o newl y i n demand a s a critic. Bertram Christian , o f the publishe r Nisbet's , ha d aske d fo r ' a sort o f interpretativ e essay o n Thoma s Hardy , o f abou t 15,00 0 words ' (ii . 193) . It wil l no t mak e muc h - £1 5 advanc e o n royaltie s o f i| d pe r cop y an d hal f profits i n Americ a - bu t h e was pai d nothin g a t al l fo r th e essa y o n Thoma s Mann, an d i t i s th e commissio n itsel f tha t counts , especiall y sinc e h e i s ver y interested i n Hardy . (Marsh , who m h e ha d aske d t o len d hi m th e novel s an d Lascelles Abercrombie' s boo k o n Hardy , ha s sen t hi m th e work s a s a weddin g present, t o hi s huge delight ; ii . 19 9 and n . 3. ) H e wil l begin a s soon a s the las t o f the storie s i s finished. I t wil l be a marvellously creativ e an d profitabl e summer . Moreover h e himsel f i s sur e tha t th e ne w achievemen t i s directl y attributabl e to th e succes s o f hi s marriage ; an d tha t i n a n importan t thoug h no t simpl y autobiographical sense , hi s reader s wil l find bot h hi m an d Fried a in hi s ne w \>ost-Sons and Lovers phase . Fried a ha d bee n reall y happ y i n Fiascherino , wher e there seeme d (fo r her ) jus t abou t th e righ t blen d an d variet y o f socia l lif e an d isolation. Th e marriage , now , ha s seale d th e achievemen t o f 'Th e Weddin g Ring'. Th e troubl e abou t th e childre n remains , bu t (Lawrenc e ha s tol d Salli e Hopkin today ) the y inten d t o d o somethin g abou t i t 'thi s week ' - thoug h h e i s expecting difficult y (ii . 196) . A t las t h e ca n fee l tha t h e ha s naile d Frieda' s nos e to his wago n (thoug h th e las t tim e h e sai d s o he ha d bee n i n fo r a nasty surprise) , for a t least sh e is Mrs Lawrenc e now , wit h n o nee d t o pretend an y more . Frieda to o mus t fee l conten t i n almos t ever y respec t ba r th e pai n ove r th e children. I t i s fa r cleare r tha n las t yea r tha t sh e ha s chose n a ma n wh o i s 144
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increasingly recognised , an d tha t sh e ca n loo k forwar d bot h t o greate r comfor t now, and t o a continuanc e o f th e wanderin g an d varie d lif e tha t suit s he r well . Lawrence ma y b e a s difficul t an d a s argumentativ e a s she ; thei r lif e ma y b e stormy an d occasionall y violent ; bu t i t wa s sh e wh o taugh t hi m t o expres s an d live out hi s feeling s a s she does , she i s not afrai d o f him an d i s sometimes violen t herself an d thei r lif e togethe r i s fa r mor e vita l an d interestin g tha n anythin g sh e had know n before . They wer e sociable , bu t i t mus t hav e seeme d tha t societ y wa s somethin g the y could fin d whe n the y wante d it , bu t d o withou t muc h o f th e time , needin g onl y each other . Sinc e the y require d surprisingl y littl e mone y an d fe w possessions , they fel t relativel y unpressure d b y demand s fro m outside . Sometime s th e mone y ran shor t bu t somethin g alway s seeme d t o tur n u p (o r Els e woul d hel p them) , and Lawrence' s wor k ha d grow n mor e an d mor e saleable . H e wa s ver y English , and Fried a ver y German , bu t tha t clash , too , ha d prove d creative , an d under lined th e ne w (fought-for ) wisdo m abou t th e escap e fro m self-enclosure , through transformatio n a t th e hand s o f the other , th e stranger. H e was an intens e arguer an d denouncer , largel y untrouble d no w b y socia l niceties ; bu t h e like d people t o stan d u p t o him , an d h e ha d show n tha t h e coul d accep t an d b e grateful fo r intelligen t criticis m an d argument . Hi s onl y enemie s wer e thos e hi s sexual relationship s ha d hurt , an d thei r families , an d on e o r tw o wh o ha d resented bein g identifiabl e i n hi s book s - fo r h e ha d littl e scrupl e abou t usin g people fo r artisti c ends . Thi s Lawrenc e was tempestuou s (wherea s tw o year s before h e ha d bottle d u p hi s feelings) ; bu t h e wa s als o fu n t o b e with , an d ofte n very funny . At thi s stag e h e was remarkabl y unpolitical . A s a youn g ma n h e ha d largel y sympathised wit h Willi e Hopkin's socialism , an d brok e wit h Christianit y becaus e he coul d no t believ e i n an y Go d wh o allowe d sufferin g suc h a s h e ha d see n i n the slum s o f Sneinto n (i . 40) . H e ha d bee n a reade r o f th e New Age. Howeve r his deepes t thinkin g no w ha d littl e socialis t o r eve n socia l content , bein g almos t entirely concerne d wit h th e relatio n o f man t o woman , th e sel f and th e other . H e thought Marsh' s frien d Barne s ' a ru m chap , fo r I can' t se e ho w politic s ha s go t much t o d o wit h . . . "letters" ' (ii . 91) . Though sympatheti c als o wit h th e arden t suffragism o f Loui e Burrows , Alic e Da x an d Salli e Hopkin , h e hope d hi s wor k would d o mor e fo r wome n seekin g tru e selfhoo d tha n merel y havin g th e vote . On Gard a h e ha d hear d Italian s sin g abou t Tripoli , bu t neithe r tha t no r th e warships sailin g t o th e bas e a t Spezia , o r Marinetti' s imag e o f th e whol e o f Ital y as a dreadnought, ha d draw n an y politica l inferenc e o r comment . H e ha d reacte d strongly agains t th e Germa n militar y bot h a t Met z an d i n Bavaria , an d sense d something crue l an d bruta l i n th e air , bu t th e reactio n an d th e intuitio n wer e personal - th e wa y the y looke d a t him, an d treate d him , culminatin g i n th e arres t - rathe r tha n political . H e ha d talke d t o Alfre d Webe r abou t wha t was ne w i n H5
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German philosoph y an d economics ; bu t ther e wa s a glarin g (i f tactful ) omissio n in 1 9 1 4 - politics . In additio n t o hi s othe r difference s fro m Pound , Elio t an d Joyce , h e fel t altogether comfortabl e wit h hi s nationality ; an d thoug h h e live d partl y abroa d b y preference, fo r healt h an d economy , h e ha d n o sens e o f exil e o r estrangement . He ha d broke n wit h hi s working-clas s background , bu t ha d becom e increasingl y anti-bourgeois, an d though t o f himsel f a s classles s (albei t 'common' ) - i f wit h spasms o f snobbery . H e wa s n o coteri e writer . H e fel t increasingl y confiden t indeed o f a n Englis h audienc e ou t ther e waitin g t o hea r fro m him ; an d onl y a month befor e h e ha d tol d Garnet t tha t eve n thoug h hi s ar t wa s tryin g t o chang e the orthodo x wa y o f lookin g a t huma n beings , ' I shal l ge t m y reception , i f no t now, the n befor e long ' (ii . 184) . One look s at this Lawrence acros s a chasm, whic h wa s just abou t t o open . IX Disaste
r
Soon a disaster fo r Fried a wa s followed b y a cataclysm fo r thei r world . She claime d year s late r tha t sh e ha d no t care d whethe r sh e wa s marrie d o r not, ye t Lawrenc e wa s gla d the y wer e respectable . I n fact , hi s lette r t o Salli e Hopkin o n thei r weddin g da y give s a reaso n wh y respectabilit y migh t hav e mattered rathe r mor e t o Fried a tha n usua l - fo r the y wer e abou t t o tr y t o se e th e children tha t week , an d tes t th e hop e tha t th e divorc e an d remarriag e woul d remove on e groun d fo r forbiddin g he r access , as a disreputable woman . Unfortunately, sh e damage d he r chance s almos t beyon d repair . He r first attempt wa s ba d enough . Explainin g wh y sh e woul d no t b e comin g wit h hi m t o Ripley o n th e 18t h t o see Ada, Lawrenc e wrote : She is persisting i n her effort s t o get hold o f the children. Sh e ha s seen the m - th e little girls being escorted t o school by a fattish whit e unwholesome maiden aunt who, when she saw thei r mother , shrieke d t o th e childre n - 'Run , children , run ' - an d th e poo r littl e things were terrified an d ran. Frieda has written to her mother to come. I do hope that old Baroness will turn u p in a state of indignation, (ii. 199 ) Worse wa s t o come . Fried a wa s to o impatien t t o wai t fo r he r mother ; an d Campbell ha d invite d the m t o Irelan d i n August . Th e cour t orde r fro m th e previous summe r ma y neve r hav e bee n serve d becaus e the y kep t changin g thei r address - an d Fried a seeme d unabl e t o gras p tha t sh e n o longe r ha d an y lega l right t o se e th e childre n withou t Weekley' s expres s consent . I t wa s probabl y while Lawrenc e was i n th e Midland s fo r hi s lon g weeken d tha t Fried a trie d t o locate th e hous e i n Chiswic k t o whic h Weekle y ha d move d fro m Hampstea d and spotte d he r curtain s fro m Nottingham . Sh e wa s quit e unabl e t o resis t bursting i n t o confron t Maud e (wh o hate d her ) an d Weekley' s mother . Barbi e 146
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remembered vividly : 'Sh e entere d th e nurser y an d foun d u s a t suppe r wit h Granny an d Aun t Maude . Sh e pu t he r foo t i n i t tha t evening ; th e la w wa s invoked t o restrai n her . An d whil e sh e stoo d a t ba y befor e ou r relations , w e children gaze d i n horro r a t th e strang e woma n sh e ha d the n become. ' The y eve n joined i n th e vituperation . Fried a ha d no t realise d either , ho w a yea r o f persistent denigratio n coul d affec t thei r attitud e toward s her . Thoug h th e Baroness di d arriv e - Catherin e Carswel l recalle d meetin g he r - an d though , perhaps throug h he r mediation , th e threa t o f th e la w wa s no t carrie d through , she wa s unabl e t o mollif y Weekle y fo r th e invasio n o f hi s famil y hom e an d th e frightening o f th e childre n an d hi s womenfolk . I t woul d b e a lon g tim e befor e Frieda wa s allowed t o se e the childre n again . On Frida y 3 1 July , havin g jus t ha d fro m Pinke r th e las t £5 0 o f Methuen' s advance, Lawrenc e too k a holiday , a walkin g tou r i n th e Lak e Distric t wit h three othe r men . Tw o h e ha d no t know n before ; bu t th e thir d wa s A . P . Lewis , transferred b y Vicker s t o thei r factor y a t Barrow-in-Furnes s wher e h e no w ha d a house . The y ha d probabl y planne d th e reunio n i n Switzerland . Lewis' s friend Willia m K . Hom e worke d a s a translato r i n th e Russia n La w Burea u i n High Holborn ; alon g wit h Samue l Solomonovitc h Koteliansky . O f Hom e w e know little , bu t wit h 'Kot ' Lawrenc e forme d a fir m an d lastin g friendship . Born i n th e Ukrain e i n 1880 , h e studie d a t th e Universit y o f Kie v wher e hi s Jewishness an d hi s habi t o f speakin g hi s min d woul d no t b e t o hi s advantage . Katherine's anecdot e o f ho w h e cam e t o Londo n smell s o f polish : h e was supposed t o hav e calle d a politica l meetin g o f students , an d whe n nobod y wa s brave enoug h t o tur n up , bega n walkin g an d neve r stoppe d unti l h e go t t o London. Ther e h e dresse d lik e th e Englis h (h e thought ) i n tenni s shoes , bu t when peopl e stare d h e staye d indoor s fo r weeks . I n fac t h e ha d com e t o London o n a scholarship i n 1911 , but h e di d thin k i t unsaf e t o retur n - an d fo r the rest , h e wa s th e sor t o f ma n peopl e enjoye d tellin g suc h storie s abou t because, se t of f agains t hi s someho w massiv e dignit y an d integrity , the y seeme d as delightfull y incongruou s a s hi s part y tric k o f howlin g lik e a dog , whic h (i t was said ) h e ha d learne d i n orde r t o discourag e wolve s whe n walkin g hom e i n Russia a t night . Leonar d Woolf , wh o late r publishe d man y o f hi s literar y translations fro m th e Russian , sai d tha t i f th e prophe t Jeremia h ha d bee n bor n in a ghett o village i n th e Ukrain e i n th e eighties , tha t woul d hav e bee n Kot . Dorothy Bret t describe s hi m as : so broad-shouldered tha t he looks short, his black hair brushed straigh t up 'en brosse,' his dark eyes set perhaps a trifle to o close to his nose, the nose a delicate well-made arch, gold eye-glasses pinched ont o it. He has an air of distinction, of power, and also a tremendous capacity for fun an d enjoyment . 147
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Lawrence mus t hav e bee n immediatel y attracte d b y Kot' s passionat e approva l o f what h e though t goo d an d hatre d o f wha t h e though t bad , hi s vehemen t speec h in it s Russia n accent , hi s inabilit y t o li e o r disguise , hi s absolut e acceptanc e o f people h e approved , o f who m h e woul d sa y 'Tha t i s a real person' , hi s capacit y for enjoymen t - o r denunciation . Ko t i n tur n value d simila r qualitie s i n Lawrence. Certainl y the y go t o n wel l fro m th e star t - eve n whe n the y ha d t o share a cottag e be d (v . 355) . Lawrenc e himsel f bes t describe s wha t ende d thei r tour: I ha d bee n walkin g i n Westmoreland , rathe r happy , wit h water-lilie s twiste d roun d m y hat - big , heavy, white an d gol d water-lilie s tha t w e found i n a pool hig h u p - an d girl s who ha d com e ou t o n a spre e an d wh o wer e havin g te a i n th e uppe r roo m o f a n in n shrieked wit h laughter . An d I remembe r als o w e crouched unde r th e loos e wal l o n th e moors, and th e rain flew by in streams, and th e wind cam e rushing throug h th e chinks in the wal l behin d one' s hea d - an d w e shoute d songs , an d I imitate d musi c hal l turns , whilst the other men crouched unde r th e wall and I pranked i n the rain on the turf in the gorse, and Kotilianski groaned Hebre w music - Ranan i Sadekim Badanoi. 81 It seems like another lif e - w e were happy - fou r men . Then w e came down t o Barrow in Furness, and saw that war was declared, (ii. 268) Kot immediatel y wen t bac k t o London , vanishin g a s though 'i n a cloud' a s soo n as the y ha d com e dow n t o 'Lewis ' unattractiv e home ' (v . 355) . Lewi s ha d t o cr y off too , a s Vickers-Maxi m calle d i n al l thei r men ; thoug h Lawrenc e wen t 'dow n the coas t a few miles ' fo r th e res t o f his wee k (i i 268) . Like million s o f other s h e ha d no t seriousl y imagine d wa r woul d come , though o n th e 30th , th e nigh t befor e h e lef t fo r Westmorland , Aldingto n remembered hi m comin g int o th e Berkele y t o Am y Lowell' s dinne r an d sayin g at once , even befor e th e introductions , tha t Mars h ha d jus t tol d hi m 'w e shal l b e in th e war'. 82 Th e compan y howeve r didn' t tak e thi s to o seriously ; an d h e coul d have ha d n o ide a how soo n an d disastrousl y h e himsel f woul d b e affected . All to o soon , anti-Germa n hysteri a bega n t o threaten . Davi d Garnet t aske d Lawrence an d Fried a t o suppe r i n th e Pon d Plac e flat, t o mee t hi s colleg e frien d H. G . Newth . I t was a pleasan t evening , helpe d b y th e absen t Edward' s wine . They like d Newth , Lawrenc e 'wa s i n hi s sweetes t an d gentles t mood' , an d Frieda talke d openl y o f he r divide d sympathies : he r experienc e o f th e Germa n court a s a teenager , he r dislik e o f th e Kaise r an d hi s culpabilit y fo r wha t ha d happened, he r admiratio n fo r he r cousin s wh o ha d joine d th e Germa n ai r forc e and he r worr y fo r he r famil y an d Nusch , wh o wa s married t o th e Crow n Prince' s aide-de-camp. Whe n the y sai d goodby e abou t midnight , Newt h (stayin g t o hel p clear up ) calle d dow n th e staircase : '"Au f Wiedersehen , Gnadig e Baronin! " an d Frieda calle d bac k gail y t o u s i n German. ' Suc h innocenc e . . . Garnett' s neighbours reporte d t o th e police , an d withi n th e followin g te n day s o r s o thre e 148
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sets o f detective s arrive d t o mak e enquiries . Th e las t on e tol d Bunn y 'tha t Scotland Yar d wa s gettin g hundred s o f letter s ever y da y fro m peopl e denoun cing their neighbour s an d tha t the y al l had t o be investigated' . On 1 0 August cam e a far mor e direc t an d heav y blow : Methue n returne d th e typescript o f 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' t o Pinker . 'Her e i s a stat e o f affairs, ' crie d Lawrence, 'wha t i s goin g t o becom e o f us? ' (ii . 206) . I n a momen t thei r whol e situation ha d altered . Financia l securit y ha d turne d t o embarrassment . I n thei r confidence the y ha d spen t freely : al l the first instalmen t advanc e (repayin g debts , buying ne w clothes) , an d som e o f th e las t £5 0 a s wel l - an d no w ther e woul d b e no furthe r £150 . I t was no t clea r whethe r Ital y woul d ente r th e war ; no r coul d they no w affor d t o g o bac k t o Fiascherino . An d ho w an d wher e wer e the y t o live? Methuen's representativ e woul d clai m a t th e Rainbow tria l i n 191 5 tha t the y had returne d th e nove l becaus e i t 'coul d no t b e publishe d i n it s the n form' , implying a 'responsible ' rejectio n o n th e ground s o f obscenity ; an d thi s get s some backin g fro m Pinker' s lette r t o th e Societ y o f Authors afte r th e trial . Ye t i t is difficult t o squar e wit h Lawrence' s previou s an d subsequen t reaction s t o suc h experiences. Hi s letter s sho w no t a trace o f th e rag e (fo r example ) wit h whic h h e had greete d Heinemann' s judgemen t tha t 'Pau l Morel ' was indecent . No t unti l October i s ther e an y mentio n o f rewriting , an d then , thoug h ther e i s clearl y something t o b e done , hi s ton e hardl y suggest s ther e ha d bee n an y seriou s objection: ' I don' t fee l quit e i n th e humou r fo r tacklin g th e nove l jus t now . I suppose i t wil l d o jus t a s wel l i n a month s time ' (ii . 227-8) . O n th e othe r han d there i s evidenc e - explainin g als o wh y Lawrenc e fel t n o urgenc y despit e hi s need fo r mone y - tha t th e reactio n o f Methue n t o th e wa r wa s t o suspen d all new project s fo r si x months , an d therefor e als o th e paymen t o f royaltie s o n them. I f tha t was wha t the y tol d Pinker , togethe r wit h a reques t (perhap s conveyed b y hi m mor e diplomaticall y t o Lawrence ) fo r som e 'tonin g down ' o f the 'lov e passages ' suc h a s Kennerle y ha d wante d fo r Americ a (ii . 246) , Methuen's statemen t a t th e tria l an d Lawrence' s reaction s a t th e tim e ar e reconcilable.85 Hi s onl y commen t i n hi s nex t not e t o Pinke r si x day s later , i s ' I wonder wha t i s going t o happen i n th e boo k trade ' (ii . 208) . As soo n a s possible however , the y ha d t o find somewher e chea p t o live , out o f London. Gilber t Canna n cam e t o th e rescue . Withi n a wee k h e foun d the m a farm cottage , no t fa r fro m hi s ow n windmill-hous e nea r Chesha m i n Buck inghamshire: 'Th e Triangle ' was 'tiny , bu t joll y - an d 6 / - a wee k i n all . Unfortunately ther e i s onl y on e bedroo m furnished . Bu t I shal l ge t a cam p be d up.' Ther e the y woul d hav e t o liv e a n 'ultra-simpl e life ' (ii . 208) , 'sittin g ver y tight o n ou r las t si x pence , holdin g ou r breath ' (ii . 211) . When the y ha d bee n o n their beam-end s before , Fried a ha d go t mone y fro m he r famil y i n German y but no t now . Ye t th e Lawrence s wer e alway s resilient : h e whitewashe d th e 149
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cottage, sh e busie d hersel f makin g blackberr y jelly . The y eve n like d th e relativ e isolation (besid e a far m of f th e roa d t o Bellingham , 2 ^ mile s fro m Chesha m station) especiall y sinc e ther e wer e alway s ne w peopl e t o mee t a t th e Cannans' . The letter s pu t a brav e fac e o n things . Ye t thei r positio n ha d change d beyon d recognition sinc e th e en d o f July , an d Lawrenc e worrie d (t o Pinker ) i n earl y September tha t h e coul d 'las t ou t her e onl y fo r anothe r month ' (ii . 212) . Help cam e - albei t i n a for m h e foun d humiliating . Mars h ha d sen t anothe r little Georgian Poetry cheque , an d poste d anothe r £1 0 a s soo n a s h e hear d o f their trouble s (ii . 211, 213), with a warm lette r accusin g himsel f o f having bee n a bad friend . Lawrenc e decide d t o kee p tha t fo r absolut e emergency . A furthe r £10 cam e fro m th e successfu l playwrigh t Alfre d Sutro , t o who m (a s t o Mauric e Hewlett, novelis t an d poet ) Mar y Canna n ha d written , askin g whethe r th e Roya l Literary Fun d coul d d o anythin g t o help . Lawrenc e wa s persuade d t o mak e a n application i n September . H e liste d hi s actua l resources , apar t fro m royaltie s which h e coul d no t collec t an d a payment du e fro m th e English Review, a s £ 3 all tha t wa s left , now , o f th e £5 0 h e ha d ha d i n July . Londo n an d th e Lak e district ha d bee n expensive , an d h e probabl y ha d t o pa y a quarter's ren t fo r th e cottage i n advance , perhap s eve n u p t o Christmas . Sutr o an d Hewlet t organise d letters o f support fro m Marsh , Harol d Monr o an d th e novelis t A . E . W . Mason , while Canna n wrot e direc t t o th e committee . Abou t th e sam e tim e Donal d Cars well, wh o worke d o n The Times with F . S . Lowndes , appeale d throug h hi m to hi s wif e Mr s Bello c Lowndes , novelis t an d siste r o f Hilaire Belloc , wh o sa t o n the Counci l o f th e Societ y o f Authors . The y howeve r wer e concerne d les t 'th e two Fund s overlap' , an d sinc e Sutro' s paymen t ha d alread y bee n mad e a s a n emergency advance , pendin g th e Roya l Literar y Fun d Committe e meeting , Lawrence's cas e wa s lef t t o them . H e wa s awarde d £5 0 i n mid-October , b y which tim e Pinke r ha d produce d £1 7 b y sellin g 'Honou r an d Arms ' t o America . They wer e no t ou t o f thei r difficulties , eve n so . H e owe d £20 ; an d no w Weekley's lawyer s wer e claimin g £14 5 cost s fo r th e divorce , thoug h h e vowe d never t o pa y (ii . 226) . O n 2 1 Octobe r h e ha d onl y 'abou t £7 0 i n th e world ' (ii . 225), i n effec t £50 , t o las t unti l th e volum e o f stories appeared . (H e wa s workin g on th e proofs. ) S o th e hel p was just enoug h t o ge t hi m ou t o f an emergency , bu t not enoug h t o se t hi m o n hi s fee t agai n - an d h e fel t humiliated , whic h alway s brought ou t th e wors t i n him . H e almos t wishe d Mar y Canna n ha d no t written ; yet h e kne w i t wa s his tal e o f wo e tha t ha d prompte d he r an d Marsh , a s he mus t have hope d i t would , an d h e fel t ashame d o f that , an d o f apparentl y no t bein g able t o manag e fo r himsel f whic h h e ha d alway s take n prid e i n doing . Resentment a t havin g t o appea l fo r hel p an d ow e gratitud e afterward s wen t deep; an d al l th e wors e becaus e h e kne w h e shoul d b e gratefu l (an d actuall y was , at heart) . Concernin g th e Literar y Fun d howeve r h e coul d le t hi s bil e out , unattractively, i n private : 'Ther e i s n o jo y i n thei r tam e thin-gutte d charity . I 150
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would fillip i t bac k a t thei r ol d noses , th e stodgy , stomach y authors , i f I coul d afford it . Bu t I can't ' (ii . 223) . Irritatio n abou t havin g t o accep t 'charity' , an d disappointment tha t i t prove d afte r al l to o little , weig h abou t equa l wit h ingratitude. Hi s rea l complain t wa s the on e fel t b y al l artists wh o kno w ho w har d they hav e worked , an d wha t goo d wor k the y hav e done : 'Hav e I no t earne d m y whack - a t leas t enoug h t o liv e on -' (ii . 226) . To Am y Lowell , wh o ha d though t carefully abou t ho w no t t o humiliat e hi m an d ha d hi t o n th e brigh t ide a of givin g him a typewriter (ii . 222) , 8 an d t o Mars h wh o ha d als o bee n sensitive , h e coul d respond wit h unalloye d thanks ; bu t h e wa s no t on e wh o coul d accep t obligatio n easily. Meanwhile, a s autumn approached , hi s miser y abou t th e wa r deepened . Quit e apart fro m Frieda' s Germa n origin s an d feelings , i t was impossibl e fo r hi m t o share th e euphori a - lik e the girl s on Barro w statio n tellin g thei r me n t o 'Le t 'e m 'ave it' . Wha t h e ha d see n i n Bavari a ha d show n hi m ther e woul d b e nothin g heroic abou t th e subjectio n o f human being s t o killin g machinery. O n 1 8 Augus t the Manchester Guardian publishe d a n essay b y 'H . D . Lawrence ' calle d 'Wit h the Guns ' i n whic h h e describe d wha t h e ha d seen : a n artiller y batter y shellin g an invisibl e target ; me n huddle d i n trenches ; o r vulnerabl y expose d a t night , li t up b y a star-shell . 'I t i s a wa r o f artillery , a war o f machines , an d me n n o mor e than th e subjectiv e materia l o f th e machine . I t i s s o unnatura l a s t o b e unthinkable. Ye t w e must thin k o f it. ' 'The wa r i s jus t hel l fo r me' , h e wrot e t o Mars h i n lat e August . ' I can' t ge t away fro m i t fo r a minute : liv e i n a sor t o f coma , lik e on e o f thos e nightmare s when yo u can' t mov e . . . I can' t sa y we'r e happy , becaus e we'r e not , Fried a an d P (ii . 211-12) . Ye t Mars h wa s secretar y t o th e Firs t Lor d o f th e Admiralty , deeply involve d - an d whe n Fried a hear d abou t hi s view s o n th e wa r fro m th e young painte r Mar k Gertle r (perhap s th e mos t interestin g o f th e ne w friend s they mad e throug h Cannan , an d a proteg e o f Marsh), 90 sh e coul d no t resis t writing a t onc e t o Mars h i n reproof . Sh e wa s sceptica l abou t storie s o f atrocitie s in Belgium , remindin g hi m o f those tol d i n German y abou t Englis h atrocitie s i n the Boe r Wa r (ii . 214-15) . (Compto n Mackenzie , who m Canna n too k t o mee t them, portray s he r comin g down , resplenden t i n ringe d stockings , fro m upstair s where sh e ha d bee n lyin g o n he r be d whil e Lawrenc e cleane d th e cottage , an d arguing similarly. ) l Sh e denounce d th e glorificatio n o f war , th e growt h o f national chauvinisms , th e wast e an d stupidity . I f peopl e coul d 'be mor e individual the n the y coul d no t hav e a war ' (ii . 215) ; an d al l wome n shoul d kic k against it . He r point s wer e goo d one s - bu t no t perhap s altogethe r well-advise d as a response t o Marsh' s generosity . Meanwhil e Lawrenc e wa s growin g angrier . 'What a miserabl e world . Wha t colossa l idiocy , thi s war . Ou t o f shee r rag e I'v e begun m y boo k abou t Thoma s Hardy' , h e wrot e i n earl y Septembe r (ii . 212) . By mid-October Ud o vo n Hennin g ha d bee n kille d a t Chalons , an d als o anothe r o f 151
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the vo n Richthofens ' 'intimat e officer-friends ' (ii . 221) . Lawrenc e ha d 'neve r come s o nea r t o hatin g mankind ' fo r thei r folly , no t onl y becaus e o f th e deat h toll, but becaus e o f 'those who , being sensitive , wil l receiv e suc h a blow fro m th e ghastliness . . . tha t the y wil l b e cripple d being s furthe r burdenin g ou r sic k society' (ii . 218) . X T a k i n g th e S t r a i n What wit h th e miser y o f th e war , Frieda' s tension s (th e children , Germany , he r family, he r fathe r ver y il l now) , mone y worrie s an d th e approac h o f a n Englis h winter Lawrenc e fel l il l himsel f a t th e beginnin g o f October . H e ha d bee n claiming tha t the y 'hardl y quarre l an y more ' (ii . 221) , an d Fried a als o fel t 'mor e peaceful' (ii . 219) , even afte r a glimpse o f Ernest an d th e childre n - thoug h 'no t to spea k to ' - durin g a weeken d i n Londo n i n mid-September . (Sh e seem s t o have been watchin g th e house , but unabl e t o ris k goin g i n again. ) However , sign s of depressio n an d strai n increase , an d Lawrence' s 'seediness ' alway s mad e hi m 'disagreeable' (ii . 221) . I t wa s whil e h e wa s il l thi s tim e tha t h e gre w hi s beard , and decide d t o kee p i t eve n afte r h e go t better . Th e bear d wa s also , however , a sign o f defiance , proclaimin g onesel f a n outsider , whe n th e enliste d an d thos e intending-to-volunteer wer e goin g clean-shave n (o r wit h moustache s t o mak e them loo k older) . He bega n t o apologise, t o Kot an d t o Catherin e Carswell , whe n they spen t a weeken d wit h he r i n London , fo r 'tirades ' (ii . 228 , 233) . H e go t angry abou t th e wa r poem s emergin g fro m Harrie t Monroe' s competitio n i n Poetry (Chicago ) whic h h e ha d refuse d t o enter . I n November , h e wrot e 'Ecc e Homo', late r revise d a s 'Elo i Eloi , Lam a Sabachthani? ' i n response , abou t th e desire t o kil l h e no w sa w everywhere , an d th e desir e t o di e - a poe m ver y different fro m thos e o f Brooke, o r Julian Grenfell , o r eve n Charle s Sorley , al l o f whom seeme d read y fo r death . Into thi s situatio n arrive d th e Murry s t o stay te n day s i n The Triangle , durin g which Lawrence , i n a burs t o f energ y an d impatienc e wit h Murry' s langui d brushwork, drov e the m t o pain t an d plaste r 'Ros e Tre e Cottage' , thre e mile s away. The y move d i n o n 2 6 Octobe r (ii . 226-7) . Thing s ha d no t gon e wel l fo r them either , sinc e th e sunn y day s i n July. I n a fit of enthusias m whe n wa r brok e out, Murr y an d hi s Oxford frien d Hug h Kingsmil l enliste d i n a bicycle battalion ; but th e nex t da y Murr y though t bette r o f i t an d consulte d a doctor , wh o gav e him a certificat e mentionin g tha t h e ha d suffere d fro m pleurisy , an d adde d 'Query T.B. ' - whic h go t hi m released . Th e docto r als o sai d tha t Murr y neede d a holiday , s o th e novelis t J . D . Beresfor d len t the m hi s holida y hous e i n Cornwall; bu t i t di d no t g o well. Katherin e wrot e i n he r diar y o n 3 0 August , th e night befor e the y travelle d down : 'Tel l me , i s ther e a God ? I d o no t trus t Jack . I'm ol d tonight . Ah , I wis h I ha d a love r t o [Pnurse ] me , lov e me , hol d me , 152
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comfort me , t o sto p m e thinking. ' The y to o wer e ver y shor t o f mone y - thoug h helped als o b y a chequ e fro m Marsh . Lawrenc e tol d Campbel l (i n Ireland , fo r the birt h o f hi s son ) tha t h e wa s worrie d abou t the m afte r a gloom y lette r fro m Murry, an d i t mus t hav e bee n h e wh o persuade d the m dow n t o Chesham , an d got Murr y o n hi s bicycle , t o fin d a plac e wher e the y to o coul d liv e cheaply . H e must hav e hope d th e companionshi p woul d chee r the m all . For a whil e i t did . Th e distanc e betwee n th e cottage s kep t thei r live s largel y separate; an d th e thre e writer s spen t mos t o f thei r tim e writing . Biographie s o f writers ofte n falsif y th e proportio n o f thei r lives . However , th e couple s at e together twic e a week - Lawrenc e doin g mos t o f th e cookin g - an d san g a s the y washed up . They continue d th e animate d discussion s an d argument s o f Selwoo d Terrace. Katherin e an d Lawrenc e side d agains t Murr y ove r Dostoevsky' s advocacy o f humilit y an d love ; Lawrenc e expounde d th e philosoph y tha t was strangely expandin g hi s littl e boo k o n Hardy ; the y argue d abou t tragedy . Whereas Murry' s 193 5 autobiograph y diffuse s gloom , hi s first Reminiscences after Lawrence' s deat h allo w th e initia l enjoymen t t o com e through . A n entr y i n Katherine's diar y fo r 3 Novembe r show s he r 'deepl y happ y an d fre e . . . i n m y own sel f awake an d stretchin g . . . Ca n i t b e tha t on e can renew oneself . The y got t o kno w on e anothe r bette r tha n before : th e clever , complicate d ex-colonia l and th e free-spirite d daughte r o f th e Baron , th e vehemen t novelis t wit h hi s ne w reddish beard , settin g himsel f mor e an d mor e agains t hi s societ y now , an d th e recessive intellectual , als o grow n awa y fro m hi s background , bu t stil l uncertai n of, thoug h muc h absorbe d in , himself . They gav e hostages . Wit h Katherine' s closes t femal e frien d awa y i n Rhodesi a she becam e intimat e wit h Fried a now , an d droppe d he r defences : confidin g he r most guarde d secret , th e sexua l passio n fo r anothe r woma n i n a seasid e cottag e on Wellingto n Bay , whic h ha d reveale d he r bisexualit y t o herself . Usuall y adep t at presentin g facade s an d sometime s economica l wit h th e truth , sh e wa s takin g risks, fo r th e Lawrence s neve r ha d muc h ide a o f privacy . They , i n turn , tol d th e Murrys mos t intimat e sexua l details , a s w e shal l see . (Anothe r o f Katherine' s journal entrie s say s 'L[awrence ] wa s nice, ver y nice , sittin g wit h a piece o f strin g in hi s hand , o n tru e sex'. ) H e talke d o f hi s childhood , hi s fathe r comin g hom e and bangin g abou t i n hi s pi t dirt , an d ho w h e ha d hate d him . H e becam e mor e angry abou t Murry' s narrow-spirite d an d demandin g father , an d ho w h e ha d damaged hi s son , tha n Murr y wa s himself . Katherin e reminisce d abou t he r tri p into th e 'back-blocks ' o f New Zealand , th e Maor i territories . An d Fried a poure d out he r trouble s ove r th e children , abou t whic h Katherin e ha d alread y bee n s o sympathetic th e summe r before . 4 Yet close r intimac y als o expose d th e difference s whic h ha d bee n les s obviou s in sunnie r an d mor e casua l days . Th e relatio n o f Murr y an d Katherin e wa s under strain , an d b y Christma s woul d b e i n dee p trouble . Murr y was alway s 153
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self-conscious, bu t the autobiographical nove l h e was working o n every mornin g made hi m more self-absorbe d tha n ever . (Fro m te a to supper h e was still tryin g to mak e a bar e livin g doin g journalis m fo r th e Westminster Gazette.) Th e mos t important momen t - i n hi s vie w - recorde d i n hi s privat e journa l a t thi s time , was a conversatio n wit h Katherin e abou t th e sudde n realisatio n o f th e sel f 'a s something apar t an d unattainabl e . . . passe d clea r awa y fro m al l its acts ' - bu t all Lawrence' s emphasi s was no w o n th e myster y o f th e Other, wit h self absorption identifie d a s deathly . Whe n Campbel l cam e bac k fro m Irelan d an d began t o visit the m again , Katherin e realise d mor e strongl y tha n eve r tha t i t was sharing a kind o f high-souled intellectua l discussio n wit h him, wit h element s o f mysticism an d ecstasy , tha t Murr y foun d trul y exciting . (Lawrenc e als o distrusted this , an d warne d Campbel l tha t 'ther e i s no rea l trut h i n ecstasy . Al l vital trut h contain s th e memor y o f al l tha t fo r whic h i t i s no t true : Ecstas y achieves itsel f b y virtu e o f exclusion' (ii . 247). Sh e ha d bee n feelin g Murry' s inadequacy a s lover an d still mor e a s cherisher. Par t o f her delighted i n his littleboy-lost sexualit y whic h (a s his nove l an d hi s letter s show ) treasure d mos t th e safety o f being hel d t o a lover/mother's breast ; an d they bot h tende d t o see love as a childlik e innocenc e an d gaiet y i n th e teet h o f a hostil e an d tawdr y world . She wa s however gettin g tire d o f being mad e t o feel th e older one , the one to do the cherishing . Stil l worse , he r writin g wen t badl y i n th e cottage , whic h sh e began t o dislike . Whe n letter s arrive d fro m a bohemia n writer-frien d i n Paris , Francis Carco , firs t t o Jack, bu t then a s love-letters t o her which Jack refuse d t o take seriously , sh e began t o wor k hersel f u p int o a romantic excitemen t tha t he r relationship wit h Murr y lacked . Th e crunch woul d com e whe n o n 1 8 December she read , i n hi s 'littl e re d book' , ho w h e ha d tol d Campbel l h e didn' t kno w whether sh e was 'more t o me than a gratification'. Sh e determined t o leave. Moreover Lawrenc e fel t mor e fo r Murr y tha n Murr y di d fo r him . H e wa s twenty-five t o Lawrence' s twenty-nine , an d in all save intellec t a t thi s stage , his journal reveal s hi m as young fo r hi s age. Rhythm ha d been a remarkable fea t fo r an undergraduate , bu t he had projecte d greate r authorit y a s editor an d reviewe r than h e actuall y had . H e fel t himsel f a n 'artist' , bu t kne w h e ha d don e almos t nothing wort h th e name, an d had littl e o f his ow n as yet to say to the world. H e lived i n his mind, wher e h e was impressive, but in all else he was undeveloped a s well a s self-conscious ; an d i t wa s thi s h e wa s strugglin g t o understan d i n th e novel i n which , h e sai d later , h e wa s 'analysin g m y ow n inwar d lif e t o immobility'. (H e called i t Still Life.) Ye t he was very attractive , mos t o f all whe n he seeme d wholl y take n u p wit h you . Th e boo k show s clearl y an d honestly , however, ho w an apparen t emotionalis m alternate d wit h instinctiv e withdrawa l from an y commitment threatenin g th e self. Th e boyish char m h e so powerfull y exerted wa s because h e wanted t o be loved, enjoye d th e play of ideas and entere d relationships enthusiasticall y - bu t h e ofte n faile d t o clarif y th e limit s o f hi s 154
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involvement, an d woul d g o o n t o th e nex t wit h equa l enthusiasm . (Thi s woul d lead agai n an d agai n t o charge s o f betrayal , thoug h i t woul d als o mak e th e empathetic critic. ) I n fact , i n 1914 , h e ha d ver y littl e sympath y fo r o r under standing o f Lawrence's idea s o r sens e o f mission o r attitud e t o th e war . Whe n h e describes Lawrenc e sittin g 'i n a chai r b y th e stove , rockin g himsel f t o an d fr o and moaning' , suddenl y s o overwhelme d b y th e horro r o f th e wa r tha t h e ha d made hi s wa y ove r t o th e Murrys ' cottag e i n th e dark , th e pictur e i s vivid : ' I ca n see hi m now , i n hi s brow n corduro y jacket , buttone d tigh t u p t o th e neck , an d his hea d bowed , radiatin g desolation' 97 - bu t th e feelin g itsel f mus t hav e bee n unimaginable t o th e youn g ma n wh o ha d s o casuall y enliste d an d de-enlisted , and whos e mai n reactio n t o th e wa r ha d bee n t o fee l tha t i t belonge d i n anothe r world fro m his . H e mad e on e intelligen t commen t o n Lawrence' s expositio n o f ideas fro m th e 'Stud y o f Thomas Hardy ' h e wa s workin g on , bu t neve r graspe d how the y migh t bea r o n conflict , sexualit y o r creativity . I n fac t h e ha d n o grea t opinion o f Lawrenc e a s a writer , confessin g t o th e journa l tha t bot h h e an d Gilbert Canna n 'alway s giv e m e th e feelin g o f absolut e unrealit y i n thei r books' . Indeed h e though t littl e of his whole generation : The cleve r an d futil e E . M . F[orster]. , th e cleve r an d homunculou s G . C[annan]. , th e crack-brained, sex-obsessed D.H.L . (tho' of him I hope) - ar e these really as negligible as they seem ? An d isn' t i t funn y - a confession o f incompetenc e - tha t I se e i n Gordo n Campbell, th e successfu l barriste r wh o make s £180 0 ou t o f a singl e case , a finer tha n them all, not in their way , but on a different plan e only to be attained t o by me of known contemporaries? It wa s Campbell's min d tha t rouse d Murr y t o 'extraordinar y menta l excitement' , and Campbell , no t Lawrence , who m h e adapte d fo r hi s novel , a s hi s protagon ist's closes t friend . Murry als o fel t a growin g antipath y toward s Frieda , possibl y fuelle d b y he r relationship wit h Katherine . A s earl y a s 1 0 Novembe r a journa l entr y reads : 'Last nigh t a t th e Lawrences . A grea t par t o f th e tim e wen t i n trimmin g a ridiculous kin d o f ha t fo r Frieda . Wh y shoul d sh e spen d si x guinea s o f D.H.L.' s money o n clothe s fo r he r stupi d sel f in London , whe n he' s go t hardl y anything. ' (The Literar y Fun d mone y ha d come. ) H e coul d no t understan d ho w Lawrenc e should clai m t o b e 'consciou s o f F' s participatio n i n hi s work , t o suc h a n exten t that i t almos t depende d upo n he r activ e good-will' , sinc e h e an d Katherin e 'work bes t i n complet e isolation , menta l an d physical' . (Hi s late r clai m t o hav e felt somethin g unmanl y i n Lawrence' s 'subjection' , however , wa s ax e grindin g by th e autho r of Son of Woman, sinc e ther e i s no sig n o f thi s i n th e journal. ) Bu t in remarkin g ho w il l an d greenis h Lawrenc e looke d no w (a s wel l a s olde r wit h the beard) , as compared t o hobbledehoy vitalit y th e yea r before , Murr y wa s clear where th e blam e lay : 'Fried a jus t squander s hi s nervou s energy. ' H e though t sh e 155
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played hi m traito r - thoug h i t i s no t clea r wh y - an d h e coul d no t understan d what seeme d idealisti c self-deceptio n abou t thei r marriage . There i s no high degre e of physical satisfaction fo r him . That i s all wrong between them . F. accuses him of taking her 'a s a dog does a bitch', and las t night h e explained hi s belief that even now we have to undergo a dual 'mortification' b y saying that very often whe n he wants F. she does not want him at all, and that he has to recognise and fully allo w for that . Sincerely I d o no t believ e sh e love s him at all . Sh e i s i n lov e wit h th e ide a o f hi m a s a famous an d brillian t novelis t - an d that' s all . An d th e ide a tha t sh e shoul d hav e bee n allowed t o tyranniz e ove r hi m wit h he r damnabl y fals e iove ' fo r he r children , i s utterl y repulsive to me. He foun d he r stupid , ye t assertive , an d coul d hardl y forbea r bein g openl y rud e to her . H e wa s sur e tha t Ko t an d Campbel l hate d he r too , an d (h e says ) Katherine fel t tha t Fried a secretl y loathe d her , thoug h h e ofte n ventriloquise d his feeling s int o {Catherine' s mouth . As wel l a s tellin g u s a good dea l abou t Murry , th e diar y entr y certainl y show s how Lawrenc e an d Fried a wer e a t odd s agai n afte r havin g take n th e strai n quit e well til l mid-October , an d i t doe s see m likel y tha t stres s ha d affecte d thei r intimate life . Only, wha t kin d o f insight i s Murry offering ? It seem s no t t o hav e occurre d t o hi m tha t th e tensio n ha d anythin g t o d o wit h him an d Katherine , bu t i t almos t certainl y did , withou t havin g bee n thei r fault . Having com e fo r a weeken d whe n Lawrenc e wa s feelin g ill , the y cam e agai n th e next weeken d (Lawrenc e stil l seedy) , whe n the y decide d the y woul d tak e th e cottage, an d the n spen t anothe r te n day s a t th e Lawrences ' whil e i t wa s mad e ready. Ko t als o cam e dow n t o visi t - onl y th e secon d tim e h e an d Fried a ha d met. A s wit h th e Waterfield s th e yea r before , Fried a coul d neve r resist , o n earliest acquaintance , appealin g fo r sympath y ove r th e children . Leonar d Wool f retells Kot' s story : At lunc h Fried a bega n lamentin g ho w muc h sh e misse d he r childre n .. . Ko t said : 'Frieda, yo u hav e lef t you r childre n t o marr y Lawrence . Yo u mus t choos e eithe r you r children o r Lawrenc e - an d i f yo u choos e Lawrence , yo u mus t sto p complainin g abou t the children. ' Afte r lunc h Fried a lef t the m an d Lawrenc e an d Ko t sa t talkin g whil e outside th e rai n poure d dow n i n torrents . Suddenl y th e doo r opene d an d ther e stoo d a young woma n wit h he r skirt s tucke d up , i n Wellingto n boots , soakin g wet . Sh e said : 'Lorenzo, Frieda ha s asked m e to come and tel l you that sh e will not com e back.' 'Dam n the woman, ' shoute d Lawrenc e i n a fury , 'tel l he r I neve r wan t t o se e he r again' . Th e young woman said nothing, but turned an d went out into the rain. This was Kot' s firs t glimps e o f Katherine , whos e lifelon g frien d h e wa s t o become. Given Frieda' s desir e fo r sympathy , then , an d Lawrence' s irascibl e respons e to wha t h e alway s sa w a s a publi c blamin g o f hi m fo r he r loss , th e presenc e o f 156
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new acquaintance s woul d alway s b e likel y t o brin g o n a row . Thi s woul d the n escalate throug h th e other s takin g side s . . . thi s time , Katherin e o n Frieda' s (pace Murry), an d Murr y an d Ko t decidedl y o n Lawrence's . Indee d Ko t refuse d t o come dow n agai n fo r som e weeks , wrot e wha t h e calle d ' a lon g foolis h letter ' which h e di d no t pos t (ii . 231) , an d whe n h e di d come , gav e Fried a anothe r talking to . Relations betwee n the m woul d neve r b e easy . There was then anothe r bigger crisi s a t th e Cannans ' nea r th e beginnin g o f Novembe r - eithe r th e sam e syndrome, o r throug h Fried a flirtin g - an d Murry' s charg e o f treacher y show s how partisanshi p intensified ; a s Lawrence's 'utte r misery ' show s wha t happene d as soon a s his anger wor e off . About 5 Novembe r ye t anothe r gues t wa s wishe d int o thei r spar e bedroom , not muc h mor e tha n a week afte r th e Murry s ha d move d out : a young American , Helen Dudley . Bertran d Russel l ha d seduce d he r durin g a lectur e tour , promising marriage , bu t the n locke d himsel f i n hi s apartmen t whe n sh e followe d him t o London . Lad y Ottolin e Morrell , wh o ha d fo r som e tim e bee n Russell' s mistress, swallowe d he r feeling s an d tidie d u p afte r him , persuadin g th e Cannans t o hel p - wh o aske d th e Lawrence s t o hav e Hele n t o stay . Sinc e the y owed thei r cottag e t o th e Cannans , an d als o mos t o f thei r socia l lif e i n thes e months, the y coul d hardl y refuse . O n 8 November, Home , hi s wif e Maisie , an d Lewis cam e dow n (ii . 230) . I n th e mids t o f al l thi s Lawrence , stil l fa r fro m well , was tryin g t o writ e hi s boo k o n Hardy . Abou t 1 7 November ther e wa s th e wors t row of all. After roas t veal , and th e washin g th e dishe s (say s Murry) , we were talking gaily enough whe n ther e was a mention o f Frieda's children , and Fried a burst int o tears . Lawrenc e wen t pale . I n a moment , ther e wa s a fearfu l outburst . Ominously, ther e wa s n o physica l violence . Lawrence , thoug h passionatel y angry , ha d kept control ; and i t was the more frightening . H e ha d ha d enough , he said; she must go, she wa s drainin g th e lif e ou t o f him . Sh e mus t go , sh e mus t g o now . Sh e kne w wha t money he had; he would giv e her her share - mor e than he r share. He went upstairs, and came dow n again , an d counte d ou t o n th e tabl e t o m e sixtee n sovereigns . Fried a wa s standing by the door, crying, with her hat and coat on, ready to go - bu t where? The tactles s mentio n o f th e childre n mus t hav e com e fro m th e Murrys , bu t h e gave th e Lawrence s a talkin g to , an d reconcile d the m - muc h t o hi s surpris e (and Katherine's ) a t wha t h e describe d a s hi s theatrica l performance , whic h lef t him inwardl y cold. 1 Wha t i s interestin g howeve r i s tha t i t wa s bot h a ver y serious crisi s - wher e indee d coul d Fried a go ? - an d ye t playe d t o a n audienc e by bot h Lawrence s too , heightenin g dram a an d emotio n mor e tha n i f the y ha d been alone . To regar d thes e anecdote s a s simpl y indicativ e o f wha t th e marriag e ha d become woul d howeve r b e misleading . The y represen t thre e occasion s i n ove r a month a t a tim e o f considerabl e stress . I f onl y £3 2 remaine d fro m th e £50 , i t 157
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was because betwee n th e firs t quarre l an d th e secon d Lawrenc e ha d aske d Ko t t o get hi m a particula r lapi s lazul i necklac e fo r Fried a (ii . 228) , an d becaus e the y had bough t th e ne w clothe s i n Londo n whic h Murr y s o begrudge d her . Immediately afte r th e thir d rumpus , Lawrenc e agree d t o g o wit h he r t o Nottingham, t o tr y a direc t appea l t o Weekley . Th e patter n i s ver y reminiscen t of wha t ha d happene d th e previou s summer . A s fo r th e intimat e sexua l detail s which bot h couple s wer e unwis e enoug h t o confid e - i t i s no t ver y surprisin g that Fried a shoul d respon d t o th e quarrellin g b y refusin g sex , whethe r simpl y because sh e was upset , o r wit h intent . (Sh e ma y als o hav e use d sexua l humiliation a s a weapon , a s th e heroine s modelle d o n he r do. ) Lawrence' s response migh t strik e a n unbiase d onlooke r a s toleran t an d understanding , o f how suc h 'mortification ' ha d t o be accepted . Ther e migh t howeve r b e a reaction , as th e fiction shows , i f th e withdrawa l wen t to o fa r o r becam e to o deliberate . When a Lawrencia n protagonis t i n hi s fiction take s hi s woma n lik e a n anima l i t tends t o b e becaus e sh e ha s bee n deliberatel y withholdin g hersel f o r runnin g away; a counter-attack , i n sex-war . O n wha t di d Murr y bas e hi s remark s abou t physical satisfaction ? Ha d Fried a complaine d o f dissatisfaction? 104 O r (befor e one leap s t o suc h conclusions , sinc e i t seem s t o be his pleasure tha t i s in questio n in th e passage ) wa s i t onl y tha t Lawrenc e ha d argue d tha t 'tru e sex ' wa s no t a matter o f pleasure , bu t o f self-surrende r t o deat h an d rebirth ? (Bu t wha t i s tru e sex? Ho w lon g i s a piece o f string?) Ther e i s no knowing , an d i t might b e a s well not t o speculat e wit h to o much confidence , o r generalis e to o easil y fro m stressfu l circumstances. Some proportio n ma y b e restore d b y realisin g wha t Lawrenc e wa s mos t concerned wit h a t th e time . Betwee n earl y Septembe r an d 1 8 Novembe r (whe n Murry confide d t o hi s journa l hi s accoun t o f conflic t betwee n th e Lawrences , and unsatisfactor y sex ) Lawrenc e ha d no t spen t mos t o f his tim e quarrelling , no r with th e Murrys . H e ha d bee n writin g hi s 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy' , i n whic h he worke d ou t a conviction tha t conflic t wa s th e ver y groun d o f sexua l relation ship, an d o f creativity . Despit e quarrels , eve n crises , i t was a celebratio n o f marriage - th e marriag e o f opposites . O n 1 8 Novembe r h e wa s 'jus t finishing' (»• 235) XI A
Confession o f Fait h
The 'littl e boo k o n Hardy' s people' , commissione d b y Bertra m Christia n bac k i n July fo r Nisbet' s 'Writer s o f the Day ' series , expanded strangely , s o much tha t i t outgrew it s commission , an d remaine d unpublishe d i n Lawrence' s lifetime . Instead of' a sor t o f interpretative essay ' of only 15,00 0 word s (ii . 193) , it becam e also a complex exploratio n o f Lawrence's deepes t concerns . For whe n h e bega n i n earl y September , i t wa s th e wa r eve n mor e tha n Hard y 158
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that occupie d hi s mind : 'Wha t a miserable world . Wha t colossa l idiocy , thi s war . Out o f shee r rag e I'v e begu n m y boo k abou t Thoma s Hardy . I t wil l b e abou t anything bu t Thoma s Hard y I a m afrai d - quee r stuff - bu t no t bad ' (ii . 212) . Thinking abou t Hard y impelle d hi m t o affir m hi s fait h i n huma n creativit y despite th e intensifyin g proo f o f man' s destructiveness ; despit e als o hi s persona l worries: no t havin g enoug h t o liv e o n now ; th e sever e strai n o n hi s marriage ; hi s increasing alienatio n fro m hi s society . H e coul d neithe r joi n i n wa r hysteri a no r identify wit h pacifists . Ye t th e mor e h e though t abou t thes e things , i n turn , th e deeper h e sa w int o Hardy' s achievement , an d (h e thought ) hi s limitation . Th e problem wa s t o weav e i t al l together . H e worke d o n a first draf t throug h September. B y earl y Octobe r (whe n h e fel l ill ) h e wa s bot h worrie d abou t th e heterogeneity o f wha t h e ha d don e - 'suppose d t o b e abou t Thoma s Hardy , bu t which seem s t o b e abou t anythin g els e i n th e worl d bu t that ' (ii . 220 ) - an d stil l confident tha t h e coul d publish , fo r h e aske d Ko t t o typ e fo r him , an d hande d over th e first fifty page s whe n hi s ne w frien d cam e dow n o n 1 1 October fo r tha t tense weekend . B y the n h e ha d mad e thre e importan t decisions . I f h e wa s t o define th e essenc e o f lif e an d growt h i n a worl d apparentl y seekin g t o destro y itself, h e ha d t o begi n a t th e beginning , wit h a livin g growin g thing . H e begin s where hi s essay o n Thoma s Man n ha d lef t off , wit h a popp y - soo n t o become , indeed, th e symbo l o f wartim e traged y an d loss . Bu t thi s wa s t o b e n o tragi c o r pessimistic work ; so despite it s ostensible subjec t h e decide d agains t callin g i t th e 'Study o f Thomas Hardy' , thoug h thi s i s th e titl e b y whic h i t ha s bee n generall y known. H e calle d i t 'L e Ga i Savaire ' (ii . 295) , Nietzsche' s 'Ga y Science ' o f individual growth , an d earlier , th e nam e give n b y th e wanderin g mediaeva l troubadours t o their insoucian t ar t (L o ga i saber), sung i n a military worl d an d i n the fac e o f their ow n homeles s poverty . Ye t Hard y remaine d i n mind, eve n whe n the argumen t bega n apparentl y fa r off . A retur n t o th e Wesse x novel s woul d mark eac h deepenin g stage , and th e destination . Since gaiet y wa s t o b e th e keynote , th e boo k begin s light-heartedl y abou t poppies an d phoenixe s an d primitiv e me n coverin g cave s wit h paintings , i n order t o follo w Christ' s advic e (ofte n give n i n parabl e an d symbol ) t o tak e n o heed o f materia l things , bu t conside r th e rudd y lil y o f th e field, ho w i t grows . To hi s ow n anxiet y abou t no t havin g enoug h t o liv e on , an d t o th e competitiv e state-violence tha t ha d overcom e Europe , th e messag e o f th e popp y i s th e same : that self-preservation , whethe r i n person s o r nations , matter s infinitel y les s tha n that ever y individua l shoul d see k t o be an d t o flower, t o th e utmos t i n itself , before it s end . 'Th e final ai m o f ever y livin g thin g . . . i s th e ful l achievemen t o f itself I f our concer n i s mainly wit h possession , an d guardin g i t - o r conversely , if we inhibit ou r ow n growt h i n pit y fo r ou r neighbou r - th e life-forc e withi n u s will g o rotten . Fro m her e th e argumen t spread s t o th e wrong s o f societ y 'wit h some Fancyfu l Moralising ' abou t th e suffrag e an d th e poor ; ye t seriousl y too . 159
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For i f societ y suffer s fro m money-sicknes s an d sex-sickness , agains t whic h socialists an d suffragist s see k vote s an d laws , Lawrenc e believe s tha t th e rea l source o f th e ills , an d therefor e th e onl y rea l solution , lie s i n th e huma n hear t and it s power t o heal it s own gree d an d fear . I f the yout h o f Europe ar e throwin g themselves int o wa r wit h gla d crie s i t i s eithe r becaus e the y ar e sic k o f lif e i n terms o f self-preservation , o r becaus e the y reve l i n destructio n an d deat h wis h yet th e reall y vita l firing lin e i s where th e leadin g shoot o f individual bein g grow s out int o th e unknown . I t i s fo r this , and no t fo r wor k o r wage s tha t w e mus t liv e - an d ou r rea l material need s ar e smaller tha n w e think . What h e finds extraordinar y abou t Hardy' s novel s i s ho w man y o f hi s peopl e act no t i n self-preservatio n bu t b y inne r compulsion , burstin g ou t o f th e 'walle d city' tha t hem s i n thei r growt h (thoug h Hard y seem s afrai d o f this , sinc e th e daring one s see m alway s t o peris h i n th e wildernes s outside) . I n London , a s wel l as buyin g clothe s fo r Frieda , Lawrenc e ha d bee n t o th e Britis h Museu m wher e the Egyptia n an d Assyria n sculptur e ha d spoke n agai n t o hi s sens e o f 'th e tremendous non-human qualit y o f life' . H e wrot e t o Campbel l o f hi s belie f i n 'tremendous unknow n force s o f life , comin g unsee n an d unperceive d a s ou t o f the deser t t o th e Egyptians , an d drivin g us , forcin g us , destroyin g u s i f w e d o not submi t t o b e swep t away ' (ii . 218) . An d thi s too , h e foun d i n wha t h e thought th e firs t o f Hardy' s grea t novels , The Return of the Native an d it s imagining o f Egdon Heath . This i s a constant revelatio n i n Hardy's novels : that there exists a great background, vital and vivid , whic h matter s mor e tha n th e peopl e wh o mov e upo n i t .. . Th e vast , unexplored moralit y o f life itself, wha t w e call the immorality o f nature, surround s u s in its eternal incomprehensibility, and in its midst goes on the little human morality play .. . The tru e 'moral ' i s tha t ma n 'mus t lear n wha t i t i s t o b e a t one , i n hi s min d an d will, wit h th e prima l impulse s tha t ris e i n him ' - eve n whe n thes e driv e on e ou t of society int o th e wilderness , and povert y - lik e himself an d Frieda . 'Impulses', howeve r - not , a s before , th e singl e impuls e t o maximu m being . As h e thinks , h e experience s a quite differen t impulse , an d s o ha s t o chang e hi s mind abou t work . Fo r th e rea l purpos e an d significanc e o f wor k - fo r instance , writing, no w - i s no t merel y i n orde r t o ea t an d s o preserv e life . I t i s t o know what on e i s doing; t o mak e consciou s th e spontaneou s processe s o f nature . H e sees th e impuls e t o know , an d henc e progressivel y t o differentiat e th e sel f fro m the not-sel f throug h th e growt h o f consciousness , a s th e othe r 'grea t ai m an d purpose i n huma n life' . (Thi s wil l send hi m bac k t o Hardy, t o se e which o f hi s people ar e mos t individual , single d ou t - an d pos e al l th e mor e th e questio n o f why Hardy , wh o ha s a n artist' s predilectio n fo r suc h 'aristocrats' , shoul d alway s stand wit h th e communit y agains t them , lik e Tolstoy an d Ann a Karenina? ) Now Lawrenc e open s hi s popp y t o loo k mor e closel y inside , an d see s tha t a t 160
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the hear t o f it s lif e an d growt h ther e ar e indee d tw o life-forces , no t one . The y are 'male * and 'female' , bu t i n th e delighte d an d far-reachin g exploratio n whic h follows, th e gender-specificatio n get s complicate d no w i n way s tha t und o muc h of th e stereotypin g o f th e 'Forewor d t o Sons and Lovers'. A s Lawrenc e range s through th e histor y o f art , i t become s clea r tha t bot h opposite s exis t withi n everyone i n differin g proportions , thei r conflic t bein g th e sourc e o f creativity , and als o definin g it s nature . (Th e weeken d afte r Murry' s diar y entry , Lawrenc e took Fried a t o Londo n t o th e dentist , an d wen t himsel f t o th e Nationa l Gallery . What migh t see m insupportabl e generalisations , abou t th e psychologica l stat e o f great artists , ar e actuall y precis e response s t o particula r work s there. 109 ) More over, finding th e tw o force s als o i n th e Bible , whic h become s indee d th e grea t story o f thei r opposition , the y ca n equall y (o r better ) b e calle d 'Go d th e Father ' and 'Go d th e Son ' agai n - bu t no t merel y 'flesh ' an d mind-utteranc e now , bu t the impuls e toward s Onenes s wit h All , an d th e opposit e impuls e t o th e other , the 'neighbour' , whic h refine s th e self . Lawrenc e i s als o clea r no w tha t al l th e categories h e use s ar e finall y 'arbitrary , fo r th e purpos e o f thought'. 11 S o bot h 'male' an d 'female ' exis t an d conflic t withi n ever y ma n an d woman , a s wel l a s between them ; an d thoug h th e sexua l ac t i s a religiou s myster y 'fo r leapin g of f into th e unknown , a s fro m a cliff' s edge ' - mor e importan t tha n havin g children intercours e i s no t essentia l fo r layin g hol d o f th e 'beyond' , an d 'consummation' ma y tak e plac e i n th e spiri t a s well as the body . 'God th e Father ' i s immutable , stable , all-embracing , one . Lif e accordin g t o this La w i s a state of being i n togethernes s wit h al l created things ; an existenc e i n the flesh , i n sensation , linkin g u s wit h th e whol e natura l universe . Bu t equall y there operate s throughou t evolutio n th e opposit e forc e of'Go d th e Son' . Thi s i s the impuls e t o movemen t an d change , fro m bein g t o knowing , fro m undiffer entiated onenes s t o perceptio n o f not-self, definin g th e sel f against th e other . I t i s differentiation int o th e many : int o separation , distinc t self-awareness , though t and utterance , eve r mor e complet e individuation . Th e tw o impulse s ar e alway s in conflict , bu t th e conflic t i s th e groun d o f al l growth . Fro m ever y successiv e clash i s born a new dimensio n o f personal life , o r religion , o r art . Bu t beyon d th e Father an d th e So n i s th e Hol y Spirit . Beyon d sexua l conflic t i s consummation , opening u p a new world , a s wel l a s givin g me n an d wome n t o themselve s mor e completely. Ou t o f th e dualis m i n th e artis t i s created th e wor k o f art. Ther e ca n however b e n o stasis , onl y a never-endin g process . Th e whol e inne r histor y o f mankind, visibl e i n religio n an d art , i s continua l variatio n o n a n eterna l dialecti c which i s neve r complete , sinc e eac h ne w consummatio n lead s t o conflic t o n another level . Conflic t i s vital ; i f eithe r forc e become s to o dominan t th e consummation ma y b e partia l o r crippled . Battl e i s th e conditio n o f growth , bu t the ai m i s always t o come through , eve r beyond . All thi s i s no t merely , fo r Lawrence , a n idea-syste m i n hi s mind . Par t o f hi s 161
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excitement, a s h e stand s befor e Botticelli' s Mystic Nativity o r Raphael' s Madonna degli Ansidei\ o r a s h e finally turn s t o th e greates t o f Hardy' s novel s Tess of the d'Urbervilles an d Jude the Obscure, is to find hi s grea t opposite s 'there ' in interpretation s tha t ca n b e tested . Ther e i s o f cours e muc h mor e t o b e sai d about tha t bu t wha t seem s mor e immediatel y o f concer n t o biograph y i s how Lawrenc e believe d himsel f t o b e makin g sens e o f hi s ow n life , se x an d marriage. Fo r a s wel l a s bein g a testamen t o f creativit y i n a worl d apparentl y giving itsel f ove r t o destruction ; an d a wa y o f comin g t o term s wit h al l tha t h e felt abou t bein g broke , an d unabl e t o suppor t Frieda , an d a t odd s wit h nearl y everyone i n hi s 'city' , th e boo k wa s a n importan t clarificatio n o f hi s attitud e t o society now ; an d a vindicatio n o f hi s marriag e despit e al l th e crise s an d furie s that le d other s t o suppose i t could no t possibl y last . For o f cours e Murr y wa s righ t (thoug h perhap s i n a deepe r sens e tha n h e intended) tha t Lawrenc e idealise d hi s marriage . Indee d Nietzsch e ha d insiste d that al l philosoph y was 'th e confessio n o f it s originator , an d a specie s o f involuntary an d unconsciou s auto-biography ' - fro m whic h viewpoin t Lawrenc e was bein g mor e consciou s an d hones t tha n most , perhaps , i n callin g hi s attemp t to realis e hi s deepes t belief s (thinkin g i n images , a s befitted a n imaginativ e man ) 'a sor t o f Confession s o f m y Heart' 11 an d a 'Confessi o Fidei ' (ii . 235 , 243) . I f this wa s rationalisation, a s in a sense i t was, it was courageous rathe r tha n evasiv e or self-deceiving . Fo r conside r hi s acceptanc e o f uncomfortabl e insight s int o unalterable conditions ; an d ye t th e gaiet y wit h whic h a 'passionatel y religiou s man' contende d tha t thes e wer e th e sourc e o f growth , engendere d b y 'gods' , forces tha t mus t no t b e denied , i n himsel f o r others . H e kne w tha t hi s conflic t with Fried a woul d g o on, an d o n - an d ye t i t ha d demonstrabl y brough t abou t a whole ne w dimensio n o f hi s art . H e kne w tha t hi s wor k was separatin g hi m further fro m hi s societ y wit h eac h boo k - an d fo r someon e who , a s Constanc e Garnett ha d seen , alway s wante d t o b e a social success , thi s was n o smal l matter . His experienc e o f th e las t tw o year s ha d alread y mad e hi m perhap s a littl e to o willing t o se e relationship s almos t apar t fro m society , an d thi s tendenc y woul d grow. (I t i s significan t tha t h e show s n o interes t i n Hardy' s The Mayor of Casterbridge.) H e wa s whole-heartedl y agains t thi s materialis t an d imperialis t war, bu t ho w coul d a ma n wh o though t o f conflic t a s h e did , b e a pacifist ? H e had becom e a markedl y isolate d figure. Braves t o f al l wa s th e acceptanc e o f bisexuality i n himself , togethe r wit h th e insistenc e tha t thi s to o wa s a universa l and creativ e condition . Fa r fro m bein g a confessio n o f 'homosexuality ' a s opposed t o 'heterosexuality ' however , thi s wa s a challeng e t o bot h thes e categorisations, an d alread y containe d th e possibilit y o f creativ e sexua l relation ships between peopl e o f the sam e gender . When h e finally come s t o Tess an d Jfude, th e opposition s ar e first see n a s structural t o th e fictions - Tes s tor n apar t betwee n th e opposit e extreme s o f Alec 162
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and Angel , a s Jude betwee n Arabell a an d Su e - bu t the n internalise d withi n th e characters. Th e analysi s i s penetrating , an d generall y accurate , albei t rathe r lik e an X-ra y whic h pierce s t o th e underlyin g structure , bu t leave s muc h o f th e bod y of th e wor k shadowy , withou t th e comple x shift s o f Hardy' s narrativ e voic e moving throug h it s 'serie s o f seemings' , an d hi s sens e o f history . Interestingly , the progressio n i n th e thre e chapter s o n Hardy , first settin g peopl e agains t 'th e great background' , the n seein g the m i n term s o f thei r individualit y an d the n internalising th e opposition, i s also the developmen t o f his own fiction sinc e Sons and Lovers. Indeed , a s th e nex t month s woul d show , i t wa s hi s rereadin g an d thinking abou t Hard y tha t finally showe d hi m ho w t o tur n 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' into The Rainbow. In Abercrombie' s boo k o n Hard y (whic h Mars h ha d give n him) , i t wa s th e contention tha t 'Th e highes t ar t mus t hav e a metaphysic' 11 tha t ha d mos t interested Lawrence , thoug h h e cam e t o a ver y differen t accoun t o f wha t Hardy's was . Finally , however , hi s critiqu e o f hi s mos t admire d predecesso r focuses o n Hardy' s pessimism , whic h Abercrombi e ha d refuse d t o admit; an d o n the limitatio n (a s i t seeme d t o Lawrence ) o f Hardy' s sens e o f tragedy . Hi s ow n first novel s ha d bee n tragi c - h e to o ha d underline d passage s i n Schopenhauer . But, wit h Fried a i n Italy , an d increasingl y hereafter , th e youn g write r wh o ha d seen ' a traged y i n ever y cow ' ha d com e t o se e differently . Sons and Lovers ma y have bee n th e traged y o f thousand s o f youn g men , bu t i t ha d pointe d i n th e direction o f a n integratio n tha t coul d no t ye t b e achieve d withi n it . A s 'Th e Sisters' ha d turne d int o 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' th e visio n ha d clearl y becom e more positiv e - an d i n th e stories , th e wast e an d horro r cam e fro m nonrecogni tion o r denia l o f what migh t hav e bee n liberatin g an d creative . I n th e first par t o f the 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy' , now , Lawrenc e wa s critica l o f Hard y (an d Tolstoy) becaus e th e poppy-character s an d aristocrat s ar e defeate d no t b y universal forces , a s in th e Greeks , but merel y b y society . Bu t the n h e see s tha t i n late Hardy , a s i n Shakespeare , peopl e ar e destroye d b y inne r conflic t to o - ye t Hardy, whos e strengt h i s tha t o f Go d th e Father , seem s alway s prejudice d i n favour o f God th e Son . Finally , Lawrenc e seek s a historical explanation , i n term s of th e histor y o f th e spirit . Betwee n th e 'Foreword ' an d th e 'Hardy ' h e seem s t o have absorbe d a Joachite wa y o f lookin g a t th e evolutio n o f huma n conscious ness. Joachi m d e Fior e ha d see n huma n histor y a s a sequenc e o f epochs , culminating i n a moment o f reconciliation, whic h woul d inaugurat e th e Epoc h o f the Hol y Spirit. 11 Lawrence , too , see s bot h Ol d an d Ne w Testament , an d th e inner histor y o f mankin d eve r since , a s a replacemen t o f th e rul e o f Go d th e Father b y th e rul e o f Go d th e So n - a t th e en d o f whic h stand s Hardy , wh o cannot bu t se e 'Lov e i n conflic t wit h th e Law , an d onl y Deat h th e resultant , n o Reconciliation'. Ye t Lawrenc e believes , bot h abou t hi s marriag e an d hi s art , tha t he mus t striv e fo r th e Hol y Ghost , th e Comforter , tru e t o hi s ow n being , bu t 163
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giving himsel f wit h sufferin g an d jo y t o transformatio n b y hi s opposite , knowin g always the y ar e two , ye t two-in-one . Ou t o f thi s h e mus t striv e fo r th e 'suprem e art', whic h i s neither self-expression , no r th e pittin g o f th e sel f agains t th e othe r to th e submissio n o f one , bu t 'whic h know s th e struggl e betwee n th e tw o conflicting laws , an d know s th e final reconciliation , wher e bot h ar e equal , two in-one, complete. This i s the suprem e art , whic h ye t remain s t o be done.' 116 He woul d ai m fo r it , in turnin g 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' int o The Rainbow.
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No soone r ha d Lawrenc e finished 'Stud y o f Thomas Hardy ' toward s th e en d o f November 191 4 tha n h e too k 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' fro m th e drawer , no t t o ton e down th e lov e scene s bu t t o star t al l over again , wit h a new focu s o n wha t i t wa s about an d th e metaphysica l shap e i t ough t t o have . B y 3 Decembe r h e wa s already 'workin g frightfully har d - rewriting ' (ii . 239) , an d tw o day s later , whe n he sen t Ko t - who m h e ha d persuade d t o type th e 'Hardy ' - th e las t of it, h e als o sent Pinke r th e first 10 0 pages of The Rainbow (ii . 239 , 240). l He ha d though t hi s nove l complete , bu t sa t dow n t o i t no w i n a fermen t o f new ideas . Thinkin g abou t Hard y ha d show n hi m a better wa y t o begin : settin g his character s agains t a 'grea t background' , archetypa l ye t als o precisel y locate d in spac e an d dat e o n th e Notts-Derb y borderlan d h e kne w s o well . Then , lik e the late r Hardy , h e coul d g o o n t o internalis e th e conflic t o f 'Go d th e Father ' and 'Go d th e Son ' withi n individual s an d betwee n them , i n a mor e deepl y comparative stud y o f thre e generation s o f marriage . Th e 'Hardy ' woul d eve n suggest a new poin t a t whic h (o n secon d thoughts ) t o end . H e ha d foun d i n th e Bible wha t woul d becom e th e structur e o f hi s ow n book : 'Alway s th e threefol d utterance: th e declarin g o f the Go d see n approaching , th e raptur e o f contact, th e anguished jo y o f remembrance , whe n th e meetin g ha s passe d int o separation. ' He ha d cite d th e stor y o f David a s an exampl e o f the first phase , Solomo n o f th e second an d Jo b o f th e third ; an d explaine d ho w i n Solomon' s cas e raptur e turned int o ruptur e becaus e th e ma n wa s to o wea k an d th e woma n conquered . Yet becaus e ther e ha d bee n rea l contac t 'th e livin g thin g was conserved , kep t always aliv e an d powerful , bu t restrained , restricted , partial' . S o a s h e too k u p again hi s three-generatio n stor y (whic h ha d i n fac t bee n writte n backwards , wit h the grandparent s th e leas t developed) , h e coul d se e it s shap e mor e definitel y now: a beautiful bu t partia l 'Ol d Testament ' dominate d b y 'Go d th e Father' ; a world o f transitio n i n whic h fulfilmen t i s fuse d wit h failur e an d th e promise d
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land i s see n bu t no t entered ; an d a ne w worl d o f separatio n almos t unt o death , but retainin g i n extremit y th e memor y o f a n abidin g covenant . (I n th e Ne w Year, h e decide d t o remov e th e Birki n material , an d chang e wha t ha d bee n a happy endin g t o on e o f nea r tragedy , thoug h wit h th e promis e o f a ne w world. ) He sa w ho w t o expan d th e first tw o marriage s i n th e ligh t o f th e conflic t o f opposites, befor e finally re-shapin g th e stor y o f Ursul a - a s Ell a wa s no w renamed — an d Skrebensk y i n compariso n an d contrast . (Hence , eve n afte r cutting th e materia l tha t becam e Women in Love, The Rainbow wa s stil l longe r than T h e Weddin g Ring'. ) The increasin g self-consciousnes s i n Hardy' s character s (fro m th e Native t o Tess t o jfude), woul d gro w her e to o fro m generatio n t o generatio n - demon strating als o (especiall y i n Ursula ) hi s ne w conceptio n o f characte r a s 'allotropic' (ii . 183 ) an d changefu l unde r differin g pressures . Yet , h e felt , Hardy ha d no t see n clearl y wher e h e was going , an d ha d no t gon e fa r enough , the mos t liberatin g kin d o f affinity . Standin g o n Hardy' s shoulders , h e migh t see further . His min d was mor e filled wit h th e Bibl e tha n ever , wit h Christia n theologica l language suddenl y becom e meaningfu l i n ordinar y life ; wit h th e grea t storie s (Genesis, th e Flood , th e journeyin g Israelites , th e danc e o f David , th e fiery furnace, Lot' s wife , th e son s o f Go d an d th e daughter s o f men , th e meaning s of deat h an d rebirth ) t o b e retol d agai n an d agai n i n hi s story , a s reflecte d i n human experienc e betwee n 184 0 an d 1905 . Powerfu l symbol s ha d sprun g t o life i n th e 'Hardy' , whic h th e novelist' s imaginatio n migh t explor e wit h muc h greater complexit y i n term s o f huma n relationship . A whol e ne w scen e i n Lincoln Cathedra l woul d sprin g ou t o f a remar k abou t 'male ' an d 'female ' i n mediaeval cathedral s i n chapte r vn . Th e imager y o f th e axl e an d th e whee l i n chapters v i an d v n coul d b e pu t t o sensitiv e us e i n th e honeymoo n o f Ann a an d Will Brangwen . Th e polaritie s o f ligh t an d darkness , whic h h e ha d discusse d i n Rembrandt an d Turner , coul d become , alon g wit h th e phoeni x i n it s crucibl e of flame , a majo r symboli c structurin g fo r th e whol e novel . Th e colum n an d ellipse i n th e mediaeva l church , an d i n Raphael' s Madonna degli Ansidei, fus e with th e biblica l pillar s o f fire an d clou d t o exten d th e significanc e o f th e rainbow-arch. Here, i n th e struggl e o f criticis m an d fictive creation , rathe r tha n i n th e gossipy anecdote s retaile d b y friend s an d acquaintance s an d dutifull y repeate d by biographer s eve r since , wa s where th e deepes t lif e o f Lawrence i s to be foun d from earl y Septembe r t o Christmas . Partl y h e coul d escap e fro m a 'miserabl e world' int o a n imagine d one . Bu t ther e to o h e coul d lear n mor e abou t th e sources o f th e destructiveness , an d th e creativity , o f th e wa r i n hi s cottage , an d in th e worl d a t large .
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II Th e Las t o f th e Yea r Yet th e outsid e worl d wa s nonetheles s demandin g an d painful . Tw o day s afte r sending Pinke r th e firs t 10 0 page s o n 5 Decembe r - whic h imagin e Lydi a th e foreigner marryin g again , an d To m comin g t o term s wit h he r chil d - h e wen t with Fried a t o Nottingha m t o tr y t o rescu e th e situatio n abou t he r children . Sh e thought tha t i f sh e coul d mee t an d tal k t o Weekley , sh e coul d chang e hi s attitude. She onl y mad e thing s worse , onc e more . Sh e hope d tha t takin g hi m b y surprise migh t jol t he r ex-husban d ou t o f hi s se t positio n an d that , fac e t o face , some o f hi s ol d feelin g fo r he r migh t return . I t wa s anothe r ba d miscalculation . His hear t ha d hardene d - an d h e bitterl y resente d bein g ambushe d i n Nottingham, wher e sh e migh t b e recognised . H e canno t b e blame d to o much . She ha d wronge d hi m agai n an d agai n before , the n humiliate d an d disgrace d him b y runnin g awa y wit h Lawrence , an d h e though t th e scanda l mus t damag e his career . Sh e ha d plotte d t o se e th e childre n behin d hi s back , an d h e ha d bee n forced t o g o t o la w t o sto p her . Sh e ha d eve n burs t int o hi s hom e an d upse t hi s elderly mothe r an d hi s sister . Unde r hi s gentlemanl y an d cosmopolita n manne r there wer e stron g an d sometime s hysterica l feelings . H e ha d 'morals ' on hi s side . Yet h e wa s (apparently ) incapabl e o f imagining , o r carin g abou t he r sufferin g over th e children , o r o f allowing he r an y right s a t all , since th e la w gav e hi m th e power t o refuse . Retellin g Frieda' s account , Lawrenc e trie s t o hel p he r se e i t a s 'music-hall' melodrama ; bu t i t must hav e hur t he r intensely : 'You -' sai d the quondam husband, backing away - ' I hoped never to see you again.' Frieda: 'Yes - I know.' .. . Quondam Husband: Aren't you ashamed t o show your face where you are known? Isn't the commonest prostitute better than you? Frieda: Oh no. Quon. Husb.: Do yo u wan t to drive m e off th e fac e o f the earth, Woman? I s there no place where I can have peace? Frieda: You see I must speak to you about the children. Quon. Husb. : Yo u shal l not have the m - the y don' t wan t t o se e yo u .. . Don' t yo u know, m y solicitor s hav e instruction s t o arres t you , i f you attemp t t o interfer e wit h th e children. Frieda: I don't care. As Lawrenc e says , i t migh t hav e bee n funn y wer e i t no t altogethe r 'to o painful , dragging ou t fo r thre e years , as i t does ' (ii . 244) . Fried a add s i n a postscript tha t they wil l tr y t o g o bac k t o Ital y 'soon ' (ii . 245) / i f Methue n wil l pa y Lawrenc e for th e ne w Rainbow. Sh e ha s give n u p hope . On 1 8 Decembe r - bac k a t th e Triangle , afte r visitin g Ad a i n Riple y an d
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Garnett i n Londo n - h e sen t Pinke r anothe r io o pages , (ii . 240 , 245) Tw o day s later a n importan t lette r cam e ou t o f th e insigh t o f 'Hardy' . H e learne d tha t Campbell to o wa s writin g a novel , whic h wa s goin g t o en d wit h a suicide . Lawrence begge d hi m no t t o glorif y tha t 'fina l ac t o f egotis m an d vanity' , bu t t o think o f th e en d o f th e Boo k o f Job - wher e i n th e depth s o f sufferin g Jo b stil l recognises th e creativ e powe r o f Go d - an d als o o f th e grea t Christia n message , which i s no t deat h o n th e cros s bu t resurrectio n i n th e body . Thes e ar e th e perspectives agains t whic h traged y shoul d b e set . Moder n symbolis m i s al l subjective self-expression , bu t 'Th e othe r wa y is to tr y t o conceiv e th e Whole , t o build u p a Whole b y mean s o f symbolism , becaus e symbolis m avoid s th e I an d puts asid e th e egotist ; and , i n th e Whole , t o tak e ou r decen t place ' (ii . 247-8) . He ha d bee n readin g Mr s Jenner' s Christian Symbolism i n which , amon g othe r things, h e foun d th e graphi c illustratio n o f th e phoeni x whic h becam e hi s personal symbol , th e sig n o f th e continua l deat h an d renewa l o f th e self . Abov e all, h e insists , th e being s wh o ar e neares t God , th e Cherubim , 'ar e absorbe d forever i n fiery praise' . Novel s mus t b e followe d t o thei r ''biggest clos e - furthe r than death , t o the gladness ' (ii . 250) . Now Lawrenc e an d Fried a bega n t o prepar e fo r Christmas , t o tr y t o b e gla d even thoug h 'ver y disheartene d b y th e wa r an d everything ' (ii . 251) . The Britis h Expeditionary Force , a professiona l army , ha d suffere d heav y losse s a t Mon s and th e Marn e an d th e first battl e o f Ypres , an d no w th e entrenche d position s ran al l th e wa y fro m th e Vosge s Mountain s t o th e sea . Nobod y coul d believ e now tha t th e wa r woul d b e a short one . O n 1 6 December Lawrence' s predictio n about th e gun s cam e home , a s Germa n battle-cruiser s shelle d Scarborough , where th e Burrow s famil y use d t o holiday , an d wher e Lawrenc e ha d sen t Ell a and Gudru n i n 'Sister s IF . Kot wa s aske d t o brin g dow n tw o flasks o f Chiant i t o remin d the m o f las t Christmas i n Italy ; Lawrenc e mad e a ru m punch ; an d Fried a som e marzipa n Murry though t 'problematic' . Th e Lawrence s woul d hav e a part y o n Christma s Eve, followe d b y dinne r a t th e Cannans ' o n Christma s Day . 'W e mad e th e cottage splendi d wit h holl y an d mistletoe' , Fried a remembered , 'w e cooke d an d boiled, roaste d an d baked . Campbel l an d Koteliansk y an d th e Murry s came , an d Gertler an d th e Cannans. ' Gilber t san g ' I feel , I fee l lik e a n eagl e i n th e sky' ; Koteliansky hi s Hebre w psalm ; Katherin e 'wit h a long , ridiculou s face ' a mock mournful son g abou t bein g a n unluck y man , an d 'Ton strop est douxy Madeleine'' - whic h Lawrenc e wouldn' t le t Fried a sin g afterwards , becaus e (sh e says ) i t wa s 'too "fast " fo r him . Thi s was th e las t tim e fo r year s t o com e tha t w e wer e reall y gay.' Bu t a drunke n Murr y - wh o ha d bee n tol d b y Fried a tha t Lawrence' s novel wa s 'great' , an d 'ha d Marlow e an d Fieldin g i n a n accoun t o f a genuin e English wedding' , reacte d i n sudde n jealou s belligerence . H e note d nex t morning tha t whe n Lawrenc e sai d ther e wa s more t o writing novels tha n creatin g 170
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characters, ' I hav e a n alread y vagu e recollectio n o f flingin g u p m y arm s an d telling hi m tha t whe n h e ha d create d a character I woul d tak e of f m y ha t t o hi m - "severa l time s a day". ' Bu t a t th e en d the y danced , Gertle r vigorousl y whil e the other s stampe d an d shoute d - afte r whic h h e talke d ' a lon g Yiddis h rigmarole' al l the wa y home t o hi s lodgings . Murry's relationshi p wit h Katherin e was o n th e rocks . O n th e 18t h sh e ha d found tha t woundin g remar k i n his diary , and ha d writte n i n he r own : That decide s m e - tha t free s me . I'l l pla y thi s gam e n o longer . I create d th e situation . ['Make me your mistress' , she had said. ] Very well , I'll d o the othe r thin g wit h moderate care, and before i t is too late. That's all. He has made me feel lik e a girl. I've loved , loved just lik e an y girl , - but I' m no t a girl , an d thes e feeling s ar e no t mine . Fo r hi m I am hardly anythin g excep t a gratification an d a comfort .. . Jack , Jack, w e are no t goin g t o stay together .. . I am far away, and different fro m wha t you think. It was wonderfu l weathe r fo r Christma s - 'frost y clea r an d col d al l day , th e white fros t pin k i n th e bar e hedges' . Murr y wen t t o th e Lawrences ' i n th e morning t o ge t Chines e lanterns , an d cu t som e newl y yello w gors e wit h Katherine i n th e afternoon . Bu t a t th e Cannans ' party , despit e th e fine dining table wit h it s bes t line n an d glass , thing s wen t awry . Ther e wa s a gloom y beginning. Murr y wa s consciou s o f hostilit y betwee n hi m an d Gertle r (perhap s because Katherin e seeme d intereste d i n him) ; th e Lawrence s wer e late ; an d nobody coul d carv e th e roas t suckling-pig . Murr y 'go t u p an d san g stentoria n French song s a t th e table' , an d drin k loose d inhibitio n rathe r dangerously . Th e Cannans enjoye d actin g i n playlet s a s muc h a s th e Lawrence s thei r charades . Gertler, Gilber t an d Katherin e di d a music-hal l sketch ; afte r whic h Gertler , Katherine, Lawrenc e an d Fried a di d a playle t 'Drive n fro m Home ' - 'ver y badly', say s Murry . Next , Murry , hur t a t no t havin g bee n picke d an d no w 'ver y drunk', suggeste d on e wit h himself , Gilber t an d Mary : ' a crue l psychologica l murder', i n whic h h e playe d 'wit h a n intens e conviction' . The n Kot' s tal k abou t 'a pla y withi n a play' , gav e Murr y th e ide a fo r ye t anothe r i n whic h h e coul d dramatise hi s an d Katherine' s privat e situation , castin g Mar k Gertle r a s th e 'sentimental foreigner ' - i.e . Carc o - who m sh e ha d ' a sentimenta l desir e t o comfort', bu t scriptin g als o her retur n t o himself . Bu t whe n i t cam e t o th e point , Katherine refuse d t o obe y th e scrip t an d continue d makin g u p t o Gertle r who , with hi s curly hea d an d cheru b face , wa s always excitable - eve n whe n no t drun k and missin g Dor a Carrington , fo r who m h e ha d a n unrequite d passion . H e wrot e her: 'Gilber t Cannan' s part y wa s mos t extraordinaril y exciting . Katherin e an d myself - bot h ver y drun k - mad e passionat e lov e t o eac h othe r i n fron t o f everybody! An d everybod y wa s drun k too . N o on e kne w whethe r t o tak e i t a s a joke o r scanda l . . . ' Lawrenc e wa s furious . H e 'indignantl y interrupte d th e drama' - say s Murr y - 'hustle d m e aside , an d aske d m e wit h intens e an d 171
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passionate severity : u was I blind?". I f not, ho w di d I dare t o expose myself ? "It' s not a s thoug h w e didn' t lov e yo u . . . " Bu t I was no t blin d a t all. ' Katherin e moreover ha d go t insid e he r role . Whe n Lawrenc e too k he r t o tas k abou t he r behaviour wit h Gertler : 'Yo u don' t lov e him' ; sh e woul d onl y sa y 'Ye s I do , I do'; an d Fried a crie d 'I'l l neve r spea k t o yo u again . Yo u lea d tha t youn g ma n on'. Gertle r burs t int o tear s o f self-reproach. Fried a aske d hi m t o danc e wit h he r but h e wouldn't . S o she dance d alone. 1 It wa s a Dostoevskya n evening ; a grotesqu e contras t wit h Christma s a t Fiascherino. In th e trenches , soldier s fro m bot h side s ha d fraternise d i n no-man's-lan d . . . for a little while . Before th e en d o f Januar y th e Lawrence s wer e t o leav e th e Triangle ; i n another thre e week s Katherine wa s in France , an d Murr y alone . Ill A
M a n Writin g
Meanwhile, Lawrence' s creativ e lif e ra n swif t an d newl y sur e o f direction, a s th e pile o f lon g typescrip t page s o f 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' wer e steadil y replace d b y the smalle r handwritte n page s of The Rainbow. If we loo k ove r hi s shoulder , w e can se e way s in whic h th e fictive worl d migh t relate t o th e ma n imaginin g - withou t playin g hi s creativ e imaginatio n fals e b y crude idea s about 'sources' , or simpl e extrapolation s o f literature t o life. (Literar y criticism i s somethin g els e again. ) Lawrenc e ofte n wrot e bes t whe n hi s imagina tion too k of f fro m rea l peopl e an d settings ; thoug h i n growin g backwards , thi s novel ha d steadil y move d awa y fro m him. Perhap s w e shoul d as k ho w bot h th e typescript o n on e sid e o f th e tabl e (mos t o f whic h w e canno t ala s mak e out ) an d the growin g pil e o f manuscrip t o n th e other , cam e t o b e imagine d i n way s relatively fre e o f persona l pressure s - s o enablin g hi m al l th e bette r t o use , clarify, an d deepe n now , th e insight s o f his 'Hardy' . We d o no t kno w ho w muc h ther e was abou t Ella' s grandparent s i n 'Th e Wedding Ring' , bu t th e timeles s prelud e o f th e Brangwe n me n an d wome n with whic h th e nove l no w open s coul d no t hav e bee n writte n befor e Lawrenc e had graspe d hi s Opposites , an d th e importanc e o f settin g character s agains t a great background . A s w e the n imagin e hi m da y afte r da y a t Chesham , refocusing an d expandin g th e stor y o f To m an d Lydi a Brangwen , an d he r littl e daughter Anna , i t mus t hav e bee n wit h a muc h cleare r an d deepe r sens e no w of th e natur e o f thei r conflicts , an d thei r marriage . A t th e sam e tim e h e was also testing hi s ne w theoretica l metaphysi c agains t th e concretel y imagine d lif e of thi s man , thi s woman , thi s child . H e wrot e steadil y an d fast , a t a n averag e rate o f seve n page s a da y - muc h mor e sometimes , give n th e preparation s fo r Christmas. 172
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We mus t remembe r however , i n guessin g a t origin s an d development , th e testimony o f al l creativ e writers : ho w th e imaginatio n transform s whateve r it s starting-point ma y hav e been , ho w scene s tak e shap e an d character s pul l wit h their ow n life , ho w on e goe s t o be d an d wake s u p wit h a whole episod e i n min d that seem s t o hav e com e fro m nowhere , o r ho w on e suddenl y sees - fo r th e firs t time - wha t on e ha d bee n drivin g a t i n thos e earlie r pages , tha t ca n no w b e thrown away . In 'Th e Weddin g Ring' , Lawrenc e ha d alread y give n To m a foreig n wife , a Pole;15 bu t th e Brangwe n far m wa s par t o f a landscap e h e kne w ver y well . Th e mother o f Loui e Burrow s - h e woul d kee p he r name , Anna , i n hi s stor y - ha d been brough t u p o n a far m jus t outsid e th e villag e o f Cossall . Whe n Lawrenc e began t o visi t Louie , he r parents , Alfre d an d Ann a Burrows , an d thei r bi g famil y were livin g (a s hi s 'Anna ' an d 'Will ' woul d do ) i n a cottag e betwee n Cossal l Church an d th e Paris h Room . Ever y tim e h e wen t t o se e Loui e h e passe d th e Marsh Farm , flanked b y th e Midlan d Railway , th e Nottingha m Cana l an d it s viaduct, an d watche d ove r b y th e towe r o f Ilkesto n church . T o imagin e a youn g Notts farmer , bor n jus t befor e 184 0 t o a family whic h ha d farme d ther e 'fo r ove r two hundre d years' , wa s t o mak e possibl e a fusio n o f loca l histor y wit h biblica l myth, i n a n actua l landscap e wel l known , love d an d remembered . (Whe n th e story begins , Th e Mars h i s stil l tucke d awa y i n a pre-industrial borderland , bu t canal, railwa y an d collier y hav e alread y impinge d o n th e consciousnes s o f th e Brangwens, an d th e entr y int o histor y wil l b e on e o f th e majo r theme s o f th e book.) 16 However, t o make Ella' s grandmothe r no t merel y a stranger, bu t a foreigner, a Pole, wa s t o emphasis e th e importanc e o f th e transformatio n o f th e sel f a t th e hands o f th e strangel y Othe r (o r pola r opposite) , whic h Lawrenc e ha d com e t o see a s th e essenc e o f marriage . H e coul d the n tak e advantag e o f usefu l element s in Frieda' s background . He r mothe r was als o name d Anna . He r father' s mothe r was a Polis h Countess , an d her mothe r ha d bee n a Skrebensky . Th e vo n Richthofen estate s ha d bee n i n 'Polish ' Silesia . Frieda' s fathe r an d grandfathe r had gamble d ruinously , an d th e storie s Lydi a tell s To m hav e thei r sourc e i n vo n Richthofen famil y scandal . Ther e i s n o tellin g ho w muc h o f The Rainbow^ Lydia wa s alread y ther e i n 'Th e Weddin g Ring' , bu t th e imaginativ e potentia l seems clear . T o imagin e a n 'elemental ' ancesto r wa s t o b e abl e t o concentrat e o n certain thing s Lawrenc e value d i n his foreig n wife : he r 'strangeness' , he r mysterious religiou s sens e withou t a creed, he r ruthles s strippin g o f pretenc e (a s when Lydi a accuse s To m o f denyin g her ) an d th e liberatin g carelessnes s t o b e developed stil l furthe r i n he r daughter . A t th e sam e time , b y imaginin g a nineteenth-century refugee , thes e coul d b e free d fro m al l th e othe r complexitie s and pressure s o n hi m o f th e ver y rea l moder n woman , readin g o n th e be d upstairs. 173
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By callin g Tom' s wif e Lydia , howeve r - wheneve r h e di d s o - Lawrenc e als o privately signalle d tha t he r marriag e was th e lates t an d perhap s th e mos t powerful re-imaginin g o f th e first par t o f Sons and Lovers. Fo r Lydi a wa s hi s mother's name , an d th e littl e figure i n black who m To m see s on th e roa d outsid e Cossethay act s ou t a n alternativ e scenario , brough t no w a t las t int o full y diagnostic focus . Wherea s Mr s Morel , havin g bee n attracte d t o he r opposite , then destroye d hi m b y tryin g t o mak e hi m ove r i n he r terms , thi s i s finally th e story o f a marriage i n whic h eac h prove s no t onl y abl e t o recognis e an d reverenc e the othernes s o f th e othe r {and of th e child) ; bu t eve n t o 'die ' themselves , int o new life , throug h sexua l relationship . I n thei r betrotha l - tha t elementa l scen e i n which, thoug h hardl y anythin g ca n b e said, a kiss can brin g abou t a kind o f deat h and a rebirt h int o a ric h ne w lif e - Lawrenc e clarifie s th e essenc e o f hi s marriage-of-opposites i n realise d huma n terms . Th e centra l insight s o f 'Odou r of Chrysanthemums ' an d 'Daughter s o f th e Vicar ' - The Prussian Officer ha d been publishe d o n 2 9 November 17 - ar e re-embodie d i n a ne w contex t whic h (after 'Hardy' ) ca n explor e bot h conflic t an d creativity , an d understan d mor e deeply th e failur e o f hi s parents ' marriage , an d th e condition s fo r succes s i n hi s own. Her e to o i s the 'Hardy ' perspectiv e o n wha t i s essential i n huma n existence : man an d woma n meetin g agains t th e grea t backgroun d o f universa l forces ; the n journeying togethe r acros s a vas t landscape . The y see m tin y figures i n tha t aspect, ye t (fo r Lawrence ) the y ca n la y hol d o n eternit y throug h marriage , achievement enoug h t o give value t o any huma n life . Tom Brangwe n wa s probabl y first imagine d a s a combinatio n o f th e youn g Alan Chamber s - wh o ha d attracte d Lawrenc e a t first t o Th e Hagg s mor e strongly tha n Jessi e - wit h a n idealise d versio n o f hi s fathe r o r perhap s grandfather a s a youn g ma n wit h a n incipien t drinkin g proble m throug h frustration. (I n anothe r aspect , unlik e The White Peacock this wa s t o be a Georg e Saxton wh o woul d find th e woma n throug h who m h e coul d grow. ) Th e ne w metaphysic require d a characte r ver y differen t fro m himself : a Brangwe n ma n who was mainl y impelle d b y 'Go d th e Father' , onl y wit h a n inarticulat e longin g in him , bor n o f 'Go d th e Son' . Thu s liberate d fro m autobiography , however , Lawrence wa s al l th e free r t o explor e a situatio n tha t cam e clos e t o his , bu t wa s different enoug h no t t o b e inhibiting . To m an d Lydi a ar e th e sam e age s a s Lawrence an d Fried a i n 191 3 whe n h e bega n 'Th e Weddin g Ring' . Wha t i s i t like t o b e marrie d t o a n olde r woman , wh o ha s bee n marrie d before ; wh o sometimes compare s yo u wit h he r first husban d unflatteringly , thoug h h e neve r really satisfie d her ; an d wh o sometime s want s yo u an d sometime s doe s not ? What is the effec t o n a woman o f losin g he r children ? Suppos e sh e ha d custod y of a daughter fro m th e first marriag e - ho w woul d on e com e t o term s wit h that ? (Perhaps sh e coul d b e imagine d a s lik e Fried a whe n sh e was a littl e girl , wit h hair lik e a halo . . . 18 ) 174
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Above all , h e coul d no w continuall y clarify , deepe n an d expan d th e earlie r work, pag e afte r page , becaus e hi s 'Hardy ' helpe d hi m t o see , behin d Tom' s problems an d conflict s wit h Lydi a an d he r child , th e fundamenta l conflic t o f 'God th e Father ' wit h 'Go d th e Son' : th e impuls e t o togethernes s wit h a love r and wit h al l natur e throug h th e senses , i n unit y an d stability ; th e opposin g impulse t o separat e consciousness , definin g itsel f agains t al l tha t i s not-self , i n individuation an d change . I f To m an d Lydi a wer e th e las t o f th e majo r characters t o arrive , the y becam e th e firs t opportunit y t o clarif y wha t mad e fo r a creative marriage o f opposites. After revise d stories , too, Lawrence coul d explor e with greate r complexit y wha t i t mean t t o reverenc e th e myster y o f th e 'other ' (contrast Elizabet h Bates ) befor e i t was to o late , an d abov e al l wha t wa s involved i n 'dying ' t o th e sel f an d int o ne w lif e (compar e Alfre d an d Louisa ) which a treatise coul d no t do . Afte r 'Hardy' , h e coul d reshap e thi s first marriag e into a n imaginativ e experienc e o f a n Ol d Testamen t world , containin g th e grea t mythic patterns : Genesis ; th e Journe y toward s th e promise d lan d behin d th e pillars o f fir e an d cloud ; Noah' s Floo d an d th e covenan t o f th e rainbow . H e could re-interpre t th e theologica l languag e o f Christianity , s o tha t baptism , confirmation, crucifixion , resurrection , transfiguration , coul d b e see n t o tak e place i n everyda y huma n life . I n Tom , Lydi a an d littl e Ann a h e coul d brin g ou t the ful l resonanc e o f what h e ha d see n i n th e Botticelli an d Raphae l hol y families , and th e 'sens e o f th e Whole ' o f Fr a Angelico ; an d explor e th e ne w imager y o f phoenix, column , arch , threshol d an d doorway . Th e religiou s impuls e o f th e 'passionately religiou s man ' coul d fin d it s firs t ful l expression , no t alway s t o th e taste o f irreligious moder n readers , but unquestionabl y venturin g int o a 'Hinter land de r Seele ' o r fiel d o f forc e (i n it s ow n languag e a 'beyond' ) whic h Fried a had fel t lackin g i n Sons and Lovers, an d fo r whic h Futurist s an d Vorticist s ha d also fel t th e need , withou t (Lawrenc e thought ) bein g abl e t o conceiv e i t i n satisfactory terms . There wer e som e danger s als o i n th e ver y excitemen t an d forc e o f Lawrence' s newly worke d ou t philosophy , an d hi s ne w conceptio n o f character , subvertin g 'the ol d stabl e ego ' wit h a sens e o f subconsciousnes s an d flux . Fo r idea s ar e o f little significanc e i n a novel unles s the y ca n b e convincingl y embodied . Becaus e the character s canno t b e articulatel y aware , themselves , o f wha t i s happenin g within them , th e voicin g o f th e deepes t inne r dimension s ha s t o b e authorial . Combine thi s wit h a n urg e t o expoun d significan t ne w ideas , an d a n upsurg e o f religious feelin g - whic h ha d mad e th e Bibl e an d th e languag e o f Christianit y seem newl y relevant , s o that h e migh t almos t fee l h e was rewritin g th e ol d sacre d history int o a ne w on e fo r th e twentiet h century , a ne w pros e fo r 'God ' - an d there come s a dange r o f religiosit y an d linguisti c inflation . Thes e ca n b e effectively countere d b y dramatisation , int o convincin g experienc e o f thi s man , this woman , thi s child ; bu t Lawrence' s succes s i n doin g s o i s fo r ever y reade r t o 175
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judge. I n anothe r direction , hi s increasin g isolatio n fro m societ y i n bot h lif e an d philosophy, now , i s havin g it s effect . Occasionall y on e i s awar e o f a village , a town, bu t th e worl d i s tha t o f th e Mars h Far m almos t exclusively . Eve n there , rural unres t an d Chartis m ar e nowher e t o b e seen , thoug h stron g i n Notting hamshire i n th e 1840s . W e neve r se e Tom' s labourers , thoug h on e o r tw o ar e mentioned. (I n th e nove l a s w e hav e it , eve n th e experienc e o f Tom workin g hi s land i s lessene d b y cuttin g th e manuscript' s ploughin g scene. ) Al l thi s heightens th e sens e o f th e archetypal , an d i s appropriat e t o th e historica l development of consciousness Lawrenc e wishe s t o show - bu t i t also speaks of th e Lawrence o f 191 4 rathe r mor e tha n o f actua l farmin g lif e o n th e Notts-Derb y border i n th e secon d hal f o f the nineteent h century. 21 By 1 8 Decembe r h e sen t Pinke r anothe r 10 0 pages . Th e chapte r the n calle d 'Haste t o th e Wedding ' begin s o n M S 199 , an d th e 'genuin e Englis h wedding ' was finished befor e 2 3 December . B y 5 January, stil l i n Chesham , h e ha d don e 300 pages , and i t i s clear tha t th e nove l ha d becom e ver y differen t from , an d no t merely a n expansio n of , 'Th e Weddin g Ring' . 'It'l l b e a ne w sor t o f m e fo r yo u to ge t used t o . . . I' m afraid , whe n Methue n get s the Rainbow, he'l l wonde r wha t changeling i s foiste d o n him . Fo r i t is different fro m m y othe r work . I a m ver y glad wit h it . I am comin g int o m y ful l feathe r a t last , I think' (ii . 255) . The imaginin g o f Ann a a s a gir l mus t hav e bee n fuelled , a t leas t i n it s beginnings, bot h b y memorie s o f Ad a (ther e i s som e resemblanc e t o Letti e i n The White Peacock) an d b y Frieda' s memorie s o f herself , fo r th e episod e o f th e rosary i s slightl y od d fo r Protestan t Nottinghamshir e bu t ver y suggestiv e o f a convent-educated gir l i n Metz . Lawrenc e mus t als o hav e hear d Ann a Burrow s talk o f her girlhoo d a t Th e Mars h an d a t schoo l i n Nottingha m - h e wa s goo d a t getting peopl e t o tal k abou t themselves . Wha t i s certai n (becaus e o f Louie' s subsequent distress ) ' i s tha t th e youn g coupl e wh o se t u p hous e i n th e cottag e beside th e churc h wer e instantl y recognisabl e a s havin g sprun g fro m Alfre d an d Anna Burrow s o f Church Cottage , Cossall . Lawrenc e recreated , i n Will , Alfred' s temperament an d hi s peculia r 'clapping ' laugh , hi s passio n fo r architectur e an d art, hi s wood-carvin g an d metalwork , hi s devotio n t o th e littl e churc h o f whic h he wa s organist an d ho w hi s evenin g classe s i n woodwor k le d t o a n appointmen t as Handcraft Instructo r fo r th e ne w Count y Educatio n Departmen t i n Leicester shire, where th e famil y move d an d wher e Lawrenc e visite d the m i n Quorn . Yet th e significanc e o f al l thi s i s no t it s 'sources ' i n life , bu t it s imaginativ e liberation. Here , eve n mor e tha n wit h To m an d Lydia , th e creatio n o f a coupl e who ar e not Lawrence an d Fried a allowe d hi s imaginatio n freel y t o explor e som e of thei r ow n deepes t problems . H e coul d us e episode s fro m hi s life , lik e th e argument wit h Loui e an d he r parent s abou t ho w muc h mone y i s neede d t o ge t engaged - an d coul d als o pu t som e o f himself int o th e youn g Wil l an d the n loo k at it : th e hobbledehoynes s an d enthusiasti c talk , th e interes t i n art , th e ho t 176
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temper h e share d wit h Alfre d Burrows , th e obsessiveness , abov e al l th e dee p uncertainty o f sel f (behin d surfac e egotism ) whic h produce s bot h Will' s readiness t o abando n himself , bu t als o his fastenin g ont o Anna , an d hi s difficult y in standin g alone . Her e Lawrenc e wa s abl e t o loo k a t wha t humiliate d an d infuriated hi m mos t abou t himsel f an d hi s marriage , an d brin g ou t somethin g o f the miser y h e fel t whe n th e woma n h e neede d a t th e bac k o f hi m withdrew . Fo r there i s als o muc h o f Fried a i n Anna' s self-sufficien t egotism , he r unwillingnes s to commi t herself , he r splendi d carelessness , he r aggression , he r ruthles s attac k on he r husband' s idea s fro m th e stanc e o f common sense , her obsessio n wit h he r children an d he r motherhoo d - thoug h i t wa s Ann a Burrow s wh o ha d ha d al l those children . However , Lawrenc e wa s als o free d t o imagine , now , th e satisfactions a s wel l a s th e danger s o f preferrin g motherhoo d an d domesticit y t o the onwar d voyag e of the soul . Yet, on e repeats , thi s i s merel y t o sugges t starting-point s fo r th e creativ e writer, an d henc e somethin g o f th e comple x excitemen t o f tha t writin g lif e a t Chesham which , da y b y day , proceede d t o fill thos e outlines , an d pursu e thos e characters whereve r the y pulled . I n th e courtin g scen e i n th e moonli t cornfiel d (which coul d no t hav e bee n shape d befor e 1914 ) th e opposite s cam e rhythmi cally an d dramaticall y t o lif e i n huma n actio n - embodyin g no w wha t Lawrenc e had trie d t o explai n t o Garnett , ho w huma n being s respon d belo w th e leve l o f 'the ol d stabl e ego ' t o universa l 'forces' , tha t ye t remai n profoundl y non mechanical, unlik e th e conception s o f th e Futurists . I n imaginin g th e honey moon, detail s fro m lif e (Ann a stayin g i n bed , careles s abou t spil t te a o n th e pillow) coul d fus e wit h a n extraordinar y imaginativ e experienc e o f security an d peace a t th e stil l centr e o f th e vortex , th e hu b o f th e wheel , th e hear t o f a worl d in flux (a s a t Beuerberg) . Lawrenc e mus t hav e fel t everythin g comin g together , with grea t conviction . Ye t th e convictio n fo r a reader ha s onc e again t o li e also i n the realisatio n o f th e difficult y o f marriage : th e clas h o f temperaments ; th e dramatic battle s o f wil l whic h pi t 'his ' overdependen t pressur e agains t 'her ' self guarding resistance ; 'her ' compulsiv e motherhoo d agains t 'his ' shamin g nee d o f her i n orde r t o pro p an d sta y himself . Her e agai n i s the importanc e o f Lawrenc e the novelist. Fo r th e theor y o f th e marriag e o f opposite s was surel y to o simpl y optimistic a s it appeared i n 'L e Ga i Savaire' ? Thoug h i t acknowledged tha t som e selves coul d inhibi t thei r ow n growt h an d g o rotte n o r pla y touch-and-g o wit h death, i t ha d no t show n ho w th e marriag e o f opposite s coul d lea d t o mutual damage, o r eve n destruction , a s wel l a s t o creativity . Tha t discover y i n The Rainbow i s mad e throug h constan t compariso n an d contras t betwee n th e generations, s o tha t th e reade r ca n se t th e betrotha l scen e o f To m an d Lydia , and th e subsequen t readines s o f eac h t o di e t o th e other , agains t th e partia l frustration a t the en d o f the corn-stackin g scene , and wha t i t turn s int o whe n th e pregnant Ann a dance s hersel f t o he r Lor d agains t th e shadow y importunat e ma n 177
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in th e doorway . Bu t these , too , onl y gai n thei r effec t throug h th e realisti c sequence o f tensions , quarrel s an d reconciliation s th e youn g coupl e experience , to whic h th e experienc e o f Lawrenc e wit h Fried a ha s contribute d an d i s contributing - bu t i n whic h h e i s required t o imagin e Anna' s vie w a s powerfull y as Will's. So, betwee n 1 8 Decembe r an d 5 January , Lawrenc e reshape d th e middl e generation o f 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' int o a ful l compariso n an d contras t wit h th e world o f To m an d Lydia , summin g u p th e contras t (unde r th e sig n o f th e rainbow) a t th e en d o f th e chapte r calle d 'Ann a Victrix' . Then , however , h e produced a whol e ne w lea p o f imagination : th e scen e i n Lincol n cathedral . H e clearly wante d t o stan d back , an d - havin g explore d th e comple x an d fluctuating story o f th e tw o individual s - t o se t i t onc e mor e agains t th e perspectiv e o f 'th e Whole', a s h e ha d insiste d tru e ar t ha d t o do . Thi s mean t imaginin g a kin d o f echo chambe r i n whic h 'Go d th e Son ' coul d onc e agai n confron t 'Go d th e Father' essentially , bu t i n a n encompassin g visio n o f Go d th e Hol y Spirit , fairl y allowing eac h it s measur e an d it s kin d o f truth . So , buildin g o n a n asid e abou t cathedrals i n 'Hardy' , h e give s imaginativ e expressio n t o th e unitar y vision , th e ecstatic self-abandonmen t t o a n inclusiv e whol e i n Will , an d th e driv e t o multiplicity, distinctio n an d freedo m o f th e separat e an d consciou s sel f i n Anna , as th e opposit e response s t o Lincol n cathedra l conflic t wit h eac h other . (I n Lawrence's religiou s visio n th e deepes t driv e i n Ann a i s als o 'godly'. ) H e als o wanted t o recognis e th e openin g u p o f new horizon s i n th e secon d generation , a s well a s thei r partia l failur e an d destructivenes s a s compare d wit h th e first . A s Will an d Ann a argu e abou t ar t an d religion , the y hav e becom e awar e o f dimensions tha t wer e close d t o thei r parent s i n thei r 'Ol d Testament ' world . The youn g coupl e ar e movin g int o nineteenth-centur y histor y an d conscious ness: product s o f th e industria l revolutio n an d th e star t o f th e revolutio n i n education, an d o f th e declin e o f Christianit y i n th e fac e o f scienc e an d rationa l scepticism. 28 Ye t th e greate r dimension s o f consciousnes s see m no t onl y t o heighten th e conflic t withi n an d betwee n th e lovers , bu t als o threate n t o chang e creativity int o destruction . Wha t bega n i n th e moonli t cornfiel d open s u p it s dangers: th e over-assertivenes s o f Wil l no w meet s activ e antagonis m i n Anna , and th e conflic t i s permanentl y damaging , a s sh e begin s no t jus t t o withhol d herself, now , bu t t o weake n somethin g i n him . Ther e i s mor e t o marr y tha n i n the earlie r generation , bu t marriag e seem s therefor e t o hav e becom e mor e difficult. Lawrenc e i s posin g th e challeng e t o himsel f an d Frieda , wit h ne w clarity. (Th e whol e natur e an d exten t o f hi s developmen t sinc e Sons and Lovers might b e encapsulate d i n th e differenc e betwee n thi s chapte r an d th e visi t o f Paul an d Mr s More l t o th e sam e cathedral. ) Between 5 an d 2 0 January , stil l a t Chesham , h e finishe d thre e mor e shor t chapters: 'Th e Child ' (thoug h withou t th e secon d hal f w e hav e now) , 'Th e 178
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Marsh an d th e Flood' , an d 'Th e Widenin g Circle' . Bu t first , o n 7 January , sending th e thir d hundre d page s t o Pinker , h e announce d a majo r decision : t o split th e wor k i n two , removin g th e whol e o f Ella/Ursula' s relationshi p wit h Birkin an d Gudrun' s wit h Geral d an d Loerke , an d savin g thes e fo r a continua tion whic h woul d becom e Women in Love. Thi s show s ho w muc h h e ha d adde d to 'Th e Weddin g Ring'. 29 '[I] t wa s s o unwieldy . I t need s t o b e i n tw o volumes ' (ii. 256) . Moreover , it s endin g ha d bee n optimisti c fo r Ella , an d eve n fo r Gudrun, afte r disaste r an d failur e i n thei r earlie r relationships . Bu t th e 'three fold' shap e whic h 'Hardy ' ha d see n i n th e Bibl e ha d ende d i n tragi c severance , though retainin g 'th e anguishe d jo y o f remembrance , whe n th e meetin g ha s passed int o separation' . I n it s contras t o f th e secon d generatio n wit h th e firs t th e cathedral chapter , jus t written , implie s tha t th e thir d pai r o f lovers , wit h eve n greater consciousness , migh t fin d i t harde r stil l t o marr y thei r oppositions . Although th e Whol e migh t stil l poin t toward s fulfilment , removin g Ursula' s relationship wit h Birki n mean t tha t The Rainbow itsel f woul d hav e th e curv e o f tragedy - bu t fo r th e covenan t symbolise d i n it s title and centra l image . Now 'Th e Child ' reverse s th e gende r o f th e sons-and-lover s theme : t o sho w how th e partia l failur e o f a marriag e make s a fathe r s o tur n t o hi s daughte r tha t he bot h stir s he r int o consciousnes s to o early , an d exploit s he r a s a substitut e 'lover' i n dangerou s ways . Lawrence coul d brin g togethe r - th e mor e powerfull y and clearl y becaus e impersonall y no w - hi s understandin g o f what ha d happene d to himself , an d o f Louie' s difficult relatio n wit h he r father , an d perhap s als o Frieda's wit h th e Baron , sinc e th e episod e o f th e gardenin g bega n fro m a childhood memor y o f hers . Lawrenc e like d an d was ver y goo d wit h children ; and h e mus t hav e wondere d (sinc e a scar e i n Waldbrol ) abou t bein g a fathe r himself; thoug h ther e ha d bee n les s tha n a month , s o far , i n whic h a chil d o f theirs coul d hav e bee n bot h legitimat e an d affordable . H e ha d though t a goo d deal abou t ho w childre n shoul d b e treated . Wherea s To m respect s th e child being o f littl e Anna , holdin g bac k fro m burdenin g he r wit h hi s needs , ther e i s something ver y damagin g i n th e way s tha t Wil l make s hi s chil d a substitut e fo r his withdraw n wife . (Wha t Lawrenc e sai d t o Murr y abou t havin g t o accep t th e 'mortification' o f a wife' s occasiona l withdrawal , a s To m di d wit h Lydia , gain s new point. ) 'The Mars h an d th e Flood ' allow s a n imaginativ e fusio n o f loca l histor y wit h biblical myth . Th e floo d actuall y happened , remembere d b y Louie' s mothe r with fear , an d mad e rea l b y Lawrence' s imagination ; bu t i n th e nove l i t also, as in th e Bible , separate s a n 'old ' worl d finall y fro m a ne w one . Only , th e worl d which i s drowne d wa s no t wicked . Indeed , i t containe d th e essenc e o f 'th e Whole' o f life an d eternity , thoug h limite d an d undeveloped . An d Noa h th e Just dies i n th e Flood , thoug h no t withou t havin g prophesie d (a t th e wedding ) i n a drunkenness tha t wa s n o disgrace , bu t rathe r th e gayes t wisdo m h e coul d 179
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achieve. Dead , h e ca n b e see n b y wif e an d daughte r t o embod y somethin g eternal. 'The Widenin g Circle ' begin s t o explor e i n th e girlhoo d o f Ursul a ne w dimensions o f educatio n an d emancipation , an d als o th e internalisatio n withi n the gir l o f th e conflict s o f he r grandparent s an d parent s - th e mov e i n Hardy' s fiction fro m th e Native throug h Tess, to jfude. Th e feeling s o f th e romanti c an d aspiring eldes t daughte r i n a welte r o f smalle r sibling s re-imagin e Louie . Th e experience o f separatio n fro m th e villag e children , i n he r mov e fro m th e villag e school t o th e Hig h Schoo l fo r Girl s i n Nottingham , fuse s he r alienatio n wit h Lawrence's. Ye t Ursula' s feelin g fo r th e ancien t rhythm s o f th e year , an d th e legend o f the son s o f Go d an d th e daughter s o f men, speak s o f her grandparent s still ther e withi n her ; whil e th e intensit y wit h whic h sh e i s draw n t o he r father' s world o f ar t an d religion , ye t react s awa y wit h he r mother' s (Go d th e Daughter's) defianc e an d scepticism , show s a ne w extremit y o f feeling , an d o f awareness. Indeed , Ursula' s feeling s ge t s o clos e t o he r creator' s tha t th e apostrophe whic h end s th e chapte r break s fiction int o sermon , fro m Lawrence , on hi s quarre l wit h a Christianit y tha t (h e thinks ) doe s no t understan d it s ow n theology. Th e insistenc e tha t i t i s resurrectio n i n th e flesh tha t i s th e centra l meaning, no t crucifixion , ha d bee n th e them e o f a letter t o Gordo n Campbel l o n 20 December , an d woul d fill hi s thought s agai n a s h e wrot e t o Cynthi a Asquit h at the en d o f January, abou t hi s state of mind sinc e th e outbrea k o f war . On 2 0 January, jus t befor e leavin g th e Triangle , h e sen t Pinke r 'wha t page s o f the nove l I have ' an d wondere d 'whe n Methue n woul d wan t t o publis h th e boo k - hav e yo u an y idea? ' (ii. 260) . IV Anothe r Countr y By th e Ne w Year , Lawrenc e ha d grow n restles s a t Chesham . I t ha d bee n a refuge; ye t the y ha d neve r muc h care d fo r th e place , eve n i f the peopl e ha d bee n kind. Th e Cannan s ha d helpe d whe n hel p wa s badl y needed . The y ha d foun d the cottage , the y ha d approache d committe e member s o f th e Literar y Fund , an d their Mil l Hous e ha d provide d th e kin d o f society th e Lawrence s like d - ther e at intervals whe n the y wante d it . Dow n t o Cholesbur y a t weekend s cam e interesting people : Elliot t Seabrook e th e painte r who m Lawrenc e like d ver y much, Compto n Mackenzie , th e historia n G . M . Trevelyan , th e playwrigh t John Leslie Palmer . Th e youn g wer e als o welcome : Franki e Birrell , so n o f th e Iris h Secretary i n Asquith' s Cabine t cam e t o th e Cannan s wit h Bunn y Garnett , an d Carrington wit h Gertler . Gilber t like d t o kee p i n touc h wit h th e young-of promise, an d indee d t o hel p thos e no t ye t a s successful a s himself. (Lik e Marsh , he ha d helpe d th e Murry s a s wel l a s Gertler. ) Ther e ma y wel l hav e bee n othe r visitors who m th e letter s d o no t happe n t o mention . Th e Cannan s migh t b e 180
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'scandalous' afte r Mary' s divorce , bu t the y stil l ha d man y friendship s amon g intellectuals an d artists , includin g Lad y Ottolin e Morrel l (t o who m the y ha d introduced Lawrence) , Bertran d Russell , Granville-Barker , Hug h Walpole , Maurice Hewlet t an d s o on . Mar y was no t a n intellectua l - sinc e leavin g th e stage he r mai n interest s wer e interio r decoration , gardenin g an d he r dog s - bu t she wa s a graciou s hostess . Sinc e sh e was almos t ol d enoug h t o b e Gilbert' s mother, sh e dressed , made-u p an d dye d he r hai r ver y carefully , t o preserv e th e beauty whic h ha d draw n Barri e first t o cas t an d the n t o marr y her . Sh e migh t talk rathe r to o much - bu t she was warm an d outgoin g an d th e Lawrences like d her. Gilber t wa s mor e remote . Thi s wa s largel y defensive : a n unhapp y upbringing ha d lef t hi m les s self-confiden t tha n h e appeared ; an d th e nee d t o prove hi s wort h (an d als o vindicat e Mary' s choice ) mad e hi m driv e himsel f t o write to o muc h an d to o fas t i n hi s circula r stud y i n th e Mil l besid e th e house . Tall, wit h a mo p o f corn-coloure d hai r an d a n aquilin e bea k o f a nose , hi s withdrawn person a conceale d a romanti c an d idealisti c temperamen t - expres sing itself , alas , wit h to o grea t facility , thoug h i n 191 4 h e seeme d muc h mor e successful tha n Lawrenc e i n every way. The majo r effec t o f Chesham, however , was to increase Lawrence' s alienatio n from Englis h society . Jul y 191 4 ha d see n hi m happil y i n touc h wit h ne w movements i n London , an d conformin g wit h socia l respectabilit y a t Kensingto n Registry Office . The n th e wa r opene d a chasm betwee n th e Lawrence s an d th e vast majorit y o f English people . A t firs t Chesha m mus t hav e seeme d a refuge i n that sens e too . Though Gilber t (t o please Mary ) becam e a Special Constabl e fo r a while , h e wa s becomin g mor e an d mor e oppose d t o th e war , an d ende d u p working agains t conscriptio n wit h Bertran d Russel l an d Lowe s Dickinson . Gertler voice d a youn g artist' s denunciatio n o f a wa r fough t fo r materialis t reasons, an d fel t thi s strongl y enoug h t o brea k wit h Eddi e Mars h an d los e hi s greatly neede d patronage . Muc h o f the tal k i n th e Mill Hous e wa s and-war, an d many o f the peopl e who came ther e woul d soo n declar e fo r pacifism . 'Study o f Thoma s Hardy ' proclaime d tha t th e ful l achievemen t o f th e self , which i s th e ai m o f al l livin g things , must driv e th e livin g sou l awa y fro m th e walled cit y int o th e wilderness . A t first thi s merel y oppose d self-fulfilmen t t o self-preservation (fo r whic h wall s an d citie s wer e invented) ; bu t soo n Lawrenc e was denouncing wa r fever i n the fortified cit y a s the product o f a death wish . Yet he wa s s o fa r fro m bein g pacifis t tha t h e founde d hi s whol e metaphysi c o f creativity o n conflict. S o his position becam e doubl y isolated , abl e neither t o join the patrioti c fervou r insid e th e walls , no r t o fee l a t hom e i n th e countr y hous e where pacifis t intellectual s and artists gathered . His growin g sens e of isolation neede d a stronger symbolism . Earl y i n the New Year i t appear s i n a lette r t o Kot : th e ide a o f Rananim , a smal l communit y o r colony o f like-minde d soul s wh o woul d mak e a clean brea k fro m a sic k society . 181
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{Catherine's journa l make s i t clea r tha t th e origina l drea m wa s o f sailin g awa y t o an islan d (thoug h i t ha d 'com e to o late ' fo r her) . I t wa s only a dream o f course , something t o tal k abou t i n th e dar k days ; bu t fo r Lawrence , wh o though t i n images, i t wa s mor e tha n jus t a n expressio n o f discontent . I t wa s a psychologica l language t o focu s distres s a t alienation , an d redefin e wha t sens e o f 'community ' was still possible fo r hi m t o imagine . The nam e cam e fro m th e first lin e o f Psalm 3 3 i n Hebre w - Rannan i Zadiki m PAdonoi, Rejoic e i n th e Lor d O y e Righteous - whic h Ko t ha d sun g i n th e Lak e District, an d agai n a t th e Lawrences ' Christma s party . Thi s als o echoe d Lawrence's sermo n t o Campbel l abou t th e Cherubi m an d th e en d (rathe r tha n the middle ) o f th e boo k o f Job : whethe r i n adversit y o r heaven , th e centra l activity mus t b e t o prais e th e Lord . I f Lawrenc e aske d Ko t abou t th e Hebrew , he woul d hav e learne d tha t th e wor d Ra'annanim , meanin g 'green , fres h o r flourishing', qualifie d 'th e righteous ' (zadikim) , i n Psal m xcii . 14 , s o tha t righteousness was associate d wit h growing , lik e th e poppy . O n 3 Januar y h e wrote t o Kot : What abou t Rananim ? Oh , but , w e ar e going . W e ar e goin g t o foun d a n Orde r o f th e Knights of Rananim. The motto is 'Fier' - o r the Latin equivalent. The badge is So: [Sketch] an eagle, or phoenix argent , rising fro m a flaming nest of scarlet, on a black background . And our flag, the blazing, ten-pointed star , scarlet on a black background. [Sketch] (ii. 252-3 , and cf. n . 2) (See Illustratio n 32. ) H e wen t o n t o as k Ko t t o bu y hi m Chapman' s Homer . There i s nothing pacifis t abou t an y o f this, but i t calls fo r a very differen t kin d o f militancy tha n tha t o f th e trenches . H e ha d jus t mad e Skrebensky' s fathe r a Knight o f Malt a i n hi s novel , s o h e ha d i n min d als o th e origin s o f tha t grea t order an d it s dedicatio n t o S t John. O n th e sam e da y h e thanke d Lad y Ottolin e Morrell, wh o ha d writte n t o prais e The Prussian Officer. 'On e want s th e appreciation o f the few' , fo r lif e i s 'an affai r o f aristocrats'. Thoug h a democrat i n politics, h e think s th e stat e ' a vulga r institution' , an d Libert y an d Equalit y onl y necessary a s 'an arrangemen t fo r myriad s o f peoples' livin g together ' - bu t a s fo r Fraternity, 'on e doesn' t hav e brothers b y arrangement' . In so far as I am myself, Fierte, Inegalite, Hostilite. It doesn' t soun d ver y French , bu t neve r mind . I think th e tim e ha s come to wave the oriflamme an d rall y agains t humanit y an d Ho , Ho , S t Joh n an d th e Ne w Jerusalem . (ii. 253-4 )
Associations proliferate : oriflamm e (th e ancien t roya l banne r o f France), tongue s of fire, ten-pointe d star , phoenix-flame , Hol y Ghost , cherubim-blaze , poppy 182
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scarlet asserte d agains t black ; th e Christma s sta r o f ne w birth , an d th e phoenix symbol o f continua l rebirt h throug h deat h (whic h Wil l Brangwe n carve d o n th e butter stamper) . H o H o fo r a ne w orde r o f Knighthoo d an d Revelatio n o n th e island o f Rananim , followin g it s sta r (ever y orde r ha s one) , an d foundin g no t a walled cit y bu t a New Jerusalem. An d he y fo r a new 'aristocracy ' o f troubadour s and 'ga i savaire' , separatin g itsel f i n prid e o f self-being fro m th e materialis t state , which ha s gon e t o wa r t o preserv e it s possession s agains t Germany , an d becaus e of a death wis h wit h n o longin g fo r resurrection . There i s gam e here , an d cheerin g onesel f up , particularl y sinc e h e ha d caugh t another cold . Th e cottag e was damp , an d th e countrysid e flooded, 'th e duckpond i s righ t acros s th e lane , s o t o ge t t o th e high-roa d on e mus t wade ' (ii. 255) . Bu t ther e i s als o a n explorin g o f ne w feeling s o f alienation : th e beginnings o f a ne w 'aristocratic ' politic s whic h woul d soo n issu e i n th e hostil e diagnosis o f Skrebensk y th e soldie r an d collective-man ; an d a wholl y ne w sens e - onl y partl y owin g t o th e failur e o f hi s wor k t o sell , sinc e The Prussian Officer 'struggles along , lik e al l m y books ' (ii . 255 ) - o f writin g fo r th e fe w now , rathe r than havin g a n answe r t o th e secre t nee d o f th e many . A s hi s col d lingere d o n miserably int o mid-January , an d h e hear d tha t Boot s librarie s wer e refusin g t o stock th e ne w stories , Lawrenc e gre w t o dislik e mor e an d mor e th e 'meagre ' country an d 'thi s miserabl e littl e cottage' (ii . 259 , 257). Also, th e thermomete r o f his wealt h was onc e agai n 'nearl y a t zero ' (ii . 254) , thoug h i n th e nic k o f tim e Pinker sen t £ 5 (possibl y a n extr a paymen t fro m th e Metropolitan fo r 'Honou r and Arms ' bu t mayb e fro m Pinke r himself , wh o ofte n quietl y helpe d hi s writer s from hi s ow n pocket ; ii . 25 6 an d n . 3)) . Also , wha t wit h seedines s an d depression, an d perhap s Fried a bein g edg y wit h Ko t wh o cam e t o tal k o f Rananim bu t ma y hav e sai d somethin g t o offen d he r again , ther e was anothe r spat betwee n th e Lawrences , an d anothe r seekin g b y Fried a o f consolation fro m Katherine, whos e thought s wer e no w elsewhere , an d who m Fried a tire d 't o death'. 36 Then Viol a Meynel l offere d the m he r cottag e a t Greatha m i n Sussex , rent free. He r fathe r Wilfrid , write r an d publisher , ha d bough t a n eighty-acr e estat e with a bi g ol d house , 'Humphreys' , a s a countr y hom e fo r Alic e hi s poe t wife ; and ha d fitted u p far m building s an d cottage s fo r eac h o f hi s daughters . Viol a must hav e hear d fro m Catherin e Jackso n tha t Th e Triangl e was no t ideal . (Sh e had bee n dow n t o Chesha m sometim e befor e he r weddin g t o Donal d Carswel l i n early January , an d ha d foun d Lawrenc e 'holdin g o n t o himsel f agains t depres sion'. ) Viol a spen t muc h o f he r tim e i n London , an d ther e wer e spar e bedrooms bot h i n he r 'She d Hall ' an d i n th e bi g house , fo r he r t o com e dow n t o at weekends , bu t he r offe r wa s nonetheles s ver y generou s an d opportune . Lawrence was war y a t first , sinc e 'th e whol e formidabl e an d poetic ' (h e migh t have adde d Catholic ) 'Meynel l famil y i s dow n ther e i n th e Meynel l settlement ' 183
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(ii. 255) . But , h e blame d Th e Triangl e an d it s dampnes s fo r makin g hi m ill , s o he decide d t o accept , an d bega n a t onc e t o fee l 'happ y i n th e prospec t o f bein g on th e mov e again ' (ii . 258) . They lef t Th e Triangl e o n 2 1 January, ha d lunc h wit h Lad y Ottolin e Morrel l at 4 4 Bedfor d Square , te a wit h Edwar d Garnet t an d the n dinne r wit h Lad y Ottoline agai n befor e goin g t o sta y wit h th e Eder s i n Hampstead . Th e Eder s must hav e hear d abou t Ranani m too , probabl y i n th e mor e ieft-wing ' term s (since Ede r was a socialist) i n whic h Lawrenc e ha d develope d hi s ide a i n a lette r to Willie Hopki n jus t befor e leavin g Chesham : I wan t t o gathe r togethe r abou t twent y soul s an d sai l awa y fro m thi s worl d o f wa r an d squalor and foun d a little colony where there shall be no money but a sort of communism as far a s necessaries of life go , and som e real decency. It is to be a colony built up on th e real decenc y whic h i s i n eac h membe r o f th e Communit y - a communit y whic h i s established upo n th e assumption o f goodness i n the members, instead o f the assumptio n of badness, (ii. 259) (This i s no t incompatibl e wit h wha t 'L e Ga i Savaire ' mean t b y 'aristocracy' , though th e dream' s naivet e i s showing. ) Bunny wa s als o a t Lad y Ottoline' s dinner , a s wa s E . M . Forste r wh o sa t nex t to Lawrence . Afte r dinne r th e painte r Dunca n Gran t joine d th e part y fo r dancing a s di d Gertle r an d Carrington . Th e Lawrence s ha d t o g o of f t o Hampstead, bu t th e nex t day , 2 2 January , Gran t invite d them , Forste r an d Bunny t o te a i n hi s studio , sinc e Ottolin e ha d talke d o f hi s picture s an d Lawrence ha d expresse d a n interes t i n seein g them . Gran t was th e leadin g painter o f th e Bloomsbur y grou p an d woul d soo n b e a t th e centr e o f Bunny' s life. H e live d an d worke d wit h Vaness a Bel l (siste r o f Virgini a Wool f an d wif e o f Clive Bell) , bu t wa s predominantl y homosexua l an d woul d late r tak e Bunn y t o live wit h them . Bloomsbur y ar t looke d (wit h Roge r Fry ) forwar d fro m Cezanne t o Modernis t Paris , wherea s th e Slad e Schoo l o f Art produce d th e ver y different wor k o f Augustu s John , Stanle y Spence r an d Gertler . Unfortunately , the mor e Lawrenc e sa w of Grant' s painting , th e mor e h e dislike d it , an d sai d so . Very soo n (say s Bunny ) Forste r 'mad e som e gentl e remar k abou t catchin g a train t o Weybridg e an d fade d ou t o f th e studio ' whil e Lawrenc e wen t on , an d on. A s h e talked , 'h e hel d hi s hea d o n on e side , a s thoug h i n pain , an d looke d more a t th e floor tha n a t th e pictures' . Fried a kep t tryin g t o rescu e th e situation . 'Each tim e tha t Dunca n ros e i n silenc e an d brough t ou t anothe r picture , sh e exclaimed: "Ah , Lorenzo ! I lik e thi s on e s o muc h better ! I t i s beautiful! " He r interventions wer e ignore d b y bot h sides. ' Eve n whe n Ko t arrive d t o collec t them, thi s faile d t o sto p th e diatribe . 'Dunca n himsel f appeare d t o hav e developed toothach e an d sa t wit h hi s hand s o n hi s knees , rockin g himsel f gentl y in hi s chair , no t attemptin g a wor d i n defenc e o f hi s works . Everything , 184
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however, ha s a n end' , an d a t las t th e visitor s disappeare d int o th e fogg y night , leaving Bunny wit h Grant , i n silence . Why was Lawrenc e s o distresse d an d embarrassed ? - Mor e s o tha n seem s likely fro m mer e artisti c disagreement . Th e avoidanc e o f others ' eyes , an d th e inability t o stop , ar e lik e hi s behaviou r whe n h e firs t rea d hi s poem s i n publi c a s a gauch e youn g teacher , bu t a t thi s stag e o f hi s lif e - an d tal k - the y sugges t a degree o f inne r disturbanc e tha t mus t b e significant , an d a n inability , a s yet , t o put hi s finge r o n it s cause . (Bunny' s 195 5 account , whic h mock s Lawrence' s attempt t o explai n i n artisti c terms , i s understandably partisan . Gran t himself , i n his only publishe d comment , remaine d remarkabl y polit e an d dignified.) 42 On th e evenin g o f 2 3 Januar y 'afte r a wonderfu l lon g driv e i n th e [Meynell ] motor ca r throug h dee p snow , an d betwee n narro w hedges , an d pal e winte r darkness' (ii . 261) , the y arrive d a t thei r ne w home : anothe r world . 'Th e cottag e is rathe r splendi d - somethin g monasti c abou t i t - sever e whit e wall s an d oake n furniture - beautiful . An d ther e i s bathroo m an d all . An d th e countr y i s ver y fine . . . ' Partl y the y wer e delighte d b y a ne w comfort , an d easemen t o f mone y worries - n o mor e damp , a bathroom an d ho t water , eve n a maid-servant Hild a whom the y wer e no t allowe d t o pay , s o tha t the y onl y ha d t o fin d th e cos t o f their foo d - bu t i t wa s als o a plac e an d a countr y whic h exactl y matche d Lawrence's moo d an d hi s inner nee d jus t then . It was no t a n island , bu t migh t jus t a s wel l hav e been , sinc e the y mostl y ha d the estat e t o themselves . Havin g brough t the m down , th e Meynell s wen t bac k t o London afte r th e weeken d (excep t fo r Viola' s siste r Monic a wh o was separate d from he r husban d D r Saleeby ) an d tha t was t o b e th e pattern . Moreove r al l Lawrence's description s stres s th e monastic : wha t ha d bee n a lon g cattl e she d and stil l showe d it s beams , no w fel t 'lik e a monks refectory ' (ii . 262) . Fried a wa s 'a bi t frightene d o f th e cloistra l severity ' (ii . 261) ; but i t wa s jus t wha t Lawrenc e wanted: a sense o f quasi-monastic isolatio n matching , a s The Triangl e ha d neve r done, th e religiou s seriousnes s i n whic h The Rainbow ha d bee n conceived . Bette r still ther e wer e n o othe r monks . Bes t o f all , i t ha d tw o spar e bed s s o tha t candidates fo r Ranani m coul d b e invite d t o com e - an d go . Muc h o f th e estat e was beautifu l woodlan d an d beyon d i t ros e th e grea t shoulde r o f th e Sout h Downs, whenc e a walke r coul d comman d a magnificen t vie w al l th e wa y t o Arundel i n on e direction , an d th e se a i n another , an d bac k dow n t o th e Susse x villages, th e wood s an d farm s below . Ther e coul d b e n o bette r plac e t o finis h The Rainbow. As wel l a s leavin g it s mar k o n hi s fiction , thi s ne w plac e helpe d hi m explor e his apparen t over-reactio n t o Bloomsbur y a s encountere d i n Gran t an d Forster . Lady Ottolin e Morrel l wrot e i n defenc e o f Grant , bu t Lawrenc e replie d tha t h e had burn t he r letter . H e insiste d tha t h e 'really liked ' Gran t himself , bu t hi s 185
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work was no t onl y to o Futuristicall y intellectual , bu t als o defectiv e fro m th e ne w perspective o f 'L e Ga i Savaire ' an d wha t h e ha d don e s o fa r o f The Rainbow. 'Tell hi m no t t o mak e sill y experiment s i n th e futuristi c lin e . . . Bu t t o see k ou t the term s i n whic h h e shal l stat e hi s whole. ' Al l art , h e no w thought , ha d t o b e like Will Brangwen' s favourit e picture , Fr a Angelico' s Last Judgement: 2L whole conception of the existence of Man - creation , good, evil, life, death, resurrection, the separating of the stream o f good and evil, and it s return t o the eternal source. It is an Absolute w e ar e al l after , a statemen t o f th e whol e schem e — th e issue , th e progres s through Time - an d the return - makin g unchangeable eternity, (ii. 263) Grant migh t o f cours e hav e retorte d tha t n o suc h 'Absolute ' wa s no w conceivable, an d tha t ar t ha d t o d o wit h th e artist' s achievemen t o f significan t form - i n hi s cas e i n th e spac e o f th e canvas , o r perhaps , experimentally , o n a moving rol l - havin g n o necessar y relationshi p wit h object s i n lif e a t all . Bu t while Lawrenc e di d no t rejec t abstrac t ar t a s such, h e insiste d tha t abstraction , t o be meaningful , mus t abstrac t fro m life , an d mus t stil l serv e a vision o f th e whol e of it . N o suc h vision , h e thought , coul d b e buil t u p out o f geometri c figures already wholl y abstract , o r b y pictoria l architectur e i n itself . Wha t wa s neede d was th e equivalen t o f wha t h e ha d trie d t o d o i n th e 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy ' and it s ar t criticism , t o 'abstract ' a ne w kin d o f inclusiv e visio n fro m th e 'instances' provide d b y th e grea t artist s o f th e past : 'Rembrandt , Corot , Goya , Monet hav e been preparin g u s ou r instance s - no w fo r th e grea t han d whic h ca n collect al l the instance s int o a n absolute statemen t o f the whole ' (ii . 263) . On 2 8 Januar y h e begge d Forste r t o com e dow n t o Greatham , i n a lette r which fuse s wit h Ranani m th e nee d fo r a vision o f th e Whole , an d hi s sens e tha t Forster mus t ge t beyon d hi s concer n wit h merel y persona l an d clas s relation s and persona l fulfilment . Lawrenc e feel s himsel f o f n o class , h e wh o use d t o gossip wit h a n under-servan t fro m Welbeck , an d no w talk s wit h Lad y Ottoline . He want s visio n n o longe r limite d t o man, bu t th e metaphysica l equivalen t o f th e view fro m th e Downs : It is time for u s now to look all round, round th e whole ring of the horizon - no t just out of a roo m wit h a view ; i t i s tim e t o gathe r agai n a conception o f th e Whol e .. . o f th e beginning an d th e end , o f heaven an d hell , of good an d evi l flowing from Go d throug h humanity as through a filter, and returning back to god as angels and demons .. . In my Island, I wanted peopl e to come without class or money .. . eac h coming with all his desires, yet knowing that his life is but a tiny section o f a Whole: so that he shall fulfi l his life in relation to the Whole. I wanted a real community, no t built out of abstinence or equality, but out of many fulfilled individualitie s seeking greater fulfilment, (ii . 265-6) His friend s howeve r see m ben t o n privat e fulfilment , thoug h h e know s ho w difficult i t i s to ge t t o one' s metamorphosi s an d crucifixion , an d beyon d tha t t o a resurrection whic h ca n tak e par t i n th e fulfilmen t o f th e Whole . (Fried a 186
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characteristically an d refreshingl y cu t thi s dow n t o size. It's a 'very angeli c letter' , said he r postscript , bu t sh e know s tha t Forster , wh o listen s s o carefully 'wit h th e whole o f you', won' t 'overloo k th e littl e twiste d horn s an d th e hoof; ii . 267. ) The atmospher e o f th e 'littl e monastery ' (ii . 264 ; especiall y afte r th e stor y o f Tom an d Lydi a i n whic h ther e had bee n a kind o f deat h an d resurrectio n an d a vision beyon d th e merel y human) , seeme d t o encourag e a religiou s perspectiv e on hi s ow n lif e too . Whe n a lette r arrive d fro m Lad y Cynthi a Asquit h askin g what ha d happene d t o the m - the y ha d no t contacte d he r i n th e earl y summe r when sh e wa s havin g he r secon d baby , no r thereafte r becaus e the y di d no t wan t to argu e abou t th e wa r wit h th e daughter-in-la w o f th e Prim e Ministe r - i t wa s again i n term s o f crucifixio n an d resurrectio n tha t Lawrenc e replied . H e described ho w h e ha d hear d th e new s of war, an d ho w it : finished me: it was the spear through the side of all sorrows and hopes .. . And sinc e then , sinc e I came back, things hav e not existe d fo r m e .. . Al l the while , I swear, m y sou l la y i n th e tom b - no t dead , bu t wit h th e flat ston e ove r it , a corpse , become corpse cold .. . An d all the time I knew I should have to rise again. ... Bu t no w I don' t fee l s o dead . I fee l hopeful . I couldn' t tel l yo u ho w fragil e an d tender the hope is - th e new shoot of life. But I feel hopeful no w about the war. ... I know we shall all come through, rise again and walk healed and whole and new .. . It sounds preachy, but I don't quite know how to say it. (ii. 268—9) In a way thi s i s nonsense. T o hav e writte n 'L e Ga i Savaire ' an d ove r hal f o f The Rainbow i n thos e five month s wa s hardl y corpse-like . Ye t i t wa s becaus e h e fel t so muc h bette r a t Greatha m that , lookin g back , hi s tim e a t Chesha m seeme d al l bodily illnes s an d 'blac k i n spirit ' (ii . 271) , an d hi s writin g achieve d i n spit e o f that. Th e preach y language , darin g t o appl y t o himsel f th e imager y o f Golgoth a and Easter , mus t hav e seeme d th e mos t graphi c wa y t o proclai m a trut h experienced bu t onl y recentl y understood . Hi s lette r t o Savag e ha d place d th e vital importanc e o f sexua l relatio n no t i n pleasure , bu t i n th e escap e fro m deadl y self-enclosure throug h th e encounte r wit h a n Other . Sinc e then , re-imaginin g the storie s an d th e nove l ha d show n hi m ho w an d wh y th e crucia l experienc e within sexua l relationshi p wa s dying , t o b e bor n again . I t was hi s writing, i n grasping thi s trut h fro m hi s life , tha t ha d enable d hi m t o overcom e th e deathliness o f th e wa r i n hi s ow n spirit , an d t o fee l no w th e rippl e o f ne w lif e i n the blood .
V Candidate s fo r Rananim ? A few day s late r th e hop e wa s greatly strengthened , whe n Lad y Ottolin e cam e t o Greatham. Her e wa s a grea t lad y h e ha d know n abou t sinc e boyhood , siste r t o the grandes t Duk e fro m hi s ow n shire , wh o ha d sough t hi m ou t becaus e sh e 187
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admired hi s work . No t onl y coul d the y tal k Nottingha m fro m thei r utterl y different backgrounds ; sh e wa s i n a state t o respon d mos t enthusiasticall y t o hi s present vision , and s o intensify hi s confidence i n it . In 191 1 sh e ha d begu n a n affai r wit h Bertran d Russell , an d carrie d i t o n wit h the acquiescenc e o f he r husband , Phili p Morrell , provide d i t remaine d discreet . In return , sh e refuse d t o leav e hi m an d he r daughte r Julian , an d wa s content (a s Russell coul d neve r be ) wit h occasiona l meeting s an d rathe r mil d an d snatche d love-making. Sh e fel t n o stron g sexua l attractio n t o Russell ; indee d foun d hi m rather crud e an d bruta l a s a lover; bu t sh e wa s endlessly fascinate d b y th e powe r of hi s intellect . H e mad e he r mor e confiden t o f he r intelligence ; sh e opene d hi m up t o world s h e ha d no t dreame d of . The y wrot e t o eac h othe r a t leas t onc e a day an d ofte n more , abou t al l the y wer e thinkin g an d feeling , an d influence d each othe r profoundly . Russell cam e fro m a n eve n mor e distinguishe d family. 46 (Hi s grandfathe r Lord Joh n Russel l ha d helpe d t o draf t th e Refor m Ac t o f 183 2 an d resigne d a s Prime Ministe r o n th e defea t o f th e secon d parliamentar y refor m bill. ) Russel l and G . E . Moor e wer e Cambridge' s mos t notabl e philosophers , bu t hi s privat e life wa s muc h les s successful . B y 190 2 h e ha d falle n entirel y ou t o f lov e wit h hi s wife Aly s an d the y separated , t o he r lastin g distress . Hi s affai r wit h Ottolin e modified hi s excessiv e intellectualism , an d mad e hi m mor e awar e o f world s o f feeling, imagination , ar t an d spiritualit y tha n h e ha d eve r been , thoug h h e coul d never com e ver y fa r t o mee t he r deepl y religiou s temperamen t an d belief , whic h remained a bone o f contention . H e als o remaine d arrogan t an d remarkabl y self centred, ye t attractiv e t o wome n i n spit e o f hi s looks . Abov e al l h e ha d a min d like a knife, thoug h tha t als o could see m har d an d impervious . By th e en d o f 191 4 - whe n Russel l wa s 42 an d Ottolin e a year younge r - thei r relationship wa s i n difficulties . H e wante d thre e thing s sh e coul d no t giv e him : constant companionship , sexua l satisfactio n withou t reserve , an d children . (Sh e had ha d a n operatio n afte r th e birt h o f Julian.) Earl y i n 191 4 came th e firs t sign s that h e migh t loo k elsewhere , a brief flirtatio n wit h a German lady . I n Marc h h e set ou t fo r thre e month s teachin g i n America , an d o n a final visi t t o Chicag o h e slept wit h Hele n Dudley , wit h whos e parent s h e was staying . Thoug h Ottolin e was hur t b y a n amazingl y insensitiv e lette r i n whic h h e argue d tha t thi s woul d make n o differenc e t o them , th e rif t wa s patche d up ; an d a s w e hav e see n Ottoline helpe d t o protec t hi m whe n th e youn g woma n arrive d i n pursuit. 47 Almost immediatel y Russel l wa s considerin g anothe r affair , wit h hi s ne w research assistan t Iren e Cooper-Willis , an d consultin g Ottolin e abou t it . (H e decided agains t - thoug h reluctan t t o los e he r hel p wit h hi s work! ) Th e troubl e clearly la y wit h hi s lonelines s an d desir e fo r constan t companionship , a s wel l a s with a randines s tha t Ottolin e coul d no t satisfy. Sh e kne w an d fel t responsibl e about this , withou t hop e o f remedy , thoug h the y continue d t o hav e 'times ' (he r 188
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word) o f grea t closeness . No r wa s Russel l abl e trul y t o mee t he r o n th e spiritua l level where sh e fel t he r deepes t lif e lay . This wa s th e lady , no w Bloomsbury' s chie f hostess , nerv y ye t rathe r over whelming, wh o arrive d a t Greatha m o n 1 February . Sh e wa s strikingl y tall , auburn-haired, lon g nosed an d stron g chinned , wit h a sing-song voice . Sh e ofte n wore extraordinar y clothes , thoug h sh e wa s i n plai n purpl e velve t an d pearl s o n this occasion . Sh e ha d planne d tha t Russel l shoul d b e wit h her , s o ha d mor e than on e motiv e fo r th e expedition ; an d ha d bee n i n tw o mind s whethe r o r no t to g o hersel f whe n h e coul d not ; bu t sh e an d Lawrenc e probabl y affecte d eac h other al l th e mor e strongl y a t firs t i n Russell' s absence . Tha t sam e evenin g Lawrence wrot e he r a n ecstati c letter , outlinin g th e ne w communit y - o f whic h she was no w t o b e th e centre . Th e argumen t i s a s before: individual s mus t fulfi l their 'dee p desires ' bu t als o complet e the m withi n a greate r whole , mus t ai m 't o live b y th e best they know ' instea d o f merel y tryin g t o guar d agains t th e wors t and wit h 'th e fles h an d th e spiri t i n leagu e together' . H e calle d fo r a 'communis m based, no t o n poverty , bu t o n riches , no t o n humility , bu t o n pride ' (ii . 271-3) . Writing t o her , th e religiou s impuls e i s reinforced : h e i s callin g no t fo r a ne w religion bu t rather : to fulfi l wha t religio n w e hav e .. . T o b e o r no t t o b e i s n o longe r th e question . Th e question now, is how shall we fulfil ou r declaration 'Go d is ' ... An d a man shall not come to save his own soul ... H e shall come because he knows that his own soul is not the beall and th e end-all , but tha t al l souls of all things d o but compos e th e body o f God, and that God indeed Shal l Be ... W e will be Sons of God .. . (ii . 272-3) She wa s greatl y impressed ; promise d t o tr y t o brin g Russel l dow n a t th e weekend; an d i n fac t di d s o th e Monda y followin g ( 8 February) . Lawrenc e wa s nervous abou t meetin g hi m - ' I fee l a s i f I shoul d stutter ' (ii . 274 ) - bu t agai n the meeting wen t ver y well . (Meanwhile Fried a was confiden t enoug h t o as k Lad y Ottolin e t o writ e t o Weekley (ii . 281) ; imaginin g h e woul d fee l s o honoure d a t th e though t o f th e children havin g he r fo r a frien d tha t h e woul d le t the m se e Fried a a t Bedfor d Square. Ottolin e though t thi s 'Rathe r a difficul t Tas k bu t I wil l d o m y best'. 49 However, Weekle y was eithe r les s snobbis h tha n th e Lawrenc e wh o tol d he r T really d o honou r you r birt h . . . I woul d giv e a grea t dea l t o hav e bee n bor n a n aristocrat' (ii . 281) , o r to o antipatheti c t o Fried a now , fo r suc h inducement s t o have any effect. ) With equa l confidenc e afte r thei r meetin g tha t Russel l share d hi s enthusias m for a revolutio n o f hear t an d mind , i f no t hi s wholesal e rejectio n o f moder n society, Lawrenc e insiste d tha t lif e mus t n o longe r b e measure d b y mone y an d that 'Economi c Life ' mus t b e made 'th e mean s t o actual life' , a t once. There must be a revolution in the state. It shall begin by the nationalising of all industries 189
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and mean s of communication, an d of the land - i n one fell blow . Then a man shall have his wage s whethe r h e is sick o r well or old - i f anything prevent s hi s working, h e shall have his wages just the same. So we shall not live in fear of the wolf... Which practicall y resolve s th e whol e economi c questio n fo r th e present. Al l dispossessed owner s shal l receiv e a proportionat e incom e - n o capita l recompens e - fo r the space of, say, fifty years . Something like this must be done. It is no use saying a man's soul should be free, if his boots hur t hi m so much h e can't walk . All our ideals are cant and hypocrisy til l we have burst the fetters of this money, (ii. 282-3) Naivete i s showin g again , thoug h thi s doe s n o mor e tha n politicis e 'L e Ga i Savaire's centra l an d cogent argumen t abou t th e proper proportio n betwee n self preservation an d bein g onesel f t o th e utmos t - an d ther e i s a n uncomfortabl e truth i n the last paragraph . Russel l ha d a private incom e an d grea t expectations , though h e lived frugally ; Ottolin e an d Philip ha d just bough t Garsingto n Manor . Yet th e fat e o f Russia , whic h wa s to tr y t o d o 'somethin g lik e this ' tw o year s later, show s (t o us, at least , lookin g back ) th e simple-mindednes s o f so general ising fro m th e individual t o the state, as Lawrence wa s to make a habit o f doing, paying n o heed t o the dimensions between : th e nature o f political an d economi c institutions an d th e powe r o f groups , o r th e kin d o f powe r tha t migh t b e necessary t o bring suc h radica l chang e about . Th e state i s not just th e individua l writ large . Russel l commente d sadl y o n hi s new friend: 'thinkin g (a s the youn g do) tha t becaus e he sees th e desirability o f Socialism i t can be got in a few years' strenuous work . I fee l hi s optimis m difficult t o cop e wit h - I can' t shar e i t & don't wan t t o discourag e it . H e i s extraordinaril y youn g . . . ' (H e was 29.) But Russell was als o impresse d b y a ver y differen t kin d o f mind . I n hi s ow n way Lawrence 'i s amazing; he sees through an d through on e . .. H e is infallible. H e is like Ezekiel or some othe r Ol d Testament p r o p h e t . . . ' H e immediately invite d Lawrence t o come t o meet th e best mind s i n Cambridge , t o be foun d o f cours e in Trinity, Russell' s college , and King's, the college of Forster an d of Keynes. The res t o f Lawrence' s lette r t o him , however, wa s about Forster , wh o had also come dow n t o Greatham, o n the 10th. Just befor e Forster' s visi t Lawrenc e rea d hi s 'Story o f a Panic',52 and criticise d his tendenc y t o associate a return t o Pan with universa l love . For Lawrence, thi s is to confus e th e Father wit h th e Son. 'Pan' is what th e poppy grow s from , 'th e undifferentiated roo t an d ste m drawin g ou t o f unfathomabl e darkness , an d my Angels an d Devils' (a s in Fra Angelico) 'ar e old-fashioned symbol s o f the flower into whic h w e strive t o burst'. 53 I t i s no goo d cryin g 'bac k t o Pan'; no plant can grow backward s toward s it s root: One mus t liv e fro m th e source, throug h al l the racings an d heats of Pan, and on to my beloved angels and devils, with their aureoles and their feet upon the flowers of light, and with their red-mouthed despair s and destructions .. . Don't be alarmed - I seem to 'stunt' 190
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because I us e ol d term s fo r m y feeling , becaus e I a m no t inventiv e o r creativ e enough . (ii. 276) (This woul d issu e i n a meditatio n o n inne r evolutio n i n th e manuscrip t o f The Rainbow, a s Ursula look s at a cell through he r microscope. 54 ) Lawrence ha d rea d Howards End i n June 191 1 an d immediatel y presse d i t o n Louie Burrow s a s 'exceedingl y goo d an d ver y discussable ' (i . 278) . Forster' s 'only connect ' an d hi s 'rainbo w bridge ' ha d ver y probabl y staye d i n hi s min d ever sinc e an d wer e no w reachin g Lawrencia n expression . A t Lad y Ottoline' s Forster ha d bee n greatl y take n b y Lawrence , thoug h h e ha d no t bee n give n much opportunit y t o answe r hi m back . Thoug h characteristicall y detachin g himself fro m th e scen e i n Grant' s studio , Forste r ha d actuall y no t bee n frightened of f eithe r b y Lawrence' s criticis m o f Grant , o r b y th e comment s o n his ow n wor k - sinc e h e to o ha d bee n seeking , i n hi s ow n way , fo r a sense o f th e Whole. H e als o reacte d robustl y t o Frieda' s postscript s b y refusin g 't o hav e dealings wit h a firm' . Th e firs t da y a t Greatha m wa s enchanting : a lon g wal k over th e Down s wit h Lawrenc e talkin g o f childhoo d an d birds , beast s an d flowers; an d i n th e evenin g a ne w Lawrenc e hobb y o f paintin g bee-boxes . Bu t after te a o n th e secon d day , a s Forste r mus t hav e know n woul d happen , Lawrence launche d himsel f o n th e requirement s fo r Rananim , an d a consequen t critique o f Forster' s book s an d hi s whol e attitud e t o lif e - includin g hi s homosexuality. Fo r al l hi s rathe r spinsterl y persona , Forste r wa s a grea t dea l more robus t tha n h e seemed . H e probabl y realise d tha t th e harangu e wa s a mark of th e valu e Lawrenc e pu t o n hi m a s a write r an d a n influence , thoug h th e lac k of reticenc e mus t hav e bee n disconcerting . Ye t afte r hi s first visi t t o Indi a an d the writin g o f Maurice, hi s unpublishabl e nove l o f homosexual love , Forste r was more a t hom e wit h himself , an d hi s (a s yet ) celibat e homosexuality , tha n h e ha d ever bee n before . However , a s th e hou r a t Greatha m gre w late r an d later , h e began t o ge t irritated . A t firs t h e trie d t o pas s i t off . T o a n insistenc e tha t h e change hi s life , h e aske d apparentl y 'ruefully , "Ho w d o yo u kno w I' m no t dead?"' Bu t h e mus t hav e bee n angered , bot h b y Lawrence' s seemin g assump tion tha t heterosexua l relationshi p was th e prim e necessit y fo r growth , an d a t hi s ignorance abou t homosexualit y (Forste r thought) , bot h i n other s an d a s a possibility i n himself . Finall y h e too k u p hi s candlestick , mutterin g tha t th e Lawrences wer e 'jus t playin g roun d hi s knees ' (ii . 282) , an d too k himsel f of f t o bed withou t sayin g good-night . Lawrenc e howeve r rathe r like d that ; h e like d people t o stan d u p t o him . An d thoug h Forste r wrot e hi m a toug h an d outspoken lette r afterwards , an d som e coolnes s resulte d fo r a while , the y continued t o respect eac h othe r - fro m a safer distance . Yet, eve n whil e Forste r was stil l wit h them , Lawrenc e go t ' a feelin g o f acut e misery' fro m him , an d wa s miserabl e himsel f tha t al l hi s haranguin g seeme d s o 191
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fruitless: 'W e hav e talke d s o hard - abou t a revolution - a t leas t I have talke d - i t is my fate , Go d hel p m e - an d no w I wonder , ar e m y word s gon e lik e see d spil t on a har d floor, onl y reckone d a n untidines s there ' (ii . 280) . A s hi s lette r t o Savage ha d shown , h e wa s i n fac t neithe r hostil e t o homosexualit y i n th e artist , nor unawar e o f homosexua l feelin g i n himself . Moreove r 'L e Ga i Savaire ' ha d proclaimed bisexualit y i n everybody , an d recognise d tha t th e 'marriag e o f opposites', i n consequence , nee d no t b e excusivel y betwee n a man an d a woman, or requir e sexua l intercourse . Howeve r - a s th e unmarried , an d homosexual s o f both sexes , are likel y t o fee l - th e Lawrenc e o f 191 4 coul d sometime s soun d (a s Forster's lette r pu t it ) lik e a 'dea f impercipien t fanati c wh o ha s nose d ove r hi s own littl e sexua l roun d unti l h e believe s tha t ther e i s no othe r pat h fo r other s t o take'. Ye t Forster' s anger , hi s defenc e o f his sexualit y an d perhap s a barb o r tw o about hi s host's , wer e enoug h t o se t Lawrenc e thinkin g agai n abou t wha t h e ha d said t o Savage . So h e use d hi s lette r t o Russel l t o tr y t o clarif y th e combinatio n o f scepticism , homosexuality an d inerti a h e detecte d i n Forster . Thi s seem s a n od d lette r t o write t o on e ma n abou t anothe r whe n h e ha d onl y jus t me t bot h o f them ; ye t Lawrence a t thi s tim e wa s s o absorbe d i n hi s ow n though t processe s tha t the y often cam e pourin g out , a s thoug h fro m pent-u p pressure , wit h littl e sens e o f how the y migh t see m t o thei r recipient . However , Russel l wa s a member o f th e Cambridge Apostle s - a n elit e societ y whic h ha d bee n take n ove r b y th e homosexual leadershi p o f Keyne s an d Strache y - an d ma y hav e sai d somethin g about Forste r (als o an Apostle ) a t Greatham , tw o day s before Forste r came . To Savage , Lawrenc e ha d argue d tha t same-se x lov e wa s attractiv e becaus e i t allowed on e t o projec t onesel f upo n anothe r lik e oneself , wherea s heterosexua l sex wa s more difficul t an d challengin g becaus e o f the othernes s o f th e other , bu t therefore als o mor e creative . Ye t ho w the n explai n a n unashame d homosexual , who choose s no t t o engag e i n sexua l activity ? Th e ne w Lawrenc e o f Ranani m explains i t a s a lac k o f fait h tha t th e creativ e force s i n sexualit y ca n chang e th e world, a faithlessnes s particularl y worryin g i n a creativ e artist . Forste r (h e argues) 'does not believe that any beauty or any divine utterance is any good any more* - Lawrence' s italic s - an d therefore , neithe r hi s manhoo d no r hi s socia l passion ('th e desir e t o wor k fo r humanity' ) ca n b e satisfied . T o tak e a woman (o r even, Lawrenc e shoul d hav e said , a man ) woul d hel p Forste r 'figh t clea r t o hi s own basic , prima l being' , a s th e lette r t o Savag e ha d argued ; bu t t o Lawrenc e now, and h e think s t o Forste r too , that i s not enoug h unles s the 'ventur e i n upo n the coast s o f th e unknown ' i s also t o 'ope n m y discover y t o al l humanity' . Wha t however i f one's societ y canno t hea r (a s Gilber t Canna n ha d warned) , o r move , or com e along ? The n on e goe s o n simpl y repeatin g one' s discovery ; an d th e 'repeating o f a know n reactio n upo n mysel f i s sensationalism' , a kin d o f 'masterbation' (sic) , whethe r i t b e don e wit h a woman , o r stil l mor e wit h a ma n 192
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in sodomy. * Bu t a ma n withou t fait h ma y ye t b e a stron g sou l wit h 'to o muc h honour fo r th e othe r body ' t o b e willin g 't o us e i t as a means o f masterbation. S o he remain s neutral , inactive . That i s Forster' (ii . 283-5) . There wer e perhap s mor e straightforwar d explanation s fo r Forster' s failur e t o publish betwee n Howards End an d A Passage to India, an d fo r hi s reluctanc e t o embark upo n Keynesia n o r Stracheya n homosexua l adventures . Wha t seem s more significan t i s the implicatio n o f Lawrence's argumen t fo r hi s own marriage . From a n escapis t dream , Ranani m ha d develope d int o th e ide a o f a revolutionar y movement t o chang e th e world . Without suc h a social purpose , migh t one' s ow n sexual relationshi p becom e th e repetitio n o f a known reaction ? Nor was Forste r th e onl y candidat e fo r Ranani m wh o disappointed . Lawrenc e took th e chanc e o f anothe r lif t i n th e Meynel l moto r o n 1 5 February , an d wen t up t o Londo n t o tal k t o a gathering includin g Ottoline , Kot , Campbel l an d Joh n Hope-Johnstone, wh o ha d bee n tuto r t o th e childre n o f Augustu s John . Unfortunately ther e wa s a n argumen t wit h Campbel l ove r religion , whic h Campbell though t a matte r o f privat e emotio n an d mysticism , an d Lawrenc e a matter o f bringin g 'God ' int o ne w communa l existenc e i n th e worl d - afte r which bot h side s wer e lef t rathe r scornful . Nonetheless , Lawrenc e assure d Ottoline, 'i n spit e o f everything , I a m confiden t w e wil l hav e ou r revolution ' (ii. 288) . I f th e Irishme n wer e to o concerne d wit h 'ecstasies ' however , Lad y Cynthia, whe n sh e cam e dow n th e nex t day , prove d to o coo l a personalit y t o qualify. Fried a though t he r 'quit e nice , but - I fee l sorr y fo r he r - Sh e i s poor i n feeling' (ii . 288) ; and i n hi s ne w moo d Lawrenc e ha d t o confes s 'sh e wearie s m e a bit' (ii . 289) . Now Murr y arrived , ill , an d miserable , acros s th e flooded fields , requirin g t o be comforted , rubbe d wit h camphorate d oi l an d pu t t o bed . H e ha d suffere d a double blo w o f rejectio n b y th e tw o peopl e h e care d fo r most , Katherin e an d Gordon Campbell , ha d caugh t a sever e fluey col d an d coul d bea r hi s lonelines s no longer . Since discoverin g i n Murry' s diar y wha t h e ha d tol d Campbel l abou t her , Katherine ha d worke d u p he r romanti c fantas y abou t Franci s Carco , t o whic h Carco readil y responded . Hirin g a cleanin g lad y ha d mad e n o differenc e t o he r dislike o f Ros e Tre e Cottag e an d indee d o f wintr y England . Th e exchang e o f letters wit h Carc o gre w warmer , an d whe n h e aske d he r t o com e t o Franc e sh e decided t o go . He r belove d younge r brothe r Lesli e ha d arrive d i n Englan d t o enlist. Meetin g hi m a t th e ban k whe n sh e wen t t o dra w he r allowance , sh e spun hi m a story tha t sh e wante d t o g o to France , wit h Jack, t o d o a series o f war sketches fo r whic h on e o f th e monthlie s ha d offere d a contract . Lesli e dul y reported thi s t o Ne w Zealand , an d moreove r gav e he r th e £1 0 sh e neede d 'fo r a week' i n Paris . He r feeling s swirle d on e wa y an d another . Th e Lawrence s left . She wen t t o Londo n severa l time s (Ko t no w alway s o n hand) ; bu t whe n Carc o 193
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received th e phot o sh e ha d ha d take n fo r him , an d urge d he r t o com e immediately (eve n thoug h h e ha d enlisted , an d wa s no w statione d nea r Besancon, technicall y i n th e Zon e de s Armees) , sh e went , regardless , o n 19 February . Th e nex t da y sh e wrot e i n he r journa l a lette r t o 'darling ' Fried a from Gra y i n France , abou t he r adventur e an d 'l e peti t solda t joyeu x e t jeune' , though i t is not clea r whethe r sh e eve r sen t it . At th e beginnin g o f February , moreover , Murr y ha d writte n Campbel l a n extraordinary letter : s o upset , becaus e Campbel l ha d no t com e dow n fo r th e weekend, tha t th e lette r read s fo r al l th e worl d lik e on e fro m a jilte d lover . Indeed, provide d tha t on e doe s no t thin k i n to o sexua l terms , tha t i s wha t i t is . Murry's physica l feeling s wer e no t strong , bu t h e ha d attache d himsel f emotionally an d intellectuall y t o Campbell , sharin g hi s friend' s tendenc y t o b e excited t o a kin d o f ecstas y b y semi-mystica l ideas , an d greatl y admirin g Campbell's min d an d forensi c ability . H e wa s scornfu l abou t th e domesticit y o f Campbell's wife ; an d wha t h e tol d hi m abou t hi s feelin g fo r {Catherin e ma y hav e been mean t t o sugges t tha t Campbel l wa s mor e importan t t o hi m - whic h wa s how Katherin e too k it . Now , eve n thoug h a t th e bac k o f hi s min d h e kne w tha t to mak e s o muc h o f Campbel l havin g 'failed ' hi m wa s extraordinary , h e coul d not sto p himsel f fro m writin g - thoug h h e di d no t sho w Campbel l th e lette r until 195 2 (o r quot e i t either i n hi s Reminiscences or Between Two Worlds). Why i n God' s nam e shoul d i t hav e bee n importan t tha t I wa s waitin g fo r yo u t o com e here on Saturday week, that I rode into Chesham miserable after you r telegram came, that I made myself cheerful agai n coming back with the thought that you would come after all, that I trie d t o wor k i n th e evening , an d whe n I hear d a car t sto p outside , m y hear t stopped too , stopped s o that I could hardly breathe for a long while - i t all seems silly as I write it - wer e it not that I went through it ... no w I can see that I must have loved you as one man seldom loves another. I look back at myself and find that I would hav e given you anything .. . W e might have pulled off some great thing together; but yo u were divided perhaps I was divided too . Perhaps we came together to o late ... I can hear Lawrence say that i t woul d onl y hav e been possibl e betwee n a man an d a woman. I don' t thin k so . It was possible fo r us , ha d yo u bee n othe r tha n yo u ar e .. . I see m t o hav e serve d u p to o much o f m y nake d sou l t o th e worl d - i t ha s alway s been trodde n on , but thi s wa s the most unkindest cut of all. In hi s journa l h e wrot e o f how 'appallingl y sensitive ' h e ha d becom e i n isolation ; 'My nervou s apprehension s o f contac t wit h peopl e hav e becom e a nightmar e now - a curiou s mixtur e o f hate , envy , contempt , th e ide a tha t I a m failed , an d that I a m no t value d . . . ' I t wa s i n thi s moo d that , unabl e t o bea r th e though t o f another da y alone , h e too k himsel f t o Greatha m o n 1 7 February . Thoug h h e could thin k o f nothin g 'excep t m y unutterabl e miseries , m y solitud e an d m y mucous membranes ' h e recognise d tha t 'Th e Lawrence s wer e ver y goo d t o m e today - ma y I requit e them. ' O n th e 18t h h e was abl e t o g o walking , an d o n th e 194
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19th t o tal k t o Lawrenc e abou t Campbell . Lawrenc e tol d hi m wha t Campbel l had sai d whe n the y me t i n London , tha t 'wha t ther e wa s between M an d m e was the mos t regrettabl e par t o f eac h o f us. ' Murr y wa s no w sur e tha t neithe r ha d understood th e other , an d bega n t o suspec t tha t Campbel l 'use d m e merel y a s a means fo r som e intellectua l sensationalism' . On th e 2 1 st h e walke d t o th e to p o f th e Down s an d wa s obviousl y better , bu t the nex t da y Fried a wen t dow n wit h hi s col d an d too k t o he r bed , whil e Lawrence lai d linoleum . (H e woul d soo n ge t th e fluey col d a s well , unabl e t o ge t rid o f it unti l wel l int o March. ) I n th e evenin g the y talke d 'abou t th e revolution' . Lawrence insisted , a s to Forster , tha t i t wa s no goo d jus t writin g novels , 'w e ha d first t o chang e th e conditions , withou t whic h peopl e eithe r wd . no t hea r o r ou r novels b e onl y a tale' . H e tol d Murr y abou t The Rainbow, bu t wen t on , sadly , that h e woul d onl y writ e on e mor e nove l (it s continuation) , fo r h e fel t tha t h e was doome d t o b e ' a fore-runner , lik e John th e Baptist' . Bu t whe n Murr y sai d that i n hi s novel , too , th e character s woul d en d u p righ t outsid e societ y an d it s mores, Lawrenc e sai d 'Wha t novel s w e coul d write , i f w e wrot e o f th e whol e good w e knew. ' An d soo n the y wer e plannin g ' a schem e fo r publishin g weekl y pamphlets i n whic h th e Revolutio n shd . b e expounde d b y u s individually' . Lawrence clearl y though t the y wer e at one. Murry di d no t mea n t o deceive . I t wa s a dangerou s tim e fo r the m both , emotionally. Murr y neede d a pro p afte r th e doubl e desertio n an d i t wa s eas y t o exaggerate, a little, what Lawrenc e ha d mean t t o him an d mean t now : I sai d ho w muc h calmnes s an d happines s I ha d gaine d fro m hi m durin g th e las t si x months - sinc e the war began tha t h e was the only man I had me t whom I felt definitel y to be older tha n me , that w e made a real combination, fro m whic h somethin g I felt mus t come. He said tha t whe n w e four wer e together h e felt tha t th e new conditions, the ne w vitality reall y were, and tha t i f w e ha d no t me t dow n i n Bucks , h e woul d neve r hav e believed that it might be. I said I looked forward t o the fight.. , 64 Lawrence, hungr y fo r man-to-ma n friendshi p an d suppor t fro m Murr y - wh o seemed a t hi s mos t attractiv e a s h e listene d - wa s onl y to o read y t o believ e i n him an d hi s work. H e immediatel y wrot e of f t o Ottoline : He is one of the men of the future - yo u will see. He is with me for th e Revolution. He is just finishing his novel - hi s first - very good. At present he is my partner - th e only man who quite simpl y i s with m e - On e da y he'll be ahead o f me. Because he'l l buil d u p th e temple if I carve out the way ... (ii . 291) But h e ha d no t rea d th e novel , whic h Murr y jealousl y guarded , an d whe n i n 1916 h e did , h e sa w tha t Murr y wa s neve r goin g t o b e a novelist. However , hi s own uneasines s abou t th e cos t t o hi s personalit y o f th e propheti c mantl e h e was donning, seem s t o hav e issue d i n a sens e o f ho w muc h 'purer ' Murry' s 'effort ' 195
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
was, eve n i n it s inertia . Th e silen t listene r ca n ofte n b e credite d i n thi s wa y b y the talke r wh o fear s h e talk s to o much. Ye t th e youn g Murr y i n hi s journa l ha d a more scrupulou s conscienc e tha n th e olde r Murr y i n hi s reminiscences . A t th e time h e was at least partl y awar e of seeming t o fee l mor e tha n h e actuall y did : 'A t first, thoug h I agreed , I fel t a n uneasiness , whethe r I wer e playin g th e hypocrit e in agreeing ; I wondere d whethe r I wer e merel y tryin g t o clin g o n t o hi s skirt s because I kne w tha t h e wa s a prove n write r wit h a trie d audience. ' The n h e thought h e was perhaps o n th e sam e track , thoug h again , face d wit h Lawrence' s apprehension abou t th e struggle , 'thoug h agreeing , I did no t fee l i t badly'. Whe n Lawrence wen t o n abou t nationalisation , Murr y kne w i t wa s no t though t out , but Tar t o f th e tim e I wa s thinkin g o f th e remainde r o f m y novel , wh . i s t o b e finished, i n first writing , befor e I writ e pamphlet s wit h him. ' I t wa s under standable enough , give n th e emotiona l need s o f bot h a t th e time , an d give n Murry's chameleo n quality , whic h unde r th e influenc e o f Lawrence's excitemen t took o n som e of its colouring, fo r a while. When Lad y Ottolin e cam e dow n agai n o n 2 3 February , however , Murr y confided rathe r differen t feeling s t o hi s journal . Becaus e 'L . was th e centr e o f attraction', h e fel t fiercely jealous , and 'unrea l an d self-consciou s eve n durin g th e walk t o th e to p o f th e Down s . . . I resente d O.M.' s admiratio n o f him , eve n though I fel t i t wa s deserved. ' S o h e bega n t o talk , abou t hi s pas t i n Paris , an d his acquaintance wit h th e lesbia n painte r 'Georg e Banks' : strangely exaggerated - an d then having told resented L' s laughter at it and Banks. I felt I may laugh not he. Somehow I am hurt and sad about it, hungry fo r Ti g [Katherine] , and want to go away. I want Tig to comfort me . Is it weakness - th e oyster withou t th e shell. Why i n God' s nam e shoul d I b e anxiou s t o impres s O.M . becaus e L . wa s there . Comparatively I feel empty. Am I really empty or filled with future things ? 6 The nex t da y h e ha d tw o letter s fro m Ti g an d a wir e t o sa y sh e woul d b e bac k the followin g day , whereupo n h e lef t Greatha m a t once t o meet her . (He r fantas y about Carc o ha d collapsed , bu t thoug h sh e an d Murr y manage d a reconciliation , she wa s convince d tha t sh e coul d onl y wor k abroad , an d soo n se t ou t fo r Pari s again, to occupy Carco' s empt y flat, leavin g Murry i n room s i n London. ) At least , Lawrenc e wrot e t o Mar y Canna n o n 2 4 February , Murr y seeme d 'much bette r i n spirit , i n bein g an d i n belief . H e himsel f wa s als o clea r no w about th e natur e o f th e chang e i n Ranani m tha t ha d com e abou t i n Greatha m because o f hi s ne w relationshi p wit h Ottolin e an d Russell . Th e 'islan d scheme ' had bee n ' a sor t o f runnin g awa y fro m th e problem' . No w Ranani m ha d indee d to be , no t a n escap e fro m society , bu t a revolutionar y grou p aimin g t o chang e society i n this island , fro m within : 'W e mus t for m a revolutionar y party . I hav e talked abou t i t wit h variou s peopl e - als o Bertran d Russell . I a m goin g t o sta y with hi m i n Cambridg e . . . Th e boo k I wrot e - mostl y philosophicalish , slightl y 196
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about Hard y - I wan t t o re-writ e an d publis h i n pamphlets ' (ii . 292-3) . H e di d not, however , wan t th e revolutio n t o depen d o n him , an d di d no t wan t t o b e regarded a s a Wunderkind; 'I t i s not / wh o matte r - i t i s what i s sai d throug h me ' (ii. 280) . Moreove r th e essenc e o f hi s visio n wa s tha t individual s shoul d sin k their smal l persona l aim s int o communa l an d 'socia l passion ' - b y whic h h e meant th e passio n o f ever y perso n 't o b e withi n himsel f th e whol e o f mankind ' (ii. 294 ) an d t o fee l himsel f charge d wit h it s fat e (ii . 302) , s o tha t th e formin g o f a rea l i f smal l communit y woul d b e alread y th e nucleu s o f a greate r change . A s he tol d Campbell , 'i n me , an d i n you , i s th e livin g organi c Englis h nation ' (ii. 301) . H e kne w wel l enoug h wha t toleranc e a logica l (h e calle d i t 'abstract' ) thinker lik e Russel l ha d t o have , whe n confronte d wit h hi s sor t o f language : ' I wish you' d tel l m e whe n I a m foolis h an d over-insisten t . . . I don' t wan t yo u t o put u p wit h m y talk , whe n i t i s foolish , becaus e yo u thin k perhap s i t i s passionate' (ii . 294-5) . Bu t a t th e sam e tim e h e insisted , 'M y worl d i s real, i t i s a true world , an d i t i s a worl d I hav e i n m y measur e understood ' - an d i t wa s easier fo r Russel l t o ente r his , tha n fo r hi m t o ente r Russell' s fo r whic h trainin g was required . H e kne w h e coul d b e 'stupid ' an d 'impertinent ' (ii . 298) , an d 'vain' (ii . 303) ; an d ho w har d i t wa s 'fo r u s eac h on e t o b e hi s intrinsi c sel f (ii. 298) : 'No t me - th e little , vain , persona l D . H . Lawrenc e - bu t tha t unnameable m e whic h i s no t vai n no r personal , bu t strong , an d glad , an d ultimately sure , bu t s o blind, s o groping , s o tongue-tied , s o staggering ' (ii . 302) . As h e prepare d t o g o t o Cambridg e t o b e introduce d t o influentia l peopl e b y Russell, h e fel t ' a rea l hastenin g o f love ' fo r him ; an d tol d Ottolin e tha t h e thought o f her a s ' a specia l type ' lik e Cassandr a o r th e 'grea t wome n saints' , wh o were 'th e grea t media o f truth ' comin g throug h the m (a s i n Delphi ) 'fro m th e depths . . . belo w th e consciousness , an d belo w th e rang e o f th e will ' (ii . 297-8) . He though t Murr y ha d a t las t stoppe d worryin g abou t hi s privat e soul , an d tha t he an d Campbell , an d perhap s Forster , 'an d ou r wome n - an d an y on e wh o wil l be added o n t o us' coul d for m a league, 'carrie d o n on e impulse ' (ii . 302) . He an d Fried a wer e stil l sufferin g fro m th e fluey col d - bu t h e se t of f fo r Cambridge i n hig h hopes . VI Lawrence' s 'woman' ? And wha t o f Frieda , ami d al l this ? Lawrence' s excite d letter s fro m Greatha m give a partl y fals e impression , becaus e h e ha s fre e rei n i n them . Wher e Fried a adds postscripts , thes e sho w wha t mus t hav e bee n continuall y th e cas e durin g their dail y lif e i n Greatham , tha t sh e kep t bringin g hi m bac k t o earth , partl y through a commo n sens e tha t distruste d hi s highe r flights, an d partl y becaus e she fel t sh e wa s regarde d a s a n unequa l partne r i n man y o f thes e ne w relation ships, and resente d that , ver y much . 197
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
Moreover sh e ha d a privat e grief . O n 2 1 Februar y sh e hear d he r fathe r ha d died - bu t o f course coul d no t atten d th e funera l an d ha d t o mourn alone . Since thes e ne w friend s wh o cam e t o Greatha m wer e strongl y anti-war , ther e was les s nee d fo r he r t o fee l defensiv e abou t he r nationality , o r aggressiv e abou t anti-German propagand a an d hysteria , tha n sh e ha d don e i n th e firs t month s o f the war . Wha t sh e di d fee l affronte d b y wa s th e attitud e toward s 'Lawrence' s wife'. Sh e ha d bee n use d t o thin k o f hersel f a s n o les s distinguishe d i n he r wa y than he r younge r husband , i f not mor e so . Gros s ha d mad e he r fee l he r valu e a s a woman. Sh e wa s an aristocrat , an d Lawrenc e wa s not a gentleman (a s Weekle y had kep t tellin g her) . I n German y sh e wa s th e senio r partner , an d hi s equa l among Italian s o r eve n Englis h expatriate s wh o di d no t kno w hi s work . Bu t i n London tha t July , stil l mor e tha n th e previou s year , sh e ha d t o com e t o term s with intimation s tha t th e worl d migh t no t onl y com e t o thin k hi m ' a great man' , as sh e ha d retorte d t o Weekle y (ii . 244) , bu t migh t writ e he r of f a s tha t ignominious creatur e th e grea t man' s woman . She continue d a spirited correspondenc e wit h Ko t abou t hi s criticism s o f her , making a distinction sh e fel t important : So you wish me to write my 'Xanthippe' lecture s down instea d o f delivering them orally to poo r Lawrence . Bu t yo u se e I a m als o hi s wif e o n thi s earth , th e wif e t o th e man as distinguished fro m th e artist; t o tha t latte r I woul d alway s submi t but , yo u see , som e things I jus t know and h e doesn't . Don' t tal k a s i f I wer e suc h a ba d wif e an d h e a blooming angel. She tell s hi m abou t Forster' s refusa l t o dea l wit h ' a firm' , an d goe s on : ' I believ e everybody feel s lik e that, I fee l everybod y agains t me , but the n I can stan d u p t o it thank God . An d yo u wil l be my frien d too , soon.' However , a fortnight later : your attitude t o me is not reall y and trul y a good one - I can feel it - Yo u think I do not count besides Lawrence, but I take myself, my ideals and life quite as seriously as he does his - Thi s yo u will not allow, and i t is our quarrel, you think I am conceited, I cant help that - bu t it hurts me very much whe n you think I do not count as a human bein g - Bu t you do not think much of women, they are not human beings in your eyes ... (ii . 290) She refuse d t o b e i n aw e o f Russell either , an d wrot e t o assur e hi m hi s visi t ha d been 'ver y stimulating' . Wha t Lawrenc e ha d reporte d hi m a s sayin g o f he r - w e do no t kno w wha t i t was , but h e di d no t hav e a high opinio n o f th e intelligenc e of wome n - wa s 'rathe r true , bu t yo u hav e lef t ou t th e impersona l m e ( I don' t know wha t t o cal l it) , th e impersona l tha t i s i n everybody' . Sh e though t h e ha d been ' a littl e cross ' becaus e sh e 'di d no t respec t enoug h you r work , whic h I could neve r understand ; tha t particula r manmad e thing , yo u cal l i t intellect , i s a mystery, rathe r a thrilling on e t o me . . . it' s you r for m o f Wille zur Macht\ 68 Sh e felt i t was reall y agains t wome n too , a s Kot' s was . (Th e feelin g o f Ko t fo r 198
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Katherine an d o f Russel l fo r Ottolin e migh t see m t o disprov e this , bu t thos e women wer e 'intellectuals ' a s sh e was quit e happ y no t t o be. ) Fo r Ottolin e sh e had onl y gratitud e a t thi s poin t becaus e o f her readines s t o tr y t o hel p abou t th e children, bu t th e warnin g sign s wer e out fo r al l the ne w friend s wh o could rea d them. Sh e woul d no t bea r condescension . It was importan t t o he r therefor e t o insis t o n writing , eve n afte r Forster' s objection, t o tel l hi m her opinio n o f Howards End: ' a beautifu l book ' - thoug h she ha d n o grea t hope s fo r th e happ y ending , 'broke n Henry' s remai n Henry' s as I kno w t o m y cost' . However , sh e wen t on : 'A s t o th e fir m yo u did hi t a littl e sore poin t wit h m e - Poo r author' s wife , wh o doe s he r littl e bes t an d everybod y wishes he r t o Jerich o - Poo r secon d fiddle, th e surpris e a t he r existence ! Sh e goes o n playin g he r littl e accompanimen t s o bravely ! Tut-Tut , tr a la-la! ' (ii. 277-8) . Afte r Forster' s visi t an d hi s non-thank-yo u letter , sh e wrot e t o defend Lawrenc e - wh o wa s i n Londo n a t th e tim e - i n term s startlingl y hones t in thei r wifel y view , ye t n o les s genuinel y four-squar e beside , thoug h no t behind, he r husband . Your letter wa s not very nice - O f course you like us, even if you don't admit it. Neither L no r I ar e tou t l e monde , an d wha t h e preache s t o yo u i s jus t exactl y wha t yo u sa y yourself in your books ... Go d knows he is a fool, and undeveloped , but he is so genuine, a genuine force, inhuman lik e one also - an d such a strain; but you ought to help him, he is reall y ver y inarticulat e an d unformed . .. Yo u ar e not t o min d L' s 'custom s beastly , manners none'; think, / hav e to put up with them, and they have improved . . .70 In fact , i t wa s sh e wh o ha d taugh t hi m t o b e uninhibite d - an d sh e wa s certainl y so wit h him . Thu s sh e constantl y pointe d t o th e persona l horn s an d clove n hoo f behind th e angeli c talk ; accused hi m o f vanity whe n h e go t o n hi s high horse ; yet continued t o suppor t th e genuinenes s underneat h - ' I thin k a t th e bottom h e i s pure, bu t o n to p no t always ' (ii . 303) . Murry' s journa l record s a momen t o f friction no t fo r onc e concerne d wit h th e children . Sh e accuse d Lawrenc e o f 'inhumanity' a s sh e di d t o Forster . Lawrenc e countered : 'Sh e wil l slithe r an d slip fro m m y poin t o f vie w t o Ernst' s an d fro m Ernst' s t o mine ' - betwee n tru e 'aristocracy' an d th e bourgeois . 'Commonsense' , sai d Frieda. 71
VII U r s u l
a
On 1 February, afte r a wee k a t Greatham , Lawrenc e reporte d progres s o n The Rainbow. H e ha d 'don e 45 0 page s ou t o f 60 0 o r so' . Pinke r coul d tel l Methue n 'that th e whol e wil l be sent i n b y th e en d o f the month , an d tha t ther e shal l be n o very flagrant love-passage s i n i t (a t least , t o m y thinking) ' (ii . 270) . H e though t 150 mor e page s woul d d o t o adap t th e stor y o f th e faile d affai r wit h 'Charles ' Skrebensky (whic h ha d replaced , i n 'Th e Weddin g Ring' , th e on e wit h Be n 199
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
Templeman whic h Garnet t though t 'wrong' ) - bu t i t woul d tak e over a hundre d pages more . H e ha d no w persuade d Viol a Meynel l t o typ e th e nove l fo r him . She ma y no t hav e know n quit e ho w big a job sh e wa s taking on ! The nex t da y h e wrote t o Campbell , wh o ha d serve d a s a Territorial, fo r usefu l detai l abou t a 21year-old subalter n i n th e Roya l Engineers . 'Wha t woul d h e be ? Wha t woul d h e earn? Wha t woul d h e do ? Wher e woul d h e live? ' (ii . 274) . Anto n Skrebensk y i s to be no t onl y a soldier bu t a man o f machinery. 72 The stor y o f th e maide n Ell a ha d begu n i n th e secon d 'Sisters ' wit h a re imagining o f Louie. Sh e i s still vivi d i n th e youn g Ursul a of'Firs t Love ' (ch . xi): the dar k hai r an d tawn y colouring , th e blossomin g int o beauty , th e mix-u p between th e weekda y worl d an d th e Sunda y on e o f he r devou t Anglica n upbringing, th e growin g tensio n betwee n awakenin g sexualit y an d abidin g spirituality, th e increasingl y straine d relatio n wit h he r parents . Th e mai n rewriting int o The Rainbow mus t hav e been t o emphasise ho w Ursula internalise s all th e contradiction s o f he r grandparent s an d he r parents , wit h a new degre e o f conscious awarenes s appropriat e t o th e thir d generatio n (a s Lawrenc e wa s no w conceiving th e historica l 'progress') , an d thu s th e increase d difficult y con fronting th e 'slim , smoulderin g girl' . Th e vivi d evocatio n o f girlhoo d howeve r i s not fro m memor y o f 1905- 6 bu t i s pushed bac k severa l year s i n imagination , an d heightened t o intensit y b y ne w understandin g o f th e opposites , behin d th e Louie h e met a t the Ilkesto n Pupil-Teache r Centre , and late r love d an d left . Skrebensky, b y contrast , i s the mos t invente d o f all the mai n character s - an d it shows . W e kno w n o mor e tha n hi s nam e i n 'Th e Weddin g Ring' , wher e h e had clearl y bee n mad e differen t fro m Be n Templema n b y givin g hi m Polis h ancestry. Hi s fathe r Baro n Skrebensk y coul d the n b e modelled o n th e loca l Vica r of Greasley , Baro n vo n Hube , a refuge e fro m th e Polis h Insurrectio n o f 1863 , which als o showe d ho w a Polis h woma n coul d com e t o Cossethay . Youn g Skrebensky ma y alread y hav e bee n a soldie r also , i f Lawrence' s searc h fo r something different , togethe r wit h Frieda' s ne w readines s t o interes t hersel f i n the creatio n o f th e fiction , ha d le d hi m t o begi n fro m he r first beau . Anto n Skrebensky's appearanc e (i n The Rainbow), th e hai r 'brushe d u p i n th e Germa n fashion straigh t fro m hi s brow'; 73 th e impressio n o f a horsema n rathe r tha n a sapper; an d hi s tale s o f goings-o n betwee n youn g officer s an d shop-girl s i n th e cathedral (whic h appea r i n Frieda' s memoirs ) woul d ten d t o sugges t suc h beginnings - whethe r i n 'Th e Weddin g Ring' , o r now . Bu t th e determinatio n t o make hi m a n enginee r i n The Rainbow speak s als o o f 1915 , an d o f Lawrence' s attitude t o a wa r o f machiner y whic h woul d subjec t th e livin g bod y t o th e machine, an d th e individua l t o th e regiment . So , eve n thoug h th e novel' s histor y ends i n 1905 , i t i s bein g rewritte n i n 191 5 t o cas t a lon g shado w ahead . Skrebensky i s vivi d enoug h a s a n attractiv e youn g man , whos e apparen t self assurance ma y howeve r prov e a s deceptiv e a s Will's. Th e earl y courtshi p scene s 200
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create th e excitemen t o f sexua l awakening , an d o f firs t self-definitio n agains t one's opposite , withou t runnin g th e ris k o f offendin g Methue n agai n - a s Lawrence assure d Pinke r afte r writin g them . A t th e sam e time , th e line s o f comparison an d contras t wit h th e first an d secon d generatio n ar e clearl y draw n as th e youn g lover s wal k unde r th e tree s wher e he r parent s an d grandparent s had walked , o r si t o r kis s i n churche s n o longe r holy , o r swin g abov e th e crow d at th e fair . Bu t thereafter , th e strengt h o f Lawrence's feeling s abou t th e war , an d the mass-me n wh o thre w themselve s int o it , produc e a temptatio n t o writ e Skrebensky dow n i n th e ac t o f creatin g him , an d t o overwrit e th e potentia l destructiveness i n th e youn g gir l o f the thir d generation . Again, thi s ca n b e countere d b y dram a an d vividl y imagine d scen e - o r b y a reader's sens e o f a n openin g ou t now , albei t t o dangerou s excess , o f wha t wa s already potentia l i n earlie r generations , belo w th e leve l o f awareness . Tes t case s might b e th e youn g lovers ' canal-ban k argumen t abou t th e natio n an d th e individual, followe d b y thei r encounte r wit h th e bargeman ; o r th e lea p o f imagination whe n Ursul a i s first carrie d awa y (lik e Elsi e i n 'Th e Whit e Stocking') dancin g i n th e dar k befor e th e bonfires ; an d the n turn s o n he r love r like a maena d unde r th e influenc e o f th e moon . I n showin g ho w a femal e violence ma y b e subconsciousl y arouse d b y th e mal e threa t t o th e self , eve n i n a young girl , thi s i s disturbing , an d i t wil l becom e mor e s o (an d mor e underlined ) in revision . Moreove r Lawrenc e the n become s s o pressurise d b y hi s feeling s against th e soldier , see n a s mass-ma n wh o disguise s a s patriotis m o r servic e hi s lack o f individuality , tha t h e canno t resis t als o preachin g a t Skrebensk y i n th e narrative voice , so that a n authoria l thum b weigh s heav y i n th e scale . The youn g officer i s in dange r o f becoming a character wholl y determine d b y hi s functio n i n the novel' s themati c patter n rathe r tha n a complexl y imagine d huma n being , capable of change. Now, however , cam e a ne w imaginin g tha t woul d prov e crucia l t o th e fat e o f the nove l - an d it s author . Thoug h a t th e beginnin g o f Februar y h e ha d bee n confident tha t ther e woul d b e 'n o ver y flagrant love-passages' , withi n a fortnigh t he ha d becom e uneas y abou t Methue n again , and wit h reason . H e ha d hear d tha t Boots circulatin g librar y ha d refuse d hi s ne w storie s - heade d b y th e on e apparently abou t homosexuality . No w Forste r brough t ' a ghastl y rumou r o f th e Prussian Officer's bein g withdraw n fro m circulation , b y orde r o f th e police ' (ii. 280) . Thi s turne d ou t no t t o b e true , bu t h e ha d extr a caus e t o worr y tha t The Rainbow migh t b e though t 'impossibl e t o prin t . . . a s i t stands ' (ii . 280) ; fo r there ha d bee n a crucia l chang e sinc e th e beginnin g o f th e month . H e ha d embarked o n th e chapte r calle d 'Shame' , abou t a lesbia n lov e affai r o f Ursul a with he r schoolmistres s Winifre d Inger . What mad e hi m ris k it ? There wer e bot h 'literary ' an d 'life ' reasons . Th e Ursul a stor y i s strongl y 201
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structured, enactin g hi s ne w 'allotropic ' sens e o f character shape d (afte r 'Hardy' ) by opposite 'forces' . Sinc e h e no w sa w Ursula a s containing al l the contradiction s of earlier generations , mad e wors e b y he r ow n awarenes s o f them , h e wen t o n t o imagine - writin g ne w section s wher e necessar y - ho w sh e woul d continuall y respond t o attraction s whic h maximise d on e sid e o f her , bu t woul d afterward s react wit h th e ful l forc e o f th e opposit e side , endin g i n a wasteland rathe r tha n a promised land , neve r finding a Whol e fulfilment . S o ther e woul d b e a relatio n purely o f th e sense s offere d b y Anthon y Schofiel d (drawin g o n th e Pan-lik e vin e grafter Lawrenc e ha d me t i n Sa n Gaudenzio) ; se t agains t th e promis e o f a life o f pure min d a t Nottingha m University ; fro m whic h agai n sh e react s t o a purel y 'dark', sensuall y sexua l relatio n wit h th e Skrebensk y wh o return s fro m Africa ; and the n inevitably , mor e intensel y still , react s agains t that wit h th e ful l forc e o f her moon-bright , aspirin g side , destroyin g somethin g i n he r love r onc e an d fo r all. S o wha t wa s implici t i n th e weddin g danc e followe d b y th e maena d unde r the moo n i s finally brough t ou t t o th e full . On e ca n therefor e se e why , withou t any othe r reaso n a t all , ther e woul d hav e t o b e a purel y 'female ' worl d t o se t against th e 'mal e world ' o f Brinsle y Stree t Schoo l whic h was alread y ther e i n 'The Weddin g Ring ' (a s th e chie f mean s t o independenc e availabl e t o youn g women, a theme fro m th e start) . However, lif e pressure s pointe d i n th e sam e direction . Afte r hi s visit , Forste r wrote t o E . J. Den t o f how Lawrenc e ignore d hi s own homosexua l side , visibl e Forster though t quit e unconsciousl y - i n th e bathin g scen e i n The White Peacock?^ A s I hav e suggested , i t ma y b e a cultura l povert y t o requir e suc h scenes t o b e see n a s represse d homosexualit y - bu t b y 1915 , i n an y case , Lawrence was b y n o mean s unconsciou s o f potentia l homosexualit y i n himself . He ha d admitte d i t withou t embarrassmen t t o Savag e i n 1913 , had universalise d it i n 'Hardy ' i n 1914 , an d ha d pondere d th e natur e (an d limitation ) o f sexua l attraction t o someon e o f one' s ow n gender , bot h t o Savag e and , (now ) broodin g about Forster , masturbatio n an d sodomy , t o Russell . I f som e lingerin g worr y o r repression abou t hi s ow n sexualit y remaine d - hinte d perhap s i n th e sudde n an d significantly inconsisten t ide a tha t i n intercours e th e ma n an d woma n ma y become momentaril y 'pure ' mal e o r female , b y interchang e o f element s pre sumably 'impure ' - nevertheles s th e mai n argumen t o f 'Hardy ' mus t hav e seemed t o it s autho r a satisfactor y coming-to-terms . Ther e i s no t th e slightes t derogation o f Michelangelo' s homosexua l art , thoug h i t i s consisten t wit h th e whole argumen t t o se e hi m a s - i n fine exces s - a n extreme , o f whic h th e opposites ar e Raphae l i n on e wa y an d Turne r i n another , equall y excessively . Sappho i s t o b e admire d a s much a s Dido, an d fo r th e sam e reason . A change o f attitude t o Sue , who m h e ha d originall y blame d a s Jude' s destroyer , i s als o significant - wh y shoul d no t every 'abnormal ' bu t highl y develope d kin d o f person b e respected ? 202
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All this , however , was theoretical . No w actua l instance s ha d disturbe d hi s imagination again . H e ha d learne d fro m Frieda , wh o kep t n o secrets , tha t {Catherine ha d experience d intensel y lesbia n feeling s fo r a n olde r gir l i n a week end cottag e i n Wellingto n Bay . The n h e ha d see n Bunn y Garnet t obviousl y atttracted t o Dougla s Gran t - an d foun d himsel f muc h mor e disturbe d tha n could b e explaine d b y hi s dislik e of Grant's picture s o n artisti c grounds . Th e ful l implications o f tha t juxtapositio n o f Bloomsbur y ar t an d homosexualit y woul d remain obscur e a s yet ; bu t awarenes s o f actua l homosexualit y i n peopl e h e like d - fo r h e like d Gran t too 7 - an d a t th e sam e tim e th e recognitio n tha t i t wa s disturbing t o him , clearl y demande d (fro m a write r wit h imaginativ e courage ) further exploration . O n to p o f thi s ha d com e Forster ; an d th e revelatio n o f Murry's feelin g fo r Campbel l - an d perhap s als o an awarenes s o f his ow n feelin g for Murry , o f a similarly non-physica l kin d (o n th e evidence) , bu t nevertheles s a kind o f love. So wha t did he thin k wer e th e creativitie s an d th e deformation s o f homosexua l relationship, fo r peopl e h e care d about , now ? An d behin d that , fo r him , sinc e h e had recognise d bisexualit y i n himself ? Apparentl y incidentally , h e pu t homo sexual nuance s int o th e seemingl y mino r characte r an d caree r o f Tom Brangwe n the younger , wh o goe s lik e Bunn y t o Imperia l College , an d ha s a relationshi p with a n olde r scientis t whic h hint s a t sexual dimension s an d eventua l fallin g out . So also , i n February , Lawrenc e wrot e 'Shame ' - i n whic h imaginativ e exploration was easie r becaus e i t woul d b e a relatio n betwee n females , no t implicating him . Th e 'shame ' i s Ursula's , fo r who m he r lesbia n affai r alway s remains a disturbin g secret . Lawrence' s treatmen t o f it s beginnin g an d fulfil ment, however , i s wholl y sympathetic . H e bring s ou t a n excitemen t bot h physical an d intellectual , a sens e o f beauty , a n enlargemen t o f th e whol e being , that ar e i n n o wa y qualitativel y differen t fro m a heterosexual love-affair . Thi s o f course woul d mak e i t eve n mor e shockin g a t a tim e whe n th e ver y existenc e o f 'sapphism' wa s hardl y recognise d excep t fo r scientifi c writer s o n 'perversions' , or th e avant-garde . Winifre d is an 'opposite ' i n he r Gree k statuesqu e beauty , he r apparently firm sens e o f herself, he r scientifi c intellect , he r cal m rationalism , he r feminist rebelliousnes s agains t men . An d Lawrence' s intensiv e neologism , 'enrichening', sum s u p wha t th e sexua l relationshi p wit h Winifre d doe s fo r Ursula i n openin g ne w dimension s i n he r life . (Th e bathin g scene s ar e unabashedly sexual. ) Why, then , doe s Ursul a com e t o thin k he r teenag e affai r shameful ? An d wha t does he r autho r think , a s h e imagine s th e relationshi p throug h t o it s end ? Why , especially, i s Winifre d associate d wit h an d indee d palme d of f o n Uncl e To m Brangwen an d th e horribl e ne w collier y a t Wiggiston ? I s thi s jus t a smear ? O r are ther e hidde n connections , i n Lawrence' s imagination , betwee n homosexu ality, scientific intellectualism , industr y an d cynicism ? 203
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The lette r t o Savage argue d tha t homosexua l relation s wer e easie r becaus e th e partners wer e mor e alik e - bu t migh t the y therefore , bein g mor e self-reflexiv e than transforming , com e t o stultify someon e whos e many-sidednes s an d longin g for tota l fulfilmen t ar e a s intens e a s Ursula's ? Th e critiqu e o f Michelangel o i n 'Hardy' ha d suggested ho w homosexual deligh t i n one's ow n kind o f flesh coul d cry ou t fo r firmnes s o f outline . Ca n tha t onl y com e fro m greate r opposition ? Hence Ursula' s feelin g tha t th e bod y sh e love d ha s com e t o see m clayey , insufficiently formed ? The outcom e shoul d no t howeve r b e mistaken a s a simple judgemen t agains t homosexuality. Fo r though Winifre d ca n no more fulfi l th e whole of Ursula tha n her othe r partia l relationships , i t is not Winifred's bein g bu t her compromis e o f it tha t finally seem s shameful . Lik e th e othe r feminist s i n th e book , an d understandably i n relatio n t o th e times , sh e i s a half-hearte d Diana , a cover t rebel rathe r tha n a rea l revolutionar y - bu t whe n sh e compromise s wit h a marriage withi n a syste m sh e despises , i t i s mauvaise foi, 2L cynicis m abou t th e power o f sexualit y t o transform , a t th e hand s o f one' s opposite . Winifre d an d Tom ar e alike, despit e thei r genders ; indee d mor e alik e tha n Winifre d an d Ursula. Bot h hav e overdevelope d scientifi c intellect s (th e defect o f the Futurists , and o f Gran t combinin g homosexualit y wit h mathematica l abstraction) . Tha t i n turn connect s wit h th e industrialism tha t ha s produced th e great moder n collier y (which, revising , Lawrenc e wil l call 'mathematical') ; an d 'the hideous abstractio n of th e town' , th e ugl y line s an d square s withou t communa l centre ; an d th e people wh o se e themselve s onl y a s function s withi n a machine-syste m whil e their marriage s becom e a side-show. An d that show s th e cynicism whic h ha s lost faith i n transformatio n an d al l 'socia l passion' . I t seem s ther e ar e als o hetero sexual Citie s o f the Plain , Gomorra h perhap s a s wel l a s Sodom . 7 / is not gender but the nature of relationship that is finally important. Th e subconsciou s connec tions whic h ha d begun t o disturb i n Grant' s studi o ar e not yet fully worke d ou t in 'Shame' ; bu t the y ha d demande d a n exploratio n whic h mad e Februar y a fateful mont h fo r The Rainbow. 'The Mal e World' , abou t Ursula' s struggle s a s schoolteacher , was drawn (i n 'The Weddin g Ring' ) fro m hi s ow n experienc e i n Eastwoo d (a s pupil-teacher ) and Croydon , an d fro m Jessi e Chambers' s troubl e wit h he r class , an d Loui e Burrows's wit h he r Head . I t was becaus e schoolteachin g was muc h th e mos t immediate avenu e t o femal e independenc e tha t Louie , Jessi e an d Hele n Cork e had take n it . No w Ursul a learn s ho w th e pric e tha t ma y hav e t o b e pai d fo r success i s a damagin g divisio n betwee n th e publi c an d th e privat e personality , involving a suppression o f part o f the self . She discovers tha t school s are systems of power , an d (pace Nietzsche ) tha t relation s o f powe r damag e a s wel l a s strengthen th e self. Th e rewriting her e suggest s wha t generall y happene d whe n Lawrence was revisin g materia l alread y i n 'Th e Weddin g Ring' . Th e inne r 204
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dimensions (o f power , an d it s cos t i n violenc e an d self-violatio n i n thi s case ) were implici t before , bu t the rewriting continuall y bring s the m ou t wit h greate r emphasis an d intensity . Ursula's experienc e o f university i s the most directl y autobiographica l sectio n of all , mirroring Lawrence' s ow n disillusio n - wit h th e majo r differenc e tha t Ursula i s no t a novelis t wh o can spen d muc h o f he r tim e ther e writin g a firs t novel. I t i s also howeve r sharpl y thematise d withi n th e ne w structure, bringin g out bot h th e sterility an d pretensio n o f (supposedly) 'pur e mind ' - especiall y t o someone wh o ha s turne d dow n Anton y Schofield' s offe r o f a worl d o f pur e sense-experience, whic h sh e respects - an d als o ho w the university i s really lik e a factory , sellin g qualification s fo r commerce . A s Ursul a look s throug h he r microscope, sh e has not (yet) quite graspe d wha t i t is for th e cell t o 'be itself', 83 which wil l com e onl y i n proo f revision ; bu t she has become awar e o f a darknes s in whic h wil d thing s prow l outsid e th e narro w circl e o f th e mind' s ligh t (a n image whic h occurre d i n Sons and Lovers an d recurre d o n th e battlement s a t Aulla), an d of a life-mystery th e intellect canno t grasp . Henc e th e pretensio n o f the Biolog y Lecture r wh o think s tha t al l life-processe s wil l eventuall y b e reducible t o scientific laws . What follow s i s the Lawrencian 'sens e o f the Whole ' - thoug h i n a rhapsod y i n whic h th e narrator' s T agai n take s ove r fro m th e consciousness o f the character, perhap s a reason fo r cuttin g i t later. Al l stages of evolution fro m th e primeval mars h wher e grea t lizard s wallow , t o ape and tiger , to 'me' ; and al l futur e potentialities , reachin g eve n t o th e gate s o f paradise ; ar e simultaneously present . Th e whol e potenc y i s insid e everyone ; bestia l an d angelic; touching th e origin an d the ultimate; regressive an d progressive a t once. So whe n Skrebensk y come s bac k fro m Africa , Ursul a react s agains t th e worl d of the mind wit h he r 'darker ' sexua l self , achievin g wit h hi m a consummation o f that sid e o f her , and no w wholly rejectin g th e 'light ' o f separat e consciousnes s and civilisation . The n sh e reacts again , eve n mor e extremel y wit h th e ful l forc e of he r brigh t aspirin g self , i n fierce moonlight , wher e lik e a harp y sh e destroy s part o f Skrebensk y fo r ever . Al l thi s i s almos t certainl y new , as i t involve s th e pushing o f opposite s t o extreme s whic h ha d becom e th e structur e o f The Rainbow, teasin g ou t th e ful l implication s o f th e weddin g danc e an d it s aftermath, itsel f ne w afte r th e revision o f 'The White Stocking ' an d the dialecti c of'Hardy'. Lawrence was driven furthe r an d furthe r fro m wha t h e was supposed t o be doing, tha t is , toning dow n th e love scene s o f 'The Wedding Ring' . Thoug h b y his ow n standard s h e wa s moderately careful , scen e afte r scen e becam e risk y by the standards o f the time . In th e disintegratio n o f Skrebensky , h e explore d wha t h e mos t feare d i n himself- a dependency o n Frieda grow n s o great tha t i f she lef t hi m he might go to pieces . Ironically , th e need fo r (relative ) discretio n brough t wit h i t a differen t 205
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kind o f ris k i n hi s developmen t o f th e dange r o f too-read y self-abandon , fro m Tom, t o Will , t o Skrebensky . Becaus e h e dare d no t b e to o explici t i n renderin g Skrebensky's purel y sexua l consummatio n wit h Ursul a whe n sh e i s at university , he risk s misreadin g o f wh y Skrebensk y cannot , later , ope n u p fo r he r th e 'beyond' sh e long s for . Thi s ha s nothin g t o d o wit h sexua l potenc y a s such , which i s no t a t al l Skrebensky' s problem . Se x fo r Lawrence , an d fo r hi s heroin e now, ha s becom e fa r mor e tha n physica l satisfactio n - i t i s th e wa y t o resurrection afte r a death o f the self . However, th e archway-threshol d t o a whol e new lif e beyond , whic h sexua l lover s ca n ope n fo r eac h other , depend s upo n th e individuality o f each , standin g firmly base d i n thei r ow n opposit e strengths . Bu t Skrebensky ha s n o sens e o f himsel f othe r tha n a s par t o f som e collective : a nation, a regiment , a couple . I n him , Lawrenc e explore s no t a worr y abou t impotence s o much a s a fear - commo n t o writer s an d actor s - tha t th e eagernes s to sin k th e sel f i n other s betray s a n insufficienc y o f sel f An d i n th e lea p o f imagination whic h als o capture s bot h th e intensit y o f Ursula' s longin g fo r a 'beyond', an d th e destructivenes s whic h he r frustratio n releases , Lawrenc e ha s been abl e t o ta p into , an d understan d fo r th e first time , hi s ow n 'inexplicable ' experiences i n moonlight , whic h Jessie describe s a t Mablethorpe , Robi n Hood' s Bay an d Flamboroug h betwee n 190 6 an d 1908, 85 beginnin g a t Ursula' s age , though sh e i s sexually experience d a s he wa s not . As th e nove l neare d it s close , it s us e o f spac e an d seaso n a t Greatha m show s how Lawrenc e ha s entirel y reconceive d whateve r ha d bee n i n 'Th e Weddin g Ring'. A s Ursul a run s nake d t o th e dew-pon d o n th e Downs , an d stil l mor e a s she gaze s dow n o n th e brav e littl e trai n fa r belo w whic h Lawrenc e describe d t o Ottoline o n 1 1 February , th e fiction draw s o n a ne w geograph y - an d mayb e also a n ironi c allusio n t o Howards End. Moreove r th e remova l o f th e Birki n material require d a new ending : on e tha t coul d complet e th e tragi c curv e o f th e generations, ye t als o hol d a promis e o f redemption . Eac h coupl e ha s mor e t o marry tha n th e last , but th e widenin g circle s o f awareness an d emancipatio n hav e made marriag e eve r mor e difficult , an d hav e reveale d eve r greate r potentia l fo r destruction i n wha t ha d seeme d th e source s o f creativity . Ye t th e Lawrenc e o f February 191 5 was absolutel y convince d tha t i t was resurrectio n an d no t deat h (despite th e war ) tha t wa s th e centra l meanin g bot h o f histor y an d o f hi s ow n bible-for-our-time; an d h e was filled by ne w religiou s hop e a t Greatham . The climacti c scen e h e imagine d - th e grea t shir e horse s - confront s a n Ursula to o read y no w t o den y th e elementa l force s i n herself , i n reactio n t o wha t she ha s done , wit h th e powerfu l presenc e o f thos e force s an d thei r eterna l challenge t o marr y opposite s an d g o through, beyond . Th e sophisticated , highl y educated, self-consciou s Brangwe n woma n o f th e twentiet h centur y City , mus t be face d agai n wit h th e grea t backgroun d o f he r grandfather' s world : th e bi g wind throug h whic h h e walke d t o propose , th e eart h wit h it s loomin g trees , th e 206
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teeming rain , th e powe r o f th e anima l worl d h e s o confidentl y mastered , th e fir e from thei r nostrils . Th e elementa l worl d reveals , again , th e clas h o f opposite s i n all create d things , whic h sh e mus t meet , an d pas s throug h a s (i n he r terror ) a kind o f death . Bu t awar e a s th e moder n woma n is , sh e cannot . Sh e run s away , collapses int o inerti a lik e a ston e beneat h th e Flood , miscarrie s Skrebensky' s baby, nearl y die s quit e literally . Only , i n he r illnes s sh e realise s wha t ha s bee n wrong: tha t sh e ha s trie d t o b e th e creato r o f hersel f an d he r relationships , falsely. Sh e mus t lear n t o trus t hersel f instea d t o th e creativ e force s i n th e cosmos, a s a nu t doe s whe n i t i s she d nake d int o a ne w world , o f Genesis . Reborn afte r a kind o f death, sh e mus t wai t fo r th e comin g o f a Son o f God , he r opposite. Ou t o f he r windo w sh e see s a rainbow , a covenan t a s i n th e Bible , promising tha t th e apparen t destructio n an d corruptio n o f th e worl d ar e no t th e end, an d tha t a new worl d ca n follow . Again i t seem s impertinen t t o tal k o f 'sources ' - th e onl y justificatio n bein g to kee p imaginin g Lawrenc e th e writer , writing . H e ha d bee n readin g Va n Gogh's letters , an d thinkin g abou t th e traged y o f a ma n wh o s o desperatel y wanted unifie d experienc e an d relationship , bu t burn t himsel f ou t alone ; an d who wrot e o f himsel f a s a n ol d cab-horse , longin g t o liv e an d procreat e 'wit h other horses , als o free' . I f only , Lawrenc e thought , Va n Gog h coul d hav e been either th e anima l o r th e ange l o f himself , o r better , coul d hav e marrie d both , h e need no t hav e mutilate d himsel f an d gon e mad . A s Lawrenc e walke d throug h farmland a t ploughin g time , th e grea t horses , th e animal-of-oneself , an d th e looming Post-Impressionis t horse s h e ha d see n i n Blaue Reiter picture s i n Munich, bega n t o fus e i n hi s imagination . Th e closin g page s ar e ver y muc h end-of-February, th e borde r o f stor m an d spring , winte r deat h an d ne w life , 'the vivi d realit y o f acorn s i n Februar y lyin g o n th e floo r o f a woo d wit h thei r shells burs t an d discarde d an d th e kerne l issue d naked , t o pu t itsel f forth' . 9 H e had alread y writte n t o Russel l o f ho w 'Ther e come s a poin t whe n th e shell , th e form o f life , i s a prison t o th e life ' (ii . 285) , whic h ha s t o b e broke n i f new lif e i s to come . S o th e en d o f hi s nove l imagine s a n interna l proces s i n Ursula , whic h gives he r th e fait h t o see , externall y too , tha t howeve r muc h th e landscap e covered b y ugl y ne w houses , an d it s inhabitants , see m enclose d i n har d ye t brittle casing , thi s migh t ye t b e lik e nut s i n Februar y an d burs t ope n t o ne w growth. I t i s tru e tha t th e hop e i s no t warrante d b y th e histor y i n th e book , though i t come s fro m hi s fait h tha t th e creativ e force s alway s remai n available . If h e ha d writte n 'could ' instea d o f 'would ' i n hi s affirmation s o f th e future, 90 the fina l visio n migh t no t hav e seeme d s o muc h a n assertio n o f hi s ow n optimism, rathe r tha n a conclusio n whic h hold s th e whol e pas t o f th e boo k an d yet open s t o th e futur e a s h e intended . Yet , a s i n th e Bible , th e covenan t o f renewal ha s a pric e - n o les s tha n th e deat h o f th e ol d sel f an d th e ol d for m o f society. 207
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He kne w no w tha t h e migh t hav e pu t publicatio n a t ris k again , an d h e desperately neede d th e money . 'D o yo u thin k Methue n i s read y t o bac k u p thi s novel o f mine? ' h e aske d Pinker , a wee k befor e h e finished - wonderin g a t th e same tim e whethe r h e wa s to o lat e fo r th e Sprin g list . 'H e mus t mak e som e fight for it . I t i s worth it , an d h e mus t d o it . I t wil l neve r b e popular . Bu t h e ca n mak e it know n wha t i t is , an d preven t th e mea n littl e fr y fro m pullin g i t down ' (ii. 294) . Yet whe n h e actuall y finished h e wa s exultant. O n 2 March h e wrot e t o Viola Meynel l - no w sharin g th e typin g wit h Eleano r Farjeo n - C I have finished my Rainbow, bende d i t and se t i t firm. No w of f an d awa y t o find th e pot s o f gol d at its feet ' (ii . 299) . But rainbow s recede , an d a postscript follows : 'Tel l m e whic h part s yo u thin k the publishe r wil l decidedly objec t to. ' VIII Cambridg e - an d Afte r It wa s wit h grea t expectation s tha t Lawrenc e the n se t ou t fo r Cambridg e o n Saturday 6 March, havin g nervousl y writte n t o ask whethe r h e woul d nee d blac k tie to din e a t Trinity . I fee l frightfull y importan t comin g t o Cambridg e - quit e momentou s th e occasio n i s to me. I don' t wan t t o b e horribl y impresse d an d intimidated , but a m afrai d I ma y b e .. . Don't mak e me see too many peopl e at once, or I lose my wits. I am afraid o f concourses and clans and societies and cliques — not so much of individuals. Truly I am rather afraid . (ii. 300 )
He wa s o f cours e meetin g a n Apostoli c clique , an d th e Trinit y cla n o f philosophers, classicist s an d mathematicians , withi n th e privilege d concours e o f Cambridge, i n a class-ridde n Englis h society . H e ha d reason , give n hi s back ground, accen t an d provincia l education , t o fee l intimidated , eve n thoug h h e ha d confronted foreig n countrie s an d foreig n manner s before . H e was unfortunatel y rather unwel l again , afte r a recurrence o f th e flue y cold . H e gav e u p th e ide a o f visiting Ottolin e o n th e way , an d o n th e 4t h wa s uncertai n whethe r h e woul d g o at al l (ii . 303) . Ye t a t first th e visit , a t it s mos t intimidating , wen t no t to o badly . At dinne r o n th e Saturda y evenin g h e sa t betwee n Russel l an d G . E . Moore , who wa s a benign bu t als o a shy ma n wh o spok e a different kin d o f language , s o that communicatio n was difficult . Afte r dinne r howeve r ther e was tal k i n th e combination room , an d Lawrenc e bega n t o rela x an d spea k out . Russel l wrot e afterwards t o Ottolin e tha t G . H . Hardy , th e mathematician , who m h e greatl y respected, 'wa s immensely impresse d b y hi m - afte r seein g hi m h e wen t roun d t o Winstanley t o tel l hi m everybod y her e wa s utterl y trivia l & at las t h e ha d me t a real man'. Howeve r th e nex t day , fo r Lawrence , wa s 'on e o f the crise s i n m y life ' (ii. 321) . 208
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This was becaus e o f hi s encounter s wit h John Maynar d Keynes . Ottolin e ha d told Russel l tha t Keyne s woul d b e i n Cambridge , an d though t Lawrenc e shoul d get t o kno w him . Russel l dul y invite d Keyne s t o a privat e dinne r o n th e Sunday evening ; bu t the y als o walke d roun d t o hi s room s i n King' s lat e o n Sunday mornin g - an d Lawrence' s dislik e of'Cambridge' crystallised . Lawrence ha d rathe r like d hi m befor e [Keyne s must , then , als o hav e bee n a gues t o n Saturday evening ] - bu t seein g hi m thi s mornin g a t 11 , in pyjamas , jus t awake , h e fel t him corrup t & unclean . Lawrenc e ha s quic k sensitiv e impression s whic h I don' t understand, tho ' the y woul d see m quit e natura l t o you. They ar e marvellous. I lov e him more & more. I wouldn' t drea m o f discouragin g hi s socialis t revolutio n .. . H e talk s s o well about it that he almost makes me believe in it. I am afraid h e is not happy here, & will heave a great sigh of relief when he gets away. Earlier i n th e lette r h e ha d sai d tha t Lawrenc e 'hate s everybod y here' . I f Russel l was s o impresse d wit h Lawrence' s power s o f intuitio n h e canno t hav e tol d hi m that Keyne s wa s a n activ e an d promiscuou s sodomit e - thoug h Keyne s mad e n o secret o f hi s predilection s amon g hi s Apostl e an d Bloomsbur y intimates ; an d h e and Lytto n Strache y ha d greatl y increase d th e numbe r o f homosexual s electe d to th e societ y an d henc e it s homosexua l tone . Bu t whateve r i n Keynes' s appearance o r behaviou r se t imaginatio n workin g tha t morning , Lawrenc e was i n no doub t o f wha t h e intuited , o r hi s response . ' I neve r kne w wha t i t meant' , h e would tel l Bunny : till I saw K., til l I saw him a t Cambridge . We went into his rooms at midday, an d i t was very sunny . H e wa s no t there , s o Russel l wa s writin g a note . The n suddenl y a doo r opened an d K . wa s there, blinking fro m sleep , standing i n hi s pyjamas. An d a s he stoo d there graduall y a knowledge passe d int o me, which ha s been lik e a little madnes s t o me ever since . An d i t wa s carrie d alon g wit h th e mos t dreadfu l sens e o f repulsivenes s something like carrion - a vulture gives me the same feeling .. . (ii . 320) It wa s hardl y surprisin g tha t th e dinne r tha t evenin g i n Russell' s room s i n Nevile's Cour t wa s no t a success. Th e nex t day , Russel l tol d Ottolin e tha t i t ha d been 'interestin g bu t rathe r dreadful ' an d tha t Lawrenc e ha d lef t i n th e mornin g 'disgusted wit h Camb. , bu t no t wit h m e I think . I fel t tha t w e go t o n very wel l with eac h other , & mad e rea l progres s toward s intimacy . Hi s intuitiv e percep tiveness i s wonderful - i t leave s m e gaspin g i n admiration. ' A t dinner , sai d Russell: Keynes was hard, intellectual, insincere - usin g intellect to hide the torment & discord i n his soul . [ A Lawrencia n verdict? ] W e presse d hi m har d abou t hi s purpos e i n lif e - h e spoke as tho' h e only wante d a succession o f agreeable moments , which o f course i s not really true . Lawrence like s him but can' t ge t on with him ; I get on wit h him , but dislik e him. Lawrence ha s th e sam e feelin g agains t sodom y a s I have ; you ha d nearl y mad e m e 209
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believe ther e i s n o grea t har m i n it , bu t I hav e reverted , & al l th e example s I kno w confirm m e in thinking it sterilizing. Keynes's memorie s (i n 1938 ) wer e uncertain , bu t h e recalle d tha t Lawrenc e 'was moros e fro m th e outse t an d sai d ver y little , apar t fro m indefinit e expressions o f irritabl e dissent' . The y sa t roun d th e fireplace, Lawrenc e 'i n rather a crouching positio n wit h hi s hea d down ' - jus t a s at Grant' s - whil e the y took turn s standin g a t th e fireplace an d talke d W him , tryin g t o ge t 'hi m t o participate'. Keyne s partl y imagine d ho w hi s 'Bloomsbury ' an d 'Cambridge ' might hav e seeme d t o Lawrence : If, therefore , I altogether ignor e our merit s - ou r charm , our intelligence , our unworldli ness, ou r affectio n - I ca n se e u s a s water-spiders , gracefull y skimming , a s ligh t an d reasonable a s air, the surface o f the stream withou t an y contact a t all with th e eddie s and currents underneath . An d i f I imagine us as coming under th e observation o f Lawrence's ignorant, jealous , irritable , hostil e eyes , wha t a combinatio n o f qualitie s w e offere d t o arouse hi s passionat e distaste ; thi s thi n rationalis m skippin g o n th e crus t o f th e lava , ignoring bot h th e realit y an d th e valu e o f th e vulga r passions , joine d t o libertinis m an d comprehensive irreverence , to o cleve r b y hal f .. . Al l thi s wa s ver y unfai r t o poor , silly , well-meaning us. But thoug h Keyne s ma y hav e give n an d Lawrenc e take n a les s tha n fai r impression, wha t Lawrenc e ha d see n wen t muc h deepe r tha n thi s admit s an d was more disturbin g t o himself. Russel l wa s more perceptiv e when , a t th e en d o f his letter , h e connecte d th e vehemenc e o f Lawrence' s hat e wit h hi s passionat e belief i n love ; ye t sa w als o th e inexperience : 'h e imagine s me n mor e lik e hi m than the y are . I thin k hi s thinkin g i s quit e honest , bu t ther e ar e painfu l thing s i t hasn't realized.'Ye t Cambridg e was a crisi s precisel y becaus e i t bega n a whol e process o f painfu l realisatio n - first o f al l withi n himself - whic h woul d radicall y change hi s writing , an d hi s though t abou t 'corruption' . H e ha d theorised abou t homosexuality. No w h e ha d bee n disturbe d wit h intimation s o f somethin g h e thought predatory , unwholesome , irreverent , corruptl y clever . He wen t hom e vi a Bedfor d Squar e wher e h e spen t Monda y evening , an d me t 'Goldie' Lowe s Dickinso n who m Ottolin e ha d speciall y invited , bu t abou t who m he say s nothing . Th e nex t weeken d Katherin e Mansfiel d an d Ko t cam e down , and too k hi s min d of f wha t ha d happened . (Katherin e ha d bee n sufferin g badl y from he r 'rheumatism ' - i n fac t a gonorrhea l infectio n sh e ha d contracte d i n Germany som e year s before . He r relationshi p wit h Murr y wa s no w o n again , though h e di d no t com e wit h her , probabl y becaus e h e was lookin g fo r ne w rooms i n London . The y ha d decide d t o giv e u p thei r cottag e an d liv e i n town ; though, soo n after , Katherin e fel t unabl e t o wor k there , an d wen t bac k t o Paris. ) Though Lawrenc e wa s stil l unwell , an d Katherin e coul d no t wal k a s fa r a s th e Downs, i t seem s t o hav e bee n harmoniou s al l round . Bu t a s soo n a s hi s friend s 210
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had gone , Lawrenc e fel l int o blac k depression . H e trie d t o begi n rewritin g hi s philosophy a s he ha d sai d h e would , but , h e tol d Russell : all th e tim e I a m strugglin g i n th e dar k - ver y dee p i n th e dar k - an d cu t of f fro m everybody an d everything . Sometimes I seem to stumble int o the light, for a day, or even two day s - the n i n I plung e again , go d know s wher e an d int o wha t utte r darknes s o f chaos. I don't min d ver y much. Bu t sometime s I am afraid o f the terribl e thing s tha t are real, i n th e darkness , and o f th e entir e unrealit y o f thes e thing s I see . I t become s lik e a madness at last, to know one is all the time walking in a pale assembly o f an unreal worl d ... whils t onesel f i s all the whil e a piece of darkness pulsatin g i n shocks , and th e shock s and the darkness are real. ... I wanted t o write this t o ask yo u pleas e t o be with m e - i n th e underworl d - o r at any rat e t o wai t fo r me . Don' t le t m e go , tha t i s al l .. . I fee l ther e i s somethin g t o g o through - somethin g very important. It may be it is only in my own soul - but i t seems to grow more and more looming ... (ii . 307) Cambridge ha d mad e hi m 'ver y blac k an d down . I canno t bea r it s smel l o f rottenness, marsh-stagnancy . I ge t a melancholi c malaria . Ho w ca n s o sic k people ris e up ? The y mus t di e first ' (ii . 309) . Ye t i t was characteristi c o f Lawrence t o se e tha t th e sicknes s was als o i n him ; an d n o les s characteristi c t o feel tha t wha t wa s i n hi m wa s everywhere . Nietzsch e ha d writte n o f insigh t Beyond Good and Evil, bu t Lawrenc e no w insist s tha t evi l i s rea l an d ubiquitous . Having onc e threatene d t o pus h Ko t of f a bu s t o punis h hi s melancholy , h e confessed h e wa s s o 'depresse d b y th e sens e o f evil i n th e world ' i t woul d soo n be Kot' s tur n t o shov e (ii . 310) . Wit h sur e instinct , h e immerse d himsel f i n reading Dostoevsky : The Idiot, the n The Brothers Karamazov an d the n th e letters. H e wa s bac k i n bed , stil l wit h th e flue y col d - als o no w partl y gastric , ' a sore throa t i n th e middl e o f one' s belly ' (ii . 315 ) - whic h h e ha d neve r shake n off. Hi s ol d libera l optimis m an d tolerance , h e no w saw , were naive : It is no good now , thinking that to understand a man fro m hi s own poin t o f view is to be happy about him. I can imagine the mind o f a rat, as it slithers along in the dark, pointing its sharp nose. But I can never feel happy about it, I must always want to kill it. It contains a principle o f evil. There is a principle o f evil. Let u s acknowledg e i t onc e an d fo r all . I saw it so plainly in Keynes at Cambridge, it made me sick. I am sick wit h th e knowledg e of the prevalence of evil, as if it were some insidious disease. I hav e been readin g Dostoievsky' s Idiot. I don' t lik e Dostoievsky. H e i s again lik e the rat, slithering along in hate, in the shadows, and, in order to belong to the light, professin g love, all love. But his nose is sharp wit h hate, his running i s shadowy and rat-like , he is a will fixed an d gripped lik e a trap. He is not nice. (ii. 311) Dostoevsky's letter s seeme d t o Lawrenc e t o confir m tha t h e wa s a genius , bu t one of hate an d disintegration , hi s Christianit y a disguise. What a n amazin g perso n h e wa s - a pure introvert , a purely disintegratin g wil l - ther e 211
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was not a grain o f the passio n o f love within hi m - al l the passio n o f hate, of evil. Yet a great man. It has become, I think, now, a supreme wickednes s to set up a Christ-worship as Dostoevsk y did : i t i s th e outcom e o f a n evi l will , disguisin g itsel f i n term s o f love . (ii- 3H ) By 8 April, a month afte r th e Cambridg e visit , h e fel t h e wa s comin g throug h the struggl e wit h th e Tower s o f Darkness ' i n himsel f (ii . 315 ) - an d wa s therefore abl e t o diagnos e i n other s wha t h e ha d discovere d i n D . H . Lawrence . The simpl e temptatio n i s t o se e hi s depressio n an d misery , perhap s eve n th e renewed illness , a s psychosomati c reactio n agains t hi s ow n laten t homosexuality : horrified t o thin k h e migh t 'really ' b e like Keyne s (wh o looke d somewha t rattis h with hi s shar p intelligen t face, 97 an d who m Lawrenc e ha d 'liked ' o n on e level) ; and therefor e desperat e t o dissociat e himsel f fro m a sharp-nosed foragin g sewer bestiality - ye t capabl e a t hi s mos t hones t o f admitting subterranea n attractio n t o what i n anothe r par t o f himself h e wante d t o kill . There i s som e trut h i n this . Ye t i t greatl y oversimplifie s th e natur e an d scop e of th e Evi l tha t h e no w though t h e sa w everywher e underneat h pretension s t o humanitarianism o r love . H e wa s o n th e wa y t o a crucial modificatio n o f hi s ide a of characte r an d belie f i n th e creativit y o f conflict . Di d Russel l (certainl y n o homosexual) tal k a t th e Unio n o f Democrati c Control , 'o f th e nation s kissin g each other , whe n you r sou l prowl s th e frontie r al l th e tim e mos t jealously , t o defend wha t i t ha s an d t o seiz e wha t i t can ' - th e rea l motiv e fo r th e wa r agains t which Russel l an d Lowe s Dickinso n wer e workin g i n th e U.D.C . 'I t make s m e laugh whe n yo u admi t it . But w e are all lik e that' (ii . 309-10) . O n 8 April h e tol d Ottoline: Shelley believed i n the principle of Evil, coeval with the Principle of Good. That is right. ... D o not tell me there is no Devil. There is a Prince of Darkness. Sometimes I wish I could le t go , and b e reall y wicke d - kil l and murde r - bu t kil l chiefly. I do wan t t o kill. But I want to select whom I shall kill. Then I shall enjoy it . The wa r is no good. It is this black desire I have become conscious of. W e cant so much abou t goodnes s - i t is canting. Tell Russel l h e doe s th e sam e - le t hi m recognis e th e powerfu l malignan t wil l i n him . This is the very worst wickedness, that we refuse t o recognise the passionate evil that is in us. This makes us secret and rotten, (ii. 315) He kne w tha t repressio n onl y increase d th e rottenness , th e capacit y fo r deadl y hate an d malignancy . (Indee d h e wrot e t o consul t Davi d Ede r abou t hi s symptoms an d ailments ; ii . 317 - Ede r wh o was both physicia n an d psychiatrist. ) Everything ha d t o b e le t out . 'Thos e wh o kno w ho w t o lov e mus t kno w ho w t o slay. I f w e ar e no t t o b e give n u p t o love , the n le t u s b e give n u p t o th e contes t with th e dragon ' (ii . 316) . Rottennes s mus t b e cu t away ; 'surger y i s pur e hat e o f the defec t i n th e love d thing . An d i t i s surger y w e want , Cambridg e wants , England wants , I want ' (ii . 318) . Th e wa r migh t hav e don e it , bu t Englan d i s 212
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'unaware o f th e mortificatio n i n it s ow n body ' an d won' t hav e i t touche d o r acknowledged. Th e onl y hop e i s t o 'loo k t o th e young' . Bu t ther e was on e mor e recognition t o come, as two of 'the young ' arrive d a t Greatham . On th e weeken d o f 17-1 8 Apri l Bunn y Garnet t cam e wit h Franki e Birrell , an d what ha d disturbe d Lawrenc e whe n h e ha d see n Bunn y wit h Grant , no w cam e to ful l consciousnes s i n belate d realisatio n tha t Birrel l wa s homosexual , an d i n love wit h Bunn y - wh o looke d 's o wretche d . . . an d you r han d shak y - an d everything wrong ' (ii . 320) . The tw o youn g me n ha d com e t o Chesha m togethe r without raisin g an y vibrations , an d Lawrenc e di d no t dislik e Birrel l then , o r when h e first arrive d now , 'tire d an d a bit los t and wondering' : I lov e him . Bu t m y God , t o hea r hi m tal k send s m e mad . T o hea r thes e youn g peopl e talking really fills me with black fury: the y talk endlessly, but endlessly - an d never, never a good or a real thing said. Their attitude is so irreverent and blatant. They ar e cased each in a hard littl e shel l o f his own, and ou t o f this the y tal k words . There i s neve r fo r on e second an y outgoing o f feeling, an d n o reverence - no t a crumb o r grai n o f reverence. I cannot stan d it . I mill not have peopl e lik e thi s - I ha d rathe r b e alone . They mad e m e dream in the night of a beetle that bites like a scorpion. But I killed it - a very large beetle. I scotche d i t - an d i t ra n of f - bu t I came upon i t again an d kille d it . I t i s thi s horro r o f little swarming selves that I can't stand: Birrells, D. Grants, and Keynses .. . I lik e David Garnet t - bu t ther e i s something wron g with him . I s he also like Keyne s and Grant . I t i s enough t o drive one frantic. I t makes me long for m y Italy. Sometime s I think I can't stand this England any more: it is too wicked and perverse, (ii. 319) Homosexuality seeme d no w (t o him ) indelibl y associate d wit h brittl e intellectu alism, self-enclosure , irreverence; connectin g th e fou r me n a s muc h an d a s hatefully a s thei r sexuality . (Indeed , thre e o f the m wer e no t avers e t o hetero sexual satisfaction , Bunn y b y n o mean s so. ) Instinctively , nightmarishly , Lawrence intuite d somethin g poisonou s t o al l h e ha d com e t o hol d mos t vital . Such peopl e wer e no t morall y wrong , bu t corrupt. Hi s letter s t o Savag e an d Russell ha d feare d les t homosexua l relationship s b e merel y sensationa l an d confirm self-enclosure . No w h e ha d me t fo r th e firs t tim e wha t h e ha d theorise d about - an d though t h e sa w somethin g darker , activel y subversiv e o f al l h e reverenced. He trie d t o tal k t o Bunny abou t al l this; but o n Monda y was still upse t enoug h to writ e th e lette r whic h woul d damag e thei r friendshi p beyon d repair . (Sinc e Bunny quote d fro m i t s o selectivel y a s t o mak e hi s treatmen t o f th e breac h i n later reminiscence s disingenuous , an d sinc e th e lette r itsel f becam e publi c onl y in 1981 , it had bette r b e quoted extensively. ) I can't bea r to think o f you, David, so wretched a s you are - an d you r han d shak y - an d everything wrong . I t i s foolish o f you t o say that i t doesn't matte r eithe r wa y - th e me n 213
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E loving men . It doesn' t matte r i n th e public way . But it matter s s o much, David , t o the man himsel f - a t an y rate t o u s norther n nation s - tha t i t i s lik e a blo w o f triumphan t decay, whe n I mee t Birrel l o r th e others . I simpl y can' t bea r it . I t i s s o wrong , i t i s unbearable. I t make s a for m o f inwar d corruptio n whic h trul y make s m e scarc e abl e t o live. Wh y is there thi s horribl e sens e o f frowstiness, s o repulsive, a s if it came fro m dee p inward dir t - a sort o f sewer - dee p i n men like K and B and D. G. It is something almos t unbearable t o me . And no t fro m an y mora l disapprobation . I mysel f neve r considere d Plato ver y wrong , o r Oscar Wilde . I never kne w wha t i t meant til l I saw K., till I saw hi m at Cambridge. [Ther e follow s th e description quote d abov e p. 209] . . . Never brin g B . to see me any more. Ther e i s something nast y abou t him , like black beetles. H e is horribl e an d unclean . I fee l a s if I shoul d g o mad, if I thin k o f you r set , D.G. an d K. and B. It make s m e dream o f beetles. I n Cambridg e I ha d a similar dream . Somehow, I can't bea r it . It is wrong beyon d al l bounds o f wrongness. I had felt i t slightl y before, i n the Stracheys . Bu t it cam e ful l upo n m e in K. , an d in D.G . And yesterda y I knew i t again, in B. David, m y dear, I lov e you r fathe r an d I lov e you r mothe r . . . yo u must leav e thes e 'friends', thes e beetles . You must wrenc h awa y an d start a new life. B. and D.G. are done for, I think - don e fo r for ever. K . I am not sure. Bu t you, my dear, yo u can be all right. You ca n come away , an d gro w whole , an d love a woman , an d marr y her , and mak e lif e good, an d be happy. No w David, i n the name o f everything tha t i s called love , leav e thi s set an d stop thi s blasphem y agains t love . I t isn' t tha t I spea k fro m a moral code . Trul y I didn't kno w i t wa s wrong, til l I sa w K. tha t mornin g i n Cambridge . I t wa s one of the crises i n my life. I t sent m e mad with miser y an d hostility an d rage. Go away, David , and try t o lov e a woman . M y God , I coul d kis s Eleano r Farjeo n wit h m y bod y an d soul , when I think ho w good sh e is, in comparison. Bu t the Oliviers, and such girls , are wrong. I coul d si t and howl in a corner lik e a child, I feel s o bad about i t all. (ii. 320-1 ) Frieda wa s mor e tactful . Sh e to o feare d tha t Bunny' s 'vita l interes t i s i n men ' and tha t h e tende d t o 'loos e an d forge t yourself m othe r men ' thoug h h e ha d i t i n him 't o stan d fo r yoursel f an d b y yourself . However
, sh e sai d nothin g abou t
homosexuality, assume d tha t h e woul d marry , an d tha t hi s 'unbelie f wa s onl y owing t o a n affai r (wit h Ann a Hepburn ) whic h ha d 'somethin g hopeles s i n i t from th e beginning' . Bu t Lawrenc e i n a fina l postscrip t urge d hi m no t t o marr y anybody. 'G o righ t awa y an d b e alon e an d work , an d com e t o you r rea l self . Bu t do leav e thi s grou p o f "friends" . Yo u hav e alway s know n th e wron g peopl e Harolds, an d Olivie r girls . D o g o away, righ t away , an d b e b y yoursel f (ii . 322) . Later, i n 1955 , Bunn y tol d a melodramati c stor y abou t ho w Lawrence' s malignant wil l ha d the n cause d Frankie' s tongu e t o swel l s o muc h o n th e Saturday nigh t tha t h e coul d no t tal k - bu t h e carefull y obscure d wha t ha d upse t Lawrence s o much.
1
Whe
n h e finall y release d th e lette r h e annotate d i t
copiously, bu t disingenuously , sinc e Lawrenc e neve r doubte d th e affectio n Bunny fel t fo r Grant , Keyne s an d Lytto n Strachey , whic h indee d wa s lifelong , nor urge d hi m t o marr y Eleano r Farjeon , no r indee d reste d hi s cas e o n an y 214
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certainty tha t h e was actually the n havin g a n affai r wit h Birrell , though Lawrenc e undoubtedly feare d so . Hi s intuitio n wa s accurate , thoug h h e mistoo k th e circumstances. Bunn y ha d bee n sleepin g wit h Gran t sinc e January - t o BirrelP s distress. Moreove r Lawrence' s charg e wa s agains t th e whol e Cambridg e an d Bloomsbury se t t o whic h Bunn y seeme d s o devoted , becaus e o f the confirmatio n (when Birrel l an d h e wer e together ) o f ho w homosexualit y seeme d t o g o wit h brittle an d irreveren t talk , self-enclosure , sensationalism , promiscuity . That - n o simple homophobi a - wa s wha t Lawrenc e fel t wa s ' a for m o f inward corruption' , an etho s i n whic h Bunn y woul d los e himself . Th e drea m insect s inver t th e Rainbow imagery . Agains t th e nu t breakin g clea r o f it s rin d t o creat e ne w growth, i s se t no w th e self-encase d beetl e tha t onl y ooze s nastines s whe n it s casing i s ruptured . Wha t h e feare d wa s tha t Davi d woul d become , an d remain , one o f 'th e sordi d peopl e wh o crep t hard-scale d an d fou l o n th e fac e o f th e earth's corruption', 1 settin g himsel f agains t th e whol e 'sacred ' meanin g o f th e rainbow, an d th e ne w lif e tha t coul d onl y full y com e (Lawrenc e believed ) fro m the marriag e o f th e son s o f go d wit h th e daughter s o f men . I n 191 2 h e ha d see n Bunny a s a mother's boy , anothe r Pau l Morel . No w Bunn y wa s turnin g wilfull y aside fro m th e pat h whic h (Lawrenc e thought ) ha d le d t o his own salvation . Yet i t i s eas y t o sympathis e wit h Bunny . Th e Lawrence s ha d n o respec t fo r privacy, n o ide a tha t ther e nee d b e limit s t o thei r interes t i n an d discussio n o f other people' s intimat e affair s an d relations . Thoug h Bunn y himsel f love d gossiping abou t othe r peopl e al l hi s life , h e wa s certainl y no t use d t o bein g spoken t o s o bluntly. H e ha d a n edg y relatio n wit h hi s father , bu t Edwar d woul d never hav e tol d hi m of f lik e that . H e deepl y resente d suc h intrusio n an d interference. Lawrenc e ha d worrie d tha t h e ha d 'trample d i n forbidde n places ' when writin g t o th e Murry s abou t thei r relationshi p - bu t thi s wa s fa r worse . H e may als o no t hav e manage d t o convey , t o a n angr y youn g man , al l th e implications h e no w sa w i n Bloomsbuggery . Th e youn g Bunn y wa s idealistic , enthusiastic, impulsive , flattere d b y th e attentio n an d kindnes s (a s h e sa w it ) o f ex-Cambridge men , who m h e viewe d wit h a n outsider' s admiration , an d s o resented Lawrence' s imputation s th e more . Lawrence' s vie w o f homosexualit y will have seeme d narrowl y puritanical , a s against th e toleranc e an d sophisticatio n of fre e spirit s - thoug h Bunny' s concealment s (eve n a s lat e a s 1981 ) sho w dee p unease, a s doe s indee d th e lastin g intensit y o f his resentment. 1 Finally , thoug h he ha d littl e ide a o f th e hinterlan d o f Lawrence' s reaction , h e di d understan d that a choic e was bein g demande d betwee n th e Lawrence s an d th e whol e Cambridge-Bloomsbury set ; betwee n seriou s commitmen t i n heterosexua l mar riage, an d th e hedonism , promiscuit y an d variet y o f sexua l relationship s i n th e circle Lawrenc e was objectin g to . (Th e inclusio n o f Harol d Hobso n an d th e Olivier girl s i n th e 'wrongness ' show s Lawrence' s objectio n t o heterosexua l a s well a s homosexua l promiscuity . Harold' s h e kne w o f personally . Th e Olivie r 215
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
girls wer e no t promiscuous , bu t thei r neo-paganis m le d other s besid e Lawrenc e to thin k tha t the y migh t be. ) Egotis t an d hedonist , bisexua l an d promiscuou s womaniser, bu t als o affectionat e frien d an d enthusiasti c Bloomsburia n tha t Bunny was , there wa s never an y doub t whic h wa y th e verdic t woul d go . The sa d thing, however , wa s tha t h e neve r acknowledge d th e pai n an d tendernes s i n Lawrence's lette r o r th e genuin e concer n tha t underla y th e interference , bu t i n showing i t t o Keynes , encourage d hi m t o se e it s basi c motivatio n a s jealousy , over himself. 105 H e neve r forgav e Lawrence , an d mos t o f hi s reminiscence s contain a n elemen t o f putting-down . Onl y fo r Frieda , whos e hedonis m wa s much close r t o hi s own , di d th e ol d affectio n survive . The y di d no t mee t agai n until 1918 . Lawrence's beetl e dream s wer e instinctiv e revulsion , no t merel y agains t hi s own homosexua l side , bu t al l tha t no w wen t wit h it . Ye t thi s wa s surel y t o question th e optimisti c basi s o f 'L e Ga i Savaire' : th e belie f tha t conflic t o f th e male an d femal e withi n i s creative, and thus , sinc e everyon e i s bisexual, relation s of all kind s ca n b e creativ e too , even i f homosexual one s ar e liabl e t o b e to o self reflexive o r t o satisf y onl y par t o f a complex personality . Whe n Lawrenc e wrot e to Forste r abou t 'devils ' ther e ha d bee n n o revulsion . Hi s ton e was rathe r tha t o f Blake o r Nietzsche : th e Blak e o f The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, wher e devil s and angel s ar e equall y par t o f th e Whole , an d ca n easil y chang e place s i n different conditions , sinc e everythin g tha t live s i s hol y an d al l Seve n Sin s ar e aspects o f God ; o r th e Nietzsch e o f Beyond Good and Evil, wher e antithesi s i s denied, an d wha t ha s bee n calle d 'evil ' ma y b e a Virtue ' i f i t aid s th e Wil l t o Power. Bu t now ? I n th e lette r tha t exulte d ove r th e finishing o f The Rainbow h e had tol d Viol a Meynel l tha t h e wa s 'goin g t o begi n a boo k abou t Lif e - mor e rainbows, bu t i n differen t skies' , t o b e publishe d i n pamphlet s (sinc e Nisbe t ha d rejected th e 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy') , 'm y initiatio n o f th e grea t an d happ y revolution' (ii . 299) . It would surel y hav e to be a different, les s happy philosoph y now? And wha t o f The Rainbow} IX Re-Vision
s
In hi s blac k depressio n afte r Cambridg e h e wa s n o longe r sur e o f 'Th e Signal' , and no t feelin g lik e 'Th e Phoenix ' (projecte d title s fo r th e rewritin g o f th e philosophy; ii . 300 , 303) . Viol a ha d howeve r begu n typin g The Rainbow, an d b y about 1 9 Marc h h e ha d go t th e firs t chapte r (ii . 308) , an d bega n t o revise . Th e story o f To m an d Lydia , no w th e starkes t contras t wit h hi s ne w sens e o f evil , seems t o hav e reassure d hi m abou t th e basi s of his thinking : 'I t reall y put s a ne w thing i n th e world , almos t a new visio n o f life ' (ii . 308) . Russell cam e dow n fo r a weekend a t th e en d o f th e month , an d th e sens e o f thei r 'kinship ' hel d (ii . 312) . 216
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By 8 April h e ha d begu n th e ne w philosophy , whic h woul d no t tel l peopl e no w that the y ar e 'angel s i n disguise ' bu t rathe r 'dog s an d swine , bloodsuckers ' (ii. 313) ; though h e wa s at las t comin g ou t o f his 'curse d blackness' , albei t stil l i n bed, an d harbourin g som e murderou s thoughts . B y the n h e ha d revise d abou t a third o f the nove l (i i 314) , and unti l th e en d o f May th e tw o processe s o f revisio n went on , intertwined . Now h e though t o f callin g th e philosoph y 'Morgenrot ' (i i 315) , afte r Nietzsche again. 1 Thoug h thi s i s th e lette r tha t urge s recognitio n o f 'th e passionate evil tha t i s i n us' , an d th e nex t da y h e wrot e th e on e sayin g 'Thos e who kno w ho w t o lov e mus t kno w ho w t o slay, ' th e titl e show s resurgen t faith : that t o recognis e th e prevalenc e o f evil make s i t possibl e t o overcom e it , an d fin d new ligh t an d life . Othe r tha n that , w e ca n tel l littl e abou t thi s phas e o f rethinking. B y 2 0 Apri l h e ha d writte n 4 0 page s (ii . 325) . O n 8 Jun e h e sen t Forster an d Russel l copie s o f wha t ha d bee n typed , first b y Ko t agai n bu t the n by himself're-composin g a s I go ' (ii . 352) , amounting t o abou t a quarter o f wha t he planne d (ii . 355) . 'Re-composing ' suggest s tha t h e was workin g o n th e earl y non-Hardy materia l o f 'L e Ga i Savaire' , probabl y cuttin g al l th e literar y an d ar t criticism, an d etchin g a fa r darke r sens e o f th e destructiv e potentia l i n huma n beings, individuall y an d collectively , i n th e war . B y 9 July howeve r thi s attemp t had broke n dow n 'i n th e middle' , an d te n day s late r h e realise d tha t h e woul d need t o begin agai n o n a different basi s (ii . 362 , 367). Since th e typescrip t i s gone , th e onl y hint s a t it s conten t mus t com e fro m th e letters. Lawrence's realisatio n o f inner evi l ha d no t onl y t o do wit h th e poisonou s corruption o f beetl e an d scorpio n tha t threatene d him , bu t als o significantl y related th e opponent s o f wa r t o thos e wh o carrie d i t on . I n bot h Russel l th e pacifist, an d himsel f th e nay-sayer , h e discovere d a coilin g violence , possessive , aggressive, whic h 'prowl s th e frontiers' , no t onl y guard s wha t i t ha s bu t 'seizefs ] what i t can ' (ii . 310) ; issuin g i n a murderou s rag e a t wha t threaten s o r prevent s the self , a fierce desir e t o kill . These wer e th e rea l an d undeclare d 'wa r aims' , al l the more certainl y sinc e even thos e who opposed th e wa r ought t o admit tha t the y felt the m to o - bu t the y le d i n terribl e directions . Ther e ha d bee n carnag e i n th e battle o f Neuv e Chapell e i n March , bu t o n 2 2 Apri l a t Ypre s wa r too k o n a ne w dimension o f horror: th e German s use d poiso n gas . In th e battle whic h continue d to the thir d wee k i n May , th e British los t 60,00 0 men . O n th e afternoon o f 7 May the Lusitania wa s torpedoed b y a U-boat, an d fou r day s late r anti-German riotin g began i n London , wit h frenzie d attack s o n shop s an d individuals . Typically , Lawrence was bot h horrifie d a t th e 'madnes s . . . thi s frenz y o f hatred' , bu t als o confessed tha t h e understoo d i t onl y to o well : ' I a m ma d wit h rag e myself . I would lik e to kill a million German s - tw o million ' (ii . 340) . Moreover, i n insistin g tha t suc h thing s wer e indee d evil th e Nietzschea n titl e began t o signa l a growin g differenc e from , a s wel l a s a lastin g affinit y with , th e 217
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
German philosopher . Lawrenc e no t onl y sa w tha t Powe r migh t b e tha t o f a lethal an d ma d Darkness , bu t bega n als o t o worr y abou t th e Will . In bot h th e aristocrati c ladie s t o who m h e ha d writte n i n suc h religiou s terms , he detecte d somethin g dangerous . B y 2 3 Apri l h e hear d tha t th e 17-year-ol d Belgian refuge e Mari a Nys , t o who m Ottolin e ha d give n a home, ha d attempte d suicide. H e expresse d hi s horror , bu t insiste d tha t Ottolin e mus t acknowledg e the caus e i n herself : th e 'strong , old-develope d wilF whic h ha d 'enveloped ' th e girl s o that sh e live d unde r it s dominance : and the n yo u wan t to put he r away from you , eject he r fro m you r will . So that whe n she says it wa s because sh e couldn't bea r bein g left , tha t sh e too k th e poison , i t i s a good deal true .. . Why mus t yo u alway s us e you r will so much , wh y can' t yo u le t thing s be , withou t always graspin g an d tryin g t o kno w an d t o dominat e [hi s final charg e agains t hi s ow n Ursula]. I'm to o like this myself. ... why will you use power instead of love ... (ii . 326) Moreover, whe n Lad y Cynthi a presse d hi m i n Ma y fo r advic e abou t he r so n the 'fa t an d smilin g John' o f Kingsgate - wh o ha d begu n t o sho w symptom s tha t would eventuall y b e recognise d a s autism , h e a t firs t resente d bu t the n too k o n the task . Again , Cynthi a hersel f (h e thought ) wa s th e cause , i n he r lac k o f faith . The ne w mornin g depend s o n 'belief : no t onl y tha t ther e i s a Grea t Will , essentially creativ e rathe r tha n Schopenhaueria n (o r Hardy-esque) , bu t als o tha t each individua l sou l ha s a significan t rol e t o play , affinin g itsel f t o that . T o fee l bound b y circumstances , disbelievin g 'tha t al l thing s res t withi n th e scop e o f a Great Wil l . . . a belief i n God , o r belie f i n Lov e - wha t yo u like' , i s t o b e a dea d soul. T o believ e i n suc h a great Will , ye t thin k tha t 'th e agenc y o f th e particula r soul i s insignificant ' i s 'unbelief : much more insidious tha n atheism ' (hi s italics) . John a t Kingsgat e ha d seeme d a happ y sou l 'intrinsically' . I f h e i s recalcitran t now, rejectin g hi s mother , i t mus t b e becaus e h e know s that , whateve r sh e says , she doe s no t ac t a s thoug h sh e believe s i n a worl d governe d b y lov e an d joy . Instead, sh e trie s t o mak e hi m lov e an d obe y her. 'You r ow n sou l i s deficient , s o it fights fo r th e lov e o f the child . An d th e child' s soul , bor n i n th e wom b o f you r unbelief, laugh s a t you an d defie s you , almos t jeer s at you , almos t hate s you. ' Sh e must no t tr y t o mak e hi m lov e o r obe y her , mus t no t exer t authority ; only , whe n necessary, appea l t o the sens e o f love and justice , th e 'believin g soul ' o f the child , not t o giv e troubl e t o othe r people : 'Pu t yoursel f asid e . . . Yo u hav e n o righ t t o his love . Car e onl y fo r hi s goo d an d well-being : mak e no demand s o n him . Bu t for yourself , yo u mus t lear n t o believe i n Go d . . . I t i s not ou r wickednes s whic h kills us , bu t ou r unbelie f (ii . 336-7) . Thes e woul d b e har d word s t o swallow , but (spoke n t o a fashionable woma n whos e nurs e brough t u p he r children ) the y have a wisdom. Ther e i s both Nietzsch e an d anti-Nietzsch e i n th e argumen t tha t 218
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the individua l will-to-be-oneself-to-the-maximum , mus t als o b e abl e t o pu t itsel f aside i n orde r t o giv e th e maximu m ne w life , secur e i n belie f tha t th e univers e i s governed b y a grea t creativ e power . (Ye t could anyone no w believ e 'tha t w e i n England shal l unit e i n ou r knowledg e o f God t o liv e to the bes t o f our knowledg e - Prim e Minister s [lik e her father-in-law ] an d capitalist s an d artizan s al l workin g in pure effor t toward s Go d - here , tomorrow, i n thi s England'? ) At Worthin g o n th e Susse x coas t wit h Fried a a fortnigh t earlie r a t th e en d o f April, Lawrenc e ha d jus t hear d o f th e deat h o f Ruper t Brooke : 'th e fatuit y o f i t all', the sunn y ma n kille d b y sunstrok e (i t was firs t rumoured) , th e crue l iron y s o 'in keepin g . . . th e rea l clima x o f hi s pose' . Th e beac h fron t ha d bee n crowde d with soldiers . Can I ever tell you how ugly they were: 'to insects - sensua l lust/ I like sensual lust - bu t insectwise, no - i t is obscene. I like men t o be beasts - bu t insect s - on e insect mounte d on another - o h God ! The soldier s at Worthing ar e like that - the y remin d m e of lice or bugs: - 't o insect s - sensua l lust' . The y wil l murde r thei r officer s on e day . The y ar e teeming insects. What massive creeping hell is not let loose nowadays. It isn't my disordered imagination . There i s a wagtail sitting on the gatepost. I see how sweet and swif t heave n is . But hel l is slow and creepin g and viscous , and insect-teeming : as is this Europe now - thi s England, (ii. 330-1 ) Everything seeme d t o com e nightmarishl y together , Dmitr i Karamazov , Cam bridge an d Bloomsbur y homosexuality , th e 'horro r o f littl e swarmin g selves' , beetles, teemin g regimente d mass-me n secretl y filled wit h bloodlust . Ho w was 'Morgenrot' t o explai n th e abys s betwee n th e heave n o f th e natura l worl d i n it s annual renewal , an d thi s visio n o f man-mad e hel l an d corruption ? Londo n i n early Ma y looke d ash y t o hi m a s t o Skrebensky , onl y worse : 'lik e som e hoar y massive underworl d . . . Th e traffi c flows throug h th e rigi d gre y street s lik e th e rivers o f Hel l throug h thei r bank s o f dry , rock y ash ' (ii . 339) . Ho w accoun t fo r the awfu l parado x o f this spring , 'ver y beautifu l - ver y brilliant , upo n a blac k undertone o f th e wa r horror ' (ii . 347) ? A s h e finished revisin g The Rainbow a t the en d o f Ma y hi s fait h i n resurrectio n wa s stil l stron g - 'Ou r sens e o f th e Absolute i s th e onl y sens e lef t t o us ' (ii . 348 ) - bu t ther e was als o 'deat h an d more death ' first, 'til l w e ar e blac k an d swolle n wit h death ' (ii . 352) . I t i s no t even clea r ho w muc h mor e h e wrot e o f 'Morgenrot ' afte r th e sectio n h e sen t t o Forster an d t o Russell . However, b y an d perhap s befor e 9 July, whe n h e tol d Ottolin e hi s philosoph y had broke n down , h e wa s har d a t wor k o n th e proof s o f The Rainbow, an d feeling, again , tha t 'Whateve r els e i t is , i t i s th e voyag e o f discover y towar d th e real an d eterna l an d unknow n land ' (ii . 362) . Ye t th e ne w darke r visio n wa s bound t o have affected The Rainbow too . Viola Meynell , discoverin g th e siz e o f th e opu s sh e ha d undertake n t o type , 219
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handed ove r hal f t o he r frien d Eleano r Farjeo n wh o had visite d Greatha m an d met Lawrence , proppe d u p i n be d agains t pillow s i n earl y March . Fro m mid March, whe n Viol a finished th e first 7 1 page s (ii . 308), till 3 1 May , Lawrenc e revised th e nove l extensivel y a s batche s o f typescrip t arrived . H e mad e n o attempt t o check the m agains t th e manuscript, bu t as well as revision i n the usual sense i t wa s anothe r re-seeing . Fo r afte r Cambridg e h e wa s n o longe r th e Lawrence o f the manuscript . This mad e n o differenc e t o th e stor y o f Tom an d Lydia , becaus e their s wa s the Ol d World , limited , relativel y unaware , bu t unspoil t - helpin g indee d t o restore hi s faith agains t th e powers o f darkness. Th e change s sharpe n th e focus , but d o not change the vision . With Ann a an d Will however , becaus e the y wer e close r t o himself an d Frieda , and als o th e fulcru m o f the novel' s analysi s o f how creative conflic t migh t tur n into destruction , th e newly darke r visio n wa s bound t o make a difference. I n two places, Lawrence wrot e length y ne w sections int o th e typescript. H e reconceive d the cathedra l scen e whic h no w seemed to o one-sided, b y underlining a destruc tiveness i n Anna's respons e t o Will's ecstasy . Sh e had seemed t o know mor e and better tha n he r husband ; an d ther e ha d bee n a simila r tendenc y a t th e en d o f 'Anna Victrix ' t o la y th e stres s to o exclusivel y o n th e failur e an d limitatio n o f Will. Lawrenc e no w correct s that , an d show s th e opposit e response s t o th e cathedral a s equall y reductive . I n Will's , h e merel y intensifie s th e ecstas y o f abandonment h e distruste d i n Campbell ; bu t Anna' s respons e i s transformed . She i s made mor e resentfu l o f being momentaril y overcome : resistin g th e pull t o the alta r b y seizing o n the little carve d mediaeva l face s i n far mor e anti-religiou s and mockin g a fashion. The y becom e no t merely huma n bu t wicked ; an d sh e is jeering an d maliciou s (a s Frieda coul d be) , exulting no t jus t i n multiplicity , bu t in destroyin g somethin g i n Will . He r desir e fo r wide r freedo m an d spac e becomes mor e tha n self-protection : become s a n urg e t o destro y whateve r threatens he r self ; a s Will' s desir e fo r unit y ha d alread y reveale d to o eas y self abandon, turnin g ugl y i f thwarted . Lawrenc e ha d alread y bee n heightenin g Will's darkl y violen t potential , t o evil . Now , in th e cathedral , eac h i s show n t o have a half-truth, bu t the conflict become s mor e clearl y destructive , mor e ironi c in exposing wha t ha s happened t o the rich potentia l o f the corn-stacking. 108 The othe r ne w autograph sectio n wa s a leap of imagination. A t the end of'Th e Child' h e had written onl y briefl y an d generally of'som e months ' i n which Ann a let hersel f go , she gave him also his full measure , she considered nothing . Childre n and everything sh e let go, and gav e way to her last desires , til l h e and she had gon e al l the devious an d never-to-be-recorde d way s o f desire an d satisfaction , t o th e ver y end , till they had had everything, and knew no more Lawrence no w replaced thi s by a new half chapter: Will' s escapad e wit h a factor y 220
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girl i n Nottingham , followe d b y a ne w relatio n wit h hi s wife , issuin g i n ' a sensuality violen t an d extrem e a s death' , bu t als o a n 'Absolut e Beauty ' an d a kind o f liberation. Her e h e bega n t o explore hi s new awarenes s o f the darknes s o f the huma n heart , predatory , capabl e o f savag e violenc e an d lust ; an d a n ana l sexuality withou t tenderness . Ye t simultaneously , h e bega n t o rediscove r fait h that eve n i n that 'dark ' dimension , tru e opposition , accepte d an d gon e through , could becom e creativ e again . Th e coupl e whos e lov e ha d turne d int o victor y fo r the wif e an d defea t o f th e husband , t o th e cos t o f both , prov e abl e t o discove r new lif e throug h lust . Wil l becomes a new man wit h a new publi c role . When h e come s hom e rouse d an d dangerous , becaus e hi s attemp t t o seduc e the gir l h e picke d u p ha s bee n frustrated , Ann a i s no t merel y unafrai d o f thi s husband grow n suddenl y strange ; she see s him a s excitingly other again; an d i s at long las t willin g t o abando n hersel f t o him , neithe r defensiv e no r dominating . 'I t was a s i f h e wer e a perfec t stranger , a s i f sh e wer e infinitel y an d essentiall y strange t o him'. 1 The y becom e discoverer s together , an d wha t the y discove r i s an 'Absolut e Beauty' . Pur e sensualit y (i t seems ) i s absolute, no t relative , becaus e it i s a beauty purel y o f th e bod y divorce d fro m th e person , s o havin g nothin g t o do wit h relationshi p betwee n person s o r th e tendernes s tha t results . I t i s als o absolute becaus e entirel y a t on e extrem e o f th e dialecti c o f opposites, a marriag e purely o f th e sensua l side s o f th e sel f an d th e other . Th e Lawrenc e wh o ha d imagined th e 'dark ' relatio n o f Ursul a an d Skrebensk y ha s no w pushe d hi s analysis o f sexualit y on e stag e further . I n February , a s h e wrot e hi s sermo n o n evolution whil e Ursul a looke d throug h he r microscope , h e ha d insiste d tha t al l the stage s o f huma n evolutio n wer e co-presen t i n th e huma n being , wh o i s stil l tiger an d ap e a s wel l a s reachin g i n spiritua l aspiratio n t o th e gate s o f paradise . At th e en d o f 'Th e Child' , ther e ha d bee n th e ide a tha t marrie d sex shoul d b e able t o includ e al l possibilities , eve n th e 'never-to-be-recorded ' ones . No w however, imaginin g wha t h e ha d merel y hinte d a t before , h e doe s mor e tha n merely include . H e recover s Blake' s fait h tha t eve n th e predator y cruelt y o f th e 'Tyger' ca n b e a n agen t o f th e Grea t Creato r - s o eve n ana l lus t ca n b e creativ e too, always provide d (still ) tha t i t i s not lik e that o f his nightmar e insects , th e sel f mounted o n th e othe r i n a mod e wholl y self-enclosed , whethe r dominatin g o r passive, and henc e essentiall y masturbatory . Wil l no w fiercel y wishe s tha t h e ha d the roug h tongu e o f a tiger, t o lic k til l th e bloo d comes ; an d othe r beautie s the y discover ar e 'sinister , tropical' , a 'heavy , fundamenta l gratification ' - th e language bein g a s explici t a s i t dares . Ye t becaus e ther e i s onc e agai n a ful l sense o f otherness, wit h n o victor y o r defeat , n o imposin g o r abasin g o f th e self , but, rather , mutua l self-abando n t o discover y an d liberation , i t woul d see m tha t even thi s comin g togethe r i n pur e darkness , thi s marriag e onl y o f th e dar k side s of themselves , ca n hav e som e o f th e effect s whic h thei r relatio n a s lover s ha d failed t o achieve . Ann a i s recalled fro m he r tranc e o f motherhood t o liv e mor e i n 221
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herself; Wil l i s not onl y mor e founde d i n himsel f bu t become s a man wit h a rol e in society . This i s not advocacy . Th e dar k relatio n i s partial, les s tha n th e ful l marriag e o f opposites tha t Ann a an d Wil l faile d t o achieve . Indee d Lawrenc e stil l see s i t a s dangerous: ' a sensualit y violen t an d extrem e a s death . The y ha d n o consciou s intimacy, n o tendernes s o f love . I t wa s al l th e lus t an d th e infinite , maddenin g intoxication o f th e senses , a passio n o f death.' 111 I n reducin g th e fullnes s o f th e self an d th e ful l possibilitie s o f relationship , thi s ne w relatio n i s potentiall y deadly. Huma n lif e indee d canno t occupy th e Absolut e a t eithe r extrem e o f Lawrence's dialectic . Thos e ar e th e domai n o f th e 'Gods ' - an d th e neare r th e approach t o either, th e mor e deadly . Ye t (i t seems) bein g willin g t o di e t o th e sel f by touchin g th e Absolut e a t moments , i n an d throug h th e Other , eve n a t onl y one extrem e an d i n onl y on e kind , ca n stil l brin g abou t a kind o f rebirt h - albei t on a more limite d leve l tha n th e ful l marriag e o f opposites . Lawrence's imaginatio n ha d kep t o n searching , throug h hi s ow n dar k nigh t o f the sou l i n Marc h an d April , fo r a wa y bac k t o th e belie f tha t ever y kin d o f living can b e holy , i f onl y i t ca n find th e wa y t o marr y th e not-self , i n som e mode o f deat h an d resurrection . Thi s implie s n o les s horro r a t th e sor t o f homosexuality h e though t eithe r use d th e othe r t o masturbat e th e self , o r care d so littl e fo r th e sel f a s t o find gratificatio n i n bein g use d fo r others ' purpose s (like th e soldier s i n Worthing) . Bu t i t doe s sugges t a questio n whic h 'Shame ' does no t settle , an d whic h woul d sometim e hav e t o b e take n u p again . Di d h e still believe , afte r Cambridge , wha t h e ha d though t i n 1913 , tha t som e people , less comple x tha n Ursula , migh t b e save d b y homosexua l relationship , i f heterosexual relationshi p ha d failed ? Coul d same-se x relationshi p escap e 'insec t lust' - i.e . mutua l masturbatio n o r buggerin g dominatio n o r abus e - a s Anna' s and Will's , thoug h partl y anal , seeme d t o do ? O n th e othe r han d (thoug h on e must b e ver y carefu l abou t this ) Lawrence' s imaginatio n ha d als o manage d t o confront somethin g ver y private , an d potentiall y 'shameful' . Wha t ha d s o shocked Murry , tha t Lawrenc e sometime s too k Fried a 'lik e a dog' , migh t hav e to d o wit h n o mor e tha n he r withdrawa l an d hi s sens e o f humiliatin g dependence. Ye t i f thi s wen t to o fa r int o sex wa r o r superiority , migh t something impersona l an d fierce, calle d fort h fro m th e mal e animal-self , b e no t only justifiabl e bu t liberating , t o both ? Excus e an d rationalisation ? O r ana l se x confronted, an d understood ? Certainly Lawrence' s imaginatio n ha d prove d ver y courageous , o r ver y foolhardy, i n it s willingnes s t o explor e th e darknes s o f whic h h e ha d becom e s o conscious, heedles s o f risk . Perhap s h e fel t h e ha d bee n obliqu e enoug h t o ge t away wit h i t - bu t h e soo n bega n t o worr y again . H e ha d promise d Ottolin e tha t she coul d rea d th e revise d typescript , an d o n 8 Apri l h e sen t he r page s 1-263 . By 2 3 Apri l however , whe n h e sen t th e nex t batch , h e ha d revise d a s fa r a s pag e 222
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388, wel l pas t th e Nottingha m episode . I t wa s hardl y surprisin g tha t h e shoul d write anxiousl y t o Pinker tha t day : I hop e yo u ar e willing t o fight for thi s novel. It i s nearly thre e year s of hard work , and I am proud o f it, and i t must be stood up for. I' m afrai d ther e are parts of it Methuen won t want t o publish . H e must . I wil l tak e ou t sentence s an d phrases , bu t I won' t tak e ou t paragraphs o r pages . So you must tel l me in detai l i f there ar e real objections t o printing any parts .. . Oh God, I hope I'm no t going to have a miserable time over this book, now I've at last got it pretty much to its real being, (ii. 327) A wee k late r h e aske d Pinke r whethe r Ottolin e was sendin g th e typescrip t o n t o him, a s she ha d promised , an d thanke d hi m fo r 'assurances ' o f support (ii . 331) . As h e turne d t o revis e th e stor y o f Ursul a an d Skrebensky , however , h e wa s not concerne d t o ton e dow n anything , bu t rathe r t o mak e mor e explici t th e 'dark' an d th e destructiv e aspects . Whe n h e pruned , i t wa s wha t h e though t redundant. I n keepin g wit h hi s ne w sens e o f violence , however , an d th e urg e to kil l h e ha d foun d i n himself , h e intensifie d Ursula' s destructivenes s unde r th e moon a t th e weddin g dance , an d heavil y underline d th e imager y t o emphasis e how wha t shoul d hav e bee n harves t i n th e promise d lan d ha d becom e th e sterility an d corruptio n o f th e Citie s o f th e Plain . Conversel y h e insiste d eve n more o n th e 'fecundity ' o f the dar k sexua l relationshi p whe n Skrebensk y return s from Sout h Afric a - muc h t o Ottoline' s dislik e o f hi s reiteration , i n whic h sh e anticipated othe r readers . Mor e successfully , h e gav e t o Skrebensk y a n intensi fication o f hi s ow n horro r o f Londo n a s a n ash y Wastelan d - a passag e whic h would influenc e bot h T . S . Elio t an d Scot t Fitzgerald . Bu t sinc e th e stor y o f Ursula an d Skrebensk y ha d alread y bee n stampe d wit h th e imprin t o f the war , i t was largely a matter o f sharpening th e focus . Though th e historica l actio n ende d i n 1905 , th e nove l ha d muc h t o sa y no w about 1915 . Th e primar y imaginativ e driv e ha d bee n th e exploratio n o f ho w conflict was th e sourc e o f creativit y whe n opposite s married , an d th e sel f wa s ready t o di e int o ne w lif e throug h another . Eac h generatio n however , mor e conscious o f self than th e last , found i t harder t o marry full y - an d i n failur e cam e ever greate r an d mor e destructiv e violence . The me n see m t o los e individuality a s the wome n increas e i n self-awareness , an d i n both , atroph y o f on e 'force ' bring s dangerous hypertroph y o f it s opposite . Los s o f individualit y i s dangerou s i n tw o ways: Will' s inchoat e lac k o f sel f turn s evi l whe n th e nee d t o merg e o r absor b i s thwarted; Skrebensk y ca n onl y conceiv e o f himsel f a s par t o f a collective , a n army, a stat e seekin g Lebensraum . Othe r people , insufficientl y differentiated , marshy o r clayey , identif y wit h wha t the y reall y despise . Ye t overdevelope d individuals, assertive, domineering, ar e no les s dangerous. Newl y aggressiv e self awareness an d self-preservatio n resis t challeng e fro m th e 'other ' wit h increasin g 223
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violence an d destructivenes s fro m Ann a t o Ursula . Al l thes e phenomen a - an d the imager y o f cla y an d mars h - ar e no t withou t poin t i n a novel whic h reache d its final stat e betwee n Novembe r 191 4 an d mid-1915 . Ye t th e episod e o f th e horses, an d Ursula' s recover y an d final vision , continu e t o insis t tha t th e grea t opposites ar e alway s ther e wit h thei r promis e o f renewa l - t o soul s prepare d t o break fre e fro m thei r ol d selve s an d form s o f life , an d trus t t o th e creativ e force s in the world instea d o f trying t o will themselves and thei r relationship s Years o f work migh t als o be a t ris k fro m anothe r direction . Th e en d o f April ha d brought a nast y shock . I n th e divorce , Weekle y wa s awarde d costs , bu t thoug h an orde r ha d bee n issue d o n 5 December 1913 , for £144/12/10 , Lawrenc e ha d not paid . Now , o n 2 3 Februar y 191 5 h e wa s warne d h e woul d hav e t o atten d before on e o f th e Registrar s o f th e Probate , Divorc e an d Admiralt y Divisio n o f the Hig h Court , t o b e examine d a s t o hi s mean s (ii . 32 7 n . 2) . O n 2 9 Apri l h e told Russel l h e ha d bee n serve d wit h a n orde r t o appea r o n 1 0 May; bu t tha t h e would no t pa y eve n i f h e wer e abl e to , an d though t h e woul d b e declare d bankrupt (a s Murr y ha d been) . ' I canno t tel l you' , h e wrote , 'ho w thi s reinforce s in me m y utte r hatre d o f the whol e establishmen t . . . Bu t softl y - softly . I will d o my bes t t o la y a min e unde r thei r foundations ' (ii . 328) . I t wa s ba d enoug h t o have t o g o an d answe r question s abou t hi s mean s o f subsistenc e an d th e debt s owing t o him , bu t fa r wors e wa s th e prospec t o f losin g th e final paymen t fro m Methuen whic h wa s all he ha d t o live on. H e wa s afraid t o hand i n th e typescrip t in cas e 'th e detestabl e Goldbergs ' - i.e . Messr s Goldberg , Newall , Brau n an d Co., Weekley' s solicitor s - migh t serv e a summon s o n hi m an d o n Methuen , ordering th e paymen t t o b e mad e t o them, a s soo n a s i t becam e due . H e wrot e t o ask Rober t Garnet t t o ac t fo r hi m agai n an d t o mak e 'som e arrangement ' (ii. 348) , 'to pa y ove r a term o f years' (ii . 354 ) - bu t i t is not clea r wha t happene d at th e examination , excep t tha t n o bankruptc y orde r wa s made . I n mid-Jun e he go t Pinke r t o giv e hi m £9 0 fo r The Rainbow befor e publication , an d anothe r £ 4 2 / 1 0 / 0 whic h wa s probabl y fo r poem s publishe d i n Poetry an d th e Egoist and perhaps als o fo r th e republicatio n o f The White Peacock i n 1915 , fo r whic h Pinker ma y hav e negotiate d a lum p su m (ii . 358) . O n Rober t Garnett' s advice , he ha d submitte d th e typescrip t t o Pinker o n 3 1 May : I hope you will like the book: also that it is not very improper. I t did no t see m to me very improper, as I went through it. But then I feel very incompetent t o judge, on that point. My beloved book , I am sorry t o give it t o you t o be printed. I could wee p tears in my heart, when I read these pages, (ii. 349)
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• May-November 191 5
RAINBOW'S EN D ... No w off and away to find the pots of gold at its feet . (ii. 299) I 'Thi s worl d o n top ' As sprin g 191 5 warme d int o summe r th e Meynell s cam e dow n mor e often , an d the oute r lif e becam e steadil y mor e crowde d an d demandin g a s The Rainbow drew toward s it s end . I n Marc h an d Apri l Lawrenc e fel l il l again , an d bega n t o think thi s cottage , also , migh t b e damp . A t Easte r an d Whitsu n th e Meynell s arrived i n force , s o tha t th e dange r o f 'invasion ' gre w to o grea t (ii . 323) , an d Frieda, too , gre w resentful . B y then , i n a patter n no w familiar , the y wer e quarrelling, an d thinkin g o f moving again . While Lawrenc e was awa y i n Cambridge , Fried a ha d a surpris e visi t fro m Ford Mado x Hueffe r o n behal f o f th e Ministr y o f Informatio n (h e said) , t o se e whether h e could d o anythin g t o sto p Lawrenc e bein g persecute d fo r bein g 'pro German'. Ford' s storie s ar e notoriousl y unreliabl e — he say s Lawrenc e wa s there , though hi s companio n Viole t Hun t confirm s tha t Fried a wa s alon e - bu t i n hi s new wor k wit h C . F . G . Masterma n h e coul d hav e bee n aske d t o investigat e hi s former proteg e wh o ha d marrie d a German . I f so , wha t happene d wa s unfortunate. Fried a gav e the m tea , bu t the y go t involve d i n a flaming row r abou t the Belgia n refugees , th e subjec t o f Ford' s recen t poe m Antwerp. ('Dirt y Belgians!' Viole t report s 'Brynhild ' a s saying , 'Wh o care s fo r them!' ) A s the y left, Fried a hope d the y migh t mee t again , bu t Viole t coul d no t reciprocate . Lawrence wa s stil l unwel l whe n Ko t an d {Catherin e cam e fo r th e weeken d o f 13 March . Th e nex t weeken d th e Lawrence s wer e i n London , stayin g wit h Barbara Lo w i n Golder s Green ; seein g Kot , Hom e an d Murry . Lawrence' s friendship wit h Barbar a Lo w ha d bee n warmin g sinc e th e previou s summer . I n February h e thanke d he r fo r sendin g paint s t o hi s littl e niec e Pegg y i n Glasgo w for him , an d invite d he r t o Greatha m (ii . 289) . I n Marc h h e joke d abou t unconscious association , an d calle d Dostoevsk y a n 'introvert ' a l a Jung (ii . 314) . (But th e jokes , abou t cattishnes s an d waspishness , als o sugges t som e asperit y between Barbar a an d Frieda , wh o bega n t o refe r t o Barbar a behin d he r bac k a s 'the princes s o f JudeaV) 225
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About 2 4 Marc h th e Cannan s came . Lawrenc e fel t agai n a powe r fo r goo d i n Gilbert, an d Mar y 'is rathe r a dear' , i f 'shallow ' (ii . 311) . I t wa s reassurin g t o have fait h i n hi s friend s renewed , whe n hi s sens e o f evi l wa s becomin g s o powerful. Moreove r Ottolin e - plannin g he r mov e t o Garsingto n a s soo n a s th e tenants' leas e wa s u p - though t o f convertin g som e ol d monasti c building s fo r the us e o f guests, and offere d t o make par t o f them a home fo r th e Lawrences , t o his delight . H e aske d fo r plan s an d discusse d the m eagerly , thoug h lat e in Marc h he was still 'no t ver y well ' and, afte r Cambridge , depressed . Murry cam e fo r th e las t weeken d i n Marc h - an d wa s ticke d of f fo r havin g accepted Katherine' s departur e s o fatalistically . Lawrenc e talke d abou t the m 'a n awful lot ' (Murr y tol d her) , nine-tenth s o f it wron g an d th e res t Murr y couldn' t understand; bu t h e ha d no t trouble d t o correc t Lawrence , fo r ther e wa s 'goo d feeling' betwee n the m an d 'nothin g els e matters'. Ye t h e didn' t se e ho w hi s sens e of hi s physica l relatio n wit h Katherin e coul d 'shock ' o r see m 'crude' . Thoug h Lawrence ha d expounde d th e idea s o f 'Hardy ' t o him , Murr y ha d neve r graspe d them, stil l les s th e linkin g o f se x wit h th e nee d t o di e t o th e sel f - a n ide a h e certainly di d no t share . Lawrenc e wa s mor e cros s an d disappointe d no w tha n Murry realised . (H e ha d probabl y forgotte n ho w the y wer e suppose d t o b e agreed.) A wee k late r however , Lawrenc e fel t 'al l righ t agai n toward s him . M y spleen ha s worke d itsel f off (ii . 313) . For firs t Russel l an d the n Barbar a an d Ko t ha d com e dow n an d heartene d him. Russel l arrive d o n Thursda y Apri l 1 an d staye d til l th e Easte r weekend . Both fel t thei r relationshi p ha d strengthened . 'W e hav e ha d a goo d time' , Lawrence tol d Ottoline , 'reall y bee n peopl e livin g togethe r . . . I am sa d now , an d want t o wee p i n m y corner , bu t i t i s largel y wit h relief . I kno w Russel l i s wit h me, really , now ' (ii . 312) . Russell wa s more cautious , thoug h h e fel t 'exalted ' an d taken 'ou t o f myself , an d ha d foun d Lawrence' s vie w o f huma n natur e 'ver y congenial'. Give n th e man' s 'pugnacity ' however , Russel l foresa w 'awfu l fights' over hi s generalisation s fro m himself . Russel l fel t n o desir e fo r conflic t wit h Ottoline, di d no t eve r wan t t o ban g he r abou t an d di d no t thin k everybod y a 'Tyger'. The y argue d abou t wha t sh e woul d b e lik e i f she los t control . Lawrenc e thought fierce; Russel l though t stil l gentle , an d tha t Lawrenc e too , beneat h al l his fierceness, ha d ' a fun d o f gentlenes s & universal love ' o f a kin d 'jus t a s dee p as the tiger' . Hi s sens e of'evil ' wa s excessive, but nonetheles s ' I fee l h e help s on e to understand man y things' . No soone r ha d Russel l lef t o n th e Saturda y tha n Barbar a an d Ko t arrive d bearing bottle s o f Chianti, a s at Christmas , fo r a dinner o n Sunda y evenin g - 'al l the host s o f Midian present ' (ii . 312) . (Were thes e th e Meynell s an d thei r guest s in th e bi g house , o r di d Lawrenc e se e hi s Easte r dinne r a s a littl e circl e o f th e faithful whil e th e host s o f evi l prowle d an d prowle d around , a s i n th e hym n
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'Christian, dos t tho u se e them'? ) Eleano r Farjeon' s descriptio n i s o f late r occasions, but thi s must hav e been simila r (minu s a rumpus fo r once) : When w e supped a t She d hal l i t wa s Lawrence, no t Frieda , wh o dishe d u p th e mea l in Viola's little kitchen, where he had painted all the common pots and jars with bright designs in stripes and spots. He made the simplicities of cottage life delightful, bastin g the mutton and stirring the onion sauce with the happy concentration of a child who is doing something it likes. Boiled onions did not contradict him, or baked lamb let fall the remarks that excited his nerves to the pitch that sent Frieda weeping, but unsubdued, out of the room.' His irritabilit y seem s t o hav e bee n wel l unde r contro l a t Easter , excep t a littl e a t Barbara's Hampstea d rationality : ' I lik e her , bu t sh e get s o n m y nerve s wit h he r eternal: "bu t do you think " - "but , loo k here , isn't it rathe r tha t . "I want t o say : "Fo r God s sak e woman , sto p haggling" . An d sh e i s s o deprecating , and s o persistent . O God! ' (ii . 313) . H e woul d rathe r b e oppose d tha n moderated. Conversely , h e worrie d abou t Kot' s massiv e inertia . 'Yo u ar e gettin g simply a monolith. Yo u must rous e yourself . Yo u must d o somethin g - anything . Really i t i s a disgrac e t o b e a s iner t a s yo u are ' (ii . 313) . Bu t i t wa s a happ y weekend - indeed , Barbar a staye d o n til l th e Thursda y - an d h e like d Ko t mor e than ever . Th e power s o f darknes s ha d no t gon e awa y (an d h e wa s readin g Dostoevsky), but h e fel t tha t h e wa s coming through . Only h e coul d no t ge t well . He wa s in be d agai n th e secon d wee k i n Apri l wit h the col d tha t fel t lik e a sor e throa t i n th e belly , 'ver y horri d an d tirin g an d irritating. I a m afrai d thi s hous e i s damp. Fried a ha s ha d a very ba d ra w col d fo r the las t tw o week s again . I thin k soo n w e shal l mov e fro m her e - becaus e o f th e dampness' (ii . 315) . Migh t th e 'monasti c buildings ' a t Garsingto n b e drye r (ii. 325) , and (a s he began 'Morgenrot' ) quieter ? For Viola' s siste r Madelin e ha d le t he r cottag e t o Dolli e Radford , a 50-year old poe t an d playwrigh t (an d frien d o f Constanc e Garnett ) wh o ha d com e dow n as a gues t o f th e Meynell s befor e Easter . Sh e coul d onl y sta y fo r shor t spells , since he r husban d th e poe t an d Fabia n Ernes t Radfor d ha d becom e mentall y unstable, an d neede d he r care , bu t sh e invite d Eleano r Farjeo n t o sta y wit h he r daughter Margare t i n 'Rackham' , remotes t o f th e Meynel l cottage s - whic h on e came t o throug h th e woods , an d discovere d 'lik e a secret' i n a dip crowde d wit h flowers, wit h a law n an d a littl e strea m beyond . Fo r th e res t o f Apri l (onc e Lawrence was o n hi s fee t again ) an d mos t o f May , ther e wa s ' a constan t comin g and going ' betwee n th e cottages , meal s i n on e o r th e other , an d walk s an d conversations. Dollie describe d he r firs t impression s t o he r so n Maitlan d (th e frien d Bunn y had gon e walkin g wit h i n German y i n 1912 , no w servin g a s a docto r i n France).
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[Lawrence] i s a swee t ma n - s o simpl e & kind , touchingl y childlike , & bri m ful l o f sensibility & perception. I shoul d thin k h e understand s mos t huma n matter s a t a first glance - jus t a geniu s & a very delicat e & subtle nature . I find non e o f th e roughnes s spoken of by Connie [Garnett]. First impression s ofte n tel l on e mos t abou t thei r recorder . Lawrenc e ha d clearl y responded t o her warmt h an d kindliness , and the y becam e fir m friends . He als o like d Eleano r ver y much , a s his lette r t o Bunn y shows . Sh e wa s plain , and a late-develope r (sh e admitted ) a t th e ag e o f thirty-four , bu t ful l o f vitalit y and enthusiasm , an d jus t beginnin g t o publis h poetr y an d fiction lik e he r frien d Viola. Sh e ha d falle n i n lov e wit h Edwar d Thomas , an d als o (fortunately ) wit h his wif e Hele n an d thei r children , an d wa s moreover devote d t o thei r friend s th e Robert Frosts , s o sh e wa s i n n o dange r o f idolisin g Lawrence . Sh e di d no t lik e his refusa l t o rei n himsel f in , careles s o f creatin g embarrassment ; bu t sh e accepted i t alon g wit h al l th e thing s sh e di d lik e abou t hi m an d hi s work . Abov e all she wa s unafraid, whic h wa s always th e wa y to win hi s respect . '[Althoug h h e had th e fiercest personalit y I ha d ye t encountered , I wa s no t sh y o r self conscious wit h him ; h e brace d m e eve n whe n h e damne d m y enthusiasms' , i n a voice o f 'startlin g variet y an d range ; i n fur y an d excitemen t i t ra n th e gamu t from a bas s grow l t o a shril l snarl' . Throug h the m woul d com e mor e ne w friendships, wit h Maitlan d Radford , Eleanor' s brothe r Berti e an d hi s wif e Joan . But th e weekda y quie t o f Greatham wa s no more . Moreover weekend s becam e ver y crowded . 17-1 8 April , whe n Bunn y an d Birrell came , was a case i n point : To escap e fro m visitors , I must g o to Italy again. Madame Sowerb y [Olivi a Meynell ] has been down - an d McQueen [als o a friend o f Ottoline's, recently wounded a t Ypres] - an d God knows who. ... I a m beginnin g t o ge t unstuc k fro m thi s place . Ther e i s to o grea t a danger fro m invasion fro m th e othe r houses . I canno t stan d th e perpetua l was h o f force d visitors , under the door. (ii. 323) The Garsingto n schem e ha d com e t o nothin g becaus e th e Morrell s ha d receive d a swingein g estimat e fo r th e cos t o f conversio n - no t perhap s helpe d b y Lawrence's (otherwis e practical ) suggestion s tha t a bathroo m woul d b e invalu able, a s woul d a partitio n o f th e bi g roo m t o sav e heatin g s o larg e a space an d t o give hi m somewher e t o writ e (ii . 317) . Thoug h h e no w sai d tha t h e coul d no t have born e t o b e tie d anyway , h e wa s disappointed ; an d denounce d th e 'vil e contractors' wit h characteristi c extravagance . Perhap s the y coul d hav e a coupl e of room s i n th e gardener' s cottag e t o tid e the m over ? Fo r h e wa s definitel y thinking o f leaving Greatha m now . H e ha d go t t o pag e 4 0 of 'Morgenrot' - 'very good an d rathe r terrible , an d nobod y wil l eve r publis h it ' (ii . 325 ) - an d a fe w days late r h e ha d revise d u p t o pag e 38 8 o f The Rainbow; bu t i t wa s becomin g 228
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harder t o work . Tha t sam e weeken d Berti e an d Joa n Farjeo n ha d als o bee n down, an d th e seldom-see n Franci s Meynel l a s wel l a s al l th e res t o f th e family , and th e fol k i n Rackha m Cottage . Bunn y describe s bein g take n t o 'Humphreys ' on Saturda y evenin g t o pa y hi s respects , an d the n havin g Sunda y breakfas t wit h 'the Poetes s an d th e Patriarch ' an d al l the daughter s an d son : 'th e bi g room , wit h its Italia n bric-a-bra c an d Morri s pattern s . . . filled wit h dar k madonna-lik e girl s and women' ; th e poetes s 'stretche d o n th e couch ' (sh e ha d bee n unwel l an d ha d only recentl y bee n fetche d dow n b y Viola) ; and Franci s wh o ha d ru n thre e mile s to mas s an d was receive d wit h 'benig n an d hol y jo y . . . lik e t o a Blak e engraving'. Late r o n Sunda y Eleano r describe s ' a grea t gatherin g o n th e lawn s behind "Humphreys " fo r cricket , croque t an d othe r games . Lawrenc e cam e t o watch. I t wa s a s ho t a s midsummer. ' Afterward s ther e wa s chatte r i n th e sun ; and a t suppe r i n She d Hall , say s Bunny , 'Franki e talked , an d I talked ' - an d Lawrence gre w ominousl y silen t . . . On anothe r occasio n th e house-part y al l wen t t o Rackha m Cottag e fo r charades an d songs : Bertie an d I contribute d som e number s fro m th e nonsens e repertoir e whic h w e ha d invented t o amus e ou r friends ; Lawrenc e san g th e first Negr o Spiritual s w e had heard , and set our brains jingling with an American ballad on the murder of President McKinle y with words of brutal jocularity sung to an air of lilting sweetness. 1 By th e en d o f Apri l howeve r ther e was les s an d les s t o sin g about . Frieda' s letters sho w increasin g irritation . 'Th e Meynellage ' wer e gettin g o n he r nerves , Barbara was ' a nothing ' an d Russel l ha d no t replie d t o he r letter . (Lawrenc e hurriedly aske d Ottolin e t o tel l hi m t o d o so , 'o r els e sh e feel s h e i s tryin g t o insult her' ; ii . 325.) Afte r Bunn y an d Birrell' s visit , 'Ther e ar e stil l mor e Meynells. I tr y t o dodg e ou t o f th e house , bu t I ge t caught , lik e a mous e i n a trap.' Sh e adds , ominously , tha t Lawrenc e 'ha s bee n seedy , s o h e wil l mak e m e cross'. (Sh e ha d bee n cros s t o hav e bee n s o seed y a t Greatha m herself.) 1 S o th e evidence o f renewed quarrellin g date s probabl y fro m th e secon d hal f of April. Meanwhile Ottolin e wa s displease d b y Lawrence' s explanatio n o f Maria' s suicide attempt . I t seeme d t o he r 'pur e fandango!' ; besides , wil l wa s ofte n necessary, fo r instanc e 'whe n on e think s o f Desmond ' (MacCarthy) . Russel l ha d to reassur e he r tha t Lawrence' s charg e wa s 'absurd' : 'O f cours e yo u hav e a terrific will , bu t yo u don' t us e i t tyrannously . Lawrenc e dislike s an y wil l excep t his own , & h e doesn' t realiz e th e plac e o f wil l i n th e world . H e seem s t o thin k instinct alon e sufficient . I thin k hi s meditatio n o f Sata n wil l cur e hi m o f thi s view.' The n cam e th e summon s t o London , t o atten d th e Registrar' s hearing . Russell fel t i t 'ver y unfortunat e tha t h e shoul d b e drive n t o hat e societ y mor e than h e alread y did' , eve n thoug h thi s migh t 'distrac t hi m fro m sex' . Ottoline , who ha d bee n readin g The Rainbow a t Buxton , ha d foun d i t 'to o entirely sexual' , 229
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and th e psycholog y to o influence d b y Frieda , thoug h sh e als o though t th e nove l very goo d i n parts. 14 A t th e en d o f th e mont h cam e th e expeditio n t o Worthin g by motor-bus , wher e Lawrenc e ha d hi s horrifi c visio n o f th e soldiers , an d o f a hellish England , 'creepin g an d viscous , and insect-teeming' . May therefor e bega n badly . Sendin g th e word s o f 'Presiden t McKinley ' t o Eleanor h e tol d he r h e fel t 'rud e an d cross ' (ii . 333) . Though Ottolin e wrot e hi m a letter h e reall y appreciated , hi s philosoph y kep t 'gettin g stuck ' (ii . 334) , and h e replied wit h a rather laconi c note . O n 6 May, th e da y befor e leavin g fo r Londo n and th e hearin g a t Somerse t House , h e suddenl y decide d t o accompan y Eleano r on a wal k sh e ha d planned , b y wa y o f th e ol d Roma n trac k ove r th e Down s t o Chichester. On e suspect s h e neede d t o ge t away . Having don e so , however , h e wa s a t onc e 'i n hi s angelic , child-lik e mood' . They go t los t severa l time s bu t di d no t care , san g 'scrap s o f songs, ' 'seldo m touched o n th e thing s tha t irke d hi m unendurably' , indee d talke d onl y whe n they fel t lik e it . 'W e mus t b e springlike! ' h e cried , an d brok e gree n branche s t o stick aroun d thei r hats . Th e afternoo n gre w ver y hot , an d h e chante d - t o a world pub-les s fo r mile s - ' I wan t m y shandygaff . Whe n the y go t t o th e villag e of East Dean , pas t a tractor workin g i n th e fields, cam e th e onl y discordan t not e of th e day . Lawrenc e droppe d hi s voic e t o sa y h e knew th e peopl e wh o live d i n such places , wha t the y thin k an d do , 'a s I kno w m y ow n skin' . Hi s voic e gre w shrill ' I hate them! ' Bu t i n th e pub , a s h e ordere d th e shandie s an d addresse d a few remark s t o th e local s hi s accen t acquire d ' a tan g o f dialect , whethe r deliberate o r instinctiv e I don' t know' . I t i s a sudde n reminde r o f ho w fa r th e author o f The Rainbow, lik e it s heroine , ha d travelle d fro m To m Brangwen' s country. The y wer e bot h tire d (an d Eleano r blistered ) b y th e tim e the y reache d Chichester, ha d a meal , foun d he r a lodgin g an d waite d o n th e statio n fo r hi s train bac k t o Pulborough ; bu t thei r tal k gre w mor e serious . Wha t di d sh e wan t most, h e asked : ' A bi g persona l experience ? O r t o tak e par t i n som e grea t socia l upheaval?' Sh e sai d th e first, whic h h e though t migh t b e righ t fo r her . 'Bu t wh y not both? ' Wh y no t indeed , excep t fo r th e hin t tha t th e tw o thing s seeme d a t odds no w fo r him . He an d Fried a wen t u p t o Londo n th e nex t da y (Frida y th e 7th ) thoug h th e interview a t Somerse t Hous e woul d no t b e unti l Monday ; puttin g u p thi s tim e a t the flat of a young architec t Basi l Procto r who m the y ha d me t a t Greatham . Tha t night the y dine d wit h Murr y an d Ko t a t a restauran t an d wer e disconcerte d t o discover tha t Katherine , wh o ha d bee n bac k fo r mos t o f April , ha d gon e of f t o Paris agai n - unabl e t o writ e i n Jack's tw o rooms , eve n afte r h e ha d don e the m up. Murr y was irritabl e a t wha t h e though t wer e thei r suspicion s (especiall y Frieda's) tha t sh e ha d reall y gon e t o b e wit h Carc o again . Th e nex t evenin g hi s dislike o f Fried a flared up . H e ha d invite d the m t o supper , h e wrot e Katherine , 'thinking tha t I ought t o be nic e t o them' , bu t the y turne d u p ver y late , and wit h 230
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another ma n (presumabl y Proctor) . Fo r Murry , 't o find Fried a fatuousl y laughing o n th e doorstep , a s though i t wer e s o ver y Bohemia n t o b e a n hou r an d a half late ' wa s 'to o much . Afte r a n hou r o f it, sh e decide d tha t I was dull , an d t o prove t o m e wha t a part y shoul d b e bega n t o sin g Germa n sentimenta l song s i n that idioti c voic e o f hers. ' Lawrenc e kep t o n abou t th e goo d time s the y ha d ha d in Buckinghamshire . He mus t b e blin d t o certai n thing s .. . Bu t I d o lik e Lawrence; thoug h I feel tha t h e i s deteriorating - reall y getting feeble. Frieda is the Red Woman, the Whore of Babylon, the Abomination o f Desolation s tha t wa s t o Fornicat e i n th e Hig h Places , an d th e Hol y o f Holies. I'v e jus t remembere d tha t bi t o f Revelation s - isn' t i t reall y Frieda , spirituall y speaking? Three day s late r h e repai d Frieda' s suspicion s - an d he r greed y wolfin g o f mos t of th e charcuteri e befor e anyon e els e ha d a chance - wit h suspicion s o f hi s own . He foun d Lawrenc e alone , Fried a havin g gon e of f t o th e theatre , presumabl y with Proctor : He wa s ver y sad . Poo r devi l h e i s s o lonely , wit h tha t bitc h o f a Frieda, alway s playin g traitor, and hurting him in every secret and intimate part of his soul. It's no good unti l he can get away from he r - she' s reall y wearin g him out. No , it depressed m e terribly t o be with hi m las t night . I t wa s all so unreasonable & cruel .. . Bu t I thin k I shal l as k hi m t o come away with me for a fortnight's holida y during thi s summer t o see if I can urg e him to the point of leaving her. Again ther e i s no tellin g wha t exactl y Murry' s accusatio n o f treacher y amounte d to, an d h e i s hardl y a n unbiase d witness . (Hi s ide a o f th e marriag e however : Frieda continuall y treacherous , Lawrenc e unde r he r thum b an d deterioratin g a s a result , woul d b e fixed fro m no w on. ) Clearl y howeve r th e Lawrences ' relation ship wa s unde r considerabl e strai n onc e more , an d sh e wa s defian t abou t havin g a goo d tim e i n spit e o f him . H e canno t hav e bee n goo d compan y whil e h e wa s battling hi s power s o f darkness , o r whe n h e wa s ill . Sh e didn' t lik e hi s ne w intellectual friends , addin g Barbar a t o th e lis t no w o f thos e sh e though t looke d down o n her . Th e row s a t Greatha m whic h Viol a 'overlooke d an d underheard ' and Eleano r ascribe d t o Frieda' s contradictions, 1 woul d hav e bee n no t onl y because o f th e Meynel l invasions , bu t als o becaus e o f Frieda' s growin g impatience wit h hi s pontificatin g an d wit h thos e wh o foun d i t impressive . Mos t of all , on e suspects , sh e ha d go t bore d wit h Greatham , an d whe n i t bega n t o liven u p wit h flocks o f young peopl e i n April thi s must hav e whette d he r appetit e for a jollie r life . Thi s probabl y explain s wh y the y ha d com e t o Londo n earlie r than necessar y - an d ther e ma y hav e bee n word s o n th e Wednesda y evening , making Lawrenc e suddenl y decid e t o tak e hi s walk . Flirtin g an d goin g ou t wit h 231
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one o f Viola' s youn g me n woul d hav e bee n a natura l one-in-the-ey e fo r Lawrence. Lawrence too k he r behaviou r badly , thoug h h e kep t u p a front . Afte r th e examination a t Somerse t House , whic h h e hated , the y wen t hom e vi a Brighton , where the y spen t tw o days wit h Cynthi a wh o had gon e ther e wit h he r childre n while Be b wa s i n Flanders . Lawrenc e ha d writte n jus t befor e th e Chicheste r walk, asking wha t ha d happened t o her since thei r visi t t o Chichester together , in February. I t wa s unusual fo r hi m to take th e initiative, confirmin g tha t h e felt i n need o f friendship ; an d sh e must immediatel y hav e suggeste d the y com e t o see her. Apparentl y al l went wel l - bu t he would late r confes s tha t a s they la y talking on th e cliffs th e following day , he had felt suicidal . Cynthi a wa s quite unawar e of this, o r indee d o f an y strai n betwee n th e Lawrences . Sh e though t the m 'th e most intoxicatin g compan y i n th e world . I neve r hope d t o hav e suc h menta l pleasure wit h anyone. ' Sh e wa s astonishe d a t hi s 'X-ray ' abilit y t o mak e 'th e most subtl y tru e analyse s o f people , e.g . Pap a an d Mamm a who m h e ha s onl y seen fo r a few moments' , an d fel t ther e was something significan t i n thei r live s that mad e her s suddenl y see m superficia l an d blind . A s at Kingsgate , sh e foun d herself fon d o f Frieda. 'Sh e has spontaneousness an d war m cleverness , and suc h adoration an d understandin g o f him.' Th e Lawrence s wer e clearl y puttin g o n a show, thoug h no t necessarily a false one , warmed b y he r obvious admiratio n fo r them both. They wen t t o a cinema afte r dinner . Afte r breakfas t wit h th e childre n next da y the y ha d a 'ver y interesting ' philosophica l discussion . Abou t n a.m . they al l thre e walke d t o th e to p o f th e cliff , la y ther e 'fo r abou t tw o hour s an d had on e of the talk s I shall alway s remember , thoug h ala s I could n o more recor d it tha n a thrush' s song! ' Lawrenc e showe d sympatheti c interes t i n th e 'wild , monkey mood ' o f littl e John , hi s impis h defiance , an d 'peculiar , indescribabl e detachment'. Bu t on e get s a sudde n glimps e o f th e abys s ther e coul d b e between th e 'inner ' an d th e 'outer ' Lawrenc e a t thi s time , an d o f th e nee d t o proportion th e one by th e othe r i n imaginin g him . For, h e tol d he r later : ' I di d not tak e muc h notic e o f what I said, becaus e m y subconsciousness wa s occupied with th e ide a o f ho w pleasan t i t woul d b e t o wal k ove r th e edg e o f th e cliff . There seeme d another , brighte r sor t o f world awa y below , an d thi s worl d o n top is al l tortur e an d a flounder o f stupidity ' (ii . 335). The od d ton e a t th e star t o f his letter , respondin g t o he r reques t t o writ e dow n hi s advic e abou t John , wa s partly hi s sens e tha t h e had put o n a show; an d partl y becaus e h e wa s not sur e how seriou s sh e was ; and partl y becaus e h e ha d los t confidenc e i n himsel f 'probably everythin g I say is pure bosh , a tangle o f theory o f my own' - thoug h once h e go t goin g h e talke d himsel f int o fait h again , i f with rathe r hollo w hope . By th e tim e the y go t bac k t o Greatha m i t ha d bee n decide d tha t Fried a woul d take room s fo r hersel f i n Hampstead , thoug h the y applie d to o lat e fo r th e one s she wanted . 232
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II Gettin g 'unstuck ' fro m Greatha m The reaso n give n ou t wa s s o a s t o b e nea r th e children , an d thi s probabl y di d figure largel y i n he r consciou s motivation . Th e quarrellin g mus t als o hav e bee n stoked b y th e clai m fo r th e cost s o f th e divorc e whic h ha d confirme d Weekley' s right t o forbi d he r access , an d no w seeme d abou t t o swallo w thei r las t hop e o f a bit mor e mone y - confirmin g he r sens e o f bein g wronged , wit h everyon e an d everything agains t he r includin g Lawrence . Wit h Weekley , an d wit h he r famil y in Germany , sh e ha d bee n belove d an d idolise d an d well-off . Whos e faul t wa s it , she ma y hav e felt , tha t sh e wa s no w poor , childles s an d surrounde d b y peopl e who wer e hostil e t o he r a s a German , an d looke d dow n o n he r a s a person ? B y this tim e 'th e children ' had , whil e neve r ceasin g t o b e a genuin e distress , als o become a languag e fo r mor e genera l disconten t an d irritatio n wit h he r lot , an d with him ; and hi s wit h her . Thi s i s clear i n th e letter s o f both . DHL: Friend s ar e looking fo r anothe r plac e for Frieda , als o in Hampstead. Probabl y sh e will g o an d sta y alon e i n the m fo r som e time , i f sh e get s them . Sh e spend s he r tim e thinking hersel f a wronged, injure d an d aggrieve d person , becaus e o f th e children , an d because sh e i s a German . I a m angr y an d bored . I wis h sh e woul d hav e he r room s i n Hampstead, and leave me alone, (ii. 343) Frieda: Th e hat e of the German s i s getting so strong .. . I am going to have a tiny flat in Hampstead, I think, I simply must be by myself sometimes, L i s very wearin g and als o I will see the children o n their way to school, that they do not get used to not seeing me .. . But th e dee p rag e I a m in , whe n I think , tha t thi s i s th e la w o f man ; an d i f I wer e a prostitute the children woul d be mine and a man would be obliged t o pay me ... (ii . 344) DHL: Isn't it a funny thing , if a woman has got her children, she doesn't care about them, and i f she ha s a man, sh e doesn' t car e about him , sh e onl y want s he r children . Ther e i s something i n th e tal k abou t femal e perversity . Fried a onl y care s about he r childre n now . It is as if women - o r she - persiste d i n being unfortunate an d hopelessl y unsatisfied : i f a man want s much , sh e becomes violentl y a mother an d a man-hater, i f her childre n wan t much, she becomes a violent disciple of iove' as against domesticity o r maternity. What a miserable creature! (ii. 345) (An impartia l observe r migh t questio n th e demandingnes s o f both. ) Lawrenc e even bega n t o wonde r alou d t o Ottolin e abou t hi s ow n monogamy . 'On e trie s hard t o stic k t o one s idea l o f one man-on e woman , i n love' , but perhap s Ottolin e was right , 'an d on e shoul d g o t o differen t person s t o ge t companionshi p fo r th e different side s o f one s nature ' (ii . 345 ) - thoug h tha t woul d ris k troubl e fro m Frieda's doubl e standar d abou t freedom , claimin g wid e latitud e fo r herself , bu t fiercely jealou s whe n othe r wome n showe d interes t i n him . In an y cas e h e coul d no t leav e Greatha m jus t yet , eve n thoug h Ottoline , 233
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wanting t o help , invite d the m t o Garsingto n wher e th e Morrell s ha d move d o n 17 May. Fo r Viola' s siste r Monic a ha d ha d a nervous breakdow n afte r th e failur e of he r marriag e t o D r Cale b Saleeby . Frieda , wh o dislike d al l illness , describe d this a s merely 'hysterica l . . . sh e ha s n o interes t a t al l in anything , it' s th e spring , I suppos e an d nothin g fo r he r t o d o - an d n o ma n - ' (ii . 344) ; but Lawrenc e was much mor e sympathetic . H e wen t wit h Monic a t o Bogno r abou t 1 9 May, i n th e car provide d t o tak e he r ou t o f herself : a wind y da y wit h a n opalescen t sea , misty, fit fo r legion s o f ghost s t o com e ove r fro m France . Wome n seeme d fascinated b y a soldie r wit h a n amputate d le g - a porten t t o whos e significanc e he woul d return . H e ha d a pan g o f fea r abou t th e ne w Coalitio n Government , which wa s widel y though t t o heral d conscriptio n (ii . 342-3) . Garsingto n woul d have t o wait , sinc e h e fel t h e owed i t to th e Meynell s t o help Monica : I won't move from her e now until I leave for good. I look to escape during the next two or three weeks. I want to go away. The whol e Meynellage i s down her e - I like them - bu t they are so flusterous - an d the n Monic a wit h he r breakdow n take s refuge i n me, and i s very heavy. It is altogether a crisis. And I must see this crisis through, (ii. 345) An additiona l facto r wa s 10-year-ol d Mar y Saleeby , wh o ha d bee n allowe d t o run wil d becaus e he r mothe r wa s s o miserabl e an d preoccupied . Describe d b y Bunny a s 'gnome-like' , an d b y Eleano r (wh o kne w he r better , an d wa s fon d o f her) a s ' a rough-and-tumbl e ragamuffi n littl e rebe l . . . undiscipline d an d beyon d Monica's management , bu t . . . ful l o f strong an d origina l qualitie s an d gifts' , sh e spent al l he r tim e o n th e nearb y far m an d wa s onl y intereste d i n becomin g a farmer. Th e cla n gre w worried , an d decide d tha t sh e shoul d b e sen t t o S t Paul' s School fo r Girl s i n Londo n - only , sh e woul d nee d som e preparation . Sh e ha d taught hersel f t o rea d an d 'coul d just write' , bu t sh e ha d neve r bee n t o school . Lawrence steppe d int o th e breac h an d agree d t o giv e he r 3 ^ hour s ever y morning fo r a t leas t a month : 'fo r th e child' s sake , fo r nothin g else' , h e insiste d (ii. 340) . I t i s clea r fro m Mar y i n person , an d fro m on e o f he r notebook s tha t survives, ho w carefu l Lawrenc e wa s t o star t fro m her , an d he r interests , rathe r than idea s o f wha t sh e ough t t o know . Thos e wh o me t Lawrenc e whe n the y were childre n recal l tha t h e neve r talke d dow n fro m a grown-u p height , no r tried t o lowe r himsel f t o a child' s level , bu t incline d courteousl y a s t o a smalle r equal - an d then , whe n properl y acquainted , becam e grea t fun . (Whe n Dolli e and Eleano r spok e o f hi m a t thi s tim e a s 'child-like ' himself , the y ha d i n min d a spontaneity an d unguardedness , withou t pretenc e o r disguis e - t o whic h children instantl y responded. ) H e clearl y respecte d th e 'otherness ' o f th e chil d in practic e a s i n theory ; an d treate d he r a s To m treat s littl e Anna , thoug h hi s unhappiness wit h Fried a a t th e tim e ha d it s analogie s wit h Will's . H e helpe d he r put hersel f o n pape r wit h he r ow n simpl e integrity . I t wa s goo d teachin g - an d she remembere d th e ton e an d effec t o f it vividl y more tha n sevent y year s later . 234
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He ha d alread y mad e a herbaceous borde r fo r Viola ; now h e distracte d himsel f from hi s trouble s b y gardenin g a t Rackha m Cottage , an d 'onl y then ' wa s h e happy (ii . 344) . Viol a an d Iv y Lo w ha d com e t o She d Hal l fo r Whitsun ; an d Rackham ha d becom e ' a seethin g pot ' wit h si x childre n an d si x grown-up s sinc e the Lucase s to o wer e bac k fo r th e holiday . Also , th e Meynel l parent s cam e down. 'Monic a get s better , bu t ther e ar e stil l grea t an d wearyin g consultations . I wonder ho w lon g w e shal l sta y now ' (ii . 346) . I n fact , Fried a lef t fo r Londo n th e next day , 2 7 May , t o pu t u p wit h Barbar a whil e lookin g fo r 'her ' room s i n Hampstead. Wilfri d Meynel l 'wa s patheticall y grateful ' tha t Lawrenc e wa s prepared t o sta y an d hel p wit h Mary , an d sai d s o i n fron t o f Eleanor , bu t afterwards Lawrenc e 'exploded ' tha t h e di d no t wan t gratitude ; 'somebody has got +> 2 2 to . There ar e glimpse s o f hi s unhappines s an d loneliness , bu t als o stubbor n faith , in hi s respons e t o th e poetr y h e wa s sent b y Eleano r (ii . 340-1 ) an d b y Margare t Radford. Fro m both , h e picke d ou t poem s abou t loneliness ; thoug h a propo s o f Margaret's, h e distinguishe d a stat e 'wher e on e live s i n th e presenc e o f thing s blest, i n th e knowledg e o f th e Infinite , th e Eternal' ; fro m loneliness , whic h 'i s part o f temporalit y an d partiality' . I t i s w e wh o confus e th e two , an d i t i s th e knowledge o f God , th e 'Absolute' , th e 'Eternity' , 'jus t thi s whic h i s not loneliness, whic h avail s agains t al l loneliness ' (ii . 350) . Perhap s i t did . O n 2 9 May h e wrot e t o Forste r tha t 'ther e i s a darknes s betwee n u s all , separatin g us ' (ii. 347) . A t th e en d o f th e mont h h e hear d abou t th e terminatio n o f Russell' s Fellowship a t Trinit y becaus e h e woul d no t promis e t o spen d hi s tim e o n mathematics an d philosoph y rathe r tha n politica l wor k i n oppositio n t o th e war . Lawrence urge d hi m t o se e 'Entir e separation ' a s a necessar y stag e befor e ne w life coul d start : If they houn d yo u out of Trinity, so much th e bette r .. . On e must b e entirely cas t fort h ... th e darkness thrusts more and more between us all, like a sword, cutting us off entirely each fro m th e other .. . Afte r thi s we shall kno w th e chang e .. . Onl y wait , and b e ready ... Whe n everything else is gone, and there is no touch no r sense of each other left , ther e is always the sens e o f God, o f the Absolute . Ou r sens e o f the Absolut e i s the onl y sens e left t o us. (ii. 347-8 ) Russell tol d Ottolin e 'I feel h e i s right, tha t I should hav e 1 0 times th e energ y i f I were don e wit h respectabilit y . . . I lik e Lawrence' s letter.' 23 O n th e las t da y o f May, havin g mad e jus t tw o mino r change s i n th e las t fou r paragraph s o f th e Rainbow whic h clearl y stil l represente d hi s faith , h e sen t th e typescrip t t o Pinker. As Fried a staye d away , Lawrence' s ton e abou t he r gre w mor e irritable , an d his sou l becam e 'fille d wit h corrosiv e darkness , an d cu t of f fro m everybody ' (ii. 352) . O n 2 June h e tol d Forste r tha t Fried a wa s i n tow n 'lookin g fo r he r flat 235
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- unles s a bomb ha s droppe d o n he r - kille d b y he r ow n countryme n - i t i s th e kind o f fat e sh e i s cu t ou t for ' (ii . 351) . Th e cros s jok e i s howeve r als o anxious , for Zeppelin s ha d attacke d Londo n th e nigh t before . An d b y 5 June Fried a wa s back, havin g foun d a flat for £3 6 a year, 'righ t o n Hampstea d Heath ' i n th e Val e of Health, 'tha t we ' - suddenl y -'hav e almos t taken . I feel tha t nex t winte r I mus t be a goo d bi t i n London , fo r work ' (ii . 354) . Whe n Cynthi a Asquit h motore d over o n th e 5t h wit h he r frien d Harol d 'Bluetooth ' Bake r (Libera l M.P . an d member o f th e Arm y Council) , rathe r apprehensiv e abou t ho w h e an d th e Lawrences woul d ge t on , al l wen t well : 'Bluetoot h di d lik e him , t o m y satisfaction, an d h e didn' t muc h min d th e exuberan t Hun. ' The y foun d Lawrence, walkin g wit h Wilfri d Meynel l i n th e garden , 'lookin g - I' m afrai d very ill , bu t ver y picturesqu e an d arrestin g i n corduro y coat , wit h tawn y bear d and thos e curiousl y significan t eyes' . Sh e to o wa s struc k b y th e variabilit y o f hi s voice 'wit h it s layer s o f harshnes s an d softnes s . . . ever y inc h o f hi s bod y talk s with hi s tongue , and vividly , too' ; and b y hi s unusua l abilit y t o blen d earnestnes s with whimsicality , humou r wit h resentment . O n hi s typewrite r tha t da y wa s ' a war stor y comin g t o life' . (H e sen t awa y 'England , M y England ' th e nex t day , see pp . 252-4. ) Cynthi a di d not , however , tak e t o th e Meynells . Sh e though t Viola muc h th e mos t human , bu t admitte d bias , sinc e Viol a sai d she wa s 'th e prettiest perso n sh e ha d eve r seen' . On 8 June th e 'firs t quarter ' o f 'Morgenrot ' wen t t o Russel l an d t o Forster . Russell wa s no t t o 'thin k i t bosh ' o r sa y 'ther e ar e beautifu l thing s i n it , o r something lik e that . Bu t hel p me , an d tel l m e wher e I ca n sa y th e thin g better ' (ii. 357-8) . Havin g warne d earlier , ''Never expos e yoursel f t o th e pack ' (ii . 352) , he wa s worrie d b y Russell' s attac k o n Lor d Northcliff e i n th e Labour Leader. (The Daily Mail le d th e patrioti c fervou r fo r th e war , an d Northcliff e wa s to tak e charge o f governmen t propagand a i n 1918. ) Russel l mus t no t ge t int o troubl e now, but sav e himsel f fo r a bigger campaig n t o come . Since Monic a ha d take n Mar y t o th e seasid e fo r a fortnight , th e Lawrence s were no w fre e t o tak e u p th e invitatio n t o Garsington , an d disconcerte d Ottolin e by plannin g t o arrive o n Saturda y th e 12t h an d sta y til l her birthda y o n th e 16th . 'What shal l I do wit h the m al l that time? ' she cried , beggin g Russel l t o com e an d help. He wa s also worried , becaus e h e could no t 'mak e hea d o r tai l of Lawrence' s philosophy. I drea d talkin g t o hi m abou t it . I t i s no t sympatheti c t o me. ' However i n hi s next letter , thoug h i t still seeme d 'rathe r uneducate d stuff : I believe there i s a great deal i n it - onl y th e for m i s bad, & he doesn't kno w ho w to say only what is to the purpose. He will be angry & fight lik e a devil. I think th e imaginatio n out o f whic h i t spring s i s goo d - rathe r Blake-ish . Bu t h e lack s art , & loses intensit y through lengthiness. However, I must read it again before I can feel sure about it. He agree d t o hel p a t Garsington . Th e Cannans , who m th e Lawrence s ma y hav e 236
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visited o n th e way , cam e alon g fo r th e weekend , an d Russel l arrive d a s the y left . The Morrell s wer e doin g u p th e ol d house ; s o guest s wer e persuade d t o hel p decorate th e Re d drawing-room , outlinin g th e beam s an d th e panel s i n gol d paint. Lawrence , say s Ottoline' s journal , 'di d hi s fa r quicke r an d straighte r tha n any o f us', and enjoye d it , bu t Fried a 'sa t o n th e tabl e i n th e middl e o f the room , swinging he r leg s an d laughin g an d mockin g a t u s . . . Sh e ha s a terribl e irritan t quality, an d enjoy s tormenting , an d sh e like d t o taun t m e becaus e I wa s takin g trouble t o mak e th e hous e nice. ' Thi s wa s afte r th e weekend , sinc e Russel l figures i n th e scene , u p a ladder , nearl y expirin g fro m th e heat . A s soo n becam e apparent, th e rea l troubl e ha d littl e t o d o wit h Ottoline' s decoration , bu t ha d probably bee n buildin g u p fo r som e time . A s sign s sinc e Februar y migh t hav e warned, Fried a gre w aggressiv e wheneve r Lawrenc e go t th e attentio n an d sh e felt undervalued . She eve n sai d i n a loud , challengin g voice , ' I a m jus t a s remarkabl e an d importan t a s Lorenzo'. Indeed , i n al l ou r talk s sh e wa s ver y aggressiv e an d self-assertive . I bega n t o fear sh e woul d mak e i t difficul t t o b e friend s wit h him , sh e wa s alread y turnin g hi m against Bertie because Bertie didn't flatter her. The significan t phras e i s 'al l ou r talks' , fo r i t mus t hav e bee n the n tha t Ottolin e and Russel l showe d thei r admiratio n fo r Lawrence , an d thei r lo w opinio n o f Frieda's intelligenc e - whic h sh e woul d especiall y resen t fro m Ottoline . Other wise th e memorie s o f th e visi t see m livel y enough . Lawrenc e mad e a littl e wooden arbou r t o b e covere d wit h climbin g roses ; an d ther e wer e th e charade s that bot h h e an d th e Cannan s loved . H e rea d Swinburn e alou d an d tol d storie s of his earl y lif e i n Nott s dialect . Littl e Julian (the n 9 ) remembere d hi s gentlenes s and hi s 'attentiv e smilin g loo k whe n h e talke d t o you' . Non e o f thes e woul d irritate Fried a - bu t sh e di d hav e a good opinio n o f he r ow n ver y differen t kin d of mind , an d wante d i t respected . Ottolin e ha d bee n irritate d b y he r letter s because sh e 'think s hersel f s o clever' ; bu t thoug h callin g he r Nietzschea n showed som e sens e o f cultura l difference , Ottolin e stil l though t he r ' a cleve r fool'. Frieda , fo r he r part , ha d exempte d Ottolin e fro m he r previou s irritatio n with Kot , Forste r an d Russell , becaus e sh e ha d bee n s o read y t o writ e t o Weekley abou t th e childre n - bu t wa s clearl y turnin g agains t he r now . Mean while Ottolin e wa s unawar e (sh e says ) tha t ther e wa s tensio n betwee n th e Lawrences too , but : apparently sh e becam e jealou s an d the y ha d a miserabl e tim e together , fighting an d quarrelling al l night . H e cam e dow n o n th e mornin g o f thei r las t da y lookin g whipped , forlorn, an d crestfallen , an d sh e wen t of f i n a high tempe r t o London. I shall always see that unhappy, distraught, pathetic figure standing in the hall hesitating whether he should remain her e o r whethe r h e shoul d follo w he r t o London . Phili p strongl y urge d hi m t o assert himself and leave her. Of course he didn't.. . 237
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Russell, too , expresse d disappointmen t tha t Lawrenc e woul d no t stay . I t ha d no t been muc h o f a birthda y fo r Ottolin e but , sai d Russell , 'I n spit e o f Mr s Lawrence, i t wa s reall y a very happ y tim e fo r me' , especiall y th e evenin g whe n they ha d manage d som e tim e alone . Ottoline woul d b e sure , now , tha t n o matte r ho w fierc e th e row s betwee n th e Lawrences o r hi s abus e o f Fried a t o others , 'sh e wil l alway s wi n i f she want s to' , since 'howeve r muc h h e ma y rebe l an d complain' , h e seeme d unabl e t o leav e he r or fac e lif e alone . Ottolin e expande d an d rewrot e he r origina l journa l entr y t o clarify th e diagnosi s whic h sh e forme d late r wit h Murry : a weak , gentl e an d sensitive Lawrence , whos e nerve s th e constan t battlin g wit h Fried a woul d wea r out i n time , an d wh o woul d hav e t o kil l 'al l hi s gentl e tende r sid e t o g o o n wit h her', ye t coul d neve r brin g himsel f t o g o - bu t th e outlin e mus t hav e forme d tha t Wednesday. Wha t sh e wrot e t o Russel l a t th e tim e however , wa s tha t sh e 'didn' t mind Mr s L excep t tha t i t mad e m e awfull y miserabl e fo r poo r Lawrence , wh o looked s o unhapp y an d tire d ou t b y her . Sh e i s a mad Egotist . I wis h sh e coul d die or g o off wit h anothe r ma n wh o woul d bea t her! ' Ther e mus t certainl y hav e been a flaming ro w whe n Lawrenc e go t back t o Greatham . On Saturday , however , Cynthi a suddenl y arrive d i n a ca r fo r tea , wit h no t only Joh n bu t a wounde d Beb, 28 wh o ha d requisitione d on e o f th e Downin g Street motors . He ha d ha d a very luck y escap e i n Flanders : a splinter o f shrapne l had graze d hi s li p an d broke n severa l teeth , bu t afte r a denta l operatio n th e previous Monda y h e wa s physicall y o n th e wa y t o recovery . Lawrence , however , drew a contrast betwee n hi s physica l an d hi s psychological state , for : all his soul is left a t the war. The war is the only reality to him. All this here is unreal, this England: onl y th e trenche s ar e Lif e t o him . Cynthi a i s ver y unhapp y - h e i s no t eve n aware o f he r existence . H e i s spell-boun d b y th e fighting line . H e ough t t o die . I t al l seemed horrid, like hypnotism, (ii. 359-60) It wa s a phenomeno n t o b e repeate d i n ever y hom e wher e someon e cam e bac k from th e trenches , unabl e t o shar e hi s appallin g experienc e wit h thos e a t home . 'He ough t t o die ' i s remarkabl y bruta l - especiall y o f a ma n h e like d - bu t i t i s the remar k o f th e autho r o f 'England , M y England' , wh o ha d lon g ag o maintained tha t th e rea l traged y woul d no t b e th e dead , wh o wer e ou t o f it , bu t the soul s s o maimed b y violenc e tha t thei r inne r lif e woul d b e cripple d forever . That sam e evenin g Russel l cam e agai n a s h e ha d promise d - bu t naturall y apprehensive no w o f wha t h e migh t find. H e ha d wante d t o pu t th e visi t off , bu t lacked th e courag e becaus e h e was afrai d i t migh t hur t an d 'mak e fo r a coolness , which I should min d dreadfully' . I n fact , a s far a s his relationshi p wit h Lawrenc e was concerned , thi s meetin g turne d ou t t o b e th e high-wate r mark , fo r i t produced a plan t o campaign i n publi c together . Lawrenc e explaine d excitedl y t o Ottoline: 238
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We think to have a lecture hall in London i n the autumn, and giv e lectures: he on Ethics, I o n Immortality : als o t o hav e meetings , t o establis h a littl e societ y o r bod y aroun d a religious belief which leads to action. W e mus t centr e i n th e Knowledg e o f the Infinite , o f God. Then fro m thi s Centre each one of us must wor k t o put th e temporal thing s of our own natures and of our own circumstances in accord with the Eternal God w e know. You must be president. You must preside over our meetings. You must be the centre-pin tha t holds us together .. . (ii . 359) The metapho r betray s hi s sens e tha t the y wer e likel y t o pul l i n differen t directions. Ye t h e hope d h e wa s beginnin g t o overcom e th e anti-religiou s worldliness o f Russel l wh o 'will - apar t fro m philosophica l mathematic s - b e s o temporal, s o immediate' ; bu t no w (though t Lawrence ) wa s comin g t o hav e a real 'belief i n Eternit y . . . th e absolute , a n existenc e i n th e Infinite . I t i s ver y goo d and I am ver y glad ' (ii . 358) . Russell sa w th e pla n rathe r differently , an d ha d Americ a a s wel l a s Londo n i n his sights . T lik e th e ide a o f analysin g politica l institution s & beliefs - lettin g i n the ligh t o f reaso n an d libert y o n cobwebbe d cavern s o f superstitio n - Whethe r it is country ai r or Americ a & Lawrence I don't know , bu t I fee l ful l o f happines s & hope an d life. ' The y propose d t o charg e a guinea t o cove r th e cos t o f th e hall . There i s just a glimpse o f 'the infinite ' - i n secula r term s - bu t i t i s still clea r tha t the religiou s emphasi s wa s almost al l Lawrence's : We talke d o f a plan fo r lecturin g i n th e autum n o n hi s religion , politic s i n th e ligh t o f religion, & so on. I believe something might be made of it. I could make a splendid cours e on political ideas: morality, the State , property, marriage , war, taking them t o their root s in human nature, & showing how each is a prison fo r the infinite i n us. And leading on to the hope of a happier world. He ha d als o bee n readin g 'Morgenrot ' again , an d changin g hi s min d abou t it . 'Lawrence i s splendid. I lik e hi s philosoph y very much [underline d twice ] no w that I hav e rea d more . I t i s only th e beginnin g tha t i s poor.' B y 2 4 June Ottolin e was als o findin g it s secon d chapte r 'ver y wonderful ' - an d ver y lik e Russell . So , perhaps th e ide a o f the thre e holdin g togethe r i n s o public a n enterpris e di d hav e some chance . However, Russel l tha t Sunda y ha d a mor e threatenin g experience : hi s firs t sight o f physica l menac e i n th e Lawrenc e marriage . (I t i s als o ou r firs t evidenc e of thi s sinc e Fried a struc k Lawrenc e i n Irschenhausen. ) For , whe n Lawrenc e i n his excitement sa t down t o write a long letter t o Ottoline, Fried a possessed hersel f o f it & tore it up. Then h e wrote another , whic h I hope wil l reach yo u [i.e. the lette r quote d above] . He wa s very angry. Sh e appeare d o n th e littl e wal l by th e flower-bed, jeering . H e sai d 'Com e of f that , lass , o r I'l l hi t the e i n th e mouth . You'v e gone too far this time'.29 239
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This give s rathe r a poignanc y t o th e hope s o f makin g Garsingto n th e centr e o f Rananim whic h figure s o hopefully i n th e rewritte n letter : That wonderful lawn , under the ilex trees, with the old house and its exquisite old front it i s so remote, s o perfectl y a smal l worl d t o itself , wher e on e can get awa y fro m th e temporal thing s t o conside r th e bi g things . W e mus t dra w together . Russel l an d I hav e really go t somewhere . W e mus t brin g th e Murry s in . Don' t b e doubtfu l o f them . An d Frieda wil l come round soon . It i s the same thing wit h he r a s with al l the German s - al l the world - sh e hates the Infinite, my immortality. But she will come round, (ii . 359) That mus t hav e bee n mor e difficul t t o writ e a second tim e - bu t Lawrenc e kne w his Frieda , an d ho w thei r row s cleare d th e air ; an d com e roun d sh e di d befor e too long , though no t completely . On 2 1 Jun e Cynthi a sen t a ca r t o fetc h the m fo r th e da y t o Littlehampton . She wante d Lawrenc e an d Be b t o hav e a talk , s o sh e 'lingere d behin d wit h th e Hun', an d Fried a was abl e t o unburde n hersel f abou t 'he r difficultie s a s th e artist's wife ' an d ho w 'Lad y Ottoline , etc. , wer e horri d t o her , treatin g he r a s a n appendage an d explainin g he r husban d t o he r a s bein g droppe d straigh t fro m the sky. ' Be b like d Lawrence , despit e bein g tol d tha t ' "destruction" i s th e end , and no t th e mean s t o a n end , i n th e mind s o f soldiers' , wh o suffe r fro m 'subconscious "blood-lust" ' - bu t unfortunately , lik e Russell , h e foun d 'n o room i n hi s heart ' fo r Frieda . Shortl y afterward s however , havin g spen t a da y away fro m al l Meynell s an d unburdene d hersel f t o Cynthia , F>ied a regaine d enough perspectiv e t o write t o Ottoline . Thank yo u fo r askin g m e t o Garsingto n - I hav e bee n ver y cros s an d ver y miserabl e about yo u and L an d m e - Whe n w e came to you las t time we were ver y antagonistic he and I and I was not at all happy. I thought you idealised hi m and you had a sort of unholy soulfulness betwee n yo u tha t seem s t o m e quit e contrar y t o al l goo d lif e - Sa y I wa s jealous, I may have been - but i t was not only that - I know you are big and generou s at the botto m an d I wan t u s t o be friend s - Yo u se e L. an d I reall y lov e each othe r a t th e bottom, and h e is so furious wit h me because of this very fact sometime s - Yo u can hel p us a lot if you want to - Bu t i f you leave me out the n ther e can be no good any-wher e it seems to me - Bu t perhap s L . wil l come to you alon e nex t tim e - W e all want lov e and the good things to be, don't we? I know you don't mind my saying exactly what I think But Ottolin e di d mind . Sendin g th e lette r t o Russel l o n 3 July sh e commented , 'rather craz y isn' t she?' ; an d Russel l replie d tha t th e lette r wa s 'certainl y rathe r mad'. H e likene d Fried a t o a 'bouncing' Germa n gir l h e kne w wh o was 'healthy , animal, brutal , withou t a trace o f humanity o r an y kin d o f moral feeling' . The y had caus e t o be offended . Bu t s o had Frieda . By 8 July sh e was i n London , arrangin g th e flat; an d Lawrence , lef t alon e a t Greatham again , ha d scribble d irritabl e comment s al l ove r th e propose d outlin e of Russell' s lectures . Thoug h h e woul d sta y a t Greatha m anothe r thre e weeks , 240
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and kee p th e ide a of the lecture s goin g fo r a while, i n fac t i t wa s the beginnin g o f the en d o f both . Ill Mor e Radica l Reconstruction ? His criticism s o f Russell's ide a of'Philosophy o f Socia l Reconstruction ' ope n ou t the centra l difference , implici t alread y i n thei r differin g account s o f th e origina l idea, betwee n th e rationa l an d secula r humanis t an d th e 'passionatel y religiou s man'. Lawrenc e wa s mistake n (lik e Ottoline ) i n thinkin g tha t h e coul d chang e Russell i n thi s respect . Onc e formulated , moreover , th e difference s prove d fata l to th e enterprise . Eac h talke d bette r i n hi s ow n languag e tha n h e listene d t o another kin d - n o infrequen t characteristi c o f stron g an d independen t minds ; and onc e forcibl y revealed , th e ga p became entrenched , unbridgeable . Yet the y agree d tha t th e diseas e o f moder n lif e wa s (i n Russell' s words ) th e 'disintegration' brough t abou t b y 'subjectivism' . Lawrenc e wrot e ' I thin k thi s i s best' afte r th e sectio n o n 'Subjectivism ' an d 'Thi s to o i s good ' afte r th e sectio n on 'War' , bot h o f which sho w hi s influence . 2 Bu t thes e com e after th e outlin e o f Russell's 'progressive ' critiqu e o f socia l institutions . A t th e centr e o f Lawrence' s criticism was a valid perception : tha t whil e the y agree d abou t th e disease , Russel l saw th e remed y i n reformin g socia l institutions , i n th e belie f tha t greate r freedom woul d lea d t o greate r happiness ; wherea s Lawrenc e starte d fro m th e need t o reawake n thos e inne r impulse s i n huma n being s whic h wer e mos t radically oppose d t o subjectivity , o r ther e coul d b e n o reintegratio n o f society . He begge d Russel l no t t o b e 'angr y tha t I have scribble d al l over you r work' , bu t what Russel l ha d writte n wa s all social criticism; i t isn' t socia l reconstruction . Yo u mus t tak e a plung e int o anothe r element if it is to be social reconstruction. Primarily, yo u mus t allo w an d acknowledg e an d b e prepare d t o procee d fro m th e fundamental impuls e i n al l of us toward s Th e Truth , th e fundamenta l passio n also , the most fundamental passion i n man , fo r Wholenes s o f Movement , Unanimit y o f Purpose , Oneness i n Construction . This is the principle of Construction. Th e res t i s al l criticism , destruction, (ii . 361) All Lawrence's criticism s originat e i n this : that i f subjectivism be the evil , Russel l is treatin g th e symptom s rathe r tha n th e diseas e i n seekin g t o refor m wha t h e called 'Th e ol d cohesions : Th e State , Property , Th e Churches , La w an d Morality, Marriage . Al l base d o n Power , no t o n Libert y an d Love' . Al l d o indeed 'wan t fundamenta l reconstruction' , bu t wha t the n is fundamental? I t can not b e th e desir e fo r th e libert y o f th e individual , sinc e that , unchecked , is subjectivism. Th e chec k canno t b e Russell' s 'interes t i n others' , becaus e wh y should ther e b e an y interes t i n other s i n a subjectiv e world ? An d if , a s Russel l 241
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seems t o ge t roun d t o believin g i n th e end , ther e i s a n 'impuls e o f growt h an d creation' i n huma n beings , a n 'instinct ' whic h need s 'spiritua l freedom' , 'lov e leading t o children , an d wor k whic h give s a n outle t t o thei r creativ e impulse ' Russell's fina l sectio n 'Lif e mad e whole ' - the n wha t kin d o f impuls e i s i t an d how ca n i t b e awakened ? S o whil e Lawrenc e urge s '/)# , do ge t thes e essay s ready, fo r th e lov e o f God', the y mus t g o t o th e roo t o f th e disease , an d abov e al l 'you must pu t i n th e positive idea" (ii . 361) . Fo r Lawrence , i t onl y become s possible t o lectur e an d convinc e other s becaus e ther e i s i n everybod y (a t whatever level ) an impuls e t o truth , thoug h 'th e trut h i s a growing organis m - o r our conceptio n o f it is' . Moreover h e think s 'true ' moralit y an d la w begin fro m a desire t o creat e a bette r Whole , sinc e al l huma n being s hav e (h e believes ) 'th e unanimous impulse , th e impuls e toward s a unanimou s movement . I t isn' t the others w e ar e intereste d in , i t is The Whole': Ho w bu t b y believin g i n an d appealing t o suc h a n impulse , coul d peopl e b e persuade d t o reconstruc t societ y into ne w form s o f integration , instea d o f th e disintegratin g subjectivit y o f th e present? (I n Lawrence' s terms , wher e th e individuatio n o f th e So n ha s ru n t o excess, th e impuls e t o unity , togetherness , o f th e Fathe r mus t b e reactivated. ) He want s Russel l t o begin fro m an d constantl y appea l t o thes e positiv e impulses , instead o f merel y negativ e criticis m o f th e defectiv e form s o f socia l organisatio n we hav e now . Russel l migh t no t b e to o please d t o se e hi s manuscrip t treate d so , but ther e seem s nothin g fatall y objectionabl e i n thi s criticism . He mus t hav e jibbe d more , however , a s Lawrence' s 'religious ' thinkin g opened out . Russel l ha d concede d tha t 'Religion , i n som e form , seem s necessar y to a goo d societ y o r a goo d individua l life' , meanin g b y religio n 'devotio n t o a n end outsid e th e individua l life , an d even , i n som e sense , outsid e huma n lif e like Go d o r trut h o r art. ' Fo r Lawrenc e however , th e religiou s sens e wa s n o mere ingredien t o f a goo d individua l o r socia l life , i t wa s the conditio n fo r vita l growth. For , what is the principle of growth: is it not the conscience prescience of [sic] that which is to be; in the grown tissu e is all the ungrown tissu e of all time: this ungrown tissu e knows it s own relations: this knowledge in us I call the sense of truth. But it is as real, much realer , than all the tangible or obvious impulses we talk of . One ste p more , an d 'Ther e i s n o livin g societ y possibl e bu t on e whic h i s hel d together b y a grea t religiou s idea. ' S o 'Th e Stat e must represen t th e deepes t philosophical o r religiou s belie f Wher e Russel l write s 'Som e me n ca n b e happ y through religion , bu t the y ar e few' , Lawrenc e counters : 'Thi s i s subjectiv e religion. Bu t unles s th e religiou s ide a b e livin g & extant , n o on e i s happy. ' Russell coul d attac k th e Christia n cree d o r th e Churc h wit h Lawrence' s blessing ; 'But on e & all', h e insisted , 'w e mus t ac t fro m a profoun d religiou s belie f - no t individual.' 242
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From suc h a stance , too , particula r disagreement s migh t follow . Russell , progressively, wante d a s littl e o f th e Stat e a s possible , wit h me n belongin g t o al l sorts o f different grouping s acros s geographi c frontiers ; Lawrenc e though t state s should b e founde d o n communa l beliefs . Russel l though t cruelty , envy , lov e o f power 'almos t alway s th e resul t o f a life i n whic h som e vita l instinc t i s balked', s o these coul d b e 'cure d b y givin g a free lif e t o everyone'. Lawrence , wit h hi s newl y focused sens e o f evil , though t the y coul d onl y b e combate d b y findin g way s t o 'educate th e sens e o f trut h & justice , & trai n u s al l t o ac t fro m thi s suprem e impulse'. Russell , predictably , noted : 'Mutua l libert y no w demanded , make s ol d form o f marriag e impossible' , an d oppose d bot h monogam y an d prostitutio n i n favour o f form s o f commo n lif e whic h allowe d 'som e toleranc e o f ligh t relation s as experiments' . Lawrence , n o les s predictably , thought : 'Th e desir e fo r monogamy i s profoun d i n us . Bu t th e mos t difficul t thin g i n th e worl d i s t o fin d a mat e . . . A ma n alon e i s onl y fragmentar y - als o a woman . Completeness is in marriage. But State-marriag e i s a lie.' Yet i t migh t no t hav e bee n disastrou s tha t the y se t ou t fro m differen t end s o f a proble m o n whos e caus e the y wer e i n complet e agreement , o r eve n tha t the y came t o differen t conclusion s i n som e respects . No r di d Lawrenc e thin k i t so , as his urgin g Russel l t o continu e shows . Bu t Russel l wa s no t use d t o bein g disagreed wit h s o ferociousl y an d radically . I t ha d happene d onc e before , wit h Wittgenstein, an d h e ha d bee n profoundl y disturbed . (Bu t Wittgenstei n a t leas t spoke a simila r language. ) H e tol d Ottolin e tha t Lawrenc e was 'disgusted ' wit h his outlin e becaus e 'i t i s not mystica l & Blake-ish enough' . Th e 'impuls e toward s the truth ' Lawrenc e insiste d on , seeme d t o Russell : merely an impulse t o mistake his imaginations fo r th e truth. H e talks of a desire fo r one ness with others which he believes to be the same as 'the impulse to truth'. I don't believe these things exist in most people. But I find those who have a strong imagination generall y read thei r ow n nature s int o othe r people , instea d o f getting a t othe r peopl e b y impartia l observation. Lawrence is just as ferocious a critic as Wittgenstein, but I thought W . righ t & I think L . wrong . He is coming to see me Sat. I dread it . I don't kno w whether I shall still be able to feel an y faith i n my own ideas after arguin g with him , although m y reason is al l agains t hi m .. . I a m depressed , partl y b y Lawrence' s criticisms . I fee l a worm , a useless creature .. . Yet i f th e impuls e towar d trut h an d th e desir e fo r onenes s wit h other s ar e subjective illusions , wha t is the poin t o f lecturing , le t alon e tryin g t o convinc e a n audience tha t the y ar e sufferin g fro m th e diseas e o f subjectivit y an d shoul d espouse lov e an d mutua l libert y instead ? Keynes , similarly , though t Russel l absurd t o believ e th e worl d irrational , ye t thin k h e coul d chang e i t b y reasoning . (Is that no t t o rea d th e sel f int o others ? O r i s ther e a desir e fo r trut h afte r all , that i s not subjective?) 37 243
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Frieda ha d gon e t o Londo n agai n t o se e t o th e ne w flat , stayin g wit h Dolli e Radford. Lawrenc e wen t u p fo r th e weeken d o f i o - n July , an d too k Russel l t o meet th e (reunited ) Murry s an d Ko t i n th e La w Bureau , 'al l sittin g togethe r i n a bare offic e hig h up , nex t doo r t o th e Holbor n Restaurant , wit h th e window s shut, smokin g Russia n cigarette s withou t a moment' s intermission , idl e & cynical. I though t Murr y beastly & the whol e atmospher e o f th e plac e dea d an d putrefying.' The y als o wen t t o th e zoo , befor e goin g t o th e Radfords . I t wa s no t a disastrou s da y fo r thei r persona l relationship , bu t a t th e en d o f ' a terrifi c argument' Russel l tol d Lawrenc e the y shoul d ac t independently . His cas e wa s a goo d on e - fro m a rationalis t poin t o f view . H e understood , also, wha t wa s involve d i n bringin g abou t politica l change , bu t Lawrenc e o n politics seeme d 's o wil d tha t I could no t formall y wor k wit h him' . T o someon e o f Russell's 'scientifi c temper ' an d 'respec t fo r fact ' Lawrenc e wa s 'undiscipline d i n thought, & mistakes wishe s fo r facts . H e i s also muddle-headed . H e say s "facts " are quit e unimportant , onl y "truths " matter. ' H e eve n sai d Londo n wa s a fac t not a trut h an d di d no t reall y exist , an d tha t i f peopl e cam e t o se e thi s the y would pul l i t down . (Ye t T . S . Elio t wit h whom , an d hi s ne w wif e Vivien , Russell dine d o n th e 13th , an d wh o was s o promisin g a studen t o f Bradley , would als o cal l London , i n a poet' s language , a n 'Unrea l city'. ) Russel l no w thought Lawrenc e ' a littl e ma d & not quit e honest' , needin g t o lear n 'th e lesso n of individua l impotence . An d h e regard s al l m y attempt s t o mak e hi m acknowl edge fact s a s mer e timidity , lac k o f courag e t o thin k boldly , self-indulgenc e i n pessimism.' Th e ga p betwee n thei r idea s o f wha t neede d t o b e don e ha d widened; an d no w Russel l ha d talke d himsel f int o simpl y disqualifyin g Law rence's criticis m tha t h e lacke d an y radicall y positiv e vision . Th e would-b e reformer coul d n o longe r wor k wit h th e would-b e revolutionary , an d neithe r could adjus t t o th e other' s language . Whe n Russel l attacke d Lawrenc e wit h hi s considerable forensi c ability , neithe r cam e ou t well . H e ha d complaine d tha t Lawrence too k hi m to o literally , an d s o misunderstood hi s irony , bu t h e faile d t o see hi s ow n literalnes s whe n h e challenge d Lawrenc e t o abolis h Londo n b y preaching i n Trafalga r Square , an d Lawrenc e 'bega n t o shuffle' . H e ha d als o accused Lawrenc e o f lacking humour , bu t sa w non e himsel f when , havin g a t las t hammered ' a glimme r o f th e facts ' int o Lawrence' s hea d 'h e get s discouraged , & says h e wil l g o t o th e Sout h Se a Island s & bask i n th e su n wit h 6 nativ e wives . He i s toug h work . Th e troubl e wit h hi m i s a tendenc y t o ma d exaggeration. ' And th e troubl e wit h Russel l . . , 38 It i s no t to o difficul t t o se e fro m bot h side s now , bu t Lawrenc e wa s th e juste r when writin g t o Ottolin e afte r gettin g bac k t o Greatha m - an d infinitel y juste r than Russell' s late r accounts . Indee d h e stil l believe d tha t the y woul d wor k together.
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He won' t accep t i n hi s philosoph y th e Infinite , th e Boundless , th e Eternal, a s th e rea l starting point , an d I think , whosoeve r wil l reall y se t ou t o n th e journe y toward s Trut h and the real end mus t do this, now. But I didn't quarre l with him. We have almost sworn Blutbruderschaft. W e will set out together, he and I. We shall really be doing something, in the autumn. He himsel f shran k fro m th e ide a o f lecturin g becaus e h e was Ver y shy ' an d 'I t will b e horribl e t o stan d u p an d sa y th e thing s I fee l mos t vitally , befor e a n audience . . . T o hav e t o spea k i n th e bod y i s a violatio n t o me' , wherea s ' I a m safe an d remote , whe n I write' (ii . 363) . But i t had t o be done . Moreover, Lawrenc e prove d abl e t o lear n fro m Russell' s challeng e t o hi s religious attitud e - no t tha t h e woul d chang e hi s basi c vie w an y mor e tha n Russell would , bu t h e sa w no w tha t it s Christia n languag e was unnecessar y an d misleading. Russel l ha d len t hi m Joh n Burnet' s Early Greek Philosophy (1892) , and thi s ha d a n immediat e an d profoun d effec t upo n him . Fo r h e discovere d philosophical forebear s wh o reassure d hi m a t thi s critica l tim e tha t hi s wa y o f thinking ha d a n eve n longe r traditio n tha n Russell's ; bu t h e als o becam e convinced tha t thei r 'elemental ' term s migh t b e a bette r languag e t o commu nicate hi s though t tha n th e Christia n one s h e ha d bee n using . I n thes e pre Socratic thinkers , wh o sough t behin d th e fac e o f thing s t o identif y th e fundamental, elementa l force s whic h shape d th e cosmos , h e foun d hi s ow n kin d of thinkin g anticipated . Anaximande r ha d believe d i n on e universa l existen t o r substance fro m whic h opposit e element s separate d ou t an d warred , an d int o which the y returned ; Anaxagoras , tha t eac h o f th e 'opposites ' ha d a portio n o f the othe r i n it . Heracleitu s though t th e Opposite s wer e actuall y one , opposit e faces o f the fiery energ y whic h i s the 'thought ' tha t rule s th e world . Lif e fo r hi m was an ever-flowin g strea m i n whic h al l thing s wer e i n constan t chang e throug h constant opposition , bu t keepin g measure , s o tha t whe n an y becam e predomi nant th e balanc e woul d restor e itsel f by reaction . Empedocle s though t th e worl d was built ou t o f the fou r element s o f earth, air , fire an d water , pu t i n motio n b y a force o f strife , bu t boun d togethe r b y a forc e t o unit y whic h h e calle d love . Al l would hav e understoo d bette r tha n Russel l wh y Lawrenc e though t tha t th e remedy fo r to o grea t subjectivit y an d separatio n wa s no t t o star t fro m existin g and corrup t fact s an d institutions , but fro m th e opposit e impuls e whic h i s always there i n al l o f us , t o unity . T o Heracleitus , yo u mus t coupl e 'thing s whol e an d things no t whole , wha t i s draw n togethe r an d wha t i s draw n asunder , th e harmonious an d th e discordant . Th e on e i s mad e u p o f al l thing s an d al l thing s issue fro m th e one. ' I t wa s Heracleitu s wit h who m Lawrenc e recognise d th e greatest affinity , delightin g no t merel y i n wha t h e said , bu t i n th e teasin g aphorisms i n whic h hi s opposition s - lik e Blake's , an d ofte n Nietzsche' s - wer e
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cast. (Fo r Russell , Blak e suggeste d 'mysticism' ; fo r Lawrenc e th e habi t o f 'contrary' thinkin g Blak e share d wit h Nietzsche , thoug h behin d tha t als o th e religous attitud e whic h finally too k Lawrenc e i n Blakea n rathe r tha n Nietzschea n directions.) Th e meres t selectio n o f Heracleita n maxim s wil l sugges t bot h th e sense of affinity an d th e jo y wit h whic h Lawrenc e mus t hav e rea d him . The sun is new every day. God is day and night, winter and summer, war and peace, surfeit an d hunger . Cold things become warm, and wha t is warm cools; what is wet dries, and th e parche d is moistened. It is the opposite that is good for us. You canno t ste p twic e int o th e sam e river , fo r fres h water s ar e eve r flowing in upo n you. Men would not have known the name of justice if these things (i.e .injustice) wer e not. The way up and the way down is one and the same. It rests by changing.40 Russell's outlin e proclaime d ther e wa s 'N o nee d o f hat e o r conflict : onl y th e failure o f inwar d jo y bring s the m about. ' Lawrenc e countere d (lik e Blake' s 'without contrarie s i s no progression') : There wil l always be hate & conflict. I t is a principle o f growth: every bud mus t burst it s cover, & the cover doesn't wan t to be burst. But let our hatred & conflict b e really part of our vital growth, the outcome of our growing, not of our desire for sensation . Now her e wa s Heracleitus scornin g Home r fo r sayin g ' "Would tha t strif e migh t perish fro m amon g god s an d men!" . H e di d no t se e tha t h e was prayin g fo r th e destruction o f th e universe ; for , i f hi s praye r wer e heard , al l thing s woul d pas s away'.4 Befor e long , Heracleitu s woul d hel p Lawrenc e pic k u p hi s ow n philosophy whic h h e ha d abandoned , an d find th e wa y ou t o f th e impass e i t ha d reached a s h e struggle d t o accommodat e hi s terribl e ne w sens e o f evi l an d corruption, wit h hi s belie f tha t th e clas h o f opposition s wa s ultimatel y th e ground o f growth . Immediately however , anothe r aspec t o f Heracleitus seem s t o hav e brough t t o a hea d Lawrence' s progressiv e disillusio n wit h democracy . 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy' ha d bee n 'aristocratic ' i n insistin g tha t eac h perso n shoul d see k maximum self-development , an d nobod y shoul d b e hel d dow n i n orde r tha t th e backward shoul d catc h up . Bu t h e ha d stil l believe d i n libert y an d equalit y o f citizens i n relatio n t o th e state ; an d - wit h som e naivet e - ha d though t tha t socialist nationalisatio n an d redistributio n o f incom e woul d solv e th e whol e economic question , s o tha t al l coul d b e fre e fo r th e reall y importan t tas k o f developing thei r maximu m selves . But Russel l wa s a convinced democra t bot h i n politics an d economics , wher e hi s solutio n la y (a s New Age ha d als o argued ) i n syndicalism. Th e aim s o f socialis m woul d b e achieve d no t b y nationalisatio n an d 246
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state ownership , bu t b y havin g al l economic unit s owne d an d ru n b y th e worker s in the m (Russel l thought ) throug h democrati c electio n o f management . Lawr ence scribble d agains t th e headin g ''THE STATE'''. 'Wha t State ? . . . Ther e ar e 2 conceptions o f th e Stat e now : 1 . Monarch y 2 . Democracy . Democrac y i s th e falser.' Thi s wa s n o mer e spas m o f irritation , fo r now , stirre d u p b y Heracleitu s as wel l a s Russell , h e foun d h e di d no t believ e i n a democrati c stat e a t al l an y longer. O n 1 4 July h e wrot e t o Russell : Are you doin g the lectures . I have dropped writin g m y philosophy, bu t I go on workin g very hard i n my soul. I shall lift u p my voice in the autumn, and i n connection wit h you , not apart. I have been wrong, much to o Christian, in my philosophy. These early Greek s have clarified m y soul. I must drop all about God. You mus t dro p all your democracy . You must no t believ e i n 'th e people' . One class is no better than another. It must be a case of Wisdom, or Truth. Le t the working classes be working classes. That is the truth. There must be an aristocracy of people who have wisdom, and there must be a Ruler: a Kaiser: no Presidents and democracies. I shall write out Herakleitos, on tablets of bronze. 'And it is law, too, to obey the counsel of one.' 'For wha t thought o r wisdom have they? They follo w th e poet s and tak e the crow d as their teacher, knowing not that there are many bad and few good . . . ' (ii . 364-5) (Heracleitus ha d writte n scornfull y o f th e spiri t o f egalitarianis m i n th e me n o f his nativ e Ephesus , wh o ha d throw n ou t thei r greates t man , Hermodorus , sayin g 'we wil l have non e wh o i s best amon g us'.) 42 However, a s s o ofte n wit h Lawrence , th e though t turn s ou t t o b e les s u p i n the ai r tha n i t looks . He i s responding t o th e Wels h miners ' strik e whic h ha d jus t broken ou t an d which , i n a natio n a t war , suggeste d tha t 'th e whol e stat e i s collapsing', an d tha t th e Wa r woul d 'develo p int o th e las t grea t wa r betwee n labour an d capital ' (ii . 366) . H e didn' t wan t on e i n powe r an y mor e tha n th e other (ii . 368) ; he though t a victory fo r labou r woul d caus e chao s lik e the Frenc h revolution (ii . 366) , an d instea d o f Liberty , Equalit y an d Fraternit y now , h e wanted ' a governmen t base d o n good , bette r an d best' . Russel l wa s to o old fashioned: A new constructive idea of a new state is needed immediately. Criticis m is unnecessary. I t is behind th e times . You must [underlined fiftee n times ] wor k ou t th e ide a o f a new state, not g o on criticising thi s old on e .. . An d th e ide a is, that ever y man shal l vot e according to hi s understanding , an d tha t th e highes t understandin g mus t dictat e fo r th e lowe r understandings .. . th e highes t ai m of the governmen t i s th e highes t goo d o f the soul of the individual .. . (ii . 366) As h e develop s thi s ide a i n hi s nex t fe w letters , i t become s clea r tha t h e i s no t simply anti-workin g class , thoug h h e doe s no t thin k th e 'workin g man ' (suc h a s the miner s h e kne w i n Eastwood ) 'fi t t o elec t th e ultimat e governmen t o f th e 247
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country' (ii . 367) . ' Instead , h e picke d u p Russell' s economi c ide a tha t th e workers shoul d hav e a vot e i n th e area s tha t concer n the m most , an d tha t the y know mos t about , an d politicise d i t i n al l respects , an d fo r all classe s an d bot h sexes. Instea d o f a mass electorat e (whic h rea d th e Daily Mail an d John Bull an d produced th e parliamen t whic h pursue d th e war ) ther e shoul d b e a hierarch y o f elections, so that : The elector s fo r th e highes t place s shoul d b e th e governor s o f the bigge r district s - th e whole thin g shoul d wor k upwards , ever y ma n votin g fo r tha t whic h h e mor e o r les s understands through contact - n o canvassing of mass votes. And wome n shal l vot e equall y wit h th e men , but fo r differen t thing s .. . An d i f a system works up to a Dictator wh o controls the greater industrial side of the national life , it mus t wor k u p t o a Dictatrix wh o control s th e thing s relatin g t o privat e life . An d th e women shall have absolutely equal voice with regard t o marriage, custody of children etc. (ii. 368 ) His politica l naivet e show s agai n i n th e attemp t t o separate polic y makin g b y are a and se x - i s not ever y leve l o r divisio n o f society vitall y affecte d b y th e others ? and stil l mor e s o i n th e combinatio n o f 'Dictator ' an d 'Dictatrix ' wit h election . Lawrence shoul d perhap s hav e rea d hi s Heracleitu s mor e closel y an d see n a warning agains t poet s (a s wel l a s crowds ) tryin g t o provid e politica l leadership . On th e othe r hand , thos e wh o hav e accuse d hi m o f fascis m o n thi s evidenc e ought t o have rea d mor e closel y - an d les s anachronistically also . Russell was plunge d i n suc h gloo m no w tha t Lawrenc e though t hi m 'vitally , emotionally, muc h to o inexperience d i n persona l contac t an d conflict , fo r a ma n of hi s ag e an d calibre' . (H e ha d noted , 'I t isn' t tha t lif e ha s bee n to o muc h fo r him, bu t to o little.' ) Ottolin e shoul d tel l Russel l 'no t t o writ e lachrymos e letter s to m e o f disillusion an d disappointmen t an d age : that sound s lik e 19 , almost lik e David Garnett ' (ii . 366-7) . H e stil l hope d fo r a meetin g o f tru e mind s a t Garsington; bu t b y th e en d o f the mont h i t wa s clear tha t th e issu e o f democrac y was anothe r seriou s division , no t surprisingly , give n Russell' s wor k fo r th e Union o f Democrati c Control . Lawrenc e ha d mad e i t clea r tha t h e di d no t wan t tyranny bu t stron g governmen t b y th e mos t capable , a n 'electe d aristocracy ' (ii . 371), an d tha t bot h hi s suprem e ruler s wer e t o b e elected ; bu t Russel l remaine d sure tha t the y shoul d lectur e independently , an d tha t wa s no t enoug h fo r Lawrence. We must have the same general ideas if we are going to be or to do anything. I will listen gladly to all your ideas : but w e must put our ideas together. Thi s is a united effort , o r it is nothing - a mere tiresome playing about, lecturing and so on. It is no mere personal voice that must be raised: but a sound, living idea round whic h we all rally, (ii. 371) Russell n o longe r though t tha t possible , an d fel t 'tire d an d disguste d wit h 248
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myself. Ottoline , too , was depressed , an d unwel l - an d sh e ha d no t like d Russell's outlin e much , either .
IV A
L a st Loo k a t The Rainbow
It wa s als o i n thes e las t thre e week s o f July whe n Fried a wa s mostl y i n Londo n and Lawrenc e staye d o n alon e a t She d Hall , teachin g th e chil d i n th e morning s once more , tha t h e pu t th e las t touche s t o The Rainbow - no t al l o f the m voluntarily. Th e proof s ha d arrive d b y th e 9th , befor e h e wen t t o Londo n fo r the weeken d t o argu e wit h Russell . An d a s h e bega n t o carr y throug h a fina l clarification, h e though t wel l o f wha t h e ha d done . 'Whateve r els e i t is , i t i s th e voyage o f discover y toward s th e rea l an d eterna l an d unknow n land . W e ar e lik e Columbus, w e hav e ou r bac k upo n Europe , til l w e com e t o th e ne w world ' (ii. 362) . It wa s typica l o f him tha t h e shoul d mak e th e proo f stag e no t a correction bu t another recension . I n fac t Methuen' s printer s ha d don e well , an d th e amoun t o f actual proof-correctio n woul d hav e bee n small ; bu t Lawrenc e mad e s o man y changes tha t Methue n eventuall y exercise d thei r contractua l righ t t o charg e hi m for exceedin g th e printer' s fre e correction s allowanc e o f si x shilling s pe r sixtee n pages, and reduce d hi s fina l chequ e b y £ 9 / 3 / 9 - muc h t o hi s annoyanc e (ii . 40 6 and n . 3) . Fo r Lawrence , n o wor k wa s eve r finished . I f Trut h wa s a continua l process o f discovery , s o a fortiori was fiction , an d th e proces s woul d g o o n unti l an externa l han d intervene d an d remove d th e las t opportunit y t o chang e an d grow. It mus t hav e bee n som e consolatio n t o hi m i n hi s lonelines s withou t Frieda , and wit h hi s Ranani m revolutio n collapsing , t o reoccup y hi s fines t imagine d world s o far . H e wa s broadl y satisfie d wit h it s vision . Thi s tim e ther e woul d b e no ne w episodes , o r differen t conception s o f existin g one s - onl y a las t proces s of sharpening , clarifying , intensifyin g - pag e b y pag e throug h th e 46 3 tha t th e printed tex t ha d become . Occasionally on e ca n detec t a particula r pointednes s i n a change . Whe n h e finally calle d th e grea t collier y a t Wiggisto n 'mathematical ' h e was merel y sharpening th e lin k betwee n th e scientifi c temper , industrialisatio n an d dehuma nisation, whic h ha d bee n ther e befor e - bu t h e ma y hav e writte n th e wor d wit h a little extr a zes t becaus e o f th e argumen t h e ha d jus t ha d wit h Russel l o n th e 10th. Now , too , h e wa s cleare r abou t Ursula' s insigh t whe n sh e sa w th e cel l move unde r he r microscope . Afte r cuttin g th e sermo n abou t al l stage s o f evolution fro m th e mars h t o th e gate s of paradise bein g co-presen t i n th e huma n being, th e typescrip t revisio n ha d substituted : [Suddenly i n he r min d the ] worl d gleame d strangely , wit h a n intens e light , lik e th e 249
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nucleus o f th e creatur e unde r th e microscope . Suddenl y sh e ha d passe d awa y int o an intensely-gleaming light of knowledge. In th e typescrip t revisio n h e wen t o n t o describ e he r sens e o f being transfigure d and 'pushe d wit h th e growin g ti p ont o th e verg e o f Paradise', seein g it s ligh t i n the nucleu s o f th e cambiu m o n he r slide . I n proof , however , h e change d th e emphasis fro m Ursula' s inne r an d subjectiv e experienc e t o wha t th e lif e tha t sh e sees is - wit h al l his insistenc e agains t Russel l tha t th e Infinit e i s her e an d now and mus t b e the starting-point, i n the laboratory a s much a s anywhere else , for a truer vision . She coul d no t understan d wha t i t all was. She only kne w i t wa s not limited mechanica l energy, nor mere purpose o f self-preservation an d self-assertion. I t was a consummation, a bein g infinite . Sel f wa s a onenes s wit h th e infinite . T o b e onesel f wa s a supreme , gleaming triumph of infinity. That was what h e had been tryin g t o say to Russell abou t th e impulse t o onenes s and t o the infinite, whic h wer e indee d th e same truth , th e Heracleitan fire visibl e in th e smallest uni t o f life, and the necessary dynami c o f growth . He ha d changed almos t nothin g i n the ending whe n h e revised th e typescript , but now , fa r fro m wantin g t o modif y it s optimism , Russell' s pessimis m calle d out a n eve n stronge r orga n not e abou t Truth , an d on e or tw o changes tha t ma y have ha d Russel l i n mind . Th e rainbo w stand s o n 'th e earth ' now , no t merel y Ursula's subjectiv e 'heart' . Instea d o f 'self-car e an d self-conceit ' ther e i s Russell's wor d 'disintegration ' fo r th e contemporary malaise . An d instea d o f the last word s bein g abou t th e corruption t o be transcended, Lawrenc e no w prunes , and add s a final vision o f transcendence, i n the 'clean rai n o f heaven': She saw in the rainbow the earth's new architecture, the old, brittle corruptio n o f houses and factorie s swept away, the world built up in a living fabric of Truth, fitting to the overarching heaven. He stil l use d 'would ' wher e i t migh t hav e bee n wise r t o writ e 'could ' - bu t h e was agai n writin g agains t Russel l i n thi s final assertio n tha t ther e woul d alway s be, i n everyone, the impulse t o Truth an d over-arching unity. 46 Yet thes e change s woul d no t stand ou t as different i n kin d fro m th e hundred s of other s tha t h e mad e i n proof , a s th e las t stag e i n th e proces s o f clarificatio n and sharpe r focusin g tha t ha d bee n goin g o n sinc e The Rainbow too k shap e i n manuscript. No t ever y chang e wa s a n improvemen t o f course ; occasionall y h e failed t o ge t bac k insid e wha t h e ha d written ; bu t generall y th e nove l gaine d a great dea l fro m it s final retouchin g - thoug h £ 9 / 3 / 9 was more tha n a quarter' s rent o f the new flat. On 1 3 July, however , h e had t o deal wit h a demand fo r change s o f a differen t sort, fo r Pinke r bega n t o pas s on , fro m Methuen , request s fo r self-censorshi p 250
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(ii. 364 ) tha t Lawrenc e ha d bee n half-expectin g eve r sinc e h e aske d Viol a t o tel l him whic h place s migh t offend . Mor e wer e demande d a wee k later ; an d o n 26 July h e sen t bac k 'slip s an d pages ' separatel y fro m th e mai n serie s i n whic h he wa s 'now a t p . 19 2 of the revise d proofs , th e fina l form' : I have cut out, as I said I would, all the phrases objected to . The passage s and paragraph s marked I canno t alter . Ther e i s nothin g offensiv e i n them , beyon d th e ver y substanc e they contain , an d tha t i s n o mor e offensiv e tha n tha t o f al l th e res t o f th e novel . Th e libraries won't object t o the book any less, or approve of it any more, if these passages are cut out. And I cant cut them out, because they are living parts of an organic whole. Those who object, wil l object t o th e boo k altogether . Thes e bit s won' t affec t the m particularly . (ii. 369-70 )
It wa s a brave stand , especiall y sinc e h e kne w perfectl y wel l after Sons and Lovers and The Prussian Officer that a refusal t o stoc k th e boo k b y lendin g librarie s suc h as Mudies , Boot s an d Smith s woul d mak e a bi g difference , a s muc h a s 2,00 0 copies, t o th e sales . I t was al l ver y wel l t o 'Tel l Methuen , h e nee d no t b e afraid . If th e nove l doesn' t pa y hi m bac k thi s year , i t wil l befor e ver y long . Doe s h e expect m e t o be popular? I shan't b e that . Bu t I am a safe speculation' . Publisher s cannot tak e to o lon g a view. Because Pinker' s file s hav e partl y disappeare d an d Lawrenc e neve r kep t letters, i t i s impossibl e t o b e sur e exactl y wha t wa s objecte d to ; an d i t i s no t a s easy a s on e migh t thin k t o gues s wha t alteration s woul d b e demande d b y a respectable publisher , wit h hi s ey e o n librar y sale s i n 1915 . Th e thirtee n expurgations tha t th e America n publishe r wa s t o make , withou t Lawrence' s consent, ar e th e mos t likel y passage s tha t Lawrenc e migh t hav e refused t o cut ; and sugges t tha t th e episod e o f th e Nottingha m gir l an d it s aftermat h (thoug h not th e ana l suggestion) ; th e relationshi p wit h Winifre d Inger ; an d th e goin g away togethe r o f Ursul a an d Skrebensk y wer e amon g th e mai n area s o f sensitivity. Ther e see m t o hav e bee n n o objections , sinc e ther e ar e n o significant changes , t o th e treatmen t o f Ursula' s los s o f virginit y unde r th e oak tree, o r he r destructio n o f Skrebensk y o n th e beach . Tha t th e America n publisher was als o no t bothere d b y Tom' s affai r wit h th e gir l a t Matlock , o r b y Anna's dancin g i n th e nude , ma y o n th e othe r han d hav e been becaus e Lawrenc e did mak e change s ther e - thoug h i t i s no t possibl e t o b e sur e tha t thes e wer e simply th e resul t o f outsid e interference . For , i n th e vas t majorit y o f wha t see m the likelies t case s o f self-censorship , ther e coul d hav e bee n othe r goo d reason s for th e alteration . Or , t o pu t i t th e othe r wa y round , i f Lawrence di d bowdleris e himself, a s hi s lette r t o Pinke r suggest s h e di d i n certai n 'phrases' , h e nearl y always did mor e tha n that , an d rewrot e wit h som e fres h imaginativ e emphasis. 48 At leas t Pinke r seeme d satisfied , sinc e Lawrenc e thanke d hi m o n 2 9 July fo r his 'assuranc e concernin g Methuen ' (ii . 372) . Th e orde r t o begi n printin g wa s 251
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placed b y Methue n o n 1 6 August , } aimin g fo r publicatio n i n th e autumn . Whatever th e frustration s wit h Russell , an d th e publisher' s pussyfooting , tw o and a half years ' work , now , seeme d a t lon g las t comin g t o fruition , a s Lawrenc e prepared t o leav e Greatha m a t the en d o f July. V Farewel l t o G r e a t h a m , "thi s E n g l a n d ' In th e sam e letter , h e thanke d Pinke r fo r sellin g 'England , M y England ' t o th e English Review. H e ha d finishe d i t b y 6 June , t o mee t Pinker' s reques t fo r something fo r th e Strand; bu t alread y h e suspecte d tha t 'Englan d wil l no t publish' (ii . 354) - thoug h Americ a migh t - becaus e i t was so deeply anti-war. 5 It woul d late r becom e on e o f th e mos t hurtfu l example s o f hi s ruthlessnes s i n using scene s an d peopl e 'fro m life ' - bu t i n judgin g this , w e nee d t o distinguis h the 191 5 story fro m th e ver y different , rewritte n an d muc h longe r versio n o f lat e 1921, by a Lawrence wh o ha d b y the n pu t Englan d decisivel y behin d him. 5 Though th e settin g i n th e 191 5 versio n i s recognisabl y Rackha m Cottag e t o those wh o kne w th e place , i t i s no t named . Apar t fro m on e o r tw o little-know n details - an d i n shar p contras t wit h 192 1 - ther e i s nothin g t o identif y 'Humphreys' o r it s owners . Abov e all , apar t fro m 'Evelyn' s smal l privat e income, lov e o f gardenin g an d decisio n t o enlist , whic h mus t hav e applie d t o many man y thousand s o f Englishmen , ther e i s nothin g t o poin t specificall y t o Percy Lucas , Madeline' s husband . (Be b Asquith , also , di d no t wor k fo r a living ; Cynthia Asquith , too , foun d i t har d t o mak e end s mee t o n thei r privat e incomes ; and Be b joine d th e artiller y a s Evely n does , bu t Perc y Luca s di d not. ) Ther e i s nothing abou t th e interes t i n fol k music , and especiall y Morri s dancing , whic h i n the 192 1 versio n pointe d identifiabl y t o a ma n wh o b y the n had bee n kille d i n action (i n 1916) , though h e wa s ver y muc h aliv e when th e stor y was first written . Evelyn wa s neve r mean t t o portra y Perc y Lucas . Indee d Lawrenc e ha d barel y met him , i f a t all . Th e Lucase s wer e mostl y i n Londo n whil e th e Lawrence s were a t Greatham . Madelin e an d he r daughter s cam e dow n fo r Easte r (afte r which thei r cottag e wa s len t t o th e Radfords ) an d agai n i n Ma y whe n Rackha m became ' a seethin g pot ' a t Whitsu n (ii . 346) , bu t i t i s no t clea r whethe r Perc y was ther e o n eithe r occasion . H e may hav e com e dow n o n leav e fro m Epsom , where h e was stationed , an d worke d a whil e i n hi s garde n whic h Lawrenc e ha d been helpin g t o kee p up ; bu t th e onl y dat e w e ca n b e certai n o f wa s 2 3 June , weeks after th e stor y was written an d posted. 54 The ruthlessnes s o f th e 191 5 stor y wa s t o us e th e acciden t tha t ha d lef t littl e Sylvia Luca s i n a le g brace , afte r sh e ha d cu t he r kne e o n a rust y sickl e abandoned i n lon g gras s - thoug h ther e i s n o hin t i n 1915 , unlik e 192 1 again , that he r fathe r migh t b e i n an y wa y t o blame . (I t wa s Maitlan d Radford , visitin g Viola i n Septembe r 1913 , who recognise d tha t th e injur y was mor e seriou s tha n 252
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the loca l docto r supposed , an d persuade d a leadin g surgeo n i n th e Londo n hospital wher e h e worke d tha t th e chil d wa s i n morta l dange r fro m blood poisoning an d shoul d b e operate d o n a t once . * ) This wa s th e on e detai l i n 191 5 that pointe d t o th e Lucase s an d woul d see m boun d t o distres s them , s o tha t a more scrupulou s write r migh t hav e hesitate d t o us e it . Judges ough t t o postpon e condemnation, however , unti l the y hav e asked wha t Lawrenc e use d i t for. It wa s not fo r a critical portraya l o f the Lucases ; nor ar e th e character s an d th e tension betwee n the m a s comple x a s the y woul d become . I t i s essentiall y a war story, a s Cynthi a Asquit h calle d i t (probabl y echoin g Lawrence' s ow n descrip tion), whe n sh e sa w i t takin g shap e o n hi s typewrite r - an d t o concentrat e o n 'the Lucases ' i s to defuse it s impact an d mis s it s point . The titl e sardonicall y echoe s th e patrioti c refrai n fro m Henley' s 'England ' (1900): 'Wha t hav e I don e fo r you , England , m y England? / Wha t i s ther e I would no t do, / England , m y own? ' Th e ol d hous e an d th e garde n Evely n ha s made ar e no t see n (a s the y woul d be , later ) i n th e perspectiv e o f ancien t Britain . Rather the y ar e a 'dream' , a 'mirage ' o f peac e an d beaut y whic h hav e 'n o context, n o relatio n wit h th e world ' an y longer . An d th e lov e betwee n th e couple, thoug h stil l capabl e o f filling 'th e old , silen t hollo w wher e th e cottag e stood, wit h flowers an d magnificenc e o f the whol e universe' , ha s turne d t o battle , as with weapon s o f iron . Fro m thi s opening , th e stor y build s a series o f purel y destructive oppositions . Winifre d become s authoritarian , Evely n harden s i n resistance. Sh e worrie s abou t money , an d abou t he r husban d amountin g t o nothing, an d bein g supporte d b y he r father . S o th e passio n sh e ha s fo r hi m hardens int o dut y an d conscience ; an d he , deprive d o f th e physica l lif e tha t i s all-in-all t o him , become s first stoicall y indifferent , the n null , the n nihilist . There i s no mention o f 'England' i n al l this. Now th e acciden t t o th e chil d is , precisely, th e turning-point , turnin g reader s away fro m matter s o f individua l characte r an d responsibility . Th e 'shar p ol d iron i n th e garden ' whic h cut s an d poison s th e littl e gir l - a curiousl y non specific phrasin g - recall s th e 'iron ' weapon s i n th e 'silen t fight . . . a s i f fated ' between husban d an d wife , fo r whic h ther e 'wa s n o apparen t reason' . Wha t cripples th e chil d an d ha s poisone d th e marriag e i s nobody' s fault , bu t seem s something destructivel y laten t in th e moder n world , whic h i s wh y th e peace , beauty an d lov e o f th e old-worl d hous e an d garde n ar e n o longe r safe , o r real . To Evely n ther e i s somethin g 'malignant , a triump h o f evi l an d o f nothingness ' against whic h h e feel s paralysed ; t o Winifre d i t i s hi s passivit y tha t i s evil , hateful.57 Then come s th e war , an d it s clarification : fo r bot h husban d an d wif e becom e instantly attune d t o what ha d bee n laten t withi n the m an d thei r whol e world . 'A s he worke d i n th e garde n h e fel t th e seeth e o f th e wa r wa s wit h him . Hi s consciousness ha d no w a field o f activity . Th e reactio n i n hi s sou l coul d ceas e 253
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from bein g neutral ; i t ha d a positive for m t o take. ' Whe n h e enlists , encourage d by hi s wife an d he r father , Winifre d ma y feel h e is at las t 'doin g wha t was right ' and amountin g t o something , an d eve n b e thrille d b y 'hi s ne w arroganc e an d callousness a s a soldier ' - bu t 'Somewher e a t th e bac k wa s th e deat h h e wa s going t o meet . . . H e was really a soldier. Hi s soul ha d accepte d th e significance . He wa s a potentia l destructiv e force , read y t o b e destroye d . . . Wha t ha d h e t o do wit h lov e and the creative sid e of life? . . . H e was a destructive spiri t enterin g into destruction. ' He doesn' t believ e i n patriotism , an d i s irritated whe n leave-takin g momenta rily call s o n 'hi s loving constructiv e self.. . H e hate d hi s wife fo r he r littl e fi t of passion a t th e last ' - fo r sh e to o 'ha d wante d it , thi s conditio n o f affairs' . Lawrence woul d tel l th e wounde d Be b a fortnigh t late r tha t destructio n ha d become a n end in itself, and not a means t o anything else . Most markedly , indee d rathe r melodramatically , th e endin g differ s fro m th e later one , illustrating als o wha t Lawrenc e mean t b y hi s 191 5 talk abou t 'blood lust' bein g intrinsi c t o th e soldier . U p t o th e las t moment s th e tw o version s coincide, includin g th e mistak e abou t wha t a 'machin e gun ' is. 58 (Lawrenc e made Evely n joi n th e artillery , no t merel y thinkin g o f Beb, bu t als o i n orde r t o use th e experienc e recorde d i n 'Wit h th e Guns ' - complet e wit h th e office r spotting fro m th e to p o f a n iro n platfor m - bu t unfortunatel y h e lacke d a technical vocabulary. ) A t th e ver y en d however , th e tw o version s diffe r utterly . In 1915 , a fatall y wounde d Evely n kill s thre e German s wit h hi s revolve r befor e he i s bayonete d t o death , an d th e iro n finally enter s hi s vital s an d mutilate s hi s face. Tha t answer s Henley' s questio n o f what me n and wome n wer e prepare d t o do - bu t i t is not 'fo r England' . Shortl y befor e th e stor y appeare d i n th e English Review i n October , Lawrenc e tol d Cynthi a tha t i t wa s 'abou t th e Lucases' , bu t immediately qualifie d this : 'Th e stor y i s the story o f most me n an d wome n wh o are marrie d toda y - o f mos t me n a t th e war , and wive s a t home ' (ii . 386) - al l with th e seethe of the war in them . So ther e wa s also a symbolism i n turnin g hi s back o n th e beauty an d peac e o f the Greatha m wher e h e ha d finished hi s Rainbow, bu t whic h ha d com e t o see m an escap e fro m th e rea l world . Ther e hi s marriage, also , ha d com e unde r stress , and i t had been a question (a s he worked i n the garden o f Rackham) whethe r h e too coul d eve r do anything i n th e world . Havin g lef t Greatha m o n 3 0 July, h e wrote a thank-you lette r t o Viola fro m Littlehampto n o n the 31st: I a m very glad you lent i t t o us. It ha s a special atmosphere , an d I fee l a s if I had been born afresh there , got a new, sure, separate soul: as a monk in a monastery, or St John in the wilderness. Now we must g o back into the world t o fight. I don't wan t to, they are so many and they have so many roots. But we must set about cleaning the face of the earth a bit, or everything will perish, (ii. 374 ) 254
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To fight - bu t no t Evelyn' s way . In th e oute r life , too , th e coi l o f personalitie s gav e wa y t o th e sens e o f a n 'England' comin g t o an end . On 2 0 July Cynthi a ha d brough t he r sister-in-la w Katharin e Asquit h (wif e o f Raymond, th e Prim e Minister' s eldes t son) , wit h Harol d Bake r again , t o mee t Lawrence. Stil l alone , h e talke d 'enthrallingly' . Katharin e iove d hi m an d wa s most anxiou s t o kno w wha t effec t sh e was producing' , bu t i t wa s no t a s muc h a s she migh t hav e hope d (thoug h Lawrenc e like d he r too) , fo r hi s nex t lette r wa s mainly a n expositio n o f his new 'polities' . That a t least proved , sai d Cynthia , tha t Lawrence wa s no t i n lov e wit h her, an d wa s indee d impatien t o f tal k abou t he r beauty. Wha t h e admire d i n Cynthi a wa s a hard stoicis m an d realism , facin g th e truth. She the n invite d th e Lawrence s t o he r littl e Michael' s firs t birthda y te a a t Littlehampton o n Sunda y 2 5 July , an d the y brough t Viola , wh o (sai d Cynthi a tartly) 'neve r move s withou t a copyboo k i n whic h sh e enter s note s fo r he r novels'. Cynthi a fel t il l an d depresse d an d i t wa s 'th e leas t successfu l o f al l m y Lawrence meetings' . Ther e ha d bee n som e questio n o f th e Lawrence s goin g t o Garsington again , bu t Ottolin e ha d writte n t o sa y sh e ha d n o roo m fo r Frieda , 'and Fried a i s furiou s wit h her . Sligh t semi-facetious , bu t distinct , frictio n between th e Lawrences . Firs t tim e I have eve r see n it. ' Lawrenc e subsequentl y wrote t o Ottolin e t o sa y h e woul d lov e t o com e i f the y wer e 'goin g t o b e a littl e group filled wit h on e spiri t an d strivin g fo r on e end' , bu t h e wa s no t intereste d in bein g on e o f ' a littl e se t o f individual s eac h on e concerne d wit h himsel f an d his own persona l flin g a t the world ' (ii . 372) . They woul d g o instea d t o Littlehampto n fo r th e Ban k Holida y weeken d afte r leaving Greatham . ' I fee l I wan t t o be blow n an d washed , an d t o forget ' (ii . 372) . From ther e h e wrot e hi s good-by e t o Greatha m i n languag e ver y reminiscen t o f the en d o f The Rainbow. It is very healing, I think, to have all the land behind one , all this England wit h its weight of myria d amorphou s houses , pu t back , an d onl y th e variegate d pebbles , an d th e littl e waves, and th e great far-off dividin g line of sea and sk y .. . I f one could onl y swee p clear this England, of all its houses and pavements, so that we could all begin again! He watche d a littl e famil y lookin g ou t t o se a an d though t 'ho w nic e the y are , clean an d isolated ' - bu t Englan d an d th e Englis h mad e hi m sad : 'The y ar e al l like prisoners bor n i n prison ' (ii . 373-4) . On Monda y h e tol d Ottolin e tha t the y woul d mak e a new star t whe n the y ha d got thei r ow n soul s read y (ii . 374) . Th e nex t da y h e wrot e t o Cynthi a (wh o ha d gone t o Dublin ) abou t th e untouche d silver y worl d tha t la y ove r th e rive r beyond th e ferry , wit h n o house s an d n o people : 'th e flat unfinishe d worl d running wit h foa m an d nois e an d silver y light , an d a fe w gull s swingin g lik e a 255
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half-born thought . I t i s a great thin g t o realis e tha t th e origina l worl d i s still ther e - perfectl y clea n an d pur e . . . ' Bu t lookin g bac k a t Littlehampton , h e fel t sic k a t the uncleannes s 'w e hav e super-impose d o n th e clea n world' , th e 'amorphou s houses lik e a n eruption' ; al l ful l o f a disease d spiri t o f ownershi p an d money , desire t o possess . 'England , M y England ' wa s also , i t seems , 'about ' an d fo r th e Asquiths: Of course your husban d wil l go to the war and lov e it much bette r tha n you , if you want him to make money .. . th e fact tha t you would as k him to work, put his soul into getting it, make s hi m lov e bette r wa r an d pur e destructio n .. . I f h e i s i n antagonism , h e i s in antagonism. An d h e wil l escape , wit h joy , fro m th e necessit y fo r mone y an d th e production o f money, into war, which is its pure destruction, (ii . 375-6 ) One mus t destro y th e blin d desir e fo r mone y an d possession : 'Th e onl y permanent thin g i s consummation in lov e or hate' . Wind-blown, wave-washed , feelin g cleare r an d cleane r afte r fou r day s o n th e beach wit h Frieda , an d expedition s wit h th e Radfords , i t wa s time t o mak e a new beginning, i n London . VI Apocalypse , No w In Hampstea d 'th e infinite ' wa s 'swallowe d u p i n chair s an d scrubbin g brushes an d wast e pape r baskets ' (ii . 377) , fo r a while . Movin g mad e hi m fee l 'dislocated' an d h e di d no t car e fo r London , bu t h e thre w himsel f a s alway s int o the cleanin g an d fixing up , an d coul d sin g 'al l da y long ' a t that , ofte n 'th e evangelical hymn s o f hi s youth' . (Hampstea d ma y no t hav e bee n to o familia r with 'Su n o f m y soul , tho u Saviou r dear'. ) A Londo n flat ha d alway s bee n Frieda's ide a fo r hersel f - thoug h i t ha d come , sh e complained , whe n sh e wa s too ol d t o mak e th e bes t us e o f it . Give n he r increasin g dislik e o f th e 'Meynellage', th e mov e ha d no t com e a momen t to o soon ; bu t no w sh e wa s happy again , settin g u p thei r first rea l hom e wit h furnitur e o f their own . Friend s gave housewarmin g presents : Catherin e Carswel l a n 'old-fashione d gil t mirror' , and somebod y £1 0 (perhap s th e Radford s clubbin g together) , fo r a 'beautifu l blue Persia n rug ' tha t woul d henceforwar d g o wit h the m everywhere . Th e man wh o distruste d possession s wa s acquirin g some , includin g (throug h Ada ) his mother' s bras s candlestick s whic h wer e th e neares t h e eve r go t t o househol d gods. Tables , chair s an d a writing-des k wer e bough t second-hand . Catherin e remembered on e exhaustin g expeditio n t o Camde n Town ; another , t o th e Caledonian Market , woul d provid e a singl e chair , an d detail s fo r a chapte r i n Women in Love. Ther e wer e ne w pot s an d pan s whic h Lawrenc e vowe d t o kee p spotless withi n an d without ; an d h e se t t o wor k o n a loose-cove r fo r a second hand settee . Frieda wa s bought a Chinese coat , perhap s t o confirm th e peace . 256
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On 6 August cam e a surprise: sh e hear d fro m Ernest' s solicito r tha t sh e coul d at las t se e th e childre n - onl y fo r hal f a n hour , an d i n hi s office , bu t sh e was 'i n bliss. It's a beginning, th e relie f o f it makes on e quit e gidd y - I do no t kno w wha t made E . d o it , perhap s th e childre n themselve s - I shal l se e the m o n th e nth which i s m y birthday ' (ii . 377) . I t wa s n o ple a b y th e children , a s th e upsho t would show , bu t sh e ha d bee n standin g o n th e pavemen t again , s o tha t th e children shoul d a t leas t b e reminde d o f he r existence , an d Ernes t mus t hav e realised tha t he r comin g t o liv e i n Londo n woul d mea n tha t thi s woul d g o on , and on , unles s h e came t o som e compromise . Unfortunately, sh e ha d neve r imagine d th e effec t o f thre e years ' absenc e o n the children , especiall y th e younges t - wh o ha s lef t th e onl y recor d o f th e meeting. Whe n Weekley , wh o neve r spok e o f Frieda , suddenl y asked , 'Woul d you lik e t o se e Mama? ' Barbi e answered , 'No t ver y much' , apprehensively . He r mother 'ha d becom e rathe r a n unrea l figur e b y then' . Whe n th e da y came , 'W e were al l nervou s . . . Mont y too k charge . Fried a cam e i n lookin g excited , bu t i n tears, wit h a n ope n bo x o f sweet s i n he r hand . Mont y talke d quit e cheerfull y with her , bu t w e wer e al l relieve d whe n th e lawyer' s cler k diffidentl y entere d t o say tha t th e hal f hou r wa s over.' 1 Childre n canno t disguise , an d i t woul d b e hard t o gues s wha t wil l hav e hur t more , Monty' s over t diplomacy , o r th e relie f on thre e face s whe n thei r ordea l wa s over . Frieda' s disappointmen t wil l hav e been al l th e mor e crue l becaus e i t wa s somethin g sh e ha d longe d fo r s o much , and s o lon g - an d Lawrenc e (a s th e 'cause' ) wil l hav e pai d muc h o f th e pric e again. B y earl y September , whe n sh e ha d caugh t col d t o anno y he r al l th e more , he tol d Cynthi a ruefull y 'Sh e hate s m e fo r th e present' , bu t unlik e Evelyn , h e joked, ' I shal l no t g o to th e war ' (ii . 386) . Cynthia wa s out o f town still , but comin g t o Londo n mean t fo r th e Lawrence s that othe r friend s wer e no w clos e by . The y renewe d acquaintanc e wit h Richar d and Hild a Aldingto n (who , t o he r dee p distress , ha d los t thei r bab y i n th e spring). 6 Th e Radford s wer e ver y nea r a t Wel l Walk , th e Carswell s an d Iv y no t far away , Barbar a Lo w an d th e Eder s als o i n eas y reach . Wit h Ko t ther e wa s a temporary coolness . Whe n Katherin e cam e bac k fro m Pari s sh e foun d a Murr y who ha d becom e rathe r mor e secur e becaus e h e ha d establishe d himsel f a s th e regular reviewe r o f Frenc h book s fo r The Times Literary Supplement, a s wel l a s contributing stil l t o th e Westminster. Moreove r Katherine' s ow n allowanc e wa s now £12 0 a year. S o i n June the y ha d move d fro m th e room s i n Elgi n Crescen t she ha d foun d s o inadequate , t o a hous e a t 5 Acaci a Roa d i n S t John' s Woo d with a garden an d a servant, fo r £5 2 p.a . compare d wit h £3 6 fo r 1 Byron Villas . There Kot , wh o ha d becom e increasingl y devote d t o Katherine , was a frequen t visitor, close r t o the m a t thi s stag e tha n t o Lawrence . (Katherine' s brothe r Leslie, in uniform , an d i n training , cam e t o sta y a t Acaci a Roa d to o tha t August. ) It ma y hav e bee n becaus e Murry' s antipath y t o Fried a strengthene d Kot' s ow n 257
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view o f th e Lawrenc e marriag e tha t Ko t wrot e a lette r i n lat e Jul y abou t th e conditions fo r furthe r relationshi p betwee n them . Lawrenc e a t tha t tim e ha d no t known ho w t o answer : 'M y feeling s ar e confuse d an d sufferin g unde r variou s sorts o f shocks i n on e directio n an d another . I hope yo u wil l not min d i f we leav e it fo r a while , thi s questio n o f a relationshi p betwee n us , unti l I a m settle d an d dependable' (ii . 369) . Hence Ko t di d no t com e t o Byron Villa s unti l 2 6 August Lawrence havin g pu t of f a dat e som e day s earlie r becaus e o f Frieda' s cold . H e would countenanc e n o relatio n tha t exclude d Fried a - bu t th e friendshi p was restored. It wa s ironi c tha t th e mov e t o th e metropolis , wher e one' s friend s wer e s o much mor e easil y accessible , shoul d hav e accentuate d matter s o f personality . Renewed contac t wit h Russel l an d Murr y mad e Lawrenc e angril y (becaus e finally) awar e o f th e failur e o f th e kin d o f Ranani m h e ha d hope d coul d b e founded o n a communit y o f belie f an d purpose , rathe r tha n mer e persona l relationship. Fo r i t wa s no t ultimatel y a disagreemen t abou t idea s whic h drov e Russell furthe r an d furthe r away ; no r - i t becam e clea r - wa s ther e an y agreement i n outlook an d purpos e wit h Murr y t o build upon . Russell was soo n invite d t o Hampstead , bu t th e ga p betwee n hi s secula r an d humanist reformis m an d Lawrence' s intensit y abou t spiritua l revolutio n deep ened no w int o a chasm . Lawrenc e sa w tha t Russell' s 'vanity ' was 'piqued ' b y being tol d tha t th e lecture s 'must b e different' ; thoug h h e wa s les s awar e o f th e egotism i n hi s ow n anger , i n hi s lette r t o Cynthia . Behin d that , however , wa s something deeper : I am so sick of people: they preserve an evil, bad, separating spiri t unde r th e war m cloak of good words ... The y all want the same thing: a continuing in this state of disintegration wherein eac h separat e littl e eg o is an independen t littl e principalit y b y itself . Wha t doe s Russell reall y want? He want s to keep his own little established ego , his finite and ready defined sel f intact , fre e fro m contac t an d connection . H e want s t o b e ultimatel y a fre e agent. That's what they all want, ultimately - (ii . 378) The ultimat e spli t cam e abou t becaus e o f th e intensit y wit h whic h Lawrence , egotist thoug h h e wa s - lik e everybody , perhap s mor e tha n most , thoug h no t more tha n Russel l - di d not wan t that . I t wa s becaus e h e s o hate d an d feare d self-enclosure i n himself , tha t h e s o insiste d o n th e forc e i n huma n being s tha t resisted it . I n a sense h e had to believe, intensely, tha t a longing fo r 'unanimit y i n truth' la y deepe r i n peopl e tha n thei r ego s (ii . 380) ; though i t remaine d egotisti c to conceiv e unanimit y s o much i n hi s own terms . Wherea s Russell , agreein g tha t subjectivity was the centra l problem , wa s armoured enoug h i n hi s own rationalit y to believ e wit h Swift' s Houyhnhnms , tha t reaso n wa s a sufficien t guid e fo r a rational creature , an d tha t b y applyin g i t t o socia l problem s subjectivit y coul d b e overcome. 2S8
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The sadnes s o f th e collapsin g relationshi p was tha t the y migh t hav e supplie d each other' s defects . Lawrenc e ha d muc h t o lear n fro m Russel l - ha d h e depended les s o n assuranc e tha t the y wer e o f th e sam e mind , a s oppose d t o unanimous i n wantin g t o develo p commo n ground . Russel l migh t hav e bee n able, ha d h e no t bee n s o pique d b y th e criticis m o f himself , an d henc e s o impatient an d unimaginativ e abou t Lawrence' s idiom , t o mak e hi m se e wha t wa s wrong i n extrapolatin g a politic s fro m fa r to o narro w a base . Ther e was , surely , nothing reprehensibl e i n th e basi c premis e whic h underla y bot h Lawrence' s 'socialism' an d hi s onl y apparentl y contradictor y belie f i n hierarchy : th e insistence tha t soul s wer e bor n different , an d shoul d i n a health y societ y develop differently , thoug h eac h a s full y a s possible. 63 Th e ide a tha t th e necessary condition s coul d simpl y b e establishe d b y wholesal e nationalisatio n and a n equa l wag e fo r everyon e ha d bee n tosse d ou t wit h a n ai r o f gettin g les s important thing s ou t o f th e wa y i n orde r t o ge t dow n t o mor e importan t ones . But hardene d int o intransigenc e rathe r tha n questionin g b y th e clas h wit h Russell, i t wa s ver y unworldl y (a t least ) o f Lawrenc e t o tel l Cynthi a no w tha t 'I f we hav e a right spirit , the n ou r Lord s an d ou r Ladie s wil l appear , a s th e flower s come fort h fro m nowher e i n th e spring ' (ii . 380) , le t alon e t o imagin e the y would the n b e immediatel y recognise d an d electe d t o hierarchica l powe r b y plebeians read y an d willin g t o serve . I t migh t see m a s daf t t o imagin e tha t London coul d the n b e pulle d down , an d rebuil t beautifully , an d th e whol e ide a of mone y b e abolishe d - tha t is , i f on e too k thi s seriousl y a s politica l thinking , rather tha n frustratio n an d intransigenc e becaus e nobod y woul d tak e seriousl y his wholl y seriou s deman d tha t socia l thinkin g begin from th e determinatio n o f human value , n o matte r ho w subversiv e o f th e wa y thing s are . O n Russell' s ground Lawrenc e coul d neve r compete , an d th e mor e obviou s thi s got , th e sillier h e becam e - fro m Russell' s poin t o f view . Ye t i t wa s no t sill y - thoug h i t might see m impractica l - t o insis t tha t politic s ha d t o b e determine d b y huma n value rathe r tha n immediat e practicability , i f i t wer e seriousl y hope d t o chang e society fo r th e better . I f h e ha d bee n mor e willin g t o liste n t o Russell' s criticis m and Russel l t o liste n t o his , h e migh t hav e go t Russel l t o thin k mor e deepl y about premises , an d mor e imaginativel y abou t th e mode s o f bein g i n whic h h e was mos t deficient . Eac h wa s i n hi s wa y a genius , amon g th e highes t o f thei r kind. Tha t the y shoul d hav e bee n s o draw n t o eac h other , an d ye t prov e incapable o f workin g together , wa s a twentieth-centur y porten t an d no t a n encouraging one . With Murry , personalit y obtrude d i n a ver y differen t bu t n o les s infuriatin g way - an d Frieda , happie r i n London , refuse d t o tak e he r husband' s radicalis m seriously. Murr y says he believe s i n wha t I say, because h e believes i n m e .. . H e say s th e whol e thin g is 259
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personal: that betwee n hi m and m e it is a case of Lawrence an d Murry , no t of any union in an idea. H e thinks the introduction o f any idea, particularly of any political idea, highly dangerous an d deplorable . Th e thin g shoul d b e lef t personal , eac h ma n jus t expressin g himself. - Fried a say s things are not so bad a s I pretend, tha t peopl e are good, tha t life is also good, that Londo n i s also good an d tha t thi s civilisation i s great an d wonderful . Sh e thinks if the war were over things would be pretty well all right. But they are all wrong, (ii. 380) Lawrence fel t himsel f groun d betwee n a n uppe r an d a nethe r millstone . Wit h Russell, wha t shoul d hav e bee n a constructive relatio n o f idea s (fo r the y di d hav e a great dea l i n common ) wa s contaminated b y clashe s o f personality; wit h Murr y the personalitie s seeme d harmoniou s now , ye t wha t a slende r an d vulnerabl e basis o n whic h t o tr y t o chang e othe r people , whe n an y quarre l woul d rui n th e whole work ! I n bot h ways , as wel l a s by hi s wife , h e wa s being tol d tha t hi s idea s were unimportant . Th e temperatur e o f hi s anger , then , a t th e realisatio n tha t people onl y value d hi m personally, prove s tha t h e wa s not , a s Russel l wa s t o claim, drive n b y persona l megalomania . Ye t th e ver y exces s i n pourin g al l thi s out t o Cynthi a show s i t cam e fro m th e depths . I n 'rea l bitterness' , h e fel t 'a s i f Russell an d Lad y Ottolin e wer e traitors' : They betray the real truth. They come to me, and the y make me talk, and they enjoy it , it gives them a profoundly gratifyin g sensation . An d tha t is all. As if what I say wer e meant only to give them gratification , becaus e of the flavour of personality: as if I were a cake or a win e o r a pudding . The y the n say , I - D.H.L . a m wonderful , I a m a n exceedingl y valuable personality , bu t tha t th e thing s I sa y ar e extravaganzas , illusions . The y sa y I cannot think. ... the y filc h m y lif e fo r a sensation unt o themselves , al l m y effort , whic h i s my life , they betray , they ar e like Judas: the y tur n i t al l to their ow n stati c selves , convert i t int o the static nullity. The result is for them a gratifying sensation , a tickling, and for me a real bleeding. But I know them now ... (ii . 380-1 ) The 'Forewor d t o Sons and Lovers' an d th e 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy ' declared tha t a man' s wor k i s hi s lif e mad e articulate : ther e wa s n o persona l Lawrence distinc t fro m th e life-bloo d i n hi s words . Th e lette r marke d anothe r turning point : th e conceptio n o f Rananim tha t ha d grow n a t Greatha m ha d t o b e discarded. Ther e woul d b e n o lecture s wit h Russell , o r share d idea s wit h Murry , or like-minde d community . ' I d o believ e ther e ar e peopl e wh o wai t fo r th e spiri t of truth. Bu t I thin k on e can' t find the m personally . I had hope d an d trie d t o ge t a littl e nucleu s o f livin g peopl e together . Bu t I thin k i t i s n o good . On e mus t start direc t wit h th e ope n public , withou t associates . Bu t ho w t o begin , an d when, I don't ye t know ' (ii . 381) . In fac t h e di d kno w on e possibility ; an d anothe r woul d reviv e a t th e beginnin g o f 260
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September. H e ha d alread y though t o f reworkin g hi s Germa n an d Italia n sketches int o a book, an d ha d finishe d a revised versio n o f 'Christ s i n th e Tyro P before leavin g Greatham . O n 2 0 August , fou r day s afte r th e bitte r lette r t o Cynthia, h e sen t of f a rewritten 'Th e Spinne r an d th e Monks ' (ii . 38 1 an d n . 5 ) - an d th e creatio n o f wha t woul d becom e Twilight in Italy the n progresse d steadily int o October . Her e was hi s bes t wa y o f touchin g 'livin g people' , instea d of in socio-politica l term s wher e h e was at hi s weakest . Hi s nex t lette r t o Cynthi a on 5 Septembe r announce d anothe r idea : a varian t o f tha t earlie r schem e o f publishing hi s philosoph y i n pamphle t form . Ther e migh t b e associate s afte r al l in creatin g a littl e magazin e t o b e calle d The Signature, wher e h e coul d d o 'th e preaching', outlinin g 'th e belief s b y whic h on e ca n resurrec t th e world 1; Murr y his 'idea s o n freedo m fo r th e individua l soul' ; {Catherin e 'he r littl e satirica l sketches'; and 'perhaps ' Russel l an d Canna n woul d joi n i n (ii . 386) . But th e 'perhaps' , an d th e fac t tha t th e thre e principal s woul d b e fre e t o d o very differen t kind s o f thing, sho w tha t Ranani m ha d bee n painfull y lai d by . An d though i n Augus t ther e ha d bee n sign s tha t other s migh t valu e hi s word s rathe r than hi s personalit y - Esm e Perc y wantin g t o produc e The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd, an d Mars h (despit e thei r disagreemen t abou t th e war) , wantin g poetr y for th e secon d Georgia n antholog y Lawrence' s 'soul ' was 'stil l fizzling savagely'. Hi s quarre l wit h Russel l wa s soul-deep , h e looke d a t peopl e i n London wit h 'dum b fury' , an d 'th e persisten t nothingnes s o f th e wa r make s m e feel lik e a paralyti c convulse d wit h rage ' (ii . 385-6) . Bu t no w th e rag e sound s a little rhetorical . I n fac t h e was embarke d o n anothe r intensel y creativ e perio d but it s final catalys t wa s th e mos t apocalypti c visio n ye t o f th e en d o f hi s world , giving a Last Judgement o n thos e rule d b y personality . He trie d t o b e patient . H e tol d Ottolin e tha t th e silence s betwee n the m wer e only temporary , an d tha t h e alway s wante d the m t o b e friend s 'i n th e deep , honorable, permanen t sense' . Thoug h h e foun d i t difficul t t o b e 'tru e t o m y deepest sel f - tha t complain t o f the mercuria l ma n - an d thoug h allowance s ha d to b e mad e fo r 'extrem e lapses ' betwee n friends , h e di d 'believ e i n ou r permanent friendship ' an d hope d h e an d Russel l ha d onl y 'parte d fo r a littl e while' (ii . 388-9) . I n fac t Ottoline' s relationshi p wit h Russel l was als o o n th e wane. He r growin g lov e o f Garsingto n foun d n o ech o i n a ma n wh o ha d n o feeling fo r th e countryside . Thoug h h e spen t muc h o f the summe r i n th e fla t sh e and Morrel l ha d mad e fo r hi m i n th e bailiff' s house , sh e wrot e i n he r diar y i n mid-July afte r a walk wit h hi m tha t sh e foun d hi m 's o stiff , s o self-absorbed , s o harsh an d unbendin g i n min d o r body , tha t I can hardl y loo k a t him' . Meanwhil e he wa s takin g increasin g interes t no t onl y i n hi s proteg e T . S . Elio t bu t als o i n Eliot's flirtatiou s an d highl y strun g ne w wife . Lawrenc e ma y nevertheles s hav e thought hi s ow n relationshi p wit h Garsingto n wa s imperille d b y hi s quarre l wit h Russell a s wel l a s b y Frieda' s wit h Ottoline . However , 'Ou r comin g t o se e yo u 261
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depends o n u s al l three , yo u an d m e an d Frieda . Whe n w e al l wan t it , t o mak e the ne w thing , th e ne w worl d tha t i s t o be , the n w e wil l come ' (ii . 389) . H e invited he r t o visi t the m i n Hampstead , wher e Forste r ha d jus t com e - anothe r friendship tha t had , h e thought , survive d despit e lapses . So , 'le t u s al l hav e patience wit h eac h other : thoug h I' m th e wors t fo r patience ' (ii . 390) . Indeed h e was , an d h e soo n ra n ou t o f i t wit h Russell . H e ha d writte n o n 5 September t o tel l hi m abou t th e ne w pla n fo r The Signature, an d tha t i t include d 'you an d Canna n i f you car e t o join' . Bu t h e hope d Russel l woul d d o 'somethin g serious', an d h e onl y wante d 'peopl e wh o reall y care , an d wh o reall y wan t a ne w world, t o subscribe ' (ii . 387) . However , a not e o n th e bac k o f th e lette r say s 'Ans. Yes as to writing , no as to money' (ii . 387 n. 1) . When h e sen t a n answe r i n those terms , enclosin g a n articl e calle d 'Th e Dange r t o Civilisation ' bu t refusin g to subscrib e t o th e ventur e (ii . 392) , Lawrenc e brok e of f th e relationshi p altogether. I t wa s no t s o muc h Russell' s argument s themselve s a s hi s ton e an d assumptions, couple d wit h th e deliberat e refusa l o f eve n 2/6-wort h o f support , that mad e Lawrenc e sur e tha t a deliberat e doubl e blo w wa s intended . I n th e article, Russel l argue s reason s physical , moral , economi c an d mental , t o sho w that prolongin g th e wa r wil l damag e al l th e nation s concerned , an d henc e European civilisatio n a s a whole . Indeed , 'Th e collectiv e lif e o f Europe , whic h has bee n carrie d o n i n th e mos t wonderfu l upwar d movemen t know n t o history , will hav e receive d a woun d whic h ma y wel l prov e mortal. ' Th e write r (wh o adopts th e loft y ton e o f on e o f th e flower s o f tha t civilisation ) quit e clearl y believes i n Progress , an d wishe s th e wa r ende d quickl y s o tha t it s marc h ma y continue. T o Lawrence , wh o believe d tha t th e wa r ha d com e abou t becaus e o f a rottenness withi n supposedl y civilise d peopl e an d wh o wa s lookin g fo r a radica l revolt agains t th e pas t an d a ne w kin d o f world , suc h complacency , an d suc h lofty dismissa l o f al l h e ha d s o passionatel y argued , wa s th e fina l evidenc e tha t Russell woul d neithe r loo k insid e himsel f a s Lawrenc e ha d done , no r wor k fo r a new worl d wit h hi m - an d wa s moreover (a s in hi s forensi c fierceness) concealin g the desir e t o slap hi m i n th e face , behind a mask o f superior reaso n an d pacifism . Yet i t wa s als o somethin g fa r mor e serious . O n 8 Septembe r a Zeppeli n rai d on Londo n kille d twent y people . Lawrenc e sa w th e airship : 'hig h up , lik e a bright golde n finger, quit e small , amon g a fragil e incandescenc e o f clouds . An d underneath i t wer e splashe s o f fire a s th e shell s fired fro m eart h burst . The n there wer e flashes nea r th e groun d - an d th e shakin g noise. ' For hi m i t was a vision o f the en d o f the worl d the y knew . It seeme d a s i f th e cosmi c orde r wer e gone , a s i f ther e ha d com e a ne w order , a ne w heavens above us: and as if the world in anger were trying to revoke i t . . . So it seems our cosmos is burst, burst at last... ou r world is gone, and we are like dust in the air. 262
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But there must b e a new heaven an d a new earth, a clearer, eternal moo n above , and a clean world below, (ii. 390 ) This reinforcemen t o f hi s sens e o f crisi s mad e i t th e wors t tim e fo r Russell' s article, and it s tone, to strike upo n a n ey e and ea r mor e attune d t o prophec y tha n to superio r reason . Fo r agains t that perspectiv e - th e en d o f a world ; th e moment o f trut h betwee n Evi l an d Good ; a Da y o f Judgemen t betwee n th e civilisation o f whic h Russel l cas t himsel f a s spokesman , an d th e longin g fo r a wholly differen t orde r whic h h e denie d - Lawrenc e sa w betwee n th e lines , an d beyond th e reasonin g i n th e article , t o a psychologica l reactio n against radica l change. Tha t linke d Russel l wit h th e gunfire . Russell' s civilisatio n conceale d th e 'anger' o f th e gun s attemptin g t o 'revoke ' th e apocalypti c crisi s (ii . 390) . Russel l might preac h peac e an d liberty , bu t i n fac t h e wa s violentl y resistan t t o rea l change - jus t a s withi n Lawrence' s fictiv e Winifre d an d Evely n ha d lurke d no t so muc h concer n fo r th e futur e o f England , bu t firs t ego , personality , an d the n the seeth e o f destruction . Lawrence coul d se e now how Evelyn an d Russel l wer e linked : The fact is that you, in the essay, are all the time a lie. Your basic desire is the maximum of desire of war, you are really the super-war-spirit . What yo u wan t i s t o ja b an d strike , lik e th e soldie r wit h th e bayonet , onl y yo u ar e sublimated int o words. And yo u are like a soldier wh o might ja b man afte r ma n wit h hi s bayonet, saying 'this i s for ultimat e peace' .. . Yo u are satisfying i n an indirect, fals e way your lus t t o ja b and strike . Either satisf y i t i n a direct an d honorabl e way , saying ' I hat e you all, liars and swine , and a m out t o set upon you' , or stick t o mathematics, where you can be true .. . You ar e simpl y full o f represse d desires , whic h hav e becom e savag e an d anti-social . And they come out in this sheep's clothing of peace propaganda. A s a woman said to me, who had been to one of your meetings: 'It seemed so strange, with his face looking so evil, to be talking about peace and love. He can't have meant what he said'. I believe in your inherent power for realising the truth. But I don't believe in your will, not for a second. Your will is false and cruel. You are too full o f devilish repressions to be anything but lustful an d cruel... I t is a perverted, mental blood-lust. Why don't you own it. Let us become strangers again, I think it is better, (ii. 392) This ma y hav e bee n angril y exaggerated , eve n hatefu l an d cruel ; a frustrated eg o striking a t someon e wh o refuse d t o accep t hi m a t hi s ow n valuation . Unfortu nately i t was als o partl y true , thoug h no t th e whol e truth ; an d i t wa s no t a s though Lawrenc e faile d t o se e i n himsel f th e evil h e sa w i n Russell , fo r h e ha d done s o lon g before . Th e differenc e was tha t h e admitte d it , a s th e necessar y step befor e i t coul d b e transcended . Coul d Russell ? Lawrenc e was used , a s Russell wa s not, t o accepting th e grain s o f truth i n radica l denunciation s (suc h a s Frieda's) and , afte r th e thunderstor m ha d cleare d th e air , holdin g agai n t o th e 263
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truth o f relationship . Woul d Russell ? Th e momen t h e ha d sen t th e letter , Lawrence ha d a spasm o f grie f an d fel t 'lik e goin g int o a corner t o cry , a s I use d to do whe n I was a child' (ii . 393) . Would Russel l car e as much ? The differenc e i s revealing ; fo r Russel l firs t over-reacted , an d the n dismisse d the challeng e altogether , befor e finally , year s later , provin g b y th e jabbin g an d striking o f hi s publi c statement s tha t Lawrenc e ha d see n wha t wa s indee d there. Initially , a s h e ha d don e severa l time s befor e whe n a persona l crisi s occurred, h e contemplate d suicid e - a psychologica l habi t no t o f confrontation , but evasion . Fo r withi n twenty-fou r hour s o f thinkin g Lawrenc e mus t b e right , 'a healthie r reactio n se t in , an d I decide d t o hav e don e wit h suc h morbidness ' (ii. 392- 3 n . 5) . He seem s neve r t o hav e seriousl y weighe d wha t portion o f trut h there migh t b e i n wha t Lawrenc e ha d said . It ma y be , also , tha t i t wa s goo d fo r Lawrenc e t o sto p broodin g ove r thei r disagreement, an d fre e hi s min d fo r writin g hi s ow n kin d o f philosophy . Th e challenge woul d be , then , t o find impersonal terms i n whic h t o explai n th e natur e of th e apocalyps e o f 1915 , an d ho w i t coul d lea d t o a ne w worl d fo r thos e wh o gave themselves t o it, rather tha n attemptin g t o revoke o r frustrat e it s process .
VII T h o u g h t - t r a v e l l i n
g
He attempte d thi s i n tw o ways : a 'philosophical ' travel-book , an d a boo k o f philosophy tha t wa s als o a journe y o f th e mind . Th e tw o wer e interlinked : th e letter o f 5 Septembe r announcin g th e pla n fo r th e Signature als o sai d tha t 'Meanwhile' h e was puttin g togethe r ' a boo k o f sketches , abou t th e nations , Italianf,] Germa n an d English , ful l o f philosophisin g an d strugglin g t o sho w things real ' (ii . 386) . B y the n h e ha d alread y rewritte n thre e tha t ha d bee n i n print - th e first befor e leavin g Greatha m - an d h e finished 'Th e Theatre ' (probably th e las t h e ha d writte n i n 1913 ) th e followin g day , 6 Septembe r (ii. 387) . Som e option s ha d alread y closed : h e wa s no t goin g t o recreat e hi s journey wit h Frieda , sinc e h e wa s excludin g th e chape l an d hay-hu t i n th e mountains; no r coul d i t reall y b e a boo k abou t thre e nations , sinc e h e ha d no t recast an y o f hi s othe r sketche s abou t Germany . B y 1 1 September whe n h e sen t off'San Gaudenzio ' (ii . 39 0 and n . 4), it wa s clear tha t Ital y woul d b e th e centre . There wa s the n a pause , whil e th e si x essay s o f 'Th e Crown ' fo r Signature occupied hi s ful l attention . Whe n th e sketche s bega n t o flow agai n i n Octobe r the boo k ha d clearl y becom e 'Italia n Studies' , a s h e name d i t o n 2 6 Octobe r when h e sen t th e ful l typescrip t t o Pinke r (ii . 417). 6 Wa s th e first one , abou t crucifixes i n Germany , the n a n od d appendage , an d th e whol e a n antholog y rather tha n a book? Tha t depend s rathe r o n wha t on e think s a travel-boo k i s o r should be . 264
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(a) Perspective from Travels Past The ne w ai m o f impersonalit y show s itsel f a s th e persona l T largel y disappear s from th e first essay ; as does th e 191 3 ide a o f the Christ s a s the wor k o f men wh o strove 't o ge t a t th e meanin g o f thei r ow n soul' s anguish' , lik e th e write r struggling wit h Sons and Lovers a t th e time . No w h e rearrange s th e Christs , careless o f th e orde r i n whic h h e ha d encountere d them , t o embod y a history o f developing consciousnes s a s i n The Rainbow: th e peasan t (Brangwe n man ) Christ; the n th e littl e on e i n re d flannel wh o brood s o n bein g an d non-being ; then th e grea t Christu s o f th e Klamm , carve d b y a disillusione d artis t wh o ha s consciously realise d hi s people' s drea d o f death ; an d the n th e opposit e mode s i n which faithles s moder n consciousnes s assert s itsel f agains t th e fac t an d pai n o f dissolution. Th e spirite d bu t self-flatterin g postur e o f the 'D'Annunzio ' Chris t i s set agains t th e 'sensational ' on e (a t Wieden ) wh o will no t die , bu t continue s t o experience an d expres s i n hi s bloodsho t gaz e th e violatio n o f man~crucified-by death. Finally , abov e th e snowline , a broken imag e confirm s tha t th e ol d religio n is meaningles s now ; bu t wha t sens e o f purpos e i n lif e an d deat h ca n follow , 'i n the stark , steril e plac e o f roc k an d cold' ? Th e travellin g i s onl y partl y geographical; bu t mostl y throug h th e interio r o f huma n developmen t i n time . I t is als o (fo r Lawrence ) a n impersona l journe y throug h memor y whos e signifi cance i s only no w perceived ; ye t th e ne w insigh t stand s o r fall s b y th e evocatio n of th e carving s themselves . Strugglin g t o sho w thing s real , an d philosophising , seem unite d - s o far . Indeed, th e first essa y become s a prologue t o th e whole : reveale d no w a s less a matter o f goin g fro m German y t o Ital y o r comparin g them , tha n a voyag e t o discover th e bearin g o f th e inne r pas t o f humankin d o n th e apocalypti c crisi s o f the present . (Non e o f th e othe r Germa n sketche s coul d contribut e t o this. ) Meanwhile th e biographe r watche s a n earlie r sel f bein g mad e ove r a s wel l a s recreated, bringin g hom e ho w th e writin g o f th e 'Hardy ' an d The Rainbow ha d so altere d hi s visio n tha t h e wa s boun d t o reconceiv e wha t h e ha d 'seen ' before . So, wha t di d th e Lawrenc e o f 191 5 se e now , a s h e rerea d hi s thre e sketche s o f Gargnano i n 1913 ? Once agai n h e clear s th e persona l Lawrenc e fro m th e renderin g o f 'Th e Spinner an d th e Monks' ; an d wherea s th e onl y lin k betwee n th e essay s ha d bee n that the y share d th e sam e T , the y ar e no w significantl y related . Wha t ha d bee n there o n th e sunn y terrac e o f Sa n Tommas o bu t coul d no t b e understoo d yet , i s focused wit h ne w zest by eye s fres h fro m th e Christs , because i t is their opposite . The journe y int o self-consciousnes s contrast s wit h it s complet e absence . Th e same physica l details , remainin g concret e an d pretendin g t o n o mor e tha n the y embody, becom e mor e resonan t a s the y manifes t 'Hardy' s 'Go d th e Father ' an d the novel' s 'Brangwe n men' . Th e ol d woma n i s experience d no w a s wholl y 265
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unified wit h he r worl d o f sun , ston e an d caper-bush ; bu t b y th e sam e toke n sh e is not consciou s o f he r spinning , he r eye s hav e 'n o lookin g i n them' , an d t o her , he i s onl y ' a piec e o f th e environment' . Th e T i s onl y ther e t o rende r hi s difference - withou t which , however , ther e coul d b e n o rendering . An d wha t o f the othe r Italy , o f dar k alley s an d smell y underways , an d th e shadow y ravin e where h e hunt s fo r flowers? Indeed , th e lakesid e i s a worl d spli t i n three : mountain snow , eart h an d underworld . S o th e T (i n 1915 ) ha s anothe r impersonal function : t o mov e throug h thes e dimensions , consciou s o f eac h i n turn, an d tryin g t o marr y the m (a s h e select s a daisy an d periwinkle s t o g o wit h the wintr y an d shado w flowers); rathe r tha n walk , a s th e monk s d o amon g thei r wintry vines , a borderlin e o f transitio n whic h i s neithe r th e on e thin g no r th e other. So th e earlie r sketche s becom e relate d - bu t 'Th e Lemo n Gardens ' sound s a harsher not e (now ) abou t transitio n an d th e marryin g o f opposites. Here , instea d of re-seeing throughout , tw o lon g passage s ge t rathe r obviousl y inserte d int o th e experience o f 1913 , t o establis h wha t wa s reall y a t issu e i n it s ke y moment s o f comedy an d tragedy : th e comed y o f th e recalcitran t doo r spring , wher e th e T finds himsel f cas t a s a representativ e o f al l industrialise d England-and-America , and th e traged y o f th e suddenl y perceive d impotenc e o f Signo r d i P . an d hi s lemon garden s t o engender a future. Wher e 'Hardy ' ha d see n a Joachite progres s from th e er a o f th e Fathe r t o tha t o f th e Son , an d th e daw n no w o f th e Ag e o f the Reconciler ; th e muc h darke r visio n o f 191 5 sees, behind th e Englishma n an d the Italia n i n th e doorway , tw o way s i n whic h European s hav e becom e destructive an d nihilistic . Afte r th e balance d hig h poin t o f th e Renaissanc e (Botticelli, still) , cam e a split . Michelangel o heralde d a n 'Italian ' regressio n int o the bod y - bu t th e advanc e o f consciousnes s nevertheles s proceed s unti l th e Flesh an d th e sense s becom e self-conscious , knowin g thei r aim , whic h i s 'supreme sensation' . Sexualit y become s destructive ; an d i n seekin g th e maximum o f consciou s sensatio n th e flesh begin s no t onl y t o consum e th e 'other' bu t eve n t o reac t upo n an d destro y itself : th e impuls e o f th e Tiger , flatheaded an d predatory , become s th e soldie r desirin g consummatio n i n a n ecstasy o f destruction an d self-destruction . Conversely , th e Norther n race s den y the supreme-self-in-the-bod y an d see k t o kno w th e not-self , fro m whic h concern wit h th e 'other ' cam e bot h democrac y an d abov e al l th e ris e o f scienc e and industry . Again , however , th e growt h o f consciousnes s ha s turne d destruc tive i n a scientifi c wa r o f machines , 'a n unthinkabl e hell ' - whic h ye t hypocritically claim s t o be i n th e servic e o f mankind, tryin g t o be bot h Tige r an d Lamb i n one , 'Whic h i s jus t ghastl y nothingnes s . . . nil , nihil , nought.' 72 An d what o f th e Future ? Th e Signor a d i P. , playin g i n th e sunn y pati o wit h a chil d not hers , reveal s th e traged y o f th e civilise d Signo r d i P. , an d prepare s th e visitor fo r th e passin g o f hi s lemo n gardens . Th e Italia n see s godhea d i n th e 266
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phallus an d procreatio n - bu t ho w i f th e Fles h ha s becom e impoten t t o projec t itself int o th e future ? An d wha t i f th e lemo n garden s (growin g sun-frui t despit e subalpine cold ) hav e n o futur e eithe r becaus e o f ne w industrial-ag e transpor t from sunnie r places ? Moreove r th e Lawrenc e o f 191 5 i s losin g fait h i n th e possibility o f marrying opposites , a s he brood s o n th e Italia n wantin g t o b e mor e Northern, an d th e Northerne r mor e Italian . Ther e i s n o goin g bac k t o th e ol d bodily an d unconsciou s 'Italy ' o f th e spinner ; an d Lawrenc e canno t se e hi s padrone's longin g t o g o th e wa y o f prosperou s industria l Englan d withou t bitte r irony, a s h e think s o f England' s 'teemin g swarm s o f disintegrate d huma n beings'. 74 One troubl e i s tha t th e tw o incident s ca n hardl y bea r th e weigh t o f suc h generalisation, s o tha t showin g thing s rea l an d th e philosophisin g whic h ha d fused i n th e earlie r essays , no w pul l damagingl y apart . Anothe r i s tha t thi s mus t be th e impass e tha t 'Morgenrot ' ha d reached : fo r i f eac h 'opposite ' ha s deteriorated, an d thei r marriag e n o longe r seem s possibl e i n 1915 , wha t is th e way forward ? Whe n h e firs t revise d th e sketch , Lawrenc e ha d n o idea . H e originally ende d hi s secon d digressio n wit h a rhetorica l ple a t o mov e beyon d both kind s o f limitation : We know that in Eternity exists a great world of truth .. . An d it is our business to set the whole living world into relation to the eternal truth. When w e hav e don e that , w e shal l hav e re-create d paradise , ther e wil l b e complet e Heaven. We can at any rate begin the job. But wha t doe s thi s mean , an d ho w d o w e start ? Luckil y Lawrenc e himsel f fel t the emptines s o f hi s rhetoric , fo r o n 5 September h e aske d Clayto n t o substitut e an entirel y negativ e passag e beginnin g (then) : 'I t i s tim e t o leav e off , t o ceas e entirely fro m wha t w e ar e doing , an d fro m wha t w e hav e bee n doin g fo r hundreds o f years.' 7 H e ha s onl y tw o certaintie s now : tha t ther e i s n o wa y forward b y 'seekin g on e Infinite , ignoring , tryin g t o eliminat e th e other' ; an d that eve n thoug h w e mus t acknowledg e an d kno w both , i t i s fata l t o confus e them o r see k t o mak e on e li e dow n wit h th e other , fo r the y mus t alway s be separate an d opposite . Ye t how , a t thi s appallin g tim e o f breakdow n an d transition, the y ca n actuall y b e relate d i n th e live s o f modern people , ther e i s n o telling, yet . The revise d 'Th e Theatre ' continue s t o explor e th e ironie s o f transition , an d (like th e Spinner ) th e 191 3 centre s o f interest , Ibsen' s Ghosts and Hamlet, com e ideally o n cue , an d ca n b e refocuse d withou t violenc e t o th e origina l experience . In th e accoun t of' / Spettri' (Ghosts) Lawrenc e see s deepe r int o th e performanc e of th e Italia n acto r wh o act s hi s ow n transitiona l state , stil l drive n b y th e flesh which hi s spiri t n o longe r wants , ye t frustrate d b y hi s inabilit y t o gai n th e lif e o f 'the spiri t tha t fulfil s i n th e worl d th e ne w ger m o f an idea' . I n thi s wa y h e i s fa r 267
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more movin g tha n Ibse n performe d perfectl y i n Munic h - wher e th e dram a o f the Nort h seeme d 't o be fingering wit h th e mind th e secret place s an d sources of the blood , impertinent , irreverent , nasty' . Afte r th e ligh t relie f o f tw o performances o f melodrama an d sentimentalit y come s < Amleto\ perfectl y fittin g the previou s analysi s i n his Northern revol t fro m th e flesh an d hi s spirit o f self conscious disintegration . No w however bot h Italia n acto r an d Englis h spectato r are i n transition . Th e Italia n ha s onl y jus t reache d th e 'Hamlet ' stage , bu t (Lawrence insists ) h e will neve r progres s b y compromise: 'H e is neither on e nor the other . H e ha s neither bein g no r not-being . H e i s as equivoca l a s the monk s . . . H e ha s still t o let go, to kno w wha t not-bein g is , before h e ca n be? I n tha t 'letting go ' ma y li e th e first hin t o f a wa y forward . Bu t i n th e meantim e th e divisions i n the audience hav e als o becom e a spectrum o f 'Italian' transition : th e 'Joseph' guardin g hi s little family , stil l in the world o f the spinner , th e Bersaglieri huddling agains t a worl d beyond , th e ne w corrup t freethinkers , th e hostilit y between Italia n an d German . I n th e darknes s o f a ne w ending , searchlight s swing acros s th e lake . I t i s 1913 , peacetime , bu t a premonitio n o f 1915' s apocalypse. 'San Gaudenzio ' - almos t certainl y a ne w essa y - the n tackle s th e questio n posed b y thi s ne w sens e tha t th e Opposite s mus t remai n separat e nowadays : what the n o f the belief i n marriage? Th e story o f Paolo an d Maria, th e couple i n whose farmhous e th e Lawrence s ha d stayed , i s conceive d i n term s o f The Rainbow bu t proceed s - a sombr e postscrip t - t o sho w ho w a marriag e o f opposites, havin g flowered throug h conflict , ca n i n tim e becom e les s an d les s capable o f flowering full y again . A compariso n o f Lawrence' s accoun t o f th e couple wit h Ton y Cyriax' s show s muc h i n common . Bot h se e th e man' s courtesy, hi s thoughtfulnes s (albei t uneducate d an d slow ) an d ho w h e i s s o wrapped u p i n hi s lan d tha t h e wa s untouche d b y hi s fou r year s i n America . Both se e the woman a s overfond o f money, unscrupulous , tempestuous , bu t also with wide r horizon s tha n other s i n th e village , anxiou s t o ge t on . Bot h se e the children i n descendin g orde r o f attractiveness. Bu t Lawrence see s fa r mor e i n these facts . H e heightens th e opposition i n Rainbow terms ; and shows th e couple also a s a contrast betwee n a n olde r Italy , attractiv e bu t stati c (lik e th e spinner) , almost feudal , an d th e ne w commercia l Ital y (takin g of f fro m th e en d o f 'Th e Lemon Gardens') . Abov e al l else , h e show s th e childre n a s th e outcom e o f a process whic h first issue s i n a flower unitin g th e bes t o f both , th e eldes t bo y 'Giovanni', bu t then turn s toward s withdrawa l an d hatred, 'terribl e disintegrate d opposition an d otherness'; fo r 'Marco', the second boy , has 'some discrepanc y i n him. H e wa s no t unified' . (Thi s i s supporte d b y Tony' s account. ) An d th e ironically name d 'Felicina' , th e product o f a phase of greater disintegratio n whe n the parent s hav e learne d t o withdraw fro m eac h othe r almos t completely , i s 'self conscious', an d als o 'affected , cold , selfish' . (Ton y agree s tha t i t wa s perhap s 268
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'difficult t o lov e her'. ) Th e flowering o f th e marriag e o f opposite s no w seem s subject t o season. Suddenl y i t become s clea r wh y Lawrenc e opene d th e essa y with a n accoun t o f th e wil d flowers o f Garda-side , seaso n b y season . No w also , remembering, ther e seem s poignan t inevitabilit y i n th e 'passin g away ' o f things . 'San Gaudenzi o i s alread y becomin g a thin g o f th e past' , Paolo' s ol d orde r i s almost gone . Wit h this , anothe r plan k wa s i n plac e t o bridg e Lawrence' s impasse, an d mak e i t possibl e t o reconcil e hi s previou s philosoph y wit h a ne w sense of direction beyon d apocalypse .
(b) 'The Crown' - Travel in the Mind He sen t of f 'Sa n Gaudenzio ' o n 1 1 Septembe r - th e fourt h essa y i n wha t ha d become a n integrate d exploratio n o f ho w th e pas t migh t illuminat e th e proble m of the present , an d sho w th e wa y t o a better future . Bu t instea d o f going o n wit h any furthe r 'journe y int o th e interior ' vi a Italy , h e mus t hav e realise d wit h som e excitement ho w t o tak e hi s direc t philosophisin g pas t th e impass e whic h ha d made hi m abando n it . H e turne d straightawa y t o hi s contributio n t o Signature: the si x essay s calle d 'Th e Crown' . Nin e day s late r h e sen t th e openin g essa y t o the 'littl e Je w i n th e Mil e En d Rd ' who m the y ha d foun d t o prin t th e pape r (ii. 397); 81 and b y 2 October h e ha d don e al l six (ii . 405). Two day s late r th e first issue appeared . We ca n no w watc h th e autho r o f The Rainbow visibl y turnin g int o th e ma n who woul d writ e Women in Love. Th e first tw o essay s restat e th e centra l dialecti c of 'Hardy' , confirme d b y Heracleitus , purge d o f it s Christia n terminology , an d also o f it s literar y an d ar t criticism , an d rendere d no w (hopefully ) i n mor e popular term s fo r a wide r audience . Instea d o f th e Person s o f th e Christia n Trinity, th e Opposite s ar e image d i n th e tw o beast s o f th e roya l coa t o f arms an d the nurser y rhym e abou t th e lio n an d th e unicor n fighting fo r th e crown , o r rather, fighting unde r it , producin g i t ou t o f th e clas h o f thei r opposition ; a s from th e crashin g waves , th e clashin g cymbals , th e interfusin g elements , ar e born th e foam , th e music , th e iridescen t rainbo w - absolute , whil e tim e swirl s the Opposite s away . Bu t ther e ca n b e n o victory , defea t o r cessatio n - o r everything woul d perish . Th e Crow n i s th e raison d'etre o f existence . I t i s wha t the opposite s ar e for . Alread y th e ga y wisdo m ha s a more sombr e side : a sharpe r realisation, focuse d b y th e war , tha t sometime s ther e i s chao s i n whic h n o creation take s place , and sometime s indee d th e lio n an d unicor n g o mad , tur n i n on themselves , see k t o triump h i n thei r ow n partialit y an d becom e destructive . Yet th e manifes t horro r o f the worl d o f 191 5 has no t dampene d Lawrence' s fait h that a n underlyin g creativit y i s at work i n th e univers e - throug h conflict . Only ho w coul d thi s b e reconcile d wit h th e fact s o f experienc e i n 1915 , an d 269
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his darke r perceptio n tha t thi s seeme d a tim e whe n th e Opposite s ha d deteriorated t o a point wher e the y coul d n o longe r b e married ? Out o f th e writin g o f th e ne w Italia n essay s cam e a doubl e answer : tha t th e only wa y forwar d mus t b e t o le t go , le t g o o f th e pas t completely , an d tha t th e marriage o f opposite s i s boun d t o b e seasonal . I n th e thir d essa y fo r Signature, now, Lawrenc e begin s t o analys e 'th e flux o f corruption' , th e proces s o f disintegration tha t - h e no w see s - must follo w consummation , a t leas t fo r a season, cyclically : This i s the terror an d wonde r o f dar k returnin g t o dark , an d o f light returnin g t o light , the tw o departin g bac k t o thei r Sources . Thi s w e canno t bea r t o thin k of . I t i s th e temporal flux of corruption, a s the flux together wa s the tempora l flux of creation. Th e flux is temporal . I t i s onl y th e perfec t meeting , th e perfec t utte r interpenetratio n int o oneness, the kiss, the blow, the two-in-one, that is timeless and absolute. Corruption seem s terribl e t o us , caught a s we are i n th e perspectiv e o f time. I t i s not howeve r evil , bu t necessary . Ye t evil begin s 'whe n tha t whic h i s tempora l and relativ e assert s itsel f [as ] consummat e an d complete' . Th e res t o f th e essa y and th e thre e whic h follo w explor e th e differenc e betwee n a 'corruption ' whic h is part o f a divine process , an d a vile and evil hardening int o deat h tha t ca n kno w no rebirth . Th e wor d itsel f carrie s n o judgement : bot h disintegrativ e going-apar t and creativ e coming-togethe r ar e necessar y life-processes , an d ther e ar e time s when lif e ma y 'even , fo r a while be purel y i n one , or purel y i n th e other' . Fo r lif e is 'reall y i n th e two' , i n necessar y succession . Bu t 'corruption , lik e creation , i s only divin e whe n al l is given u p t o it' . There ar e tw o way s i n whic h th e huma n will can distor t 'pure ' corruptio n int o vileness. Consummatio n attain s t o timelessness , bu t o n eart h everythin g is , an d must be , carrie d pas t th e momen t o f fulfilmen t b y th e swir l o f tim e - an d th e process ca n eve n hav e a kind o f beauty, a s of th e lotu s o r swa n standin g i n mud , or th e salt-corrodin g sea . I f howeve r th e huma n wil l trie s t o arres t thi s process , to asser t th e ol d attainmen t pas t th e stag e o f it s necessar y comin g apart , rottenness inevitabl y follow s - an d th e attemp t t o hol d o n to , possess , wha t i s past it s time , als o thwart s ne w growth . Fo r onl y whe n th e previou s consumma tion ha s completel y disintegrate d bac k t o it s origina l elements , ca n th e creativ e process begi n again . Whe n peopl e determin e t o preserv e ol d form s o f societ y o r relationship o r value , thes e inevitabl y g o horribl y rotten . A secon d for m o f vileness come s whe n peopl e enclos e themselve s withi n th e proces s o f corruption , believing thi s t o b e th e onl y life ; an d see k thei r satisfactio n fro m increasin g consciousness o f it . Th e sou l ca n for m a shel l aroun d itsel f withi n whic h th e 'going apart ' i s enjoyed i n 'sensationa l gratification' , o r 'reductio n ' eithe r i n th e flesh o r i n th e mind . Huma n relationshi p ca n becom e a friction o f eg o upo n eg o by whic h me n an d wome n us e eac h othe r t o disintegrat e themselve s an d eac h 270
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other, n o unio n i s possible, an d excitemen t come s fro m mutuall y destructiv e sex war. (O r perhap s sophisticate d soul s a t a tim e o f decadenc e see k similarl y t o 'reduce' themselve s wit h les s develope d individual s o f th e sam e se x - i n pederasty, o r homosexua l affair s wit h socia l inferiors. ) A t las t th e onl y sensation lef t t o b e explored , i s th e frisso n o f riskin g death , an d eventuall y th e experience o f killin g o r bein g killed . Th e wa r ha s com e abou t fo r bot h reasons . To arres t a divin e proces s i s t o becom e carrion-foul , lik e a vultur e tha t use d t o be a n eagl e an d coul d hav e bee n again ; o r i t i s t o liv e i n a sepulchr e tha t coul d have bee n a womb . Englan d an d Germany , fighting t o preserv e ol d forms , ar e the lio n becom e do g an d th e eagl e becom e vultur e - bot h form s o f deadly decay . On th e othe r hand , ther e i s 'th e desir e t o dea l deat h an d t o tak e death ' - th e wa r comes fro m th e deat h wis h o f a generation . Yet th e 'God ' whic h i s stil l presen t i n corruptio n ca n b e liberated , i f th e barren egois m o f th e wil l ca n b e overcome . I f peopl e wil l onl y giv e themselve s up t o th e force s whic h ar e goin g o n withi n them , ther e ca n b e n o evil . (Russel l should hav e hi t back , openl y - i t woul d hav e bee n fa r les s damaging. ) 'God ' i s i n destruction and i n creation ; 'i n th e flowing togethe r an d th e flowing apart' . 'Onl y perpetuation i s a sin.' 85 W e mus t le t g o of the old ; whe n corruptio n i s necessary , all must b e give n u p t o it ; fo r the n th e creativ e proces s ca n an d wil l begi n again , a new dawn , a new world . (c) In the Half-light The final essay s of the travel-book , whic h bega n t o flow again i n Octobe r a s soo n as 'Th e Crown ' wa s finished, ar e al l abou t state s o f transition , th e half-ligh t between worlds . Afte r th e seasona l declin e o f the marriag e o f opposites trace d i n 'San Gaudenzio' , a season ha s com e whe n ther e ca n b e n o mor e tha n a reachin g out o f on e opposit e t o another . 'Th e Dance ' an d 'I I Duro' , a matche d pair , explore ho w th e 'Northern ' an d th e 'Italian ' ar e attracted, bu t recoi l - an d 'John ' rounds of f th e exploration , touche d o n i n 'Sa n Gaudenzio ' an d 'I I Duro' , o f ho w Italians ar e draw n t o a n Americ a the y canno t join . 'Italian s i n Exile ' an d 'Th e Return Journey ' for m anothe r matche d pair , i n whic h expatriate s o f on e kin d and anothe r ar e i n transi t betwee n 'Italy ' an d 'th e North' , o r wal k th e lin e between. In 'Th e Dance' , th e face s o f th e Norther n wome n sho w a 'transporte d wonder' a s the y ar e swep t b y thei r peasan t partner s int o a differen t rhythm , 'drifting an d palpitatin g a s i f thei r soul s shoo k an d resounde d t o a breez e tha t was subtl y rushin g upo n them , throug h them ' - til l a t eac h climax , swun g fro m earth, 'th e woman' s bod y seeme d lik e a boa t lifte d ove r th e powerful , exquisit e wave o f th e man' s body , perfect , fo r a moment' . Fo r a moment , ther e become s possible th e two-in-on e o f th e weddin g danc e i n The Rainbow - bu t i t ca n lea d 271
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nowhere now . Whe n th e one-legge d wood-cutte r beckon s fro m th e doorway , gesturing toward s th e darknes s - h e i s i n Cyria x too , th e biographica l iron y (se e p. 76 9 not e 77 ) a gift , an d privat e jok e - th e blond e Norther n woma n become s angry. H e i s 'stupid , absurd' . The n a s th e me n sin g i n obscen e dialec t i t i s aimed agains t th e foreigners , unti l Mari a put s a sto p t o it . Soo n th e foreigner s have had enoug h - thoug h Mari a ha s he r profit . 'II Duro' , o n th e othe r hand , i s eve n mor e a creatur e o f th e sense s tha n Antony Schofield , th e gardene r o f The Rainbow partl y draw n fro m him , wit h th e same touche s o f the goa t an d th e satyr , a t once 'beautiful ' an d 'sinister' , an d wit h his 'clea r golde n skin , an d perfectl y turne d face , somethin g godlike' , i f als o 'slightly malignant' . Indeed , Pa n walk s Sa n Gaudenzi o i n th e shap e of'I I Duro' . He ha s bee n t o Americ a lik e Paolo , withou t bein g touche d b y th e experience , for, mor e tha n Paol o an d muc h mor e tha n Signo r d i P. , h e i s a t on e wit h hi s earth. T o watc h hi m mixin g dun g an d lim e fo r graftin g th e vine s i s like watchin g a divine forc e (i n Lawrence' s sense ) i n action , s o 'amazingly swif t an d sure , lik e a god' tha t i t fills th e Norther n Lawrenc e 'wit h a sor t o f panic ' - becaus e i t i s a n 'animal go d . . . withou t thought' , cutting , cuttin g a t ne w shoo t an d stock , t o engender, heedlessly . Bu t hi s inscrutable oppositio n t o th e very ide a of marrying , and th e wa y that , thoug h a womaniser , h e seem s t o fee l a magneti c attraction , almost love , towards th e Englishman , giv e Lawrence ' a feeling o f vivid sadness , a sadness tha t gleame d lik e phosphorescence ' - a n imag e increasingl y use d t o suggest deca y afte r completion . Fo r I I Dur o 'ha s achieve d [his ] final shap e an d has nothin g mor e t o achieve' . Th e attractio n h e feel s i s no t fo r D . H . Lawrenc e personally. I t cannot , moreover , an d wil l no t com e t o anything . I I Duro seem s t o have n o furthe r powe r t o reac h ou t i n th e spirit , s o Lawrence , thoug h fascinate d by th e other' s 'stati c perfection' , i s also 'repelled' . But th e youn g Italia n 'John' , i n th e 'down-at-heel , sordi d respectability ' o f hi s shabby America n clothes , wil l b e inevitabl y draw n bac k t o th e Americ a whic h has insulted, bullie d an d despise d him , fo r thoug h h e love s his fathe r an d i s fon d of hi s wif e an d child , Ital y ha s becom e a 'past ' tha t ca n n o longe r satisfy . I n Northern term s h e i s half-baked , half-educated , a hanger-o n t o th e fringe s o f American life , bu t 'H e ha d gon e ou t an d face d th e world , an d h e ha d kep t hi s place, stranger an d Dag o thoug h h e was. ' Now h e i s compelled t o d o s o again, t o choose a s 'future' wha t lie s there , seemin g 'scarcel y lik e a person wit h individua l choice', bu t rathe r ' a creatur e unde r th e influenc e o f fat e whic h was disinte grating th e ol d lif e an d precipitatin g him , a fragmen t inconclusive , int o th e ne w chaos'. Ther e i s somethin g heroi c abou t hi m a s hi s fac e i s 'se t outwards , awa y from i t all—whither , neithe r h e no r anybod y knew , bu t h e calle d i t America' . Yet fo r thi s h e leave s fathe r (who m h e ma y no t se e again), wife an d child , an d al l that 'Italy ' ha s com e t o mea n t o Lawrence . Ther e ar e painfu l questio n mark s
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over bot h th e fragmentarines s o f hi s potential , an d th e chao s h e i s going into . S o the heroi c fuse s wit h th e patheti c i n tremulou s balance . Th e onl y thin g tha t i s certain i s disintegration . We hav e bee n watchin g th e trave l throug h memor y becom e a coheren t boo k and n o mer e collectio n o f sketches , thoug h i t ha s ye t t o find a n appropriat e title. I t ma y b e 'Italia n Studies ' i n term s o f it s materia l - ye t a s i n 'John' , th e process i n time, tha t compel s huma n soul s impersonall y throughout , i s neithe r confined t o Italy , no r indee d ar e Italian s al l o f a kind tha t coul d b e describe d i n terms o f nationa l characteristics . Appropriately , then , th e final tw o chapter s juxtapose severa l sort s o f peopl e movin g i n differen t way s an d direction s through th e borderlan d betwee n 'Italy ' an d 'th e North' , a s thoug h draw n b y magnetic force . 'Italians i n Exile ' i s abou t Lawrence' s meetin g o n th e German-Swis s border , on hi s wal k t o Ital y i n 1913 , with th e grou p o f Italia n expatriat e mil l workers (se e p. 95) . 'Th e North' , too , i s no t homogeneous . Th e chapte r ha s alread y contrasted th e picturesqu e pas t o f th e Rhinelan d wit h th e moder n presen t o f factories i n bot h German y an d Switzerland , an d wit h th e deadenin g bourgeoi s ordinariness o f th e Swiss . (Th e drunke n landlor d an d hi s deliriu m tremen s gai n symbolic resonanc e withi n th e boo k a s a whole; a sign o f disintegration belo w th e surface o f materia l prosperity. ) Thes e Italia n factory-worker s ar e amusin g themselves i n th e evening s b y readin g throug h a pla y - s o a propos , tha t i f i t were no t s o i t woul d hav e ha d t o b e invented , t o pic k u p 'Enric o Persevalli ' i n 'The Theatre' . Th e leadin g spiri t Giuseppin o - a most appropriat e nam e fo r on e who lead s th e wa y i n exil e int o foreig n territory , whithe r hi s brother s wil l hav e to follo w - i s intelligent , ha s learn t goo d Germa n an d speak s wit h contemp t o f the peasant s o n Lak e Garda , whic h th e Lawrenc e wh o ha d bee n s o draw n t o them resents . Thi s moder n Italia n i s 'Quick , vivid , an d sharp' , intellectual , remembered a s a luminou s fac e - bu t Lawrenc e ca n hardl y remembe r th e thi n body, 'evanescent , lik e a shadow'. Th e other s for m a spectrum, bu t eve n th e on e who seem s stil l par t o f 'th e ol d tradition ' is , unlike I I Duro, 'curiousl y subjec t t o a ne w purpose , a s i f ther e wer e som e greate r ne w wil l tha t include d him , sensuous, mindles s a s h e was' . The y lov e Ital y passionatel y an d mis s th e sun , their bloo d an d sense s ar e stil l 'Italian' , th e mind s o f most (sav e Joseph) ar e 'no t developed', ye t the y wil l no t g o back , fo r ' a ne w tin y flower wa s strugglin g t o open i n them'. Lawrence , th e T wh o i s there les s as personality tha n t o represen t 'the North' , ha s ver y ambiguou s feeling s agai n abou t th e paradox : tha t jus t whe n the Nort h i s tryin g t o tur n it s bac k o n Christianit y an d becom e 'Dionysiac' , th e South i s tryin g t o brea k fre e i n th e othe r direction . H e canno t bu t admir e th e flame tha t burn s i n Giuseppin o th e anarchist , ye t h e know s wha t sufferin g lie s ahead, an d afte r hi s Norther n experienc e ca n fee l n o ros y illusio n abou t th e goal s
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of thi s rebe l agains t th e Father , an d new-fledge d discipl e o f th e Son . Moreover , afterwards, b y a kin d o f 'negativ e magnetism' , h e coul d no t bea r t o se e o r eve n think o f the m again , o r loo k a t th e anarchis t pape r the y gav e him . Indeed , 'th e moment m y memor y touche d them , m y whol e sou l stoppe d an d wa s nul l . . . I shrink involuntaril y away , I do no t kno w wh y thi s is. ' (Perhaps, i n 1915 , it migh t be becaus e o f peopl e lik e Russel l wh o thin k tha t al l ca n b e remedie d b y som e freedom an d socia l reconstruction ? An d als o th e knowledge , now , tha t th e pat h so allurin g t o Giuseppin o ha s led , i n th e North , t o th e Zeppeli n i n th e sky? ) But mostl y i t i s becaus e th e T i s o n a border , too , i n transi t i n th e opposit e direction. Realisatio n i s dawning , thoug h i t i s no t quit e clea r yet , tha t no w i s a time o f reverse magnetism , whe n opposite s g o apart, instinctivel y repelle d rathe r than attracte d b y eac h other . So 'Th e Retur n Journey ' sees , first , a n ironi c glimps e o f tw o Northerner s walking th e borderlan d i n som e attractio n t o 'th e South' , bu t unabl e i n differen t ways t o cross th e frontie r i n an y meaningfu l sense ; whil e Lawrenc e ha s crosse d back agai n fo r th e secon d time , onl y t o kno w beyon d questio n tha t wha t h e i s crossing fo r wil l b e les s an d les s t o b e found . Th e youn g Englishma n h e meets , on a walking tou r holiday , ha s drive n himsel f s o har d tha t h e i s 'sick wit h fatigu e and over-exhaustion' ; bu t th e lif e o f th e bod y an d th e bloo d i s no t t o b e ha d b y driving th e bod y t o it s limit s b y wil l power . Th e machin e man , tryin g t o becom e physical, onl y reveal s himsel f mor e clearl y b y treatin g hi s body a s though i t wer e a machine . And , 'onl y t o wal k alon g th e ridg e an d t o descen d o n th e sam e side ! My God , i t wa s killin g t o th e soul. ' O n th e othe r han d th e youn g Swis s wit h hi s great boots , hi s membershi p o f the Sportverein , an d hi s naive lookin g forwar d t o citizens' militar y service , thoug h physica l enoug h i n a n earnes t sor t o f way , i s also onl y o n holiday . H e crosse s onl y a littl e way , befor e makin g th e retur n journey, quickly , int o Germa n Switzerlan d again , ultimatel y a s neutra l an d circular a s the holidayin g Englishman , an d th e monks . Whereas Lawrence , goin g o n fro m th e borderlan d dow n th e ne w highwa y t o Milan, finds mor e an d mor e evidenc e o f disintegratio n int o a ne w Ital y whic h fills hi m wit h horro r 'a s i f th e whol e socia l for m wer e breakin g down , an d th e human elemen t swarme d withi n th e disintegration , lik e maggot s i n cheese' . However, whe n h e get s t o Mila n an d sit s i n th e cathedra l square , drinkin g bitte r Campari an d watchin g th e swar m o f th e ne w 'Italia n city-me n drin k an d tal k vivaciously', h e i s force d t o realise , a t last , tha t life, a t certai n time s an d season s of whic h thi s i s one , ma y consis t in disintegration , terribl e thoug h tha t seem s and howeve r th e balanc e o f hi s final sentence s ma y stil l trembl e toward s th e horror o f it. For onl y afte r disintegratio n an d darknes s ar e complete , h e no w believed , could ther e com e tha t othe r half-light , o f dawn .
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He wa s abou t t o tes t this , himself . A t th e en d o f Septembe r h e seeme d o n th e crest o f a wave : The Rainbow ou t o n th e 30th , hi s travel-boo k an d hi s essay s fo r Signature finished - bu t wha t followe d wa s a double disaster . The printin g bil l fo r Signature woul d b e £3 0 fo r si x issues , an d becaus e h e had regaine d hi s hop e o f finding 'associates ' an d makin g som e publi c impact , h e determined t o hol d meeting s a t whic h hi s idea s coul d b e discusse d afte r eac h publication day . S o h e hire d a roo m i n Fishe r Street , of f Re d Lio n Squar e between Holbor n an d Bloomsbury , an d spen t abou t £ 3 / 5 / 0 o n a second-han d carpet, a lon g tabl e an d som e chairs . Upward s o f 25 0 subscriber s a t half-a crown woul d b e require d i f the ventur e wa s t o brea k even . Moreove r th e ide a o f the meeting s wa s optimisti c t o sa y th e least , thoug h i t show s ho w strongl y Lawrence longe d no t t o b e s o isolated . H e ha d mad e a rea l effor t t o mak e hi s thought mor e transparent . Nevertheles s h e wa s definin g th e significanc e o f 191 5 in imagisti c an d theoreti c term s no t eas y t o gras p a t once , le t alon e becom e immediately activate d by . Also , th e kin d o f peopl e h e wante d t o reac h wer e no t necessarily th e kin d wh o woul d tur n ou t a t 8 p.m. o f an Octobe r nigh t t o a littl e room i n Fishe r Street . Neithe r Murr y no r Katherine , no r Ko t wh o ha d agree d to handle th e financial side , involved themselve s wit h th e meetings . By 2 2 September , despit e leaflet s an d letter s t o friend s ol d an d new , urgin g them t o approac h thei r friend s also , ther e wer e onl y 3 0 subscribers . B y 2 October, tw o day s befor e publicatio n day , th e subscriptio n lis t ha d reache d 'about £7' , i.e . 56 . Bu t perhap s th e first issu e migh t brin g more , an d th e first review o f The Rainbow i n th e Evening Standard th e da y afte r publicatio n o n 3 0 September, wa s favourable . Unknow n t o Lawrence , however , th e prospect s o f the nove l wer e darkening . Methuen' s wer e apprehensive , havin g ha d onl y 24 0 advance orders , an d fearin g - a s i t turne d ou t wit h goo d reaso n - tha t th e circulating librarie s woul d refus e it . O n 5 Octobe r wit h Signature abou t t o appear, Lawrenc e complaine d t o Pinker abou t th e charge s fo r hi s alterations, an d asked wha t th e librarie s wer e doin g (ii . 406) . Then disaster s cam e thic k an d fast . Th e first Signature mad e littl e i f an y impression o n autumna l London . Th e nex t da y Rober t Lyn d i n th e Daily News called The Rainbow ' a monotonou s wildernes s o f phallicism ' an d it s character s 'as lackin g i n th e inhibition s o f ordinar y civilise d lif e a s savages' . Lawrenc e wa s upset, an d wen t of f t o Acaci a Roa d t o find comfort , bu t go t none . A s Murry' s autobiography woul d explain , 'W e neithe r o f u s like d The Rainbow an d Katherine quit e definitel y hate d part s o f it' , especiall y Ann a dancin g naked , which sh e calle d '"female " - he r mos t damnin g adjective' . (Sh e ha d a mor e private reaso n fo r hatin g Ursula' s affai r wit h Winfre d Inger. ) Murry , fo r hi s par t
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'disliked i t o n instinct . Ther e wa s a warm , close , heav y promiscuit y o f fles h about i t whic h repelle d me. ' I n fact , hi s onl y differenc e fro m Lyn d wa s tha t h e 'happened t o b e friend s wit h Lawrence , an d Rober t Lyn d didn't 1 . * Nor di d their contribution s t o The Signature see m likel y t o increas e it s impact . Th e firs t of {Catherine' s (writin g a s 'Matild a Berry' ) wer e rathe r sligh t thoug h charmin g evocations o f childhood , th e produc t o f reminiscin g unde r th e pea r tre e i n Acacia Roa d wit h he r belove d brothe r Lesli e befor e h e lef t fo r th e trenche s o n the 4th . (He r thir d contribution , 'Th e Littl e Governess' , was howeve r a ver y different matter , an d wit h 'Th e Crown' , al l tha t ha s laste d o f th e venture. ) Murry's ongoin g 'Ther e Wa s a Littl e Man' , o n hi s feeling s abou t th e wa r an d personal freedom , wa s almost wholl y self-enclose d an d o f little interes t t o anyon e but himself . Thre e day s late r Katherine' s brother , teachin g hi s me n ho w t o throw a hand-grenade , ha d on e blo w u p i n hi s han d an d wa s killed . Katherin e was absolutel y devastate d whe n sh e ha d th e telegra m o n th e n t h - no t onl y incapable no w o f takin g an y interes t i n anythin g else , bu t soo n t o fee l tha t sh e could no t bea r Londo n an d Englan d an y longer , an d mus t leave . Lawrence's miser y woul d rapidl y increas e t o tha t poin t to o - thoug h fo r th e moment h e too k imaginativ e refug e i n th e worl d o f his Italia n sketche s (finishin g 'II Duro ' o n th e 8t h an d 'Italian s i n Exile ' o n th e 12th) . In ironi c contras t t o tha t animated meetin g wit h th e Italian s i n 1913 , th e Signature meetin g i n Fishe r Street o n th e n t h was a flo p - thoug h th e faithfu l Ko t ha d brough t coa l fo r a fire an d Fried a eve n helpe d prepar e th e room . Som e mor e subscription s trickle d in, bu t b y th e tim e th e secon d issu e cam e ou t o n th e 18th , i t wa s clea r tha t th e break-even targe t woul d neve r b e reached . The y decide d t o cu t thei r losses : there woul d b e onl y on e mor e issu e o n 1 Novembe r (s o th e fourth , fift h an d sixth essay s o f 'Th e Crown ' woul d remai n unpublished) ; an d on e mor e meetin g at Fishe r Stree t o n th e 24th , thoug h onl y becaus e h e ha d no t give n notic e i n time t o cancel . So , i n fiasco , ende d hi s hope s o f findin g soul-allie s fo r hi s revolution, throug h 'preaching ' hi s idea s directly . He too k hi s failur e ver y har d indeed . Announcin g th e cancellation s t o Kot , h e declared: 'M y sou l i s tor n ou t o f m e now : I can' t sto p her e an y longe r an d acquiesce i n thi s whic h i s th e spiri t now : I woul d rathe r die ' (ii . 413) . H e bega n to thin k abou t goin g t o America . H e ha d investe d mor e tha n anybod y aroun d him realize d i n th e twi n belie f tha t ther e was, in th e soul s o f a sizable numbe r o f English people , a subterranean longin g fo r a new world , an d tha t hi s word s coul d provide th e impetu s t o releas e powerfu l hidde n energie s fo r change . I t wa s a devastating blo w t o discove r tha t hi s preachment s ha d prove d s o apparentl y irrelevant t o people' s concern s i n 1915 . Havin g bee n immerse d i n a n isolate d world o f imaginative struggl e a t Greatha m ha d kep t hi m t o som e exten t unawar e how ill-aligne d h e was wit h th e spiri t o f tha t year : th e mesmerisin g ba d new s from th e front , th e mountin g casualtie s affectin g famil y afte r family , th e 276
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wounded pourin g i n throug h th e Londo n terminals , th e Zeppeli n raids , th e sense (fo r thos e a t home ) o f bein g subjec t t o force s ove r whic h on e ha d n o control, takin g awa y one' s love d one s an d (i f on e was lucky ) returnin g the m a t intervals tacitur n an d changed , th e awarenes s no t o f the psychologica l corruptio n Lawrence talke d abou t (tru e thoug h tha t migh t b e dee p down) , but o f mountin g and ver y concret e nationa l crisis . Cynthi a Asquith , fo r example , on e o f hi s greatest admirers , ha d littl e roo m fo r sympath y fo r hi m jus t now , thoug h sh e knew h e wa s 'sore ' abou t Signature. He r belove d brothe r Yv o Charteri s was killed a t Loos on th e 19th , after onl y thre e week s in France . Writing i n sympath y two day s later , Lawrenc e coul d ye t no t sto p himsel f fro m insistin g tha t 'th e whole spiri t whic h w e now maintai n . . . i s wrong, so awfull y wrong , tha t i t i s lik e a grea t consumin g fire' (ii . 414) , s o h e ha d t o ge t away , rathe r tha n acquiesce , though 'Englishnes s i s m y ver y vision ' (ii . 414) . Bu t he r diar y ha s n o spac e fo r this letter , wholl y take n u p a s it is with ho w Yvo' s deat h ha s 'emptie d th e future' , and wit h Katharin e Asquith' s agon y over Raymon d leavin g fo r th e front.' 7 By 1 8 October, moreover , Methue n kne w tha t The Rainbow was ' a dangerou s fiasco' sinc e non e o f th e bi g librarie s o r bookstall s 'woul d touc h it ' becaus e o f 'the author' s obstinat e refusa l t o mak e th e necessar y alterations' . 8 The y woul d refuse hi s nex t boo k i f i t wer e s o outspoken . Bu t fro m th e 22n d th e pac e o f disaster quickene d beyon d al l foreseeing. James Dougla s no t onl y denounce d th e novel i n th e Star - 'Thes e peopl e ar e no t huma n beings . They ar e creature s wh o are immeasurabl y lowe r tha n th e lowes t anima l i n th e Zoo ' - bu t calle d fo r prosecution. Whe n art , Dougla s fumed , refuse s t o 'confor m t o th e ordere d law s that gover n huma n societ y . . . i t mus t pa y th e penalty . Th e sanitar y inspecto r o f literature mus t notify i t an d cal l fo r it s isolation . Th e win d o f wa r i s sweepin g over ou r lif e . . . A thin g lik e The Rainbow ha s n o righ t t o exis t i n th e win d o f war.' Th e nex t day , Clemen t Shorte r i n th e Sphere concede d tha t th e boo k ha d been writte n 'fro m artisti c impulses' , an d h e ha d reservation s abou t literar y censorship, bu t h e to o judge d tha t 'Ther e i s n o for m o f viciousness , o f suggestiveness, tha t i s no t reflecte d i n thes e pages. ' Hi s suggestio n that , afte r this, n o write r wh o wa s als o a n artis t nee d fea r prosecution , woul d als o hav e rung alarm s i n officia l ears . H e foun d 'n o justificatio n whateve r fo r th e perpetration o f such a book'. O n 2 6 October, i f Lawrence fel t an y elatio n abou t sending th e complet e manuscrip t o f his travel-boo k t o Pinker , i t mus t hav e bee n dampened b y als o havin g t o writ e t o Els e abou t th e deat h o f littl e Peter , he r so n by Ott o Gros s (ii . 415-16) . Aroun d th e 28th , Methue n quietl y remove d The Rainbow fro m thei r advertisements , whic h W . L . Georg e spotted , an d tele phoned Methue n t o find ou t wha t wa s goin g o n (ii . 440) . B y 5 Novembe r th e police wer e makin g thei r secon d visi t t o Methuen , t o complet e a confiscation o f all unsol d copie s an d unboun d sheet s unde r th e Obscen e Publication s Ac t o f 1857 - wit h th e publisher' s ful l co-operation . (Onl y the n di d Lawrenc e hea r th e 277
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full exten t o f th e trouble. ) Methue n als o bega n voluntaril y t o recal l copie s tha t had alread y gon e ou t t o bookshops . The y see m t o hav e though t tha t th e hearin g before a magistrate , whic h wa s schedule d fo r 1 3 November , t o determin e whether th e boo k shoul d b e destroyed , woul d b e a formality no t hear d i n publi c court, an d di d no t instruc t counse l - bu t the y wer e mistaken . Th e la w di d no t require th e autho r t o b e informed , o r represente d i n an y wa y - an d Methue n made n o attemp t a t an y tim e t o communicat e wit h Lawrence . Pinke r late r testified tha t the y ha d no t onl y take n 'n o step s whateve r t o defen d th e boo k o r t o protect th e author' s interest ' bu t ha d als o trie d t o discourag e anyon e els e fro m doing so. 100 Lawrence thought , afterwards , tha t th e prosecutio n wa s 'instigate d b y th e National Purit y League , D r Horto n an d Co , nonconformity ' (ii . 477) , presum ably by complaint t o the polic e and th e Home Office , bu t ther e i s no confirmatio n of this . I t ha s als o bee n suggeste d tha t ther e migh t hav e bee n a politica l motive , after th e polic e enquirie s i n 1914 , Ford' s visi t t o Greatha m an d perhap s Lawrence's associatio n wit h Russel l wh o wa s rapidl y becomin g a nuisanc e i n Government eyes . A Hom e Offic e minut e o f 193 0 state s tha t th e proceeding s were initiate d b y th e Directo r o f Publi c Prosecution s himself , an d th e chose n prosecutor, Herber t Muskett , ofte n handle d importan t cases , s o th e personne l might see m rathe r powerfu l fo r a cas e o f mer e literar y obscenity . Moreove r a note o n th e Hom e Offic e memorandu m prepare d afte r th e tria l fo r th e Hom e Secretary (t o hel p hi m answe r a writte n parliamentar y questio n b y Phili p Morrell) ha s a note of a file number 'A s t o a Mrs Weekley , livin g at address o f D . H. Lawrence ' whic h ha s been take n t o refer t o an Intelligenc e file. However th e evidenc e i s somewha t shaky , quit e apar t fro m Ford' s unrelia bility. Th e not e abou t th e file - whic h i s in re d ink , an d ma y b e muc h late r tha n the memorandu m - als o make s i t likel y tha t i t originate d befor e Frieda' s marriage t o Lawrence , an d henc e before the war , an d ma y hav e ha d t o d o wit h a passport. I t i s tru e tha t som e quit e well-know n peopl e ha d bee n approache d about Signature, an d Cynthi a admit s t o havin g bee n tease d abou t The Rainbow within th e Prim e Minister' s family , s o there ma y hav e bee n tal k abou t bot h a t hi s dinner table . Th e Germa n nam e i n th e novel' s dedication , togethe r wit h th e signs o f hostilit y t o soldierl y patriotis m an d imperialis m i n Ursula' s denuncia tions o f Skrebensky , migh t hav e give n offenc e i n thos e dar k day s o f th e war . O n the othe r hand , th e prosecutio n need s n o mor e explanatio n tha n th e reviews , which wer e cite d i n court ; an d indee d th e Hom e Offic e considere d prosecutin g the nove l again, afte r Lawrence' s death , whe n onl y it s 'obscenity ' coul d hav e been a t issue. 1 2 It remain s possibl e tha t th e journalisti c demand s fo r prosecutio n were see n a s a n opportunit y t o discredi t a n autho r whos e oppositio n t o th e wa r might becom e a nuisance - bu t th e evidenc e i s fa r fro m conclusive , an d th e fat e of Signature soo n demonstrate d ho w littl e o f a threat h e was. 278
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Meanwhile a t th e en d o f October , sufferin g fro m th e review s bu t stil l i n ignorance o f wha t was brewing , Lawrenc e applie d fo r passport s fo r America , though ther e to o The Rainbow wa s causin g concern . Georg e H . Doran , wh o ha d accepted th e boo k o n Pinker' s recommendation , too k frigh t whe n h e receive d it . He though t abou t alterations , bu t the n telegraphe d hi s decisio n no t t o g o ahead , though h e softene d th e blo w b y finding another , smalle r publisher , Benjami n Huebsch, wh o wa s prepared t o risk i t (ii. 419 n. 2 ; 420 n. 2) . Lawrence wondere d whether t o publis h i n Americ a a t all , an d suspecte d Huebsch' s motives : 'I s h e somebody disreputable , o r what? ' (ii . 426) . I t wa s terribl e enoug h tha t th e wor k of religiou s imaginatio n whic h ha d cos t tw o an d a hal f year s o f struggl e shoul d be accuse d o f obscenity ; bu t i t woul d b e wors e t o hav e tha t becom e th e reaso n for publishing . Fortunatel y Huebsc h woul d tur n ou t t o b e liberal , courageou s and als o creativel y devious . (Admirin g report s fro m th e tw o quit e formidabl e 'readers' h e chos e t o advis e hi m sugges t tha t The Rainbow migh t ge t a hearing i n America tha t wa s bein g denie d i t i n England , thoug h ala s n o wor d o f thi s reached Lawrenc e now.) 1 3 He too k refug e i n imagination . O n 2 8 Octobe r h e lunche d wit h Cynthi a an d Beb an d despit e hi s trouble s 'wa s i n excellen t form , reall y delightful ' — s o tha t she foun d i t difficul t t o believ e tha t h e wa s th e ma n wh o ha d writte n The Rainbow, tha t 'strange , bewildering , disturbin g book' . Tw o day s late r h e sen t her a stor y containin g a 'word-sketch ' o f he r (ii . 420 , 418) . I n 'Th e Thimble ' a 27-year-old wif e await s th e homecomin g o f a husban d whos e fac e ha s bee n mutilated b y shrapnel . Fo r al l her fashionabl e beaut y an d high-bre d stoicis m sh e is terribl y nervous : sh e ha s realise d tha t th e ma n sh e married , i n lov e wit h hi s glamour a s a soldier , doe s no t exist , an d tha t sh e ha s n o ide a o f wha t th e unknown 'he ' sh e i s waitin g fo r i s like , especiall y afte r wha t ha s happened . Nervously feelin g dow n th e side s o f a sof a bough t i n a great-hous e sale , he r fingers brin g u p a heav y jewelle d thimble , belongin g t o som e dea d aristocrat . When he r husban d arrives , an d sh e see s ho w h e ha s hovere d betwee n lif e an d death, bot h com e t o realis e tha t the y hav e alread y die d t o thei r ol d selve s an d ar e as helples s a s th e new-bor n t o fac e thei r futur e - an d ye t tha t the y mus t tr y t o love. I s 'resurrection ' possible ? Th e first ste p i s t o thro w th e thimbl e ou t o f th e window, symbo l o f th e dea d past . Cynthi a di d no t understan d th e symbolism , and insiste d tha t 'larg e feet ' ha d bee n 'gratuitousl y pu t in' ; bu t though t 'som e o f his characte r hint s ar e damnabl y good' . (Indee d Be b woul d hav e flinche d a t one o r tw o sentence s whic h agai n alig n th e husban d wit h Evely n i n 'England , My England'. ) Bu t severa l o f th e circumstance s ar e quit e differen t fro m th e Asquiths', an d onc e agai n Lawrence' s concer n wa s no t wit h portraitur e but , a s he tol d Cynthia , wit h resurrection : 'Th e fac t o f resurrectio n i s everything , now : whether w e dea d ca n ris e fro m th e dead , an d love , an d live , i n a ne w life , here ' (ii. 420) . (H e ha d als o writte n hi s poe m 'Resurrection ' i n October. ) Thre e day s 279
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later, 2 November , h e sen t he r a cop y o f th e poe m 'Th e Turnin g Back' , filled with th e sens e o f th e innumerabl e ghost s o f th e slai n tha t h e ha d picture d i n th e mist tha t da y i n Bognor . Th e slaughte r ha s gon e to o fa r - th e thing s fough t for , 'goods, an d home s an d land' , eve n survival , n o longe r matter . Wha t supremel y matters i s tha t th e livin g shoul d 'tak e ou r ghost s int o ou r hearts' , 'le t th e weapons sli p fro m ou t ou r hands ' an d see k t o lov e again . For we have gone too far, oh much too far Towards the darkness and the shadow of death; Let us turn back, lest we should all be lost Let us go back, the only way is love. (ii. 423) When Cynthi a objecte d tha t thi s seeme d a n unpatrioti c cal l t o 'dow n tools ' a t a time o f nationa l crisis , an d insiste d tha t i t wa s possibl e stil l t o lov e an d b e complete o n th e persona l leve l eve n i n th e mids t o f war , h e insiste d th e revers e was true . Wa r come s fro m a spirit o f disintegration whic h wil l inevitabl y atomis e people int o singl e entitie s - wherea s lov e i s a spiri t o f creatio n 'makin g a n integral unit y ou t o f man y disintegrate d factors' . H e woul d hav e t o leav e England becaus e h e wa s fo r lov e an d anti-war ; s o ' I ca n neve r agre e t o th e complete disintegration , neve r stan d witnes s t o it , never.' Bette r anything , eve n a German victory , tha n tha t th e 'quick ' o f th e livin g organis m o f Europ e perish , for 'Ther e ar e unreveale d bud s whic h ca n com e forwar d int o anothe r epoc h o f civilisation, i f only w e can she d thi s dea d for m an d b e stron g i n th e spiri t o f lov e and creation ' (ii . 424-5) . On 5 Novembe r h e hear d tha t The Rainbow was bein g suppressed . ' I a m no t very muc h moved' , h e tol d Pinke r (th e nex t day) , 'a m beyon d tha t b y now . I only curs e the m all , bod y an d soul , root , branc h an d leaf , t o eterna l damnation ' (ii. 429) . It was , apart fro m embarkin g o n th e Osten d ferr y wit h Frieda , th e mos t determining momen t o f hi s lif e s o fa r - an d a s sometime s happen s whe n everything become s ver y clear , h e ma y hav e bee n calme r tha n migh t hav e bee n expected - thoug h th e sickenin g impac t o f th e new s i s unimaginable . Thei r passports ha d arrived . H e woul d g o to America, i n 'abou t a fortnight' . The evenin g h e hear d th e new s - o f al l evening s - the y ha d accepte d a n invitation t o th e studi o o f a young painter , a frien d o f Gertler' s fro m th e Slade , the Hon . Doroth y Brett , who m Gertle r ha d introduce d t o Byro n Villa s no t lon g before. Sh e gav e Gertle r an d Carrington , th e Lawrences , th e Murry s an d Ko t supper, an d the y wer e bus y playin g charade s whe n a whol e part y o f gate crashers burs t in . Among the m wa s Lytton Strache y wit h hi s dinner host s th e S t John Hutchinsons , Cliv e Bel l (whos e mistres s Mar y Hutchinso n was ) an d Iri s Tree. Th e whol e atmospher e o f the part y changed , an d a s Brett doggedl y playe d 280
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the pianol a fo r dancing , becam e steadil y mor e drunke n - endin g wit h Murr y quite incapable . Acros s th e room , Strache y watche d a s Frieda dance d wit h Clive : I was surprised t o find that I liked he r look s very much - sh e actually seemed (there' s no other word fo r it ) a lady: as for hi m I've rarely seen anyone so pathetic, miserable, ill, and obviously devoure d b y interna l distresses . H e behave d t o everyon e wit h th e greates t cordiality, but I notice d fo r a second a look o f intens e disgus t an d hatre d flas h int o hi s face ... cause d by - ah ! - whom . 7 Neither Bret t no r Strache y wer e awar e tha t h e ha d jus t hear d abou t th e polic e a t Methuen. Meanwhil e Ottolin e offere d refug e i n Garsington , wher e (withou t Frieda) h e foun d a preciou s interva l o f peac e fro m 8 t o 1 1 November. Sh e ma y have expecte d rage , bu t h e onl y wante d quiet . H e helpe d plan t irise s b y th e ponds, an d drov e wit h he r int o Oxfor d t o loo k a t th e college s an d th e Ashmolean. H e though t briefl y abou t rallyin g support , bu t mostl y h e wante d t o emigrate - fo r h e coul d hardl y bear , i n thes e lovel y ol d places , th e though t o f England an d th e 2,00 0 year s o f civilisation behin d i t tha t wa s 'no w collapsin g . . . So muc h beaut y an d patho s o f ol d thing s passin g awa y an d n o ne w thing s coming . . . m y God , i t break s m y sou l -' (ii . 431) . H e tol d Eddi e Mars h tha t h e felt 's o sick , i n bod y an d soul , tha t i f I don' t g o away I shal l die' , an d aske d fo r a loan t o hel p hi m ge t t o Florida , wher e h e though t h e coul d borro w somewher e to liv e fro m a frien d o f Dolli e Radfor d (ii . 429) . Mars h sen t £20 , t o ad d t o th e £40 whic h wa s al l tha t remaine d o f th e Methue n advance ; an d Ottolin e woul d add anothe r £3 0 befor e long. 108 On 1 3 November i n th e Bo w Stree t Court , th e Prosecuto r an d th e Magistrat e held th e floor unopposed , an d Methue n ha d thei r rewar d fo r co-operating . Muskett calle d the m ' a publishin g hous e o f ol d standin g an d th e highes t repute ' who ha d behave d 'wit h th e strictes t propriety ' - thoug h i t wa s difficul t t o se e how the y ha d len t thei r 'grea t name ' t o suc h a work . Th e Magistrate , Si r Joh n Dickinson, followe d sui t almos t exactly . Methue n too k thei r cu e an d apologised ; their representativ e claimin g tha t the y ha d twic e acte d decisivel y t o ge t th e author t o chang e certai n passages , whe n the y first receive d th e manuscrip t an d when the y go t i t back , bu t admittin g tha t the y ha d perhap s bee n unwis e i n no t scrutinising th e final versio n mor e closely . Thoug h i t was quit e clea r tha t th e prosecution woul d b e unopposed , bot h Si r John an d Musket t (wh o sai d h e ha d consulted th e Directo r o f Public Prosecutions ) wen t ou t o f thei r wa y t o execrat e the novel , whic h migh t sugges t a determinatio n t o discredi t th e absen t author , known t o b e oppose d t o th e war . (Si r John ha d los t hi s onl y so n a t th e fron t si x weeks before. ) Th e tw o mos t hostil e review s wer e rea d ou t i n court . Musket t called th e nove l ' a mas s o f obscenit y o f thought , idea , an d actio n throughout , wrapped u p i n languag e whic h h e suppose d woul d b e regarde d i n som e quarter s as an artisti c and intellectua l effort' . Si r John, havin g tartl y calle d attentio n t o th e 281
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chapter 'Shame ' - t o th e discomfitur e o f Methuen' s ma n wh o ha d sai d tha t though h e foun d i t 'disgraceful ' now , tw o colleague s ha d no t see n anythin g wrong - wen t o n t o declar e tha t 'h e ha d neve r rea d anythin g mor e disgustin g than thi s boo k . . . I t wa s appallin g t o thin k o f th e har m tha t suc h a boo k migh t have done . I t was utter filth , nothin g els e would describ e it. ' H e impose d n o fine , but mad e th e orde r fo r th e destructio n o f all th e copie s an d sheet s tha t ha d bee n confiscated, an d awarde d cost s (1 0 guineas) agains t th e publishers . Such was England's officia l verdic t o n on e o f the grea t novel s o f the language . It woul d no t b e available i n Britai n agai n fo r anothe r eleve n years . It i s impossibl e t o exaggerat e th e effec t o f thi s o n Lawrence . H e ha d bee n mad e to fee l a contemptible alie n i n hi s homeland . H e ha d los t hi s audience . 'I t i s th e end o f my writin g fo r England' , h e tol d Pinke r whe n th e polic e raide d Methuen , 'I wil l tr y t o chang e m y public ' (ii . 429) . Th e report s o f th e tria l ca n onl y hav e strengthened thes e feelings , a thousandfold . He prepare d no w t o sai l t o Americ a fro m Liverpoo l o n 2 4 Novembe r o n th e White Sta r line r Adriatic. 1 Byron Villa s wa s pu t u p t o let . O n th e 15t h h e wrot e to be g Russel l t o com e an d se e hi m befor e the y left , despit e thei r quarre l (ii. 436) , an d urge d Cynthi a i n a 'partin g letter ' th e nex t da y t o ge t t o kno w Lady Ottoline , an d t o tr y t o 'ge t th e intrinsic realit y clear ' withi n he r ow n sou l (ii. 437) . Sh e wa s t o remembe r tha t h e an d Fried a woul d alway s stan d b y her , a s she shoul d stan d b y them . Mayb e sh e an d Be b woul d com e t o Americ a eventually, too . Perhaps, ove r there , wa s some hope fo r th e future .
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Our live s hav e bee n al l autumnal an d wintry . No w i t is mid-winter. Bu t w e are stron g enoug h t o giv e way , to pas s away , and t o be born again . (ii. 481-2 )
I Interna l Exil e By 1 6 November 1915 , Lawrence wa s firml y plannin g t o leav e Londo n withi n a week, t o sa y good-by e t o hi s sister s a t Ripley . Fro m there , h e an d Fried a woul d go to Liverpoo l an d boar d a liner o n th e 24t h fo r Ne w Yor k (ii . 435) . This was a turning-point whic h migh t hav e mad e hi s lif e ver y different , i f h e ha d gon e but h e di d not , an d th e reason s wer e ver y characteristic . Though h e longe d abov e al l no w t o ge t awa y - i f als o dreadin g it , knowin g that emigratio n woul d mea n 'changin g th e lan d o f m y sou l a s wel l a s m y mer e domicile' (ii . 428 ) - ther e wa s als o a stubbor n impuls e no t t o g o befor e puttin g up a fight. W . L . Georg e ha d aske d th e Incorporate d Societ y o f Authors , Playwrights an d Composer s t o tak e u p th e cas e o f The Rainbow, an d o n 11 Novembe r Lawrenc e ha d replie d t o thei r enquir y an d aske d fo r membership . Two day s later , th e da y o f th e trial , i t seeme d possibl e tha t Pinke r migh t persuade a numbe r o f writers , d e l a Mare , Forster , Murry , J . D . Beresford , Hugh Walpol e an d Gilber t Cannan , t o writ e a letter t o th e paper s i n hi s suppor t (ii. 435) . Pinke r ma y als o hav e tol d hi m tha t Cliv e Bel l ha d wante d t o d o something. Bel l an d Lytto n Strachey , probabl y unbeknow n t o Lawrence , ha d tried t o persuad e J . C . Squire , literar y edito r o f th e New Statesman: tha t som e protest shoul d b e mad e a t a n obviou s injustice , irrespectiv e o f whethe r the y personally admire d th e boo k o r not . (Instead , Squir e wrot e a hostil e review. ) Lawrence ha d me t Bell , and 'rather ' like d hi m (ii . 435). In fact , no t a singl e well-know n write r stoo d u p fo r The Rainbow an d it s author i n publi c - wit h th e honourabl e exceptio n o f Arnol d Bennett , som e weeks later . Lesse r figures wh o trie d t o d o s o wer e punishe d o r silence d b y newspaper editor s anxiou s no t t o b e see n breakin g rank s o n suc h a n issue , o r a t such a time . Catherin e Carswell , wh o ha d writte n a largel y admirin g bu t b y n o means uncritica l revie w fo r th e Glasgow Herald o n 4 November , wa s sacke d fo r it. A perceptive notic e b y Herber t Watso n fo r th e Daily Telegraph was first hel d 285
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over, t o awai t th e resul t o f th e cour t case , an d the n suppresse d - an d ha s onl y recently com e t o light . No t onl y ha d officia l Englan d mad e u p it s min d an d carried ou t it s 'justice' , bu t ther e woul d b e n o protes t i n it s press . Moreove r th e Murrys, wh o Lawrenc e though t o f as (with Kot ) hi s closes t friends , wer e copin g with Katherine' s ow n traged y an d understandabl y ha d littl e sympath y t o spare . They ha d decide d t o leav e fo r th e sout h o f France, an d b y 1 8 November wer e i n Marseilles. (Ko t too k ove r th e leas e o f 5 Acaci a Road , wit h hi s friend s th e Farbmans.) Lawrence's 'horribl e feelin g o f hopelessness ' (ii . 433 ) was justified , ye t i t would hav e bee n mos t unlik e hi m t o giv e i n t o i t altogether , an d hi s feeling s began t o change . O n 1 6 Novembe r h e seeme d determine d t o shak e th e dus t o f England fro m hi s shoe s a s soo n a s possible . Th e nex t da y h e bega n t o thin k tha t after al l h e ough t perhap s t o sta y awhil e an d pu t u p a fight first, thoug h h e di d not reall y wan t t o (e.g . ii. 439) . Something ha d give n hi m fres h hope . B y th e en d of th e month , thoug h h e stil l fel t heartbroke n an d stil l intende d t o g o t o Florid a before long , h e wa s tryin g har d t o fight bac k first. The n mos t ironically , a fortnight later , h e foun d h e coul d no t brin g himsel f t o compl y wit h ne w officia l requirements fo r leavin g th e country , an d woul d hav e t o sta y i n Englan d anywa y - a n exil e and alie n i n hi s own land , rather tha n abroad . The chang e o f min d b y th e 17t h ha d severa l causes . H e hear d fro m Pinke r that da y tha t th e Committe e o f th e Authors ' Societ y ha d agree d t o conside r hi s case, an d ha d aske d fo r ful l informatio n o n th e action s o f th e publishe r an d 'whether th e autho r ha d th e opportunit y o f bein g heard' . I f nobod y woul d support th e boo k itself , perhap s a cas e coul d b e mad e agains t th e injustic e tha t had condemne d i t withou t givin g it s autho r a chanc e t o defen d himself . Moreover Phili p Morrel l no w propose d t o rais e precisel y tha t questio n i n th e House o f Commons . O n th e 17th , b y happenstance , th e Prim e Minister' s wif e had len t Cynthi a a ca r i n whic h sh e wen t of f t o visi t th e Lawrence s i n Hampstead. A telegra m arrive d fro m Morrel l askin g Lawrenc e t o com e t o se e him i n th e Hous e a s soo n a s possible , s o Cynthi a too k hi m t o Westminster . Th e next da y th e Libera l M.P . aske d th e Home Secretar y a t question tim e whether hi s attentio n ha s bee n calle d t o th e proceeding s recentl y institute d b y th e Commissioner o f Police fo r th e suppressio n o f a book b y Mr . D . H . Lawrence , entitle d 'The Rainbow' ; whethe r th e polic e wer e actin g with th e knowledg e an d authorit y o f the Home Office; an d whethe r th e author of the book had any opportunity o f replying to the charge made against him? To whic h Si r Joh n Simo n replie d tha t th e actio n ha d bee n 'take n b y th e polic e in pursuanc e o f thei r ordinar y duty ' fo r whic h 'Hom e Offic e authorisatio n i s no t required'. 'Th e publishers , an d no t th e author , wer e th e defendants ' an d ha d been give n 'th e customar y opportunit y t o produc e suc h evidenc e a s the y 286
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considered necessar y i n thei r defence' . Morrel l the n gav e notic e o f a writte n question, concentratin g o n th e injustic e t o th e author , t o whic h th e Hom e Secretary woul d hav e t o reply o n 1 December. Though h e stil l wishe d t o leave , Lawrence no w fel t h e ough t t o sta y t o se e th e outcome, bot h i n th e Authors ' Societ y an d i n th e Commons . Supportiv e letter s began t o arriv e i n th e aftermat h o f th e trial . Unfortunatel y h e neve r kep t correspondence s o ther e i s n o knowin g th e exten t o f thi s privat e support , bu t letters cam e no t onl y fro m ol d friend s lik e Constanc e Garnet t (ii . 441 ; Edwar d was away) , bu t als o fro m stranger s suc h a s Olive r Lodge , eminen t scientis t an d Principal o f th e Universit y o f Birmingha m (ii . 440) . Th e novelis t Ma y Sinclai r seems als o t o hav e written . H e bega n t o wonde r whethe r H . G . Wells , Henr y James an d Arnol d Bennet t migh t b e willin g t o speak fo r him . He ha d als o got t o know mor e peopl e i n Londo n tha n happe n t o be mentione d in hi s letters , an d man y ne w o r newis h friend s ma y hav e bee n quit e strongl y supportive. I t i s onl y b y chance , fo r example , tha t w e kno w abou t Herber t Watson, ove r whos e deat h i n th e trenches , later , Lawrenc e woul d expres s hitherto inexplicabl e grie f (iii . 101); 6 an d thoug h th e letter s sho w tha t i n lat e September h e recommende d t o Mars h an d Harrie t Monro e th e poem s o f 'Ann a Wickham' (ii . 400—1) , this hardl y suggest s th e degre e o f friendshi p reveale d i n a little-known essa y b y Ann a Hepbur n (he r rea l name) , writte n afte r hi s death . H e probably me t he r i n 191 4 throug h Bunn y Garnet t wh o ha d a n affai r wit h he r but sh e mus t hav e bee n quit e ofte n i n Byro n Villas , wher e sh e fel t thei r 'communion wa s profoun d an d exceedingl y serious' , an d b y n o mean s one sided, sinc e h e 'no t onl y le t m e tal k bu t appeare d intereste d i n wha t I said' . Sh e drew a distinctio n betwee n th e ma n an d hi s ideas , particularl y abou t women , who (sh e charged ) h e confine d t o thei r sexuality ; an d sh e wa s amuse d b y th e 'burlesque' o f his attempt s t o subdu e Frieda . Sh e fel t fo r th e 'caritas ' rathe r tha n the Boar d Schoo l teache r i n him ; bu t h e clearl y ha d becom e a war m frien d o f this handsome , big , dark , gypsyis h woma n an d passionat e feminist , s o muc h s o that 'M y nerve s remembe r him , and , perhap s a s he woul d hav e it , also m y blood . After sixtee n year s i t i s a s i f h e ha d jus t gon e ou t o f th e room. ' S o stron g a libertarian woul d hav e lef t hi m i n n o doub t o f he r suppor t ove r wha t ha d bee n done t o him an d hi s novel. 7 H e ha d als o bee n sough t ou t (an d amused ) b y Hug h Meredith, on e o f Forster' s greates t friends , Professo r o f Economic s a t Queen' s University Belfas t an d a poet wh o nevertheles s denounce d al l language, an d wh o claimed t o be goin g ma d bu t too k i t remarkabl y humorously . Th e lette r tha t first mentions Meredith , als o mention s Lawrence' s likin g fo r H . J . Massingham , a n acquaintanceship o f whic h w e kno w almos t nothing , an d tha t h e i s abou t t o meet Bernar d Sha w an d A . J. Balfou r (no w Firs t Lor d o f the Admiralty) , thoug h of suc h a meeting ther e i s n o record . Thoug h w e kno w s o muc h o f Lawrence' s daily life , ther e ar e man y gaps . H e kne w Zinaid a Vengerov a (Russia n feminist , 287
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and frien d o f Constance Garnet t an d o f Kot) wel l enoug h t o entrus t he r wit h hi s own se t o f th e proof s o f The Rainbow, i n th e hop e tha t sh e coul d organis e a Russian translation ; bu t o f thei r acquaintanc e w e kno w nothing . Ver e Bischoff Collins o f th e Educationa l Divisio n o f Oxfor d Universit y Pres s wrot e i n suppor t and offere d refug e no t onl y the n bu t (valuably ) late r a s well . } When Lawrenc e speaks o f 'letter s fro m a lo t o f people ' (ii . 440 ) abou t The Rainbow, therefore , there ma y hav e bee n a degre e o f privat e suppor t i n welcom e contras t wit h th e lack o f any i n public , other tha n Phili p MorrelPs . These wer e peopl e o f an ag e wit h Lawrenc e o r older , bu t th e mos t heartenin g phenomenon o f all , i n mid-November , wa s th e rallyin g t o hi m o f a numbe r o f young peopl e i n thei r earl y twenties . O n 1 6 Novembe r h e me t Phili p Heseltine, 11 a 21-year-old ex-Etonia n wh o ha d developed , whil e stil l a t school , a promising musica l talen t an d a precocious devotio n t o th e wor k o f th e compose r Frederick Delius . Afte r a yea r a t Chris t Church , Oxford , Heseltin e ha d persuaded hi s mothe r (wh o gav e hi m a smal l privat e income ) t o allo w hi m t o leave and stud y a t th e Universit y o f London instead , bu t h e was uncertai n o f hi s direction an d sur e onl y o f hi s interes t i n musi c - a s agains t th e mor e worldl y kind o f caree r tha t woul d pleas e hi s mothe r an d stepfather . H e ha d a flat i n Rossetti Mansions , Chelsea , an d ha d begu n t o frequen t th e Caf e Roya l an d mingle wit h it s arty an d bohemia n regulars . (I t ma y hav e bee n eithe r throug h hi s anthropologist frien d Bori s d e Croustchof f o r th e sculpto r Jacob Epstei n tha t h e acquired a n Africa n carving , whic h proclaimed , i n anothe r way , hi s belongin g t o an avant-garde. ) Hi s Oxfor d frien d Rober t Nichol s ha d introduce d hi m t o Lawrence's wor k i n 1914 , an d fo r i t h e develope d anothe r o f hi s intens e enthusiasms. I n Octobe r 191 4 h e wrot e Deliu s tha t th e firs t thre e novel s wer e 'simply unrivale d [sic] , i n dept h o f insigh t an d beaut y o f language , b y an y othe r contemporary writer' ; an d h e tol d Nichol s 'n o moder n pros e style ' wa s 's o perfect' a s Lawrence' s i n Sons and Lovers. I t i s unclea r ho w h e cam e t o mee t Lawrence now , bu t i t wa s probabl y throug h writin g t o denounc e th e suppres sion o f wha t h e assure d Deliu s wa s ' a perfectl y magnificen t book' . Int o th e meeting woul d hav e gon e no t onl y th e youn g man' s enthusias m fo r th e work , but als o hi s rebelliou s feeling s abou t th e hypocris y an d injustic e o f th e olde r generation, confronte d wit h manifes t genius . As i t happened , th e 22-year-ol d Nichols 13 wa s the n i n th e Lor d Knutsfor d Hospital fo r Officers , sufferin g fro m wha t wa s no t ye t recognise d a s shell-shock . He to o mus t hav e writte n t o Lawrenc e wh o visite d hi m ther e and , discoverin g that Nichol s wrot e poetry , aske d t o rea d some . Delighte d t o find h e coul d admire it , h e promise d t o hel p wit h publication . 'Yo u ar e a poet, m y dea r fellow : I a m so glad: the first I have found : th e future ' (ii . 444) . With suc h arden t youn g adherents, Lawrenc e rapidl y recovere d th e fait h i n th e futur e tha t h e coul d never quit e lose . H e wante d ver y muc h t o believ e tha t ther e wa s a life-forc e i n 288
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people whic h hi s word s coul d liberate ; an d thoug h hi s elder s an d mos t contemporaries ha d prove d to o hardened i n 'corruption ' t o listen , an d ha d fel t s o threatened b y hi s wor k tha t the y ha d bande d togethe r t o destro y it , her e seeme d proof tha t Ranani m wa s stil l possibl e wit h a younge r group . Immediatel y th e dream revived . Moreover th e ide a o f goin g t o Florid a (a t th e en d o f th e year , now ) suddenl y seemed quit e practical . Fo r thoug h ther e turne d ou t t o b e n o hous e o n th e estat e of Dollie' s friend , hi s descriptio n o f th e landscap e aroun d For t Myer s sounde d attractive, an d h e offere d Lawrenc e letter s o f introduction . Also , Deliu s ha d tried orang e plantin g i n Florid a fo r tw o years , nea r Jacksonville, an d stil l owne d the property . A t onc e Phili p wrot e t o as k whethe r Lawrenc e coul d liv e there , and announce d hi s intentio n o f goin g too . Deliu s wrot e bac k discouragingly . The climat e o f Californi a woul d b e muc h bette r fo r someon e Phili p ha d described a s consumptive ; th e plac e woul d b e tropicall y overgrow n an d th e house probabl y derelict ; an d the y woul d b e s o isolate d tha t the y woul d hav e t o live o n canne d foo d - bu t u p t o mid-Decembe r th e drea m wa s stil l alive . B y then, Phili p ha d a doctor's certificat e t o prov e hi s incapacit y fo r militar y servic e and wa s sure tha t 'som e half-dozen ' youn g peopl e woul d joi n Lawrence. 14 So, thoug h n o hel p wa s forthcomin g fro m olde r writer s lik e James o r Wells , the suppor t o f these youn g peopl e kep t Lawrenc e optimistic , an d persuade d hi m not t o leav e fo r Americ a jus t yet . Soo n h e wa s a t Garsingto n again , wit h Fried a this time , havin g persuade d Ottolin e als o t o invit e Heseltin e an d on e o f hi s Oxford friends , a Muslim India n Shahi d Hasa n Suhrawardy , wh o claime d direc t descent fro m th e Prophet . (Anothe r frien d o f Heseltine's , Dikra n Kouyoumd jian, wh o woul d late r achiev e wealt h an d fam e a s th e popula r novelis t 'Michae l Arlen', woul d visi t Garsingto n wit h Phili p a fortnight later . A thir d friend , Bori s de Croustchoff , a youn g Russia n anthropologis t an d bibliophile , didn' t g o o n either occasio n bu t wa s als o a 'possible' fo r th e ne w Rananim.) 15 Perhaps , wrot e Lawrence t o Cynthi a o n th e 28t h - whe n h e migh t hav e bee n nearin g Ne w Yor k - the y woul d ge t awa y b y Christmas , an d sai l straigh t t o Florid a b y carg o boat , without riskin g th e wintr y climat e o f Ne w York . Thi s lette r wa s no t onl y ful l o f the languag e o f resurrection agai n - thoug h h e ha d anothe r spas m o f doub t ove r writing suc h thing s t o Cynthi a - bu t h e als o enclose d a n extrac t fro m hi s October poe m o f that title : Now like a crocus in the autumn tim e My soul comes naked fro m th e falling night Of death, a cyclamen, a crocus flower Of windy autumn when the winds all sweep The hosts away to death, where heap on heap The leaves are smouldering in a funeral wind . (ii. 455) 16 289
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Making anothe r ne w start , h e bough t himsel f a sui t an d Fried a a coat , skir t and overcoat ; h e trimme d a toqu e ha t fo r he r wit h fur ; an d of f the y wen t t o Garsington o n Monda y 29t h (ii . 454) , to se e a disastrous Novembe r out . Moreover Russel l ha d com e t o Byro n Villa s (o n th e 19th ) an d the y mad e u p the wors t o f their quarrel . Onc e agai n Lawrenc e iike d Berti e ver y much' , indee d had foun d hi m 'mor e simpl e an d real ' tha n eve r befor e - thoug h h e though t i t less tha n 'manly ' t o b e reproache d fo r hi s lette r a s thoug h h e ha d se t ou t 'wantonly' t o hur t hi m (ii . 450) . I n fact , drawin g fro m hi s ow n experienc e wit h Frieda, h e though t th e ne w quie t simplicit y migh t b e th e produc t o f hi s outburst, lik e the cal m clarit y afte r a thunderstorm. The y woul d se e Russell, too , at Garsingto n wher e h e stil l had rooms . Lawrence was struc k agai n b y th e shee r beaut y o f th e ol d hous e i n it s countryside; an d thanke d Ottolin e afterward s wit h a pros e poe m abou t it , a s th e epitome o f al l tha t wa s bes t i n th e pas t (ii . 459-60) . I n mid-wee k ther e wer e n o hordes o f guests . Befor e Phili p Morrel l wen t t o hea r th e Hom e Secretary' s response t o hi s writte n questio n o n 1 December , ther e was animate d an d hopeful discussio n abou t th e possibilit y o f republishin g The Rainbow privately , by subscription . Letter s immediatel y wen t of f t o Catherin e Carswel l fo r Donald's lega l opinio n o n whethe r reprintin g woul d infring e Methuen' s right s (ii. 456) , an d t o Pinke r askin g hi m t o find ou t whethe r Methue n ha d an y objection, an d woul d sel l th e plate s (ii . 457) . Fro m th e Rumania n diploma t Prince Antoin e Bibesc o cam e th e suggestio n o f a Paris publisher , Conard , who m Pinker als o kne w (ii . 453 , 458) . Moreove r a n unexpecte d suggestio n cam e from th e Hom e Secretar y i n repl y t o Morrel l i n th e Common s th e nex t day . Si r John Simo n confirme d tha t th e autho r ha d n o right s a t al l in th e matter , an d tha t the polic e an d magistrat e ha d acte d perfectl y legally . Presse d however , b y Morrell an d a Labou r politician , t o admi t th e ga p betwee n la w an d natura l justice, Si r John replied : ' I imagin e i t wil l be possible , i f the autho r think s h e ha s been wrongl y treated , fo r anothe r cop y t o b e seize d b y arrangement , i n orde r that h e migh t defen d th e book. ' Th e fight suddenl y seeme d les s hopeless . At Garsingto n the y passionatel y discusse d no t onl y The Rainbow bu t als o politics, an d (wit h Suhrawardy ) India . Lawrenc e note d ruefull y ' I alway s shou t too loud ' (ii . 466) . Bu t ther e was escapis t fu n too . Ottoline' s famou s trun k o f dressing-up material s wa s opene d i n th e hal l - sh e ha d 'heap s o f coloure d cloth s and things , lik e a n Easter n bazaar . On e ca n dres s u p splendidly ' (ii . 465) , an d Lawrence alway s love d actin g i n charades . (I t ma y hav e bee n o n thi s occasio n that h e di d Othello. ) Heseltin e probabl y playe d hi s host' s pianol a - h e ha d on e of hi s ow n - an d h e becam e strongl y attracte d t o 'Mademoiselle' , Julian's youn g governess Juliett e Baillot . Wit h he r fai r hai r i n tigh t bun s o n eithe r sid e o f he r pretty an d self-possesse d head , th e Swis s gir l wa s a striking contras t t o th e dark haired artist' s mode l Minni e Channing , nickname d 'Puma' , wit h who m Phili p 290
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had becom e involved . Juliett e agree d t o writ e t o Philip ; bu t Ottolin e coul d no t share Lawrence' s enthusias m fo r hi s ne w friends . Wit h a n ey e perhap s sharpened b y noticin g th e flirtation , sh e though t th e tall , blonde youn g musicia n 'soft an d s o degenerat e tha t h e seem s someho w corrupt' . H e cultivate d a cynicism whic h Lawrenc e warne d hi m wa s leavin g trace s o n hi s face ; and thoug h Ottoline wa s broad-minded , hi s manner s an d conversatio n wer e distinctl y un Bloomsbury. Neithe r undergraduatis h beer-drinkin g an d motor-bikes , no r Caf e Royal wine-and-womanisin g woul d hav e appeale d t o her . Sh e was eve n harshe r about th e others . Sh e describe s Kouyoumdjia n a s ' a fa t dark-bloode d tight skinned Armenia n Jew ' wit h ' a certai n vulga r sexua l force , bu t . . . ver y coarse grained an d conceited' ; an d sh e was disturbe d b y th e anti-colonia l attitud e o f Suhrawardy, 'extremel y anti-English , bu t lik e al l Indian s quit e foreig n an d remote'. He r antipath y t o Fried a ha d grow n stronger : sh e though t o f her no w a s 'devilish . . . a wil d beast , quit e uncontrolled , crue l t o Lawrence , an d madl y jealous i f sh e think s anyon e esteem s Lawrenc e mor e tha n her' . Conversel y th e young me n mad e th e mistake , ha d the y wante d t o mak e a n impressio n o n thei r hostess, o f constantl y flattering Frieda ; an d Ottolin e tire d o f thei r boastfulness . These migh t b e Frieda' s kin d o f people , bu t the y wer e no t Garsington' s though the y di d com e onc e more withou t Lawrence , a fortnight later. 20 Nonetheless Lawrenc e wrot e tha t ther e ha d bee n 'som e fin e hours' , an d h e was touche d b y th e gif t o f a tapestr y sh e ha d embroidere d fo r him . H e kne w now tha t thoug h h e ha d a rea l bon d wit h Ottoline , neithe r coul d escap e 'th e inevitable friction ' wit h hi s wife : 'Fried a hate s m e becaus e sh e say s I a m a favorite, whic h i s ignominiou s (sh e says) , als o sh e say s I a m a traito r t o her . Bu t let it be - i t is a bore' (ii . 462) . At first , bac k i n London , h e continue d optimistic , bot h abou t movin g t o Florida a t th e en d o f th e yea r an d doin g somethin g abou t The Rainbow now . Pinker ha d sen t hi m £4 0 i n respons e t o hi s appea l t o mak e u p Mars h an d Ottoline's mone y t o th e £10 0 h e though t h e woul d nee d t o ge t t o Florida , an d then subsis t lon g enoug h t o star t earnin g (ii . 450 , 458) . A carg o boa t (th e Crown [?Corona] de Leon) woul d leav e fro m Glasgo w o n 2 0 Decembe r fo r th e West Indie s (ii . 462) ; an d a tenan t wa s foun d t o tak e ove r th e leas e o f 1 Byron Villas fro m tha t dat e (ii . 472) . Donal d Carswel l believe d ther e woul d b e a goo d case fo r libe l agains t James Dougla s an d Clemen t Shorter ; an d wante d t o discus s this an d th e Hom e Secretary' s suggestio n o f stagin g a secon d prosecution , wit h Philip Morrel l (ii . 462-3) . Methue n replie d nastil y t o Pinke r tha t th e plate s o f the nove l ha d bee n destroyed ; tha t afte r th e polic e actio n 'n o copyrigh t ca n exis t in th e book' ; an d tha t indeed , sinc e Lawrence ha d faile d t o provid e th e copyrigh t work h e ha d bee n pai d for , h e shoul d refun d th e £30 0 advanc e - bu t thi s a t leas t implied tha t h e coul d g o ahea d wit h privat e o r foreig n republicatio n i f h e coul d find a publishe r t o ris k it . Princ e Bibesc o cam e t o Hampstea d an d promised , 291
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genially, t o hel p wit h Conar d an d dru m u p subscribers ; an d Ver e Collin s als o came t o give advice about privat e publication. 22 However al l these possibilitie s melte d int o thi n air . Thoug h th e Georgia n poe t John Drinkwate r an d Edwar d Garnet t wer e willin g t o protes t (ii . 447 , 464 n . 2) , and Bernar d Shaw , havin g sen t £ 5 (ii . 449) , woul d clearl y hav e don e s o too , th e proposed lette r seem s neve r t o hav e been organised . Perhap s Pinke r fel t i t woul d compromise hi s agency . Perhap s h e was discourage d b y th e respons e o f Wells , Galsworthy, Jame s (i f h e mad e one ) an d eve n Bennet t (se e p . 81 5 not e 5) . Maybe peopl e wh o ha d seeme d read y t o sig n a protes t go t col d feet . Perhap s i t seemed mor e practica l t o collec t mone y — and Pinke r may , a s Lawrenc e suspected, hav e mad e u p muc h o f th e £4 0 himsel f (ii . 458) . Afte r th e Hom e Secretary's clarificatio n o f th e Obscen e Publication s Act , Phili p Morrel l con cluded, probabl y rightly , tha t ther e wa s no hop e o f succeeding i n a lawsuit - an d Lawrence himsel f fel t that , afte r all , hi s 'spiri t wil l no t ris e t o i t . . . I a m no t going t o pa y an y mor e ou t o f m y soul , eve n fo r th e sak e o f beatin g them ' (ii. 462) . H e an d Fried a ha d bot h caugh t heav y cold s and , livin g o n hi s nerves , he wa s becoming run-down . O n 8 December cam e th e no t unexpecte d new s tha t the committe e o f th e Societ y o f Author s ha d take n lega l advic e an d com e 't o th e conclusion tha t i n th e presen t circumstance s the y coul d no t tak e an y usefu l action o n th e genera l principle s involved ' (ii . 46 9 n . 3) . Once mor e h e longe d t o ge t awa y - an d ye t anothe r candidat e fo r Florid a appeared: a shy , heavil y bespectacled , highl y intelligen t youn g ma n fro m Ballio l who ha d jus t mad e hi s first visi t t o Garsington . Ottolin e wante d hi m t o ge t t o know Lawrence , s o Aldous Huxle y cam e t o Hampstea d fo r te a o n 1 0 December . Before te a wa s over, h e was invited t o Florida , 'an d thoug h I was an intellectuall y cautious youn g man , no t a t al l incline d t o enthusiasms , thoug h Lawrenc e ha d startled an d embarrasse d m e wit h sinceritie s o f a kin d t o whic h m y upbringin g had no t accustome d me , I answere d yes'. 23 Lawrenc e an d Fried a wer e alway s likely t o embarrass , whethe r b y intimat e revelation s abou t themselve s o r b y thei r curiosity abou t th e privat e live s o f their friends . Alread y Lawrenc e ha d begu n t o offer advic e abou t Heseltine' s love-lif e generall y an d hi s relation s wit h th e tw o young wome n i n particular . H e was als o highl y take n wit h Ottoline' s niece , Dorothy Warre n who m h e though t 'beautiful ' (ii . 516) , an d h e an d Fried a see m to hav e engage d i n som e match-makin g (accordin g t o Nichols ) b y tryin g t o pai r her of f wit h on e o f the m - a possibilit y whic h dissolve d i n laughte r whe n the y discovered th e plot . Sh e to o was t o com e t o Florid a - henc e Heseltine' s 'som e half-dozen'. At a deepe r level , letter s t o Ottolin e an d t o Russel l no w sugges t a n urgen t need t o escap e inwardl y also ; t o le t g o o f al l thi s frenzie d activit y o f min d an d will an d resistance , an d withdra w int o darknes s an d unconsciousnes s within . I n advising Ottolin e ho w t o ge t beyon d he r unhappines s abou t he r lif e - th e 292
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worsening war , th e spli t i n th e Libera l part y an d th e Cabine t ove r conscription , and th e love-affai r wit h Russel l s o clearl y endin g a s h e becam e mor e an d mor e involved wit h th e Eliots - Lawrenc e wa s also advising himself : We must al l submit t o be helpless and obliterated, quit e obliterated, destroyed , cas t away into nothingness .. . D o not struggle wit h your will , to dominate your conscious lif e - d o not do it. Only drift, an d le t go - le t go, entirely, and become dark, quite dark .. . Forget , utterly forget.. . I tell this to you, I tell it to myself - t o let go , to release fro m m y will everything tha t my wil l woul d hold , t o laps e bac k int o darknes s an d unknowing . Ther e mus t b e dee p winter before there can be spring, (ii. 468-9) He wa s readin g Si r Jame s Frazer' s Golden Bough an d Totem and Exogamy jus t now, an d i n Frazer' s account s o f earlie r culture s an d belief s h e foun d a ne w confirmation o f th e vie w h e ha d expounde d t o Colling s i n 1913 , 'tha t ther e i s another sea t o f consciousnes s tha n th e brai n an d th e nerv e system' , th e bloo d (ii. 470 ; cf . i . 503-4) . Whil e apparentl y diagnosin g a n imbalanc e i n Russel l h e knew i t was also a danger fo r himself , since : the traged y o f this ou r life , an d o f your life , i s that th e menta l an d nerv e consciousnes s exerts a tyrann y ove r th e blood-consciousness , an d tha t you r wil l ha s gon e completel y over t o the menta l consciousness , and i s engaged i n th e destructio n o f your blood-bein g ... No w it is necessary fo r u s to realise that there is this other grea t half of our lif e active in the darkness .. . Do you kno w wha t scienc e say s about thes e things ? I t i s very important: th e whol e of our future lif e depends on it. (ii. 470-1) It wa s t o b e a n impuls e o f 'blood-consciousness ' rathe r tha n an y thoughtfu l decision o r wille d ac t tha t woul d determin e hi s nex t fou r years , makin g hi m a writer alienate d fro m hi s nation , a n exil e withi n befor e h e becam e a n exil e i n fact. Though the y ha d passports , h e discovere d tha t thes e wer e n o longe r enoug h to be allowe d t o leave . Conscription wa s in th e air , sinc e Kitchener' s recruitmen t campaign - You r countr y need s YO U - ha d no t produce d th e number s tha t were neede d t o stanc h th e ever-increasin g losse s i n Franc e an d th e disaste r i n the Dardanelles . Lloy d Georg e wa s manoeuvrin g fo r power , bu t was stil l bein g resisted b y Asquit h an d Liberal s o f a n olde r stamp . A schem e devise d b y Lor d Derby provide d a compromise betwee n volunteerin g an d compulsion . Al l male s of militar y ag e ha d t o 'attest ' thei r willingnes s t o serv e Kin g an d Countr y i f required, bu t i t wa s hoped tha t ther e woul d b e s o many o f these 'volunteers ' tha t acceptance coul d b e selective , an d ther e woul d b e n o nee d fo r th e compulsio n which Englan d ha d alway s avoided - s o far . So t o a recruitin g statio n Lawrenc e went , o n 1 1 December , 't o b e atteste d and t o ge t a militar y exemption ' (ii . 474) . H e woul d certainl y hav e bee n 293
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rejected, bu t thoug h h e waite d tw o hour s i n th e queu e windin g int o Batterse a Town Hall , h e simpl y coul d no t brin g himsel f t o g o throug h wit h wha t fo r hi m would hav e bee n utte r hypocrisy . H e wa s not willin g t o serv e i n thi s war , an d would no t deceive . H e was struc k b y th e decenc y o f th e me n i n th e queu e an d even th e officials , an d fel t a s alway s tha t ther e wa s a powe r i n the m waitin g t o break throug h th e 'strange , patien t spirit ' tha t seeme d t o posses s the m al l 'a s under a doom , a ba d fate' . Hi s bloo d rebelled , an d o n a sudde n impuls e h e broke away , 'i n fac e o f th e tabl e wher e one' s nam e wa s t o b e written , an d wen t out, acros s th e hal l awa y fro m al l th e underworl d o f thi s spectra l submission , and climbe d a bus , an d i n a whil e sa w th e fugitiv e sunshin e acros s th e rive r o n the spectral , sunli t tower s a t Westminster ' (ii . 474) . Wit h a n od d sens e o f triumph, hi s min d was ful l o f tha t dar k her o o f th e Romantics , th e arch-refuse r to serve . Lik e Milton' s Sata n ('flyin g ove r th e worl d an d knowin g h e ha d wo n at last' ) h e fel t no t onl y subversive , alienate d fro m th e beaut y o f a worl d i n which h e no w ha d n o par t sav e antagonist , bu t als o victoriou s i n defiance . Ye t that imag e was to o negativ e t o last . Th e mid-winte r sunshin e generate d th e thought o f hidde n growth ; an d th e lette r conclude s wit h th e nee d t o 'nouris h in th e darknes s th e unuttere d bud s o f th e ne w lif e tha t shal l be' , wit h 'patience , only patience , an d endles s courag e t o rejec t false , dea d thing s an d false , killin g processes' (ii . 474-5) . He coul d no t leav e Britain now , an d t o tha t exten t ha d simplifie d hi s choices . H e may eve n hav e bee n relieve d no t t o hav e t o fac e al l th e problem s tha t 'Florida ' would hav e presented . H e wa s il l again ; an d a solutio n woul d hav e t o b e foun d quickly sinc e 1 Byron Villa s ha d t o b e vacate d an d it s furnitur e distribute d t o new owner s i n nin e days ' time . Ther e wa s tal k o f th e Radfords ' ne w holida y home i n Berkshire , o r o f possibly havin g Bertie' s room s i n Garsingto n fo r a littl e (ii. 476) , but th e solutio n arrive d wit h th e sudde n reappearanc e o f Murry. I n th e south o f Franc e th e mistra l ha d raged , an d h e ha d fel t s o exclude d b y Katherine's grie f ove r he r brothe r tha t h e ha d burs t ou t a t he r i n anger . I t was decided tha t sh e woul d tak e lodging s i n Bando l an d tr y t o overcome he r grie f b y writing abou t he r childhoo d (a s i n 'Autumns' , fo r Signature), an d Murr y woul d come bac k t o Londo n fo r a while t o giv e he r space . H e appeare d i n Hampstea d the evenin g o f th e 10t h (ii . 471) , an d Lawrenc e wa s struc k b y ho w h e coul d b e both miserabl e an d someho w please d abou t hi s ow n sensitivity , eve n chirp y i n retailing wha t a dreadful tim e h e ha d had , whic h too k th e edg e of f sympathy . H e brought alon g a n ex-Brasenos e friend , Frederic k Goodyear , who m Lawrenc e liked despit e hi s bein g 'o n th e sam e Oxfor d introspectiv e line' , concerne d wit h his ow n 'inne r life ' (ii . 472); whereas, h e tol d Katherine , h e himsel f wa s wear y o f personality an d onl y intereste d no w i n 'relation s base d upo n som e unanimou s accord i n trut h o r belief, an d a harmony ofpurpose\ Murry , foreve r fingering hi s 294
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soul, 'irritate s m e an d falsifie s me , an d I mus t tel l hi m so . H e make s me false . I f that mus t alway s b e so , the n ther e i s n o relatio n betwee n us ' (ii . 472-3) . The y must tr y agai n mor e impersonally , bu t dange r ha d bee n signalled . The Murry s ha d borrowe d th e novelis t J . D . Beresford' s holida y hous e i n Cornwall i n 1914 ; an d Jac k wen t t o as k whethe r th e Lawrence s migh t hav e i t now, unti l th e holida y season . Beresfor d ha d bee n willin g t o protes t abou t The Rainbow, an d whe n Murr y sa w hi m o n th e 19th , h e readil y agreed . S o t o North Cornwal l the y woul d go . At leas t i t wa s about a s near t o Americ a a s i t was possible t o get , now . The though t o f Florida ha d no t bee n entirel y give n up , bu t meanwhile Ranani m woul d b e c/o Porthcothan , S t Merryn , Padstow . In th e las t wee k i n Londo n Lawrenc e wa s il l i n be d agai n (ii . 478) , thoug h there wer e tw o brighter moments , eac h somewha t spoilt . A copy o f the America n Rainbow arrived ; bu t h e foun d tha t i t ha d bee n expurgate d withou t permissio n in a number o f places. 27 H e als o hear d no w abou t Arnol d Bennett' s complimen t to The Rainbow i n th e Daily News - bu t als o tha t h e ha d tol d Pinke r tha t it s construction wa s faulty. Lawrenc e retorted : 'Tel l Arnol d Bennet t tha t al l rules o f construction hol d goo d onl y fo r novel s whic h ar e copie s o f other novels . A boo k which i s no t a cop y o f othe r book s ha s it s ow n construction ' (ii . 479) . Still , h e thought Bennet t 'generous' , whethe r fo r th e suppor t i n th e Daily News, o r perhaps fo r contributin g t o Pinker' s £40 , or both . Now i t onl y remaine d t o empt y 1 Byro n Villa s an d go , almos t fre e o f possessions again , fo r whic h Lawrenc e gav e thanks . Fro m 2 1 t o 2 4 Decembe r they staye d wit h Ver e Collin s i n Hampstea d Garde n Suburb . H e wa s struc k b y Lawrence's versatility . 'Whil e wit h u s h e cooke d a n omelette ; furbishe d a hat o f his wife ; examine d a Dutc h cupboar d m y wif e ha d recentl y bought , an d sai d what it s period was ; came out int o th e garde n an d gav e me hint s o n transplantin g cabbages' - an d wa s als o incline d t o monopolis e th e conversation . Fro m ther e the Lawrence s wen t nort h t o spen d Christma s wit h hi s sister s an d thei r childre n in Ripley . Being wit h hi s famil y seeme d t o plung e hi m painfull y bac k int o th e pas t whe n he s o longe d fo r a future . H e ha d a violent argumen t wit h hi s brothe r George , a Baptist preache r - probabl y ove r religion . Moreove r thi s visi t t o th e Midland s began t o confirm feeling s abou t th e miner s tha t ha d alread y foun d thei r wa y int o The Rainbow bu t no w deepene d hi s reactio n agains t democracy . T o Russel l h e might mak e th e claim s o f blood-consciousnes s a s agains t mental-consciousness , but h e wa s no w 'sa d beyon d words ' tha t th e miner s 'can' t think" i n an y bu t industrial terms , 'onl y wage s an d mone y an d machinery' . Th e combinatio n o f their 'strange , dark , sensua l life , s o violent , an d hopeles s a t th e botto m . . . wit h this horribl e paucit y an d materialis m o f mental consciousness ' mad e hi m wan t t o scream. Guil d Socialis m mus t come , givin g union s authorit y i n industria l matters, bu t i f ther e i s n o reachin g 'towards the highest\ th e miners ' politica l 295
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advancement wil l b e levellin g down , o r eve n ' a reductio n t o th e lowest' . Bu t thi s is less thought tha n powerfu l emotion , wit h it s sources i n hi s childhood : God, ho w al l m y boyhoo d come s bac k - s o violent , s o dark , th e min d alway s dar k an d without understanding, the senses violently active ... Thes e men, whom I love so much and the life has such a power over me .. . ... The y are still so living, so vulnerable, so darkly passionate. I love them like brothers - but m y God , I hat e the m too : I don' t inten d t o ow n the m a s master s .. . On e mus t conquer the m als o - thin k beyon d them , kno w beyon d them , ac t beyon d them . (ii. 489-90) Though h e ha d bee n steadil y growin g awa y fro m hi s mother' s worl d toward s hi s father's, hi s feeling s ar e stil l deepl y ambivalent , hi s politic s les s socia l tha n psychological. On 2 9 Decembe r the y wer e bac k i n London , spendin g th e nigh t wit h th e Eders. The nex t da y the y lef t fo r Cornwall . II R a n a n i m a t P o r t h c o t h a n On th e journey , betwee n wha t no w seeme d a dead o r darkl y disturbin g pas t an d a future incapabl e o f being born , Cornwal l seeme d onl y a temporary refug e unti l they coul d ge t ou t o f Englan d altogether . Ye t a t least , i n th e bi g clea r room s o f the ol d hous e ther e was a lovel y silenc e (bu t fo r th e win d i n th e chimneys) , a deep peac e - an d a housekeeper , Emm a Pollard . A s Lawrenc e looke d dow n th e lane at th e cov e wit h it s wil d winte r breakers , h e bega n t o focu s a landscape tha t became eve r mor e meaningful . I lov e bein g here : suc h a calm , old , slightl y deserte d hous e - a farm-house ; an d th e country remot e an d desolat e an d unconnected : i t belong s stil l t o th e day s befor e Christianity, the days of Druids, or of desolate Celtic magic and conjuring ; an d th e sea is so grey an d shaggy , an d th e win d s o restless, as if it ha d neve r foun d a home sinc e th e days of Iseult. Here I think my life begins again - on e is free. Here the autumn i s gone by, it is pure winter of forgetfulness. (ii . 493) Very soo n i t cease s t o reflec t feeling s o f desolatio n an d disconnection , an d Iseul t changes t o Tristan, comin g bac k t o where, traged y o r no , his affinity lies . I like Cornwall very much. It is not England. I t is bare and dar k an d elemental, Tristan' s land. I li e lookin g dow n a t a cov e wher e th e wave s com e whit e unde r a low , blac k headland, whic h slopes up in bare green-brown, bare and sa d unde r a level sky. It is old, Celtic, pre-christian - Trista n and his boat, and his horn. (ii. 503) Not England , ^ - C h r i s t i a n , elemental - i t ma y b e bar e an d sad , thi s wintr y landscape, bu t i t i s n o wasteland , rathe r a plac e o f regeneratio n b y goin g bac k to th e beginnings ; behin d wher e th e deathlines s began , behin d th e so-calle d 296
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Christian civilisatio n tha t ha d le d Englan d t o th e trenche s an d destroye d Ihe Rainbow, behin d Plat o an d Socrate s an d Jesus , t o rediscove r root s an d element s from whic h ne w lif e coul d grow . H e woul d b e fre e agai n t o lov e an d t o write . Within tw o day s h e conceive d th e ger m o f a 'mid-winte r stor y o f oblivion ' (ii. 493 ) - abou t a ma n wh o ha s turne d hi s bac k o n misdirecte d year s i n entir e forgetfulness, an d return s no w t o liv e an d wi n bac k love , wher e h e belongs . Heseltine quickl y cam e dow n t o joi n them , arrivin g o n Ne w Year' s Da y 1916 . The hous e wa s spacious enoug h t o allow some privac y an d the y continue d t o ge t on wel l (h e staye d til l th e las t wee k o f February) . H e share d expenses 31 - an d since h e to o wa s escapin g fro m a lif e tha t ha d gon e wrong , the y bot h neede d companionship an d support . I n London , h e ha d alread y confide d hi s relation ship wit h Puma , an d Lawrenc e ha d see n fo r himsel f th e beginnin g o f th e counter-attraction t o Juliette. Sinc e then , however , Philip' s problem s ha d greatl y increased - fo r Pum a wa s pregnant . H e tol d Deliu s tha t h e ha d foun d hi s 'Vrenchen' (appropriatel y th e Juliet-figure i n Delius' s 'Village-opera' ) i n Juliette, who wrot e hi m 'long , wonderfu l letters' ; bu t o n th e othe r han d h e wa s 'stil l worried t o deat h b y th e littl e mode l I too k awa y i n th e summe r i n shee r desperation o f loneliness' . Sh e ha d staye d wit h hi m ' a goo d deal ' i n th e winte r too, sinc e 'sh e ha d n o hom e an d littl e money' , bu t h e 'neve r reall y like d her' . Now sh e was pregnant . H e coul d luckil y dra w o n a recent legac y o f £100 fo r he r immediate needs ; bu t h e ha d 'n o ide a wha t i s t o becom e o f th e child ' whic h sh e can't affor d t o keep , an d h e ha d 'fa r to o littl e likin g fo r he r t o wan t t o hel p he r afterwards. A s i t is , I reproac h mysel f fo r havin g bee n to o Christian , to o weakl y compassionate toward s her. ' Lawrence though t hi m Hamletty . Soo n afte r thei r meeting , an d befor e thi s extra reaso n fo r Phili p t o b e wrappe d u p i n hi s troubles , Lawrenc e ha d urge d him t o resis t i n hi s love-lif e an d hi s musi c th e 'reducing , analytic , introspectiv e process, whic h ha s gon e o n pur e an d uninterrupte d sinc e th e Renaissance' . These days , h e wrote , introspectio n 'ha s reache d th e poin t whe n i t ha s practically n o mor e t o revea l t o us , an d ca n onl y produc e sensationalism' . Perhaps becaus e th e memor y o f Bunn y was stil l raw , an d h e sa w som e resemblance i n th e youn g blond e Oxonian , h e immediatel y wen t o n t o mak e th e connection wit h wha t h e ha d see n i n Cambridg e an d Bloomsbury : th e link s between self-centredness , intellectualis m an d homosexuality . Wherea s th e lov e between ma n an d woma n i s a mod e o f synthesis , homosexua l lov e reduce s complexity, an d wher e i t increase s consciousness , doe s s o i n disintegrativ e modes whethe r analyti c o r sensational . Phili p mus t no t lose , throug h introspec tion, 'th e powe r t o lov e reall y an d profoundly , fro m th e botto m o f you r soul' , a woman, no t men . Musi c too , an d al l othe r art , 'mus t becom e no w synthetic , metaphysical, givin g a musica l utteranc e t o th e sens e o f th e Whole ' (ii . 447-8) , not reduce d t o the expressio n o f the privat e an d persona l self . 297
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Though Lawrenc e ha d sai d h e wa s 'no t goin g t o urg e an d constrai n an y more ' (ii. 499) , h e coul d no t hel p bein g assertiv e i n argumen t - an d Philip , a t 21 , saw his musi c i n self-expressiv e terms . Ye t h e was abl e t o stic k t o hi s ow n vie w without losin g his admiration fo r Lawrenc e a s artist an d man . I don' t wan t t o identif y mysel f wit h hi m i n anythin g beyon d hi s broa d desir e fo r a n ampler and fulle r lif e .. . H e is a very great artist, but hard and autocratic in his views and outlook, and his artistic canons I find utterly and entirely unsympathetic to my nature. He seems to be too metaphysical, too anxious to be comprehensive i n a detached wa y and t o care too little for purely personal, analytical, and introspective art. His views are somewhat at variance with his own achievements. But he is, nevertheless, an arresting figure, a great and atttractiv e personality , an d hi s passio n fo r a new , clea n untrammelle d lif e i s ver y splendid. Heseltine wa s als o n o mer e admirin g acolyte , but ha d somethin g t o contribut e t o Lawrence's ne w concerns . Hi s Africa n an d Tibeta n carvings , hi s knowledg e o f Celtic mythology , hi s interes t i n th e occul t (begu n a t Oxford) / woul d al l hav e been a furthe r stimulu s t o th e readin g i n non-Englis h an d pre-Christia n civilisations whic h Lawrenc e bega n i n Cornwall . Heseltin e wa s als o strongl y anti-Christian, an d thoug h hi s parad e o f amora l sensualit y an d readines s t o epater le bourgeois wa s a rathe r obviou s reactio n agains t hi s ow n Eton-and Christ-Church backgroun d an d hi s mother , hi s enthusiasti c suppor t agains t th e moral outrag e whic h ha d destroye d The Rainbow mus t hav e bee n ver y welcome , despite th e immaturit y whic h sometime s mad e Lawrenc e se e hi m a s still 'empty , uncreated' (ii . 501) , excep t fo r 'echoe s fro m th e past , an d reaction s agains t th e past' - thoug h h e woul d 'perhap s com e t o being soon ' (ii . 501-2) . Lawrence wa s ver y read y t o mak e th e bes t o f thing s jus t now , an d seeme d t o be recoverin g hi s spirit s - bu t th e stres s o f th e pas t thre e month s wa s no t t o b e denied. H e caugh t col d agai n abou t 7 January (ii . 501) , no t surprisin g i n mid winter. (Fried a joke d abou t havin g 't o han g o n t o L . o n th e rock s o r h e woul d b e blown awa y lik e a littl e bi t o f foam' . ) Unfortunatel y fo r Rananim , n o soone r had h e begu n t o sicke n tha n Kouyoumdjia n arrived , o n th e 10th , 'an d brough t the atmospher e o f Londo n wit h him ' (ii . 504) , al l th e frictio n o f personalit y o n which Lawrenc e ha d bee n tryin g t o tur n hi s back , an d th e las t thin g a sick ma n wanted. Suddenly ther e wa s tensio n al l round . Th e tw o youn g me n becam e 'mos t antagonistic' t o eac h other , whic h was 'trying' ; an d Heseltin e was lik e a weathe r vane abou t Puma : 'H e say s h e despise s he r an d can' t stan d her , tha t she' s viciou s and a prostitute , bu t h e [will ] b e runnin g bac k t o he r i n a littl e while , I know . She's no t s o bad , really . I' m no t sur e whethe r he r touc h o f licentiou s profligac y in se x isn' t bette r tha n hi s deep-seate d conscious , menta l licentiousness. ' 298
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Kouyoumdjian wa s i n lov e wit h Doroth y Warre n an d gloom y abou t hi s chances , so 'more self-assertiv e tha n ever , an d tiresome' . It is such a bore, about these young people, that they must be so insistently self-sufficient , always eithe r tacitl y o r noisil y assertin g themselves . Heseltin e silentl y an d obstinatel y asserts himself , Kouyoumdjia n noisil y an d offensively . Bu t wh y shoul d the y wan t t o assert themselves, nobody wants to obliterate them or mitigate them .. . The y spen d thei r time i n automati c reactio n fro m everything , eve n fro m tha t whic h i s mos t sympatheti c with them. (ii. 504) It woul d see m tha t Lawrencia n counsel s ha d no t gon e dow n well . On th e othe r hand , fro m hi s thought s abou t self-centredness , overdevelope d intellect an d homosexuality , an d (now ) abou t youn g peopl e veerin g fro m extreme t o extrem e i n pur e reaction , cam e th e ger m o f a ne w focu s o n moder n disintegration. H e ha d mad e onl y a start o n th e ne w stor y an d coul d no t se e ho w to g o on , bu t befor e 1 3 January (stil l thinkin g h e ha d onl y a bad cold ) h e lef t i t and 'suddenl y launche d of f int o m y philosoph y again ' (ii . 505) . Only , h e fel t worse an d worse . Soo n h e decide d h e coul d pu t u p wit h Kouyoumdjia n n o longer an d mus t as k hi m t o leave . Th e partin g wa s no t amicable . Heseltin e reported tha t th e Armenia n ha d virtuall y t o b e expelled , 'h e prove d s o intolerable t o al l o f u s an d s o imperviou s t o ou r hint s o f displeasur e a t hi s presence'. Kouyoumdjia n threatene d t o writ e a ski t fo r New Age abou t a n author, whos e work s wer e 'to o goo d t o b e published' , bein g overcom e b y hi s subconsciousness a t night . Nothin g cam e o f this , bu t th e tranquillit y ha d bee n broken. Lawrence's 'winte r sicknes s an d inflammation ' rapidl y gre w wors e tha n anything sinc e 191 1 (ii . 507) . Mid-winte r was alway s a dangerou s tim e fo r hi s health, bu t afte r th e stresse s o f 191 5 a collapse wa s probabl y inevitabl e a s soon a s he relaxe d th e tigh t hol d h e ha d bee n keepin g o n himsel f throug h month s o f tension. Soo n hi s conditio n gre w seriou s enoug h fo r Frieda , wh o hate d illnes s and wa s not th e most sympathetic o f nurses, actually t o appeal t o Russell fo r help . I am so worried abou t Lawrence. He isn't a t all well. I really don't kno w what t o do ... I feel it such a responsibility, it's too much fo r me . He might just die because everything is too much fo r him ... D o come, it might do you good and I would be very glad. There are so few people Lawrence can bear the sight of . Since sh e kne w tha t Russel l dislike d he r an d tha t hi s relation s wit h Lawrenc e were fragil e still , the appea l was a sign o f desperation; an d ther e wa s little chanc e that Russel l woul d com e (thoug h h e ha d gon e dow n t o Torqua y i n Decembe r t o look afte r Mr s Eliot ) - sinc e h e was abou t t o star t th e cours e o f lecture s a t Caxton Hal l h e an d Lawrenc e ha d planne d t o share . Lawrence continue d t o writ e letter s and , a s always, to mak e ligh t o f the illnes s 299
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itself, bu t whe n Murr y an d Ko t hinte d a t th e impracticalit y o f Florid a - whic h Lawrence probabl y kne w wel l enoug h a t th e bac k o f hi s min d - ther e cam e a spasm o f gloom : I fee l absolutel y ru n t o earth, lik e a fox the y hav e chased til l i t can' t g o any further , an d doesn't kno w what t o do. I don't kno w what t o do nor ho w to go on .. . Wha t goo d i s it all. There is nothing but betrayal and denial .. . ... Ther e i s n o Florida , there' s onl y this , thi s England , whic h nauseate s m y soul , nauseates m y spiri t an d m y bod y - thi s England . On e migh t a s well b e blow n ove r th e cliffs her e i n th e stron g win d .. . I mus t ow n t o you , tha t I a m beaten , knocke d ou t entirely, (ii. 500) To Ko t h e wrot e bleakly : T don' t car e abou t an y people , none , s o lon g a s the y won't tr y t o clai m attentio n fro m me ' (ii . 498) . H e wa s happ y fo r th e Murry s i n Bandol - bu t hi s situatio n wa s i n shar p contrast . H e continue d t o believ e i n 'miracle' (ii . 501 ) an d woul d no t accep t this kin d o f life ; bu t a t th e heigh t o f hi s fever no w h e though t h e migh t actuall y b e dying , experiencin g (fo r th e thir d time) 'th e sens e of dissolution, tha t horribl e feelin g on e ha s whe n on e i s really ill ' (ii. 512 ) - a crisis almos t a s bad a s those o f 190 1 and 1911 . When h e di d recove r it lef t him , fo r a while, wit h a numbness 'lik e a tiny bi t o f paralysis' al l down th e right side . Frieda mus t hav e appeale d t o Dolli e too , fo r hel p mor e usefu l tha n Russell' s arrived. Maitlan d Radford , wh o ha d bee n commissione d int o th e Roya l Arm y Medical Corp s bu t was no w a t S t Mary' s Hospita l i n Carshalton , cam e dow n specially t o examin e Lawrence . H e diagnose d bronchitis , aggravate d an d perhaps brough t o n b y nervou s prostration . 'Maitlan d Radfor d say s that th e pai n and inflammatio n i s referred fro m th e nerves , ther e i s n o organi c illnes s a t all , except th e mucou s [presumabl y th e mucou s membranes ] i n th e bronch i et c ar e weak' (ii . 512) . Lawrenc e believe d tha t illnes s cam e whe n one' s lif e wen t wrong ; and a s alway s was anxiou s t o minimis e an y possibilit y o f 'organi c illness' . S o h e told th e Hopkins , whe n h e ha d begu n t o improve , tha t i t ha d bee n 'soul-sicknes s after Londo n an d th e stat e o f things ' (ii . 514) . Nevertheless , ther e ha d clearl y been hig h fever , respirator y inflammation , pai n an d tha t sligh t muscula r numbness, perhap s brough t o n b y prolonge d coughing . Was thi s th e onse t o f th e tuberculosi s tha t ha d bee n threatene d before , an d which th e intensit y o f Lawrence's denial s show s h e always feared ? (Th e questio n is o f som e importanc e becaus e o f speculatio n tha t h e ha d no t onl y develope d consumption b y the n bu t was infectiou s enoug h t o giv e i t t o Katherin e i n th e coming months. ) Radford' s diagnosi s an d hi s decisio n no t t o cal l fo r a sputu m test appea r t o rul e thi s out . I t i s tru e tha t doctor s wer e ofte n unwillin g t o certif y tuberculosis unles s the y wer e sur e - thoug h i n tha t cas e the y wer e legall y boun d to d o so . I t was , howeve r difficul t t o b e sure , a t tha t date , sinc e fou r o f th e fiv e 300
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main symptom s - fever , sweating , los s o f weight , coughin g - als o applie d t o related disease s suc h a s pneumonia , pleuris y an d bronchitis , wherea s th e fifth , the haemorrhagin g o f blood , mean t tha t th e diseas e ha d alread y reache d a n advanced state . Thoug h Lawrenc e ha d clearl y bee n coughin g a goo d dea l o f mucus, Radfor d woul d no t hav e ignore d blood , no r hav e talke d (i f bloo d wer e present) o f bronchiti s aggravate d b y nervou s prostration . Moreove r a sputu m test, thoug h no t mandator y a s in Lawrence' s previou s dangerou s illnes s whe n h e was a teacher , woul d hav e settle d th e matte r a s i t di d then . Doctor s migh t sometimes collud e wit h thei r patient' s fea r o f th e diseas e an d it s socia l opprobrium b y softenin g thei r diagnosi s - an d Lawrenc e coul d no t affor d a sanatorium eve n i f h e coul d hav e bee n persuade d t o tr y one . Ye t a docto r wh o was also a personal frien d woul d probabl y hav e ha d a test don e i f he ha d though t it a t al l advisable , les t th e conditio n worse n an d prov e fata l throug h failur e t o treat i t i n time . Wha t Radfor d prescribe d wa s rest , peac e an d quiet , an d specia l nourishing food s whic h th e generosit y o f Ottolin e provide d (ii . 517) . B y 2 5 January Lawrenc e wa s feelin g bette r (ii . 514) , though stil l confine d indoors . 'I f I get u p an d g o ou t I ge t wors e agai n a t once' , h e wrot e tw o day s later , 'Bu t I ca n sit i n bed an d rea d o r d o my poems ' (ii . 516) . For h e ha d decide d t o pu t together , fro m notebook s h e ha d aske d Thoma s Dunlop t o recove r fro m Fiascherino , a secon d volum e o f poem s whic h migh t earn a littl e money . B y th e beginnin g o f Februar y wha t wa s t o b e Amoves wa s ready, ' a sor t o f inne r histor y o f m y life , fro m 2 0 t o 26 ' (ii . 521 , i.e . befor e h e met Frieda ) - mostl y a recensio n o f previou s work , thoug h som e poem s lik e 'The Wil d Common ' wer e substantiall y rewritten . Also , th e proof s o f hi s 'Italian Studies ' ha d arrived . H e wa s 'no t unhappy ' - bu t th e metapho r o f mid winter deat h an d rebirt h ha d prove d almos t litera l i n it s first part . Indeed , th e collapse ma y hav e lef t it s mar k o n hi s nervou s system , increasin g bot h hi s tendency t o nervou s irritatio n an d rage , an d th e degre e t o whic h thi s mad e hi m ill. When Heseltin e brough t Pum a dow n t o sta y a t th e en d o f th e month , however, sh e wa s welcome . Despit e he r nickname , Lawrenc e though t he r ' a quiet, quit e nic e littl e thin g really , unobtrusiv e an d affectionate . H e i s fon d o f her, a s a matte r o f fact , i n spit e o f wha t h e says ' (ii . 517) . Ironically , i t wa s because h e like d the m bot h an d foun d i t n o strai n t o hav e the m a t clos e quarter s as h e go t better , tha t h e gre w mor e an d mor e intereste d i n thei r affairs , an d th e split h e sa w i n Heseltine . Ther e seeme d suc h a contradictio n betwee n hi s wild , drunken an d licentiou s side , an d th e intellectual , poetic , aspirin g sensibilit y tha t came uppermos t i n hi s letter s t o Delius ; a seesawin g betwee n slightl y mani c gaiety an d blac k depression ; o r fierce satir e an d gentleness . A t thi s stag e o f hi s life hi s personalit y wa s probabl y unforme d rathe r tha n unstabl e a s i t woul d become; bu t h e was nerv y an d highl y strung , h e alread y suffere d badl y enoug h 301
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from 'nervou s stricture ' t o b e certifie d unfi t fo r militar y service , an d Lawrenc e was being perceptiv e rathe r tha n critica l whe n h e though t o f hi s youn g frien d a s 'uncreated' o r 'disintegrated' . The comin g o f Pum a bega n t o clarif y Lawrence' s perceptio n (a s thinker , an d later a s novelist ) o f wha t tha t spli t migh t involve , an d h e wa s clearl y workin g i t out fo r himsel f whe n h e wrot e t o Ottolin e abou t th e pair . Befor e Pum a arrive d Philip ha d bee n ver y read y t o discus s hi s mixe d feelings , an d th e contras t between he r an d Juliette . Indeed , wit h Kouyoumdjian , th e evenin g amusemen t had bee n th e creatio n o f a pla y abou t th e situation . S o i t wa s no t to o surprisin g that Lawrence , uninhibite d anyway , shoul d fee l n o apparen t scrupl e abou t discussing hi s insights wit h Ottoline , wh o woul d obviousl y b e interested . About H. and Mile . - I tell him h e ought t o tell her [i.e . about Puma] . I suppose h e will. It i s queer . H e declare s h e doe s no t lik e thi s one , th e Puma , bu t h e doe s really . H e declares h e want s he r t o go . Bu t h e i s reall y attache d t o he r i n th e senses , i n th e unconsciousness, in the blood. He is always fighting away from this . But in so doing he is a fool. Sh e i s very nic e and ver y rea l and simple , we like her. Hi s affection fo r Mile , i s a desire fo r th e ligh t becaus e h e i s in th e dark . I f h e wer e i n th e ligh t h e woul d wan t th e dark. He wants Mile, for companionship, no t fo r th e blood connection , th e dark, sensuou s relation. Wit h Pum a h e ha s thi s second , dar k relation , bu t no t th e first . Sh e i s quit e intelligent, i n he r way , but n o menta l consciousness ; n o whit e consciousness , i f yo u understand, all intuition, in the dark, the consciousness of the senses. But she is quite fine and subtle in that way, quite, and I esteem her there quite as much as I esteem him. Perhaps he is very split, and would always have the two things separate .. . (ii . 539) He goe s o n t o argu e ho w fo r suc h peopl e ' I reall y believ e i n tw o wives' ; an d t o thank Go d tha t b y contras t h e feel s himsel f 'mor e an d mor e unifie d . . . An d Frieda an d I becom e mor e an d mor e trul y married' . (Tha t o f cours e woul d please Ottolin e no t on e whit , sinc e Fried a t o her wa s th e 'devil ' wh o wa s ruinin g Lawrence's life , an d wh o ha d no w writte n he r anothe r denunciatio n - o f whic h more later. ) Lawrenc e seem s unawar e tha t Ottolin e migh t se e a threat t o a youn g woman fo r who m sh e wa s responsible , fro m a youn g ma n sh e though t degenerate, an d wh o ha d becom e involve d wit h anothe r youn g woma n h e himself ha d spoke n o f as a prostitute - thoug h Lawrenc e ha d wondere d whethe r her touc h o f licentiousnes s wa s no t preferabl e t o Heseltine' s menta l kind . Sinc e he clearl y like d the m both , moreover , an d ha d like d Juliette too , hi s lette r i s on e of affectionat e interes t an d analysis , no t mora l judgemen t - bu t Ottolin e migh t read i t differently . (A t leas t h e di d no t disclos e th e pregnancy. ) Most o f al l perhaps , hi s naivet e abou t possibl e reaction s t o hi s diagnosi s o f 'split' an d 'disintegration ' i n thes e youn g peopl e ma y hav e bee n becaus e hi s attention wa s s o take n u p wit h th e ligh t thi s thre w o n hi s philosoph y - whic h h e proceeded t o recas t whe n h e recovered . B y 1 5 February h e ha d 'nearl y don e th e first, th e destructive , hal f o f m y philosophy . A t las t i t ca n stand ' (ii . 538) . A s 302
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'The Crown ' ha d bee n a rewriting o f 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy ' t o tak e accoun t of a more destructiv e an d violen t world , an d distinguis h wha t wa s deathl y fro m the 'corruption ' tha t was necessar y befor e regeneratio n coul d begin ; s o thi s ne w version clearl y bega n wit h ne w insigh t int o disintegration , intendin g t o g o o n t o the characteristi c Lawrencia n cr y fo r renewal . H e poste d thi s firs t hal f t o Garsington o n 2 7 Februar y (ii . 558) , tw o day s befor e h e an d Fried a lef t Porthcothan. It wa s calle d 'Goat s an d Compasses ' an d i t i s los t now , possibl y destroye d b y the youn g ma n wh o ha d partl y inspire d it . Th e onl y description s w e hav e ar e from hostil e witnesses . Accordin g t o Heseltine' s frien d Ceci l Gra y (who m Lawrence becam e friendl y wit h i n Cornwall , se e below , bu t wh o ha d broke n with Lawrenc e whe n h e wrote) , i t wa s 'Lawrenc e a t hi s ver y worst : a bombastic , pseudo-mystical, psycho-philosophica l treatis e dealin g largel y wit h homosexu ality - a subject , b y th e way , i n whic h Lawrenc e displaye d a suspiciousl y livel y interest a t tha t time. ' Ottoline , too , though t i t 'dreadfu l stuff , ba d i n every way , matter an d for m . . . I t i s rubbish , a chil d o f Frieda's. ' B y then , sh e ha d take n new offenc e a t Frieda , s o coul d no t hel p bein g biase d an d joinin g th e lin e o f Lawrence's friend s wh o wer e unabl e t o gras p wha t h e was saying . (I n hi s splendid self-parody , however , i n th e 'Pompadour ' chapte r o f Women in Love, he showe d himsel f abl e t o se e ho w eas y i t wa s t o reac t agains t hi s rhetori c rathe r than atten d t o it s import. ) Fortunately , i t i s possibl e no w t o infe r th e outline s o f the argument o f the ne w work , an d t o judge fo r ourselves . To understan d th e concer n wit h homosexualit y w e nee d t o recal l th e whol e process o f self-examinatio n whic h bega n i n 191 3 b y acknowledgin g homoeroti c feelings, unworried , becaus e hi s relatio n wit h Fried a ha d save d him fro m Middleton's tragi c solipsism . H e kne w himsel f t o b e bisexual , bu t wa s convinced tha t a greate r degre e o f 'otherness ' mad e heterosexua l relationshi p the mor e creativ e an d transforming , i f mor e difficult . I n 'Hardy ' h e proceede d to argu e tha t every huma n bein g wa s bisexual , an d tha t th e conflic t betwee n 'male' an d 'female ' i n th e sel f an d i n relationship s wa s onl y on e aspec t o f th e universal oppositio n betwee n impulse s t o unit y an d t o individuation , whos e marriage was th e groun d o f growth . The Rainbow se t ou t t o explor e ho w tha t opposition coul d transfor m lover s throug h marriage , o r becom e increasingl y destructive a s increasin g selfhoo d mad e i t mor e difficul t t o abando n th e sel f t o the other . I n Februar y 1915 , afte r meetin g Forster , h e extende d hi s vie w o f homosexuality a s narcissistic , explainin g t o Russel l th e contras t h e sa w betwee n love, th e breakin g o f th e bound s o f th e sel f i n encounterin g th e opposit e an d unknown, an d th e us e o f a bod y like th e sel f a s a for m o f masturbation , o f which sodom y i s th e extrem e - somethin g Forste r wa s to o honourabl e t o do , though h e coul d no t believ e i n marriag e wit h th e other . When , however , Lawrence me t practisin g homosexual s (Grant , Keynes , Birrell , eve n Bunn y 303
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Garnett) h e wa s horrified an d disgusted , an d realise d tha t fo r al l hi s theor y o f sodomy h e ha d neve r know n 'wha t i t meant' . This , bringin g nightmare s o f beetles, wa s however mor e tha n a repression o f his own homosexual tendencie s - sinc e h e characteristicall y se t ou t a t onc e t o discove r wh y h e ha d bee n s o upset, wha t th e beetle s meant , an d wha t th e connectio n wa s wit h th e over powering sens e o f evil h e ha d begu n t o fee l eve n befor e h e wen t t o Cam bridge. I n revisin g The Rainbow h e imagine d a lesbia n relationshi p tha t wa s enriching, thoug h i t could no t satisfy th e whole o f Ursula; an d a n ana l sexualit y between Wil l an d Ann a tha t coul d liberat e (becaus e newl y fascinate d b y th e otherness o f th e other), thoug h i t to o only satisfie d par t o f th e self . A t th e end of th e nove l tw o contrastin g image s explore d ho w enclosur e coul d becom e either growth , o r corruption : th e nu t whic h burst s it s shel l an d submit s t o the creative force s i n th e cosmo s (a s Ursul a mus t lear n t o do) , a s agains t 'hard scaled' self-enclosur e tha t goe s rotte n inside . By lat e 191 5 his broodings o n 'Cambridge' an d 'Bloomsbury' ha d trace d clos e links betwee n har d brittlenes s o f intellect , egotisti c will , irreverence , self enclosure an d homosexuality . Moreover , eve n thoug h al l th e homosexual s h e met wer e pacifists , h e saw direct connection s wit h th e evil of war, coilin g withi n proponents an d opponent s alike , includin g himself . As he explaine d t o Cynthi a Asquith, th e spirit o f war wa s essentially disintegrativ e i n more tha n th e obviou s sense, becaus e i t resolve d al l relatio n wit h th e othe r int o eithe r enmit y o r self preservation. An d althoug h i n 'Th e Crown ' h e wa s abl e t o se e 'corruption ' a s part o f the cycl e o f growth , sinc e (a t times ) disintegratio n was necessary befor e life coul d rene w itself ; nevertheles s h e dre w a sharp contras t betwee n tha t an d a deathly hardenin g int o wilfu l self-enclosure , finding it s gratificatio n i n narcis sistic analysi s o r sensation . Homosexualit y i s again see n a s rejecting transforma tion b y the truly other , an d preferrin g instea d self-gratificatio n o r self-reductio n by tha t whic h eithe r reflect s o r i s les s tha n th e self . O n meetin g Heseltine , h e warned o f the danger s o f Hamlettish introspectio n a s a process o f enclosing th e self an d unfittin g i t fo r heterosexua l love , tha t is , the powe r t o abando n onesel f wholly t o the wholly othe r i n orde r t o be transformed , a s against homosexualit y which i s finally reductive. Set agains t this , Gray's felin e insinuatio n tha t Lawrenc e was simply lettin g his own homosexualit y ou t of the bag seems impertinent . Lawrenc e alway s sa w sex in term s les s o f pleasur e o r self-satisfaction , tha n o f chang e an d growt h - s o when h e trie s t o understan d homosexualit y i t i s alway s wha t i t means tha t concerns him . Though, o f course, th e connections h e wa s plotting i n answe r t o that questio n wer e t o b e foun d (an d resisted ) i n himself , the y wer e als o muc h more obviou s i n th e homosexua l intellectual s an d artist s h e ha d met . Hi s responses wer e no t simpl y homophobi c - a s The Rainbow ha d bravel y proved , and go t itsel f destroye d a s a result. Th e phobi a was against al l he though t mos t 304
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disintegrative i n moder n life , strikingl y embodie d i n th e kind o f homosexua l h e encountered a t the hear t o f English civilisation . 'Goats an d Compasses ' mus t the n hav e recas t 'Th e Crown ' - o f whic h onl y the first thre e essay s ha d bee n publishe d - b y puttin g th e 'destructive ' hal f o f the argumen t first thi s time . Th e titl e - a commo n in n sig n hel d t o b e a corruption o f 'Go d encompasset h us ' - woul d b e a n ironi c iko n o f ho w th e encompassing, omnipresent , creativ e force s i n thei r eterna l opposition , requirin g to b e married , ha d degenerate d int o goatis h lus t an d sensatio n o n on e side , an d on th e othe r th e reductiv e intellectua l compasse s whic h Blak e (alway s importan t to Lawrence ) ha d picture d i n th e hand s o f Newto n an d Th e Ancien t o f Day s each extrem e a s disintegrativ e a s th e other . Moreove r h e no w sa w th e youn g a s escalating thi s destructiv e proces s i n continua l reactio n fro m on e extrem e t o th e other: henc e youthfu l idealis m issuin g i n bloodlus t an d deat h wis h i n worl d war . Hence als o th e seesawin g betwee n introspectiv e intellec t an d licentiousnes s i n his youn g friend s - a t eac h extreme , moreover , wilfull y self-enclose d an d assertive, antagonisti c t o th e other . Henc e th e prevalenc e o f homosexuality , making lov e int o self-projectio n o r self-reduction . Henc e supposedl y Christia n civilisations i n destructiv e an d steril e death-throes , seekin g t o preserv e thei r ow n worn-out form s o f life . Whe n Ottolin e describe d th e wor k a s ' A gospe l o f hat e and o f violen t individualism ' attackin g 'th e will , lov e an d sympathy' ,"' * sh e was probably mistakin g 'th e destructive ' hal f (whic h wa s al l sh e ha d bee n sent ) fo r the whole . H e ha d certainl y criticise d bot h he r an d Russell , earl y i n thei r friendship, a s worshippers o f will who believe d tha t the y coul d contro l thei r ow n inner being ; an d ha d warne d the m tha t despit e thei r apparen t civilisation , ther e was insid e the m a violenc e an d hatre d the y refuse d t o recognise , an d s o coul d not expos e an d heal . His wa s not, however , a gospel advocatin g hat e an d denyin g love. Rather , hi s attac k was o n peopl e wh o professe d lov e an d peac e whil e actually betrayin g inne r veno m an d violence . Lov e itsel f woul d becom e destructive i f the lovers ' inne r evi l wer e no t expose d an d overcome . An d thoug h he continue d t o believ e tha t (i n th e word s o f 'Hardy' ) 'Th e final ai m o f ever y living thin g . . . i s th e ful l achievemen t o f itself , thi s coul d no t b e 'violen t individualism' whil e h e als o continue d t o believe , a s Ottolin e inconsistentl y recognised, tha t th e essentia l mod e o f regeneratio n la y (still ) i n 'lov e betwee n men an d women' . A s h e sen t i t t o her , th e emphasi s o f hi s lette r wa s al l o n renewal (ii . 556-7) . Ill W i t h e r i n g
s
As h e wa s writing , however , relationship s bot h ol d an d ne w bega n t o withe r o n the vine , and soo n th e las t hope o f Rananim woul d res t i n th e absen t Murrys . The friendshi p wit h Russell , stil l fragil e afte r thei r partia l reconciliation , wa s 305
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
the firs t t o go . They ha d combine d t o giv e Ottoline , fo r Christmas , a portfolio o f reproductions o f th e Ajant a frescoe s - whic h Lawrenc e foun d deepl y movin g because o f th e 'complete , almos t perfec t relation s betwee n th e me n an d th e women' (ii . 489) . He ha d sen t Russel l (a s of old ) hi s thought s abou t blood-bein g (ii. 470-1) , whic h Russel l hated . H e eve n aske d hi m t o com e t o Florid a 'an d b e president o f us ' (ii . 490) , bu t thi s lacke d conviction ; an d thoug h ther e was a friendly lette r i n Januar y fro m Cornwal l (ii . 505) , th e basi c division s ha d onl y been papere d over . Th e nearnes s o f Russell' s firs t Caxto n Hal l lectur e gav e hi m an excus e no t t o com e t o Cornwal l i n answe r t o Frieda' s ple a - onl y fo r th e apparent succes s o f th e lecture s the n t o reawake n Lawrence' s ol d hostilit y t o their approach , an d som e jealous y too , b y th e contras t wit h hi s ow n failure . When Russell' s nex t lette r wondere d mor e pessimisticall y whethe r th e lecture s would hav e an y lastin g effect , Lawrenc e wa s sorry , bu t 'm y hear t doesn' t softe n to hi m jus t yet ' becaus e h e 'i s obstinat e i n goin g hi s ow n way ' (ii . 538) . O n 1 9 February th e basi c opposition brok e ou t again , irritably : ' I didn' t lik e you r letter . What's th e goo d o f livin g a s yo u do , an y way . I don' t believ e you r lecture s are good . . . What' s th e goo d o f stickin g i n th e damne d shi p an d haranguin g th e merchant-pilgrims i n thei r ow n language . Wh y don' t yo u dro p overboard ? . . . One mus t b e a n outla w thes e days ' (ii . 546) . Sinc e Russel l ha d los t hi s fellowshi p of Trinit y becaus e o f hi s oppositio n t o th e war , an d wa s befor e lon g t o g o t o prison fo r principle d actions , her e i t wa s Lawrenc e wh o wa s impertinent . A t a deeper leve l howeve r hi s poin t wa s stil l tha t Russell' s socia l an d politica l focu s was merely reformist , treatin g th e sympto m rathe r tha n th e disease . Moreover , You said in your lecture on education tha t you didn't set much count by the unconscious. That i s sheer perversity. The whole of the consciousness an d the conscious content is old hat - th e mill-stone round you r neck. Do cu t i t - cu t you r wil l an d leav e you r ol d sel f behind . Eve n you r mathematic s ar e only dead truth: and no matter how fine you grind the dead meal, you'll no t bring it to life again. Do stop working and writin g altogether an d becom e a creature instea d o f a mechanical instrument .. . b e a baby, an d no t a savant an y more . [Th e allusio n i s t o Nietszche . ] Don't do anything any more - but for heavens sake begin to be ... Oh, and I want to ask you, when you mak e your will , do leave me enough t o live on. I want you to live for ever. But I want you to make me in some part your heir. ... Yo u had better come and live near us ... (ii . 546-7 ) Neither invitatio n wa s likel y t o b e accepted ; give n th e letter' s contradictor y desires t o condem n an d t o kee p a filament o f friendshi p unbroken . A letter fro m Frieda jus t befor e leavin g fo r Zenno r wa s similarl y ambivalen t (ii . 553) . Sh e reproaches Russel l fo r no t reall y carin g fo r Lawrenc e despit e hi s protestations , or respectin g he r thoug h sh e respect s him . Nevertheles s sh e invite s hi m down , backed b y a friendly postscrip t fro m he r husband . Lawrenc e himsel f wrot e agai n 306
i and 2 Th e wedding photographs, 9 Selwood Terrace, South Kensington, London, I3julyi9i4 i Lawrence , Katherine Mansfield, Frieda, John Middleton Murry (cf. pp.142-3)
2 Murry , Frieda, Lawrence
3 D.H.Lawrence,26Jun e 191 3 (by W.G.Parker)
4 D . H. Lawrence, c. 1915 (by Bassano and Vandyke)
5 D . H. Lawrence at Mountain Cottage, Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Derbyshire, 1918
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8 Fried a at Irschenhausen on her birthday, 11 August 1913, wearing the Bavarian costume given to her by the Jaffes (cf. (ii. 57-60) and p. 91)
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9 Fried a and Lawrence at Grimsbury Farm, Hermitage, near Newbury, Berkshire, probably September 1919
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10 Frieda , October 1919
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11 Frieda , c. 19 September 1921
12 Barones s von Richthofen, c. 192 4
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13 Elsejaffe , 191 6
14 EdgarJaffe , <;. 1915-16
15 Edwar d Garnett, <:. 1908
16 Davi d ('Bunny') Garnett, c. 1922
17 Th e Hon. Cynthia Asquith with John, Kingsgate, Broadstairs, Summer 1913
18 Lad y Cynthia Asquith
19 Edwar d Marsh, 1912 (by Eliott Seabrooke)
20 Katherin e Mansfield and John Middleton Murry, c. 191 4
2i S . S. Koteliansky
22 MarkGertle r
23 Mar y Cannan, c. 1910
24 Gilber t Cannan, c. 191 0
25 D r David Eder
26 Viol a Meynell
27 Catherin e Carswell, c. 191 4
28 Ickin g bei Miinchen, the Leitners downstairs, Alfred Weber's flat upstairs
29 Vill a di Gargnano, Lago di Garda: the Villa di Paoli (left) and Villa Igea (rear)
30 Th e Villa Igea
31 Th e Meynell estate in Greatham, Sussex: Shed Hall (left) and Humphreys (right), with Monica Saleeby's house in the background
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32 Th e heraldry of Rananim, 3 January 1915 (misdated by Lawrence)
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NOVEMBER I 9 I 5-DECEMBER 1 9 1 6 MID-WINTE
R LIF E
in March , repeatin g th e invitation , an d clearl y hopin g no t t o hav e give n lastin g offence b y hi s hectorin g an d hi s politics : 'Ar e yo u stil l cros s wit h m e fo r bein g a schoolmaster an d fo r no t respectin g th e right s o f man? Don' t be , it isn' t wort h it ' (ii. 574) . H e an d Fried a alway s though t tha t i f on e ble w of f one' s opposition s and irritation s openl y (eve n th e on e abou t bein g s o poo r an d unheeded , whe n others wer e successfu l an d well-off) , i t woul d clea r th e ai r an d allo w on e t o pic k up th e relationshi p al l th e better . Thi s friendshi p however , di d no t recove r fro m what mus t hav e seeme d straightforwardl y offensiv e - thoug h Ottolin e trie d t o excuse Lawrenc e a s both il l and unbalance d b y worr y abou t conscription , whic h 50
was imminent now . The friendshi p wit h Ottolin e wa s also damaged a t Porthcothan. Th e Morrells ' support ove r The Rainbow (despit e he r mixe d response ) ha d bee n ver y importan t to Lawrence , an d i n thei r isolatio n i n Cornwal l he r kindnes s was eve n mor e valuable. Sh e worrie d abou t ho w h e woul d tak e th e winte r there , an d sen t hi m a bright red-orang e sweate r whic h mad e hi m fee l lik e a robi n (ii . 503) , an d a counterpane t o kee p hi m war m (ii . 538) . H e depende d o n he r fo r books , mostl y from th e Londo n Library , fo r a new cours e o f readin g whe n h e was confine d t o his bed ; an d h e wrot e he r lon g letter s abou t the m a t a time whe n th e circl e o f his correspondent s ha d becom e smalle r tha n a t an y poin t sinc e 1912 . I t was he r generosity, too , tha t supplie d th e specia l food s (concentrate d mea t extract , soluble mil k casein , etc. ) whic h Maitlan d ha d prescribe d bu t whic h th e Lawrences, income-les s an d ekin g ou t th e mone y tha t ha d bee n collecte d fo r them t o g o t o America , coul d il l afford (ii . 517 , 522). It wa s i n recognitio n o f he r generosity an d sympath y tha t Lawrenc e dedicate d Amoves t o her . Ther e wer e even tw o friendl y letter s fro m Fried a i n January, secondin g Lawrence' s invita tion t o mak e the m a visit . Ottolin e wa s apprehensive , rememberin g th e fierce argument ove r Nietzsch e a t thei r las t meetin g - bu t Fried a wa s obviousl y making a n effort , thoug h sh e ma y als o hav e chafe d unde r Ottoline' s patronage . Then, whe n Ottolin e wa s suppose d t o b e comin g i n th e las t wee k o f January bu t asked t o postpon e becaus e sh e wa s unwell , Fried a suddenl y fired of f anothe r letter whic h effectivel y pu t a n en d t o an y ide a o f venturin g int o he r lair . 'Isn' t Fri[e]da a madwoman!!' wrot e Ottolin e t o Russell, 'Sh e woul d driv e m e ma d too . I wonde r wh y sh e make s thi s attac k o n m e . . . I hav e writte n he r a n answe r a s soothing a s I coul d - bu t sh e put s m y bac k u p so. ' Sh e sen t th e lette r no t onl y to Russell , bu t afterward s an d significantl y t o Murr y an d Katherin e wh o ha d been makin g overture s sinc e Murry' s Christma s a t Garsington , whic h Lawrenc e had arranged . He r visi t was neve r pai d - so , a s i t happened , sh e neve r sa w Lawrence again . She wa s no t innocen t o f offence . Th e Bloomsbur y vic e o f gossi p behin d people's back s ha d backfired , confirmin g Frieda' s suspicio n o f th e rea l attitude s beneath Ottoline' s ladylik e manners . Heseltin e an d Kouyoumdjia n ha d tol d 307
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
Frieda wha t ha d bee n sai d a t Garsingto n abou t he r an d he r marriage . Frieda' s reproach was neithe r ma d no r unjustified , no r indee d a breach i n relations , an d showed perhap s mor e imaginatio n abou t Ottoline' s experienc e tha n sh e ha d shown abou t Frieda's . ... I know in your heart, you have been my enemy. You thought tha t Lawrence ought to leave me, that I am bad fo r him , that h e does not care for m e .. . bot h hi s behaviour an d mine stupidl y giv e thi s impressio n t o other peopl e - Bu t yo u don' t kno w wha t w e have been t o each othe r i n thes e tryin g years , how he has grown an d s o have I and ou r fights have been th e lesse r unrea l thin g - Yo u hav e been ver y unfai r t o me, I think , yo u hav e tried t o put m e down as of no account - I could understan d tha t as you must have had to put u p with some terrible artist's wive s ... Bu t you are good an d understandin g an d I do think it' s ou r rea l desir e t o b e friends ! W e ough t t o b e i n spit e o f difference s i n temperament.D Lawrence trie d t o repai r th e damage . O n 2 4 January h e diplomaticall y assume d that Ottoline' s visi t ha d merel y bee n postpone d - perhap s wisely , sinc e sh e was none to o wel l an d h e wa s stil l convalescen t - an d h e offere d a n apolog y o n Frieda's behal f whic h sh e might no t hav e don e herself . Frieda wa s sorry sh e sent yo u a disagreeable lette r whe n yo u wer e ill. But Heseltin e and Kouyoumdjian ha d been tellin g her th e things you said about he r - an d he r an d me - s o she was cross. But sh e is not reall y cross. Perhaps th e wa y we behave t o one another sh e and I make s everybod y believ e tha t ther e i s rea l incompatibilit y betwee n us . Bu t yo u know that really we are married t o each other - I know you know it. (ii. 512) There i s apology , bu t als o a statemen t o f th e conditio n o n whic h futur e relationship woul d depend . Thre e day s late r (jus t afte r Pum a arrived ) h e argue d in Blakea n term s tha t oppositio n coul d becom e true r friendship : 'Le t th e troubl e between yo u an d F . b e forgotte n now . You r nature s ar e differen t an d opposite . But wh y shouldn' t opposite s exis t i n a stat e o f peace , lik e da y an d night . Yo u will alway s spea k differen t languages , an d stan d o n differen t shore s o f th e sea . But wh y not ? Wh y shoul d lif e b e a homogeneity?' (ii . 517) . On 1 5 February, hi s diagnosis o f the spli t i n Heseltine , an d ho w i t might requir e polygamou s kind s o f fulfilment, goe s on : For myself, thank God , I feel myself becoming more and mor e unified, mor e and mor e a oneness. An d Fried a an d I becom e mor e an d mor e trul y marrie d - fo r whic h I than k heaven. It ha s been such a fight. But it is coming right. And the n w e can all three be real friends. Then w e shall be really happy, all of us, in our relation, (ii. 539) He implie d tha t Frieda' s attack s o n Ottolin e aros e ou t o f marital strai n cause d by a spli t i n him, whic h mad e hi m (i n Frieda' s eyes ) to o draw n t o Ottoline' s soulfulness; bu t conversely , tha t hi s becomin g mor e unifie d woul d strengthe n the marriag e an d tempe r hi s relatio n wit h Ottolin e int o a calme r friendshi p 308
NOVEMBER I 9 I 5-DECEMBER 1 9 1 6 MID-WINTE
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which Fried a coul d accept , an d join . Thi s wa s however , als o a statemen t o f hi s priorities, and a n insistenc e tha t hi s wif e an d hi s marriage b e respected . Having hear d tha t i t wa s Heseltin e wh o ha d lande d he r i n trouble , Ottolin e wrote t o reproac h him , an d go t a counterblast i n repl y whic h wil l no t hav e mad e her mor e sympatheti c t o hi s pursui t o f Juliette . H e quote d fro m th e Iliad (xi. 312-3) : 'Hi m d o I hat e eve n a s I hat e Hel l Fire, / Wh o say s on e thin g an d hides anothe r i n hi s heart' . H e admitte d tha t h e wa s tactless , bu t i t wa s 'becaus e I a m convince d tha t tact , s o fa r fro m providin g a cur e fo r misunderstandings , merely suppresse s the m fo r a while , afte r whic h the y brea k ou t wit h renewe d virulence'. Fried a ha d bee n 'mos t unjustl y maligne d behin d he r back' . H e ha d helped brin g thing s int o th e open . H e wa s not a t all repentant . Though Ottolin e was no t likel y t o b e convince d no w b y Lawrenc e constantl y sending Frieda' s lov e alon g wit h his , Fried a di d writ e a reconcilin g lette r jus t before the y lef t Porthcothan . I t remaine d t o b e see n whethe r Ottolin e woul d understand o r accep t wha t Lawrenc e ha d tol d her . Thoug h sh e stil l care d abou t him, th e relationshi p wa s being steadil y erode d b y hostilit y betwee n th e women . Unfortunately th e newe r friendship s fare d n o better ; fo r th e breac h wit h Kouyoumdjian was followed , a t th e en d o f thei r sta y a t Porthcothan , b y a breac h with Heseltin e too . In February , wit h characteristi c slightl y mani c enthusiasm , Heseltin e too k u p the ide a o f publishin g ne w wor k b y subscriptio n whic h ha d bee n floate d bot h b y Murry an d b y Cliv e Bel l before Christmas , and whic h Lawrenc e ha d presumabl y mentioned i n on e o f thei r discussion s o f th e philistin e Britis h publi c whic h would no t suppor t o r tolerat e seriou s work s o f art . Th e classi c cas e was The Rainbow, s o th e ne w schem e wa s t o b e calle d 'Th e Rainbo w Book s an d Music' , and th e republicatio n o f th e suppresse d nove l a t 7/ 6 woul d b e th e firs t bai t fo r subscribers. Heseltin e ordere d a t hi s ow n expens e - h e ha d '£15 0 a yea r o f hi s own' an d a n allowanc e fro m hi s mothe r (ii . 549 ) - 1,00 0 copie s o f a circular, th e proof o f whic h arrive d o n 1 7 Februar y (ii . 542) . Ottolin e reacte d strongl y t o it s arrogance; fo r example : It is monstrous that the herd shoul d lor d it over the uttered word . The swin e has only to grunt disapprobation, and the very angels of heaven will be compelled to silence. It i s time tha t enoug h peopl e o f courage an d passionat e sou l shoul d ris e u p t o for m a nucleus o f th e livin g truth ; sinc e ther e mus t b e thos e amon g u s wh o car e mor e fo r th e truth than for any advantage. This wa s Heseltine' s writing , thoug h wit h distinc t Lawrencia n echoes . I n th e last wee k o f February Phili p lef t fo r Londo n wit h Pum a t o se e to th e sendin g ou t of th e circular , intendin g als o t o visi t som e o f Lawrence' s friend s an d dru m u p support. Th e friendshi p wa s stil l intact . Afte r thei r ow n mov e t o Zenno r o n th e 309
D. H . L A W R E N C E : T R I U M P H T O EXIL E
29th, indeed , Lawrenc e woul d eve n sugges t t o th e Murry s o n 8 Marc h - a s a remarkably ill-conceive d par t o f hi s pla n t o se t u p Ranani m ane w - tha t Heseltine migh t hav e a roo m i n th e large r cottag e a t Highe r Tregerthe n whic h he wante d Katherin e an d Murr y t o take (ii . 564) . Yet o n tha t sam e da y Heseltin e wa s declaring i n a letter t o Nichol s tha t h e wa s not goin g bac k t o Lawrence . Fo r 'h e ha s n o rea l sympathy . Al l h e like s i n on e i s the potentia l conver t t o hi s ow n reactionar y creed . I believ e firml y tha t h e i s a fine thinke r an d a consummat e artist , bu t persona l relatio n wit h hi m i s almos t impossible. A t leas t s o i t appear s a t present.' 58 I n Lawrence' s lette r t o Ottolin e on 2 5 Februar y ther e ar e trace s o f a n argumen t befor e Heseltin e lef t Porth cothan, whic h revea l wha t Lawrenc e ha d seeme d unsympatheti c an d dictatoria l about, thoug h i n th e self-sam e lette r h e assure s he r tha t Phili p 'i s reall y ver y good an d I depen d o n hi m an d believ e i n him ' (ii . 557) . Lawrenc e mus t hav e told him , i n hi s lecturin g way , wha t h e no w tell s Ottoline : tha t Phili p was unfai r to Puma , wa s idealisin g Juliett e an d woul d reac t agains t he r jus t a s surel y i f h e stayed wit h he r ' exclusive'ly\ H e ha s fait h i n Heseltine , 'Bu t h e i s exasperating , because h e i s alway s i n suc h a stat e o f ma d reaction against things , al l ma d reactions.' Th e chimin g o f th e wor d i s n o accident . Th e 'reactionar y creed ' Heseltine objecte d t o was no t th e politic s w e mean b y th e word , bu t th e deman d that Phili p accept , a s applying t o him, th e diagnosi s o f destructive 'reaction ' fro m one extrem e t o anothe r tha t Lawrenc e ha d bee n formulatin g i n 'Goat s an d Compasses'. Though smartin g unde r thi s persona l applicatio n o f th e ne w philosophica l work, Philip stil l believed Lawrenc e t o be a 'fine thinker ' an d wa s recommendin g it i n th e circula r fo r 'Th e Rainbo w Book s an d Music' . Wors e was howeve r t o come, an d sometim e befor e 2 2 Apri l whe n Heseltin e wrot e t o Deliu s abou t it , the relationshi p was broke n - a s wa s th e publishin g scheme , fo r ther e ha d bee n only 3 0 replies fro m 60 0 circulars . Heseltine eve n no w maintained tha t Lawrenc e was ' a fin e artis t an d a hard , thoug h horribl y distorted , thinker' : 'Bu t persona l relationship wit h hi m i s impossibl e - h e act s a s a subtle an d deadl y poison . Th e affair b y whic h I foun d hi m ou t i s fa r to o lon g t o ente r upo n her e . . . Th e ma n really mus t b e a bit mad , thoug h hi s behaviour nearl y lande d m e i n a fearful fi x indeed, i t wa s calculate d t o d o so. ' Thoug h w e canno t kno w fo r certai n wha t had happened , th e stron g likelihoo d i s tha t Heseltin e though t Lawrenc e ha d torpedoed hi s chance s wit h Juliette . Befor e Pum a cam e t o Cornwall , h e ha d wanted t o b e ri d o f her . H e certainl y di d no t wan t th e blond e an d pur e gir l t o know abou t th e dar k an d sensua l one , stil l les s tha t h e ha d s o recentl y take n u p with Pum a agai n - bu t Lawrenc e insiste d h e ough t t o tel l Juliett e (ii . 539) , probably abou t th e pregnanc y too , thoug h w e d o no t kno w fo r sure . (H e ha d detested lie s an d subterfug e wit h Weekley. ) So , i f Phili p no w blame d Juliette' s rejection o f him o n he r findin g ou t abou t Pum a throug h Lawrence' s indiscretio n 310
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to Ottoline , an d stil l mor e i f Ottolin e ha d confronte d hi m wit h a recognisabl y Lawrencian diagnosi s o f hi s unreliability , o r eve n (a s sh e ha d a habi t o f doing ) actually showe d hi m Lawrence' s letter , bot h th e remar k abou t poiso n an d th e 'fix' woul d b e clea r enough . H e ha d don e n o mor e tha n tel l Ottolin e wha t h e had tol d Heseltin e himself , o n a subjec t whic h th e youn g ma n discusse d quit e openly; bu t i t wa s nonetheles s a betraya l o f confidence . (A n iron y howeve r appears i n Heseltine' s defenc e t o Ottolin e o f hi s ow n tactlessness , an d o f bringing thing s int o th e open. ) The resul t o f Lawrence' s 'interference ' wit h Bunn y Garnet t ha d no t persuaded hi m t o b e mor e careful . H e was t o se e th e othe r sid e o f Heseltin e now. Instea d o f sendin g bac k 'Goat s an d Compasses ' whic h Ottolin e entruste d to him , h e no t onl y use d i t fo r toile t pape r (accordin g t o Gray ) bu t threatene d t o write a critica l exposure . H e imagine d ho w reviewer s woul d 'gloat ' ove r a revelation o f th e 'distorte d soul ' o f thi s 'monste r o f obscenity' . H e himsel f gloated t o Deliu s (wit h mor e callownes s tha n imagination ) abou t ho w 'comicall y perturbed' Lawrenc e became , an d ho w h e ha d 'practicall y n o friend s left' . Heseltine's reveng e ma y hav e sorte d il l wit h th e lin e h e ha d take n abou t th e bourgeois an d The Rainbow, bu t h e kne w wher e th e jugula r was . Lawrenc e gathered wha t shred s o f dignit y h e could : 'I t ha s becom e ludicrou s an d rathe r shameful. I onl y wis h tha t yo u an d Pum a shoul d no t tal k abou t us , fo r decency's sake . I assur e yo u I shal l hav e nothin g t o sa y o f yo u an d her . Th e whole busines s i s s o shamefull y fit fo r a Kouyoumdjia n sketch ' (ii . 598) . I t would o f course com e t o mor e tha n that ; fo r Heseltin e woul d no t b e quie t - nor , within th e year , woul d Lawrence . So, withi n thre e month s o f th e mov e t o Cornwall , hi s hope s o f Ranani m among th e young , too , had dissolved . IV Ranani m a t Zenno r The Beresford s wante d thei r hous e a t th e beginnin g o f March . Lawrenc e appears neve r t o hav e considere d leavin g Cornwall , thoug h h e di d no t muc h care fo r th e Cornish . I n fact , becaus e o f his illness , h e ha d me t ver y few , an d i t is to thes e tha t hi s generalisation s shoul d b e traced . I n a fit of irritation a t th e en d of hi s sta y h e rant s tha t th e Cornis h 'hav e go t th e soul s o f insects ' (ii . 552) , h e has neve r i n hi s lif e com e acros s suc h innerl y selfis h an d greed y people , the y ar e only tolerabl e a s servant s (thoug h eve n Emm a i s grasping , now ) - an d h e wishe s they coul d b e exterminated . Fou r day s late r h e confesse s ashamedl y t o Beatric e Beresford, wh o ha d take n hi m u p sharpl y o n this , tha t h e ha d bee n exasperate d 'past bearing ' becaus e h e ha d foun d th e peopl e fro m who m h e ha d trie d t o hir e houses 's o greedy"*', askin g three , four , eve n five guinea s a week, whic h mean t tha t even no w (o n thei r las t day ) the y ha d nowher e definit e t o live . H e like d Emm a 3ii
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and hate d havin g bee n unjus t t o he r (ii . 559) . Worry ha d lai n behin d hi s ange r and hi s illnes s ha d lef t hi m mor e irritabl e tha n ever , thoug h th e episod e als o shows, once again, how h e woul d respon d whe n someon e stoo d u p t o him . Vile individual s notwithstanding , Cornwal l wa s wher e h e wante d t o stay . Maitland Radfor d ha d holidaye d i n Zennor , s o the y wen t fo r th e da y t o look , and foun d i t 'wil d an d remot e an d beautiful ' (ii . 554) . Nearer stil l t o Land' s En d was psychologicall y righ t fo r a man wh o ha d wante d t o cu t loos e fro m Englan d altogether. O n Lea p Year' s da y the y move d int o th e Tinner' s Arm s a t Zennor , with hig h hope s o f finding a house tha t woul d b e cheap enoug h fo r them , tha t is , no more tha n £1 a week. 6 O n 5 March h e wrot e excitedl y t o the Murrys : It i s a most beautifu l place : a tiny granit e villag e nestling unde r high , shaggy moor-hills , and a bi g swee p o f lovel y se a beyond , suc h a lovel y sea , lovelie r eve n tha n th e Mediterranean. I t i s 5 miles fro m St . Ives , and 7 miles fro m Penzanc e .. . I t i s all gorse now, flickering with flower .. . I t is the best place I have been in, I think, (ii. 563) At Highe r Tregerthe n the y ha d foun d tw o cottage s fo r ren t unfurnished , standing a t righ t angle s t o eac h other , onl y a fe w stride s apart . Th e smalle r ha d just tw o rooms , bu t woul d b e onl y £ 5 a year ! - an d tha t woul d b e theirs . Th e larger ha d ' a funn y littl e towe r a t on e end ' wit h a towe r roo m fo r a study , an d was t o b e ha d fo r £1 6 p. a (ii . 564-5) . Thi s th e Murry s mus t take . H e ha d bee n urging the m t o com e fo r month s no w - an d i n fac t the y ha d alread y writte n (o n the 4th) tha t the y would . Their decisio n ha d no t com e easily , fo r afte r thei r miserie s a t th e en d o f 191 5 they ha d bee n ver y happ y an d productiv e togethe r a t Bandol . Afte r Murr y ha d left he r i n Decembe r Katherin e wrot e Lawrenc e a n il l an d despairin g letter . Murry happene d t o b e a t Byro n Villa s whe n i t came , an d wa s tol d roundl y tha t her miser y wa s his faul t becaus e h e neve r offere d he r a new life , woul d no t brea k with hi s pas t an d wa s 'alway s whinin g & neve r makin g a decision' . H e shoul d never hav e lef t he r alone. 64 Shocke d ou t o f self-absorption , Murr y decide d t o rejoin he r afte r Christmas . Sinc e Katherin e ha d als o rediscovere d he r depen dence on him , the y wrot e themselves int o lov e again. At Christma s a t Garsingto n indeed, Murr y wo n Ottoline' s sympath y b y talkin g constantl y o f Katherine . Strachey an d Cliv e Bel l (h e tol d Katherine ) als o like d hi m becaus e the y though t 'that betwee n m e an d yo u ther e i s actually happenin g tha t incredibl e thin g calle d a grande passion .. . An d I imagin e tha t somethin g o f th e glamou r o f i t hang s about m e nowadays' . This wa s partly self-dramatisatio n an d myth-makin g t o wi n friends an d influenc e people , lik e hi s manipulatio n o f {Catherine' s imag e afte r her death ; bu t i t als o persuade d him an d cure d hi s indecisions . Ottolin e tol d Russell abou t Murry' s 'wonderfu l devotion ' t o Katherin e an d ho w h e ha d rushed of f bac k t o he r i n France . H e mad e sur e o f a welcom e a t Garsingto n when the y returned . 312
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You have made me feel that ther e is at least one place in England whic h is a haven fo r u s both, and I know that Katherine will be as happy in that knowledge as I. I wen t t o yo u i n terror .. . I cam e awa y feelin g tha t w e - I ca n neve r regar d mysel f alone - ha d found a friend - pou r toujours, to use our magic word.' At Bando l moreove r self-imag e an d realit y bega n t o coincid e fo r a while . Thei r three month s a t th e Vill a Paulin e wer e thei r happies t an d mos t productiv e ever . Each found , a s a writer, a newl y authenti c voice , Katherin e i n 'Th e Aloe ' (late r condensed int o 'Prelude' ) an d Murr y i n hi s book o n Dostoevsky . So the y wer e no t anxiou s t o leave . Moreover, thoug h Lawrenc e wrot e tha t h e saw hi s othe r friendship s 'a s acros s th e grave' , an d urge d the m t o com e an d liv e with the m 'i n unanimity ' (ii . 482) , h e wante d a relationship tha t di d no t depen d on persona l affinit y o r intellectua l agreement , whic h wer e th e Murrys ' currency . (It di d no t matter , therefore , wha t th e ne w youn g friend s h e ha d suc h hope s fo r were, personally. ) Wit h th e Murry s to o h e wante d 'n o personal obligation , n o personal idea . Le t i t b e a unio n i n th e unconsciousness , no t i n th e conscious ness.' A s he urged Katherin e t o ge t better an d com e bac k s o they coul d 'al l tr y t o be happy together*, ther e was an implie d proviso . In an y cas e however , th e proposa l lef t Katherin e 'cold' . The y wer e no t th e joining kind , 'no t mad e t o d o tha t kin d o f thing ever' . I n fac t the y ha d thei r eye s on Garsington . O n Murry' s wa y t o Bando l a secon d lette r tol d Ottolin e ho w precious th e ne w friendshi p was , especiall y sinc e h e an d Katherin e neve r seemed t o tak e roo t i n places , 'o r i n th e heart s o f thos e wh o cal l themselve s ou r friends. I a m no t whinin g a t al l - tho ' Lorenz o say s I d o - fo r i t i s a fair pric e t o pay fo r ou r ow n secre t an d transcenden t happines s together . Bu t ther e ar e time s when w e suffer terribly. ' Bot h wrot e fro m Bando l i n lat e January. Katherin e ha d only me t Ottolin e once , briefly , whe n Lawrenc e ha d take n the m t o Bedfor d Square, bu t tell s he r no w tha t 'eve r sinc e th e da y whe n Murr y cam e an d said : "There's a perfectly wonderfu l woma n i n England"' , sh e ha d wante d t o writ e which sh e doe s wit h unction , beggin g Ottolin e t o 'remembe r tha t yo u ar e rea l and lovel y t o u s bot h an d tha t w e ar e eve r gratefu l t o yo u becaus e yo u are' . Murry bracket s Ottolin e wit h Lawrenc e a s on e o f th e fe w wh o 'understand' ; though i n Lawrence' s 'moo d o f shakin g hi s Englis h dus t fro m hi s shoes , h e made m e ye t mor e miserable . I lov e hi m s o muc h tha t I canno t bea r th e though t of mor e sufferin g fo r him' . A t Garsingto n h e kne w 'tha t Katherin e an d I an d Lawrence reall y ha d a restin g plac e i n England' . On e nam e howeve r i s pointedly missing . No wonde r the n tha t Ottolin e shoul d tur n t o thes e ne w friend s fo r suppor t against Fried a - o r tha t the y shoul d rejoic e togethe r a s firs t Kouyoumdjian , an d later an d especiall y Heseltin e departed . Havin g go t bac k Frieda' s lat e Januar y denunciation fro m Russell , Ottolin e sen t i t t o Bando l wit h th e new s tha t 313
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Heseltine ha d betraye d he r confidenc e - bu t the y als o heard fro m Lawrence , jus t recovering fro m hi s illness , that Heseltin e wa s still a t Porthcotha n an d beginnin g to b e include d i n th e plan s t o liv e togethe r wit h them . Wors e still , thoug h Lawrence migh t writ e ' I fee l yo u ar e m y onl y rea l friend s i n th e world ' (ii . 533) , Heseltine appeare d t o b e musclin g i n o n th e schem e fo r privat e publicatio n which Murr y claime d a s hi s - thoug h Cliv e Bel l ha d als o bee n proposin g something similar . Moreove r Fried a ha d writte n t o Katherine , perhap s pickin g up som e hin t o f thei r ne w relatio n wit h Ottoline , i n term s sh e though t 'censorious', thoug h Lawrenc e denie d this . O n 4 Marc h Katherin e drafte d a peace-making repl y i n he r journal : 'Than k yo u fo r you r letter , dear , bu t yo u really haven' t bee n righ t i n judgin g u s first th e kin d o f traitor s tha t yo u did . Jack never woul d hea r a wor d agains t Lawrence' . H e woul d howeve r agains t Frieda , and he r suspicio n o f some collusio n betwee n Ottolin e an d th e Murry s was not s o easily lai d t o rest . S o whe n sh e wrot e a welcomin g lette r o n 8 March , t o pu t a n end t o 'an y mor e soulharrassing , w e ar e friends an d w e won t bothe r anymor e about th e deep things , the y ar e al l right , jus t let' s liv e lik e th e lilie s i n th e field' (ii. 571) ; sh e coul d no t resis t askin g als o whethe r 'th e ol d Ott. ' ha d sai d ''horrid things' abou t her , an d hopin g tha t Jac k 'didn' t swallo w the m all' . (Indee d i t seems sh e ha d gon e o n broodin g abou t this , sinc e sh e ha d sen t anothe r angr y letter t o Ottoline soo n afte r arrivin g i n Zennor. ) The Murry s ha d als o talke d o f treachery , bein g jealou s an d upse t abou t th e friendship wit h Heseltine . Lawrenc e wrot e bac k reassuringly . 'No w don' t ge t in a state, yo u two , about nothing . Th e Publishin g schem e ha s no t ye t becom e a t all rea l o r important , t o me. ' H e explained , rathe r disingenuously , tha t th e enthusiasm was Heseltine's, an d tha t the y wer e no t t o 'thin k hi s friendshi p hurt s ours. I t doesn' t touc h i t . . . W e mus t treasur e an d valu e ver y muc h an y on e wh o will really be adde d o n t o us.' Yet hi s illness ha d mad e hi m newl y vulnerable . I begin t o tremble and fee l sick at the slightest upset: your lette r fo r instance . Do be mild with me for a bit. Don't ge t silly notions. I've waited fo r yo u for tw o years now, an d am far mor e constant t o you than eve r yo u are to me - o r ever will be. Which yo u know . So don't use foolish language . I believe in you, and there's the end of it. (ii. 548—9) That kin d o f belief , an d no t a relatio n buil t upo n th e up s an d down s o f personal feeling , i s what h e wanted . The Murry s wer e no t t o b e mollifie d abou t Heseltine , however , an d wit h some justification , sinc e 'Th e Rainbo w Book s an d Music ' ha d gon e a s fa r a s a circular withou t the m (thoug h th e nee d t o ge t The Rainbow bac k i n print , fo r Lawrence's sake , migh t hav e seeme d a n importan t consideration) . O n 2 6 February Katherin e thanke d Ottolin e fo r showin g the m Frieda' s letter : Sh e was pleased tha t 'th e Armenia n i s gon e bu t I wis h h e ha d take n Haseltin e [sic ] wit h him . . . Wha t a pit y i t i s tha t dea r Lorenz o see s rainbow s aroun d s o man y dul l 3H
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people an d pot s o f gol d i n s o man y mea n hearts . Bu t h e wil l neve r chang e - ' Murry adde d a postscript : 'W e ar e goin g t o sta y wit h th e Lawrence s fo r eve r and eve r a s perhap s yo u know ; I daresa y eternit y wil l las t th e whol e o f th e summer.' 7 H e di d no t relis h a lette r fro m Lawrenc e wit h a ver y differen t opinion o f Dostoevsky fro m hi s own, or th e suggestio n tha t i f he had no t finished his book, the y migh t d o i t together ! Moreover th e Lawrenc e who m the y wer e joinin g wa s much change d fro m th e Lawrence the y ha d left . Thei r lac k o f sympath y wit h The Rainbow an d thei r absence a s he absorbe d th e blo w ma y hav e prevente d the m fro m imaginin g wha t its destructio n ha d mean t t o him . A t a distanc e the y ma y no t hav e realised , either, ho w il l h e ha d bee n i n Porthcothan . Mos t o f all , caugh t u p i n thei r ow n exciting progres s a s writer s an d thei r happines s together , i t was perhap s onl y natural tha t the y pai d littl e attentio n t o th e sign s o f a n importan t chang e i n Lawrence's wa y o f thinking . Whil e h e ha d bee n il l h e ha d bee n engage d o n a significant cours e o f reading . Th e landscap e roun d Porthcotha n spok e t o hi m o f worlds wholl y othe r tha n th e corrup t present : o f wha t was un-English , pre Christian an d 'primitive ' i f one define d 'civilisation ' a s post-Socratic an d rational . It wa s th e suppose d pea k o f Christia n civilisatio n tha t ha d create d th e trenche s and th e horde s o f enthusiasti c youn g me n rushin g int o them , thei r name s filling the newspape r column s o f casualties ever y day , and eve n mor e s o in 1916 . It was in th e nam e o f tha t civilisatio n tha t th e attemp t o f a 'passionatel y religiou s man ' to creat e a ne w pros e fo r 'God ' ha d bee n declare d obscen e an d destroyed . Th e great evolutio n o f rationa l scienc e wa s jus t abou t t o reac h it s apotheosi s i n lat e February i n th e bombardment s o f Verdun , bu t ha d alread y showe d clearl y enough wha t feat s coul d b e engineere d b y mass-me n lik e Skrebensky . S o i n January an d Februar y Lawrenc e bega n t o as k Ottolin e fo r book s tha t woul d tak e him bac k behind the whol e Graeco-Roman-Christia n civilisatio n tha t was now s o visibly comin g apart . H e rea d Hesiod' s Homeric Hymns, an d responde d immedi ately t o th e frontispiec e o f Dionyso s crossin g th e se a - no w tha t Apollo' s reig n must end . He rea d a histor y o f th e Eas t an d love d it . 'Babylon , Nineveh , Ashburnipal , how on e somehow , suddenl y understand s it. ' Th e lon g stretc h o f pre-Gree k history gav e a comfortin g perspectiv e t o th e convulsio n an d mass-killin g o f th e present. I cannot tel l yo u th e joy of ranging fa r bac k ther e seein g the horde s surg e ou t of Arabia, or over the edge of the Iranian plateau. It is like looking at the morning star. The worl d is very big, and the course of mankind i s stupendous. What does a crashing down of nations and empire s matter, her e and there ! What is death, in the individual! I don't car e if sixty million individuals die: the seed is not in the masses, it is elsewhere, (ii. 528-9 ) It i s o f cours e becaus e h e did car e tha t h e ha d t o searc h fo r los t secret s o f bette r 315
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living. H e rea d Maspero' s Egypte (wit h profi t fo r th e futur e Women in Love), bu t found i t to o academi c an d aske d fo r anothe r 'no t to o big' , becaus e I lik e t o fill i t in myself (ii . 529) . (Lik e mos t imaginativ e writer s h e wa s an inspire d extracte r rather tha n a studen t o f learne d works. ) H e als o enjoye d Coulton' s translatio n (From St. Francis to Dante) o f th e Chronicle o f th e Francisca n Salimbene , because h e like d t o se e peopl e 'a s the y wer e whe n th e Christia n ide a wa s stil l only a graf t upo n thei r lives , ha d no t entere d i n thei r bloo d . . . On e ha s t o recover th e origina l self , now ' (ii . 538) . Hi s interest s ha d als o turne d t o ethnology an d 'primitiv e religion' . H e ha d bee n readin g Frazer' s Golden Bough and Totem and Exogamy th e previou s December , an d ha d writte n tha t importan t letter t o Russel l abou t 'blood-consciousness' . H e ha d bee n intereste d als o i n th e West Africa n carvin g h e ha d see n i n Heseltine' s Londo n flat ; a s wel l a s b y th e Indian Ajant a frescoe s whic h seeme d 'th e mos t perfec t thing s I hav e eve r see n Botticelli i s vulga r besid e them' . I n th e perfectio n o f thei r relatio n o f ma n an d woman the y marke d 'th e zenit h o f a ver y lovel y civilisation , th e cres t o f a ver y perfect wav e o f huma n developement ' (ii . 489) . Ther e were , then , civilisation s quite a s worthy an d fa r les s destructiv e tha n th e Europea n one . Tylor's Primitive Culture, despit e it s arrogant tal k o f 'lower ' an d 'higher ' cultures , impresse d upo n him th e ide a tha t al l ove r th e worl d me n share d simila r way s o f thinking , i n th e so-called primitiv e culture s tha t precede d so-calle d civilisation . H e als o rea d Gilbert Murra y o n th e developmen t o f Gree k religion , dislikin g th e style , 'Bu t the stuf f o f th e boo k interest s m e enormously'' (ii . 559) . H e woul d hav e bee n interested i n anythin g Heseltin e ha d t o tel l hi m abou t hi s readin g i n th e occul t (though thi s wa s probabl y a n earl y stag e i n Philip' s study ) sinc e tha t to o migh t seam bac k int o pre-Socrati c an d pre-Christia n mode s o f though t an d religiou s experience. I n Cornwal l h e coul d tr y t o g o bac k t o 'th e primeva l worl d tha t i s strong an d completel y unsaddened ' (ii . 512) , befor e wha t ha d gon e wron g began. The Murry s ha d n o ide a o f al l this , a s the y agree d t o com e t o Zennor . B y mid-February howeve r the y ha d realise d tha t i f the y wante d t o retai n thei r special friendshi p the y neede d t o respon d positivel y t o Lawrence' s urgin g - an d Katherine cable d accordingl y a s early a s the 17t h (ii . 545) , which hardl y suggest s that the y wer e a s 'non-committal ' a s Murry late r claimed . Moreove r Lawrenc e was whole-hearte d an d hi s enthusias m wa s infectious . 'Good, ' h e cried , 'al l i s well betwee n u s all . N o mor e quarrel s an d quibbles . Le t i t b e agree d fo r ever . I am Blutbruder : a Blutbruderschaf t betwee n u s all . Tel l K . not t o b e s o queasy ' (ii. 570) . They woul d arriv e i n April , whe n i t woul d b e war m enoug h fo r Katherine . I n the meantim e Lawrenc e busie d himsel f (an d hi s Londo n friends ) t o ge t wha t remained o f their ow n possession s fro m th e Hampstea d hous e gathere d togethe r and sen t dow n - fo r no w the y wer e t o have a home again . With a clear realisatio n 316
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that i t was ^Catherine' s sensitivitie s tha t woul d b e important , h e aske d thei r ne w landlord Captai n Short , a retire d seaman , 'sof t lik e a child , wit h a mani a fo r fussing' bu t ' a perfec t dear ' (ii . 576-7 , 581) , t o mov e th e priv y fro m wher e i t dominated th e vie w fro m th e Murrys ' cottage , an d t o ge t som e colour-washin g done befor e thei r arrival . The y wen t t o S t Ive s t o bu y coconut-matting , an d furniture fro m Benney' s auction . Lawrenc e mad e a roug h dresse r an d shelves , and planne d t o cove r th e sprin g o n th e hillsid e fro m whic h thei r wate r ha d t o b e fetched - a little poin t h e ha d omitte d t o mentio n t o th e Murrys , alon g wit h th e outside privy , an d a damp patc h i n th e dining-roo m whic h bode d non e to o wel l for th e ston e cottage s a s a whole . H e was bus y an d happy ; feelin g th e sprin g coming, watchin g th e lamb s fris k roun d th e bi g boulder s i n th e grass . 'Neve r mind tha t yo u don' t lik e my philosophy' , h e wrot e t o Ottoline , 'i t doesn' t matter ' (ii. 580) . Perhaps h e migh t g o on wit h 'Mis s Houghton ' agai n i f he coul d ge t th e manuscript bac k fro m German y wher e h e ha d lef t i t i n 1913 , but h e wa s i n n o hurry t o write . Hi s min d wa s se t o n th e Murrys ' arrival ; th e realisatio n o f Rananim lik e a 'littl e monastery ' (onc e again) , suc h a s thos e i n th e dar k age s which ha d kep t th e hop e o f a better lif e alive .
V Wutherin
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At las t the y came , i n th e firs t wee k o f April . Murr y recalle d nearl y twent y year s later tha t n o soone r wer e the y alon e i n th e Tinner' s Arm s tha n Katherine , wh o had no t wante d t o leav e Bando l an d ha d no t care d fo r Cornwal l i n 1914 , crie d out ' I shal l never lik e thi s place' ; an d althoug h h e enjoye d th e expedition s t o S t Ives an d Benney's , h e s o share d he r forebodin g tha t h e painte d hi s chair s black , as agains t Lawrence' s cheerfu l colour-schem e o f pin k an d whit e an d roya l blue . Murry's memor y tende d t o b e selective , an d h e wante d late r t o presen t th e episode a s doome d fro m th e start . Ye t h e remembere d als o wha t fu n i t ha d bee n to be wit h Lawrenc e again , experiencing 'th e war m an d irresistibl e intimac y wit h which h e surrounde d one , a n atmospher e establishe d a s i t wer e b y a kindl y gardener wh o had , ver y precisely , decide d tha t yo u wer e t o grow , an d who , b y that act , awakene d i n yo u th e feelin g tha t ther e wa s somethin g i n yo u whic h could grow'. 7 Moreove r Katherin e - despit e al l th e gre y boulders , an d th e occasional adde r whic h Lawrenc e like d i n it s sli m elegance , lik e ' a daint y an d superb princess ' (ii . 599 ) - soo n foun d th e landscap e an d it s sprin g flowers 'ver y lovely jus t now' , an d eve n lovelie r i n memory . Sh e woul d late r tel l Virgini a Woolf tha t fo r al l the imperfectio n o f the cottage , there i s a somethin g whic h make s one long for it . Immediately yo u ge t there you are free free a s air .. . I t is a place where you sit on the stairs & watch the lovely light inhabiting th e roo m below . After nightfal l th e hous e ha s three voice s - I f you ar e i n the 317
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tower & someone comes from th e fa r cottag e - h e comes from fa r awa y - Yo u go by the edge of the fields to Katie Berryman's fo r th e bread. You walk home along the rim of the Atlantic with the big fresh loaf - & when you arrive the house is like a ship. I mustn't talk about it - I t bewitched m e -
Near th e en d o f he r lif e sh e tol d Bret t sh e 'ha d a whole sprin g ful l o f blue-bell s one yea r wit h Lawrence . I shal l neve r forge t it . An d i t wa s warm , no t ver y sunny, th e shadow s race d ove r th e silk y gras s an d th e cuckoo s sang. ' Fried a remembered 'day s o f complet e harmony' : ho w the y wen t ou t i n a boat an d san g 'Row, row, row your boat .. . Merrily, merrily . .. Life is but a dream*; ho w the y enjoyed gettin g th e Murrys ' cottag e read y i n a 'frenzy' o f painting an d polishing ; and ho w sh e love d walkin g wit h Katherin e t o Zenno r an d watchin g he r stam p her foo t agains t th e wind , o r sittin g i n th e su n unde r th e foxglove s an d talkin g iike tw o India n braves , as she sai d . . . Sh e tol d m e man y thing s fro m he r lif e . . . Since the n wheneve r I see foxglove s I must thin k o f Katherine.' 7 Yet, betwee n th e line s o f thei r letter s a t th e time , ther e soo n appea r th e sign s of strain. I t wa s ten day s befor e th e Murry s go t int o thei r house , an d neithe r th e damp i n th e dining-roo m no r th e leakin g roo f o f th e towe r ha d bee n cured . There wer e day s o f mis t an d lashin g rai n whic h wer e ba d fo r bot h healt h an d spirits. Katherine , alon e wit h th e littl e mai d sh e ha d hire d an d calle d 'th e Cornish Pasty' , fel t sometime s tha t the y 'ha d drifte d ou t t o se a - an d woul d never b e see n again'. 7 Lawrenc e though t tha t neithe r o f th e Murry s wer e 'ver y well i n health ' no r 'acclimatise d her e yet ' (ii . 599) ; and thoug h o n war m day s h e felt h e wa s gettin g reall y well , h e wa s 'seedy ' agai n a t th e beginnin g o f Ma y (ii. 603) . Ther e wa s increasin g stres s an d anxiet y abou t th e rapidl y nearin g threat o f conscription . (Th e Derb y schem e ha d faile d t o produc e me n i n sufficient number s t o replac e th e casualties ; th e powe r o f Lloy d Georg e ha d increased i n th e Cabinet ; th e Militar y Servic e Ac t ha d bee n passe d i n January , and woul d brin g i n conscriptio n fro m May. ) Th e battl e o f Verdun ha d starte d a t the en d o f February , an d a s th e carnag e steadil y increased , ther e wa s increasin g pressure o n th e Britis h t o d o somethin g o n th e Somme ; whil e th e Easte r rebellion i n Dubli n wa s ye t anothe r sig n o f thing s comin g apart . Whe n a policeman arrived , 't o arres t Murry ' wrot e Katherine , bu t i n fac t t o chec k hi s status a s (officially ) a singl e man , th e menac e o f th e outsid e worl d coul d no t b e avoided b y thei r isolation . I t cam e hom e t o Lawrence , too , tha t thi s tim e h e could no t simpl y refuse , an d ther e wer e mor e outburst s o f ange r roote d i n anxiety. Hi s letter s fiercely denounc e England' s blood-suckin g allies ; an d anticipate Yeats' s vie w tha t th e Iris h rebe l leader s wer e 'mostl y . . . nothing s wh o happen t o hav e becom e tragicall y significan t i n death ' (ii . 611) ; bu t abov e al l they voic e anothe r spas m o f loathin g an d sham e ove r wha t ha d happene d t o 318
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liberal an d democrati c Englan d an d t o Englishmen . Seedines s an d anxiet y inflamed agai n th e irritabl e nerve s hi s illnes s ha d lef t behind . T h e r e wer e explosion s - an d barel y a m o n t h afte r the y arrive d K a t h e r i n e an d M u r r y wer e secretl y p r e p a r i n g t o leave . O n 1 1 M a y Katherin e describe d t o K o t the wors t instanc e o f marita l violenc e b y L a w r e n c e o f whic h w e hav e evidence ; hence wort h quotin g i n full . You ma y laug h a s much a s you lik e at this letter , darling , al l about th e C O M M U N I T Y . I t is rather funny . Frieda an d I d o no t eve n spea k t o eac h othe r a t present . Lawrenc e i s about on e millio n miles away , although h e live s nex t door . H e an d I still spea k bu t hi s ver y voic e i s faint lik e a voice coming ove r a telephone wire . It i s all because I cannot stan d th e situatio n betwee n these two , fo r on e thing . I t i s degradin g - i t offend s one' s sou l beyon d words . I don' t know whic h disgust s on e wors e — whe n the y ar e ver y lovin g an d playin g wit h eac h othe r or whe n the y ar e roarin g a t eac h othe r an d h e i s pullin g ou t Frieda' s hai r an d sayin g 'I'l l cut you r blood y throat , yo u bitch ' an d Fried a i s running u p an d dow n th e roa d screamin g for 'Jack ' t o sav e her!! This i s only a half of wha t literall y happene d las t Frida y night . Yo u know, Catalina , Lawrenc e isn' t health y an y more ; h e ha s gon e a little bi t ou t o f hi s mind . If h e i s contradicted abou t anything h e get s int o a frenzy, quit e besid e himsel f an d i t goe s on unti l h e i s so exhauste d tha t h e canno t stan d an d ha s t o g o t o be d an d sta y ther e unti l he ha s recovered. An d whateve r you r disagreemen t i s about h e say s i t i s because yo u hav e gone wron g i n you r se x and belon g t o an obscen e spirit . Thes e rage s occu r wheneve r I se e him fo r mor e tha n a casual momen t fo r i f ever I sa y anythin g tha t isn' t quit e 'safe ' of f h e goes! It i s lik e sittin g o n a railwa y statio n wit h Lawrence' s tempe r lik e a big blac k engin e puffing an d snorting . I ca n thin k o f nothing , I a m blin d t o everything , waitin g fo r th e moment whe n wit h a final shriek - of f i t wil l go ! When h e i s i n a rage wit h Fried a h e say s it i s sh e wh o ha s don e thi s t o hi m an d tha t sh e i s ' a bu g wh o ha s fe d o n m y life' . I thin k that i s true . I thin k h e i s sufferin g fro m quit e genuin e monomani a a t present , throug h having endure d s o muc h fro m her . Le t m e tel l yo u wha t happene d o n Friday . I wen t across t o the m fo r tea . Fried a sai d Shelley s Od e t o a Skylar k wa s false . Lawrenc e said : 'You ar e showin g off ; yo u don' t kno w anythin g abou t it. ' The n sh e bega n '7V W I hav e had enough . Ou t o f my hous e - yo u littl e Go d Almight y you . Iv e ha d enoug h o f you. Ar e you goin g t o kee p you r mout h shu t o r aren' t you. ' Sai d Lawrence : 'I'l l giv e yo u a dab o n the chee k t o quie t you , yo u dirt y hussy' . Etc . Etc . S o I lef t th e house . A t dinne r tim e Frieda appeared . ' I hav e finally don e wit h him . I t i s al l ove r fo r ever. ' Sh e the n wen t ou t of th e kitche n & bega n t o wal k roun d an d roun d th e hous e i n th e dark . Suddenl y Lawrence appeare d an d mad e a kin d o f horribl e blin d rus h a t he r an d the y bega n t o scream an d scuffle . H e bea t he r - h e bea t he r t o deat h - he r hea d an d fac e an d breas t an d pulled ou t he r hair . Al l th e whil e sh e screame d fo r Murr y t o hel p her . Finall y the y dashed int o th e kitche n an d roun d an d roun d th e table . I shal l neve r forge t ho w L . looked. H e wa s s o whit e - almos t gree n an d h e jus t hi t - thumpe d th e bi g sof t woman . Then h e fel l int o on e chai r an d sh e int o another . N o on e sai d a word. A silence fel l excep t for Frieda' s sob s an d sniffs . I n a way I fel t almos t glad tha t th e tensio n betwee n the m wa s over fo r eve r - an d tha t the y ha d mad e a n en d o f thei r 'intimacy' . L . sa t starin g a t th e 319
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E floor, bitin g hi s nails . Fried a sobbed . Suddenly , afte r a lon g tim e - abou t a quarte r o f a n hour - L . looke d u p an d aske d Murr y a question abou t Frenc h literature . Murr y replied . Little b y little , th e thre e dre w u p t o th e table . The n F . poure d hersel f ou t som e coffee . Then sh e and L . glide d int o talk , began t o discuss som e 'ver y ric h bu t ver y goo d macaron i cheese'. An d nex t day , whippe d himself , an d fa r mor e thoroughl y tha n h e ha d eve r beaten Frieda , h e wa s runnin g abou t takin g he r u p he r breakfas t t o he r be d an d trimmin g her a hat. Am I wron g i n no t bein g abl e t o accep t thes e peopl e jus t a s the y ar e - laughin g whe n they laug h an d goin g awa y fro m the m whe n the y fight? Tell me. Fo r I cannot . I t seem s t o me s o degraded - s o horribl e t o se e I can t stan d it . An d I fee l s o furiousl y angry : I hate them fo r it . F . i s such a liar, too . To m y fac e sh e i s all sweetness . Sh e use d t o brin g m e i n flowers, tel l m e ho w 'exquisite ' I was - ho w m y clothe s suite d m e - tha t I ha d neve r bee n so 'reall y beautiful' . Ugh ! ho w humiliating ! Than k Heave n i t i s over . I mus t b e th e rea l enemy o f suc h a person . An d wha t i s hardes t o f al l t o bea r i s Lawrence' s 'han g doggedness'. H e i s s o completel y i n he r powe r an d ye t I a m sur e tha t i n hi s hear t h e loathes hi s slavery . Sh e i s no t eve n a goo d nature d perso n really ; sh e i s evi l hearte d an d her min d i s simpl y riddle d wit h wha t sh e call s 'sexua l symbols' . It s a n ugl y positio n fo r Lawrence bu t I can t b e sorr y fo r hi m jus t now . Th e sigh t o f hi s humiliatin g dependenc e makes m e to o furiou s . . . I a m ver y muc h alon e here . I t i s no t a really nic e place . I t i s s o ful l o f hug e stones , bu t now tha t I am writin g I do no t car e fo r th e time . I t i s so very temporary . I t ma y al l be ove r next month ; i n fac t i t wil l be. I don' t belon g t o anybod y here . I n fac t I hav e n o being , bu t I a m makin g preparation s fo r changin g everything . Writ e t o m e whe n yo u ca n an d scol d me. Goodbye fo r now . Don t forge t me . I a m alway s Kissienka . Only, h o w ar e w e t o u n d e r s t a n d episode s lik e thi s o n a leve l d e e p e r tha n gossip y anecdote? W e certainl y nee d t o se e t h o u g h ver y differen t point s o f view , an d r e m e m b e r tha t thre e o f thos e involve d wer e writers . ^Catherine' s lette r i s a story , which w e ca n watc h he r h o n i n g t o Ottolin e a littl e later ; an d a deepe r sens e o f what wa s a t stak e fo r al l o f t h e m d e p e n d s als o o n u n d e r s t a n d i n g it s bearin g o n their writing , whic h was livin g t o them , a t it s mos t intense . F r i e d a ' s poin t o f vie w ha s t o b e discovere d betwee n th e line s an d i s no t bes t served b y seein g he r simpl y a s a victim . I f K a t h e r i n e an d sh e wer e no t o n speaking t e r m s now , thi s wa s becaus e o f a n earlie r explosion , no t b y L a w r e n c e , and cause d b y th e M u r r y s . Jac k (lik e Heseltine ) relaye d wha t Ottolin e ha d sai d about F r i e d a a t Garsingto n an d i n letter s afterwards , a s F r i e d a ha d suspected . S h e wa s predictabl y enraged . Of f wen t th e las t an d fierces t o f he r denunciation s of Ottoline , withi n a fe w day s o f th e M u r r y s ' arriva l a t Z e n n o r : Now fo r ove r a year I was read y t o be you r frien d - bu t steadil y an d persistentl y yo u hav e treated m e wit h arroganc e an d insolence ! . . . Yo u hav e tol d lie s abou t me , yo u hav e trie d to separat e Lawrenc e an d m e becaus e yo u wante d som e sor t o f unwholesom e relatio n 320
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with hi m - Al l th e tim e yo u fel t goo d an d holy ! This lov e tha t wa s between Lawrenc e an d me wa s somethin g tha t passe d you r understandin g . . . Bu t I hav e ha d enough ! Eithe r yo u treat m e wit h ordinar y courtes y an d respec t o r I wis h neithe r t o hea r fro m yo u o r se e yo u again . . .
81
A ro w wit h th e M u r r y s followed ; fo r Ottoline , tru e t o form , sen t thi s lette r t o t h e m a s sh e ha d sen t th e earlie r one , onl y fo r Fried a (wh o ha d n o respec t fo r privacy) t o recognis e th e handwritin g an d ope n th e envelope . S h e ha d d o n e he r best t o b e welcoming , especiall y t o Katherin e wit h w h o m sh e ha d share d intimate confidences , an d w h o m sh e continue d t o thin k o f a s 'exquisite ' al l he r life. T h e suspicio n tha t K a t h e r i n e an d Jac k wer e linin g u p wit h th e O t t , an d hence wit h he r kin d o f intellectua l an d spiritua l c o n t e m p t fo r th e 'fleshly ' woman L a w r e n c e ha d married , an d wh o wa s supposedl y spoilin g hi s life , woul d be intensel y irritatin g t o Frieda . O n 1 2 Apri l M u r r y wrot e a wease l lette r t o tel l Ottolin e wha t ha d h a p p e n e d and borrow r £ 1 0 - p e r h a p s a s a safet y measur e i n cas e o f a rapi d getaway . Frieda's lette r i s outrageous. Bu t mor e outrageou s stil l i s th e fac t tha t sh e know s tha t yo u sent i t t o us . . . Lawrenc e i s at presen t completel y o n F' s sid e i n thi s quarre l (whic h isn' t a quarrel bu t a n indecen t attack) , and h e spen t a long whil e tryin g t o convince u s tha t fo r u s to remai n friendl y wit h yo u wa s blac k treacher y t o him . I t i s hopelessl y ludicrous , an d perhaps w e hav e manage d t o convinc e hi m tha t ther e i s no t th e leas t reaso n wh y w e should tur n an d ren d you . A t al l event s h e ha s forgotte n abou t i t fo r th e moment . F. , however, i s no t likel y t o forget . I' m afraid , terribl y afraid , tha t w e ma y drif t int o a final rumpus wit h her : bu t w e shal l tr y ou r hardes t no t t o fo r L' s sak e . . . I n man y way s L . seems t o m e t o b e muc h happier , muc h younge r tha n I hav e know n hi m fo r th e las t tw o years. O n th e othe r han d h e ha s bough t thi s a t a price . I fee l h e ha s quit e definitel y los t something . . . hi s presen t carelessnes s seem s t o m e du e t o a despai r instea d o f t o a superfluity o f life , a s i t use d t o be . I fee l h e wil l no t creat e anythin g ver y muc h i n th e future. [I n a fortnight, h e woul d begi n Women in Love.] F. i s monstrum, horrendum, informe, ingens. Really w e ar e frightene d o f her . Sh e i s sur e to brea k ou t agains t u s soone r o r later , i f onl y becaus e sh e feel s tha t w e imperi l he r present triump h ove r L . W e hav e trie d t o lik e he r fo r thre e year s no w an d w e haven' t go t any furthe r toward s th e end . Ther e i s i n he r a n ultimat e vulgarit y whic h doe s appa l u s both. An d tha t i s th e reaso n wh y sh e s o turne d agains t you , I think . Becaus e sh e i s n o longer marrie d t o a ma n wh o ca n affor d t o kee p 3 servants , sh e reall y doe s fee l hersel f declasse'. Nothing tha t yo u coul d hav e don e woul d hav e save d yo u fro m her , simpl y because o f this . Sh e despise s hersel f fo r havin g throw n u p Professo r W . fo r L. ; an d whe n a woman lik e that despise s herself.. . Yo u kno w ho w muc h w e love you . . . Certainly thi s lette r say s everythin g Ottolin e (thoug h no t L a w r e n c e ) woul d wan t to hea r - b u t suc h a n a t m o s p h e r e , barel y a wee k afte r th e M u r r y s ' arrival , woul d not hav e improve d L a w r e n c e ' s temper , thoug h h e ha d clearl y trie d t o forge t it . H e als o wrot e t o Ottoline , sayin g i t wa s bes t tha t Fried a shoul d hav e sai d wha t 321
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she felt , sinc e 'th e onl y thin g t o tr y fo r i s a free, natural , unstraine d relationship , without exclusion s o r enclosures ' (ii . 592 ) - bu t thi s wa s no t Ottoline' s way , an d though h e wen t o n writin g a t intervals, the silence s o n bot h side s go t longer . So Katherine , writin g t o Gordo n Campbell' s wif e Beatric e th e da y befor e th e big rumpu s sh e describe s above , i s alread y bein g tar t abou t Lawrence' s irritability, an d Fried a 'lookin g a t th e children s photographs , I suppose' , an d th e new tal k o f blood-affinit y wit h animals , an d sexua l symbol s everywhere . Sh e suggested tha t thei r cottag e b e name d 'Th e Phallus' , whic h Fried a though t a very goo d idea ! Bu t embedde d i n th e sarcas m i s a vivi d pictur e o f Fried a contentedly doin g th e laundr y - th e onl y kin d o f housewor k sh e enjoyed . 'Sh e says thi s plac e suit s her' , say s Katherine , ' I a m sur e i t does.' 83 Th e tw o wome n are alone, and separate , bu t Fried a seem s centre d i n he r ow n worl d a s Katherin e in he r complexit y coul d neve r be . Stresse s remained : th e childre n onl y occasionally accessibl e an d no w a n expensiv e journe y away , bein g a Germa n woman i n a n Englan d a t war , Lawrence' s complet e worldl y failur e an d povert y when h e ha d seeme d o n th e poin t o f hig h success , th e collaps e o f hi s health . Embattled o r no t however , Fried a wa s happies t whe n sh e ha d Lawrenc e t o herself. Sh e wa s alway s possessive , an d explosivel y jealou s o f an y threa t t o he r pre-eminence wit h him , an d besid e him , whic h wa s wha t ha d first soure d he r relations wit h Ottolin e an d als o la y behin d he r resentmen t o f th e Murrys ' attitude an d rivalr y now . Despite som e distanc e an d dislik e however , th e da y befor e th e battl e seeme d peaceful enough ; thoug h w e ma y glimps e throug h th e eye s o f th e seemingl y contented woman , alon e a t he r wash-tub , a clou d alread y bigge r tha n a man' s hand, i n Lawrenc e bein g awa y al l day wit h Murry . Th e battl e itsel f clarifies wha t Frieda though t th e dange r was , and wh y sh e brok e ou t a t Lawrence. Fo r sh e wa s the aggressor . Nobod y ha s eve r aske d wh y sh e should , s o suddenly , hav e denounced Shelle y whe n Katherin e mentione d him ; bu t sh e kne w wha t sh e wa s doing an d wha t effec t i t migh t have . Fo r she , t o who m Lawrenc e rea d al l hi s work, mus t hav e know n ho w Shelley , an d specificall y tha t poe m 'T o a Skylark ' (1820), occupied a crucial rol e i n hi s dialecti c thought. 84 I t represente d fo r hi m 'Hail t o thee , blith e spirit , bir d tho u neve r wert ' - th e extrem e o f menta l an d spiritual consciousnes s a s oppose d t o th e lif e o f th e bod y an d th e blood . I t wa s the intellectualis m o f Ottoline , an d Jack , an d Katherine , an d thei r claim s t o soulful sensitivit y an d spirituality , tha t seeme d mos t 'false ' t o Frieda , lik e th e 'soul-mush' sh e accuse d Lawrenc e o f wantin g wit h Ottoline . Behin d he r onslaught, then , i s he r rag e tha t Lawrenc e was betrayin g himself , an d her , b y being s o draw n t o them . Moreove r hi s fur y i s a sur e sig n tha t ther e wa s something hatefull y accurat e i n th e charge . Katherine, a s sh e describe s th e ro w t o Kot , i s les s personall y guarde d (t o th e friend whos e suppor t sh e coul d mos t rel y on ) tha n whe n sh e hone s he r stor y fo r 322
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Ottoline later . He r lette r create s a splendidl y vivi d scene , a littl e masterpiec e o f writing, bu t i t give s a goo d dea l awa y too , especiall y a s i t move s fro m sardoni c comedy, t o disgust , an d finally t o rea l persona l bleakness . Murry , i n hi s myth making, claime d 'Sh e wa s a woma n simpl e an d lovel y i n al l he r ways ' - bu t al l her biographer s dismis s tha t a s travesty . Sh e kep t inventin g hersel f (havin g started a s neithe r Katherin e no r Mansfield ) an d constantl y mad e u p name s an d personae fo r everyon e clos e t o her . Sh e hi d hersel f behin d masks ; she constantl y played role s an d tol d whoppers ; sh e coul d b e ver y funn y an d rathe r formidable ; she wa s promiscuou s an d bisexual ; ribal d an d sophisticated , comple x an d contradictory, a colonia l chameleo n takin g o n metropolita n colouring s - bu t behind al l he r manipulation s o f hersel f an d o f others , ther e wa s a n overridin g need t o b e i n control of he r life , tha t cam e fro m uncertai n identity , an d henc e fear o f commitment , les t on e b e take n over . Sh e woul d bot h long , an d fear , t o 'belong'. Whe n sh e ha d bee n wit h th e Lawrence s befor e sh e ha d ha d he r ow n base - bu t no w sh e wa s o n thei r ground . Sh e coul d no t stan d bein g rushe d at , but Lawrenc e an d Fried a di d jus t that . Sh e ha d hate d bein g a fat littl e gir l (an d had trie d t o mak e hersel f 'exquisite') ; no w sh e clearl y foun d Fried a grow n physically unbounded , a n 'immens e germa n Christma s pudding ' a s he r lette r t o Ottoline pu t it . However , Frieda' s bein g s o assuredl y hersel f mus t als o hav e shown Katherin e he r ow n uncertainties , whic h sh e woul d resent . Above all , w e ca n perhap s se e throug h he r eye s ho w th e Lawrences ' lac k o f control woul d horrify . Tw o year s late r sh e confesse d i n he r journal : 'M y ow n fits of tempe r ar e reall y terrifyin g . . . Lawrenc e an d Fried a ove r again . I a m mor e like L. tha n anybody , w e are unthinkabl y alike , in fact. ' 5 The vivi d metapho r o f Lawrence's tempe r a s a grea t steam-engin e show s he r fea r o f th e boile r within . Yet i t wa s no t onl y violenc e sh e recoile d from , bu t eve n mor e significantl y th e open tenderness , th e 'intimacy' , th e (t o Katherine ) indecen t exposur e whic h hi d nothing. Moreove r i t woul d see m no t onl y 'degrading ' bu t dangerous , t o hersel f - fo r th e Lawrence s wer e equall y ope n an d probin g o f thei r friends , whic h kep t getting the m int o trouble . The y value d individualit y bu t no t privac y - an d Katherine ha d bare d he r mos t privat e sel f t o Frieda , onl y t o hav e Lawrenc e us e the confidenc e i n The Rainbow. Katherin e ha d no t minde d hi s view s o n se x a t Chesham whe n sh e though t hi m 'nice , ver y nice , sittin g wit h a piece o f string i n his hand , o n tru e sex' . Bu t i t woul d b e ver y differen t if , havin g jus t begu n hi s new nove l (a s w e shal l see ) b y explorin g homoeroti c feelin g betwee n men , h e were no w arguin g wit h her abou t sexuality , includin g hers . Th e tar t remark s about phallicism , an d ho w on e coul d no t contradic t Lawrenc e 'abou t anything 1 without bein g tol d tha t 'yo u hav e gon e wron g i n you r sex an d belon g t o a n obscene spirit' , mak e ne w sense , a s doe s th e charg e tha t Fried a wa s ' a liar' , s o puzzling i n th e letter . Katherine, too , fel t deserte d an d jealou s whe n Murr y kep t goin g of f wit h 323
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Lawrence. Th e Murrys ' sexua l relation , whic h wa s ofte n boy-and-girl-lik e rather tha n passionate , ma y hav e seeme d frai l whe n threatene d no t onl y b y Lawrence's irritabl e dogma , bu t als o b y hi s influenc e o n Murry . Sh e joke d about Jac k losin g hi s horn-rimme d spectacle s a t ever y stil e whe n ou t wit h Lawrence; bu t th e bleaknes s a t he r letter' s en d - thi s bar e ston y plac e wher e she ha s n o being , an d belong s t o nobod y - become s powerfull y suggestive . Worst o f all , only whe n writing coul d sh e full y live , bu t sardoni c letter s wer e al l she coul d an d di d writ e here . Th e contras t wit h Bando l mus t hav e bee n unbearable. Fo r ther e sh e ha d a t las t trul y foun d herself , i n 'Th e Aloe' . Whe n she condense d i t int o 'Prelude' , later , revisio n confirme d tha t succes s ha d come fro m keepin g he r satiri c an d cynica l sid e a t bay , s o tha t childlik e sensitivity, a t on e wit h wha t i t sees , coul d wel l throug h a cooll y objectiv e adul t medium. I n harmon y wit h los t child-brothe r an d intelligen t critic-husband cum-boyish-lover a t Bandol , sh e ha d writte n he r bes t s o far . Bu t neithe r th e childlike no r th e objectivel y adul t visio n coul d flourish i n th e disturbanc e a t Higher Tregerthen ; wher e self-defenc e an d lonelines s brough t ou t he r tartes t self. Sh e woul d hav e t o go , an d tr y t o 'chang[e ] everything' ; including , onc e more, he r relationshi p wit h Jack . Murry's feelin g fo r Lawrenc e i n 1914-1 5 wa s simpl y persona l affection . I t was Gordo n Campbel l whos e min d ha d fascinate d hi m t o ardou r an d hero worship, an d whos e rejection , comin g almos t simultaneousl y wit h Katherine' s a t Chesham, affecte d hi m most . Thoug h h e an d Lawrenc e ha d co-operate d o n Signature, thi s mean t t o Murr y eac h ma n contributin g hi s ow n handwriting , an d 'There Wa s a Littl e Man ' wa s remarkabl y self-absorbed . H e di d no t shar e (o r understand) Lawrence' s ideas , o r hi s attitud e t o th e war , an d a s h e himsel f sai d his onl y differenc e fro m Rober t Lyn d wh o helpe d destro y The Rainbow wa s hi s friendship wit h th e author . Lawrenc e mus t ofte n hav e mistake n silenc e fo r support, hi s dee p nee d encouragin g belie f i n thei r commitmen t t o eac h other . He sa w i n Murr y th e imag e o f th e belove d man-frien d h e longe d fo r - bu t though Murr y wante d t o b e loved , an d entere d relationship s wit h enthusiasm , he ofte n persuade d others , an d himself , tha t h e fel t mor e tha n h e actuall y did . The wor d iove ' cam e easil y t o hi m bu t h e was actuall y elusive ; alternatin g fervour wit h instinctiv e withdrawa l fro m an y commitmen t threatenin g th e self . He live d i n hi s intelligence , obsessivel y introspective ; an d i n hi s first nove l h e had exemplifie d Lawrence' s fea r o f th e hegemon y o f intellec t b y analysin g himself (a s h e confessed ) 't o immobility' . H e als o ha d a strea k o f mysticism , a sense o f himself a s above al l a spiritual being . I t i s clear fro m hi s nove l ho w littl e the lif e o f the bod y the n mean t t o him . A t thi s stag e hi s sexualit y treasure d mos t the securit y o f bein g hel d t o a lover/mother' s breast ; indee d h e an d Katherin e conceived lov e a s essentiall y a childlik e innocenc e an d gaiety , i n th e teet h o f a hostile an d tawdr y worl d - henc e th e pe t names , th e anthropomorphi c doll s 324
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and cats . Abov e all , thoug h wha t Lawrenc e wante d wa s communit y base d o n impersonal commitment , Murr y coul d no t conceiv e an y othe r tha n persona l relations. In {Catherine' s stor y o f the rumpus , i t is his silence one notices . On 1 4 May howeve r h e prepare d thei r wa y back t o Garsingto n b y offerin g hi s friend's hea d o n a platter . H e no w though t Lawrenc e 'seriously , perhap s eve n dangerously il l . . . al l to piece s . . . I f we g o - an d w e shall, ver y soon , fo r goo d then I thin k h e wil l probabl y develo p som e mani a (i n th e exac t & medica l sense)'. H e 'expect s somethin g o f Katherin e & me tha t w e can' t giv e - a certai n intimacy . . . whic h bein g demanded, i s utterly impossibl e t o give' . There hav e been scene s between hi m & Frieda whic h wer e simpl y nervou s mad , which , having onc e happened , shoul d hav e mad e i t inconceivabl e tha t the y shoul d stil l liv e together. Bu t the y d o liv e together : an d the y preten d t o b e i n lov e - there' s somethin g strangely indecent about it ... I' m still deeply fond o f him: but I respect him much les s .. . one alway s hate s a sick man . I neithe r agre e wit h hi s ideas , nor a m I stimulate d b y my opposition t o them . I n almos t everythin g h e consciousl y & deliberately say s o r does , I detect a taint of illness or hysteria, so that I am compelled t o keep silence. The lette r ends , rathe r greasily , T hope fo r ou r sake s that yo u lov e us a s much a s we d o yo u . . . Katherin e send s "he r dea r love " - thos e wer e he r ver y words. ' (She ha d stil l only see n Ottolin e once. ) Th e intentio n wa s clear enough . One shoul d nevertheles s tr y t o d o justic e t o Murry' s bewilderment , an d hi s sense o f dange r t o himsel f unde r pressur e fro m Lawrence' s assertiveness , whic h had no t grow n les s i n isolation . Th e day s together , o f whic h Katherin e an d Frieda wer e jealous , ma y hav e fel t lik e bombardmen t t o Murry . Hi s resentmen t shows i n a scrap o f writin g tha t ha s survived : ' I a m tire d wit h th e effor t t o suc k life fro m th e word s o f anothe r man , t o kindl e wit h m y ow n breat h th e dea d embers o f hi s thought . The y wil l no t live , the y wil l no t flame, t o m e the y ar e dead. I s it I who am dead , o r they? ' Ye t he woul d no t openl y oppose . Most o f all , wha t Murr y ha d bee n writin g a t Bando l ha d bee n his firs t rea l finding o f himself : hi s boo k o n Dostoevsk y i n whic h fo r th e firs t tim e h e fel t h e had somethin g trul y significan t t o say . However , Dostoevsk y ha d als o bee n important i n Lawrence' s darkenin g visio n sinc e The Rainbow - an d thei r view s were diametricall y opposed . Coul d mer e affectio n mee t th e stress , no t onl y o f some ne w bee s i n hi s friend' s bonnet , bu t als o of Lawrencian attack s o n Murry' s new-found confidence ? Jack' s reportage , lik e Katherine's , wa s coloure d b y feeling tha t no t onl y thei r decencies , thei r innermos t personalities , an d thei r relationship wer e a t ris k - Katherine' s withdrawa l int o hersel f threatenin g t o leave hi m paralyse d wit h hi s ol d self-consciousnes s - bu t als o thei r newly achieved writin g selves . What the n o f Lawrence' s rag e an d violence , th e irritabl e assertion , th e lac k o f control? I t ough t t o be possibl e t o see, fairly, wher e gossi p i s blind, a n oppositio n 325
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so radica l tha t neithe r sid e coul d tel l th e trut h abou t th e other . Charitably , w e might follo w Lawrence' s onl y direc t comment , o n th e Murrys ' departure : 'The y should hav e a sof t valley , wit h leave s an d th e ring-dov e cooing ' (ii . 610) ; whic h chimes wel l wit h Murry' s complain t t o Ottoline , tha t 'Her e th e height s ar e always wuthering' ! Perhap s wha t w e ar e watchin g i s a real-lif e versio n o f Emil y Bronte's oppositio n o f Height s peopl e wit h Grang e people ; th e Murrys ' storie s no mor e (an d n o less ) abl e t o tel l th e whol e truth , tha n thos e o f Nelli e o r Lockwood? Ye t that , thoug h helpful , evade s wha t Dostoevsk y ha d helpe d t o bring hom e t o Lawrence , whe n rea d i n a worl d a t war . Murry , th e intellectual , saw a thought-adventure r confrontin g th e deat h o f God : firs t b y assertin g individual wil l t o th e uttermost , Stavrogin ; an d the n b y explorin g ho w absenc e of self-will , i n th e goodnes s o f Princ e Myshkin , make s hi m see m a n 'idiot' . Finally, i n The Brothers Karamazov, th e sensualis t an d th e nihilis t confron t th e imitation o f Chris t as man, i n Alyosha , wh o fo r Murr y was Dostoevsky' s message t o a worl d i n whic h ther e coul d b e n o God . (Th e terribl e iron y i s that , challenged t o be Alyosha i n a Dostoevskyan situation , Murr y fled.) Lawrence, however , admire d Dostoevsk y a s wizar d rat , a s underworl d explorer o f th e darkness , th e hate , th e violence , th e evi l i n people , suc h a s h e was discoverin g everywhere , includin g himself . T o hi m therefore , Dostoevsky' s apparent assertio n o f lovin g goodnes s i s sham , an d i t i s especiall y wicke d t o proffer Christianit y now , whe n th e wa r ha s unmistakabl y expose d th e destruc tiveness withi n so-calle d Christia n civilisation . H e remaine d religiou s bu t hi s faith wa s base d o n creativ e conflic t throug h whic h eve n violenc e an d disin tegration coul d becom e condition s o f renewal , bu t onl y b y facin g the m i n oneself an d goin g through. T o g o o n pretendin g t o b e civilised , an d tryin g t o preserve outwor n socia l forms , wa s t o becom e stil l mor e deathly . He was no t th e Lawrenc e the y ha d lef t i n 191 5 an d whom , eve n then , the y were unabl e t o understand . Convince d no w tha t Christianit y was playe d out , i t made perfec t sens e t o hi m t o see k hint s o f lost wisdo m i n pre-Christia n cultures , Celtic, earl y Greek , Egyptian ; t o rea d Fraze r o n totem , an d Tylo r o n primitiv e culture - bu t w e sa w Katherine' s reactio n t o tal k o f blood-affinit y wit h animals , and Murry' s t o th e ide a o f blood-brothership . Abov e all , the y simpl y coul d no t conceive hi s ne w convictio n tha t th e mos t importan t relationship s wer e not personal liking s o r intellectua l agreements , bu t blood-commitment s o f fait h an d loyalty b y whic h ma n coul d transcen d th e consciou s ego , and recove r true r kind s of relatio n tha n thos e o f th e moder n wasteland . Murr y an d Katherin e reserve d the righ t t o com e an d g o accordin g t o th e up s an d down s o f persona l feelin g o r intellectual affinity ; the y recognise d a cod e o f behaviou r tha t trie d t o regulat e and lubricat e th e frictio n o f on e personalit y o n another , an d the y bot h flinche d from an y commitmen t tha t woul d compromis e th e freedo m o f th e self . Th e relation Lawrenc e wante d wa s th e opposite : tha t on e coul d voic e one' s feeling s 326
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openly; migh t freel y hat e a s wel l a s love ; migh t fight o r b e tender ; bu t al l th e time b e finally committed , onc e an d fo r all , i n a 'blood ' relatio n b y n o mean s merely personal . I t wa s becaus e the y ha d neve r understoo d Lawrence' s convic tion tha t conflic t wa s par t o f an d necessar y fo r growth , tha t the y though t h e insisted o n agreement , discipleship . Wha t h e wante d wa s a spontaneous opposi tion-and-relation o f contrarie s wh o nevertheles s remaine d committe d t o eac h other; eve n th e sor t o f violence, if it came t o that, whic h coul d blo w th e sk y clea n of friction , an d le t comradeshi p an d tendernes s revive ; wherea s repressio n bre d malice an d treacher y - di d i t not ? S o i t wa s tha t th e Murry s foun d 'degrading' , 'disgusting' an d 'indecent' , no t merel y th e absenc e o f th e gentlenes s an d restraint the y prize d but , eve n more , tha t fo r th e Lawrence s violenc e di d not imply severance ; an d tha t tenderness , intimacy , servic e coul d follo w th e mos t radical denunciation . (W e d o no t kno w wha t Fried a sai d betwee n te a an d dinner , but ma y b e sur e tha t sh e no t onl y attacke d th e hypocris y o f preachin g a s Lawrence di d an d ye t messin g o n wit h th e Murrys ' intellectualis m an d spirituality, bu t probabl y als o impugne d hi s manhoo d - a s hi s heroine s ten d t o do whe n angr y wit h thei r men. ) Sh e too , of course, could b e physicall y a s wel l as verbally violent . A fe w month s late r sh e agai n struc k hi m o n th e head , wit h a stoneware plat e thi s time , an d whe n hi s bac k wa s turne d - bu t that wa s hi s onl y complaint. It wa s inheren t i n th e Murrys ' mod e o f behaviou r tha t the y shoul d writ e t o other peopl e abou t th e Lawrence s a s the y did , bu t a t th e sam e tim e determin e not t o hav e ' a grea t quarrel . What' s th e good ? W e shal l manag e i t s o tha t ou r parting wil l see m necessar y fo r quit e othe r reasons. ' Ther e wer e som e las t 'peaceful an d happ y interludes' : th e excitemen t whe n a Spanis h coal-shi p ra n aground nearb y an d th e cre w cam e ashore ; an d a driv e ove r th e moor s t o Penzance an d th e beac h nea r Marazio n wher e the y 'playe d wit h heap s o f tin y white shells' . However thi s experienc e o f the gentle r coast , say s Murry, 'brough t Katherine's determinatio n t o a head' , s o h e se t of f t o loo k fo r somewher e fo r them t o liv e on tha t side , and succeede d i n finding a cottage (calle d 'Sunnyside' ) at Mylor. The y move d i n mid-June. 90 Thoug h Murr y i n hi s autobiograph y trie d to se t hi s happines s wit h Katherin e of f agains t th e Lawrencia n storms , i n fac t their relationshi p wa s severel y straine d also . Sh e wrot e fro m Mylo r tha t sh e wa s 'numb' wit h misery ; an d befor e th e en d o f th e mont h sh e was makin g a n assignation wit h Gertle r (whic h sh e didn' t keep ) an d arrangin g t o b e a t Garsington withou t Murry . l O n 7 July Lawrenc e tol d Ko t tha t th e Murry s ha d made ' a contrac t whereb y eac h o f them i s free . . . I think sh e an d Jack hav e wor n out anythin g tha t wa s between them . - I lik e he r bette r tha n him . H e wa s rathe r horrid whe n h e wa s here ' (ii . 623) . H e kne w no w tha t 'Murr y an d I ar e no t really associates . Ho w I deceiv e myself . I a m a lia r t o myself , abou t people ' (ii. 617) . 327
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If w e wan t t o understan d Lawrence' s point-of-vie w a t it s deepest , however , we have to loo k t o th e ne w nove l h e ha d bee n writin g sinc e lat e April . VI 'Th e secon d hal f o f The Rainbow^ On 2 6 Apri l h e tol d Cynthi a Asquit h i t was unde r way : 'Th e worl d crackle s an d busts, bu t tha t i s anothe r matter , external , i n chaos . On e ha s a certai n orde r inviolable i n one' s soul ' (ii . 601) . Fro m th e start , then , th e ne w fictio n was apocalyptic - conceive d a s i t was i n th e explodin g worl d o f Verdun, th e Somm e and th e Easter Risin g - bu t als o a struggle fo r a n order beneat h hi s overwhelmin g sense o f violence an d persona l disturbance . Hi s inabilit y t o conceiv e a n audienc e after wha t ha d happene d t o The Rainbow i s immediatel y apparent . H e tol d Barbara Lo w o n 1 Ma y h e ha d begu n 'th e secon d hal f o f th e Rainbow. Bu t already i t is beyond al l hope o f ever being published, becaus e of the thing s i t says' (ii. 602) . H e ha d le d off , defiantly , b y explorin g homosexua l feelin g betwee n men. And mor e tha n that , i t i s beyond al l possibility eve n t o offe r i t t o a world, a putrescen t mankind like ours. I feel I cannot touch humanity, even in thought, it is abhorrent t o me. But a work of art is an act of faith, as Michael Angelo says, and one goes on writing, to the unseen witnesses. He wa s takin g u p wha t ha d bee n th e origina l 'Sisters ' i n 1913 , transformed int o the secon d hal f o f 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' i n 191 4 an d pu t asid e i n earl y Januar y 1915 whe n h e realise d tha t wha t wa s becomin g The Rainbow woul d b e fa r to o long i f i t wer e t o includ e Ursula' s relationshi p wit h Birki n an d Gudrun' s wit h Gerald. Ye t th e rewritin g now , b y a differen t Lawrenc e i n a differen t world , brought onc e agai n th e sens e o f explorin g th e unknown ; th e ne w nove l ' a stranger t o me eve n a s I write it . I don't kno w wha t th e en d wil l be' (ii . 604) . By 1 9 Ma y h e tol d Pinke r tha t h e wa s 'hal f wa y throug h . . . a seque l t o th e Rainbow, thoug h quit e unlik e it ' (ii . 606 ) - an d t o mentio n thi s t o hi s agen t suggests h e no w though t o f publicatio n afte r all . If so , he ha d alread y decide d t o drop th e origina l defian t start . O n 2 4 May (b y whe n i t was clear tha t th e Murry s would leave ) h e tol d Ottolin e h e ha d go t ' a lon g wa y . . . I t come s rapidly , an d i s very good . When on e i s shaken t o the ver y depths , one finds realit y i n th e unrea l world. A t presen t m y rea l worl d i s the worl d o f my inne r soul , whic h reflect s o n to th e nove l I write . Th e oute r worl d i s ther e t o b e endured , i t i s no t rea l . . . ' (ii. 610) . A t th e en d o f th e mont h h e tol d Forste r (afte r a lon g ga p betwee n letters) tha t 'i n thi s boo k I a m fre e a t last , than k God ' an d feel s 'rathe r triumphant', eve n thoug h 'Nearl y everybod y ha s droppe d of f fro m me ' (ii . 612) . He ha d 'marrie d Ursul a . . . Tw o third s o f th e nove l ar e written . I t goe s o n pretty fast , an d ver y easy . I hav e no t travaile d ove r it . I t i s th e boo k o f m y fre e 328
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soul' (ii . 614) . B y 1 9 Jun e i t wa s 'nearl y done ' (ii . 617) , an d te n day s late r Pinker was tol d tha t onl y a n epilogu e chapte r remaine d t o b e writte n (ii . 619 , 669), an d h e was definitel y thinkin g o f publicatio n (ii . 619 , 627) . H e woul d tr y typing himself , an d re-writin g a t th e sam e time . Of thi s firs t versio n i n it s tw o phases , only th e cancelle d openin g chapter s an d four final notebook s (beginnin g wit h Gudru n runnin g throug h th e sno w an d ending wit h Gerald' s death ) survive . What hav e thes e bit s o f a new 'Th e Sisters ' to tel l biographers ? Despite th e eagernes s o f som e t o se e th e cancelle d 'Prologue ' i n confessiona l terms, it s exploratio n o f homoeroti c feelin g betwee n me n ha s a t leas t a s muc h structural a s persona l significance , eve n i f (a s i n everythin g else ) th e novelis t may dra w o n himself . Hi s startin g fro m a relationshi p betwee n tw o me n wh o find eac h othe r mor e attractiv e tha n women , and equally, fro m tw o wome n wh o find th e ide a o f marriag e wit h a ma n unthinkable , probabl y spran g fro m th e diagnosis o f a modern conditio n i n 'Goat s an d Compasses' , a s di d th e spli t an d reactionary vacillatio n betwee n th e goatlik e an d th e overl y spiritua l i n th e 'Prologue' affai r betwee n Birki n an d Hermion e (wh o look s lik e Ottoline , bu t i s strongly reminiscen t o f Jessie Chambers) . Afte r Lawrence' s year s o f thinkin g o n the subject , t o interpre t hi s 'Prologue ' a s merel y revealin g tha t h e wa s ' a homosexual' i s extraordinaril y reductiv e - quit e apar t fro m hi s ow n rejectio n i n 'Hardy' o f exclusiv e categorie s o f gende r an d sexuality . H e ha d lon g acknowl edged homoeroti c feelings , bu t tha t i s th e beginnin g o f a complex question , an d no categori c conclusion . Moreove r - significantl y - reductiv e biograph y ha s combined wit h careles s readin g i n th e failur e t o notic e tha t ther e ar e tw o kinds of homoerotic feelin g i n th e 'Prologue' , announcin g a distinctio n tha t wil l b e th e major them e i n th e novel . This wil l so apply t o all being 'i n love' , that th e natur e of th e lovin g ha s clearl y becom e muc h mor e importan t tha n th e gende r o f th e lovers, transcending homophobia . Between Birki n an d Gerald , contraste d i n temperamen t an d physique , ther e i s a 'tremblin g nearness ' an d a nascen t 'tenderness' , whic h the y repress . Climbin g in th e mountain s awa y fro m th e everyda y world , the y becom e awar e of how thei r 'transcendent intimacy ' ca n transfigur e the m an d mak e eac h fee l 'anothe r life ' i n himself 'lik e a n essentia l flame'. Ye t thoug h the y knew , fo r a moment, tha t 'the y loved eac h other' , whe n the y ge t bac k dow n t o th e socia l worl d 'the y woul d hav e none o f it' . Th e languag e i s tha t o f The Rainbows marriag e o f opposite s an d mutual transformation ; bu t unpublishabl e afte r th e reactio n t o Ursula' s affai r with Winifred . Here , re-transpose d t o men , i s 'th e hot , flushing, rouse d attraction' 92 whic h on e sex i s suppose d t o fee l fo r th e other , bu t whic h Birkin , despite hi s intimacie s wit h women , ha s s o fa r onl y fel t fo r men , thoug h h e ha s always rejected it . At thi s poin t howeve r a doubl e oppositio n begins . Birki n i s th e intellectua l 329
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and spiritua l pol e o f th e contraries , physicall y frail ; wherea s th e me n wh o attrac t him ar e al l physica l creature s an d me n o f action , uninterestin g intellectually . B y contrast wha t attract s hi m t o wome n i s intelligence an d 'soul' . Th e apotheosi s o f this i s hi s relationshi p wit h Hermione , a yea r younge r tha n himself , an d know n since the y wer e students . (Indeed , Jessi e though t eve n th e final publishe d version anothe r variatio n o f Miriam. ) Sh e i s jealou s an d contemptuou s o f hi s relation wit h th e 'coarse , unsusceptibl e . . . Geral d Criche s o f thi s world' , a s als o of th e fleshly wome n wit h who m Birki n occasionall y trie s t o 'prostitute ' himself . When howeve r h e eithe r reduce s himsel f wit h he r t o pur e consciousnes s an d spirit, o r worse , trie s withou t tru e desir e t o tak e he r physicall y whil e sh e sacrifices hersel f (lik e Miriam) , i t i s fo r hi m t o ru n 'fro m deat h t o death' , becoming hollowe d ou t an d spectral . Moreover withi n th e attraction o f men fo r Birki n ther e are two distinct desires . With hi s opposites ('white-skinned , keen-limbe d me n wit h eyes like blue-flashin g ice . . . th e northme n . . . distinct' ) h e i s draw n t o wha t i s not-him , a kin d o f physical 'light ' whic h migh t transfigur e both . T o a 'strange Cornis h typ e o f man ' however, wit h 'dar k eye s tha t on e ca n ente r an d plung e int o . . . night-smellin g men . . . th e livin g substanc e o f th e viscous , universal , heav y darkness' , h e i s drawn i n a very differen t way : 't o kno w . . . t o hav e him , a s it wer e t o ea t him , t o take th e ver y substanc e o f him' . This , an d th e 'rabbit-lik e wa y i n whic h th e strong, softly-buil t ma n ate ' look s forwar d t o what , afte r severa l revisions , wil l be identified a s sado-masochism; an d alread y i t is obviously a sexuality whic h assert s the sel f a t th e expense , an d ultimatel y th e annihilation , o f th e other . Th e whol e point her e i s les s t o distinguis h 'homosexual ' fro m 'heterosexual ' relationships , than t o begin explorin g th e differenc e i n both alike between relationship s tha t ca n transfigure, an d thos e tha t ar e deathl y becaus e the y disintegrat e th e sel f an d destroy th e other . Ar e there , even now , relationship s (o f whatever gender ) whic h can integrat e th e conflict s withi n th e sel f an d wit h other s t o creat e ne w life ? O r must, a t the en d o f a life-cycle, 'Deca y an d decompositio n . . . tak e their ow n way ' as Birkin seem s t o suspect: 'Ho w t o ge t away fro m thi s proces s of reduction, ho w escape thi s phosphorescen t passag e int o th e tom b . . . thi s wa s th e unconsciou s problem whic h torture d Birki n da y an d night.' 94 It i s highly unlikel y tha t thi s ha d anythin g t o d o wit h a homosexual attractio n to Murry . Murr y wa s neithe r o f hi s 'types' . H e wa s intellectua l an d soulful , an d it wa s that whic h mad e hi m lovabl e t o Lawrenc e an d dre w Frieda' s wrath . Gerald an d Gudru n ha d o f cours e bee n conceive d i n th e first 'Sisters ' befor e Lawrence eve r me t th e Murrys ; an d i t i s no t a t al l surprisin g tha t Murr y neve r recognised himsel f i n th e final version , sinc e Lawrenc e pu t nothin g int o th e character tha t resemble s hi m - unlik e th e feature s i n Gudru n whic h woul d develop throug h thinkin g abou t Katherine . Th e possibl e real-lif e 'sources ' o f Gerald - give n al l tha t mislead s i n th e phras e - li e outwardly i n Phili p Barbe r o f 330
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Lambclose an d th e coal-ownin g fir m o f Barber , Walke r & Co.; an d inwardl y i n Lawrence's admiratio n fo r hi s dea d brother , fo r Ala n Chambers , fo r th e muscular lady-kille r Georg e Nevill e an d th e good-lookin g athleti c Bunn y Garnett - al l transforme d wel l beyon d 'life ' b y th e powe r o f Lawrence' s imagination. 'Little ' Murr y ha d th e dar k eye s of the othe r type , but certainl y no t the physica l aura ; and , a s w e hav e see n an d wil l se e again , th e las t thin g Lawrence wante d wa s t o 'eat ' him . Moreover , thoug h Lawrenc e woul d develo p in 191 7 a clos e friendshi p wit h Willia m Henr y Hocking , hi s youn g Cornis h neighbour a t Highe r Tregerthe n Far m (se e below) , an d ma y indee d hav e fel t attracted t o hi m a t first sight , h e ca n hav e ha d onl y a passing acquaintanc e a s yet , when h e was altogethe r take n u p wit h th e Murrys . (H e neve r mention s hi m before August. ) Wha t Lawrenc e would tak e fro m th e failur e o f hi s friendshi p with Murr y a t Highe r Tregerthen , an d explore , wa s th e offe r o f blood brotherhood whic h h e ha d mad e t o bot h Katherin e an d Jack. I t wa s thi s tha t le d Murry lon g afterward s (wit h typica l knowingness , bu t littl e understanding ) t o claim tha t Women in Love was essentiall y a contrast betwee n Lawrence' s relatio n with Fried a an d hi s wit h Katherine , misrepresented ; bu t Murr y di d no t suppos e blood-brotherhood involve d homosexua l relationship , thoug h h e coul d neve r se e what i t did involve. 95 That howeve r wa s a question th e nove l se t ou t t o answer ; i n a fashion sharpl y distinguished fro m thos e kind s o f homosexua l feelin g an d practic e Lawrenc e thought destructive , bu t clearl y o f th e same natur e a s hi s violen t bu t creativ e relationship wit h Frieda . Th e evidenc e i s i n th e revisio n o f th e firs t versio n between Jul y an d November , wher e i t become s plai n tha t th e questio n o f relationship betwee n me n wa s soo n subsume d i n - an d ha d probabl y alway s been subordinat e t o - th e muc h mor e importan t question s whic h ha d shake n Lawrence t o th e depth s i n th e contretemp s wit h th e Murrys : th e layin g bar e o f the spli t i n himsel f betwee n intellect/spiri t an d th e lif e o f th e body , whic h h e had diagnose d t o Ottolin e a s a majo r sourc e o f difficult y i n hi s marriage ; and , deeper still , o f th e violence , hat e an d urg e t o destro y whic h th e rumpuse s a t Higher Tregerthe n ha d brough t int o th e ope n i n th e Lawrence s - an d mor e covertly, i n th e Murry s to o - a n exploratio n o f tw o ver y differen t kind s o f violence, i n tw o ver y differen t kind s o f love, irrespective o f gender . The fina l notebook s moreover , eve n withou t th e epilogue , mak e i t clea r tha t one o f thes e i s quit e literall y deathl y - ver y unlik e th e hopefu l endin g o f th e original 'Sisters' . VII 'Th e Sisters ' III (July-November ) Lawrence's decisio n t o typ e th e nove l confirme d tha t h e was no w aimin g fo r publication. H e ha d t o - h e ha d bee n livin g al l thi s tim e i n Cornwal l o n th e 33i
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money tha t ha d bee n collecte d fo r th e abortiv e mov e t o America ; an d thoug h h e had a roo f ove r hi s hea d fo r th e res t o f th e year , b y 1 2 July h e ha d onl y £6 lef t (ii.630). Anothe r £5 0 cam e fro m Pinke r (ii . 630) , but Lawrenc e was increasingl y unhappy abou t bein g unabl e t o suppor t himself . Before h e coul d begi n however , h e ha d t o g o t o Bodmi n a t th e en d o f June t o be examine d fo r militar y servic e - bu t returne d triumphantl y wit h a tota l exemption. I t wa s not a s bad a s he ha d feared . H e hate d bein g marche d fro m th e station 'lik e a criminal' (ii . 618) ; the humiliatio n o f thirty me n bein g examine d i n their shirts ; th e spuriou s atmosphere , keyed-up , but wit h (h e thought ) a sense o f wrongness underneath . Th e pillo w h e slep t o n was 'lik e a n ol d withere d vegetable marro w tie d u p i n a bag'; 97 bu t th e me n al l seeme d 'decent' (ii . 625) . He admire d thei r readines s t o suffe r fo r wha t the y though t thei r dut y t o thei r fellow men ; bu t wh y hadn' t the y th e courag e t o rejec t sufferin g i n defenc e o f their ow n integrity ? H e fel t th e glamou r o f 'camaraderie ' - Whitman' s wor d but a t onc e rejecte d i t i n associatio n wit h militaris m (ii . 618) . H e tol d hi s Boar d that 'th e doctor s sai d I had ha d consumption ' bu t 'didn' t produc e an y certificate . I didn' t thin k i t fai r t o Jones ' (ii . 623) . Th e leadin g Englis h Freudia n ha d subscribed t o Signature, an d ha d probabl y give n hi m a lette r t o tak e t o th e Battersea Tow n Hal l th e previou s December , whe n h e was intendin g t o emigrate. Th e notio n tha t i t woul d hav e bee n unfai r t o Jone s t o produc e it , however, suggest s h e though t tha t Jone s ha d stretche d th e facts , whic h was acceptable whe n onl y attestatio n wa s a t issue , bu t migh t b e embarrassin g i f no t confirmed b y ful l professiona l examinatio n now . Lawrenc e spok e crisply , an d was believe d withou t a certificate - indee d t o th e nake d ey e h e wa s unfi t t o b e a soldier, eve n a clerkly one . The experienc e lef t it s mar k o n th e novel : hi s reflection s o n 'th e nation' , property an d one' s dut y t o one' s neighbour , voice d t o Catherin e Carswel l an d Thomas Dunlo p soo n afterwards , becam e matter s o f debat e amon g th e weddin g party a t 'Shortlands' . We firs t hea r o f th e typin g i n mid-July , afte r Lawrenc e ha d helpe d th e Hockings wit h haymakin g o n th e farm , (whic h wil l hav e reminde d hi m o f Th e Haggs an d Ala n Chambers ) an d ha d decide d t o tak e over tw o room s i n wha t ha d been th e Murrys ' house . W e ca n no w imagin e hi m typin g i n th e towe r wher e Katherine ha d writte n t o Kot . I t wa s t o become 'on e o f th e labour s o f Hercules ' that wen t o n fo r mont h afte r mont h (ii . 665) . A t th e en d o f Augus t ther e wa s a deluge an d h e caugh t col d again , wit h neuralgi a (ii . 648) . Throughou t Sep tember th e weathe r continue d we t an d stormy , an d h e spen t muc h o f th e tim e i n bed. Fried a becam e worrie d onc e mor e whe n sh e returne d fro m a visi t t o London i n mi d mont h t o find hi m il l an d deepl y depressed ; an d b y mid October th e revisio n o f the nove l wa s still onl y two-third s done . A t tha t stag e h e decided tha t enoug h wa s enoug h (ii . 666) ; the typin g wa s ba d fo r hi s nerve s an d 332
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was makin g hi m ill ; s o h e persuade d Pinke r t o hav e i t complete d i n hi s offic e instead (ii . 668) , while h e finished th e res t o f the draf t i n penci l i n anothe r se t o f notebooks. (Lawrence' s typin g stop s jus t befor e wha t i s now 'Excurse'. ) Thoug h he was i n be d onc e more , th e revisio n the n fairl y slippe d alon g unti l th e las t notebook wen t of f t o Pinke r o n 3 1 Octobe r (ii . 669) . Stil l a n epilogu e remaine d to b e writte n - bu t whe n th e typescrip t cam e bac k h e (typically ) bega n anothe r major revisio n instead . So wha t doe s thi s versio n revea l o f Lawrence's struggl e t o com e t o term s wit h what ha d happene d t o hi s worl d an d t o himsel f sinc e The Rainbow, an d wit h th e violence o f 1916 , bot h withi n an d a t large ? Th e novel' s apocalypti c visio n mad e Frieda wan t i t called 'Die s Irae ' (ii . 669 ) - bu t Lawrenc e wante d th e emphasi s t o fall o n lov e (a s h e understoo d it) , an d th e late r notebook s ar e alread y title d 'Women i n Love ' thoug h th e nove l w e kno w i n prin t ha d no t ye t full y foun d itself. For a biographer, th e mai n issue s i n thi s draf t (th e first w e can rea d i n full , ignoring th e revision s o n th e typescript ) ar e it s us e o f 'real ' people ; th e exploration o f violence; and th e question whethe r th e novel exposes a sick autho r and marriage , o r show s sicknes s beginning t o be shed . Though feeling s abou t Ottoline , Pum a an d Katherin e wen t int o Lawrence' s developing creation , hi s motive s wer e mor e tha n personal . H e ha d like d an d a t some leve l stil l di d lik e al l three , despit e th e tension s tha t ha d arisen . O f cours e he was b y n o mean s devoi d o f malic e o r vindictiveness , bu t thes e wer e no t wha t the character s o f Hermione, th e Pussu m an d Gudru n were for. Th e Pussu m an d Hermione develope d a s necessar y extreme s i n th e imaginativ e spectru m o f 'women i n love' , betwee n whic h th e capacit y o f Gudru n an d Ursul a t o reduc e themselves o r b e transforme d throug h conflic t wit h thei r lover s ca n b e gauged . If ther e ha d bee n n o Lad y Ottoline , Lawrenc e woul d hav e ha d t o inven t a Lad y Compasses. I t wa s necessary fo r thi s imagine d worl d t o hav e a t on e extrem e a woman whos e essentia l lif e wa s al l menta l consciousness , includin g th e remain s of he r sensuality , wh o believe d sh e coul d contro l he r sel f an d al l other s throug h her wil l an d wh o was intensel y spiritual . Comin g a t th e en d o f a grea t cycle , sh e should b e a Kulturtrd'ger, a n apotheosi s o f civilisation; but becaus e he r civilisatio n is i n decay , sh e mus t als o b e a withere d priestess , bese t b y neuroti c uncertaint y that make s he r batte n o n th e 'other ' t o pro p he r agains t th e los s o f self , whic h she see s a s a n abyss . Shoul d tha t abys s open , sh e wil l betra y a destructive, eve n murderous violence , al l th e mor e shockin g becaus e o f he r culture d spirituality . Having know n Ottolin e undoubtedl y helpe d Lawrenc e t o thi s conception , gav e him remarkabl e physica l feature s an d a n ambienc e t o wor k with , pu t a glin t i n his ey e an d als o helpe d hi m sharpe n hi s understandin g o f th e 'Compasses ' tendency o f Bloomsbury, Cambridg e an d th e fin-de-siecle i n Englan d generally . However, th e characte r Hermion e no t onl y over-intensifie s som e an d omit s many othe r feature s o f Ottolin e Morrell ; i t als o draw s fro m quit e othe r 333
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sources: Jessi e Chambers , Hele n Cork e an d probabl y others , i t hardl y matter s now. Hermione' s physica l violenc e cam e fro m Frieda , but , Lawrenc e wa s sure , was a potential i n ever y woma n a s i n ever y man , thoug h Ottolin e an d Katherin e repressed it . I t wa s equally necessar y t o have i n th e Pussu m a n opposit e creature , of almos t tota l sensualit y - eve n t o he r kin d o f intelligenc e - wh o offer s hersel f as a n odalisqu e o r slav e an d acquire s powe r throug h doin g so , an d wh o live s i n and throug h th e disintegratio n o f th e sel f i n th e worl d o f artisti c nihilis m an d bohemia. 1 l I f there ha d bee n n o Mis s Channin g t o selec t fro m an d intensify , h e would hav e ha d t o inven t Mis s Goat . Eve n wit h Halliday , veerin g betwee n 'broken . . . Christ ' an d deprave d sensualist , Lawrenc e wa s motivated b y mor e than persona l revenge , fo r h e wa s no t onl y re-imaginin g (albei t mor e intensel y and, yes , with a glint now ) th e diagnosi s h e ha d alread y openl y mad e i n th e tim e of hi s friendshi p wit h Phili p Heseltine , bu t als o usin g i t t o diagnos e somethin g in Birkin , wh o i s a reflectio n o f himself . A s hi s alienatio n an d isolatio n grew , h e clearly care d les s an d les s abou t th e feeling s o f peopl e h e use d fo r hi s Activ e purposes; ye t thos e purpose s wer e muc h mor e creativ e an d structura l tha n vindictive. Th e overridin g impuls e wa s t o explor e t o extreme s th e impulse s which wa r withi n an d betwee n th e tw o sister s an d th e me n wit h who m the y fal l in love ; and (i n thi s ar t o f 'articulat e extremity' ) t o follo w th e opposit e violence s of thos e conflict s t o thei r final resolution . I n th e hea t o f suc h imagination , tie s with rea l lif e soo n melte d away . Even i n it s penultimat e state , th e nove l wa s a n extraordinaril y brav e an d disturbing exploratio n o f violence ; a 'wa r novel ' n o les s fo r bein g se t i n a worl d apparently a t peace . Fo r whereve r w e look , violenc e break s out : Geral d spurring hi s mar e a t th e railway-crossing , Gudru n dancin g hersel f agains t th e Highland bullock s the n strikin g he r love r i n th e face , th e deat h screa m o f a rabbit i n Gerald' s grasp , th e blo w tha t fell s Loerke , th e nea r murde r o f Gudrun . All thes e wer e alread y presen t i n thi s version . S o wer e Birki n hurlin g rock s a t the reflectio n o f th e moon , Geral d an d Birki n wrestlin g i n th e library , Ursul a flinging Birkin' s engagemen t ring s i n hi s fac e wit h fierce abus e - bu t wherea s one sequenc e lead s progressivel y t o death, th e othe r result s (a s the Murry s coul d not accept ) i n tenderness , reverence , truth-telling , ne w life . Give n als o th e murderous blo w Hermion e strike s Birkin , a s well as the Pussu m stabbin g a knif e into a man's han d i n th e Pompadour , i t i s clea r tha t Lawrenc e sa w th e worl d o f 1916 a s on e i n whic h violen t hatred , an d th e impuls e t o strik e a t anythin g tha t threatened th e self , lurke d everywher e an d onl y a littl e belo w th e surface , whether culture d o r bohemian . Th e majo r challeng e o f th e novel , then , i s whether ther e ca n b e a violenc e tha t i s creativ e a s wel l a s a violenc e tha t destroys. For an y lov e i t woul d seem , an y dee p relatio n betwee n th e sel f an d another , produces bot h inne r an d oute r war , openin g split s withi n th e sel f an d conflic t 334
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with it s opposite . Wha t seem s t o mak e th e difference , again , i s whethe r th e sel f can giv e itsel f over , accep t oblivio n an d transformatio n a t th e other' s hands , o r whether i t seek s t o dominate , o r absorb , o r us e th e othe r t o gratif y it s sens e o f power, o f whic h th e final extrem e i s killing . I n 'Th e Sisters ' II I now , i n th e months o f Verdu n an d th e Somme , th e character s ar e fa r mor e disintegrate d than i n The Rainbow, an d reac t a t firs t wit h eve n greate r violenc e t o th e wa r o f the sexe s tha t lie s withi n bein g i n love . Ye t a t th e sam e wate r part y i n whic h Gudrun strike s th e firs t blow , a wholl y differen t wa y o f lovin g i s revealed . Poised i n a fragil e canoe , Gudru n i s overcom e b y th e beaut y o f th e mal e opposite, n o longe r see n a s a threat , whil e Geral d fo r th e firs t tim e i s abl e t o lapse ou t o f himself int o hi s surroundings , instea d o f his usua l urg e t o dominate . Will the y b e able , 'i n love' , t o integrat e th e upper - an d th e sub-conscious , th e dark an d th e ligh t selves , a s th e ros y an d dee p blu e lantern s ar e constellate d i n the dar k water ? Whic h wa y will they, an d Ursul a an d Birkin , go ? At th e novel' s centre , thre e leap s o f imaginatio n sho w direction s towar d ne w life, o r death , i n thi s apocalypti c fiction o f Las t Thing s an d Judgement s though th e nove l ha s som e wa y t o g o yet , i n clarifyin g wha t imaginatio n bring s to th e surface . Birkin stone s th e moo n i n th e pond , i n destructiv e misogyny , resentment , repudiation - bu t afterward s ther e i s peace. I t woul d see m tha t th e disintegratio n of consciousness ha s nowaday s t o be almost complet e befor e lif e ca n b e renewed ; only thi s i s n o mer e symbolism , bu t a powerfu l experienc e o f rocking , crashing , destructive force , a s Birki n seek s t o obliterat e th e fiercely brigh t ligh t fro m th e black water , ye t watche s i t re-form, lookin g quit e different , whol e and composed , at peace . Th e violenc e make s Birki n an d th e watchin g Ursul a obliviou s o f self , the min d spille d out , bu t afterward s ther e i s a new tendernes s an d a new sens e o f how lov e ma y ge t beyon d personality . I t i s har d t o pu t int o words , though , an d as soo n a s tal k begins , misunderstandin g grows . Indeed , i n thi s version , Lawrence himsel f ha s no t full y graspe d wha t i t i s tha t Birki n (an d h e himself ) wants fro m love , o r ho w i t relate s t o o r differ s fro m a mal e chauvinis m tha t Birkin slip s into , an d Ursul a resents . Ye t ther e doe s see m t o b e a violenc e tha t leads throug h disintegratio n t o harmony, tenderness , renewal . In star k contrast , th e violenc e whe n th e grea t buc k rabbi t Bismarc k i s haule d out b y th e ears , t o b e sketched , expose s muc h tha t i s hidden, no t onl y i n Geral d and Gudru n bu t (b y extension ) i n othe r character s a s well . The frenzie d kickin g and scratchin g anima l show s th e instinctiv e fight i n al l livin g creature s agains t what threaten s them ; bu t hi s life-force , fa r fro m winnin g respec t o r wonder , brings wellin g u p instea d a savag e an d destructiv e cruelt y i n th e apparentl y civilised ma n an d woman , exertin g thei r wil l an d powe r almos t t o th e death . Though th e ful l implication s o f wha t Lawrenc e ha s imagine d hav e ye t t o emerge, disturbin g potentialitie s ar e reveale d i n th e lover s an d thei r 'love' , 335
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through th e power struggl e wit h th e animal. The desire t o dominate an d contro l may driv e men , and women , t o destroy . Eve n art , and seekin g t o know, ma y be modes o f domination o r possession . Victim s ma y exert strang e provocatio n an d power. Hermion e an d the Pussum com e int o new focus too. The wrestlin g of Gerald an d Birkin explore s th e question whethe r ther e coul d be a love betwee n me n a s potentiall y transformin g a s the creativ e lov e betwee n men an d wome n - an d suggest s wha t Lawrenc e mean t b y the Blutbriiderschaf t Murry ha d rejected . Her e to o is the attraction an d challeng e o f opposites. Her e too wha t begin s a s release o f frustration an d resentment intensifie s int o violence , as th e underworld creatur e o n th e Chines e lanter n whic h Gudru n rejected , an d which reappeare d i n the moon writhin g o n the pond, become s visibl e onc e mor e in th e struggling nake d limb s o f the wrestlers i n the library. Thi s i s no symboli c substitute fo r homosexua l intercours e however , sinc e i t contain s itself th e experience Lawrenc e though t centra l t o every creativ e marriag e o f opposites: the momentary oblivio n o f the self, followe d b y an access o f new lif e - whic h coul d occur i n a kiss (i n The Rainbow) o r a touch o f fingers i n wonder i n the Saracen' s Head i n thi s novel , an d now, clearly, doe s no t depend o n gende r an y more tha n on intercourse . Wha t look s a t first lik e a struggle t o dominate, become s throug h the los s of self a moment o f oblivion an d renewal, issuin g i n new tenderness and truth a s wit h Birki n an d Ursul a b y th e pond ; markedl y differen t fro m th e cruelty wit h th e rabbit an d the secret satisfactio n i n violence itself. It would see m that wha t Lawrenc e wante d fro m Murr y wa s no t discipleshi p o r persona l intimacy, bu t creative an d impersona l conflic t withi n a committed friendship ; but Geral d flinche s awa y as Murry ha d done. (But see also below, p. 397.) From thes e centra l scenes , th e path s o f th e tw o pair s begi n t o diverge . O f most interes t t o th e biographe r i s th e decisiv e chapte r i n whic h Lawrenc e explores a 'rumpus ' no t unlik e th e one Katherine described , an d relate d als o t o Frieda's row s wit h Ottoline . (Fried a sai d late r tha t it , too , had 'happened'.) 1 5 Though th e lovers d o not quite com e t o blows, an ugly violenc e doe s erupt , first in Ursula' s jealous y o f Birkin's relationshi p wit h Hermione , the n i n he r deepe r denunciation o f th e spli t i n hi m betwee n goa t an d compasses , 'dirty ' sex and soul-mush, climaxe d b y flinging hi s engagement ring s i n his face. Wha t i s really important, however , i s not any question o f the truth o f the accusation bu t rathe r the lashin g ou t o f he r psych e i n pur e rejectio n o f commitment . I t i s equall y important tha t Birki n doe s no t summo n eg o and intellec t t o defen d himsel f bu t just th e opposite : hi s mind spill s out , he lapse s int o th e oblivion tha t abandon s self, an d onc e agai n (a s by th e pond) , afte r th e stor m o f violenc e th e tensio n i s suddenly gone , the air is clear, word s of truth an d tenderness ca n be spoken, and the ring s tha t pledg e th e marriag e o f opposite s ca n b e give n an d accepted . Conflicts an d split s remain , bu t afterwards , ou t of reverence fo r th e myster y o f the other , ca n come complet e sexua l fulfilmen t - thoug h onc e agai n muc h need s 336
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to b e clarified . Thoug h thi s ma y b e disturbin g t o us , Lawrence though t violenc e by both me n an d wome n coul d hea l as well as destroy . Meanwhile th e contras t wit h th e othe r coupl e become s cleare r too , as Gudru n and Geral d kis s belo w th e bridg e an d a s h e goe s fro m hi s father' s grav e t o he r bed. Ther e i s much a t first t o remin d on e of the wonde r an d beaut y i n th e canoe , but mor e tha t i s different : fo r i n kissin g he r Geral d seem s t o absor b he r int o himself; whil e Gudru n first thrill s t o hi s mastery , an d the n turn s wonde r int o desire t o kno w him , hol d hi m i n hand , a possessio n lik e he r carvings . Whe n h e takes he r i t i s to fill a void i n himself , whic h leave s he r no t obliviou s bu t horribl y conscious. A s the y trea d a more an d mor e dangerou s pat h toward s tragedy , thei r way o f bein g i n lov e steadil y intensifie s se x wa r i n whic h on e alway s dominate s or use s th e other ; a war o f will and power , an d finally o f survival, a s love turn s t o hate o r th e frisso n o f defiance . A s character s the y ar e splendidl y dramati c an d interesting. Lawrenc e pu t int o Geral d al l hi s fascinatio n wit h power : handsom e physical strengt h (ver y differen t fro m hi s ow n scrawn y body) , th e powe r o f mind ove r matter , th e powe r o f technolog y whic h revolutionise d th e coa l industry i n hi s lifetime . H e pu t int o th e Gudru n o f 191 6 much o f hi s fascinatio n with Katherine : he r stylis h dres s an d sardoni c wit , he r ar t o f th e miniatur e an d her likin g t o pi n peopl e i n a phrase , he r bohemianism , he r unwillingnes s t o commit herself , he r inhibition s an d secrecies , he r ambiguou s admiratio n an d resentment o f mal e powe r - thoug h h e als o lef t muc h out . Indee d Geral d an d Gudrun, th e destructiv e ones , may see m th e mor e interestin g couple . If so , th e reaso n lie s i n Birkin . Th e Lawrenc e o f 191 6 wa s a deeply disturbe d man (thoug h wit h goo d cause) , an d i n 'Th e Sisters ' II I Birki n ofte n seem s a mere mouthpiec e fo r hi s author' s bile . Lawrenc e conceive d hi m a s a sic k man , hoping presumabl y t o find a way t o shed th e sicknes s - bu t to o often h e use d th e character a t thi s stag e simpl y t o voic e hi s ow n alienation , misanthrop y an d despair; o r t o preac h sermon s draw n fro m hi s philosophi c writings . Ther e als o got int o Birkin's argument s wit h Ursul a no t onl y Lawrence' s reactio n agains t th e dominating an d demandin g sid e o f Frieda , bu t th e charg e tha t ha d underlai n al l the row s ostensibl y ove r th e children : tha t sh e wa s neve r reall y committe d t o him an d neve r reall y respecte d him , i n he r hear t - ye t thi s wa s onl y to o easil y confused wit h idea s o f th e headshi p o f th e male . To o ofte n Birki n sound s unpleasantly chauvinist ; thoug h h e als o seem s t o b e strugglin g t o formulat e a view o f 'love ' ( a wor d h e hates ) tha t ha s nothin g t o d o wit h dominanc e o r subservience o n th e on e hand , o r sensualit y o n th e other , o f whic h Birki n seem s oddly afrai d a t times . Before th e end , however , Lawrenc e ha d becom e awar e of something laughabl e in Birkin' s rhetoric , throug h a last contributio n fro m Katherine . Whil e drinkin g in th e Caf e Roya l wit h Ko t an d Gertle r i n Septembe r 1916 , sh e hear d tw o Indians wit h Oxfor d accent s - on e wa s Suhraward y - accompanie d b y a red 337
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haired woman , readin g ou t an d mockin g Lawrence' s Amoves whic h ha d bee n published i n July . Sh e wen t over , aske d t o se e th e book , the n walke d ou t wit h it. He r refusa l t o hav e Lawrenc e belittled , eve n thoug h the y wer e estranged , showed a n instinctiv e blood-sistershi p tha t th e Murr y o f 191 6 neve r matched . When h e hear d abou t i t Lawrenc e wa s horrified , wante d t o hide , an d gav e ven t to anothe r paroxys m o f misanthrop y (ii . 649-50) . Ye t whe n h e decide d t o imagine i t i n hi s nove l h e turne d i t int o self-criticism , a fine parod y o f th e wors t faults o f hi s writing : hi s tendencie s t o fruit y preaching , overwritin g an d salvationism - perceiving , too , how thes e coul d preven t attentio n t o wha t h e wa s trying t o communicate . I t woul d see m tha t b y dramatising criticis m o f Birkin , sickness migh t b e she d - an d this , alon g wit h th e nee d t o clarif y wha t h e ha d imagined, woul d b e muc h i n hi s min d whe n h e bega n t o rewrite . Eve n a t thi s stage fe w novel s hav e bee n a s searching i n self-exposur e an d a s ready t o confron t uncomfortable discoveries . VIII T h e N a r r o w i n g Circl e Even i f i t wer e no t importan t fo r th e biographe r t o gaug e Lawrence' s effor t a t self-knowledge i n 1916 , writing th e nove l virtuall y was his lif e fro m th e Murrys ' departure til l November . Hi s circl e ha d shrun k again , a s i n th e first month s wit h Frieda, t o a fe w acquaintance s i n a ne w place , an d a handfu l o f olde r Londo n friends. T o juxtapos e thre e Lawrence s i n Jul y 1912 , July 191 4 an d Jul y 1916 , shows ver y graphicall y ho w hi s fortune s ha d curve d fro m isolatio n t o hig h promise, an d righ t bac k t o isolation again , rather wors e tha n before . The youn g Lawrenc e wh o bega n a t Ickin g t o tur n Tau l More P int o Sons and Lovers ha d broke n wit h hi s world . However , afte r thei r first battle s h e though t he ha d naile d Frieda' s nos e t o hi s wagon , an d a ne w adventur e o f Ital y an d liberating fiction la y jus t ahead . Th e Lawrenc e wh o marrie d Fried a i n Londo n two year s late r was achievin g hi s promise . 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' wa s wit h th e publisher, th e storie s o f The Prussian Officer had take n a new shap e tha t showe d how hi s ar t ha d deepened , h e ha d love , reputation , man y friends , an d influenc e that woul d soo n exten d t o Bloomsbur y an d Cambridge , th e centre s (h e thought ) of Englis h life . Th e Lawrenc e wh o sa t i n wha t ha d bee n Katherine' s towe r t o type an d revis e 'Th e Sisters ' III , whil e slaughte r mounte d o n th e Somm e an d continued a t Verdun , was a mor e lonel y an d alienate d figure tha n eve r before . From July t o lat e November, i t was imagination tha t seeme d mos t real . Yet i f Ranani m ha d faile d ye t again , hi s feelin g fo r Cornwal l remained , a s foxgloves blossome d an d hay-harves t came . Th e Lawrence s like d Kati e Ber ryman i n th e littl e Zenno r store , and he r brothe r To m wh o woul d driv e the m b y pony tra p t o Penzanc e o r S t Ives , an d Captai n Shor t an d hi s daughte r an d son in-law, Iren e an d Perc y Whittley . Afte r th e grea t relie f o f Bodmin , an d befor e 338
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beginning o n 'Th e Sisters ' II I again , Lawrenc e too k tim e off . H e helpe d wit h th e hay-harvest o n th e Hockin g far m a t Highe r Tregerthen ; demonstratin g ho w sheaves wer e tie d i n th e Midland s bu t no t impressin g th e locals , and probabl y i n his stat e o f healt h a 'helper ' mor e tolerate d tha n reall y useful . I t mus t hav e been no w tha t th e Lawrence s go t t o kno w th e Hockin g famil y better , especiall y the eldes t so n Willia m Henry , thoug h a t thi s stag e Lawrenc e ha d mixe d feeling s about him . H e was attracted t o th e youn g farmer , bu t h e was als o impatien t wit h him i n thes e firs t month s o f acquaintance ; an d ver y muc h feare d tha t h e migh t become ' a burden ' (ii . 647) . H e woul d no t invit e Willia m Henr y int o th e house , or encourag e hi m t o ge t t o kno w Dolli e Radfor d o r Barbar a Lo w whe n the y came t o stay ; thoug h h e late r appeale d t o the m t o loo k afte r hi m i f h e shoul d come t o Londo n a s h e longe d t o do . Ye t h e wa s move d b y th e youn g farmer' s sense o f a furthe r lif e fro m whic h h e was debarred , an d t o whic h h e though t Lawrence migh t ope n th e door . 'H e i s really intereste d i n things' , wrot e Lawrence: but h e hasn't enoug h menta l development , menta l continuity . Tha t i s the terribl e fat e of those who have a high sensuous development, and ver y little mental: centuries of sensuous culture, and the n sprun g int o menta l life , i n on e generatio n .. . h e suffer s badly, and hi s people hate him - becaus e he will take the intellectual attitude .. . (ii . 642-3 ) He gav e a gesture o f William Henry' s t o Gerald : 'Yes, there' s somethin g on e want s .. . Bu t shal l I eve r ge t it ? - I wan t i t - ' h e put s hi s hand t o his chest with a queer, graspin g movement - ' I ca n feel th e want of it here - bu t shall I ever get it? - That' s what I begin to doubt . . . ' (ii . 664) 1 Frieda als o like d th e youn g farme r an d though t hi m interesting , thoug h sh e characteristically sai d tha t wha t h e neede d wa s a woma n (ii . 642 ) - obviousl y unaware tha t h e wa s courting . I t i s unlikel y however , onc e Lawrenc e bega n t o write i n earnest , tha t h e woul d hav e foun d muc h tim e fo r a ne w friendshi p a t this stage , even i f he ha d no t bee n lai d u p i n bed s o continually . He ha d no t ye t broke n decisivel y wit h th e ol d friends . Toward s th e en d o f July ther e wa s a no t ver y successfu l visi t t o th e Murry s a t Mylor , t o whic h Katherine ha d returne d fo r a while . The y picnicke d u p th e cree k an d ha d som e difficulty rowin g bac k agains t a choppy tide , whic h was apt, sinc e littl e woul d b e done 'merrily ' amon g the m now . Katherin e describe d wryl y t o Ottolin e ho w they watche d Lawrenc e leave , 'i n a littl e ope n boa t pulle d b y a n ol d ol d man . Lawrence wor e a broa d whit e line n ha t an d h e carrie d a ruc k sac k o n hi s back . He looke d rathe r a s thoug h th e peopl e o f Falmout h ha d crie d t o hi m a s th e Macedonians di d t o Pau l an d h e wa s o n hi s wa y ove r t o hel p them. ' (Ther e is , significantly again , no mentio n o f Frieda, thoug h sh e wa s there.) A t th e en d o f August Murry' s Fyodor Dostoevsky: A Critical Study cam e out , an d h e sen t 339
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Lawrence a copy - bu t Lawrence' s lette r of acknowledgement underscore d onc e more thei r fundamenta l disagreemen t (ii . 646) . B y thi s tim e Murr y ha d solve d both conscriptio n an d financia l problem s b y goin g t o wor k fo r th e Wa r Office , having first appealed t o Eddie Marsh and then met J. T. Sheppar d a t Garsingto n who go t hi m take n on, as a translator a t first, compilin g intelligenc e fro m foreig n newspapers. Withi n si x month s h e becam e edito r o f a 'Dail y Revie w o f th e Foreign Press ' circulated t o all Heads o f Governmen t Departments ; i n a year h e doubled hi s salary; and by 191 8 he was Chief Censor. Th e co-edito r of Signature had joined th e establishment . Early i n September , havin g hear d o f Katherine' s gestur e a t th e Caf e Royal , Lawrence repente d a little o f saying h e wante d t o be lef t alone , an d wrot e letter s to the m bot h whic h hav e no t survived . Katherin e fel t h e ha d bee n insultin g i n the one t o her, probably b y repeatin g hi s view tha t she neede d t o 'die' to her old self an d lear n t o b e alone , s o h e ha d t o writ e agai n pacifically . Whe n Frederic k Goodyear cam e t o M y lor o n leav e fro m th e fron t an d wante d t o se e Lawrenc e again, Murr y too k hi m ove r t o Highe r Tregerthen . Lawrenc e showe d the m hi s vegetable garden , 'squattin g lik e a pitman . . . uncoverin g wit h delicat e hand s hi s beetroots fro m th e pea-haul m tha t straggle d ove r them . Goodyea r watche d hi m with a quizzica l admiration' . Lawrenc e wa s quizzica l too , abou t Good y ear's combination o f grea t good-humou r wit h a kin d o f nihilism : h e ha d com e fro m India an d insiste d o n gettin g t o th e fron t becaus e h e wa s 'bored' . H e wa s kille d soon afterwards , s o th e encounte r b y th e garde n seem s almos t symbolic ; bu t though Lawrenc e an d Goodyea r go t o n well , ther e woul d b e n o renewe d friendship wit h Murry ye t awhile. Katherine an d Murr y ha d continue d t o wor k thei r way , ofte n separately , int o Ottoline's goo d grace s - Jac k eve n tellin g he r i n Septembe r tha t h e though t h e was fallin g i n lov e wit h her . Sinc e Ko t kep t i n touc h wit h al l four , an d wa s n o diplomat, wha t wa s sai d o n bot h side s di d no t sta y hidden . Nea r th e en d o f September Lawrenc e tol d Ottoline , afte r a silence o f months, T can se e yo u an d Katharine talkin g together , an d ca n overhea r a t leas t a fe w thing s yo u say ' (ii. 656). n I n Octobe r h e tol d Ko t h e wante d nothin g t o d o wit h th e 'toad ' i n Murry bu t though t h e migh t stil l respon d (sinc e peopl e ar e 'dua l an d opposite' ) if 'a bit of what to me is true and real' came out, though 'al l the rest of himself he can take elsewhere' (ii. 666-7) . H e ha d written t o Jack, on 1 1 October, tha t whe n he sai d h e wa s don e wit h hi m h e mean t wit h th e old him, i n th e hop e tha t ne w young selve s wer e takin g plac e howeve r painfull y i n the m bot h (ii . 662) , bu t Murry had never replied. Fou r day s later Frieda told Ko t she had had enough: As Katherine does not write to me, I believe you must have told Jack what I said - I am glad if you have - I should have had to have it out with them sometimes - I t is time that Jack stopped the lies he tells about people to satisfy his own meanness - The y are as mean 340
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as the y ca n b e t o everybody , then they tur n roun d an d say : are'n t peopl e vile. And Katherine never opposes Jack's vileness, but rather enjoys it - T o me they have been so mean - especiall y Jack, whereve r the y hav e been , the y hav e turne d peopl e agains t me, tried to regard me as a 'quantite negligable'. Well , fro m my point I am not going to put up wit h i t a minute longe r .. . Yo u kno w I lov e Katherine , bu t I blame he r whe n sh e believes Jack, when she knows better herself - Bu t enough - I always knew it all - An d I am no angel myself, but they have done me infinitely more harm than ever I did to them, so let there be some kind of justice, (ii. 667-8 ) By earl y November , Lawrenc e to o ha d don e wit h th e Murry s 'fo r ever ' (iii. 23) . Ottoline ha d gathere d sh e wa s th e 'villainess ' o f hi s ne w nove l (iii . 41) , an d i t was obvious wh o had told her . I n December, Murr y 'not being an artist, bu t onl y a littl e ego , i s a little muckspou t . . . I hav e like d hi m an d I don' t lik e hi m an y more. Basta! ' (iii . 53) . H e emit s 'th e sam e kin d o f stink ' a s Dostoevsky, becaus e he to o ca n 'ooz e wit h suc h lovin g words ' whil e filled wit h hat e underneath . 'A s for hi s novel ' (whic h ha d no w appeared) , 'I t i s th e kin d o f wrigglin g self-abus e which I can' t mak e hea d o r tai l of . Bu t then , a s Murr y says , I a m no t cleve r enough.' There i s some piqu e agai n (a s with Russell) . Wit h a critical book an d a novel out , an d hi s ne w secur e positio n i n th e Wa r Office , Murr y wa s a ver y different figure fro m th e la d wh o ha d staggere d acros s th e fields t o Greatha m i n the rain, to be cared for by the author of Sons and Lovers and The Rainbow. Eve n then, as Lawrence tol d Campbell , Murr y ha d secretly though t himsel f 'the equal of th e highest ' (iii . 63) ; but no w h e ha d somethin g t o sho w fo r tha t self-belief , and it revealed itsel f in a new condescending attitud e t o Lawrence an d his work. That wor k inevitabl y le d no w t o a final breac h wit h Ottoline , thoug h Lawrence too k surprisingl y lon g t o realis e this . I n lat e Ma y h e ha d writte n he r the lette r whic h describe d how , whe n shake n t o th e depths , hi s inne r sou l ha d become th e onl y rea l worl d (ii . 608-10) . I n hi s novel , already , th e Hermion e o f the 'Prologue ' mus t hav e take n mor e fro m Ottoline , thoug h withou t th e manu script w e canno t tel l jus t how . Ye t ther e wa s n o persona l animus , a s th e lette r shows. However , Ottolin e wa s 'very cooP (ii. 612 ) afte r th e las t outburs t fro m Frieda, and there was silence durin g all the months i n which th e manuscript wa s first completed an d the n revised . Lawrence , a s isolate d a s a monk i n hi s tower , clearly fel t fre e t o le t imaginatio n tak e it s cours e - an d a t the en d o f Septembe r he actually wondere d whethe r h e could com e an d finish th e nove l at Garsington. On 3 October howeve r ther e are signs o f unease a s he wrot e again, sorry t o hear she had been ill once more: As for my novel, I don't know if I hate it or not. I think everybod y else will hate it. But this cannot be helped. I know it is true, the book. And it is another world, in which I can live apart from this foul world which I will not accept or acknowledge or even enter. The world of my novel is big and fearless - yes , I love it, and love it passionately. It only seems 341
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to me horrible to have to publish it. ... I will send it you when it is done - an d if you are well. (ii. 659) It wa s an honourable , bu t a doomed course . H e ha d hear d i n July o f the deat h o f Percy Luca s an d i n a sudden spas m o f guil t ha d wishe d 'England , M y England ' had neve r bee n writte n - bu t there , too , th e sens e o f a n imaginative trut h kep t the las t word . 'I f i t wa s a tru e story , i t shouldn' t reall y damag e . . . I t shoul d d o good, a t th e lon g run ' (ii . 635-6) - whic h o f cours e i s fine s o lon g a s yo u ar e no t the on e t o fee l identifiable , o r whos e kindnes s seem s t o have bee n me t wit h blac k ingratitude. Lawrenc e hope d tha t Ottolin e woul d no t as k fo r th e manuscript , bu t he mus t hav e know n sh e woul d - an d i t mus t no w hav e bee n dawnin g o n hi m (very belatedly ) ho w i t woul d loo k fro m he r poin t o f view . H e knew, o f course , how hi s fiction ha d demande d a woma n wit h a certai n greatnes s o f extremity , only som e o f whos e characteristic s wer e inspire d b y Ottoline . Indeed , whe n i n late Novembe r h e aske d Donal d Carswel l t o loo k carefull y throug h th e revise d typescript wit h a lawyer's ey e fo r anythin g tha t migh t caus e trouble , h e stil l wa s not thinkin g o f Ottoline bu t o f Heseltine an d th e Puma , wh o 'ar e take n fro m lif e - nobod y els e a t al l lifelike ' (iii . 36) . I n Decembe r however , sur e no w tha t h e would hav e t o giv e Ottolin e th e nove l t o read , h e aske d Catherin e Carswell , anxiously: 'D o yo u thin k i t woul d reall y hur t he r - th e Hermione ? Woul d yo u be hurt , i f there w ras some o f yo u i n Hermione ? Yo u se e i t isn' t reall y he r a t al l only suggeste d b y her . I t i s probabl e sh e wil l thin k Hermion e ha s nothin g t o d o with her ' (iii . 44) . Ther e wa s littl e hop e o f that. Whe n a typescrip t eventuall y reached Ottoline , sh e foun d i t utterly unforgivable . Just a few olde r friend s remained . Afte r th e Lawrence s returne d fro m Mylor , Dollie Radfor d ha d com e dow n fo r a visit; and i t wa s wit h he r tha t Fried a staye d when sh e wen t u p t o se e th e children . Barbar a Lo w cam e i n August , an d the y liked he r bette r tha n befor e becaus e o f ho w sh e stoo d u p fo r herself . 'Ther e i s something fierce an d courageou s i n her' , sai d Lawrenc e ('wil d an d untamable ' said Frieda ; ii . 642) , 'whic h win s one' s respect ' (ii . 647) . Afte r sh e lef t h e tol d Cynthia h e fel t lik e S t Anthon y i n th e wilderness , o r on e o f the deser t monk s o f Nitria (ii . 648-9) . Hi s an d Cynthia' s feeling s abou t th e wa r wer e no w s o widely sundere d - sh e ha d los t a second brothe r - tha t the y coul d onl y gestur e across space . Moreove r fo r nin e week s fro m th e en d o f Augus t t o th e en d o f October Lawrenc e wa s indoors ; isolate d i n hi s il l health , thoug h hardl y Sahara n since i t rained mos t o f the time . (I t wa s not unti l th e ba d weathe r finally brok e i n late November tha t the y coul d g o to S t Ive s again. ) It wa s rainin g whe n Catherin e Carswel l cam e dow n a t th e en d o f September , but sh e go t o n wit h the m bot h a s wel l a s ever . Sh e wa s n o threa t t o Frieda ; indeed he r appearanc e i n he r lon g petticoa t an d woolle n vest , whe n sh e cam e across t o ge t a book, merel y brough t fro m Lawrenc e a mild i f puritanical rebuk e 342
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for appearin g i n underclothes . Agai n i t wa s he r Scottis h independenc e o f min d that the y liked ; an d thoug h sh e witnesse d man y o f their row s - indee d i t wa s sh e who wa s tol d no w o f th e bif f wit h th e stonewar e plat e - sh e sa w mor e deepl y into thes e tha n th e Murry s had , an d neve r underestimate d Fried a o r he r valu e t o Lawrence. Sh e onl y staye d fo r a lon g weeken d becaus e Donal d go t lonel y an d wired he r t o com e back , whic h despit e teasin g sh e did ; bu t th e visi t reinforce d their relationship . Whe n o n 2 1 November , soo n afte r finishing , Lawrenc e sen t one typescrip t o f 'Th e Sisters ' II I t o th e Carswell s a s well as the othe r t o Pinker , it wa s no t onl y fo r Don' s lega l advic e abou t whethe r Hallida y an d th e Pussu m might b e libellou s (iii . 36) . He respecte d Catherine' s critica l judgement . In Octobe r cam e anothe r reinforcemen t o f affinity. Mar k Gertle r to o ha d see n one o f hi s closes t friendship s en d i n bitternes s (whe n Gilber t Canna n mad e hi s novel Mendel ou t o f what Gertle r ha d tol d hi m abou t hi s life) . Gertle r to o ha d been faithfu l i n oppositio n t o th e war , eve n a t th e cos t o f losin g th e patronag e o f Marsh whic h ha d bee n hi s mai n mean s o f support . Bu t whe n h e sen t a photograph o f hi s ne w paintin g The Merry-Go-Round i t was a revelation . Her e was a grea t wor k o f ar t whic h wa s remarkabl y congruou s wit h wha t Lawrenc e had bee n doin g - an d hi s admiratio n fo r Gertler' s 'terribl e an d dreadfu l pictur e . . . th e bes t modern pictur e I hav e seen' , spran g fro m immediat e understandin g and affinity . (H e woul d procee d t o alte r th e whol e natur e o f Loerke' s friez e i n Women in Love an d i n s o doin g ad d t o hi s sens e o f that character' s stature. ) Th e picture show s sailor s an d thei r wome n bein g pleasure d b y a machine, a carousel , in 'violen t mechanica l rotatio n an d comple x involution , an d ghastly , utterl y mindless huma n intensit y o f sensationa l extremity' . H e sa w i n i t a 'soul-tearin g obscenity', a ver y moder n kin d o f perversion ; an d wa s overcom e b y wha t sens e of 'destructio n an d horror ' mus t li e behin d th e picture . Ye t th e corruptio n i t painted wa s also a life-process : the same thing tha t make s leaves go scarlet an d copper-gree n a t this time of year. I t i s a terrifying coloure d flam e o f decomposition, you r inne r flame. - Bu t dea r God , it i s a real flame enough, undeniable i n heaven and earth. - I t would take a Jew to paint this picture. It would nee d you r national history to get you here, without disintegratin g yo u first. You are of an older race than I , and i n these ultimate processes you are beyond me , older than I am. But I think I am sufficiently th e same, to be able to understand, (ii . 660) His lette r 'read s awkward ' - th e ver y phras e enact s hi s sens e o f clumsiness . H e knows h e mus t no t translat e th e pictur e int o 'ideas ' an d tha t 'languag e i s n o medium betwee n us' ; bu t ' I mus t say , I have , fo r you , i n you r work , reverence , the reverenc e fo r th e grea t articulat e extremit y o f art.' Tha t phras e woul d exactl y describe hi s ne w nove l also . I n salutin g Gertler : 'Yo u ar e twenty-five , an d hav e painted thi s pictur e - I tel l you , i t take s thre e thousan d year s t o ge t wher e you r picture is' , h e mus t hav e fel t h e wa s vindicatin g hi s ow n endeavour , too ; thoug h 343
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he wa s 'upset ' becaus e th e pictur e wa s suc h a 'maelstro m o f destruction' , without hi s ow n sens e o f ho w decompositio n coul d lea d t o Spring . I t wa s als o a war picture , a s hi s wa s a wa r novel ; becaus e bot h indicte d a worl d i n whic h man's violen t urg e t o exert hi s wil l t o power, b y mean s o f machinery, ha d le d t o his deadl y subjectio n t o th e machin e an d t o th e terribl e machine-death s tha t filled eac h daily newspaper i n the year of the Somme . Ther e wa s a last irony too. In postscript , Lawrenc e adde d 'Ge t somebod y t o sugges t tha t th e pictur e b e bought by the nation - i t ought t o be' - bu t th e pictur e wa s unsaleable an d spen t Gertler's lifetim e i n hi s studio . Th e natio n n o mor e wante d it , then , tha n Lawrence's tw o great novels. I t hangs in the Tate . . . now . There remaine d als o Lawrence' s irrepressibl e hop e i n th e 'new' ; an d ove r from Penzanc e i n November, friend s o f Hilda an d Richar d Aldington , cam e tw o American journalist s an d admirers , Rober t Mountsie r an d Esthe r Andrews . Esther wa s about th e sam e age as Lawrence, Mountsie r thre e year s younger. H e was tall and gentlemanly , wit h a high forehead , brow n eye s and light brown hair; and thoug h quiet , ' a ver y exactin g person , frugal , well-mannered , wel l spoken , well rea d . . . sur e o f himsel f an d hi s capabilities . Forthrigh t an d upright an d o f strong opinions'. Esthe r wa s glamorous , dresse d i n vivi d colours , sli m an d fairl y tall (abou t s V ) - Sh e ha d a husk y voic e an d a n 'internationa l accent' , perhap s the resul t o f he r tim e o n th e stage . Sh e wa s witty , funn y an d ' a wonderfu l ._:_-:„» 11 7 mimic .
Lawrence ha d alread y bee n thinkin g abou t Americ a agai n whe n Ko t ha d asked abou t books fo r boys tha t might b e translate d int o Russian . Lawrenc e ha d suggested Fenimor e Cooper , Dan a an d Melvill e (ii . 615) ; an d bega n t o rerea d the leadin g America n writers , an d t o rediscove r jus t ho w goo d h e though t the y were. H e tol d Am y Lowel l h e wa s comin g t o se e America n writin g a s mor e advanced i n decadence tha n the English - a good thing , sinc e i t meant they wer e nearer t o th e final goin g apar t fro m whic h ne w lif e woul d come . H e wa s particularly struc k b y ho w America n author s deal t wit h 'th e primar y elementa l forces, kinetic , dynamic ' wit h 'th e human unit almos t lost ' (iii . 30) . Perhap s h e himself migh t b e a n 'American ' writer ? Hi s ne w friend s reawakene d th e ide a o f emigrating. Amy Lowel l ha d prove d mor e tha n a loya l edito r wh o regularl y too k hi s poems fo r he r Imagis t anthologies ; fo r afte r 'conspiring ' wit h Hild a Aldingto n about ho w t o hel p Lawrenc e financially, sh e sen t hi m £6 0 i n Novembe r enough t o se e hi m throug h th e winter , a t th e simpl e leve l the y ha d main tained. Thi s wa s a n ac t o f grea t kindness , an d o f fait h i n hi m a t a time whe n he neede d that eve n mor e tha n money . Moreove r Pinke r sen t a second £5 0 (a s an advanc e o n th e nove l an d th e ne w stories ) which , wit h Amy' s gift , mad e u p the £15 0 Lawrenc e ha d though t i n Jul y woul d ge t hi m throug h anothe r yea r (ii. 619) . 344
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However, a s Christma s approached , h e gre w gloomy . H e ha d though t o f going t o London , bu t couldn' t fac e it . I n a n effor t t o ear n mone y h e ha d reworked 'Th e Morta l Coil' , finished 'Samso n an d Delilah ' an d mad e a smal l collection of'war ' poem s whic h h e though t o f dedicating t o Cynthia, 119 - bu t n o sooner ha d h e sen t hi s nove l away , tha n h e bega n t o fee l pessimisti c abou t it s prospects. The n cam e wha t h e sa w a s politica l disaster . O n Monda y n December h e sense d ' a terribl e wav e o f depression ' i n Cornwal l (iii . 49) , wit h people i n Penzanc e marke t sayin g Englan d wa s beaten , a s the new s cam e o f th e fall of Asquith an d his replacement b y Lloyd George . Fo r Lawrence thi s was the death-blow t o th e libera l an d decen t Englan d h e ha d care d about . Firs t ha d come th e attemp t t o forc e conscienc e i n th e Derb y Schem e - Lor d Derb y wa s now t o b e Secretar y o f Stat e fo r Wa r - nex t th e deadl y blo w o f conscription . Now finally th e ol d Englan d wa s gone , replace d b y th e 'patriotism' o f Horati o Bottomley an d th e demagoguer y o f Lloy d George . T o celebrat e Christma s no w would be an 'ugly farce ' (iii. 57) . Nevertheless h e invite d Esthe r an d Mountsie r dow n again , an d th e actua l festival wit h the m an d th e Hockin g famil y wa s 'jolly ' - bu t o n Boxin g Da y reaction set in: 'my heart never fel t so down i n the dirt, as it does now' (iii. 64) .
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• January-October 191 7 ORPHEUS DESCENDIN G
When we have become very still, when there is an inner silence as complete as death, then, as in the grave, we hear the rare, superfine whisperin g of the new direction; the intelligence comes. ('The Realit y of Peace') I N i g h t m a r e Begin s The isolatio n o f 191 6 ha d deepene d th e ga p betwee n th e interio r worl d o f th e novelist an d th e externa l one ; harmfully , sinc e 'ther e is a gnawin g cravin g i n oneself, t o mov e an d liv e no t onl y a s a single , satisfie d individual , bu t a s a rea l representative o f th e whol e race ' (iii . 63) . Ye t h e fel t 'no connection with th e res t of people ' now , excep t i n antagonism , a Laocoo n writhin g i n th e fold s o f th e serpents (iii . 64 ) - th e ver y imag e h e ha d contraste d i n 191 3 wit h th e inne r cor e of quietnes s ou t o f whic h The Rainbow ha d begu n t o develop . Fro m th e outset , 1917 seeme d inten t o n melodramatisin g that . On Christma s Eve , we t an d storm y outside , cam e a knocking a t th e door . Th e American coupl e ha d com e earlie r wit h gift s o f fresh frui t an d America n goodies , and Esthe r Andrew s wa s crouchin g a t th e fir e makin g maple-syru p fudg e whe n the knockin g came . I t wa s th e burl y sergean t o f polic e fro m S t Ives , hi s blac k cape-mackintosh streamin g we t fro m th e lon g cycle-rid e - com e t o inspec t Mountsier's papers . Mountsie r too k i t cooll y however ; th e policema n apologise d for troublin g them ; an d left . It seeme d a formality ; n o differen t fro m th e inspectio n o f Murry' s paper s earlier. I t was inevitabl e tha t a strange r o f militar y ag e comin g t o a remot e are a would b e questioned . Eve n i n London , John Courno s ha d t o appear a t a Londo n recruiting office , an d wa s aske d (America n o r no ) whethe r h e di d no t ow e i t t o Britain t o enlist . America n neutralit y di d no t mak e American s popular . More over th e Germa n declaratio n o f unrestricted submarin e warfar e ha d mad e coasta l areas especiall y sensitiv e t o th e presenc e o f strangers . Whe n Courno s wishe d t o join Richar d an d Hild a Aldingto n i n thei r mov e t o Devo n i n Marc h 1916 , it wa s with som e difficult y tha t h e 'manage d t o obtai n a n identit y boo k require d fo r aliens, withou t whic h I coul d no t mak e th e journey' . Recently , Lawrenc e an d Frieda ha d bee n stoppe d o n thei r wa y bac k fro m Zenno r alon g th e clif f pat h b y 346
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the sea , t o hav e thei r shoppin g ba g examine d b y tw o uniforme d me n wh o seemed t o suspec t the m o f concealin g a camera , muc h t o thei r indignation . Bu t though ther e mus t hav e bee n som e grumblin g i n th e cottag e o n Christma s Ev e after th e sergean t ha d left , th e inciden t probabl y seeme d mer e officiousness , perhaps a resul t o f Mountsie r havin g bee n stoppe d onc e befor e b y a policema n in S t Ives , to whom h e ha d responde d les s coolly tha n now . If so , ther e was a nast y surpris e t o come . O n hi s retur n t o Londo n a t th e year's end , Mountsie r wa s arrested , take n t o Scotlan d Yard , interrogated , stri p searched, kep t i n a cel l overnigh t an d no t se t fre e unti l th e followin g evening . Lawrence wa s first shocked , an d the n angr y abou t th e 'insolen t pawing ' t o whic h his frien d ha d bee n subjecte d (iii . 68) . Esther , stil l i n Cornwall , was horrifie d that he r fla t (wher e Mountsie r ha d bee n staying ) ha d bee n searched. 4 Biographers hav e alway s assume d tha t Mountsie r wa s a victi m o f suspicion s which th e Lawrence s ha d aroused . I t ha s eve n bee n maintaine d tha t the y ha d been unde r surveillanc e sinc e 1914 . This , however , i s mos t unlikel y - the y would neve r hav e bee n permitte d t o g o o n livin g i n Cornwal l fo r th e whol e o f 1916 i f ther e ha d bee n an y rea l suspicio n o f the m i n officia l quarters. 5 True , Lawrence mad e n o secre t o f hi s view s abou t th e war . H e ha d denounce d Lloy d George's first speec h a s Prim e Ministe r t o peopl e h e me t i n Penzanc e market , and ma y have talke d similarl y i n S t Ive s when h e wen t t o buy Christma s present s in th e Cornis h Ston e Shop . Zenno r woul d kno w hi s view s throug h Kati e Berryman's shop ; an d mor e t o th e point , letter s an d Germa n newspaper s cam e to Zenno r fro m Frieda' s famil y vi a Fried a Gros s i n Switzerland , an d Fried a wa s never inhibite d abou t expressin g her opinions . Thoug h i t woul d b e know n locally tha t h e ha d bee n interviewe d a t Bodmin an d ha d bee n rejected , ther e ma y have bee n enviou s murmur s fro m thos e whos e love d one s ha d bee n conscripted . His bear d proclaime d nonconformity , hi s Germa n wif e woul d alway s creat e suspicion an d th e ne w horro r o f submarine s ha d indee d begu n t o recreat e som e of th e hysteri a abou t spie s tha t ha d affecte d the m i n 1914 . I t was no t surprisin g that uniforme d me n wh o didn' t kno w the m shoul d sto p the m o n th e clif f path . Two merchan t ships , on e a neutra l Norwegian , woul d b e torpedoe d i n clea r sight o f thos e cliff s i n Februar y wit h th e los s o f al l hands . Stanle y Hockin g sa w one cre w drow n an d Lawrenc e share d hi s horror , eve n thoug h (secur e i n hi s own Englishness ) h e seeme d no t t o realis e tha t suc h thing s wer e boun d t o hav e consequences fo r himsel f an d Frieda . No r i s i t surprisin g tha t ther e wa s anti American feelin g a s pressur e o n th e Unite d State s t o declar e wa r was whippe d up b y th e pres s da y b y day ; an d i f Mountsier , wit h America n idea s abou t civi l liberties, had bee n dismissiv e t o a policeman enquirin g abou t hi s identit y boo k i n St Ives , it may wel l have been resented . However, ne w researc h ha s show n tha t s o fa r fro m Mountsie r bein g suspected becaus e o f th e Lawrences , th e growt h o f officia l suspicio n o f th e 347
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Lawrences i n 191 7 wa s owin g t o thei r friendshi p wit h Mountsier . Fo r ther e were plausible reasons for hi s detention. Th e German s ha d recruite d a spy ring of American journalists , among whom Georg e Vaux Bacon wa s a central figure . By the autumn o f 191 6 an informer ha d identifie d Baco n and a spymaster called 'Sanders' (actuall y A . A. Sander) , wh o ha d instructe d agent s t o find out abou t English defences , munition s an d morale , an d t o determin e 'th e possibilitie s o f further trouble ' i n Ireland , wher e th e German s ha d helpe d finance th e Easte r Rebellion. A s soo n a s Baco n reache d Englan d vi a Amsterdam , h e wa s unde r surveillance b y Scotlan d Yar d an d hi s correspondenc e wa s scrutinised. H e was carefully watche d whe n h e went t o Ireland , an d o n hi s retur n t o England earl y in Decembe r h e wa s arrested , an d confessed , afte r whic h tw o other s wer e arrested i n th e Unite d States . Accordin g t o th e indictmen t (t o whic h thes e eventually pleade d guilty ) th e main ai m of the rin g wa s to provide sailin g dates and destination s o f shipping, an d t o asses s th e effec t o f submarin e sinking s on the foo d supply . Now here was Mountsier, wh o had bee n literar y edito r o n the New Yor k Sun, bu t wh o ha d com e bac k t o Englan d a secon d tim e i n th e autumn, th e perio d o f th e conspiracy . Why ? H e claime d t o b e intereste d i n literary figures an d socialites ; bu t h e interviewe d expert s o n foo d supplie s i n relation t o th e submarin e campaign , mad e tw o trip s t o Cornwal l withi n tw o months an d (mos t suspiciou s o f all ) crosse d t o Irelan d jus t a s th e spie s wer e instructed t o do , an d les s tha n fou r week s afte r Baco n ha d bee n there. 7 Moreover (a s th e authoritie s woul d kno w i f the y rea d Mountsier' s mai l afte r they let him go) , Lawrence suggested h e talk t o Russell wh o was 'very anti-war' and coul d pu t hi m i n touc h wit h 'al l th e Unio n o f Democratic Contro l people ' (iii. 71); an d Mountsie r ha d alread y encourage d Esthe r t o writ e article s o n Woolwich (i.e . the Arsenal munitions factory ) an d th e employment of women to replace conscripted men. 8 He eve n trie d t o get an articl e ou t of Lawrence, who however replie d tha t h e couldn' t 'writ e abou t wome n an d th e war , an d labour ' (in. 78). Scotland Yard could find no hard evidence to connect Mountsier with the spy ring however, an d indee d th e subject s h e wa s interested i n wer e those tha t any journalist would think likely to interest American readers. He had to be released; but h e had no t been cleare d an d ma y have been questione d agai n before h e was allowed to leave the country. 9 Plausible th e detentio n ma y hav e bee n bu t i t wa s probabl y a mistake - an d ironic, since Mountsier was anglophile (iii. 70) and supported th e United States ' entry int o th e war , thoug h h e volunteere d fo r th e Re d Cros s rathe r tha n American forces . B e tha t a s i t may , b y Augus t 191 7 Lawrence' s mai l wa s certainly being read, and this may have begun from January. (There had been no sign o f i t before. ) I n hindsight , tha t visi t b y a no t unfriendl y sergean t o n Christmas eve casts a long dark shadow ahead. 34S
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II Voice s o f Rejectio n Dramatically confirme d i n hi s belie f tha t th e Englan d h e care d abou t ha d gon e for ever , Lawrenc e determine d agai n t o leav e - eve n mor e s o a s hi s ne w nove l was rejecte d b y publishe r afte r publisher . Unde r th e contrac t fo r The Rainbow Methuen ha d a n optio n o n hi s nex t thre e novel s bu t ha d cancelle d i t b y 2 0 December (iii . 58) . By mid-Januar y Duckwort h ha d als o refuse d (iii . 80) ; as di d Martin Seeke r wh o explaine d tha t h e coul d no t increas e hi s commitment s unti l the wa r was over. O n 2 3 January Constabl e tol d Pinke r tha t o n th e advic e of tw o readers the y to o mus t rejec t th e book . Wa s i t read y fo r publicatio n whe n ther e was s o muc h alteration , no t alway s consistent , i n th e typescript ? (I t ha d bee n revised quit e heavil y sinc e November. ) Thi s wa s no t th e tim e fo r 'expression s o f antipathy t o Englan d an d th e form s o f Englis h civilisation' . Also , 'whe n peopl e are sacrificin g al l tha t i s deares t t o the m fo r thei r country ' th e boo k seeme d 'bound t o rous e th e resentmen t bot h o f th e reviewer s an d th e public' , wh o wer e unlikely t o welcom e it s 'destructiv e philosophy ' either. 11 Althoug h understand able - an d no t unsympathetic , fo r Constabl e offere d t o reconside r i f th e boo k were altere d an d compresse d - thi s spelle d disaster . B y th e en d o f January i t was obvious tha t th e 'masterpiece ' (h e was sure) o n whic h h e ha d worke d fo r mos t o f 1916 was unlikel y t o find a n audienc e i n England , an d indee d tha t 'i t i s no goo d writing fo r Englan d an y mor e . . . Therefor e I hav e go t t o ge t ou t som e wa y o r other' (iii . 67) . H e bega n t o sa y h e di d no t eve n wan t th e nove l publishe d no w (iii. 72 , 76 ) an d i t wa s n o goo d tryin g (iii . 78) ; thoug h hi s belie f i n i t neve r wavered. Howeve r h e clutche d a t Kot' s ide a o f a translation int o Russian , i f only as a means o f persuadin g Pinke r t o hav e th e whol e thin g retyped . Ko t pai d hi m £10 i n advance ; whic h Catherin e Car s well though t a tactfu l wa y o f helpin g a proud ma n i n need . A furthe r barrie r t o publicatio n ha d arisen , ou t o f th e death-blo w t o a friendship. Whil e on e typescrip t ha d bee n makin g th e round s o f publisher s an d was no w bein g retyped , th e duplicat e ha d gon e fro m th e Ca r swells t o Esthe r Andrews, Barbar a Lo w an d Hild a Aldingto n an d then , a s promised , t o Garsington. Ottoline , inevitably , wa s deepl y upse t an d furiou s a t wha t sh e too k to b e he r portrai t i n Hermione ; mad e ye t mor e painfu l b y he r conflatio n o f hi s characters wit h Lawrenc e himself. 1 I was called ever y name from a n 'old hag' , obsessed b y sex-mania, t o a corrupt Sapphist . He describe d m e a s hi s ow n discarde d Mistress , who , i n m y sitting-room , whic h wa s minutely described , ha d trie d t o bas h hi m ove r th e hea d wit h a pape r weigh t .. . I n another scen e I ha d attempte d t o mak e indecen t advance s t o th e Heroine , wh o wa s a glorified Frieda . M y dresse s wer e dirty ; I wa s rud e an d insolen t t o m y guest s .. . Th e only assuagemen t t o th e shoc k wa s tha t al l th e wors t part s wer e writte n i n Frieda' s handwriting. 349
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(Apart fro m he r misreadings , wha t sh e mistoo k fo r Frieda' s handiwor k wa s actually transcriptio n o f Lawrence' s revisions . Ha d Ottolin e rea d th e othe r typescript, Frieda' s handwritin g woul d hav e appeare d i n quit e differen t - an d fewer - places. ) She wa s no t merel y upset . Phili p wen t t o Pinke r t o threate n actio n fo r libel , and eve n (accordin g t o Cynthi a Asquith ) t o invit e hi m t o Garsingto n t o mee t fo r himself th e lad y whos e viciou s caricatur e h e wa s tryin g t o ge t published . Fried a poured scorn : tellin g Ko t tha t Ottolin e ha d trie d t o pla y 'Salom e t o L' s John th e Baptist!!', an d Campbel l tha t sh e ha d writte n lik e ' a vulga r coo k wh o write s t o her youn g man ' t o as k 'fo r a n opa l pi n bac k sh e ha d give n him! ! Lawrence wrot e and sai d tha t h e ha d give n i t t o me , I kee p it , b e mor e carefu l anothe r tim e t o whom yo u giv e you r friendshi p s o freely! ' 3 Sh e ende d b y sayin g ho w happ y sh e and Lawrenc e no w were . T o her , th e fina l breac h wit h Ottolin e wa s no t unpleasing - bu t th e Morrells ' threat s woul d hardl y hel p th e novel' s prospect s in England . Ottoline wa s wron g t o thin k h e ha d se t ou t deliberatel y t o woun d her ; ye t there ar e twinge s o f conscienc e i n hi s lette r o f earl y Decembe r whe n i t becam e clear tha t sh e ha d bee n tol d sh e wa s th e novel' s 'villainess ' an d tha t sh e wante d to se e wha t h e ha d written . H e replie d the n placatingly ; bu t whe n i n Februar y Ottoline bega n t o tr y t o sto p publication , a salving anger grew . Really, th e worl d ha s gon e completel y dotty ! Hermione i s no t muc h mor e lik e Ottolin e Morrell tha n Quee n Victoria , th e hous e the y clai m a s their s i s a Georgia n hous e i n Derbyshire I know very well - etc . Ottoline flatters herself. - Ther e is a hint of her in the character of Hermione: but so there is a hint of a million women, if it comes to that. Anyway, they could make libel cases for ever, they haven't half a leg to stand on. But it doesn't matter. It is no use trying to publish th e novel in England i n this state of affairs. Ther e mus t com e a change first. So i t ca n al l li e by .. . An d poo r vindictiv e ol d Ottoline can be left t o her vanity of identifying hersel f with Hermione. (iii. 95) Yet i t nagge d awa y a t him . I n Marc h h e begge d Gertle r t o sa y 'ho w muc h likeness yo u ca n se e betwee n Hermion e an d th e Ott' , wh o wa s 'reall y to o disgusting, wit h he r threat s o f lega l proceeding s . . . W e hav e flattered he r abov e all bounds , i n attendin g t o he r a t all ' (iii . 109) . I n Apri l h e tol d Cynthi a tha t Hermione wa s no t merel y not Ottolin e bu t 'infinitel y superior'; 17 an d Ko t tha t Ottoline 'woul d g o any length ' t o damag e hi m now , an d al l her 'crowd ' wer e 'ful l of malice' (iii . 112) . Yet h e wa s impatient a t th e tim e th e retypin g wa s taking, fo r 'I woul d lik e t o loo k a t Ottolin e Morrell s imaginar y portrai t again ' (iii . 104) . There i s conscienc e i n th e wis h an d th e ambiguou s terminolog y - an d Ottolin e was certainl y damaged . 'Th e hur t tha t h e ha d don e me' , sh e sai d man y year s later, 'mad e a very grea t mar k i n m y life. ' Sh e ha d opene d he r hear t an d min d t o Lawrence a s t o nobod y bu t Phili p (o f whos e infidelitie s sh e wa s shortl y t o learn ) 350
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and Russel l (no w infatuate d wit h Colett e Malleson) . Othe r writer s woul d caricature he r wit h mor e maliciou s intent ; bu t non e woul d hur t he r s o muc h partly b y being s o perceptive abou t th e facet s o f her natur e h e had used . By mid-February , then , i t seeme d increasingl y unlikel y tha t h e coul d sel l hi s best wor k i n England . H e was bac k wher e h e ha d bee n afte r th e destructio n o f The Rainbow, bu t eve n mor e isolate d now . Th e nee d t o leav e intensified . Towards th e en d o f 191 6 h e ha d though t o f goin g bac k t o Ital y (e.g . iii . 33) ; bu t after gettin g t o kno w Mountsie r an d Esthe r hi s min d becam e fixe d o n Americ a again. Surel y hi s exemption fro m militar y servic e had remove d th e onl y obstacle ? Even befor e h e bega n t o despai r o f publishin g Women in Love h e wrot e fo r advice an d hel p i n gettin g passport s t o Marsh, Campbel l (a s a prominent lawyer ) and Cynthi a - thoug h h e worrie d abou t appealin g t o he r afte r th e fal l o f he r father-in-law, an d a recen t scanda l abou t th e imprope r us e o f influenc e b y a society lad y (iii . 67 , 80, 69). (She di d no t i n fac t repl y fo r som e time , thoug h thi s may hav e bee n becaus e sh e wa s i n Brighto n t o b e nea r Beb. ) H e gav e assurance s that 'w e ar e no t spies , an d I wil l neithe r writ e no r tal k abou t th e wa r t o th e Americans' (iii . 70) . Mars h sen t a n applicatio n for m fo r th e endorsemen t o f th e 1915 passports , an d advise d hi m t o giv e wor k an d busines s reasons , s o Pinke r was aske d t o b e read y wit h confirmatio n (iii . 84 , 75-6) . A boo k o n America n literature woul d obviousl y b e bes t don e i n Americ a (iii . 73) ; bu t migh t Pinke r also sa y h e ha d t o b e i n Ne w Yor k fo r th e publishin g o f Twilight in Italy, The Rainbow an d Women in Love} 1 Askin g permissio n t o us e Mars h a s a reference , Lawrrence give s hi s wor d 'tha t I won' t d o anythin g a t all , o r sa y anything , t o injure th e caus e o f Englan d i n th e war . I don' t wan t eve n t o thin k o f th e war ' (iii. 81) . Thoug h h e stil l fel t this wa r wa s 'utterl y wrong ' h e wa s n o pacifist , le t alone engage d i n 'publi c pacifis t activity ' (iii . 84) . H e ha d eve n bee n convince d by Cynthi a (wh o ha d los t tw o brother s an d a brother-in-law) tha t h e wa s wron g to generalis e abou t th e wa r fro m hi s ow n feelings , whic h migh t b e 'falsitie s t o another man , an d almos t insults ' (iii . 33) . A t th e en d o f January h e sen t of f th e forms, pleadin g il l health , failur e t o mak e an y mone y i n England , an d th e consequent nee d t o plac e hi s writing s i n America ; bu t h e kne w Frieda' s birthplace coul d b e a problem an d i t wa s i n considerabl e anxiet y tha t h e waited . 'It i s tim e fo r m e t o pra y fo r th e hel p o f th e unseen , fo r I don' t kno w ho w muc h longer I can kee p m y hea d up ' (iii . 89) . In fac t mor e wa s emotionall y a t stak e tha n worrie s ove r mone y o r eve n th e fate o f hi s novel , upse t thoug h h e wa s b y th e rejections . (H e no w ha d th e £11 0 from Am y an d Pinker ; an d hi s ne w stories , t o whic h 'Th e Horse-Dealer' s Daughter' ha d bee n adde d i n January, wer e provin g inoffensiv e enoug h t o b e acceptable.) Th e rea l pressure s wer e psychological , an d intense . Everything tha t ha d happene d personall y an d publicl y sinc e th e fal l o f Asquith i n earl y Decembe r ha d combine d t o mak e th e ver y atmospher e o f 35i
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England see m inimical . H e coul d n o longe r fee l an y par t o f th e Englan d o f Lloyd George , an d Horati o Bottomley' s John Bull, an d th e Specia l Branc h an d military wh o pawe d a t hi m an d Mountsie r a s spies . H e fel t mor e horro r tha n ever a t th e wa r world : th e submarine s nosin g lik e killer-rat s i n th e darkness ; th e neutral seame n drownin g i n sigh t o f th e Cornis h coas t o n a 'wonderfull y beautiful' day ; and Englis h submariner s perishin g i n th e depth s o f the Clyde . Al l this seeme d 'th e maximu m o f evil' (iii . 88 ) - s o much s o tha t hi s 'ol d grea t belie f in th e onenes s an d wholenes s o f humanity i s torn clea n across , fo r ever ' (iii . 84) . He fel t distance d fro m mos t o f hi s remainin g friends . H e ha d no t see n Ko t an d Gertler sinc e 1915 ; Ko t sometime s 'wearie s m e t o extinction ' (iii . 83) , an d communication wit h Gertle r ha d bee n infrequent . Gilber t Cannan' s lif e ha d collapsed int o scanda l an d mess , i n whic h Lawrenc e fel t unabl e t o reac h hi m now. Fo r Murr y h e fel t mostl y 'loathing' , thoug h perhap s 'still , somewhere , I am fon d o f him' (iii . 83) ; but really , 'the y ar e gone , like the leave s of last autumn . The Ott. , th e Murrie s - the y ar e gon e int o th e ground . Onl y fo r poo r Katharin e and he r lie s I fee l rathe r sorry ' (iii . 90) . Eddie Mars h an d Cynthi a Asquit h wer e kindly still , but th e wors e th e wa r became , th e mor e distance d h e fel t fro m them . Campbell's word s o f witt y comfort , tha t on e coul d g o on thinkin g eve n i n priso n and jes t o n th e blaste d heat h (iii . 80) , seeme d superficia l t o on e wh o kne w tha t neither bitte r laughte r no r tragi c railin g woul d hel p agains t th e evil h e fel t al l around. I t ha d becom e imperative , even fo r th e breat h o f life, t o ge t away. For 'psychi c healt h i s mor e importan t tha n th e physical ' (iii . 75 ) - thoug h physically, too , h e wa s a t 'low-wate r mark ' i n lat e January (iii . 83) , i n be d agai n after a sudde n fal l o f snow . Worse , h e no w fel t psychicall y trappe d an d suffocated, unabl e t o breathe , an d th e metaphor s ar e th e mor e powerfu l comin g from a ma n wh o kne w onl y to o literall y wha t i t wa s lik e t o hav e difficult y drawing breath . 'Al l th e oxyge n seem s gon e ou t o f th e vita l atmospher e here , and on e gutter s lik e a suffocate d candle ' (iii . 76) . ' I can' t liv e i n Englan d an y more. I t oppresse s one' s lungs , on e canno t breathe ' (iii . 78) . H e fel t 'u p t o th e chin i n th e flood o f thing s . . . th e fou l worl d o f mu d i s risin g an d tryin g t o envelope us ' (iii . 89) ; o r lik e a winge d creatur e caugh t i n a 'vinegar y fly-trap' (iii. 83) , becaus e th e 'atmospher e o f th e countr y i s poisonou s t o a n incredibl e degree . . . I shal l di e i n th e fumes ' (iii . 92) . H e ha d 'care d deepl y an d bitterly ' about Englan d (iii . 91) ; but th e mor e h e fel t it s eart h to o old , an d it s skie s abou t to fall, th e more hi s longin g fo r somewher e 'wher e th e ai r one breathe s nourishe s the ne w thing s i n one' s soul , an d th e soi l i s goo d an d vivid ' (iii . 80 ) becam e identified wit h th e Pacifi c an d th e Wes t coas t of the United State s (e.g . iii . 70) . The differenc e fro m th e ide a o f Florid a i n 191 5 wa s tha t th e ne w friend s an d candidates fo r Ranani m wer e America n now . H e tol d Catherin e Carswel l exempted a s a Sco t fro m hi s feeling s abou t th e Englis h - tha t th e onl y othe r people h e reall y wante d t o se e in Londo n wer e Esthe r an d Mountsier , an d Hild a 352
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Aldington throug h who m h e ha d me t them . H e though t H.D . muc h th e bes t o f the Imagist s sinc e Poun d ha d gon e hi s ow n way ; and sh e ha d replace d Mars h a s the criti c o f hi s ow n poetr y tha t h e mos t respecte d (iii . 84) . H e ha d sen t he r several o f hi s newe r poem s (iii . 94) , and no t merel y fo r publicatio n a s t o Harrie t Monroe an d Am y Lowell . An d wherea s i n 191 5 i t ha d bee n youn g Englis h artists lik e Heseltin e an d Nichol s wh o gav e hi m hop e afte r th e debacl e o f The Rainbow, no w i t wa s 'Montague ' an d 'Hadaffah ' (b y associatio n wit h th e biblica l Esther, calle d als o Hadassah ) wh o mad e hi m fee l tha t Americ a coul d reall y b e a New Worl d fo r him . H e like d Esthe r 'ver y much ' fro m th e star t (iii . 25) , an d thought Mountsie r 'ver y nic e an d gentl e an d decen t i n ever y way , a ma n on e likes to know' (iii . 27) . Though 'livin g together ' (whic h i n an y cas e would endea r them t o th e Lawrences ) the y mad e a queer , gentl e couple , s o old-old , tha t the y are mor e innocen t tha n children ' (iii . 25) . I n a ver y ungentl e world , thes e might see m almos t fro m anothe r planet , an d thei r combinatio n o f Ne w Worl d innocence wit h 'old-old ' metropolita n 'decadence ' wa s to shap e hi s whol e ide a o f and attractio n t o America . He alway s generalise d widel y (o r wildly ) fro m particula r experience , an d th e habit ha d grow n i n th e isolatio n o f Cornwall . I t was i n th e immediat e contex t o f the America n pair' s firs t visi t fro m Penzanc e tha t h e announce d wha t woul d b e the leadin g ide a in hi s aim t o 'transfe r al l my lif e t o America', fo r there : the skies ar e no t s o old , th e ai r i s newer , th e eart h i s no t tired . Don' t thin k I hav e any illusions abou t th e people , th e life . Th e peopl e an d th e lif e ar e monstrous . I want , a t length, to get a place in the far west mountains, from whic h one can see the distant Pacifi c Ocean, an d ther e liv e facin g th e brigh t west . - Bu t I als o thin k tha t America , bein g so much worse, falser , furthe r gon e than England , i s nearer t o freedom . Englan d ha s a long and awfu l proces s o f corruptio n an d deat h t o g o through . Americ a ha s dry-rotte d t o a point where the final seed of the new is almost left read y to sprout, (iii. 25) As the y talke d o f th e advance d industrialis m o f America , th e seamie r sid e o f fashion an d th e clothe s trad e an d th e moto r industry ; o r abou t respectabl e society an d it s view s o n marriag e t o whic h Esthe r wa s vehementl y oppose d (an d perhaps Mountsie r to o sinc e h e neve r married ) the y mus t hav e sounde d sharpl y modern. Ye t sh e wa s warm-hearte d an d affectionate , an d h e shy-seemin g i f anything: ' a queer, gentl e couple' . So th e corruptio n tha t The Crown an d Women in Love ha d see n a s vitall y necessary fo r ne w growth , migh t see m t o hav e gon e eve n faste r i n th e Ne w World tha n i n th e Old ; makin g al l th e mor e encouragin g th e combinatio n o f s o much unspoil t eart h an d sk y wit h a disintegration s o far advance d i n th e citie s a s to b e nearl y read y fo r ne w growth . I n Amy' s lates t boo k - especiall y sinc e th e Lowells wer e amon g th e foremos t America n familie s - h e foun d mor e evidenc e 353
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in suppor t o f hi s idea , whic h seeme d t o appl y t o H.D.' s poetr y also . (Th e artis t would alway s be a sensitive indicator. ) I have come to understand yo u Americans a little, to realise how much older you are than us, ho w muc h furthe r yo u an d you r ar t ar e really , developed , outstrippin g u s b y fa r i n decadence an d non-emotiona l aestheticism , ho w muc h beyon d u s yo u ar e i n th e las t stages o f huma n apprehensio n o f th e physico-sensationa l world , apprehensio n o f thing s non-human, not conceptual, (iii. 30) This mad e ne w sens e o f th e apparen t impersonalit y an d aestheticis m o f th e American Imagists , thei r coo l classicis m an d distrus t o f th e emotive , thei r commitment t o 'n o idea s bu t i n things ' (a s Willia m Carlo s William s woul d late r put it) , thei r creatio n o f comple x correlative s i n image s draw n fro m sea , earth , sky - rathe r tha n th e machine-imager y o f the Futurists . Ye t wit h thos e to o ther e was a link , fo r Am y an d H.D . hav e als o com e t o th e las t futuristi c stag e o f 'physical apprehension , th e human uni t almos t lost , th e primar y elementa l forces , kinetic, dynami c . . . tha t har d univers e o f Matte r an d Forc e wher e lif e i s not ye t known, com e t o pass again' (iii . 30) . It wa s almos t certainl y tal k wit h Esthe r an d Mountsie r abou t America n literature tha t suddenl y enthuse d hi m wit h a whol e ne w project , thoug h i t ha d been germinatin g fo r som e time . H e ha d tol d Ko t i n Jun e 191 6 ho w goo d h e thought Moby Dick, an d th e Leatherstockin g novels , an d Dana' s Two Years Before the Mast whic h h e ha d jus t bee n readin g (ii . 615 , 614). I n lat e November , after th e firs t visi t o f Esthe r an d Mountsier , h e aske d Ko t t o ge t hi m Fenimor e Cooper's Pathfinder an d The Last of the Mohicans, an d Melville' s Omoo or Typee (iii. 40) , and i s soo n tellin g Catherin e tha t The Deerslayer i s a 'lovely matur e an d sensitive art ' besid e whic h - a s wit h Hard y - th e moder n Russian s an d th e French ar e ' obvious and coarse ' (iii . 41) . Discussio n wit h th e tw o American s wil l have gon e o n agai n a t Christmas ; an d i t i s eas y t o se e ho w i n Coope r an d Melville th e juxtapositio n o f unspoilt natur e an d natura l man , wit h th e result s o f American individualis m an d progress , woul d hav e confirme d hi s ide a of how fas t American 'corruption ' ha d proceede d an d bee n diagnosed . I n th e sam e lette r i n which h e commiserate s wit h Mountsie r ove r hi s arrest , h e order s a lis t o f te n American author s (iii . 65-6 ) - an d th e ide a o f a book o n America n literatur e i s announced soo n afterwards . So th e 191 5 ide a o f Rananim i n Florid a wasn' t wrong , onl y th e peopl e an d th e particular place . Th e ol d drea m wa s re-charged b y th e ne w debacle , bu t i t is also clear wh y i t ha d no w t o b e relocated . Whe n escape , ne w eart h an d ne w ai r wer e in th e ascendant , i t wa s Typee an d Omoo tha t fired th e imagination , an d th e Marquesas Island s an d th e Pacifi c tha t embodie d th e drea m o f ' a sor t o f Garde n of Ede n o f blameles s bu t fulfille d souls , i n som e sufficientl y remot e spot ' (iii. 65) , where , awa y fro m th e world , ther e coul d 'b e a littl e community , a 354
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monastery, a schoo l - a littl e Hesperide s o f th e sou l an d body ' (iii . 70) . Th e Rananim-game provide d consciou s escapis m an d emotiona l comfor t a s always . Yet onc e th e passpor t application s wer e mad e i t ha d a seriou s poin t too . I f Esther an d Mountsie r represente d well-rea d youn g America ; an d i f America n writers ha d taugh t reader s t o accep t wor k whic h wa s 'tru e an d unlying ' a s he fel t his ow n t o b e (iii . 73) , the n surel y ther e woul d b e a publi c i n Americ a whic h h e could n o longe r hop e t o find i n England . H e woul d hav e t o g o t o Ne w Yor k t o make contac t wit h publishers , bu t nee d no t sta y i n th e citifie d an d industrialise d East, th e hear t o f American corruption . No , afte r makin g th e necessar y contacts , the 'livin g direction ' wa s 'wes t an d southwards ' (iii . 78 ) fo r someon e anxiou s t o turn hi s bac k o n th e whol e o f Europ e and o n industrialise d an d corrup t Yankeedom. A psychi c nee d fo r th e Pacifi c remained , bu t i n Californi a ther e were mountain s fro m whic h on e coul d fac e 'th e brigh t west ' (iii . 25) , and forests , and wildernes s - an d nevertheles s reac h reader s o n th e othe r coast . Th e wors t fear was tha t Americ a migh t giv e i n t o pressur e an d g o t o war ; bu t h e coul d no t bear t o believe tha t woul d happen . Came anothe r blow : th e authoritie s refuse d t o endors e thei r passports . B y 1 2 February ther e wa s n o hop e o f sailin g wit h thei r ne w America n friend s a s the y had planned . H e di d no t giv e u p al l hope ; perhap s h e coul d tr y agai n afte r a n interval, sinc e th e refusa l wa s no t b y th e Foreig n Offic e bu t 'i n th e interest s o f National Service ' (iii . 92) , an d hi s rejectio n a t Bodmi n o n medica l ground s gave hi m hop e tha t th e authoritie s migh t chang e thei r mind s abou t hi s suitabilit y for Nationa l Servic e too . The refusa l wa s ' a bitte r blow ' al l th e sam e (iii . 92) . 'On e canno t stan d an y greater pressur e o f foulness . Cr y alou d t o th e goo d spiri t now , fo r w e ar e i n a bad way ' (iii . 93) . Ill Orpheu s (wit h Eurydice ) Replie s In th e sam e lette r however , h e promise d t o sen d Catherin e hi s deepes t respons e to hi s troubles . O n 2 9 January h e ha d tol d Pinke r tha t h e ha d bee n 'doin g out ' a book o f poems , perhap s th e las t 'fo r year s t o come ' bu t als o 'm y chie f poems , and best' , whic h h e though t o f callin g 'Poem s o f a Marrie d Man ' (iii . 86) . Les s than a week later , h e tol d Catherin e i t wa s 'very nearly ready' . I t woul d b e ' a sor t of final conclusio n o f th e ol d lif e i n me' , bu t thoug h i t migh t hav e a s mott o th e last word s o f Eurydic e i n Virgil' s Georgia (iv . 497 ) - 'An d no w farewell ' - th e farewell woul d b e t o Hades , no t her . Ye t h e di d no t 'muc h wan t t o submi t th e MS. fo r publication . I t i s very intimat e an d vita l t o me ' (iii . 87) . On 1 8 Februar y he finished: 'An d I fee l mor e incline d t o burs t int o tear s tha n an y thing . I can' t send thi s MS . t o Pinke r ye t . . . I loath e i t t o g o t o a publisher . I fee l fo r th e moment mos t passionatel y an d bitterl y tende r abou t it . I wonde r wha t i t wil l 355
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seem t o you ' (iii . 94) . H e aske d Catherin e t o sen d th e manuscrip t o n t o Hild a Aldington. Year s later , Catherin e wrote : I shall never forget readin g those poems in the author's neat handwriting in the tiny room over a garage to which we had moved upon Donald's being called up .. . By the ligh t o f a candle I read th e poems through. I confess tha t n o other poe t except Hardy (an d Shakespear e i n his sonnets) ha s so deeply conveye d t o me the wistfulnes s o f humanity a s distille d i n a nobl e hear t - a hear t th e noble r fo r it s perfec t admissio n o f imperfections. If England i n earl y 191 7 ha d com e t o see m a kind o f hell, th e volum e whic h wa s eventually calle d Look! We have Come Through! was a tribut e t o hi s Eurydic e (not t o b e lef t behind!) , an d als o a farewel l t o a whol e phas e o f hi s lif e wit h her . At th e en d o f 1912 , Sons and Lovers ha d dramaticall y reshape d autobiographica l material, drawin g a line unde r th e tim e befor e h e lef t Englan d wit h Frieda . No w they wer e tryin g t o leav e again, an d thoug h the y ha d no t gon e yet , th e brea k ha d been mad e within . I n earl y 191 7 h e ha d agai n th e sens e o f a n ending , an d th e need fo r anothe r imaginativ e exploratio n comin g ou t o f life , bu t n o les s significantly dramatised i n th e ligh t o f late r understanding , hard-wo n throug h writing The Rainbow an d Women in Love. B y reshapin g persona l an d intimat e poems abou t himsel f and Frieda , an d buildin g the m (alon g wit h ne w ones ) int o a new structure , h e coul d hop e fittingly t o en d an d t o comprehen d thei r lif e i n Europe, befor e the y lef t fo r America . Women in Love, als o implicitl y a vindica tion o f Frieda an d o f the violenc e o f their marriage , ha d take n th e ful l libertie s o f fiction. Thes e poem s woul d b e mor e true-to-lif e - underline d b y includin g a n actual love-letter , whic h Catherin e late r persuade d hi m t o dro p - ye t the y woul d nonetheless b e shape d an d dramatise d int o a themati c sequence , unfoldin g th e central meanin g o f marriag e a s Lawrenc e sa w i t now . Indeed , it s endin g woul d be n o tragedy , bu t a Persephon e stor y o f resurrectio n int o ne w spring , albei t tentative an d painful . So, finding th e Englan d o f 191 7 increasingl y stifling , h e too k himsel f imaginatively bac k t o Bavaria , an d Lak e Garda , an d pre-wa r London , an d th e world o f The Rainbow. Thi s tim e howeve r h e wa s by n o means merel y improvin g and arrangin g anothe r collectio n o f pre-existin g poems , a s h e ha d don e wit h Love Poems and Amores. The mos t importan t biographica l poin t t o b e mad e abou t Look! i s tha t w e cannot assum e th e poem s wer e writte n whe n an d wher e the y purpor t t o hav e been. Sixt y o f th e sequenc e w e no w rea d appea r t o dat e befor e Zenno r bu t onl y twenty, o r perhap s twenty-one , o f thes e exis t i n version s earlie r tha n 1917 , an d all bu t thre e o f thos e hav e bee n substantiall y reconceive d an d i n man y case s transformed i n th e ligh t o f a late r vision . Eve n 'Green ' an d c On th e Balcony ' and 'Be i Henne f whic h wa s onl y include d i n 192 8 - rea d differentl y i n a ne w 356
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context an d ne w relatio n t o othe r poem s i n th e sequence. 26 True , ther e wer e probably mor e i n th e 'brow n Tagebuc h o f Frieda's' lef t behin d i n Fiascherin o i n 1914 and recovere d b y Dunlo p i n lat e 1916 , but sinc e i t ha s disappeare d ther e i s no tellin g which , o r ho w many . On e migh t hav e a subjectiv e feelin g tha t som e poems see m clos e t o experience , vividl y recalled , bu t a feelin g i s al l i t ca n b e and tha t coul d jus t a s wel l b e a sig n o f successfu l dramati c imagination . N o poem, fo r example , coul d see m mor e rawl y o f it s momen t tha n 'Mutilation' , which dramatise s th e lover' s stat e o f min d whe n hi s belove d seem s t o hav e deserted hi m - a s whe n Fried a ra n of f t o he r sister's , henc e th e labe l 'Wolfratshausen'. Bu t wha t ar e th e 'Tuath a d e Danaan ' doin g i n Bavari a i n 1912? Th e suspicio n tha t th e ol d Celti c god s ma y b e bein g invoke d i n Cornwal l in Januar y 191 7 i s reinforce d b y Lawrence' s memory , i n th e 'Nightmare ' chapter o f Kangaroo, o f havin g calle d o n the m afte r th e fal l o f x\squith. 2 (T o read dram a rathe r tha n lyri c autobiograph y i s o f cours e als o t o rea d b y quit e different literar y criteri a o f styl e an d form , no t expectin g a dramatic characte r i n agony t o spea k i n lyri c perfectio n o r sublimation. ) Moreove r i t seem s highl y probable tha t whol e poem s whic h ar e labelle d wit h earlie r place s wer e writte n i n Zennor, i n orde r t o fill out an d poin t u p th e desig n an d meanin g Lawrenc e no w wanted fo r th e whole . W e hav e t o b e eve n mor e carefu l tha n usua l abou t usin g imaginative wor k a s biographical evidenc e fo r a n earlie r period . An d s o fa r fro m Mr Noon bein g an y corroboration , i t seem s likel y tha t th e comi c nove l wa s base d three year s late r ver y muc h on th e dramati c sequence , especiall y whe n tha t conflicts wit h th e evidence o f the letter s whic h wer e of course n o longe r availabl e to him . Wha t Look! doe s howeve r tel l us , an d tel l u s ver y powerfully , i s wha t Orpheus o n hi s wa y ou t o f Hade s (wit h Eurydice ) now wishe d t o sing , i n dramatic re-imagination , abou t marriag e - base d o n hi s own . The Ros e poem s fo r example , labelle d 'Icking ' an d henc e purportin g t o dat e between i Jun e an d 5 Augus t 1912 , migh t serv e a s a miniatur e o f th e whol e process. Fried a lovingl y preserve d a n origina l se t o f four whic h woul d hav e bee n among th e poems , 'heap s nicer ' tha n thos e abou t othe r women , o f whic h sh e boasted t o Garnet t i n Septembe r 1912 . The y mus t als o hav e bee n i n th e Tagebuch fro m whic h Lawrenc e chos e the m (wit h five others ) t o b e th e first t o 'blossom forth' , whe n h e sen t the m o n 7 Augus t 191 3 t o b e type d b y Dougla s Clayton. I n 191 7 fo r Look! however , h e droppe d th e fourt h poe m altogethe r an d so transforme d th e othe r thre e tha t i n themselves , an d stil l more b y thei r placin g in th e sequence , the y becam e essentiall y different . I t i s no t merel y tha t sentimentalities ar e banished . Th e confidenc e o f youn g lov e become s transfuse d with intimation s o f transienc e an d mortality ; ye t thes e als o heighte n a newl y warm an d tende r apprehensio n o f beaut y affirme d i n th e fac e o f time . 'Rive r Roses' keep s it s first vita l an d happ y stanza , bu t i n th e secon d ther e ar e ne w darker notes , a s th e ros e scen t become s ic y an d fea r replace s th e origina l ros y 357
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kisses. A s twiligh t darkens , th e snak e an d th e mars h o f 'Th e Crown ' an d Women in Love spea k no w o f havin g t o com e t o term s wit h Birkin' s dar k rive r o f corruption, a s wel l a s gree n wate r an d rosiness . Th e ne w 'experience ' ha s onl y initially an d superficiall y t o d o wit h a n experienc e o f 1912 . 'Gloir e d e Dijon ' i s even mor e tellingl y transforme d i n th e ligh t o f late r vision . Th e firs t stanz a i s poetically an d rhythmicall y muc h improve d a s it s rhyth m enact s th e painterl y movement o f ligh t dow n th e woman' s body , warme d b y he r ski n an d swayin g breasts int o glo w an d the n fulle r glow , a s th e 'gloire ' ros e warm s fro m pin k through pal e yello w t o yellow-gold . A s th e woma n washe s hersel f i n th e secon d stanza, however , somethin g muc h deepe r tha n th e interpla y o f ligh t an d crumpling shoulder s no w catche s th e attention , fo r wherea s originall y th e wate r merely shoo k an d freshened , soo n outshon e b y th e vitalit y o f th e body , no w th e metaphoric emphasi s i s o n rose s falling, rain-dishevelle d b y th e seasona l chang e that wil l soo n destro y thei r beauty . A fanciful concei t o f rivalry betwee n woman beauty an d rose-beaut y i s replace d b y a moving sens e o f richness-in-transience . 'Mellow' an d 'golde n shadow ' ar e deepene d a s thei r parado x open s out . I t becomes a lov e poe m abou t a woma n alread y passin g he r best , an d a bod y see n as al l th e mor e beautifu l becaus e o n th e poin t o f chang e fro m ripenes s t o overripeness an d decay . I t ha s become a poem o f 191 7 as opposed to 1912. 29 Nor i s thi s merel y a chang e brough t abou t i n persona l feelin g b y time : fo r i t furthers a majo r them e o f th e sequenc e a s a whole . 'Rose s o n th e Breakfas t Table' i s free d fro m sentimenta l fanc y too , a s th e poe m re-see s playfulnes s an d youth; bu t no w th e falle n petal s (originall y littl e boat s waitin g fo r a fair y win d and lade n wit h kisses ) becom e harbinger s o f th e fal l o f th e rose s tha t hav e no t fallen yet ; an d focu s a ne w perception , a s shar p a s tender , o f th e transienc e o f 'her' sens e o f 'his ' beaut y also . Ye t thi s i s fuse d wit h acceptanc e a s h e look s a t the 'rumple d youn g roses ' whos e transien t 'day ' h e shares . In 1917 , tw o poem s tak e th e plac e o f th e rejecte d original . Non e o f th e possible reason s fo r no t riskin g earl y version s coul d possibl y appl y t o these. 31 Had the y existe d i n 191 3 the y woul d certainl y hav e bee n sen t wit h th e others . ' I am lik e a rose' i s a poem o f dramatised joy : I am myself at last; now I achieve My very self. I, with the wonder mellow, Full of fine warmth, I issue forth i n clear And single me, perfected fro m m y fellow.. . 'Rose o f al l th e World ' explain s th e consonanc e o f thi s selvin g wit h th e natura l force i n 'Rose-leave s tha t whir l i n colou r roun d a core / O f seed-specks' ; bu t goes o n t o a n argumen t strongl y reminiscen t o f 'Hardy' . 'He ' no w maintains , against 'her ' ide a tha t i t i s th e see d tha t i s th e purpos e o f th e rose , tha t 'th e see d is jus t lef t over / Fro m th e re d rose-flowers ' fier y transcience' ; s o sh e shoul d 358
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blossom 'Fo r rosiness only', more than justifie d i n and by the instant of unclosing. The simple r 191 2 poetr y ha s bee n deepene d an d supplante d b y late r under standing, in the author o f The Rainbow an d 'The Crown' o f the relation o f beauty, individuation, transience , deat h an d rebirth , fo r me n an d wome n an d al l livin g things. O f th e ros e poem s w e now read, thre e hav e becom e poem s o f 1917 , and the other tw o were probably newl y writte n then . I f we could discove r wha t wa s in the Tagebuch, w e might fin d muc h th e same proportion o f transformation . The biographe r the n shoul d b e askin g wha t th e sequenc e ha s to tel l u s abou t the Lawrenc e o f 191 7 rathe r tha n 1912 ; an d t o b e seein g th e poem s a s th e creation o f a dramatic mythos (i n the Aristotelian sense ) usin g himsel f an d Fried a almost a s ruthlessly a s he used others , rathe r tha n a s a too-intimate confession . I t is a drama i n several act s or, as Amy Lowell thought , a poetic novel. 33 The firs t 'chapter ' (fro m 'Moonrise ' t o 'Hym n t o Priapus' ) i s abou t state s o f the man' s sel f after severa l faile d lov e affair s an d just befor e hi s meeting wit h th e woman, an d i n th e shapin g Lawrence' s doubl e purpos e become s clear . H e aim s both t o be faithfu l t o a n earlie r self , an d t o stag e i t wit h late r understanding , t o foreshadow a later meaning . W e can see this bot h i n th e splitting an d adaptatio n of earlie r poem s t o revea l immatur e state s o f mind , wit h a n understandin g no t possible a t the time; an d also in the way that poem s chang e whe n w e have rea d the whol e sequence . 'Nonentity ' fo r exampl e seem s t o be just anothe r expressio n of longin g fo r non-bein g afte r th e mother' s death , bu t o n rereading , i t sound s thematic keynote s fo r th e whole sequence . Th e longin g fo r nonentity , dissolvin g the sel f int o th e cosmos , wil l tur n ou t t o anticipat e no t deat h bu t renewal . Conversely, Do n Juan' s callousnes s abou t hi s mistresse s an d prid e i n bein g beloved o f 'Isis th e mystery' wil l be destabilised later ; yet priapic desir e i s indee d a liberatio n fro m th e mother-complex an d th e cynicis m whic h hav e lef t a youn g man 'wor n an d careful ' o r despairing . ^ The poem s begi n t o rea d on e anothe r more complexl y tha n eac h read s i n itself. Lawrenc e ha s both represente d an d represented th e young ma n he had been, usin g insigh t h e did not have a t the time , yet no t falsifyin g th e essence o f what h e the n felt . I f it be 'autobiographical ' i t is also dramatised , wit h a licenc e whic h make s i t representativ e i n ye t anothe r sense, like Sons and Lovers. The nex t chapte r howeve r - 'Balla d o f a Wilfu l Woman ' t o ' A Do e a t Evening' - thoug h se t i n Bavaria , continuall y re-see s th e lover s o f 191 2 i n th e light o f th e visio n o f conflict , suffering , destructivenes s an d growth , i n th e fiction tha t succeede d Sons and Lovers. Th e ceaseles s flu x announce d i n th e 'Ballad' become s a major them e o f the whol e sequenc e now . No poe m can stand alone becaus e th e journey 'end s no t anywhere', s o any resolution i s temporary . (And wherea s th e origina l ha d bee n a comin g t o term s wit h a Waywar d Woman's love-affair s an d a final emphasi s o n he r many-side d vitality ; no w th e path ahea d fo r a Wilfu l one , wit h th e begga r a s leader , grow s darke r an d mor e 359
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painful.) Thoug h th e poetr y seem s 'tru e t o life' , fro m th e firs t joyou s confidenc e despite sexua l failur e (eve n i f th e firs t nigh t wa s actuall y i n Munich ) t o conflict , renewal an d conflic t again , th e themati c relatio n o f the poem s t o on e anothe r ha s become mor e significan t tha n thei r relatio n t o th e actua l experienc e o f 1912 , a s the Ros e poem s show . Lawrence' s sens e o f life , indeed , ha s becom e inseparabl e from th e awarenes s o f flux i n th e danc e o f opposites whic h h e bega n t o wor k ou t in 1914 , an d whic h gre w deepe r an d mor e comple x a s th e tw o majo r novel s developed. So , a s 191 7 re-see s 1912 , th e moment s o f fulfilment , beaut y an d balance darke n wit h awarenes s o f thei r transience ; bu t o n th e othe r hand , i n continually lookin g backwar d an d forward , th e dar k poem s als o ge t modifie d b y their positio n i n th e sequence . Thei r humiliations , anger s an d Hamlett y nihilis m are place d withi n th e rhythm s o f chang e an d growth , throug h th e conflic t o f love. Th e poem s begi n dancin g betwee n th e dar k an d th e ligh t befor e th e lover s do. Wha t i s mello w i s poise d betwee n fulfilmen t an d decay . 'She ' learn s t o se e 'The shadow s tha t liv e i n th e sun'; 3 bu t 'he' , also , ho w th e dar k colour s - u p through gree n t o gold . Indee d th e chie f reward , wher e w e d o hav e evidenc e o f how Lawrenc e ha s re-worke d poetr y o f 1912 , i s (wit h a fe w exception s suc h a s 'Green' an d 'O n th e Balcony' ) t o se e precisel y ho w hi s visio n an d understandin g have grown , changed , deepened . The nex t shor t chapte r ('Son g o f a Ma n Wh o I s No t Loved ' t o 'Meetin g Among th e Mountains' ) show s howeve r tha t ther e wer e limit s t o his ruthlessnes s about exposin g Fried a an d himself , sinc e withou t biographica l knowledg e th e sequence abou t th e journe y throug h th e mountain s t o Ital y remain s somewha t opaque. Chatt o an d Windu s - i t turne d ou t - woul d onl y publis h i f tw o poem s were removed ; an d thoug h Lawrenc e himsel f restore d 'Son g o f a Ma n Wh o I s Loved' i n 1928 , i t wa s lef t t o th e editor s o f th e posthumou s Complete Poems to restore 'Meetin g Amon g th e Mountains ' - an d the y misplace d it . Onl y whe n i t is returne d t o it s chronologica l positio n betwee n 'Sinners ' an d 'Misery ' doe s th e ironic interpla y o f th e poem s revea l itself ; an d eve n then , th e bitte r contras t between th e sens e i n whic h th e ma n i n thi s chapter' s 'Song ' i s 'No t Loved ' an d the 'Misery ' o f the fourt h poe m i s diminished i f we do no t kno w wha t happene d in between . I t wa s no t unti l Mr Noon i n 192 0 tha t Lawrenc e wa s abl e t o re imagine Fried a tellin g hi m sh e ha d slep t wit h Harol d Hobson . Howeve r whe n Lawrence looke d bac k i n 1917 , wha t h e arrange d was no t a narrativ e stor y bu t four intens e moment s o f emotio n se t agains t on e anothe r i n powerfull y ironi c juxtaposition. Thoug h labelle d 'Glasshutte' , 'Son g o f a Man Wh o i s Not Loved ' is not concerne d wit h quarrellin g ove r th e pat h befor e the y foun d th e chape l an d hay-hut, bu t wit h th e horro r o f bein g alon e i n space , an d 'driven ' (Do n Juan' s word) b y force s beyon d th e self . Agains t i t i s se t 'Sinners' , a n ironicall y title d love poe m o f happines s alon e togethe r a t Mayrhofe n (wher e the y waite d fo r Bunny). Howeve r th e inadequac y o f tha t come s ou t befor e th e bi g pal e Christu s 360
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where imagination , secretl y awar e o f th e injur y th e love r ha s done , realise s th e abandoned husband' s despai r an d hate , an d read s the m int o th e muleteer' s eyes . Then th e table s ar e turne d - a bitter iron y - an d directio n an d relationshi p ar e lost i n suc h 'Misery ' tha t a beautifu l worl d become s a pit-dungeo n fo r th e forgotten, wit h n o wa y out . Onl y i n it s apparen t los s i s lov e full y measured , i n the pi t o f Hades. In th e fourt h lon g chapte r se t o n Lak e Gard a ('Sunda y Afternoo n i n Italy ' t o 'Wedlock'), th e relationshi p 'come s through' , bu t onl y afte r tw o relate d battle s t o free th e lover s fro m th e past : th e freedo m fro m th e mothe r dramatise d i n th e two fin e poem s 'Giorn o de i Morti ' ('Servic e o f Al l th e Dead' ) an d 'Al l Souls' ; and th e conversio n o f sex wa r int o th e Lawrencia n mytho s o f deat h an d rebirth . Here th e sequenc e fills with hatre d an d violence . Th e gree n dog-sta r i n a secon d aubade subvert s th e fulfilmen t o f 'Green' , an d i n ye t anothe r daw n th e love r washes himsel f clea n o f hatre d onl y t o find h e ca n fee l nothin g a t all . Fou r poems dramatis e accusation s w e ca n imagin e Lawrenc e making , an d expres s the hat e tha t wa s alway s liabl e t o sprin g fro m th e clas h o f hi s eg o wit h Frieda's . Yet i t i s drama, no t straightforwar d self-expressio n - an d les t w e to o confidentl y take th e poem s a s spontaneous outburst s o f feelin g tha t unhapp y winter , w e ha d better remembe r Lawrenc e sayin g i n Decembe r tha t h e couldn' t writ e poetr y then. Moreove r w e need t o se e the structuring which , wit h suggestion s o f a much later Lawrence , mime s th e religiou s yea r o f th e sou l fro m th e da y o f the Dea d t o Candlemas, bu t a t th e sam e tim e rewrite s Genesi s an d th e visitation s o f th e angels: unti l Ev e i s reborn , no t fro m th e ri b bu t b y exchang e o f bloo d wit h Adam, whos e Noe l tha t als o is ; th e Virgi n i s purifie d i n sex an d sacrifice ; an d paradise i s regaine d throug h 'death ' an d fiery purification . Indee d th e fiercer rewriting o f the origina l 'Purity' 42 suggest s tha t wher e earlie r version s d o exis t as they d o not ofte n i n thi s sectio n - Lawrenc e ma y hav e deliberatel y heightene d the ongoin g stormines s fo r dramati c an d mythi c purposes . Fo r onc e agai n th e Lawrence o f 191 7 i s onl y to o wel l awar e tha t th e battl e i s neve r ove r - whic h i s why immediatel y afte r th e tendernes s o f 'Birt h Night ' come s 'Rabbi t Snare d i n the Night' , tha t mos t horrifi c creatio n o f sex-wa r violence , whic h bear s th e closest relatio n t o th e 'Rabbit ' chapte r i n Women in Love, an d t o Birkin' s belie f that ther e ar e murderees a s well as murderers . As th e 'comin g through ' seem s accomplishe d i n th e nex t shor t chapte r ('History' t o 'On e Woma n t o Al l Women') , th e han d o f th e Lawrenc e o f 191 7 keeps showin g itself . H e transform s poem s suc h a s th e sentimenta l origina l o f 'Song o f a Ma n Wh o i s Loved ' (whic h ar e i n fac t th e one s whic h sho w u s th e Lawrence o f 1912-13) , int o mature r poem s see n i n th e contex t o f other s i n th e sequence. H e make s poem s rerea d on e anothe r a s th e tw o 'Songs ' no w d o (whenever th e Unlove d on e wa s written) ; o r a s 'Wedlock ' counterpose s t o th e individual candl e imag e o f 'Al l Souls ' a marriag e o f opposites , 'he ' th e flame t o 361
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her candle , a s 'she ' th e renewin g sourc e o f hi s fire ; o r a s 'Son g o f a Ma n Wh o Has Com e Through ' end s b y transformin g th e tar t biblica l allusion s i n 'Sh e Looks Back ' an d 'Lad y Wife ' int o wonder , now . Neithe r o f hi s previou s collections ha d anythin g lik e thi s kin d o f continuou s cross-reference . An d i n th e title poem , th e fines t o f all , h e make s 'comin g through ' no t a t al l conclusive, bu t a bein g spontaneousl y ope n t o continuou s transformation , b y creativ e force s beyond th e sel f - i n poetr y a s i n life . Thi s i s Lawrence' s mos t powerfu l us e o f the Whitmanesqu e breat h line , finding it s ow n lengt h an d emphasis , a mediu m perfectly adapte d t o th e them e o f 'No t I , no t I , bu t th e win d tha t blow s throug h me!' I suspec t tha t it s clos e relatio n i n though t an d imager y wit h th e poeti c manifesto Lawrenc e wrot e after th e sequenc e ha d bee n publishe d suggest s tha t i t is probably a poem o f 1917 . Moreover, 'On e Woman ' speakin g 't o Al l Women' , turn s int o a comi c iron y about drawin g conclusions , whic h i s most unlikel y a t it s ostensible date . I t seem s that wha t 'he ' ha s experience d i s tru e fo r 'her ' too : 'Ho w happ y I am , ho w m y heart i n th e win d ring s true' . 'She ' eve n captures , fo r th e firs t time , wha t Birki n had bee n tryin g t o sa y i n th e 191 6 'Sisters ' tha t h e wante d fro m 'love' , withou t ever quit e managin g t o pi n i t down : somethin g quit e differen t fro m sexis t domination. 'There' s th e beaut y yo u canno t see , mysel f an d him / Balance d i n glorious equilibrium,/.. . There' s thi s othe r beauty , th e wa y o f th e star s . . . ' (So, thoug h thi s poe m i s dated fro m Kensingto n a t th e tim e o f thei r marriag e i n Summer 1914 , i t eithe r i s o r ha s becom e a poe m o f 1917 , whos e centra l imag e will b e written-in , ove r an d ove r again , int o Women in Love late r tha t year. ) There i s something ruthless , almos t inhuma n abou t 'him' , ye t 'hi s separat e bein g liberates m e / An d give s m e peace!' ; an d wha t use d t o b e feare d ha s becom e beautiful, 't o b e lifte d an d gone' . The sequenc e migh t hav e ended, triumphantly , just there . But th e nex t chapte r wil l sho w ('People ' t o 'Cravin g fo r Spring' ) - th e characteristic touch , now , o f th e autho r o f 191 7 - th e instabilit y o f an y suc h ending. I t woul d hav e bee n fals e bot h t o experienc e an d t o Lawrence' s post 1914 dialecti c art , wher e relationshi p canno t conclusivel y stabilis e i f i t i s no t t o die. Ne w conflic t no t onl y wil l bu t mus t begi n agai n i f growt h i s t o continue . The lover s ma y b e triumphant , bu t the y ar e cu t of f fro m thei r societ y - alread y implicit i n th e rejectio n of'Yo u othe r women ' (i n 'On e Woma n t o Al l Women') . In 'People ' an d 'Stree t Lamps ' w e see th e Unrea l Cit y o f which Lawrenc e spok e to Russel l (thoug h the y ar e mad e ou t o f a poe m o f Croydo n day s befor e 1911 , now spli t i n two) . Peopl e ar e a 'Ghost-flu x o f faces ' driftin g meaninglessly ; London i s a Cit y o f Dissolution , it s lamp s lik e burs t sun s o r seed-pod s driftin g into th e dark . S o i t becomes necessar y t o 'cros s int o anothe r world' , t o find 'Ne w Heaven an d Earth' . However , bot h thi s poe m an d ' "She Sai d A s Well T o M e " ' show tha t th e certaintie s o f th e previou s chapte r ha d com e muc h to o easily . No t 362
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only doe s conflic t continu e afte r marriag e - an d th e whol e worl d i s no w a t wa r but a reader mus t als o realise now , i f not before , tha t 'th e author ' o f these poem s is unreliable; himsel f a developin g T an d imaginer , no t a t al l omniscient . I n fac t the T ha s bee n changin g i n a dynami c proces s throughout ; an d no w th e autho r of 'On e Woma n t o Al l Women ' ca n b e see n t o hav e bee n over-optimistic , t o sa y the least , i n s o assimilating 'her ' t o 'his ' vision . A wry comed y enters . What 'She ' has now sai d 'A s Well ' seem s a t firs t onl y additiona l assuranc e an d compliment , poking gentl e fu n a t hi s physica l shyness , an d showin g lovin g wonde r a t th e clean straigh t bod y o f a man tha t onl y Go d coul d hav e made ; 's o tha t I bega n t o wonder ove r myself , an d wha t I was' . Ye t Lawrenc e th e dramatis t ha d a fine ea r for tone , an d ther e i s somethin g i n wha t 'Sh e Said' , whic h make s 'him ' fee l 'trammelled an d hurt' , no t free , an d whic h th e poe m goe s o n t o pi n down : ho w easy i t i s t o iove ' withou t tru e respect . Th e ma n i s no t a n 'instrument ' - he r tone wa s Gudrun's , lookin g a t th e sleepin g Gerald . H e i s not t o be used , stil l les s possessed. Sh e woul d no t dar e t o spea k o f o r touc h a wil d creatur e s o - weasel , adder, bul l o r Tyge r (sinc e th e hin t o f Blak e wa s ironic ) o r eve n a sta g a t evening. Sh e doe s no t se e hi m a s trul y 'other' . Th e sens e o f hi m a s strang e an d dangerous, pu t int o he r mout h i n 'On e Woma n t o Al l Women' , was wishfu l thinking. 'Sh e Said ' i s 'dated ' t o 'Greatham' , i.e . 1915 , bu t th e adde r an d Gudrun's attitud e sugges t Zenno r again . Most o f 'Ne w Heave n an d Earth ' howeve r (originall y 'Terranova') , probabl y does dat e fro m Greatham . Th e sens e o f landing o n a new shor e migh t hav e bee n Ursula's a t th e en d o f The Rainbow; th e ol d worl d looke d bac k o n wit h doubl e horror fo r 'everythin g wa s tainted b y mysel f an d henc e known, Ursula' s trouble . Moreover th e worl d o f 191 5 ha s becom e a hel l o f death , mutilatio n an d corruption i n whic h 'he ' i s implicated , sinc e h e to o i s murderou s an d deathly . Yet 'i t i s goo d t o hav e die d an d bee n trodde n ou t . . . absolutel y t o nothing' , fo r with suc h 'death ' come s resurrectio n o f a sel f 'th e sam e a s before , ye t unaccountably new' . Mor e tha n ever , an d turnin g th e table s o f th e las t poem , this depend s o n his trul y experiencin g th e othernes s o f th e othe r withi n wha t had seeme d familiar , known , touchin g th e 'flank ' o f th e absolutel y unknow n h e had lai n besid e fo r 'ove r a thousan d nights' , withou t eve r realisin g her tru e separateness an d otherness . Th e 'she ' h e touche d ha d bee n a projectio n o f himself. (Her e th e Lawrenc e o f The Rainbow turn s int o th e Lawrenc e o f Women in Love.) Onl y a t th e hand s o f th e trul y othe r ca n th e sel f di e t o ne w life ; bu t now h e ha s been carrie d 'b y th e curren t o f death' t o a new shore , ' a ne w P . Eve n now, however , whe n w e ar e lookin g a t post-Rainbow poetr y an d ther e i s n o longer an y dange r o f distortin g a pvt-Ratnbow Lawrence , w e ar e no t readin g ' a poem o f 1915' . For a new conclusio n add s a descant o n th e greennes s o f the ne w world, lik e he r eye s - linkin g bac k throug h 'Winte r Dawn ' t o 'Green' , eac h coming onl y no w int o it s ful l readin g - an d lik e Typee (recentl y read) , wit h fres h 303
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streams an d 'Whit e sand s an d fruit s unknow n an d perfumes' . Ye t th e curren t will hav e t o drow n hi m again , holdin g hi m dow n t o mysteriou s depths , tha t h e may b e kindle d t o lif e agai n i n never-endin g process . Non e th e les s Zennor, wit h which th e sequenc e ha s caugh t u p now , i s a n 'Elysium' , i f 'Lonelie r tha n Lyonesse', wher e th e woma n ha s 'severe d th e connection ' o f his 'subjection / T o the All ' an d se t hi m fre e - thoug h 'Manifesto ' i s stil l unsatisfied , longin g fo r 'her' t o giv e hersel f awa y a s completel y a s h e doe s (an d a s h e continuall y complained tha t Fried a di d not) , an d 'peris h o n me , a s I hav e perishe d o n her' . Only the n ca n the y 'hav e eac h ou r separat e being' , free , fulfilled , distinct , ye t i n 'unutterable conjunction' . Afte r tha t 'ther e wil l only remain ' ( a typical optimism , showing ho w muc h Lawrenc e wante d not t o b e isolate d fro m hi s society) , 'tha t all men detac h themselve s an d becom e unique' . However - al l life bein g cyclical , seasonal - a t this terribl e poin t i n tim e an d i n the sou l (lat e 1916) , 'Autum n Rain ' i n th e cit y fall s lik e tears , o n a worl d whos e painful harves t i s 'th e sheave s o f dead/men' , o n th e Somme . I n Winte r th e crowds o f brigh t youn g wome n o n th e pavement s see m 'Fros t Flowers ' whos e beauty i s scente d wit h a wintr y 'corruption' , necessar y (a s 'Th e Crown ' ha d explained), bu t repellent . Th e sequenc e end s wit h 'Cravin g fo r Spring ' (1917) , in a rhyth m o f longin g whos e intensit y i s bot h evocatio n (embodimen t afte r embodiment o f springin g life) , an d invocatio n (sinc e th e intensit y show s tha t what i s longe d fo r ha s no t come , yet) . 'He ' speak s a s fo r a world o f longing : fo r those wh o hav e neve r flowered, fo r th e 'winter-weary' , fo r vindicatio n 'agains t too muc h death' . Finall y th e voic e i s tha t o f th e prophe t wh o represent s th e people, bu t whos e greates t praye r i s no t t o b e lik e Moses , an d 'di e o n th e brin k of such anticipation ' - o r worse , deceived. 49 What a biographer need s i s tac t enoug h t o hol d ont o bot h side s o f a comple x tension. I f Look! i s no t a n antholog y o f separat e autobiographica l lyrics , date d and place d betwee n 191 2 an d 1917 ; neithe r i s i t purel y a dramati c an d mythi c sequence, sinc e th e dram a ha s grow n ou t o f an d i s stil l grounde d i n suc h personal experience , vividl y recalled , tha t i t ha s a brav e (o r embarrassing 50 ) authenticity. I t i s a ne w genre , neithe r autobiographica l antholog y no r dramati c myth, becaus e both . O n th e on e han d i t i s Lawrence's apologi a o r vindicatio n o f his marriag e a s h e sa w i t now . O n th e other , th e 'We ' o f th e titl e bea r th e sam e sort o f relatio n t o Fried a an d Lawrenc e tha t 'Stephe n Hero ' ha d t o Joyce , a t once lifelik e younge r selve s and developin g 'characters ' o n a journe y staged , restructured an d ofte n deliberatel y intensifie d fro m lif e fo r dramati c purposes . Yet i f T an d 'She ' ar e partl y fictive, th e mythos was n o mer e wis h fulfilmen t either. Thei r behaviou r explore s wha t wa s fo r hi m a representativ e truth : tha t marriage (howeve r turbulent ) was , and ha d prove d t o be despit e detractor s i n hi s case, the wa y ou t o f Hades int o ne w spring , ne w country , longe d fo r i n pai n an d promise. 364
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IV Waitin g fo r Spring , i n Fac t As i t happened , sprin g cam e earl y i n Cornwal l tha t year . Th e da y Lawrenc e sent th e poem s t o Catherine , 1 8 February, 51 was 'overwhelmingl y lovely ' a s h e 'lay o n th e cliff s watchin g th e gull s an d hawk s i n th e perfec t sky . Alread y th e pigeons wer e cooing , an d i t wa s as warm a s summer ' (iii . 94) . I n a few day s ne w lambs wer e dancing . Despit e th e disappointmen t o f hi s hope s fo r America , an d having bee n seed y again , creativ e lif e an d hop e soo n bubble d u p onc e mor e a s they alway s di d i n him . I n fact , hardl y ha d h e poste d th e poem s tha n h e bega n writing seve n 'littl e essays ' calle d 'Th e Realit y o f Peace' , an d b y 7 Marc h h e had finished (iii . 100) . Th e worl d o f ma n spu n o n it s destructiv e way . Ther e was upheava l i n Russia ; an d distressin g new s o f th e deat h i n Flander s o f Herbert Watson . Afte r a lon g silenc e Colling s suddenl y wrote , fro m a militar y hospital. Ye t agai n cam e th e ol d convictio n tha t 'th e livin g spirit ' woul d alway s be greate r tha n men' s destructivenes s (iii . 101) , an d h e bega n t o wonde r - fo r the firs t tim e sinc e Signature - whethe r h e migh t no t do somethin g publicl y t o help i t on . H e ha d hig h hope s o f 'Th e Realit y o f Peace' , especiall y whe n Harrison o f th e English Review foun d th e essay s 'extraordinaril y suggestive ' (iii. 107) . Hearin g i n lat e Marc h o f th e peac e demonstration s i n Nottingham' s Victoria Park , h e fel t 'lik e startin g somethin g somewhere : bu t hardl y kno w ye t where t o begin ' (iii . 106) . (I t wa s whistlin g agains t th e win d howeve r t o imagin e that th e parliamen t whic h ha d jus t passe d a ne w Militar y Servic e Ac t coul d b e kicked out. ) Moreover , an d significantly , h e simpl y coul d no t fac e goin g t o London. Instead h e determined , lik e Candide , t o cultivat e hi s garden . I f h e coul d ear n very littl e i n Englan d an d was no t allowe d t o tr y America , h e coul d a t leas t become a s self-supportin g a s possible . Eve n befor e thei r passport s wer e refuse d he ha d declare d that , i f force d t o stay , h e woul d 'becom e a farmer ' an d hel p William Henr y 'who m I like' (iii. 89) . He ha d rea d Crevecoeur , an d imaginatio n may hav e fuse d wit h practicalit y i n aimin g a t somethin g o f th e 'America n Farmer's' sturd y independence . Soo n h e wa s askin g Ko t t o ge t hi m a bookle t from Sutton s th e see d specialists , o n Culture of Profitable Vegetables in Small Gardens (iii . 103) , an d wit h som e Hockin g hel p an d advic e h e mad e thre e gardens: th e littl e one fro m th e yea r before, ' a gem' , wit h som e vegetable s a s wel l as flowers; the n hal f o f 'th e littl e field a t th e bac k o f th e re d room ' wit h 'man y beautiful rows ' o f broa d bean s an d spinach ; an d finally pea s an d bean s i n th e field belo w that . ' I hav e worke d hard' , h e wrot e o n 2 3 May . 'W e should hav e mounds o f vegetables ' (iii . 127 ) - thoug h b y the n i t wa s rathe r dry , an d soo n h e would b e ragin g and finding faul t wit h Chris t fo r hi s ignoranc e o f the rea l natur e of lambs , thos e destructiv e an d greed y littl e beasts , wh o ha d go t a t hi s broa d beans (iii . 124) . H e sen t bac k t o Ko t som e Italia n book s o f Mont y Shearman's , 365
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saying h e wa s awearie d c of passio n an d eroticis m an d se x perversion ' (iii . 103) , and soo n h e wa s sayin g tha t 'pur e abstrac t thought ' no w intereste d hi m mor e than art' s welte r o f emotions an d sensatio n (iii . n o ) . Thoug h th e ne w typescrip t of hi s nove l ha d a t las t arrive d h e lef t i t aside . Fictio n hel d n o attractio n no w since h e foun d huma n being s 'ultimatel y boring ' an d wa s 'happ y i n th e thought s only tha t transcen d humanity ' (iii . 127 ) - mor e intereste d no w i n th e fat e o f hi s essays tha n th e ne w boo k o f poems. H e wa s gla d tha t Catherin e an d Esthe r like d those, bu t simpl y recorde d H.D.' s verdic t tha t 'the y ar e no t eternal, no t sublimated' (iii . 102) . Sh e ma y indee d hav e influence d a curiou s spas m o f classicism: h e copie d Pier o d e Cosimo' s Death of Pro ens (iii . 103 ; wh o ha d th e divine gif t o f a dar t tha t alway s foun d it s target , bu t ha d no t bee n abl e t o hid e from pursuit), 5 an d sen t Margare t Radfor d a littl e plaque , probabl y o f warrior s from th e Partheno n friez e (iii . 10 1 an d n . 2) . Sculptur e to o howeve r no w struc k him a s no t 'abstracted ' enough ; it s bul k frustratin g 'th e clarit y o f conception ' (iii. 109 ) Findin g peace , afte r th e piercin g disappointment s o f earl y 1917 , seemed t o depen d fo r th e momen t o n feelin g abstracte d an d independent , au dessus de la melee. At th e en d o f Marc h Fried a wen t t o Londo n fo r th e first tim e sinc e September 1916 . (Weekle y seem s t o hav e give n permissio n fo r he r t o se e th e children twic e a year now. ) Sh e wa s ' disgusted t o fin d tha t Erns t wh o pose s a s th e tragic figur e t o th e children , take s Glady s (sh e i s a handsome , coars e girl ) ou t to dinner , flirt s wit h her , bu t keep s o f course th e las t respectabilit y - Lord , I was so furiou s — bu t the n h e is bot h things , bu t th e childre n ar e different , than k God!' (iii . 109) . Sh e ha d clearl y no t becom e indifferent . However , th e proble m of he r relatio n t o th e childre n ha d settle d somewhat , thoug h sh e stil l ha d t o b e cautious wit h Lawrence . Befor e he r trip , sh e aske d Ko t no t t o mentio n th e matter whe n h e nex t wrote . 'Lawrenc e feel s muc h bette r abou t i t bu t stil l h e i s sore an d th e les s sai d th e better , bu t i t wil l al l com e right ' - thoug h h e woul d not g o wit h he r t o London . He r relationshi p wit h Ko t ha d als o grow n mor e friendly. Sh e sa w him , an d Catherine , an d Gertle r i n who m sh e foun d som e change an d recover y o f peace afte r th e doubl e blo w o f the deat h o f his fathe r an d Carrington's takin g u p wit h Lytto n Strachey . Thes e few , wit h Dolly , an d Cynthia, no w mad e u p he r tota l circl e o f friend s outsid e Germany . (Sh e always , though perhap s withou t meanin g to , kep t a littl e socia l distanc e fro m th e far m folk i n Cornwall. ) Moreove r the y wer e reall y Lawrence' s friends ; sh e wa s no t close to any; and al l the othe r Englis h peopl e sh e ha d know n sinc e sh e cam e bac k to Englan d ha d turne d agains t he r o r los t touch . Sh e wa s poor , isolated , a n enemy alien . Sh e wa s utterl y dependen t o n Lawrenc e now . I f sh e remaine d ebullient, a s ther e i s ever y reaso n t o thin k sh e di d - well , tha t wa s Frieda . Sh e echoed hi s confidenc e tha t thei r sprin g woul d com e again : 'Yes , I think ou r tim e will com e - i t wil l b e fighting stil l an d misery , bu t i n th e en d w e shal l com e 366
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through' (iii . 106) , a s hi s poem s ha d said . Sh e wa s gla d t o b e bac k i n Cornwall , and eve n (sh e says ) helpin g i n th e garden . By th e middl e o f April, presse d t o kee p a promise t o visi t hi s sister s i n Ripley , Lawrence fel t cal m enoug h t o hav e a few day s i n Londo n too . H e sen t a note t o Murry (iii . 1 1 3 ) - somewhere , a s he ha d said , stil l fon d o f him - an d arrange d t o see Pinke r an d Harrison ; the n lef t fo r Derbyshir e o n 1 4 April. O n th e wa y bac k he sa w Salli e Hopki n i n Nottingha m o n Wednesda y th e 18th , an d arrive d i n London th e followin g afternoo n t o sta y wit h Ko t i n Acaci a Road . O n Frida y h e seems t o hav e rushe d around , startin g wit h Pinke r a t 11.30 , the n Harrison , the n a visi t t o Cynthi a Asquit h i n he r ne w basemen t flat of f Bake r Street , the n t o Hampstead t o se e Catherin e an d Dollie . O n Sunda y h e wen t wit h Cynthi a an d her bab y so n Michae l t o th e zoo. 56 Sh e ha d no t see n hi m sinc e 1915 , an d thought h e looke d 'better' . Sh e stil l foun d 'grea t interes t an d vividnes s i n hi s face an d voice' , a s h e repeate d tha t th e caus e o f John's psychologica l problem s lay i n he r attitudes , an d reproache d he r fo r 'subscribin g t o th e war ' b y workin g in a hospital, thoug h sh e wa s only doin g gentee l 'pantry-work' . He r likin g wa s as strong a s ever , an d als o he r toleranc e o f hi s criticisms , thoug h sh e stil l though t them merel y 'theories' . Harriso n wa s persuade d t o tak e fou r o f th e 'Realit y o f Peace' essay s instea d o f th e thre e h e ha d alread y accepte d (iii . 138) ; and h e als o asked fo r poetry . Lawrenc e ha d no w sen t Pinke r th e manuscrip t o f Look! an d thought hal f a doze n o f 'th e mor e impersona l poems ' migh t d o (iii . 138) . Suddenly hi s prospect s seeme d a littl e better . I n March , 'Th e Thimble ' ha d come ou t i n Seven Arts i n Americ a an d 'Samso n an d Delilah ' i n th e English Review, whil e 'England , M y England ' wa s schedule d fo r Americ a i n th e Apri l Metropolitan. A smal l publisher , Eveleig h Nash , ha d eve n show n interes t i n Women in Love, thoug h Lawrenc e fel t uneas y a t th e ide a o f publishin g i t now , even i f that wer e possibl e (iii . i n ) . On Saturda y i n Acaci a Roa d h e me t an d was greatl y take n b y Fann y Stepniak , widow o f th e Russia n revolutionary , wh o ha d becom e a clos e frien d o f Kot's . Writing afterward s t o Sallie , wh o ha d clearl y no t manage d t o concea l mone y worries an d som e dissatisfactio n wit h he r life , Lawrence cite d th e sixty-two-year old wido w a s someon e 'stron g enoug h t o hav e th e jus t sens e o f values ' an d fait h in them , rathe r tha n seein g a s th e worl d sees : ' I fin d i n he r a beaut y infinitel y lovelier tha n th e beaut y o f the youn g wome n I know. Sh e ha s lived , and suffered , and take n he r plac e i n th e realities . Now , neithe r riche s no r ran k no r violenc e matter t o her , sh e knows wha t lif e consist s in , an d sh e neve r fail s he r knowledge ' (iii. 116) . H e though t th e wa r migh t b e ove r tha t summe r becaus e o f strike s i n Germany, strain s amon g he r allie s and a Russia i n turmoi l needin g peace ; thoug h he sa w no 'real intention o f peace' i n th e British government . Afte r hi s tri p t o th e Midlands h e wa s agai n sur e tha t ther e woul d b e 'labou r insurrections , purely selfish' and ' a smash-up' (iii . 116) ; but on e had t o stand aside , and wait . 367
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The nex t da y h e wa s smitte n b y a n attac k o f vomiting an d diarrhoea . A s usual , he sough t a psychologica l explanation , 'th e evi l influenc e o f aggregat e London ' (iii. 117) , bu t a n infectio n Emil y Kin g ha d suffere d fro m i n Riple y wa s mor e immediately t o blame . He wa s ill for severa l days ; but b y Wednesda y th e 25t h h e had recovere d enoug h t o tak e u p Dollie' s invitatio n t o spen d a day o r tw o a t th e Radfords' recentl y acquire d countr y cottag e i n Berkshire . At Hermitag e th e sprin g wood s wer e 's o lovely , I shal l neve r forge t them ' (iii. 120) . Whitman-lik e h e wrot e Cynthi a Asquit h tha t th e unfoldin g bud s an d the primrose s were , really , 'stronge r tha n al l th e armie s an d al l th e war . I fee l a s if th e youn g gras s growin g woul d upse t al l th e canno n o n th e fac e o f th e earth , and tha t ma n wit h hi s evil stupidit y i s after al l nothing, th e leave s just brus h hi m aside. Th e principl e o f lif e i s afte r al l stronge r tha n th e principl e o f deat h . . . ' (iii. 118) . Conversely , he r 'desperation ' cam e fro m 'submittin g an d acquiescin g in thing s on e does not vitally believe in . . . On e shoul d stic k b y ones ow n sou l an d by nothin g else. ' It wa s enough fo r now , h e tol d Ko t (iii . 117) , that i t was spring ; he woul d no t bothe r abou t anything . Le t Murr y an d Campbell , wh o ha d no t replied t o hi s notes , g o thei r ow n way . Catherine , h e thought , ha d looke d 'ver y sad' whe n h e sa w her , bu t 'Thing s mus t wor k themselve s out. ' I t wa s n o goo d trying t o do anything , an d eve n t o hat e th e wa r was i n a sens e t o choos e i t an d provoke mor e wa r i n th e soul . Fa r bette r t o 'leav e the m t o it , an d t o brin g fort h the flower o f one's ow n happiness , singl e an d apart' . Bac k i n Cornwall , hi s seed s had com e u p an d ther e wa s ' a strang e joyfulnes s i n th e air . Fo r thos e o f u s wh o can become singl e and alone , all will become perfectl y right ' (iii . 119) . However, unusually , h e foun d a Fried a il l enoug h fo r hi m t o sen d fo r th e doctor, thoug h Esthe r Andrews , who m sh e ha d invite d t o sta y i n th e othe r cottage5 seeme d al l right . No w i t wa s a matte r o f plantin g whit e violet s an d crimson carnation s brough t fro m Berkshire ; waitin g fo r Fried a t o recove r an d for 'Th e Realit y o f Peace ' an d th e ne w boo k o f poem s t o appea r - bu t 'i n th e very middle o f one's heart , on e i s happy' (iii . 120) . V 'Th e Realit y o f P e a c e ' Only five o f th e seve n origina l essay s hav e survived . Th e las t fou r cam e ou t i n the English Review fro m Ma y t o Augus t 1917 ; th e first , 'Whistlin g o f Birds' , would eventuall y b e accepted b y Murr y fo r th e Athenceum tw o years later . On 7 Februar y Lawrenc e ha d bee n sittin g i n a noo k o f th e cliffs , ou t o f th e biting wind . I t was sunny , bu t everywher e la y bird s kille d b y th e wors t frost s since Februar y 1895 . (I n I 9 I 5 n e n a d note d a similar contras t o f lovely day s wit h the thousand s o f huma n corpse s i n Flanders. ) A fortnigh t later , sprin g ha d full y arrived, 'th e lamb s wer e dancing , an d th e bird s whistled , th e dove s cooe d al l day' (iii . 97 ) - an d h e ha d poste d Look! B y 7 Marc h hi s seve n essay s wer e 368
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finished an d titled . H e ha d tol d Cynthi a Asquit h th e previou s Novembe r tha t nations wer e 'externa l materia l facts . Th e realit y o f peace , th e realit y o f war , lie s in th e heart s o f the people : you, me , all the rest ' (iii . 39) . By contras t wit h th e interio r dram a o f Look! th e essay s see m th e produc t o f his fit o f abstraction , ye t i n contex t the y ar e no t withou t thei r revelatio n t o th e biographer. The centra l perceptio n o f 'Whistlin g o f Birds' i s how swiftl y an d certainly , i n nature, deathlines s i s transforme d altogethe r int o bir d song . Th e bird s ar e lik e 'little well-heads ' fro m 'dee p undersprings ' whic h hav e only waite d fo r th e thaw . Suddenly, winte r an d deat h see m quit e unreal : 'strange , th e utte r incompatibilit y of deat h wit h life' . Th e world , an d we , ar e al l on e o r al l th e other , 'neve r i n ou r essence bot h a t once' . Wha t ha s th e whistlin g bir d t o d o wit h th e tor n an d half dismembered bodie s al l around ? An d b y implication , i n France . 'H e di d no t cling t o hi s deat h an d hi s dead . Ther e i s n o death , an d th e dea d hav e burie d their dead. ' H e 'lifte d hi s wing s . . . an d foun d himsel f carrie d o n th e impulse' . At th e worst , th e lowes t point , despit e 'th e suffering , i n spit e o f th e myriad s o f torn dead ' sprin g i s not onl y certain , but all-embracin g onc e it s time ha s come . The secon d essay , openin g 'Th e Realit y o f Peace ' a s w e hav e i t now , ha s a second poin t o f fait h fo r himsel f an d fo r hi s world . I n th e depths , provide d on e is ver y stil l a s i n th e grave , ther e wil l alway s b e hear d 'th e rare , superfin e whispering o f the ne w direction' . Ye t w e cannot wil l where t o g o (for instance , t o America), w e ca n onl y choos e whethe r o r no t t o submi t t o an d stee r b y tha t current ou t o f th e unknown , extinguishin g ou r self-insistenc e an d self-will . 'None o f u s kno w th e way . Th e wa y i s give n o n th e way. ' Thi s demand s life courage lik e S t Pau l o n th e roa d t o Damascus , somethin g greate r tha n th e strength t o di e bravely . Wh o no w dare s t o 'hav e don e wit h himself , an d wit h al l the res t o f th e old-establishe d world' , an d giv e himsel f ove r t o th e 'unresolve d wonder', ceasin g i n a momen t t o b e a n agen t o f deat h an d conformit y - lik e u s with ou r invention s o f death-machiner y an d ou r desir e t o compe l everyon e t o join i n destruction . Insid e one' s ow n heart , i s ther e a secre t desir e fo r mor e strife, tha t thing s shoul d com e apart ? O r i s ther e a 'quick , ne w desir e t o hav e new heave n an d earth , an d . . . t o mak e a beginning' ? I f so , th e momen t w e accept tha t impuls e 'a s th e treasur e o f our being' , w e are converted, 'transported ' immediately 'acros s th e unthinkabl e chasm , fro m th e ol d dea d wa y t o th e beginning o f all that i s to be'. l In th e depth s bot h o f his misfortun e an d th e war , Lawrenc e th e religiou s ma n is al l th e mor e passionatel y convince d tha t th e impuls e o f renewa l wil l alway s come, an d moreove r tha t i t ha s onl y t o b e accepted , i n ful l submissio n t o th e unknown, fo r chang e t o be instantaneou s an d th e wa y forwar d t o reveal itself . Yet ther e i s a ne w sens e o f th e pric e tha t som e 'few ' - lik e himsel f - hav e t o pay. Mos t 'hav e onl y t o kno w peac e whe n i t i s give n them' . Bu t fo r th e fe w 369
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'there i s th e bitte r necessit y t o understan d th e deat h tha t ha s been , s o tha t w e may pas s quit e clea r o f it' . Wherea s 'Th e Crown ' ha d approache d corruptio n seasonally, a s a stage whic h ha d t o complet e itsel f befor e ne w growt h coul d start , Lawrence no w speak s a s on e who , lookin g int o himself, finds current s o f bot h death an d lif e within , an d mus t wi n throug h t o peac e b y understandin g hi s ow n corruption an d transcendin g it , beyond shame . We are not only creatures of light and virtue. We are also alive in corruption an d death. It is necessary t o balance th e dark agains t th e ligh t i f we are ever goin g t o be free .. . Fro m our bodie s come s th e issu e o f corruption a s well a s the issu e o f creation. W e mus t hav e our being in both, our knowledge must consist in both. 6 Yet i t i s no t merel y physicall y i n bod y an d blood , tha t ma n i s a watershe d fro m which a dark an d a bright rive r flow t o corruptio n o r creation . W e mus t als o ri p aside th e veil s o f sham e tha t hid e fro m u s ou r inne r selves , fo r 'th e tid e o f ou r own corruptio n i s risin g highe r . . . ' Instea d o f recoilin g fro m 'som e sickenin g issue of ourselves' , let us go down into ourselves, enter the hell of corruption an d putrescence, and ris e again, not fouled , but fulfille d an d free . I f there i s a loathsome though t o r suggestion,.. . le t u s admit it with simplicity, let us accept it, responsible fo r it. It is no good casting out devils. They belong to us, we must accept them and be at peace with them .. . W e are angels and we are devils, both .. . Bu t w e are more even tha n this . We are whole beings, gifted wit h understanding. A full , undiminishe d bein g i s complet e beyon d th e angel s an d th e devils.63 So th e inne r serpent s i n th e mars h o f th e subconsciou s mus t com e ou t int o the light . The y canno t i n an y cas e b e killed ; an d wha t w e tr y t o exclud e exert s over u s th e tyrann y o f repulsive fascination . 'Wh o a m I tha t I shoul d hol d mysel f above m y las t o r wors t desire ? M y desire s ar e me , the y ar e th e beginnin g o f me , my ste m an d branc h an d root. ' Nonetheles s 'ther e i s i n m e th e grea t desir e o f creation' a s wel l a s 'th e grea t desir e o f dissolution' ; an d i t i s creatio n tha t i s 'primal an d original' . S o whe n Lawrenc e invite s th e snak e i n himsel f t o 'li e dow n delicately i n th e su n o f m y mind ' havin g (onc e admitted ) it s ow n beaut y an d righteousness, h e als o insist s o n 'jus t proportion' . 'I , wh o hav e th e gif t o f understanding . . . mus t kee p mos t delicatel y an d transcendingl y th e balanc e o f creation withi n myself , th e lif e impuls e encompassin g th e deathl y bu t fre e no w of bot h horro r an d fascination . Ye t understandin g mus t alway s b e of duality , o f how deat h feed s lif e (fo r w e mus t ea t lif e t o live) , an d lif e feed s death . 'W e ca n never destro y death . W e ca n onl y transcen d i t i n pur e understanding . W e ca n envelop i t and contai n it . And the n w e are free. ' (The biographe r mus t need s wonde r whethe r ther e wa s som e particula r snak e 370
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in th e mars h o f Lawrence' s mind , tha t s o presse d fo r admissio n an d transcen dence - an d i n th e contex t o f Spring 191 7 an answe r become s possible. ) The penultimat e essa y turn s fro m th e individua l t o th e world . Whe n i t i s a n autumnal epoc h th e deat h wis h begin s t o dominat e an d peopl e wan t th e sensation o f violence , wan t t o kill , brea k down , pu t asunder , perish . Ye t eve n this (a s i n l The Crown' ) ca n stil l b e a necessar y par t o f th e life-cycle . Indee d there ar e 'heroe s o f passionate an d beautifu l death ' (Tristan , Achilles , Napoleon ) just a s ther e ar e heroe s o f rebirt h (Christ , S t Paul , S t Francis) . Bu t th e rea l 'enemy an d th e abomination ' ar e th e horde s wh o ar e neithe r th e on e no r th e other, lackin g th e courag e o r strengt h o f eithe r th e lif e o r th e deat h impulse . They neve r burs t int o blossom , bu t vegetat e i n ol d form s an d eve n gro w fa t o n the dea d bod y o f th e past . Suc h 'wil l neve r b e flung int o th e transcendence ' o f death - thoug h the y ro t slowl y fro m within . A t th e though t o f thes e multitude s Lawrence's gorg e rises . They are so many, their power is immense, and the negative power of their nullity bleeds us of life .. . There i s a n egois m fa r mor e ghastl y tha n tha t o f th e tyrannou s individual . I t i s th e egoism of the flock ... th e arrogant immitigable beings who have achieved a secure entity ... Nothin g can be added t o them, nor detracted. Enclosed an d complete, they have their completion in the whole herd .. . a multiplied nullit y .. . s o strong that they can defy bot h life and death for a time .. ,65 Suddenly th e pressur e o f feelin g s o unbalance s hi m tha t th e casualt y list s see m actually desirable . Let deat h - i n thi s cas e swee t an d beautifu l - 'Brea k i n amon g the herd' , 'mak e gaps ' t o purif y th e worl d an d 'smas h th e complet e will ' o f th e hosts wh o 'though t t o us e deat h . . . fo r thei r ow n bas e en d o f nullifaction'. Onl y let a fe w 'pur e an d singl e men ' emerg e wh o ca n 'giv e themselve s t o th e unknown' an d b e fulfilled . Fo r a passionat e moment , rhetori c blur s realisation . Having abstracte d deat h int o a n ide a an d me n int o images , h e cease d momenta rily t o imagin e rea l peopl e dyin g an d suffering . Afte r blazin g ou t however , th e anger quieten s int o a mor e acceptabl e prayer : 'Le t m e find a fe w me n wh o ar e distinct an d a t eas e i n themselve s lik e stars . Le t m e deriv e n o mor e fro m th e body o f mankind. Le t m e deriv e direc t fro m lif e o r direc t fro m death , accordin g to the impuls e tha t i s in me. ' That finally i s the choic e fo r al l men say s the las t essay , 'Th e Orbit' . Ther e ar e always tw o way s an d tw o goal s (a s i n Women in Love) whic h ca n hav e a certai n splendour o f courag e - an d a no-roa d o f negation . Al l huma n being s mus t choose fo r themselves : eithe r t o submit th e wil l and s o become ' a spar k i n a great tendency'; o r t o becom e self-enclosed , self-wille d an d null . Al l th e grea t opposites (a s i n Blak e an d Heracleitus ) ultimatel y wor k t o balanc e an d contro l each other . An d ma n alway s ha s both i n him : lif e an d death , ligh t an d dark , tige r 37i
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and lamb . Moreover, whe n 'w e ar e both, an d hav e th e courag e t o be both , i n ou r separate hour , therefor e w e transcend both , w e pass int o a beyond, w e are roses' : symbol o f harmon y an d consummat e peace . S o w e mus t neve r tr y t o reduc e ourselves t o on e polarity , fo r th e lif e o f each depend s o n resistanc e t o an d b y th e other. Neithe r ca n triump h withou t degeneratin g an d destroyin g itself . No r ca n they b e reconciled , fo r tha t woul d b e t o neutralis e eac h othe r an d becom e null . Where peac e lie s i s i n equilibrium', whe n eac h impuls e i s allowe d ful l force , balanced b y it s opposite , whe n 'suddenly , lik e a miracle , I find th e peac e o f m y orbit', res t i n motion . 'I t i s no t o f lov e tha t w e ar e fulfilled , bu t o f lov e i n suc h intimate equipois e wit h hate , that th e transcendenc e take s place . It i s not i n prid e that w e ar e free , bu t i n prid e s o perfectl y matche d b y meeknes s tha t w e ar e liberated a s int o blossom. ' Ma n i s ' a mixe d handfu l o f life ' whe n h e i s born . H e slowly single s himsel f ou t int o manhood . The n h e mus t mee t th e unknow n o f woman. H e give s himsel f t o iove' , tha t grea t forc e whic h unifies ; h e mus t als o give himsel f t o 'hate' , whic h make s hi m passionatel y detac h himself . (Marriag e encompasses bot h lov e an d hate , o n philosophi c a s wel l a s experientia l ground s now.) Impelle d t o universa l communion , mad e distinc t b y kee n resistanc e an d isolation - 'suddenl y I laps e ou t o f the dualit y int o a sheer beaut y o f fulfilment, I am a rose of lovely peace' . VI T e n s i o n s wit h Eurydic e The las t poe m o f Look!, cravin g fo r spring , crie s ou t it s confidence , bu t als o a t the ver y en d th e fea r o f Orpheus, les t h e b e mistaken . Th e las t sentenc e o f ' T h e Reality o f Peace ' proclaims , beyon d lov e an d hate , fusio n an d singlin g out , th e harmony an d peac e of the moment o f the rose . Ironically, no t muc h mor e tha n a mont h later , ther e bega n a greate r distanc e from Fried a tha n eve r before . I t ha d alway s bee n sh e wh o ha d withdrawn , o r threatened th e relationshi p b y gettin g involve d wit h someon e else . This tim e wa s different. Throughout 1916 , afte r th e departur e o f th e Murry s an d th e violenc e whic h their presenc e ha d detonated , th e Lawrenc e househol d seem s t o have been abou t as peaceful a s i t coul d be . Lawrenc e was wholl y involve d wit h Women in Love i n which Fried a coul d se e he r ow n vindication ; s o sh e ha d no t bee n muc h upse t t o learn tha t th e unpleasan t woma n i n Cannan' s Mendel, whos e artis t husban d murders he r an d the n kill s himself , wa s supposedl y modelle d o n her . I n December sh e ha d tol d Kot : ' I neve r recognise d myself ! Excep t som e o f L' s speeches I recognise d - I was sorr y tha t Gilber t mad e m e quit e s o horri d - s o vulgar - Bu t ther e . . . I wan t yo u t o rea d L. s ne w nove l - I t i s so good and t o m y satisfaction I a m a nice r perso n ther e tha n Gilber t mad e m e - ' (iii . 52) . Th e autumn ha d bee n difficult - Lawrenc e ha d bee n il l fo r mos t o f it , hardl y 372
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venturing ou t o f doors , th e weathe r ha d bee n vil e an d sh e sometime s tire d o f their isolatio n - ye t th e usua l tension s wer e muted . Lawrenc e coul d announc e i n October tha t 'Fried a an d I have finished th e lon g an d blood y fight a t last , and ar e at one ' (ii . 662) ; an d afte r sh e cam e bac k fro m seein g th e childre n i n London , even that tensio n seeme d t o hav e relaxed , i f no t altogether . A t Christma s sh e enjoyed Mountsie r an d Esthe r a s muc h a s Lawrenc e did . Whe n Mountsie r lef t she wrot e t o hi m wit h rea l pleasur e i n describin g Esther : 'Este r [sic ] look s ver y well, i n fac t sh e is Hadaffa h to-da y wit h he r hai r don e i n a mos t bewitchin g outlandish wa y - Sh e ha s als o worke d an d don e som e cleve r stitches , no w sh e i s making a Russia n blous e an d cut s i t abou t i n a n alarmin g manne r - ' (iii . 66) . Even thoug h Fried a wa s il l afte r Christmas , an d Esthe r was severa l time s of f t o St Ive s an d t o th e se a wit h Lawrence , al l wa s wel l whil e sh e wa s clearl y 'Mountsy's gir l - thoug h ther e ar e glimpse s o f tension . Lawrenc e write s o n 9 January: ' I don' t thin k Hadaffa h i s i n a particularly goo d humor : bu t tha t i s as i t is. I tr y m y bes t t o brin g the m bot h t o reaso n - Fried a an d Hada f - bu t i n vain . It i s a due l withou t pistol s fo r al l o f us ' (iii . 72) . Thi s coul d b e th e first sig n o f jealousy o n Frieda' s part ; yet Lawrence woul d hardl y dra w Mountsier' s attentio n to that , an d i t seem s mor e likel y tha t th e tensio n wa s betwee n Esthe r an d Mountsier, wit h Fried a takin g th e woman' s sid e an d Lawrenc e experiencin g th e fate o f th e peacemaker . Whe n Esthe r returne d t o Londo n sh e an d Fried a wer e on goo d terms , sinc e sh e wa s entruste d wit h buyin g tw o ne w coat s (iii . 79) , an d Frieda wrot e a cordia l invitatio n t o com e agai n - wherea s Esther' s letter s t o Mountsier fro m Cornwal l sho w som e tensio n ove r hi s criticis m o f he r work . By mid-February thei r relationshi p was clearly i n trouble . Esther Andrew s i s ver y miserabl e abou t Mountsier . Ther e i s somethin g ver y nic e an d lovable i n him . Bu t als o underneat h i s th e ol d worldl y male , tha t i s ben t o n thi s evi l destructive process , an d whic h batten s o n th e uglines s o f th e war . Ther e i s a grea t ugliness and vultureness underneath, quite American. But I hope for the good to triumph in him also. (iii. 93) Mountsier seem s t o hav e bee n mor e realisti c abou t America n entr y int o th e war an d muc h les s oppose d t o i t tha n Lawrenc e o r Esthe r liked . B y th e tim e America di d declar e wa r o n 6 April , Mountsie r ha d gon e home , bu t Esther' s opposition wa s stil l makin g he r irritabl e i n June . (Th e declaration , o f course , horrified Lawrence. ) At th e sam e time , h e ma y hav e trie d t o reaso n Esthe r ou t o f puttin g pressur e on he r ma n whil e the y wer e stil l together . Thoug h h e refuse d t o d o th e articl e on women' s wa r labour , h e hinte d tha t wha t h e migh t hav e writte n woul d hav e lamented 'th e tearin g asunde r o f th e sexes ' i n a situation whic h encourage d 'th e assuming o f th e mal e activitie s b y th e female ' (iii . 78 ) - i n wa r wor k mos t obviously bu t perhap s psychologicall y too . H e pointe d Mountsie r toward s 373
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Cannan's recen t satirica l fabl e o n th e subjec t i n Windmills (dedicate d t o him) ; and eve n prophesie d gloomil y tha t 'woma n wil l destroy man , intrinsically , i n thi s country' (iii . 78-9) . H e ha d dramatise d a husband' s feeling s abou t hi s wife' s failure t o respec t hi m i n ' "She Sai d A s Wel l t o M e " ' ; an d eve n hi s dee p sympathy fo r Catherin e Carswel l whe n he r husban d wa s calle d u p di d no t sto p him tellin g he r t o le t hi m find hi s ow n man' s wa y an d sto p tryin g t o shelte r hi m (iii. 97-8) . Nea r thre e stron g women , Lawrence' s drea d o f man' s subjectio n t o 'managing' female s surface d again , despite thei r share d response s t o the war . Esther seem s t o hav e com e dow n t o Cornwal l i n hi s absence, 69 probabl y t o seek consolatio n fo r he r breac h wit h Mountsie r an d America' s entr y int o th e war. Lawrenc e seem s simpl y t o hav e foun d he r there , an d Fried a sic k i n bed , when h e go t hom e o n 2 7 April . Sinc e Fried a alway s hate d illnes s an d was n o better a s a patient tha n a s a nurse, i t must hav e been a great relie f t o Esthe r whe n Lawrence arrive d an d a t onc e summone d th e docto r who m Fried a ha d refuse d to have . Fried a wa s i n fac t quit e seriousl y il l wit h foo d poisonin g whic h turne d into th e coliti s whic h ha d trouble d he r before , an d too k som e tim e t o clea r up . She wa s stil l drinkin g fermente d mil k o n doctor' s order s an d feelin g il l o n 7 Ma y (iii . 123) , an d wa s no t reporte d a s gettin g bette r unti l fou r day s later , when Esthe r ha d gon e back t o London . By the n i t seem s certai n tha t Fried a was jealous , an d ha d mad e i t clea r tha t Esther ha d outstaye d he r welcome . I t canno t hav e bee n pleasan t t o b e il l upstair s while Lawrence wa s spending al l day wit h a pretty, colourful , muc h younge r an d (by thi s time ) mor e glamorou s woman . Ironically , th e situatio n reverse d th e cas e of Christma s 191 2 - wit h th e differenc e tha t Fried a ha d alread y slep t wit h Hobson then . Ye t Frieda' s doubl e standar d neve r envisage d th e freedo m fo r Lawrence sh e claime d fo r herself , an d storm s ble w u p a t any sig n o f attraction t o another woman , i n Fiascherino , an d agai n a t Garsington , thoug h i n neithe r cas e did th e riva l represen t an y sexua l threa t o r Lawrenc e offe r mor e tha n friendship . Nor doe s i t see m ver y likel y tha t muc h mor e actuall y happene d now , thoug h Mabel Dodg e Luha n - no t th e mos t reliabl e o f witnesse s - claime d man y year s later tha t Fried a ha d tol d he r thi s wa s th e onl y tim e 'Lawrenc e wa s eve r "unfaithful" t o her ! "Bu t i t wa s unsuccessful, " sh e added , wit h a kin d o f bitte r triumph!' Catherin e Carswell , however , wh o kne w Esthe r an d ha d th e stor y from bot h Fried a an d Lawrence , suggest s tha t th e lac k o f succes s wa s Esther's : 'She was ver y unhappy , an d i n th e strengt h o f he r unhappines s coul d no t resis t attaching hersel f t o Lawrenc e an d tryin g t o matc h he r strengt h agains t Frieda' s - disastrousl y t o herself . Ye t sh e too k awa y wit h her , whe n sh e lef t late r tha t summer, a n endurin g admiration. ' Thi s sound s rathe r mor e likely , give n ho w Lawrence ha d com e t o stres s commitmen t a s agains t Frieda' s idea s o f fre e love . By contras t wit h hi s sexua l relation s an d frustration s befor e h e me t her , h e ha d become rathe r purita n tha n promiscuou s i n hi s vie w o f marriage , upholdin g 374
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monogamy, thoug h holdin g als o (a s h e ha d to! ) tha t stron g an d committe d feeling fo r someon e els e coul d invalidat e on e marriag e an d creat e another . Th e main poin t howeve r i s tha t i f h e ha d fel t strongl y abou t Esthe r o r (even ) ha d played hi s marriag e fals e b y sleepin g wit h he r withou t muc h feelin g (a s Fried a did wit h Hobson) , a mark woul d surel y hav e been lef t o n hi s writing , a s i n al l hi s known sexua l affairs . Thoug h som e migh t wis h i t otherwise , eve n Frieda' s words t o Mabe l (wit h thos e inverte d comma s roun d 'unfaithful' ) ma y impl y n o more tha n he r belie f tha t sh e ha d quashe d Lawrence' s infatuatio n an d see n he r would-be riva l of f befor e thei r affai r coul d com e t o anything ; thoug h Mabe l clearly wante d t o impl y somethin g mor e dramatic . I n an y cas e Lawrenc e wen t on sendin g goo d wishe s throug h Catherine , thoug h h e di d no t bracke t Frieda' s name wit h hi s an y more . H e wrot e Esthe r a t leas t on e (splendidl y comic ) letter ; and arrange d tha t sh e shoul d ren t Heseltine' s flat whe n h e cam e bac k t o Cornwall. Esther , fro m Pari s later , trie d t o hel p plac e a Lawrenc e stor y i n a n American magazine . Catherin e wa s certainly righ t abou t he r 'endurin g admira tion' o f whic h w e hav e first-han d proof , i n a tex t tha t ha s no t th e ton e o f a rejected o r ejecte d mistress . Fo r i t was a letter o f Esther' s tha t helpe d influenc e Mabel t o invite Lawrenc e t o Taos . It contain s a vivid physica l descriptio n o f wha t h e looke d lik e i n 1917 : the tal l figure, bu t 's o slightl y buil t an d s o stooped ' tha t h e seem s smal l an d fragile ; th e head tha t seem s to o heav y fo r th e bod y an d hang s forward ; th e quic k sur e movements; th e bleached-lookin g hai r cu t i n a bang , contrastin g wit h th e sof t silky re d bear d concealin g a too-larg e chin , an d th e protrudin g underli p o f a n even mor e 'violen t red' ; th e wide-apar t eye s i n th e lon g slende r face , wit h - i n the middl e - ' a ver y podgy , almos t vulgar , certainl y undistinguishe d nose . There! Ca n yo u se e him? ' Sh e describe d Fried a a s ' a big , ros y German ' brough t up i n luxur y an d wholl y impractical , bu t wit h 'a n expansiv e child-nature , ver y sunny an d rich , livin g onl y i n he r emotion s . . . reall y al l ligh t an d su n whil e Lawrence i s dark' , an d seldo m 'reall y gay' . Sh e describe s Lawrence' s house keeping an d cookin g o n a n ope n fire i n th e living-room . 'Th e littl e spotles s sunny hous e i n Cornwal l ha d th e mos t beautifu l simplicit y tha t I have ever seen. ' She wa s certainl y unde r Lawrence' s spell : 'on e o f th e mos t fascinatin g me n I ever me t . . . H e talk s a s brilliantl y a s h e writes , an d a s frankly. ' Hi s philosoph y 'pours ou t o f hi m lik e a n inspire d message , an d n o matte r ho w muc h yo u ma y differ whe n yo u ar e awa y fro m him , o r ho w littl e abl e yo u ar e t o follo w hi s ow n particular mysticism , h e make s yo u believ e i t whe n h e i s with you' . Although , 'a t the slightes t touc h o f advers e criticis m o r hostility ' h e become s violen t an d vituperative, an d 'ha s quarrele d wit h everyone' , 'th e marvelousl y swee t sid e o f his nature ' i s 'inarticulate . An d ye t h e i s th e gentlest , kindes t perso n i n al l human relation s tha t anyon e coul d be' , an d th e local s 'adore d him' : 'Whe n yo u are wit h him , yo u fee l tha t ther e i s no t a corne r o f you r min d o r spiri t o r 375
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whatever yo u hav e tha t Lawrenc e doesn' t se e an d b e toleran t of . An d h e bare s himself perfectl y frankl y . . . ther e i s n o suc h thin g a s repression. ' H e i s ' a Puritan, really' , thoug h 'hi s intellectua l reactio n agains t i t i s s o violen t tha t h e hurls himsel f against i t with al l of himself, destroyin g himsel f as he doe s it. ' It i s mor e likel y tha n not , however , tha t a green-eye d Fried a over-reacted , a s she ha d don e before , thoug h Esthe r clearl y bor e n o grudge . I t would , i n an y case, b e Lawrenc e wh o ha d t o pay . Thi s time , h e seem s t o hav e reacte d b y withdrawing, spendin g mor e an d mor e tim e i n hi s garde n an d o n th e far m wit h William Henry . Th e patter n i s ver y simila r t o hi s earl y relationshi p wit h Ala n Chambers, whe n a mal e friendshi p ou t o f door s becam e strongl y preferabl e t o the naggin g an d edgines s a t hom e - a friendshi p tha t deepened , bu t di d no t survive separation . A t harves t tim e i n 1916 , afte r th e departur e o f th e Murrys , Lawrence ha d helpe d i n th e fields wit h th e Hocking s an d ha d appreciate d th e difference betwee n Willia m Henr y an d th e res t o f hi s family , thoug h h e ha d feared h e migh t becom e a nuisance . Moreover , a s th e weathe r worsened , an d Lawrence gre w bot h seed y an d wholl y preoccupie d wit h th e writin g an d rewriting o f hi s novel , h e woul d no t hav e see n muc h o f th e Hockings . Onc e h e had finished however , an d fel t better , ther e wer e shoppin g expedition s o n William Henry' s market-day s a t th e en d o f Novembe r an d i n December . Th e whole famil y cam e t o a Christma s part y wit h th e tw o American s an d th e Lawrences i n th e tower . A s th e day s gre w sunn y h e bega n t o g o t o Tregerthe n farm again , an d suddenl y sai d o n 9 February, 'I f w e have t o sta y here , I to o shal l become a farmer. I shal l hel p th e ma n jus t below , who m I like. But I still hop e t o go away' (iii. 89) . When h e decide d t o become mor e self-supportin g an d du g th e three garden s h e wa s probabl y helpe d b y Willia m Henry , an d th e friendshi p began t o deepen. I t wa s not surprising , then , tha t irritatio n wit h Frieda' s jealous y over Esther , especiall y i f i t wa s unjustified , shoul d hav e mad e mal e friendshi p more an d mor e attractive , particularl y afte r th e failur e o f th e hoped-fo r blood brotherhood wit h Murry . H e ha d alway s wante d a clos e mal e friend , bu t ha d never foun d a loyal one sinc e Ala n Chambers , and Georg e Neville , who m h e ha d had t o leav e behind . H e ha d alread y explore d th e need , briefl y i n Tom' s schoolboy David-and-Jonatha n friendshi p i n The Rainbow, an d extensivel y i n Birkin's relatio n wit h Geral d i n th e 191 6 'Sisters ' II I (thoug h th e epilogue , wit h its questio n abou t wh y Birkin' s lov e fo r Ursul a was no t enough , ha d no t ye t been conceived) . There wer e als o imaginativ e reasons , now , wh y a deepene d attractio n t o William Henry , buildin g o n a ne w impatienc e wit h Frieda , shoul d hav e reinforced tha t ol d longin g fo r mal e friendship . W e ten d t o forge t ho w muc h th e daily lif e o f a writer ma y b e coloure d b y th e imaginativ e influenc e o f what h e ha s been readin g an d writing . Hi s readin g o f Crevecoeu r ma y wel l hav e lai n behin d the ide a tha t a t wors t h e coul d b e a farmer, an d hi s gardenin g fo r self-sufficienc y 376
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- an d muc h o f the new American readin g was about friendship s betwee n male s in th e grea t outdoors . I f hi s imaginatio n ha d bee n capture d b y Dana , an d Cooper, an d Melville , an d revive d interes t i n Whitman , th e activ e friendshi p with th e Cornishma n ma y well hav e ha d echoes fo r hi m of Leatherstocking an d Chingachgook, Ishmae l an d Queequeg , Dan a an d Aikane , th e camaraderi e o f Whitman. He certainl y di d spen d mor e an d mor e tim e wit h Willia m Henry , an d awa y from Frieda , a s spring move d int o summer . An d i t i s inevitabl e nowaday s that , because h e did so, there shoul d b e a question whethe r thei r relation s migh t hav e become homosexua l i n th e ful l sense . Fried a hersel f raise d thi s possibilit y (though perhap s no t intendin g s o much ) whe n sh e tol d Murr y i n 1953 , in answer t o his speculations an d probably hi s terminology: C I think th e homosexu ality i n him was a short phas e ou t of misery - I fough t hi m and won - an d tha t he wante d a deepe r thin g fro m you . I a m awar e s o muc h a s I a m ol d o f th e elements i n us , tha t w e consis t of . D o yo u kno w wha t I mean? ' Indee d i f Lawrence eve r showe d himsel f t o b e ' a homosexual ' i t was now . Yet Frieda' s reference t o 'the elements i n us' suggests sh e had come t o share Lawrence' s vie w of bisexuality, whic h require s rathe r mor e comple x language . There wil l never o f course b e any conclusive evidenc e - ye t speculation ough t surely t o be disciplined b y all the evidence w e do have o f what a n experience o f homosexual love-makin g woul d hav e mean t t o Lawrence. Fo r Esthe r wa s right: he wa s against al l repression, an d had himself bee n engage d wit h th e question o f his bisexuality , i n contex t afte r context , an d wit h th e greates t honest y an d self exposure sinc e hi s lette r t o Savag e i n 1913 . Moreover , h e ha d strive n t o understand th e instinctiv e outburs t o f shoc k an d homophobi a (an d som e self recognition) whic h hi s first encounter s wit h sodomite s i n 191 5 had aroused . B y 1916 h e ha d com e t o se e tha t th e natur e o f sexua l relationship s wa s mor e important t o him than th e gender o f the lovers . In the new novel, thoug h h e had discarded it s original 'Prologue ' wit h it s distinctio n betwee n tw o quite differen t kinds o f homosexual feeling , h e had clearl y envisage d a male relationshi p whic h was essentiall y o f th e same kin d a s tha t betwee n Birki n an d Ursul a an d ver y unlike th e destructiv e on e betwee n Geral d an d Gudrun . H e ha d com e t o re imagine, a t muc h greate r dept h tha n i n The White Peacock, a kind o f male lov e and tendernes s tha t naturall y (an d at its best, unashamedly ) expresse d itsel f and was strengthene d b y physica l contact , rivalry , eve n conflict , withou t necessaril y implying urge s t o sodomy o r mutual masturbation . All thi s (i n 1916 ) seems t o have ha d as yet little t o do with Willia m Henry ; or Murry, wit h who m Lawrence' s relationship , thoug h involvin g a kind o f love and need tha t kep t revivin g afte r ever y disappointment , wa s essentiall y intellectua l and spiritual . What i s the likelihood, then , tha t Lawrence' s increasingl y clos e attachmen t t o 377
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William Henr y i n 1917 , a t a tim e whe n h e was rathe r fe d u p wit h Frieda , an d attracted b y th e ide a a s wel l a s the physica l possibilit y o f a male relationshi p lik e those h e ha d bee n encounterin g i n America n writing , woul d hav e fulfille d itsel f in love-making ? The on e photograp h w e have o f William Henry , standin g i n a cornfield wit h a scythe, coul d hav e serve d a s illustratio n t o chapte r v o f The White Peacock, an d suggests tha t h e was indee d someon e wh o woul d hav e attracte d Lawrenc e physically (se e Illustratio n 44) . He was good-looking , dark-haired , square-jawed , with th e muscula r strengt h an d whit e ski n tha t Lawrenc e ha d admire d i n Chambers an d Neville . Th e descriptio n o f th e 'strang e Cornis h type ' i n th e 'Prologue', writte n no t muc h mor e tha n a bus y mont h afte r th e Lawrence s installed themselve s a t Highe r Tregerthen , nee d no t howeve r relat e particularl y to Willia m Henr y who m Lawrenc e ha d barel y met , thoug h h e ma y hav e contributed something . I t was mainly an d obviousl y conceive d a s opposite t o th e picturing o f Gerald , thoug h th e ver y dar k eye s an d hai r an d th e 'full , heavy , strongly-soft limbs ' woul d fit. Ther e migh t see m som e particula r physica l awareness i n th e 'rathe r furtive , rabbit-lik e wa y i n whic h th e strong , softly-buil t man ate', 76 but thi s i s connected thematicall y wit h th e them e o f dominatio n tha t will reac h a first crisi s i n 'Rabbit ' - an d i t i s ver y doubtfu l indee d tha t thi s was Lawrence's instantaneou s reactio n t o Willia m Henry . Indeed , th e on e direc t contribution o f th e Cornishma n t o th e book , th e pressin g o f hi s han d o n hi s chest i n inarticulat e longin g fo r somethin g h e fear s h e wil l neve r get , whic h Lawrence gav e t o Gerald , square s wit h muc h othe r evidenc e t o sugges t a n almost opposit e basi s fo r th e beginning o f the friendship . I t was William Henry' s longing t o expan d himself , t o fee l an d understan d thing s mor e full y an d widely , that first attracte d Lawrence . Their s was a David-and-Jonatha n relationshi p based o n unlikenes s - th e relativel y uneducate d an d physica l countryma n thre e years o r s o th e older , wit h th e write r an d intellectua l fro m th e bi g cit y - bu t William Henr y wa s a rather unusua l Cornis h farmer . H e ma y hav e ha d t o leav e school earl y (a s hi s brothe r Stanle y did , a t thirteen) ; bu t h e rea d a goo d dea l when h e could , though t deeply , an d ha d hi s ow n view s an d way s o f doin g things. H e als o ha d a rather mystica l streak ; an d woul d hav e bee n a s interestin g to teac h a s Jessie (o r Ala n Chambers) . I t ma y indee d hav e bee n a sense o f wher e that ha d le d tha t mad e Lawrenc e kee p th e relationshi p a t som e distanc e i n 1916 , when h e was preoccupied wit h Women in Love In sprin g an d summe r 191 7 came , however , th e doubl e jo y o f har d physica l labour besid e Willia m Henr y o n th e far m o r i n Lawrence' s gardens , an d th e trips wit h hi m t o market ; alon g wit h th e intens e pleasur e o f intimat e tal k i n which th e youn g farmer' s consciousnes s woul d ope n an d expand . I t mus t hav e felt lik e being bac k a t the Haggs , becoming mor e an d mor e like the workin g far m folk ever y day , an d (h e thought ) accepte d b y the m a s h e ha d bee n b y th e 378
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Chambers family . I n on e realm , Willia m Henr y wa s the exper t an d th e masterfu l one, thoug h Lawrenc e probabl y als o imagine d himsel f mor e knowledgeabl e an d helpful tha n h e reall y was . I n th e other , th e relationshi p was reversed , thoug h the 'Nightmare ' chapte r o f Kangaroo neve r confuse s lac k o f educatio n wit h yokeldom. Lawrenc e als o gav e youn g Stanley , the n sixteen , Frenc h lesson s i n the farmhous e kitchen . Indee d th e chapte r convincingl y suggest s ho w Lawrenc e (insofar a s Somer s voice s hi s author' s memories ) love d al l th e Hocking s fo r 'th e sensitiveness o f thei r intelligenc e . . . the y ha d a n endles s curiosit y abou t th e world, an d a n endles s interes t i n wha t wa s righf. 'He ' love d i t whe n Mabe l an d Mary brough t basket s o f foo d int o th e field; bu t mos t o f all 'he ' love d workin g i n the fields al l day, with the savage moors all round, and the hill with its pre-christian granit e rocks rising like a grea t dar k pyrami d o n th e left , th e se a i n fron t .. . o r resting , talkin g i n th e interval s with [William Henry], who loved a half-philosophical, mystica l talking about the sun, and the moon, the mysterious powers of the moon at night, and the mysterious change in man with the change of seasons, and the mysterious effects o f sex on a man. There i s evidenc e tha t on e o f th e thing s the y discussed , unde r th e las t heading , was Lawrence's theor y o f bisexuality, an d probabl y eve n hi s feelings o f attractio n to men. 77 Would i t hav e gon e an y further ? I t seems , again , unlikel y - despit e th e obvious desir e o f som e biographer s t o produc e a dramati c exposur e - an d despite Lawrenc e callin g th e youn g farme r Joh n Thoma s i n 'Th e Nightmare' . Though Esther' s 'adored ' sound s excessive , Willia m Henr y was obviousl y strongly draw n t o an d fascinate d b y Lawrenc e - bu t ther e i s n o evidenc e whatever o f homosexua l preferenc e i n him . (H e wa s courtin g a t th e tim e an d married soo n afterwards. ) An d thoug h Lawrenc e ma y hav e bee n feelin g coo l towards Fried a an d neglectfu l o f her , leavin g he r alon e i n th e cottag e da y afte r day an d eve n on e storm y night , whe n sh e cam e runnin g dow n t o th e far m kitchen i n fea r an d foun d hi m there , i t i s a lon g ste p fro m tha t t o homosexua l actions. I f i t i s rathe r doubtfu l tha t h e ha d se x wit h Esther , h e i s n o mor e likel y to hav e don e s o wit h Willia m Henry , thoug h h e probabl y di d fee l sexuall y attracted t o the m both . Moreover , h e woul d hav e worrie d abou t th e homosexua l temptation o n ground s othe r tha n fidelity (thoug h h e believe d i n that) . Thoug h Women in Love ha d imagine d tha t relationshi p betwee n me n coul d b e o f th e same essenc e a s tha t betwee n Birki n an d Ursula , an d henc e creativ e an d savin g too, ther e i s n o reaso n t o suppos e tha t Lawrenc e fel t differen t no w abou t sodomy o r mutua l masturbation . Her e 'Th e Realit y o f Peace ' i s doubl y helpful : for i t bot h suggest s tha t h e ha d mad e himsel f confron t th e questio n o f whethe r he wante d se x wit h Willia m Henry , whic h woul d indee d hav e bee n fo r hi m a n adder i n th e marsh ; bu t als o suggest s hi s answer : tha t onc e tha t dar k ana l foun t 379
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of corruption ha d bee n openl y confronted , th e though t coul d li e down peacefull y in th e mind' s sunshine , it s tabo o neutralised , bu t als o n o longe r powerfu l through th e fascinatio n o f th e forbidden . Fo r th e convers e woul d hav e mean t going agains t everythin g h e ha d bee n feeling , an d henc e thinkin g an d writing , for th e las t fou r years . Even so , he migh t hav e don e it , had hi s desir e been stron g enough - fo r hi s whole philosoph y o f life was based o n flux, an d o n bein g tru e t o one's changefu l sel f n o matte r wha t i t cost . Bu t i f h e had s o changed , afte r al l that h e ha d though t an d said , h e coul d no t hav e gon e o n writin g an d sayin g th e same sor t o f things . Ther e woul d hav e ha d t o b e a majo r upheava l i n hi s wor k and though t - an d ther e i s not . Thos e wh o wis h t o imagin e hi m makin g furtiv e homosexual lov e i n Cornwal l mus t als o posit continuou s hypocris y thereafter . This i s confirme d b y a lette r t o Eunic e Tietjens , advisor y edito r o f Poetry (Chicago), tha t July. Perhap s stun g b y hi s criticism s o f he r poetry , sh e seem s t o have hi t bac k b y suggestin g tha t th e attitude s t o se x i n hi s wor k wer e extrem e and abnormal . Hi s answe r ha d th e sam e doubl e impor t a s his essay . H e bega n b y insisting ther e wa s 'al l th e differenc e i n th e worl d betwee n understanding th e extreme an d awfu l working s o f sex , o r eve n fulfillin g them , responsibly ; an d abnormal sex' ; an d wen t o n t o defin e 'abnormal ' no t i n term s o f categorie s o f desire, bu t rathe r i n a spli t betwee n desir e an d will . 'Abnorma l se x come s fro m the fulfillin g o f violen t o r extrem e desires , against the will? Th e abnormalit y lie s however no t i n th e desir e bu t th e will , 'th e fixed wil l i n ourselves , whic h assert s that thes e thing s should not be, tha t onl y a hol y lov e shoul d be' . Fo r al l desir e comes fro m 'th e unknow n whic h i s the Creator' ; an d i s therefore holy , n o matte r what i t i s - th e vie w o f Blake . Therefor e i t i s 'impious ' t o asser t 'wha t should be, in fac e o f what is\ Rather , 'I t i s our responsibilit y t o kno w ho w t o accept an d liv e through tha t whic h is. I t i s th e labourin g unde r th e burde n o f self-repudiatio n and sham e whic h make s abnormality. ' Wha t i s eve n worse , however , i s t o combine suc h condemnatio n wit h 'furtiv e fulfilment' : that i s no t merel y abnormal bu t split s th e sel f even t o 'madness ' (iii . 140-1) . If , then , h e fel t sexua l attraction t o th e Cornis h farme r - a s seem s quit e probabl e - h e woul d certainl y have fel t boun d t o admi t i t t o himsel f withou t sham e o r repression , an d woul d have examine d wha t i t was tha t h e wante d responsibl y - a word concerne d wit h the natur e o f the desir e and th e relationship , and no t wit h an y doctrine . Bu t i f he had desire d an d sough t homosexua l fulfilment , i t woul d no t hav e bee n furtivel y - an d i t would certainl y hav e had a marked effec t o n hi m an d hi s work . This i s a questio n o f characte r an d integrity , no t o f moral s o r judgemen t o f sexual preference . I t i s possibl e t o charg e th e Lawrenc e o f 191 7 (shoul d anyon e so wish ) wit h failin g t o imagin e ho w fulfille d homosexualit y migh t b e full y a s creative o f ric h ne w lif e a s fulfille d heterosexuality . An d i t i s possibl e t o accus e him, contrariwise , o f admittin g an d justifyin g homosexua l impulse s - an d heterosexually ana l one s - tha t (i n someone' s ow n view ) h e ough t t o hav e 380
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repressed altogethe r becaus e the y ar e disgusting . Wha t ough t t o b e impossibl e i s to charg e hi m wit h bein g ' a homosexual ' wh o woul d no t admi t hi s tru e nature , or on e wh o after furtiv e act s concealed himsel f i n a lifelong hypocrisy . It i s moreover quit e extraordinar y ho w littl e thos e wh o propos e a homosexua l affair fo r Lawrenc e i n Cornwal l hav e considere d th e elementar y questio n o f ho w William Henr y migh t hav e responded . Ther e i s no t th e slightes t evidenc e o f homosexual tendenc y i n him . H e was courtin g hi s futur e wif e a t th e time , an d married he r i n 1918 . Moreove r ou r onl y direc t evidence , albei t second-hand , confirms no t onl y tha t Lawrenc e di d indee d tal k t o hi m abou t hi s ow n sexua l nature, bu t als o tha t th e Cornishman , thoug h continuin g th e friendship , wa s no t at all likely t o permi t an y chang e i n it s nature. H e warne d hi s younge r brothe r t o be careful - thoug h ther e was no nee d fo r that . In fac t ou r cultur e i s seriousl y a t faul t i n havin g n o languag e fo r th e whol e spectrum o f possibilit y an d satisfactio n tha t lie s betwee n th e admissio n o f sexua l attractiveness betwee n men , an d th e fulfilmen t o f sexual desir e i n act s of sodom y and mutua l masturbation . Th e wor d 'homosexual ' - especiall y i f oppose d t o 'heterosexual' a s thoug h thes e wer e categoricall y exclusiv e - i s o f confusin g span, an d henc e intolerabl e crudity . I n man y o f th e world' s culture s mal e friendship i s expresse d physically , quit e naturally . Me n touc h eac h other , pu t their arm s aroun d eac h other , kis s eac h other , admir e an d lov e eac h other , without eithe r sham e o r necessar y implicatio n tha t the y wis h t o g o t o bed ; an d without an y sens e tha t thei r behaviou r i s incongruou s wit h thei r relation s wit h women. Ye t ou r cultur e apparentl y find s i t necessar y t o labe l someon e a s ' # homosexual' a s categorically opposed to ' 0 heterosexual' , an d t o fin d i n an y sexua l attraction betwee n me n th e evidenc e o f categori c 'homosexual ' preference . Lawrence himsel f seem s fa r wiser , mor e honest , an d mor e humane , thoug h h e was so much a child o f his Englishness a s to have been probabl y rathe r physicall y inhibited tha n otherwis e i n hi s relation s wit h othe r men . I t i s onl y afte r th e wrestling matc h tha t Birki n ca n tel l Geral d h e i s beautiful , o r tha t thei r hand s can clas p an d sta y clasped . On e rathe r hope s that , afte r som e bou t o f work i n th e fields, i t go t as close as that wit h Willia m Henry . VII Mor e Ne w Friendships , Ne w Horizon s It wa s no t onl y th e friendshi p a t th e Hagg s tha t bega n t o b e re-enacted ; fo r Philip Heseltin e ha d reappeare d a t th e Tinner' s Arm s i n lat e Marc h lookin g fo r somewhere t o liv e nearby , an d ha d settle d i n Apri l i n a woode n bungalo w o n a high ridg e abou t tw o mile s fro m Zennor , o n th e roa d t o Penzance . Suddenl y Murry wrote , too , explaining wh y h e ha d no t replie d t o th e invitatio n t o mee t i n London. (H e an d Katherin e ha d decide d t o liv e apart, thoug h the y stil l sa w eac h other daily , and Lawrence' s lette r ha d gon e t o an abandone d address. ) Lawrenc e 381
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was stil l suspiciou s i n bot h cases , afte r th e debacle s o f 1916 . H e doe s no t mention Heseltin e til l May , whe n h e tol d Murr y h e didn' t 'lik e hi m an y more , i t can't com e back , th e liking ' (iii . 122 ) - bu t graduall y i t did , sinc e Heseltin e showed himsel f a s impulsive , susceptible , changeabl e an d enthusiasti c a s ever . By contrast , th e renewe d contac t wit h Murr y was les s successful . No w tha t h e was workin g fo r th e Wa r Office , an d ver y muc h par t o f Garsington , Murr y ha d grown awa y to o far , an d Lawrenc e wa s rightl y suspiciou s o f hi s lovin g language . He di d wan t t o se e hi m again , an d wrot e a t th e en d o f Ma y t o find ou t whethe r the Murry s woul d b e comin g dow n t o Mylor tha t summer , bu t You shouldn't sa y you love me. You disliked m e intensely whe n yo u wer e here, and also at Mylor . - Bu t wh y shoul d w e hate o r love ? W e ar e tw o separat e beings , representin g what w e represen t separately . Ye t eve n i f w e ar e opposites , eve n i f a t th e roo t w e ar e hostile - I don' t sa y w e ar e - ther e i s n o reaso n wh y w e shouldn' t mee t somewhere . (iii. 127 ) In Augus t h e wrot e a lon g lette r t o Katherin e 'quit e i n th e ol d way' , sh e tol d Ottoline, 'al l abou t th e leave s o f th e melo n plan t "speckle d lik e a newt " an d al l about "th e socia l eg g whic h mus t collaps e int o nothingness , int o non-being"' (iii. 149) . Bu t n o meetin g too k place , an d th e correspondenc e fizzled ou t onc e more. Through Heseltine , however , Lawrenc e mad e tw o ne w acquaintances . Philip' s enthusiasm fo r Cornwall , th e spectacula r settin g o f hi s ne w hom e an d it s cheapness, soo n brough t dow n th e youn g musicia n wit h who m h e ha d share d his studi o flat i n 191 6 after th e brea k wit h Lawrence . A hurried visi t i n lat e Ma y 1917 wa s enoug h t o mak e Ceci l Gra y 'quit e ecstatic ' abou t Cornwal l whic h h e called 'th e lan d o f hi s dreams' ; an d h e soo n rente d (fo r £1 0 a year ) a big lonel y house o n th e coas t nea r Gurnard' s Head , thoug h h e di d no t mov e int o i t til l th e end o f June.7 9 Lawrence , feelin g friendl y toward s Heseltin e again , me t Gra y o n his brie f visi t an d warme d t o hi m too . Heseltin e als o introduce d Lawrenc e t o Meredith Starr , wh o ha d com e wit h hi s ne w brid e Lad y Mary , daughte r o f th e Earl o f Stamford , t o liv e i n a cottage a t Trevea l nea r S t Ives . Star r wa s a n od d fish, who m Lawrenc e di d no t lik e muc h an d though t rathe r a joke , bu t hi s interest i n th e occul t was t o prov e interestin g - an d indee d thes e thre e youn g men ha d rathe r mor e t o offe r Lawrenc e b y wa y o f fres h idea s an d enthusiasm s than th e Murry s ha d don e i n 1916 . The majo r concer n i n June , however , wa s th e arriva l o f fres h call-u p paper s summoning Lawrenc e t o Bodmi n o n th e 23rd . H e was quit e confiden t a t first. He immediatel y aske d th e S t Ive s docto r wh o ha d attende d Frieda , D r Joh n Rice, fo r a certificate o f unfitnes s whic h h e forwarde d t o th e authorities , onl y t o be tol d tha t the y coul d no t accep t i t (iii . 130-2) . H e the n decide d t o g o t o London an d se e a specialist - an d hi s ton e darkened : 'I t i s a sickening wearyin g 382
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business'; 'somehow , I can V go to Bodmi n again , after tha t las t year' s experience ' (iii. 132) . Eve n th e weathe r seeme d newl y threatening ; i t bega n t o rai n 'i n wil d torrents', th e ai r wa s charge d wit h 'destructiv e electricity' , an d h e fel t 'a s i f ba d things wer e o n th e wing ' s o tha t th e doorpost s ough t t o b e smeare d wit h hysso p and blood , lik e th e Israelite s i n Egyp t hopin g i t woul d al l pas s ove r (iii . 133) . H e went u p t o Londo n fo r a lon g weeken d i n th e middl e o f June , stayin g wit h Dollie Radford . H e consulte d Davi d Eder , wh o probabl y referre d hi m t o a ches t specialist sinc e a certificate fro m himsel f woul d coun t n o more tha n on e fro m D r Rice. An d thoug h Lawrenc e di d no t thin k h e 'go t muc h goo d ou t o f the doctors ' (confirming tha t h e sa w mor e tha n one ) nevertheles s somethin g i n th e whol e visit mad e hi m happier , freer , an d no w s o confiden t tha t th e examinatio n a t Bodmin 'wil l com e ou t al l right ' a s t o b e hardl y trouble d an y mor e (iii . 134) . This i s the secon d carefu l examinatio n (an d possibl y th e mos t exper t o f all) sinc e the sever e illnes s o f earl y 1916 , an d th e thir d sinc e th e collaps e o f 191 1 durin g which a sputu m tes t prove d negative . I t woul d not hav e mad e hi m happie r an d freer, now , t o hav e bee n tol d tha t h e ha d consumption , eve n thoug h thi s woul d have pu t a call-u p ou t o f th e question . Moreove r h e woul d surel y hav e bee n advised t o d o somethin g abou t i t (o f whic h ther e i s n o sign) , an d th e doctor s would onc e agai n hav e ha d t o b e willin g t o avoi d thei r lega l dut y t o notif y th e authorities. Wha t would hav e mad e hi m happie r an d freer , o n th e othe r hand , would b e t o hav e been tol d tha t hi s bronchial conditio n wa s bad enoug h t o mak e rejection a t Bodmi n a nea r certainty ; bu t no t ba d enoug h t o b e seriousl y worrying. An d i f h e ha d bee n secretl y tor n tw o way s - b y fea r o f th e ver y diagnosis tha t woul d ensur e rejectio n onc e an d fo r al l - th e sens e o f 'ne w being ' (iii. 134 ) woul d hav e bee n al l th e stronge r an d mor e specific . Hi s har d wor k i n his gardens , an d perhap s alread y wit h Willia m Henr y o n th e farm , ma y hav e made hi m actuall y rathe r fitter tha n h e ha d bee n fo r years , thoug h th e underlying tendenc y t o illnes s wa s always there . Once mor e a not e t o Murry , givin g advanc e notic e o f hi s visit , faile d t o produce a meeting (iii . 132) . Murr y spen t tha t weeken d a t Garsington . Cynthi a Asquith wa s als o awa y o n a visit t o th e famil y hom e a t Stanway . I n an y cas e th e old contact s seeme d t o be dryin g up . Fro m th e whol e of June onl y eigh t missive s have survived . Tw o wer e th e note s t o Jac k an d Cynthia . Tw o note s wen t t o Pinker an d Eddi e Marsh , th e first hintin g tha t h e migh t nee d anothe r advanc e because mone y wa s gettin g short , th e secon d i n gratitud e fo r ye t anothe r £ 7 / 1 5 from Georgian Poetry ou t o f th e blu e (iii . 135) . Tw o wer e letter s abou t second hand furnitur e t o th e ne w frien d Gra y (iii . 129-30 , 133-4) , anothe r a n affectionate bread-and-butte r lette r t o Dolli e (iii . 134) . Th e onl y lette r fo r it s own sak e was to Catherin e Carswell , th e first fo r a month (iii . 130-2) . He cam e bac k t o a we t an d gree n Cornwal l o n 1 9 June, muc h happie r tha n when h e ha d left . Furthermor e th e examinatio n wen t well , and als o more quickl y 383
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than o n th e previou s occasio n whe n h e ha d ha d t o sta y overnigh t - thoug h h e still resente d wha t h e tol d Mars h ha d bee n a 'loathsom e performance ' (iii . 136) . He lef t a t seve n i n th e mornin g t o catc h a train , wa s quickl y examined , presumably presentin g hi s Londo n certificate , an d wa s grade d C3 : unfi t fo r military servic e bu t liabl e t o call-u p fo r ligh t non-militar y service , sinc e ther e were n o rejection s now . H e seem s t o hav e go t bac k t o a n anxiou s Fried a th e same evening . Kangaroo recall s on e o f th e far m daughter s runnin g u p t o th e cottage t o hea r wha t ha d happened , an d sayin g ho w gla d sh e was . Ther e was little risk o f a call to a light clerkin g jo b fo r th e Zenno r military . As the summe r ripene d toward s hay-harvest , s o did hi s other ne w friendships , as well as the on e wit h Willia m Henry . Heseltine ha d com e bac k t o Cornwal l t o escap e th e mes s h e ha d mad e o f hi s life. Pum a ha d ha d he r bab y o n 1 3 July 1916 , an d thoug h h e ha d finall y agree d to marry he r (o n 2 2 December) h e ha d refuse d t o cohabit , an d sen t he r an d thei r son int o th e countr y a s Hallida y ha d wante d t o d o i n Lawrence' s novel . Sh e seems t o hav e gon e t o liv e wit h o r nea r hi s mothe r i n Wales , wh o too k responsibility fo r th e child . Phili p remaine d i n emotiona l turmoi l an d (a s he tol d his ol d girlfrien d Viv a Smith ) 'o n th e verg e o f a complet e collapse' , bu t h e ha d resisted 'blackmail' , fo r 'really , on e shouldn' t hav e dealing s wit h vampires' . T o Phyl Crocke r (whos e famil y live d nearb y i n Cornwall ) h e bare d hi s feeling s about hi s marriag e eve n mor e explicitly : 'Th e purel y anima l relatio n . . . i s no t only disappointin g an d unsatisfactor y i n itself , bu t leave s behin d i t a lon g procession o f phantoms , whic h on e mus t destro y o r b e destroye d by' , whethe r 'licensed' b y marriag e o r not . Marriag e indee d i s a merel y externa l socia l institution wit h ''nothing whatever t o d o wit h huma n relationship s o f an y kind' ; and hi s ow n a 'suprem e blasphemy' . H e ha d bee n 'insan e enoug h . . . t o mak e concession afte r concession ' until , badgered by our mutual friend (wit h whom I had never had and could never have any but a purel y bestia l relation ) t o mak e he r a fina l presen t o f fort y shilling s wort h o f respectability in a 'certificate o f marriage', I made no objection, seeing that the ceremonial meant no more to me than to make a mock of what was already a mockery. Voila tout! He ha d com e t o Cornwal l t o ge t righ t awa y an d recover , b y himself . Though Lawrenc e ha d bee n non e to o please d b y hi s reappearanc e a t first , b y June h e fel t muc h mor e 'kindly ' (iii . 134 ) - helpe d perhap s b y no t to o clos e a proximity. Heseltin e ha d foun d a situatio n o n th e highes t poin t o f th e moors , facing tw o seas , s o tha t h e coul d watc h th e su n ris e ove r on e an d se t ove r th e other withou t leavin g th e house . Th e gors e was ablaze , on e coul d se e foxes , an d seals. This wa s a landscape healin g enoug h i n itself ; but ver y soo n Lawrence-lik e thoughts bega n als o t o appea r i n hi s letters , abou t th e deat h o f th e sel f an d it s resurrection, abou t facing wha t on e is , an d ha s done , withou t sham e an d self 384
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repudiation. H e wrot e tw o poems , one abou t th e 'lost ' Celti c golde n lan d of'Hy BrasiF i n th e Wester n se a beyon d th e sunset ; th e othe r abou t ceasin g t o crucif y himself wit h sham e a t havin g slai n hi s 'purple ' love . Befor e ver y lon g hi s whol e attitude t o Pum a an d th e pas t underwen t a complet e revolution , i n whic h Lawrence's influenc e playe d a part . O n 1 7 June , fro m th e Londo n studi o Esther havin g gon e t o Pari s - h e wrot e t o Rober t Nichol s abou t a remarkabl e discovery. Fo r year s h e ha d looke d t o lov e 't o giv e me th e ke y of my ow n being , of reality' , bu t ha d actuall y bee n pursuin g ' a phanto m o f m y ow n too-self sufficient mind' . A t last , however , h e ha s 'foun d a direction an d a peace' ; 'Lov e has been wit h m e al l the whil e an d i t i s I, and no t Lov e tha t ha s bee n blind' . Hi s idea o f lov e ha d bee n illusion ; realit y was alway s i n th e on e plac e h e was certai n it could no t be : I have found i n Puma and my babe a greater and reale r love than I have ever been able to imagine. In seein g the m a s they essentiall y ar e - a s I can d o now - instea d o f regardin g them through th e bleared spectacle s of my own foulness, I can see at last, and clearly, the way, an d th e onl y way , t o th e fulfilmen t o f m y ow n being . Al l tha t I hav e hate d an d cursed i n Puma has been mysel f - m y foul ol d sel f - an d tha t i s dead, now, once and fo r all. Within a fe w line s h e i s talkin g abou t Lawrence; 83 an d i t seem s clea r tha t Lawrence ha d bee n tryin g t o hea l th e spli t i n Heseltin e an d hi s vie w o f se x tha t he ha d diagnose d i n 1916 , and t o make hi m ac t responsibl y accordin g t o 'wha t is ' rather tha n som e ide a o f 'wha t shoul d be' . Al l Heseltine' s admiratio n o f th e writer an d thinke r soo n returned . So i t wa s tha t whe n Philip' s enthusias m abou t Cornwal l brough t Ceci l Gra y down t o visit , h e was immediatel y introduce d t o Lawrence . Th e 'big , lonel y house o n th e wildes t par t o f th e coast ' whic h Gra y proceede d t o tak e o n a five year leas e was Bosigran Castl e - i n fac t th e nam e o f the rock y headlan d o n whic h it stood , wit h disuse d tin-working s a t it s side . I t ha d seve n room s an d a grea t view out t o th e Scill y Island s i n front , bu t was only £1 0 a year, whic h Gra y wit h his privat e incom e coul d wel l afford . Lawrenc e thre w himsel f enthusiasticall y into gettin g furnitur e an d liaisin g wit h workme n abou t colou r schemes , jus t a s for th e Murry s th e previou s year ; an d wen t ove r himsel f t o scru b an d clea n an d get th e hous e read y (e.g . iii . 128 , 130) . Gra y move d dow n i n th e latte r hal f o f June. He wa s a deceptivel y stolid-lookin g youn g man , fair-haired , pale , plumpish , myopically bespectacle d - thoug h wit h expressiv e gre y eye s behin d th e lenses . He cultivate d a world-wear y ai r wit h 21-year-ol d cynicism ; an d dran k a goo d deal t o live n himsel f u p (h e said) , s o wa s ofte n 'th e bette r fo r drink' , whic h h e held well . H e ha d a pawk y wit , an d mad e a n amusing , livel y an d sometime s riotous companio n whe n hi s enthusias m was awakened . Ye t h e hel d bac k fro m 385
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revealing o r committin g himsel f a t deepe r levels ; an d beneat h hi s douc e Scot s containment an d cannines s ther e wa s mor e tha n me t th e eye . He ha d show n a s a child an d a t schoo l tha t whe n threatene d o r challenge d h e coul d respon d wit h astonishing violence . In hi s autobiography , Gra y state s tha t h e an d th e Lawrence s 'use d t o mee t virtually ever y day , eithe r a t hi s plac e o r a t mine , ove r a period o f many months . We were , i n fact , almos t on e household : whe n I was no t visitin g th e Lawrences , they wer e visitin g me. ' I n thi s (an d othe r things ) h e i s unreliable. Bosigra n wa s over fou r mile s fro m Highe r Tregerthen ; accessible , bu t hardl y fo r poppin g i n and out . Invite d t o visi t i n th e secon d wee k o f July , Lawrenc e replie d tha t h e was bus y wit h th e Hockings ' hay-harvest , bu t suggeste d tha t Gra y an d Croustchoff migh t com e ove r t o the m instea d (iii . 138) . Gra y als o pu t the m of f at leas t onc e (iii . 151) . Th e Lawrence s probabl y wen t t o Bosigra n fo r th e firs t time o n 1 5 July. Fo r almos t th e whol e o f August Fried a ha d a n attac k o f neuriti s in he r le g whic h kep t he r i n bed , onl y abl e t o com e downstair s toward s th e en d of th e month ; an d Lawrenc e wa s bus y wit h a ne w boo k o f philosophy . Onl y a t the en d o f th e mont h doe s h e tal k o f anothe r visi t t o Bosigran , offerin g t o tak e blankets t o spen d th e nigh t (iii . 151 ) - i n whic h cas e the y mus t hav e gon e b y cart, a s Kangaroo indee d suggests. 85 A t th e beginnin g o f Septembe r Lawrenc e was helpin g wit h cor n harvest , an d i n mid-mont h Fried a wen t t o Londo n fo r her six-monthl y visi t t o se e th e children . I n lat e Septembe r the y spen t a weekend a t Gray' s - a visi t tha t wa s t o hav e seriou s consequences . A ripenin g friendship ther e was , bu t les s close , an d wit h fewe r visiting s tha n Gra y wishe d later t o mak e out . Lawrenc e say s i n lat e September : 'H e come s occasionally , occasionally w e go to him. I like him' (iii . 163) . These ne w (o r renewed ) friendship s di d howeve r hav e somethin g t o offe r intellectually an d imaginatively . Heseltin e wa s alway s intereste d i n non-Anglo Saxon cultures , an d wil l hav e stirre d agai n Lawrence' s ow n sens e o f th e Celtic , and o f Cornis h mythology . Gray' s passio n fo r Hebridea n musi c als o struc k a n instant chord . Catherin e Car s well tell s sarcasticall y ho w the y 'howle d i n wha t [was] ingenuousl y suppose d t o b e th e Gaelic , a t th e sam e tim e endeavourin g t o imitate th e nois e mad e b y a seal ' - bu t thi s musi c o f th e uttermos t fring e o f Europe, int o whic h th e se a an d it s wildlif e seeme d s o t o ente r tha t th e sound s were mor e tha n human , woul d g o o n echoin g i n Lawrence' s imaginatio n a s lat e as Mornings in Mexico. S6 Mos t o f all , however , i t wa s probabl y Heseltine' s interest i n th e occult , combinin g wit h an d increase d b y th e presenc e o f a devoted occultis t i n th e neighbourhood , tha t adde d a ne w dimensio n t o Law rence's imagination . This wa s Star r - thoug h Lawrenc e seem s t o hav e bee n intereste d i n hi s bookshelf rathe r tha n th e ma n himsel f o r hi s magica l an d transcendenta l practices. Indee d th e Starr s seeme d a joke, if at times a n expensiv e one : 386
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They fast , o r eat nettles: they descend nake d int o old mine-shafts, an d ther e meditate fo r hours an d hours , upo n thei r ow n transcenden t infinitude : the y descen d o n u s lik e a swarm of locusts, and devour all the food o n shelf or board: they even gave a concert, and made most dreadful fool s of themselves, in St Ives: violent correspondence i n the St. Ives Times, (iii. 158 ) In th e cours e o f th e exchange s ove r wha t on e corresponden t calle d th e 'buffoonery' o f his 'concer t play ' East and West, Starr name d Aleiste r Crowle y a s the onl y rea l moder n genius , 'b y fa r th e greates t livin g artis t i n England' ; an d cited 'th e celebrate d Author ' D . H . Lawrence , alon g wit h Epstei n an d Augustu s John, a s holdin g tha t 'ninety-nin e percen t o f Britis h ar t i s wors e tha n buffoonery'. 87 Nichol s late r blame d Heseltine' s interes t i n 'blac k magic ' o n Starr, an d (waspis h a s ever ) recalle d bein g introduce d t o 'som e sor t o f imposto r of that nam e . . . a fellow wit h lon g hair, bulbou s ring s etc , & an inferna l ga s bag'. Indeed Heseltine , i n anothe r swin g o f feeling , late r attribute d th e 'idiotic ' emotionalism o f hi s lette r abou t hi s change d feeling s fo r Pum a 't o th e reactio n that inevitabl y overtake s thos e wh o tampe r prematurel y wit h th e scienc e vulgarl y known a s Black Magic' . Nevertheles s hi s letter s fro m Dublin , wher e h e fled tha t September, fearin g conscription , sho w th e strengt h o f hi s belie f i n a worl d permeated an d influence d b y spiritua l beings . H e recommende d thre e book s a s keys t o th e los t Gnosis , bu t urge d secrecy , fo r the y ar e dangerou s an d mus t no t fall int o unfi t hands . Thoug h h e ha d earlie r show n a n interes t i n psychica l research, i t was probabl y i n Cornwal l tha t h e immerse d himsel f i n S . T . Klein' s Science and the Infinite, J . M . Pryse' s The Apocalypse Unsealed and th e History of Magic b y Elipha s Lev i - t o whic h h e late r adde d th e work s o f 'Herme s Trismegistus'. Lawrence's attitud e differe d bot h fro m Heseltine' s enthusias m an d Nichols' s contemptuous dismissal . Star r himsel f migh t b e a joke , bu t hi s knowledg e an d his book s opene d u p idea s an d image s tha t Lawrenc e coul d use . (A s always , i t i s not clea r ho w muc h h e actuall y read , ho w muc h skilfull y skimme d an d ho w much gathere d fro m tal k - bu t wha t i s certai n i s that , lik e Yeats , h e too k wha t was congenia l an d usefu l t o hi m an d simpl y ignore d wha t was not. ) Ther e ha d been fain t sign s earlie r tha t migh t sugges t som e awarenes s o f Madam e Blavats ky's theosoph y - bu t n o mor e tha n coul d hav e com e entirel y second-hand . Now howeve r som e o f Madam e Blavatsky' s idea s an d images , an d mor e especially Pryse' s expositio n o f th e chakras (th e Hind u nervou s syste m whic h could b e activate d an d controlle d b y th e initiate) , becom e unmistakabl y visibl e and imaginativel y influentia l - an d ther e i s evidenc e o f hi s ne w knowledg e an d his attitud e i n hi s letters . I n July, askin g whethe r Wald o Fran k (edito r o f Seven Arts) was a theosophist, h e declare d tha t h e himsel f wa s not , thoug h h e like d th e idea o f ' a bod y o f esoteri c doctrine , defende d fro m th e herd' , an d though t th e 387
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esoteric doctrine s 'marvellousl y illuminating , historically' . H e hate d 'th e esoteri c forms' however , an d thoug h h e wa s intereste d i n magic , 'i t i s all par t o f the past , and par t o f a pas t sel f i n us : an d i t i s n o goo d goin g back ' (iii . 143) . B y lat e August h e ha d discovere d tha t Davi d Ede r ha d a simila r interest , despit e hi s commitment t o Freud . Have yo u rea d Blavatsky' s Secret Doctrine} I n man y way s a bore, and no t quit e real . Yet one ca n glea n a marvellou s lo t fro m it , enlarg e th e understandin g immensely . D o yo u know the physical - physiologica l - interpretation s o f the esoteric doctrine? - th e chakras and dualis m i n experience ? Th e devil s won't tel l one anything, fully . Perhap s the y don' t understand themselve s - th e occultist s - wha t the y ar e talkin g about , o r wha t thei r esotericism really means. But, probably, in the physiological interpretation, the y do - an d won't tell . Ye t on e ca n gathe r enough . Di d yo u ge t Pryce' s [sic ] Apocalypse Unsealed} (m. i
5o)
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In som e way s th e 'secre t doctrine ' was , fo r Lawrence , merel y a new focusin g o f perceptions alread y implici t i n hi s work . Fo r exampl e h e particularl y wante d t o talk t o Ede r abou t 'th e luna r myth ' i n Blavatsky , 'th e luna r trinit y - fathe r mother - son , wit h th e so n a s consort o f th e mother , th e magna Mater' ; bu t thi s had bee n a concer n o f hi s sinc e Sons and Lovers, an d h e wante d t o discus s i t because h e kne w tha t Freud' s 'whol e psycho-analysi s rest s on thi s myth' an d i t is 'the mill-ston e o f mill-stone s roun d al l ou r necks' . Ye t her e was a ne w worl d o f images an d conception s tha t h e coul d us e (albei t wit h a n esotericis m tha t ca n baffle readers ) t o clarify , intensif y an d exten d som e element s o f bot h hi s fictio n and hi s thought . He ha d bee n educate d i n th e basic s o f science , an d was knowledgeabl e abou t botany. H e ha d use d imager y o f evolutio n freel y i n 'Hardy ' an d i n The Rainbow, whil e insistin g tha t al l it s stage s wer e stil l presen t i n moder n man . But i n lat e July h e flatly denie d tha t ther e i s an y evolutio n i n ma n o r natur e only unfoldin g o f wha t was alway s there ; o r 'rottin g back , throug h al l th e coloured phase s o f retrogressio n an d corruption , bac k t o nought ' (iii . 139) . I n a sense thi s say s n o mor e tha n 'Th e Crown ' ha d done ; bu t it s sudde n vehemenc e - 'th e trut h o f evolutio n i s not true ' - probabl y owe s somethin g t o th e continual attac k o n Wester n materia l scienc e i n Blavatsk y an d al l theosophists , and thei r assertion , instead , o f a n ancien t an d universal wisdo m no w almos t los t to sigh t bu t traceabl e bac k behin d th e Sanskri t scriptures . Fa r fro m evolvin g from primitiv e beginnings , moder n humanit y ha s degenerate d fro m th e grea t past whic h buil t civilisation s i n Egypt , Palenqu e (Mexico ) an d Mesopotami a and ma y wel l hav e t o vanis h an d gro w again , lik e th e race s o f th e aeon s tha t have bee n an d ar e ye t t o be . W e ca n probabl y dat e fro m no w a ne w hostilit y i n Lawrence t o scienc e i n al l it s moder n form s - whic h had , afte r all , produce d the carnag e o f th e wa r - an d a mor e confiden t assertio n o f ancien t kind s an d 388
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ways o f knowing , an d symbolising , thoug h thi s ha d alread y begu n wit h hi s interest i n th e pre-Socratic , th e Celti c an d th e so-calle d primitive . I t woul d b e founded, however , o n n o secre t doctrine, bu t firml y o n huma n experience , a s the sourc e an d tes t o f al l symbolism s an d symboli c meanings . Whe n h e wrot e his essay s o n America n literature , i t woul d b e wit h a nod i n th e directio n o f th e occultist belie f i n a universa l languag e o f symbols , bu t als o wit h a n insistenc e that 'art-speech ' was greate r tha n an y esoteri c symbolism , becaus e it s symbol s were no t concept s bu t 'pur e experience , emotiona l an d passional , spiritua l an d perceptual, al l a t once' . S o when , i n revisin g th e ne w typescrip t o f Women in Love int o almos t th e nove l w e no w have , h e gav e i t a n esoteri c dimensio n usin g 'Starr's destructiv e electricity ' (iii . 133) , Pryse' s chakras, an d Blavatsky' s ether , he was openin g ou t (thoug h no t t o everyone' s satisfaction ) wha t wa s alread y there i n th e experienc e o f th e previou s version . Slowly , h e woul d develo p fro m these source s a ne w physical psychology , avowedl y a s a criticis m o f Freud ; bu t it woul d b e i n ver y muc h hi s ow n dialectica l form , base d o n hi s ow n experienc e - an d radicall y oppose d t o th e centra l theosophis t ide a o f spirituality , an d o f spiritual developmen t beyon d th e body . H e too k wha t h e wante d an d lef t th e rest. Blavatsky los t n o opportunit y t o undermin e th e Jewis h foundation s o f Christianity, an d th e Jewish ide a of God. (Sh e sa w Jewish religio n a s derivative and decaden t - fro m Egyp t an d a far older , subtle r an d mor e comple x universa l religion.) Afte r a n argumen t wit h Ko t i n London , Lawrenc e (i n a ba d mood ) wrote tha t th e reaso n Jew s hav e bee n hate d wa s tha t the y hav e alway s take n religion t o ministe r t o thei r ow n secre t arrogance , whil e cringin g befor e men . 'With them , th e consciou s eg o i s th e absolute , an d Go d i s a nam e the y flatter themselves with ' (iii . 137) . H e calle d instea d fo r 'pur e reverenc e t o th e Hol y Spirit', bu t fel t tha t h e coul d preac h thi s t o Ko t becaus e h e wa s on e o f thos e 'near th e mark' . H e suddenl y aske d Wald o Fran k i f h e wa s a Jew. 'Th e bes t o f Jews is , tha t the y know trut h fro m untruth ' (iii . 144) ; but th e wors t i s tha t the y betray thei r knowledge , faw n t o th e power s tha t b e an d cring e t o Mammo n an d the materia l world . H e sai d h e wa s abou t t o renounc e hi s Jewis h friend s (o f whom h e no w ha d several : Kot , th e Lows , th e Eders) , thoug h o f cours e h e di d not. Whe n h e hear d tha t Ede r was thinkin g 'o f goin g t o Palestin e wit h th e Jewish contingent' , i.e . th e Palestin e Commissio n (iii . 150 ) - a decisio n tha t would shap e th e res t o f Eder's lif e an d mak e hi m a greatly respecte d figure i n th e Zionist movemen t - Lawrenc e opine d tha t Jewishnes s woul d b e a millston e t o him: 'Bes t ceas e t o b e a Jew, an d le t Jewry disappear ' (iii . 150) . I t i s tru e tha t i t was th e Jewis h Ide a t o whic h Lawrenc e ha d becom e hostile , rathe r tha n Jew s themselves wit h who m hi s friendshi p continued ; bu t Blak e o n generalisatio n does com e t o mind . Th e nex t sentenc e wa s th e on e askin g whethe r Ede r ha d read Blavatsky . 389
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VIII Lawrence' s Harves t (a) Philosophy There wa s howeve r a better harves t i n hi s work . I n April , havin g sen t of f 'Th e Reality o f Peace ' h e ha d though t h e migh t d o som e mor e shor t essay s i n philosophy, perhap s t o fill th e seve n ou t int o a book . H e ma y hav e writte n 'Love', whic h seem s t o tak e of f fro m th e final paragrap h of'Th e Orbit' : no t onl y the fait h i n th e fulfilmen t o f the ros e but als o the emphasi s o n th e dualit y o f love, on whic h ther e i s now a s much stress , perhap s glancin g a t his ow n situation. 93 I n early Ma y h e tol d Catherin e h e wa s onl y intereste d i n hi s garden s an d wa s no t writing a t all . H e ha d begu n typin g ou t 'Th e Realit y o f Peace ' i n orde r t o hav e another cop y and , typically , ha d no t bee n abl e t o resis t recastin g th e secon d (unpublished) essay , bu t 'suddenl y I fel t a s i f I was goin g dotty , straigh t ou t o f my mind , s o I lef t off . On e ca n onl y wai t an d le t th e crisi s com e an d go ' (iii. 125) . Th e necessit y o f waitin g fo r th e approac h o f th e new , sinc e ma n cannot creat e himself , i s the whol e them e o f 'Life', whic h als o has clea r echoe s o f 'The Realit y o f Peace ' s o i t ma y hav e bee n afte r writin g thi s tha t h e decide d t o take it s advice . (Th e sudde n menta l spas m show s th e strai n h e wa s stil l unde r as his abilit y t o stan d bac k an d admi t thi s i n a letter, togethe r wit h hi s instinctiv e knowledge o f wha t bes t t o d o abou t it , sho w hi s underlyin g strength. ) Hi s gardens the n too k al l hi s attention , s o muc h s o tha t h e seem s t o hav e forgotte n these tw o essay s an d t o hav e com e acros s the m wit h som e surpris e five month s later. Soon howeve r h e bega n writin g philosoph y again , ' a slo w job ' (iii . 131) , bu t by 2 7 Jul y h e ha d writte n ' a tin y boo k . . . calle d philosoph y becaus e I don' t know wha t els e t o cal l it . I t migh t b e calle d mysticis m o r metaphysic , thoug h unjustly' (iii . 143) . When th e wa r end s 'an d th e gate s ar e opened' , h e stil l want s to g o t o America . A t th e en d o f August h e tol d Pinke r tha t 'A t th e Gates ' woul d 'make abou t 14 0 pp.' (iii . 152 ) and was almost read y t o be sen t fo r publication . I t was base d o n th e 'mor e superficia l "Realit y o f Peace" . Bu t this i s pur e metaphysics, especiall y late r on : an d perfectl y soun d metaphysic , tha t wil l stan d all th e attack s o f technica l philosophers ' - thoug h h e migh t leav e ou t bit s tha t 'might b e ver y unpopular ' (iii . 155) . Later h e tol d Ko t tha t i t wa s th e fourt h an d final for m o f 'tha t philosoph y whic h yo u onc e painfull y an d laboriousl y type d out' (iii . 163) , tha t is , th e 'Hardy' , whos e centra l 'metaphysic ' ha d bee n recas t into 'Th e Crown' , an d agai n int o th e los t 'Goat s an d Compasses' . W e ma y guess , since 'A t th e Gates ' to o ha s bee n lost , tha t th e wor k ha d bee n 'slow ' becaus e what h e ha d bee n tryin g t o forg e wa s a concentratio n o f hi s thought , melte d down, hammere d fine, th e essentia l meta l unalloyed . Ou r onl y witnes s t o it s quality i s Heseltine writin g fro m Dublin , no w completel y re-enthuse d an d eage r 390
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once mor e t o ge t Lawrence published , i n Ireland . H e calle d th e littl e book i n on e letter t o Nichol s 'th e suprem e utteranc e o f al l moder n philosophy' , bu t feare d the partner s o f th e Dubli n firm Maunse l h e ha s give n i t t o wil l find i t 'unintelligible' an d 'shocking' . I n anothe r lette r h e calle d i t ' a stupendou s book ' - s o muc h s o tha t h e suspecte d Lawrence , lik e Yeats , ha d becom e th e mouth piece o f som e grea t spirit . I t seem s a pity tha t ami d suc h enthusias m h e gav e n o descriptive accoun t o f it at all. 95 (b) Wome n i n Lov e Lawrence's mai n concer n i n July , however , wa s t o revis e Pinker' s ne w type script, no w firmly title d Women in Love. O n 9 Jul y Lawrenc e tol d th e smal l publisher Ceci l Palme r (wh o ha d expresse d a n interest ) tha t h e woul d jus t 'loo k it through onc e more ' (iii . 137 ) and woul d sen d i t i n thi s week' ; bu t th e revision , as always, became s o extensive tha t b y th e en d o f the mont h h e wante d Huebsc h told tha t th e carbo n cop y was alread y ou t o f dat e (iii . 144) . The revise d versio n came bac k fro m Palme r b y 2 5 Augus t (iii . 151) , whe n Lawrenc e wa s occupie d with Look! an d th e America n essay s (se e below) ; bu t the n i n Novembe r h e tol d Pinker tha t h e wa s revisin g again . Ther e woul d b e on e las t loo k throug h i n September 191 9 - bu t th e transformatio n o f ' T h e Sisters ' II I o f lat e 191 6 int o the Women in Love w e hav e no w was probabl y complet e i n al l essential s b y th e end o f 1917 , so it seems appropriat e t o deal wit h i t as a whole at this point . In Jun e an d stil l mor e i n Novembe r 1917 , enoug h tim e ha d passe d fo r Lawrence t o b e abl e t o se e hi s wor k mor e clearl y - aide d b y Look!, th e lates t clarifications o f hi s metaphysic , an d hi s ne w reading . Mor e objectivel y now , h e sharpened th e dramati c interchange s an d mad e cogen t us e o f Ursul a (an d Gudrun an d Gerald ) t o pi n dow n Birkin' s defects . Althoug h nearl y al l th e leap s of explorator y imaginatio n openin g u p th e subconsciou s wer e alread y there , h e could se e bette r no w wha t the y implie d an d wher e the y led , an d pul l the m together int o a cleare r analysi s o f th e path s t o ne w lif e o r destruction , th e apocalyptic partin g o f th e 'ways ' o f love . Th e effec t o f comparin g th e tw o versions i s a clickin g int o ful l focu s - on e ha d ha d th e experience , bu t ha d no t fully graspe d th e meanin g - an d als o a continua l enrichmen t an d enlivening . I t was a re-seeing o f the whol e imagine d world , no t merel y a verbal improvement . For th e biographer , th e critiqu e o f Birkin throug h Ursul a i s significant. Fro m the star t o f thei r love-stor y i n wha t woul d becom e 'A n Island ' Ursul a i s mad e much mor e critica l a s sh e respond s t o Birkin' s misanthropi c longin g fo r a clea n world emptie d o f peopl e - thoug h tha t i s als o visuall y animate d i n 'jus t uninterrupted grass , an d a har e sittin g up' . I n 'Th e Sisters ' II I Ursul a wa s 'frightened' bu t sh e als o 'exulted ' an d fel t 'liberate d . . . Yes , sh e hate d humanity'. I n 191 7 sh e i s stil l attracte d an d stil l exults , bu t no w sh e hesitate s a s 39i
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well, fo r 'sh e was dissatisfie d wit h hirrC. Sh e sees , an d distrusts , ho w 'al l th e while, i n spit e o f himself , h e woul d hav e t o b e tryin g t o sav e th e worl d . . . sh e hated th e Salvato r Mund i touch' . Wit h ' a certai n shar p contemp t an d hat e o f him' despit e he r attraction , hi s willingnes s t o pou r himsel f ou t t o anybod y seem s 'a ver y insidiou s for m o f prostitution' . A s th e argumen t goe s o n abou t lov e th e revision pin s dow n ' a certain priggis h Sunday-schoo l stiffnes s ove r him , priggis h and detestable . An d yet , a t the sam e time , the mouldin g o f him was so quick an d attractive . . . somethin g s o alive , somewhere , i n spit e o f th e loo k o f sickness. ' This 'dualit y i n feeling ' wil l b e carrie d throug h consistentl y now , i n th e presentation o f his view s as well as his character . Birkin als o at last begin s t o gras p hi s idea o f love i n a way tha t wil l fre e i t fro m chauvinism. I n th e origina l episod e wit h th e cat s h e sa w Min o a s properl y insisting o n 'mal e primacy ' an d ' a highe r orde r o f understanding' . Now , thoug h chauvinism remains , i t i s easie r t o se e somethin g bette r beneath : a nee d t o recognise ' a sor t o f fate' , a 'superfin e stability' , i n whic h (a s th e nove l wil l establish) gende r hierarch y wil l pla y n o part . H e almost grasp s wha t h e i s after : 'Adam kep t Ev e i n th e indestructibl e paradise , whe n h e kep t he r singl e wit h himself, lik e a sta r i n it s orbit. ' Almost , bu t no t quite , fo r Ursul a a t onc e seize s upon th e implication , cryin g ' a satellite ' - s o Birkin goe s on bein g criticised , an d forced t o fre e hi s though t fro m somethin g tha t i s distortin g it . B y partl y misunderstanding, Ursul a pushe s Birki n t o understan d mor e clearly . A t th e 'Water-Party' hi s sermo n o n th e marsh , whil e continuin g t o ech o th e centra l argument o f 'Th e Crown' , become s par t o f a bette r dramatise d situatio n an d s o again arouse s a more interestin g an d ambivalen t response . Th e deathl y impor t o f his visio n i s paradoxicall y enlivene d (a s wit h th e har e earlier ) whe n imager y o f the dar k rive r an d it s fauna an d flora replace s th e abstrac t languag e o f the 'flu x o f corruption'; bu t wherea s Gudrun' s simpl e mocker y originall y lef t Birki n relatively untouched , no w Ursula' s opposition , springin g fro m th e flamy lif e i n her, i s a sharpe r criticis m o f hi s deathliness : 'Yo u ar e a devil , yo u know , reall y . . . Yo u want u s t o b e deathly. ' Yet , i n mor e tha n hal f persuadin g him , sh e brings ou t als o a life potentia l despit e hi s nihilism. 98 Most o f all , Lawrenc e i s no w abl e t o dramatis e th e growt h o f th e novel' s central ide a i n Birkin' s mind , becaus e h e ha d finally lai d hol d o f i t himsel f i n Look! a s 'th e wa y o f th e stars' , i n 'On e Woma n t o Al l Women'. Thoug h a sta r could imag e individua l singlenes s i n th e nove l o f 1916 , th e ide a o f tw o star s i n permanent orbi t an d equilibriu m - symbolisin g ho w individua l independenc e could b e reconciled , i n lovers , wit h absolut e commitmen t an d bondin g - i s newly an d steadil y writte n int o Women in Love. A s Geral d an d Gudru n si t i n th e canoe th e alternativ e 'way ' ope n t o the m i s give n th e crucia l addition s o f 'space ' between the m an d thei r bein g 'balance d i n separation' . I n th e chapte r tha t became 'Ma n t o Man' , Birki n i n hi s illness , broodin g o n hi s hatre d o f th e 392
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possessive femal e an d Magn a Mate r an d als o o n gende r itsel f a s a mar k o f imperfection, begin s t o ponde r ho w tha t migh t b e overcom e b y a kind o f sexua l relationship betwee n 'tw o singl e beings , constellate d togethe r lik e tw o stars' , ye t each ' a single , separat e being ' wit h it s ow n 'pur e freedom' , an d withou t th e 'horrible merging , mingling , self-abnegatio n o f love' . Se x wa r ha s no t disappeared, bu t it s remedy i s coming int o focus . So, i n 'Moony' , Lawrenc e ca n bot h sharpe n Ursula' s attac k o n Birki n an d then hav e hi m gras p th e essentia l distinction s betwee n differen t 'ways ' o f love , and o f violence, that wil l clarify th e centra l concern s o f the nove l a s a whole. Th e previous versio n ha d alread y capture d th e stonin g o f th e moo n an d th e fleeting moment o f trut h an d tendernes s whic h followed , bu t als o ho w a s soo n a s the y began t o talk , conflic t bega n again . Birki n insiste d tha t Ursul a accep t hi m 'a s a leader', sh e (ver y understandably ) becam e annoyed , an d th e momentar y peac e broke u p i n rathe r childis h rage . I n 191 7 however , Lawrence' s ne w exploratio n has brough t Birki n beyon d th e desir e fo r leadershi p tha t ha d bee n blockin g hi s and hi s author's understandin g o f something quit e different . Th e desir e (now ) i s for bot h lover s t o b e togethe r i n a dimension beyon d thei r ego s - thoug h again , as soo n a s the y argue , eg o take s over . S o Birkin' s cas e i s improved ; bu t a t th e same tim e Lawrenc e ha s Ursul a agai n denounc e th e 'Sunda y schoo l teacher ' an d 'preacher' i n him , an d charg e tha t i t i s he who cannot le t himself go . The conflic t becomes mor e searchingl y dramatic , wit h trut h o n bot h sides ; an d a bette r reorchestration o f th e proces s o f violenc e an d re-constellatio n tha t wen t before , since i n thi s versio n conflic t agai n ebbs , an d peac e agai n return s wit h humou r and tenderness . Only , becaus e Birki n i s bein g investigate d mor e searchingl y now, h e i s made t o realis e a n inconsistency : ho w h e bot h long s fo r and fears dar k sexual passion . Ursul a i s allowe d t o distur b an d prob e hi m (an d perhap s hi s author) mor e deepl y tha n before . Suddenly imaginatio n respond s wit h a ne w lea p ( a lon g ne w handwritte n insertion): anothe r Wes t Africa n carving , a woma n wit h a fac e lik e a beetle . I n grasping it s significance , Birki n i s abl e no w t o diagnos e opposit e kind s o f disintegration i n th e 'fleur s d u mal ' peopl e o f thi s disintegrativ e tim e - an d b y contrast, th e inclusiv e an d recreativ e wa y o f lov e tha t h e want s wit h Ursula . T o set a n 'African ' reductio n o f th e sel f t o sensuality , agains t a n 'arctic ' mod e o f dominating min d an d will , help s discriminat e differen t kind s o f destructivenes s in Gerald , Gudrun , Hermione , th e Pussum , Hallida y an d Loerke . B y contras t Birkin see s a 'way ' i n whic h sexua l relationshi p ca n creat e ' a lovel y stat e o f fre e proud singleness , which accept s th e obligation o f the permanen t connectio n wit h others, an d wit h th e other , submit s t o th e yok e an d leas h o f love , bu t neve r forfeits it s ow n prou d individua l singleness , eve n whil e i t love s an d yields. ' Opinions ma y diffe r o n ho w fa r thi s i s attainable , bu t i t i s unquestionabl y wha t the Lawrenc e o f 191 7 wanted fro m hi s marriage, formulate d wit h ne w clarit y at a 393
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time whe n th e marriag e wa s unde r strain . I t i s als o mor e firml y measure d i n th e novel agains t th e ide a o f 'fre e love ' espouse d b y Geral d an d Gudru n (an d als o Frieda, i n life) , whil e allowin g the m t o sharpe n thei r mocker y o f Birkin . I n th e earlier version' s 'Threshold' , Gudru n crudel y caricature d Birkin' s sex hierarchy ; but no w sh e understand s wha t sh e rejects : th e ide a tha t 'i f yo u accep t th e unison' ther e ca n b e a n 'equilibrium ' tha t stil l leave s th e sel f a differen t kin d o f freedom - bu t reject s i t no les s scornfully. 1 This ne w understandin g require d a new imaginin g o f the breakthroug h i n th e love o f Ursula an d Birkin . Th e rumpu s ove r th e ring s (reminiscen t o f the on e i n Cornwall) was alread y i n place ; but it s aftermat h whic h complete s th e patter n of tenderness-through-violenc e announce d i n 'Moony ' i s altogether reconceive d in a wa y tha t show s th e influenc e o f Look/, bu t als o o f Lawrence' s ne w occul t reading. The scen e i n th e Saracen' s Hea d wa s originall y don e fro m Ursula' s poin t o f view. Sh e ca n hardl y believ e tha t sh e i s love d a t las t an d i s 'mortall y frightened ' that sh e wil l b e le t dow n again ; bu t a s his fingertips mov e 'delicately , finely ove r her face ' sh e lose s he r fea r i n a 'dazzl e o f released , golde n light' . Birki n to o ha s been frightened , bu t he r 'yieldin g up ' create s i n hi m ' a new star-lik e being ' - on e of th e fe w use s o f th e imag e o f a single sta r - an d fo r th e firs t tim e i n hi s lif e h e becomes heedlessl y an d serenel y happy . Late r howeve r h e begin s t o fee l agai n the seethin g sexualit y h e fears . Wantin g t o hol d ont o th e ne w gentleness , h e forces Ursul a int o a fals e positio n o f havin g t o choose . Sh e doe s no t kno w wha t she wants , an d despit e th e ne w certaint y o f thei r love , th e chapte r i n 'Th e Sisters' end s wit h a dyin g fall . H e ask s whethe r thei r ne w 'peac e o f soul ' isn' t 'the greates t reality ' - bu t 'he r eye s were full o f tears, and sh e did no t answer' . In 191 7 h e rewrot e th e scen e largel y fro m Ursula' s poin t o f view , makin g i t centre o n he r perception , fo r th e first time , o f th e ful l dimensio n o f Birkin' s 'otherness' - reversin g 'Sh e Sai d A s Wel l T o Me ' i n Look! Th e experienc e i s about t o b e echoe d a s Birki n look s a t Ursul a i n 'Flitting' ; bu t sinc e he r war-cr y has always been 'D o yo u lov e me?\ whil e Birkin ha s struggled t o explain ho w th e deepest dimensio n o f relationship s i s impersonal , Lawrenc e ma y hav e wante d her t o mak e th e discovery , a s a moment o f conversion. I t i s also, i n it s qualit y o f wonder, a retur n t o th e 'religious ' sens e create d i n The Rainbow a s (a t last ) sh e confronts a so n o f God , ' a strang e creatur e fro m anothe r world' , fro m 'th e beyond'. T o giv e ne w force , however , t o ho w muc h tha t strangenes s depend s o n a mysteriou s strengt h o f separat e being , Lawrenc e wante d a ne w languag e o f more-than-personal power . H e foun d i t (strangel y enough! ) i n Pryse' s Apocalypse Unsealed and i n Blavatsky . Ursul a an d Birki n iove ' i n th e usua l persona l and sexua l senses ; but sh e discover s als o 'More tha n that ' now , as: Unconsciously, wit h he r sensitiv e finger-tips, sh e wa s tracin g th e bac k o f hi s thighs , 394
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finding some mysterious life-flo w there . She had discovered something , something mor e than wonderful , mor e wonderfu l tha n lif e itself . I t wa s the strang e myster y o f his life motion .. . I t wa s here sh e discovered hi m one of the Son s o f God such a s were i n the beginning of the world, not a man, something other, something more. 105 Pryse explain s how , in th e ancien t India n neurology , cosmi c energy , kundalini, flowing throug h human s bu t comin g fro m beyon d them , ca n be generate d fro m the ganglio n o r web of nerves (i n the lower back , loin s an d thighs ) whos e centr e is th e base o f the spine ; an d how , in it s ful l circui t throug h al l the othe r gangli a or chakras and the brain ( a nervous syste m bot h sensua l an d spiritual), th e whol e being can be flooded wit h illumination . S o what Ursul a touche s i s described a s 'a living fire', ' a dark flood o f electric passion' , ' a rich ne w circuit, a new current o f passional electri c energy' : th e psychic equivalen t o f the physical electricit y whic h flows throug h bu t is not a property o f the body whic h conduct s it . Energy fro m beyond th e lovers flows between the m a s between poles , and produces (wit h new intensity) tha t passin g awa y int o oblivio n an d reawakenin g int o 'essentia l ne w being', tha t i s the essence, fo r Lawrence , o f true an d creativ e sexua l relationshi p - eve n thoug h her e i t is only th e touch o f fingers i n a public inn , waiting fo r tea. Once agai n i t i s a constellatio n o f radianc e an d darknes s afte r storm , an d th e discovery o f ne w tendernes s an d peace . The y touc h now , wil l late r tak e eac h other an d marry ; ye t always retai n thei r separat e selve s becaus e eac h i s a wholl y unpossessable being , imbue d wit h a life-forc e fro m beyon d th e self . T o touc h that i s a mystica l experience , bu t als o intensel y physical , an d therefor e 'mystically-physically satisfying ' a s no merely genita l experienc e o r pleasur e (fo r Lawrence) coul d be . In a sens e th e esoteri c languag e doe s n o mor e tha n expan d a n experienc e o f charisma i n somebod y uniqu e - bu t i t was probabl y th e fusio n o f th e spiritua l with th e physical i n the ancient neurolog y tha t Lawrenc e foun d mos t suggestive . Yet b y th e sam e toke n hi s insistenc e (followin g Pryse ) o n givin g th e life-energ y flowing throug h Birki n s o precise a physical locatio n i n the lower back , loin s and thighs ha s le d t o puzzl e an d misunderstandin g - thoug h attempt s t o rea d th e scene i n terms o f covert homosexualit y an d anal obsession see m crass . The nove l itself als o hold s a non-esoteri c explanatio n o f wh y i t shoul d b e th e bac k rathe r than th e fron t o f the body tha t speak s o f singleness . Birki n muse s o n gende r a s imperfection, an d the front o f human bodie s doe s see m t o proclaim th e need o f a complementary hal f - wherea s (a s every dance r o r athlet e knows ) th e base of the spine i s the fulcrum o f individual an d independent balanc e and movement . Moreover, onc e th e relationshi p i s firmly founde d i n thi s kin d o f reverenc e and wonde r - fel t b y Birki n fo r Ursul a too , i n 'Flitting ' - i t seem s tha t i t ca n include th e whol e being , al l desires , al l possibilities . Th e 'radiance ' i n th e Saracen's Hea d i s consummate d i n th e pitc h dar k o f Sherwoo d Forest ; an d 395
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there i s n o longe r anythin g t o fea r i n sensualit y o f al l kinds . Th e contras t wit h the disintegrativ e characters , an d particularl y wit h th e wa y tha t th e lov e o f Gerald an d Gudru n develops , become s cleare r - thoug h agai n reader s ma y b e puzzled b y som e esoteri c language . Th e othe r 'ways ' o f lov e ar e continuall y heightened no w i n imager y an d dialogue : th e 'arctic ' gliste n an d glea m o f th e blonde Gerald , th e darknes s associate d wit h th e Pussu m an d th e knowin g a s a means o f powe r tha t link s Gudru n wit h bot h Geral d an d Hermione , an d als o sharpens thei r critiqu e o f Birkin . Lawrence' s breac h wit h Ottolin e allow s a heightening o f Hermion e wel l beyon d an y portraiture : indee d Birkin' s ne w onslaught o n Hermione' s sensuality-in-the-hea d reache s suc h intensit y tha t th e handwritten insertio n itsel f admit s 'Ther e wa s a sens e o f violatio n i n th e air' . Moreover Starr' s 'destructiv e electricity ' no w become s palpabl e i n th e nove l i n the scene s betwee n Geral d an d th e Pussu m an d Geral d an d Gudrun . I n theosophy an d magic , th e laten t power s i n th e cosmo s ca n b e generate d i n th e self o r directe d t o other s bot h creativel y an d destructively . Fo r Lawrence , n o energy i s evi l i n itsel f - bu t t o reduc e relationshi p t o on e dimensio n i s siniste r and ma y destroy . S o whe n Geral d look s at th e Pussu m now , 'Th e electricit y was turgid an d voluptuousl y rich , i n hi s limbs . H e woul d b e abl e t o destro y he r utterly'; an d he r gaz e i s a 'blac k flare'. Tha t th e relationshi p i s fro m th e star t a sensuality of power is continually emphasise d no w i n a language o f 'black, electri c flow'. Geral d feel s it s sourc e i n th e bas e o f hi s spin e als o - bu t th e differenc e i s that th e relatio n her e i s al l o f on e kind , fel t i n frisson s o f dominanc e an d subjection. Whe n th e revisio n no w make s Gudru n tak e Gerald' s dominatio n o f the mar e int o he r ow n sensuou s consciousness , a similarit y t o th e Pussu m i s clarified.108 Moreover th e episod e wit h th e rabbi t no w point s u p a secre t an d dangerou s 'obscenity', somethin g mor e tha n th e ange r an d violenc e i n bot h ma n an d woman toward s wha t violentl y resiste d an d threatene d them , whic h was alread y clear. Now , a s wel l a s th e newl y image d 'whitish , electri c gleam ' o f Gerald' s 'arctic' will, an d Gudrun' s eye s 'blac k a s night' , ther e i s a furthe r esoteri c language whic h explore s sado-masochism , a fascinatio n wit h powe r an d pain , a s an 'obscene ' inversio n o f wha t Lawrenc e sa w a s th e religiou s myster y o f sex . A s they gaz e wit h fascinatio n int o th e re d gas h th e rabbi t ha s score d i n Gudrun' s arm Geral d feel s a s though i t wer e 'tor n acros s hi s ow n brai n . . . lettin g throug h the foreve r unconscious , unthinkabl e re d ethe r o f th e beyond , th e obscen e beyond'. Howeve r strained , th e languag e i s no t unintelligible . 'Ether ' i s a metaphor fo r inne r spac e analogou s t o th e mediu m suppose d t o occup y oute r space, an d (i n Blavatsky ) als o a potenc y withi n u s ou t o f whic h futur e form s o f being an d energ y wil l evolv e (henc e a 'beyond') , whic h ha s bee n presen t i n creation fro m th e beginning ; an d a mediu m (a s Elipha s Lev i wrote ) throug h which 'al l th e nervou s centre s secretl y communicat e wit h on e another' . Wha t 396
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Lawrence seem s t o b e afte r i s a n obscen e parod y bot h o f theosophis t spiritua l illumination i n th e initiate , an d o f th e experienc e o f dyin g int o ne w radian t life , as Birki n an d Ursul a wil l do . Th e gas h i n th e whit e flesh tear s consciousnes s s o that blood-fascinatio n ca n com e flooding through ; a re d oblivio n followe d b y new awarenes s o f self , parodyin g th e Lawrencia n 'death ' an d renewa l throug h sex. Geral d an d Gudru n become , fo r a horribl e moment , 'new ' creature s fo r whom sado-masochis m coul d becom e th e intenses t wa y o f lif e an d sensua l excitement. Thei r recognitio n o f thi s a t th e en d o f th e chapte r ha s a 'noncha lance' whic h eve n eight y year s late r ma y stil l see m 'shocking'. 109 The revision , then , take s th e contras t betwee n th e tw o pair s o f lover s an d th e different kind s o f 'love ' muc h furthe r tha n before , a s Lawrenc e see s deepe r int o the tendencie s hi s nove l ha d exposed . Th e othe r 'shocking ' potentia l howeve r the homosexua l feelin g betwee n th e me n - i s rathe r tone d down , a s though , having mad e clea r i n 'Gladiatorial ' wha t h e wante d i n mal e relationship , Lawrence wa s n o longe r a s intereste d i n explorin g th e homoeroti c feeling s tha t in th e origina l 'Ma n t o Man ' scen e h e ha d give n t o a n embarrasse d Gerald . (This coul d hav e bee n novelist' s transpositio n bu t migh t equall y suggest , especially sinc e the offe r o f 'Blutbriiderschaft ' was a late and mino r element , tha t there wa s n o suc h scene in rea l lif e wit h Murr y a t all. ) No w Geral d i s made mor e secretive, th e initiativ e come s fro m a Birki n suddenl y awar e tha t h e mus t fac e 'the proble m o f love and eterna l conjunctio n betwee n tw o men', an d th e ide a of a once-for-all commitmen t t o blood-brotherhoo d i s a t th e hear t o f th e episode . There i s no embarrassmen t i n Birki n a s he make s th e offer , bu t Geral d want s t o leave i t 'til l I understan d i t better' , clearl y no t understandin g tha t wha t Birki n i s offering isn' t homoeroti c 'emotionalism ' bu t a n 'impersona l unio n tha t leave s one free ' - a stage in fac t toward s understandin g wha t h e want s fro m Ursula. 110 Finally, though , ther e was th e challeng e t o realis e i n imaginatio n th e effec t such a relationshi p woul d hav e o n a wife ; an d t o tha t exten t Lawrence' s friendship wit h Willia m Henry , an d Frieda' s hostilit y t o it , di d mak e a n impac t on th e novel . Whe n i n 191 7 h e finall y go t roun d t o writin g hi s epilogue , it s concern i s n o longe r wit h wha t woul d becom e o f Gudrun . Now , too , th e 'emotionalism' o f Birkin' s grie f a s h e look s a t hi s dea d frien d i s purge d b y focusing o n th e bitte r wast e an d denia l o f a lov e tha t migh t hav e mad e a difference. Birki n i s clea r tha t th e kin d o f mal e relatio n h e migh t hav e ha d wit h Gerald woul d no t hav e threatene d hi s relationshi p wit h Ursula . 'Yo u ar e enoug h for me , a s fa r a s woma n i s concerned . Yo u ar e al l wome n t o me . Bu t I wante d a man friend , a s eterna l a s yo u an d I ar e eternal' . T o Ursul a howeve r thi s i s 'a n obstinacy, a theory, a perversity' : "You can't have two kinds of love. Why should you! " "It seems as if I can't," he said. "Yet I wanted it. " 397
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"You can't have it, because it's false, impossible," she said. "I don't believe that," he answered. And th e questio n i s left ope n . . . l n (c) Look! , and American Literature At th e beginnin g o f Augus t cam e bot h th e goo d new s tha t Chatt o an d Windu s had agree d t o publis h Look!', and th e ba d new s tha t the y wante d 'Son g o f a Ma n Who i s Loved ' an d 'Meetin g Amon g th e Mountains ' omitted , tw o poem s renamed an d othe r changes . The y admire d th e book , an d tol d Pinke r i t wa s no t their desire : to sugges t a n emasculate d versio n o f Mr . Lawrence' s poems , bu t .. . w e fee l tha t th e number o f passage s referrin g t o purel y physica l phenomen a shoul d b e slightl y reduce d ... I n additio n w e venture t o question th e good tast e of the titles 'Candlemas ' and 'Eve' s Mass' as applied t o poems of an amorous character, (iii. 14 5 n. 1) (They als o offere d quit e generou s term s fo r poetry , twent y guinea s i n advanc e and a 15 % royalty . Lawrenc e ha d begu n t o b e anxiou s abou t mone y agai n dropping a heavy hin t abou t anothe r advance , and privatel y abusiv e whe n Pinke r failed t o respond (iii . 135 , 136) - bu t this , along with th e £ 7 / 1 5 / 0 fro m Georgian Poetry i n Jun e an d £ 1 3 / 1 0 / 0 whic h wa s owe d fro m th e English Review, migh t tide the m ove r fo r a whil e - thoug h ther e woul d b e a cash-flo w proble m unti l the money actuall y cam e in. ) After The Rainbow, Lawrenc e coul d no t hav e bee n to o surprise d b y Chatto' s objections, thoug h h e though t the m absurd . Th e mino r change s h e mad e a t once, thoug h som e spoile d 'th e clarit y an d precisio n o f th e expression ' (iii . 146) ; and h e quickl y altere d th e tw o title s t o 'Valentine' s Night ' an d 'Ne w Year' s Night' respectively . H e pointe d ou t tha t 'Meetin g Amon g th e Mountains ' ha d already bee n publishe d withou t offenc e i n Georgian Poetry, an d tha t withou t i t the ne w volum e woul d no t b e abl e t o boas t tha t cachet . Bu t thoug h prepare d t o concede al l these , h e fough t har d t o preserv e 'Son g o f a Ma n Wh o i s Loved' , and onl y gav e in , wit h a n il l grace , whe n Chatt o refuse d altogethe r t o budg e (iii. 148) . One chang e fro m th e manuscrip t h e ha d mad e himself : the omissio n o f the love-letter , a s Catherin e ha d advised . Th e narrativ e 'Argument ' whic h took it s plac e kep t th e essentia l fact s fro m life , bu t suggeste d somethin g mor e impersonal an d representative . O n 1 4 Augus t Lawrenc e poste d th e revise d manuscript (iii . 148) . A wee k late r h e sen t Pinke r copie s o f th e delete d poem s i n the hop e tha t the y coul d eventuall y b e include d i n th e America n editio n (iii. 149 ) - or , perhap s wit h 'Rabbi t Snare d i n th e Night ' an d on e o r tw o others , be publishe d separatel y i n Americ a (iii . 152) . H e complete d th e proof s fo r Chatto toward s th e en d o f September (iii . 164) . 398
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Palmer's retur n o f th e Women in Love typescrip t i n lat e Augus t di d no t upse t him, partl y becaus e Palme r seeme d 'rathe r nice ' (iii . 152) , making i t clea r tha t h e liked th e boo k an d was onl y deterre d b y th e risk ; an d partl y becaus e Lawrenc e thought h e migh t d o 'A t th e Gates ' instea d - thoug h thi s to o prove d illusory . When h e ha d bee n revising , however , h e mus t hav e realise d ho w th e nove l would strik e Heseltine . Thoug h the y ha d no t go t a s clos e a s befor e h e ha d a twinge o f conscience , fo r a s soo n a s th e manuscrip t cam e bac k h e offere d i t t o Gray t o read , whic h woul d mea n tha t Heseltin e (i n Dublin ) woul d b e tol d abou t Halliday an d th e Pussum . A s i t happened , however , Gra y wa s abou t t o mak e a trip t o London , th e offe r wa s no t take n up , an d Heseltine' s enthusias m fo r 'A t the Gates ' remaine d undimmed . The sam e not e t o Gra y o n 2 5 Augus t mention s tha t Lawrenc e ha d begu n hi s book o f essay s o n 'America n Literature ' (iii . 151) . A t firs t a s alway s h e ha d trouble hittin g o n a titl e - 'Th e Transcendenta l Elemen t i n America n (Classic ) Literature' (iii . 156) ; 'Th e Transcendenta l Elemen t i n Classi c America n Litera ture' (iii . 160) , 'Th e Mysti c Impor t o f America n Literature ' (iii . 163 ) - bu t i t soon become s clea r tha t te n essay s wer e planne d (iii . 154) , an d tha t th e firs t 'classic' wa s t o b e Crevecoeu r (iii . 160) . A n uneasil y jocula r lette r t o Am y Lowell, whos e fathe r was President o f Harvard, offere d he r th e dedicatio n i n th e hope tha t sh e migh t influenc e th e Yale Review o r th e New Republic (iii . 156-7). He als o mentione d th e projec t t o Wald o Fran k (iii . 160) , wit h a n ey e o n Seven Arts. Coincidentall y however , ther e arrive d fro m th e Yale Review earl y i n October a n invitatio n t o writ e '4 0 o r 5 0 M S . page s abou t contemporar y Englis h novelists'. H e presume d thi s mean t Wells , Bennett , Galsworthy , Compto n Mackenzie an d Gilber t Cannan , bu t di d no t 'car e a rus h fo r an y o f them , sav e Thomas Hardy , an d he' s no t contemporary , an d th e early Conrad , whic h i s als o looming int o distance ' (iii . 166-7) . However , h e promise d t o conside r an d late r did writ e th e essay , bu t befor e h e coul d d o anythin g abou t i t now , disaste r struck. IX N i g h t m a r
e
On Thursda y 1 1 October , market-day , Lawrenc e wen t t o Penzanc e wit h William Henry , an d hi s siste r Mabel . Fried a mad e he r wa y t o Bosigran . A t th e day's en d (accordin g t o Kangaroo) Lawrenc e gre w angr y a t having t o hang abou t until afte r seve n waitin g fo r Willia m Henr y t o tur n up , unti l their s was almos t the las t tra p t o leave . He woul d neve r com e t o Penzanc e wit h hi m again , h e said . When the y go t hom e i t wa s t o a badly frightene d Frieda . Th e cottag e ha d bee n searched i n thei r absence , Lawrence' s paper s ha d bee n disturbe d an d th e contents o f he r sewin g baske t wer e scattere d al l ove r th e floor. Sh e ra n t o th e farm, t o be tol d tha t me n i n unifor m ha d com e lookin g fo r them . 399
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The nex t morning , th e me n wer e back : a youn g militar y officer , th e polic e sergeant fro m S t Ive s an d tw o Crimina l Investigatio n Departmen t me n i n plai n clothes. The y presente d a search-warrant, an d rea d ou t a formal expulsio n orde r signed b y Majo r Genera l W . G . B . Western , i n comman d o f Administration , Southern Command , Salisbury , givin g the m unti l Monda y th e 15t h t o pac k u p and leave . The y woul d n o longe r b e allowe d t o ente r an y are a o f militar y significance (includin g al l coasta l areas) , an d wer e require d t o repor t t o th e loca l police whereve r the y decide d t o go , withi n twenty-fou r hour s o f arrival . N o reason wa s given , n o appea l allowed . Th e subalter n pu t asid e al l question s an d protests: h e wa s actin g unde r orders , di d no t himsel f kno w th e reason s an d would no t tel l the m i f h e did . Meanwhil e th e CI D men , wit h th e col d professionalism o f thei r kind , searche d th e cottag e thoroughl y fro m to p t o bottom, especiall y th e book s an d papers . The y querie d som e diagram s i n a notebook, thoug h Lawrenc e explaine d tha t the y wer e botanica l - man y o f hi s earlier poem s ha d bee n writte n ou t i n tw o ol d Universit y notebooks , on e o f which containe d botanica l drawing s - an d als o too k awa y th e letter s tha t ha d come t o Fried a fro m he r family , an d som e papers , includin g th e 'words ' o f th e Hebridean sea l son g i n cas e the y migh t b e i n code . Th e Lawrence s wer e obviously suspecte d o f espionage . (H e no w ha d th e distinctio n o f havin g bee n under suspicio n b y bot h Germa n an d Englis h soldiery. ) Fried a wa s angr y a t first, abou t 'Englis h liberty' , an d the n tearful , protestin g thei r innocenc e an d sure tha t th e persecutio n wa s racial , becaus e o f he r Germa n birth . Sh e mus t above al l hav e feare d tha t sh e wa s goin g t o b e interned , despit e he r eightee n years o f citizenshi p b y marriage . Lawrenc e woul d indee d hav e withdraw n int o himself, whit e an d stony-faced , tellin g Fried a t o be quiet , determine d no t t o giv e his persecutor s th e slightes t satisfaction , sinc e the y ha d th e powe r an d authorit y and h e wa s helples s t o resist . Stanle y Hockin g was workin g nea r th e roa d a s th e men wen t past , an d hear d on e o f them say : 'That' s a job I woul d rathe r no t hav e to d o . ' " 4 Lawrence sen t a not e t o as k Gra y t o com e an d giv e the m mora l suppor t (iii. 167) , hurriedl y begge d temporar y refug e wit h Dolli e Radfor d i n Londo n (iii. 168-9) , a n d tol d Pinke r an d Cynthi a Asquit h th e chang e o f addres s an d briefly wha t ha d happene d (iii . 168) . H e probabl y hope d Cynthi a ha d contact s who coul d help . Saturda y an d Sunda y the y packe d - thei r Sunda y dinner s sen t up fro m th e far m - an d Lawrenc e burne d a whol e pil e o f manuscript s an d proofs. O n Monda y the y sai d good-by e t o th e Hockin g family ; Lawrenc e feeling rathe r upse t tha t Uncl e Henr y ha d gon e int o th e field s withou t waiting , though Stanle y late r explaine d tha t thi s wa s jus t becaus e h e wa s fon d o f them , and hate d good-byes . Willia m Henr y drov e the m t o Penzanc e i n th e tra p whil e young Stanle y followe d wit h th e heav y luggag e i n th e cart . O n th e statio n a n officer an d a police sergean t wer e waitin g t o make sur e tha t the y go t o n th e train , 400
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watching silentl y a s th e farewell s too k place . Lawrenc e was determine d t o com e back, an d ma y hav e sai d so . Then the y wer e gone . To Cynthia , Lawrenc e sai d h e coul d no t 'conceiv e ho w I hav e incurre d suspicion - hav e no t th e faintes t notion . W e ar e a s innocen t eve n o f pacifis t activities, le t alon e spyin g i n an y sort , a s th e rabbit s o f th e field outside ' (iii. 168) . Thi s wa s true ; ye t wha t ha d happene d wa s no t reall y beyon d conceiving. Th e Mountsie r arres t i n Januar y ha d bee n a dange r signal , a s ha d the searc h o f Frieda's shoppin g ba g on th e clif f top . Lawrenc e himself , accordin g to Frieda , ha d warne d he r no t t o wav e her scar f abou t o n th e rocks , a s she migh t seem t o b e signalling . l A s th e submarin e sinking s mounte d i n th e earl y par t o f the year , loca l hysteria an d rumou r mongerin g grew , and i t is easy t o see how th e bearded outside r wit h th e Germa n wif e migh t hav e becom e increasingl y a n object o f suspicion; o r wh y th e loca l postma n (wh o wa s a Wesleyan la y preacher , and beyon d militar y ag e himself) migh t hav e delivere d th e buff-envelop e call-u p notices wit h a certai n gri m pleasure . Th e arriva l o f Germa n newspaper s an d letters fro m German y vi a Switzerland , woul d no t hav e helped . If , whe n ship s were sun k i n sigh t o f the locals , Fried a was overheard lamentin g tha t th e hunte d submariners migh t als o b e youn g me n lik e thos e sh e ha d know n i n childhood , the Cornis h wer e no t likel y t o se e her poin t o f view. And whe n Lawrenc e angril y denounced th e 'lies ' i n th e newspaper s t o th e farmer s i n Penzanc e market , o r William Henr y perhap s talke d abou t hi s friend' s defian t oppositio n t o call-u p and wa r propaganda , thes e ma y wel l hav e bee n reporte d an d chalke d u p agains t him. Gra y eve n claim s tha t Lawrenc e ma y hav e bee n overhear d threatenin g t o start ' a disruptive , pacifist , an d nihilis t campaig n i n th e industria l north , wit h a view t o bringin g abou t a speed y en d t o th e war' , an d thoug h thi s i s a typica l exaggeration, Lawrenc e di d expres s momentar y interes t i n th e report s o f protes t meetings i n Nottingham' s Victori a Park , an d wonde r whethe r h e migh t involv e himself; thoug h (a s Gra y als o says , thoug h mor e rudely ) th e impuls e wa s fugitive. Moreove r th e arriva l o f Heseltine , Gra y an d Star r - al l youn g me n suspiciously avoidin g call-up , an d holdin g subversiv e view s abou t th e wa r might hav e fostere d a conspiracy theor y centrin g o n thei r 'leader' , th e on e wit h the Germa n wife . Lawrenc e als o appears t o hav e bee n righ t tha t ther e was muc h local resentmen t ove r conscription , an d ther e i s evidenc e tha t ther e ha d bee n no volunteers fo r militar y servic e fro m Zennor , s o tha t Lawrenc e migh t hav e bee n suspected o f further fomentin g loca l resistance t o patriotic duty . Gray late r claime d tha t h e an d th e Lawrence s wer e continuall y spie d o n b y the local s wh o skulke d i n ditche s an d behin d hedgerow s t o eavesdro p o n privat e conversations - an d hi s ow n paranoi a reache d a climax whe n h e cam e t o believ e that hi s lif e ha d a t on e tim e bee n threatened. 119 A t th e centr e o f Lawrence' s 'nightmare' too , a s expresse d i n Kangaroo, wa s th e feelin g tha t h e mus t hav e been surrounde d b y a miasm a o f malevolen t suspicio n an d personal hatred , hi s 401
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privacy constantl y violate d b y pryin g eyes , whil e h e live d i n blith e ignoranc e o f any suc h thing . It i s o f cours e impossibl e t o kno w whethe r Cornishme n wer e constantl y lurking i n th e hollo w jus t belo w th e window s o f Highe r Tregerthe n t o hea r an d report o n wha t th e Lawrence s wer e saying . Nightmare s ar e frightenin g precisel y because the y confoun d truth , fea r an d paranoi a s o tha t thes e becom e indis tinguishable. Th e mos t dangerou s suspicio n howeve r wa s n o doin g o f th e Cornish, bu t th e assocatio n wit h Mountsier , registere d wit h Scotlan d Yar d an d almost certainl y als o wit h th e militar y comman d i n Cornwall . B y 1 3 Augus t Lawrence remarke d o n th e od d fac t tha t a lette r fro m Catherin e poste d o n th e 9th ha d take n fou r day s t o be delivere d (iii . 147) ; and i t seems likel y tha t hi s mai l had bee n rea d sinc e January . I f letter s t o hi m wer e bein g read , presumabl y letters fro m hi m woul d b e though t eve n mor e significan t - thoug h a s i t happen s his letter s sinc e Apri l sai d ver y littl e abou t th e war , becaus e o f hi s feelin g o f withdrawal fro m th e 'unreal ' worl d int o th e rea l on e o f th e Cornis h landscap e and hi s work . H e di d howeve r write , afte r returnin g fro m Bodmi n i n June , ' I should lik e t o flourish a pistol unde r th e nos e o f th e fool s wh o gover n us . The y make on e spi t wit h disgust ' (iii . 136 ) - thoug h o f al l peopl e h e chos e Mars h t o say i t to ! But i t seem s t o hav e bee n th e Lawrences ' secon d weeken d a t Bosigra n that brough t matter s t o a head. As the y sa t roun d th e fire i n Gray' s music-roo m o n th e Saturda y evenin g the win d blowin g a gale outside , th e Lawrence s a s eve r singin g Germa n song s there cam e a banging a t the door ; an d ther e stoo d a subaltern an d thre e men , on e with a lantern . (Lawrence , eve n i n 'Nightmare' , i s probabl y mor e reliabl e tha n Gray wh o speak s of'hal f a dozen o r s o me n wit h loade d rifles ' burstin g in.) 120 A light ha d bee n see n comin g fro m a n uppe r window . Thi s wa s a seriou s matter : every issu e o f th e St Ives Times carrie d a notic e o f th e exac t tim e b y whic h al l black-out curtain s ha d t o b e drawn . Gra y denie d th e possibility , bu t th e office r insisted o n a search , an d i t seem s tha t th e curtai n t o a passag e windo w upstair s had bee n secure d b y drawin g pins , on e o f whic h ha d worke d loos e i n th e win d because th e windo w ha d bee n lef t open . A s th e curtai n flapped, a n intermitten t light coul d hav e shown , a s i t wer e i n Morse , whe n Gray' s housekeepe r crosse d with he r candl e o n he r wa y t o bed . Accordin g t o Gray : 'Findin g nothin g incriminating o n th e premises , th e intruder s withdrew , wit h operati c gesture s like a Verd i chorus , an d blood-curdlin g threat s t o th e effec t tha t I woul d hea r more o f the matter ' - whic h tell s on e rathe r mor e abou t Gra y tha n th e situation . But hea r mor e o f th e matte r h e certainl y did , bein g summone d befor e th e magistrates i n S t Ive s t o answe r th e charg e o f 'permittin g a n unobscure d ligh t i n the hous e whic h wa s visibl e fro m th e sea' . (Bosigra n stoo d i n a prominen t position nea r Gurnard' s Head. ) Tw o thing s mad e i t mor e seriou s tha n Gra y ha d imagined. Thoug h th e magistrat e accepte d hi s accoun t o f th e nigh t i n question , 402
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the deput y coast-watchin g office r Norma n E . Cook e gav e evidenc e tha t 'numerous complaint s ha d bee n mad e o f unobscure d light s i n defendant' s house', suggestin g mor e tha n th e momentar y passin g o f a candl e o n on e occasion. 'Th e Benc h too k a seriou s vie w o f th e offence , th e chairma n (M r David Howell ) pointin g ou t tha t th e hous e wa s s o situate d tha t th e ligh t woul d be a guid e t o hostil e submarines. ' Althoug h th e sam e issu e o f th e St Ives Times (5 October ) remark s ho w it s regula r statistic s revea l th e succes s o f th e ne w defensive measure s agains t submarines , sinc e th e numbe r o f sinking s ha d i n fac t declined markedl y an d steadil y sinc e th e spring , a Germa n submarin e ha d recently bee n reporte d i n th e area . Gra y was fined £20 . I t seem s highl y probabl e that hi s attitud e toward s th e episode , an d th e Lawrences ' associatio n wit h him , may hav e encourage d th e actio n agains t the m les s than a week later . Yet Gra y was no t expelled , an d th e Arm y authoritie s i n distan t Salisbur y would probabl y no t hav e acte d merel y o n loca l Cornis h feelin g either , thoug h the Defenc e o f th e Real m Ac t ha d give n the m authoritaria n power s t o prohibi t access t o strategi c areas. 121 Wha t seem s mos t likel y i s tha t ongoin g suspicio n about th e journalis t sp y rin g - sinc e Mountsie r ha d bee n released , bu t no t cleared - coincide d wit h loca l suspicio n peakin g i n th e Gra y trial , an d perhap s also wit h a specifi c denunciatio n fro m a sourc e tha t a senio r office r woul d hav e thought impeccable . Lawrenc e himsel f believe d h e ha d a specific enemy ; an d th e Hocking famil y hav e suggeste d tha t i t was th e Vica r o f Zennor an d hi s daughte r who denounce d him . Ther e i s no othe r evidenc e o f this, but man y clergyme n i n the Firs t Worl d Wa r le d th e wa y i n patrioti c fervour . Moreove r Stanle y Hocking, wh o san g i n th e choir , remember s bein g disconcerte d whe n Lawrenc e challenged th e ide a o f th e physica l resurrectio n o f th e dead , s o a vica r especially i f h e kne w o f Lawrence' s marita l histor y an d th e prosecutio n o f hi s novel fo r obscenit y - migh t hav e com e t o thin k hi m a dange r t o hi s flock. This woul d hav e bee n increase d b y hi s associatio n wit h th e occultis t Star r wh o had publicl y praise d th e satanis t Aleiste r Crowle y i n th e St Ives Times. Political , patriotic an d religiou s subversio n migh t hav e com e t o see m connecte d i n a subverter o f morale . I t seem s far-fetche d now , bu t th e German s appeare d t o b e winning th e war , an d a degre e o f hysteri a wa s understandable , thoug h hardl y forgivable i n it s results . Th e Majo r General , i f ther e ha d bee n suc h a denuncia tion, migh t wel l hav e though t it s coincidenc e wit h Scotlan d Yar d suspicio n merited action , t o be on th e saf e side . X An d Wha t o f Frieda ? Lawrence ha d com e t o car e deepl y fo r hi s Cornis h home , hi s isolatio n an d th e wild prehistori c landscape . Th e expulsio n wa s a secon d majo r traum a fro m which i n som e way s h e neve r recovered . H e lef t vowin g t o find ou t wha t ha d 403
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happened, an d t o return . Bu t i t i s b y n o mean s certai n tha t Fried a fel t th e same. The previou s Octobe r sh e wa s alread y tellin g Ko t tha t sh e was 'tire d o f bein g here alone' , ~ and th e coolnes s wit h Lawrenc e afte r th e departur e o f Esthe r Andrews i n th e sprin g mus t hav e increase d th e lonelines s a thousandfold . Sh e was neve r reall y friendl y wit h th e famil y a t th e farm . Stanle y Hockin g recalle d that sh e di d no t com e an d si t i n thei r kitche n a s Lawrenc e did . Whe n sh e cam e for th e mil k i t wa s becaus e h e wa s unwell ; an d th e far m women , particularly , always fel t tha t sh e wa s a lad y an d quit e differen t fro m them . Sh e wa s no t unfriendly, no r was sh e disliked . An d ye t . . . I n th e villag e too , sh e wa s a n oddity wit h he r accen t an d th e multicoloure d stocking s tha t Kati e Berryma n - a s close t o a frien d ther e a s sh e ha d — woul d com e roun d th e counte r t o exclai m over; bu t whe n Cynthi a Asquit h sen t he r a hat sh e sai d sh e woul d no t dar e wea r it outsid e th e cottag e becaus e 'i t woul d astonis h th e native s to o much' . Whe n Lawrence spen t mor e an d mor e tim e i n th e fields an d wit h Willia m Henr y leaving he r alon e i n th e cottag e eve n afte r dark , sh e mus t hav e becom e mor e an d more discontented , worrie d an d afrai d - a s well a s angr y an d jealous . O n a t leas t one storm y nigh t sh e cam e runnin g dow n t o th e far m i n fear , an d mus t hav e been furiou s t o find Lawrenc e contentedl y sittin g i n th e kitchen . Th e 'Night mare' chapte r seem s wholl y convincin g whe n i t make s 'Harriet ' hea r th e youn g farmer's good-nigh t t o he r husban d outsid e th e cottag e doo r 'soun d lik e a jeer'. 124 I t was a bitter tim e t o her , an d sh e wil l hav e le t Lawrenc e kno w it , wit h feeling. Yet th e fea r mus t hav e bee n a s stron g a s th e irritatio n an d th e jealousy . Fo r the first tim e sh e seeme d t o hav e los t som e o f her powe r ove r him ; jus t whe n he r own positio n ha d becom e utterl y insecure . Sh e ha d ver y fe w friend s i n England . On th e tw o occasion s whe n sh e bad e hi m good-by e o n hi s wa y t o Bodmi n t o fac e the call-up , sh e mus t hav e bee n terrifie d o f wha t migh t happe n t o he r - fo r i f h e went, o r was imprisone d fo r refusing , wha t o n eart h woul d sh e do ? Ther e wa s very littl e mone y - no t eve n a s muc h a s ha d onc e bee n divide d i n th e cottag e a t Chesham - an d sh e wa s fa r mor e alon e an d helples s now , tha n whe n sh e ha d been friend s wit h Katherine , th e Cannans , th e Garnetts , th e Campbells . Sh e must secretl y hav e feare d internmen t i f Lawrenc e wer e taken . Onc e again , sh e may hav e reminde d hersel f (an d pointe d ou t forcibl y t o him ) al l sh e ha d give n up fo r hi s sake . Moreover illnes s struc k he r down , unusually , i n thes e las t months . I n Apri l she ha d foo d poisonin g followe d b y coliti s an d onl y go t bette r i n mid-May ; the n spent mos t o f Augus t unabl e t o ge t abou t becaus e o f sever e neuriti s i n he r leg . Her hatre d o f bein g il l mus t hav e mad e tim e spen t b y Lawrenc e wit h Esthe r o r William Henr y al l th e harde r t o accept . Ye t th e mor e irritabl e jealou s an d
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forsaken sh e felt , an d le t Lawrenc e kno w sh e felt , th e greate r th e attractio n o f the far m ove r th e cottage mus t hav e become t o him . There ar e signs , however , tha t Lawrenc e di d tr y t o help , an d tha t thing s ha d got bette r b y September . A s soo n a s Fried a recovere d i n mid-Ma y h e trie d t o persuade Salli e Hopki n t o com e dow n an d sta y (iii . 126) ; an d i t ma y als o hav e been partl y t o ge t Fried a som e diversio n tha t h e wondere d a t th e en d o f th e month whethe r th e Murry s migh t b e comin g t o Mylo r agai n (iii . 127) . I n th e first par t o f June ther e wa s a visitor , th e firs t sinc e Esthe r left . Thi s wa s Mr s Tarry, thei r next-doo r neighbou r fro m Byro n Villas , an d sh e ha d clearl y bee n asked dow n fo r Frieda' s sak e (iii . 131) . (Indee d h e remarke d o n th e 10t h tha t another wee k o f th e visi t wa s a wee k to o lon g fo r him. ) Moreove r 'Nightmare ' perhaps remembere d trul y ho w th e Bodmi n crisi s ma y hav e brough t him , too , a renewed sens e o f her importanc e t o him , a s 'Harriet' run s t o mee t 'Somers' : 'he r face ver y brigh t wit h fea r an d jo y a t seein g hi m back : ver y beautifu l i n hi s eyes . The onl y rea l thing , perhaps , lef t i n hi s world. ' 3 Then th e comin g o f Heseltin e (who ha d stoo d u p fo r he r t o Ottoline) , an d th e ne w friendshi p wit h Gray , an d even th e comed y o f th e Starrs , mus t als o hav e helpe d t o live n thing s u p - sh e liked havin g youn g me n around . It i s no t clear , then , ho w significan t i t i s tha t sh e wa s wit h Gra y a t Bosigra n the da y tha t th e cottag e wa s searched . Th e gimle t eye s o f recen t biographer s have narrowed , i n speculatio n tha t sh e ma y hav e bee n havin g anothe r affair . Certainly Gray' s arriva l mus t hav e adde d much-neede d interes t t o he r life , though sh e woul d hav e bee n unabl e t o tak e muc h advantag e throug h August , o r during th e prolonge d rain s i n earl y Septembe r afte r thei r firs t visi t t o Bosigran . The friendshi p ma y hav e intensifie d toward s th e en d o f th e mont h whe n Lawrence wa s helpin g wit h th e cor n harvest , an d i n sympath y wit h th e 'persecution' o f Gray afte r thei r weeken d i n hi s house . Moreove r Fried a wa s no t monogamous, believe d i n fre e love , an d wa s alway s convince d o f he r powe r t o cure th e problem s o f youn g me n b y givin g hersel f t o them . Certainl y wit h Hobson (an d perhap s i n othe r cases ) sh e wa s no t a t al l avers e t o snappin g he r fingers i n he r husband' s fac e i n reveng e fo r hi s shortcoming s i n attentio n o r sympathy. Later , Gra y woul d begi n aggressivel y t o tak e he r sid e i n argument s (as Bunny Garnet t ha d done) , an d Fried a t o hin t a t a n affair . Sh e ma y wel l hav e revenged hersel f fo r Lawrence' s neglec t b y sleepin g wit h Gra y i n Cornwal l though actua l evidenc e ther e i s none. Still sh e ma y no t hav e bee n to o displease d t o leav e thei r isolatio n behind , an d get back t o town .
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• October 1917-Septembe r 191 8 ON A L E D G E
I feel as if I were on a sort of ledge halfway dow n a precipice, and didn' t know how to get up or down .. . (iii. 248) I L o n d o n Agai n London fel t close r t o th e wa r tha n Cornwall . Despit e submarin e sinking s of f th e coast, Lawrenc e ha d immerse d himsel f i n a natura l worl d fo r muc h o f th e summer. I n Londo n however , a s autum n gav e wa y t o winter , ther e wa s nightl y fear o f air raids , and widesprea d awarenes s o f how ver y badl y th e wa r wa s going : the collaps e o f th e Russia n front , mutinie s o f Frenc h troop s afte r th e heav y losses o n th e Aisne , appallin g losse s fo r th e Britis h i n th e mu d an d mustard-ga s of th e thir d battl e o f Ypre s (Passchendaele) , an d th e debacl e o f th e Italia n arm y at Caporetto . Throughou t 191 6 an d 191 7 th e mai n railwa y station s ha d bee n crowded wit h wounded , an d wit h uniforme d me n o n preciou s bu t unrea l furlough fro m th e hel l of the trenche s - incommunicabl e t o civilians , even lovin g ones. Sinc e th e first apocalypti c Zeppeli n raid s o f 1915 , Lawrenc e ha d fe w contacts wit h thos e realities ; wherea s Richar d Aldington , who m h e sa w withi n days o f arrival , ha d bee n i n th e trenche s fro m Januar y t o July , an d thoug h reasonably sympatheti c abou t wha t ha d happene d t o th e Lawrence s coul d no t but se e i t i n a larger perspective . Cynthi a ha d los t no t onl y tw o brother s an d th e brilliant brother-in-la w sh e ha d bee n strongl y attracte d t o befor e the y bot h married, bu t als o Lor d Basi l Blackwoo d who m sh e love d mos t o f all ; an d Beb , shell-shock o r no , wa s bac k i n th e trenches . (Catherin e wa s i n Edinburg h wher e Donald wa s in a military hospital. ) So whe n Lawrenc e wrot e t o Gra y tha t Londo n ha d 'gon e ma d . . . think s an d breathes an d live s air-raid s . . . Peopl e ar e no t peopl e an y more : the y ar e factors , really ghastly , lik e Lemures , evi l spirit s o f th e dead ' (iii . 170) , thi s wa s a firs t shocked registe r o f what h e ha d bee n isolate d from . Whe n Cynthi a suggeste d h e meet he r (no w widowed ) sister-in-la w again , who m h e ha d like d i n 1915 , he wa s 'frightened o f the misery o f her' (iii . 177) . His ow n situatio n wa s precarious . Dollie , a s always , ha d take n the m in , bu t they coul d no t sta y long . Th e 'Nightmare ' chapte r o f Kangaroo pay s tribut e t o 409
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the staunc h friendshi p o f th e littl e Fabia n lady-poe t 'wit h he r came o face , lik e a wise child , an d he r grey , bobbe d hair . Suc h a frai l littl e thin g t o hav e gon e sailing thes e sea s o f ideas , an d t o suffer th e awfu l breakdow n o f he r husband' , whom sh e stil l ha d constantl y t o nurse . Sh e wa s fa r fro m wel l an d under standably nervou s abou t guest s wh o ha d t o repor t a t polic e station s - thoug h th e Hampstead polic e too k n o interes t whe n th e Lawrence s di d s o (iii . 170) . Th e little Hampstea d house , whic h Davi d Garnet t ha d describe d a s lik e a ches t o f drawers alway s overflowing , ha d othe r call s o n i t fro m he r grown-u p children , and simpl y wa s no t larg e enoug h fo r th e Lawrence s t o stay , eve n ha d the y wanted to . Ye t the y wer e shor t o f money fo r Londo n living , and afte r losin g th e home the y ha d pai d fo r til l next spring , coul d il l afford anothe r rent . Their firs t hop e wa s t o borro w he r Londo n fla t fro m Gray' s mother . Catherine wa s aske d t o visi t he r i n th e Caledonia n Hote l i n Edinburg h an d di d (iii. 169) , bu t nothin g cam e o f thi s immediately . T o th e rescu e wit h character istic generosit y cam e Hild a Aldington , describe d i n 'Nightmare ' a s 'beautiful ' and 'reckless' . Richar d ha d bee n poste d bac k i n th e summe r fo r office r trainin g and H.D . ha d bee n shuttlin g betwee n Londo n an d visit s t o hi m a t cam p i n Lichfield. Thei r clos e frien d Cournos , wh o was strongl y attracte d t o Hild a bu t loyally di d nothin g abou t it , ha d take n a smalle r roo m upstair s whe n sh e first rented th e bi g drawing-roo m a t 4 4 Mecklenburg h Square . I n Augus t Hild a too k in Doroth y ( 'Arabella' ) Yorke , Cournos' s first love , wh o arrive d unexpectedl y from Paris , an d h e fel l deepl y i n lov e wit h he r again . Whe n h e lef t fo r S t Petersburg i n lat e 191 7 t o cove r th e stirrin g event s i n Russia , h e begge d H.D . t o go o n lookin g afte r her , s o Arabell a move d int o hi s room . No w Hild a too k th e Lawrences in , fo r a few day s at first, bu t the y staye d fro m 2 0 October til l the en d of November . The y wer e len t th e larg e roo m wheneve r Hild a wen t t o Lichfield ; but eve n whe n sh e was a t hom e the y managed , b y din t o f Lawrenc e takin g th e room upstair s whil e Fried a an d Arabell a share d th e doubl e be d an d 'H.D. ' slep t on a camp-bed , al l i n th e bi g first-floor roo m wit h it s thre e grea t heavily curtained windows . At first, Lawrenc e was inten t o n gettin g th e bannin g orde r undone . H e wrot e twice t o th e Majo r Genera l i n Salisbury , an d trie d t o enlis t th e hel p o f Londo n friends an d friend s o f friends . Firs t was Cynthia , o f course , thoug h afte r th e fal l of he r father-in-la w th e Asquit h influenc e wa s lessened . Lawrenc e wen t t o se e her th e da y afte r h e arrive d i n London , an d sh e agree d t o mak e enquiries , bu t without enthusiasm . Hi s cas e cam e unfortunatel y jus t day s afte r anothe r appea l to th e Asquiths , fro m th e splendi d Lad y Angel a Forbes , who m officialdo m ha d at las t succeede d (o n a trumped-up charge ) i n orderin g ou t o f Franc e wher e sh e had bee n runnin g he r famou s soldiers ' canteens . Her e th e Asquit h influenc e was wheeled out , th e ex-Prim e Ministe r himsel f writin g a 'scorcher ' t o Lor d Derb y and threatenin g t o spea k i n th e House , bu t Cynthi a clearl y foun d th e prospec t o f 410
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taking o n th e Arm y distasteful , eve n i n a rathe r mor e spectacula r cas e tha n Lawrence's. Sh e wa s nonetheless worrie d abou t him : h e looke d 'ver y gaunt' , an d she wa s wel l awar e o f th e threa t o f Londo n t o hi s health , an d hi s finances, sinc e 'all th e mone y h e ha s i n th e worl d i s th e prospect o f eightee n pound s fo r th e publication o f som e poem s al l abou t bellie s an d breast s whic h h e gav e m e t o read'. Bu t sh e ha d divide d feeling s abou t wha t ha d happened . 'Peopl e shoul d either b e lef t i n peac e or interne d a t th e country' s expense' ; bu t 'afte r all , th e woman is a German , an d i t doesn' t see m unreasonable' . Sh e promise d t o d o what sh e could , bu t doubte d whethe r i t woul d b e much . I f sh e di d approac h someone lik e Harol d Baker , wh o serve d o n th e Arm y Council , ha d influenc e with th e Wa r Offic e an d ha d me t an d like d Lawrenc e i n 1915 , he probabl y too k a simila r view . Certainly , whe n Fried a an d Lawrenc e cam e t o te a five day s late r on 2 1 October , an d Eddi e Mars h cam e i n t o se e the m - newl y influentia l agai n since Lt . Col . Churchil l ha d returne d fro m th e trenche s t o becom e Ministe r o f Munitions unde r Lloy d Georg e - 'W e wer e no t abl e t o hol d ou t an y hope s o f their bein g allowe d t o retur n t o Cornwall . Thei r exclusio n seem s s o ver y reasonable.' Lawrenc e wa s 'ver y sor e an d sulky ' a t first, bu t th e ol d affection s proved stil l t o be there , thoug h h e sai d ther e wer e onl y eigh t peopl e i n th e worl d now wit h who m h e coul d spen d mor e tha n tw o hours . H e ha d bee n feelin g coo l towards Mars h sinc e th e debacl e ove r The Rainbow, bu t remarke d afte r h e lef t that ther e wa s a niceness i n hi m afte r all ; and Cynthi a foun d a s before tha t ther e was somethin g 'hearty ' an d 'warming ' abou t Frieda . Ye t th e mos t promisin g sources o f help coul d promis e ver y little . Campbell wa s now workin g i n th e Ministr y o f Munitions, an d di d tr y t o help , though hi s contact s onl y produce d tal k o f 'expediency' . Sinc e nothin g coul d b e got ou t o f th e Majo r General , i t seeme d th e onl y hop e o f discoverin g an d disproving th e reason s fo r thei r expulsio n was fro m th e Under-Secretar y a t th e War Office . Firs t however , o n Campbell' s advice , Lawrenc e wrot e t o Kot' s friend Mont y Shearman , th e ric h barriste r fro m who m Ko t ha d borrowe d book s for hi m an d wh o wa s employe d b y th e Foreig n Ministry . Coul d he , perhap s through Jac k Hutchinson , find ou t th e reason s 'mor e directly' , o r a t leas t discover wh o 'i n th e Wa r Offic e Intelligenc e Departmen t i t woul d b e possibl e o r profitable t o approach' ? (iii . 175-6) . The y arrange d t o meet , bu t thoug h thi s made Lawrenc e anothe r acquaintance , i t produce d n o explanations . Lawrenc e also aske d Cynthi a Asquit h whethe r Fran k Bigham , Assistan t Commissione r o f the Metropolita n Police , migh t kno w wh o 'th e responsibl e man ' was , who m i t seemed impossibl e t o identif y o r reac h (iii . 177) . The on e significan t omissio n i n all thi s wa s Murry , wh o actuall y worke d i n th e Wa r Office . A s i t happene d h e fell seriousl y il l throug h overwor k i n th e middl e o f November , threatene d wit h tuberculosis i t wa s thought , an d i t wa s arrange d tha t h e shoul d spen d th e nex t two month s a t Garsington ; bu t i n lat e Octobe r an d earl y Novembe r whe n 411
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Lawrence di d writ e t o th e Wa r Office , Murr y wa s presumabl y a t hi s des k - ye t there i s n o evidenc e o f an y effor t t o contac t him . I n mid-Novembe r th e Wa r Office formall y replied : the y woul d no t b e permitte d t o retur n t o Cornwal l (iii. 182) . No reaso n wa s given . He ha d howeve r alread y begu n t o rally . A t first h e ha d bee n unabl e t o g o o n with th e America n essay s o r 'd o an y wor k - non e a t al l — onl y rea d an d se e people' (iii . 174) ; and bot h h e an d Fried a caugh t heav y colds ; bu t b y th e en d o f October hi s old psychi c resourc e ha d begu n t o operate again . Letters an d excite d conversation turne d t o Ranani m onc e more , fostere d thi s tim e b y th e Eder s t o cheer hi m up . Th e communit y was no w t o b e o n th e lowe r slope s o f th e Andes . Relatives o f Eder's owne d a plantation i n th e Cauc a Valle y o f Colombia (iii . 174) , and Ede r himsel f i n hi s thirtie s ha d mad e a n adventurou s expeditio n there , ove r the Andes ; followe d (afte r a spel l a s a docto r i n a minin g village o n th e edg e o f the Lak e District ) b y anothe r journe y 3,00 0 mile s u p th e Amazo n int o Bolivia . So no w Lawrenc e day-dreame d excitedl y t o Catherine . H e name d hi s eigh t people: 'Ede r an d Mr s Eder , Willia m Henr y an d Gray , an d probabl y Hild a Aldington an d mayb e Ko t an d Doroth y Yorke ' (iii . 173) , an d o f cours e Catherine, thoug h a hospitalise d husban d an d a ne w bab y admittedl y create d complications. H e though t tha t Gra y coul d find £1,00 0 - perhap s fro m some thing Gra y ha d sai d abou t hi s finances i n Cornwall . Sinc e howeve r Gray' s allowance wa s only £20 0 a year - albeit , havin g ric h parents , h e ha d expectation s of muc h mor e i n tim e - h e was somewha t surprise d t o discove r thi s lon g afterwards, especiall y becaus e Lawrenc e neve r mentione d i t whe n h e wrot e i n otherwise simila r term s t o Bosigra n o n 2 9 Octobe r (ii . 174) . (No r di d Lawrenc e allow fo r tensio n betwee n Hild a an d Arabell a whic h ha d alread y begun. ) I n wartime suc h a n escap e coul d onl y b e a day-dream anyway , but a s always i t lifte d his spirits , mad e hi m thin k o f somethin g othe r tha n hi s trouble s an d wa s a language fo r th e confirmatio n o f friendshi p - provide d th e frien d woul d rea d between th e lines . When howeve r Lawrenc e wrot e Gra y tha t th e schem e 'seem s to occup y m y heart' , s o h e woul d b e 'bitterl y disappointe d i f i t doesn' t mea n much t o you ' (iii . 175) , bac k cam e practica l Scottis h doubts . Lawrence' s nex t letter tol d hi m t o anne x th e bottl e o f Holland s gi n th e nex t tim e h e wen t pas t Tregerthen, an d no t t o b e a doubtin g Thoma s (iii . 176) ; bu t perhap s Gray' s reaction underline d wha t a paucit y o f letter s ha d alread y suggested : 'Yo u ar e s o queer an d evanescent , on e feel s on e lose s yo u a bit' (iii . 174) . Gra y wa s no t on e to commi t himsel f (t o Lawrenc e - o r t o Frieda) , le t alon e t o suc h a hare-braine d idea. Besides , h e hate d mountains . Nevertheles s th e ne w Ranani m mad e Lawrence mor e cheerfu l an d n o longe r quit e s o anxiou s t o ge t bac k t o Cornwal l at once : 'On e seem s t o be , i n som e quee r way , vitall y activ e here . An d the n people, one o r two , seem t o giv e a strange ne w response ' (iii . 174) . He wa s thinkin g mainl y o f th e Eder s a s hi s nex t sentenc e shows , an d als o o f 412
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H.D.; fo r thei r suppor t an d stimulu s ha d helpe d hi m ge t t o wor k again . B y 5 Novembe r h e ha d don e hi s piec e fo r th e Yale Review o n 'Th e Limi t t o th e British Novelist ' (iii . 177) . This probabl y contraste d hi s contemporarie s wit h th e qualities h e ha d com e t o treasur e i n America n writers , bu t unfortunatel y i t ha s not survived . I t cam e to o lat e fo r th e Decembe r number , th e nex t afte r th e article b y a Mr s Geroul d o n whic h i t was t o comment , an d Wilbu r Cros s thought i t to o direc t a repl y t o b e adaptabl e fo r som e futur e issue . (Lawrenc e must als o hav e bee n annoye d b y he r air y admissio n tha t sh e ha d no t bothere d t o read him, s o h e ma y als o hav e bee n to o fierc e fo r Cross' s taste ; thoug h hi s titl e shows h e ha d bee n fryin g bigge r fish.) The Eder s revive d th e ide a o f publicatio n b y subscriptio n a s th e remed y fo r publishers' fain t heart s abou t Women in Love (iii . 178) . Edith no t onl y persuade d him t o pu t th e ide a t o Pinke r again , bu t determine d t o se e Pinke r hersel f (iii. 181) . Soon cam e th e notio n o f trying onc e mor e fo r th e suppor t o f his mos t reputable authors ; an d Pinke r arrange d a lunc h wit h Galsworth y o n 1 6 November (iii . 183) . Meanwhil e Campbel l an d Ko t suggeste d a n approac h t o Joseph Hone , who m Lawrenc e ha d me t a t Selwoo d Terrace , t o se e whethe r Maunsel & Co . i n Dubli n fo r who m Hon e worke d a s literar y editor , an d wh o had publishe d translation s b y Ko t an d Murry , migh t b e intereste d i n publishin g the nove l (iii . 18 3 an d n . 3) . (Heseltine , i n Dublin , ha d ha d th e sam e idea , an d drummed u p supportin g letters , o f whic h on e i n hig h prais e survive s fro m Nichols.) A feele r cam e fro m Fishe r Unwin , wh o ha d bee n intereste d i n publishing Lawrenc e fo r som e tim e (iii . 184-5) . B y 2 8 Novembe r thes e ne w prospects ha d stimulate d hi m t o ge t ou t th e typescrip t o f the nove l an d d o som e more wor k o n i t (iii . 185) . Hone ha d hinte d tha t wha t he would mos t lik e t o se e would b e 'A t th e Gates' , whic h Seeke r ha d bee n lookin g a t (iii . 18 5 n. 2) . Aaron's Rod was als o begu n 'i n th e Mecklenbur g Squar e days ' (iii . 728 ) - thoug h w e d o not kno w ho w muc h Lawrenc e ha d tim e t o draf t ther e befor e movin g ou t a t th e end o f November, ho w i t began o r whethe r th e inhabitant s o f th e bi g roo m wer e already i n it. 8 Unfortunately al l thes e prospect s (except , eventually , th e novel ) woul d com e to nothing . Heseltine' s fear s o f th e conservatis m o f th e partner s i n Maunse l proved accurate . The y first turne d dow n th e novel , becaus e 'the y don' t wan t t o publish an y Englis h book s durin g th e war ' (iii . 187) ; and then , havin g illogicall y asked t o se e th e essay s turne d the m dow n too , thoug h Hon e ha d bee n muc h impressed (iii . 19 6 n . 2) . No r woul d Fishe r Unwi n ris k Women in Love; an d h e may als o hav e decline d 'A t th e Gates' . Somewher e i n al l thi s toin g an d froin g and throug h Heseltine' s eventua l reveng e fo r Hallida y an d th e Pussum , according t o Hon e - bot h typescript s o f 'A t th e Gates ' disappeare d an d hav e never com e t o light . Th e lunc h wit h Pinke r an d Galsworth y wa s a disaster. Th e two writer s cordiall y dislike d eac h othe r a s Pinke r mus t hav e feared , knowin g 4i3
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them both . Lawrenc e though t Galsworth y a 'sawdust bore ' (iii . 183 ) and kne w a t once h e woul d loath e Women in Love (iii . 185) . Galsworth y describe d 'tha t provincial genius ' a s 'Interesting , bu t a typ e I coul d no t ge t o n with . Obsesse d with self . Dea d eyes , an d a re d beard , lon g narro w pal e face . A strang e bird.' 10 Just befor e leavin g Londo n a t th e en d o f th e year , Lawrenc e hear d tha t Georg e Moore admire d hi s wor k (iii . 191) . He aske d Pinke r t o mak e enquirie s an d wrot e to Moor e himsel f i n mid-Januar y (iii . 196) ; bu t i t turne d ou t tha t wha t Moor e admired wa s Sons and Lovers an d t o a lesse r exten t The White Peacock. H e thought th e late r work s abandone d huma n person s fo r 'vagu e anima l abstrac tions', an d advise d Lawrenc e t o kee p th e socia l classe s separate , doubtin g i t wa s wise t o sho w miners ' childre n o r far m worker s a s having intellectua l interests . I t is no t difficul t t o imagin e Lawrence' s reactions . (Fried a ha d bee n dismissiv e about Moore' s Salve lon g before.) 11 S o th e las t hop e o f a n Iris h salvatio n fo r Women in Love, o r publicatio n b y subscriptio n wit h th e suppor t o f well-know n authors, had t o be dropped . On 2 6 November , however , Look! We have Come Through! appeared . Lawrence was please d wit h 'th e get-up ' (iii . 187 ) bu t th e prospect s wer e discouraging, sinc e i t was preceded b y a review i n The Times Literary Supplement which wa s kin d enoug h t o admi t tha t Lawrenc e showe d 'muc h o f th e ar t o f writing an d avoid s banality' , bu t complaine d o f 'verbiag e . . . varie d b y orgie s o f extreme eroticism' , an d o f 'excite d morbi d babbl e abou t one' s ow n emotion s which th e Mus e o f poetr y surel y ca n onl y tur n fro m wit h a paine d distaste' . Though Chatt o & Windu s wrot e reassuringl y tha t Lawrenc e coul d dispens e with suc h Muse s 's o lon g a s yo u hav e th e appreciatio n o f thos e wh o ca n recognise literatur e whe n the y se e it' , the y to o wer e obviousl y disappointe d b y the resul t o f sendin g a n earl y revie w cop y t o a n influentia l journal . Seriou s discussion o f the volum e ha d t o wait fo r a n America n review . Moreover, a bar b abou t th e titl e ha d alread y com e fro m Gray , wh o dare d t o question th e trut h o f it s clai m abou t th e Lawrenc e marriage . Fried a seem s t o have writte n hi m a satirica l lette r abou t Lawrenc e surroundin g himsel f ane w with femal e worship , Hild a havin g take n ove r Esther' s role . I n reply , Gra y followed th e patter n o f Bunn y Garnett : havin g originall y bee n attracte d t o th e Lawrences a s a pair , h e bega n no w aggressivel y t o tak e Frieda' s side . Indee d i f Frieda ha d slep t wit h him , i t i s no t har d t o se e wh y h e shoul d den y Lawrence' s claims fo r hi s marriage , withou t realisin g ho w relativel y littl e he r affair s mean t t o Frieda, o r ho w Lawrenc e ha d tolerate d them . Bu t eve n i f matter s ha d no t gon e that far , enoug h ha d happene d betwee n th e Lawrence s i n Cornwal l sinc e th e poems wer e writte n t o mak e th e ful l confidenc e o f th e titl e see m mor e questionable no w - especiall y t o a recipien t o f Frieda' s complaints . However , giving Lawrenc e th e li e coul d hardl y fai l t o brin g a tar t ye t stil l friendl y response. 414
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I don' t car e wha t yo u accep t o r don' t accept , either : i t bore s m e a bit . Bu t don' t g o throwing abou t accusation s an d callin g m e a lia r gratuitously . Look , w e hav e com e through - whethe r yo u ca n se e i t o r not . - Perhap s yo u ar e righ t t o resen t th e impertinence of the 'Look!'. None the less, we have come through. - Bu t enough of this we can leave it alone henceforth, an d abstain, me from underworld s etc , you fro m callin g me a liar. (iii. 178 ) (Since Gra y seem s als o t o hav e sai d h e wa s broke , perhap s t o explai n wh y h e had no t ye t com e u p t o town , Lawrenc e sen t £ 5 fro m mone y Ede r ha d give n him, £4. o f i t t o repa y Gray' s hel p wit h thei r unexpecte d trai n fare s up . Lawrence's lette r show s onc e agai n ho w h e woul d tak e criticis m fro m thos e brave enoug h t o mak e i t t o hi s face , eve n i n personall y woundin g terms . H e clearly di d no t like it; but th e paymen t doesn' t signa l any break. ) The suggestio n tha t h e ha d bee n explorin g 'underworlds ' wit h Hild a mus t have com e fro m a jibe o f Frieda' s a t hi s poeti c discussion s wit h H.D. , especiall y of he r sequenc e 'Eurydice ' i n relatio n t o hi s 'Resurrection' . H e turne d th e charge bac k o n Gra y an d Fried a i n a secon d lette r th e nex t da y - a considere d response t o th e jib e (accordin g t o Gray' s late r memory ) tha t h e allowe d himsel f 'to becom e th e objec t o f a kin d o f esoteri c femal e cult , a n Adonis , Atthis , Dionysos religio n o f which h e was the centra l figure, a Jesus Chris t t o a regimen t of Mar y Magdalenes' , onl y to o anxiou s t o greas e hi s feet. 1 Lawrenc e though t Gray onl y 'hal f righ t abou t th e disciple s an d th e alabaste r box' . Wha t was wron g lay less with th e Magdalen e tha n wit h 'th e discipleshi p o f the twelve' . As for me and my 'women', I know what they are and aren't, and though there is a certain messiness, ther e i s a furthe r reality . Tak e awa y th e subservienc e an d feet-washing , an d the pur e understandin g betwee n th e Magdale n an d Jesu s wen t deepe r tha n th e under standing betwee n th e disciple s an d Jesus , o r Jesus an d th e Bethan y women . Bu t Jesu s himself was frightened o f the knowledge which subsisted between the Magdalen and him, a knowledg e deepe r tha n th e knowledg e o f Christianit y an d 'good' , deepe r tha n love , anyhow. He di d no t a t al l mind bein g tol d wher e h e wa s wrong , 'no t b y yo u o r anybod y I respect' thoug h h e di d no t thin k Gra y an d Fried a wer e 'goin g for ' hi m i n anything serious . O n th e contrary , the y bot h neede d t o g o a 'worl d deepe r i n knowledge'. It seems to me there is a whole world of knowledge to forsake, a new, deeper, lower one to entamer. An d your hatred o f me, like Frieda's hatre d o f me, is your cleavage to a world of knowledge and being which you ought to forsake, which, by organic law, you must depart from o r die . An d m y 'women' , Esthe r Andrews , Hild a Aldingto n etc , represent, i n a n impure and unproud, subservient, cringing, bad fashion I admit, - bu t represent non e the less th e threshol d o f a new world , o r underworld , o f knowledg e an d being . - An d th e Hebridean Songs , which represen t yo u and Fried a i n this , are songs of the damned: tha t 415
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is, songs of those who inhabit an underworld whic h is forever a n underworld, neve r to be made ope n an d whole . An d yo u woul d lik e u s al l t o inhabi t a suggestiv e underworl d which i s neve r reveale d o r opened , onl y intimated , onl y felt betwee n th e initiated . - I won't hav e it. The ol d worl d mus t burst , th e underworl d mus t b e open an d whole , new world. - Yo u wan t a n emotiona l sensuou s underworld , lik e Fried a an d th e Hebrideans : my 'women' want an ecstatic subtly-intellectual underworld , lik e the Greeks - Orphicis m - lik e Magdalen at her feet-washing - an d there you are. (iii. 179-80 ) It i s anybody' s gues s whethe r Lawrence' s linkin g o f Gra y wit h Fried a her e implies knowledg e o f a n affai r betwee n the m i n Cornwall , o r whethe r i t merel y perceives thei r affinit y i n th e oppositio n th e lette r explores , an d wh y Gra y wa s taking Frieda' s sid e agains t him . Th e passag e i n Women in Love wher e Birki n speaks t o Geral d abou t hatre d show s als o that , fo r Lawrence , intens e temporar y hatreds wer e par t of , an d no t th e antithesi s to , th e developmen t o f creativ e friendship an d love . Gra y cam e t o Londo n a fe w day s late r o n 1 2 November , and Lawrenc e me t hi m a t Paddington . What happene d a t 4 4 Mecklenburg h Squar e woul d lea d t o th e breaku p o f th e Aldington marriage , an d o f relation s betwee n Courno s an d xArabella , an d t o a long-lasting ruptur e betwee n Courno s an d Hilda , an d t o th e en d o f Lawrence' s relationships wit h bot h Hild a an d Gray . I t was mor e comple x tha n dramatic , however - anothe r o f thos e episode s whic h requir e t o b e see n fro m al l sides , especially sinc e n o les s tha n five o f th e protagonist s lef t book s whic h dea l wit h i t to varyin g extent s an d i n differin g way s (i n on e case , moreover , ver y disin genuously). 16 II Th e 'underworld ' i n 4 4 Mecklenburgh Squar e The Aldingto n marriag e ha d bee n straine d sinc e th e stil l birt h o f thei r chil d i n 1915. Hild a fel t tha t Richar d ha d neve r understoo d wha t th e los s o f th e bab y meant t o he r — Lawrence alone , sh e thought , ha d instantl y an d intuitivel y known. Moreove r th e traged y lef t he r terrifie d o f ever goin g throug h i t again , s o she becam e unwillin g t o hav e intercourse ; havin g als o been warne d tha t i t woul d be wise r no t t o conceiv e unti l afte r th e wa r whe n sh e woul d b e les s nervy . Richard seem s t o hav e accepte d thi s a s par t o f thei r fre e marriage , no t affectin g their intens e imaginativ e an d intellectua l lif e a s poet s together . H e ma y als o hav e resumed a n earlie r relationshi p wit h Brigi t Patmore . H e agonise d abou t whethe r to enlis t o r no t bu t i n th e en d simpl y waited , til l he wa s conscripted i n 191 6 afte r their tim e wit h Courno s i n Devon . Ther e the y ha d mad e friend s wit h Car l an d Florence Fallas , an d Richar d becam e sexuall y involve d wit h Fl o t o Hilda' s distress. Fre e marriag e o r no , sh e though t he r riva l common , an d feare d th e relationship woul d damag e Richar d th e poet . Sh e stil l trie d t o hol d thei r marriage togethe r however , an d whe n Richar d wa s called u p a s a private, trainin g 416
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at Corf e Castle , sh e wen t t o b e clos e t o hi m there , writin g Courno s som e intens e and high-flow n letter s abou t he r concer n fo r th e effec t o n he r husband' s poeti c spirit o f a new existenc e h e foun d degrading . A s hi s regiment' s embarkatio n fo r France gre w nearer , i n Novembe r 1916 , ther e wa s tal k briefl y o f he r goin g t o America, bu t sh e di d not . Instead sh e too k th e roo m i n Mecklenburg h Square , wit h Courno s upstair s platonically, despit e he r havin g kisse d hi m (afte r Richar d wa s conscripted ) i n a way whic h seeme d t o hi m a might-have-bee n wer e i t no t fo r thei r commo n loyalty. I n Decembe r 191 6 Richar d embarke d fo r Flanders , wher e h e serve d a s 'runner' i n a pionee r compan y engage d i n trenc h digging , narrowl y escapin g death mor e tha n once . H e cam e bac k t o b e a n office r cade t a t th e en d o f Jul y 1917, Hild a too k i n Arabell a i n August , i n lat e Septembe r Courno s lef t fo r Russia an d Arabell a move d int o hi s room . I n Octobe r Richar d cam e o n leav e an d kissed Arabell a afte r a party, thereafte r becomin g increasingl y obsesse d wit h her , though i t i s no t clea r whe n the y firs t wen t t o bed . Th e Lawrence s move d i n when Richar d ha d gon e bac k t o Lichfield . Whe n h e cam e o n leav e agai n i n December, h e kne w h e woul d b e goin g bac k t o th e trenche s a t th e en d o f th e year. H e openl y spen t mos t o f hi s tim e wit h Arabell a upstairs , an d eve n slep t with he r i n Hilda' s bed . No w th e fre e marriag e becam e intolerabl e t o Hilda , though sh e wa s tor n b y hi s belie f tha t h e wa s takin g a doome d man' s las t satisfaction whic h h e coul d no t ge t fro m hi s wife . At leas t s o muc h detai l i s necessary , i n orde r t o understan d somethin g o f Hilda's stat e o f mind i n lat e 1917 . She alread y ha d a special feelin g fo r Lawrenc e after 1915 , thoug h sh e ha d no t see n hi m sinc e hi s departur e fo r Cornwall . H e also ha d a specia l feelin g fo r her . H e admire d he r poetr y greatly , bu t als o say s interestingly tha t h e 'feared ' it; 19 presumabl y becaus e o f it s fusio n o f intens e feeling wit h coo l impersona l 'Greek ' an d Imagis t control , a contras t wit h hi s own wor k tha t h e coul d respect . The y wrot e letter s an d sen t poem s t o eac h other i n 191 6 an d 191 7 - partl y becaus e Hild a acte d fo r Am y Lowel l i n collecting poem s fo r th e successiv e Imagis t anthologies , an d wa s fo r a whil e th e literary edito r o f th e Egoist afte r Richar d wa s called-u p (an d unti l T . S . Elio t took over) ; bu t als o i n mutua l respect , thoug h thei r poeti c position s wer e ver y different. I n Augus t 191 6 she aske d hi m wh y h e di d no t writ e 'hymn s t o fire' , o r love poems t o a tree (ii . 645) - fo r sh e thought hi s poetry to o insistentl y personal . In Marc h 191 7 sh e though t th e Look! poem s 'to o muc h bod y an d emotions ' (iii. 102) . Sh e neve r di d tel l hi m wha t sh e though t o f Women in Love, bu t Bid Ale to Live suggest s tha t sh e foun d i t long , confuse d an d to o sex-obsessed , though sh e kne w ther e was preciou s or e i n i t tha t sh e ha d bee n unabl e t o 'dredge' out. 20 These genera l criticism s ar e authenticate d an d explaine d b y th e contras t o f her ow n poetry ; ye t he r 'novel ' als o show s ho w the y concea l th e dept h o f he r 417
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own respons e t o Lawrence' s poems , an d especiall y hi s letters . On e ha s t o b e careful ho w on e use s Bid Me to Live a s a source ; bu t thoug h (reachin g it s final form s o lon g afte r th e event s i t describes ) it s chronolog y i s imprecis e an d sometimes confused , an d it s intensel y broodin g subjectivit y a conditio n o f it s power, i t strike s on e a s havin g bee n s o refine d b y self-examinatio n an d exactitude o f languag e - 'Sh e broode d ove r eac h word , a s i f t o hatc h it ' - a s t o seem remarkabl y authentic , fro m he r poin t o f view . I t wa s i n th e ros e poem s o f Look!, an d especiall y th e greates t o f them , tha t sh e foun d th e inne r 'gloire ' which fo r he r linke d Lawrenc e wit h Va n Gog h a s th e archetypa l artist s wh o bi d her t o liv e an d showe d he r wha t t o liv e for : t o captur e th e inne r glor y i n al l things. Lon g befor e th e Lawrence s cam e t o Mecklenburg h Squar e sh e ha d rea d into tw o poem s h e sen t he r a t Corf e Castl e a persona l message , a signal : 'Yo u sent ou t a flare t o me , tha t tim e i n Dorset , befor e [Richard ] went . Couldn' t yo u have waite d til l h e ha d gone? ' Her e ironie s begin . On e o f th e tw o ca n b e identified fo r certain : 'O n Tha t Day' , t o b e publishe d late r i n New Poems. In he r unpublished 'Compassionat e Friendship ' sh e wrote : 'M y hear t contracte d whe n I opene d th e boo k an d foun d tha t poe m h e ha d sen t m e a t Corf e Castl e - wa s i t in 191 7 [i t wa s summe r 1916 ] . . . Ther e was tha t othe r poe m "whe n yo u ar e dead I wil l bring rose s an d rose s t o cove r you r grave" . I t seem s I had bee n dead , but th e rose s wer e t o com e later. ' 'O n Tha t Day ' wa s i n fac t a revised versio n of a muc h earlie r poe m originall y title d 'He r Birthday ' an d was a n eleg y t o Lawrence's mothe r - bu t H.D . clearl y too k it s strewin g o f roses , becaus e 'yo u were brave ' an d ' a stil l queen ' personally. Th e othe r poe m ( I think ) wa s 'Resurrection', writte n a t th e en d o f 1915 : a n Orphi c poe m whic h show s th e poet issuin g fort h lik e a frai l flower fro m a n 'embassy ' int o th e underworl d o f death, emergin g no w lik e a cyclamen, a crocus, int o a n eart h 'bitte r . . . ami d th e smoke/ Fro m burnin g fires o f many smoulderin g lives, / Al l bitter an d corrodin g to th e grave' . Ye t fo r al l th e frailt y o f th e flower, ' I lif t m y inextinguishabl e flame/ O f immortalit y int o th e world, / O f resurrectio n . . . ' 2 3 Th e imager y finds an inverte d ech o i n H.D.' s 'Eurydice' , whic h w e kno w sh e bega n t o writ e a t Corfe Castle , an d whic h figures i n Bid Me to Live. Th e draft s remembere d there, however , ar e abou t lettin g Orpheu s go ; while th e final poe m o f Ma y 191 7 has become Eurydice' s intens e bu t controlle d lamen t an d reproac h fo r Orpheus' s backward loo k tha t ha s plunge d he r int o hel l again , whe n sh e migh t hav e live d once more . Ye t 'hel l i s no wors e tha n you r earth ' an d 'A t leas t I have th e flowers of myself , / . . . I hav e th e fervou r o f mysel f fo r a presence / an d m y ow n spiri t for light.' 24 So sh e seem s t o hav e see n Lawrenc e as , onc e again , understanding wha t sh e had gon e throug h i n havin g t o 'giv e up ' Richar d (i n mor e way s tha n one ) i n 1916, an d a s havin g sen t he r a persona l messag e o f tendernes s an d admiratio n for he r courag e an d quietnes s unde r stress . Hi s Look! an d he r 'Eurydice ' mus t 418
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also hav e seeme d t o he r ironicall y related . Sh e was probabl y mistaken , however , to rea d a persona l messag e int o th e sendin g o f 'O n Tha t Day' . Lawrenc e ha d worked o n i t i n Porthcothan , an d i t ma y simpl y hav e bee n amon g th e recentl y finished poem s tha t h e sen t wit h a n ey e o n th e Imagis t antholog y o r th e Egoist. There woul d b e n o doub t abou t hi s sympathy , however , an d h e certainl y hear d from he r i n Augus t 191 6 abou t Aldington' s conscriptio n (an d perhap s he r unhappiness). Unfortunatel y th e whol e correspondenc e ha s disappeared . Lawr ence hardl y eve r kep t letters ; an d Aldington , anxiou s i n late r year s t o minimis e his ex-wife' s relationshi p wit h Lawrence , burn t hi s t o her , whic h sh e ha d kep t i n a red bo x wit h a miniature o f her mother . Ye t i t was thos e letter s whic h wer e fo r her th e essenc e o f Lawrence , 'jus t ordinar y letter s tha t yo u coul d chuc k acros s a breakfast-tray t o an y husband , bu t tha t ye t hel d th e flam e an d th e fire, th e burning, th e believing' . Ther e wer e onl y thre e o r fou r o f them , bu t sh e brooded ove r som e o f thei r sentence s lik e talisman s o r runes , an d on e wa y o f looking a t Bid Me to Live i s a s a n extende d commentar y an d answer . He r 'Eurydice' wa s originally a dramatic dialogue , bu t Lawrenc e di d no t car e fo r th e Orpheus bi t an d tol d he r t o stic k t o th e woman' s poin t o f view . Thi s wa s not , a s she imagined , becaus e h e though t o f mal e an d femal e a s utterl y distinc t - i f sh e had bee n abl e t o rea d hi s novel s sh e woul d hav e know n tha t hi s vie w o f sexualit y was as 'mixed' a s her ow n - bu t 'G o bac k t o you r froze n altars' , though mean t a s advice abou t he r poem , echoe d i n he r min d als o a s a run e abou t hersel f an d he r frigidity. Later , sh e mus t hav e tol d Lawrenc e mor e abou t th e stat e o f he r marriage, i n letter s whic h wer e primaril y fo r othe r reasons . I n Octobe r 191 6 sh e asked fo r poem s fo r th e anthology , an d tol d hi m sh e was no t goin g t o Americ a but t o Mecklenburg h Square . H e sen t he r 'Terranova ' (ii . 66 4 an d n . 1 ; whic h became 'Ne w Heave n an d Earth ' i n Look!). I n Marc h 191 7 sh e enclose d som e o f Amy's poem s i n a lette r whic h wa s 'ver y sa d an d suppressed , everythin g i s wrong' (iii . 105) . I t wa s probabl y no w tha t h e sen t he r a bo x o f lettuce s an d carnations fro m hi s garden , an d wrot e a letter t o chee r he r up , an d t o counsel th e courage t o change . Th e sentence s sh e brood s ove r i n th e 'novel ' soun d lik e Lawrence mad e ove r int o he r ow n voice , bu t whateve r h e originall y said , sh e turned int o runes : 'Kic k ove r you r tiresom e hous e o f life , ou r langui d lil y o f virtue nod s perilousl y nea r th e pit' . 'Yo u ar e a living spiri t i n a living spiri t city' . Significantly also , however, 'Yo u ar e entangled i n you r ow n dreams. ' So whe n h e cam e t o Mecklenburg h Square , jus t a s he r miser y ove r Richard' s new consignmen t o f her t o a kind o f hell was intensifying , Lawrenc e wa s alread y firmly establishe d i n he r min d a s a source o f sympath y an d light . H e o n hi s par t was als o i n th e depths , bu t move d b y he r comin g t o th e rescue . O n th e first evening (accordin g t o Bid Me to Live), 'Rico ' [Lawrence ] sat , sea-tanne d an d sun-tanned, stil l with th e dus t o f Cornwall a s it wer e o n hi s corduroys an d boots , with 'Elsa ' [Frieda ] o n on e sid e o f hi m an d 'Julia ' [Hilda ] o n th e other , an d 419
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declared tha t the y thre e wer e pledge d onc e an d fo r all : 'ou r lov e i s writte n i n blood, fo r al l eternity'. 27 Lawrence' s ide a o f Blutbriiderschaf t wen t beyon d th e ups an d down s o f merel y persona l feeling ; bu t Juli a take s i t a s a persona l declaration o f lov e which , i n he r stat e o f min d ove r Rafe/Richar d an d Arabella , is all the mor e life-giving . If this happene d - an d i t sounds convincin g - i t might wel l li e behind Frieda' s sarcasms t o Gra y abou t a repeat o f th e episod e wit h Esther , onl y worse . Fo r th e impassioned discussio n betwee n th e tw o poet s o f Orpheus an d Eurydic e - henc e Frieda's an d Gray' s jibe s abou t 'underworlds ' - couple d wit h Hilda' s spiritua l intensity an d worshi p o f Lawrence , woul d hav e seeme d t o Fried a t o combin e Ottoline's soul-mus h wit h Katherine' s intellec t an d attractiveness : jus t th e ardent an d bodiles s intercours e tha t sh e mos t disliked , an d tha t ha d cause d th e flaming ro w whe n th e Murry s ha d bee n a t Tregerthen. Hild a i n ful l cr y coul d b e beautiful a s a Greek statu e sprun g t o impassione d life , he r tal l gawkines s becom e graceful, wit h a n intensit y o f poeti c speec h tha t thos e wh o dislike d he r coul d caricature bu t whic h coul d als o b e charismatic . T o hav e someon e lik e tha t 'a t Lawrence's feet' , lik e th e Magdale n wipin g th e ointmen t wit h he r hair , woul d have been irritatin g t o sa y th e least . There was , however , n o rumpu s thi s time , thoug h ther e was som e tensio n (such a s 'Yo u dam n foo l Frederic o - I ca n tel l yo u — ' , followe d b y 'Shut-up , shut-up, shut-up , yo u dam n Prussian , I don' t wan t t o hea r anythin g yo u ca n tel l me'). That , however , wa s no t unusual ; an d nothin g i s mor e authenti c i n Bid Me to Live tha n th e pictur e o f Els a 'placidl y hemmin g th e tor n edg e o f a n ol d jumper. He r work-ba g spille d homel y content s o n th e floor' o r chainsmoking , with a cigarette hangin g ou t o f the corne r o f her mout h 'lik e a n Uhlan' . I t mus t have helpe d tha t Hild a obviousl y like d Frieda , an d was i n n o doub t o f ho w centrally Lawrence' s lif e an d w rork wer e dependen t o n hi s marriage , thoug h sh e was amuse d a t Frieda' s proprietar y air . Howeve r Rico' s rathe r theatrica l pledg e is countere d i n th e nove l b y Elsa' s 'Thi s wil l leav e m e fre e fo r Vani o [Gray]. ' Authentic o r not , jok e o r serious , warnin g o r rea l intention , ther e i s n o mean s o f telling; an d Hild a wh o migh t hav e discovere d th e trut h late r fro m Gray , seem s not t o hav e don e so . ('Elsa ha d o r woul d hav e or ha d ha d a young frien d [lover?] , a musician.' ) A t th e tim e Julia interpret s Els a permissively , an d so , i f Bid Me to Live i s accurate , di d Arabell a whe n tol d abou t thi s o n a shoppin g expeditio n with Frieda. " So , lef t alon e one afternoo n wit h Lawrence , ther e occurre d on e o f the crucia l episode s i n Hilda' s life . In Bid Me to Live sh e describe s Ric o sitting , scribblin g absorbedl y i n a notebook, whil e Julia gaze s ou t o f th e windo w a t a branch o f a plane-tree etche d across th e sky . Suddenl y sh e sense s hi m lookin g a t her , a look (sh e feels ) o f dee p communication. Sh e pull s he r chai r clos e t o him , an d put s he r han d upo n hi s arm. H e flinche s awa y - thoug h sh e neve r kne w whethe r i t wa s repulsion , a noli 420
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me tangere (Lawrenc e di d i n fac t hat e t o b e touche d unexpectedly) , o r becaus e he hear s th e voice s o f Elsa an d Bell a a t th e door . Ho w doe s hi s flinchin g consor t with th e theatrica l pledg e writte n i n bloo d fo r al l eternity ? Afterward s sh e wonders whethe r sh e shoul d g o up t o him, i n th e littl e room upstairs. 30 But sh e di d no t g o - an d fo r muc h o f he r lif e sh e wen t o n wonderin g why , and whethe r i t wa s th e righ t decision , o r wher e th e othe r choic e migh t hav e led . She subsequentl y connecte d i t wit h tw o Blakea n vision s whic h di d lea d somehow t o th e centr e o f he r psyche : on e o f a transfigure d ma n wit h leapin g dolphins behin d him , partl y someon e sh e ha d jus t met , bu t lookin g wit h Lawrence's eyes ; and anothe r o f a woman climbin g step s int o th e sun , a vision o f Nike, victory . Whe n sh e ha d he r analysi s wit h Freu d sh e proppe d a pictur e o f Lawrence th e life-give r o n th e mantelpiec e o f her hote l bedroom . I t wa s becaus e of Freud' s advic e t o tr y t o tel l her truth o f th e whol e episod e an d it s aftermat h that sh e struggled t o write Bid Me to Live? 1 Their relationshi p clearl y mean t mor e t o he r tha n t o Lawrence , an d sh e probably misunderstoo d hi s meanin g o n severa l occasions . Ye t hi s lette r answering Gray' s attac k o n hi m (pp . 415-1 6 above ) fail s t o d o justic e t o th e depth o f his feelings . Th e distinctio n h e draw s ma y appea r a t first simpl y th e ol d split betwee n th e sensua l an d th e spiritual , bu t i n fac t i s sayin g somethin g mor e and differen t - thoug h i t doe s ten d t o confir m th e basicall y non-carna l natur e o f his feeling s fo r Hilda . Th e essentia l distinctio n h e draw s i s betwee n a mod e o f relation betwee n th e sexe s whic h i s merel y sexual , an d on e whic h i s sexual / religious i n tha t it s essence (whateve r th e natur e o f its expression) ha s t o d o wit h transforming th e sel f throug h it s 'death ' an d 'resurrection' . Th e firs t kin d i s secretive, sensual , remainin g underground , betwee n selve s tha t wil l no t change . The othe r shed s ol d selve s i n th e 'underworld ' o f th e unconsciou s i n orde r t o emerge i n ne w an d ope n life . Th e Magdale n understoo d thi s - henc e th e symbolism o f th e anointin g a s fo r a grav e - a s Christ' s friend s neve r di d unti l after th e crucifixion . (Hild a migh t als o hav e describe d hersel f a s 'passionatel y religious'.) Th e lette r surprisingl y link s Fried a wit h Gudru n - s o 'suggestive ' with bot h Geral d an d Loerk e - rathe r tha n wit h Ursul a - bu t tha t i s a diagnosi s of th e natur e o f her relationshi p wit h Gray , howeve r fa r i t ha d gone , i n contras t with he r marriag e t o himsel f whic h was alway s ou t i n th e open , eve n t o excess , and whic h h e ha d n o intentio n o f betrayin g wit h Hild a (a s probabl y wit h Esther). Ye t i n recognisin g tha t hi s relationshi p wit h Hild a wa s primaril y 'ecstatic subtly-intellectual ' i n keepin g wit h he r nature , th e lette r doe s no t perhaps acknowledg e tha t th e othe r sid e o f th e marriag e o f opposite s was als o a possibility. Fo r thoug h hi s marriag e stil l held , i t ha d quit e definitel y grow n les s close an d mor e threatene d i n 1917 . An d i f Bid Me to Live ca n b e trusted , Lawrence to o ha d a drea m visio n afte r th e opportunit y foregone . Th e nex t morning, Ric o tell s Julia, 'Yo u wer e singin g i n a dream . I wok e an d foun d m y 421
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face we t wit h tears. ' (Thi s suggest s tha t w e shoul d loo k fo r hi s rea l renderin g o f Hilda i n th e futur e transformatio n o f ' T h e Thimble ' int o 'Th e Ladybird' , rathe r than i n th e portrai t o f a rathe r febril e neuroti c whic h wa s al l h e neede d fo r Aaron's Rod.f 2 The effec t o n Hild a o f this rejectio n - i f that i s what i t wa s - wa s ye t t o come , after th e Lawrence s ha d lef t London . Meanwhil e i t i s importan t t o stres s tha t they wer e livin g quit e a lively socia l lif e outsid e Mecklenburg h Square , an d wer e also subjec t t o a stress o f which Bid Me to Live say s nothing . Ill A
Life o n th e Surfac e
They visite d Cynthi a Asquit h severa l times , an d entertaine d he r als o t o a n omelette lunc h cooke d b y Lawrenc e o n th e primu s i n th e Bloomsbur y room . She persuade d hi m t o com e an d watc h Augustu s John paintin g he r portrait , an d there wa s eve n tal k o f John doin g a 'head ' o f him , thoug h tha t cam e t o nothing . The visi t wasn' t a s disastrou s a s th e on e t o Dougla s Grant , bu t Lawrence' s manner wa s agai n somewha t challenging . H e wa s no t impresse d wit h th e portrait, an d thoug h h e like d Joh n h e though t hi m a spen t force , a 'drowne d corpse' (iii . 176 ) (presumably i n alcohol) , and kep t mutterin g 'Mortuu s est. ' That season , Lad y Cunar d ha d len t Cynthi a a box , on e da y a week , fo r th e repertory o f oper a directe d b y Thoma s Beecha m a t Drur y Lane , an d sh e too k the Lawrence s o n severa l occasions . The y sa w Madam Butterfly (wit h Ada , o n a flying visit) , Moussorgsky' s Khovantchina, an d bot h The Magic Flute an d The Seraglio. O n th e nigh t of Aida Augustu s Joh n wa s o f th e party , togethe r wit h a resplendent Guard s Office r Yv o Grenfell , wh o was tol d b y Fried a tha t he r German brother-in-law' s unifor m wa s muc h grande r tha n his . Lawrenc e aske d whether h e coul d brin g Arabell a t o The Seraglio: 'America n gir l - elegan t bu t poor - live s i n thi s hous e - usuall y live s i n Pari s - lik e he r ver y much ' (iii . 183) . Cynthia ha d als o asked Yv o Grenfel l again , an d Rober t Nichol s who m Lawrenc e had no t see n sinc e 1915 . Afte r Gra y cam e u p i n mid-Novembe r h e fulfille d a n ambition t o introduc e Lawrenc e t o th e othe r neglecte d 'genius ' h e greatl y admired, th e compose r Bernar d Va n Dieren . (Wit h Heseltine , Gra y ha d organised a recital o f Va n Dieren' s musi c i n th e Wigmor e Hal l befor e the y wen t down t o Cornwall , an d ha d com e t o blow s wit h a criti c ove r hi m i n th e Caf e Royal.) T o hi s grea t disappointmen t now , hi s tw o lion s ha d nothin g t o say , indeed foun d eac h othe r instantl y antipathetic / Lawrence als o o f cours e sa w Ko t an d Gertler , an d throug h the m go t t o know Monty Shearman . H e sa w somethin g o f Campbell , visite d th e Radford s i n Hampstead, an d probabl y th e Eder s too . Whe n Aldingto n cam e dow n fro m Lichfield - th e Lawrence s havin g the n t o mov e t o Mrs Gray' s flat i n Earl s Cour t - ther e was a grea t poets ' evenin g i n th e bi g room , 'fou r poet s an d thre e non 422
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poets al l fightin g ove r poetry : a splendid time' . Nichol s was probabl y th e fourt h poet sinc e h e certainl y cam e t o Mecklenburg h Square ; thoug h Lawrenc e als o met th e America n Joh n Goul d Fletche r tha t December , an d foun d hi m mor e 'hyper-sensitive' an d les s 'hearty ' tha n h e expecte d (iii . 190). 36 Cynthi a intro duced hi m t o Charle s Whibley , he r literar y mentor , th e influentia l criti c an d editor wh o ha d know n Whistler , Mallarm e an d Valer y i n Paris , an d woul d influence T . S . Eliot . H e though t Whible y perceptive , thoug h acros s a genera tion ga p (iii . 187) . Afte r th e isolatio n i n Cornwall , al l thi s amounte d t o a fairl y frenetic socia l existence . They staye d i n Mr s Gray' s flat fo r th e first fortnigh t i n December . Thoug h i t tided the m over , Lawrenc e loathe d bein g ther e an d looke d t o Cynthi a altogethe r out o f place . H e though t i t 'bourgeois ' an d 'wit h a retire d Admira l downstairs ' the epitom e of'th e whitewashe d devi l o f middleclass-dom ' (iii . 186) . Howeve r ungrateful thi s sounds , h e ha d a ne w reaso n t o se e evi l unde r th e venee r o f establishment respectability . (Fletche r ha d bee n surprise d a t hi s hatre d fo r England, thoug h h e correctl y ascribe d i t t o underlyin g love , disillusioned.) 37 A s if it wer e no t enoug h tha t h e ha d bee n throw n ou t o f his home b y th e Army , an d newly forbidde n t o retur n b y th e Wa r Office , h e wa s no w bein g investigate d b y plain-clothes detective s fro m th e CID . Gray , visitin g o n 1 1 December, cam e o n one o f thes e outsid e hi s mother' s door , wh o subjecte d hi m 't o a mil d for m o f third-degree examinatio n concernin g th e Lawrence s an d m y relation s wit h them, whic h eventuall y reache d suc h a pitc h o f impertinenc e an d offensivenes s that I tol d hi m t o clea r ou t o r I woul d thro w hi m out' . Th e ma n sai d ther e ha d been a lette r fro m Cornwall , whic h implie d t o Lawrenc e tha t som e particula r enemy ther e was writin g t o on e departmen t afte r anothe r (iii . 188) . (I t may , however, hav e com e fro m th e S t Ive s police , askin g Scotlan d Yar d wher e th e subversives ha d go t to . Th e Lawrence s ha d reporte d themselve s a s instructed , both i n Hampstea d an d a t Bo w Stree t - bu t a combination o f poo r communica tions and slo w bureaucracy ma y hav e been responsibl e fo r thi s ne w persecution. ) Aldington wa s visite d an d examine d too , b y a sleut h wh o als o aske d abou t Lawrence's books . (I t ma y hav e helpe d tha t Aldingto n wa s no w a commissione d officer.) S o whe n Nichol s suppose d Lawrence' s accoun t o f having bee n followe d to Mecklenburg h Squar e b y tw o me n mer e paranoia , h e wa s ver y probabl y unjust. 'No w thi s i s impossible\ wrot e Lawrenc e t o Shearma n (iii . 189) , askin g for hi s hel p again , an d h e appeale d als o t o Cynthi a t o contac t he r acquaintanc e the Assistan t Commissione r o f th e Metropolita n Polic e (iii . 188) . (Sh e probabl y did not . Sh e wa s bein g ardentl y courte d b y th e wa r her o Brigadie r Freyber g V.C. a t th e time. ) O n al l side s wer e pressure s t o leav e London . Mr s Gra y needed he r flat, Richar d ha d stil l a fortnigh t o f hi s las t leav e befor e th e trenche s again an d (a s Lawrenc e wrot e t o Amy) , i t fel t 'hatefu l an d humiliatin g an d degrading' t o b e dogge d b y detectives , jus t 'becaus e on e ha s a bear d an d look s 423
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not quit e th e usua l thing ' (iii . 190) . Fortunately , Margare t Radfor d wa s bac k i n Hampstead now , an d th e cottag e a t th e Hermitag e wa s free . B y 1 8 Decembe r they wer e there . First, however , ther e wa s a farewel l part y a t Mecklenburg h Square , a t whic h everybody mus t hav e bee n ver y keye d up . Th e tension s generate d b y Richard' s affair wit h Arabell a wer e a t thei r height . Arabell a wa s a s upse t b y Hilda' s spiritual stranglehol d o n hi m - afte r apparentl y consentin g t o thei r relatio n a s long a s i t wa s reasonabl y discree t - a s Hild a wa s b y thei r sexua l obsessio n wit h each othe r an d hi s bruta l insensitivit y t o herself. Lawrenc e (accordin g t o Bid Me to Live) though t Arabell a wa s sufferin g fro m suppresse d hysteria , an d thi s ma y well hav e bee n true . Wit h he r mothe r — whom h e though t a n i entrepreneuse'> an d Cournos portraye d a s livin g vicariousl y throug h he r daughter' s amour s Arabella ha d bee n livin g o n th e edg e i n Paris , havin g a n affai r whic h ma y hav e ended i n a n abortion ; an d wa s deepl y upse t a t havin g los t bot h th e ma n an d th e child. Lik e Esther , sh e worke d fo r a fashion magazine , an d Cynthi a though t he r very chic . Sh e dresse d spectacularl y 'lik e a drawin g i n Vogue'; sh e ha d up slanting eyes , hig h cheek-bone s an d shin y blac k hai r whic h coul d giv e he r a touch o f th e Re d Indian , o r (draw n tigh t int o a bun wit h hairpins ) o f th e geish a (see Illustratio n 42) ; an d sh e use d elaborat e make-u p tha t coul d mak e he r see m expressionless. Sh e als o ha d rathe r a toneles s voice . Bu t he r feeling s ra n deep . She tol d Hild a tha t sh e ha d neve r com e betwee n a man an d hi s wif e befor e an d had no t intende d t o now - bu t th e attractio n t o Richard was no casua l affair fo r her, a s tim e woul d show . Sh e woul d hav e bee n mor e an d mor e o n edg e a s th e time fo r Richard' s departur e (an d Cournos' s return ) gre w nearer . Richard , fo r his part , was edgin g close r an d close r t o a nightmar e tha t onl y thos e wh o ha d gone throug h i t coul d possibl y imagine . H e ver y probabl y expecte d t o die , fo r the casualt y rat e amon g subaltern s wa s th e highes t o f all . H e mus t hav e bee n deeply fearfu l becaus e h e wa s imaginativ e an d intelligent ; an d hi s feeling s abou t the tw o wome n mus t hav e bee n i n turmoi l despit e th e egotis m tha t tol d hi m h e had a righ t t o a las t flin g becaus e o f hi s wife' s frigidity . Hild a wa s no w upse t about Lawrenc e a s wel l a s abou t Richar d an d Arabella ; an d Gray , whateve r hi s relation t o Fried a ma y hav e been , wa s showin g sign s o f attractio n t o Hild a now , which wil l hav e please d neithe r Fried a no r Lawrence . (Stirre d int o th e mi x wa s an Iris h ex-Gordo n Highlander , Captai n J . R . White , wh o ha d serve d i n th e Boer Wa r an d ha d bee n activ e i n Iris h politic s - bu t mor e o f him later. ) Tensions woul d hav e bee n heightene d b y drin k - an d Lawrence , alway s sensitive t o atmosphere , seem s t o hav e bee n woun d u p int o th e 'satyr ' who m Hilda ha d see n onc e o r twic e i n Mecklenburg h Square . Sh e describe s Ric o imitating th e landlad y an d ho w h e ha d charme d her ; and waxin g malicious abou t Arabella's mother , hi s fac e a saty r mas k red-bearded , teet h showin g an d eye s wrinkled wit h laughter , th e voic e goin g u p int o a high whinn y i n mimicr y keenl y 424
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observed an d ver y funn y - s o lon g a s yo u wer e no t th e butt . Now , confronte d as i t wer e b y th e tragic , h e mad e a satyr-play whic h embodie d hi s sens e o f ho w the actor s wer e pairin g off , an d dre w som e sardoni c implications . I t wa s th e ol d Genesis stor y o f si n i n th e garde n tha t h e mad e the m pla y out . ] Arabell a an d Richard wer e o f cours e Ada m an d Eve , unabl e t o resis t thei r impulses . Splendidly, Fried a - pupi l o f Gros s - wa s cas t a s th e serpent-embodimen t o f sexual temptation , rebellio n an d stirring-up , an d too k he r par t wit h grea t goo d humour, wrigglin g o n th e floor an d makin g growlin g noise s unti l i t wa s objecte d that serpent s d o not . Lawrenc e himsel f (a s always ) playe d Go d Almighty , he r Opposite, doubtles s ver y Puritan , dogmati c an d fruitil y biblica l o f speech, fo r h e was goo d a t takin g himsel f of f too . Gray , cal m an d fair-haired , wit h draw n umbrella, bu t fa r fro m angeli c i n fact , wa s non e th e les s wel l cas t a s th e ange l a t the gat e wh o alway s ultimatel y fende d yo u of f - implyin g a sardoni c commen t on whateve r th e relatio n wit h Fried a ma y hav e been , an d o n th e chance s fo r Hilda o f a compensator y pairing . (I f Lawrenc e di d say , a s Ric o does , tha t sh e and Gra y wer e 'mad e fo r eac h other ' i t ma y hav e bee n a touc h o f spit e an d jeering a s sh e suggests , o r perhaps , give n wha t woul d happe n later , somethin g more perceptive. ) Lawrence' s genuin e feelin g fo r Hilda , however , cam e ou t i n the rol e h e gav e he r - fo r sh e wa s th e Tre e o f Life , th e helples s centr e o f th e garden, whos e rea l valu e wa s disregarde d b y Ada m an d Ev e an d know n onl y t o one o f th e players , albei t forbiddingly . I f h e no w bad e he r t o live , indee d dance , it wa s because o f the lif e h e sa w in her . All th e sam e h e ma y hav e bee n quit e gla d t o ge t awa y fro m Londo n an d th e nerve strai n o f th e Aldingtons . H e ha d like d Dollie' s cottag e o n th e edg e o f th e woods whe n h e ha d staye d ther e briefl y earlie r i n th e yea r - thoug h whe n the y arrived no w o n 1 8 December ther e wa s 'sno w everywhere , an d shar p frost : ver y cold bu t ver y pretty ' (iii . 191) . H e was no t i n an y cas e intendin g t o sta y muc h beyond Christmas , fo r h e planne d t o g o north wit h hi s sister Ad a whe n sh e cam e back fro m a visit t o Portsmouth. H e aske d Ko t t o meet he r a t Marylebone o n he r way dow n (' a tallis h thi n woma n wit h dar k furs , i n a pal e bluey-gre y lon g coat' ; iii. 192) ; an d the n t o accompan y he r t o Waterloo ; bu t sh e was to o independen t for that , an d mad e the m laug h afterward s abou t Kot' s 'pseudo-monocl e [h e seems t o hav e broke n on e len s o f hi s glasses] , and you r seriou s outgaze , an d th e relief yo u evidence d i n fleeing' (iii . 193) . Margare t Radfor d cam e t o th e cottag e for a da y o r two , bu t the y wer e the n alon e again , wit h ' a sor t o f buried-aliv e feeling whic h i s very disagreeable ' (iii . 192) . It mus t hav e bee n a ver y quie t Christmas ; an d b y 2 8 Decembe r the y wer e i n the snow y Midlands . Ad a no w propose d t o find a cottag e fo r the m i n he r neighbourhood, an d necessaril y a t he r expense . Lawrenc e di d no t lik e this , bu t tried t o lesse n hi s discomfor t b y tellin g Ko t tha t th e wa r woul d en d soon , s o h e 425
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and th e Lawrence s coul d g o t o Russi a an d leav e th e cottag e t o hi s siste r (iii. 193) . Meanwhil e the y woul d com e bac k t o Hermitag e i n th e Ne w Year , temporarily. O n 2 9 Decembe r h e tol d Gertle r tha t h e was reall y 'bette r an d happier i n th e country ' an d di d no t min d th e cold , thoug h thi s sound s lik e cheering himsel f u p abou t a situation tha t gav e hi m n o choice . Howeve r h e als o confessed, whil e promisin g talk s o n wha t Gertle r calle d 'dee p subjects' , tha t h e found himsel f becomin g mor e unsociabl e tha n ever : 'I t i s onl y a t rar e sympa thetic moment s tha t I fee l lik e talkin g . . . Yes , w e wil l tr y t o mee t an d talk . Bu t my hear t shut s u p agains t peopl e - practicall y everybod y - nowadays . On e ha s been s o muc h insulte d an d le t down ' (iii . 194) . While continuin g t o believ e tha t they mus t al l find ne w lif e o r die , h e though t i t woul d hav e t o b e i n themselve s and no t throug h Gertler' s preoccupations , lov e o r wor k - neithe r o f whic h (i t would appear ) struc k hi m a s havin g bee n ver y successfu l i n hi s ow n cas e a s h e looked bac k ove r 191 7 - a gloomy verdict , thoug h understandable .
IV H e r m i t a g
e
They cam e bac k t o Hermitag e abou t 1 1 January 1918 , Lawrenc e havin g caugh t 'just th e wron g kin d o f chill' (iii . 195 ) i n th e Midlands . Th e cottag e seeme d col d and comfortless . Fo r a wee k o r mor e h e sa t i n bed , no t writin g anything , bu t amusing himsel f learnin g twent y o r thirt y song s fro m The Oxford Songbook: among the m 'Th e Camptow n Races ' (Fried a remembered) , 'Al l Throug h th e Night' an d 'M y Wif e an d I Live Al l Alone'. They wer e no t quit e alone . They soo n bega n t o make friend s wit h th e Brown s next door , th e othe r hal f of Chapel Far m Cottage , and especiall y wit h littl e Hild a who forme d a habit o f droppin g i n afte r school . Afte r a while sh e woul d sta y fo r meals an d singsongs , an d Lawrenc e woul d hel p wit h he r homework , waxin g caustic ove r he r teacher' s failur e t o sugges t shor t cut s i n arithmetic . Later , whe n three soldier s wer e temporaril y billete d nex t door , Hild a slep t i n th e Lawrences ' cottage. (Th e corpora l staye d o n unti l afte r th e Armistice. ) At firs t ther e wer e th e inevitabl e enquirie s b y th e police , discreetl y afte r dark , but als o onc e whe n Lawrenc e wa s workin g i n th e Browns ' garde n a s h e like d t o do; but thes e stoppe d befor e lon g and lif e becam e ver y quiet . He remaine d unwel l fo r som e time ; th e chil l turnin g int o a sor e throa t whic h was stil l botherin g hi m i n mid-Februar y (iii . 208) . H e ha d howeve r com e t o terms wit h th e los s o f Cornwal l an d fel t n o mor e longing s t o b e bac k nea r th e sea. Chape l Far m Cottag e wa s a t th e ver y edg e o f Hermitage , acros s th e trac k from th e ol d farmhouse . Th e fron t bedroo m windo w looke d ou t ove r a field t o the roof s an d tree s o f the village . Behind wa s all woodland . As the evenin g falls , an d i t is snowy, there i s a clear yello w light , a n evenin g star , an d a 426
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moon. The tree s get dark. Those withou t leaves seem to thrill their twig s above - th e fir s and pines slant heavy with snow - an d I think of looking out of the Tregerthen windo w at the sea . An d I n o longe r wan t th e sea , th e space , th e abstraction . Ther e i s somethin g living and rather splendid abou t trees. They stand up so proud, and are alive, (iii. 197 ) It was a worr y t o kno w wha t t o d o abou t Highe r Tregerthen , eve n so . H e tried t o suble t t o Leonar d an d Virgini a Wool f (iii . 198-9) , an d late r t o first on e and the n anothe r singl e lady , hopin g tha t h e coul d clin g o n t o the leas e of at leas t the smalle r cottage . Hi s correspondenc e wit h Captai n Short , th e owner , ra n int o difficulties, the n ease d int o friendshi p onc e more . Bu t thoug h h e was no t quit e ready t o le t g o of his leas e entirely , an d stil l wante d t o pa y a farewell visit , h e fel t fairly sur e tha t h e woul d neve r liv e there again. 45 This distancin g wa s als o tru e o f hi s relationshi p wit h Willia m Henr y an d indeed wit h al l the Hockings , thoug h h e ha d new s o f them fro m Kati e Berryma n in January, an d occasiona l letters , later , fro m Mar y an d Stanley . H e ha d writte n to Willia m Henr y betwee n Octobe r an d Christma s bu t ha d n o reply . Th e Cornish farme r wa s 'n o correspondent ' accordin g t o hi s brother , an d thoug h when the y lef t h e 'talke d o f comin g t o Londo n soon ' (iii . 181 ) i t ha d neve r seemed ver y likel y tha t h e woul d ge t away. 46 I n Novembe r Lawrenc e ha d tol d Gray, rathe r sourly , tha t h e believe d Mr s Hockin g misse d the m mos t (iii . 179) ; and whe n hi s gloo m deepene d no w toward s th e en d o f February , an d th e longing fo r Rananim , i f onl y To r a mont h o r two' , revive d (iii . 214) , Willia m Henry's nam e wa s no longe r o n th e lis t of candidates . The generall y anti-socia l moo d befor e Christma s ha d deepened . H e was momentarily touche d whe n Heseltin e sen t fro m Dubli n a reproduction fro m th e Book o f Kell s (iii . 196) ; an d please d t o hea r tha t Iv y Low' s ne w husban d Litvinov ha d becom e th e Plenipotentiar y i n Londo n fo r th e Russia n revolu tionary government . H e eve n though t o f offerin g help , thoug h h e di d no t suppose h e woul d b e 'muc h us e a t thi s point ' (iii . 210) . Ye t thes e wer e gesture s across a gap . Mor e recen t friendship s wer e coolin g too . Thoug h h e wrot e t o Gray still , hi s ton e lacke d warmt h (iii . 197-9) ; a n d Aldingto n irritate d hi m b y seeing himsel f a s Christ-like , abou t t o b e sacrifice d i n th e trenche s t o aton e fo r mankind (iii . 197) . Som e ol d friendship s stil l hel d firm - Cynthia , Catherine , Kot, Gertle r - bu t the y wer e ver y few , an d soo n h e woul d b e tellin g Gertle r tha t they al l live d no w i n ' a stat e o f tensio n agains t everything ' (iii . 215) , includin g each other . Hi s state , i n fact , was fa r wors e tha n i n earl y 1917 , whe n th e first thaw ha d worke d it s usua l magi c i n hi m too . Th e en d o f January a t Hermitag e was warm , th e snowdrop s wer e out , bu t h e though t o f autum n rathe r tha n spring; an d thoug h bird s san g loudl y i n th e wood s an d 'On e almos t feel s lik e a bird oneself , whistlin g ou t o f th e invisible ' (iii . 201-2) , th e 'almost ' mark s th e difference fro m th e winte r before . 'There' s na e luc k aboo t th e hoose' , h e wrot e 427
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to Cynthi a (iii . 202) ; and tol d Gra y h e wa s 'no t ver y friendl y lately . Bu t one s sel f seems t o contrac t mor e an d mor e awa y fro m everything , an d especiall y fro m people. I t i s a kin d o f wintering . Th e onl y thin g t o d o i s t o le t i t be winter ' (iii. 197) . It di d no t hel p tha t hi s chil l ha d becom e 'th e ver y devi l o f a bad throa t . . . whic h give s m e a queer feelin g a s i f I wa s blin d - why , I don' t know . - an d makes m e tal k i n a senil e fluty squea k ver y ignoble ' (iii . 209) . I t helpe d stil l les s that h e wa s rapidl y runnin g ou t o f mone y again , an d mor e seriousl y tha n a t an y time sinc e lat e 191 4 - whe n a t leas t h e ha d ha d a nove l i n manuscrip t tha t a publisher though t commerciall y publishabl e afte r revision . The hop e tha t Maunse l migh t ris k Women in Love havin g collapse d lik e all it s predecessors, onl y privat e publicatio n remaine d a las t possibilit y t o kee p hop e alive. When Michae l Sadlei r aske d hi m t o contribute t o a n antholog y t o be calle d New Paths: Verse, Prose, Pictures igiy-igi8^ Lawrenc e sen t tw o poems , 'Labou r Battalion' an d 'N o News' ; an d gratefull y accepte d Sadleir' s offe r t o soun d ou t his publishe r Cyri l Beaumon t (wh o ha d als o bee n a frien d o f Cynthia' s brothe r Yvo) abou t doin g th e nove l too . Migh t Beaumon t b e persuade d t o publis h i f supplied wit h a lis t o f subscribers ? Migh t Cynthi a approac h Princ e Bibesc o again, an d tal k hi m int o givin g th e schem e hi s patronage ? Bibesc o wa s involve d with Cynthia' s sister-in-la w Elizabet h who m h e eventuall y marrie d tha t year , though a t thi s particula r momen t th e affai r wa s o n th e rocks . Lawrenc e kne w nothing o f tha t - bu t a t th e bac k o f hi s min d h e mus t hav e suspected , b y thi s time, tha t th e chance s o f doing anythin g a t all with th e nove l wer e slim . In Februar y h e wa s 'comin g t o th e las t en d o f al l m y resources , a s fa r a s money goes ' (iii . 205) . He aske d Pinke r t o approac h Arnol d Bennet t ye t agai n a s a 'good-nature d author ' wh o wa s 'quit e ric h ou t o f literature' , fo r hel p t o tid e him over ; bu t whe n Pinke r passe d o n th e letter , Bennet t di d no t muc h car e fo r its aggressiv e antagonis m t o th e worl d an d th e public . Nevertheles s h e offere d £1 a wee k fo r a t leas t a yea r provide d other s woul d hel p too . H e seem s t o hav e had Well s an d Galsworth y i n mind . (H e also , secretly , gav e Pinke r £2 5 t o hel p in a crisis . )48 Th e provis o fo r regula r help , however , predictabl y annoye d Lawrence whe n h e hear d o f it ; Pinke r tol d Bennett , an d tha t wa s that . I n fac t three suc h gift s woul d hav e solve d Lawrence' s difficulties , bu t Pinke r alread y knew wha t Galsworthy' s reactio n woul d be , an d obviousl y though t to o littl e o f the chance s o f finding othe r benefactor s t o tak e th e matte r an y further . H e als o let a fortnigh t g o b y i n silence , unti l i n mid-Februar y wit h 'exactl y si x pound s nineteen shilling s i n th e world ' (iii . 207) , Lawrenc e wa s force d t o writ e agai n and confes s tha t 'i n anothe r fortnigh t I shal l no t hav e a penn y t o bu y brea d an d margerine' (iii . 211) . Pinke r bestirre d himsel f t o extrac t a las t (and , give n it s record, a surprisingl y quick ) paymen t fo r th e recen t appearanc e o f 'Love ' an d 'Life' i n th e English Review (iii . 217) . (H e ma y howeve r hav e advance d th e nin e guineas himsel f a s h e ha d don e before , o r hav e take n i t ou t o f Bennett' s gift. ) 428
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Pinker als o generousl y offere d t o le t Lawrence' s existin g deb t t o hi m 'stan d aside' (iii . 213) . Meanwhile Gertler , aske d t o thin k o f a possible patro n (iii . 209) , had no t onl y approache d Mont y Shearma n bu t tol d Ko t a s well , s o tha t tw o cheques fo r £1 0 arrive d (iii . 215) . Shearma n wa s rich ; bu t Ko t wa s not , an d thi s was a worryin g tim e fo r hi m becaus e o f th e deat h o f th e proprieto r o f th e Russian Burea u an d th e uncertaint y o f wha t migh t happe n t o it . Lawrenc e wa s greatly touched . Whe n Cynthi a sen t anothe r £ 5 (iii . 217) , perhaps fro m Bibesco , the immediat e crisi s was over. Yet , a s had happene d i n 1914 , Lawrence s o hate d having t o depen d o n charit y tha t h e lashe d ou t wit h ever y appearanc e o f ingratitude. Shearma n manage d t o hel p withou t affrontin g hi s touch y pride , bu t that prid e stil l needed a target t o wor k rag e of f on - n o matte r ho w unfairly : 'I t i s damnable peopl e lik e Pinker , m y agent , wh o dangl e a prospective fis h o n th e en d of a line , wit h grinnin g patronage , an d jus t jer k i t awa y ever y letter , tha t mak e me se e red . I'v e go t quit e a lot o f murde r i n m y soul : heave n know s ho w I shal l ever ge t i t out' (iii . 216) . At th e en d o f Februar y Dolli e Radfor d decide d t o brin g he r husban d fo r a few day s i n th e country , whic h mean t o f cours e tha t th e Lawrence s woul d have t o mov e ou t temporarily . The y foun d room s wit h a Mr s Low e i n th e village, bu t agai n th e irritatio n spurted : 'Tomorro w Dolli e Radfor d come s here wit h th e madma n . . . ' (iii . 218) . Ye t i t wa s precisel y he r loyalt y tha t h e loved, respecte d an d benefite d from ; an d th e irritatio n soo n worke d off . Hild a Brown remembere d a 'reall y musica l evening ' aroun d Bessi e Lowe' s piano ; and i t wa s no w to o tha t th e Lawrence s introduce d themselve s t o tw o youn g women wh o wer e tryin g t o ru n Grimsbur y Farm , jus t outsid e th e village . No t long before , Cecil y Lamber t ha d ha d he r firs t glimps e o f Lawrenc e stridin g through th e village , an d Fried a 'hurryin g along ' behind , 'pantin g an d rathe r dishevelled, tryin g vainl y t o catc h u p th e ma n i n front , wh o spe d alon g o n hi s toes almos t a s i f h e wer e bein g propelle d b y a n invisibl e forc e an d appearin g as i f h e wer e tryin g t o escap e fro m th e woman' . Actuall y h e was hurryin g t o catch th e post . When the y turne d u p a t th e farm , Cecil y an d he r cousi n Viole t Mon k wer e none to o please d t o hav e visitor s afte r a n exhaustin g day , bu t the y li t a fire i n the parlou r an d produce d al l the y had , brea d an d jam , an d s o bega n a friendship. (Befor e th e Lawrence s wen t nort h afte r Easte r ther e woul d b e a return visi t t o th e cottag e fo r dinner , cooke d b y a n animate d Lawrenc e who m Cecily remembere d a s 'ver y friendl y an d jolly' , apar t fro m a contretemp s ove r the 'toffee-prunes ' whic h Fried a ha d faile d t o soa k befor e syrupin g an d whic h were thu s bullet-har d unde r th e cand y coating . Ye t good-humou r wa s recovered, Cecil y ha d he r first tast e o f gin , an d the y ha d ' a reall y enjoyabl e evening'.) 429
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VA
Trip t o Londo n
Early i n Marc h Lawrenc e wen t t o Londo n fo r a few day s t o tr y t o chang e thing s for th e better . The y ha d no t bee n abl e t o affor d th e fare s before , an d thes e day s there wer e als o difficultie s i n stayin g wit h othe r people , fo r th e Germa n submarines ha d force d th e introductio n o f foo d rationing . H e woul d tak e foo d with hi m i f Ko t coul d pu t hi m u p a t Acaci a Road . Fried a woul d sta y behind . Her half-yearl y visi t t o th e childre n wa s du e shortly , an d thoug h sh e misse d London an d wishe d the y wer e nearer, sh e woul d wai t her turn . He wante d t o mee t Beaumont , an d discove r whethe r th e privat e publicatio n of Women in Love wa s practicable , bu t h e wen t t o se e Cynthi a first . Sh e though t he looke d 'wel l - no t hi s gauntes t - an d h e was i n goo d talkin g form' , indee d sh e had neve r know n hi m 'nicer' . The y talke d ove r th e ide a - thoug h Cynthi a go t the titl e wron g i n he r diary , muddlin g i t wit h 'Goat s an d Compasses' . H e ha d worked himsel f u p int o optimis m no w tha t 'Ottolin e n o longe r minde d abou t th e book'. Thi s wa s ver y wishfu l thinking . Aske d b y Ko t a fortnigh t earlie r ho w h e felt abou t Ottoline , h e had agree d tha t sh e wa s 'ver y nice , somewhere. I once wa s very fon d o f he r - an d I a m still , i n a way ' (iii . 213) , thoug h th e friendshi p wa s dead. H e the n characteristicall y projecte d hi s feeling s ont o her , an d bega n t o convince himsel f tha t sh e mus t fee l th e same . H e embarrasse d Gertler , wh o wa s spending a great dea l o f time a t Garsingto n now , b y askin g him t o soun d he r ou t about th e book . Cynthi a howeve r ha d reaso n t o b e sceptical . Tw o day s earlie r she ha d lunche d wit h Bibesco , hopin g t o discove r whethe r h e woul d help ; but a t table Desmon d MacCarthy , wh o sh e though t migh t hav e bee n helpful , ha d spoken o f Ottoline's pai n a t th e 'obviou s lampoon ' an d o f the Morrells ' threa t o f an actio n fo r libel . I t wa s no t Cynthia' s wa y t o b e discouraging ; bu t sh e ha d grave doubt s abou t th e whol e project , thoug h sh e ha d no t rea d th e nove l yet . The nex t da y afte r seein g Lawrenc e ther e wa s a family lunc h a t whic h Elizabet h confessed tha t Bibesc o di d no t wan t t o se e he r an y more . Cynthi a the n wen t of f to Regent' s Par k wit h a rathe r enamoure d Whibley , an d discusse d Lawrenc e with him . Thoug h h e ha d like d Lawrenc e whe n sh e ha d introduce d them , h e was agains t publicatio n o f th e novel ; bu t sai d h e coul d probabl y ge t Lawrenc e £100 fro m th e Literar y Fun d whic h ha d helpe d hi m i n 1914 . Meanwhile, th e sam e da y ( 6 March) , Lawrenc e wen t t o se e Beaumon t described b y Cynthi a a s 'ver y fair , flaxen, fresh-complexioned , quit e boyish looking' - i n hi s Charin g Cros s Roa d booksho p whic h specialise d i n 'th e ne w poets', man y o f who m h e ha d published . Beaumon t wa s clea r an d businesslik e about wha t th e schem e woul d involve ; but eve n cleare r tha t hi s nam e wa s no t t o appear a t all , nor a printer's, fo r fea r o f prosecution . I t woul d hav e t o b e entirel y Lawrence's responsibility . Th e boo k woul d cos t abou t £37 5 t o print . Abou t £150 woul d b e require d befor e printin g began ; coverin g als o th e orde r form s 430
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which shoul d the n b e sen t out , sayin g th e wor k wa s i n han d an d invitin g subscriptions a t a guinea . I f a n editio n o f 1,00 0 wer e sol d out , Lawrenc e migh t make a s much a s £550. Mor e realistically , Lawrenc e thought , i t migh t mak e hi m '£200 o r £30 0 - o r mor e trouble ' (iii . 220) . Thi s was muc h mor e professiona l than th e earlie r Heseltin e pla n (tal k abou t whic h ha d probabl y cause d Cynthia' s muddle abou t 'Goat s an d Compasses') ; an d i t anticipate d wha t Lawrenc e woul d eventually succee d i n doing , a t a considerabl e profit , wit h Lady Chatterley's Lover. Th e bi g difficult y wa s t o find th e initia l £150 . Everythin g depende d o n what Bibesc o 'woul d thin k fit t o fo b out . I f h e i s a £20 . touch , h e i s no t muc h good. — Bu t i f h e i s mor e - why , h e ca n hav e th e boo k inscribe d t o him , i f h e likes' (iii . 220) ; but h e woul d hav e t o 'pu t th e mone y righ t dow n - promise s ar e no goo d . . . I f not , thi s thin g ca n wait. ' H e was no t t o kno w tha t MacCarth y ha d already torpedoe d hi s chances , althoug h th e Prince , a s h e bega n t o transfe r hi s amorous intention s fro m he r sister-in-la w t o Cynthi a herself , woul d no t tur n down he r proteg e a t once . Perhap s o n a hin t o f he r scepticis m abou t Ottolin e however, Lawrence' s irritatio n burs t ou t again . Havin g tol d he r tha t Ottolin e 'n o longer minded' , h e no w asserte d tha t 'sh e woul d lik e th e thin g t o appear , fo r self-advertisement - an d he r sheep-face d foo l o f a husban d woul d lik e t o denounce it , fo r furthe r sel f advertisement ' (iii . 220) . Th e followin g Saturday , despite finding Beaumon t stil l 'ful l o f amazement ' afte r meetin g Lawrence , an d of th e opinio n tha t th e pla n migh t wel l succee d 'commercially^, Cynthia confide d her doubt s t o her diary . I'm no t sure tha t I want even anonymously t o godmother i t in any way. I doubt whethe r its printin g wil l d o eithe r Lawrenc e o r th e worl d an y goo d .. . W e [Cynthi a an d Beaumont] agree d tha t th e only course was to get the manuscrip t an d le t Bibesco read it for himsel f an d mak e u p hi s min d whethe r h e wishe s t o procee d i n th e matte r o r not . Personally I don' t fee l ver y kee n abou t it . Beaumon t sai d tha t o f cours e part s o f i t ha d merit — but it was worse than The Rainbow. Two week s late r sh e ha d th e typescript , an d rea d i t jus t a s th e ne w Germa n offensive wa s starting , wit h Be b i n th e thic k o f i t a t S t Quentin . Oppresse d b y the 'nightmare ' o f th e battl e sh e foun d Lawrence' s nove l 'nightmarish ' too , though sh e di d no t se e th e causa l connectio n i n th e book . Sh e though t i t 'interesting - painfull y so , an d ful l o f extraordinar y bit s o f star k writing , bu t what i t i s [sic ] abou t an d why} I t seem s a m/sapplicatio n o f suc h a wealt h o f strenuous analysin g an d writing . Surel y h e i s deliriou s . . . o r d o I kno w nothin g about huma n beings ? . . . morbi d t o a degree . I don' t kno w what t o thin k abou t it. l Nearl y a year late r Lawrenc e tol d Gertle r tha t 'th e buffoon-prince' , havin g said tha t h e woul d rathe r hel p hi m publis h hi s wor k tha n giv e mone y direct , 'had th e MS . o f th e novel , returne d i t withou t a word , an d di d nothing ' 43i
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(iii. 315-16) . I t woul d b e lat e 191 9 before an y hop e o f publishing Women in Love revived. What sen t Cynthi a cyclin g t o se e Beaumon t th e Saturda y afte r Lawrence' s visit, however , wa s anothe r plan , possibl y conceive d whe n h e ha d returne d th e proofs o f th e poem s fo r Sadleir' s volume , jus t befor e comin g t o Londo n (iii. 218) . Beaumon t alway s seeme d mor e intereste d i n poetr y tha n i n pros e and Lawrenc e suddenl y remembere d th e 'boo k o f tin y poems ' ('Al l o f Us' ) h e had though t o f dedicating t o Cynthia , an d ha d sen t t o Pinke r i n Decembe r 1916 . As soo n a s h e arrive d i n Londo n h e aske d fo r th e manuscrip t (iii . 218) , an d Beaumont showe d a definit e interes t i n somethin g o f tha t size , thoug h h e onl y offered £ 8 o r £9. S o Lawrenc e too k th e poem s bac k t o Hermitag e an d rea d them throug h again , befor e sendin g the m t o Cynthi a o n approval . H e ha d hel d them bac k before , h e said , 'becaus e the y ar e ironica l an d a bit wicked ' (iii . 221) . If she di d no t lik e them h e migh t hol d bac k still ; but clearl y th e mone y woul d b e useful, thoug h h e di d no t sa y so . Findin g th e poem s sardoni c - a s the y are , particularly thos e whic h dea l wit h th e attitude s t o th e wa r o f Christian s an d women, an d th e wearines s o f me n - bu t no t eroti c 'than k Heaven' , th e nex t da y she dul y go t ont o he r ne w bicycl e an d too k the m t o Charin g Cros s Roa d hersel f as Lawrence ha d suggested . Before leavin g Londo n howeve r h e had on e mor e visi t t o pay , thoug h th e onl y evidence i s fro m Bid Me to Live. Hild a describe d how , afte r Julia' s husban d ha d gone bac k t o embarkation-camp , Van e [Ceci l Gray ] cam e t o se e he r i n th e middle o f an ai r rai d an d too k he r t o dinne r an d th e cinema , an d ho w sh e finally agreed t o g o dow n t o Cornwal l wit h hi m a s h e ha d bee n urging . ( 'H e said , " I want tw o things , I wan t t o finish m y oper a an d I wan t a beautifu l relationshi p with a woman."' ) Thoug h sh e sa w 'hi s detachment , hi s ai r o f indifference , th e feudal hallmarks' , h e seeme d a refug e fro m th e chao s o f feelin g afte r he r husband an d Ric o ha d lef t her . Now , a t th e beginnin g o f March , Ric o cam e t o Mecklenburgh Squar e an d sh e tol d hi m wha t sh e ha d decided . Thi s wa s onl y the thir d tim e the y ha d bee n alon e together , an d th e first sinc e h e ha d flinche d from he r han d o n hi s sleeve . A t th e drunke n part y - jealou s perhap s - h e ha d jeered tha t sh e an d Van e wer e mean t fo r eac h other . No w h e seeme d puritanica l in hi s 'city ' suit ; an d h e wa s shocke d b y he r plan . H e urge d he r t o tak e his cottage instead , wher e sh e coul d se e Van e ofte n withou t compromisin g hersel f so openly . ' "Do yo u realise, " h e said , "wha t yo u ar e doing?" ' H e didn' t as k whether sh e love d Vane , o r h e her ; bu t anothe r meanin g seeme d t o murmu r under hi s words : ' I a m no t happ y abou t this' , and 'I t woul d mak e a difference . . . don't yo u realise?' ~ The n Van e arrived . Lawrence wrot e tw o letter s t o Gra y i n March ; bu t th e first, thoug h quit e long , ended wit h a dying fall .
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I don't kno w why you and I don't ge t on very well when we are together. But it seems we don't. I t seems we are best apart. You seem to go winding on in some sort of process that just winds me in the other direction . You might just tell me when you think you r proces s is ended , an d we'l l loo k a t eac h othe r again . Meanwhil e yo u danc e o n i n som e sor t o f sensuous dervis h danc e that wind s my brain u p like a ticking bomb. God sav e us, what a business i t i s eve n t o b e acquainte d wit h anothe r creature . Bu t I suppos e on e da y w e might hit it off. B e quick and win d yoursel f to the end. The on e thing I don't see m t o be able to stand i s the presence of anybody els e - barrin g Frieda, sometimes. Perhaps I shall get over it. (iii. 224) Gray woul d asser t i n hi s autobiograph y tha t th e coolnes s an d eventuall y th e breach betwee n the m wa s becaus e Lawrenc e wante d onl y disciples , whic h h e could no t be . Thi s i s misleadin g i n general , an d untru e o f th e brea k betwee n them i n particular . Lawrence' s nex t lette r acknowledge s a postcard whic h mad e them 'fee l wave s o f Cornis h malais e comin g fro m th e west' ; bu t ther e was n o breach (iii . 225-6) . Gra y wa s aske d t o fetc h fro m th e cottag e an d pos t t o Hermitage tw o ol d notebook s o f manuscrip t poem s whic h ha d bee n lef t behind ; and Lawrenc e wrot e another quit e friendl y lette r o n 1 9 April (iii . 236—7 ) in whic h having decide d t o giv e u p th e bigge r Tregerthe n cottage , h e aske d Gra y t o pac k up th e belonging s h e wante d sen t t o him : hi s desk , th e blu e rug , th e linen , hi s reference book s an d th e manuscript s h e ha d no t burned , a chore havin g a certai n symmetry wit h th e star t o f thei r friendship . Ther e woul d b e tw o mor e letter s i n July (iii . 261-2 , 265-6) . I f th e friendshi p cooled , slowly , i t wa s no t becaus e Lawrence wante d a discipleship whic h Gra y wa s refusing; bu t becaus e o f anothe r relationship altogether, to which Gra y did no t wish to draw attention . VI ' A chil d o f black fury ' Not lon g afte r th e tri p t o London , i n ver y spring-lik e weather , cam e a n unexpected visitor : Captai n Jame s ('Jack' ) White , D.S.O. , who m th e Lawrence s had me t a t Mecklenburg h Square . Accordin g t o Hilda , Lawrenc e ha d cas t hi m in th e 'play* 1 a s th e choru s o f th e damned . White' s fathe r wa s a Fiel d Marsha l who ha d commande d th e Britis h forc e besiege d i n Ladysmit h an d ha d the n bee n governor o f Gibraltar ; bu t th e so n ha d prove d a restles s spiri t an d a grea t disappointment t o hi s father , despit e hi s commissio n an d hi s Anglo-Boe r Wa r decoration. H e ha d lef t th e arm y an d becom e involve d i n activitie s whic h le d t o him bein g banne d fro m Ireland , an d afte r th e Easte r risin g ha d attempte d t o organise a strik e o f Wels h miner s i n th e hop e o f savin g Connolly , fo r whic h h e went t o prison . I n 191 8 h e woul d hav e describe d himsel f a s bot h Protestant individualist an d Iris h nationalist ; an d a s bot h a pro-Russia n communis t revolutionary an d a Christia n w rho believe d i n lov e a s a life-forc e makin g fo r
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unity i n everything . Contradiction s bothere d hi m no t a t all , sinc e h e believe d i n acting o n impuls e whic h h e fel t alway s physicall y i n th e centr e o f hi s chest , before an y rationalisatio n b y th e mind . H e was a storm y petrel , a humorist , a misfit - a s he title d hi s autobiography. 54 The 'Punc h i n th e Wind ' chapte r i n Aaron's Rod whic h describe s th e visi t o f Jim Bricknell , an d ho w h e pu t a n en d t o on e o f Lilly' s diatribe s b y hittin g hi m three time s har d i n th e stomach , probabl y accord s wit h a n actua l incident , an d (if so ) i s anothe r extraordinar y example , alon g wit h th e Pompadou r chapte r i n Women in Love, o f Lawrence' s abilit y t o se e an d mak e a mocker y o f hi s ow n weaknesses. Ther e i s genuin e comed y i n Lilly' s solem n preparatio n t o mee t th e appeal t o 'save ' hi s visitor , despit e havin g alread y tol d hi m t o leav e - onl y t o suffer a very ironi c outcom e t o a n argumen t abou t Christ-lik e lov e - an d als o i n his wife' s satisfactio n a t seein g hi m pai d out . (Whit e ha d slappe d his wife's fac e on thei r honeymoon , fo r insistin g tha t Chris t differe d fro m othe r me n i n kin d rather tha n degree. ) Th e actua l term s o f th e argumen t abou t Chris t i n Aaron ys Rod soun d lik e 192 0 rather tha n 1918 ; and ther e i s no tellin g whethe r th e hollo w man's voraciou s hunge r i n th e nove l i s metapho r o r memory ; bu t th e violenc e explodes whe n Lill y denounce s Bricknel l personally , an d tha t ring s tru e t o life . It i s easy t o se e wh y Whit e was draw n t o Lawrence ; the y share d som e importan t points o f view . Bu t th e castin g o f th e charad e i n Bid Me to Live suggest s tha t Lawrence ma y indee d hav e though t hi m a los t sou l withou t directio n onc e banished fro m Ireland , wh o sough t t o escap e fro m hi s ow n emptines s throug h drink an d womanising . I t woul d hav e bee n al l the mor e irritating , now , i f Fried a seemed attracte d an d behave d accordingly . Sh e ha d no t ha d muc h compan y lately. I t woul d b e jus t lik e Lawrenc e t o sa y wha t h e though t withou t reckonin g on a n Iris h reaction . However , bot h Lilly' s intens e an d silen t struggl e t o recove r his breath , an d hi s insistenc e tha t Bricknel l ha d a perfec t righ t t o obe y th e impulse t o hi t him , ar e a s Lawrencia n a s Birkin' s reactio n t o bein g struc k b y Hermione. There ar e othe r sign s o f strai n wit h Frieda , probabl y exacerbate d b y growin g uncertainty abou t wher e the y wer e t o live . Margare t Radford , a fe y creatur e whom Lawrenc e ha d begu n t o thin k 'impossible ' (iii . 226) , wa s comin g t o Hermitage a t Easter . H e ha d finally decide d t o le t th e towe r cottag e a t Highe r Tregerthen go , thoug h h e arrange d on e mor e year' s leas e o f th e othe r cottag e a t £5 an d woul d kee p som e belonging s there . Th e choic e no w wa s eithe r t o g o t o Ada, o r t o find somethin g nearb y i n Berkshire , an d bot h seeme d unattractive . He wrot e t o Willi e Hopkin , askin g hi m t o enquir e abou t a cottag e h e remembered visitin g i n Derbyshire ; moreove r any littl e place , nic e an d separate , woul d do . I can' t b e jamme d i n amon g peopl e an y more. Frieda an d I have lived s o much alone , and i n isolated places , that w e suffer badl y 434
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at being coope d u p wit h othe r folk . Ad a take s i t ver y muc h amis s tha t w e don't g o and stay wit h her , t o loo k round . Bu t i t i s rea l purgator y t o b e i n he r littl e house , wit h everybody and everything whirling round, (iii. 223)
On th e othe r hand , h e 'quit e shoo k wit h panic ' a t th e though t o f succumbin g t o the soporifi c char m o f a cottag e i n a nearb y village , 'fas t aslee p fo r ever' . The y had foun d tw o possibilitie s i n Hampstea d Norris , on e 'jus t unde r th e hill , unde r the hazel-woods , wit h it s little garde n backin g t o th e ol d church-yard , wher e th e sunny, grey , square-towere d churc h doze s o n withou t rousing : th e othe r o n th e hill touchin g th e wood . Fried a o f cours e i s dying fo r on e o f these ' (iii . 223) . However, mone y was ver y short ; an d Lawrenc e fel t ' a rea l panic ' a t th e ide a o f taking anothe r hous e - i f only h e coul d b e a fox, o r a bird, o r a gypsy - le t alon e falling int o a sof t sor t o f sleep , 'writin g page s tha t seemed beautifully important ' (on America n literature ) 'an d havin g visit s fro m peopl e wh o seemed all wrong ' (iii. 224) . H e coul d no t no w stan d anyon e els e around , excep t (h e qualified ) Frieda, 'sometimes' . On e suspect s sh e fancie d bein g i n th e boso m o f hi s famil y even les s tha n h e did , an d i t i s eas y t o imagin e th e arguments . Nevertheles s th e decision wa s t o g o t o th e Midland s afte r Easter , t o loo k fo r a cottage wit h whic h Ada migh t hel p financially. Cynthia ha d tol d hi m o f Whibley' s readines s t o suppor t a n applicatio n t o th e Royal Literar y Fund , an d thoug h Lawrenc e objecte d t o an y provis o tha t h e should promis e t o writ e somethin g inoffensive , h e woul d 'certainl y g o o n writing' an d was no t 'marrie d t o th e censor ' (iii . 227), 56 s o th e applicatio n coul d go ahead . Ye t h e tol d Gertle r - wh o maintaine d tha t paintin g wa s th e centr e o f his life , especiall y afte r Carringto n ha d take n u p wit h Lytto n Strache y - tha t h e by n o mean s fel t th e sam e abou t work : ' I g o o n working , becaus e i t i s th e on e activity allowe d t o one , no t becaus e I care . I fee l lik e a wil d ra t i n a cag e . . . ' (iii. 226) . He ha d hate d applyin g fo r hel p i n 191 4 - a Freudian laps e o f memor y about th e sourc e o f th e grant , now , show s ho w muc h - ye t her e h e wa s i n th e same fix four year s an d tw o major novel s later . Despite hi s feeling s abou t people , h e invite d Edit h Ede r dow n afte r Davi d had se t ou t fo r Palestin e (iii . 226-7 ; thoug h sh e di d no t come) ; an d als o Kot , who remaine d immovabl e a s always. Barbara Lo w di d visi t fo r a few day s befor e Easter. Bu t o n Easte r Monda y ( 1 April ) h e stil l fel t 'horribl y sic k an d surfeite d of things' . Barbar a ha d tol d hi m ho w tire d Catherin e Car s well ha d bee n o f waiting, i n th e las t week s o f her pregnancy . Lawrenc e though t h e kne w jus t ho w she felt. : ' I fee l a s i f I ha d a child o f blac k fur y curle d u p insid e m y bowels . I' m sure I ca n fee l exactl y wha t i t i s t o b e pregnant , becaus e o f th e wear y bowel burden o f a kin d o f containe d murde r whic h I can' t brin g forth . W e wil l bot h pray t o be safel y delivered ' (iii . 231) . 435
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VII ' . . . a s i f s o m e t h i n g i m p o r t a n t h a d died ' They lef t fo r th e Midland s o n 5 April, staye d a wee k i n Riple y an d foun d thei r next home : ' a bungalow , o n th e brow r o f th e stee p valle y a t Vi a Gelli a - nea r Cromford' i n Derbyshir e (iii . 232) . Ada , wh o negotiate d th e furnishe d renta l a t £65 p.a. , wa s als o prepare d t o pa y i t an d gav e hi m anothe r £2 0 t o tid e hi m ove r the move . 'On e rathe r hate s takin g mone y fro m one s hard-worke d people' , h e told Gertler , wh o kne w fro m bitte r experienc e jus t wha t thi s meant , an d ho w much wa s bein g understated . 'Bu t thi s i s a peculia r an d crucia l time , an d on e must ge t throug h i t someho w - ' (iii . 240) . H e ha d bee n th e adventure r int o a bigger world , an d fo r a whil e ha d seeme d abou t t o becom e bot h famou s an d prosperous. No w h e ha d com e almos t ful l circl e bac k t o wher e h e starte d bu t with fa r gloomie r prospects : a nearl y unpublishabl e writer , dependen t fo r th e roof ove r hi s hea d o n th e siste r wh o staye d a t hom e t o ru n a business an d o n he r (now conscripted ) shopkeepe r husband . Ye t ther e seeme d littl e alternative . Th e Radfords wante d th e Hermitag e cottag e fro m th e beginning o f May . Shortly afte r the y go t bac k t o Hermitage , Fried a wen t t o se e he r childre n a t the lawyer' s offic e again . Sh e wa s upse t t o lear n tha t Mont y wa s i n th e Officer s Training Corps , th e publi c schoo l cadets : 'i t seeme d terribl e tha t h e woul d hav e to fight agains t hi s ow n relations , perhaps , an d I said : "Le t m e hid e yo u somewhere i n a cave o r i n a wood, I don' t wan t yo u t o g o and fight, I don't wan t you t o be killed i n thi s stupi d war. " Bu t h e wa s shocked.' A n 18-year-ol d public schoolboy woul d be . (Sh e ha d wondere d t o Cynthi a i n 191 7 wha t wa s th e goo d of Be b bein g th e Prim e Minister' s so n i f h e coul d no t b e exempte d fro m 'thos e hellish trenches'. ) Otherwise , Lawrenc e reported , 'al l wen t of f quit e pleasantl y and simply , apparently ' (iii . 232) . He wen t o n tryin g t o mak e som e money . Beaumon t ha d shie d a t 'Al l o f Us' , finding th e ironi c poem s 'to o doubtfu l littl e pills ' (iii . 234) ; bu t ha d aske d fo r some mor e 'pretty-pretty ' vers e (iii . 230) . Lawrence no w trie d a double strategy , something ol d an d somethin g new . Th e ne w collectio n wa s a littl e boo k o f eighteen poems , 'al l smallish , lyrica l piece s . . . i t mor e o r les s refer s t o th e war , and i s calle d Bay'; bu t whe n th e ol d notebook s arrive d fro m Cornwal l h e als o began t o 'rak e out ' anothe r collectio n whic h h e tol d Gra y (wit h a n ironi c side glance a t hi s Novembe r attack ) h e woul d cal l ' "Chorus o f Women" , o r something lik e that ' (iii . 232-3) . H e als o aske d Ottoline , throug h Gertler , t o return th e manuscript s h e ha d lef t wit h he r i n 191 5 (iii . 229) , whic h sh e dul y did. 'Perhap s w e shal l mee t i n som e sor t o f Afterwards, ' Lawrenc e wrot e i n acknowledgement, 'whe n th e laug h i s o n a new side ' (iii . 231) . Beaumont' s offe r for Bay wa s onl y £1 0 (iii . 233) , hardl y mor e tha n fo r 'Al l o f Us' ; thoug h Lawrence hope d (i n vain , a s i t happened ) tha t som e o f th e poem s migh t b e published separatel y i n periodicals . A t leas t this littl e boo k wa s 'Impeccable ' 436
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enough fo r th e promise d dedicatio n t o Cynthi a (iii . 234) . I t wa s eventuall y illustrated b y th e Murrys ' frien d An n Estell e Rice . H e suppose d tha t 'Suc h a little boo k woul d no t tak e lon g t o com e out ' (iii . 234) , but Beaumon t was t o tak e an unconscionabl e tim e - til l Novembe r 1919 . Th e othe r collection , o f pas t work, woul d becom e par t o f th e disingenuousl y title d New Poems i n Autum n 1918.
He ha d don e hi s best , bu t thre e week s o f i t ha d prove d exhausting , an d th e black moo d cam e again . A sudde n snowfal l mad e th e sprin g blosso m loo k drab . The wa r new s o f a secon d Germa n offensiv e (followin g thei r frighteningl y successful onslaugh t o n th e Somm e front ) wa s terrible . One seem s t o g o through al l the Ypre s an d Moun t Kemmel s an d Go d know s what . I n some blind and hypnotic fashion I do a few bits of poetry - beyon d that, I am incapable of everything - excep t I di g an d se t potatoes , an d g o walk s wit h Fried a - wh o i s actuall y forbearing t o demonstrate he r impertinen t happiness , and darin g to know her monstrou s angry unhappiness. I don't preten d t o be 'happy' - an d fo r th e moment don't wan t to be. I a m much to o angry. My soul , or whateve r i t is , feels charge d an d surcharge d wit h th e blackest and most monstrous 'temper', a sort of hellish electricity .. . (iii . 239) He starte d readin g Gibbon' s Decline and Fall an d foun d i t suite d hi s mood . Those emperor s wh o wer e 'indiscriminatel y bad ' (iii . 239 ) an d di d wha t the y liked unti l the y wer e strangled , ' I ca n d o wit h them ' (iii . 233) . H e als o rea d Frobenius o n th e grea t Yorub a civilisatio n whic h h e claime d 'precede d Egyp t and Carthage , an d gav e ris e t o th e Atlanti s myth' . Althoug h ' a tiresom e writer ' (iii. 233) , Frobenius connecte d tw o of Lawrence's interests : th e strang e powe r o f those Wes t Africa n sculpture s whic h Heseltine , Gertle r an d Epstei n owned , an d which ha d s o influence d th e imaginativ e structur e o f Women in Love; an d th e theosophic contentio n tha t ma n ha d decline d fro m grea t earlie r civilisations , rather tha n progressin g fro m primitivism . Sur e enough , havin g go t t o th e en d o f the first volum e o f Gibbo n i n th e World' s Classic s whic h was al l h e had , h e wa s soon readin g 'anothe r boo k o n Occultism' , particularl y magi c (iii . 239) , which h e doesn't nam e bu t whic h migh t hav e bee n Elipha s Levi , als o a n interes t o f Heseltine's. (H e ma y hav e go t hol d o f i t throug h Edit h Eder , wit h who m h e had latel y begu n correspondin g again ; iii . 242. ) H e though t th e subjec t 'ver y interesting, an d importan t - thoug h antipatheti c t o m e . . . a reality - no t b y an y means th e nonsens e Berti e Russell say s i t is' (iii. 239) . He was stil l feelin g no t a ma n s o muc h a s ' a walkin g phenomeno n o f suspended fury ' (iii . 239) . Th e troubl e di d no t li e wit h Mountai n Cottag e itself , which wa s 'nice' , commanding a wide vie w and wit h 'rathe r prett y littl e grounds ' including a croquet law n whic h h e kep t mentionin g t o chee r himsel f u p (iii . 232 , 240). 62 Ye t hi s languag e betray s a n underton e o f enclosure , almos t o f unwillin g re-entry t o th e womb : 'I t i s i n th e darkis h Midlands , o n th e ri m o f a steep dee p 437
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valley, lookin g ove r darkish , folde d hill s - exactl y th e nave l o f England, an d feel s exactly that ' (iii . 240) . This wen t wit h feelin g 'hi t righ t i n th e middle ' himself , a t a poin t o f inne r crisi s an d intens e frustration . 'On e keep s som e sor t o f a superficial wits , bu t I thin k i t woul d b e wron g t o assum e tha t on e i s quit e san e just no w . . . th e stor m i s a t it s heigh t - i t wil l brea k soon ' - presumabl y bot h i n himself an d i n France , thoug h wha t woul d com e afterward s h e di d no t kno w an d did no t care . A chance happenin g seeme d no t chanc e a t all , but ' a sor t o f symbo l of somethin g - bu t I don' t kno w o f what. ' Walkin g i n th e woo d wit h Frieda , h e found a dea d owl : ' a lovel y bi g warm-brow n sof t creature , lyin g i n th e gras s a t my feet , i n th e path , it s throa t eate n b y weasels . I t stick s i n m y min d curiousl y as i f somethin g importan t ha d die d thi s week-en d - thoug h wha t i t ca n b e I don't know. ' Ye t end s fo r hi m wer e alway s beginning s too , an d h e di d no t los e faith i n tha t no w despit e wha t weasel s ha d don e t o Minerva' s bird . Fo r - th e other half-trut h - 'w e foun d som e ver y lovel y bi g cowslips , whos e scen t i s reall y a communicatio n direc t fro m th e sourc e o f creatio n - lik e th e breat h o f Go d breathed int o Adam . I t breathe s int o th e Ada m i n me ' (iii . 240—1). As h e wen t nort h again , o n 2 May , hi s lif e seeme d poise d i n th e balance . Something importan t ha d indee d die d i n hi m - thoug h i t woul d b e anothe r yea r before i t becam e wholl y clea r wha t ha d change d i n th e autho r o f Look! an d o f Women in Love. Ye t a new Lawrenc e wa s indeed comin g t o be. VIII Symboli c Meanin g The first clue s t o thi s com e i n hi s essay s o n 'classic ' America n literature . A s always, unde r th e trouble d surfac e o f hi s persona l lif e a deepe r writin g lif e ha d been pursuin g it s ow n explorator y course . H e ha d conceive d th e ide a o f th e book i n January 191 7 an d bega n writin g i n Augus t an d September ; bu t th e flow was broke n b y th e expulsio n fro m Cornwall . I t wa s no t til l th e en d o f Januar y 1918 at Hermitage tha t h e cam e bac k t o it . There ma y hav e bee n 'na e luc k aboo t the hoose ' i n th e nex t months , bu t i t wa s no t s o i n th e book . B y 1 9 February h e had starte d hi s essay o n Poe , sixth o f the te n h e planne d - thoug h h e ha d los t hi s Everyman cop y an d ha d t o replac e i t (iii . 212-13) . B y 1 2 Marc h h e though t h e was nearin g th e 'fina l form ' bot h o f th e essay s an d o f hi s thinking , an d migh t never nee d t o writ e 'philosophy ' agai n (iii . 224) . He persuade d Ko t (onc e more! ) to type (iii . 217) . Again howeve r cam e a break becaus e o f thei r mov e t o Mountai n Cottage ; bu t by 7 Ma y h e tol d Edit h Ede r tha t a s wel l a s plantin g potatoe s h e ha d begu n writing again . Ye t no w th e boo k seeme d 'never-to-be-finished ' (iii . 242) . He ha d its final title , Studies in Classic American Literature, bu t th e ide a ha d expande d and th e en d seeme d muc h furthe r away . The sam e lette r suggest s why . H e aske d Edith t o 'len d o r borro w fo r m e anywher e a boo k whic h describe s th e huma n 438
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nervous syste m . . . As k Jone s o r somebody ' (iii . 243) . Unfortunatel y wha t arrived wer e page s fro m a 'medica l book ' whic h was 'repulsiv e wit h diagnoses ' (iii. 244-5) ! He neede d physiolog y rathe r tha n medicin e - bu t i t had com e hom e to hi m tha t wha t ha d starte d a s literar y criticis m neede d a ne w languag e t o b e worked out . Th e resul t wa s tw o genera l essays , an d a revisio n o f thos e h e ha d already don e - an d jus t a s hi s 'Hardy ' ha d provide d a metaphysic fo r th e whol e phase o f writin g tha t culminate d i n The Rainbow, Women in Love an d Look!, these essay s woul d for m th e basi s fo r a ne w kin d o f psycholog y whic h woul d make hi m a differen t kin d o f novelist , an d tur n ou t t o hav e educationa l an d political implications . Though h e bega n writin g th e 'last ' essay , o n Whitman , i n June 191 8 (iii . 247 ) and hope d t o sen d th e whol e t o Pinke r tha t mont h (iii . 255) , th e arrangement s for typin g collapsed , an d i t was not til l 3 August tha t h e sen t wha t wa s now t o b e the openin g essay 'Th e Spiri t o f Place' , on e o f th e ne w genera l ones , wit h a promise o f 'si x o r seve n more ' i n ' a week' s time ' (iii . 270). 6 Th e English Review accepted eigh t essays , publishin g 'Th e Spiri t o f Place ' i n Novembe r 1918 , followed b y thos e o n Franklin , Crevecoeur , Coope r (tw o essays) , Poe , a muc h shortened essay o n Hawthorn e an d th e secon d genera l essa y 'Th e Tw o Principles', whic h Harriso n use d (i n Jun e 1919 ) a s a closin g philosophica l summary. Lawrenc e howeve r ha d mean t tha t essa y t o loo k forwar d a s wel l a s back, an d t o introduc e a ne w them e o f America n man' s encounte r wit h th e sea . Indeed b y January 191 9 th e wor k consiste d o f twelv e essay s (iii . 324 ) - s o fou r remained unpublished ; th e secon d par t o f th e 'Hawthorne ' whic h th e English Review ha d no t published , an d whic h Lawrenc e woul d late r expand , togethe r with thos e on Dana , Melville 64 an d Whitman . These detail s mak e tw o importan t points . Th e sequenc e o f compositio n differed i n severa l respect s fro m th e fina l ordering . (Lawrenc e actuall y bega n no t even wit h Frankli n bu t wit h Crevecoeur ; iii . 160. ) Thi s i n tur n show s that , a s always, imaginativ e exploratio n cam e before ideas , thoug h thes e the n fe d bac k into th e textur e an d wer e place d a s introductio n an d conclusion . I t wa s terranova, unspoil t world s o f island, sea , forest an d savages , 'America ' a t it s mos t non-European an d challengin g t o civilise d consciousness , tha t wa s th e imagina tive generator , no t an y preconceive d ideology . Moreove r reader s wh o kno w th e book onl y fro m th e muc h late r 192 2 rewritin g wil l b e surprise d a t ho w muc h more literar y an d explorator y th e firs t version s are , ho w muc h close r t o th e text s and ho w differen t i n tone , withou t th e combativ e an d dogmati c bri o o f a late r Lawrence fo r who m 'America ' ha d becom e a very differen t firsthan d experience , and (b y then) antagonist . However th e ma n wh o sa t dow n t o writ e i n Augus t 191 7 ha d jus t finishe d a revision o f Women in Love whic h showe d hi m alread y thinkin g abou t Pryse' s suggestion o f a non-Europea n neurology . Whe n th e whol e ide a o f th e wor k 439
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expanded i n Ma y 191 8 he ha d see n ho w t o tur n Prys e int o a new non-Freudia n psychology, an d bee n strengthene d b y Gibbo n an d Frobeniu s i n hi s sens e o f European decadenc e - a s opposed t o civilisation s tha t la y behin d ancien t Greec e and Rome . Ther e was grea t imaginativ e relie f i n turnin g awa y fro m th e Europ e which ha d bee n stiflin g him . Hi s occul t readin g als o reinforce d hi s tendenc y t o look fo r a metaphysic belo w th e surfac e o f literature , an d sharpene d hi s sens e o f how a symboli c meanin g migh t ru n counte r t o a writer' s consciou s intention . More an d mor e h e bega n t o se e ho w th e Europea n malais e wa s show n u p eve n more clearl y i n th e Americans , bu t alon g wit h intimation s o f cure ; s o tha t th e imaginative impac t o f th e literatur e and intimation s o f a ne w wa y o f lookin g a t the psych e coul d wor k together , evolvin g a shap e h e discovere d a s h e went . I f the origina l manuscript s ha d survive d - w e hav e nothin g earlie r fo r th e firs t eight tha n th e versio n i n th e English Review - w e woul d hav e bee n abl e t o trac e more exactl y th e growt h o f a delighted sens e tha t thi s 'other ' literature , coverin g about th e sam e spa n a s th e Englis h nove l fro m Richardso n t o Georg e Elio t bu t utterly differen t (an d largel y unappreciate d b y th e English) , reall y di d coher e into wha t seeme d t o hi m a deepl y significan t patter n an d a whole . A s i t is , w e must infe r wha t w e ca n fro m thos e eigh t essay s an d th e unpublishe d one s whic h made u p th e 'work ' complete d b y midsummer, an d revise d b y Septembe r 1918 . (a) Franklin to Hawthorne The argumen t bega n fro m tw o pair s o f contrasts . Wha t struc k hi s critica l ey e about Crevecoeu r was tha t th e mos t livel y an d sensitiv e writin g i n th e Letters from an American Farmer ha d littl e t o d o wit h th e book' s over t theme s an d attitudes. Thi s woul d no t surpris e Lawrence , sinc e hi s whol e ide a o f creativit y since 'Hardy ' ha d bee n base d o n oppositions : especiall y tha t betwee n conscious ness throug h th e sense s whic h unit e u s wit h th e externa l world , an d ideas , whic h come fro m th e proces s o f individuation . Wha t i s ne w i s hi s sens e o f ho w America s o widene d th e ga p betwee n Crevecoeur' s Europea n idea s an d hi s artist's opennes s t o experience , tha t th e phenomeno n ha d t o be see n psychologi cally, a s happenin g withi n someon e transplante d t o a particula r environment , rather tha n i n religiou s term s o f cosmi c force s i n universa l conflict . Lawrenc e pays littl e o r n o attentio n t o th e feature s o f th e Letters whic h hav e intereste d literary historian s o r post-Jamesia n critics : th e definitio n o f th e ne w American , the advocac y o f sturdy independenc e an d freeholding , th e accoun t o f how a ne w land an d se a ar e mad e t o bea r fruit ; o r o n th e othe r han d th e epistolar y creatio n of th e poin t o f vie w o f th e farme r an d hi s character-through-style , o r th e pla y between hi s apparen t deferenc e t o hi s sophisticate d Europea n corresponden t and it s ironi c intent . Instead , Lawrenc e goe s fo r th e mos t sensitivel y rendere d experience of thing s a s the y are , a s oppose d t o romanti c idealism : ho w America n 440
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king bird s gorg e o n bee s (bu t driv e awa y th e crows) , th e grea t hornet s nestin g inside th e house , th e irascibl e natur e o f th e humming-bird , th e fight betwee n two big snakes , the quai l whos e fee t woul d freez e t o cleared groun d i f the farme r did no t pu t ou t straw . A t suc h moment s th e 'artis t live s an d see s an d know s direct fro m th e life-myster y itsel f - thoug h wha t h e see s an d know s i s a t odd s with th e consciou s romanticis m o f thi s countryma n o f Rousseau , an d hi s sentimentalism abou t natur e an d th e natura l man . Ho w explai n this ? 'Th e artis t is no longe r European . Som e littl e salt of the aborigina l Americ a ha s entered int o his blood'; an d ha s brough t ou t tru e artistr y a s opposed t o egotisti c idealism . Hi s sensitivity toward s th e 'other ' i n th e wil d show s ho w th e artis t i n hi m 'live s fro m the grea t sensua l centres , hi s ar t i s i n term s o f th e grea t sensua l understanding , dark an d rich , an d o f tha t reserved , paga n tendernes s t o whic h w e hav e almos t lost the key'. 66 The archetypa l 'opposites ' o f The Rainbow ar e now locate d i n the developmen t of the human psych e fro m childhoo d (an d fro m paga n prehistory) . Pryse's Hind u neurology ha d spoke n o f two structures o f the nervous system , th e cerebro-spina l and th e sympathetic ; and fou r division s o f consciousness centre d i n the brain, th e heart, th e nave l an d th e genitals . Discardin g Pryse' s hierarchy , Lawrenc e too k what h e wante d an d use d i t differently t o se t u p mor e comple x dualism s tha n hi s original binar y on e i n th e 'Hardy ' an d The Rainbow. Th e first i s betwee n a primary kin d o f knowing , an d 'menta l understanding ' whic h come s later . A baby's 'first-consciousness ' come s no t fro m th e brai n bu t fro m 'th e grea t nerv e centres o f th e breas t an d th e bowels , th e cardia c plexu s an d th e sola r plexus' . However thes e primar y mode s o f consciousness hol d a second contrast , betwee n sensuous 'knowing ' throug h th e 'heart ' an d 'breast' , a s th e bab y (an d we ) reac h out i n wonde r t o b e on e wit h th e world ; an d sensuou s knowin g throug h th e 'bowels' o r 'sola r plexus ' i n whic h th e bab y (an d we ) umbilicall y dra w al l int o ourselves. Americ a ha s stimulated Crevecoeu r t o tap back int o primar y knowin g through th e senses, bypassing hi s European an d civilise d mentality . Whether Lawrenc e originall y planne d t o writ e o n hi m o r not , Frankli n mad e a strikin g contras t i n bot h set s o f terms . Lik e Crevecoeu r h e subordinate d 'first consciousness' t o th e mind , bu t though t h e di d s o fo r th e goo d o f mankind , showing tha t an y feelin g h e ha d cam e fro m th e breast ; wherea s Crevecceur' s art , contradicting hi s consciou s ideas , spran g fro m th e 'dark ' sensuou s centr e whic h took th e outsid e worl d int o th e self . Moreover Frankli n seeme d a 'classic' cas e of how, i n America , th e civilise d diseas e o f tryin g t o liv e accordin g t o a n idea o f human perfection , subordinatin g th e passion s an d th e sense s t o min d an d will , had gon e muc h furthe r an d faste r tha n i n Europe . Thi s subvert s th e 'religiou s truth . . . th e sam e no w a s i t eve r ha s been : tha t precedin g al l ou r knowledg e o r will o r effor t i s th e centra l creativ e mystery , ou t o f whic h issue s th e strang e an d for eve r unaccountabl e emanatio n o f creation' . Ma n canno t creat e bu t onl y fulfi l 441
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or distor t himself . Creativit y spring s withi n us , befor e an d beyon d ou r knowl edge, and onl y afte r w e are (in fullnes s o f life) ca n w e know o r wil l creatively. Bu t in America , 'Th e Pilgri m Father s soo n kille d of f i n thei r peopl e th e spontaneou s impulses an d appetite s o f th e self. ' I n Europe , idealist s woul d g o o n seekin g t o unite al l me n i n lov e or , lik e Rousseau , consciousl y t o finger an d kno w ever y impulse o f feeling ; bu t onl y 15 0 year s afte r th e Pilgri m Father s landed , Americ a had alread y produce d Frankli n wh o aime d t o 'seiz e lif e withi n hi s ow n will , an d control i t b y precep t fro m hi s ow n consciousness' . Hi s Go d wa s n o creativ e mystery bu t th e rationa l produce r o f a machine-lik e universe . I n tha t image , Franklin sough t t o becom e productiv e b y automatisin g himself , tryin g 't o subdue lif e s o tha t i t shoul d wor k automaticall y t o hi s will' . Hi s lis t o f virtue s shows ho w h e trie d t o gover n o r t o brea k hi s spontaneou s impulse s - thoug h 'h e could not mak e himself tid y an d nea t i n hi s busines s an d i n hi s surroundings , no t even t o th e en d o f hi s days', 68 fo r natur e wil l out . H e succeede d materiall y a s printer, philosopher , inventor , patriot , scientist , almana c moralist , virtuou s an d scrupulous always . But fo r Lawrenc e h e wa s less than a man. Indee d i n s o willing to reduc e th e fullnes s o f huma n being , i n substitutin g utilitaria n materialis m fo r the myster y o f creation, i n wantin g t o b e onl y a cog in a social whee l an d seekin g to influenc e everyon e t o b e lik e hi m an d cu t dow n t o hi s size , h e wa s a kin d o f self-made monster . Now a second contrast , withi n th e wor k o f a single writer , take s th e diagnosi s of diseas e (i n Franklin ) an d th e hin t o f remed y (i n Crevecoeur ) a lon g ste p further. Th e work s o f Jame s Fenimor e Coope r seeme d t o Lawrenc e t o divid e significantly int o tw o quit e differen t groups . Th e Anglo-America n novel s ar e 'thin an d bloodless ' heir s o f Franklin . Coope r i n hi s everyda y persona , lik e hi s heroine Ev e Effingham , i s stil l culturall y boun d t o Europe . Havin g finished he r education there , Ev e ha s becom e ' a rea l moder n heroine ; intrepid , calm , an d self-collected . . . cleve r an d assured ' ( a forerunne r o f Henr y James' s Isabe l Archer i n Portrait of a Lady), an d thereb y ' a dreadful , self-determine d thing' . Moreover, thi s fals e idea l o f perfectio n i s compounde d b y a n eve n false r idea l o f democratic equality . Becaus e America n Ev e i s committe d t o a theor y tha t al l persons ar e equal , sh e canno t obe y he r ow n finer instinct s a s a spontaneou s individual an d trea t th e parven u an d demagogu e Septimu s Dodg e a s h e deserves. Ye t sinc e 'beauty ' an d 'wholeness ' fo r Lawrenc e li e i n fulfillin g one' s own tru e nature , th e onl y nee d fo r democrac y 'i s t o arrang e th e materia l worl d so tha t eac h ma n ca n b e intrinsicall y himself , yieldin g servic e wher e h e mus t instinctively yiel d respec t o r reverence , an d takin g comman d wher e instinctivel y he feel s hi s ow n authority' . Th e America n idea l i s politicall y a s wel l a s psychologically false . Peopl e mus t lear n t o b e themselve s spontaneously , admit ting th e opposition s whic h defin e an d concentrat e lif e an d o n whic h creativ e living depends - 'Otherwis e w e shall win d ourselve s u p til l the sprin g breaks. ' 442
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Suddenly ther e i s a glimps e o f Lawrenc e himself , stil l a s haunte d b y th e spectres o f th e dea d i n Flander s a s h e ha d bee n a t th e seasid e i n 1915 . Psychological self-mutilatio n ha s le d inevitabl y t o destruction . Million s die d because the y obeye d idea s an d fixed wills , against th e prompting s o f 'th e prima l spontaneous self . Bu t wha t o f their souls , caught ou t o f life unliberate d an d unappeased ? .. . The y ente r int o u s angril y an d fill us with thei r destructiv e presenc e .. . An d if there is no peace for them , there i s none for u s ... unles s we , by ou r activ e living , shal l giv e them th e lif e tha t the y demand , th e livin g motions that were frustrated i n them now liberated and made free. 69 That i s th e significanc e o f Cooper' s Leatherstockin g novels , whic h i n th e nex t essay ar e see n a s a n imaginativ e ac t o f atonemen t i n a n analogou s situation . Cooper's Americ a ha d decimate d an d expropriate d th e America n Indians . Bu t whereas i n th e Anglo-America n novel s Coope r ha d looke d ahea d t o wher e 'th e self-determined ego ' o f whit e Americ a wa s heading ; i n th e Leatherstockin g books h e no t onl y look s back, bu t 'ver y beautifull y give s th e myt h o f th e atonement, th e communio n betwee n th e sou l o f th e whit e ma n an d th e sou l o f the Indian' , graduall y develope d throug h imaginativ e journeyin g int o th e past . T. S . Elio t calle d thi s 'probabl y th e mos t brillian t o f critica l essays ' o n thes e novels, an d th e first brillianc e i s ho w Lawrenc e i s abl e t o explai n th e revers e chronology o f th e series , whic h begin s i n The Pioneers and The Prairie wit h th e old ag e an d deat h o f Natty Bumppo , i n a world whic h ha s n o plac e fo r hi m (th e world o f Cooper' s ow n childhood) , an d the n move s steadil y backward s t o culminate i n Deerslayer, whe n Natt y an d Chingachgoo k wer e young . To se e th e sequenc e a s essentiall y a mythi c exploratio n withi n th e psyche , i s (as previousl y wit h Hardy ) t o X-ra y throug h t o a n underlyin g structure , impatient wit h histor y an d lov e stor y i n th e novels . S o The Last of the Mohicans is 'th e mos t imperfec t o f al l th e Leatherstockin g books , th e mos t broken , hesitating a s i t doe s betwee n historica l narrativ e . . . an d th e tru e impuls e o f pure imaginative , creativ e revelation' . Th e Anglo-Frenc h wa r i s mer e catalyst ; the rea l centr e i s th e deat h o f Uncas , leavin g Natt y an d Chingachgoo k eac h 'concluded i n himsel f . . . fro m opposit e end s o f th e earth , meetin g now , beholding eac h other , an d balance d i n unspeakabl e conjunction— a lov e s o profound, o r s o abstract , tha t i t i s unexpresse d . . . communicate d b y pur e presence alone , withou t contac t o f wor d o r touch' . (On e canno t thin k o f tha t a s homosexual.) Cooper' s imagination , i n piercin g throug h t o wha t hi s rac e ha s destroyed, mark s th e inceptio n i n himsel f an d th e reade r o f a 'ne w race' . Moreover al l th e book' s heterosexua l relationship s become , beneat h th e rathe r trashy surface , way s o f talkin g abou t wha t ha s happene d withi n th e America n psyche. Similarly , i n Pathfinder, wha t interest s Lawrenc e i s no t Natty' s 'abortive lov e story' , a mer e temporar y aberration . Rather , 'th e splendou r lie s 443
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in th e revelatio n o f th e spiri t o f place , th e pristin e beaut y o f th e Grea t Lakes' ; the aborigina l Americ a bot h outsid e an d withi n himsel f wit h whic h th e whit e man ha s t o com e t o terms . An d so , finally, ther e i s Deerslayer, fo r Lawrenc e 'the lovelies t an d best ' o f all . Th e 'pristin e world ' o f Glimmerglas s i s 'perhaps , lovelier tha n an y plac e create d i n language : lovelie r tha n Hard y o r Turgenev , lovelier tha n th e land s i n ancien t poetr y o r Iris h verse' ; bu t it s mythi c spel l lie s 'in th e luminou s futurit y whic h glimmer s a s a plas m i n al l th e landscape ' - a gleam o f infinity , a s i n th e 'life ' unde r Ursula' s microscope . Ho w 'futurity' ? Because Cooper , too , b y th e end , sees beyond him , in face of him, that which he has been journeying away from .. . th e Red Man, the sensual being which for ages he has been destroying or fleeing from .. . This i s th e beaut y o f Deerslayer , tha t h e know s a t las t tha t ther e ar e tw o ways , two mysteries—the Re d Man' s an d hi s own .. . no w at last he acknowledges perfectl y an d i n full th e opposite mystery—the mystery of the other. There i s n o futur e fo r Natt y himself . Indeed , th e whol e serie s ca n b e see n i n retrospect a s implyin g th e nee d t o dissolv e hi s limite d kin d o f whitenes s away , though no t a s Americ a an d Europ e hav e done , replacin g i t (betwee n th e 182 3 novel an d 1918 ) wit h somethin g fa r deadlie r an d man-slaying . Bu t Cooper' s fiction i s the birt h o f futurity: no t 'ou r presen t factory-smoke d futurity' , bu t tha t of an unbor n race . The critica l boo k wit h it s symboli c insight s i s als o o f cours e a Lawrencia n mythos, o f 1917-18 . Th e America n writer s ar e helpin g hi m t o a ne w psycholo gical focus o n wha t ha s t o happen within people , before ther e ca n b e ne w life . A s with th e 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy' , th e challeng e t o dea l (howeve r selectively ) with th e evidenc e o f specifi c work s o f ar t als o make s hi s though t mor e concret e than i n 'Th e Crown ' o r 'Th e Realit y o f Peace' . Mos t importan t o f all , however , is the marked shif t o f emphasis . In Sprin g 191 7 h e ha d suddenl y becom e impatien t wit h th e swarmin g emotions o f fiction, no t unrelate d t o th e tension s i n hi s marriag e afte r Easter . H e felt abstract , wrot e philosoph y an d worke d i n hi s garde n an d th e hayfield s wit h William Henry . A s h e bega n writin g abou t th e transcendenta l elemen t i n American literatur e i n Augus t an d September , w e ca n no w se e tha t (a s wel l a s the consolatio n o f a vivi d 'terranova ' t o liv e in , a Ranani m o f imagination ) thi s literature offere d anothe r positive . I t thre w a psychologica l sideligh t o n hi s attraction t o th e 'sensua l consciousness ' o f th e youn g farmer ; bu t i t ha d littl e o f significance t o d o wit h sexua l relationship . Afte r th e swarmin g emotion s i n Mecklenburgh Square , tha t advantag e woul d hav e increased . An d wherea s th e whole phas e fro m 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' t o Women in Love ha d place d sexua l relationship a t th e ver y centr e o f renewal , throug h th e oblivio n o f th e sel f at th e hands o f th e other , i n thes e ne w essay s o n th e American s th e emphasi s ha s 444
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shifted, markedly , t o th e nee d fo r a bette r balanc e withi n th e self . Moreover , relationship wit h a woman i s no longer th e essential wa y to that. O r - perhap s a better wa y of putting th e shift - relationshi p o f any kin d i s becoming merel y one modality o f deepe r an d mor e transcenden t crisi s withi n th e individua l psyche . The Lawrenc e o f 1917-18 , whil e no t denying hi s marriage an d the value h e put on it , no longe r expect s i t t o cur e th e disunit y an d malais e i n himself , or i n his world. Th e cur e mus t b e foun d withi n th e self . I t i s n o longe r a questio n o f better harmon y betwee n opposin g impulse s i n tw o people, bu t a redressing (i n each an d everyone) o f what ha s become a radical imbalance , b y reasserting wha t has bee n almos t los t (th e spontaneou s sensua l nature ) against wha t ha s becom e too dominan t (th e mind an d will) . Thi s wil l hav e far-reachin g implication s no t only fo r his view of relations betwee n ma n and woman generally , an d Frieda and himself i n particular , bu t in many othe r direction s too. So, i n a third pairing , Poe and Hawthorne onl y see m t o be concerned wit h th e sexual relationship s o f thei r characters , bu t Lawrenc e see s th e deepe r actio n a s taking plac e withi n th e psych e o f th e author . H e make s hardl y an y distinctio n between autho r an d protagonis t i n 'Ligeia ' o r eve n 'Th e Fal l o f th e Hous e o f Usher'. Th e narrato r i n 'Ligeia' , 'cravin g t o analys e th e bein g o f th e beloved' , embodies Poe' s ow n craving, 'th e unspeakabl e cravin g o f thos e whos e soul s ar e arrested, t o gain master y ove r th e world throug h knowledge' . (Thi s i s why Poe's imagination strike s Lawrenc e a s 'scientific' , rathe r tha n 'artistic ' lik e th e best o f Crevecoeur.) Narrato r an d beloved , on e seekin g t o 'analys e an d posses s an d know', t o death , th e othe r determine d t o fus e wit h hi m int o on e wil l an d consciousness despit e th e deat h o f th e body , ar e bot h aspect s o f Poe' s sou l 'arrested' becaus e i t i s a n advance d cas e o f Franklin' s crushin g o f th e 'sponta neous sel f b y the 'self-determined ego' . In Cooper , th e imagination reache d ou t to th e los t 'other' ; i n Po e ther e i s n o vita l sens e o f a n 'other ' an y longer , no r creative oppositio n withi n th e self , onl y th e consumin g awa y o f al l tha t i s no t mind an d will in a process enclose d i n consciousness. Th e only vitality , indee d a sensational kin d o f satisfaction , lie s i n disintegratin g th e sel f (an d others) , anticipating th e twentieth-centur y corruptio n tha t 'Th e Crown ' an d Women in Love ha d diagnosed. (Thi s als o explain s Poe' s addictio n t o alcohol an d drugs , as well as his morbidly sensationa l imagination. ) Similarl y th e 'incest' i n the Hous e of Usher i s seen a s the 'dissolution' o f the soul throug h a n unspeakable desir e t o possess o r be possessed b y wha t i s most lik e itself . Onc e 'th e self i s broken, an d the myster y o f th e recognitio n o f otherness fails' , th e whol e psych e become s morbidly sensitiv e (aeolia n harp-like) , t o ever y breat h fro m outside , th e over strung nerve s quiverin g 'o n th e edg e o f dissolution' . Whe n polarit y breaks , th e whole 'house ' come s crashin g down . If Po e point s forwar d t o on e kin d o f disintegratio n throug h consumin g consciousness an d will, Hawthorne show s th e other, throug h th e backlash o f the 445
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sensual. Hi s everyda y person a label s Heste r firs t a 'Scarlet Woman ' an d the n a n atoning penitent , bu t hi s 'serpen t subtility ' disguise s wha t hi s 'symbology ' i s really doing . 'Hi s piou s blam e i s subtl e commendation' . Hawthorne , too , reveal s the 'collaps e o f th e huma n psych e i n th e whit e race' . 'Openl y h e stand s fo r th e upper, spiritual , reasone d being ' bu t secretl y h e want s t o lam e hi s spiritua l sel f for ever . O n Hester' s scaffol d ther e i s n o spiritua l Mar y o f the Sacre d Hear t bu t a Scarle t Woma n whos e sig n 'flashe s wit h th e grea t reveng e o f th e serpent , a s the primar y o r sensua l psyche , whic h wa s perfectl y subjected , humiliated , turn s under th e hee l lik e th e serpen t o f wrath , an d bite s back' . Whe n Heste r seduce s Dimmesdale, th e purita n 'saint ' wh o ha s trie d t o becom e al l spirit , 'th e spiritua l era' i s a t 'th e beginnin g o f th e end' . An d thoug h 'i n he r uppe r mind ' afte r hi s death sh e apparentl y hold s t o th e 'ol d fait h . . . i n lov e an d self-sacrifice' , i n fac t she continue s t o b e a 'centre o f mystic obstruction' , secretl y (an d unconsciously ) undermining th e Puritanis m o f he r neighbour s - a s he r daughte r doe s eve n more. Hester' s adornmen t o f th e chil d show s wha t he r ow n tru e natur e remains ; and Pearl , veerin g fro m extrem e t o extrem e wit h 'recurren t mockery' , eac h neutralising th e other , i s a littl e demo n o f disorder . Hawthorn e 'di d no t choos e to discover to o much, openly . Bu t h e give s us al l the data.' 7 In th e las t 1 1 | pages o f th e essay , no t publishe d b y Harriso n i n th e English Review an d late r expande d int o a second essay , Chillingwort h i s seen a s the mal e counterpart t o Hester , a n 'undoer' . I n hi m 'th e mal e sensua l psych e subjecte d and turne d bac k i n recoil ' mus t procee d malevolentl y wit h th e undoin g o f th e other hal f o f th e soul . S o th e torturin g o f Dimmesdale , a s muc h a s th e 'sin ' o f Hester, become s a 'dar k necessity ' stretchin g a s fa r bac k a s Christ , wh o starte d 'the triump h o f th e on e hal f o f th e psyche , ove r th e othe r half , an d henc e th e inevitability o f reaction . I n The Blithedale Romance, th e fictionalisin g o f th e Brook Far m experimen t (hei r t o Crevecoeu r ' s romanti c idealism ) show s th e failure o f 'th e attemp t t o wor k th e sensua l bod y fro m th e spiritua l centres ' b y another idealisti c kin d o f suppression . Wha t la y beneat h th e attemp t a t transcendence i n al l fou r character s reveal s itsel f destructively . Hollingsworth , disguising sensualit y i n idealism , trie s t o dominat e th e narrator . Zenobia , th e passionate sensua l woman , i s drive n t o drow n herself . An d bot h men , attracte d to th e 'spiritualisti c medium' , th e utterl y passiv e littl e sempstres s Priscill a wh o no longe r ha s an y vita l bein g o f he r own , actuall y wan t t o us e he r fo r th e las t satisfaction o f destroyin g thei r sensuality . Th e narrator/Hawthorn e escape s bu t Hollingsworth become s 'totterin g an d shaky ' whe n h e ha s married th e whit e lily , all his vitalit y draw n out . With th e Hawthorn e essa y th e Lawrencia n mythos o f America n literatur e formed itsel f int o a remarkabl y coheren t structure . O f cours e Lawrenc e wa s highly selective , ver y read y t o slic e throug h complexitie s an d ambiguities ; an d o f course wha t h e cam e u p wit h wa s a ver y Lawrencia n stor y rathe r tha n a critica l 446
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history i n th e writers ' ow n terms . Moreover , thre e o f the fou r America n author s he care d mos t abou t an d wh o ha d originall y fuelle d hi s enthusias m fo r th e whol e enterprise - Dana , Melvill e an d Whitma n - ha d stil l t o b e fitte d in . Ye t whe n Lawrence adde d th e tw o genera l essay s i t wa s probabl y th e impressio n o f a coherent argument , complet e enoug h i n eight , tha t struc k Austi n Harrison . For , with a general essa y a t beginning an d end , tha t wa s what h e published . (b) General Perspectives 'The Spiri t o f Place' i s however th e kin d o f introduction on e write s after on e ha s discovered one' s argument . Reader s wh o bega n ther e wer e a t onc e confronte d by tw o apparentl y eccentri c assertions : first , tha t ther e wa s formerl y a universa l mystic language , share d amon g th e grea t civilisation s fro m whic h our s ha s declined, an d expresse d i n esoteri c symbol s whic h mus t b e reinterprete d psychologically now ; an d second , tha t historica l movement s an d migrations , th e rise an d fal l o f civilisations , ar e ultimatel y movement s o f th e huma n psyche , i n response t o powerfu l 'magnetic ' currents , se t u p i n alternatin g circuit s ove r centuries b y unknow n polarities . (Theosophy , cabbalisti c magi c an d psychi c 'electricity' hav e coloure d Lawrence' s recen t readin g o f Frobenius an d Gibbon. ) However, t o com e a t th e essa y i n th e orde r o f compositio n i s t o se e mor e clearl y how i t expresse s Lawrence' s deepe r concern s behind th e stud y o f America n writers an d why , reactin g t o th e Europ e o f 1917-18 , h e shoul d hav e bee n s o drawn t o America an d th e 'Mysti c Import ' o f its literature (iii . 163) . 'It i s tim e fo r u s no w t o se e tha t ou r grea t rac e experienc e i s surpasse d an d exceeded. Ou r rac e idea ma y apparentl y hol d goo d i n th e America n mind' ; bu t 'Life itsel f take s o n a ne w reality , a ne w motion , eve n whil e th e ide a remain s ostensibly th e same' ; an d i t i s i n white-America n literatur e tha t bot h th e decadence an d th e comin g chang e ca n b e detecte d mos t clearly . For , fa r fro m being a branc h o f Englis h literature , America n writin g i s strang e an d other . American idea s ma y relat e t o ours , bu t America n 'art-speech ' ha s already , responding t o a n 'alie n quality ' i n th e continen t itself , begu n symbolicall y t o reveal th e 'incipien t newnes s withi n th e ol d decadence' . Lawrenc e i s no t i n fac t interested i n theosophi c reviva l o f ol d mysticisms ; bu t i n decodin g (sinc e art speech reveal s wha t 'plai n speec h almos t deliberatel y conceals' ) th e shap e o f th e future a s i t onc e agai n take s a ne w directio n awa y fro m th e past . (H e insist s against theosoph y to o - tha t 'art-speech ' i s a symbolism o f experience, 'emotional and passional , spiritua l an d perceptual' , expressin g a state o f being, no t a menta l concept a s the occul t symbo l does. ) If th e artist , reactin g t o experienc e bu t beyon d hi s ow n awareness , i s th e sensitive feeler-ou t o f wha t i s t o come , tha t migh t explai n wh y th e artis t i n Lawrence shoul d hav e bee n s o draw n t o America n literature , an d wh y th e man , 447
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following behind , shoul d s o hav e wante d t o g o ther e withou t knowin g why . I t would see m tha t biographica l reason s - persona l reactio n t o th e los s o f hi s audience, t o wor k destroye d an d publicatio n refused , t o unjus t expulsio n an d inability thereafte r t o ear n a living — migh t no t afte r al l b e th e deepes t ones . H e had bee n insistin g sinc e 191 4 tha t th e deepes t huma n feeling s wer e impersonal . Now, i n Europea n crisis , we mus t wak e an d sharpe n i n ourselve s th e subtl e facult y fo r perceivin g th e greate r inhuman force s tha t contro l us . It i s our fata l limitation , at the presen t time , that w e can only understan d i n term s o f persona l an d consciou s choice . W e canno t se e tha t grea t motions carry us and bring us to our place before w e can even begin to know. Moreover t o hav e read Gibbo n i n Ma y 191 8 was to place suc h 'grea t motions ' i n a lon g an d wid e historica l perspective ; wit h a n extraordinar y sens e o f ho w processes o f expansio n an d deca y acros s centuries , leadin g t o th e collaps e o f Roman civilisatio n an d it s replacemen t b y somethin g new , migh t appl y (in versely) t o th e expansio n o f Europ e t o Americ a an d th e world-wid e collaps e o f civilisation now . I n fact , Lawrence' s languag e o f psychi c polarit y an d magnetis m is a n 'art-speech ' t o embod y hi s ow n experience o f bein g draw n a s i f b y magnetism befor e an d beyon d hi s understandin g - a n experienc e no t unrelate d to tha t o f million s o f European s sinc e Columbus . Agai n h e i s no t satisfie d wit h conscious motivation s suc h a s th e Pilgri m Fathers ' searc h fo r religiou s freedom , or th e Iberia n an d Englis h colonisatio n i n searc h o f wealth . Behin d thos e (h e thought now ) la y a n obscure r urge , th e counterpar t o f th e movemen t tha t ha d sent th e Roman s nort h an d east , t o expansio n o f empire, an d the n t o decay . Th e great movemen t whic h fro m th e fifteent h centur y o n th e Atlanti c seaboard s impelled me n wes t an d south , wa s essentiall y a n urg e t o satisf y mor e widel y an d intensely thei r civilisation' s desir e t o contro l th e inne r lif e b y th e will , an d the n to exer t powe r ove r nature . Americ a becam e a fiel d fo r inne r an d oute r repression (ove r th e sensua l lif e an d th e nativ e American) , an d the n (afte r a Franklin-like mechanisin g o f th e sel f and it s relations ) fo r Yanke e 'business ' an d industry - al l happenin g faste r an d goin g furthe r i n th e ne w condition s tha n i n Europe. Bu t afte r expansio n come s deca y an d incipien t change . I n 'aboriginal ' America, European s 'walke d a ne w earth , wer e seize d b y a ne w electricity , an d laid i n lin e differently' . Fo r ther e i s a spirit o f place whic h get s int o bones , tissu e and blood , transfusin g people , an d graduall y transmutin g thei r lif e stuff . Henc e the abilit y o f th e mos t sensitiv e Americans , th e writers , t o captur e th e natur e o f the decadence , an d th e beginning s o f recoil i n th e opposit e direction . An d henc e the instinc t o f on e D . H . Lawrenc e t o lon g fo r America , t o settl e meanwhil e fo r Cornwall, an d t o begi n ther e hi s studie s o f th e transcendenta l impor t o f classica l American literature , awaiting a breeze blowin g fro m th e future. 75 'The Tw o Principles' , whic h fo r Harriso n mad e a conclusiv e summin g u p o f 448
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the philosophy , wa s indeed partl y so , and s o need no t dela y u s long . Behin d a n odd combinatio n o f the Bible's accoun t o f creation wit h pre-Socrati c cosmolog y (the fou r element s o f Empedocles) an d wit h esoteri c symbolism , i s the desire fo r a languag e fo r growt h an d deca y whic h coul d b e simultaneousl y psychologica l and cosmi c - unlik e materialis t science . Lawrenc e howeve r (lik e Yeats ) i s afte r 'metaphors' an d speaks happil y of'changing ' them . H e needs a language t o insis t on a paradox: tha t thoug h lif e proceed s creativel y b y dividin g itself , temporarily , it nevertheles s remain s primary , uncreatable , no t finally divisible . Wher e th e scientist define s 'life ' biologicall y a s arisin g ou t o f matte r an d dyin g int o it , Lawrence see s 'life ' a s creativity itself , continuall y throwin g fort h ne w product s as materia l residue , bu t alway s goin g o n t o ne w creation , it s essentia l onenes s unbroken, withou t beginnin g o r end. Both cosmically , an d withi n th e person, 'a s life move s o n i n creativ e singleness , it s substanc e divide s an d subdivide s int o multiplicity'; ye t at each creativ e moment , al l comes togethe r wit h all , anew. The first ac t of creation i n the universe, a s in the first huma n cell , is a division of singleness int o duality ; henc e th e 'two principles' o f the title and its continuit y with Lawrence' s thinkin g sinc e 'Hardy' . Then , however , th e tw o immediatel y become four ; an d thoug h thi s goe s o n t o multiplicity, i t i s the one-to-two-then two-to-four paradig m tha t i s elemental, neve r forgettin g tha t th e proces s come s out o f an d constantl y return s t o onenes s again . (Her e i s th e advantag e o f combining Genesi s wit h Empedocle s fo r a cosmi c explanatio n o f th e man y coming ou t of and returning t o the one.) In the human being , th e psyche divide s horizontally int o 'upper ' an d 'lower ' ganglia , an d verticall y int o 'front ' an d 'back'; s o tha t th e mak e u p o f eac h o f u s depend s o n th e wa y ou r 'first consciousness' - precedin g menta l consciousnes s - relates th e impulse s o f th e great gangli a whic h contro l th e fac e an d th e heart, th e solar plexu s an d th e loin s and back . Moreover , i n a second grea t dualis m th e for eve r ongoin g creativit y o f life depend s als o o n th e necessar y alternatio n o f coming-together, an d o f going apart, a s indee d 'Th e Crown ' ha d insisted . S o i n on e er a soul s ma y grow , internally an d i n relation wit h others , b y harmoniou s marriage ; wherea s i n othe r eras growt h ma y be throug h a 'disintegrative sou l . . . activ e i n th e univers e a s a unit o f sundering' . A t al l time s however , consciousnes s i n th e min d i s th e product o f this 'first ' fourfol d consciousnes s i n the body, whethe r i n balance and fulfilment, o r in disharmony an d destruction . Partly thi s i s a theoretica l summar y o f th e psycholog y whic h Lawrenc e ha d developed i n the critical essay s fro m Crevecoeu r t o Hawthorne - thoug h i t is not quite clear , yet, why he needs th e 'face' an d the 'back' now , as well as the 'breast ' and 'bowels' ; no r wh y h e need s a 'correspondence ' betwee n cosmi c an d elemental conflic t an d th e conflic t withi n th e self . Howeve r thi s wil l soo n become clear , sinc e i t i s her e tha t Lawrenc e mean t th e essa y t o loo k forwar d t o that othe r extraordinar y America n achievement , 'th e relatio n betwee n th e se a 449
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and th e huma n psyche ' i n Dan a an d Melville , an d th e all-embracin g stanc e o f Whitman. 77 Fortunately , thoug h th e essays o n thes e remaine d unpublishe d an d were believe d los t whe n Armi n Arnol d compile d The Symbolic Meaning usin g later an d different ones , earl y version s hav e no w come t o light whic h allo w us to see the 'book' a s a whole. (c) Dana and Melville The tw o grea t America n writer s o f th e se a embod y anothe r wa y i n whic h th e psychic disintegratio n ha s proceeded throug h th e attempt t o conquer th e 'lower ' sensual centre s o f th e self . Thu s Dana , despit e hi s wonderfu l plainness , i s actually a kin d o f mystic , tryin g fo r th e sam e sor t o f psychi c conques t a s the Johannine initiat e (accordin g t o Pryse' s interpretatio n o f th e Revelatio n o f S t John). O n the surface, th e young Harvar d la w student goe s t o sea because o f his eye trouble, but at a deeper leve l he is drawn t o go as an ordinary seama n 'befor e the mast' , a t one with sensual , unthinking , spontaneou s humanity . Ye t he want s this als o i n orde r t o confront an d ultimately overcom e hi s own sensual self . The sea, th e 'lower' elemen t o f the first divisio n o f creation bu t also th e corrosive sal t waters o f dissolution , i s th e seethin g o f th e senses , inchoat e o r menacing . I t is the sens e o f an ending whic h produce s th e melanchol y o f Dana' s descriptio n o f dawn a t sea . The whit e albatross , a t res t o n th e heavin g waters , i s a n imag e o f Dana's sou l aspiratio n i n ironi c counterpoin t t o th e grea t creativ e Spiri t o f the Beginning i n th e Boo k o f Genesis . Ye t th e terribl e physica l struggle s t o roun d Cape Hor n o n th e wa y t o California , an d bac k again , contai n a kin d o f sou l heroism. Th e se a 'torture s him , reduce s hi s lan d flesh', finally make s hi m speechless wit h a swollen ja w and nearl y kill s othe r seame n wit h scurvy . Ye t it also bring s hi m out as 'a triumphan t consciousness , a victorious spiritua l being , victorious ove r hi s dee p sensua l self , b y hi s victor y ove r th e sea' . He ca n now live 'deliberately' - an d there i s something epi c about that . However, Lawrence' s respons e i s deepl y ambiguous . Whe n th e tim e fo r decreation ha s come, th e pioneers - al l the 'classic ' American s - ar e heroic, but heroes o f undoing. 'I f ther e i s a grea t God , th e perfec t Creator , ther e i s a corresponding grea t God , th e Undoer , th e Separato r . . . Zeu s o f th e thunder bolts, the earliest Ammon ' (als o the Yoruba Go d of Lightning, Shango , of whom he ha d learne d fro m Frobenius) ; whos e powe r i s reveale d t o bot h Dan a an d Melville i n th e apparitio n o f th e corposan t a t th e mast-head . Bu t Dan a 'Hamletises' by the Pacific; an d in the episode of the floggings hi s liberal-minde d horror i s sentimental weaknes s to Lawrence. The first versio n i s much les s aggressive abou t thi s tha n late r version s wer e to become, an d mor e critica l o f th e captai n wh o i s originall y see n a s n o les s 'unformed' tha n th e 'loos e stragglin g character ' h e flogs; an d jus t a s implicate d 450
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in th e los s o f unit y tha t th e 'disintegrativ e influence ' o f th e se a ha s brough t about. Sa m embodie s th e cre w a t it s mos t 'soft , vague , loose , shambling , inefficient, impudent' . Th e captain , wh o shoul d b e 'th e positiv e o r commandin g nature, i s becomin g irritable , exacting , surcharge d . . . th e uniso n i s breaking' . This first versio n is , however , n o mor e intereste d i n th e justic e o r brutalit y o f the floggin g o f Sa m (le t alon e o f John, th e sailo r wh o dare s t o questio n it ) tha n the late r version s wil l be , an d som e ma y fee l tha t Lawrenc e himsel f i s allowin g mental conceptio n t o overrid e sensuou s realisation . Th e passion o f th e ac t i s it s own excus e fo r him , a s necessar y a s a thunderstor m t o clea r th e air . Fo r i t i s 'only th e flash o f lightning , th e flash o f ange r an d pai n strikin g straigh t int o th e volitional centre s [i.e . th e back ] o f th e negativ e physique , fro m th e positiv e physique, tha t ca n re-adjus t th e tw o beings , make the m clea n an d whol e again . I t is th e electri c catharsis . Th e flogging therefor e i s a purifyin g proces s t o tw o drossy natures. ' Ma n canno t liv e 'b y spiritua l lov e an d reaso n alone' - tha t is , b y the sympatheti c 'breast ' an d th e min d - an d Dana' s attemp t t o overcome th e 'lower' sel f i s re-focused . Th e sensua l centre s mus t (an d will ) hav e thei r due , a s in Hawthorne , i f necessar y throug h 'th e Thunderer , h e wh o turns , an d i s wrathful'. Th e back , too , mus t b e stun g int o life . A t th e en d o f th e essay , however, th e final emphasi s i s o n th e son of th e Thunderer , Herme s th e healer . The scurv y o n th e shi p an d Dana' s ow n lock-ja w ar e heale d b y th e earthy juice s of onion s an d potatoes . Afte r decreation , th e 'laten t creativ e principle ' mus t work anew . I t i s ver y painfu l t o com e bac k t o sensua l life ; th e bo y wit h scurv y shudders wit h anguis h afte r drinkin g th e juice . Bu t th e undoin g mus t b e followed b y ne w creation : neithe r Dana' s triumphan t consciousnes s no r th e sal t sea, but creativit y beginnin g again. 7 Melville als o turn s t o th e grea t waters , bu t no w lik e som e Vikin g goin g 'hom e to th e sea , encumbere d wit h ag e an d memories , an d a sor t o f accomplishe d despair'. Onc e upo n a time 'th e blue-eye d race ' ros e lik e a flood t o inundat e 'th e old, darkened ' ones , but no w 'i t retreat s i n th e ebb , back awa y fro m creation' . At first, Melvill e instinctivel y turne d t o th e Pacific , th e first an d oldes t ocean , which bordere d th e eart h an d it s grea t civilisation s befor e th e Floo d an d th e sinking o f Atlantis . (Onc e agai n theosoph y help s Lawrenc e imagin e a lost worl d whose universa l languag e an d symbol s - 'Th e All-Father , th e All-Mother , . . . the Thunderer , th e Tree ' - ar e 'passional' , springin g fro m direc t sensua l contac t with lif e a t ever y point , rathe r tha n concept s o r ideas. ) Bu t afte r it s perfectio n came th e Fal l an d th e Flood : 'th e Fal l fro m pur e sensua l understanding , th e birth o f th e uppe r spiritua l understanding' , an d th e wipin g ou t o f mos t o f th e old world . Eve r since , an d particularl y afte r Christ , 'th e ne w wa y o f life , th e spiritual-mental, struggle d toward s perfection' , and , i n it s turn , t o th e inevitabl e decay an d decreatio n o f Melville's tim e (worsenin g t o the end , th e Worl d Wa r o f 1914-18). I n th e Sout h Se a islan d o f Nukuhev a however , Melvill e foun d a 45i
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survival fro m th e lost world . Hi s descent dow n th e gorg e int o th e hidden valle y of the Typee i s both 'actua l an d pur e dream-mystical : Dow n thi s narrow , steep , horrible dar k gorg e h e slide s an d struggle s a s we struggle i n a dream, o r i n the act of birth, to emerge i n the green Ede n o f the firs t era , the valley of the timeles s savages.' The y ar e however not 'savage', bu t retai n th e vestige s o f 'som e mos t perfect an d beautifu l sensua l civilisation' , i n man y way s mor e nuanced , refine d and delicat e tha n Melville's . Eve n thei r cannibalis m (a s Frobeniu s argued ) i s 'connected wit h a definit e emotion' : no t foo d bu t th e surviva l o f a for m o f communion, takin g th e 'other' int o th e self- th e obverse o f Christ's sacramenta l gift o f himself i n th e Eucharist . Yet, havin g foun d Typee , Melvill e coul d no t stay. He had to get away; as even his flesh signalle d b y th e mysteriou s woun d tha t woul d no t hea l whil e h e remained, bu t cleared u p as soon a s he left. Afterward s h e yearns t o be back. Yet however stron g 'th e passio n t o escap e th e whit e civilisation' , an d 'th e nostalgi c longing t o slee p i n th e slee p o f th e bygon e sensua l mystery' , th e necessit y t o 'give hi s allegianc e t o th e spiritua l myster y o f whic h h e i s th e almos t finished product' i s even stronger . H e must undergo th e Dana experienc e an d attempt th e final victor y o f the spiritua l ove r th e sensua l sel f - bu t h e i s one stag e o n fro m Dana, th e last stage, ending no t in triumph bu t in death b y sea-water. So Moby Dick become s a n apocalyps e o f undoing . Th e grea t whit e whale , warm-blooded lik e us , symbolise s 'th e las t bod y o f sensua l bein g withi n th e white race ' i n th e sal t depths . T o tr y t o annihilat e that, i n a final effor t o f the upper consciousness , i s a doomed mania . Aha b embodie s a t its most intens e th e American effor t t o subjec t sensua l bein g entirel y t o consciou s wil l an d self direction. H e has already bee n lame d an d terribly warned . O n his ivory le g he is like Hephaestos , produc t o f a sunderin g quarre l betwee n suprem e powers . Lameness manifest s th e radica l imbalanc e o f th e 'halves ' o f hi s psyche , an d makes hi m activ e i n undoing . Mos t lam e god s ar e also associate d wit h fire, an d Ahab i s indelibl y marke d i n hi s flesh, additionally , b y th e lightnin g o f th e Thunderer, an d serve d b y a Zoroastria n cre w o f fire-worshippers. Hi s thre e mates embod y th e reaso n (i n Starbuck) , th e passiona l impuls e (i n Stubb , stil l 'fearless a s fire' say s Melville , bu t grow n 'mechanical ' now ) and obstinat e wil l without imaginatio n (i n Flask ) - a 'fata l triangl e o f th e disintegrat e soul ' whe n 'dominated b y a mania'. Onl y Ishmae l remain s capabl e o f reaching ou t to the lost world lik e the Melville o f Typee (an d like the Dana wh o felt a 'strong impuls e of love' fo r th e Kanak a whos e nam e translate d int o 'Hope') . Indeed , th e relation ship wit h th e savage Queeque g 'open s agai n i n Ishmael' s hear t th e floodgates o f passional love' , an d overcome s hi s exclusiv e Presbyteria n conscienc e i n sharin g the worshi p o f Queequeg's god , as he would wis h Queeque g t o share his. So begin s th e voyage , th e hunt , a s 'mythical , mystical ' a s an y ques t o f Argonauts, ye t 'al l actual. Thi s i s th e beauty—th e identit y o f actua l dail y 452
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experience wit h profoun d metaphysica l reality. ' I t i s whe n Melvill e i s full y th e seaman, Lawrenc e thinks , 'movin g an d workin g wit h th e waters , no t self consciously speculating ' tha t h e i s a t hi s best. 81 Eage r t o demonstrat e thi s i n a whole strin g o f quotations, Lawrenc e originall y wen t wel l beyond th e lengt h tha t the English Review coul d hav e tolerated . Moreove r th e urg e t o quot e prove d ultimately self-defeatin g an d th e essa y peter s ou t withou t makin g th e majo r point: tha t i t i s the whit e whal e an d Ishmae l wh o surviv e int o a future, whil e th e monomaniac undoer s an d would-b e triumphalist s ar e finally undone , dissolve d away i n th e sal t water s o f th e End , s o tha t th e ne w life-cycl e ca n start . Sinc e th e Dana essa y als o end s rathe r oddl y i n foo d chemistry , i t ma y hav e bee n th e impression o f tw o essay s no t quit e worke d ou t o r properl y rounde d of f tha t le d Harrison no t t o publis h them ; thoug h thei r existenc e i n revise d typescrip t suggests Lawrence' s hop e tha t the y woul d b e accepte d too . (d) Whitman The Whitma n essa y coul d neve r hav e bee n published . I t ma y no t eve n hav e been sen t t o b e type d i n 1918 . Indee d w e ca n onl y infe r th e origina l fro m a n autograph manuscrip t o f Septembe r 1919 , thoug h i t seem s saf e t o assum e tha t this doe s preserv e th e essentia l argument , sinc e tha t i s s o wit h th e Dan a an d Melville essay s whic h surviv e i n bot h forms . Th e 191 9 versio n wa s neve r printed either ; indee d Lawrenc e himsel f expecte d Huebsc h migh t find i t 'politi c not t o publish ' (iii . 400) . Fo r th e essay , explicitl y treatin g Whitma n a s homo sexual, is the culminatio n o f Lawrence's self-examinatio n abou t homosexuality . It i s importan t howeve r t o se e ho w a comple x argumen t relate s primaril y t o Whitman's plac e i n th e developmen t whic h th e essay s hav e bee n tracing , suc h that h e i s both th e heroi c culminatio n an d th e propagato r o f a deadly half-trut h and thu s t o se e ho w an d wh y Lawrenc e i s le d t o condem n Whitman' s kin d o f homosexuality, whil e finally bringin g himsel f t o se e ho w wha t ha d give n hi m nightmares i n 191 5 coul d b e a 'las t mystery ' rathe r tha n a n abomination . (Wit h this, however , h e lose s interes t i n homosexualit y - thoug h no t i n comradeshi p between me n - unti l th e final rejection i n Kangaroo.) Whitman i s 'th e las t an d greates t o f th e Americans ' becaus e h e complete s th e American attemp t t o subordinat e th e 'lower ' sensua l centre s t o th e 'upper ' one s and bot h t o a suprem e consciousness . Wher e Dan a sough t t o overcom e hi s sensual sel f a t sea ; an d Melvill e t o kil l th e las t 'quick ' o f sensua l life ; Whitma n seeks t o absor b hi s sensua l sel f int o hi s consciousness , an d moreove r t o embrac e All, identifyin g wit h everything , bod y an d soul , s o tha t nothin g i s excluded , an d the Man y becom e On e i n encompassin g lov e an d suprem e enlightene d con sciousness. Bu t thi s inevitabl y produce s a reactio n fro m thos e wh o 'fin d th e highest realit y i n th e single , separat e distinctnes s o f th e soul ' an d wh o therefor e 453
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are liabl e t o regard Whitma n a s an 'arch-humbug'. Th e longing fo r unity i s only one impuls e i n the continuous dialecti c o f human growth , an d becomes fata l i f it is regarde d a s an end. For 'thi s proces s o f extreme physica l sympathy , universa l sympathy, merging, as Whitman rapturousl y call s it ' s o violates th e single sel f as to becom e a process , i f persiste d in , o f 'soul-death' . Thi s i s wh y som e o f Whitman's lovelies t poetr y i s about death . I t woul d see m tha t Whitman' s quest , as much a s Melville's, was deathly. His mergin g i s achieve d b y makin g himsel f th e passiv e o r negativ e pole , 'giving himsel f utterly ' awa y t o th e other , i n orde r t o know everything . H e als o takes hi s own sexualit y int o consciousnes s i n a proces s distinctl y masturbatory . He sing s o f 'th e myster y o f th e touc h o f th e hand s an d fingers , thos e livin g tendrils o f th e uppe r spiritua l centres , upo n th e lowe r body : th e hand s an d fingers gatherin g an d controlling th e sheer se x motions'. Moreove r al l the organs of th e upper centre s whic h respon d t o the 'other ' - no t only finger s bu t mouth , tongue, nostrils , ear s - wor k i n Whitma n t o lear n 'th e dark , vita l secret s o f the lower self , t o explore, subjec t an d kno w i t consciously . Fo r Lawrenc e thi s i s to become 'monstrous , a shattering half-truth , a devastating, thrillin g half-lie' . Lik e some athletes , Whitma n want s t o b e narcissisticall y awar e o f hi s bod y a s h e controls it . An d thoug h h e give s himsel f awa y i n orde r t o kno w hi s ow n sensuality, h e has no real sens e o f the otherness o f the other. H e regards woma n as simpl y 'fo r merging , an d fo r th e stat e o f consciousness , an d self-conscious ness, liberate d durin g thi s merging ' - a womb , a 'bat h o f birth ' fo r hi s own dominant consciousness . The phras e recall s ho w Gerald use d Gudru n i n a wa y deadly fo r bot h - th e reverse o f th e centra l Lawrencia n ide a o f ho w solipsis m ca n 'die ' i n oblivio n through th e 'other' . Indee d (Lawrenc e insists ) man' s rebirt h fro m woma n i n either wa y canno t b e withou t deat h o f som e kind ; an d i f throug h 'merging ' Whitman i s bor n int o dominan t 'uppe r consciousness*, the n 'i n th e powerful , rich, dar k sensua l self , h e i s destroyed , reduced , annulled' . T o persis t i n reducing par t o f the psych e result s i n disintegration . Thi s i s familia r enoug h but no w i t bring s a ne w understandin g o f violence . Th e 'violen t reactio n between ma n an d woman , th e inevitabl e hat e i n love ' i s a respons e t o thi s necessity o f death ; fo r i f ma n ma y lov e hi s bat h o f birth , h e 'hate s mysticall y that whic h i s hi s deathf: ] "Th e womb , th e t o m b " ' o f hi s man' s bein g - an d presumably vic e vers a fo r th e woman . Lawrenc e ha s though t furthe r abou t th e disunity i n himsel f whic h h e confesse d t o Ottoline , an d abou t th e rumpuse s a t Garsington an d Zenno r whe n Fried a denounce d hi s 'soul-mush ' wit h Ottolin e and th e Murrys , an d h e gre w violen t i n response . I t seem s h e i s criticisin g i n Whitman somethin g h e ha d bee n force d t o recognis e i n himself ; henc e th e blend o f admiration fo r th e honest y o f Whitman's disclosure , an d denunciatio n of wha t h e disclosed . Howeve r Whitma n als o helpe d hi m t o confront , full y 454
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now, th e questio n abou t th e sufficienc y o f marriag e a t th e en d o f Women in Love. For Whitma n foun d h e coul d no t 'merg e himsel f altogethe r int o woman' , partly becaus e h e wa s to o prou d t o rende r u p hi s fre e independence , an d partl y because complet e mergin g i s impossibl e betwee n 'being s s o categoricall y different'. Thi s explain s hi s homosexuality , fo r i f h e was no t t o 'yiel d himsel f t o complete absorptio n an d inglutinatio n b y th e woman— a debacl e fa r to o ignominious fo r a grea t ma n lik e Whitman ' - h e ha d t o 'reconsider , an d see k elsewhere hi s las t mysti c unification' . An d thoug h th e contex t i s th e over whelming desir e t o merg e whic h Lawrenc e denounces ; h e i s le d t o discus s 'th e last circui t o f vita l polarisation ' betwee n ma n an d man, 84 no t onl y i n homoeroti c relationship bu t i n sodomy. 85 Whitma n i s th e first i n moder n lif e t o dar e t o assert wha t th e esoteric s kne w a thousand year s befor e Plato ; bu t i n Calamus hi s vehemence i s gone, and onl y hesitantl y an d crypticall y ca n h e spea k o f what ma y lie behin d th e 'lov e o f comrades' . Fo r ther e ca n indee d b e a 'passional ' circui t between th e lowe r gangli a o f ma n wit h man . Takin g a ste p furthe r tha n i n Women in Love, i n tryin g t o understan d ho w th e energ y a t th e bas e o f th e spin e can b e tapped , Lawrenc e revalue s ana l sex b y contrastin g i n hi s strang e ne w language a sexualit y o f th e lower-fron t wit h tha t o f th e lower-back . Th e sexua l passion o f ma n fo r woma n i s usuall y polarise d betwee n th e 'hypogastric ' an d 'sacral' gangli a which , whe n connecte d an d switche d o n i n th e se x ac t throug h male entr y t o th e vagina , refres h an d re-establis h th e 'circui t o f life , upo n whic h both being s depen d fo r thei r real , spontaneous living' . But beyon d al l thi s i s th e cocygea l centre . Ther e th e deepes t an d mos t unknowabl e sensual realit y breathe s an d sparkle s darkly , i n unspeakabl e power . Here , a t th e roo t of the spine , i s th e las t clu e t o th e lowe r bod y an d being , a s i n th e cerebellu m i s th e las t upper clu e .. . Her e is our las t and extremes t reality. And th e port, of egress and ingress, is the fundament, a s the vagina is port to the other centre. So that , i n th e las t myster y o f establishe d polarit y .. . [t]h e las t perfec t balanc e i s between tw o men , i n who m th e deepes t sensua l centres , an d als o th e extrem e uppe r centres, vibrate i n one circuit, and kno w their electri c establishment an d readjustmen t a s does th e circui t betwee n ma n an d woman . Ther e i s the sam e immediate connection , th e same life-balance, the same perfection i n fulfilled consciousnes s and being. Lawrence i s no w acknowledgin g - a s neve r befor e - tha t i t is possible tha t bot h upper an d lowe r centre s coul d b e polarise d an d fulfille d throug h sodomy , though differentl y fro m heterosexua l fulfilmen t - wherea s th e Whitma n kin d o f merging mus t brea k dow n th e integrit y o f th e soul . Fo r 'tru e relation ' depend s crucially o n bot h partner s maintainin g 'thei r shee r single , separat e integrity , their inviolabl e singlenes s o f being' , equa l i n opposit e duality , balance d agains t each other , finally (lik e Natt y an d Chingachgook ) 'beyon d emotion , beyon d al l 455
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merging, existin g i n th e las t extrem e o f mutua l knowledge , almos t beyon d feeling, s o deepl y abstracte d o r concentrate d . . . balance d o n th e edg e o f death' . It i s this essentia l kin d o f relation rathe r tha n th e sexua l ac t itsel f tha t seem s eve n more importan t homosexuall y tha n heterosexually . So , Whitman th e homosexua l again 'mixe d al l u p wit h emotio n an d merging ' an d 'believe d i n fusion , whic h i s pure loss' . Lawrenc e i s als o a s muc h agains t predator y homosexualit y a s ever . Any 'usin g on e bein g fo r th e gratificatio n an d increas e o f th e othe r being ' (suc h as th e fusio n i n Gree k pederast y wher e th e olde r possesse d an d impose d hi s wil l on th e younger ) i s deadl y destructive . An d tha t i s wh y Whitma n o n th e on e hand hail s 'manl y love ' ; but 'i n th e nex t breat h i t i s death , death , al l death' . Ye t it take s a grea t sou l s o t o bar e itsel f - an d i t i s fo r thi s fearles s exposur e tha t Lawrence mos t admire s Whitman . Moreover, i n th e closin g paragraphs , h e finds i n Whitman' s poetry, a t it s best , a spontaneit y an d wholenes s tha t th e half-truth s o f hi s idea s reduce , b y thei r overbalance int o menta l consciousness . Fo r there , i n 'lovel y blood-lapping ' interplay o f consonant s an d vowels , th e 'prima l sou l utter s itsel f i n strang e pulsations' an d 'th e whol e sou l speak s a t once : sensua l impuls e instan t wit h spiritual impulse , an d th e min d serving , givin g pur e attention ' - a s oppose d t o the sense s servin g th e mind . I t i s fo r thi s (an d it s influenc e o n hi s ow n poetry ) that h e finally salute s Whitman , 'becaus e I ow e th e las t stride s int o freedo m t o you. And i n salutin g you , I salute your grea t America. ' This essa y i s a crux fo r Lawrence' s attitud e toward s practisin g homosexuality , whether b y masturbatio n o r sodomy , sinc e i t i s th e mos t explici t o f al l hi s musings, an d th e culminatio n o f hi s lon g struggl e t o com e t o term s wit h potentialities i n himsel f whic h h e ha d first acknowledge d i n 1913 . Yet th e final endorsement i s oddl y theoretical ; an d whil e it s whol e poin t i s t o foste r greate r singleness tha n marriag e ca n creat e alone , thi s seem s t o b e stil l in addition t o marriage, whic h remain s 'th e grea t life-circuit ' o n whic h 'th e ver y lif e an d bein g and equilibriu m o f man an d woma n depend' . 6 Moreover, i f he ha s no w brough t himself t o recognis e tha t homosexua l ana l intercours e i s capable o f joining lowes t with highes t chakras i n fulfilment , Whitman' s kin d o f homosexualit y remain s unmistakably deathl y i n hi s vie w - al l th e mor e significantl y becaus e it s source , an overbalanc e toward s th e 'uppe r centres ' whic h tende d t o tur n sensua l experience int o menta l an d spiritua l consciousness , wa s presen t i n himself , a s were th e independen t man' s resentmen t o f dependenc e o n woman , an d th e mystic hatre d fo r th e femal e bat h o f birt h a s als o a lak e o f deat h fo r maleness . Indeed th e whol e curren t o f th e boo k no t onl y make s Whitma n th e las t deathl y triumph o f th e America n proces s o f subjectin g th e sensua l t o th e spiritua l an d mental, bu t value s precisel y wha t Whitman' s kin d o f homosexualit y i s not, alon g with th e sign s i n othe r writer s o f backlas h an d antidote , a s pointin g t o ne w life . With Whitman' s deathlines s th e America n proces s o f disintegratio n i s almos t 456
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complete - bu t th e American s ar e 'great ' becaus e the y hav e accelerate d th e process o f decadence , an d becaus e i n th e bes t o f the m th e ne w ha s bee n mad e visible throug h th e disintegration . I t i s ther e i n Crevecoeur' s sensuou s ar t a s opposed t o hi s ideas ; ther e i n Coope r a t th e en d thoug h Deerslaye r mus t die ; there i n wha t Hawthorne' s secre t sel f tells him i n sensua l recoi l as opposed t o hi s 'upper' consciousness ; ther e whe n Dan a confront s th e Kanak a 'Hope ' an d drinks th e earth-juice ; ther e i n Ishmael , Queeque g an d th e whit e whale ; ther e i n the possibilit y o f a sensuous relatio n betwee n male s tha t foster s prou d singlenes s (unlike Whitman' s merging) ; and ther e i n Whitman' s poetr y a t it s best whe n th e whole psych e seem s t o speak a t once. For Lawrence' s goa l remains th e fulfilmen t of th e whol e - an d i t i s becaus e i n moder n decadenc e th e 'upper ' an d unitar y impulses o f huma n bein g hav e grow n s o appallingl y over-dominan t tha t th e 'lower' an d singling-ou t one s mus t no w b e free d an d activate d t o restor e th e balance. Indeed , fo r ful l psychi c integratio n now , i t ma y b e necessar y t o g o o n beyond heterosexua l relationship , a s Women in Love ha d begu n t o imagine , i n a n additional relatio n betwee n me n - thoug h no t i n Whitman' s way . Perhap s h e may hav e see n i n hi s friendshi p wit h Willia m Henr y som e reflectio n o f th e meanings h e ha d discovere d i n Crevecceur , Coope r an d Melville . Though hi s marriag e remaine d intac t afte r th e strain s o f 191 7 - Frieda' s jealousy o f hi s relation s wit h Esthe r an d Willia m Henry , he r relatio n wit h Gra y and th e tension s i n Mecklenburg h Square , whateve r th e 'truth ' o f all thes e - th e American essay s announc e tha t th e sexua l relationshi p o f ma n an d woma n i s n o longer t o occup y th e centr e o f Lawrence' s imagination . Hi s relatio n wit h Fried a may hav e grow n somewha t mor e distant . Hi s impatienc e wit h heterosexua l jealousies an d intensitie s ma y hav e increase d afte r Mecklenburg h Squar e where Aaron's Rod began . W e d o no t kno w whethe r fro m th e star t tha t boo k imagined a ma n puttin g hi s marriag e behin d hi m an d settin g ou t t o loo k fo r something els e - th e ques t was a classica l for m fo r America n writer s - no r whether i t was he r sens e o f havin g los t som e o f he r powe r ove r hi m tha t mad e Frieda sho w angr y unhappines s a t Hermitage . B e tha t a s i t may , th e America n essays woul d certainl y prov e befor e lon g t o hav e opene d u p a ne w field o f imagination, an d a ne w politic s (oppose d t o Whitman' s democracy ) a s wel l a s a new psychology . Th e 'book ' o f 1918 , thoug h lik e 'Hardy ' neve r published , was no les s a source o f work t o come . IX Lif e a t Mountai n Cottag e The origina l 'Whitman ' was finished som e tim e befor e 2 0 June (iii . 256) , seve n weeks after thei r arriva l at Mountain Cottage . How di d the y fee l abou t th e move ? Fried a woul d hav e t o cop e wit h livin g fo r the first tim e o n hi s famil y ground , thoug h jus t distan t enoug h fro m th e 457
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Nottingham wher e sh e was i n disgrace . Eve n befor e the y lef t sh e ha d los t som e of he r insouciance , showin g he r unhappines s instea d o f keepin g he r usua l cheerful front . Th e mov e wa s no t he r choice . Lawrenc e himsel f ha d ver y mixe d feelings abou t bein g bac k agai n s o clos e t o famil y an d hom e territory . H e might , much late r an d i n anothe r land , cal l i t 'th e countr y o f m y heart ' (v . 592) ; bu t right no w h e fel t 'quee r an d los t and exiled ' (iii . 242) . Soon relative s an d ol d friend s bega n arriving . Ad a probabl y cam e u p almos t a t once t o se e the m in . A famil y gatherin g wa s planne d fo r th e Whitsu n weeken d (iii. 242 ; 18-2 0 May) , wit h Salli e Hopki n joinin g the m th e nex t Tuesda y an d Willie a coupl e o f day s late r (iii . 243) . Lawrenc e threatene d (privately ) t o g o walking i n th e hills , perhap s wit h Ver e Collins , 't o escap e th e crowd ' (iii . 242) , but o f cours e h e coul d d o n o suc h thing . Whe n th e tim e cam e i t wa s 'terribl y hot' wit h 'violen t thunder-storms' , whic h mad e hi m fee l 'lim p an d stupid ' (iii. 244) . Hi s fathe r cam e too ; and Emil y wit h he r daughte r Pegg y age d 9 (bot h living wit h Ad a now , Sa m havin g bee n called-up) ; an d Ad a wit h he r littl e so n Jack age d 3 , 'a ver y charmin g bo y indeed ' accordin g t o hi s uncle (iii . 245) . It wa s 'queer - an d a bi t irritating , t o b e e n famill e again . I a m n o worshippe r o f family.' H e though t i t was lik e being i n a swamp wit h meal s fo r islands , wherea s he ha d 'almos t a passion fo r bein g alon e . . . Nevertheless , I fee l i t i s goo d fo r m e for som e tim e t o be wit h people , and e n famille . I t i s a kind o f drug, o r soporific , a sort o f fatness; i t saves one' (iii . 245) . For howeve r gallin g t o b e unsuccessful , poo r an d dependent , whe n sur rounded b y relative s again , ther e ma y hav e bee n som e consolatio n i n bein g simply accepted , an d slippin g back int o being 'ou r Bert ' agai n - fo r a while. The famil y wer e al l stil l ther e a wee k later , an d thoug h Ad a an d thei r fathe r then wen t home , Emil y an d th e tw o childre n stayed , an d o n 2 June Ad a cam e back agai n briefly , wit h a hampe r o f goodie s fro m Salli e (iii . 246) . Indeed , Lawrence though t th e childre n woul d sta y fo r ye t anothe r fortnigh t i f Ad a sen t her mai d Lil y u p too . I t i s strange t o thin k o f him writin g hi s essa y o n Whitma n amid a houseful o f respectable sister s an d littl e children . Ye t i t wa s interesting t o pick u p ol d relationships , an d se e the m i n a ne w light . H e wrot e t o Salli e wit h 'such regret ' tha t th e coupl e o f day s wit h the m a t Whitsuntid e wer e s o short , and seem s t o hav e mean t it . The rhododendron s an d peonie s wer e ou t now , 'an d rock-roses ver y lovel y o n th e fields' (iii . 247) . Moreove r ther e wa s th e opportu nity fo r tw o kind s o f practica l psychologica l research . H e was surprised , h e tol d Cynthia: how children ar e like barometers t o their parents ' feelings . Ther e i s some sort o f queer , magnetic psychi c connectio n - somethin g a bit fatal , I believe . I fee l I a m al l th e tim e rescuing m y nephe w an d m y niec e fro m thei r respectiv e mothers , m y tw o sisters : wh o have jaguar s o f wrat h i n thei r souls , howeve r the y pur r t o thei r offspring . Th e 458
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phenomenon o f motherhood, i n thes e days , is a strange an d rathe r frightenin g phenom enon. (iii. 247) He wa s alway s goo d wit h children , a s smal l being s i n thei r ow n right , an d i t i s clear whos e sid e h e was on , here . H e ha d don e a grea t dea l o f thinkin g abou t mothers sinc e h e ha d bee n wit h hi s famil y last ! Ther e mus t hav e bee n a truce , too, i n th e ol d feeling s o f alienation fro m hi s fathe r - no w 72 , and shrunken . Bu t what di d the y tal k about ? (Growin g vegetable s an d flowers, sinc e hi s fathe r was a keen gardener ? Boss y women ? Th e miners? ) He ha d ofte n tol d Cynthi a hi s dreams , an d relate d a strang e on e no w whic h suggests th e turmoi l an d hur t stil l goin g o n i n hi s ow n psych e unde r th e familia l surface. H e ha d bee n t o 'som e big , crowded fai r somewhere ' an d comin g bac k o n the ope n road , h e hear d ' a strang e cryin g overhead ' fro m a bird bein g maule d b y 'two pal e spotte d dogs' , i n mid-air . H e clappe d hi s hands , th e dog s starte d awa y and th e bir d cam e fallin g t o earth: ' a young peacock , blu e al l over lik e a peacock' s neck, ver y lovely' . I t kep t crying , thoug h no t muc h hurt . ' A woma n cam e running ou t o f a cottag e no t fa r off , an d too k th e bird , sayin g i t woul d b e al l right. S o I wen t m y way ' (iii . 247-8) . H e though t th e drea m connecte d wit h Cynthia's 'aura ' i n 'som e obliqu e way' . I t wa s th e secon d visio n i n a mont h o f a beautiful bir d tor n b y beasts ; and h e alway s though t o f Cynthi a a s someon e wh o saw the brightnes s i n hi m an d woul d hel p whe n th e worl d damage d it . Indeed, h e coul d confes s t o he r ho w h e fel t helplessl y stuck : ' I fee l a s if I wer e on a sort o f ledg e hal f wa y dow n a precipice, an d didn' t kno w ho w t o ge t u p o r down' (iii . 248) . Hi s mai n hop e jus t no w wa s th e applicatio n t o th e Roya l Literary Fund , bu t tha t was humiliating . H e ha d t o as k Pinke r t o writ e agai n (iii. 249) , a s h e ha d don e i n 1914 . H e ha d t o pu t a figure t o hi s ow n failure , replying t o th e secretar y tha t wherea s i n th e yea r t o Augus t 191 4 h e ha d earne d '£400 o r £500' , sinc e Augus t 191 7 h e ha d mad e 'considerabl y les s tha n £100 ' and i t wa s 'wit h considerabl e chagri n tha t I fill i n form s o f applicatio n fo r help ' (iii. 249-50) . H e als o ha d t o explai n wh y h e ha d no t trie d 't o obtai n wor k i n an y Government department , becaus e m y healt h doe s no t allo w me t o undertak e an y regular employment ' (iii . 253 ) - withou t sayin g wha t h e though t o f th e government. H e filled i n th e form s an d answere d th e question s wit h ' a black an d angry heart' , cursin g 'th e impertinen t impuden t questioner s t o hel l an d further ' (iii. 251 , 252) . H e eve n mad e himsel f appea l t o Mar y Canna n onc e more . I n 1914 sh e ha d go t severa l friend s t o hel p wh o ha d connection s wit h th e Fund . Now, however , th e appea l was awkwar d becaus e h e an d Fried a ha d neve r written t o sympathis e abou t he r humiliatin g brea k u p wit h Gilbert , thoug h Lawrence wa s probabl y tellin g th e trut h whe n h e assure d Mar y tha t h e too k he r side. I t wa s als o humiliatin g fo r hi m t o hav e onc e agai n t o rehears e th e stor y o f persecution, hi s inabilit y t o mak e an y mone y (eve n hi s gramma r break s dow n i n 459
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the telling ) an d th e pai n o f his nearl y complet e dependenc e o n hi s siste r now . A t the en d h e retreat s int o memorie s o f Cholesbur y 'whe n w e wer e happ y wit h on e another, reall y - eve n i f we sai d spitefu l thing s afterwards . I wa s happy , anyway ' (iii 252) . Bu t th e ton e i s uneasy . H e like d Mary , bu t h e coul d neve r hav e imagined havin g t o appea l t o he r again . An d no w h e coul d d o nothin g bu t wait , irritably, fo r th e committee' s verdic t i n July. Moreover, a s th e wa r approache d it s fina l crisis , call-u p paper s cam e agai n from Cornwall , an d thoug h h e sen t the m back , h e kne w h e woul d hav e t o b e medically examine d onc e mor e i n Derby . Yet h e coul d g o t o Eastwoo d (t o visi t th e Hopkins , an d th e Cooper s wh o ha d been thei r next-doo r neighbours ) an d fin d tha t 'Fo r th e firs t tim e i n m y lif e I feel quit e aimiabl y toward s it ' (iii . 250) , his hatre d gone , and n o nee d t o figh t hi s beginnings an y more . Indeed , h e was layin g the m finall y t o rest . Thoug h inside , life migh t b e a s 'wretched ' a s th e oute r worl d o f war , 'suc h a ghastl y stress , a horrid pressur e o n one , all the tim e - an d gnawin g anxiety ' (iii . 254) , he wa s able partly t o distrac t himsel f b y finishin g th e las t gleanin g fro m th e ol d notebook s for a 'new ' boo k o f poem s - albei t wit h som e genuinel y ne w one s 'mad e thi s spring'. H e ha d droppe d th e ide a o f a divisio n int o tw o parts , 'I n London ' an d 'A Choi r o f Women ' (iii . 255) ; thoug h h e was prepare d t o reviv e i t i f Pinke r s o desired. No w h e though t o f callin g i t 'Comin g Awake ' (iii . 254) , afte r a ne w poem - bu t whe n Seeke r agree d t o publish , h e demande d tha t i t be calle d New Poems and Lawrenc e gav e in , thoug h no t happ y t o b e s o disingenuou s (iii . 277 , 291 an d n . 3) . Th e dedicatio n thi s tim e wa s t o Am y Lowell , wh o ha d recentl y delivered tw o lecture s a t th e Brookly n Institut e i n whic h sh e praise d hi s poetry , though no t unreservedly . Hild a Aldingto n ha d sen t thes e o n fro m Cornwal l (iii. 253) . H e tol d Am y tha t h e believe d Hild a was 'happy ' there , thoug h wit h a diplomatic silenc e about th e circumstance s (iii . 254) . In an y cas e Hild a woul d hav e bee n i n hi s mind , fo r i n a n interva l betwee n family visit s i n Jun e cam e th e firs t visito r fro m th e south , Arabella . Sh e spen t about a fortnigh t wit h the m (iii . 256) . Fro m Mountai n Cottag e th e intensitie s o f Mecklenburgh Squar e mus t hav e falle n int o distance d perspectiv e fo r Lawrence , but Arabella' s positio n wa s unenviable. Richar d was gon e an d i n constan t dange r in th e trenches ; Courno s wa s bac k fro m Russi a ver y bitte r a t he r betraya l i n hi s absence, an d wantin g n o mor e t o d o wit h her ; Hild a wa s defiantl y i n Cornwal l having shake n th e dus t o f th e menag e a troi s fro m he r sandals ; an d Arabella' s own situatio n an d finance s wer e ver y unstable . Al l he r support s ha d gon e excep t her mother , determine d stil l tha t sh e shoul d b e a success . Lawrenc e continue d to thin k he r 'ver y nice ' i n he r brittl e ye t someho w gallan t fashio n (iii . 259) , an d she mus t hav e foun d bein g wit h the m som e comfor t to o (eve n th e walk s o n th e hills; iii . 261) , sinc e h e recorde d tha t sh e lef t 'i n tear s an d grief . I hop e sh e wil l come agai n soo n - w e becam e ver y fon d o f her ' (iii . 257) . Bu t sh e neve r did . 460
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y
Aaron s Rod woul d eventuall y sho w ho w sh e ha d caugh t hi s imagination , 8 bu t he ha d alread y abandone d it , sinc e h e sai d o n 2 0 June h e ha s finished everythin g he wa s writing an d ha d ' a complete blan k i n front ' (iii . 256) . While Arabell a wa s stil l wit h the m i n th e las t wee k o f June, th e Hopkin s cam e for anothe r weekend , thi s tim e wit h Eni d (no w a youn g woma n o f 21 ) an d he r friend Kitt y Allcock , a year younger . Wit h th e cottag e s o crowde d th e lasse s ha d to slee p i n a n outhous e an d wal k 'bare-foote d ove r th e spring y tur f t o th e wel l a t which w e washed' . Kitty , wh o onl y sa w Lawrenc e o n on e othe r occasion , remembered mos t th e re d beard , an d 'hi s kindnes s an d awareness' . The y ha d meals outsid e o n a trestl e table : 'strang e combination s o f food ' cooke d b y hi m with contribution s brough t b y th e Hopkins , partl y becaus e o f rationing , bu t als o because the y wer e aware o f his poverty. Kitt y an d Eni d wen t walkin g o n th e hill s to escap e th e charade s an d th e folk-song s afterwards , fo r whic h sh e fel t to o shy. I t i s a gentle glimps e o f an irascibl e an d unhapp y ma n - bu t Lawrenc e wa s surprising himsel f t o find ho w bein g wit h ol d friend s an d youn g peopl e was helping him . Fo r 'i t i s th e huma n contac t whic h mean s s o muc h t o one , really . Do yo u know , I quit e suffere d whe n the y ha d gon e awa y o n Monda y - an d usually I a m s o gla d t o b e alone. ' H e wa s finding 'chang e o f scene ' muc h les s important tha n 'huma n warmth , whe n on e ca n ge t it' ; an d tha t 'T o b e wit h people whos e presenc e i s a n enrichmen t i n th e veins , i s everything ' (iii . 258) . When h e an d Fried a wer e alon e agai n fo r th e first tim e fo r man y weeks , h e tol d Catherine (wh o ha d jus t give n birth ) ho w muc h bette r i t was 't o hav e friend s near on e - an d childre n - otherwis e on e think s to o muc h an d i s to o muc h exposed' (iii . 259) . It wa s no w tha t h e bega n t o thin k o f makin g hi s peac e wit h Ottoline , bu t hi s tentative enquir y t o Gertle r abou t ho w sh e migh t tak e a n overtur e (iii . 257 ) wa s met wit h suc h diplomati c condition s (sinc e Gertle r kne w tha t Ottolin e coul d no t abide Frieda , an d blame d th e nasties t bit s o f Women in Love o n her ) tha t Lawrence flew int o a rag e agai n (iii . 260) . Indeed , hi s sens e tha t Gertle r ha d become identifie d wit h Garsingto n wa s boun d t o coo l thei r relationshi p too , though ther e was n o breach . Th e friendshi p wit h Ko t remained . H e woul d no t come t o Derbyshire , bu t h e sen t anothe r £1 0 chequ e whic h Lawrenc e sai d h e would tr y no t t o cas h - an d di d not , sinc e h e wa s abl e t o sen d i t bac k late r (iii. 25 6 an d n . 2) . (I t i s amon g th e Koteliansk y paper s i n th e Britis h Library. ) But th e ma n himsel f wa s immovable , an d ther e wa s no t muc h chanc e tha t h e would eve r trave l nort h t o see them . Higher Tregerthe n wa s fadin g rapidl y int o th e distance . Lawrenc e was stil l corresponding wit h Gray , bu t ther e wa s a temporar y contretemp s wit h Captai n Short abou t sublettin g th e cottag e i n July t o a friend o f Mrs Yorke' s (iii . 255-6) , and thing s ha d change d markedl y o n th e far m an d i n th e village . William Henr y had married , s o hi s mothe r an d sister s ha d t o mov e elsewher e - anothe r reason , 461
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probably, fo r th e lon g courtship . Lawrence' s sympathie s wer e wit h Mr s Hocking i n thes e 'ruction s . . . W.H . i s rathe r a fool , an d bore s m e . . . I f h e ha d any decenc y h e woul d g o and liv e wit h Mar y Quic k i n m y cottage , an d leav e hi s mother o n th e farm ' (iii . 261) . H e threatene d t o tel l hi m s o i f h e eve r wrote , but th e Cornis h farme r neve r did . Lawrenc e wa s equall y sardoni c abou t Gray' s trouble wit h hi s housekeepe r wh o wa s 'barking' abou t th e livin g arrangement s i n Bosigran - somethin g abou t whic h Lawrenc e to o mus t hav e bee n non e to o happy, thoug h no t fo r mora l reasons . An d Kati e Berryma n was leavin g he r sho p and th e villag e - 'wha t wil l b e lef t o f Zennor? ' (iii . 261) . Ver y little , i t seemed , for him . There ha d als o com e ou t o f th e blu e a lette r fro m A . P . Lewis , no w a wounded office r (iii . 260) 92 - bu t Spezi a an d th e Alp s an d th e Lak e Distric t before th e wa r seeme d (eve n mor e tha n Zennor ) anothe r worl d now . Lawrenc e never answered , perhap s becaus e ther e seeme d nothin g t o say . Th e 'ledg e hal f way dow n a precipice', was determinin g wha t fro m th e pas t coul d stil l see m rea l there. One friendshi p fro m 1915 , however , ha d suddenl y born e ne w fruit . Whe n first confronte d wit h th e prospec t o f hi s famil y e n masse , Lawrenc e ha d toye d with th e ide a o f escapin g t o wal k i n th e hill s wit h Ver e Collin s - th e ma n fro m the Educationa l Book s Divisio n (i n London ) o f Oxfor d Universit y Press , wh o subscribed t o Signature an d ha d offere d suppor t ove r th e suppressio n o f The Rainbow. Ther e ha d bee n a weeken d wit h th e Collinse s befor e goin g dow n t o Cornwall. Knowledg e o f Lawrence' s friendship s i s shape d b y th e letter s whic h survive, an d thi s i s a cas e wher e non-surviva l mean s ignorance . Lawrenc e mus t have kep t i n touc h a t interval s sinc e 1915 , an d certainl y mad e contac t agai n before an d durin g hi s visi t t o Londo n i n Marc h 1918 , fo r whic h Collin s offere d hospitality, thoug h Lawrenc e chos e t o sta y wit h Kot . Th e friendshi p wa s probably no t close , bu t i t no w brough t welcom e help . For , wel l awar e o f Lawrence's desperat e mone y worrie s an d impresse d (h e sai d later ) b y hi s knowledge o f history , Collin s cam e u p wit h th e ide a tha t h e migh t writ e a littl e school-book o n Europea n histor y fo r childre n i n th e lowe r form s o f secondary o r the uppe r one s o f primar y school , wher e a livel y styl e an d imagination , whic h could interes t youn g people , woul d b e muc h mor e importan t tha n scholarl y expertise. The Ministr y o f Education 'wa s urgin g school s t o d o mor e i n teachin g European history' , bu t nothin g ha d bee n don e a t junio r leve l wher e wha t wa s wanted was no t a 'formal , connected , tex t book , bu t a serie s o f vivi d sketche s o f movements an d people' . Perhap s thi s wa s wh y Lawrenc e suddenl y bega n t o read Gibbon , an d a s he di d so , warmed t o th e idea . Whe n Collin s suggeste d tha t an assistan t com e t o se e hi m abou t i t o n he r wa y bac k fro m a trip t o Scotlan d i n late June, h e was persuaded ; an d fro m tha t visi t o f Nancy Henry , wh o woul d se e the projec t through , a new friendshi p sprang . 462
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She spen t th e nigh t o f 2 7 June i n Mountai n Cottag e an d soo n convince d hi m that th e ide a wa s practicabl e wit h th e hel p o f som e additiona l source-books . H e was nearin g th e en d o f Gibbo n now , an d fel t 'i n a historica l mood' . Gibbon' s cynicism abou t huma n natur e continue d t o appeal , an d t o strengthe n hi s ow n belief tha t onl y aristocrat s b y natur e coul d produc e stron g governmen t - shoul d that b e possibl e a t all . The 'chie f feeling ' h e ha d go t fro m Gibbo n wa s 'tha t me n were alway s alike , an d alway s wil l be , an d on e mus t vie w th e specie s wit h contempt'. Histor y showe d wha t was neede d wa s a fe w individual s 't o rule th e species. I t i s prope r rulin g the y need , an d alway s hav e needed . Bu t i t i s impossible, becaus e the y ca n onl y b e rule d a s the y ar e willin g t o b e ruled : an d that i s swinishly o r hypocritically ' (iii . 262) . The boo k migh t b e anothe r wa y o f takin g hi m ou t o f himsel f whil e earnin g something a t last . A t th e month' s en d h e visite d Salli e i n Eastwoo d an d wen t o n to Ad a a t Ripley , ye t withi n a fortnight o f Nancy's visi t h e ha d alread y finished a long first chapte r (fo r whic h Gibbo n wa s basi s enough ) o n th e Roma n Empir e and th e foundin g o f Constantinople. H e ha d als o take n a liking t o Nancy , an d a n immediate interes t i n he r circumstances . Sh e seem s no t t o hav e bee n o n th e permanent staf f o f th e Pres s bu t a free-lance editor , supportin g hersel f whil e he r husband Leig h - poet , composer , an d musi c critic , who before th e wa r ha d bee n Gordon Craig' s musica l directo r i n hi s famou s Theatr e Schoo l i n Florenc e - was trapped i n a Germa n internmen t cam p i n Ruhleben . Jus t a s o n first meetin g Catherine Carswell , year s before , Lawrenc e immediatel y offere d t o hel p Nanc y with a manuscript : a collectio n o f poem s whic h Leig h ha d sen t fro m th e camp . He selecte d forty-tw o tha t h e though t woul d mak e ' a nic e littl e book' , tidie d th e presentation an d aske d Pinke r t o tak e i t on; promisin g Nanc y tha t i f necessary h e would 'sen d i t round mysel f (iii . 263) . He wa s at work again . All hi s othe r project s ha d seeme d a t a standstill . H e ha d lai d asid e th e ne w novel a t onl y 15 0 manuscrip t pages ; i t ha d no t foun d it s strid e o r wher e i t was going. Beaumon t ha d evidentl y mad e n o progres s wit h Bay a t all ; nor wa s ther e any wor d ye t fro m Pinke r abou t publicatio n o f Seeker' s boo k o f Lawrenc e poems. Th e typin g o f th e America n essay s ha d stalled , s o the y to o wer e unpublishable a s yet . I t mus t hav e seeme d al l th e mor e importan t t o ge t o n wit h sample chapter s o f th e littl e histor y boo k s o a s t o ear n a contrac t an d a dow n payment - especiall y whe n th e Literar y Fun d Committee , meetin g o n 1 0 June, awarded hi m onl y £5 0 again . Hi s immediat e respons e wa s abusive ; an d thoug h the gran t wa s 'something , anyhow ' (iii . 265) , i t coul d mak e onl y a temporar y difference whil e hi s basic situatio n remaine d a s bad a s ever. H e coul d sen d Kot' s cheque bac k (iii . 263) , an d h e coul d affor d no w t o promis e Fried a a visi t t o London t o se e th e childre n i n Augus t (iii . 267) . H e ha d tol d Gra y te n day s earlier tha t sh e wa s 'well ' bu t 'abou t a s happy an d unhapp y a s you migh t expect ' (iii. 261) , so a trip t o London woul d giv e her somethin g t o look forwar d to . 463
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In th e meantime , wit h onl y hi s three-year-ol d nephe w t o keep Fried a amused , he settle d dow n t o writ e hi s histor y an d finished thre e specime n chapter s b y 2 6 July. H e confesse d tha t the y wer e 'perhap s rathe r long' . Indee d th e first woul d be divide d later , s o h e ha d don e wha t becam e th e chapter s o n 'Rome' , 'Constantinople', 'Christianity ' an d 'Th e Germans ' - enoug h fo r OU P t o decid e whether t o g o on . H e tol d Nanc y tha t h e wante d t o writ e a 'serious ' book , 'tha t would conve y th e tru e histori c impressio n t o childre n wh o ar e beginnin g t o grasp realities . W e shoul d introduc e th e deep , philosophi c not e int o education : deep philosophi c reverence ' (iii . 268—9) . Th e chapter s ar e nowher e nea r a s solemn a s thi s migh t suggest , bu t h e believe d th e stud y o f th e pas t ha d t o rais e questions o f valu e fo r youn g peopl e - truth , fairness , freedom , order , tolerance , right an d wrong ; an d ough t t o se t the m thinkin g als o abou t ho w th e way s o f lif e of differen t people s wer e derive d fro m th e differin g value s the y prize d mos t highly. Alread y 'North ' an d 'South' , 'Eastern ' an d 'Western ' ar e beginnin g t o b e contrasted i n cultura l a s wel l a s climati c ways ; an d alread y ther e ar e hint s o f a developing concer n wit h th e requirement s o f order , authorit y an d peacefu l growth. Historically , ther e i s nothing original.Th e materia l come s fro m Gibbon , and no w als o fro m Tacitus , an d ther e ar e mistake s a s wel l a s economica l an d lively assemblag e an d narrative . Wher e Lawrenc e i s original however , remindin g one agai n o f wha t a good classroo m teache r h e ma y hav e been , i s i n hi s abilit y t o imagine i n way s tha t coul d no t onl y brin g th e pas t vividl y aliv e t o childre n i n mid-school, bu t als o teac h mor e tha n i s apparent . T o se e th e landscap e throug h Constantine's eye s a s h e trace s th e boundarie s o f hi s ne w capita l wit h hi s lance , not onl y make s i t real , bu t als o impresse s a whol e ne w geograph y o n th e imagination, wher e i t wil l stick . On e ha s take n in , painlessly , ho w 'Byzantium ' would fac e 'East ' i n religio n an d politic s a s well . An d th e powerfu l imaginin g o f the Hercynia n forest , before the contras t o f 'German ' wit h 'Roman' , ensure s tha t the limit s o f th e latte r ar e vividl y felt , s o tha t bot h th e grea t 'opposites ' which , for Lawrence , g o t o th e makin g of'Europe' , com e hom e t o imagination . A t least , too, th e chapter s ar e not boring . Moreover, i n arrangin g wit h Nanc y fo r th e typing , th e res t o f th e America n essays ma y hav e bee n included , an d hi s hope s fo r the m revived . H e though t o f going t o Londo n t o se e Pinke r abou t them , an d eve n o f takin g a littl e holida y afterwards, sinc e th e Carswell s wer e spendin g som e week s i n th e Fores t o f Dea n and invite d the m there . Catherin e als o offere d th e us e o f thei r Londo n house , but onc e agai n Lawrenc e preferre d t o g o t o Ko t (iii . 271) . Bu t first, hi s Aun t Ada an d he r husban d Frit z Krenko w wer e comin g t o Mountai n Cottag e fo r th e August ban k holida y weeken d (iii . 267) . Thi s mus t hav e seeme d anothe r plung e back int o th e past . I t was a t Aun t Ada' s hous e i n Leiceste r tha t hi s mothe r ha d fallen ill ; the y ha d bee n an d stil l wer e ver y friendl y wit h Loui e Burrows ; an d i t had bee n th e Krenkows ' ide a tha t h e shoul d g o to German y afte r hi s ow n illnes s 464
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which ha d le d t o hi s meetin g Fried a - bu t h e ha d no t see n the m sinc e 1912. H e found hi s aun t a bi t borin g bu t Frit z mor e interesting . H e wa s employe d b y a hosiery firm, bu t hi s rea l life' s wor k wa s i n Arabi c studie s i n whic h h e was t o earn a considerabl e reputation . Ye t a s s o ofte n wit h th e Lawrences , th e visi t proved a bi t to o long : 'W e also' , h e tol d Catherine , 'ar e sufferin g badl y fro m relatives - badly ' (iii . 273) . H e an d Fried a wer e impatien t no w fo r London . O n Monday 1 2 August the y went . X Town , an d th e Fores t o f Dea n Only tw o day s later , tow n wa s alread y 'horribl y borin g an d stultifying . I t i s lik e living i n a sort o f vacuum. - An d w e have t o g o out ever y evenin g - i t i s difficul t to ge t thing s fitted in ' (iii . 273) . Th e crowde d schedul e ma y hav e bee n becaus e he wa s wary, i n hi s turn , o f outstaying hi s welcom e wit h Kot . Indee d Edit h Ede r and Barbar a Lo w persuade d them , afte r Frieda' s visi t t o th e children , t o spen d a long weeken d o n Merse a Islan d nea r Colcheste r (iii . 274) , befor e goin g bac k t o Acacia Roa d ver y briefly . H e sa w Nanc y Henr y again , an d hear d tha t hi s specimen chapter s wer e bein g considere d b y Herber t El y wh o wa s responsibl e for OUP' s Juvenil e an d Elementar y School s Department . I f El y approved , Lawrence promise d t o wor k har d a t i t whe n h e go t bac k t o Derbyshir e (iii . 276) . He calle d o n Pinker , an d hear d shortl y afterward s tha t Seeke r woul d d o th e ne w book o f poems . I t ma y als o hav e bee n now , galvanise d b y Lawrenc e an d reassured abou t th e typin g (som e mor e o f whic h wa s collected) , tha t Pinke r began t o negotiat e wit h Harriso n abou t publishin g th e America n essay s i n th e English Review, thoug h th e first woul d onl y appea r i n November . Lawrenc e sa w Campbell, wit h who m h e ha d bee n rathe r ou t o f touch; an d visite d Eni d Hopki n at th e see d nurser y wher e sh e no w worke d (iii . 273) . Cynthi a Asquit h wa s visiting he r fathe r i n Scotland , s o h e ha d n o chanc e o f a gossi p abou t he r ne w job a s secretar y t o James Barri e (iii . 282) ; but h e sa w Dolli e Radfor d (wh o a t las t had bee n persuade d tha t Ernes t shoul d b e i n a Home ; iii . 274) ; an d Arabella , who ha d new s tha t Richar d wa s ou t o f th e fron t lin e jus t no w (iii . 280) . H e probably sa w Gertle r too . Bu t ther e ar e sign s o f irritatio n wit h thi s socia l round , for whic h h e wa s even les s fitted afte r Mountai n Cottag e tha n before . Thoug h h e felt ' a curiou s nascen t qualit y i n th e world ' a s thoug h a chang e wa s comin g a t long last ; h e als o confesse d tha t ther e wa s 'som e intangibl e counteractio n . . . between m e an d everybody ' (iii . 276) . H e tol d Ko t h e ha d bee n ' a bi t disgusted ' with Campbel l (iii . 285) , whos e jo b i n th e Ministr y o f Labou r ma y perhap s hav e produced establishmen t attitudes . Howeve r relation s betwee n Fried a an d Ko t had improve d somewhat , 'sinc e ope n enmit y i s avowed' (iii . 277) ! He cu t shor t thei r sta y i n London , preferrin g a lon g weeken d a t Hermitag e (before h e coul d leav e fo r th e Fores t o f Dean) , eve n thoug h h e kne w a 'ver y 465
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seedy' Margare t Radfor d woul d b e i n th e cottag e an d h e di d no t muc h car e fo r her a t th e bes t o f time s (iii . 274) . H e fel t h e neede d a break . Thoug h h e di d indeed find a nervy Margare t 'horrible ' (iii . 277) , th e plac e was a s eve r pleasant , peaceful an d somnolen t (iii . 276) . On 2 6 Augus t the y wen t t o joi n Catherine , Donal d an d bab y John , i n th e Vicarage i n Uppe r Lydbroo k nea r Ross-on-Wy e whic h th e Carswell s wer e house sittin g a t nex t t o n o rent . (I t say s somethin g bot h fo r thei r generosit y an d the steadines s o f Lawrence' s friendshi p wit h Catherin e tha t h e wa s abl e t o accept th e trai n far e fro m he r withou t humiliatio n o r resentment ; iii . 274) A t th e station, h e wa s lik e a schoolbo y o n holiday , an d Fried a mor e 'ejaculatory ' tha n ever. 95 H e foun d th e Carswell s pleasan t a s always , i f 'depressed ' (iii . 277 ) - bu t they soo n cheere d on e anothe r up . Th e Vicarag e sa t behin d a big brow n churc h which look s ou t acros s th e valle y t o a n unspectacula r village , straggling alon g th e road agains t th e hillside ; bu t th e countr y al l aroun d i s beautiful . I t mus t hav e reminded Lawrenc e o f Nottinghamshire , fo r her e was th e sam e juxtapositio n o f forest an d ric h landscap e wit h activ e coal-mine s - thoug h h e wa s scornfu l o f th e small cage s an d windin g gea r b y Nott s standard s - an d als o disuse d gi n pit s lik e the one s h e ha d describe d a t th e beginnin g o f Sons and Lovers. Ye t - o r therefore? - h e fel t a sudde n 'malaise ' o n 'firs t tumblin g int o tha t fores t o f Lydbrook - whic h fo r som e reaso n i s curiousl y upsetting ' (iii . 278) . Catherin e thought i t might b e because of'th e dar k an d ancien t steepnes s o f those woods' . This was onl y a first impressio n however . H e like d th e walk s carryin g th e bab y (as i f actually holdin g th e future) , especiall y th e on e t o th e spectacula r ravin e o f the rive r Wy e a s i t curve s throug h Simmond s Yat . H e enjoye d thei r expeditio n by trai n acros s th e Wels h borde r t o Monmouth : 'particularl y th e Churc h b y th e Monnow bridg e - th e bright , sunn y town , an d th e tear s i n one' s insid e becaus e there isn' t real peace' ; an d th e picni c o n lar d cakes , c very nice . . . i n th e gree n riding' (iii . 278) . The y mus t hav e mad e a n od d spectacle : Frieda' s ampl e figure in th e bigges t an d brightes t o f checks , Lawrenc e i n a red-and-gree n stripe d blazer Aldingto n ha d give n him , an d hi s onl y pai r o f gre y flannel trouser s (bot h washed s o often no w tha t wrist s an d ankle s stuc k out) , and sockles s espadrille s t o go wit h th e bear d - a combinatio n likel y t o mak e head s tur n i n rura l Here fordshire. I n th e evening s the y san g songs , th e favourit e bein g a due t wit h Donald i n 'Wha t Ar e th e Wil d Wave s Saying' . The y al l dislike d th e forma l vicarage drawing-roo m an d muc h preferre d sittin g i n th e kitche n besid e th e walled garden , bu t Lawrenc e ha d brough t a book o f Frenc h song s wit h hi m an d (says Catherine ) 'eve n th e hate d chin a cabinet s di d no t kee p hi m awa y fro m th e drawing-room piano' , pickin g ou t tune s wit h on e finger an d a n expressio n o f 'intense an d concentrate d earnestness ' a s h e learne d Frenc h ballad s of f b y heart . But Catherin e preferre d hi s od d voic e i n Englis h folk-songs : ' A Cottag e Wel l Thatched wit h Straw' , sh e remembered , an d 'Twanky-dillo ' whic h h e wrot e ou t 466
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for her , an d 'th e pri m absur d char m o f Offenbac h i n English ' whic h h e 'rendered deliciously' . It wa s a t Lydbroo k tha t h e conceive d hi s stor y 'Th e Blin d Man' , an d i n th e vicarage kitche n tha t h e first outline d th e ide a t o Catherin e an d Letty , th e ol d servant wh o cam e wit h th e house . Catherin e describe s he r a s 'lovable , but almos t half-witted', ye t sh e to o seeme d (despit e initia l bewilderment ) 't o breath e th e dark ai r o f th e stable ' i n th e story . Afte r h e ha d writte n i t i n November , friend s would se e traces o f Catherine i n Isabel Pervin . There was also intense talk , of course, and a chance o f getting t o know Donal d much bette r tha n before . Interestingl y i t wa s t o hi m tha t Lawrenc e wrot e hi s thank-you letter , wantin g hi m als o t o rea d th e late r America n essay s whic h ha d been lef t behin d fo r Catherine . I t ha d bee n fo r lega l advic e tha t h e ha d aske d Donald t o rea d Women in Love, bu t no w h e ha d obviousl y com e t o respec t hi s mind, thoug h h e als o anticipate d (havin g experienced ) th e kin d o f criticis m tha t the traine d lawye r woul d make . 'Yo u wil l sa y I repea t myself - tha t I don't kno w the term s o f rea l philosoph y - an d tha t m y term s ar e empt y - th e empt y Sel f so don' t write thes e thing s t o me , I kno w the m beforehand , an d the y mak e m e cross' (iii . 278) . Nevertheles s Donal d was t o rea d th e essay s 'an d se e i f yo u find anything i n them' . Fortunately , h e like d th e on e o n Melvill e an d Moby Dick. On th e las t da y o f Augus t th e Lawrence s wer e bac k a t a Mountai n Cottag e 'strangely quiet , thoug h th e win d bluster s an d th e rai n beat s o n thi s littl e house ' (iii. 278) .
XI Blac k Septembe r It migh t hav e seeme d that , despit e storm s outside , lif e wa s cheerin g u p o n th e ledge. Howeve r a string o f annoyance s began , an d go t worse , til l a t th e en d o f a black Septembe r Lawrenc e fel t th e chas m belo w eve n deepe r tha n before . Donald an d Catherin e wer e t o hav e visited , bu t th e plan s fel l through . Seeke r wanted th e rathe r poo r earl y poe m 'Lat e i n Life ' lef t ou t o f the ne w volume ; an d though Lawrenc e replie d irritabl y tha t h e di d no t care : ' I don' t wan t t o hea r hi s literary criticisms ' (iii . 278) . Frieda' s jealous y brok e ou t agai n a t wha t sh e sa w as a ne w soul-friendshi p wit h Nancy , wh o seem s t o hav e writte n wit h som e intensity abou t ho w sh e wante d t o hel p Lawrenc e i n hi s troubles . H e fel t h e ha d to respon d coolly , doubtin g 'i f on e perso n ca n hel p another , sav e b y jus t being'. His trouble s woul d 'hav e t o resolv e themselve s somehow' . Nevertheles s 'someone i n th e worl d who m on e ca n reall y trus t a s a friend i s a great blessing ' but, 'M y wif e get s angr y whe n sh e read s you r letter . - Wh y ca n three peopl e never b e prope r friends ? Nothin g wil l b e an y goo d til l the y can. ' Perhap s i t might b e manage d nonetheless , 's o lon g a s w e adjus t ourselve s properly' ; fo r h e 467
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has hi s ol d 'grea t desir e fo r permanency ' (iii . 279 ) - bu t th e warnin g i s clear . There wa s no verdic t ye t o n hi s specime n chapters . Then cam e th e pos t o n 1 1 September, hi s thirty-thir d birthda y - Christ' s ag e when crucified , a s h e woul d poin t out . Ther e wa s a lette r fro m Nichols , tha t very mino r poet , wh o ha d nevertheles s bee n invite d t o lectur e i n America ; an d also th e summon s t o anothe r medica l inspectio n a t Derb y (iii . 281) . Th e combination wa s boun d t o enrage . Nichol s propose d t o includ e Lawrenc e i n hi s lectures o n poetr y an d wante d som e biographica l details , bu t th e contras t o f hi s circumstances wit h thos e o f the Oxonia n subaltern-poe t wa s bound t o be galling . Birthdays ca n becom e depressin g survey s o f one' s lif e an d progress , an d a s Lawrence prepare d a potte d autobiograph y now , hi s ange r overflowe d a t bein g stranded lik e a fis h ou t o f water , an d a t th e successfu l literar y peopl e lik e Bennett wh o refuse d t o hel p (thoug h thi s was fa r les s tru e o f Bennet t tha n h e thought). Here a m I, can't mak e a living to save my life, withou t cavin g in and acceptin g th e filth y world a t it s ow n value . Whic h I won' t do . - Ther e remain s th e seriou s prospec t o f starving oneself out... A s for being a genius - th e very word becomes an insult, at last.. . Yes, I lik e th e fre e soul , tha t a n artis t i s an d mus t be , i n you . Ho w muc h you'l l sai l with, and ho w muc h against , th e wind, that i s your affair . Bu t th e win d i s dead agains t a free spirit and a real art ... (iii . 281) He tell s Nichol s abou t th e call-u p an d ho w 'havin g bee n badgere d abou t a s I have, kicke d ou t o f Cornwall , an d pushe d abou t b y th e police , I' m damne d i f I will mov e on e ste p a t th e biddin g o f suc h filthers'. Ye t h e kne w perfectl y wel l that h e woul d hav e t o obe y th e summon s t o Derb y i n th e en d - thoug h h e di d actually sen d th e paper s bac k again , askin g ho w the y coul d expec t anythin g o f him 'i f I a m stil l a black-marke d person ' (iii . 283) . Th e potte d autobiograph y suggests a heritag e (an d alliance ) o f nonconformin g fighter s falle n o n evi l days , and end s wit h th e nause a o f a bor n outside r fo r th e worl d i n whic h h e ha s t o live." Another sourc e o f disturbance , however , ca n onl y b e detecte d betwee n th e lines o f a lette r t o Am y Lowel l tha t sam e day . H e thanke d he r fo r anothe r cheque fro m th e lates t Imagis t anthology . Hi s volum e o f poem s dedicate d t o he r would b e ou t i n si x weeks . H e wa s gla d t o hav e th e issu e o f Poetry wit h a piec e on hi m b y Fletcher. 100 But i n th e middl e o f al l thi s wer e tw o sentence s whos e restrain t ca n onl y b e gauged b y outsid e evidence : 'Hild a ha s lef t Cornwall , an d eve n ha d som e ide a o f coming t o America , I believe . Bu t I don' t expec t sh e will ' (iii . 280) . H e ha d t o say somethin g i n repl y t o Amy' s enquirie s afte r Hild a an d Richard , bu t h e sai d as littl e a s an y ma n could . Fo r h e ha d recentl y hear d tha t Hild a ha d becom e pregnant b y Gray . I t ha d happene d i n June. Sh e warne d he r husban d a t th e en d 468
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of July, thoug h sh e wa s no t certai n sh e wa s pregnan t unti l sh e cam e t o Londo n about 2 1 August. 101 Sh e probabl y wrot e t o Lawrenc e then . Perdit a - well chosen nam e - woul d b e bor n o n 3 1 March 1919 , a birth involvin g som e dange r to both bab y an d mother . Lawrence mus t hav e bee n deepl y upse t an d angry . Thoug h h e ha d trie d t o dissuade Hild a fro m goin g t o liv e wit h Gra y - ostensibl y t o hav e peac e t o wor k on he r Iphigenia in Aulis - h e ha d gon e o n writin g friendl y letters , whil e acknowledging t o Gra y i n Marc h tha t thei r path s seeme d t o b e diverging . A s recently a s 22 July h e ha d tol d 'Grigio' : 'Whe n yo u fee l lik e leavin g Bosigra n fo r a bit, yo u wil l come an d sta y here , wil l you, an d we'l l se e where w e are' (iii . 266) . This i s howeve r th e las t lette r t o hav e survive d - thoug h mayb e no t th e las t t o have bee n written . Th e coolin g o f th e friendshi p wa s clearl y not becaus e Lawrence demande d unquestionin g discipleship , o r coul d no t tak e criticism , a s we hav e seen , an d h e ha d condone d Gray' s relationshi p wit h Frieda , whateve r that was . Gray' s accoun t allow s n o glimps e o f th e rea l reaso n fo r th e breach . Disingenuously, h e boast s o f fluttering th e doveco t o n hi s visi t t o London , bu t says nothing a t all of what happene d i n Cornwal l afterwards. 1 Lawrence's closenes s t o Hild a ha d begu n i n th e aftermat h o f he r miscarriage , aware o f th e terro r o f conceivin g agai n whic h mad e he r refus e t o slee p wit h Aldington thereafter . Woul d h e no t hav e writte n t o tel l Gra y wha t h e though t o f him now ? Thi s woul d no t b e a matte r o f socia l morality , sinc e lov e ha d t o b e free, bu t h e als o demande d tha t i t b e responsible , no t careless . (Gra y howeve r never accepte d an y responsibilit y o r acknowledge d paternity , eve n whe n h e me t Perdita a s a youn g woma n i n Capr i i n 1947. ) H e woul d hav e bee n furiou s a t Gray fo r puttin g Hild a s o at risk psychologicall y an d physicall y a s well as sociall y - a rage fuelle d als o by hi s ow n refusa l t o tak e advantag e o f her, an d b y jealousy , heated stil l mor e i f Gra y ha d indee d slep t wit h Frieda . Wit h suc h powerfu l motivation, woul d Lawrenc e no t hav e tol d Gra y wha t h e though t o f him ? I t ca n only b e speculation , bu t i t doe s see m highl y likel y - an d i f so , give n th e eg o visible everywher e i n hi s writings , Gray' s subsequen t malic e an d determinatio n to d o Lawrenc e al l th e damag e h e coul d i n 'reminiscences ' afte r 1930 , whil e concealing th e rea l caus e o f th e breac h betwee n them , woul d b e mor e explicable. Lawrence certainl y wrot e t o Hilda . Year s late r sh e quote d fro m hi s 'las t letter': ' I hop e neve r t o se e yo u again' . Hi s feeling s mus t hav e bee n complicated. H e care d deepl y abou t her , an d believe d tha t the y ha d pledge d a lifelong kin d o f troth. Fo r al l we know, i t may hav e been har d fo r hi m no t t o tak e advantage, an d h e to o ma y hav e gon e o n wonderin g whethe r h e ha d bee n to o scrupulous. H e continue d t o hea r abou t he r fro m Arabell a an d Richard , expressed concer n fo r her , eve n wondere d whethe r h e migh t afte r al l se e he r again. Wha t h e fel t mos t however , wa s no t merel y disapprova l o r jealousy . H e 469
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felt betrayed . 'Poo r Hilda' , h e wrot e t o Arabella' s mothe r o n 1 6 December , 'Feeling sorr y fo r her , on e almos t melts . Bu t I don V trus t he r - ' (iii . 308). 105 I t must hav e seeme d tha t he r givin g hersel f t o Gra y devalue d al l sh e ha d claime d to fee l fo r himself , b y wa y o f artisti c affinit y an d companionshi p a s wel l a s lov e and loyalty . T o slee p wit h Gra y an d ris k bearin g hi s child , moreover , als o calle d in questio n al l she ha d claime d t o fee l abou t se x and motherhoo d sinc e 1915 , and the whol e o f he r behaviou r t o Aldingto n - an d t o Cournos , i f Lawrenc e kne w about that . (Cournos , fo r hi s part , coul d no t understan d ho w Lawrenc e coul d ever hav e preferre d 'fa t Frieda ' t o H.D . Changin g th e name s an d seeing , behind th e physica l insult , Cournos' s sens e o f Hilda' s fineness, th e incredulit y might hav e don e als o fo r Lawrence' s feelin g abou t Hilda , himsel f an d fattis h Gray.) I t probabl y mad e i t eve n wors e that , a s tim e proved , sh e neithe r love d Gray no r wante d t o sta y wit h him . Lawrenc e ha d warne d he r tha t goin g t o liv e at Bosigra n wa s boun d t o mak e a difference . H e coul d neve r hav e imagine d i t would b e s o great . Ye t Hilda' s sens e o f havin g bee n rejecte d b y bot h he r husband an d Lawrenc e ha d ha d muc h t o do with wha t happened . It mus t hav e bee n thi s reactio n tha t Richar d ha d i n min d whe n h e replie d t o Hilda's lette r o f 2 6 August : ' I a m sorr y abou t th e Lawrenc e busines s fo r you r sake; bu t peopl e ar e lik e that . I suspecte d th e Gra y busines s too . Artists ! M y God: quel canaille? I t mus t hav e bee n unspeakabl e t o ge t suc h new s i n th e trenches, an d kno w hi s wif e t o b e withou t support . H e trie d har d t o b e nobl e and forgivin g a t first, thoug h late r h e attempte d t o preven t th e bab y bein g registered i n hi s name ; an d thi s i n fac t marke d th e final brea k u p o f hi s relationship wit h Hild a too . When h e came back, i t would b e t o Arabella . The call-u p an d thes e othe r annoyance s alread y mad e fo r a black September , but i t woul d ge t stil l worse . Fo r Lawrenc e coul d no t avoi d th e medica l examination, an d hi s gestur e o f returnin g th e paper s merel y elicite d a cur t instruction t o atten d a t Derb y o n 2 6 instea d o f 2 1 Septembe r (iii . 286 , 283) . H e blustered a bit mor e t o reliev e hi s feelings , bu t h e ha d t o go , or g o t o prison . H e was fairl y sur e t o b e rejected . Ye t conscriptio n wa s suc h no w - th e Germa n advance apparentl y halte d an d th e counter-attac k unde r way , bu t th e cos t i n casualties enormou s an d th e outcom e stil l ver y muc h i n balanc e - tha t ther e was a ris k no w o f bein g mad e t o d o som e menia l tas k t o releas e anothe r ma n t o th e armed forces , unles s h e coul d sho w tha t h e wa s doin g somethin g els e o f use . S o he wrot e t o Cynthi a askin g i f he to o coul d becom e a secretary (iii . 282) , sinc e h e could type . H e ha d t o d o something o r ' I shal l burs t o r g o cracked ' (iii . 284) . Veering i n anothe r direction , h e though t o f making contac t wit h member s o f th e Independent Labou r Party , an d becomin g politicall y active : C I ha d rathe r b e hanged o r pu t i n priso n tha n endur e an y more . S o no w I shal l mov e actively , personally, d o wha t I can . I a m a desperado ' (iii . 285) . Bu t h e was not , no r a joiner i n an y directio n - an d i t wa s lat e i n th e da y fo r suc h publi c protest . H e 470
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told Nanc y jus t befor e h e lef t fo r Derb y tha t i t woul d serv e n o purpos e fo r hi m to def y th e la w a s a mer e individual , an d tha t h e ha d n o tast e fo r martyrdo m (iii. 286) . So he wen t - an d hi s descriptio n o f the experienc e i n th e 'Nightmare ' chapte r of Kangaroo show s ho w it s scarrin g remaine d wit h hi m fo r year s t o come . A s against th e relativ e courtes y an d humanit y wit h whic h h e ha d bee n treate d a t Bodmin, thi s Boar d o f elderly officer s an d th e medica l examiner s wh o too k thei r tone fro m the m (al l perfectl y stay-at-hom e themselves) , ha d becom e corrupte d by thei r power , bullyin g an d openl y contemptuou s o f th e specimen s befor e them. Thes e wer e al l mad e t o stri p nake d an d wai t o n benche s fo r lon g period s with onl y a jacket roun d thei r shoulders . One grea t strea k o f anger i n Lawrence' s account ha s les s t o d o wit h himsel f tha n wit h horro r a t th e wa y a big miner , hi s ugly bod y mercilessl y exposed , wa s so harried an d humiliate d an d confuse d a s t o become almost subhuman . Lawrenc e dre w int o himsel f i n hatred , enoug h t o endure bein g 'move d abou t lik e a block o f meat , i n th e atmospher e o f corrosiv e derision', 1 an d mad e t o d o physica l jerk s i n th e nud e i n fron t o f others . Hi s information abou t hi s lung s wa s treate d wit h sneerin g scepticism . A t thi s moment h e fel t th e hostilit y o f his examiners crystallise ; and i t i s conceivable tha t they wer e waitin g fo r hi m becaus e o f th e fus s h e ha d alread y mad e abou t attending, thoug h tha t ma y hav e bee n hi s paranoia . Th e las t straw , however , was having t o hav e hi s genital s fel t i n public , an d the n bein g mad e t o ben d over , further an d further , whil e a young jackanape s crackin g joke s peere d u p hi s anu s . . . a medica l examinatio n mad e int o a publi c humiliation . H e hate d t o b e touched withou t hi s consen t b y anyone , an d ha d writte n a poem abou t hi s wife' s proprietary failur e t o respect hi s body. I t wa s not howeve r th e medica l inspectio n itself tha t rankled , s o muc h a s th e insolen t powe r o f official s t o expos e an d jes t about men' s 'privates ' - th e reverenc e fo r th e bod y an d th e privat e self , s o central t o his thought, deliberatel y outraged . He wa s place d i n Grad e 3 , sedentar y wor k only , bu t 'i t kill s m e wit h speechless fur y t o be pawe d b y them . The y shal l not touch m e agai n - suc h filth' (iii. 287) . H e was absolutel y determine d no t t o b e drafte d int o anythin g b y th e military. Couldn' t h e b e foun d wor k i n th e Ministr y o f Education , h e aske d Cynthia, give n hi s teachin g qualification s an d experience ? Coul d sh e no t approach H . A . L . Fisher , th e Presiden t o f th e Boar d o f Education , who m sh e knew slightly ? But , beyon d that , th e experienc e wa s a final watershe d i n hi s relation t o hi s society . I f h e ha d persuade d himsel f i n th e pas t tha t i t wa s a s a n artist tha t h e serve d hi s people , h e coul d d o s o no longer . 'I' m no t goin g t o squa t in a cottag e feelin g thei r fine feeling s fo r them , an d flying fo r the m a flag tha t only make s a fool o f me. I' m ou t o n a new trac k - le t humanit y g o it s ow n wa y I g o mine. But I won V be pawe d an d bullie d b y the m - no ' (ii i 288). It wa s th e final step i n th e makin g o f an alien . 47i
CHAPTER NIN E
• October 1918-Novembe r 191 9
MARKING TIM E I will get out of Europe this year .. . (iii. 316) I Interlud e i n th e Sout h It seeme d imperativ e no w t o fin d somethin g t o d o tha t woul d preven t bein g drafted int o wa r work , an d fo r tha t h e neede d t o g o t o London . H e wrot e t o th e Carswells an d Gertle r fo r idea s (iii . 288 , 289) ; an d angle d wit h Pinke r fo r a meeting wit h Bennet t i n th e hop e o f work rathe r tha n mone y thi s tim e (iii . 289) . Dollie Radfor d wa s away visitin g he r so n bu t le t the m hav e 3 2 Well Walk , wher e they arrive d o n 7 October 1918 . Pinker ha d no w negotiate d fo r th e firs t o f th e America n essay s t o appea r i n the Novembe r English Review, an d thoug h Harriso n offere d onl y 5 guinea s fo r it, Lawrenc e though t h e woul d b e willin g t o tak e mor e a t tha t rat e (iii . 286-7) . This turne d ou t t o b e so , producin g £4 2 ove r eigh t month s - littl e enough , bu t more tha n Lawrenc e ha d earne d fo r a lon g time . New Poems wa s publishe d i n October whil e h e wa s i n Londo n an d mad e hi m anothe r £1 0 o r so. 1 Ther e wa s still n o wor d abou t th e history ; bu t th e Carswell s cam e u p wit h a n idea . I f h e wanted t o d o somethin g i n education , wh y no t writ e fo r The Times Educational Supplement} Do n kne w th e edito r G . S . Freeman , an d arrange d a n intervie w which wen t wel l enough fo r Lawrenc e - eve r th e optimis t - t o think h e might b e offered wor k fo r th e Literary Supplement a s wel l (iii . 291) . Ther e wa s n o mor e talk o f gettin g a jo b - 'b e damne d t o al l job s an d jobbers ' (iii . 292) . A s h e ha d told th e Roya l Literar y Fun d Committee , hi s healt h woul d no t allo w regula r employment, an d hi s temperamen t stil l less . Ye t now , wit h th e hop e tha t th e American essay s migh t com e ou t serially , th e Europea n history-boo k b e approved an d som e essay s o n educatio n pav e th e wa y t o regula r wor k fo r th e Times supplements , hi s futur e seeme d mor e hopefu l tha n a t an y momen t sinc e the expulsio n fro m Cornwall . Thos e wh o kne w hi m migh t doub t tha t h e coul d ever adap t himsel f t o th e expectation s o f commissionin g editors , bu t al l h e eve r needed wa s som e hop e t o kee p hi m going . Moreover , a s th e Allie d counter attack i n Franc e gathere d momentum , ther e seeme d a rea l chanc e o f a n en d t o the wa r a t last . 472
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He mad e a persona l peac e wit h Katherin e Mansfiel d (Mr s Murr y sinc e 3 May). H e ha d no t see n Jack o n an y o f his Londo n visit s sinc e th e expulsio n fro m Cornwall, thoug h h e ha d new s o f hi m fro m Ko t an d fro m Gertle r (eve n mor e established a t Garsingto n no w tha n Murry) . I f ' a bi t disgusted ' a t wha t Camp bell ha d become , an d a t Gertler' s 'Ottling ' (iii . 270) , Lawrenc e mus t hav e fel t more s o a t th e wa y Murr y ha d worke d himsel f int o th e Wa r Office . H e ha d become hea d o f hi s Departmen t o f Europea n news-gathering , an d ha d indee d worked s o har d tha t hi s healt h brok e dow n i n Novembe r 1917 . H e spen t som e months recuperatin g a t Garsingto n fro m wha t wa s though t migh t b e tubercu losis. Whe n h e cam e bac k h e thre w himsel f int o hi s wor k a s muc h a s ever , a s well a s continuin g t o revie w Frenc h fiction fo r th e TLS an d politica l journalis m for th e Nation. (H e woul d becom e Chie f Censo r i n 1918 , an d b e awarde d th e OBE i n 1920. ) Katherine' s healt h howeve r ha d broke n dow n s o seriousl y a t th e end o f 191 7 tha t he r doctor s ordere d he r t o th e sout h o f Franc e again . Th e diagnosis wa s 'dr y pleurisy' , bu t th e doctor s foun d a spo t o n a lung whic h mad e it imperativ e tha t sh e shoul d neve r spen d anothe r winte r i n England . I n Januar y 1918 sh e lef t fo r Bandol , wher e sh e an d Jac k ha d bee n s o happ y an d productiv e before the y cam e t o Cornwal l - bu t i n Februar y sh e ha d he r first haemorrhage , and i n Apri l a wearyin g journe y back , wit h a lon g dela y i n Pari s whic h wa s under bombardment . Th e weddin g (i n th e sam e registr y wher e the y ha d bee n witnesses fo r Lawrenc e an d Frieda ) wa s a terribl e let-dow n fo r he r becaus e o f Jack's matter-of-fac t behaviour ; an d i t wa s though t advisabl e fo r he r healt h tha t she shoul d spen d th e res t o f spring , alon e again , i n Cornwall . A t th e en d o f August howeve r sh e an d Jack ha d move d int o a house i n Hampstea d - thei r first real hom e fo r severa l year s - wit h servants , an d th e prospec t o f the regulate d lif e she no w ha d t o lead . ( A specialis t tol d Murr y tha t unles s sh e wen t int o a sanatorium sh e ha d onl y a fe w year s t o live , bu t th e mos t sh e woul d d o wa s t o adopt a quieter an d stricte r regime. ) She mende d som e bridges : wit h Kot , wh o ha d tol d Virgini a Wool f i n Januar y that Katherine' s 'lie s & pose s ha d prove d to o muc h fo r him ' bu t wh o cam e a t once whe n summoned ; an d wit h Ottoline , wounde d b y Jack' s hars h revie w o f the poem s o f Sassoo n wh o ha d becom e he r lates t favourite . Katherin e ha d bee n thinking abou t Lawrenc e too , notin g i n he r journa l ho w like hi m sh e wa s becoming, i n th e fits o f tempe r sh e associate d wit h he r illness . Whe n howeve r she hear d tha t th e Lawrence s wer e comin g t o London , an d woul d b e i n Wel l Walk 'jus t roun d th e corner' , sh e wa s horrified : I am sure they wil l turn u p here, & though I have armed M . wit h ever y possible weapon & warned hi m against L. I have a terrible idea that they wil l fight - an d i t will be hideous and lacerating . L . has come up to look fo r wor k i n an office - whic h o f course he'll never do for mor e tha n thre e days . But altogether, I feel the y ar e better a s many mile s away as 473
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
there are miles. Everytime the bell goes I hear Frieda's ''Well Katherina - here we are!' and I turn cold with horror. However, a first meetin g passe d of f wel l enough ; an d thoug h Lawrenc e di d no t warm agai n t o Murr y h e wa s genuinel y concerne d fo r Katherine . H e sa w i n he r what h e perhap s secretl y feare d i n himself , bu t als o al l th e thing s tha t attracte d him highlighte d now , by th e though t tha t sh e migh t die . Moreover Fried a caugh t a bad cold , was ordere d t o be d b y Maitlan d Radfor d and insiste d o n leavin g Londo n fo r th e cottag e i n Hermitag e a s soo n a s sh e was well enough t o move (iii . 292-3) . While Fried a wa s lai d up , an d late r whe n h e cam e u p t o tow n agai n b y himself, Lawrenc e kep t poppin g i n t o se e Katherin e an d soo n muc h o f thei r ol d relation wa s re-established . I t was obligator y t o denigrat e hi m t o Ottolin e o f course, s o Katherine record s tha t h e seeme d t o hav e 'quit e forgotten ' Fried a 'fo r the time' , sayin g dismissivel y tha t sh e wante d hi m t o b e a German, 'an d I m not\ He i s stil l 'take n i n b y th e mos t impossibl e charlatans ' (suc h a s Pryse , presumably, i f h e ha d bee n talkin g o f hi s lates t work) ; lack s a rea l sens e o f humour; an d 'take s himsel f dreadfull y seriousl y now-a-days ' a s a prophet cryin g woe i n th e wildernes s - regardin g Murr y a s ' a flipperty-gibbet ' wh o woul d no t take lif e seriousl y enough . Bu t t o Doroth y Bret t sh e paint s a ver y differen t picture. I loved him : He was just hi s old merry , ric h self, laughing, describing things , giving you pictures, ful l o f enthusias m an d jo y i n a futur e wher e w e wer e al l 'vagabonds ' - W e simply di d no t tal k abou t people . W e kep t t o thing s lik e nut s an d cowslip s & fires i n woods, an d hi s blac k sel f was not. Oh , ther e i s somethin g s o lovabl e i n hi m — & his eagerness, his passionate eagerness for life - tha t is what one loves so. Murry remembere d comin g hom e an d findin g the m 'talkin g gail y together . I fel t that I weighed o n the m lik e a lump o f lead. I t was the ol d ga y talk o f a new lif e i n a ne w country' , bu t h e fel t h e coul d no t participat e becaus e onl y h e kne w o f th e specialist's sentenc e o n Katherine. 5 Ye t bot h sh e an d Lawrenc e kne w wel l enough wha t a n arteria l haemorrhag e mean t - an d thei r gaiet y wa s precisel y i n the fac e o f that . I t was n o acciden t tha t Lawrenc e di d hi s bes t t o kee p hi s sunniest fac e turned ; thoug h thi s mean t tha t the y ha d no t i n fac t go t bac k t o th e full Blutbriiderschaf t h e ha d alway s wanted . I n th e nex t fe w month s h e woul d send he r som e o f the mos t vita l and vivi d letter s h e eve r wrote , seeking t o lif t he r spirits. (Bu t a s i t happened , afte r h e returne d t o th e Midland s the y wer e neve r to meet again. ) Frieda wa s no t seriousl y ill , though ther e was momentary fea r o f pleurisy , bu t as ever sh e hated bein g unwel l a t all and becam e depressed , perhap s als o becaus e of th e wa y thing s wer e goin g fo r Germany . (Lawrence' s od d remar k t o Katherine suggest s tha t Fried a wante d hi m t o fee l mor e fo r he r people. ) 474
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Certainly a flu-ridden Londo n a t th e star t o f th e terribl e epidemi c hel d n o attraction fo r her ; an d Dolli e als o ma y hav e returne d home , sinc e Maitlan d was available t o b e consulted . Lawrenc e though t merel y o f movin g t o Nancy' s rooms i n Adelaid e Road , Chal k Farm , bu t tha t di d no t sui t Frieda , an d s o i t was to Hermitage the y wen t a s soon a s she coul d travel . A s well a s the Murrys , ther e had bee n tim e t o se e Kot , o f course, an d Richar d Aldington , hom e o n leave , an d Arabella, an d t o have new s of Hilda. H e probabl y di d no t se e her, thoug h h e tol d Amy late r tha t sh e ha d bee n i n town , a s was Gra y who m h e certainl y di d no t meet (iii . 294) . I t was probabl y onl y throug h Richar d tha t h e kne w Hild a wa s 'not s o ver y wel l . . . fo r he r nerve s ar e ver y shaken' ; bu t h e hope d th e bab y would 'sooth e he r an d stead y her ' (iii . 314) . I n Hampstea d h e als o calle d o n Mr s Tarry an d remarke d wryl y tha t sh e was the onl y happ y perso n the y ha d seen , fo r she had he r so n home , aliv e (iii . 294) . From 2 2 Octobe r til l abou t 1 9 November the y staye d i n Chape l Cottage . I n a few day s Fried a wa s ou t wit h hi m gatherin g chestnut s i n wood s grow n autumn yellow. Soo n sh e wa s quit e well , an d th e col d h e ha d caugh t too , wa s bette r (iii. 293 ) - whil e th e flu epidemi c rage d o n i n London . Moreove r peac e i n whic h to write , an d a renewe d friendship , inspire d a n unexpecte d creativ e outburs t a s opposed t o th e commissione d wor k h e ough t perhap s t o hav e bee n gettin g o n with. Lawrenc e ha d met , a t Greatha m i n 1915 , Berti e an d Joa n Farjeon , wh o had no w recentl y acquire d a holida y hom e a t Bucklebury , jus t five mile s fro m Hermitage. Sinc e Lawrenc e ha d happ y memorie s o f the m an d Eleanor , h e mus t have bee n please d t o rene w acquaintanc e - probabl y i n Apri l befor e th e Lawrences wen t north , an d agai n i n August . B y lat e 191 8 h e kne w thei r hous e well enoug h t o kno w th e exac t locatio n o f a boo k h e wante d t o borrow. 7 Moreover Berti e wa s no t onl y a singe r o f song s an d a merr y man ; h e wa s a playwright an d dramati c critic , an d i t seem s likel y tha t i t wa s animate d conversation wit h hi m tha t inspire d Lawrenc e t o writ e anothe r pla y himself , Touch and Go - hi s first sinc e th e revisio n o f The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd i n I9I3Having foun d n o publishe r fo r Women in Love, h e use d th e employmen t o f Gudrun a t Shortland s a s a starting-poin t - bu t th e character s ar e differen t enough fro m thos e i n th e nove l t o mak e contras t mor e usefu l tha n comparison . It i s a predominantly politica l play ; th e first produc t o f Lawrence' s retur n t o th e coal-mining Midlands . Ther e mus t hav e bee n tal k wit h hi s fathe r an d Willi e Hopkin (especially) , an d i n th e newspapers , abou t th e unres t i n th e coalfield s a s the wa r seeme d abou t t o end . Wha t wer e th e prospect s o f peac e betwee n capita l and labou r - o r (t o questio n mor e dramatically ) betwee n owners , miner s an d union leader s a t loca l level ? - Gibbo n ha d se t hi m thinkin g abou t government , reinforcing hi s ow n cynicis m abou t bot h power-corrupte d governor s an d th e unwillingness o f th e peopl e t o b e governe d well . I n th e sam e lette r i n whic h h e 475
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spoke o f th e permanenc e o f Gibbon' s insights , h e mentione d a n appallin g explosion a t a munitions factor y i n th e Midland s i n whic h 13 4 people wer e kille d (iii. 26 2 and n . 1) . His ne w pla y suggest s th e dange r o f explosion i n th e coalfield s too. Moreover, seein g th e Murry s agai n ha d give n hi m a n ide a of how t o connec t his politica l mai n plo t wit h a sub-plo t abou t th e malais e o f th e uppe r class . Annabel Wrat h (th e 'Gudrun ' character ) an d Geral d Barlo w d o no t a t al l portra y the Murrys , bu t Lawrenc e ha d bee n struc k b y th e ide a o f a woma n force d t o recognise a deathliness i n hersel f an d he r relationships , an d returnin g t o find he r lover eve n mor e corrupte d b y powe r withi n th e syste m tha n whe n sh e left . Above all , th e pla y differ s fro m Women in Love i n tha t i t i s no t concerne d wit h individual character . Instea d (pre-Brecht ) th e protagonist s perfor m representa tive attitudes, t o bring ou t thei r ful l implications . It begins i n satire , as the street-orato r Willi e Houghton 8 mock s th e supinenes s and materialis m o f th e miners , an d th e manoeuvrin g o f th e unio n leader s wh o toady t o bot h side s - bu t a s Annabe l point s out , h e ca n onl y sho w wha t th e freedom h e call s fo r i s not. Thi s middle-clas s socialis m seem s t o favou r a Labou r government an d th e nationalisatio n o f th e mine s i n theory , bu t actuall y ha s n o intrinsic belie f i n th e miner s o r thei r leaders , o r tha t th e labou r movemen t ha s any bu t materialis t goals . (No r doe s anyone els e i n th e play , whic h i s presumabl y why Lawrence' s impuls e t o all y himsel f wit h th e IL P wa s s o short-lived. ) Th e last scen e wil l sho w tha t thi s kin d o f satiris t finally line s u p wit h th e bosses . Th e union leader , Jo b Arthu r Freer , ha s a n emblemati c name . H e seem s t o stan d primarily fo r patienc e (lik e Job's): fo r carefu l negotiation , compromise , gradua l improvement, tryin g t o strik e a balanc e goo d fo r everyon e - bu t thi s wil l no t make hi m o r th e worker s 'Freer' . Fo r i t woul d requir e th e bosse s t o b e Job' s counterpart - wherea s th e first ac t show s Geral d th e coal-owne r becomin g a n embodiment o f nake d power , intransigenc e an d aggression . A kin d o f analytica l X-ray strip s awa y th e novel' s characte r complexit y i n orde r t o clarif y wher e technological powe r allie d t o English class-contemp t wil l go. The incompatibilit y of th e benevolen t Christianit y o f Gerald' s fathe r wit h industria l capitalis m i s shown eve n mor e crispl y tha n before . Geral d become s th e 'son ' o f hi s fierce mother - wh o hate s an d despise s th e lowe r orders , i s contemptuou s o f al l civilised convention , an d want s t o bea t th e las t 'softness ' ou t o f he r so n t o giv e him th e powe r t o ac t alone . (Lawrenc e inspecte d th e extrem e o f hi s ow n individualism.) Ther e migh t hav e bee n anothe r sid e t o Gerald , a s Annabe l hoped an d Jo b Arthu r though t h e wa s promise d i n th e affai r o f th e clerks ' wag e rise - bu t h e goe s o n fighting wit h Annabe l an d hatin g he r resistance ; an d a t th e end o f Ac t II I Scen e i h e expose s onc e an d fo r al l th e violenc e an d contemp t a t his boss y core , al l civilise d concealment s rippe d away . I n a burs t o f tempe r h e does wha t bosse s reall y wan t t o do . H e brutall y throw s th e trad e unionis t t o th e ground an d kick s him, again , and again . 476
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This precipitate s ou t wha t i s a t th e cor e o f Jo b Arthu r an d hi s men : no t merely mone y bu t somethin g fa r deeper , th e desir e t o ge t thei r 'ow n back' : a nicely ambiguou s phras e implyin g no t merel y reveng e bu t als o outrag e a t bein g treated a s les s tha n full y human . Ye t th e outcom e i s deepl y ironic . A s th e argument abou t capita l an d labou r turn s fro m compromis e int o nake d power struggle an d violence , 'Job ' become s 'Arthur' , a wa r leade r exercisin g tenuou s control ove r clas s warriors . A s thei r inne r violenc e i s liberate d th e miner s los e their humou r an d becom e a bayin g mob , forcin g th e ladie s an d gentleme n t o their knee s an d tumblin g Geral d i n th e mu d t o b e trample d an d kicke d i n hi s turn. Th e agonise d protest s o f th e toff s a t bein g bullie d an d treate d a s 'vermin' , the plea s fo r a spark o f decency sinc e 'he' s a man a s you are' , are wholl y devalue d since thi s dehumanisatio n parallel s s o exactl y wha t Geral d ha s done . Shoul d h e complain tha t hi s fac e ha s bee n trodde n on , the y wil l 'easil y answe r tha t you'v e trodden o n thei r souls' . No r howeve r d o goo d o r evi l alte r wit h th e number s involved. Ther e i s n o mora l differenc e betwee n th e tw o act s o f violence . Th e strength o f th e wor k i s it s determinatio n t o pus h potentialitie s t o extreme s o n both sides , s o tha t a n audienc e ma y fee l i n th e theatr e tha t i t reall y migh t b e touch-and-go whethe r post-wa r Englan d wil l com e t o violen t clas s wa r - a s i n Russia. Is there a way forward ? Thi s ma y b e th e wron g question , sinc e th e pla y i s pre Brechtian als o i n bein g mor e intereste d i n exposur e tha n solution . Moreove r there ar e sign s tha t i t migh t b e better (i n Lawrence' s eyes ) tha t th e compromise s of wartim e should brea k dow n int o anarchy . Th e peacemaker s d o no t see m t o have th e author' s blessing . No t onl y doe s th e pla y devalu e Jo b Arthur' s ide a o f triangular balanc e throug h jus t mediation , havin g a foot o n eac h sid e o f th e see saw o f power ; bu t Annabe l als o suspect s tha t i n privat e lif e triangula r relation ships ma y mak e thing s wors e (a s oppose d t o Birkin' s vie w i n Women in Love, perhaps altere d b y experience) . Owin g somethin g t o Arabella' s sens e o f th e deathliness o f her fre e lov e in Paris , as well as to Katherine' s situation , Lawrenc e makes hi s Annabe l Wrat h a n angr y youn g woma n wh o ha s see n th e erro r o f he r ways an d doe s no t wan t t o b e wrathfu l an d destructiv e an y longer . I n th e pas t that w e d o no t see , sh e ha d bee n th e femal e counterpar t t o Gerald' s mach o ma n in th e se x wa r - bu t wha t w e see now i s a woman wh o want s t o chang e an d mak e a ne w start . Sh e want s 'somethin g mor e dignified , mor e religiou s i f yo u lik e anyhow, somethin g positive\ Sh e criticise s bot h Geral d an d th e bullyin g miners fo r thei r lac k o f thes e qualities . Sh e eve n know s tha t rea l balanc e i s no t compromise bu t a qualit y o f vita l bein g wit h th e courag e (give n opportunity ) t o live itsel f t o th e full . Ye t sh e ha s n o ide a o f how t o b e wha t sh e wants . Coul d i t ever com e abou t throug h becomin g Mr s Barlow ? Wha t i f livingness, thes e days , cannot b e foun d i n onesel f o r one' s opposit e - o r one' s world ? Migh t i t b e onl y through experienc e o f rea l chao s tha t peopl e wil l activat e th e livin g spar k i n 477
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themselves an d tur n awa y fro m bullyin g o n bot h sides ? Wherea s mediatio n an d compromise merel y postpon e th e necessar y revolution ? Onl y whe n h e i s kicke d does Geral d discove r tha t h e i s tire d o f hi s wa y o f lif e an d want s somethin g better - bu t h e i s stil l i n power , an d stil l sneerin g a t th e lac k o f workers ' leader s he ca n respect , whe n h e leave s th e stage . Oliver (th e ineffectua l intellectua l wh o ha s take n Birkin' s place ) ha s als o trie d to mediate , turnin g fro m sid e t o side . H e voice s a kin d o f socialis m resemblin g Lawrence's i n 'Hardy' ; bu t no w it s naivet e i s exposed . T o th e angr y worker s h e says: You see , if you wante d t o arrange thing s s o that mone y flowed more naturally , s o that it flowed naturall y to every man, according to his needs, I think w e could all agree. But you don't. Wha t yo u wan t i s to take i t away fro m on e se t an d giv e it t o another - o r kee p it yourselves .. . I want every man to be able to live and b e free. But we shall never manage it by fighting over the money. If what you wan t is natural an d good , I'm sur e the owners would soon agree with you. That i s Utopian nonsense , a s Geral d immediatel y shows ; and thoug h Olive r call s for greate r trust , h e has no idea , in th e contex t o f power, ho w i t could happen . You want a better way, - but not his way: he wants a better way - bu t not your way. Why can't yo u bot h dro p you r buts , an d simpl y sa y yo u wan t a bette r way , an d believ e yourselves and one another when you say it? Why can't you? That 'simply ' i s fatal evidenc e o f Oliver's blindnes s t o th e realitie s o f politics an d political institutions . Perhap s Willie' s quotatio n o f Tiberiu s a t th e beginnin g (though h e doesn' t kno w i t i s from Gibbon) , 'Oh , ho w eage r thes e me n ar e t o b e slaves'; an d Geral d a t th e en d shoutin g tha t h e wil l onl y respec t hi s me n whe n they choos e stron g leaders , ar e neare r guide s t o th e Lawrenc e o f lat e 191 8 - i n which cas e th e violenc e a t th e en d i s a n improvemen t o n th e situatio n a t th e start. On e o f hi s Septembe r letter s t o Nanc y ha d complaine d tha t ther e wa s 'n o spirit o f resistance ' i n th e countr y (iii . 286) , anothe r t o Ko t welcome d wha t wa s happening i n Lenin-le d Russia , sinc e 'Nothin g bu t a rea l smeltin g dow n i s an y good fo r her : n o matte r ho w horribl e i t seem s . . . chao s i s necessar y fo r Russia . Russia wil l b e al l right - righter , i n th e end , tha n thes e ol d stif f senil e nation s o f the West. ' England , however , i s probably to o ol d fo r chaos . He r onl y hop e i s 't o be wise, and recove r he r decency ' (iii . 284-5) , D U t hi s P^ aY show s ho w tenuou s (as h e sa w it ) tha t hop e mus t be . Th e play' s forc e lie s i n it s foreshadowin g o f post-war violenc e an d powe r struggl e i n th e coalfields , whic h dul y came , thoug h not a s soon a s he thought i t would . The troubl e wit h havin g writte n agai n 'ou t o f m y dee p an d earnes t sel f firin g up 'm y las t spark s o f hop e i n th e world' , an d cryin g ou t 'lik e a Balaam s ass ' (iii. 293 ) - i.e . tur n bac k fro m thi s road ! - wa s that h e coul d no t brin g himsel f t o
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do hack-work , particularl y th e Educatio n essay s (iii . 297) , thoug h h e tried . Moreover hi s sens e o f havin g attempte d somethin g valuabl e brough t hi s alienation fro m th e publi c hom e t o hi m eve n mor e strongl y tha n before . I f th e play wa s t o fin d a n audienc e i t woul d hav e t o b e anonymous , sinc e 'm y nam e i s like re d peppe r i n people' s noses ' (iii . 293) . H e sen t i t t o Katherin e wh o (sadl y but predictably ) dislike d i t fro m th e firs t glanc e becaus e i t wa s 'black wit h miners', thoug h sh e migh t hav e ha d othe r reason s also . Catherin e Carswel l ha d reviewed play s fo r th e Glasgow Herald, s o h e aske d he r t o collec t i t fro m Katherine an d sho w i t t o a n influentia l frien d o f hers , bu t withou t muc h hop e (iii. 297) . When Am y Lowel l accompanie d he r lates t wor k Can Grande's Castle Dante's refug e fro m th e worl d - wit h som e well-mean t advic e t o cu t dow n o n his sexua l explicitnes s i f he wante d t o be read , h e kne w no w tha t thi s woul d n o longer help . 'Withou t th e india-rubbe r I a m damne d alon g wit h th e evil , wit h the india-rubbe r I a m damne d amon g th e disappointing . Yo u se e wha t i t i s t o have a reputation ' (iii . 296) . Ther e wa s n o sex i n th e ne w play , bu t tha t woul d merely upse t expectations . Significantly , too , h e ha d begu n t o wonde r whethe r his agen t ha d begu n t o giv e u p o n him , afte r Women in Love prove d impossibl e to place . Pinke r ha d show n littl e interes t himsel f i n th e America n essay s o r th e poems; fo r i t wa s novel s whic h brough t worthwhil e percentages , an d i t was a s a potentially sellin g novelis t afte r Sons and Lovers tha t Pinke r ha d take n hi m on . None o f th e lates t initiative s ha d com e abou t throug h hi s agency . Moreove r Pinker ha d probabl y decide d no t t o approac h Bennet t abou t finding Lawrenc e work,13 feelin g tha t b y hi s secre t £2 5 Bennet t ha d don e a s muc h a s coul d b e expected; an d thi s reluctanc e ma y hav e conveye d itsel f t o Lawrence ; fuellin g resentment o f Bennet t unjustly , thoug h i n ignorance . Worse , Lawrenc e wa s stil l in deb t t o Pinke r (o r Pinker/Bennett ) fo r advance s t o kee p hi m goin g a t all . Suddenly h e fel t a need t o know wher e h e stood : I hav e a n ide a tha t yo u woul d rathe r no t b e bothere d an y longe r wit h m y work : whic h certainly must be no joy, nor profit, t o you. Will you let me know if this is so. I remember you said when we made the agreement that it might be broken if either was dissatisfied. I f you have any desire to break it just let me know. Do I still owe you money. Will you tell me how much? (iii. 296) A not e o n th e letter , probabl y Pinker's , say s ' ^ ^ - i ^ d ' (iii . 29 6 n . 1 ) - an d h e must hav e writte n soothingly , sinc e n o mor e wa s sai d fo r th e moment . Seed s o f suspicion remained ; bu t now , stil l unabl e t o d o hack-work , Lawrenc e di d tur n t o fiction again , t o writ e u p th e stor y whos e ide a h e ha d first outline d t o Catherin e Carswell i n th e Fores t o f Dean . 'The Blin d Man' , i n thi s first version , i s rathe r differen t fro m th e stor y w e read now . Th e intellectua l Berti e Rei d i s no t treate d satirically , an d onl y hi s name coul d sugges t (bu t probabl y doe s not ) an y hin t o f Berti e Russell . (H e i s a 479
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Scots barriste r an d ma n o f letters , wit h littl e legs. ) Th e endin g i s ironi c i n a different direction . I n fac t thi s 'Blin d Man ' gain s th e positiv e visio n tha t Touch and Go ma y see m t o lack . Lawrenc e ha d feare d th e psychi c mutilatio n o f thos e who woul d retur n fro m th e trenches , bu t strangely , thi s stor y ha s th e parado x o f Lear, tha t a man ma y 'see ' bette r b y bein g blinded , an d find 'th e way ' thoug h h e stumbled whe n h e saw . Th e origina l idea , Catherin e remembered , evoke d th e extraordinary powe r o f th e blin d t o see m quit e a t hom e i n th e utte r darknes s which frighten s thos e wh o ca n see , s o wha t sh e recalle d a s th e centr e wa s th e war-blinded ma n 'delicatel y groping ' abou t th e stable. 15 Bu t no w Lawrenc e weaves i n Birkin' s sens e o f th e insufficienc y o f a ma n an d a woma n alone , an d the them e o f male friendshi p fro m th e America n essay s (quit e distinc t no w fro m homosexuality); an d pinpoint s touch as th e wa y o f focusin g mos t powerfull y hi s long-held belie f that th e bloo d i s wiser tha n th e intellect . Maurice ha d bee n a To m Brangwen , feelin g himsel f inferio r becaus e o f th e slowness o f hi s brai n - an d henc e jealou s o f Isabel' s friendshi p wit h Berti e th e intellectual an d cultivate d lawyer , an d hostil e t o th e ma n himself . Bu t hi s blinding i n th e trenche s no t onl y intensifie s hi s abilit y t o liv e throug h hi s senses , but draw s hi m close r t o hi s wif e s o tha t the y hav e a year i n blissfu l isolation , all in-all t o eac h other , complete d b y th e birt h o f a child . Mor e significantly , th e blindness bring s hom e t o Isabe l no t onl y th e sadnes s o f Maurice's limitation , bu t a sens e tha t sh e i s limite d too : tha t ther e ma y b e somethin g h e need s tha t sh e i s quite unabl e t o give . Th e en d o f th e stor y show s wha t i t is , an d tha t th e othe r man need s i t a s well . A s th e blin d ma n feel s Bertie' s fac e an d body , an d persuades hi s 'opposite ' t o pres s hi s hand s ove r th e blin d eye s an d scars , an d touch a s h e i s touched , ther e come s about , throug h th e blood-intimac y o f touch , a ne w sens e o f being , a ne w kin d o f knowin g an d th e blood-brotherhood , th e total commitmen t t o lastin g relation , tha t Lawrenc e ha d alway s wante d wit h another man . Fo r Wordsworth , th e ey e wa s 'th e mos t despoti c o f our senses' , s o that i t ha d t o b e lai d asleep , alon g wit h th e intellec t i t serves , befor e th e ful l sense o f th e strangenes s an d myster y o f th e worl d coul d daw n o n conscious ness. I t i s throug h touc h (a s alway s fo r Lawrence ) tha t tru e relationshi p wit h the stranger , th e other , ca n puls e alon g th e blood , an d brin g tha t mysteriou s jo y and tendernes s i n whic h Berti e i s surprise d int o a kin d o f knowledge , an d commitment h e ha d no t bee n capabl e o f before . T o cal l someon e 'blind ' proclaims deficiency , bu t Mauric e ha s achieve d true r vision , an d mus t n o longe r be misnamed . Whe n h e tell s Isabe l this , an d Berti e tell s ho w th e tw o me n hav e pledged themselve s 'fo r ever' , Isabe l burst s int o tears . He r husban d say s i t i s because sh e i s 'glad' , i n th e las t word s o f th e story , an d o n on e leve l tha t i s so. Yet o n anothe r ther e i s als o th e grie f o f a woma n a t th e revelatio n tha t he r relationship wit h he r ma n i s no t an d neve r coul d hav e bee n enoug h fo r him , fo r all th e strengt h o f thei r marriage . Tha t say s somethin g abou t Lawrence' s sens e 480
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of hi s ow n marriag e an d it s isolatio n sinc e Zennor ; bu t i t als o voice s a positiv e faith i n th e continuin g possibilit y o f private renewa l throug h bette r relationships , man-woman plus man-man , despit e th e mutilation s o f th e wa r (an d Annabel' s view i n th e play) . Thi s counterpoise s Touch and Go's politica l cynicis m abou t England - thoug h i t may als o sugges t a n ambiguit y i n it s title , and th e possibilit y that i n publi c terms , too , somethin g true r migh t com e ou t o f physica l contact , i n violence i f nohow else . II Armistic e - Bu t Peace ? Meanwhile i n th e worl d outsid e peac e seeme d imminen t a t last , an d afte r a disappointment o n 9 November whe n th e paper s suggeste d i t wa s ver y clos e an d rejoicings starte d to o soo n (iii . 297) , the Armistic e cam e jus t tw o day s later . Th e 'Nightmare' chapte r o f Kangaroo ma y wel l describ e ho w Lawrenc e an d Fried a spent th e evenin g o f th e n t h (typicall y ou t o f ste p wit h thei r society ) singin g German songs , an d ho w Fried a wa s i n tears . He r feeling s mus t certainl y hav e been ver y complicated , an d th e melanchol y song s sh e love d ma y hav e brough t relief. Ye t Lawrenc e an d Fried a ha d als o i n fac t gon e u p t o Londo n tha t extraordinary day , wher e Ko t too k the m t o a n ongoin g celebratio n i n Mont y Shearman's room s i n th e Adelphi . A t on e tim e o r anothe r Osber t an d Sacheverell Sitwell , Mar y an d Jac k Hutchinson , Diaghilev , Massine , Lytto n Strachey an d Carrington , Henr y an d Lad y Mond , Dunca n Gran t an d Bunn y Garnett wer e ther e an d late r man y others . Th e street s wer e overflowin g wit h singing an d laughin g crowds ; wit h lorry-load s o f munition s girl s fro m th e Arsenal, thei r face s staine d yello w b y picri c aci d fumes . Buse s ful l o f cheerfu l passengers explore d ne w neighbourhoods . Everywher e was a n ai r o f ma d rejoicing. Ye t Bunn y though t Lawrenc e iooke d il l an d unhappy , wit h n o trac e of tha t ga y sparklin g lov e o f lif e i n hi s eye s whic h ha d bee n hi s mos t attractiv e feature si x year s before ' - thoug h Katherine' s impressio n o n seein g hi m agai n had bee n ver y different . No r di d h e see m particularl y please d t o se e Bunny afte r their three-year-ol d estrangement , thoug h Fried a was warmer . Wha t struc k Bunny mos t howeve r was Lawrence' s jeremiad , voice d wit h a kin d o f 'sombr e joy', a s peopl e gathere d round . Ther e wa s n o hop e o f tru e peace . Th e wa r wa s not over , sinc e hat e an d evil ha d becom e stronge r tha n ever ; s o i t woul d soo n break ou t onc e more . Th e German s woul d ris e again . Europ e wa s don e for , an d England mos t o f all . Eve n i f fighting di d no t star t agai n soon , th e evi l migh t b e worse becaus e th e hat e woul d b e damme d u p i n men' s hearts , an d migh t brea k out eventuall y i n form s wors e tha n ope n war . Bunn y neve r sa w Lawrenc e again. Th e Lawrence s ma y no t hav e staye d long , finding th e celebration s accord s o little wit h thei r mood . Two day s late r th e specime n chapter s o f th e histor y cam e bac k fro m Nanc y 481
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with Ely' s approval , an d Lawrenc e no w planne d t o retur n t o Mountai n Cottag e where h e though t h e coul d 'd o i t better ' (iii . 298) . H e wante d anothe r wee k i n London first - migh t sh e pu t hi m u p i n Adelaid e Road ? - bu t afte r th e weekend , because Austi n Harriso n wa s comin g t o discus s th e publicatio n o f the res t o f th e American essays . (Urgin g Nanc y t o rea d Madam e Blavatsky , h e recommende d the Occult Review an d th e occul t booksho p kep t b y it s publishe r Rider ; iii . 299. ) Harrison dul y came , wit h th e new s tha t a n America n ha d bough t twent y copie s of th e issu e wit h th e first essay , whic h mus t hav e helpe d persuad e hi m t o d o th e series i n th e English Review (iii . 299) . Lawrenc e quickl y sen t hi m th e nex t tw o essays. H e wante d Pinke r t o ac t o n thi s evidenc e tha t ther e woul d b e a n American market , bu t th e sign s ar e clea r no w tha t h e wa s n o longe r relyin g o n his agent . H e di d no t sen d Pinke r th e ful l manuscript , wit h th e excus e tha t i t was 'no t typed ' (iii . 299 ) - b y whic h h e ma y hav e mean t no t i n duplicate , sinc e the thre e origina l unpublishe d essay s tha t hav e survive d ar e i n typescript , o r perhaps tha t h e ha d decide d no t t o hav e th e Whitma n type d a t all . He ha d mad e nearly al l th e runnin g wit h Harriso n himself , an d wante d i n hi s indigenc e t o keep th e profits . Withou t th e manuscrip t however , Pinke r was unlikel y t o d o anything abou t th e essay s i n America , an d a s fa r a s w e kno w h e neve r did . Lawrence als o aske d whethe r Pinke r woul d le t hi m defe r payin g th e £1 5 h e owed, 'an d sen d m e wha t littl e come s in' . H e di d howeve r sen d hi m th e ne w play, an d announce d tha t h e ha d no w 'written ' three ne w storie s - thoug h thi s probably mean t 'sketche d out ' o r a t mos t 'firs t drafted ' i n th e cas e o f tw o o f these, which h e woul d finish an d sen d fro m Middleton . When h e wrot e t o Nanc y h e expecte d Fried a t o com e t o Londo n an d bac k t o Mountain Cottag e wit h hi m - bu t ther e was clearl y a battl e ove r that . Fried a probably, an d reasonably , feare d th e flu i n London ; an d ha d n o wis h t o return t o the wintr y bleaknes s o f Mountain Cottag e either . O n th e evidenc e o f hi s remar k to Katherin e whe n h e wen t u p t o Londo n b y himself , the y ha d als o bee n quarrelling abou t Germany . Fried a mus t hav e bee n ver y worrie d abou t he r family, an d ma y hav e expecte d hi m no t onl y t o shar e he r feeling s bu t t o begi n arranging fo r he r t o se e them, perhap s eve n t o liv e ther e again : 'Sh e want s m e t o become a german , an d I m not? (Sh e ca n hav e ha d littl e ide a ye t o f wha t Germany woul d b e like. ) Sh e ha d probabl y ha d enough , also , of being s o nea r t o his people i n Derbyshire . Wherea s Lawrence , knowin g tha t Ad a ha d pai d fo r th e year fro m May , mus t hav e fel t i t onl y righ t a s wel l a s practica l tha t the y shoul d be there , instea d o f continuin g t o depen d o n Dollie' s hospitality . A t an y rate , h e not onl y wen t of f t o Londo n b y himsel f fo r jus t ove r a week , bu t the n travelle d straight bac k t o Middleto n withou t Fried a als o - thei r first deliberat e separatio n since she had demande d a London flat i n 1915 . It i s no t clea r wher e h e pu t u p i n London . H e wrot e on e lette r fro m Kot' s (iii. 299) ; but i t wa s fro m Hampstea d tha t h e lef t fo r th e nort h o n 2 8 November , 482
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sharing a taxi wit h Catherin e Carswel l wh o was taking he r bab y t o Edinburg h t o get awa y fro m th e flu (iii . 301 , 306); s o h e mus t hav e spen t par t o f th e tim e a t Well Walk . Fro m ther e h e sa w Katherin e fo r (a s i t happened ) th e las t time . An d it wa s t o he r tha t h e woul d describ e hi s journe y north , hi s arriva l a t Cromfor d station i n th e dar k rai n an d th e driv e t o th e cottag e i n th e hackney-coachman' s 'Vektawry' carriag e (i.e . 'Victoria' ) wit h it s hoo d up , 'awa y int o th e night , through a rustl e o f waters ' (iii . 300) . A neighbou r ha d li t a blazing fire fo r him , but ther e was n o brea d til l morning , s o 'te a an d su p o n mil k an d potatoes , an d look a t th e nigh t - ver y dark , movin g softl y wit h mist y rai n - sof t chin k o f wate r in th e stabl e butt s - was h mysel f befor e th e fir e - an d s o t o bed , ver y snug' . I t sounds jus t lik e hi s father . I n th e mornin g th e worl d wa s 'rathe r Macbeth looking' - bu t hi s Lady was away sout h i n Hermitage . Ill Nort h Agai n - an d a Questio n o f Malenes s He wa s soo n of f fo r th e weeken d i n Riple y an d Eastwoo d t o se e famil y an d friends. Anothe r lette r t o Katherin e describe d th e ironwork s o n th e bank s o f th e Butterley reservoir , 'flamin g an d wavin g agai n o n th e blac k wate r roun d th e train', an d lightin g u p th e fac e o f a man o n th e platfor m s o tha t h e looke d mor e than huma n (iii . 302) . (From Nottingha m t o Ripley, vi a Eastwood, ther e ra n als o a cross-country tramway , whic h h e ha d probabl y use d whe n visitin g Ad a i n 191 7 and whic h wa s th e easies t wa y t o ge t betwee n Riple y an d Eastwood. ) Tha t redl y lit fac e mad e hi m realis e eve n mor e strongl y tha n befor e tha t 'i f on e i s t o d o fiction now , on e must cros s th e threshol d o f the huma n psyche' . Alone i n Mountai n Cottag e fo r mor e tha n a fortnight, ther e wa s another o f hi s extraordinary burst s o f creativity . B y 1 0 Decembe r h e finished 'Th e Fox ' (iii. 307) ; an d shortl y afterwards , 'Joh n Thomas ' (iii . 309 ; late r title d 'Ticket s Please'). H e wrot e fou r essay s o n th e 'Educatio n o f th e People ' (iii . 306) , an d i t is possibl e h e complete d anothe r tw o chapter s o f th e histor y ('Th e Huns' , an d 'Charlemagne an d th e Franks ' fo r whic h h e borrowe d th e boo k fro m Berti e Farjeon). The n th e flow broke . H e hate d doin g th e history , an d b y mid December was o n strik e (iii . 309 ) - b y whic h tim e Fried a ha d als o decide d t o come back . Sh e wa s never on e t o stay alon e fo r long . As was t o happe n severa l times , th e accident s o f late r rewritin g an d publica tion hav e separate d thes e storie s int o differen t collections , an d blurre d th e connections amon g them , an d wit h th e non-fictio n an d th e play . The y d o however al l belong together , an d ther e i s no doub t tha t th e disput e wit h an d th e separation fro m Fried a refocuse d ver y sharpl y th e equilibriu m betwee n ma n an d woman whic h Women in Love an d Look! ha d celebrated , an d force d hi m t o rethink th e importanc e o f malenes s i n way s whic h woul d als o hav e politica l implications. Fo r wha t i f th e femal e upset s tha t equa l balance , s o tha t i t reall y
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does become a question o f which shoul d b e th e sta r an d whic h th e satellite ? Tha t Frieda ha d openl y refuse d t o follo w hi s lead , an d ma y wel l hav e decrie d hi s manliness agai n a s sh e ofte n di d whe n temper s ros e high , ver y probabl y provoked a n outpourin g o f imaginatio n an d though t abou t malenes s an d leader ship, i n whic h th e Lawrenc e o f 191 8 begins sharpl y t o differentiat e himsel f fro m the Lawrenc e o f The Rainbow an d Women in Love. Ye t i t i s onl y half-tru e tha t fiction act s a s eg o compensatio n fo r th e bruise s o f lif e - th e othe r hal f bein g th e urge t o explore wha t cause s th e hur t an d wh y i t matters . 'The Blin d Man' , thoug h increasin g th e emphasi s o n th e nee d fo r mal e friendship i n additio n t o marriage , was stil l i n continuit y wit h th e endin g o f Women in Love. Bu t 'Th e Fox ' break s ne w ground , althoug h th e firs t versio n i s both simple r an d fa r les s aggressive tha n th e on e w e read now , wit h it s long 'tail ' of 192 1 i n whic h bot h th e fo x an d Banfor d ar e killed , an d th e fina l meditatio n longs fo r March' s independen t min d t o g o t o sleep . I n thi s firs t versio n Banfor d is a muc h mor e sympatheti c character , an d thoug h sh e i s naturall y agains t th e marriage whic h wil l break u p he r hom e an d closes t relationship , sh e i s powerles s to stop it . Sh e no t onl y survive s bu t end s b y makin g al l the arrangement s fo r th e wedding. Th e fox , too , survives . Henr y neithe r overhear s a n impugnin g o f hi s motives whic h make s hi m shoo t it , no r become s th e focu s o f a mystiqu e o f hunting, an d ther e i s n o them e o f responsibilit y markin g a final distinctio n between ma n an d natura l predator . Ye t wha t Lawrenc e ha d glimpse d o n th e way t o Ripley - a man wit h hi s fac e li t u p b y a preterhuman ligh t - doe s becom e the centr e o f a story whic h crosse s 'th e threshol d o f th e huma n psyche ' i n a new way. Cecily Lamber t an d he r cousi n Viole t Mon k ha d thei r first vivi d glimps e o f the Lawrence s i n Hermitag e village earl y i n 1918 ; an d a t th e en d o f Februar y they ha d turne d u p a t Grimsbur y Farm ; bu t thoug h th e acquaintanc e wa s renewed whe n th e Lawrence s returne d t o Hermitag e late r tha t yea r (an d the y would se e a grea t dea l mor e o f 'thos e far m girls' , iii . 383 , i n 1919 ) th e friendship wa s probabl y stil l i n it s earl y stage s whe n h e first wrot e 'Th e Fox' . It cam e to o early , fo r instance , t o carr y an y trac e o f th e hostilit y o f Cecily' s father t o he r friendshi p wit h a morall y dubiou s author , an d th e encounte r between them , whic h ensure d a place fo r th e fathe r i n th e late r version . Cecily' s memoir, moreover , i s no t onl y draw n mainl y fro m 1919 , bu t i s als o somewha t soured b y he r resentmen t o f th e 192 1 versio n o f th e story , whic h mad e he r fee l that th e friendshi p ha d alway s bee n 'fo r copy ' an d 'belittle[d] ' her , whil e glamourising he r neuroti c an d conceite d thoug h uncertai n cousin . Fro m th e later versio n - an d eve n fro m th e firs t - on e woul d certainl y no t gathe r tha t Lawrence like d Cecil y th e bette r o f th e two , thoug h Viole t type d som e o f Aaron's Rod fo r him . Cecil y wa s amon g th e first peopl e h e wrot e t o o n arriva l in Ital y (iii . 416) , an d h e wa s stil l writin g t o he r i n 192 2 (iv . 166-7) . Bu t onc e 484
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again w e ar e confronte d b y tha t proble m o f bot h relatin g Lawrence' s fiction t o and separatin g i t fro m it s 'sources ' i n experience . Th e friendshi p wa s real , affectionate, an d no t for 'copy ' - bu t cop y ther e was , an d hi s imaginatio n a s always seize d wha t i t coul d use , withou t compunctio n o r apology . O f course , a t just thi s junctur e i n hi s ow n life , h e woul d b e struc k b y th e spectacl e o f tw o young wome n trying , rathe r unsuccessfully , t o ru n a far m i n a male-les s wartime Englan d - on e dresse d alway s lik e a man , thoug h b y natur e ver y feminine - an d b y th e contras t i n thei r characters . H e pick s u p th e uncertai n withdrawn an d submissiv e sid e o f Viole t (bu t make s he r cousin - rathe r tha n mother-dominated), whil e almos t entirel y excisin g th e compensator y 'concei t and arrogance ' whic h h e woul d us e i n a differen t story . Accordin g t o Cecil y i t was Viole t wh o wa s 'possessiv e an d jealous' . Ou t goe s mos t o f wha t mad e th e real-life Cecil y interesting : he r piano-playin g an d dancing , th e lesson s i n thes e for th e village children , he r interes t i n Gree k theatre , he r lov e o f 'life , people , and excitemen t o f al l kinds' . Th e porcelain-paintin g artisti c sid e i s give n i n th e story t o Nellie . Bu t on e ca n se e i n Cecily' s memoi r ver y clearl y th e 'Banford ness' Lawrenc e use d an d expanded : th e de haut en has tone , th e gentility , th e bossiness, th e genialit y yes , but als o th e waspishnes s underneath , whe n crossed . However i t i s neithe r th e characterisation , cris p an d economica l thoug h tha t is, no r eve n th e quasi-lesbia n relationshi p o f th e tw o wome n tha t i s mos t important fo r Lawrence' s stor y i n thi s first version ; sinc e thes e ar e show n t o b e actually superficial , lyin g outside the 'threshol d o f th e huma n psyche' . Banfor d i s not destructivel y anti-mal e a s she wil l become; and i f March wer e indee d lesbia n (in som e categoricall y exclusiv e sense) , sh e woul d no t b e a s deepl y affecte d b y fox o r youn g ma n a s sh e is . The wome n ar e onl y playin g a t farming , an d Marc h is onl y playin g a t bein g th e ma n abou t th e place . I t i s th e fo x tha t hold s th e centre o f th e story , sinc e th e Lawrenc e o f 191 8 i s no w maintainin g tha t th e 'lif e wild a t th e source ' whic h hi s ar t ha d bee n tryin g t o ta p fro m th e beginning , requires powerfu l malehoo d t o mak e it s counterpar t full y female . Th e ol d marriage o f opposite s ha d bee n o f conflictin g 'male ' an d 'female ' withi n th e individual a s wel l a s betwee n me n an d women , an d ha d aime d a t 'star equilibrium' betwee n lovers . No w th e emphasi s fall s o n th e resolutio n o f wha t was divided , an d o n th e significanc e o f th e male . I n th e immediatel y post-wa r civilised an d liberate d worl d o f th e tw o girls , malenes s i s devalue d an d fertilit y suffers - bu t th e fo x seem s al l th e mor e audaciou s an d predatory . T o experienc e him i s fo r Marc h t o confron t wha t sh e ha s ignored ; t o b e know n fo r wha t sh e i s in he r innermos t being ; an d t o hav e hi m 'invisibl y maste r he r psyche' . Sh e becomes obsesse d wit h him ; bu t whe n th e youn g returne d soldie r Henr y Grenfell arrives , seekin g hi s grandfather , sh e make s a n identificatio n tha t i n thi s version remain s unquestioned :
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He was identified wit h th e fo x - an d h e was here i n ful l presence . Sh e nee d no t g o after him any more. There i n the shadow of her corner sh e gave herself u p t o a warm, relaxed peace, almost lik e sleep, accepting the spell that wa s on her .. . sh e need no t any more be divided i n herself, tryin g t o keep u p tw o planes of consciousness. Sh e coul d a t last lapse into the odour of the fox. When sh e dream s tha t nigh t however , i t i s no t o f an y subjectio n bu t o f music , colour an d fertilit y - thoug h th e pric e i s reverence , an d familiarit y i s painfull y reproved: She dreamed sh e heard a singing outside, which she could no t understand, a singing that roamed roun d th e house , in th e fields and i n the darkness . It move d he r so , that sh e fel t she must weep. She went out, and suddenly she knew it was the fox singing. He was very yellow and bright, like corn .. . But 'th e fox ' - tha t grea t universa l an d preterhuma n powe r i n al l mal e natur e cannot b e approache d to o closely , le t alon e familiarly . Whe n sh e trie s t o touc h him h e bite s he r wrist , an d hi s brus h sear s acros s he r mout h lik e fire. Ye t th e fox-man i s abl e t o overcom e al l he r resistanc e i n a triump h o f instinc t ove r 'common sense' . I t i s through immersio n i n 'dream-consciousness', 2 rathe r tha n in th e 'read y superficia l consciousness ' whic h 'carrie s he r throug h th e world' s business', 26 tha t sh e marrie s an d finds happines s - t o Banford' s disgust , thoug h she make s th e best o f it. Out o f Frieda' s refusa l t o g o wit h Lawrence , ha s com e a reversio n t o an d intensification o f th e Birki n o f 'Mino ' a s agains t th e Birki n o f 'Moony ' an d 'Excurse'. O r again , th e stor y migh t b e take n a s a reminde r o f th e revitalisatio n of th e mor e tha n thirty-year-ol d 'sleepin g beauty ' o f Privat e Road , Nottingha m by th e foxy-moustache d youn g man , i n spit e o f all worldl y disparities . (Henr y i s made a Cornish 'peasant' , bu t tha t i s to stress th e fox-ma n o f instinct rathe r tha n specifically t o recal l th e dark-haire d Willia m Henry , a s i s sometime s claimed. ) 'The Blin d Man ' ha d reasserte d th e nee d fo r mal e friendshi p i n additio n t o marriage, an d th e primac y o f blood-knowledge ove r day-sigh t an d intellect . 'Th e Fox' privatel y rebukes , i n imagine d assertio n o f malenes s an d it s value , th e woman wh o break s orbit . 'John Thomas ' (no w know n a s 'Ticket s Please' ) i s a counterpoint , thoug h with a relate d 'turn ' a t th e end . Th e sexua l innuend o o f th e nam e point s t o th e predatory randines s o f th e chie f ticket-inspecto r o n th e Ripley-Nottingha m tramway. (H e i s als o nickname d 'Coddy' , o r testicles) . I n wartime , th e careerin g cross-country tra m i s pilote d b y thos e unfi t fo r militar y service , an d conducte d by 'fearles s youn g hussies ' wit h 'skirt s u p t o thei r knees ' an d 'al l th e sangfroid o f an ol d non-commissione d officer' . I n a tra m 'packe d wit h howlin g colliers , roaring hymn s downstair s an d a sor t o f antiphon y o f obscenitie s upstairs , th e lasses ar e perfectl y a t thei r eas e . . . The y ar e no t goin g t o be don e i n th e eye , no t 486
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they.' The y ca n cop e wit h anythin g - excep t Joh n Thoma s who , coc k o f th e walk tha t h e is , take s an d leave s the m on e b y one , includin g eve n Anni e th e liveliest an d mos t confiden t 'ne w woman ' o f the m all . However Anni e refuse s t o take he r desertio n lyin g down , an d conspire s wit h al l th e othe r victim s t o tur n the tables , s o tha t th e predator y mal e wh o refuse d t o ente r int o an y rea l relationship o f person s shal l b e force d t o choos e an d t o commi t himsel f t o marr y one o f them . A t thi s point , th e sympath y o f th e stor y seem s t o ru n wit h Annie , who ha d 'wante d t o conside r hi m a person , a man , sh e wante d t o tak e a n intelligent interes t i n hi m an d t o hav e a n intelligen t response' . He see s thi s a s mere femal e possessivenes s an d sheer s of f a s always , but i t ma y see m t o a reade r to mark th e distinctio n betwee n a man and a mere John Thoma s an d Coddy . Fo r his effec t o n a woma n i s s o t o devalu e he r i n he r ow n eye s tha t afte r 'fury , indignation, desolatio n an d misery ' come s ' a spas m o f despair' . Thu s whe n Annie aim s t o ge t 'he r ow n back ' th e clich e agai n suggest s somethin g deeper , a s it ha d don e i n th e play : th e tru e femalenes s (thi s time ) whic h Lawrenc e though t true malenes s shoul d alway s creat e a s its counterpart . Now howeve r th e stor y turn s around , a s th e reveng e get s ou t o f hand . Th e counterpart o f unfettere d mal e predatorines s turn s ou t t o b e th e unfettere d violence o f female bacchantes , as the man's clothe s ar e tor n fro m hi s back, and h e is kicked, scratched , beaten , humiliated , hel d dow n i n th e dirt . Th e lin k wit h th e last scen e i n Touch and Go i s clear . Lawrenc e ha s draw n eve n mor e specificall y than ther e o n a humiliatin g experienc e o f hi s own , whe n a t Jordan' s factor y a bunch o f girl s se t upo n hi m an d trie d t o pul l hi s trouser s of f - thoug h i n lif e h e fought lik e 'a very demon ' (Nevill e recorded) , an d drov e the m awa y 'afrai d o f th e fury the y ha d aroused' . I n th e stor y now , Annie's reveng e turn s t o disgusting as h in he r mouth , especiall y whe n Joh n Thomas , force d t o choos e i n orde r t o b e allowed t o stan d u p a t all , choose s her. I n revision , Lawrenc e greatl y increase d her agonise d sens e o f somethin g spoilt , eve n desecrated , 'broke n i n her ' a s wel l as i n him . Tw o wrong s no t onl y d o no t mak e a right , the y despoi l i t fo r ever . But eve n th e original endin g make s a sharply ironi c double t wit h 'Th e Fox' . Before h e finished th e tw o stories , h e wrot e Katherin e a n importan t lette r about another , psychological , reaso n fo r assertin g th e valu e o f maleness . H e ha d been readin g Barbar a Low' s cop y o f Jung' s Psychology of the Unconscious, borrowed fro m Ko t wh o wa s i n th e middl e o f readin g i t (iii . 307 , 301) . (Th e author wa s still , i n 1912 , Freud' s mos t importan t disciple , bu t hi s critiqu e o f Freud's vie w o f incest , a s connecte d wit h infan t sexuality , wa s on e caus e o f th e final break.) 'Beware' , Lawrenc e warne d Katherine , sendin g th e book t o her o n 5 December, this Mother-incest ide a can become an obsession. Bu t i t seem s t o me there i s this muc h truth i n it: that at certain period s the man has a desire and a tendency t o return unt o the 487
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woman, mak e he r hi s goa l an d end , find hi s justificatio n i n her . I n thi s wa y h e cast s himself a s i t wer e int o he r womb , an d she , th e Magn a Mater , receive s hi m wit h gratification. Thi s i s a kind o f incest. It seems to me it is what Jack does to you, and what repels an d fascinate s you . I have done it , and no w struggle al l my migh t t o get out. I n a way, Frieda i s the devouring mother . - I t i s awfully hard , once th e se x relation ha s gone this way , to recover. I f we don't recover , w e die. - Bu t Fried a say s I am antediluvian i n my positiv e attitude . I d o thin k a woman mus t yiel d som e sor t o f precedence t o a man, and h e mus t tak e thi s precedence . I d o thin k me n mus t g o ahead absolutel y i n fron t o f their women, without turnin g round t o ask for permission o r approval from thei r women. Consequently, th e women mus t follo w a s it were unquestioning. I can't hel p it , I believe this. Frieda doesn't. Hence our fight, (iii. 301-2 ) More wa s a t stak e fo r hi m whe n h e returne d t o Mountai n Cottag e tha n a mer e argument abou t healt h o r climat e o r money . H e wa s making , i t seems , a radica l revaluation o f th e las t si x years , an d o f th e claim s h e ha d mad e fo r hi s marriag e in hi s major fiction an d i n Look! Besid e th e roa d throug h th e valle y a t th e foo t o f the stee p slop e o n whic h th e cottag e stands , ther e run s a stream . Th e previou s evening h e had sa t beside it , notin g ho w th e 'spel l o f hastening, secre t wate r goe s over one' s mind' . Whe n h e climbe d u p th e stee p slop e afterward s ' I fel t a s i f I had climbe d ou t o f a womb. ' Th e nex t paragrap h i s th e on e abou t th e ma n o n the statio n platfor m wit h hi s fac e 'li t u p red' ; an d th e nee d t o writ e fiction whic h crossed th e threshol d o f th e psyche . Clearl y bot h experience s (an d Jung ) symbolically underla y th e assertio n o f tru e malenes s i n 'Th e F'ox ' an d th e distinction betwee n tha t an d mer e mal e chauvinism i n 'Joh n Thomas' . The lette r als o contain s th e idea l o f 'Th e Blin d Man ' an d th e America n essays, though i t measures th e distanc e betwee n lif e imagined , an d experience . Secondly, I d o believ e i n friendship . I believ e tremendousl y i n friendshi p betwee n ma n and man, a pledging of men to each other inviolably. - Bu t I have not ever met or forme d such friendship . Als o I believe the same way in friendship betwee n me n and women , and between women and women, sworn, pledged, eternal, as eternal as the marriage bond, and as deep. - Bu t I have not met or formed suc h friendship . Excuse thi s sudde n burs t int o dogma . Pleas e giv e th e lette r t o Jack. I sa y i t t o hi m particularly, (iii. 302) The serie s o f letters t o Katherin e show s ho w thei r reunio n ha d renewe d hi s fait h in th e possibilit y o f such friendshi p wit h her , thoug h h e ha d no t warme d t o Jack again. Ye t neithe r coul d h e eve r quit e le t hi m go . The imagine d intellectua l wit h little leg s i n 'Th e Blin d Man ' ma y indee d hav e ha d mor e t o d o wit h Murr y tha n with Russell . I f so , Lawrence' s remar k i n thi s sam e lette r abou t th e story' s 'ironical' endin g - ' I realis e how man y peopl e ar e jus t rotte n a t th e quick ' (iii. 303 ) - ha s a bite. By the n h e ha d als o alread y don e 'thre e littl e essays ' o n 'Educatio n o f th e People', an d b y th e 7t h ha d finished a fourt h (iii . 303 , 306) . Th e autograp h 488
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manuscript tha t survive s i s a 192 0 serie s o f twelve , an d ther e i s n o certaint y tha t the first fou r ar e th e one s writte n i n 1918 ; ye t i t seem s likel y tha t th e centra l argument woul d b e muc h th e same. 29 Th e first thre e cam e ou t o f th e deepl y fel t experience o f his teachin g year s i n Croydon , an d i n thei r posin g o f th e question s that aris e fro m th e realit y (a s oppose d t o th e theory ) o f th e educatio n o f th e proletariat, remai n a s discomfortin g toda y a s the y ma y hav e seeme d i n 191 8 t o the edito r o f The Times Educational Supplement. Lawrenc e begin s b y assertin g the importance , indee d holines s o f th e individual , no t th e job ; an d ye t bot h teachers an d working-clas s schoolchildre n kno w onl y to o wel l tha t i t i s gettin g a job tha t reall y matter s i n har d fact . Th e chas m betwee n th e idea l o f self development th e teache r i s suppose d t o maintain , an d th e materia l realit y tha t actually govern s th e live s o f working-clas s childre n an d parents , breed s nothin g but a bitter cynicis m abou t al l ideals . I f i n realit y i t i s job s tha t matter , woul d i t not b e better , mor e hones t an d mor e usefu l fo r mos t children , i f basic educatio n were t o concentrat e o n th e thre e R's , an d the n th e technica l instructio n tha t would fit the m fo r a workin g life ? I f w e tal k o f 'fre e self-expression' , further more, d o al l nature s wan t an d nee d academi c o r aestheti c education ? I s i t no t bullying rathe r tha n freedo m whic h trie s t o forc e al l nature s int o th e sam e mould? Ma y i t no t indee d b e positivel y dangerou s t o tr y t o forc e academi c education wher e ther e i s n o capacity ; sinc e wha t thi s produce s i s a 'profoun d contempt fo r education , an d fo r al l educate d people' , a sens e i n boys , fo r example, tha t t o b e educate d i s t o b e unmanly. O n th e othe r hand , wher e children wan t an d ca n lear n academicall y an d aesthetically , suc h educatio n wil l be prize d an d genuinel y pursued . This lead s t o a sketc h o f stat e an d coe d schoolin g i n th e thre e R' s (wher e reading include s som e histor y an d geography) , togethe r wit h som e physica l an d domestic training , identica l fo r al l childre n u p t o th e ag e o f 12 ; followe d b y a division int o tw o streams , on e predominantl y technica l (thoug h wit h a modicum o f 'reading ' o f differen t kinds) ; an d th e othe r academi c (bu t wit h a modicum o f usefu l technica l training) . Fro m th e latter , th e ables t i n tha t direction woul d g o o n t o tertiar y education , followe d b y trainin g fo r th e professions, includin g th e fine arts , whil e th e other s move d int o technica l o r clerical an d administrativ e apprenticeship s respectively . Bu t a t ever y stag e i t should b e possibl e fo r childre n t o b e move d fro m on e strea m int o th e othe r a s aptitudes revea l themselves . Thi s i s no t to o differen t i n theor y fro m th e syste m introduced int o Englis h educatio n b y a reformin g Educatio n Minister . Bu t Lawrence the n turn s t o tackl e th e consequen t questio n o f 'Equality' , whic h ha s sharper politica l implications . He believe s neithe r i n th e equalit y no r th e inequalit y o f people , bu t thei r 'disqualify'. Compariso n i s always partial, whereas person s i n thei r wholenes s ar e unique an d incomparable . S o eac h chil d mus t b e enable d t o gro w tru e t o it s ow n
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intrinsic sel f Ye t (th e ex-teache r speaks ) i t i s no goo d simpl y lettin g childre n d o what the y want , fo r th e romanti c ide a o f childhoo d a s spontaneousl y expressiv e of tru e selfhoo d i s a delusion . Childre n pic k u p idea s second-hand , an d nee d t o be educate d t o th e self-knowledg e i n whic h the y ca n trul y choos e wha t wil l mak e them mor e trul y themselves , an d spontaneous . Lawrence' s view , a s always , i s religious. Eac h perso n shoul d becom e a pries t o f life , followin g th e go d within . This place s a heav y responsibilit y o n th e educator s wh o mus t judg e th e children's nature s an d aptitude s befor e the y ar e abl e t o judg e trul y fo r themselves. (Ther e i s also, of course, th e proble m o f equal opportunity. ) On th e othe r hand , u p t o thi s poin t ther e i s n o questio n o f hierarchy . Lawrence ha d imagine d i n To m Brangwe n a far m bo y wh o wa s academicall y ineducable bu t wh o ha d grea t delicac y o f feeling , an d coul d la y hol d o f eternity . He ha d jus t imagine d i n Mauric e anothe r worke r wit h hi s hand s wh o i s no whi t inferior t o th e intellectua l lawyer , an d indee d 'sees ' mor e truly . I n th e fourt h essay, Lawrenc e argue s tha t thos e 'whos e soul s ar e aliv e an d stron g bu t whos e voices ar e unmodulated , an d whos e thought s unforme d an d slow ' wil l constitut e the majorit y o f peopl e a t al l times . I n the m th e creativ e source s stil l pulse , though i t i s th e articulat e wh o mus t utte r them . No w howeve r hi s metaphor s begin t o carr y hi m int o hierarchy . I t i s on e thin g t o sa y tha t th e peopl e ar e t o their leader s a s th e tre e t o it s blosso m - bu t quit e anothe r t o tur n differen t classes (th e consequenc e o f differen t natures ) int o th e lowe r an d highe r level s o f a pyrami d wit h a single leade r a t it s summit . I n hi s letter s t o Russel l i n 191 5 h e had swun g rathe r wildl y fro m socialis m t o dictatorship . Now , impatien t wit h th e materialism o f the workin g class , and convince d o f the nee d fo r bette r leadershi p with highe r goals , h e seem s t o settl e fo r dictatorshi p - i n th e nam e o f a true r democracy! 'W e wh o believ e tha t ever y man' s sou l i s singl e an d incomparable , we though t w e wer e democrats ' - bu t democrac y ha s becom e essentiall y a levelling-^wn. Whereas , true democrac y i s that i n whic h a people graduall y cumulates , fro m th e vas t base of the populace upward s throug h th e zones of life an d understandin g t o the summit wher e the great man , o r th e mos t perfec t Utterer , i s alone . Th e fals e democrac y i s tha t wherei n every issue , eve n th e highest , i s dragged dow n t o th e lowes t issue , the myriad-multipl e lowest human issue: today, the wage. If thi s wa s i n essenc e th e fourt h essay o f 191 8 - thoug h tha t i s no t certai n - a n argument fo r diversit y an d disqualif y i s becoming a n argumen t o f hierarch y an d subordination, thoug h i t need no t hav e done . Moreover, thoug h n o connectio n ha s ye t bee n drawn , ther e seem s a subterranean lin k betwee n a belie f i n th e necessit y o f mal e 'precedence' , an d a belief i n th e necessit y fo r a greater-souled politica l leade r s o tha t th e peopl e ma y find 'livin g soul-expression ' throug h th e classe s above. 31 Th e politica l argumen t 490
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seems t o hav e bee n drive n b y som e inne r pressure , a s much a s the sexua l one . I t is not surprising , then , tha t th e livelies t bit s o f th e no t ver y livel y chapter s o f th e history h e force d himsel f t o d o (VI-VIII) , wer e o n Attil a an d Charlemagne . Bu t by 2 0 December , h e ha d com e t o hat e th e wor k iik e poison , an d hav e struck ' (iii. 309) . Two day s late r h e tol d Ko t tha t i f only h e had a small incom e h e woul d 'chuck writin g altogether . I' m reall y sic k o f it' (iii . 310) . IV D e a t h , a n d th e Devi l o f a Winte r As 191 8 ebbed ou t th e fea r o f death stil l seeme d everywhere , fo r i n th e Midland s too th e fl u epidemi c wa s takin g it s toll . Lawrenc e himsel f wa s defiant . Anothe r reason fo r impatienc e wit h th e 'people ' wa s ho w 'horribl y frightened ' o f th e disease the y were , 'al l o f them : bu t i t i s not fea r o f the Lord ' - whic h migh t lea d to amendmen t o f lif e - 'merel y selfis h fea r o f death , pett y an d selfish . - Whe n will one ge t th e spar k o f a new spiri t ou t o f thes e people? ' (iii . 306) . H e di d no t think the y woul d eve r hav e th e courag e t o d o anything , excep t perhap s fo r th e railwaymen wh o ha d struc k hi m a s 'rathe r independen t an d Bolshy ' o n th e journey u p (iii . 301) . Th e contex t o f thi s impatienc e howeve r wa s tha t h e was having t o confron t fear , an d death , i n hi s ow n narro w circle . H e spen t hi s nex t weekend bac k i n th e Midland s i n Riple y an d Eastwood , an d foun d Ad a 'rathe r sick an d wretched ' (iii . 307) , ver y worrie d abou t th e busines s an d th e desperat e need t o ge t Eddi e demobilise d t o carr y i t on . (Lawrenc e wrot e t o Campbel l t o find ou t wh o t o approach ; iii . 307. ) Ko t ha d caugh t th e flu (iii . 310) , so ha d Do n Carswell i n Edinburgh ; an d wit h hi s chest , Lawrenc e woul d b e i n th e graves t danger i f he to o wen t down . Thi s was brought hom e t o hi m i n th e saddes t wa y for par t o f th e purpos e o f hi s weeken d visi t wa s t o si t a t th e death-be d o f Frances ('Frankie' ) Coope r i n Eastwood , childhoo d frien d an d next-doo r neighbour i n Lyn n Crof t wh o wa s dyin g o f consumption . Sh e was jus t a yea r older tha n he . I n this , especiall y afte r wha t ha d happene d t o Katherine , h e mus t have see n a spectr e fo r the m both . Franki e wa s burie d o n 2 2 December , bu t earlier, tellin g Katherin e abou t her , h e wrote : 'Katherin e - o n n e meur t pas : I almost wan t t o le t i t be reflexiv e - o n n e s e meurt pas : Point\ B e damne d an d b e blasted everything , an d le t th e blood y worl d com e t o it s end . Bu t on e doe s no t die. Jamais' (iii . 307) . He woul d continu e t o insis t tha t on e coul d will oneself no t to die . H e sen t Katherin e a sor t o f golde n boug h fo r Christmas , a littl e bow l o f yellow Derbyshir e fluorspar, ' a golde n underworld , wit h river s an d clearing s do yo u se e it? ' The loca l barber ha d clippe d hi s hai r an d bear d til l h e looke d lik e a convict ; h e ha d caugh t a ba d col d an d fel t diabolical ; but , tw o day s befor e Frankie's funeral , h e wrot e Katherin e again : 'Courage , mo n ami , l e diabl e vi t encore' (iii . 309) . At Christma s itsel f however , thing s brightened . Fried a ha d arrive d back , o n 491
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14 December, an d the y wen t t o Riple y i n apparen t amit y fo r a famil y Christma s dinner. H e wrot e Katherin e anothe r vivi d lette r describin g ho w he r present s ha d arrived jus t a s they wer e settin g of f acros s a snowy, sunn y an d wind y landscape ; how Fried a ha d pinne d th e gif t brooc h i n th e shap e o f a wheatshea f o n he r yellow blous e which , wit h re d coa t an d skirt , wa s he r part y outfit ; an d ho w th e children ha d snaffle d th e tangerine s whe n the y go t t o Riple y i n th e moto r ca r Ada ha d sen t t o Ambergat e fo r them . (H e an d Katherin e ha d chose n th e sam e life-asserting symbolism. ) Ther e wa s a huge Christma s mea l a t Ada's, graphicall y described - n o mor e wartim e rationin g - an d charade s i n whic h th e ol d peopl e played harde r tha n th e youn g one s - an d the y 'li t th e Christma s tree , an d dran k healths, an d sang , an d roare d - Lor d above' . O n Boxin g Da y ther e wa s a secon d party, a t th e hom e o f Ada's Parse e doctor , D r Mullan-Feroz e (wh o woul d figur e later i n Aaron's Rod), wher e the y 'dran k tw o mor e bottle s o f muscatel , an d danced i n hi s big empty roo m til l w e were staggered , an d quit e dazed ' (iii . 313) . For al l th e festivit y howeve r Lawrenc e coul d no t fee l free . Indee d h e stil l fel t caged, dreadin g th e month s ahea d i n whic h h e migh t hav e t o wai t 'paralyse d fo r some sor t o f release ' (iii . 313) . O f hi s las t tw o letter s o f th e year , on e wa s t o Captain Short , finall y surrenderin g th e leas e o f th e smal l cottag e a t Highe r Tregerthen an d arrangin g fo r th e disposa l o f thei r remainin g belongings . (iii. 314) / Ther e woul d b e n o goin g back , eve n thoug h ther e was no longe r an y obstacle. The othe r wa s to Amy, wit h plan s to come t o America i n summe r 1919 , after (tha t is ) the y ha d first bee n t o German y o r Switzerlan d fo r Fried a t o se e her peopl e - domesti c peac e clearl y dependen t o n tha t priority . Fried a ha d heard fro m he r mother : Edga r Jaffe ha d becom e Ministe r o f Financ e i n th e ne w Bavarian republic ; anothe r frien d 'i s somethin g els e important ' an d Frieda' s cousin Hartman , wh o ha d bee n turne d ou t o f th e Reichsta g becaus e h e wante d peace, i s no w a moving figure i n Berlin ' (iii . 314) . Bu t thoug h German y migh t be 'quit e exciting' , i t wa s Frieda' s excitemen t h e wa s voicing . H e himsel f wante d something new, America, eve n mor e tha n before . All throug h January , a s sno w la y deep , hi s letter s har p o n on e string : ' / must get out. I must ge t ou t o f England, o f Europe. Ther e wil l neve r b e anythin g her e but increasin g rottennes s . . . I will get ou t o f Europe thi s year ' (iii . 316) . I t di d not hel p tha t 'thi s winte r i s th e ver y devil' , an d tha t bot h h e an d Fried a ha d caught col d again . I n Februar y h e voice d wha t h e ha d dreaded : hi s sens e o f helplessly markin g tim e befor e som e kin d o f disaster (iii . 325 ) - bu t ther e wa s n o remedy. N o matte r ho w Fried a longe d t o se e he r famil y - sittin g o n needles , h e told Els e - thi s woul d b e exceedingl y difficult an d probabl y impossibl e befor e peace wa s formall y signed , eve n i f the y trie d t o mee t i n Switzerland . Ther e would no t onl y b e problem s ove r passports , bu t stil l mor e i n gettin g permit s t o travel i n Allied-occupie d Germany , fo r al l the family' s Germa n contacts . H e an d 492
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Frieda wer e onl y jus t beginnin g t o realis e ho w ba d condition s wer e there , especially th e acut e an d growin g shortag e o f food , mad e wors e b y th e maintenance o f th e Allie d blockad e t o pressur e German y int o acceptin g pena l terms a t Versailles . An d o f cours e ther e wa s th e perennia l proble m o f money fo r the Lawrences . Kot ha d propose d t o giv e hi m a coupl e o f book s a s a belate d Christma s present, an d th e tw o Everyma n volume s h e chos e sho w ho w hi s min d was working. H e aske d fo r Scheffel' s Ekkehard: A Tale of the Tenth Century, usefu l for hi s histor y boo k whic h ha d t o b e finished a s soo n a s possibl e t o hav e th e means o f subsistenc e le t alon e travel , bu t als o appropriat e t o hi s sens e o f a ne w 'dark age ' i n Europe , now . Hi s othe r choic e wa s Bates' s The Naturalist on the River Amazon (iii . 315) ; not tha t h e wante d t o g o ther e particularly , bu t i t 'take s one int o th e su n an d th e waters ' (iii . 340) , an escap e i n spac e a s the othe r was i n time. ' I shoul d neve r b e a sa d man, ' h e wrot e i n thanks , 'whils t i t wa s possibl e for a real book t o come along ' (iii . 317) . Meanwhile ther e wa s wor k t o b e don e befor e h e an d Fried a coul d mov e anywhere. H e seem s t o hav e worke d har d an d quickl y o n th e histor y i n th e first weeks o f January , an d thoug h i t seeme d 'wretche d piggling ' (iii . 322) , b y 1 7 January h e ha d onl y tw o t o g o (iii . 321) . Si x day s late r h e ha d finished another , and wa s bette r please d wit h wha t h e ha d done . 'Ever y chapter, ' h e tol d Nanc y Henry, I suffe r befor e I ca n begin , becaus e I d o loath e th e broke n pot s o f historica l facts . Bu t once I can get hold o f the thread o f the developing significance, the n I am happy, and get ahead. I shal l nee d t o revis e rathe r carefully . Bu t you'l l see , whe n yo u ge t thes e 4 las t chapters, the book does expand nicel y and naturally . I am rather please d wit h it . There is a clue of developing meaning running through it : that makes it real to me. (iii. 322) He eve n aske d he r t o recommen d hi m fo r anothe r book , i f sh e coul d thin k o f one h e coul d do . H e sen t th e las t fou r chapter s of f o n 3 February , wit h th e titl e Movements in European History (iii . 326) . 5 H e supposed , correctly , tha t OU P would no t wan t hi s nam e t o appear, s o he woul d accep t a pseudonym (eventuall y Lawrence H . Davison) . To hi s annoyance , Freema n ha d refuse d hi s essay s fo r TES.. ' I wa s deepl y interested,' sai d th e letter , 'bu t fee l mysel f rathe r ou t o f m y dept h - I hav e consulted anothe r opinion , an d w e fee l tha t thi s i s rather matte r fo r a book tha n a supplement' (iii . 323) . T o Lawrenc e tha t wa s mer e cowardice . Hi s wor k migh t not b e waste d however , fo r Barbar a Lo w ha d see n th e essay s als o and ha d show n them t o Stanle y Unwi n wh o wa s impressed enoug h t o tak e u p th e ide a o f ' a littl e book' i f Lawrenc e woul d writ e 'a s muc h again ' - fo r whic h Unwi n woul d pa y Slowly Lawrence' s finances bega n t o improve . B y Ne w Yea r h e ha d te n 493
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guineas fo r th e firs t tw o 'American ' essay s fro m Harriso n - havin g 'circum vented' Pinker' s commission , thoug h h e di d tel l hi m abou t i t (iii . 315) . The sal e of effect s i n Cornwal l no w raise d £1 5 fro m Benney' s auctio n roo m (iii . 327) , s o another chequ e fro m Ko t coul d b e sen t bac k i n February . Ther e woul d b e £5 0 to com e fro m Movements whe n th e revisio n wa s complet e (iii . 321) . An d ther e would als o be five guineas ever y mont h fro m Harriso n a s long as he continue d t o publish th e America n essays , thoug h i t wa s no t clea r whethe r th e English Review would 'g o patientl y o n t o th e end ' o f th e twelv e (iii . 324) . (I t woul d see m tha t the decisio n t o sto p a t eigh t ha d no t ye t bee n made , o r a t leas t divulged. ) Proof s had als o arrive d o f si x poem s whic h Harrie t Monro e ha d accepte d fo r th e February issu e of Poetry y for whic h agai n ther e woul d b e paymen t o n publicatio n (iii. 325) . (Seve n guinea s arrive d i n March ; iii . 330.) However, i t ha d bee n clea r t o Lawrenc e fo r som e tim e tha t hi s bes t hop e o f earning mone y fro m creativ e work , a s oppose d t o boo k makin g lik e Movements, lay i n shor t stories . H e ha d quit e los t hop e o f publishin g Women in Love; an d when Nanc y Henr y spok e o f givin g u p he r jo b s o tha t bot h sh e an d Leig h coul d devote themselve s t o creativity , h e fel t h e ha d t o advis e he r tha t i f they onc e pu t themselves int o a position t o starve , these days , starve the y certainl y would . Never ha s it been s o difficult t o make money by any form o f art: never ha s the artist had such a ba d chance : an d neve r ha s th e worl d bee n s o coldl y indifferent , neve r ha s i t clutched it s shillings more tightly .. . nobod y i s going to waste one serious moment o n art at al l .. . ther e ar e day s comin g whe n ar t wil l no t sav e us : neithe r yo u no r m e no r anybody, (iii. 325-6) He wa s righ t a t leas t i n this , tha t th e readin g publi c wa s i n n o moo d t o b e ver y serious o r t o tes t itsel f fo r long , s o shor t storie s wit h a s ligh t a touch a s h e coul d manage seeme d t o b e hi s bes t prospect . H e ha d onc e declare d himsel f incapabl e of writin g th e kin d o f stor y tha t th e Strand woul d publis h - bu t l o an d behold , that popula r magazin e accepte d 'Joh n Thomas ' fo r it s Apri l issue , minu s sexua l innuendo an d rename d 'Ticket s Please' . I n th e snow s o f January h e wrot e a ne w one, 'Wintr y Peacock' , an d sen t i t to Pinke r o n th e 15t h (iii . 320) . On th e surfac e thi s tal e o f wartim e infidelity , go t awa y with , sound s lik e a retelling o f loca l gossi p tha t coul d b e duplicate d i n man y a village a s soldier s came home , leavin g illegitimat e babie s t o emerg e al l ove r Flanders ; an d it s ending i n gale s o f laughte r woul d see m t o sho w i t wa s no t mean t over-seriously . However (lik e 'Ticket s Please' ) th e jes t ha s a sardonic Lawrencia n undersid e fo r those wh o se e mor e tha n th e narrato r does . I t i s stil l par t o f th e 'male ' assertio n which ha d underlai n 'Th e Blin d Man ' an d 'Th e Fox' . Th e woma n wh o ask s th e narrator t o translat e th e Frenc h o f th e Belgia n girl' s lette r t o he r husband , i s presented a s a femal e Janus : a t on e momen t th e littl e woma n wh o make s a ma n feel bi g (an d he r husband' s famil y protective) , bu t th e next , th e bitch y witc h 494
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against who m me n mus t instinctivel y unit e - a s the narrator doe s wit h th e stillabsent adultere r b y falsifying th e tidings o f his fatherhood , almos t involuntarily . The 'jest ' an d the allianc e continu e int o the laughter a t the end , despit e th e clas s difference, an d the ex-soldier's suspiciousnes s an d irresponsibility - maudli n in the original , bruta l i n the later version. 37 T h e enjoyment o f a masculine secre t that th e female ca n neve r discove r i s too rich t o be compromised b y scruple - i t seems. Only , th e wintr y peacoc k tease s a t th e mind . Perhap s Lawrenc e remembered hi s dream o f a beautiful blu e bir d tor n fro m th e air by dogs. The wife's cherishin g o f the peacoc k suggest s a dimensio n o f affection an d beaut y missing fro m he r marriage ; an d th e narrator' s rescu e o f th e beautifu l bir d floundering i n th e col d sno w i s anothe r involuntar y response , ver y differen t from th e husband's desir e t o wring it s neck. Perhap s th e laughter a t the end i s really a s uneasil y questionabl e a s th e joke-gone-too-fa r i n 'Ticket s Please' ? There, femal e allianc e punishe d th e predatory male , ye t the ending suggeste d the consequenc e fo r wome n i f a deepe r malenes s wer e desecrated . Perhap s 'Wintry Peacock ' als o partl y invert s itsel f b y it s excess (a s Blake though t exces s would alway s do), helping agai n to suggest th e absenc e of the true r malenes s tha t could hav e produce d a truer femininity ? Lawrence no w mad e hi s firs t direc t contac t wit h Benjami n Huebsch , wh o had become hi s American publishe r whe n h e agreed t o bring ou t The Rainbow afte r Doran's refusal , an d wh o had subsequentl y publishe d The Prussian Officer, Twilight in Italy an d Look! Al l th e arrangements ha d gone throug h Pinke r and even now , mor e tha n thre e year s later , Lawrenc e clearl y kne w nothin g o f how Huebsch ha d manage d t o get hi s editio n o f The Rainbow int o circulatio n quietly , through travellin g salesmen , rathe r tha n ris k prosecutio n b y sending i t out fo r review o r advertising an d distributin g i t in the usual way . Moreover , h e had n o idea tha t Pinke r ha d never sen t th e Women in Love manuscrip t fo r Huebsch t o judge whethe r h e might ris k publishin g tha t too . (Thi s woul d hav e repercussion s later.) I n January 1919 , by happenstance, Huebsc h sen t Lawrenc e a copy o f his list, an d when h e wrote bac k i n approva l - takin g th e opportunity t o enquir e after th e sales o f The Prussian Officer, Twilight in Italy an d Look!, bu t not The Rainbow whic h h e assumed wa s stil l on Huebsch's hand s (iii . 323-4 ) - Huebsc h replied warmly , encouragin g th e prospect o f a visi t t o America . H e offered t o help arrang e lecture s t o cover expenses , an d 'anything els e i n which yo u think I may b e of service' (iii . 356- 7 n . i). 3 8 (Th e envelope o f Lawrence's letter , ove r two month s afte r th e Armistice , i s marked 'OPENE D B Y CENSOR'; iii . 324 n. 2. )
For mos t o f January, then , h e and Fried a wer e 'ver y quiet' , alone , but 'hardly notice th e loneliness' (iii . 322) . I t was towards th e end of the mont h tha t bot h caught cold , an d Lawrence spen t a week i n bed into th e first day s o f February. When h e got up it wa s 'terribl y froze n an d snowy . . . T he sun shines, bu t th e windows ar e covered wit h ver y magnificen t ic e flowers, so we are obscured a s i f 495
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in a froze n under-sea ' (iii . 327) . Th e weeken d o f 8- 9 Februar y Emil y an d he r daughter Pegg y wer e a t Mountai n Cottage , an d Lawrenc e describe d t o Katherine ho w h e ha d climbe d wit h hi s niec e t o th e 'bar e to p o f th e hills ' i n 'brilliant sunshin e o n th e snow' . I n on e o f th e mos t vivi d o f al l hi s letter s h e describes th e myria d track s o f th e differen t wil d creature s i n th e snow , an d th e naked uplan d 'movin g fa r int o th e distance , strang e an d muscular , wit h gleam s like ski n . . . I t i s strange ho w insignificant , i n al l this , lif e seems . Tw o men , tin y as dots , mov e fro m a farm o n a snow-slope, carryin g ha y . . . I n contrast , bot h o f scale an d lif e assertion , h e paint s a vivi d domesti c interio r a s th e househol d prepares fo r Peggy' s birthda y treat . Emily i s cooking treacl e roil y an d cakes , Frieda i s making Pegg y a pale gre y dress , I am advising an d interferin g - Pamel a [Emily' s nickname , afte r Richardson' s virtuou s heroine] i s lamentin g becaus e th e egg s i n th e pantr y hav e al l froze n an d burs t - I hav e spent half an hour hacking ice out of the water tub - no w I am going out. Peggy, with her marvellous red-gold hai r in dangling curl-rags is darting about sorting the coloured wool s and cottons - scen e de famille. (iii. 328) As al l hi s letter s t o Katherin e trie d t o b e a t thi s time , i t wa s a gif t o f livelines s against th e sno w an d th e spectre . A wee k late r the y wen t t o visi t Ad a i n Ripley , an d Lawrenc e collapse d wit h influenza. H e ver y nearl y died . V l A putrid diseas e . . . a drowne d ghost ' The grea t influenz a epidemi c whic h swep t acros s Europ e an d Afric a wa s a particularly virulen t strain , a mass kille r eve n o f the robust , stil l more th e elderl y and thos e whos e healt h wa s alread y suspect . Th e casualtie s wer e th e wors t (i n ratio t o population ) sinc e th e choler a epidemi c o f 1849 / Lawrenc e contracte d the diseas e wit h complication s whic h clearl y ha d t o d o thi s time , as in 1911 , with his lung s an d no t merel y hi s bronchia l tubes , thoug h h e als o ha d 'heart-pains ' (iii. 329) , a s wel l a s a high temperatur e an d a rackin g cough . D r Mullan-Feroz e later tol d hi m tha t fo r tw o day s 'h e feare d I shoul d no t pul l through ' (iii . 337) , and tha t h e ha d bee n affecte d mor e seriousl y becaus e h e 'wa s ru n dow n t o star t with' (a s in th e collaps e o f early 1916) . 'It' s bee n pitiful' , Fried a tol d Kot , 't o se e him tr y s o hard t o live, i f he hadn't, i t would hav e been al l over. ' Recovery wa s painfull y slow . I t was no t unti l 2 6 Februar y tha t h e coul d ea t anything soli d o r si t u p i n be d an d writ e a note (iii . 329) ; not unti l 2 March tha t he wa s able t o ge t u p fo r hal f an hou r t o si t i n hi s bedroo m (iii . 329) ; not unti l 6 March that , rathe r fearin g th e stairs , he bega n t o ventur e dow n fo r afternoo n te a - 'lik e a drowne d ghos t creeping ' (iii . 333 , 335) . O n 1 1 Marc h h e wa s stil l 'tiresomely feeble' , unabl e t o wal k (iii . 335) . O n 1 4 Marc h h e walke d outsid e a 496
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few yard s - a mont h afte r th e collapse . B y the n h e fel t 'nearl y mysel f again , i n my sou l i f not i n m y body ' (iii . 337) ; but h e stil l needed 'injection s fo r th e lungs ' (iii. 340) . Even afte r h e ha d bee n drive n b y moto r ca r bac k t o Mountai n Cottag e on 1 7 March (iii . 339) , Dr Mullan-Feroz e cam e ove r regularl y t o continu e thes e injections, an d woul d no t hea r o f a mov e t o th e warme r sout h befor e lat e Apri l (iii. 340) . This strai n o f influenz a prove d ' a putri d disease ' (iii . 330 ) mentall y a s wel l a s physically, an d greatl y depressive . Whe n h e wrot e hi s firs t not e i t was t o confes s that h e fel t 'ver y wear y an d a littl e downhearted ' becaus e 'th e worl d seem s s o nasty ahea d o f one ' (iii . 329) . A t th e en d o f Februar y h e admitte d tha t h e ha d 'never fel t s o dow n i n th e mu d i n al l m y lif e . . . lif e i s to o unbearabl y foul ' (iii. 330) . He ha d though t hi s sou l 'wa s cracke d fo r ever ' (iii . 329) , thoug h i t to o was recovering . H e wa s touche d b y th e wa y hi s fe w goo d friend s rallie d round , sending thing s t o temp t appetit e an d chee r hi m up : grapefruit , brand y an d por t from Ko t (iii . 329-30) ; bottle s o f muscate l fro m Catherin e Carswel l (iii . 336) ; champagne fro m Uncl e Frit z Krenko w (iii . 329) . However , h e shran k 'fro m putting m y foo t ou t o f be d int o th e worl d again ' (iii . 330) , an d turne d dow n th e idea o f recuperating a t the seasid e becaus e i t wa s 'to o grea t a struggle t o trave l t o a ne w place ' (iii . 331) , a sign o f malais e indeed , i n him ! H e dreame d o f Cynthi a (oddly, goin g t o churc h wit h hi m i n Heanor) , an d tw o day s late r a lette r fro m her arrive d - bu t sh e to o wa s rathe r depresse d becaus e sh e was pregnan t agai n (iii. 333) . When a n unexpecte d lette r cam e fro m Beatric e Campbel l wit h a gift o f Irish butter , h e sympathise d wit h he r fo r feelin g lik e ' a bi t o f wreckag e tha t wil l be swep t of f agai n nex t hig h tide' , fo r 'We'v e al l sor t o f com e unstuck ' (iii. 334-5) . Partly cheerin g wa s a n invitatio n fro m Murr y t o contribut e t o th e Athenczum, whose editorshi p h e wa s abou t t o tak e over . Lawrenc e wa s pleased , bu t wante d Murry t o tel l him , soon , 'exactl y wha t yo u woul d lik e m e t o do , an d I wil l tr y t o be pleasan t an d a bit old-fashioned . I don' t min d i f I a m anonymou s - o r a no m de plume ? . . . Tel l m e particular s a s soo n a s yo u ca n - s o tha t I ca n thin k abou t it whil e I a m stil l no t well , an d mak e littl e ideas ' (iii . 332) . Murry faile d t o repl y however, an d withi n a wee k Lawrence' s distrus t o f hi m returned . H e fel t 'sur e we shall be le t down ' (iii . 335) , though h e stil l intende d t o try , an d indee d bega n before h e lef t Riple y thoug h h e fel t i t wa s ' a col d effor t t o d o thes e things ' (iii. 337) . H e ha d no t hear d fro m Katherin e fo r som e time , an d feare d sh e to o might b e 'onl y jus t on th e verg e o f existence' (iii . 335) . Much mor e reliable , now , wa s hi s friendshi p wit h th e Eders . Th e new s fro m Edith tha t Davi d wa s comin g bac k fro m Palestin e t o fetc h hi s wif e an d so n (iii. 340) , ha d adde d th e Hol y Lan d t o Lawrence' s lis t o f possibl e escape s fro m England; an d illnes s ha d increase d hi s sens e o f confinement . No w th e goo d doctor wa s not onl y i n Londo n bu t promise d t o com e u p an d tal k t o hi m abou t 497
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Palestine - probabl y mor e t o chee r hi m u p tha n anythin g else . H e arrive d i n Ripley bearin g a bottle o f claret , cak e an d sweets , th e weeken d befor e Lawrenc e was t o b e motore d bac k t o Mountai n Cottage ; an d immediatel y Lawrenc e bega n to loo k ahea d onc e more : ' I hav e promise d t o g o out t o Palestin e i n September, ' he tol d Kot , 'leavin g Fried a i n Germany . I n Palestin e I a m t o vie w th e lan d an d write a Zioniad' (iii . 340) . He wa s almost himsel f again . However, th e remar k abou t Fried a carrie d a charge. I n Women in Love Ursul a makes n o bone s abou t he r revulsio n fro m illnes s an d he r belie f tha t i t i s something t o b e ashame d of . Ther e i s littl e doub t tha t thi s was Frieda' s view , or tha t sh e strengthene d Lawrence' s ow n ide a tha t illnes s cam e ou t o f a wrongness i n one' s life , fo r whic h on e wa s ultimatel y responsibl e an d shoul d therefore se t abou t curing , oneself . Thi s was a dangerou s vie w fo r a ma n wh o carried th e tubercle , thoug h b y n o mean s absolutel y foolis h a s th e fight agains t cancer i n ou r tim e ha s shown . However , Frieda' s lac k o f sympath y an d disinclination fo r nursin g migh t wel l loo k ver y differen t t o someon e lai d lo w b y the influenz a epidemi c o f 1918-1 9 - an d i t certainl y did . H e trie d t o jok e abou t the tension , t o Beatrice : ' I suppos e I'l l ge t stron g enoug h agai n on e da y t o sla p Frieda i n th e eye , i n th e prope r marita l fashion . A t presen t I a m reduce d t o vituperation' (iii . 335) . Whe n a t las t h e wa s allowe d t o mov e bac k t o Mountai n Cottage h e insisted tha t Ad a shoul d com e too, to look afte r him . I am not goin g to be left t o Frieda's tende r mercie s unti l I am well again. Sh e really i s a devil - an d I feel as if I would part from he r for ever - le t her go alone to Germany, while I take another road . For i t is true, I have been bullied b y her lon g enough. I really could leave he r now , withou t a pang, I believe . The tim e comes , to mak e a n end , on e wa y or another. If this illness hasn't been a lesson to her, it has to me. (iii. 337) This wa s writte n t o Kot , wh o ha d bee n critica l o f Frieda fro m th e start . I t was a result o f illnes s an d migh t b e cure d a s th e illnes s was . Ye t i t reinforce s al l th e other sign s tha t th e marriag e wa s enterin g a fa r harshe r phase , whe n Lawrenc e thought i t necessar y t o begi n t o fre e himsel f from , an d asser t hi s mal e independence against his previous nee d o f her . VI Mountai n Cottag e Agai n They arrive d bac k a t Mountai n Cottag e o n Monda y 1 7 March . I t bega n a s c a mild swee t morning ' (iii . 339-40) , but i n th e afternoo n i t bega n t o sno w heavily , and th e prospec t o f sprin g close d again . Soo n th e sno w la y s o heavil y tha t (lik e the peasant s i n Fiascherin o i n happie r days ) Ad a an d Fried a ha d t o bea t th e branches o f th e frui t tree s t o sto p the m breakin g - whil e Lawrenc e stare d 'stupidly ou t o f th e windo w lik e a sic k an d daze d monkey ' (iii . 340) , unabl e t o venture out , an d onl y waiting , now , fo r th e docto r t o giv e permissio n fo r a 498
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return sout h t o Hermitage . (I n an y cas e Ada' s leas e woul d b e u p a t th e en d o f April.) H e ha d t o confes s tha t h e wa s 'a n irritabl e sor t o f convalescent' (iii . 341) . To occup y himsel f h e aske d Ko t t o bu y hi m mor e book s a s a presen t fro m Ad a (iii. 340) ; an d aske d Gertle r t o sen d reproduction s o f Uccello' s 'huntin g an d fighting scenes' , o r favourite s lik e Fr a Angelico , Giotto , Mantegna , Va n Gogh , for hi m t o copy . H e wante d picture s wit h strongl y marke d desig n an d 'har d figures' (iii . 341 ) t o mak e copyin g easier , an d blac k an d whit e woul d do , thoug h in tha t cas e Gertle r wa s to tel l him th e colours . While h e wa s waiting h e copie d a Teniers, an d fel t happier , thoug h 'paintin g i s not my ar t - onl y a n amusemen t t o me' (iii . 342) . Uccell o prove d to o difficul t fro m a postcard , bu t i t was probabl y now tha t h e copie d Fr a Angelico' s Flight into Egypt an d Giotto' s Joachim and the Shepherds - thoug h (lackin g note s fro m Gertler ) i n differen t colour s fro m th e originals. Having starte d i n Riple y h e probabl y wrot e som e mor e piece s fo r th e Athenceum - o f which Murr y proceede d t o refus e al l but one , t o Lawrence's fur y (iii. 346) . Th e exceptio n wa s 'Whistlin g o f Birds' , Lawrence' s hailin g (i n 1917 ) of a new sprin g i n natur e an d i n th e hear t afte r a most deathl y winter . Thi s ha d been th e origina l beginnin g o f 'Th e Realit y o f Peace' , bu t mus t hav e seeme d very appropriat e fo r th e first reissu e o f th e magazin e unde r Murr y o n 1 1 April , with th e Armistic e holding . However , al l Lawrence's ne w piece s wer e rejecte d i n a 'very editorial ' note . This cam e to o lat e for a n angr y Lawrenc e t o withdra w th e essay tha t ha d bee n accepted ; bu t 'tha t i s the first an d las t wor d o f mine tha t wil l ever appea r i n th e Athenceum. Good-by e Jacky , I kne w the e beforehand. ' Murry's late r explanatio n o f wh y h e turne d dow n th e onl y othe r piec e h e coul d remember, 'Adol f - a charmin g sketc h abou t th e orphane d bab y rabbi t whic h Arthur Lawrenc e rescue d an d brough t hom e fo r hi s childre n - seem s incredible . It i s no t a t al l 'embittere d an d angry' . Jus t conceivably , expectin g resentmen t and rebellio n fro m Lawrence , Murr y may hav e read the m int o th e body languag e of the littl e rabbit' s scut , flickin g cheekil y a s i t flee s fro m it s pursuers , a s thoug h saying Merde\ - an d ma y hav e though t i t spoke fo r th e Lawrenc e wh o coul d onl y 'run' now , i n a hostil e world , unde r a n ironi c no m d e plum e 'Grantorto' . Bu t Lawrence ha d writte n i n hi s sister' s compan y mor e affectionatel y o f hi s child hood an d hi s fathe r tha n eve r before . Hi s ton e i s humorous , an d th e 'obscenity' , as Murr y woul d know , i s n o obscenit y i n French . Perhap s th e sketc h was no t high-toned enoug h fo r th e revampe d Athenceum\ intellectua l aims . Murr y say s his 'positio n wa s precarious ' an d h e ma y hav e bee n afrai d o f shockin g reader s a t the beginnin g o f hi s reign ; bu t i f that wa s th e reason , i t wa s ver y pusillanimous . The Dial (a t leas t as high-powered) too k th e sketc h a s soon a s offered. Moreove r neither objectio n coul d hav e applie d t o 'Rex' , th e companio n piec e abou t a puppy whic h wa s almos t certainl y submitte d a t th e sam e tim e an d als o take n b y the Dial. Stil l mor e infuriatin g tha n th e de haut en has 'declined wit h thanks ' was 499
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Murry's failur e t o retur n anothe r essay abou t som e topica l issu e (iii . 345) : perhaps th e industria l actio n o n th e Londo n undergroun d an d th e threa t t o th e railways i n February , whic h ha d produce d remark s i n a letter fro m Lawrenc e t o Else abou t th e Englis h bein g 'i n th e nasties t fram e o f min d imaginable ' an d hi s growing dislik e o f 'vulga r democracy ' (iii . 345) . Lawrenc e complaine d tha t b y the tim e h e go t thi s piec e bac k i t woul d b e to o ou t o f dat e t o sen d elsewhere , s o 'he's don e m e in ' (iii . 349) . Murr y sai d a t th e tim e tha t h e ha d los t it . H e late r denied i n hi s Reminiscences that h e ha d eve r refuse d mor e tha n on e piece , an d perhaps hi s memor y faile d him , bu t Lawrenc e ha d certainl y sen t three , ver y probably four , possibl y five. * Ha d i t bee n som e othe r editor , th e rejection s would hav e bee n merel y irritatin g - bu t Murr y ha d invite d hi m t o contribute , and Lawrenc e ha d specificall y aske d fo r guidanc e abou t wha t h e shoul d do . H e had bee n deliberatel y 'old-fashioned ' i n hi s reminiscence s o f childhood , an d th e refusal wa s doubl y gallin g becaus e thei r position s ha d bee n s o dramaticall y reversed sinc e their earlie r friendship , a s Murry's editoria l not e mad e clear . Unfortunately, ange r wit h Murr y als o mean t estrangemen t fro m {Catherin e who wa s i n an y cas e closel y associate d wit h Murry' s editorship . Eve n befor e th e refusal ther e ha d bee n a momen t o f strain . Lawrenc e foun d on e o f he r letter s 'cryptic' an d ha d bee n rathe r sardoni c abou t a referenc e t o Murry' s 'fame ' presumably hi s appointmen t (iii . 339) . Katherine , writin g late r t o Frieda , woul d complain o f feeling repulsed- thoug h surel y no t b y Lawrence' s conclusion ? There i s a pheasant come s and lie s by the wall under th e gooseberr y bushes , for shelter . He i s s o cold , h e hardl y notice s us . W e pla n t o catc h him , b y throwin g ove r hi m th e netted hammock . Bu t fo r th e sak e o f hi s gree n hea d an d hi s long , pointe d feathers , I cannot. We thought w e would catc h hi m and sen d hi m to you to eat. But whe n I look at him, so clear as he is and forma l on the snow, I am bound t o respect a thing which attains to so much perfection o f grace and bearing. Love from bot h DH L Lawrence indee d quickl y denie d an y repulsiv e intent , an d tol d he r ho w h e ha d dreamed o f her, quit e clea r fro m consumption , watchin g th e starr y sk y wit h hi m and seein g a strang e planet : 's o beautiful , a large , fearful , stron g star , tha t w e were bot h pierce d b y it , possessed , fo r a second . . . As k Jung o r Freu d abou t it ? - Never ! - I t wa s a sta r tha t blaze d fo r a second o n one' s soul ' (iii . 343) . I t was however a sta r fo r hi m an d her , no t Jack , an d th e complicatio n o f gettin g th e four o f the m int o a square seeme d a s grea t a s ever . O f he r h e ha d fel t sur e 'eve r since Cornwall , sav e fo r Jack' - whic h wa s not quit e tru e - bu t i f she insiste d o n going alon g wit h Jac k wh o 'wil l never reall y com e ou r wa y - well ! - Bu t thing s will resolv e themselves. ' Unfortunatel y ther e wa s n o separatin g th e partner s o n either side , an d wit h th e rejectio n o f Lawrence' s manuscript s a wee k later , th e 500
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resolution cam e i n th e wron g direction . Katherin e reacte d t o new s o f hi s ange r typically, b y aiming he r mockin g fantas y a t Frieda . Frieda write s m e tha t ther e i s a 'rumpus' betwee n m e and - the m I suppose . I se e thi s 'rumpus' - don' t you ? A very large prancing, imaginary anima l being led b y Frieda - a s Una le d th e Lion. I t is evidently bearin g dow n on me with Fried a fo r a Lady Godiv a on its back. But I refuse t o have anything t o do with it . I have not th e room now-a-day s fo r rumpuses. My garden is too small and they eat up all ones plants - root s and all. 44 She continue d fo r a whil e t o writ e 'foolis h would-be-witt y letters ' (iii . 352 ) t o Frieda, bu t the y jarre d o n Lawrence , an d whe n sh e wrot e t o hi m i n Ma y afte r their retur n t o Hermitage , 'someho w I couldn' t answe r her . Whe n I ca n I will . Of him , nothin g - an d foreve r nothing ' (iii . 356) . I t wa s a grea t pit y afte r th e obvious affectio n an d livelines s i n Lawrence' s letter s t o he r sinc e th e reconcilia tion o f 1918 , an d her s t o hi m a s well , on e feel s sur e - i f onl y h e ha d kep t them. A mino r comfort , a t jus t thi s time , wa s t o receiv e a cop y fro m Loui s Golding o f th e firs t issu e o f Voices, in whic h h e ha d pai d a passin g complimen t to Lawrence. 4 Also , th e £5 0 fo r Movements in European History was clos e no w as h e se t t o wor k revising , determine d t o finish befor e movin g south . H e ha d succeeded b y 2 3 April , th e da y befor e th e move , an d wa s ' a fre e man ' agai n (iii. 352 ) - th e mor e s o sinc e ther e ha d als o arrive d a forma l revocatio n o f th e order whic h exclude d the m fro m Cornwal l an d limite d thei r movement s elsewhere. Thi s mad e n o differenc e t o hi s determinatio n howeve r t o leav e a n England wher e 'nobod y care s abou t anything , literatur e leas t o f all' , no r t o hi s feeling o f 'scramblin g uneasil y fro m da y t o day , a s i f w e wer e al l perche d o n a land-slide, an d th e day s wer e stone s tha t migh t star t slidin g unde r one' s feet ' (iii. 348) . H e wa s stil l intendin g t o g o first t o German y - thoug h the y ha d no w heard tha t ther e wa s 'terribl e distress ' an d h e wondere d whethe r ther e migh t be antipath y t o a n Englishma n - an d the n t o America , thoug h h e ha d becom e more pessimisti c abou t tha t too . H e wa s als o stil l wonderin g abou t Palestine . His tal k wit h Ede r abou t buildin g a new societ y produce d (fro m Hermitage ) a n idealistic anarchism . Th e ne w society , sai d he , shoul d hav e onl y tw o Laws : first, tha t ther e shoul d b e n o laws , sinc e eac h ma n ha d t o b e responsibl e fo r himself an d answerabl e t o hi s ow n soul ; an d second , tha t everybod y shoul d have th e righ t t o food , shelter , knowledg e an d th e righ t t o mat e freel y 'irrespective o f an y othe r clai m tha n tha t o f life-necessity' . The n 'everythin g else ca n b e don e b y arrangement , no t b y law ' (iii . 353) . Eder , fres h fro m th e immense difficultie s o f th e Commission , mus t hav e smile d wryly , especiall y when Lawrenc e joke d tha t h e woul d writ e abou t th e Zionis t enterpris e a s 'Th e Entry o f th e Blesse d int o Palestine ' (afte r Fr a Angelico) , thoug h h e feare d th e 'hosts o f people , "wit h noses" , a s you r siste r said' , an d di d no t believ e the y 501
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would eve r 'pul l i t off , a s a vita l reality , withou t me ' (iii . 354) . H e wa s seriou s (he said ) abou t wantin g t o go . For no w howeve r ther e was onl y th e prospec t o f furthe r markin g tim e a t Hermitage unti l the y coul d leav e th e country . Ther e wa s news o f various friend s whom h e woul d b e clos e enoug h t o Londo n t o se e agai n i f he wante d to , bu t h e was no t a t al l sur e tha t h e did . Hom e wrote , a s Lewi s ha d done , t o rene w contact, bu t Lawrenc e agai n wa s not kee n (iii . 340 , 346). He hear d fro m Arabell a that Hild a ha d ha d he r bab y an d wa s all right, thoug h ver y wea k afte r pneumoni a (iii. 347) , but seein g he r whe n the y go t t o Londo n wa s onl y a maybe. Gra y wa s 'behaving wretchedly' , unlik e Richar d wh o wa s 'ver y fine ' (iii . 349 ) accordin g t o Arabella; bu t sh e hersel f wa s 'i n lo w water' . Lad y Mar y Star r ha d als o ha d a baby (iii . 344) , bu t ther e wa s n o temptatio n t o se e them . Worse , a s Hermitag e grew neare r ther e cam e a gushin g lette r fro m Margare t Radford : 'ho w happy , dear Lawrence , sh e i s tha t sh e ca n b e a t Hermitag e t o receiv e u s an d sta y te n days wit h us ' (iii . 349 ) - a s thoug h 'th e bothe r o f haulin g ou t al l m y thing s an d shifting again ' wa s no t disagreeabl e enoug h (iii . 350) . Just befor e the y wer e du e to leave , Ad a Krenko w suggeste d tha t the y shoul d g o vi a Leiceste r t o se e he r and Uncl e Fritz , an d als o Louie Burrows . (Sh e an d th e Krenkow s ha d remaine d firm friends. ) H e decide d howeve r tha t thi s woul d b e 'painfu l . . . I wa s fon d o f her, an d hav e always a good feelin g fo r he r i n me. But i t would b e wron g t o mee t again, I think , an d t o star t th e ol d feeling s again . Anyho w i t woul d b e a shock t o all o f us ' (iii . 353) . Th e interestin g implicatio n i s ho w revivabl e h e though t 'th e old feelings ' migh t b e - bu t h e wa s no t i n a moo d fo r renewe d contact s o f an y kind. Indeed, a t th e prospec t o f famil y an d friend s gatherin g t o sa y good-by e a t Easter (2 0 April ) h e ha d 'nearl y cu t an d run ' (iii . 351) . Ad a an d Jack y ha d bee n at Mountai n Cottag e eve r sinc e th e mov e fro m Ripley . (Poo r Ad a ha d bee n left , after he r flu, wit h boil s tha t obstinatel y refuse d t o clea r up ; iii . 350.) Luckil y he r husband Eddi e wa s hom e agai n now , an d abl e t o tak e car e o f thei r business . Emily's husban d Sa m ma y hav e bee n discharge d fro m hospita l too ; i f so , thi s was th e larges t famil y gatherin g sinc e Ada' s weddin g i n 191 4 - an d th e las t fo r many year s t o come . Lawrenc e ha d als o recovere d strengt h enoug h t o insis t tha t he wa s t o b e regarde d a s 'normal ' agai n (iii . 351) . Wit h Movements in European History done , and freedo m fro m th e officia l restrictio n o n movemen t i n England , there wa s the firs t glimps e o f a break i n th e clouds . He migh t grumbl e o n th e ev e of departure : 'Ho w man y time s hav e I packe d ou r miserabl e boxes ! an d whe n will the y eve r com e t o rest' ; ye t h e als o fel t a s i f the y migh t b e 'settin g of f o n a real ne w move ' a t last , 'a s i f w e shouldn' t b e lon g i n Hermitage , a s i f soo n th e bigger journe y woul d begin , awa y fro m England ' (iii . 351-2) . I f onl y th e peac e treaty coul d b e signed, an d le t them out .
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VII Hermitag e Agai n - Stil l Waitin g On 2 5 Apri l the y arrive d a t Chape l Cottag e onc e more . Lawrenc e wa s grumpy . The journe y ha d bee n a strain , th e weathe r wa s ba d an d h e coul d neve r stan d 'the sweetly-loving ' Margare t Radfor d fo r long . ' I wish' , h e sai d nastily , 'on e could exterminat e al l he r sor t unde r a hea p o f Keating' s powder . I fee l utterl y "off" th e soulfu l o r cleve r o r witt y typ e o f femal e - i n fact , th e self-importan t female o f an y sort ' (iii . 354) . H e recognise d hi s ow n 'disagreeableness ' an d hi s mood o f 'obstinate sulk y stupidity' , bu t th e fac t remaine d tha t h e di d no t wan t t o see anyone a t all save Kot, Catherin e Carswel l an d Gertle r (an d the m no t yet) ; or have i t known tha t h e had com e south . Soon howeve r bot h h e an d th e weathe r warmed . Pinke r wrot e tha t th e Cosmopolitan ha d offere d t o tak e storie s i f h e ha d any , an d thoug h Lawrenc e rightly predicte d tha t the y woul d find hi s wor k 'no t i n thei r line' , h e promise d that 'fo r th e nex t si x week s I wil l writ e nothin g bu t shor t stories , i f th e shor t stories wil l come ' (iii . 355) . Pinke r als o sen t a chequ e fo r £55 , (probabl y fo r Movements, an d perhap s 'Ticket s Please ' i n th e Apri l Strand); an d th e America n essays wer e stil l appearin g a t 5 guinea s pe r month . Also , Eddi e Mars h ha d decided t o devot e th e royaltie s fo r hi s biograph y o f Ruper t Brook e t o helpin g needy writers , an d wit h hi s usua l tac t sen t £2 0 t o Lawrenc e o n 1 0 Ma y 'fro m Rupert', enablin g hi m t o b e simpl y grateful . Lawrenc e repeate d hi s belie f tha t 'The passionat e dea d ac t withi n an d wit h us ' - no t lik e th e 'messenge r boys ' o f the spiritualist s - an d h e coul d b e a t peac e wit h Eddi e again , sinc e 'no w th e wa r is fought wit h th e soul , no t wit h filthy guns ' (iii . 358) . He though t Mars h migh t have bee n prompte d b y Cynthia , t o who m h e remarke d wit h restore d good humour tha t unfortunatel y h e coul d no t follo w he r recip e o f childbirth a s a cur e for al l ills . Wha t a 'perfec t chronicl e o f curren t events ' sh e wa s (iii . 359) , sinc e her peace-bab y wa s followin g th e war-bab y s o perfectl y o n cue . I n Ma y th e weather gre w sunny , th e worl d becam e 'ver y lovely , ful l o f flowers an d scents' , and th e temptatio n wa s 'dolce far'niente ' (iii . 355) . Getting t o German y stil l seeme d impossible . Soni a Farbma n ha d trie d t o g o by trai n t o joi n he r husban d i n Russia , onl y t o b e stuc k i n Holland , tryin g t o ge t a vis a fo r Germany . However , Americ a seeme d a more realisti c possibilit y afte r Huebsch's offe r t o arrang e a lectur e tour . Lawrenc e coul d no t se e himsel f o n a platform bu t h e woul d d o it , t o mak e a living. ' I a m no t a public ma n - no t a bit - alway s hav e a "Strictl y Private " notic e i n m y hat' ; an d th e though t o f Ne w York seeme d mor e 'awful ' tha n a jungle, 'no t becaus e i t i s savage, but becaus e o f the overweenin g mechanica l civilisation ' (iii . 357) . Ye t h e bega n t o tal k firmly about goin g i n Augus t o r September , an d makin g arrangement s (whe n Huebsc h came t o England i n th e summer ) t o be set dow n 'gentl y amon g th e sk y scrapers' .
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By 2 0 Ma y h e ha d sen t Pinke r tw o ne w stories , an d a thir d probabl y als o belongs t o hi s six-week s promise , thoug h ther e i s n o mentio n o f i t i n th e letters . The tw o hav e a little th e ai r o f having bee n writte n t o orde r - 'th e righ t sort' , h e hoped (iii . 360 ) a s he sen t th e firs t - thoug h charge d als o wit h th e ne w assertio n of th e mal e against th e dominatin g an d superio r female . 'Fann y an d Annie' , late r ironically retitle d 'Th e Las t Straw' , take s u p onc e mor e th e visio n o f th e strang e lit-up fac e o n th e Midland s statio n platfor m an d (agai n makin g us e o f somethin g that ha d no t bee n published ) repeat s th e basi c situatio n o f The Daughter-in-Law. An ex-lady's-mai d come s hom e (a t thirty ) t o settl e fo r marriag e wit h a commo n man sh e ha d no t though t goo d enoug h before , an d wh o misplace s hi s aitche s only t o discove r tha t a loca l gir l claim s t o b e pregnan t b y him . I t i s a sprightl y story, thoug h Lawrenc e fel t uncommitte d enoug h t o voluntee r t o chang e th e ending i f Pinke r though t thi s advisabl e (iii . 360) . Presumably , magazine s lik e Cosmopolitan migh t prefe r Fanni e no t t o condon e wha t ha d happened . (B y contrast, whe n aske d b y Hutchinson's Story Magazine t o shorte n 'Th e Fox ' i n July, h e coul d cu t n o mor e tha n abou t 65 0 word s fro m ove r 9 , 00 0 'withou t mutilating'; iii . 37 4 an d n . 1. ) Th e secon d tal e was probabl y 'Monke y Nuts' , i n which a sulky youn g soldie r refuse s th e overture s o f a 'liberated ' land-gir l a s a n offence agains t hi s manhood, invertin g th e plo t o f ' T h e Fox' . Thi s stor y i s set i n Berkshire; use s Viole t Mon k a s a physical mode l fo r th e youn g woman ; an d set s its ton e throug h a n olde r an d worldl y corporal , modelle d o n th e on e wh o wa s billeted o n th e Brown s i n th e cottag e nex t door , whos e humou r th e Lawrence s seem t o hav e enjoyed . A t wor k i n bot h storie s i s th e imaginativ e takin g dow n o f female self-importanc e an d presumption , b y showin g ho w muc h mor e fier y lif e in Fanny' s ma n an d dignit y i n th e soldier-bo y ther e wa s tha n th e wome n supposed, a s they s o took fo r grante d thei r powe r an d superiority. 46 The thir d stor y however , 'Hadrian ' (firs t title d 'Yo u Touche d Me') , i s newl y questioning, thoug h i t to o ha s affinitie s wit h bot h 'Th e Fox ' an d 'Th e Blin d Man'. I n th e 'Potter y House ' besid e a now-disuse d factory, 47 tw o spinsters , fo r whom n o suitabl y middle-clas s husband s coul d b e found , ar e lookin g afte r thei r dying father . Th e la d h e adopte d fro m a n institutio n t o make u p fo r hi s lac k o f a son ha s emigrate d t o Canad a wit h hardl y a good-bye , fo r h e ha s a n orphanag e boy's inturne d 'watchfulness ' whic h know s h e mus t watc h ou t fo r himself . Having serve d i n Flanders , Hadria n suddenl y return s - t o th e displeasur e o f Emmy an d Matild a wh o fin d hi m a s self-containe d an d plebeia n a s ever , an d a 'cocky' we e 'mannie ' no w t o boot. The y thin k h e ha s com e i n searc h o f a legacy , and h e certainl y seem s t o b e winnin g M r Rockle y roun d again . I n th e night , anxious abou t he r father , an d forgettin g tha t h e ha s now bee n move d downstairs , Matilda enter s 'his ' room an d run s he r han d tenderl y ove r th e fac e o f the ma n i n the bed . Afterward s sh e wishe s sh e coul d cu t th e offendin g han d off ; bu t th e next da y a n awakene d Hadria n look s a t he r wit h ne w eyes . Soo n h e no t onl y 504
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offers t o marr y he r bu t win s he r father' s support , s o muc h s o tha t whe n sh e refuses ther e i s an ultimatum : consen t o r b e disinherited. I n th e en d sh e give s in ; and afte r th e ceremony , a t he r father' s command , sh e kisse s bot h hi m (fo r th e first tim e sinc e childhood ) an d he r ne w husband . 'That' s right ! That's right! ' th e dying ma n murmur s i n th e las t lin e - bu t i s it ? Rightnes s o r wrongnes s migh t seem a question o f characte r an d motive , bu t thes e ar e muc h les s attractiv e tha n their counterpart s i n 'Th e Fox' . Matild a i s more class-ridde n tha n March , mor e dried up , mor e resistan t t o change ; an d sh e marrie s (i t ma y seem ) t o kee p hol d of her money . Hadria n i s a colder, mor e walled-of f versio n o f Henry, makin g n o bones abou t hi s intentio n t o g o off wit h th e whol e inheritanc e i f she refuse s him , and willin g t o benefi t fro m blackmail . Th e fathe r i s a patriarchal bully , takin g a n obscure reveng e o n th e wome n wh o hav e serve d hi m s o long . Al l wrong , then ? Yet th e centra l incident , an d th e final one, suggest a dimension mor e impersonal , and on e tha t ha s bee n missin g fro m al l thei r lives . 'Yo u touche d me' , Hadria n insists.4 Eve n thoug h (i n contras t wit h 'Th e Blin d Man' ) i t wa s b y mistake , he r tender touc h change s Hadria n onc e an d fo r all ; and i t i s that, eve n mor e tha n th e money, tha t h e wants . M r Rockle y to o want s a fatherhood , a posterit y an d a n affection h e ha s neve r had . Whic h wil l b e mor e importan t t o Matilda ? He r sens e of superiorit y an d th e powe r o f he r recovere d money ; o r th e awakenin g t o he r own capacit y fo r tendernes s an d t o th e strang e bein g o f another , throug h th e different powe r o f touch ? I t i s no t a ne w questio n fo r Lawrence , bu t wha t i s newly unsettlin g i s hi s insistenc e o n posin g it , thi s time , i n a contex t s o thoroughly antipatheti c t o love , so lacking even i n attraction . At lon g las t Beaumon t seeme d t o b e gettin g o n wit h Bay, an d sen t som e proofs. Thoug h h e was polit e i n reply , Lawrenc e di d no t thin k Ann e Estell e Rice's woodcut s a t al l appropriate t o hi s tex t an d waxe d privatel y sardoni c abou t Beaumont's 'beautifu l books' , and th e slownes s o f his printin g b y han d (iii . 366) . Would h e liv e t o finish? A t leas t howeve r th e boo k fo r Cynthi a was unde r way , albeit a year lat e an d stil l onl y hal f done . Peopl e seeme d a littl e mor e intereste d in hi m again . Mars h wante d 'Th e Seve n Seals ' (fro m New Poems) fo r Georgian Poetry igi8-ig (iii . 37 1 an d n . 1) ; an d Siegfrie d Sassoo n aske d hi m t o sen d a poem fo r a collectio n o f parodie s h e wa s proposin g t o publis h (iii . 36 3 an d n. 2) . I n Jun e h e ma y hav e writte n a littl e mor e of Aaron's Rod (iii . 364) , a s though th e ide a of being a publishable novelis t wa s just beginnin g t o revive . Something migh t eve n b e don e wit h Touch and Go. O n 2 0 Ma y h e suddenl y asked Pinke r fo r th e manuscrip t sinc e ' a frien d want s t o criticis e it ' (iii . 360) . This mus t hav e bee n Barbar a Low , wh o wa s comin g t o sta y wit h the m i n Hermitage fo r th e las t wee k o f th e month . (Sh e probabl y hear d abou t th e pla y from Catherin e Car s well, on e o f onl y thre e peopl e t o hav e see n it. ) Lawrenc e often complaine d o f Barbara' s 'chattering ' - meanin g no t gossi p bu t intellectua l argumentativeness - an d h e ha d a touch o f sunstroke durin g he r visi t whic h ca n 505
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not hav e helped . Ye t sh e ha d prove d a goo d frien d ove r th e Educatio n essay s when sh e recommende d the m t o Stanle y Unwin , an d sh e seem s t o have had i t i n mind t o d o somethin g simila r fo r th e pla y i f sh e like d it . Mor e immediatel y an d touchingly, thi s radica l Hampstea d intellectua l an d pionee r Freudia n spen t much o f he r visi t helpin g t o mak e Lawrenc e a jacke t o f coars e blu e line n (iii. 361) , t o replac e th e stripe d on e whic h Catherin e ha d though t s o shrunke n when the y staye d wit h th e Carswell s i n th e Fores t o f Dea n th e yea r before . I t was successfu l enoug h fo r anothe r t o b e mad e fo r Frieda , an d thes e becam e a speciality. (Lawrenc e late r exchange d on e fo r a whit e twee d jacke t o f Berti e Farjeon's tha t h e liked.) l By th e tim e th e Carswell s arrive d fo r Whitsu n i n th e firs t wee k o f June , staying a t Bessi e Lowe's , wit h a nanny-goa t tethere d i n th e garde n t o provid e milk fo r littl e Joh n Patrick , th e bluebell s wer e pas t thei r bes t an d wer e quit e outdone b y th e new-blu e Lawrence s whe n the y wen t wooding , pushin g John i n an ol d rickett y push-chair . Lawrenc e typicall y collecte d mor e faggot s tha n anyone an d condemne d al l theirs a s worthless . Ther e ar e wholl y good-tempere d glimpses o f hi m now : writin g o n hi s kne e unde r th e apple-tre e (possibl y 'Hadrian', o r revisin g Touch and Go), helpin g Bessi e Lowe' s littl e gir l wit h he r homework a s he ha d Hild a Brown , takin g hi s tur n t o min d John th e toddler ; an d impressing John' s mothe r b y ho w goo d h e wa s wit h children , knowin g 'ho w t o include the m warml y an d naturall y i n hi s life' , bu t als o treatin g the m wit h ' a certain ligh t astringency ' t o whic h the y responde d well . Watchin g Joh n Patric k being bathe d Lawrenc e sighed , 'He won' t b e havin g an y ches t trouble! ' Ye t when on e shower y da y h e an d th e Carswell s wen t t o Silcheste r t o loo k (unsuccessfully) fo r Roma n remains , misse d th e las t trai n an d ha d t o wal k a lon g way home , h e showe d n o il l effect s an d ha d clearl y recovere d muc h o f hi s strength, thoug h Catherin e though t h e stil l looke d 'delicate' . On Saturda y 2 8 June th e Treat y o f Versailles was signed . 'Pea-Pea-Pea-Pea Peace: "th e ver y wor d i s lik e a bell"' , wrot e Lawrenc e sarcasticall y (iii . 366) , believing it t o b e th e illusion , an d sic k o f waitin g fo r i t t o happe n s o h e coul d leave th e country . O n th e sam e da y Murr y suddenl y descende d o n them , unannounced, sayin g h e ha d hear d o f a hous e nearb y tha t migh t b e suitabl e fo r Katherine. H e wa s 'quit e nice ' an d wante d peac e betwee n them , bu t b y no w Lawrence wa s 'a n ol d suspiciou s bird ' abou t tha t too . Berti e an d Joa n Farjeo n were a t th e cottag e fo r te a whe n Murr y arrived , an d the y al l wen t lookin g fo r wild strawberrie s i n th e woods . Joan notice d tha t Lawrenc e 'seeme d irke d wit h Murry an d refuse d t o ente r int o th e seriou s conversatio n wit h whic h Murr y tried t o engag e him' , devotin g himsel f t o Berti e an d th e stawberrie s an d 'leavin g the frustrate d Murr y t o follo w disconsolat e a t hi s heels' . Murr y seem s t o hav e been discouraged , an d no t a wor d abou t th e Athenceum was sai d al l weekend. 53 The nex t da y th e inspectio n o f th e hous e (a t Boxford , nea r Chieveley ) wa s 506
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turned int o a n all-da y picni c i n th e loca l baker' s rickett y wagonette , wit h Viole t Monk an d Cecil y Lambert' s brothe r takin g turn s t o driv e th e 'prehistoric ' vehicle. Cecil y paint s a vivi d pictur e o f the m amblin g slowl y throug h villag e streets ful l o f respectabl e peopl e of f t o church . 'Bein g s o larg e an d striking' , Frieda 'mad e quit e a set piece ' i n he r 'ful l chec k skir t an d blu e shor t jacke t wit h a ver y larg e flat brimme d ha t covered ' (b y Lawrence ) i n 'brownis h materia l . . . which woul d kee p bobbin g u p an d dow n lik e a li d o n a boilin g saucepan ' unti l she tie d i t dow n wit h a ga y scar f unde r he r chin . Lawrenc e wa s i n drainpip e trousers, blu e line n coat , whit e floppy ha t an d re d tie ; Viole t i n wha t Cecil y tartly calle d he r 'fil m outfi t o f Land Gir l unifor m plus' ; th e brothe r i n th e khak i of th e Sout h Africa n army ; Murr y i n a civil servant' s 'orthodo x flannels'; Cecil y in 'demur e nav y blue ' an d anothe r girlfrien d i n violet . I t mus t hav e been , a s Cecily says , ' a fantasti c sight' . Th e hous e turne d ou t t o b e derelic t an d rat infested; th e weathe r drizzle d al l th e wa y home , muc h t o th e detrimen t o f Frieda's hat ; bu t bac k a t th e far m Lawrenc e mad e 'som e o f hi s famou s coffee , and togethe r w e rake d u p a meal ' s o th e whol e thin g becam e 'fu n really' . Al l Murry remembere d wa s Lawrence' s 'gloom y foreboding s o f industria l England ' - perhap s becaus e tha t wa s a dangerou s momen t afte r th e mislai d articl e - an d the 'bi g bright yello w wood-chip s w e gathered fro m th e coppice'. 54 The friendshi p wit h th e Farjeon s ha d grown , an d ther e wa s constan t visitin g in bot h directions . I t wa s no w als o tha t Lawrenc e me t Joan' s siste r Rosalind , whom h e wa s t o lik e eve n better . Sh e wa s marrie d t o Godwi n Baynes , docto r and, later , Jungia n (h e woul d becom e Jung' s clos e associate) ; bu t th e marriag e was i n difficultie s an d abou t t o brea k up . Godwi n ha d 'fre e an d eas y ways ' wit h other wome n an d Rosalin d wa s jealous ; bu t th e breakin g poin t cam e when , shortly afte r Godwi n ha d bee n poste d t o Mesopotamia i n Octobe r 1917 , she ha d gone t o be d wit h a n ol d flame, als o abou t t o embar k fo r th e fron t (sh e thought) , and ha d becom e pregnan t b y him . Th e chil d wa s bor n i n July 1918 , six month s before Godwin' s retur n i n Januar y 1919 . Hi s parent s ha d bee n tol d i n March , and forma l separatio n no w seeme d almos t certain . Bot h sister s wer e intelligen t and artisti c an d ha d bee n raise d a s fre e spirits . Cecil y remembere d Joa n a s ver y 'highbrow' whe n Lawrenc e too k he r o n thei r bicycle s t o Bucklebury . Rosalin d seemed th e quieter , bu t he r gentl e manne r an d seren e dark-haire d rathe r pre Raphaelite beaut y disguise d a min d an d personalit y n o les s strong . Sh e ha d taken a house i n Pangbourn e wit h he r thre e children , onl y a few mile s away , an d at a tryin g tim e bega n t o com e ofte n t o th e Farjeons . O n he r first meetin g wit h the Lawrences , 'W e picknicke d i n th e wood s together , an d Lawrenc e an d Fried a sang Germa n fol k song s - "Wo hast du Die schd'nes Tochterlein?" - i n shrill , penetrating, unforgettabl e voices . Bac k i n th e hous e a t th e spine t b y th e frenc h windows w e sang Mozart aria s fro m Figaro.'* Soon the y wer e fas t friends . Bot h sister s wer e struck , a s Catherin e Carswel l 507
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
had been , b y Lawrence' s relationship s wit h children . Joan's Joscelyn , a t 2i , was 'exceedingly sh y o f th e bearde d stranger ' a t first, bu t on e da y touche d hi m ver y cautiously t o mak e sur e h e wa s real , an d the y becam e friends , walkin g han d i n hand i n th e garde n whil e Lawrenc e tol d he r abou t th e plant s an d th e birds . Rosalind's eldest , Bridget , o n a late r occasio n fel t neglecte d a s th e grown-up s listened t o hi m 'rathe r spellbound' , an d 'i n orde r t o attrac t attention ' (a s critic s have bee n know n t o d o i n simila r circumstances ) sh e ra n u p an d struc k hi m wit h a thistle. Instead of appeasing or remonstrating with her, Lawrence began to hit her likewise with a thistle. This indee d amaze d u s all, and astounded he r wh o had neve r before bee n treate d in suc h a downright manner . Lawrenc e sai d tha t childre n shoul d liv e thei r live s apar t from th e grown-up s .. . H e ha d n o patienc e wit h th e middle-clas s subservienc e t o th e young.
56
Such was wha t Catherin e calle d hi s 'ligh t astringency ' - bu t bot h thi s an d th e grave courtes y withou t condescensio n whic h other s hav e describe d cam e fro m his belief that chil d an d grown-u p shoul d eac h hav e thei r prope r space . At th e en d o f June , however , t o hi s annoyance , the y wer e give n a month' s notice: 'Th e Radfords , wit h stinkin g impudence , havin g le t u s thi s cottage , wan t us t o clea r ou t b y July 25th. , s o then w e shall hav e nowher e t o go ' (iii . 367) . Th e venom was uncalle d for . Th e cottag e ha d i n al l probabilit y bee n len t t o the m fo r free a t first , whe n thei r situatio n was a t it s nadi r afte r th e expulsio n fro m Cornwall, thoug h the y ha d t o mov e ou t whe n th e famil y wante d t o come . Thei r renewed tenanc y wa s a leas e now , bu t Margare t stil l fel t entitle d t o b e ther e i f she wished , an d i f thi s remaine d a condition , th e leas e ma y hav e bee n th e cheaper fo r it . No w th e famil y wante d thei r summe r holida y i n Hermitage , a s was thei r right ; s o Lawrenc e wa s jus t lettin g of f stea m t o Ko t i n hi s hatre d o f being dependen t o n others . Moreove r th e notic e concentrate d hi s min d o n making som e alternativ e choic e a t last , thoug h h e wa s stil l waitin g fo r Huebsch' s proposed visi t t o England . No w tha t th e peac e treat y ha d bee n signed , Fried a was mor e anxiou s tha n eve r t o g o t o German y a s soo n a s possibl e bu t he , working himsel f u p t o greate r independence , though t h e woul d g o straigh t t o New York , an d onl y i f tha t prove d impossibl e woul d h e g o wit h Fried a t o se e her people . T o Cynthi a h e wrot e tha t wha t reall y mattere d was no t 'love , no r money, no r anythin g els e - jus t th e powe r t o liv e and b e one' s ow n Self . Love i s heavily overweighted. I' m goin g to ride another horse ' (iii . 368) . He hope d the y coul d leav e Englan d befor e th e en d o f August , s o i t was tim e to g o to Londo n an d appl y fo r passports . Just a s he wa s leaving however , cam e a discouraging lette r fro m Am y Lowell . Sh e kne w hi m a s Huebsc h di d no t an d could se e ver y clearl y wha t a disaster a lecture tou r woul d be , thoug h sh e pu t i t politely: 'Yo u mus t no t loo k fo r E l Dorado . . . I do no t thin k i t would b e possibl e 508
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to ge t yo u an y larg e quantit y o f lecture s unti l yo u hav e mad e yoursel f know n i n other ways. ' Eve n amon g thos e wh o kne w hi s book s ther e wa s ' a mistake n an d ridiculous prejudice' , becaus e purita n Americ a 'canno t se e th e differenc e between envisagin g lif e whol e an d complete , physica l a s wel l a s spiritual , an d pure obscenitie s lik e thos e perpetrate d b y James Joyce'. Th e Bosto n Athenaeu m had place d eve n Sons and Lovers i n a locke d cupboard ! Lawrenc e wrot e bac k immediately t o sa y tha t h e wa s no t intereste d i n E l Dorad o an d ha d neve r wanted t o lecture , bu t h e wa s determine d t o come , an d wa s sur e h e coul d ear n a living b y writing . Al l h e wante d wa s t o kno w tha t ther e woul d b e a possibl e haven wit h Am y 'fo r a wee k o r two ' i f h e coul d no t provid e fo r himsel f a t th e very start ; bu t h e woul d soo n b e o n hi s ow n feet . ' I shal l com e alone , Fried a wil l stay i n German y til l I am a bit settled , the n I shall sen d fo r her . - I am no t afrai d of prejudices : the y ar e rarel y i n th e ver y blood , onl y i n th e mind , o n top ' (iii. 369) . In London , h e staye d first wit h Barbar a i n Guilfor d Street , bu t tow n mad e him fee l unwel l enoug h t o brea k a dat e wit h Mars h t o g o t o a Scarlatt i concert , and h e foun d i t nois y a t Barbara' s s o he move d t o Kot' s agai n (iii . 370) . (As soo n as h e go t bac k t o Hermitag e five day s late r h e wrot e t o tel l Mars h o f hi s plans , and as k ho w Nichols' s lectur e tou r ha d gone , wit h th e implicatio n tha t i f Nichol s could d o it , wh y shouldn' t he. ) H e di d no t ge t fa r wit h th e passport s an d woul d have t o com e agai n i n a fortnight , bu t befor e returnin g t o Hermitag e h e spen t a happy weeken d a t Forg e Cottag e i n Otfor d Kent , hom e o f Hele n Thomas , th e widow o f th e poe t Edwar d Thoma s wh o ha d bee n kille d i n actio n i n 1917 . H e was take n b y Ver e Collin s wh o kne w he r well . (H e ma y als o hav e hear d muc h about he r fro m Eleano r Farjeon , wh o ha d falle n i n lov e wit h he r a s wel l a s he r husband.) Hele n late r recalle d Lawrenc e a s 'tal l pal e an d emaciated' , an d thoug h she ha d bee n tol d h e looke d lik e Jesus sh e though t h e coul d als o loo k an d tal k like th e Devil . Sh e wa s upse t a t th e 'siniste r expressio n wit h a hin t o f cruelty ' which appeare d whe n h e 'spok e wit h derisio n an d scor n o f peopl e I kne w wh o had bee n mos t generou s t o him ' - Margare t Radford ? th e Meynells ? - an d 'hi s high, steel y voic e ros e int o a mockin g laug h whic h chille d me' . Howeve r t o herself an d he r daughte r 'h e wa s kin d an d considerat e an d amusin g . . . al l tha t my admiratio n o f hi m ha d imagined' . H e talke d o f hi s pleasur e i n seein g a 'perfectly groomed ' woma n wal k int o a room, an d o f how Fried a ha d bee n give n beautiful dresse s (b y Nusch , thoug h Hele n say s ' a ric h friend' ) whic h h e ha d t o remake. 'Unpickin g a Poiret gown' , h e said , 'wa s lik e takin g Rheim s cathedra l t o pieces'. H e showe d Hele n ho w t o prun e he r gooseberr y bushe s t o mak e the m more fruitfu l - an d o n hearin g ho w he r eldes t daughte r woul d no t g o bac k t o school wher e he r onl y talen t seeme d t o li e i n drawing , an d was only intereste d i n clothes an d boys , h e suggeste d sh e b e traine d i n dres s design . (H e was quit e right abou t th e gooseberries , Hele n found , bu t i n th e othe r cas e ar t prove d n o 509
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
match fo r th e boys. ) Sh e wa s les s pleased whe n Ver e calle d he r a 'maternal' typ e and Lawrenc e adde d ' a disciple' . Wh o wer e thes e me n t o pu t he r int o categorie s and tal k o f he r a s thoug h sh e wa s no t there ! Bu t wit h Myfanwy , age d abou t 8 , Lawrence's 'manne r wa s delightful' : He took out of my shelves at her request a book full o f reproductions of Goya's work, and sitting by the child o n th e sofa h e turned ove r the pages and tol d he r abou t th e pictures . He woul d no t le t he r loo k a t thos e showin g bul l fights or wa r o r violence , but talke d t o her charmingly about the rural or domestic scenes .. . S o much s o that the next morning, armed wit h the book, she asked if she could g o into his bedroom an d with his permission climbed unde r th e eiderdown besid e him. When I took in tea, there they were, she in the crook o f his arm, and h e now looking rather lik e Don Quixote , showing her th e picture s all over again .. ,58 The portrai t o f Lawrence ha s a Goya accuracy: goo d features , wart s an d all . Back i n Hermitag e Nanc y Henr y cam e t o sta y th e nigh t o f 8 July (iii . 372) , and th e weeken d wit h Hele n Thoma s als o produce d renewe d contac t wit h Eleanor Farjeo n wh o was goin g t o Forg e Cottag e th e followin g weekend , an d would b e wit h Margare t i n August . Lawrenc e hear d tha t Eleano r wante d t o adopt a needy Germa n family , obtaine d a n address , an d wrot e t o explai n ho w t o send foo d parcel s throug h th e Emergenc y Committe e (iii . 373) . H e als o looke d at two houses fo r he r (iii . 375) . Barbara's ide a abou t Touch and Go becam e clea r whe n a lette r arrive d fro m Douglas Goldring , offerin g t o hav e i t produce d unde r th e aegi s o f hi s recentl y founded People' s Theatre . Goldrin g ha d onc e see n Lawrenc e year s befor e whe n he himsel f ha d bee n assistan t edito r t o Hueffe r o n th e English Review, an d admired hi s wor k thoug h the y ha d neve r met . B y 191 9 (h e says ) h e ha d 'stron g revolutionary, pacifis t an d internationalis t convictions , believe d th e "revolution " was gainin g ground , an d tha t soo n peopl e woul d b e read y fo r a "red " theatre' . He ha d joine d th e '191 7 Club ' o f sympathiser s wit h th e Revolution , ha d give n up 'tryin g t o writ e anythin g b u t . . . "propaganda" ' an d ha d becom e th e Englis h Secretary o f th e 'Clarte ' internationa l movemen t founde d b y Henr i Barbuss e (author o f tha t fine wa r nove l he Feu, 1916 ) a s a n 'organizatio n o f intellectual s . . . wh o believed i n peace , international brotherhoo d an d th e daw n o f a new era' . With Harol d Scott , Goldrin g ha d als o founde d th e People' s Theatr e Societ y 'especially fo r th e productio n o f "Dawnist " plays' . Lawrenc e wa s n o pacifis t idealist, an d th e revolutio n h e wante d wa s no t tha t o f Mar x an d Lenin , bu t h e found th e ide a o f a People' s Theatr e 'ver y attractive ' (iii . 371 ) an d immediatel y wanted t o mee t Goldrin g an d tal k abou t it . H e tol d Pinke r h e wishe d t o b e fre e to d o wha t h e like d abou t th e pla y (iii . 374) , an d the n confirme d t o Goldrin g that h e coul d mak e i t hi s first productio n (iii . 374 ) - ther e wer e hope s o f a n arrangement wit h J. B . Faga n wh o ha d take n ove r th e managemen t o f th e Roya l 5io
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Court Theatr e th e previou s Septembe r - an d prin t i t also , i n a propose d serie s to b e publishe d b y Daniel . H e aske d Ko t t o arrang e a meetin g fo r hi s forthcoming tri p t o Londo n (iii . 375) , a t whic h the y immediatel y too k t o eac h other. Lawrenc e wa s no t over-sanguin e abou t th e chance s o f success , 'bu t i t i s a vital idea anyhow' (iii . 374) . Margaret Radfor d wa s comin g t o th e cottag e a bit earl y an d h e coul d no t 'b e in th e hous e alon g wit h her ' (iii . 376) , s o o n th e 24t h h e was alread y i n town , seeing Mars h an d meetin g Thoma s Moul t (edito r o f Voices) an d hi s wife , a s wel l as Goldring . H e ma y als o hav e see n Nichol s bu t anothe r lette r fro m Huebsch, wh o wa s no t comin g ove r afte r all , wa s als o discouragin g abou t th e lectures an d mad e hi m incline d t o han g fir e agai n abou t America . Meanwhil e th e problem abou t wher e t o g o jus t no w ha d bee n solved . Berti e an d Joa n Farjeo n were goin g o n holida y fo r a month , an d Rosalin d Bayne s wa s happ y t o le t th e Lawrences sta y i n 'Th e Myrtles ' whil e sh e looke d afte r th e hous e a t Bucklebury . So to Pangbourne-on-Thames h e and Fried a went , o n 2 8 July. VIII T h a m e s - s i d
e
Here ther e wa s a prope r garde n fo r Lawrenc e t o tak e a n activ e interes t in , an d the rive r fo r boating , an d roo m fo r visitor s t o stay . O n th e firs t weeken d cam e Ada an d Eddi e wit h th e childre n fo r a wee k (iii . 378) ; an d n o soone r ha d the y left tha n Emil y an d Pegg y arrive d (iii . 382) . Whil e the y wer e stil l there , Hild a Brown wa s drive n ove r th e nin e mile s fro m Hermitag e i n th e loca l pon y trap , t o spend som e o f he r holiday s wit h them . Rosalin d wa s als o visitin g whe n Hild a arrived, an d showe d th e childre n th e atti c (wit h a secre t staircase ) wher e the y could pla y i f it raine d - an d als o ge t ou t o f th e wa y i f Mr Lawrenc e wer e cross . By train th e journey wa s circuitous bu t th e tw o village s wer e quit e clos e b y road ; and indee d th e ver y nex t da y (th e drive r havin g staye d overnight ) the y al l decided o n a trip bac k t o Bucklebur y i n convo y wit h Rosalind , pickin g u p Mr s Brown o n th e way . (Th e pon y wa s s o fa t an d slo w tha t Lawrenc e maintaine d they coul d hav e rolle d ther e quicker. ) The y spen t th e nigh t a t Sprin g Cottage , collected som e waterlilies , an d walke d bac k - th e wa y mad e shorte r b y Frieda' s tales of her childhoo d i n Germany , an d Lawrence' s description s o f Nottingham shire an d Cornwall . Visitors mean t expeditions . Augus t wa s s o ho t tha t Lawrenc e complaine d o f being casserole d t o a turn (iii . 382) . H e wa s no t to o kee n (perhap s rememberin g the near contretemp s wit h th e Murry s i n Mylor) o n showin g of f his oarsmanshi p in fron t o f th e fashionabl e 'nuts ' an d thei r 'daisies ' i n summe r rive r finery , bu t they mad e a steamer outin g dow n rive r t o Reading , wher e Lawrenc e bough t th e children th e nove l trea t o f melo n (jus t becomin g availabl e again) , an d a s usua l instructed the m ho w t o ea t it , holdin g th e slic e i n one' s finger s an d dippin g i t i n 5ii
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
sugar, scornfu l o f thos e wh o cu t their s prissil y i n cubes . Ther e wa s a n all-da y tramp o n th e Down s an d a climb u p th e Ridgewa y abov e Streatley , t o loo k dow n on th e grea t rive r windin g throug h it s valle y below . Ther e wa s anothe r expedition t o Hermitage , thi s tim e b y rail , t o tak e Hild a bac k an d com e t o a n arrangement wit h Margare t Radfor d abou t whe n the y migh t o r migh t no t retur n to Chape l Cottage . (I t turne d ou t tha t he r plan s lef t the m a n awkwar d fortnigh t in Septembe r whic h the y no w arrange d t o spen d wit h Cecil y an d Viole t a t Grimsbury Farm , whe n thei r tim e a t Pangbourne wa s up.) 61 Hilda an d Pegg y kep t awa y fro m Lawrenc e a s h e wrot e 'fo r man y hour s eac h day' i n a room overlookin g th e lawn . H e encourage d thi s b y offerin g a prize fo r the bes t artificial garden , an d awardin g on e eac h i n th e end . Indee d h e manage d to ge t throug h a considerabl e amoun t o f work , thoug h - wit h on e exceptio n not o f a creativel y origina l kind . Koteliansk y ha d translate d a boo k b y a contemporary Ukrainian , Le o Shesto v (Le v Isaakovitc h Svartsman) , whos e titl e would literall y hav e bee n th e 'Apotheosi s o f Groundlessness ' ha d Lawrenc e no t refused t o countenanc e that . Mostl y a s a mean s o f repayin g Ko t fo r al l hi s support an d offer s o f financial hel p whe n th e nee d ha d bee n greatest , Lawrenc e had agree d t o pu t th e translatio n int o bette r English . H e suggeste d hi s nam e should no t appear , o r onl y unde r a pseudony m - overtl y becaus e h e di d no t want t o b e see n 't o dabbl e i n to o man y things ' (iii . 381) , but actuall y t o giv e th e work an d Kot' s reputatio n a better chance . H e als o refused poin t blan k t o accep t more tha n a thir d o f th e payment , whic h Ko t ha d offere d t o spli t dow n th e middle. H e go t dow n t o wor k i n Pangbourne , ha d don e Par t I b y 1 0 August , (iii. 381 ) an d ma y hav e finished th e longe r Par t I I b y th e tim e the y lef t o r no t long after - thoug h wit h mixe d feeling s abou t th e book itsel f (iii. 387). Shestov lik e Lawrenc e wa s muc h influence d b y Nietzsche , bu t b y hi s subversive mod e rathe r tha n hi s idea s as such. Indeed , Shesto v deepl y distruste d all systemati c idea s an d theories , an d mean t hi s discret e paragraph s (buil t ou t o f ironic an d sometime s epigrammati c paradoxes ) t o teas e hi s reader s int o mor e sceptical way s o f thinking . Rea d today , Shestov' s positivis t contemp t fo r al l metaphysics ca n soun d ver y modern . 'W e kno w nothin g o f th e ultimat e realitie s of ou r existence, ' h e proclaimed , 'no r shal l w e eve r kno w anything' . Moreove r he se t ou t t o undermin e th e arroganc e o f al l sequentia l philosophy , holdin g tha t 'anything whatsoeve r ma y resul t fro m anythin g whatsoever' . (S o All Things Are Possible became th e Englis h title. ) Eve n positivis m coul d prov e falsel y com forting, it s scepticis m merel y th e obvers e o f idealism ; wherea s 'th e busines s o f philosophy i s not t o reassur e people , but t o upse t them' : 'Th e well-trodde n field of contemporar y though t shoul d b e du g up . Therefore , o n ever y possibl e occasion, i n seaso n an d out , th e generally-accepte d truth s mus t b e ridicule d t o death, an d paradoxe s uttere d i n thei r place . Then w e shall see . . . ' However, non-sequentia l sententia e an d paragraph s di d no t mak e translatio n 512
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any easier, and thoug h Lawrenc e foun d th e attitude amusing , hi s first impressio n was tha t Shesto v wrot e 'atrociously ' (i f Ko t ha d go t hi m right ) becaus e 'On e sentence ha s nothin g t o d o wit h th e next , s o tha t i t seem s lik e jargon ' (iii . 380) . He wa s als o irritate d b y th e Kie v philosoph y teacher' s technica l vocabular y an d the repeate d attack s on philosophers ; thoug h 'sometime s h e blossom s int o a kind of patheti c beauty ' (iii . 384) . A s h e finished, Lawrenc e confesse d t o havin g 'compressed . . . a bit ' becaus e Shesto v wa s ful l o f unnecessar y phrase s an d expressions, bu t h e ha d 'lef t nothin g out ' i n substanc e an d sometime s 'adde d a word o r two , for th e sak e of the sense'. 63 H e ha d go t tire d o f the continua l tiltin g at th e sam e targets ; 'bu t I like his "flyin g i n th e fac e o f Reason", lik e a cross hen '
oii. 387). However, Shestov' s radica l scepticis m wa s 'pathetic ' a s wel l a s attractiv e t o Lawrence becaus e h e sa w th e Russia n a s stuc k a t th e dismantlin g stage , tha t precedes an y ne w outburs t o f th e huma n spirit . Seeker' s eventua l decisio n t o omit Shestov' s ow n introductio n i n favou r o f th e shor t Forewor d Lawrenc e wrote i n September , mean t tha t Shesto v saile d int o Englis h water s unde r a fla g he woul d no t hav e recognised . Lawrenc e too k u p Shestov' s ide a tha t Russia , coming t o Europ e s o late , wa s swimm y i n th e hea d fro m a dose o f th e poiso n o f European cultur e - bu t th e prognosi s immediatel y turne d Lawrencian . Soo n Russia's 'new , health y body ' wil l thro w of f th e effect s o f th e inoculatio n an d 'begin t o ac t i n it s ow n reality , imitativ e n o more , protestin g n o more , cryin g n o more, bu t ful l an d soun d an d lust y i n itself , an d abou t t o inheri t th e future . Shestov onl y seem s nihilist , say s Lawrence . I n fac t h e i s shaking th e psych e fre e from ol d bond s s o tha t i t ca n believ e i n itsel f an d nothin g els e - an d that {pace Shestov's dislik e o f ideals ) ca n becom e ' a rea l ne w ideal , tha t wil l las t u s fo r a new, lon g epoch'. Shesto v ma y refus e t o stat e i t positively , becaus e h e though t i t too might b e a trap fo r hi s spirit . Yet : The human sou l itself is the source and well-hea d o f creative activity. In the unconscious human sou l th e creativ e promptin g issue s firs t int o th e univers e .. . Le t eac h individua l act spontaneousl y fro m th e forever-incalculabl e promptin g o f th e creativ e well-hea d within him . Ther e i s no universa l law . Eac h bein g is , at hi s purest , a law unt o himself , single, unique, a Godhead, a fountain fro m th e unknown. 6 Shestov th e scepti c abou t al l law s i s there , bu t transforme d int o Lawrenc e i n a burst o f optimistic individualism . The passag e look s bac k t o hi s anarchis t lette r t o Ede r a t th e en d o f April; bu t it als o reflect s Lawrence' s first formulatio n o f hi s ow n poetic cred o a t Pangbourne, whil e h e wa s doin g th e translatio n an d thinkin g abou t ho w h e differed fro m Shestov . Huebsc h wante d t o prin t New Poems (which Seeke r was now puttin g int o a secon d edition) , bu t wante d als o t o b e abl e t o copyrigh t th e work i n Americ a b y claimin g tha t hi s editio n differe d fro m th e unprotecte d 513
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English one . H e suggeste d som e sligh t chang e o r addition , o r perhap s a preface , and Lawrenc e responde d wit h alacrity . He sen t of f hi s defence o f a poetry o f l the instant moment ' t o Huebsc h o n th e sam e da y tha t h e poste d th e Shesto v t o Kot . (He als o use d i t t o kee p hi s promis e t o Moul t o f som e pros e fo r Voices, where i t appeared a s 'Verse Fre e an d Unfree ' i n October. ) Proclaiming affinit y wit h Whitman , an d confessin g tha t th e prefac e shoul d really hav e accompanie d th e genuinel y ne w poetr y o f Look! We Have Come Through!, Lawrenc e seek s t o distinguis h a poetr y o f th e 'immediat e present' , which h e wishe s t o write , fro m th e poetr y o f the pas t whic h sough t perfectio n o f form. I n th e first place , thi s ne w poetr y shoul d ai m a t th e qualit y o f lif e itself , for: Life, th e ever-present , know s n o finality, no finished crystallisation. Th e perfec t ros e is only a runnin g flame, emerging an d flowing off, an d neve r i n an y sens e a t rest , static , finished. Herein lie s it s transcenden t lovelines s .. . A water-lily heave s hersel f fro m th e flood, look s around, gleams, and is gone. And poetry , too , ca n b e 'lif e surgin g itsel f int o utteranc e a t it s ver y well-head' , an imag e harkin g bac k t o 'No t I , not I , but th e win d . . . ' A s such, i t must b e fre e of all laws. But wha t makes verse truly 'free ' i s that i t is, or shoul d be , direct utteranc e fro m th e instant , whol e man . I t i s th e sou l an d th e min d an d bod y surging at once, nothing left out . They speak all together. There i s some confusion, som e discord. But th e confusion an d th e discord onl y belong to the reality, as noise belongs to the plunge of water. Such a poetr y i s o f th e quick , th e instan t moment . 'I t doe s no t wan t t o ge t anywhere. I t jus t take s place. ' I t acknowledge s n o drill-sergeant s o f form , an d n o ideal, for th e idea l is a figment, a 'static abstraction, abstracte d fro m life'. 65 Thinking abou t Whitma n agai n als o mad e hi m thin k abou t sendin g th e American essay s t o Huebsc h t o mak e a book (iii . 388) ; thoug h h e wa s no t read y to work o n the m yet . When Berti e an d Joan Farjeo n returned , Rosalin d cam e bac k t o Pangbourne , probably o n th e 22nd , bu t sh e aske d the m t o sta y o n ove r th e weeken d - an d soon thei r departur e (planne d fo r th e 25th , whe n Cecil y Lamber t wa s t o com e and fetc h them ) wa s furthe r delayed . Fo r Godwi n wa s comin g t o visi t hi s wife , and sh e asked th e Lawrence s t o sta y stil l longe r an d se e him. Ostensibl y thi s was 'to tal k abou t a fruit-farming be e whic h he' s go t i n hi s bonnet ' (iii . 385) , but th e real reaso n was almos t certainl y t o discus s thei r separation , an d Rosalin d ma y have though t i t migh t mak e thing s smoothe r t o hav e guest s i n th e house . S o th e move t o Grimsbur y Far m wa s pu t of f t o th e 29t h - thoug h a certai n uneas e i s apparent i n Lawrenc e suddenl y feelin g 'horribl y shu t i n her e - thin k wit h suc h 514
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relief of the spac e roun d th e farm ' (iii . 385) . I t di d no t hel p tha t a rainy spel l ha d set in which looke d a s though i t might las t fo r weeks . There i s n o recor d o f ho w th e tw o me n go t on , excep t tha t Lawrenc e like d Baynes enough t o risk writin g hi m a letter advisin g agains t divorce . I t wa s soo n to b e agree d howeve r tha t Godwi n woul d divorc e Rosalin d - tha t wa y round , because i n thos e day s hi s bein g cite d a s th e guilt y part y woul d seriousl y hav e damaged a promising medica l career , an d als o perhap s becaus e Rosalin d wante d freedom mor e tha n he r husban d did . Godwi n ha d bee n a n admire r o f Law rence's wor k an d the y ha d a number o f friend s i n common . H e ha d bee n a clos e friend o f Bunn y Garnett , thoug h thei r disagreemen t ove r th e wa r - Godwi n having volunteere d a s a docto r whe n hi s firs t chil d wa s littl e mor e tha n a yea r old, whil e Bunn y becam e a pacifis t - ha d le d t o estrangemen t b y now . H e was also ver y friendl y wit h th e Radfords , th e Meynells , th e Farjeons , th e Baxes . Godwin wa s big, florid, mustachioe d an d athleti c - a fine oarsman, an d a regula r in Bax' s famou s pre-wa r village cricke t team . H e wa s also , lik e hi s frien d Maitland Radford , a man wit h a strong socia l conscience . H e ha d chose n befor e the wa r t o se t u p i n medica l practic e fo r th e poor , first i n Bethna l Green , an d then a s th e 'pane l doctor ' i n Wisbech , bravin g th e oppositio n o f th e Britis h Medical Association , an d o f cours e th e loca l doctors , t o th e ne w Healt h Act . H e was an emotional , universall y popula r an d gregariou s man , wh o foun d i t difficul t to resis t th e admiratio n o f women . A t Lawrence' s deat h - b y whic h tim e Godwin wa s workin g wit h Jung i n Zuric h - h e wrot e t o Rosalin d tha t h e agree d with he r abou t th e dea d man : ' I thin k h e ha d th e flame an d wa s i n a sens e prophetic'. However , h e als o fel t tha t Lawrenc e ha d 'underestimate d th e tremendous proble m o f the Christia n unconscious' : He fought i t in the world an d s o he could onl y make characters who were fundamentall y anti-social, but he never realise d th e issue as a battle in which h e himself was profoundl y and desperatel y involved . He tried t o think himsel f out o f the impasse, but h e never said 'I have this problem and it must be solved in my life and not in my books'.68 In tha t sentenc e lie s al l th e differenc e betwee n th e psychoanalyti c clinician , an d the artis t wh o no t onl y wrot e ou t o f hi s contradictions , bu t sough t precisel y t o explore an d she d hi s sicknesse s i n books . Bu t suc h difference s la y som e distanc e ahead i n 1919 . The chance s ar e tha t th e tw o me n go t o n well . The fou r o f the m went sailin g an d rowin g dow n t o Mapledurha m o n a rather wind y da y (iii . 386) ; and the y probabl y san g togethe r i n th e evening s sinc e tha t wa s somethin g Godwin als o love d t o d o (wit h a muc h finer voic e tha n Lawrence's ) - an d i t would reduc e tensio n betwee n husban d an d wife . Lawrence sen t of f Frieda' s passpor t application , wit h a photograp h endorse d by Donal d Carswell , befor e the y lef t Pangbourn e (iii . 383 , 384) . Thoma s Coo k the trave l agen t ha d advise d tha t passport s woul d no t b e issue d unti l th e peac e 515
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treaty ha d bee n formall y ratifie d b y al l the government s involved , bu t Lawrenc e wanted Fried a t o b e read y a t th e first moment . A s fo r himself , h e woul d definitely no t g o t o German y now , an d wa s rapidl y goin g of f th e though t o f America a s he rea d th e report s o f the visi t ther e b y th e Princ e o f Wales (iii . 383) . It wa s not clea r wha t h e woul d do , though h e wa s stil l mor e an d mor e intereste d in winnin g reader s i n America . Partly becaus e o f this , a breac h wit h Pinke r wa s opening . Th e first sign s ha d been th e lette r i n Novembe r 191 8 askin g outrigh t whethe r Pinke r wante d t o b e rid o f him , an d th e circumventio n o f Pinker' s commissio n i n th e cas e o f th e American essay s in th e English Review, wher e Lawrenc e migh t wel l have fel t tha t he had ha d t o make al l the running . No w i n lat e August Lawrenc e wen t on e ste p further, an d arrange d fo r th e Englis h printin g o f Touch and Go throug h Goldring's agent , no t Pinker . H e apologise d rathe r disingenuousl y afterwards : T m sorry , Dougla s Goldrin g an d Walte r Peacoc k wer e arrangin g i t befor e I really knew ' (iii . 385) ; but i n th e sam e lette r h e announce d tha t afte r a n enquir y by Huebsc h abou t New Poems h e ha d tol d hi m simpl y t o g o ahead . Onl y the n did Pinke r hurriedl y dra w u p a contract, sayin g h e 'kne w nothing ' o f Huebsch' s intentions (iii . 388) , but tha t irritate d Lawrenc e furthe r - wha t wa s a n agen t for} It seeme d tha t Pinker' s practic e wa s wholly English ; h e ha d neve r bee n activ e o r interested i n arrangement s fo r America . S o Lawrenc e tol d Huebsc h no w tha t h e would lik e t o kno w direc t abou t America n sale s an d royalties . Futur e arrange ments shoul d b e mad e wit h himself , 'an d i f Pinker ha s t o com e in , h e ca n com e in after ' (iii . 388) . H e wa s als o correspondin g wit h Seeke r direc t abou t th e latter's ide a tha t th e tim e migh t hav e com e fo r a 'Collected Poems ' (iii . 379) , an d he mus t hav e bee n beginnin g t o wonde r whethe r h e migh t no t d o withou t Pinker altogether . IX G r i m s b u r y F a r m On 2 9 Augus t th e Lawrence s wen t of f t o sta y wit h 'thos e far m girls ' unti l th e Hermitage cottag e shoul d b e clea r o f Margaret. Hi s Hagg s person a cam e happil y to th e for e again , al l th e mor e s o perhap s becaus e Cecil y an d Viole t wer e no t a s expert o r a s physicall y stron g a s th e Chamber s an d th e Hockin g familie s ha d been, s o hi s hel p ma y hav e bee n mor e positivel y welcome . (M r Chamber s ha d said tha t wor k alway s wen t wel l whe n Ber t wa s there , an d th e Hocking s to o ha d been gla d t o hav e hi m i n th e fields, bu t no t s o much fo r hi s skil l o r labou r a s fo r his company. 69 ) Almos t a t onc e h e wa s a t wor k choppin g bushe s dow n an d clearing a meado w o f bracke n an d thistl e whic h ha d take n ove r sinc e th e wa r (iii. 392) . He als o too k o n th e jo b o f milking th e goats , wh o resente d hi m a t first and hel d back ; bu t soo n h e became , sai d Cecily , 'quit e expert' . Rosalin d o n a visit wa s impressed . (H e ha d howeve r n o influenc e ove r th e Grimsbur y pigs , 516
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who ha d bee n bee n spoil t b y bein g treate d a s pet s an d wh o followe d Cecil y an d Violet about , eve n goin g t o th e statio n t o loo k fo r them . A t Highe r Tregerthe n Lawrence ha d complaine d tha t Chris t di d no t understan d th e devilishnes s o f lambs; bu t h e mad e n o suc h complain t abou t th e Lord' s vie w o f swine . Th e Grimsbury lo t gate-crashe d an d enthusiasticall y ruine d a picnic o n hi s favourit e Heather Hill , t o hi s monumenta l rage. ) H e sawe d th e log s an d mad e himsel f useful; partl y becaus e h e hate d feelin g unde r a n obligation . Hi s strengt h ha d obviously returned . To hav e Fried a a s a hous e gues t wa s a differen t matte r - an d a t Grimsbur y Farm w e ge t a mor e revealin g pictur e o f he r tha n w e hav e ha d fo r som e time . She di d no t tak e wel l t o al l th e shiftin g about , an d le t i t b e known . Lawrenc e told Moul t tha t sh e wa s 'lik e a n unhapp y hen ' flutterin g 'fro m roos t t o roost ' (iii. 389) ; and Cecil y als o notice d tha t wherea s Lawrenc e hate d stayin g anywher e for an y lengt h o f time , Fried a 'crave d fo r a hom e an d solidity' . A s th e tim e fo r going t o German y seeme d t o ge t closer , th e dela y mus t hav e bee n mor e an d more frustrating . Durin g thei r firs t day s a t th e far m sh e fel t unwel l an d (sai d Cecily) 'expecte d t o be waite d on' : Most o f thi s fel l o n D . H . W e wer e fa r to o bus y an d overworke d t o d o an y nursing , except i n a n emergency , whic h certainl y thi s wa s not. T o thi s da y I ca n se e D . H . i n a raging temper , carryin g a brimming chambe r dow n t o th e fron t garde n an d emptyin g i t over our flower bed s which rather horrified us , although ther e was little else he could do. The sanitatio n wa s o f th e mos t primitiv e - a n eart h close t fa r dow n th e garden . Ou r bathroom wa s a tin bath in the scullery with rain water drawn u p by a hooked pol e from a well outside the house in the front garden . Drinking water had to be fetched i n pails fro m a spring some distance away. Moreover whe n Cecil y suggeste d tha t i t woul d b e easie r i f the Lawrence s share d a bedroo m rathe r tha n occupyin g two , Fried a refuse d becaus e 'sh e di d no t wis h to b e to o muc h married' . Th e desir e fo r a roo m o f he r ow n migh t no t b e ver y significant i n itself . Sh e ha d ha d on e no t onl y i n Nottingha m bu t i n thos e o f he r roosts wit h Lawrenc e wher e i t coul d b e managed , an d i t wa s th e ai m o f mos t women o f th e middl e clas s an d abov e i n thos e days ; certainl y n o mor e tha n th e daughter o f Germa n gentr y woul d expect , thoug h sh e ha d com e dow n i n th e world. He r explanatio n doe s howeve r confir m tha t th e marriag e ha d reache d a stage i n whic h bot h o f the m fel t the y neede d mor e spac e an d independence . Moreover, read y a s alway s t o tal k intimat e secret s wit h anothe r woman , Fried a made he r habitua l lamen t fo r he r los t childre n t o Cecil y - perhap s les s realistically no w tha t Mont y was a young ma n an d he r daughters ' lives , too , ha d grown mor e independen t i n thei r teens . Bu t sh e als o tol d Cecil y 'ho w welcom e a child o f D. H . L . woul d be' . This mus t hav e seeme d les s and les s likely . Sh e ha d 517
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just turne d forty-one , an d sinc e fo r th e las t fiv e year s the y coul d hardl y hav e afforded a child the y ha d probabl y bee n takin g contraceptiv e measures. 71 Lawrence wa s stil l refusin g t o g o wit h Fried a t o Germany ; an d hi s tempe r with he r wa s shorte r tha n ever . Close r proximit y mad e thi s ver y clea r t o thei r hostesses, whe n Fried a ha d 'som e smal l mishap' wit h Violet' s sewin g machine : It was mentioned i n front o f D. H., and the result was a tornado so shocking that even we were terrified , fearin g th e outcome . H e slate d Fried a unmercifully , sayin g sh e wa s lazy and useles s an d sa t around whil e we did al l the work . He the n ordere d he r t o clean ou r kitchen floor which wa s large wit h th e old-fashioned, well-wor n bricks , none to o easy to get scoured , i n fac t rea l har d labour . T o ou r amazemen t sh e burs t int o tear s an d proceeded t o work on it, fetching a pail of water and sloshing around wit h a floor cloth in a bending positio n (althoug h h e had tol d he r t o kneel), bitterly resentfu l a t having to do such a menial task quite beneath th e daughter o f a baron, at the same time hurling every insult sh e coul d conjur e u p a t D . H. , callin g hi m a n uncout h lout , etc . H e appeare d t o love an opportunity to humiliate her - whethe r from jealous y or extreme exasperation one could never tell. I was only suprised tha t she listened to his abuse or obeyed his orders. Yet i f the Lawrenc e marriag e continue d o n suc h occasion s t o frighte n an d baffl e those wh o sa w i t a t clos e quarters , th e rumpuse s ha d neve r bee n mor e tha n a half-truth abou t it , an d eve n no w probabl y muc h less . No r wa s Lawrence' s temper al l tha t Cecil y remembered , thoug h i t mad e th e bes t stories . 'W e misse d the Lawrence s ver y much' , sh e says , quite simply . 'Ho w dul l i t was when h e ha d gone. Alway s ther e wa s som e inspiration. ' Sh e remembere d th e joke s an d th e excitement, th e charades , th e paintin g o f boxe s an d bowl s together , th e fun . When th e Lawrence s wen t bac k t o Chape l Far m Cottag e abou t 1 2 Septembe r (in gloriou s autum n weather ) Fried a though t the y shoul d offe r t o pa y 'th e girls ' something, bu t Lawrence , fo r al l hi s dislik e o f bein g indebted , replie d tha t on e did no t pa y one's friend s - an d Cecil y wholl y concurred .
X Las t Week s a t Hermitag e Douglas Goldring , wh o cam e dow n wit h hi s Iris h wif e Bett y t o spen d a weeken d at Hermitag e a mont h later , wa s als o a t first rathe r embarrasse d b y th e wa y Lawrence 'kep t hi s Prussia n wife , Frieda , "i n he r place"' . Jus t befor e Sunda y lunch wa s ready , Fried a mad e a remar k whic h infuriate d Lawrence , an d Goldring ha d th e distinc t impressio n tha t onl y th e presenc e o f guest s ha d stopped hi m throwin g th e potatoe s a t her . However , a s always , 'i n a fe w moments, th e stor m wa s over' . Goldrin g sa w th e psychologica l directio n o f Lawrence's rage s perhap s bette r tha n Cecil y - no t jealous y no r sadis m s o muc h as takin g dow n th e upper-clas s magn a mater , a male worker-bee' s revol t agains t 518
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the bi g laz y Quee n o n who m h e nevertheles s depends . H e wa s als o i n n o doub t about th e underlyin g strengt h o f Frieda o r th e marriage : Life wit h Lawrenc e coul d neve r b e dull, bu t I doub t i f h e woul d hav e foun d an y Englishwoman wit h th e nervou s solidit y t o sta y th e course . Voluble , full-bosomed , Prussian Fried a wa s built t o weather storms . Like a sound ship , broad i n th e beam , slow but seaworthy , sh e coul d stan d an y amoun t o f buffeting. An d I hav e n o doub t tha t sh e found th e Von Richthofen car d a useful one. 73 Indeed, he r provocation s usuall y cam e fro m he r nee d t o pu t he r husban d i n hi s place, too . Bu t whe n Goldrin g cam e dow n t o breakfas t th e nex t mornin g h e found th e Lawrence s layin g th e table , singin g Germa n folk-song s a t th e top s o f their voices . However, Fried a i n thes e las t week s befor e he r retur n t o German y mus t hav e been pre y t o ver y mixe d feelings , thoug h sh e wa s no t on e t o examin e the m closely. A t last the experienc e o f being 'th e Hun ' amon g th e Englis h was comin g to a n end , albei t i n a defea t o f he r fatherlan d whic h mus t hav e gon e har d wit h her. B y thi s tim e sh e kne w abou t th e sufferin g tha t th e continuanc e o f th e Allie d blockade wa s causing i n Germany , an d als o th e punitiv e provision s o f the Treat y of Versaille s whos e ratificatio n ha d t o tak e plac e befor e sh e woul d b e allowe d t o travel. Sh e longe d wit h al l he r hear t t o se e he r mother , t o who m sh e ha d alway s been close . Ther e woul d howeve r b e n o returnin g t o he r pre-wa r socia l background an d famil y security . Influentia l contact s migh t remain , bu t he r father wa s dead , Met z occupie d b y th e Frenc h an d th e Barones s no w i n a genteel hom e 'fo r ladie s o f th e educate d classes ' i n Baden-Baden . Edga r Jaffe' s career a s Financ e Ministe r i n th e mildl y revolutionar y post-wa r Republi c o f Bavaria ha d com e t o an en d i n a hail of extremist bullet s o n 2 1 Februar y 1919 , as its Presiden t wa s assassinated b y a right-winger o n hi s wa y t o Parliament , an d i n the Chambe r hi s Minister s thre w themselve s t o th e floor a s gunfir e fro m a left winger thudde d int o th e ministeria l benches. 74 Althoug h th e Ministe r o f th e Interior wa s severely wounded , Edga r escape d injury ; bu t hi s politica l caree r was over. H e wa s not i n th e mor e radica l governmen t whic h proceede d t o proclai m a Soviet Republic , an d whic h ende d i n bloo d a mont h late r a s troop s occupie d Munich. Thereafte r hi s an d Else' s situatio n an d safet y wer e a continua l worry . Frieda ha d comprehensivel y burn t he r boat s i n Nottingha m befor e th e war ; no w the Germa n one s wer e badl y charred , an d sh e wa s abou t t o discove r ho w muc h or ho w littl e 'th e vo n Richthofe n card ' wa s worth thes e days . Moreover , sh e ha d lost a t leas t som e o f he r powe r ove r th e husban d wh o refuse d t o com e wit h her , and wa s clearl y determine d t o g o whereve r he wanted , leavin g i t t o he r t o joi n him later . Excitement , apprehension , impatience , an d irritatio n wit h Lawrenc e must hav e bee n abou t equal , a s sh e waite d t o leave . Cecil y sa w tha t Frieda' s nature wa s basicall y phlegmati c an d easygoing ; bu t Lawrenc e tol d Cynthia , no t 519
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over-sympathetically, ho w muc h les s s o sh e ha d become , ho w sh e 'insist s o n "feeling" he r trials , get s ver y cross , o r weeps , whe n th e letter s com e fro m Germany. Sh e ha s se t he r min d o n going : an d can' t go . Anothe r quandary . Patience i s justified o f all her children ' (iii . 395) . As the tim e cam e t o move bac k t o Hermitage, h e wa s ver y muc h awar e tha t h e would soo n hav e t o finance Frieda' s Germa n journe y a s wel l a s hi s own , wherever h e decide d t o go . Tha t knowledg e ma y hav e lai n behin d hi s ange r a t her lazines s an d carelessness , an d behin d he r tearfull y angr y obedienc e sinc e sh e also depended absolutel y o n him . I t behoved hi m t o collect a s much mone y a s h e could; an d als o t o clea r th e des k o f all the project s tha t coul d b e cleared . Indeed , though Cecily' s memor y i s uncertain , h e seem s t o hav e revive d th e on e neares t to his heart befor e leavin g the farm . Sh e recall s hi m stayin g o n fo r a day afte r th e row, workin g har d t o 'finish ' a nove l (whic h sh e mistakenl y remember s a s 77? ^ Lost Girl) whil e Fried a wen t bac k t o Hermitag e alone . Sh e als o remember s Violet typin g somethin g fro m i t fo r him . I t coul d no t hav e bee n The Lost Girl. I t was almost certainl y Women in Love tha t h e was suddenl y workin g o n again , an d it ma y hav e bee n a ne w Forewor d tha t Viole t typed. 75 Fo r Goldrin g ha d contacted a n America n publishe r wh o h e though t migh t brin g th e nove l ou t a t last; an d Thoma s Seltze r ha d actuall y cabled , t o expres s hi s interest. 76 O n 7 September, five day s befor e leavin g Grimsbur y Farm , Lawrenc e promise d t o post th e boo k t o Seltze r 'b y th e nex t mail ' - bu t h e wante d 't o g o throug h th e MS. o f th e nove l onc e more . - I conside r thi s th e bes t o f m y books ' (iii . 390) . The bes t o f hi s book s tende d t o b e th e on e h e ha d jus t finished, bu t i n fac t h e held life-lon g t o th e judgemen t tha t Women in Love wa s th e majo r wor k o f hi s middle period . T o hav e a n America n publishe r cabl e interes t i n i t confirme d hi s hope that , whethe r h e wen t t o liv e ther e himsel f o r not , h e coul d find a ne w audience i n America . Marti n Seeke r ha d als o expresse d a belate d interes t no w that th e wa r was over an d publishin g condition s i n Englan d easie r (iii . 391) , bu t Lawrence's preferenc e wa s clear: ' I woul d lik e the boo k t o come first i n America . I shal l neve r forgiv e Englan d The Rainbow^ (iii . 391) . No r woul d h e hav e forgotten ho w man y Englis h publishers , includin g Seeker , ha d turne d Women in Love dow n whe n i t mattered most . The revisio n Lawrenc e di d no w canno t hav e bee n extensiv e sinc e i t wa s don e within (a t th e most ) five days . T o th e nake d ey e i t seem s tha t som e passages , crowded i n th e margin s o f wha t afte r retypin g was t o becom e Seltzer' s setting copy, ar e i n notabl y smalle r writin g an d browne r in k tha n th e mas s o f in k revision, an d thes e ma y b e Lawrence' s las t touche s t o a wor k whic h ha d effectively achieve d final for m tw o year s before . I f so , the y d o n o mor e tha n 'refine an d clarify ' wha t wa s already there 77 - fo r exampl e i n th e Saracen' s Hea d scene, wher e th e ne w materia l furthe r open s ou t th e existin g imager y draw n from Pryse' s chakras, t o emphasiz e stil l furthe r th e darkl y independen t myster y 520
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of Birki n whic h Ursul a discover s i n touchin g th e bas e o f hi s spine . I f so , the y relate t o th e Whitma n essa y an d it s defian t avowa l o f th e importanc e o f th e 'cocygeal' chakra, thoug h here , a s i n 1917 , th e emphasi s fall s no t o n ana l se x s o much a s th e recognitio n o f wondrousl y independen t selfhoo d - eve n mor e important t o Lawrenc e now . Indeed , readin g th e nove l i n 1919 , h e mus t hav e become awar e tha t i n som e importan t way s h e wa s n o longe r th e perso n wh o ha d written it . It s mai n driv e coul d no t b e changed , bu t occasionall y a n emphasi s could b e increased . The connectio n wit h th e Whitma n essa y i s n o accident , fo r h e wa s als o thinking agai n jus t no w abou t hi s Studies in Classic American Literature. Thi s wa s the next-bulkies t ite m i n hi s drawer , an d almos t equall y importan t i n hi s hope s for America n readers . H e woul d no t wan t t o lu g i t abroa d wit h him , an d h e ha d for som e tim e wante d t o mak e i t int o a book fo r th e Unite d States . Severa l othe r things ha d demande d attentio n first, bu t h e ha d bee n thinkin g o f gettin g dow n to th e America n essay s eve n i n Pangbourne , an d ha d promise d Huebsc h t o sen d them 'soon ' (iii . 388) , though h e ha d no t manage d t o d o so . Only first - o r a t lon g las t - ther e wer e mor e proof s o f Bay t o correct ; an d though 'dear , foeti d littl e Beaumont ' (iii . 395 ) ha d muddle d th e settin g o f 'Obsequial Ode ' (an d woul d forge t th e dedicatio n t o Cynthi a Asquit h whic h ha d to b e tippe d i n a t th e las t moment ; iii . 465), Lawrenc e wa s abl e t o tel l he r tha t i t really wa s nearing completio n an d migh t possibl y b e ou t b y Christmas ! The nex t task wa s t o arrang e fo r th e publicatio n o f th e Shestov . Thre e day s afte r gettin g back t o Chape l Far m h e poste d Seeke r th e manuscrip t wit h hi s newl y writte n four-page Foreword , whic h h e suggeste d woul d d o instea d o f Shestov' s ow n much longe r an d (h e thought ) tediou s Preface , thoug h Ko t wante d t o kee p tha t (iii. 394) . Seeke r agree d t o publish , agree d wit h Lawrenc e abou t th e Prefac e an d also adopte d hi s suggestio n fo r a better title . Ther e followe d a n argumen t abou t terms whic h produce d fur y fro m Ko t an d a business-wear y shru g fro m Lawrence tha t Seeke r wa s 'a scurvy littl e swine ' lik e all the rest , but a t length th e arrangements fo r th e Shesto v to o wer e complete , a t a 10 % royalt y (iii . 40 3 an d n. 3) . Lawrence' s conscienc e wa s stil l no t wholl y a t res t abou t hi s indebtednes s to Kot . H e urge d hi m t o as k fo r a n advanc e fro m Seeke r an d t o plac e extract s i n periodicals (iii . 407) , fo r whic h h e shoul d kee p al l th e profit s - bu t ther e wer e still th e te n poun d loan s tha t Lawrenc e ha d no t bee n abl e t o affor d t o retur n though the y ha d undoubtedl y bee n mean t a s gifts . (Ko t ha d tol d Goldring 78 tha t if you wante d t o hel p Lawrence , h e mus t a t al l cost s neve r kno w wha t yo u wer e doing.) I n lat e Septembe r Lawrenc e wa s still worryin g abou t Kot' s finances. I've go t t o se e Fried a of f t o German y - th e policema n cam e Monda y t o verif y he r passport application , and sai d th e passport woul d com e all right - probabl y i t wil l - s o I must provid e fo r tha t trip , otherwis e I coul d hav e give n yo u somethin g .. . I ow e you 521
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heaven know s ho w man y pounds . - Soo n I shall , I believe , begi n t o mak e mone y i n America. Then yo u can have some freely, (iii . 397) At leas t h e ha d don e wha t h e coul d fo r th e momen t - an d no w h e coul d ge t down t o assembling a complete manuscrip t o f the America n essays . The las t par t of the piec e o n Hawthorn e wa s worke d u p int o a second essay ; and th e las t thre e unpublished one s wer e revised . Becaus e h e ha d give n hi s 'Amy ' typewrite r t o Catherine Carswel l t o sel l fo r hi m (t o he r brothe r fo r £5 , rathe r mor e tha n sh e thought i t wa s worth ; iii . 393) , Lawrenc e ha d t o transcrib e nea t copie s b y hand . Indeed, sinc e h e wante d a duplicate se t fo r possibl e Englis h publicatio n later , th e dreary jo b woul d hav e t o b e don e twice . Rosalin d remembere d copyin g ou t on e essay i n Pangbourn e - probabl y th e Hawthorn e - bu t sh e woul d hav e bee n to o busy t o d o more , an d i n desperatio n Lawrenc e turne d t o Ko t agai n an d begge d him t o cop y ou t th e las t three , usin g pape r o f a siz e t o blen d int o a singl e 'manuscript' wit h th e page s fro m th e English Review (iii . 397 , 399) . H e finall y sent on e cop y t o Huebsc h o n th e las t da y o f September , wit h mingle d triump h and apprehensio n (iii . 400) . For i t seeme d ver y unlikel y tha t th e Whitma n essa y coul d eve r b e published . A lette r fro m Huebsc h o f 1 7 Septembe r sai d no t onl y tha t h e wa s no w postponing th e America n editio n o f New Poems until afte r Christma s becaus e o f labour troubles , bu t als o tha t h e ha d ha d t o le t The Rainbow g o ou t o f print . A s he explained : Our self-appointed censor s (smut hounds as Henry L. Mencken calls them) would love to make a 'case' ou t o f this, and unfortunatel y unde r ou r posta l law s and syste m o f justice the book would b e officially suppresse d (whic h i t is not now) I would b e fined or sent t o jail and your reputation woul d suffer, (iii . 399 n. 1) Lawrence ha d ha d a recent visi t at Hermitage fro m a n acquaintanc e o f Huebsch' s called Herman n Schaf f wh o ha d lef t hi m i n n o doub t tha t Huebsc h was tellin g him th e trut h abou t purita n America . H e ha d als o jus t ha d ' a parce l o f books ' from Jan e Burr , includin g he r self-publishe d The Glorious Hope (1918), 80 whic h had confirme d hi s impressio n o f Americ a a s bese t b y 'stalkin g emotiona l demons' (iii . 400) . Huebsc h h e thought , bein g a Jew , migh t b e capabl e o f 'eternal detachmen t o f judgement', sinc e (i n anothe r o f his racia l generalisations ) Jews ar e 'connoisseur s o f th e universe' , abl e t o dea l i n treasure s o r psychologica l deformities alik e - s o what di d Huebsc h really think o f the USA ? Th e prospect s of publishin g a boo k whic h ende d wit h th e essay o n Whitma n di d no t see m good! Ye t Lawrenc e remaine d mor e convince d tha n eve r o f th e crucia l valu e o f the ne w psycholog y whic h underpinne d al l his American essay s - especiall y afte r discussions wit h th e Englis h Freudian s (Jones , Eder , Barbar a Low ) wh o hope d soon t o mak e direc t post-wa r contac t again , throug h Jones , wit h th e Europea n psychoanalytic movement . 522
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The essay on Whitman you may find it politic not to publish - i f so leave it out altogether - don' t alter it. The res t is unexceptionable. - Thes e essays are the result o f five years of persistent work. They contain a whole Weltanschauung - new , if old - eve n a new science of psychology - pur e science. I don't wan t to give them to a publisher her e - no t yet. - I don't reall y wan t peopl e t o rea d the m - til l the y ar e i n col d print . I don' t min d i f you don't publis h the m - o r i f you kee p them back . - I only know the psychoanalysts her e one of them - ha s gone to Vienna, partly t o graft som e of the idea s on t o Freud an d th e Freudian theor y o f th e unconsciou s - i s at thi s momen t bus y doin g it . I know they ar e trying to get the theory of primal consciousness out of these essays, to solidify thei r windy theory o f the unconscious . The n they'l l po p ou t wit h it , a s a discovery o f their own . You see Ive told Ernes t Jones and th e Eders the ideas. - Bu t they don't kno w how to use them.81 An d n o one has seen th e essay on Whitman - n o one in the world . - Loo k afte r the MS . fo r me , won't you . - Schaf f say s you'r e th e onl y 'white ' publishe r i n America . (iii. 400) As a n aside , amon g othe r new s o f wha t h e wa s hopin g t o hav e publishe d (fo r example th e Shesto v an d th e play ) h e mentione d havin g sen t 'th e nove l Women in Love - sor t o f seque l t o The Rainbow, t o som e othe r Ne w Yor k peopl e wh o asked t o se e i t - presume d yo u wer e no t kee n o n i t - yo u mus t hav e see n th e MS - Pinke r ha s ha d i t fo r tw o years ' (iii . 400) . A n outrage d Huebsc h replie d that thi s wa s wholl y ne w t o hi m (iii . 40 9 an d n . 1) . Pinker ha d neve r though t t o send th e nove l t o hi m a t all . Lawrenc e ha d alread y aske d Seeke r t o sa y nothin g to Pinke r abou t his new interes t i n Women in Love (iii . 391) , an d ha d decide d t o arrange fo r th e publicatio n o f th e Shesto v himself . I n a postscript t o hi s lette r t o Huebsch, h e though t h e migh t no t le t Pinke r mak e an y mor e agreement s i n future (iii . 401) . A final breach wa s imminent . Lawrence ha d recentl y ha d a cheque fro m Mars h (iii . 388 ; probably fo r 'Seve n Seals' i n th e ne w Georgian Poetry; iii . 389) ; a n unexpecte d on e fro m Moul t fo r 'Verse Fre e an d Unfree' ; an d £ 5 fo r th e typewriter . (Whe n th e Krenkow s cam e down t o se e him , th e weeken d tha t th e Goldring s wer e a t Hermitag e jus t befor e Frieda left , h e wa s also abl e t o 'touch ' Uncl e Frit z fo r £10. ) A s a last attemp t t o make a bit more , before shakin g th e dus t o f England fro m hi s feet , h e wrot e fou r essays o n 'Democracy ' fo r a strang e littl e periodica l calle d The Word, publishe d weekly at The Hague . Thi s cam e fro m anothe r initiativ e b y Goldring , 2 wh o ha d accepted a n invitatio n t o Th e Hagu e fro m th e edito r o f this od d magazin e whic h aimed to publish wor k in three languages. It was, he said: run b y a grou p o f enigmati c an d highl y improbabl e German s wh o pretende d t o b e International Socialists . Perhap s the y were , althoug h the y looked , eve n t o m y innocen t and inexperienced eye , much more like Secret Service Agents. At all events, they printe d some o f my outpourings an d pai d fo r them ; and I fanc y I go t the m t o prin t on e o r tw o articles by Lawrence. In fac t the y printe d thre e o f th e fou r essay s Lawrenc e wrot e o n 'Democracy' , 523
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before th e magazin e collapsed , leavin g th e las t unpublished. 83 Thes e tur n ou t t o be a n extende d critiqu e o f th e famou s openin g o f Whitman' s 'Son g o f Myself : 'One's-Self I sing , a simpl e separat e person , / Ye t utte r th e wor d Democratic , the wor d En-Mass e . . . ' 8 4 The wor d 'democratic ' i n Lawrencia n utteranc e turne d out , no t surprisingly , to b e ver y differen t fro m anythin g th e editor s o f The Word might hav e expecte d from a n autho r recommende d b y th e Englis h Secretar y o f 'Clarte' . Hi s judgement o f Whitman's sens e o f politica l an d socia l valu e wa s as ambivalent a s the judgemen t o f his sexuality. A s the thir d essa y put s it : In Whitman, at all times, the true and the false are so near, so interchangeable, that we are almost inevitabl y lef t wit h divide d feelings . Th e Average , on e o f hi s greates t idols , we flatly refus e t o worship. Again, when w e come to do real reverence t o identity, we never know whether w e shall be taking off our hats to that great mystery, the unique individua l self, distinct an d prima l i n ever y separat e man , o r whethe r w e shall be saluting tha t ol d great idol of the past, the Supreme One which swallows up all true identity. 'The Average ' argue s tha t al l Average s ar e abstraction s fo r a purpose . Th e ide a of th e Commo n o r Averag e Man , th e Man-in-the-Street , i s onl y usefu l a s 'th e standard o f Material nee d i n th e huma n being' , an d 'thi s i s where Socialis m an d Modern Democrac y come s in' . Lawrenc e i s Socialis t an d Democra t a s lon g a s what i s unde r consideratio n i s th e state' s functio n t o mak e livin g togethe r possible, b y ensurin g tha t everyon e ca n secur e th e basi c materia l need s - s o as , then, t o b e abl e t o develo p individuality . Thi s i s th e onl y function , an d onl y value, o f 'Governments , States , Nation s an d Inter-nations ' - materia l institu tions fo r materia l purposes . Indeed , 'th e grea t developmen t i n collectiv e expression i n mankin d ha s bee n a progres s toward s th e possibilit y o f purel y individual expression'. 85 S o much fo r 'th e wor d En-Masse' . The secon d essay 'Identity ' refine s a little . Th e ide a o f a n inclusiv e 'Human ' Identity ca n b e a s usefu l fo r 'provisioning ' consciousnes s a s th e ide a o f th e Average i s fo r 'provisioning ' th e body . Th e ide a o f a Whole , o f whic h eac h human consciousnes s i s part , ca n lea d t o a desir e t o exten d consciousnes s t o embrace th e whol e (a s i t doe s i n Whitman) , an d tha t ca n b e a learnin g process . But, say s Lawrence , 'you r consciousness i s no t you\ an d t o tr y t o exten d i t infinitely i s alway s t o com e bac k wit h a bum p t o th e realit y o f yourself . N o matter whethe r th e urg e t o unif y i s through Powe r (lik e Alexander th e Great ) o r through Lov e (lik e Christ) , th e 'lesso n o f lessons ' i s tha t w e onl y hav e ou r pur e being 'i n clean , fine singleness' , not an y onenes s wit h th e rest o f things. If w e look fo r God , le t u s loo k i n th e bus h wher e h e sings . That is , in livin g creatures . Every living creature i s single in itself... th e littl e unfathomable well-hea d tha t bubble s forth int o being and doing. We cannot analyse it. We can only know it is there .. . 524
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Not people melted int o a oneness: that is not the new Democracy. But people released into their single, starry identity, each one distinct and incommutable. This goe s al l th e wa y bac k t o th e 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy' ; onl y a littl e clearer, perhaps , o n ho w Lawrenc e coul d thin k himsel f bot h socialis t an d individualist. The thir d essay , 'Personality' , howeve r ha s a ne w and fin e distinction . Doe s Whitman's wor d 'person ' mea n th e sam e a s 'individual' ? B y lookin g int o th e derivation o f th e tw o words , Lawrenc e i s abl e t o clai m a radica l differenc e 'between somethin g whic h wa s originall y a player' s mask , o r a transmitte d sound, an d something whic h mean s "th e undivided"'. So , A perso n i s a huma n bein g as he appears to others; an d personalit y i s tha t whic h i s transmitted fro m th e person to his audience: the transmissible effect o f a man. A good actor can assume a personality; he can never assume an individuality. Eithe r he has his own, or none. Personality the n i s linked t o the 'ego' or conscious ide a o f the sel f which s o ofte n runs counte r t o th e 'true , deeper , spontaneou s self . I t i s 'ma n bor n ou t o f his own head' , o r (stil l worse ) accordin g t o a n ide a o r idea l shape d b y others , an d hence as material as an engine, though mad e out of flesh an d blood. So th e final essa y 'Individualism ' ca n offer n o politica l idea , le t alone system , since thes e ar e the enemy o f the spontaneou s self . The most basi c fact , o n whic h all scheme s o f social lif e mus t b e founded, i s that an y 'actual ma n present befor e us i s an inscrutabl e an d incarnate Myster y . . . th e fact o f otherness". I f every sel f is uniqu e ther e ca n b e n o compariso n an d hence , a s h e ha d argue d i n th e education essays , n o intrinsi c equalit y (o r inequality , whic h als o depend s o n comparison) bu t always disqualify, difference . Wha t i s important i s that me n and women shoul d trus t thei r ow n inne r desire s an d impulse s - th e Go d singin g i n their individua l bus h - an d be free (materiall y an d otherwise) t o do so. But ther e is a Fall i n thi s accoun t o f the Garden too . Desires com e fro m within , ideal s are imposed fro m withou t - ye t 'Desires ten d t o automatise int o functiona l appetites , and impulse s ten d t o automatis e int o fixe d aspiration s o r ideals. ' Within , wha t had bee n spontaneou s i n th e sel f become s mechanical ; without , me n see k t o determine th e being o f others instea d o f respecting thei r otherness . I n the past i t may hav e seeme d tha t ther e wer e grea t collectiv e ideal s to fulfil, bu t always ther e comes th e point a t which th e imposed an d abstract natur e o f any idea l wil l finall y destroy th e spontaneou s integrit y o f individua l beings ; an d Lawrenc e believe s this i s 'horribl y tru e o f moder n democrac y - socialism , conservatism , bolshe vism, liberalism , republicanism , communism : al l alike'. All claim t o be ideals, all finally revea l themselve s t o b e essentiall y materialist , concerne d wit h property, however the y ma y wis h i t t o b e distribute d - wherea s (say s Lawrence , fro m experience) ' A ma n only need s s o much a s will hel p hi m to his own fulfilment' , 525
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and th e desir e t o posses s mor e 'i s a kind o f illnes s o f the spirit , an d a hopeles s burden upo n th e spontaneou s self . Hi s tru e Democrac y ca n onl y begi n whe n individuals fre e themselve s fro m th e urges t o possess o r to oppress, and 'becom e their ow n decen t selve s again' , abl e t o liv e an d gro w i n individua l spontaneity , respecting th e no less mysterious othernes s o f others. 88 Meanwhile th e Other neares t t o him finally receive d he r passpor t b y 8 October , and ha d only t o obtain a Dutch vis a whic h coul d b e done i n Londo n (iii . 404) so she could b e off in a week. Lawrenc e ma y have been gla d o f that. T h e waitin g had bee n a strain, th e separation woul d b e temporary an d th e first 'Democracy ' essay ha d mentione d i n a revealing aside , amon g materia l need s o f the Averag e Man, bot h th e 'ach e fo r coition ' an d th e 'ach e t o escap e fro m th e woma n again'. (Sh e probabl y fel t muc h th e same , a s wel l a s th e urg e t o se e he r mother.) At las t h e to o ha d reache d a decision . H e woul d g o bac k t o Italy . Thinkin g Capri migh t b e a good plac e t o spend th e winter, h e aske d Seeke r fo r Compto n Mackenzie's addres s ther e (iii . 401) . The Goldring s cam e dow n fo r Frieda' s las t weekend , a s did Uncl e Frit z an d Aunt Ada , and o n Tuesda y 1 4 October h e an d Fried a se t off fo r Londo n wit h Violet Monk , wh o was to spen d a day or tw o in Acaci a Roa d whil e Cecil y an d her parent s looke d afte r th e farm. Cecil y ha d never see n Lawrenc e i n a dark cit y suit: The chang e wa s startling. H e looke d th e well-dressed an d smar t man-about-tow n an d exceedingly handsome , striking in fact wit h his red beard (groomed ) and his intense blue eyes. His lean figure len t itsel f t o well-cut clothes , bu t I remembe r hi m saying tha t he hated orthodo x clothe s an d dressed i n the blue coa t an d odd things becaus e h e liked to create attention. Violet fel t sh e was 'ignored ' b y th e househol d a t Acaci a Roa d an d soo n wen t back i n a huff. Th e Lawrences wer e stayin g wit h th e Carswells an d can have had little tim e t o spar e fo r mor e tha n a sympatheti c note . Ther e wa s Frieda' s Dutch vis a t o get, last-minute shopping , arrangement s fo r her journey - an d on the Wednesday nigh t sh e was off on th e Harwich-Hook o f Holland express . The 'Nightmare ' chapte r o f Kangaroo 'remembers ' (thoug h wit h wha t accuracy i s unknowable) tha t 'Sh e had a look o f almost vindictiv e triumph , an d almost malignan t love , a s th e trai n dre w out. ' l Emotion s mus t certainl y hav e been complex , on both sides . Lawrence ha d tim e t o se e Dougla s an d Bett y Goldrin g agai n befor e goin g back t o Hermitag e alon e o n th e Friday . H e ha d hear d fro m th e Krenkow s tha t his siste r was ill and in any case woul d hav e wante d t o see her before h e left, s o part o f the followin g wee k wa s spent i n Ripley . H e foun d Ad a 'frail an d seedy , 526
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but gettin g better ' (iii . 407 ) - an d picke d u p anothe r col d himsel f whic h kep t him indoor s fo r a wee k o r so . Afte r a warml y autumna l first hal f o f Septembe r the month ha d gon e out i n rain , and Octobe r ha d turne d distinctl y chilly , 'awful ' by th e end . It wa s wors e fo r Frieda , i n a German y wher e ga s an d electricit y ha d t o b e saved, th e tram s wer e no t running , shop s shu t a t five (havin g littl e anywa y t o sell) an d bee r hall s wer e close d becaus e the y coul d no t b e heated . He r journe y had bee n a nightmare . Whe n sh e go t t o Hollan d he r trun k wen t missing . Moreover th e dela y mad e he r mis s her connections , and whe n sh e di d ge t on he r way at las t i t wa s a grey journe y i n a n unheate d railway-carriage , throug h a halfstarving country . Fortunatel y ther e wer e no t th e upheaval s i n Baden-Bade n tha t occurred elsewher e but , nevertheless : Food coul d b e bought onl y at official distributio n centres , the weekly ration consisting of less than an ounce of butter, half a pound o f meat or sausage and five pounds of potatoes. Hungry an d freezing , peopl e waite d aroun d i n th e street s fo r new s o f the nex t issu e o f firewood, exchangin g spine-chilling stories about the misdeeds of the French .. . There coul d b e n o specia l consideratio n fo r th e agein g gentlewome n o f th e Ludwig-Wilhelm-Stift. Fried a mus t hav e bee n deepl y upse t b y th e condition s under whic h he r mothe r ha d t o live now . Meanwhile Lawrence' s plan s wen t n o mor e smoothly . N o answe r ha d com e from Compto n Mackenzie , an d a crisi s ble w u p ove r Women in Love sinc e n o word ha d com e fro m Seltze r either . Thi s wa s no t altogethe r suprisin g a s th e typescript ha d bee n delaye d i n th e post , bu t Lawrenc e suddenl y becam e awar e of a complicated difficulty . Havin g bee n tol d o f Seltzer's offe r t o publish , Seeke r was no w showin g interes t - bu t ther e wa s a n unforesee n proble m o f timin g i f Seeker wa s t o ge t th e nove l int o hi s sprin g list . Fo r thoug h Pinke r stil l ha d on e copy o f the typescript , i t wa s th e other copy (TSII ) whic h Lawrenc e ha d worke d on sinc e th e retyping , an d h e ha d sen t tha t t o America. H e suggeste d tha t Seeke r might writ e o r cabl e Seltze r fo r it , withou t sayin g anythin g t o Pinker . The n h e wrote 'urgently ' himself , askin g Seltze r t o pos t th e typescrip t bac k i f printin g had no t begun , s o Seeker coul d hav e i t first; an d i f he had started , t o sen d sheet s and proof s t o Seeke r a s soo n a s the y cam e fro m th e printe r (iii . 408-9) . No w however th e proble m wa s furthe r complicate d b y a cabl e fro m Huebsch : 'Certainly I wan t novel . Pinke r neve r submitted . Can t yo u cabl e withdrawin g manuscript an d transfe r t o me' ! (iii . 40 9 n . 1) . Huebsc h ha d a righ t t o fee l aggrieved sinc e h e ha d take n al l th e risk s o f publishin g Lawrenc e i n America ; and Pinker' s lac k o f interes t i n America n publicatio n ha d lande d hi s autho r i n a situation wher e h e seemed onl y to o likely t o have t o offend somebody . But who ? H e certainl y neede d t o kee p i n wit h Seeker , wh o wa s t o publis h th e Shestov an d seeme d likel y t o becom e hi s regula r Englis h publishe r now . Seeke r 527
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had eve n suggeste d a 'Collecte d Poems' , thoug h th e ide a was i n abeyanc e because Duckwort h wa s no t kee n o n releasin g Love Poems, bein g quit e conten t with a smal l annua l sal e o f abou t 15 0 copies , Lawrenc e though t (iii . 398) . Lawrence ha d als o offere d Seeke r th e Studies in Classic American Literature, while insistin g tha t h e di d no t wan t the m 'displayed ' throug h Pinke r 'befor e promiscuous publishers ' (iii . 407) . H e had , n o less , t o kee p i n wit h 'th e onl y "white" publishe r i n America' , becaus e Huebsc h was th e ke y bot h t o keepin g several previou s volume s i n prin t there , an d t o publishin g th e America n essay s which seeme d a vitall y importan t ste p i n gainin g a n America n readership . H e had jus t begge d Huebsc h t o tr y t o ge t essay s suc h a s those o n Dan a an d Melvill e into 'som e monthly , lik e th e Atlantic\ becaus e publicatio n i n 'respectabl e soun d periodicals . . . woul d hel p m y reputatio n immensely ' (iii . 405) . H e ha d no w als o sent 'Democracy ' a s a possible substitut e fo r th e essay on Whitman , whic h migh t help publicatio n o f th e whole . Bu t hi s ne w relationshi p wit h Seltze r woul d b e ruined i f he were t o withdraw th e typescript , afte r recoverin g it . He playe d fo r time , abl e a t leas t t o sa y t o Huebsc h an d Seeke r tha t h e ha d asked fo r th e typescrip t bac k befor e h e lef t fo r Italy , an d postponin g a final decision unti l i t was clea r whethe r Seltze r woul d retur n it . (H e ma y hav e hope d that i t woul d prov e to o lat e fo r that ; lettin g hi m of f th e hook , s o tha t h e coul d plead tha t i t was not hi s fault. ) It wa s definitel y not th e kin d o f tangl e t o have , unresolved , jus t a s h e wa s leaving fo r . . . h e di d no t eve n kno w wher e yet , i n Italy . H e though t h e migh t g o to ' a farm ' i n Caserta . H e ha d no t give n u p hop e o f hearing fro m Mackenzie , bu t to be 'nea r Naples ' (iii . 407 ) wa s to be wel l on th e wa y to Capri . Th e far m was i n fact th e home , nea r th e villag e o f Picinisc o i n th e Abruzz i mountains , o f Orazi o Cervi wh o ha d ofte n serve d a s mal e mode l fo r Rosalind' s sculpto r father , an d who ha d retire d t o hi s homelan d t o buil d a hous e fro m hi s savings . Lawrenc e spent th e las t da y o f Octobe r i n Pangbourn e wit h Rosalind , wh o seem s t o hav e offered t o dispos e o f hi s book s i n Readin g alon g wit h he r own . I t seem s likel y that sh e wa s already thinkin g abou t wha t (wit h characteristi c generosity ) sh e was going t o d o abou t a divorce. Ther e wa s bound t o b e publicity , an d sh e woul d b e best ou t o f Englan d befor e th e cas e cam e up . Si r Ham o Thornycrof t wrot e t o Orazio, wh o ha d replie d o n 2 4 October tha t hi s 'littl e house ' wa s 'a t you r onour s disposal fo r an y lengt h o f tim e yo u shoul d riquir e it' . H e though t it s positio n might sui t hi s Honour' s daughter , bu t ' I mus t sa y wit h grea t sham e tha t i t i s no t well furnished' , thoug h h e though t som e necessar y thing s migh t b e borrowed . Moreover hi s wif e ha d die d a yea r before , s o 'ther e i s n o on e livin g wit h m e exept a ca t an d a dog' . However , h e though t h e migh t overrid e hi s grown-u p children's objection s an d marr y agai n i n abou t si x week s time , whic h 'woul d b e good fo r th e comfor t o f the Ladie s yo u woul d b e sendin g me' . H e wa s nothin g i f not obliging , touchingl y anxiou s t o sho w hi s gratitud e t o hi s ol d patro n an d 528
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benefactor. Th e children' s youn g nurs e Iv y Knigh t wa s willin g t o g o wit h Rosalind, bu t a s th e possibilitie s wer e discusse d i n Pangbourn e Lawrenc e mus t have suggeste d tha t h e shoul d scou t i n advance , t o se e whethe r th e hous e woul d be suitabl e fo r Rosalin d an d th e thre e smal l childre n - fo r i t wa s i n thos e term s that Rosalin d hersel f proceede d t o writ e t o Orazio i n November . Lawrence, fo r hi s part , aske d Catherin e Carswel l t o writ e t o a relation o f her s by marriage , Ellesin a Santoro , t o se e whethe r sh e coul d find a roo m fo r hi m i n Rome fo r a fe w day s o n th e wa y (iii . 407 ) - a t th e sam e tim e makin g th e Carswells a farewel l presen t o f hi s 'tattere d bu t complete ' se t o f D e Quincey , whom h e particularl y like d becaus e o f a share d distast e fo r th e grea t idealists , Plato an d Goethe . Lawrenc e ha d bee n drive n ove r t o Pangbourn e b y Cecil y an d Violet; an d Rosalind , bus y packin g he r books , offered the m thei r choic e (advise d by him) . O n th e wa y bac k Lawrenc e spotte d som e fine mushroom s i n a field, stopped th e buggy , an d wa s ove r th e fenc e i n a flash, trespas s o r no , t o secur e supper. 94 On 4 Novembe r h e finally move d ou t o f Chape l Far m Cottag e an d too k hi s luggage u p t o Kot's , hopin g a t first t o sta y onl y a fe w days . H e wante d t o trave l by sea , sinc e 'overlan d travellin g i s such a sweat now ' (iii . 411) , an d go t Thoma s Dunlop (no w bac k i n London ) t o wir e t o Leghor n fo r a berth o n a cargo shi p t o Naples. Bu t eve n afte r a wee k hangin g abou t i n Londo n whic h h e alway s disliked, h e coul d find n o passag e withou t th e certaint y o f furthe r delay . S o i t would hav e t o b e th e train . Wha t Dunlo p probabl y di d provid e howeve r wa s a n introduction t o a ric h Englishma n i n Turi n wher e Lawrenc e coul d brea k hi s journey. Lawrenc e the n wire d Norma n Dougla s t o find hi m a chea p roo m i n Florence an d leav e a messag e a t Cook s ther e (iii . 409) . Eithe r i n Turi n o r Florence h e woul d wai t fo r Frieda , wh o no w seeme d likel y t o joi n hi m befor e long. Sh e ha d writte n t o sa y how ba d th e foo d shortag e was , and he r luggag e ha d still no t turne d up , s o sh e wa s naturall y 'non e to o happy ' (iii . 412) . Sh e woul d want t o chee r he r mothe r an d d o al l sh e coul d fo r her , bu t ther e was littl e sh e could do, an d littl e t o mak e he r wan t t o sta y o n longer , eve n i f ther e wer e n o question o f her mone y runnin g out . The wee k i n Londo n mad e Lawrenc e on e ne w acquaintance , Ma x Plowman , who had sen t a n inscribe d cop y o f his latest book , and who m Lawrenc e propose d to introduce a s a candidate fo r th e Danie l serie s o f People's play s - bu t mos t o f his visiting s wer e good-byes , t o th e Goldrings , Aldingto n an d Cynthia . Cathe rine too k hi m t o th e S t James's theatr e t o se e Henry Ainle y an d Mario n Terr y i n a pla y base d o n Tolstoy' s The Live Corpse, whic h h e though t suc h 'awfu l rubbish' tha t the y lef t befor e th e interva l (iii . 411). 97 H e enquire d anxiousl y from Cecil y whethe r th e fol k i n th e Hermitag e post-offic e wer e forwardin g hi s letters (iii . 411-12) , fo r ther e wa s stil l nothin g fro m Seltzer . H e encourage d he r to kee p visitin g Rosalin d an d Joan ; an d (mor e surprisingly ) sen t regard s t o he r 529
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father wh o ha d though t hi m a mos t unsuitabl e friend . Sinc e Seeke r wa s als o going t o Ital y (a t one stag e Lawrenc e though t the y migh t g o together), Women in Love woul d hav e t o b e postpone d i n England , an d th e America n proble m woul d have t o wai t also . A t almos t th e las t momen t a chequ e fo r £2 0 arrive d fro m Huebsch (hi . 413 ) - mos t welcome . Anothe r £1 5 ha d com e throug h Goldrin g from th e theatrica l produce r Norma n Macdermot t a s an optio n o n Touch and Go (hi. 440) . 'B y managin g th e rat e o f exchange, ' Lawrenc e tol d Huebsch , ' I expec t to b e abl e t o liv e i n Italy ' (iii . 413 ) - h e though t h e coul d ge t 50-5 2 lir e t o th e pound throug h th e Banc a Italia , thoug h no t throug h Cook s (iii . 414) ! Before th e war th e rat e ha d bee n hal f that . This las t dela y howeve r brough t hi s dislik e o f Englan d t o a pitch o f intensity , particularly sinc e th e Novembe r weathe r remaine d 'hideous' . Aldington , wh o had no t see n hi m fo r som e time , was particularl y struc k no t onl y b y hi s animosity no w t o th e countr y o f hi s birth , bu t eve n mor e b y th e instinctiv e animosity o f Englis h peopl e t o him . I n 'th e apartmen t o f tw o America n friends ' - probabl y cod e fo r Arabell a an d he r mothe r - Lawrenc e sa t hunche d i n a chai r by th e ga s fire, in a 'peculiar mood' , Aldingto n thought : He wa s i n tha t stat e o f animosit y whic h come s t o a ma n whe n h e finds himsel f alon e against th e world . H e wa s literall y 'satirical, ' reall y lik e a wil d half-trappe d creature , a satyr, desperately fighting to get free. ... H e told u s that Fried a ha d gon e to visit he r relative s i n Germany , an d seeme d no t to care if he never sa w her again. And thi s was sad indeed afte r th e passion an d intensit y of their relationship ; so vivid an d s o complete whethe r i n attraction o r repulsion tha t th e lives of other lovers seemed commonplace .. . When Lawrenc e an d I left , th e crowd s wer e comin g ou t o f th e theatres ; an d a s we made our way through th e people there were gibes and sneer s at Lawrence's red beard, a sudden littl e whirlpoo l o f mo b hostility . O f course , the y ha d n o ide a wh o h e was , had never hear d o f him; it was simply th e ugl y instinctive hatred o f the crowd fo r th e person who i s different , whic h the y suspec t mean s som e for m o f superiority . The n I sa w th e reason fo r hi s acrid moo d an d fo r his flight from England . There was no place for hi m in that rather sinister post-war world. Either he must escape from i t or it would crush him. 98 If he ha d eve r crave d attentio n (a s Cecil y thought) , i t wa s not tha t kind . No r was Aldington th e onl y on e t o sens e th e hostility . O n Lawrence' s las t tri p t o Londo n he ha d lunche d wit h Marsh , wh o ha d foun d i t 'remarkable , ho w th e poet s ar e returning t o Beauty! ' - bu t ha d the n bee n 'afrai d t o wal k wit h m e u p th e Mal l afterwards, an d ra n awa y lik e a respectable rabbit . Wha t I want t o kno w is , was i t my appearance , o r m y reputation , o r his? ' (iii. 396) . By Wednesda y 1 2 Novembe r h e ha d collecte d visa s fro m th e Italia n an d French consulates , an d ha d sen t hi s heav y luggag e t o awai t hi m i n Rome , keeping onl y wha t h e coul d carry . H e wa s stil l unsur e whethe r t o sto p of f i n Florence bu t though t h e woul d probabl y wai t fo r Fried a there , befor e goin g t o 530
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Rome an d o n t o Ticinesco ' an d 'Grazio' , neithe r o f whic h h e ha d learne d t o spell ye t (iii . 414) . On e o f hi s las t thought s wa s t o as k Rosalin d t o exchang e he r copy o f Dulac' s fairy-tale s fo r an y o f th e book s sh e wa s sellin g fo r hi m o r th e price o f all , an d t o pos t i t t o th e Dunlo p childre n wh o woul d lov e it . H e als o gave he r detaile d instruction s abou t visa s an d currenc y t o eas e he r journey . H e was finally read y t o go. At 8 a.m . o n Frida y 1 4 November 1919 , jus t ove r a yea r afte r th e Armistice , he caugh t th e trai n t o Folkestone , Pari s an d Turin . O n th e platfor m t o se e hi m off wa s nobod y English , onl y a Russian an d tw o Scots , th e faithfu l Kot , an d th e Carswells. Catherin e an d Donal d ha d give n him , a s partin g presents , ' a some what wor n coat-linin g o f natura l cameP s hair ' whic h turne d ou t t o b e a godsend , and ' a voluminou s blac k an d whit e shepherd' s plaid ' whic h ha d belonge d t o Catherine's grandmother . I t wa s an ic y day , an d ther e wa s sno w o n th e Down s 'like a shroud' a s the trai n move d throug h th e gre y mornin g t o th e coast . He was leaving , i n considerabl e bitterness , th e Englan d t o whic h h e ha d returned fro m hi s winte r i n Fiascherin o wit h suc h hig h hope s i n 1914 , lookin g forward t o marriage , th e publicatio n o f hi s greates t wor k s o far , an d th e consolidation o f a growin g reputatio n a s on e o f th e mos t promisin g o f th e younger Englis h writers . No w h e ha d becom e a n alie n wh o woul d neve r fee l a t home ther e again . I n Kangaroo Somer s remembers , probabl y recallin g hi s author's moo d accuratel y enough , how : 'a s h e looke d bac k fro m th e boat , whe n they ha d lef t Folkeston e behin d an d onl y Englan d was there , Englan d looke d like a grey , dreary-gre y coffi n sinkin g i n th e se a behind , wit h he r dea d gre y cliffs, an d th e white , worn-out clot h o f snow above' .
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PART FIV E
•
Italy Again
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• November 1919-Augus t 1920 CAPRI AN D SICIL Y
I feel I shall never come north again. (iii. 511) I T h e Travelle r Post-war train s wer e slow , ofte n stationary , s o Lawrenc e di d no t reac h Turi n until 8 p.m. on Saturday 1 5 November, havin g bee n thirty-si x hour s o n the wa y (iii. 415) . I t wa s a n awkwar d tim e t o lan d o n strangers . H e mus t hav e fel t unsure o f his welcom e a s his tax i too k hi m throug h th e we t darkness , an d set him dow n besid e th e imposin g gatewa y an d lodg e o f Si r Walte r Becker . Th e lodge-keeper ha d t o telephon e th e bi g hous e befor e allowin g hi m t o carr y hi s bags alon g th e drive an d up th e steps, wher e a man-servant i n whit e glove s was waiting at the door t o take them . Th e entrance hal l wa s equally imposing : yello w marble pillar s wit h gilde d arches , thic k Turkis h carpe t o n th e floors, a gran d staircase. Si r Walter woul d late r conced e th e accuracy o f the descriptions o f the house i n Aaron's Rod, while objectin g t o the 'portrayal' of himself an d hi s wife that difficulty , a s always, of only-too-recognisable peopl e and settings worke d u p for imaginativ e an d structura l purposes . Actuall y th e nove l show s Aaro n bein g welcomed wit h graciou s benevolence , b y ' a small , clea n ol d ma n wit h a thi n white bear d an d a courtly deportment , wearin g a black velve t dinner-jacke t face d with purpl e silk' , wh o wa s obviousl y a t dinne r wit h hi s guest s - Lawrence' s lateness bein g thu s compounde d b y a further awkwardnes s o f dress. Afte r bein g taken t o his room, Aaro n i s placed besid e hi s hostess an d served dishe s speciall y prepared, t o hel p hi m catc h up . 'Lad y Franks ' i s show n a s gracious , almos t queenly wit h he r pearl s an d th e diamon d sta r i n he r hair , makin g conversatio n and a t th e sam e tim e keepin g a watchfu l ey e o n th e need s o f he r guests . Al l through th e after-dinne r marsal a wit h th e me n - n o por t yet , post-wa r - an d when rejoinin g th e ladies i n the library upstairs , ther e i s hospitable kindnes s fo r Aaron a s i n al l probabilit y ther e wa s fo r Lawrence . Th e nove l detect s n o snobbish condescension , thoug h th e real-life hos t remarke d late r o n the 'home spun-clad figure' o f his guest . Sir Walte r ha d mad e a considerable fortun e a s a shipowner. Hi s knighthoo d was new, awarded i n 191 8 for establishing a hospital fo r British troop s i n Turin , 535
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and som e propagand a activities . H e ha d bee n investe d wit h hi s KB E les s tha n three week s befor e Lawrence' s visit , s o th e showing-of f o f hi s decoration s b y 'Sir William ' afte r dinne r ma y hav e happene d muc h a s th e nove l describes . H e was ver y ric h - an d Lawrenc e wa s ver y poor , a t a disadvantage , an d unde r a n obligation whic h h e alway s disliked . T o a n objectiv e ey e however , thoug h Aaron's Rod ma y hav e made it s knight older , fraile r an d mor e materialis t tha n Si r Walter actuall y was , and ma y hav e worke d u p th e argumen t betwee n Aaro n an d his hos t i n keepin g wit h a major them e o f the novel , ther e i s no persona l animu s in th e fictionalising - thoug h i t i s hardl y a 'than k you ' fo r th e tw o night s o f hospitality. Lawrence' s feeling s a t th e tim e wer e pu t t o Cynthi a Asquit h onl y two day s afte r th e visit , an d ha d mor e t o d o wit h th e ga p betwee n artis t an d plutocrats tha n anythin g personal . The y wer e 'rathe r nic e peopl e really' . Ye t hi s stomach has a bad habit of turning a complete somersault when it finds itself in the wrong element, like a dolphin i n th e air . The ol d knigh t an d I had a sincere half-mockin g argument , h e for security and bank-balance and power, I for naked liberty. In the end, he rested safe on his bank balance, I in my nakedness. We hated each other - bu t with respect. But c'est lui qui mourra. He is going to die - mo i non. He knows that, the impotent ol d wolf, so he is ready i n on e hal f t o murder me . I don' t wan t t o murde r hi m - merel y leav e him t o his death, (iii. 417) The gues t spen t Sunda y lookin g a t Turi n an d it s countryside , se t agains t th e mountains, and o n Monda y wa s on hi s way again (iii . 415). He decide d t o g o t o Florenc e b y wa y o f Geno a an d th e coas t rathe r tha n through Milan , an d stoppe d ove r fo r ol d times ' sak e a t th e Alberg o dell e Palm e at Lerici . Fo r fifty mile s afte r Geno a th e trac k ra n clos e besid e th e se a an d th e weather ha d cleared , s o thoug h thi s train , too , was ofte n a t a standstil l th e vie w was 'mos t beautiful , blazin g su n an d blu e sk y an d Ital y quit e hersel f (iii . 415) . Motionless a t 5.3 0 'besid e a lovely sunse t sea' , h e wrot e anothe r lette r o f advic e to Rosalin d t o eas e he r journey , wit h tip s abou t route s an d porter s an d custom s and changin g money , a picture o f his ow n recen t experience . H e rea d th e Italia n papers, finding the m livel y an d no t to o seriou s eve n a t electio n time , an d calle d on hi s ol d Leric i acquaintances , bu t hi s car d t o Cecil y show s th e weathe r ha d gone greye r (iii . 417), and i n Florenc e th e rai n ha d se t i n (e.g . iii . 418). Dougla s had booke d hi m a roo m i n th e Pension e Balestr a (wher e Dougla s himsel f was staying ; iii. 420) fo r onl y 1 0 lire a day includin g foo d (iii . 424); but thoug h i t had a fine vie w overlookin g th e Arn o i t seeme d 'stone-comfortless ' an d remot e on th e 'thir d floor o f th e big , ancient , deserted ' house. 5 A s h e sen t of f a spate o f postcards h e bega n t o fee l lonely , an d (hi s impression s changin g wit h hi s mood ) to find Ital y 'rathe r spoile d b y th e wa r - a differen t temper - no t s o nic e a 536
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humour b y far ' (iii . 419) ; bu t wit h 'tw o friend s here ' h e wa s no t 'quit e alone ' (iii. 418) . His late r accoun t o f how , o n hi s wa y i n th e we t twiligh t fro m Cook s t o th e pensione afte r pickin g u p Douglas' s message , h e ha d ru n int o Dougla s wit h Maurice Magnus , i s to o lon g t o quot e i n ful l an d to o livel y no t t o quot e a t all , even i f onl y a s description , withou t Douglas' s characteristi c rat-ta t rhythm s o f speech an d th e sligh t twan g - no t reall y a n accen t - whic h was th e onl y hin t o f Americanness i n th e precis e enunciatio n an d somewha t 'mincing ' voice ' o f Magnus wit h it s 'odd hig h squeak' . I ha d unconsciousl y see n th e tw o me n approaching , Dougla s tal l an d portly , th e othe r man rather short an d strutting . They wer e both buttoned u p i n their overcoats , and bot h had rathe r curl y little hats. But Douglas wa s decidedly shabb y and a gentleman, wit h his wicked red fac e and tufted eyebrows . The other man was almost smart, all in grey, and he looked a t first sight lik e an actor-manager, common . There wa s a touch o f down-on-hisluck about him too .. . He looke d a man o f abou t forty , spruc e an d youngis h i n hi s deportment , ver y pink faced, an d ver y clean , very spruce , ver y alert , lik e a sparrow painte d t o resembl e a torntit.6 They mad e a n extraordinar y pair . Dougla s i n hi s fiftie s ha d a broken-dow n distinction lik e a grey-haire d Mephistopheles , stil l handsom e thoug h hi s fac e had reddenee d an d hi s eye s twinkle d wickedl y unde r thic k gre y brows . Whimsical, charmingl y unscrupulous , h e towere d abov e th e other , a littl e ma n who 'stuc k hi s fron t ou t tubbily ' abov e leg s whic h 'seeme d t o perc h behin d him , as a bird's do' . Thoug h Magnu s turne d ou t t o b e hard-u p too , h e wa s indee d a man wh o kne w 'al l th e shor t cut s i n al l th e bi g town s o f Europe ' an d wh o stil l indulged expensiv e tastes . Ad d t o thes e Lawrence , 'buttone d u p i n m y ol d thic k overcoat, and wit h m y bear d bush y an d ragg y becaus e o f my horro r o f entering a strange barber' s shop' 7 an d ther e i s a vision worth y o f Max Beerbohm . Ye t her e in Ital y ther e wa s no hostilit y fro m passers-by . From Wednesda y t o Saturda y th e thre e me n ha d thei r meal s togethe r an d sa t drinking afterward s i n eithe r Douglas' s o r Magnus' s bedrooms , whic h agai n made th e sharpes t o f contrasts . Magnus' s roo m wa s 'ver y clea n an d neat , an d slightly perfumed' . Everythin g i n i t wa s 'expensiv e an d finicking': cut-glas s silver-topped bottle s an d ivory-backe d brushe s o n th e dressing-table , thic k leather silver-studde d suitcases , a trouser-press; an d elegan t devotiona l literatur e by th e bedside , fo r Magnu s wa s a Roman Catholi c conver t wh o no w though t h e might lik e t o becom e a mon k an d wen t t o earl y Mas s ever y day . Wherea s Douglas neve r believe d i n openin g windows , an d th e 'quee r smel l o f a bedroo m which i s slep t in , worke d in , live d in , smoke d in , an d i n whic h me n drin k thei r whiskies, wa s somethin g new ' t o Lawrence . Dougla s was paga n an d amora l b y 537
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conviction, mor e libertaria n tha n Lawrenc e - an d acknowledgin g les s responsi bility fo r anythin g bu t hi s ow n pleasure . Bot h ne w acquaintance s wer e homosexual b y preference , thoug h bot h ha d married . Magnu s dislike d women . Douglas - wh o no w preferre d boy s - ha d bee n a grea t womanise r befor e hi s marriage, an d remaine d charmingl y behave d an d attractiv e t o wome n still , though h e ha d becom e mysogynis t afte r hi s divorc e an d though t o f eve n th e attractive one s a s a n inferio r species . Hi s conversatio n was entirel y uninhibited . Both me n acte d o n th e belie f tha t th e les s mone y on e had , th e mor e importan t i t was t o spend , wherea s Lawrenc e wa s determine d neve r t o b e i n deb t o r unde r any obligatio n tha t coul d b e avoided . H e ha d arrive d i n Florenc e wit h onl y fy sterling i n hi s pocke t an d £1 2 i n th e ban k i n England , an d ha d Fried a t o thin k of, s o the whisky-drinkin g bout s fel t extravagan t thoug h h e pai d hi s share . They wer e livel y company . Dougla s a t hi s bes t ha d grea t raffis h charm , considerable learnin g o n al l sort s o f subjects , a ric h stor e o f anecdot e (lik e hi s language, frequentl y obscene ) an d a zes t fo r lif e whic h coul d no t bu t attrac t despite hi s self-centredness , malic e an d mischief-making , non e o f whic h h e made an y attemp t t o disguise . Magnu s ha d bee n manage r t o Gordo n Crai g an d Isadora Duncan ; kne w man y Europea n capitals ; ha d edite d th e Roman Review 'till th e wa r kille d it ' an d live d no w b y writin g fo r America n magazines , thoug h seemingly alway s beyon d hi s mean s s o tha t h e wa s alway s o n th e move . Bot h men wer e cosmopolita n an d widel y travelled . Muc h o f Douglas' s upbringin g had bee n i n Austria , an d a s wel l a s a successful novel , South Wind, h e ha d mad e a reputatio n a s a travel writer , especiall y abou t Italy . H e als o kne w somethin g o f Asia Minor , Nort h Afric a an d Indi a a s wel l a s Russia; an d acquire d considerabl e scientific knowledg e o f geology , faun a an d flora whereve r h e went . Magnu s ha d had a theatrica l caree r i n mor e way s tha n one , havin g lande d u p a t on e stag e i n the Frenc h Foreig n legio n - o f which more , later . Subsequent event s an d experience s hav e coloure d almos t al l thei r publishe d memories an d judgement s o f one another , s o their response s a t th e tim e ca n onl y be uncovere d b y peelin g of f late r overlay s an d hindsight s a s fa r a s possible . Th e contemporary evidenc e (suc h a s i t is ) suggest s littl e shadow , an d muc h mutua l fascination. Ther e i s n o hin t no w o f th e repulsio n fro m homosexual s tha t Lawrence ha d fel t earlier . H e wa s unworrie d no w abou t suc h things , an d indee d began t o find i n Florenc e c a nice carelessness ' (iii . 419) whic h ma y hav e signifie d more tha n th e easygoin g regim e i n th e pensione . H e seem s t o hav e bee n amuse d by Magnus' s matronl y fussin g ove r Douglas , thoug h a bi t shocke d stil l perhap s by Douglas' s pederasty . Whe n Douglas , i n turn , was amuse d a t Lawrence' s objection t o th e Florentin e boy s showin g s o muc h bar e leg , th e caus e ma y hav e lain a s much i n Douglas' s reactio n t o the phenomeno n a s in th e thin g itself - bu t of repulsio n ther e i s n o sign . Moreove r bot h o f the m tende d t o pu t thei r bes t sides forwar d o n first acquaintance . I f ther e wer e t o b e friction , tempe r o r 538
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sharpness, thes e woul d com e later . Nobod y eve r conveye d th e flavou r o f Douglas's talk , o r it s funniness , bette r tha n th e ma n who m h e woul d late r accus e of havin g n o sens e o f humour . A s t o Magnus , Lawrenc e ma y hav e fel t tha t h e was bein g condescende d t o b y th e littl e man , an d i f so , hi s descriptio n o f Magnus a s 'common ' ma y hav e bee n reactio n t o tha t a s wel l a s t o a touc h o f sleaze beneat h th e showmanship . Ye t thei r subsequen t relationshi p coul d no t have com e abou t withou t a sense , too , o f somethin g fin e i n Magnus' s insou ciance, sensitivit y an d lov e o f beautifu l things . Whe n o n Saturda y 22n d i t cam e to buyin g Magnu s a birthda y present , befor e th e celebrator y dinne r h e ha d undertaken t o giv e i n th e pensione , an d befor e h e lef t fo r Rom e o n Sunday , Douglas's suggestio n o f a religiou s meda l ha d a hin t o f satire , wherea s Law rence's choic e o f a little five-lir a Volterra n ambe r bow l wa s perceptiv e an d gav e real pleasure . Maurice' s admiratio n o f th e 'lovel y colour ' o f Lawrence' s hai r wa s also someho w touchin g a s wel l a s disconcertin g (particularl y sinc e h e coul d hardly b e persuade d tha t it s strang e tin t wa s no t a dye). Though Lawrenc e late r doubted whethe r Magnu s like d him , an d claime d t o hav e bee n 'rathe r glad ' himself whe n h e ha d gone , ther e wa s a n invitatio n t o com e t o th e grea t monastery a t Montecassin o whe n nex t th e would-b e mon k wa s a gues t there , and a Lawrence promis e t o d o so , which suggest s som e likin g on bot h sides. 10 As fo r Douglas , eve n thoug h th e rathe r ranci d portrai t i n hi s Looking Back concentrates o n Lawrence' s fault s an d limitation s a s perso n an d writer , a s Douglas cam e t o se e these , i t admit s als o hi s 'naturall y blith e disposition' , hi s curiosity, hi s direc t an d instantaneou s poet' s observation , an d 'somethin g elemental i n him , somethin g o f th e Erdgeisf. Thes e wer e probabl y th e thing s that struc k Dougla s first , eve n thoug h Lawrenc e ma y hav e bee n a littl e o n hi s guard a t th e beginning . Dougla s certainl y hastene d t o introduc e hi m t o Reggi e Turner almos t a t onc e - thoug h ther e wa s som e ris k involve d i n openin g u p t o Lawrence's observan t gaz e th e circl e o f expatriate s wh o frequente d th e fla t o f this frien d o f Oscar Wilde . Man y o f thes e ha d com e t o liv e i n Florenc e becaus e their taste s wer e 'no n grata ' i n England . Som e (lik e Douglas ) coul d no t g o back ; others (lik e Reggie) n o longe r wante d to . Douglas wrot e t o Turner : I hav e D. H. Lawrenc e (The White Peacock, The Rainbow etc ) wit h m e just now . Would you car e t o meet him ? I f so, let m e kno w an d I wil l arrange a quiet dinne r somewhere , ONLY WE THREE. I a m goin g t o preven t hi s meetin g certai n othe r people , becaus e h e i s a damne d observant fello w an d migh t b e so amused a t certain aspect s o f Florentine lif e a s to use it for 'copy' in some book: which would be annoying. Read hi s Twilight in Italy, i f you ca n ge t a copy - tha t give s yo u a clue t o hi s natur e which is sympathetic and yet strangely remote. 12 Of cours e th e suspicio n tha t the y woul d al l appea r i n Lawrence' s fictio n wa s 539
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exceedingly well-founded , thoug h i t i s no t clea r ho w man y o f th e figures i n 'Algy's (i.e . Reggie's ) fla t i n Aaron's Rod wer e me t i n 1919 , a s oppose d t o Lawrence's tw o late r visit s i n 1920 . B e tha t a s i t may , o n th e Monda y afte r Magnus's departur e anothe r grou p o f Lawrence' s postcard s spea k o f dinin g ou t with friend s 'i n town ' (iii . 421), so h e ha d begu n t o mak e th e acquaintanc e o f th e favourite trattoria s frequente d b y th e clan . (Th e picture s o n th e card s als o sho w that h e ha d no w bee n t o th e Uffizi , wherea s th e first se t wer e o f th e Piazz a dell a Signoria, Aaron' s first glimpse s o f which , wit h it s ston e an d statue s we t wit h rain, ar e graphicall y describe d i n th e novel. ) I t woul d certainl y no t hav e bee n long befor e th e infinitel y hospitabl e Reggi e invite d Lawrenc e t o th e Vial e Milton, whic h h e woul d us e fo r Aaron y s Rod.. Algy had a very pleasant flat indeed, kept more scrupulously nea t and finicking than ever any woman's flat was kept. S o today, with it s bowls of flowers and it s pictures an d book s and old furniture, an d Algy, very nicely dressed, fluttering and blinking and making really a charming host, it was all very delightful.. . Reggie though t o f himsel f a s ver y ugly , an d s o h e apparentl y wa s whe n no t animated: hug e nose , rubber y face , thic k lip s an d a nervous afflictio n whic h kep t him blinking , 'lik e som e craz y owl ' i n Lawrence' s description . Hi s manner s an d his wit , wit h it s abidin g flavour o f Osca r Wilde , ha d remaine d o f th e nineties , very old-fashione d now . Norma n Dougla s coul d neve r resis t teasin g an d insulting him , s o the relationshi p (whic h bot h seeme d t o need) seeme d alway s o n the poin t o f a final rupture , bu t i t neve r came . Fo r Reggi e was a kin d man . Hi s novels wer e forgotte n already ; ye t hi s lif e wa s les s futil e tha n h e though t it , because o f hi s talen t fo r friendshi p an d hi s abidin g loyalties . Th e circl e i n Florence whic h Lawrenc e wa s t o mee t throug h hi m a t on e tim e an d anothe r could certainl y b e describe d a s ' a curiou s lot ' an d 'startling' , ye t Aaro n probabl y speaks fo r hi s autho r i n finding the m als o 'ver y muc h bette r fu n tha n everybod y all alike'. 14 By tha t Monda y (2 4 November ) Lawrenc e ha d hear d fro m Frieda . Sh e ha d not ye t 'fixe d u p he r passport ' (iii . 420 ) - i.e . go t permissio n t o trave l i n Germany, an d th e vis a fo r Ital y - bu t tw o day s late r sh e wire d tha t sh e woul d come o n 3 Decembe r (iii . 422) . He r los t luggag e ha d turne d up , althoug h 'th e Dutch thieve s kept al l the new stuff (iii . 426). In Florenc e th e su n wa s shinin g no w o n a n Arn o stil l yello w and swolle n wit h rain. Th e cit y seeme d 'beautiful , an d ful l o f lif e an d plenty ' (iii . 421) , an d i f it s people ha d bee n marke d i n som e respect s b y th e war , stil l the y ha d 'som e blessed insouciance^ (iii . 422 ) - Lawrencia n keywor d - an d s o ha d he . A t last , with th e pressur e o f Englan d of f him , an d amon g peopl e eve n mor e unconven tional tha n h e was , 'One move s lightly ' (iii . 425). He ha d himself'dentisted' ; an d found tha t h e coul d liv e 'welP fo r £2 a wee k (iii . 425 ) - bu t b y th e en d o f 540
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November h e calculate d tha t h e ha d alread y change d £40 altogether, 1 s o h e had, t o be carefu l abou t money . Tw o o f the batc h o f postcards o n th e 24t h spea k of'loafing' (iii . 419, 420) an d h e was clearl y enjoyin g that , bu t i t behove d hi m t o try t o ear n somethin g befor e Fried a arrived , thoug h h e rathe r hope d sh e migh t have a bit lef t ove r fro m wha t h e ha d give n her . In earl y Decembe r h e wrot e Katherin e a reconcilin g lette r sayin g tha t Florence wa s not onl y lovel y bu t ful l of'extremel y nic e people' . Thi s wa s almos t certainly i n respons e t o a los t lette r fro m Murr y wit h he r ne w addres s i n Ospedaletti 16 - whic h Lawrenc e too k a s a n oliv e branch , perhap s showin g awareness tha t h e ha d no t bee n treate d well . H e ha d alread y se t t o wor k again . He usuall y waite d unti l project s wer e wel l under wa y before talkin g t o publisher s about them , s o h e ha d probabl y begu n writin g som e tim e befor e h e announce d to Huebsch o n 3 December tha t h e planne d 't o d o variou s smal l thing s - o n Ital y and o n Psycoanalysi s [sic ] - fo r th e periodicals ' (iii . 426-7) . B y 6 Decembe r h e had swallowe d hi s vo w never t o sen d a n articl e t o Murr y agai n (iii . 428). What h e probabl y sen t first wa s 'David' , abou t Michelangelo' s statu e a s th e epitome o f Florence . Thi s begin s wit h th e rai n an d th e 'cafe-au-lait ' rive r see n from hi s 'uppe r room' . Morning in Florence. Dark, grey, and raining , with a perpetual soun d o f water. Over th e bridge, carriages trottin g unde r grea t ragge d umbrellas . Two whit e bullock s urge d fro m beneath a bright green umbrella, shambling into a trot as the whip-thong flickers betwee n their sof t shanks . Tw o me n ar m i n ar m unde r on e umbrella , goin g nimbl y .. . Innumerable umbrellas .. . David in the Piazza livid with rain. The them e i s familia r Lawrence . Th e statu e i s see n a s th e apotheosi s o f th e Florentine cinquecento , tha t momentar y marriag e an d equilibriu m o f Nort h an d South, fire an d water , wher e th e 'northern ' extremit y o f th e ho t Ital y meet s th e most southerl y ti p o f col d transalpin e Europe . Davi d i s th e lil y o f th e cit y o f flowers; bu t th e balanc e an d th e flowering di d no t last . Henc e h e seem s fixed i n adolescence, over-sensitiv e an d someho w exposed , hi s nakednes s livi d whit e i n the norther n rain , s o differen t fro m th e othe r darke r statue s nearby . Th e rai n pours down . Th e flood o f norther n values , chastity , equality , democracy , mass man, seem s abou t t o overwhel m 'al l outstandin g lovelines s o f th e individua l soul'. Bu t Lawrencia n optimis m agai n insist s tha t ther e wil l b e n o final surrender. Th e Florentine s sa y o f th e marbl e yout h tha t ' a ho t excitement , a n anticipatory orgasm , possesse s hi m a t midnight o f the Ne w Year' . Eve n i f that b e fruitless now , on e da y Davi d wil l finish hi s adolescence , an d b e n o longe r a lil y but 'th e ful l tre e o f lif e i n blossom'. 18 Wha t make s th e essay od d howeve r i s it s style, al l staccat o rhythms , stringin g togethe r phrases , apostrophe s an d exclama tions, ofte n verbless ; togethe r wit h a n unusua l abundanc e o f classica l allusion . 54i
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Perhaps Douglas' s conversatio n ha d go t int o Lawrence' s inne r ear ; th e stor y about th e Ne w Yea r orgas m seem s jus t th e sor t o f thing Dougla s migh t hav e tol d him. However, i f 'David ' wer e th e articl e h e sen t Murr y befor e 6 December , i t i s very unlikel y t o hav e bee n th e onl y on e h e wrot e i n Florence . H e neede d t o make som e mone y - bu t h e ha d als o signalled , befor e h e lef t Hermitage , hi s sense o f urgenc y abou t publishin g hi s ne w psychologica l insight s befor e the y were passe d of f b y th e Englis h Freudian s a s their own . I t mus t hav e been this , as much a s financial need , tha t mad e hi m unwillin g simpl y t o i o a f th e day s away , even i f h e wen t o n socialisin g a t dinne r afte r Magnu s left . Le o Stei n late r confirmed tha t h e ha d propose d sendin g wha t h e wa s 'abou t t o writ e o n tha t subject' t o th e New Republic (iv . 12 8 n.), presumably befor e Murry' s lette r came . It mus t hav e bee n this , then , tha t mad e Lawrenc e willin g t o swallo w hi s ange r and mak e u p wit h Murry , a s hi s bes t chanc e o f Englis h publication . Harriso n would no t tak e anothe r serie s s o soon , particularl y on e tha t repeate d (howeve r recast) th e 'psychology ' behin d th e America n essay s - an d wh o els e woul d publish Lawrenc e i n England ? Henc e als o th e lette r t o Katherine , t o who m h e had writte n abou t Jun g an d inces t fro m Mountai n Cottag e an d wh o migh t b e expected t o b e intereste d i n th e subject ; an d henc e th e reques t t o Huebsc h fo r advice abou t publishin g article s o n Ital y and o n psychoanalysis . Whe n Murr y had requeste d contribution s before , Lawrenc e sen t tw o o r thre e lighte r ones , and on e seriou s piece . I f h e di d th e sam e no w - an d a late r furiou s lette r t o Murry confirm s tha t h e di d sen d mor e tha n on e (iii . 467) - i t woul d likel y hav e been somethin g els e abou t Florence , and a first essay o f wha t woul d becom e Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious, adaptin g Jung's Englis h titl e fo r a n attac k o n Freud. Th e othe r Florentin e piec e wa s probabl y a first versio n o f 'Lookin g Down o n th e City' , whic h ha s man y link s wit h 'David ' an d wit h Novembe r 1919, thoug h othe r detail s sugges t 192 0 o r 192 1 an d ma y hav e bee n adde d later. Al l thi s i s necessaril y speculative . Th e onl y har d evidenc e i s tha t on e article, subject unknown , wa s sent t o Murry befor e 6 December, an d tha t a t leas t one othe r followe d - bu t i t doe s see m likel y fro m wha t Lawrenc e tol d Huebsc h and Stein . Post seem s t o hav e bee n gettin g throug h rathe r slowly , bu t a t th e en d o f November i t bega n t o come . Ko t wrote , enclosin g a repea t invitatio n fro m Herbert Trench , who m Lawrenc e ha d me t i n 1914 , t o hi s hom e i n Settignano ; but sinc e Trenc h wa s i n Londo n recoverin g fro m a n accident , an d i t woul d mean stayin g wit h hi s wif e an d daughter , Lawrenc e di d no t g o jus t ye t (iii. 425). 2 Huebsc h sen t a parce l o f hi s publications , includin g Anderson' s Winesburg, Ohio whic h Lawrenc e though t 'goo d . . . bu t someho w har d t o tak e in: lik e a nightmar e on e ca n hardl y recal l distinctly ' (iii . 426) . H e ha d t o repl y that n o wor d ha d com e fro m Seltze r abou t Women in Love, bu t h e bega n t o 542
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prepare Huebsc h fo r disappointmen t b y holdin g ou t th e prospec t o f givin g hi m another novel , ' a mor e possibl y popula r one' , thoug h i t woul d no t b e fo r som e time. (Thi s ma y b e th e firs t mentio n o f Aaron's Rod fo r man y months , prompte d by th e ide a o f usin g th e peopl e h e wa s meeting , an d i f so , beginnin g alread y t o fulfil Douglas' s misgivings. ) And o n 4 December - o n a postcard o f th e statu e o f David a s i t happen s - h e told Emil y tha t Fried a ha d com e (iii . 427).
II Bac k wit h Frieda : Picinisc o She arrive d a t 4 a.m., bu t Lawrenc e insiste d o n showin g he r th e tow n a t once . We went in an open carriage, I saw the pale crouching Duomo and in the thick moonmis t the Giott o towe r disappeare d a t th e to p int o th e sky . Th e Palazz o Vecchi o wit h Michelangelo's David and all the statues of men, we passed. 'This is a men's town,' I said, 'not like Paris, where all statues are women.' We went along the Lungarno, we passed th e Ponte Vecchio , i n tha t moonligh t night , an d eve r sinc e Florenc e i s th e mos t beautifu l town to me, the lily town, delicate and flowery. She enjoye d meetin g Dougla s agai n an d bein g abl e t o tal k he r ow n languag e t o him, insistin g tha t nobod y coul d trul y kno w hi m wh o di d no t hea r hi m i n German an d ta p int o hi s Germa n roots . Sh e wa s 'thrille d a t th e firework s o f wit ' between hi m an d he r husban d (thoug h the y 'neve r quarrelled') , an d impresse d by th e hospitalit y o f th e Florentin e expatriate s 'i n th e gran d manner' . Perhap s Reggie ha d go t the m invite d b y th e Marches e Carl o Torrigian i an d hi s America n wife, whos e at-home s wer e famous , an d wit h who m Reggi e dine d ever y Sunda y he wa s i n Florence . Howeve r th e expatriat e homosexual s struc k Fried a a s iik e "Cranford"' fo r al l thei r sophistication , an d thei r immoralit y 'lik e ol d maids ' secret rejoicin g i n wickedness . Corruptio n i s no t interestin g t o me , no r doe s i t frighten me : I find i t dull. ' He r husban d though t he r 'thinne r fo r he r reduce d diet' (iii . 429 ) bu t 'very well ' - an d sh e di d stil l hav e a littl e mone y lef t ove r because, h e discovered , Ad a ha d sen t he r £1 0 t o hel p ou t (iii . 427) . The y planned no w t o sta y i n Florenc e abou t a week , the n hav e a wee k i n Rom e an d arrive i n Picinisc o abou t 1 7 December . Moreover b y 6 Decembe r hi s immediat e financial worrie s wer e lai d t o res t when £5 0 suddenl y arrive d fro m Seltze r a s an advanc e fo r Women in Love, an d a refusal t o ced e th e publicatio n t o Huebsc h (iii . 428) . Th e mone y mad e u p Lawrence's mind . Onc e i n han d i t mus t hav e seeme d muc h to o hand y t o giv e up. H e wrot e t o Huebsch : I cannot refuse, a s I sent them the MS. - I really thought Pinker had shown it to you long ago. - S o there you are. It's not my fault. 543
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I shal l wai t t o hea r fro m you . I f yo u d o no t wan t th e Studies in Classic American Literature, please return the m to me at once ... (iii . 429-30) The las t thin g h e wante d wa s a break wit h Huebsch , thoug h tha t wa s an obviou s possibility. Huebac h wa s mos t important , no t onl y a s th e mos t likel y publishe r of th e America n essays , no r eve n a s someon e wh o produce d a n America n periodical an d kne w wher e t o plac e articles , bu t a s th e on e ma n wh o migh t ge t The Rainbow bac k i n print . Onl y thre e day s before , Lawrenc e ha d bee n day dreaming abou t th e possibilit y o f Huebsc h reissuin g th e boo k an d sendin g 50 0 sets o f sheet s t o Englan d (iii . 427) . Bu t h e badl y neede d Seltzer' s money , righ t now. That nee d ha d bee n sharpene d eve n mor e b y havin g ha d hi s pocke t picked . According t o Catherin e Carswell , i t happene d a s h e wa s boardin g a tra m bac k from a trip t o Fiesole ; bu t th e accoun t i n Aaron's Rod o f ho w Aaro n i s jostled b y two gang s o f soldiers , an d the n find s hi s note-cas e missing , locate s hi s rout e s o exactly an d describe s th e inciden t s o circumstantially, tha t i t may b e draw n fro m a memor y painfull y exact . O n 2 6 November , a wee k befor e Frieda' s arrival , h e tells Ko t tha t 'M y pe n i s stolen ' (iii . 421). Ther e migh t b e n o connection , bu t i t may b e tha t bot h pe n an d walle t wen t a t th e sam e time . Wha t mad e Lawrence' s experience diffe r fro m mos t people' s wa s hi s reaction , o n whic h bot h th e nove l and Catherin e agree . On e woul d hav e expecte d a burst o f rag e t o follo w th e firs t 'going ho t an d col d al l over' , an d h e certainl y fel t a s everyon e doe s i n suc h circumstances tha t h e ha d bee n physicall y outraged . Bu t hi s ange r wa s mostl y directed a t himself . Just a s illness , h e believed , was one' s ow n responsibility , s o getting robbe d wa s hi s ow n faul t fo r no t takin g sufficien t care , an d fo r havin g a soft fool' s trus t i n untrustworth y fellow-man . H e tol d Catherin e tha t on e mus t live as the wil d animal s do , 'alway s wary , alway s o n one' s guar d agains t enemies . It make s on e mor e alive , anyway , an d no t reall y mor e suspicious . I t i s bes t t o recognise th e trut h tha t mos t peopl e wil l do you i f they can.' 22 The lesso n was t o b e rubbe d i n onc e more , an d fa r to o soon . The y lef t fo r Rome o n 1 0 December . Catherine' s relativ e Ellesin a Santor o ha d foun d wha t she though t wa s a suitable pension e fo r them , bu t the y wer e turne d ou t a s soo n as it wa s discovered tha t Fried a wa s German. I t mus t hav e bee n distressin g t o b e hated i n easygoin g Ital y too . Ellesina - 'th e heroi c suppor t o f a strangely mingle d household' - the n insiste d the y com e t o her, whereupo n the y wer e robbe d again . Lawrence onl y tol d Catherine , i n confidence , year s late r ho w thi s wa s doubl y painful becaus e o f his likin g fo r Ellesina , wh o ha d refuse d t o accep t an y paymen t for havin g them . He kne w no t onl y tha t sh e wa s herself abov e suspicion , but that , whethe r th e thie f were discovered o r not , sh e woul d insis t upo n refundin g th e los t money (somethin g lik e £10, which had just been changed int o Italian notes). What was even worse was that, rightly or 544
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wrongly, Lawrence ha d come to his own conclusions a s to the nature of the theft an d th e identity o f th e thieves , an d h e reckone d tha t i f th e crim e wer e brough t home , i t woul d cause a lasting wound whic h would injur e th e innocent mor e than th e guilty. He decided accordingly to say nothing about it. There i s indee d n o mentio n o f th e inciden t a t th e time . Howeve r i t s o soure d Rome fo r the m (a s wel l a s diminishin g thei r resources ) tha t the y cu t shor t thei r stay - tellin g friend s an d relative s tha t thoug h th e weathe r wa s beautifu l Rom e was 'crowde d an d impossible ' (iii . 431) . The y lef t o n Saturda y 1 3 Decembe r after onl y tw o day s o f th e wee k the y ha d planned , an d fo r a destinatio n tha t could hardl y hav e made a greater contrast . They ha d bee n invite d t o th e Abruzz i i n 191 4 b y th e Baroness a d e Resci s whom the y ha d me t i n Lerici , an d Lawrenc e ha d occasionall y fantasise d abou t its mountain s a s anothe r possibl e sit e fo r Rananim . Th e realit y o f th e journe y was unimaginable : b y trai n t o Cassino , b y post-omnibu s u p int o th e mountain s to Atina , b y car t t o a n in n an d o n foo t wit h a donke y a t th e end . 'Yo u cros s a great ston y rive r bed , the n a n ic y rive r o n a plank , the n clim b unfootabl e paths , while th e as s struggle s behin d wit h you r luggage ' (iii . 431-2) . Eve n les s imaginable wa s th e realit y o f Orazio' s house . I t wa s obviou s a t onc e tha t thoug h he himsel f wa s 'nice ' i f 'slow and tentative' , i t wa s n o plac e fo r Rosalind , wit h a nurse an d thre e smal l children , al l use d t o upper-clas s Englis h standard s o f living. I t wa s all 'a bit staggeringl y primitive' : The hous e contain s a rather cave-lik e kitche n downstair s - th e othe r room s ar e a winepress and a wine-storing place and corn bin: upstairs are three bedrooms, and a semi-barn for maize cobs: beds and bare floor. There is one tea-spoon - on e saucer - tw o cups - on e plate - tw o glasse s - th e whol e suppl y o f crockery . Everythin g mus t b e cooke d gipsy fashion i n th e chimne y ove r a wood fire : Th e chicken s wande r in , th e as s i s tied t o th e doorpost and makes his droppings on the doorstep, and brays his head off. (ii i 431-2) On th e othe r hand , thoug h th e me n i n thei r ski n sandal s an d white-swathe d leg s might loo k lik e brigand s the y wer e les s thievis h tha n cit y folk , an d les s fierce even tha n th e wome n i n thei r 'sor t o f swis s bodice s an d whit e shirt s wit h full , full sleeve s - ver y handsom e - speakin g a perfectly unintelligibl e dialec t an d n o Italian'. Orazio' s hous e wa s tw o mile s fro m th e villag e o f Picinisc o itsel f - ' a sheer scrambl e - n o roa d whatever ' - an d five mile s fro m Atin a wher e on e wen t for th e week' s provision s t o a marke t 'perfectl y wonderfu l t o loo k at ' fo r 'costume an d colour' , bu t whic h offere d onl y basi c provision s an d 'n o win e hardly'. (Wha t a difference fro m Florence , wher e Frieda , afte r he r Germa n die t of carrots , 'at e s o muc h an d dran k s o muc h win e tha t he r panci a - he r paunch , as they sa y here - wen t o n strike ' (iii . 435) - a s had happene d whe n the y first go t to Ital y i n 1912. ) Th e onl y thin g approachin g a bat h fo r Rosalind' s childre n would b e the coppe r boiling-pa n i n whic h th e pigs ' foo d wa s cooked . 545
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The mountainou s surrounding s howeve r wer e spectacularl y beautiful . Th e days wer e stil l 'ho t an d lovely ' (iii . 432), thoug h th e night s wer e alread y freezin g amid th e snow-cappe d peaks . The y di d hav e a fireplace, an d acquire d mor e crockery, s o the y mad e th e bes t o f thing s fo r a while . Th e loca l cultur e wa s a t least interesting : 'bagpipe s unde r th e window , an d a wild howlin g kin d o f ballad ' daily (iii . 432) , a n unintelligibl e serenad e i n prais e o f th e Virgi n whic h woul d apparently g o o n til l Christmas . Ye t i t wa s gettin g icie r an d icie r excep t i n ful l sun; an d becaus e o f Lawrence' s ches t i t woul d no t b e wis e t o sta y long . I f th e weather turne d nast y the y woul d hav e t o mov e a t once , t o Naple s o r Capri . I n the meantim e howeve r h e coul d wor k withou t distractio n - an d whethe r o r no t he ha d starte d hi s essay s o n psychoanalysi s i n Florenc e an d sen t th e first befor e leaving, i t was now tha t th e boo k bega n t o fill out. It wa s od d t o think , ami d thos e mountains , tha t th e Altrincha m Stag e Societ y intended t o pu t o n The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd nex t Marc h (iii . 430), th e first production o f a pla y o f his . Eastwoo d an d th e Abruzz i seeme d a millio n mile s apart - ye t thi s may hav e se t hi m thinkin g abou t th e Midlands , a seed tha t woul d soon germinate . Othe r concern s als o seeme d distanced . Ko t wa s stil l unhapp y that Lawrence' s Forewor d ha d take n th e plac e o f Shestov' s ow n introduction ; and though t tha t i f Shestov's wer e no t restored , perhap s bot h shoul d b e omitted . Lawrence replie d tha t h e woul d sen d Kot' s lette r t o Seeke r an d tha t a s fa r a s h e was concerned hi s Forewor d coul d go ; but h e mean t wha t h e ha d sai d i n it , 'an d as i t woul d b e m y signe d opinion , I don' t se e tha t i t matters : no t a bit' . H e wanted n o mone y fo r wha t Murr y ha d reprinted : 'Don' t I ow e yo u fifty time s 35/ pe r Dio! ' (iii . 433). Nevertheles s whe n h e wrot e t o Seeke r a s promised , and aske d als o fo r a titl e pag e t o sui t Kot , makin g i t clea r presumabl y tha t th e opinions i n Lawrence' s forewor d wer e no t Kot' s o r Shestov' s - som e irritatio n of distanc e showed : 'Ach , Ach ! thes e littl e businesses ! Ever y he n i s occupie d with he r ow n tail-feathers ' (iii . 434). (Seeke r wen t ahea d an d printe d Lawrence' s Foreword anyway. ) After havin g 'sweate d u p th e mountain ' th e hour' s goat-clim b t o th e pos t office i n Picinisc o an d foun d a letter ther e fro m Iren e Whittle y (Captai n Short' s daughter who m h e ha d know n i n Zennor) , h e foun d i t har d t o imagin e he r a s a teacher i n Batterse a an d he r husban d sittin g i n a bank . I t wa s muc h easie r t o remember the m bot h crouche d ove r a fire i n th e empt y cottag e i n Highe r Tregerthen, befor e th e Murry s came ; on e prehistori c landscap e an d primitiv e house recallin g another , howeve r different . T o her , a t thi s distance , h e coul d confess light-heartedl y wha t was t o becom e a difficult an d permanen t truth . I t was no t merel y th e col d tha t mad e hi m wan t t o mov e again . ' I a m turne d int o a wandering Jew , m y fee t itch , an d a sea t burn s m y posterio r i f I si t to o long . What ail s me I don' t kno w - bu t it' s o n an d on ' (iii . 435). Frieda , 'no t quit e sur e where sh e is' , an d havin g troubl e no t onl y wit h dialec t bu t wit h he r 'hopeless ' 546
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Italian afte r s o long away, could probabl y hav e don e wit h settlin g fo r a while, bu t he wa s already wantin g t o move, and a s soon a s it began t o snow r on 2 0 Decembe r it wa s clea r tha t the y mus t g o a t onc e (iii . 437) . H e ha d writte n t o Compto n Mackenzie again , sayin g tha t Picinisc o wa s to o col d fo r hi m (iii . 436) ; an d though ther e ha d bee n n o tim e fo r a reply the y se t of f o n Monda y th e 22n d fo r Naples, e n rout e fo r th e islan d o f th e Siren s abou t whic h Dougla s ha d writte n s o well. They go t u p a t 5.3 0 i n th e mornin g t o wal k th e fiv e mile s t o Atina , wher e the y took th e post-omnibu s agai n t o th e statio n fo r th e Naple s train . Fro m Naple s they caugh t th e 3 p.m . ferry , bu t a s the y lef t th e se a wa s rising , an d fou r an d a half hour s late r i t ha d becom e to o roug h i n th e shallo w por t o f Capr i fo r smal l boats t o tak e th e passenger s t o th e landing-stage . S o th e ferr y heade d fo r th e relative shelte r o f Sorrent o wher e i t la y rollin g a t ancho r al l nigh t long , wit h most peopl e (excep t luckil y th e Lawrences ) bein g sic k (iii . 442). On th e Tuesda y morning, i n a 'magnificent re d dawn ' the y wer e finally bundle d int o 'curvetting ' boats (iii . 451) an d landed , 'buffette d an d bedraggled ' (iii . 447) t o loo k fo r som e temporary lodgin g i n whic h t o recuperate , an d the n tr y t o find Mackenzie . He wa s away , thoug h expecte d shortly . H e seem s t o hav e ha d th e disposa l o f two cottage s a s wel l a s hi s 'Cas a Solitaria ' whic h looke d ou t t o th e Faragleon i rocks: 'I I Rosaio ' i n Anacapr i wher e h e ha d writte n par t o f Sinister Street, an d a 'warm seasid e cottage ' dow n a t th e Piccol a Marina. 25 I I Rosai o wa s no w rente d for 7/ 6 a wee k t o Franci s Bret t Young , docto r turne d novelist ; bu t h e an d hi s wife Jessica ha d foun d i t ' a col d littl e house ' s o Mackenzi e ha d le t the m hav e th e warmer on e i n hi s absence . T o I I Rosai o howeve r th e Lawrence s wen t o n th e 24th, an d lef t a note : 'W e calle d today , wonderin g i f yo u wer e goin g dow n t o the Piccol a Marina , o r stayin g her e - an d i f w e coul d hav e on e o r othe r o f th e houses' (iii . 438) ; bu t eve n i f th e Bret t Young s ha d bee n there , the y wer e no t entitled t o mak e suc h decisions . B y Christma s however , th e Lawrence s ha d found a n apartmen t fo r themselves , directl y abov e Morgano' s caf e (iii . 438, 439 ) in th e littl e piazz a whic h i s th e socia l centr e o f th e island , an d wer e installe d there i n tim e fo r Christmas . I t looke d ou t toward s Ischia , th e Ba y o f Naples an d Vesuvius o n th e right , th e ope n Mediterranea n an d spaciou s sk y o n th e left , an d the bubbl e dom e o f th e littl e whitewashe d cathedra l jus t belo w an d almos t touchable fro m thei r balcony . The y ha d a big sitting-roo m wit h frenc h window s opening o n t o the balcony, a beautiful bedroom , an d a shared kitche n fo r 15 0 lir e a month ; an d a gran d addres s 'Palazz o Ferraro' , thoug h Lawrenc e though t th e staircase suggeste d a prison rathe r tha n a palace. By 27 December Mackenzi e wa s back (iii . 439), and befor e th e en d o f th e yea r they ha d muc h tal k abou t Lawrence' s relationshi p wit h Pinker , an d wit h Seeker . Mackenzie wa s a popula r an d successfu l write r who , bor n i n comfortabl e circumstances, ha d als o mad e a goo d dea l o f mone y himself . Th e contras t 547
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intensified a feelin g whic h ha d bee n growin g fo r som e time : tha t Pinke r coul d have don e muc h bette r fo r Lawrenc e ha d h e reall y bee n interested . Gilber t Cannan ha d broke n wit h him ; no w Lawrenc e decide d t o d o s o too . H e glosse d the breach b y sayin g he planne d t o move ou t o f Europe, bu t anyway , there i s not muc h poin t i n ou r remainin g boun d t o on e another . Yo u tol d m e whe n w e made our agreement, that we might break it when either of us wished. I wish it should b e broken now . What bi t o f wor k I hav e t o place , I lik e t o plac e myself . I a m sur e i t isn' t much worth to you. (iii. 439) This complete d th e break , also , fro m th e hopefu l youn g Lawrenc e o f 191 4 wit h the contrac t fo r 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' i n hi s pocket , wh o ha d ha d n o though t bu t that hi s futur e la y i n England . Pinke r ha d i n man y way s bee n goo d t o him , ha d seen hi m throug h har d time s ou t o f hi s ow n pocket ; an d ha d persevere d wit h other writer s wh o wer e caviar e t o th e general . Ye t Lawrence' s offensivenes s t o the publi c mad e hi m a differen t case . Afte r th e fiasc o o f The Rainbow Pinke r probably di d begi n t o los e fait h i n hi m a s a sellin g proposition , especiall y sinc e Lawrence would go on writin g as his visio n le d him , despit e more s o r th e market . Pinker's failur e t o plac e Women in Love mus t hav e confirme d hi s opinion . Conversely, Lawrenc e foun d i t hatefu l t o b e i n deb t t o hi s agent , havin g t o be g him t o ask hi s more commercia l author s fo r help , especiall y whe n h e himsel f ha d worked s o har d an d wa s s o sur e tha t hi s wor k ha d greate r valu e tha n mos t o f what sol d successfull y i n th e Englis h boo k market . Th e mor e Lawrenc e ha d grown alienate d fro m Englan d an d th e mor e h e ha d com e t o fee l i t wa s i n America tha t h e woul d fin d a new audience , th e les s us e Pinke r ha d proved . H e had show n ver y littl e interes t i n placin g th e America n essay s i n England , whic h Lawrence ha d largel y ha d t o d o fo r himself ; an d non e a t al l i n placin g the m i n America. Pinker' s whol e min d se t wa s English , an d h e ha d n o agenc y acros s th e Atlantic. H e ha d neve r followe d u p th e fortune s o f Lawrenc e i n Americ a o r provided account s o f Huebsch's sales , and ha d neve r eve n conveye d t o Lawrenc e (if he himsel f knew ) tha t The Rainbow was actually i n prin t ove r there . Th e late discovered fac t tha t h e had no t bothere d t o send th e typescrip t o f Women in Love to Lawrence' s America n publishe r ha d com e a s th e fina l straw . Pinke r wa s a n excellent agen t fo r som e - bu t no t fo r Lawrenc e i t seemed . An d wit h tha t break , the breach wit h Englan d was almost complete . Only Seeke r seeme d a possibl e ongoin g Englis h connection . Mackenzi e ha d grown s o successfu l no w tha t h e ha d decide d t o mov e t o a bigge r firm, bu t Seeker ha d bee n publisher , partne r an d friend , an d ha d recentl y bee n stayin g with Mackenzi e t o discus s th e change. 26 The y mus t hav e talke d abou t Lawrence whe n i t seeme d tha t h e wa s comin g t o Capr i - an d Mackenzi e no w suggested a mor e permanen t agreement . Seeke r ha d alread y take n Women in 548
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Love; bu t i n Lawrence' s min d ther e wa s anothe r tes t befor e ongoin g commit ment. Mackenzie sai d yo u though t o f printing th e Rainbow. D o that , an d yo u hav e m y eterna l allegiance. He suggests it be called 'Wome n in Love Vol I.', with a foreword b y himself. I think 'Wome n i n Love, Vol I and Vo l IP i s a very goo d idea . I am anxious t o hear fro m you. If you do this, The Rainbow as a Vol I of Women in Love, then I must make a sort of permanent agreement with you. For this , h e hel d ou t a furthe r incentive : no t (now ) th e left-asid e beginning s o f what woul d b e Aaron's Rod, despit e th e ne w cop y Turi n an d Florenc e ha d provided, bu t th e germinatio n o f a n ide a whic h ma y hav e begu n whil e thinkin g about hi s Eastwoo d pla y i n th e utterl y differen t worl d o f th e Abruzzi : ' I a m waiting fo r MS . o f a nove l thre e part s done , "Mixe d Marriage" , whic h I lef t i n Germany befor e th e war . Thi s woul d mak e a perfec t sellin g nove l whe n Pv e finished it ' (iii . 439) . H e ha d lef t th e manuscrip t o f 'Th e Insurrectio n o f Mis s Houghton' wit h Els e Jaffe i n Bavaria i n th e sprin g o f 1913 , having pu t i t asid e i n favour o f 'Th e Sisters ' becaus e i t wa s l too improper' . Wha t a n irony ! W e hav e no mean s o f knowin g wher e th e rebelliou s Mis s Houghto n was the n intende d t o land up , no r wit h whom , thoug h i t wa s probabl y a mesallianc e o f clas s rathe r than nationality . Bu t i t wa s i n a very differen t moo d abou t Englan d an d Englis h respectability tha t th e Lawrenc e o f lat e 191 9 though t o f recoverin g th e manu script, an d reshapin g th e story . Ill Sirenland
?
Capri wa s quit e war m eve n i n mid-winter , especiall y afte r th e Abruzzi . Sudde n storms migh t blo w u p an d preven t th e ferr y fro m landin g th e mail , an d sometimes th e scirocc o ble w we t an d sticky , but onl y o n tw o evenings i n January (Lawrence boasted ) di d the y nee d a fire (iii . 451) . Whe n supplie s coul d no t b e landed ther e wer e shortage s i n th e shops , bu t ne w potatoe s wer e bein g du g a t the en d o f January ; peas , bean s an d wil d narcissu s wer e i n blossom ; an d butterflies appeare d o n th e warme r sid e o f th e island . Havin g mad e th e tw o hours' clim b t o th e highes t poin t o n Moun t Solar o wit h th e youn g Rumania n who shared thei r kitchen , Lawrenc e though t Capr i 'beautifu l beyon d words' : the dar k se a al l round : th e mainlan d a t Mass a comin g close , pale gre y rock , ver y steep , and slopes of white-specked village s - the n snow-mountains above, behind. Naples clings close t o th e exquisit e lon g curv e o f he r bay , fa r off , an d Vesuviu s roll s a white glitter y smoke leve l o n th e wind . An d th e othe r island s stan d pal e an d delicat e i n th e se a .. . a white steamer loses herself southward, (iii . 454) With Morgano' s caf e directl y underneat h the m o n th e piazz a the y coul d als o fee l 549
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- pleasurabl y a t firs t - tha t the y wer e a t th e hu b o f islan d society , a t leas t th e expatriate kind . For Compto n Mackenzi e ha d take n the m unde r hi s wing , an d 'Monty ' no w occupied wit h eve n greate r charm , i f perhaps les s erudition , th e leadin g positio n among foreigner s onc e hel d b y Douglas . Sinc e meetin g th e Lawrence s throug h the Cannan s i n 1914 , Mackenzie' s Mida s touc h ha d hel d good . H e ha d alway s thrown himsel f int o everythin g wit h immens e enthusias m an d energy , (thoug h he wa s alway s movin g o n t o th e nex t thing) ; an d hi s allowanc e fro m hi s ric h actor-manager fathe r an d hi s publi c schoo l an d universit y contact s ensure d tha t he wa s abl e t o follo w hi s sta r i n variou s directions. 27 I n 191 4 th e first volum e o f Sinister Street ha d mad e hi m perhap s th e mos t admire d (fo r exampl e b y Henr y James) a s wel l a s th e mos t popula r o f th e younge r novelists , thoug h Lawrenc e did no t thin k muc h o f it. The ne w contrac t wit h Cassell s woul d mak e hi m rich . Yet al l wa s no t golde n fo r hi m a t th e star t o f 1920 . H e ha d returne d t o Capr i to discove r tha t hi s wif e Fait h ha d falle n i n lov e wit h a youn g Italian , wh o die d of rheumati c feve r shortl y afte r bein g tol d o f hi s return . Mackenzi e the n mad e with he r th e kin d o f toleran t compac t tha t Lawrenc e ha d suggeste d t o Godwi n Baynes, an d th e marriag e woul d surviv e t o a golde n weddin g an d beyond . Ye t the discover y ha d bee n a grea t shoc k t o someon e use d t o th e adulatio n o f women. Moreove r h e pai d heavil y fo r hi s energ y an d facility : h e suffere d fro m recurrent neuriti s o r sciatic a s o acut e tha t onl y morphi a woul d help , an d h e wa s also subjec t t o faintin g fits. Behin d th e theatrica l personality , th e charisma , th e ability (i t appeared ) t o succee d a t everythin g an d b e amazingl y productive , ther e was that pric e t o be paid . Lawrence's descriptio n o f Ne w Year' s Ev e i n Morgano' s show s a touc h o f malice. Mackenzi e wa s 'nice . But on e feel s th e generation s o f actor s behin d him , and can' t b e quit e seriou s . . . H e seem s quit e rich , an d doe s himsel f well , an d makes a sort o f aestheti c figure . . . walkin g i n a pale blu e sui t t o matc h hi s eyes , and a large woman' s brow n velou r ha t t o matc h hi s hair. ' A Christma s tre e wa s brought i n b y a n 'amazing ' ban d wh o san g a n unintelligibl e balla d t o it , an d a n hour befor e midnigh t cam e Mont y 'wit h rich American s - rathe r drunk' . H e took th e tre e an d bobbe d i t i n fron t o f hi s guests , whil e tw o boy s dance d th e tarantella, ' a funn y indecen t pederasti c sight ' (iii . 443). Th e expatriate s tryin g t o look sophisticate d seeme d excruciatingl y self-conscious , ye t unawar e o f th e fain t smiles of the Italian s - an d the n Mont y wa s ill. 'Meanwhile', an d there' s th e rub , the Lawrence s 'si p ou r las t dro p o f punch , an d ar e th e Poo r Relation s a t th e other en d o f th e tabl e - ignore d - t o ou r amusement ' (iii . 444) . (Mont y sai d years later , readin g this , tha t hi s merel y wavin g t o the m wa s becaus e h e wa s trying t o mak e a n assignatio n wit h hi s mistress An n Heiskel l befor e he r husban d came in . Lawrence' s reactio n ha s also something o f how i t feel s t o be sobe r whe n confronted b y th e Sco t o n Hogmanay! ) 550
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Yet the y wer e greatl y take n b y eac h other , th e successfu l an d th e unsuccessfu l writer. Lawrenc e remaine d wr y abou t ho w h e an d Fried a an d th e Bret t Young s were humbl e hangers-on ; an d abou t Mont y actin g 'th e semi-romantic ' an d 'th e "rich youn g novelist" ' (iii . 451 , 452). Ye t a s h e reacte d eve r mor e tartl y t o th e other expatriate s o n Capr i - wit h th e exceptio n o f Mary Canna n wh o ha d turne d up there , an d o f who m h e wa s a s fon d a s eve r - th e mutua l likin g continued . Faith, i n Englan d fo r th e winter , testifie s tha t i n lette r afte r lette r fro m he r husband 'ther e wa s som e affectionat e allusio n t o Lawrenc e an d hi s wife' . Fried a told Mont y tha t sh e ha d neve r know n Lawrenc e tak e to anyone s o much. The y had shar p argument s o f course : abou t Christianit y whic h Mackenzi e espoused , and machin e civilisatio n an d whethe r Monty' s privilege d upbringin g wa s advantage o r limitation ; an d Mackenzi e wa s as uncertain a s other peopl e whethe r Lawrence's generalisin g fro m himsel f wa s significan t o r megalomaniac . Whe n talk turne d t o th e possibilit y o f anothe r war , say s Mackenzie , Lawrenc e insiste d there woul d b e none , struc k a wal l wit h hi s stic k an d shoute d ' / won' t hav e another war. ' Thi s sound s absur d a s i t stands . Ye t Lawrenc e ha d prophesie d a t the Armistic e tha t ther e would be anothe r war , an d ha d severa l time s maintaine d that wa r an d th e preventio n o f wa r bot h begi n insid e th e individual . Hi s outcr y was mos t likel y t o hav e bee n a dissociatio n o f himsel f fro m wha t h e regarde d with horro r an d dread. 30 Afte r dinne r a t Cas a Solitari a the y san g Sally in our Alley an d Barbara Allen, whil e th e scholarl y Joh n Ellingha m Brook s pounde d the gran d piano , an d Franci s Bret t Youn g - wh o ha d perfec t pitc h - woul d wince because the y wer e singin g i n differen t keys / x They eve n becam e intimat e enoug h (accordin g t o Mackenzie ) fo r Lawrenc e t o make th e sor t o f confessio n tha t on e ma n rarel y make s t o another . Mackenzi e reports hi m a s 'worried ' b y 'hi s inabilit y t o attai n consummatio n simultaneousl y with hi s wife , whic h accordin g t o hi m mus t mea n tha t thei r marriag e wa s stil l imperfect i n spit e o f al l the y ha d bot h gon e through' . Mackenzi e 'insiste d tha t such a happ y coincidenc e wa s alway s rare' , bu t wa s unabl e i t seem s eithe r t o offer an y advice , o r t o enquir e whethe r Lawrence' s worr y migh t no t b e a s muc h psychological, eve n ideological , a s physica l o r technical . (Migh t ther e b e a difference betwee n hi s convictio n o f wha t th e sexua l ac t wa s for , an d tha t o f hi s wife.) Lawrenc e adde d tha t th e neares t h e ha d eve r com e t o 'perfec t love ' presumably, lov e unaffecte d b y matter s o f physiqu e o r techniqu e - 'wa s wit h a young coal-mine r whe n I wa s abou t sixteen' , tha t is , hi s lat e adolescen t feelin g for Ala n Chambers . H e wa s also upse t whe n Mackenzi e tol d hi m tha t th e troubl e with hi s wis h t o conver t th e worl d t o reverenc e fo r th e sexua l ac t was tha t i t wa s intrinsically comi c excep t t o thos e performin g it . Gloomily , Lawrenc e agree d that thi s wa s so. Mackenzie als o fulfille d a majo r qualificatio n fo r a frien d o f Lawrence' s b y supplying a ne w day-drea m abou t Rananim : th e ide a o f buyin g a yach t an d 55i
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sailing t o th e Sout h Seas . Indeed , h e ha d alread y advertise d fo r a cre w an d was looking fo r a vessel whic h h e woul d shortl y find, onl y t o g o of f o n anothe r tack . He woul d finance th e voyag e b y writin g an d broadcastin g abou t it , an d eve n taking alon g a film crew . Lawrenc e jibbe d a t that . H e woul d fee l 'lik e a savage , that the y ha d stole n m y "medicine" ' (iii . 462) ; bu t eve r sinc e readin g Melvill e the Sout h Sea s ha d appeale d powerfull y t o hi s imagination , an d h e continue d t o talk an d drea m abou t th e pla n fo r month s t o come . He als o ha d heate d bu t friendl y argument s wit h th e Rumanian , a n arden t socialist wit h who m h e spen t 'fierc e evening s i n a discussio n o f idealisti c philosophy, I i n m y ba d English-Italian , larde d wit h French , h e i n hi s furiou s Roumanian-Italian, peppere d wit h bot h Frenc h an d German . Yo u ma y gues s what it' s like : a sheer farce ' (iii . 453). They wer e bot h prou d o f thei r prowes s i n the ar t o f cookin g o n a n Italia n fornello . Mackenzi e describe d the m arguin g about Plotinus , an d fannin g thei r stoves , bot h wit h suc h energ y tha t Fried a ha d to retir e t o th e bedroom , whil e th e kitche n filled wit h 'th e fume s o f charcoal an d neo-Platonism', an d Lawrence' s bear d turne d black . Mackenzie tol d a goo d story , bu t lik e som e othe r raconteur s hi s anecdote s o f Lawrence gre w riche r bu t no t mor e reliabl e wit h th e years . A case i n poin t i s hi s story abou t Lawrenc e insistin g tha t me n mus t giv e up thinkin g wit h thei r minds . ' "What w e hav e t o lear n i s t o thin k here, " h e affirme d solemnl y i n tha t high pitched voic e o f hi s wit h it s sligh t Midlan d accent . A s h e sai d thi s h e ben t ove r to poin t a finger a t hi s fly-buttons, t o m y embarrassmen t an d th e obviou s surprise o f other peopl e strollin g o n th e piazza.'' It' s a good stor y - bu t eve n a t its earlies t tellin g i n 193 3 i t suggest s th e Lawrenc e o f 192 6 rathe r tha n th e Lawrence o f January 1920 . To interpre t rathe r mor e accurately wher e tha t finger must hav e pointed , w e nee d t o tak e int o accoun t wha t Lawrenc e ha d jus t finished typing . IV 'Si x littl e essays ' o n th e Unconsciou s On 1 7 January a figure migh t hav e bee n see n makin g it s wa y th e mil e an d a hal f from th e piazz a t o Cas a Solitaria , carryin g a bottl e o f Benedictin e i n on e han d and usin g th e othe r t o balanc e a heav y typewrite r - Fait h describe d i t a s bein g built 'lik e a Dreadnought' - o n hi s head . Th e liqueu r was a birthday presen t fo r Monty, wh o wa s touche d b y bot h gestures . (Anyon e else , h e said , woul d hav e hired a porter.) Th e typewrite r wa s the on e tha t ha d bee n use d t o type Douglas' s South Wind, Mackenzie's Sylvia Scarlett an d Sylvia and Michael, an d Somerse t Maugham's Our Betters: No w Lawrenc e ha d borrowe d i t to type - no t Fantasia of the Unconscious as th e Mackenzie s state , whic h wa s no t begu n fo r anothe r eighteen month s - bu t th e 'si x littl e essays ' (iii . 466 ) fo r whic h h e woul d adap t the Englis h titl e o f Jung's Psychoanalysis of the Unconscious. Probably begu n i n 552
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Florence, thes e ma y hav e bee n finished i n Picinisc o o r o n Capr i befor e 9 January, afte r whic h Lawrenc e keep s sayin g tha t h e ough t t o b e workin g bu t i s not. Th e manuscrip t o f 'Mis s Houghton ' ha d no t com e o n th e 4t h whe n a storm-delayed pos t arrived , shortl y afte r whic h a posta l strik e brok e out , followed b y a railwa y strik e whic h effectivel y prevente d th e arriva l o f an y mai l until almos t th e en d o f January . 5 S o h e filled hi s tim e b y typin g ou t th e si x essays himself . Hi s desir e t o forestal l th e Englis h Freudian s implie d publicatio n in Englan d - henc e th e specime n possibl y sen t t o Murry ; bu t h e ha d bee n growing steadil y awa y fro m England , an d b y 2 9 Januar y (stil l waitin g t o hea r from Murry ) h e ha d decide d t o offe r th e essay s t o Huebsch , fo r publicatio n i n the Freeman (iii. 466). S o he sen t the m first t o a typing burea u i n Rome , i n orde r to hav e tw o prope r typescript s (iii . 497) . (O n Monty' s typewrite r th e blac k par t of the ribbo n wa s so worn ou t tha t i t was now necessar y t o use th e red! ) He trie d fo r a readabl e summar y o f th e psycholog y h e ha d adapte d fro m Pryse's chakras in hi s America n essays . Thi s accoun t o f ho w fro m th e ver y first beginning o f a human lif e th e fou r primar y 'nerv e centres ' develo p withi n eac h individual, an d i n hi s or he r relatio n wit h th e mothe r an d th e outsid e world , i s as near a s h e coul d ge t t o writin g popularly . 'W e d o no t preten d t o us e technica l language', h e say s - thoug h h e does , thu s exposin g himsel f t o scientifi c scorn . Yet hi s schem a ha d t o hav e a n anatomica l basi s i n orde r t o hyphenat e th e physical wit h th e psychic , an d s o b e 'mystically-physicall y satisfying ' (tha t phrase fro m Women in Love); a s he though t al l human trut h ha d t o be . Fo r year s he ha d insiste d tha t th e bod y an d th e bloo d hel d a wisdom anterio r t o an d mor e important tha n th e rationa l o r scientifi c knowledg e o f th e min d - s o ther e coul d be n o accoun t o f consciousnes s tha t wa s no t primaril y physical . Howeve r i t i s not s o muc h hi s pseudo-scientifi c neurolog y tha t catche s attentio n now , bu t rather th e wa y tha t hi s insigh t int o th e behaviou r o f babie s an d thei r mother s vividly reflect s commo n experience , an d help s t o explai n certai n age-ol d physica l locations o f primar y feeling s an d response s i n th e 'heart' , th e 'backbone' , th e 'bowels'. H e appeal s directl y t o experienc e fel t an d know n a s hunger , lov e an d hate are . The chakra s provid e a vocabulary, thoug h a naivete appear s i n hi s hop e that scientist s coul d accep t thi s instinctiv e kin d o f knowledg e a s a basi s fo r analysis. What i s newl y clarified , however , i s th e natur e o f hi s dee p disagreemen t wit h Freud - o r mor e precisely , wit h 'Freud ' a t secon d o r thir d hand . Eve r sinc e Kuttner's 'Freudian ' revie w o f Sons and Lovers ther e ha d bee n th e irritatio n o f having a suppose d dependenc y attribute d t o him . H e ha d draw n hi s insight s from hi s ow n experience . Indee d i t i s unlikel y tha t h e eve r rea d muc h i f an y Freud himself , thoug h h e certainl y hear d somethin g o f hi m (o r Gross' s vie w o f him) fro m Frieda . Th e fancied derivatio n mus t hav e bee n al l th e mor e annoyin g as h e the n cam e t o realise , throug h conversatio n wit h th e Englis h Freudians , 553
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how antipatheti c h e wa s t o wha t h e gathere d o f th e Freudia n conceptio n o f th e unconscious - thoug h hi s understandin g o f Freu d remaine d limite d an d imperfect. I t wa s n o acciden t no w tha t hi s titl e echoe d tha t o f th e boo k b y Jun g which h e ha d borrowe d fro m Barbar a Lo w an d talke d abou t wit h {Catherin e Mansfield; th e on e i n whic h Freud' s mos t powerfu l discipl e brok e wit h hi s master i n a wa y Lawrenc e mus t hav e approved . Jun g (t o us e shorthand ) denie d one o f Freud' s mos t basi c an d characteristi c premises , tha t th e origi n o f th e incest motiv e la y i n th e represse d sexualit y o f individuals . Jun g explaine d i t rather a s archetypa l inheritanc e fro m th e burie d collectiv e experienc e o f th e human race . Lawrence , too , believe d tha t psycholog y ha d t o star t fro m th e ver y inception o f huma n consciousness . Ye t h e though t Jun g a s culpabl e a s Freu d i n seeing th e inces t motiv e a s virtuall y constitutional , an d s o foundin g hi s psychology, too , o n th e analysi s o f diseas e an d disorder . Lawrenc e wante d th e opposite: t o conceiv e a psycholog y o f natura l growt h an d creativity , inheren t i n the lif e drive s withi n ever y psych e (o r 'soul ' t o us e th e old-fashione d word) , an d recoverable b y liberatin g tha t psych e fro m fals e menta l consciousnes s an d givin g it ove r t o it s primar y creativ e impulses . Ther e i s th e familia r Lawrencia n insistence o n growt h a s th e outcom e o f creativel y conflictin g 'opposites ' withi n the psyche , an d throughou t al l livin g things , n o les s a religiou s vie w fo r usin g the languag e o f the chakras, instead o f God th e Fathe r an d Go d th e Son . So 'Freudian ' psychoanalysi s i s attacked fo r startin g a s therapy, bu t endin g b y seeing diseas e a s th e norm . Freu d disappear s wit h hi s candl e int o th e dar k cav e of th e Unconsciou s an d come s bac k wit h revelations . Only , 'Wha t wa s ther e i n the cave ? Ala s tha t w e ever looked ! Nothin g bu t a huge slim y serpen t o f sex, an d heaps o f excrement , an d a millio n repulsiv e littl e horror s spawne d betwee n se x and excrement. ' Worse , i t soo n appear s tha t thi s conditio n i s th e norm . Th e only abnormalit y i s i n bringin g i t int o consciousness . Moreover , thoug h w e make ourselve s neuroti c b y repressin g it , i t i s no t itsel f th e resul t o f repression . Nor ca n i t b e cured , thoug h patient s ca n b e brough t t o se e ho w the y hav e inhibited thei r secre t impulses . Bu t i f i t i s repressin g th e inces t motiv e tha t causes neurosis , what follows ? (T o be d one' s mothe r an d b e well? ) The secon d radica l criticis m i s tha t Freud' s i s therefor e a close d syste m o f determinism whic h doe s awa y wit h th e mora l faculty , dependin g a s tha t doe s o n the abilit y t o choos e an d t o change ; eve n t o remak e th e self . Chang e is , fo r Lawrence, th e sig n o f life ; an d wha t i s static , dies . (Here , however , h e seem s ignorant o f Freudian sublimation. ) Lawrence doe s no t den y th e horror s i n th e cellarag e tha t th e psychoanalyst s have brough t t o light . 'W e trie d t o repudiat e them . Bu t no , the y wer e there , demonstrable. Thes e wer e th e horri d thing s tha t at e ou r soul s . . . ' Bu t h e doe s deny tha t the y ar e i n an y wa y pristin e o r original . Fo r hi m the y ar e product s o f later-developing mental consciousness , eve n thoug h tha t ma y operat e secretly , 554
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below th e threshol d o f consciou s awarenes s an d consent . Th e Fal l i s no t a fal l into sexuality , bu t int o awarenes s b y Ada m an d Ev e 'tha t the y coul d deliberatel y enter upo n an d enjo y an d eve n provok e sexua l activit y i n themselves' . Th e incest motiv e i s no t basi c instinc t then , bu t th e first dawnin g o f a n idea however suppresse d fro m consciou s awarenes s - tha t i t woul d b e possibl e t o have sexua l intercours e wit h one' s mothe r an d fill love with desire . So Lawrence' s psycholog y substitutes , fo r th e concep t o f the unconsciou s a s a cellarage wher e represse d impulse s lur k fro m infancy , a concep t o f pristin e consciousnesses whic h begi n i n th e foetus , an d ar e onl y 'pre'-consciou s o r 'un' conscious i f one define s consciousnes s a s mental. Th e awakenin g o f th e primar y nerve centres , whic h begin s wit h lif e itself , i s the dawnin g o f fou r differen t kind s of consciousness , al l o f whic h preced e menta l awareness . On e grea t impuls e drives a baby t o reasser t th e origina l unit y o f the sel f wit h th e other ; it s opposit e stiffens i n resistanc e an d distinction ; a third become s progressivel y awar e o f th e other an d o f relationship ; a fourt h become s progressivel y awar e o f th e sel f an d its desir e fo r independence ; an d al l constantl y interact . Menta l consciousnes s i s the produc t o f thei r interaction , an d become s creativ e o r destructiv e accordin g to it s natur e an d proportion , an d th e reflu x o f th e mind' s idea s upo n it . Essentially, however , fo r Lawrence , i t mus t alway s b e possibl e fo r th e huma n being t o change , t o develo p differentl y - mos t particularl y b y resistin g o r subverting fals e mode s o f menta l consciousness , an d achievin g renewe d lif e according t o th e creativ e well-hea d o f natural impulse , throug h whic h a healthie r mental consciousnes s (an d art ) ca n an d wil l come bubbling up . Having jus t bee n typin g this , Lawrenc e mus t certainl y hav e bee n tellin g Compton Mackenzi e tha t peopl e hav e t o sto p thinkin g merel y mentally , an d ground consciousnes s ane w i n th e primar y centre s i n th e body ; bu t th e Lawrence wh o ha d jus t bee n attackin g Freu d an d Jun g fo r makin g everythin g sexual coul d no t hav e maintaine d tha t peopl e shoul d thin k wit h thei r genita l organs instead , o r hav e bee n pointin g emphaticall y a t hi s own . I f th e pointin g finger wa s not Mackenzie' s invention , i t surel y pointe d a t th e sola r plexu s whic h (as th e secon d essa y explains ) i s th e mos t primar y centr e o f all, wher e w e shoul d all begi n again . Fortunatel y thi s doe s no t spoi l th e story , sinc e th e fol k o n th e piazza ma y hav e bee n n o les s disconcerte d b y an d puzzle d abou t th e directio n o f the signal . Of cours e thi s wa s n o mer e theoretica l argumen t fo r Lawrence , bu t wen t t o the hear t o f hi s ow n lif e an d work . H e woul d no t conced e tha t hi s relationshi p with hi s mothe r wa s a n inces t motiv e whic h determine d hi m an d hi s relation ships beyon d escape . H e identifie d an d face d u p t o th e proble m i n Sons and Lovers (i n whic h Pau l ha s an d choose s anothe r path) , sough t t o dramatis e 'coming through ' wit h Fried a i n Look! an d explore d th e natur e an d difficult y o f marriage i n The Rainbow an d Women in Love. Al l hi s majo r wor k ha d bee n a 555
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battle t o wi n th e groun d fro m whic h hi s attac k o n 'Freud ' wa s no w directed . Nor woul d h e accep t tha t Fried a wa s essentially a mother substitut e - thoug h hi s 1918 lette r t o Katherine 40 freel y an d bravel y admit s no t onl y tha t h e ha s ha d a n Oedipal problem , bu t tha t a n elemen t o f i t stil l remain s i n hi s relationshi p wit h Frieda. H e i s however strugglin g t o overcom e it , an d th e nex t phas e o f hi s wor k has everythin g t o d o wit h activatin g thos e impulse s t o self-sufficienc y an d independence whic h (h e thought ) coul d liberat e a ma n fro m to o grea t depen dency o n hi s woman , creat e a true r manhood , an d loo k forwar d t o life-givin g male relation s beyon d an d i n additio n t o marriage . Ther e wa s muc h mor e t o hi s worry abou t th e imperfectio n o f hi s marriag e - an d hi s desir e t o g o beyon d i t than anxiet y abou t synchronisin g sexua l climaxes . V 'Cat-Cranford
'
As Januar y dre w t o a n end , disenchantmen t wit h Capr i grew . Th e weathe r became 'wondrou s fine' (iii . 461), th e plac e was lovel y o f cours e an d fo r onc e h e had n o mone y worrie s wit h nearl y £10 0 t o hi s name . H e continue d t o lik e th e few Italian s h e knew : Liberata , th e mai d o f th e Palazzo , wh o 'i s handsome , an d eats th e jam ' (iii . 454) ; an d thei r landlad y Signorin a Palenzi a wh o too k the m t o see a beautifu l hous e abov e Mackenzie's , lookin g ou t a t th e Lion s Teet h rocks , where the y ha d a picni c te a i n th e elegan t drawing-room , an d dance d o n th e marble floor a s anothe r Italia n acquaintanc e playe d th e pian o (iii . 461) . Quit e early o n howeve r h e ha d begu n t o fee l imprisone d an d t o beseec h th e siren s t o let hi m go . Capr i was to o small , an d it s cosmopolita n cre w o f expatriate s altogether to o inescapable . H e stil l like d Mont y an d Mar y an d Brooks , bu t th e atmosphere o f spiteful gossi p gre w rebarbative . Mary wa s stayin g wit h th e greates t gossi p o f all - thoug h no t a malicious one . This wa s Gwe n Galata , th e Englis h wif e o f th e Pretor e o r Magistrate , whos e wonderfully inconsequen t ramblings , i n whic h sh e exaggerate d alread y dreadfu l gossip wit h ineffabl e benevolence , ar e amusingl y mimicke d i n Monty' s Vestal Fire. Lawrenc e mus t hav e like d her , sinc e h e late r go t he r a cop y o f The Rainbow^ bu t thoug h h e ha d bee n know n t o pic k peopl e t o piece s himsel f Monty blame s Fried a fo r constantl y eggin g hi m o n - h e gre w appalle d b y th e expatriate gossi p o n Capri . Th e islan d wa s ' a littl e Babel ' o f foreigner s (iii . 453), but th e English-speakin g one s wer e 'th e uttermos t uttermos t limi t fo r spitefu l scandal . . . Th e storie s Mar y i s tol d ar e incredible^ (iii . 444) . Soo n Capr i becam e 'a gossipy , villa-stricken , two-humpe d chun k o f limestone , a microcosmo s tha t does heave n muc h credit , bu t mankin d non e a t all ' (iii . 462) . B y earl y Februar y he wa s 'ver y sick ' o f th e 'stewpo t o f semi-literar y cats ' an d wante d t o 'clea r out ' from 'Cat-Cranford ' (iii . 469). Unable t o work , waitin g wit h gatherin g impatienc e fo r th e posta l strik e t o end , 556
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he sho t of f letter s t o hi s thre e publishers , strik e o r n o strike , determine d t o ge t things straight . H e tol d Huebsc h ho w h e dislike d 'vague , half-friendly, in-the-ai r sort o f business. I t leave s me irritate d an d dependent ' (iii . 456). Now tha t h e wa s acting fo r himsel f h e wante d six-monthl y account s o f al l hi s sales , t o b e settle d within thre e months , an d copie s o f al l hi s agreements . H e wante d t o kno w precisely wha t Huebsc h wa s doin g abou t New Poems an d th e America n essays , and i f he wa s no t goin g t o publis h th e latte r h e wa s t o sen d th e manuscrip t bac k at once. Did h e inten d t o reissue The Rainbow} ' I wan t to know* (iii. 457). To Seltze r h e agai n wen t throug h th e motion s o f offerin g t o repa y th e advance, an d typin g expenses , i f Seltze r woul d relinquis h Women in Love t o Huebsch, bu t (significantly ) als o aske d fo r a precise agreemen t abou t publishin g date, pric e an d royalty , an d th e sam e regula r account s a s he ha d demande d fro m Huebsch (iii . 457-8). Before th e strik e bega n Seeke r ha d replie d tha t h e di d no t lik e th e ide a o f publishing The Rainbow an d Women in Love a s Volume s 1 and 2 o f th e sam e novel. H e offere d instea d t o bu y th e copyrigh t o f The Rainbow outrigh t fo r £200; bu t Lawrenc e firmly refused : ' I hav e live d s o lon g withou t money , tha t I know I ca n g o o n . . . Moreove r I believ e i n m y book s an d i n thei r future ' (iii . 458). H e stil l wante d t o b e wit h Seeke r 'becaus e yo u reall y car e abou t books' ; and wa s stil l enthuse d b y Mackenzie' s notio n o f a three-way partnershi p thoug h he himsel f woul d hav e t o inves t a s h e earned ; bu t ther e wa s a n alternativ e now . Duckworth woul d no t relinquis h th e copyrigh t o f Love Poems to Seeker , bu t h e would conside r republishin g The Rainbow. Lawrenc e though t thi s legall y possible, o n th e ground s tha t th e magistrate' s orde r applie d onl y t o th e 191 5 edition, s o a ne w on e migh t escap e prosecution , especiall y i f ther e wer e som e alterations. H e wa s not forcin g th e issue , but h e di d wan t clarit y an d fair-dealing . Were the y t o b e partners ? O r wer e the y t o hav e a purel y commercia l bu t 'decent' royalt y arrangemen t (suc h a s h e ha d ha d wit h Duckworth ) fo r bot h books? O r shoul d h e g o back t o Duckworth ? By 27 January h e wa s so sick of Capri, and o f being unabl e t o wor k becaus e hi s manuscript ha d no t arrived , tha t h e too k Fried a fo r a visit t o th e mainland . The y stayed a t th e Hote l Capuccin i i n Amalf i whic h ha d onc e bee n a monastery. Th e coast wa s 'ful l o f flowers - crocuses , violets , narcissi , an d purpl e anemones , wil d everywhere - an d peac h an d almon d i n ful l flower' (iii . 464) , an d Amalf i itsel f was 'marvellous'. The y mean t t o sta y five days. But o n th e 29t h th e strik e ended , and Lawrenc e wa s so anxious fo r hi s mail that h e returne d t o Capri a t once. VI A c c u m u l a t e d Mai l His mail-ba g turne d ou t a s aggravatin g a s hi s thirty-thir d birthda y pos t ha d been. 557
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There wa s hi s cop y o f Bay a t last , bu t h e wa s greatl y pu t ou t t o fin d th e dedication missing . On e o f th e Ric e illustration s appeare d t o b e upsid e down , and Beaumon t ha d lef t ou t tw o poem s altogether . Anxiou s t o ge t thing s pu t right, Lawrenc e wa s as complimentary t o Beaumont's fac e a s he coul d be , sayin g that 'th e essentia l format ' wa s 'quit e beautiful ' (iii . 465) ; bu t t o Catherin e Carswell h e mad e i t clea r tha t thi s mean t th e print , pape r an d binding , an d tha t otherwise h e though t i t a 'silly-lookin g littl e book ' wit h 'sill y littl e woo d cuts ' quite ou t o f keepin g wit h th e poem s - som e o f which , however , h e was please d to fin d 'reall y beautiful ' (iii . 469) . Th e inscriptio n coul d b e tippe d in , bu t th e omission wa s enough i n itsel f t o pu t Lawrenc e i n a temper . Next cam e a n angr y lette r fro m Huebsc h abou t Women in Love. (H e to o o f course ha d hear d nothin g fo r severa l weeks. ) Onc e agai n Lawrenc e explained : Simply, i t neve r occurre d t o m e tha t Pinke r coul d hav e ha d tha t MS . fo r almos t tw o years, all the while assuring me that h e was doing everything possible , without eve r even mentioning i t t o yo u .. . I f I' d though t Pinke r hadn' t show n yo u th e MS . - h e ha d j copies - wouldn' t I have sen t i t yo u a year ago ? - O f course I would. There' s nothin g I believe in more than in sticking to one publisher, (iii . 466) He knew , however , tha t afte r hi s las t lette r t o Seltze r th e situatio n was probabl y irremediable. H e mad e on e final effor t t o pu t Huebsch' s cas e t o Seltzer : tha t Huebsch ha d bee n le t dow n i n neve r bein g tol d o f th e book , an d 'sinc e h e di d The Rainbow whe n no-on e woul d touc h i t i n America : an d sinc e h e ha s stuc k t o my work , I very much want yo u t o giv e m e bac k th e MS. ' (iii . 467). Moreover h e did no t wan t th e 'semi-privat e publication ' whic h Seltze r was no w plannin g i n order t o cu t dow n th e ris k o f prosecution. I t woul d b e bette r t o leav e th e boo k t o Huebsch, wh o 'ha s los t hi s reputation , i n tha t line , already' . (H e ma y als o hav e made som e inroad s int o th e £50. ) Moreover , i f Seltze r wa s 'goin g stron g o n Goldrings work ' h e ha d bette r thin k agai n - 'no t tha t I depreciate Goldring' , bu t a public tha t care d fo r hi m woul d no t car e fo r Lawrence . Actually h e di d hav e som e caus e t o 'depreciate ' Goldring , whic h cam e t o a head whe n a cop y o f Goldring' s The Fight for Freedom arrived som e day s later . He ha d bee n magnanimou s a t th e beginnin g o f th e mont h whe n h e hear d i t ha d been publishe d (iii . 441 ) - thoug h h e mus t hav e wondere d wha t ha d happene d to hi s ow n play , whic h ha d bee n suppose d t o b e th e first o f th e series . I t wa s al l the mor e annoyin g t o discove r tha t Goldring' s ha d take n it s place , an d whe n h e read The Fight, h e though t i t a 'pamphle t pla y wit h a detestabl e an d inartisti c motive', mer e propaganda . Moreove r it s prefac e ha d a much mor e politica l vie w of a People's Theatr e tha n Lawrence's , whic h woul d loo k rathe r od d no w whe n it di d appear . H e wa s incline d t o blam e Goldrin g fo r shar p practice , first gettin g Touch and Go ou t o f hi m wit h th e promis e o f leadin g off , an d the n - 'sl y journalist' - substitutin g hi s ow n 'offensive ' on e wit h it s 'knavish ' preface , whic h 558
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'for sur e ha s damne d an d doubl y damned ' th e whol e serie s (iii . 469) . Th e absence o f an y review s migh t minimis e th e degre e t o whic h th e tw o play s wer e publicly connected , bu t h e wa s still annoye d a t bein g associate d wit h politic s an d purposes s o differen t fro m hi s own . Hi s suspicion s ma y hav e bee n unfair . Goldring late r explaine d tha t th e decisio n ha d bee n th e publisher' s (puttin g th e plays ou t i n th e orde r i n whic h h e ha d receive d them) , an d goo d relation s wer e restored. Afte r al l i t ha d bee n Goldring' s pla y tha t ha d persuade d Danie l t o d o the serie s i n th e first place . Ye t th e inclusio n o f Goldring' s preface , t o introduc e both pla y an d series , suggest s tha t h e wa s a t leas t priv y t o th e change . Whoeve r made th e decision , i t probabl y cam e fro m realisin g tha t Lawrence' s prefac e and indee d hi s pla y - hardl y struc k th e righ t not e o n whic h t o ope n a series wit h 'Dawnist' an d Clarte aspirations. Among th e first o f th e letter s an d parcel s howeve r ha d bee n th e mos t infuriating o f al l - s o muc h s o tha t i t produce d fro m Lawrenc e perhap s th e nastiest o f all his outbursts o f rage. Dear Jack I received you r letter and also the returned articles , forwarded fro m Ospedaletti . I have no doub t yo u 'didn' t lik e them ' - jus t a s yo u didn' t lik e th e thing s yo u ha d fro m Derbyshire. But as a matter o f fact, wha t it amounts t o is that you are a dirty littl e worm, and you take the ways of a dirty little worm. But now let me tell you at last that I know it - no t tha t it' s anything new: and le t it be plainly understoo d betwee n yo u and me , that I consider yo u a dirty littl e worm : and so , deposit you r dirt y bi t of venom wher e yo u like; at any rate we know what to expect, (iii. 467-8) Probably th e sam e da y h e wrot e t o Katherine . Th e lette r wa s destroye d unsurprisingly - s o w e ca n onl y b e certai n o f th e extract s sh e quotes , withou t context, t o Murry o n 7 February . Lawrence sent me a letter today : he spat in my face & threw filth a t me and sai d ' I loath e you. You revol t m e stewing i n you r consumption . Th e Italian s wer e quit e righ t t o hav e nothing to do with you' and a great deal more. Now I do beseech yo u if you are my man to stop defendin g hi m afte r tha t & never t o crack hi m u p i n th e paper . Be proud. I n th e same letter he said his final opinion of you was that you were a 'dirty little worm'. Well, be proud. Don t forgive him for that, please. Lawrence's letter s see m inexcusable . Indeed , hi s vie w wa s tha t th e dea d d o no t want excuse s - onl y justice . T o for m a just vie w o f thi s episode , however , on e must tr y onc e mor e t o se e throug h al l thre e point s o f view . A gras p o f chronology an d developmen t i s also essential , o r a number o f puzzlin g question s will remai n unanswerable . Wha t mad e Lawrenc e angr y enoug h t o writ e suc h letters? Wh y wa s h e a s angr y wit h Katherin e a s wit h Murry , i f no t mor e so ? Why di d h e thin k th e article s an d th e lette r wer e 'forwarded fro m Ospedaletti ' (emphasis added) ? Ho w di d h e kno w abou t 'Th e Italians ' havin g 'nothin g t o d o 559
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with' Katherine ? An d ho w abov e al l di d h e kno w tha t sh e ha d move d t o L'Hermitage, th e privat e nursin g hom e i n Mento n t o whic h h e sen t hi s letter ? From Septembe r 191 9 t o 2 1 Januar y 192 0 (whe n sh e move d t o Menton ) Katherine ha d bee n i n Ospedalett i nea r Sa n Remo , havin g bee n tol d b y he r doctor tha t sh e mus t o n n o accoun t spen d anothe r winte r i n England . Th e devoted attendanc e o f Id a Bake r wa s essential , an d als o a constan t annoyance . Katherine wa s terrifie d o f bein g lef t alon e - acquirin g a revolver di d no t hel p and illnes s intensifie d th e fits o f depressio n an d lonelines s whic h migh t hav e come i n an y cas e fro m livin g apar t an d lovin g onl y o n paper . Sh e an d Jack wrot e every day , but th e pos t wa s uncertain eve n befor e th e strikes , and misreading s o f letters an d o f silence s wer e almos t boun d t o happe n - especiall y o n Katherine' s side, a s sh e waite d intensel y ever y day . Letter s wer e almos t al l sh e ha d t o liv e for, apar t fro m he r reviewin g o f fiction fo r th e Athenceum whic h sh e bravel y kep t up. Unsurprisingly , sh e manage d n o creativ e wor k i n thes e month s befor e Christmas. It wa s o n 1 7 Octobe r tha t Murr y though t o f givin g Lawrenc e ' a leg-up' , an d that Katherin e migh t 'd o a piec e o n Sons and Lovers'. Sh e though t sh e migh t but sh e di d not . O n 9 November , havin g hear d tha t Lawrenc e wa s goin g t o Italy, Murry sai d h e woul d sen d hi m he r address . Katherin e wa s unsure whethe r she wante d t o se e hi m o r not , bu t Murr y mus t hav e writte n - sinc e Lawrenc e proceeded t o writ e fro m Florenc e i n friendl y term s t o Katherine , an d t o sen d Murry a first article by 6 December. 47 On 4 December Katherin e aske d Murr y wher e Lawrenc e wa s now - bu t di d not hea r then , becaus e i t wa s i n th e sam e lette r tha t sh e sen t hi m he r poe m 'Th e New Husband' , precipitatin g a crisi s o f bitternes s an d misunderstandin g whic h brought Murr y t o Ospedaletti o n 1 6 December. Th e nigh t befor e h e arrived , sh e tried i n on e o f he r notebook s t o analys e wha t ha d happened , an d com e t o term s with th e fac t tha t 'th e dee p simpl e love ' sh e though t the y had , 'onl y existe d til l we pu t i t t o th e test' . Sh e ha d stoppe d carin g a s much : 'I' d lik e t o writ e m y books an d spen d som e happ y tim e wit h Jac k (no t ver y muc h fait h i n that ) an d see Lawrence i n a sunny plac e and pic k violet s - al l kinds of flowers. Oh , I' d lik e to d o heap s o f things , really . Bu t I don' t min d i f I d o no t d o them.' 4 Thoug h a fortnight wit h Jac k ove r Christma s seeme d t o hea l th e rift , withi n a fe w week s the silenc e owin g t o th e posta l strike , and he r broodin g alon e again , resulte d i n a new se t o f misunderstanding s an d brough t bac k he r sens e tha t somethin g was gone fo r eve r i n thei r relationship . Tha t i s another story . Bu t i t is clear tha t u p t o 16 December 191 9 Katherin e kne w nothin g o f Lawrence' s article s (sinc e Murr y had no t mentione d receivin g them) ; an d tha t sh e ha d go t bac k he r ol d war m feeling abou t him . Meanwhile Lawrenc e ha d hear d nothin g either . Hi s first articl e coul d hav e reached Murr y abou t a wee k befor e h e lef t fo r Ospedaletti, 50 an d th e other s 560
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nearer hi s departure . Hi s decisio n no t t o publis h an y o f the m - th e plura l confirmed b y Lawrence' s angr y lette r - wa s probabl y take n i n Ospedaletti , bu t whether o r no t wit h Katherine' s concurrenc e ther e i s n o knowing . I t woul d however b e odd i f they ha d no t talke d the m over . Lawrence mus t hav e hope d fo r a response b y earl y January 1920 , even thoug h it might hav e ha d t o follo w hi m fro m Picinisc o t o Capri . H e coul d no t kno w ho w much Murr y ha d o n hi s mind , o r wha t factor s migh t explai n a dela y i n givin g his verdict . The n cam e th e posta l strike , an d th e railwa y strike . B y th e en d o f January Lawrenc e ha d bee n waitin g fo r almos t tw o month s t o hea r wha t Murr y thought - thi s time . Th e humiliation , then , o f anothe r cal m rejectio n mus t hav e been eve n mor e unbearabl e becaus e h e ha d brough t himsel f t o swallo w hi s pride , after h e ha d swor n neve r t o submi t anythin g t o Murr y again . Moreover , i t ha d again bee n Murr y wh o ha d take n th e initiative , onl y t o strik e a t th e han d whic h reached ou t i n response . Lawrenc e woul d hav e bee n irritate d eve n i f it ha d bee n merely 'David ' an d 'Lookin g Dow n o n th e City ' tha t ha d bee n rejecte d - thoug h at th e bac k o f hi s min d h e probabl y kne w tha t thes e wer e no t importan t work , and tha t Murr y migh t wel l no t lik e th e imprope r suggestio n abou t th e statue . But fur y o f th e kin d show n i n Lawrence' s lette r ha d onl y blaze d twic e befor e when Heineman n rejecte d Sons and Lovers, an d whe n self-restrain t ove r th e destruction o f The Rainbow brok e dow n - tha t is , whe n somethin g reall y important t o hi m wa s at stake. It ca n onl y b e speculatio n tha t h e ha d sen t a n essa y o n psychoanalysi s - bu t i t would explai n a grea t deal . On e coul d se e als o wh y Murr y migh t hav e rejecte d it: a n essay apparentl y al l abou t inces t migh t wel l hav e looke d peculia r withou t the contex t o f th e othe r five , an d unsuitabl e fo r a sober pape r - thoug h i t woul d be richl y ironi c i f Murr y di d rejec t th e firs t prospectu s o f wha t h e woul d hai l later a s a masterpiece , Fantasia of the Unconscious, which convince d hi m tha t Lawrence shoul d pla y a majo r par t i n th e Adelphi. Tha t ha s t o b e guesswor k the onl y certaint y i s tha t Lawrenc e di d sen d mor e tha n on e essay . Ye t i t woul d also g o a ver y lon g wa y t o explai n wh y h e wa s eve n mor e angr y wit h Katherin e than wit h Murry . Fo r a decision t o sen d that essa y woul d hav e bee n encourage d by believin g tha t Katherin e share d hi s interes t i n it s subject ; an d i f Murr y ha d told hi m i n Novembe r 191 9 tha t sh e wa s thinkin g o f writin g abou t Sons and Lovers whic h ha d th e subjec t a t it s core , an d whic h h e ha d know n sinc e 191 3 that sh e admired, tha t woul d hav e seeme d confirmation . There no w appear s a n iron y t o whic h commentator s o n al l thre e writer s hav e been blind . For , surely , Lawrence' s belie f tha t th e article s an d Murry' s lette r had bee n forwarded fro m Ospedalett i implie s a suspicion tha t Katharin e ha d no t only bee n involve d i n th e decisio n t o reject , bu t ha d ha d th e fina l word . Murr y probably wrot e hi s rejectio n o n Athenaeum paper ; an d i f so , Lawrenc e coul d have ha d n o wa y o f knowin g tha t h e wa s no t i n London . I f so , wh y sen d th e 561
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articles an d th e rejectio n vi a {Catherine ? Answer , becaus e h e was a littl e wor m hiding i n th e mud , wh o wante d t o injec t hi s veno m - lik e Cleopatra' s as p - bu t lacked th e courag e t o d o i t o n hi s own , s o ha d no t onl y sough t Katherine' s backing bu t lef t th e final decisio n an d th e postin g t o her . Whic h o f cours e - i f the psychoanalysi s essay wer e amon g th e reject s - woul d mak e he r apparen t show o f interes t i n 191 8 see m al l the mor e hypocritical , o r he r concurrenc e wit h Jack now , th e sicker . However , thoug h i t i s likel y tha t Murr y talke d abou t th e essays wit h Katherine , an d possibl e tha t sh e agree d wit h hi s rejection , th e postmark mad e Lawrenc e mistak e he r rol e a s muc h a s Murry' s whereabouts . She ha d grea t influenc e wit h Murr y bu t ther e i s n o reaso n t o suppos e tha t hi s editorial decision s wer e no t hi s own . H e ma y eve n hav e mad e u p hi s min d (depending o n whe n th e essay s reache d him ) befor e h e lef t England , o r o n th e train. T o Lawrence , however , th e humiliatio n and , i n a sense, betrayal mus t hav e seemed finally Katherine' s doing . It i s now , moreover , tha t a n eve n greate r iron y appears , fo r no w th e posta l strike probabl y increase d misunderstanding . Lawrenc e coul d no t hav e discov ered Katherine' s ne w addres s i n Mento n i n tim e t o writ e ther e afte r receivin g the rejection , an d hav e th e lette r arriv e a t th e sam e tim e a s hi s lette r t o Murr y reached London , unles s h e ha d ha d a letter fro m Katherin e simultaneousl y wit h the rejection . Thi s woul d als o explai n ho w h e kne w wha t Katherin e hersel f ha d only discovere d o n 8 December , whe n sh e wa s examine d b y D r Foster , tha t i t had bee n becaus e o f he r consumptio n tha t a hote l i n Sa n Rem o ha d refuse d t o take them , an d tha t i t ha d prove d s o difficult t o find a vill a an d a maid . Th e rejected essay s wit h Murry' s not e enclose d wer e probabl y poste d a s h e wa s leaving Ospedalett i o n Frida y 2 January o r soo n befor e - doomed , anyway , t o get caugh t a t th e othe r en d i n th e posta l strik e whic h wa s first declare d o n th e Monday. (I f the y ha d bee n poste d b y Christma s Lawrenc e woul d hav e go t the m long befor e 2 9 January.) Bu t a lette r fro m Katherin e wit h th e Mento n addres s could no t hav e bee n writte n befor e 1 4 January, whe n sh e decide d t o accep t th e room a t L'Hermitage , an d probabl y no t fo r anothe r fe w days . I f th e rejectio n and Katherine' s lette r arrive d together , Lawrenc e ma y hav e bee n to o angr y t o reflect tha t the y migh t hav e bee n poste d week s apart . Indeed th e mos t likel y dat e fo r Katherine' s lette r woul d b e abou t 2 0 January , the da y befor e sh e lef t Ospedaletti , whe n sh e suddenl y wrot e a lon g lette r t o Ottoline - probabl y becaus e sh e ha d bee n bundlin g u p an d disposin g o f letters , including Lawrence' s cheerfu l not e fro m Florence . I t was a lo w poin t fo r her . She tell s Ottolin e tha t sh e ha s bee n weepin g fo r days . Th e lette r pour s ou t he r woes: isolation , loneliness , th e oppressiv e nois e o f th e sea , he r inabilit y t o ge t about, ho w horri d Sa n Rem o ha d been , ho w sh e couldn' t ge t a maid 'becaus e o f my DISEASE' , whic h ha d mad e he r fee l 'tainted' , ho w Murr y didn' t understan d and sh e n o longe r fel t loved . I f sh e wrot e a simila r lette r t o Lawrence , 562
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especially i f it containe d littl e or n o referenc e t o th e article s whic h sh e woul d no t have fel t responsibl e fo r refusing , th e simultaneou s arriva l wit h th e rejectio n would hav e mad e he r see m wholl y careles s o f wha t i t woul d mea n t o him ; totall y self-absorbed an d self-pitying . What h e the n wrot e t o he r i s by n o mean s inexplicabl e no r merel y malicious , but consonan t wit h hi s belie f i n lettin g hi s emotion s ou t an d speakin g hi s thoughts - violentl y i f they wer e violen t - wher e other s le t theirs gro w poisonou s by repression . Hi s ange r wa s a measure o f how muc h h e ha d care d fo r them , an d how much h e fel t betrayed . There i s als o anothe r importan t context : th e letter s h e ha d writte n he r fro m Derbyshire a s a gif t o f friendshi p an d o f life , whe n sh e wa s first havin g t o fac e her deadl y diseas e - whic h als o threatene d him , an d wa s killin g a n ol d frien d a s he wrote . H e ha d tol d he r tha t on e doe s no t le t onesel f die , on e fights one' s disease toot h an d nail , abov e al l on e doe s no t ste w i n it . H e wa s a s goo d a s hi s word, a s Fried a testified , whe n h e himsel f nearl y die d tw o month s later , an d h e never demande d pity . Both sh e an d Jac k mus t hav e seeme d t o Lawrenc e utterl y egotisti c an d treacherous. Ye t i f neithe r o f the m appeare d t o realis e o r car e wha t a secon d rejection woul d mea n t o him , h e ha d n o ide a o f th e contex t int o whic h hi s backlash woul d arrive . Sh e wa s to telegraph Murr y tw o day s late r 'You r coldnes s killing me ' whic h brough t hi m 't o th e en d o f m y tether'. 53 Nor , i n hi s anger , would Lawrenc e probabl y hav e cared . A t firs t thei r response s wer e aggressive : Murry threatene d t o hit Lawrenc e nex t tim e h e sa w him, an d wrot e t o Katherin e to tel l he r s o (befor e h e kne w o f th e lette r t o her ) an d ho w h e fel t Lawrenc e was 'a reptile' , wh o ha d 'slavered ' ove r him . Katherin e rea d hi s lette r a s sh e was being massaged , an d fel t a s thoug h sh e wer e repeatin g a scen e centurie s old , where a woma n ha d rea d a lette r fro m he r love r sayin g h e woul d smit e he r enemy, an d ha d lai d i t t o he r cheek . Sh e note d th e coincidenc e o f their feelings . She ha d alread y writte n t o Lawrence , ' I detes t yo u fo r havin g dragge d thi s disgusting reptil e acros s al l tha t ha s been. ' Sh e als o wrot e t o Mar y Canna n 't o put he r righ t abou t U S an d jus t tol d he r wha t yo u reall y wer e lik e & what you r loyalty t o L . ha d bee n an d s o on' . Jus t a s i n th e immediat e aftermat h o f Lawrence's ange r th e yea r before , sh e ha d close d he r min d t o an y admissio n o f how littl e Murr y ha d i n fac t defende d o r supporte d Lawrenc e sinc e th e day s o f Signature, an d ho w eas y i t would b e fo r Lawrenc e t o disprove wha t sh e said . So a t first Lawrence' s onslaugh t dre w it s recipient s together . Ye t th e strai n i n the Murrys ' relationshi p continued ; an d Lawrence' s wit h Katherin e neve r recovered fro m thi s breach . Sh e woul d onl y hea r fro m hi m onc e mor e i n he r lifetime, whe n fro m he r birthplac e i n Ne w Zealan d i n 192 2 h e sen t he r a postcard saying , simply , 'Ricordi ' - remembrance s (iv . 283) . Almos t simulta neously, o n th e othe r sid e o f th e world , Katherin e mad e a will i n whic h sh e lef t 563
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him a boo k a s a remembrance , a n instructio n whic h Murr y faile d t o carr y ou t after he r death. 55 Lawrenc e ha d greatl y care d fo r Katherin e - muc h more , latterly, tha n fo r Jack. I t woul d b e difficult t o say who ha d bee n th e mor e hur t b y what ha d happened . Lawrence wa s ill himself again i n th e first wee k o f February. Th e fl u ha d reache d Capri, an d whethe r throug h a touc h o f this , o r on e o f hi s bronchia l colds , o r having worke d himsel f u p int o a state o f rag e an d distress , h e retire d t o be d an d was 'onl y jus t goin g t o ge t up ' o n th e 8t h (iii . 471) . Hi s awfu l post-ba g an d th e illness ha d lef t hi m eve n mor e 'sic k o f thi s island ' an d determine d t o leave . H e was stil l furthe r irritate d whe n Mackenzi e showe d hi m cutting s o f wha t Gilber t Cannan ha d bee n sayin g i n America , wit h kindl y intent . Whe n a visiting Englis h publisher expresse d surpris e i n a n intervie w tha t Lawrenc e shoul d b e spoke n o f as a man o f genius , Canna n cam e t o hi s defenc e i n th e New York Tribune 56 wit h an indictmen t o f th e 'unimaginative ' an d 'puritanical ' sectio n o f th e publi c wh o had misunderstoo d an d destroye d The Rainbow, th e publisher s wh o wer e to o 'unreasonably afrai d o f that section ' t o risk Women in Love; an d th e senior writer s who ha d faile d t o suppor t Lawrence . Thi s was al l ver y well , an d Lawrenc e should perhap s hav e bee n grateful ; bu t h e di d no t wan t t o b e publicise d i n America a s a pitiabl e victim , stil l les s a n impoverishe d one . Canna n eve n bega n to collec t mone y o n hi s behalf , a s di d Huebsc h (iii . 45 5 an d n.) . Lawrence' s touchy prid e wa s aroused , an d whe n a s a resul t Am y Lowel l sen t a chequ e fo r 1315 lir e (Boston' s exchang e fo r $100 ) h e coul d no t b e altogethe r please d o r thankful. ' I wis h I needn't tak e th e money' , h e wrote , 'i t irk s me a bit. Wh y can' t I ear n enough , I'v e don e th e work . Afte r all , yo u know , i t make s on e angr y t o have t o accep t a sor t o f charity ' (iii . 474-5) . H e trie d t o persuad e himsel f tha t Amy's wa s a gift fro m a congenial fellow-artist , a s opposed t o Gilbert's 'penny-a time attemp t a t benevolence' , o f whic h no t a penny ha d arrive d ye t anyway . Bu t at th e botto m o f contradictory feeling s remaine d th e sens e o f insult . ' I a m a sor t of charity-boy o f literature, apparently . On e i s denied one' s jus t rights , an d the n insulted wit h charity . Pfui ! t o them all ' - excep t Am y o f course. To ad d injur y t o insult, th e Credit o Italian o refuse d th e chequ e becaus e i t wa s no t mad e ou t i n dollars (iii . 482 and n.) , and Am y ha d t o send another ! He coul d no t refus e becaus e th e povert y o f 191 9 ha d bitte n to o deep , eve n though a chequ e fo r £10 5 ha d no w arrive d i n settlemen t o f Pinker' s accoun t with Huebsch , quickl y followe d b y anothe r o f £ 8 / 1 2 /9 fo r Huebsch' s editio n o f Look! (iii . 472, 473). Considerin g th e hardship s o f 1919 , this wa s a huge su m t o have bee n withheld , an d confirm s al l th e othe r indication s tha t somethin g was seriously lackin g i n th e relatio n betwee n hi s agen t an d hi s America n publisher , in whic h bot h mus t hav e bee n a t fault . Th e su m ha d bee n eve n larger . £2 5 ha d been repai d t o 'E.A.Bennett ' - th e first Lawrenc e ha d learne d o f Arnol d 564
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Bennett's quie t emergenc y fund. 57 Yet , thoug h h e was beginning t o be bette r of f now tha n h e ha d bee n sinc e 1914 , hi s positio n remaine d ver y uncertain . Fo r Seeker ha d agree d rathe r to o readil y tha t Lawrenc e shoul d g o bac k t o Duck worth. (Privatel y Seeke r tol d Mackenzi e tha t h e wa s no t c at al l convinced ' tha t Lawrence 'i s a commercia l proposition' . Republishin g The Rainbow woul d onl y be a possibility i f Women in Love wer e t o escape unscathed . H e was still prepare d to rever t t o a 10 % royalty fo r th e latte r bu t wa s 'a littl e tire d o f th e whol e thing' , and woul d happil y retir e i n Duckworth' s favou r sinc e 'Lawrence' s book s ar e no t worth competin g fo r fro m a money makin g poin t o f view' ; iii . 460 n . 1. ) Also , a s long a s th e proble m o f Seltze r an d Huebsc h continue d - n o soone r apparentl y settled tha n a garble d telegra m raise d th e possibilit y tha t Seltze r migh t b e prepared t o relinquis h afte r all 58 - America n publicatio n o f th e tw o bi g novel s looked equall y unsure . Lawrence wa s no w expectin g th e manuscript s o f a numbe r o f storie s t o b e returned b y Pinker . H e tol d Michae l Sadlei r tha t whe n thos e arrive d h e coul d have 'Wintr y Peacock ' fo r a proposed ne w periodica l (iii . 473-4). Bu t thoug h h e had decide d t o ac t fo r himsel f a s fa r a s Englan d wa s concerned , h e woul d nee d an agen t i n America , especiall y i f everythin g wa s no w t o g o ther e first . Quit e fortuitously, th e delaye d pos t brough t a possibl e solution . A lette r fro m Mountsier whic h ha d bee n writte n 'lon g ago ' an d ha d bee n followin g Lawrenc e all ove r th e plac e befor e bein g hel d u p furthe r i n th e strike , finally reache d hi m on 1 6 February . O n impulse , h e aske d whethe r Mountsie r woul d b e intereste d in acting fo r hi m 'i n a n unofficia l sor t o f way - an d tak e th e percentage ' (iii . 476). This wa s no t merel y impulsive . A s a journalis t Mountsie r woul d kno w some thing o f th e Ne w Yor k publishin g scene , h e woul d loo k personabl e i n a publisher's offic e an d a s bot h gentlema n an d frien d h e woul d no t d o Lawrenc e down - bu t i t wa s certainl y a sho t i n th e dark . Th e on e thin g tha t woul d effectively stabiliz e hi s positio n woul d b e to produce another , safe, novel. A t lon g last, b y 1 2 February, 'Mis s Houghton ' arrive d fro m Bavari a an d h e coul d se t t o work,3 recastin g wha t ha d bee n abandone d a s 'to o improper ' int o a nove l tha t could circulat e widely , mak e mone y an d recompens e publisher s fo r th e risk s involved i n bringin g ou t th e dangerou s ones . H e bega n th e nex t day , an d thre e days late r though t i t was going 'quit e well ' (iii . 477). VII Montecassin o - an d Sicil y Before h e reall y go t going , however , cam e a distraction . H e ha d bee n twic e pressed b y Mauric e Magnu s t o redee m th e promis e t o visi t hi m a t th e grea t Benedictine monaster y a t Montecassino . Th e origina l pla n ha d bee n t o mak e th e short journe y fro m Picinisco ; bu t whe n th e col d drov e th e Lawrence s t o Capr i he wrot e t o tel l Magnu s wha t ha d happened . Magnu s wrot e bac k fro m a hotel i n 565
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Anzio; an d Lawrenc e sense d suc h uneas e i n th e lette r - thoug h ther e wa s nothing specifi c - tha t h e wa s sur e Magnu s wa s i n trouble . H e himsel f ha d jus t received ou t o f th e blu e th e $10 0 fro m thre e America n admirers , throug h Huebsch. 60 O n a generou s impuls e h e sen t £ 5 t o Magnus , beggin g hi m no t t o take offence . Fa r fro m it , Magnu s wrot e tha t Lawrenc e ha d 'save d [his ] life ' when h e ha d 'falle n dow n a n abyss ' - thoug h a t th e tim e thi s seeme d merel y exaggerated America n gratitude . Magnu s wa s goin g t o Montecassin o i n a fe w days an d urge d Lawrenc e t o come . Late r h e wrot e twic e agai n - bu t Lawrenc e thought h e detecte d anothe r ple a behin d th e urgency , an d becaus e i t seeme d expected no w h e wa s pu t off . Ther e was als o th e railwa y strike . Nor , a s Fried a pointed ou t (no t havin g bee n invited) , coul d h e reall y affor d t o g o jaunting , though the y manage d th e shorte r tri p t o Amalfi togethe r a t the en d o f the mont h by goin g som e o f the wa y on foot . Now however , i n mid-February , th e bi g settlemen t chequ e fro m Pinker , an d the othe r on e i n prospec t fro m Amy , mean t tha t a littl e extravaganc e migh t b e afforded; an d h e di d wan t t o se e th e monastery . Perhap s th e rewritin g ma y no t have bee n goin g s o wel l afte r th e firs t fe w days . B e tha t a s i t may , h e decide d t o go, probably abou t 1 9 February . His 192 2 account recall s ho w h e go t u p befor e daybrea k an d wen t throug h th e dark littl e square , dow n th e funicular , an d ou t o n th e smal l boa t t o th e ferry , which nose d alon g th e mainlan d coas t befor e gettin g hi m t o Naple s to o lat e fo r his train . H e ha d t o han g abou t fo r thre e hours . H e almos t misse d th e tw o o'clock expres s also , by gettin g o n th e slo w train . H e realise d hi s mistak e onl y a t the las t moment , an d ha d t o sprin t fo r th e fas t on e whic h wa s alread y movin g off. A t twiligh t howeve r h e wa s i n a carriag e twistin g u p th e roa d t o th e monastery whic h bulke d lik e a hug e fortres s o n it s hill , an d ther e wa s Magnu s bustling 'wit h hi s perky , busy littl e stride' throug h th e gat e to meet him . The stor y o f this visi t i s one of the bes t thing s i n al l Lawrence. Ther e i s a fin e painterly ey e a t wor k i n th e genre-pictur e o f th e grass y courtyar d beyon d th e gate, an d th e prospec t fro m Lawrence' s guest-roo m windo w a s th e ey e drop s t o the monaster y garden , the n dow n th e hil l farm s an d ou t int o th e plain , 'th e world's valley' , o n whic h othe r mountain s stan d 'a s i f Go d ha d jus t pu t the m down read y made' . Ther e i s comedy a s Lawrence, froze n i n hi s ligh t overcoat , i s draped instea d i n Magnus' s sealskin-line d on e whic h i s magnificent enoug h fo r a millionaire, bu t make s hi m fee l thoroughl y ou t o f plac e a s the y din e (no t ver y well) i n th e ic y refectory , o r cree p 'lik e tw o thieves ' throug h th e grea t empt y church an d crypt , amon g multicoloure d marble s an d mosaics , whil e Magnu s performs a convert's overdon e genuflectio n a t ever y (frequent ) opportunity . The nex t da y anothe r word-pictur e o f th e view , i n ful l sunshin e fro m Magnus's window , imagine s th e grea t Bramant e courtyar d fille d wit h th e colourful figure s o f th e earl y Renaissance , anothe r deliberat e recal l o f Quattro 566
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cento painting . Fo r wha t ha d struc k hi m most , eve n a t th e time , wa s the contras t of a vivi d an d vita l past , stil l not-quite-dead , wit h a devitalise d present , despit e the kindnes s o f his hosts . Monte Cassino is wonderful - an d th e monks are charming t o one. But it seems pathetic, now, in its survival: so frail and hardly vital any more. Of course it should b e feudal: like a great fortres s hangin g ove r th e plain , wha t i s i t no w i t i s diveste d o f powe r an d turne d into a sort of museum wher e the forty monk s linger on? - The y hav e wonderful archives . (iii. 489) In 192 2 howeve r th e sens e o f los s woul d b e compounde d an d complicate d b y knowledge o f a traged y tha t happene d nin e month s afte r th e visit . Fo r Lawrence i n 1922 , Magnus' s inabilit y t o live , an d th e not-quite-dea d place , have fuse d int o a challeng e t o understan d an d com e t o term s wit h no t onl y hi s mixed feeling s abou t th e ma n himself , bu t th e twentieth-centur y malais e tha t Magnus an d Montecassin o bot h helpe d t o focus . Thi s means , however , tha t th e account o f hi s argumen t wit h Magnu s a s the y wal k ou t acros s th e hilltop , an d indeed th e whol e narrativ e o f th e visit , ar e transfuse d an d perhap s partl y shaped b y hindsight . A t th e tim e th e shadow s ma y onl y hav e bee n laten t i n hi s disagreement wit h man y o f Magnus' s attitudes , an d som e uneas e a t bein g unable t o d o muc h t o hel p him . H e coul d no t giv e enoug h mone y t o mak e a significant difference , no r di d h e reall y wan t t o giv e an y more , thoug h h e offered th e littl e h e ha d wit h hi m whic h wa s refused . Whe n h e go t bac k h e pu t Magnus i n touc h wit h th e assistan t edito r o f Land and Water, wh o woul d soo n publish 'Yo u Touche d Me' , an d wh o als o agree d t o tak e on e o f th e piece s tha t Magnus ha d show n Lawrenc e i n Montecassin o (iii . 480) . H e woul d late r pu t Magnus i n touc h wit h Goldring , i n th e hop e o f doin g somethin g wit h hi s translations o f play s (iii . 531-2) . An d surel y somethin g coul d b e don e wit h Magnus's accoun t o f hi s experienc e o f th e Frenc h Foreig n Legion . Tha t seemed th e onl y wa y t o hel p th e littl e ma n fo r who m h e continue d t o fee l a mi x of likin g an d irritation . After Montecassino , however , lif e i n Capr i seeme d eve n mor e petty . H e determined t o find somewher e quiet , cheap , an d no t a 'cat s cradl e o f semi literary an d pleni-literar y pussies . O h m y dea r Englis h countrymen , ho w I detes t you whereve r I find you! ' (iii . 471 ) - excep t Mackenzie , tha t is . A t first h e thought h e woul d tr y th e mainland , bu t th e ide a o f Sicily ha d bee n a t the bac k o f his min d fo r som e time , an d i n conversatio n wit h th e Bret t Young s i t appeare d that the y woul d lik e to g o with hi m t o explore . S o o n anothe r impulse , an d agai n without Frieda , the y se t off togethe r o n 2 6 February. 64 I n Naple s Lawrenc e too k charge - hi s Italia n wa s bette r tha n their s - bu t afte r waitin g i n a lon g queu e h e had t o brea k i t t o the m tha t ther e ha d bee n onl y on e cabi n left . Jessic a wa s shocked, thoug h a s the bunk s wer e curtaine d sh e made th e bes t o f things. A not e 567
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however ha d bee n struc k tha t wa s to characteris e th e expedition , an d th e Bret t Youngs' subsequen t account s of it and of Lawrence. For thoug h the y ha d a common likin g fo r Mackenzie an d got on quite wel l on the surface , th e Lawrences an d the Brett Young s wer e neve r likel y t o care muc h for on e another. Jessic a devote d hersel f utterl y t o the husban d sh e revered, an d willingly sacrifice d a real talen t as a singer t o become hi s other half , secretar y and cheerleader. Franci s continue d t o loo k th e ex-Major an d countr y docto r h e had been, thoug h appearance s wer e partl y deceptiv e sinc e h e wa s somewhat deepe r and mor e subtl e tha n h e looked . H e ha d give n u p a comfortabl e caree r t o become a writer, an d he had some genuin e sensitivit y an d perceptiveness a s poet and novelist . Hi s wa r servic e i n th e RAM C ha d take n hi m o n Smuts' s Eas t African campaig n an d (as well as damaging hi s health) ha d give n hi m a lifetime' s interest i n Africa . H e ha d a quiet sardoni c wi t behind th e rather stoli d exterior . His gift s wer e howeve r limite d b y conventionalities . H e wa s a Georgia n o f the Georgians; a love r o f countr y pursuits ; intensel y patriotic , an d ver y Englis h i n an uppe r middle-clas s way . (In hi s Sout h Africa n experience , an d novels , thi s became a sensibilit y attune d t o Smuts' s Unite d Party , i n a worl d whos e disappearance h e wa s quit e unabl e t o foresee. ) Ye t hi s novel s remai n wort h reading, an d thei r soli d virtue s wo n hi m i n hi s lifetim e wha t Lawrenc e i n 'Hardy' calle d 'th e priz e withi n th e walls' fo r th e worthy one s wh o stay there : a wide audienc e throug h Boo k Clubs , a serie s o f lovel y home s an d a hig h reputation fo r a while. But what woul d suc h a man - an d his wife - mak e o f the Lawrences? An d he of them? Whereas th e Bret t Young s foun d th e eccentricit y o f Mackenzi e (blac k o r white sombrero , blue-line d cape , orang e tie ) acceptabl y theatrical , Lawrenc e seemed a frea k - especiall y a s remembere d year s later . H e was ' a frai l littl e scarecrow o f a ma n wit h a stragglin g re d beard' , weirdl y cla d (a s i n summe r 1918) i n shrunke n gre y flannels an d a striped blazer . I t was not however , a s the public-school ma n assumed, tha t h e had had the m 'whe n h e was a schoolboy o f fifteen', bu t becaus e hi s trunk wa s still stuc k i n Turin an d his winter sui t woul d have bee n to o hot. 65 A simila r mixtur e o f humou r an d clas s feelin g appear s i n the descriptio n o f the Lawrences' laundr y o n thei r roof : 'thos e strang e piece s of grey-flannel underwea r [one ] never knew , quite , whic h belonge d t o whom' . (I t would no t b e so , or visibl e a t all , at th e Bret t Youngs. ) Ther e ar e th e b y now familiar storie s o f smoky fires, o f excellent Lawrencia n cookin g nevertheless , o f Lawrence bawlin g a t Fried a an d Fried a goadin g hi m int o payin g he r attention , or burstin g int o a 'tirade o f positively Germani c violence ' i n th e midst o f whic h she denounce d Mont y fo r being a bore. Fro m th e start, Fried a wa s too much. ' I have seen a good dea l of Lawrence and , unfortunately, als o of Frieda . . . ' , begin s Francis's accoun t o f hi s ne w acquaintance s t o Seeker . Howeve r h e though t Lawrence 'lovable ' i f not quite sane ; remembered vividl y hi s version o f Florenc e 568
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Farr intonin g Yeats' s 'Innisfree ' t o a n Iris h harp ; an d foun d him , whe n h e was most himself , 'uncomplicate d an d charming' , ' I lik e hi m immensely. ' Th e sam e contradictory feeling s wer e intensifie d abou t th e work . Afte r th e first lon g chapter o f The Rainbow whic h sh e foun d 'fascinatin g an d beautiful' , i t wa s onl y under protes t tha t Jessie wen t o n - an d Franci s i n fac t agree d wit h her , thoug h he wa s capabl e o f recognisin g tha t Lawrenc e ha d a powe r beyon d bot h hi m an d Mackenzie. (Late r h e woul d cal l him 'th e onl y authenti c literar y geniu s . . . o f th e generation t o whic h w e belong'. ) Nonetheles s h e tol d Seeke r tha t th e book' s 'people wh o lov e withou t restrain t an d hat e withou t reason ' wer e 'reincarnation s of Lawrence' s ow n pathologica l soul' , an d it s las t 40 0 page s ' a welte r o f rut' . (Conversely, Lawrenc e sai d tha t althoug h Francis' s wor k wa s 'splendidl y written', h e alway s fel t 'ther e wa s somethin g betwee n hi m an d It ' - a judgemen t whose accurac y i s not , unfortunately , diminishe d b y Francis' s excellen t come back, tha t ther e wa s certainl y nothin g betwee n Lawrenc e an d It , bu t h e himsel f liked t o leave a little to the imagination. ) 6 Such, a t an y rate , wa s th e relatio n betwee n th e tw o talkativ e one s o n th e ferr y to Palerm o tha t Thursda y night , whil e Jessi e hi d modestl y behin d he r curtain . They wen t first t o Agrigent o where , afte r a preliminar y glimps e o f classica l beauty - sheep , a shepher d bo y playin g a flute, almon d blossom , th e ruine d Greek temple s - the y wen t fo r a later wal k t o th e ruin s tha t ende d frighteningly . Barking dog s rushe d ou t o f cottages , a hig h win d ble w u p a t sunse t an d sen t Lawrence's ha t sailin g awa y fo r ever , th e sulphu r miner s comin g hom e seeme d hostile, darknes s fel l and , a s dus t an d gri t kep t blowin g i n thei r faces , Lawrenc e suddenly wa s gone . The y struggle d bac k t o th e hote l an d wondere d whethe r t o send ou t a search part y t o th e ruins , bu t hal f a n hou r late r h e appeared ; 'hi s fac e white, hi s hai r o n end , bu t quit e unconcerned' . Aske d wha t ha d happene d h e said, ' I jus t ble w away throug h a hole i n th e wal l lik e a piece of waste paper. ' Ye t a littl e late r h e decide d th e plac e wa s inimica l an d the y mus t go , eve n thoug h that involve d takin g a trai n t o Syracus e a t 4 a.m . I t say s a grea t dea l fo r hi s power ove r them , o r thei r good-nature , tha t the y went . I n Syracus e h e foun d a house an d agree d t o tak e it , bu t a s soo n a s Jessie aske d whethe r Fried a woul d approve h e realise d h e ha d mad e a mistake , ye t seeme d powerles s t o extricat e himself unti l sh e persuade d hi m h e must . H e coul d thin k o f nothing bu t tha t h e had promise d Fried a t o find somewher e withi n a week. O n Sunda y the y too k a n interminable trai n journe y t o Catania , wit h a chang e a t a branch-lin e statio n where the y waite d si x hours , drinkin g blac k coffe e lace d wit h ru m t o quel l Lawrence's impatience , onl y t o hav e th e trai n com e t o a ful l sto p agai n a t th e next junctio n becaus e o f a strike. I f Frieda ha d bee n there , said Lawrence , sittin g on a newspape r o n th e platfor m edg e wit h hi s leg s danglin g ove r th e rails , sh e would hav e sai d i t wa s al l hi s fault . A t Catania , lat e a t night , n o roo m coul d b e had, unti l a t lon g las t the y foun d anothe r singl e one . 'Ch e fa? ' sai d th e woman , 569
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'The be d i s a ver y bi g one ' - bu t eventuall y sh e agree d t o pu t u p a camp-be d where Lawrenc e slep t behin d a screen. 'I n les s tha n fiv e minute s h e wa s talking , groaning and quarrellin g wit h someon e (on e might gues s whom ) i n hi s sleep. ' For a day an d a half he searche d fruitlessl y i n Catania , befor e decidin g tha t h e hated i t an d insistin g o n leavin g fo r Taormina . Thi s tim e Franci s refuse d t o go , though h e promise d the y woul d mee t hi m ther e nex t day . S o Lawrenc e 'travelled thir d clas s i n a compartmen t ful l o f women , basket s o f chicken s an d cheeses, an d som e monks' , pas t Moun t Etn a an d o n t o Giardini , a t th e foo t o f the stee p hil l o n whos e slope s Taormin a tumbles . Whe n the y me t agai n o n 3 March, Lawrenc e ha d foun d 'Fontan a Vecchia' , whic h woul d b e thei r hom e until 1922. 'H e wa s lik e a chil d wit h jo y tha t h e ha d foun d hi s hous e "b y Thursday". A telegram wa s sent t o Frieda, an d a t last there was peace.' Spending an y lengt h o f tim e wit h suc h a creatur e o f mood s wa s clearl y a strain - thoug h th e Young s decide d t o pla y thei r account s o f it as comedy. Wha t is remarkable , however , i s Francis' s belie f tha t h e no w kne w Lawrenc e 'insid e out' - a belie f i n whic h h e neve r wavered . Th e apparen t contradiction s i n Lawrence's characte r wer e simpl y obvers e an d revers e o f th e sam e coin : hi s violence th e resul t o f actua l timidit y an d frailty , tryin g t o impres s wit h a forcefulness h e greatl y desire d bu t reall y lacked , an d completel y 'hag-ridden' . So, immediatel y afte r th e journey , Youn g wrot e t o Seeke r o f 'th e amazin g fear s and repression s b y whic h [Lawrence's ] lif e i s complicate d . . . A mor e timid , shrinking, sensitive , violent , boastful , braze n creatur e i t woul d b e impossibl e t o conceive. An d w e neve r onc e quarrelle d . . . I find hi m a restless an d disturbin g personality an d ye t someho w patheticall y attractive. ' Th e not e o f condescen sion sounds clear , but th e partia l truth o f the judgement i s rather undermine d b y its ai r o f finality an d inclusiveness . Th e ton e migh t explai n th e irritatio n wit h Francis tha t Lawrence , fo r hi s part , confesse d t o Brooks : 'Oh , ho w he did wear y me - lik e a fretfu l an d pragmatica l an d dictatoria l infant : alway s utterin g final and e x cathedr a judgment s i n th e ton e o f a petulan t littl e boy ' (iii . 481) . The y continued t o correspond - bu t the y woul d neve r b e close. Lawrence's ne w home , 'Fontan a Vecchia' , ha d a marvellou s situation . Th e house i s no w par t o f Taormin a an d surrounde d b y other s o n al l sides , bu t i n 1920 i t stoo d alon e o n a stee p slop e lookin g ou t eastward s ove r th e strait s o f Messina t o th e coas t o f Calabria. Peak s behind an d besid e i t hide Etna . Th e littl e town itsel f ende d a t th e Capuchi n gat e an d it s monaster y church , wit h onl y on e or tw o house s jus t outside . Fro m ther e a track woun d dow n th e valleysid e t o th e streamlet an d th e ancien t fountai n i n it s 'littl e cave-place ' whic h gav e th e hous e its nam e (iii . 489) , an d the n u p pas t it s gate . Wha t Lawrenc e call s th e 'garden ' was a steep slop e o f tree s an d bushe s u p t o th e house , whic h stoo d thre e storey s blocked agains t the hill - a bit fortress-like , h e thought (iii . 498). See Illustration s 570
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59, 61 . All aroun d stretche d terrace d hillsides , plante d wit h olives , almon d tree s and wheat . Th e lowes t store y wa s occupie d b y par t o f thei r Italia n landlord' s family wh o als o ha d anothe r hous e ove r b y th e Capuchins . Lawrenc e too k fo r a year (a t 200 0 lire ; iii. 482) th e to p tw o storeys , eac h o f which ha d a terrace ou t i n the sunshine , brightene d b y magent a Bougainvillaea . O n th e secon d floor wer e the salotta , wit h rathe r Gothi c pointe d window s an d alcove d shelve s tha t th e Lawrences painte d green , an d a smal l blu e Dutch-lookin g kitchen . (Th e hous e had previousl y bee n owne d b y Mari e Hubrecht , a Dutc h painte r wh o soo n became a friend.) Ther e wer e tw o bedrooms o n th e to p floor, isolate d enoug h fo r Lawrence t o insis t o n takin g th e curtain s down. 68 H e describe s wakin g u p an d watching th e daw n stag e b y stage , colou r b y colour , unti l th e 'liqui d sunlight ' comes 'winkin g straigh t i n m y eye ' an d h e dodge s beneat h hi s blanke t (iii . 498) . After Capri , h e mus t hav e bee n particularl y please d t o hav e foun d a plac e outside Taormin a thoug h withi n eas y walkin g distance . H e though t fro m th e first tha t h e coul d wor k there , and s o he did . Thoug h h e me t number s o f people , Italian an d expatriate , h e could als o get away fro m the m t o his (rathe r handsome ) desk i n th e salotta , or hi s garde n wit h it s great caro b tree , or walkin g th e slopes . It mus t hav e bee n wit h hig h excitemen t tha t h e wen t t o mee t Fried a an d Mary Canna n a t Giardin i Station . Mar y wen t t o sta y a t th e Time o Hotel , whos e chef Francesc o ('Ciccio' ) Cacopard o ha d bough t Fontan a Vecchi a fro m Mari e Hubrecht an d s o wa s no w th e Lawrences ' landlord . Ver y soon , a s he wen t of f t o collect th e women' s trunk s i n Catani a - hi s wa s still stuck i n Turi n - h e was abl e to repor t tha t Fried a love d thei r ne w hom e a s muc h a s h e di d (iii . 479, 488). H e had reache d hi s limit , h e tol d Mackenzie , a t leas t fo r a year : 'Don' t le t u s los e sight o f on e another . W e ar e opposit e poles , i n mos t things . Bu t opposit e pole s are mos t inevitabl y mutuall y relate d . . . I thin k w e me t wel l i n Capri . - I'l l se e you agai n befor e ver y long . Le t u s weav e fat e someho w togethe r . . . ' (iii . 481) . He ha d n o regret s a t al l abou t leavin g Capri . Sicil y appeale d t o hi m i n som e o f the way s Cornwal l ha d done , albei t eve n mor e southerl y i n hi s term s o f th e magnetic pul l o n hi s soul . H e fel t agai n a ' darkness'' (iii . 481) , analogou s t o th e Celtic presenc e o f th e Tuath a d i Danaa n h e ha d fel t i n 1916 , attributabl e perhaps t o th e stron g Mooris h elemen t i n th e Sicilia n makeu p - ' a touc h o f Saracen an d th e Eas t i n i t - sor t o f explosiv e gunpowde r quality ' (iii . 482 ) coupled wit h th e sens e o f bein g a t th e ver y en d o f Europe , edgin g toward s Africa. A t th e sam e tim e i t wa s muc h greene r an d sappie r tha n th e dr y roc k o f Capri, wit h a wealt h o f wil d flowers a s wonderfu l a s o n th e mainlan d nea r Amalfi. The problem s tha t ha d worrie d hi m i n Capr i bega n t o unravel . Seltze r wrot e to sa y tha t Women in Love ha d actuall y gon e t o press , an d thoug h Lawrenc e was still unhapp y tha t Huebsc h coul d fee l h e ha d bee n le t down , th e di e wa s cas t now. H e stil l di d no t lik e th e necessit y (a s Seltze r sa w it ) fo r privat e publicatio n 57i
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
at a relatively hig h price , $25 . There coul d onl y b e ' a succe s d'estim e a t th e best , and a t the worst , a succes d e scandale ' (iii . 485). Yet Seltze r als o seemed read y t o publish Touch and Go i n America , s o he migh t no w becom e Lawrence' s mai n American publishe r - thoug h Canna n warne d tha t hi s finances wer e suspect , an d Lawrence wa s stil l thinkin g o f Huebsc h fo r th e book s o n America n literatur e and psychoanalysis . (Jus t so , whe n h e lef t Duckwort h fo r Methue n i n 1914 , h e tried t o kee p Garnet t an d Duckwort h swee t b y givin g the m th e volum e o f shor t stories.) Goldring' s explanator y lette r arrived , an d thoug h Lawrenc e wryl y marked th e politica l distanc e betwee n them, 6 wit h Goldrin g unde r th e 'party umbrella' o f the communis t Barbuss e (iii . 483), he n o longe r though t hi m a 'shit ' (iii. 471). Sinc e th e openin g nigh t o f The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd wa s near, h e would a t leas t bea t hi m t o a first production . H e sen t Catherin e Carswel l £ 5 fo r the rail-far e an d begge d he r t o sen d hi m a first-hand report , onl y t o discove r that sh e ha d alread y bee n invite d t o revie w fo r The Times, whic h mad e hi m nervous bu t please d hi m also . Now h e hope d t o ge t dow n t o hi s nove l again . VIII
The Lost Girl
He seem s t o hav e don e s o o n 9 March (iii . 485) - bu t almos t a t onc e ther e wa s a change o f plan. O n 2 2 March h e tol d Mackenzi e h e ha d 'scrappe d al l the nove l I did i n Capr i - hav e begu n agai n - go t abou t 30 , 000 words , I believe, don e sinc e I'm here . Rathe r amusing. ' H e wa s stil l uncertai n o f th e ne w directio n however : 'I ma y com e t o a full sto p an y minut e - yo u neve r know ' (iii . 490-1). It ha d prove d impossibl e t o continu e th e imagining s o f a prt-Rainbow an d pre-war self . He ma y hav e begu n t o realis e thi s eve n befor e h e lef t Capri ; whic h was perhaps why , havin g waite d s o impatiently fo r 'Mis s Houghton ' t o arrive, h e had deserte d he r s o soo n t o g o t o Montecassino . Th e 191 3 fiction ha d becom e 'improper' fo r th e sam e reason s a s The Rainbow would : drive n b y hi s ne w belie f in th e powe r o f sexua l relationshi p t o transform , o r t o damag e an d destroy . Trying t o rewor k fo r th e circulatin g librarie s wen t agains t th e grai n o f tha t urgent exploration . Moreove r hi s view s o f se x an d marriag e ha d change d - an d so ha d hi s sens e o f England . Hi s heroine' s 'insurrection ' woul d hav e t o b e fa r more radica l now , n o mer e rebellio n agains t provincia l materialis m an d class consciousness. Indeed , everythin g pointe d t o beginnin g al l ove r again . I n earl y February fro m Capr i h e ha d tol d Catherin e tha t h e di d no t 'wan t t o d o a satire . It al l jus t drie s u p one' s bowels ' (iii . 470), eve n i f hi s fellow-countryme n wer e a constant temptation . I n Marc h i n Sicily , however , th e ne w fiction le t sardoni c humour of f th e leas h fo r comedy , rathe r tha n th e 'venomou s pleasure ' i n whic h 'The Insurrection ' ha d begun . He mad e stead y progress , an d throug h Marc h an d Apri l int o Ma y i t wa s Alvina Houghto n an d he r stor y tha t live d no w behin d hi s dail y life . O n 572
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31 Marc h h e though t i t about hal f don e (iii . 495). Alvina ha d me t he r Cicci o i n a way tha t ma y hav e bee n suggeste d b y Mackenzie' s Sylvia Scarlett whos e heroin e joined a troup e o f actors , an d abou t who m Fried a was readin g admiringl y (iii. 501) . A t tha t stag e th e ne w versio n wa s stil l 'a s prope r a s prope r nee d be ' (iii. 500) , though i t ha d alread y begu n t o assert th e familia r Lawrencia n lif e o f it s own, 'whic h run s ou t o f m y contro l an d jump s throug h th e port-hol e int o th e unknown ocean , an d leave s m e o n dec k painfull y implorin g i t t o com e home ' (iii. 497) . Determine d o n commercia l success , h e propose d t o giv e th e boo k t o Mary Canna n t o read , a s a representativ e o f th e grea t Britis h public . Sinc e h e was no t a s kee n no w o n Seeke r a s h e ha d been , h e half-though t o f puttin g i t u p to auctio n (iii . 500) ; thoug h h e ha d jus t accepte d Seeker' s term s fo r Women in Love an d The Rainbow (iii . 499 ) - i n tha t order . O n secon d thought s h e tol d Seeker abou t i t o n 9 April , albei t i n a wa y tha t lef t th e doo r invitingl y ope n fo r him t o refus e (iii . 503) ; bu t Seeke r wa s keen , thoug h h e though t tha t The Lost Girl, Lawrence' s ne w titl e (iii . 515) , wa s askin g fo r troubl e wit h th e circulatin g libraries.71 Lawrenc e kep t emphasisin g tha t th e ne w boo k wa s amusing , a potential mone y make r an d no t improper . A s th e secon d hal f developed , however, th e las t o f thes e claim s ma y hav e bee n rathe r t o cal m Seeker' s timidit y than th e strictes t truth . H e continue d t o maintai n tha t hi s heroin e was no t 'morally lost , poo r darling ' (iii . 525) , an d he r stor y 'quit e passable , fro m Mudie s point o f view ' (iii . 517) , bu t h e confesse d t o Mackenzi e soo n afte r finishing o n 5 Ma y - havin g take n onl y eigh t week s - tha t h e wa s a littl e 'terrifie d o f m y Alvina'. H e ha d mad e a married woma n o f he r bu t doubte d i f marriage was , fo r her o r Monty' s heroine , th e escap e fro m th e inne r labyrinth : 'Ho w w e han g o n to th e marriag e clue ! Doubt i f its really a way out. - Bu t m y Alvina , i n who m th e questing sou l i s lodged, move s towar d reunio n wit h th e dar k hal f of humanity . Whither you r Sylvia ? Th e ideal ? I loath e th e idea l wit h a n increasin g volum e o f detestation - all ideal ' (iii . 521) . Seeke r migh t hav e foun d tha t 'dar k hal f worrying - ye t i t look s lik e somethin g deepe r tha n sex y passage s whic h migh t call fo r expurgation . Lawrenc e ha d vowe d h e wa s throug h wit h offerin g th e world anythin g 'seriou s di cuore . .. Hencefort h m y fingers t o m y nos e - an d m y heart fa r of f (iii . 491) . Ye t onc e agai n a supposed potboile r whic h se t ou t t o b e much les s seriou s tha n it s predecessors , ha d probe d furthe r tha n it s autho r intended. The ne w book might seem to have little for th e biographer. Of course Lawrenc e had know n fro m boyhoo d th e Culle n famil y o f Londo n Hous e i n Eastwood , o n whom h e base d th e Houghtons . H e ha d visite d th e house , me t it s peopl e an d heard ever y stag e o f Eastwood' s tut-tuttin g abou t th e faile d venture s o f Georg e Henry Cullen : th e drapery-stor e windows , th e sales , th e shir t factory , th e brickworks, th e privat e coal-mine , th e cinema . Bot h h e an d Ad a wer e friendl y with th e daughte r wh o lef t hom e t o trai n a s a nurs e bu t lande d u p playin g th e 573
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piano fo r he r father' s films, befor e finally breakin g away . (Flossi e howeve r married a ma n seve n year s older , a s Alvin a - name d afte r Lawrence' s cousi n refuses t o do. ) H e ha d moreove r alread y use d th e househol d thre e times : in 'Pau l Morel' II , i n th e fragmen t 'Els a Culverwell' , an d i n 'Th e Insurrection' , * though the sexual and socia l rebellion o f that Miss Houghton probabl y differe d bot h fro m life and fro m th e liaison wit h an Italian peasan t in the new fiction now . Using suc h familiar materia l may have made detachment easier . Yet th e distanc e Lawrenc e no w maintain s fro m hi s stor y doe s provid e a biographical note , showin g ho w fa r h e ha d free d himsel f fro m Eastwoo d an d from England . 'Th e Insurrection ' ha d bee n muc h mor e di cuore both negativel y and positively . I t gav e hi m a satirist' s pleasur e a t first; an d i t becam e a stag e towards The Rainbow. Bot h a s exposur e o f ho w th e provincia l bourgeoisi e denied lif e fo r clas s an d mone y i n a n Eastwoo d fro m whic h h e himsel f ha d onl y recently broke n away ; an d a s hi s first sustaine d attemp t t o wor k ou t hi s ne w vision o f th e powe r o f sexua l relationshi p t o liberat e an d transform ; th e fiction involved hi s ow n heart . Th e stor y behin d th e stor y wa s th e Insurrectio n o f M r Lawrence. I t wa s th e difficult y i n gettin g bac k int o th e moo d o f tha t younge r self, seve n year s an d a world wa r later , tha t mad e i t impossibl e t o continu e - bu t starting again , comin g a t familia r materia l wit h a sens e o f bein g quit e fre e o f i t now, le d t o a freehan d zest , economica l an d laconic , an d a distance whic h keep s turning satir e int o comedy . I n th e first thir d o f th e boo k th e declin e o f Manchester House , th e ris e o f Alvin a an d he r first fruitles s rebellions , ar e see n now a s throug h glass , lightly . S o James Houghton , tha t faile d commercia l artis t enslaved t o second-rat e imaginings , become s 'amusing ' - an d s o doe s hi s daughter, com e hom e a s a plum p maternit y nurs e wit h a pinchabl e bottom , t o find n o fortun e an d onl y a ver y unattractiv e beau . Lawrence' s 'amusing ' i s jus t right fo r th e distance , poise d tautl y betwee n th e funn y an d th e serious . To laug h at James i s no t t o forge t th e destructivenes s o f hi s obsession ; t o sympathis e wit h Alvina i s als o t o smil e wryl y a t th e way s i n whic h sh e i s he r father' s daughte r and middle-clas s English . S o The Lost Girl i s th e bes t evidenc e o f wha t on e would hav e t o mea n no w b y callin g Lawrenc e 'English' , an d proo f agai n o f ho w much h e ha d change d i n thos e seve n years . The middl e sectio n i s differentl y revealing , especiall y i n defeatin g expecta tions founde d o n hi s previou s work ; s o i t ma y leav e reader s al l th e mor e puzzle d about wha t h e i s u p t o now . Man y wil l dismis s th e itineran t troup e th e Natcha Kee-Tawaras a s rubbishy , an d fee l uneasil y repelle d b y th e love-affai r o f Alvin a and Ciccio , an d the y wil l b e right , o r jus t hal f righ t whic h i s hal f mistaken . Fo r again th e comed y an d th e seriousnes s hav e t o d o wit h Lawrenc e revaluin g himself, t o a point no w o f parody an d self-parod y - alway s on e o f hi s 'turns' . S o the Natcha-Kee-Tawara s ar e a deliberate parod y o f Cooper , an d thei r bohemia n commune a travesty o f Rananim , tha t drea m o f a few comrade s o f lik e min d an d 574
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free spiri t boun d togethe r agains t th e world . No r i s i t acciden t tha t th e comin g together o f Alvin a an d Cicci o ha s s o littl e t o d o wit h lov e — agains t whic h Lawrence ha d bee n settin g himsel f eve r mor e firmly - bu t read s (almost ) lik e a burlesque o f th e stoc k Lawrencia n sleeping-beaut y fable , sinc e th e lower-clas s lad i s s o ver y seed y an d predatory , an d th e lad y s o ver y dow n o n he r luc k an d walking i n he r sleep . Ye t thi s i s just wher e th e ne w fiction parte d compan y wit h the old, and bega n t o pull Lawrenc e (i n hi s metaphor) throug h th e safet y glass . For h e ha d see n th e encounte r o f th e 'white ' wit h th e 'Indian ' i n th e Leatherstocking novel s a s actuall y Cooper' s searc h withi n himself , t o discove r and b e reconcile d wit h th e deepe r an d darke r par t o f him tha t hi s civilisatio n ha d almost destroyed . That , an d th e tru e Blutbruderschaf t o f Natt y an d Chingach gook, are wha t th e Natcha-Kee-Tawara s travesty , i n a seedy bohemianis m tha t i s actually a s fals e an d exploitativ e a s th e societ y the y reject . Onl y a t tw o point s Pacohuila o n horseback , an d whe n Kishwegi n dance s - doe s a deepe r potenti ality flash out , s o tha t momentaril y a n Ev e Effingha m encounter s th e las t o f th e Mohicans. Tawdrines s an d travest y disappear , thoug h shortl y t o return . (Eve n the Magnus-lik e M r May , actin g a beggin g dog , ma y revea l fo r a momen t a n inner trut h tha t i s n o 'Dodge'. ) Wit h Alvin a an d Cicci o Lawrenc e i s concerne d in th e sam e way , bot h t o sho w th e unattractiv e an d life-denyin g natur e o f th e differing rind s tha t protec t an d concea l thei r darke r an d mor e fruitfu l selves ; bu t also to show ho w th e forc e tha t pull s the m togethe r crack s thos e open , t o revea l a dark beaut y hidden , almos t lost , withi n th e pal e Englis h gir l an d th e seed y foreigner. Ye t i t i s her e als o tha t th e nove l bega n t o b e 'improper ' again , wit h a quite differen t emphasi s fro m The Rainbow an d Women in Love. Fo r al l Birkin' s (and Lawrence's ) determinatio n t o distinguis h tru e sexua l relationshi p fro m th e orthodox le t alon e th e romanc e vie w o f love , ther e i s a sens e i n whic h th e tw o major novel s remai n love-stories , thoug h wit h a differenc e buil t o n sometime s violent conflict . No w th e differenc e grow s wider , darker , mor e challengingl y anti-romance an d disquieting . Lawrence himsel f mad e a two-page revisio n t o ge t ri d o f love-tal k an d mak e a discomfiting clarification ; an d Seeke r als o aske d hi m late r t o replac e a passag e that th e librarie s woul d no t accept . Lawrenc e readil y agreed , sinc e hi s majo r ai m had bee n t o writ e somethin g tha t woul d sel l - bu t Seeke r als o made severa l othe r changes withou t tellin g him . Al l thes e pinpoin t th e novel' s dar k side . Th e mos t significant o f Seeker' s change s blur s th e difficul t lin e Lawrenc e no w wishe d t o draw betwee n somethin g ugly , rapacious , domineering , an d a conditio n fo r th e cracking ope n o f eg o tha t h e no w though t necessar y t o allo w th e 'dar k hal f o f humanity' t o emerge . Th e los s o f Alvina' s virginit y i s potentiall y th e mos t repulsive scen e h e ha d eve r written . Sh e canno t understan d th e sexua l innuend o behind he r ne w Kishw e nam e ('Allaye') ; th e episod e itsel f i s ver y clos e t o rape ; and i s mad e al l th e nastie r b y th e impressio n tha t th e Italia n i s laughin g t o 575
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himself afterwards , exultin g ove r havin g take n th e Englis h lady , an d determine d to mak e he r hi s slave . A sentenc e Seeke r cut , b y it s repeate d emphasi s o n 'shamelessness', suggest s (albei t afa r off ) tha t Cicci o ma y als o hav e buggere d her. Ye t i t i s becaus e Alvin a canno t se e hi m a s al l ugly , tha t sh e i s unabl e t o resist. Despit e th e uglines s tha t Lawrenc e deliberatel y creates , ther e i s als o a 'sense o f th e unknow n beaut y o f him ' whic h eve r thereafte r ha s he r unde r it s spell. 74 Th e parado x tha t Cicci o open s u p i s th e presence , i n th e rathe r unpleasant defensive-aggressiv e Italian , o f a 'dark , unseizabl e beauty ' whic h i s almost godlike . Afte r th e deat h o f he r fathe r Cicci o agai n take s her , i n he r mother's bedroom , agains t he r will ; bu t Lawrence' s rewritin g fo r Seeke r agai n removed th e mos t dangerou s challenge . Fo r Ciccio' s origina l 'recklessness ' probably implie d ana l intercours e again , and i t i s even cleare r tha t th e effec t i s t o leave he r 'nothin g o f herself-—nothing' . I n th e tw o majo r novels , th e crucia l experience was o f momentar y oblivio n fo r both , i n orde r tha t ne w selve s coul d be born . No w i t seem s tha t Alvina' s 'upper ' selfhoo d i s s o resistan t tha t i t requires t o b e 'killed ' b y th e dar k man . Whe n h e laugh s afterwards , 'Lov e i s a fine thing' , th e challeng e seem s complet e - bu t fo r on e thin g more , whic h Lawrence's ow n deliberat e chang e supplied . A t th e momen t whe n Alvin a (having lef t Cicci o an d engage d hersel f t o a ric h doctor ) agree s t o brea k he r engagement an d g o wit h Cicci o t o Italy , Lawrenc e originall y dre w a final distinction betwee n th e physica l attractio n o f th e ma n himself , an d th e (suffering) powe r in him ; betwee n 'moder n masculin e impertinence ' i n th e sex war, an d th e 'strang e ol d godliness ' unacknowledged . No w h e deliberatel y removed al l tal k o f love , an d concluded : 'h e seeme d s o beautiful , s o beautiful . And thi s lef t he r numb , submissive . Wh y mus t sh e se e hi m beautiful ? Wh y wa s she will-less ? Sh e fel t hersel f lik e on e o f th e ol d sacre d prostitute s . . .' 76 A 'submissive' prostitution , givin g u p he r wil l an d feminin e self-valu e - bu t i n dedication t o wha t i s sacred - th e parado x challenge s mor e tha n th e middle-clas s English (an d th e Christian ) idea l o f virtue . Lawrence' s remar k t o Mackenzie , about th e questin g sou l movin g towar d rediscover y o f it s darke r dimension , comes int o focus . Wha t link s th e failure s o f James Houghton , Mis s Frost , M r May, Madam e Rochar d an d D r Mitchel l - an d Alvin a befor e sh e meet s Cicci o is tha t the y ar e al l governe d b y fals e idea s o r ideal s o f themselves . Thoug h Alvina's marriag e ma y mak e The Lost Girl acceptabl e i n lendin g libraries , marriage i s n o answe r an y more , eve n th e marriag e o f opposites . No w wha t i s needed i s a virtual 'killing ' o f hal f th e self , because tha t hal f has becom e s o over dominant an d th e othe r s o recessive . I f menta l consciousnes s i s th e disease , i t seems t o b e becaus e th e uppe r centre s hav e becom e to o activ e i n creatin g onl y their kind s o f awareness. S o i t i s th e lowe r centre s tha t nee d t o b e brough t alive , and tha t - a s th e Whitma n essa y dare d t o clarif y - involve s th e sacra l a s wel l a s the vagina l 'allaye' , a s way s o f discoverin g an d awakenin g th e darke r par t o f th e 576
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psyche, 'killing ' th e dominanc e o f the whit e sel f and it s ideals . Anal sex ha d bee n a part o f the whol e real m o f love before, bu t no w i t seem s t o hav e becom e almos t a kin d o f remedia l ritual , s o ba d ha s imbalanc e become . Ye t ther e come s a dee p dark tendernes s too . To relat e thi s t o th e Lawrenc e marriag e need s tact , fo r fiction i s a wa y o f exploring possibilitie s outsid e a s wel l a s withi n rea l life . W e hav e howeve r bee n watching Lawrence' s emphasi s steadil y changin g sinc e 1916 , fro m 'star-equili brium' t o increasin g emphasi s o n individuality , an d the n t o th e nee d t o asser t manhood agains t th e dominan t femal e an d mother-substitut e s o as to recove r th e power o f the mal e go d within . H e ha d turne d awa y fro m love , and ther e i s muc h evidence tha t hi s marriag e wa s no t wha t i t ha d been . I f Mackenzi e i s t o b e believed, Lawrenc e fel t tha t somethin g wa s wron g i n th e marriage-be d thoug h this may o r ma y no t hav e been simpl y a physical matter . T o hav e imagined , now , a kin d o f submissio n tha t Frieda' s powerfu l eg o woul d neve r allow , ma y als o suggest ho w a sens e o f diminishe d potenc y migh t gro w fro m he r unwillingnes s to give herself o r acknowledg e hi m a s he longe d fo r he r t o do ; and migh t emerg e as a difficult y i n satisfyin g he r kin d o f desire . Lawrence' s heroine s sometime s taunt thei r lover s fo r suc h failure , thoug h th e cause-and-effec t coul d b e pu t th e other wa y round. Bot h migh t wel l b e true ; and wh o i s to sa y whic h was th e true r for th e Lawrences ? Eithe r way , i t seem s significan t tha t ana l intercourse , i n bot h fiction an d fac t sinc e 1914 , look s t o hav e bee n a mal e reactio n t o feelin g undervalued, o r hel d a t a distance , o r defied . (T o a woma n i t ma y loo k rathe r different.) The final stag e o f th e novel , afte r Alvin a an d Cicci o leav e Englan d fo r th e Abruzzi, come s clos e t o recen t experience . Ye t h e woul d i n an y cas e hav e wanted (a s i n Cicci o himself ) t o contras t a wild beaut y wit h th e griml y down-at heel realitie s o f peasan t life . I f th e ne w nove l ha s a differen t emphasi s fro m it s 1913-17 predecessors , her e th e differenc e i s from Twilight in Italy, thoug h ther e is continuity too . 'England ' i s deathly fo r th e Englishma n i n both , an d 'Italy ' th e challenge t o redres s imbalanc e an d awake n t o ne w kind s o f awareness , thoug h both th e deathlines s an d th e difficult y o f reawakenin g hav e increased . I n th e ic y and blea k condition s o f the Abruzzi , i t is not tha t Alvin a ca n loo k forwar d t o ne w community, o r a close r family , o r a riche r relationshi p wit h nature , o r eve n happiness i n lov e wit h Ciccio . Rather , th e hars h condition s disti l th e essenc e o f what sh e an d Cicci o hav e found ; th e mor e preciou s als o becaus e o f it s vulnerability i n a worl d declarin g war . Ther e i s n o knowin g th e futur e fo r th e relationship, bu t ther e ha s bee n a new beginning : a deeper manhoo d i n Ciccio , a different selfhoo d i n Alvin a liberate d fro m provincial , class , idealis t an d wilfu l cerements. Th e title' s iron y remains , eve n afte r hars h testing . Fa r fro m bein g 'lost', Alvin a ha s fo r th e first tim e foun d a self tha t ca n hol d t o an d asser t fragil e life an d abidin g connection , eve n agains t deat h spirit s an d crue l fate . Cicci o 577
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almost despair s whe n h e i s called-up ; bu t h e too , b y th e fina l pages , ha s foun d something t o liv e for . Th e word s Lawrenc e give s the m ech o hi s ow n t o {Catherine Mansfiel d i n Decembe r 1918 , abou t resistin g death . '"I f yo u don' t come bac k i t will be becaus e yo u don' t wan t to—n o othe r reaso n . . . S o make u p your mind, " sh e sai d . . . A t las t h e stirred—h e rose . H e cam e hesitatin g acros s to her. "I'l l come back, Allaye," he said quietly . "B e damne d t o them all." ' IX Peopl e an d Place s While The Lost Girl was takin g shap e betwee n earl y Marc h an d earl y May , ther e was als o a ne w oute r life . Taormin a ha d a n expatriat e colon y too , thoug h les s oppressive tha n Capri' s becaus e h e coul d escap e t o Fontan a Vecchia . I t wa s moreover temporar y enoug h t o remai n amusing , sinc e nearl y al l foreigner s lef t by th e en d o f May eac h yea r a s the Sicilia n su n blaze d hotter . Fro m tw o centre s - Mar y Canna n a t th e pos h Time o Hote l wher e sh e regularl y invite d the m t o meals, an d Mari e Hubrech t wh o ha d onc e owne d Fontan a Vecchi a an d stil l ha d Rocca Bell a an d a separat e studi o - web s o f acquaintanc e bega n t o spread ; an d since th e whol e lif e o f wha t wa s littl e mor e tha n a village funnelle d throug h th e narrow centra l Corso , passin g notable s coul d als o b e pointe d out . Th e Hubrech t family ha d bee n i n Taormin a fo r years . I t wa s probabl y throug h Mari e tha t Lawrence me t th e philanthropi c an d religiou s Mabe l Hil l who m h e though t to o sanctified eve n t o snif f a t him ; an d th e Duc a d i Bront e (th e Hon . Alexande r Nelson Hood , descendan t o f th e victo r o f Trafalgar , an d inherito r o f hi s Italia n title) who m h e ha d see n a t th e Hote l an d though t l gaga' (iii . 496) - thoug h stil l worth visiting , later . A t on e o f Marie' s partie s Lawrenc e tol d a Dr Roger s fro m Cambridge, who m h e ha d see n 'hypnotising ' a bevy o f fox-furred Danis h girl s a t the Timeo , tha t hi s 'scientifi c latest ' wa s 'childis h piffle ' (iii . 496 ) - bu t hi s hostess di d no t see m t o mind . Indee d h e becam e firm friend s wit h th e 45-year old 'slit-eye d Dutc h woman ' (iii . 491). Sh e painted , an d wa s well-read ; sh e gav e him th e ru n o f he r bookshelve s a t 'Rocc a Bella ' an d he r garde n whe n sh e was away, an d sh e dre w a portrait o f him tha t i s now i n th e Nationa l Portrai t Galler y in London . I t wa s throug h he r tha t the y als o me t th e water-colouris t an d photographer Rober t Kitche n an d - mor e t o th e poin t - tw o youn g painter s wh o were rentin g he r studio , th e Sout h Africa n Ja n Jut a an d hi s Wels h frien d Ala n Insole, alon g wit h Jan' s siste r Ren e Hansar d wh o was abou t t o publis h he r first novel. Jan - fro m a ric h famil y a t th e Cap e - ha d studie d a t th e Slad e an d was now a t th e Britis h Institut e i n Rome . Lawrenc e an d Fried a alway s enjoye d th e lively young , an d Jan wa s bot h good-lookin g an d talented . H e to o di d a portrai t sketch o f Lawrenc e tha t spring , whic h was photographe d an d sen t of f whenever a photo wa s demanded . Meanwhil e a t th e Time o ther e wa s a constan t spectacle t o gossi p about : a 'ricketty' buttercup-haire d Barones s quarrellin g wit h 578
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the waite r Pancrazi o ove r th e service , an d bein g tol d i t wa s becaus e sh e di d no t pay enoug h (iii . 496, 507) ; th e youn g Frenc h coupl e wh o wer e arreste d (bu t fo r what?); an d th e uproa r envelopin g Mar y herself , whe n sh e trie d t o ge t ou t o f renting a hous e t o whic h sh e ha d a t first agreed . Moreove r Mari e (Minerva type) didn' t approv e o f Mar y (Aphrodite-type , gettin g o n a bit, bu t stil l abl e t o trip upstairs) . The y 'declare d a vendetta ' (iii . 496) , whic h wa s amusin g a t th e time bu t becam e awkwar d later , whe n Lawrenc e helpe d t o arrang e (i n Marie' s absence) tha t Mar y shoul d leas e the studi o afte r th e Jutas ha d gon e (iii . 506) , an d the owner wa s not a t all pleased, thoug h sh e forgav e hi m (iii . 535). Now, howeve r - a s in Fiascherin o i n 191 3 - ther e wa s also the chanc e t o mak e friends wit h a n Italia n family. 81 Hi s landlor d ha d bee n i n Mancheste r whe n th e Lawrences arrived , bu t soo n cam e home . Lawrenc e becam e ver y fon d o f Cicci o Cacopardo an d hi s youn g wif e Emma , know n a s 'Gemma' . H e ha d bee n employed b y th e Hubrecht s i n Hollan d an d England , spok e thre e language s an d was rapidl y growin g prosperous . Al l th e mother s o f unmarrie d daughter s wer e furious whe n h e fel l i n lov e wit h an d marrie d a young refuge e fro m th e Veneto , who ha d fled th e invadin g Austrian s an d arrive d o n th e islan d wit h nin e brother s and sisters , almos t destitute . On e mothe r indee d ha d trie d t o ri p th e girl' s dres s off he r bac k whe n sh e hear d o f th e engagement . Moreove r her family refuse d t o believe i n th e marriage , an d suspecte d th e Sicilia n o f makin g he r hi s concubine . (When i n Jun e 192 0 Cicci o accepte d a positio n a s cook-butle r t o a Bostonia n couple, h e proudl y bough t Gemm a a smart outfi t an d wen t nort h t o sho w of f t o the Mottas , Gemma' s family , befor e sailin g t o th e USA. ) Ther e wa s als o Carmelo, Ciccio' s brother , wh o ha d a house nea r th e Capuchin s an d farme d th e family lands . Lawrenc e too k a great interes t i n everything , walkin g ou t i n seaso n to watc h th e reaping , th e threshin g i n th e ol d wa y wit h oxe n treadin g th e cor n and chaf f tosse d agains t th e wind , th e olive s bein g presse d an d th e almond s beaten ou t o f th e tree s wit h lon g rods . Carmel o brough t hi m b y donke y tw o great bottiglioni o f re d win e fro m th e hills , t o hi s grea t satisfaction . Carmelo' s little daughte r (wh o stil l i n 199 5 live d i n Fontan a Vecchia ) ofte n brough t the m their post , an d remembere d helpin g a dressed-up Fried a acros s th e strea m a s sh e went off , lady-like , t o din e a t th e Timeo . I n th e botto m store y unde r thei r feet , Grazia th e matriarc h woul d fire u p th e bi g ove n t o mak e brea d - fo r th e Lawrences to o - o r t o roast , alon g wit h th e famil y feast , a turke y fo r upstair s which looke d a mer e sli p o f a thin g i n tha t re d cavern . Sh e ha d bee n muc h amused whe n Lawrence , soo n afte r the y came , aske d fo r goat' s mil k bu t mad e the anima l masculin e - an d sh e ofte n shoppe d fo r him . Ther e wa s Ciccia , Francesco's sister , wh o ha d jus t burie d a husban d an d wa s abou t t o marr y a younger one . Wate r fo r washin g cam e fro m cisterns , bu t ever y da y Lawrenc e would tak e th e bi g terracott a ju g an d g o of f t o th e ol d fountai n t o fill i t wit h drinking wate r - an d ther e (Cicci o said ) h e woul d si t a whil e o n th e wal l 579
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watching th e peopl e com e an d go . Gossi p abou t him , too , sprea d amon g th e Sicilians - lik e th e stor y o f ho w th e mayo r cam e t o mak e a courtes y call , an d found himsel f i n th e mids t o f flying plates . Fried a coul d late r no t remembe r thi s rumpus 82 - an d besides , she says , there wer e no t tha t man y plate s - bu t i t is easy to imagin e th e stor y o f thei r overhear d row s bein g spread , o r augmented . Their Sicilians, also , thoug h Lawrenc e kep t a n ey e o n Grazia' s accounts , wer e obviously differen t fro m th e rogue s an d extortioner s i n tow n wh o charge d inflated price s an d swindle d hi m ou t o f th e mos t favourabl e rat e o f exchang e (iii. 496) . Afte r a mont h a t Fontan a Vecchi a h e alread y fel t tha t h e ha d live d there fo r ' a hundre d thousan d years ' (iii. 497). There wer e tw o unwelcom e invasions , however . Hearin g tha t Gilber t Canna n had returne d fro m America , Lawrenc e wrot e a no t over-friendl y lette r askin g why h e ha d take n i t o n himsel f t o collec t mone y fo r him , an d wha t i n an y cas e had happene d t o it ? H e mus t als o - th e lette r ha s no t survive d - hav e sai d something tha t Canna n foun d offensiv e abou t th e sudde n marriag e o f hi s mistress Gwe n t o hi s frien d Mon d whil e h e was awa y (iii . 500) . Thi s wa s a subject o n whic h Canna n fel t sensitive , bu t als o chivalrou s sinc e h e woul d hea r no criticis m o f her , an d ha d indee d gon e of f o n a motoring holida y wit h th e tw o of the m - 'th e Mond , th e Demi-Monde , an d th e Immonde ' a s hi s ex-wif e sai d when sh e hear d o f i t (iii . 502) . O n 8 April , havin g lef t th e other s i n Rome , Cannan turne d u p o n Lawrence' s doorste p withou t warning , an d i n somethin g of a tantrum. I t wa s ver y luck y tha t Mar y ha d no t chose n thi s a s one o f her day s to come an d hav e te a wit h th e Lawrences , an d tha t Gilber t was not stayin g i n hi s ex-wife's hote l bu t i n on e ' a little grander* (iii . 502) . Befor e h e left , havin g take n out a cheque-boo k an d dashe d of f a chequ e fo r £7 5 i n additio n t o th e $15 0 h e told Lawrenc e h e ha d deposite d wit h Huebsch , goo d relation s wer e restore d o n the surface . However , Lawrenc e ha d no t enjoye d bein g ticke d of f whe n h e fel t i n the right , bot h a s t o th e mone y - whic h seeme d s o t o pu t hi m i n th e wron g and fo r hi s view s o n commitmen t an d fidelity . I f (a s Canna n said ) Gwe n was no t of ' a forgivin g nature' , neithe r wa s he . H e foun d Cannan' s prais e o f Gwen' s character absurd , an d stil l mor e s o th e degre e t o whic h Gilber t 'th e filbert ' ha d become Americanised, 83 wit h hi s bulgin g pocket-book , hi s boastin g o f ho w the y had take n t o hi m 'ove r there' , i n th e U S an d ho w h e ha d 'promise d a quantity o f people I'l l g o back thi s Fall ' (iii . 502). No detai l o f this wil l have bee n pleasin g t o Lawrence. The y parted , 'a s friend s wh o will never speak t o each othe r again' . Less tha n thre e week s later , wors e wa s t o come . Lawrenc e ha d take n a littl e time of f fro m hi s nove l t o mak e tw o brie f trips . Sinc e hi s trun k ha d stil l no t come (an d remaine d missin g eve n i n May , si x month s afte r h e ha d arrive d i n Turin) Mari e Hubrech t mad e hi m a littl e farewel l presen t befor e sh e departe d for th e summe r t o Holland an d Norway . Wit h he r 25 0 lir e he wen t of f t o Catani a with Fried a t o bu y som e shirt s an d sandals , an d hav e Fried a 'dentisted' . ( A 580
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screw-in toot h ha d com e loose. ) Thu s improved , the y wen t th e followin g weekend t o se e 'th e boys ' an d Ren e a t Randazzo , an d fro m ther e t o th e Duca' s castle a t Maniace , befor e goin g dow n togethe r t o Syracuse . The y enjoye d th e young peopl e again . Jut a ha d bee n grump y abou t bein g chivie d ou t whe n h e wanted t o work ; bu t al l wa s sunn y now , an d Lawrenc e like d Ren e bette r i n a context wher e sh e 'droppe d he r socia l tiresomenesses ' an d becam e 'simpl e again ' (iii. 526) . The y wen t o n mulebac k u p Etn a t o th e Duca' s castl e - 'wonderfu l place' - an d t o Lawrence' s amusemen t 'th e peopl e turne d ou t t o receiv e u s a s i f we were royalty ' (iii . 509) . Juta remembere d a number o f peasant retainer s fitte d out i n uniform s lik e th e Pope' s Swis s guard ; heav y Victoria n furnishings ; a grande dam e wh o looke d an d behave d lik e Quee n Alexandra ; whil e he r brothe r inspected hi s guest s throug h a monocle clampe d t o hi s nose . I t i s t o b e hope d he wa s impresse d b y Fried a i n th e blu e sil k Ad a ha d give n her . Thes e wer e 'lovely days ' wit h wild-flower s out, ' an d th e cor n risin g stron g an d gree n i n th e magical, malaria l places , an d Etn a floating no w t o northward , stil l wit h he r crown o f snow' , a s th e trai n woun d dow n th e coas t t o Catani a an d Syracuse . Their hote l wa s nea r th e grea t quarr y o f Latomi a fro m whic h muc h o f th e ston e was cut fo r th e Gree k cit y - an d i n whic h thousand s o f young Athenia n captive s were lef t t o starv e i n 41 3 AD , a gruesom e histor y whic h lef t a mark o n The Lost Girl, and o n Frieda' s memory . ' The Lawrence s caugh t cold s fro m goin g u p th e mountain o r fro m th e Norma n stonework , bu t returne d t o Taormin a o n th e 29th, i n hig h fettle . Early th e nex t morning , however , Lawrenc e hear d a nois e o n th e stair s an d there wa s Magnus, lookin g u p wit h a frightened face . Th e troubl e h e ha d hinte d at i n hi s first lette r fro m Anzi o ha d caugh t u p wit h him . H e ha d tol d Lawrenc e at th e monaster y tha t a chequ e fo r hi s hote l a t Anzi o ha d bounced , becaus e a sum h e wa s owe d ha d no t bee n pai d i n t o hi s Ne w Yor k bank , bu t a s soo n a s i t was, all would b e well . True o r not , th e matte r ha d no t bee n pu t righ t - an d th e carabinieri ha d com e t o Cassin o makin g enquiries . Somebod y telephone d hi s friend th e monaster y guest-master , an d Magnu s ha d mad e a ru n fo r i t dow n a back pat h an d fo r seve n hour s acros s country . H e caugh t a slow trai n on e statio n up, wen t a fe w station s toward s Rom e an d the n change d t o a trai n i n th e othe r direction, spendin g mos t o f th e journe y t o Naple s i n th e toilet . H e ha d almos t nothing t o ea t unti l h e go t t o Taormina ; an d arrive d o n th e 26t h wit h almos t nothing lef t o f th e 15 0 lir e Do n Maur o ha d hastil y len t hi m - onl y t o find th e Lawrences away . H e agonise d mos t o f al l les t th e monastery , wher e h e ha d appeared t o b e a rich American , shoul d find ou t th e truth . H e ha d bee n waitin g anxiously fo r Lawrenc e t o return , an d ha d com e t o him , h e said , becaus e ther e was n o on e else . H e ha d howeve r chose n t o sta y a t th e mos t expensiv e o f th e Taormina hotel s because , h e said , the y kne w hi m fro m a previou s visit , thoug h he wa s economisin g no w afte r th e first meals , b y eatin g 'disgusting ' foo d i n a 581
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restaurant. Lawrenc e an d Fried a wer e abou t t o g o ou t t o lunc h wit h Mary , bu t after a hast y introductio n t o Frieda , ove r whos e han d Magnu s bowe d i n continental fashio n wit h man y compliment s t o he r house , a n appointmen t wa s made fo r hi m t o com e bac k th e nex t morning . The n Magnu s unfolde d hi s rescue plan . Woul d Lawrenc e advanc e hi m mone y o n hi s manuscripts , fetc h hi s things fro m th e monaster y an d pu t hi m u p unti l h e coul d gathe r enoug h t o ge t to Egypt, wher e a friend o n a newspaper migh t ge t him work ? Again on e mus t tr y t o disentangl e fro m Lawrence' s hindsigh t i n 192 2 ho w h e felt abou t Magnu s now . Hi s appearanc e an d speec h ha d alread y bee n use d fo r Mr Ma y i n The Lost Girl, wit h a n impressio n o f dappernes s dow n o n it s luc k and anxiou s t o th e poin t o f seediness . Ye t Lawrenc e seem s a t firs t t o hav e responded mor e warml y toward s Magnu s tha n th e elemen t o f 'M r May ' implies , despite th e differenc e i n thei r attitude s an d hi s comple x feeling s abou t th e littl e man's rathe r effeminat e fastidiousness , 'queenly ' fussin g ove r Dougla s an d dislike o f women . H e ha d glimpse d a generosit y whe n Magnu s di d hav e an y money, a capacit y fo r har d wor k befor e mos t peopl e wer e u p an d th e encyclopaedic knowledg e o f place s an d thei r ar t t o whic h Dougla s was t o pa y tribute later . Dougla s woul d accus e Lawrenc e o f omitting al l these fro m hi s 192 2 portrait, an d the y ma y no t b e emphasise d enough , bu t the y ar e there , an d woul d have appeale d th e mor e whe n h e kne w les s o f th e man' s othe r side . Magnu s himself i s witnes s tha t Lawrence' s firs t respons e no w wa s 'mos t sympatheti c & ready t o help me ' thoug h Fried a ('th e bitch' ) wa s 'supercilious' . Soon howeve r sympath y wa s overcom e b y disapprova l an d b y Frieda' s hostility. I n Magnus' s position , Lawrenc e woul d undoubtedl y hav e take n th e cheapest roo m h e coul d find an d live d o n brea d an d cheese , rathe r tha n stayin g with n o fund s whateve r a t the kin d o f hotel h e and Fried a ha d neve r bee n abl e t o afford. A s fo r sharin g th e profi t fro m Magnus' s writings , Lawrenc e ha d helpe d him t o plac e on e articl e abou t th e monastery ; ha d though t wha t h e ha d rea d o f the manuscrip t abou t th e Legio n quit e goo d an d recommende d i t t o Seeke r an d to Unwin, bu t th e interes t la y in th e subjec t rathe r tha n th e writing , an d i t woul d be difficult t o find a publisher (a s indeed i t proved) . Any mone y Lawrenc e coul d spare wa s unlikel y t o b e repaid . T o dro p everythin g an d g o t o Montecassin o would no t onl y b e expensiv e an d time-consuming , bu t woul d involv e hi m i n affairs abou t whic h h e wa s beginnin g t o harbou r suspicions . I n th e afternoo n h e sent a note enclosin g 5 0 / - an d sayin g h e had change d hi s mind abou t th e errand . Magnus wen t t o re-persuad e hi m bu t foun d hi m out , an d Fried a har d a s nail s (though Lawrenc e though t h e ha d appeale d t o he r sens e o f power) . Th e nex t morning h e mad e anothe r emotiona l plea , an d Lawrenc e wa s 'ver y nice' , bu t th e following da y h e sen t a note enclosin g 20 0 lir e 'an d refusin g t o hav e an y mor e t o do wit h me , a s hi s wif e wa s angry!!! ' Lawrenc e treasure d hi s privac y fa r to o much t o have Magnus a s a houseguest - fo r ho w long ? - an d eve n i f he ha d bee n 582
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disposed t o try , Fried a woul d certainl y hav e vetoe d th e idea . Sh e fel t n o responsibility fo r Magnus , sense d hi s attitud e t o he r an d di d no t car e fo r hi s sort. Yet Lawrenc e di d fee l someho w responsible , bu t resente d bein g take n fo r granted - especiall y whe n Magnu s mad e i t a reproac h tha t h e woul d no t hav e come t o Taormin a bu t fo r him . Whe n Lawrenc e refuse d t o advanc e mone y fo r the manuscripts , th e man' s eye s fillin g wit h tear s an d th e han d beseechingl y o n the ar m mad e hi s bloo d ru n cold . H e hate d peopl e t o touc h him , an d h e coul d not abid e suc h scenes . H e sai d h e woul d pa y th e bil l a t th e hotel ; o n conditio n Magnus lef t ther e an d too k a chea p lodgin g tha t h e coul d hop e t o pa y for . Magnus the n too k a roo m an d boar d wit h a n ex-waite r who m (again ) h e ha d known before . About te n day s late r Pancrazi o Cipoll a cam e t o se e Lawrenc e - caugh t a t a disadvantage, i n pyjama s - wit h a not e fro m Magnus . Th e Sicilia n ha d tire d o f having goo d foo d ordere d ever y day , an d ever y da y bein g pu t of f abou t mone y that wa s alway s t o arriv e tomorrow . H e ha d demande d paymen t a t once , a t which Magnu s ha d declare d himsel f insulte d an d determine d t o leave . He woul d go to Catania th e not e said , sel l some trinket s an d tr y t o ge t t o Egypt, o r t o Malt a whence hi s frien d th e guest-maste r ha d come . Woul d Lawrenc e pleas e advanc e the equivalent i n lir e of the seve n guinea s du e fro m Land and Water} Confronte d by th e Sicilian' s justifiabl e ange r an d suspicion , an d hi s contemp t fo r ' a mezzo signore' - a taun t whic h Lawrenc e fel t cruell y t o th e poin t an d feare d migh t b e levelled a t hi m to o i f h e di d nothin g - h e agreed , o n conditio n Magnu s confirmed tha t th e articl e ha d bee n accepted , an d formall y transferre d th e magazine paymen t t o him . A wounde d not e cam e bac k - an d Magnu s was 89
gone. It wa s a horrible episod e i n whic h Lawrenc e los t i n ever y way . H e fel t h e ha d been take n advantag e of , an d Fried a tol d hi m so , whic h mad e i t eve n mor e irritating. Wha t h e ha d pai d ou t woul d hav e kep t the m bot h fo r severa l weeks , and h e wa s prett y sur e tha t h e woul d neve r ge t i t back. H e an d Fried a wer e onl y just gettin g o n a n eve n kee l afte r year s o f poverty , an d th e extravaganc e o f Magnus woul d hav e bee n unthinkable . An d ye t . . . Lawrence' s late r account , b y telling les s tha n th e whol e trut h abou t hi s ow n finances, show s som e conscious ness, eve n guilt , abou t no t doin g more . H e mad e n o mentio n o f royaltie s fro m Huebsch o r th e £7 5 chequ e fro m Canna n whic h h e ha d recentl y deposite d (though, preservin g th e litera l truth , i t ma y no t hav e com e throug h yet) . S o h e could hav e give n more , jus t a s h e coul d hav e gon e t o Montecassino , ha d h e wanted to . H e ver y muc h di d no t wan t t o - bu t thoug h h e ha d bee n hones t t o his ow n feelings , an d nobod y ha d an y righ t t o reproac h him , h e fel t uneas y o n the on e hand , an d dupe d o n th e other , th e wors t o f combinations . Hi s irritatio n can b e rea d betwee n th e line s o f a sudde n outburst , apparentl y occasione d b y a 583
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concert o f cello musi c i n Taormina' s beautifu l Gree k theatr e lookin g ou t a t Etn a and th e sea . ' I can' t stan d thi s twisting , squirming , whinin g moder n music ' h e cried (Bac h an d Schuber t an d Wagne r an d Brahms) , contrastin g i t wit h th e pagan beaut y o f the ruin s i n golde n evenin g light , an d th e coastlin e see n throug h the columns . Howeve r th e rea l sourc e o f th e irritabilit y ma y b e glimpse d i n th e previous paragraph' s brie f referenc e t o th e 'troubles ' brough t o n the m 'i n th e shape o f tha t cheru b Magnu s . . . Bu t I can' t writ e abou t i t . . . ' (iii . 514) . O n 6 Ma y tha t ma n o f moder n cultur e (an d squirmin g an d whining? ) mus t hav e been jus t abou t t o depart . At least , wit h th e nove l finished an d sen t of f t o b e type d i n Rom e (iii . 515) , Lawrence coul d pla n t o tak e a month of f - thoug h hi s diary 90 recorde d tha t h e began another , tw o day s later , t o b e calle d Mr Noon. Thi s ma y howeve r mea n no mor e tha n tha t h e wrot e a fe w pages . Fo r Mar y no w wante d the m t o g o with he r o n a tri p t o Malta , sh e payin g th e passages , sinc e sh e was frightene d to g o alone . Ten day s late r the y wer e of f t o Syracus e t o tak e th e boa t - onl y t o find ther e was a shippin g strike . I t woul d b e to o muc h o f a fiasco t o catc h th e trai n bac k again, s o the y pu t u p a t a hotel t o awai t events , an d discovere d th e nex t da y tha t there woul d b e a steame r tha t evening . Returnin g fo r lunc h afte r a loo k aroun d the town , Lawrenc e foun d a not e a t th e des k fro m Magnus , wit h a complain t that the y ha d ignore d hi m o n th e street . Thi s was enoug h t o ensur e tha t Lawrence woul d contac t him , t o avoi d an y suc h imputation . Afte r missin g hi m twice, the y met ; an d Lawrenc e ha d t o advanc e anothe r 'las t loan ' t o mak e u p Magnus's hote l bill here too , since h e ha d als o been delaye d b y th e strik e an d hi s 'trinkets' ha d fetche d les s tha n h e hoped . Tha t evening , havin g embarked , the y watched wit h mixe d feeling s ho w Magnus , ever y inc h th e elegan t suede-glove d gentleman rathe r tha n th e fugitive , strutte d throug h custom s an d immigration , and disappeare d int o th e second-clas s cabin s below , no t t o emerg e unti l th e shi p had sailed . The n ou t o n dec k h e came , perk y again , thoug h th e sign s o f strai n were clea r t o see . Moment s late r however , ther e h e wa s o n th e first-class deck , chatting animatedl y t o a n acquaintanc e fro m hi s hotel , an d wavin g a littl e condescendingly t o his second-class friend s below . Malta o f cours e ha d Britis h pleasure s again : bacon , egg s an d marmalad e fo r breakfast, crea m teas , Bas s beer , abundanc e i n th e shop s - bu t Lawrenc e ha d done wit h th e declinin g Britis h empire , 'beneficen t an d sterile' , an d th e English , 'so good, and s o barre n o f life ' (iii . 533) . Afte r thre e day s o n th e yellow-roc k island h e woul d hav e bee n gla d t o g o home . Vallett a an d it s grea t harbou r wer e interesting an d beautiful , bu t th e monoton y o f the surroundin g landscap e go t o n his nerve s - al l bath bric k an d yello w dus t h e said , white-hot , bone-dry , treeless . However th e steame r strik e woul d kee p the m ther e a wee k mor e tha n the y ha d planned. Thi s wa s also more expensive , sinc e Mar y ha d onl y pai d thei r passages , 584
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but i t coul d no t b e helped . Lawrenc e wa s eve n persuade d t o spen d £6 o n a tussore sil k sui t (iii . 552) . And no w Magnus , wh o seeme d t o hav e go t o n hi s fee t remarkably quickl y wit h th e hel p o f Do n Mauro' s introductions , wa s al l hospitality. Whil e Fried a an d Mar y shoppe d o r laze d Lawrenc e spen t som e tim e with th e littl e man , no w i n dazzlin g whit e tropical s (i f rathe r spoil t b y blac k boots faute de mieux). The y lunche d an d dran k whiskie s a t Magnus's hotel . The y discussed hi s manuscript s agai n an d i t wa s the n tha t Lawrenc e wrot e letter s fo r him - particularl y t o se e whethe r Goldrin g coul d plac e an y o f th e play s Magnu s had translate d (iii . 531-2) . The y als o wen t ou t tourin g th e islan d b y ca r wit h two Maltes e wh o seeme d t o hav e take n Magnu s unde r thei r wing , (muc h impressed b y hi s tal k o f German y an d Russia) : t o th e ba y wher e S t Pau l ha d landed, t o th e ol d capita l i n th e centr e o f th e island , an d pas t th e onl y tree s tha t seemed t o gro w anywhere , aroun d th e Governor' s summe r villa . Soo n Magnus' s new friend s Michae l Bor g an d Walte r Salomon e foun d hi m a littl e hous e i n a suburb o f the ol d town , wher e h e seeme d happil y bus y whe n th e Lawrence s left , learning Maltese , an d adaptin g himsel f t o loca l life , alread y soundin g anti British. I t wa s still not clea r wher e an y mone y woul d com e fro m - bu t Lawrenc e no longe r accepte d responsibilit y an d woul d no t 'bothe r wit h hi m an y more ' (iii. 535). 93 Nor , h e no w felt , coul d h e reall y lik e suc h a man. (H e had , however , been indiscree t enoug h onc e more , i n a confidin g moment , t o tal k abou t hi s bisexuality an d hi s belie f i n mal e friendshi p - whic h Magnu s typicall y inter preted i n homosexua l terms. ) When the y go t bac k t o Taormin a a t th e en d o f Ma y - Lawrenc e cros s a t having overspen t - i t wa s t o find almos t al l th e expatriate s gon e an d th e littl e town sinkin g int o it s summe r torpor . Cicci o an d Gemm a lef t fo r Americ a a t th e beginning o f June , an d wer e muc h missed . Th e hous e remaine d cool , bu t pyjamas wer e th e orde r o f th e da y now , an d i t becam e a tria l t o g o out . Frieda , 'sun-dazed' (iii . 542) , bega n t o tal k o f wantin g t o g o t o Germany , perhap s i n August, an d Lawrence , writin g t o Mari e Hubrech t wh o wa s abou t t o leav e Holland fo r Norway , ha d vision s als o o f dar k trees , coo l wate r an d fair-haired , blue-eyed peopl e (iii . 533 , 554) . June i n Sicily , t o a n Englis h eye , wa s a curiou s mix o f seasons. The cor n wa s cu t an d bein g trodde n ou t o n th e threshin g floors, the groun d wa s pale yellow and i t was 'September amon g th e earth' s littl e plants ' as the y withered . Ye t 'th e vine s ar e gree n an d powerfu l wit h sprin g sap , an d th e almond trees , with rip e almonds, are summer , an d th e olive s are timeless . Wher e are w e then?' (iii . 538-9). Mary ha d energ y stil l fo r a n expeditio n t o th e crate r o f Etna (durin g whic h he r mul e fel l wit h her ; iii . 557) ; an d me t th e hea t b y havin g her hai r bobbed , whic h Fried a liked , bu t Lawrenc e hate d fo r bringin g ou t a pseudo-mannishness whic h th e mal e i n hi m coul d no t abid e (iii . 551) . Bu t eve n Mary bega n t o tal k o f leaving . On th e othe r han d Lawrenc e welcome d isolation , preferrin g t o hav e onl y th e 585
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peasant lif e windin g it s cours e o n th e trac k behin d th e house , th e me n wit h thei r asses an d goats , th e wome n wit h burden s o n thei r heads , an d h e onl y i n 'frai l streaming contact' , no t clos e (iii . 554) . On ho t days , wit h a pale se a i n fron t an d the Calabria n coas t 'glimmerin g exquisit e lik e a chalcedony - hen s cacklin g - th e landscape silen t an d asleep ' (iii . 552) , h e di d no t muc h wan t t o g o anywher e o r do anything bu t 'aestivate ' (iii . 542) . Yet, i f they wer e t o g o on thei r travel s agai n to escape th e severes t hea t i n August, i t behoved hi m t o ge t som e wor k done . X Mone y an d M a n u s c r i p t s His finances, however , ha d markedl y improve d now . A t th e en d o f January h e had ha d (unusually ) almos t £10 0 i n hand . Fro m the n t o 2 8 Ma y whe n h e go t back fro m Malta , ther e cam e royaltie s o f jus t ove r £145 , thoug h abou t £11 4 o f that wa s belate d paymen t fro m Americ a tha t h e shoul d hav e ha d before . Moreover, fro m Marie , Am y an d th e mone y Canna n ha d collecte d ha d com e a further £14 0 i n gifts . (Th e year' s ren t fo r Fontan a Vecchia , pai d i n quarterl y instalments, wa s £25 a t an exchang e rat e o f 80. However irritate d h e migh t b e a t being a charity, th e gift s wer e enoug h t o make a real difference. ) Waitin g fo r hi m now wer e tw o $5 0 cheque s fro m Seltze r (£2 5 i n all) . A t th e beginnin g o f June came '£1 9 odd ' fro m Land and Water fo r 'Yo u Touche d Me' , an d a t th e en d o f the mont h nearl y £1 0 (= $40 ) fro m th e Dial fo r 'Adolf , wit h a n offe r o f $5 0 fo r 'Rex', th e companio n piec e (iii . 53 6 n.) . Stil l better , Metropolitan Magazine offered $25 0 fo r 'Wintr y Peacock' , whic h wa s a grea t dea l fo r a shor t story . (These offer s confirme d tha t i t wa s a n America n readershi p h e shoul d g o fo r now.) Havin g signe d agreement s wit h Seeke r i n May , Lawrenc e coul d loo k forward t o £10 0 advance s fo r bot h The Lost Girl an d Women in Love i n du e course. S o i n th e first si x months o f the yea r h e ha d earning s o f just unde r £200 , had bee n give n anothe r £14 0 an d ha d soli d prospect s ahead . All th e same , h e fel t uneas y abou t havin g spen t to o muc h i n Malta , an d was grossly overcharge d (h e thought ) fo r th e typin g o f The Lost Girl i n Rome , s o a s to hav e copie s fo r bot h Englan d an d America . H e was no t likel y t o ge t bac k what h e ha d give n Magnus . Moreove r - worryingl y - th e exchang e rat e wa s dropping. I n Ma y h e go t 2 4 lir e t o th e dollar , 8 3 t o th e poun d (iii . 519) . By July the rat e ha d droppe d t o 15.5 , an d 65 . Nevertheles s th e improvemen t i n hi s finances bega n t o brin g abou t a perceptibl e chang e i n confidence , thoug h th e carefulness tha t povert y ha d engraine d woul d no t easil y disappear . I n earl y May , Catherine Carswell' s first nove l wo n a publisher' s priz e o f £250 . Believin g Lawrence t o b e hard-u p still , and havin g neve r forgotte n hi s hel p wit h th e boo k in 1914 , sh e offere d hi m £50 . O n 1 2 Ma y h e hedged , sayin g tha t h e woul d accept, bu t onl y t o kee p th e mone y i n hi s Londo n accoun t i n trus t fo r he r t o come an d spen d a holida y wit h the m (iii . 524-5) . Sh e sen t th e chequ e anyway , 586
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and i t wa s waitin g fo r hi m whe n h e go t bac k fro m Malta . H e wrot e t o than k her , repeating hi s conditio n fo r acceptin g (iii . 534) . Thre e day s late r h e wrot e again : 'As fo r th e cheque , I suddenl y decide d t o bur n i t . . . I have enoug h money . An d why shoul d I hold an y o f yours i n fee . S o I accep t th e gif t al l the same : and hav e burned th e cheque ' (iii . 537) . (Th e ac t wa s importan t enoug h t o b e recorde d i n one o f his ters e diar y entries.) 98 He proceede d als o t o burn a cheque fo r a last £ 5 of Shesto v royaltie s fro m Kot , sayin g tha t i t coul d b e considere d a loa n i f Ko t preferred, bu t h e di d no t wan t th e mone y no w (iii . 515) . Bein g a s anxiou s t o preserve Kot' s dignit y a s his own , h e aske d carefull y whethe r a further £1 0 loa n would b e acceptable , bu t Ko t sen t a fresh chequ e b y return , s o h e retreate d an d cashed i t (iii . 570) . Al l th e same , chequ e burnin g ha d bee n a n entirel y ne w sensation. This relativ e prosperit y shoul d no t b e exaggerated . B y wa y o f compariso n Murry, whos e anxiet y abou t mone y ha d bee n par t o f hi s recen t crisi s wit h Katherine, ha d earne d £50 0 p.a . a s Censor i n 1918 , was offered £80 0 p.a . t o edi t the Athenaeum i n 191 9 an d succeede d i n gettin g tha t raise d t o £1,00 0 p. a i n January 1920 . ({Catherine' s allowanc e wa s £300. ) I t i s onl y i n contras t wit h Lawrence's penur y i n 191 9 tha t th e chang e i n hi s circumstance s ca n see m dramatic - an d th e memor y o f havin g ha d t o liv e o n hi s sister' s charit y was stil l painfully fresh . So , summe r letharg y o r no , afte r hi s mont h of f a s a rewar d fo r finishing The Lost Girl i t wa s tim e 't o ge t som e wor k done , ear n som e money ' (iii. 542). He ha d t o review hi s affairs i n orde r t o brief hi s ne w agent (iii . 544-8), thoug h Mountsier happene d t o b e travellin g i n Europ e an d coul d no t ac t unti l h e go t back t o Ne w Yor k i n mid-August . I t quickl y becam e apparen t tha t Lawrenc e needed an agent . Th e briefin g show s hi m haz y abou t wh o ha d publishe d what , especially i n Americ a becaus e Pinke r an d Huebsc h ha d kep t hi m i n th e dark , though h e als o forgo t wh o ha d publishe d The White Peacock i n England . B y trying to act fo r himself , moreover, h e had go t int o severa l tangles , and th e Italia n post di d no t help . (Eve n now , letter s t o an d fro m Americ a coul d tak e a month. ) The tu g o f wa r fo r Women in Love ha d lef t Huebsc h aggrieved , an d thi s go t worse ove r th e Shesto v boo k whic h Lawrenc e ha d sen t him . Huebsc h proceede d to publis h extract s i n hi s periodica l th e Freeman, an d offere d t o bu y th e boo k outright fo r £5 0 whic h wa s a generou s offe r - fa r bette r tha n Seeker' s ha d bee n (iii. 511-12, 543-4). Unfortunately b y tha t tim e Seeke r ha d mad e an arrangemen t with someon e els e i n America , an d ther e wa s a furthe r mix-u p ove r who m Huebsch shoul d pa y fo r th e extracts . S o Ko t an d Lawrenc e los t a n offe r the y both coul d hav e don e with . Indee d th e boo k wa s neve r publishe d i n Americ a a t all, after doin g poorl y i n England. Th e estrangemen t fro m Huebsc h the n becam e final over Studies in Classic American Literature. Lawrenc e sen t a n ultimatu m tha t unless a commitment t o publis h thes e essay s arrived befor e th e en d o f June, the y 587
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would g o t o Seltze r (iii . 543-4) . True , Huebsc h ha d bee n sittin g o n the m fo r si x months, an d ther e wer e ground s fo r Lawrenc e t o describ e hi m t o Mountsie r a s 'an unsatisfactor y person , i n tha t h e doesn' t repl y t o one' s questions , i s dilatory , and put s of f payin g til l on e reall y feel s tha t h e neve r wil l pay ' (iii . 545) . Ye t a n ultimatum wa s boun d t o aggravate , especiall y whe n Lawrenc e spok e o f hi s obligation t o giv e Seltze r anothe r book , afte r Women in Lovel Huebsc h ha d ha d enough. H e wrot e o n 8 July wit h som e dignity , defendin g himsel f fro m a n unjus t imputation tha t hi s no t keepin g The Rainbow i n prin t interfere d wit h Lawrence' s rights, an d declarin g h e woul d n o longe r eve n tr y t o understan d th e relation s between Kot , Lawrenc e an d Seeker . H e woul d han d th e America n essay s t o Seltzer, an d woul d no t publis h th e psychoanalysi s ones : ' I don' t blam e yo u fo r your cours e concernin g you r America n publishin g arrangements , I simpl y thin k that you r judgmen t i s bad' (iii . 544 n. 1) . Mountsier seem s t o hav e mad e anti-Semiti c comment s abou t Jewis h pub lishers. Lawrence sai d h e di d no t 'reall y lik e Jews' either , bu t owe d Huebsc h an d Seltzer 'gratitude , u p t o a point' , sinc e th e work s h e care d abou t mos t wer e th e 'dangerous' ones , an d i t was onl y suc h littl e me n wh o woul d brin g the m out : 'Don't b e to o sniff y o f th e risk y littl e Jew . H e adventures ' - a s gentlemanl y bourgeois publisher s woul d no t (iii . 546-7) . The ne w relationshi p wit h Seltze r ha d alread y produce d on e irritant , however: th e dela y i n sendin g Seeke r th e typescrip t o f Women in Love; an d thi s in tur n helpe d t o produc e anothe r mix-u p ove r The Lost Girl an d a dela y i n getting tha t publishe d too . Becaus e Lawrenc e was s o nervou s abou t trustin g anything valuabl e t o th e pos t now , h e aske d Mackenzi e an d Cicci o t o tak e th e typescripts t o Englan d an d th e US . N o soone r howeve r di d Seeke r remark , a s a possibility, tha t th e America n Century migh t d o th e boo k a s a serial , tha n Lawrence gre w obsesse d wit h th e ide a o f serialisatio n o n bot h side s o f th e Atlantic (iii . 528-9) . S o Seeke r go t onl y th e unrevise d manuscript , whil e th e revised 'English ' carbo n typescrip t wen t t o Fos s o f Land and Water, t o se e whether h e o r anothe r Englis h magazin e woul d tak e i t (iii. 555) . Seltzer was no w not t o ge t th e 'American ' typescrip t fro m Cicci o either , unti l h e ha d delivere d Women in Love t o Seeke r and unti l th e Century ha d mad e a decision (iii . 540) . I f they refused , Mountsie r wa s t o tr y th e Metropolitan an d th e Dial whe n h e go t back t o America . I n fac t n o magazin e agree d t o serialis e i n eithe r country ; The Lost Girl was delaye d unti l lat e Novembe r i n England , an d earl y 192 1 i n America; an d ther e was a goo d dea l o f rathe r irritabl e correspondenc e whic h ought t o have been a n agent' s business. 100 Having a n America n agen t di d howeve r provid e a n impetu s t o develo p th e two potentia l book s alread y i n Lawrence' s drawer . Mountsie r ha d bee n i n a t th e conception o f the Studies in Classic American Literature a t Christma s 1916 , and i t was surel y hig h tim e no w t o ge t the m int o prin t - henc e th e overtur e t o Seltze r 588
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and th e ultimatu m t o Huebsch . However , Huebsch' s hesitatio n mus t hav e helped brin g Lawrenc e t o hi s sense s ove r th e Whitma n essay . There coul d b e n o book unti l tha t essay was sanitised . Thi s h e no w proceede d t o d o togethe r wit h some revisio n o f th e othe r unpublishe d essays , an d th e 'English ' carbo n o f The Lost Girl, i n th e first fortnigh t o f June. He intensifie d hi s 'esoteric ' emphasis , interpretin g Chillingwort h i n th e ligh t of alchemy , an d addin g a t th e star t o f th e essa y o n Moby Dick five ver y Prysea n pages o n th e 'conquering ' o f th e lowe r 'centres' , i n orde r t o bolste r th e esoteri c meaning o f th e hun t o f th e whit e whale . H e als o di d mor e t o lin k th e se a essays wit h th e first par t o f th e book . Thoug h th e rewritin g i s ofte n free , thes e essays stil l follo w th e sequenc e an d structur e o f th e one s the y rework . Unfortunately ther e i s n o correspondin g typescrip t o f th e essay o n Whitman . Two late r typescript s ma y represen t th e missin g on e o r (probably ) a furthe r reworking.1 Eithe r way , Lawrenc e no w veile d hi s meanin g b y removin g it s homosexual specifics . Th e centra l argument s abou t Whitman' s halfness , an d how h e 'deliberately , self-consciousl y affects himself , remai n - thoug h tha t quotation i s th e onl y hin t no w o f anythin g masturbatory . Th e focu s become s more literar y a s wel l a s psychological , too , linkin g Whitma n wit h Wild e an d th e aesthetes a s against Balza c and Dickens ; but als o contrasting hi m favourabl y wit h Dostoevsky. Significantly , however , whil e stil l pointin g t o Whitman' s 'ecstas y o f giving himself, hi s lac k o f interes t i n woma n an d hi s 'lov e o f comrades' , th e sexual dimension s o f thes e ar e onl y implie d a t a distance . 'Actin g fro m th e las t and profoundes t centres , ma n act s womanless' ; bu t ther e i s no spellin g out , now , what thi s means , o r ho w an d wh y 'Calamus ' relate s t o death . (Th e los t versio n may hav e bee n a degre e les s tactful , o f course , an d thi s ma y b e a late r an d further softenin g fo r th e magazines. ) Significantl y however , th e essa y insist s again tha t th e lov e o f comrade s doe s no t 'annul ' marriage , bu t 'fulfils ' it . Th e 'life-circuit' stil l depend s 'entirel y upo n th e sex-uniso n o f marriage' ; bu t ' a relation betwee n fearless , honorable , self-responsibl e men , a balanc e i n perfec t polarity', mus t 'surpass ' (thoug h i t mus t no t destroy ) th e relatio n o f ma n wit h woman, fo r 'th e final consummatio n lie s i n tha t whic h i s beyon d marriage' . Insofar a s thi s represent s th e Lawrenc e o f June 1920 , then , i t confirm s bot h hi s ongoing belie f i n marriag e an d th e chang e i n hi s attitud e towar d it . The questio n mark a t th e en d o f Women in Love ha s gone , and marriage , whil e stil l affirmed , i s also no w downgrade d t o a bas e fro m whic h th e mal e mus t tak e of f again . Th e 'future o f mankind' , th e unfulfille d real m o f consciousness , lie s i n a kin d o f 'sacred' mal e relationshi p (whic h h e himsel f ha d neve r manage d t o secure). 104 After flirtin g wit h th e ide a o f offerin g th e boo k t o Ceci l Palme r wh o ha d expressed a n interes t (iii . 576) , Lawrence wen t bac k t o puttin g Americ a first. H e posted 'm y complet e copy' , whateve r tha t was , t o Mountsie r o n 2 Augus t (iii. 582) . 589
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
Having finished tha t revisio n o n 1 5 Jun e h e a t onc e bega n t o expan d th e original fou r essay s o f 'Educatio n o f th e People ' int o th e smal l boo k tha t Unwi n had suggeste d i n 191 8 (iii . 553) . Twelv e essay s surviv e no w i n a singl e homogeneous manuscript , an d thoug h on e canno t b e sur e tha t th e first fou r are th e original s o f 191 8 (thoug h probabl y adde d t o an d revised ) i t doe s see m likely, sinc e V begin s agai n fro m a point mad e i n numbe r II . Moreove r th e first four com e fro m th e experienc e o f th e Croydo n schoolteacher , onl y to o awar e o f the chas m betwee n contemporar y theorie s an d th e attitude s an d expectation s o f the childre n h e ha d taught . Ther e i s a n attemp t t o rethin k th e syllabu s an d structure o f th e Englis h schoo l system . B y contrast , th e las t eigh t essay s ar e more intereste d i n mother s an d childre n tha n schools , an d hav e mor e t o d o wit h attempting 't o ge t i n huma n being s a ne w attitud e t o life ' tha n wit h plannin g what shoul d happe n i n classroom s - t o th e poin t wher e th e connectio n o f th e last essa y wit h th e titl e ha s becom e ver y tenuous , an d ha s t o b e hurriedl y asserted i n th e final sentence. 1 Thes e las t eigh t ar e indee d mainl y abou t parenthood, b y th e autho r o f Pyschoanalysis and the Unconscious - an d signifi cantly als o mainl y abou t bringin g u p boys . Indeed , the y see m i n man y respect s to have unusuall y transparen t autobiographica l implications . The starting-poin t is , once more , tha t th e healt h o f th e psych e depend s upo n harmony betwee n properl y functionin g 'upper ' an d 'lower ' centres , i n mutuall y balanced polarities . The min d shoul d b e onl y switchboar d an d utterer . However , the distortio n produce d nowaday s b y too-dominan t uppe r centres , an d th e over mental consciousnes s tha t inevitabl y follows , i s suc h tha t al l th e emphasi s mus t fall, now , on reactivatin g th e 'volitional ' centre s t o cur e th e imbalance . (Th e vie w is reactionary then , i n th e stric t sense , seeking t o correct a n 'action ' tha t ha s gon e too far. ) Al l tha t i s sai d abou t 'education ' follow s fro m thi s imperative . Th e trouble begin s wit h self-consciou s moder n mother s tryin g t o mak e thei r infant s conscious o f the m an d o f themselves , to o soon , an d wit h over-emphasi s o n love . So childre n shoul d b e lef t alon e a s muc h a s possible , seize d awa y fro m (s)mothering i f necessary. Childhoo d shoul d b e predominantl y a bodily learning , with menta l consciousnes s allowe d t o gro w a t its own natura l pace . Moreover th e volitional centre s must develo p - parent s shoul d immediatel y tak e slopp y children t o task , b e angr y wit h the m whe n the y deserv e i t an d smac k thei r bottoms whe n necessar y s o tha t the y ca n b e outrage d too . Fo r tha t wil l pu t fire into th e backbone , tha t 'lon g swor d o f th e vivid , proud , dark volitio n o f man , something prima l an d creative' . A chil d need s mor e tha n love . Wh y ar e w e s o afraid o f anger , o f a n elemen t o f danger , o f fighting, whe n w e se e ho w wonderfully thes e mak e othe r creature s vita l an d o n th e qu i vive ? Childre n ought t o be allowed t o enjoy wha t cub s do , spontaneously, bu t protected. 107 In elementar y schoo l th e chil d mus t lear n no t mind-knowledge , idea s o r 'self expression', bu t th e thre e R's ; an d als o practica l skills , whic h wil l abov e al l 590
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enable i t t o loo k afte r itsel f and becom e independen t (fo r nobod y i s fre e wh o ha s or need s a servant) . Childre n shoul d b e encourage d t o follo w thei r ow n liking s not thos e prescribe d b y others , an d b e themselve s no t on e o f th e crowd . Game s should b e contests , an d wor k a productive absorption ; bu t w e i n ou r foll y tr y t o make wor k competitive , an d tak e contes t ou t o f play . (I n a logica l developmen t the earlie r idea s about , then , educatin g childre n i n differin g direction s accordin g to aptitude a s they gro w older , woul d fi t i n here. ) But Lawrenc e i s no w mor e intereste d i n ho w adult s nee d t o change , an d i s moreover transparentl y basin g wha t h e say s o n reaction s t o hi s ow n childhoo d and marriage . Behin d man y o f th e foregoin g point s i s hi s sens e o f ho w hi s ow n childhood ha d gon e wrong . I f only h e ha d ha d th e luc k o f Romulus an d Remus , and ha d ha d a wolf fo r mother ! instea d o f one wh o mad e hi m consciou s to o early, high-minded , awar e alway s o f her; an d wh o thu s create d a youn g ma n whose self - an d mental-consciousnes s becam e a priso n tha t onl y th e 'death ' o f sexual fulfilmen t coul d crac k open . I f onl y h e ha d no t bee n taugh t t o thin k tha t love wa s everything , an d t o fee l horro r a t th e father' s ange r an d th e threa t o f violence - ye t b e unabl e t o contro l hi s own . Ho w muc h bette r t o ac t spontaneously; fo r repressio n turn s th e passion s ugly , smouldering , destructive , instead o f th e freshnes s afte r a thunderstorm . Here , also , i s hi s ow n handiness , revealed no w no t onl y a s a pleasure i n doin g thing s fo r himself , an d a dislik e o f any kin d o f dependence , bu t a s a n especia l jo y i n 'Prou d persona l privacy' , maintaining a clear spac e aroun d onesel f wher e nobod y ma y trespass . (Ma n an d wife shoul d eac h hav e this , a s wel l a s intimacy.) Here , familiarly , i s th e emphasi s on 'th e perfecte d singlenes s o f th e individua l being' ; bu t wit h n o dwellin g o n the complementar y urg e t o unio n now , becaus e tha t ha s bee n to o powerful . I n 1920, rather , awa y wit h lov e an d merging ! switc h of f th e uppe r consciousness ! exult i n you r ow n dar k being ! Lawrenc e reverse s th e ol d Platoni c myt h o f th e cave: wha t i s neede d no w i s t o ge t awa y fro m th e su n o f idea s an d ideals , whic h tempts u s int o thinkin g th e dayligh t worl d i s all, and t o explor e instea d th e dar k underworld i t ha s hidde n fro m us . An d marriag e ough t (now ) t o b e tw o creatures lookin g acros s a dark gulf , wh o flash togethe r no w an d then , bu t alway s remain essentiall y separate , strangers . Bu t w e hav e create d precisel y th e wrong kin d o f Hol y Family , i n whic h th e ma n adore s th e enthrone d woman , who adore s he r child . Ye t i f woma n (especiall y wif e a s mother-substitute ) mus t be dethroned , i t i s no t t o enthron e man . Eac h mus t b e different. Neithe r mus t bully. Bu t Lawrenc e no w goe s back, behin d th e ide a o f the marriag e o f opposite s within a s well as between al l persons i n th e majo r novel s o f 1914-17 , t o a simple r gender differentiatio n again . Ma n ha s 'mos t o f the thinking , abstractin g busines s to do . . . Yo u hat e m e whe n I' m feminine . S o I'l l le t yo u b e womanly , yo u le t m e be manl y . . . Yo u remai n a t th e centre , I scou t ahead. ' Suitabl y fo r a n America n audience, h e expresse s hi s 192 0 ide a o f marriag e i n th e metapho r o f a Wester n 59i
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
wagon-train, wit h wome n an d childre n i n th e wagon s 'a t th e centre' , an d th e men o n ahea d 'scouting , fighting, gatherin g provision , runnin g o n th e brin k o f death an d a t th e ti p o f th e lif e advanc e . . . th e leaders , th e outriders' . Rap t i n a vision o f friendshi p betwee n adventurou s men , Lawrenc e quit e lose s sigh t o f th e education o f proletarian children . And betwee n me n le t ther e b e a new spontaneou s relationship , a new fidelity. Let me n realise that thei r lif e lie s ahead, in the dangerous wild s of advance and increase . Let the m realise that they must go beyond thei r women .. . Let ther e b e agai n th e ol d passio n o f deathles s friendshi p betwee n ma n an d man . Humanity ca n never advance into the new regions of unexplored futurit y otherwise . Men who can only hark back to woman become automatic, static .. . Marriage an d deathles s friendship , bot h shoul d b e inviolabl e an d sacred : tw o grea t creative passions , separate , apart , but complementary : th e on e pivotal , th e othe r adventurous: the one, marriage, the centre of human life; and the other the leap ahead. Which is the last word in the education of a people. There ar e sillinesse s i n thes e essay s (abou t disarmament , fo r example) ; an d illogicalities (fo r i f boy s ca n dar n sock s wh y shouldn' t girl s fix machines?) . Lawrence take s a kin d o f pleasur e i n outragin g 'progressive ' attitude s tha t i s th e other sid e o f feelin g a n alie n t o hi s society , bu t i s unlikel y t o g o dow n wel l now . There i s als o a challenge , an d a kin d o f wisdom . Bu t wha t i s perhap s mos t interesting i s the confirmation , an d definition , i n al l the work s o f th e first hal f o f 1920, of a radical chang e i n hi s views . The element s whic h shape d th e patter n o f the 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy ' ar e stil l ther e i n th e passag e jus t quoted , bu t a s i f in a kaleidoscope turned , the y hav e falle n altogethe r differently . Th e re-formin g of hi s vie w o f marriag e an d o f th e significanc e o f man-woma n an d man-ma n relationships, tha t ha s bee n takin g plac e graduall y sinc e 1916 , seem s t o hav e become complet e an d definite . I t mus t o f cours e b e relate d t o th e chang e i n hi s own marriag e - thoug h h e i s sur e no w (a s h e wa s no t i n 1918 ) tha t ther e wil l b e no break , an d th e stanc e tha t become s clea r i n Jun e 192 0 ha s com e fro m a gradual an d comple x shift . W e ma y remin d ourselve s o f th e stresses : Frieda' s jealousy o f Esther an d Willia m Henry , couple d wit h he r ow n relation s wit h Gra y (whatever the y were) ; th e strai n o f bein g 'th e Hun-wife ' i n a Britai n a t war ; th e stress o f th e expulsio n fro m Cornwal l an d th e penur y o f 1918 ; hi s thought s o f leaving he r becaus e o f he r failur e t o car e fo r hi m whe n h e wa s dangerousl y ill ; and conversel y (wors t o f all in hi s eyes ) th e realisatio n o f how muc h h e depende d on her , a s h e gre w mor e an d mor e alienate d fro m societ y an d isolate d fro m al l but hi s famil y an d a handful o f friends a t a distance. Ha d h e struggle d s o hard t o free himsel f fro m mother-dependence , onl y t o becom e dependen t o n hi s wif e a s mother-substitute? Th e ne w valuatio n o f malenes s i n th e shor t stories , th e stil l unnamed an d unfinishe d nove l (t o becom e Aaron's Rod) abou t a man wh o leave s 592
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his wif e perhap s t o find a friend , th e psycholog y book , The Lost Girl wit h it s hidden them e o f th e ques t fo r th e 'dar k hal f rathe r tha n lov e a s usuall y conceived - al l these , wit h th e final formulation s o f th e America n an d Educatio n essays now , wer e a n imaginativ e effor t o f self-liberation , b y a ma n wh o fel t hi s sense o f masculinit y imperille d b y th e ver y marriag e whic h recreate d an d stil l sustained him . Howeve r w e ma y interpre t th e sli m evidenc e abou t hi s marita l difficulties, thei r rea l significanc e wa s the parado x tha t wha t sustain s i s also wha t may limi t an d creat e dependence . However - an d thi s i s supremel y importan t t o realis e abou t hi m - th e mos t significant sentenc e i n th e passag e tha t conclude s th e Educatio n essay s i s on e that h e woul d probabl y hav e writte n eve n i f his marriag e wer e stil l th e unabate d song o f a man wh o ha d com e through . 'Me n wh o ca n onl y har k bac k t o woma n become automatic , static ' - an d stasi s fo r Lawrenc e i s alway s death . Eve n a perfect marriag e would , fo r him , becom e deathl y unles s ther e wer e somethin g else, quit e different , beyond . Thos e wh o complai n o f th e Lawrencia n 'dialectic ' because ther e i s never a satisfactory resolution , ar e objectin g t o th e ver y essenc e of what , fo r him , i t i s t o liv e an d t o write . I t i s th e instabilit y o f ever y consummation tha t is the preciousnes s fo r him , th e 'quick ' i n bot h senses , o f th e living moment , an d th e guarante e o f furthe r life . S o th e comple x chemistr y o f Lawrence th e write r - eve n puttin g togethe r th e nee d t o stiffe n th e backbone , exult i n one' s darkness , dethron e th e too-uppis h woman , fee l mor e mal e an d more independent , find th e lov e o f comrades, an d scou t ahea d o f th e pivota l an d central woma n - mus t hav e ha d a deepe r dynami c tha n coul d b e sufficientl y explained b y tryin g t o measure th e temperatur e o f his marriage , o r hi s potency . We woul d also , i n an y case , hav e t o allo w fo r th e way s i n whic h Fried a seem s changeless b y comparison : a bi t heavie r o r a bi t thinne r fro m tim e t o tim e perhaps, bu t quit e unworrie d abou t dependenc e sinc e sh e wa s alway s s o ver y much herself ; rathe r th e opposit e o f submissive ; believin g hersel f a s intelligen t and creativ e a s he ; and neve r acknowledgin g hi m o r givin g herself - a s he woul d say - 'finally' . T o that , too , th e ne w attitud e i s a cumulativ e reaction . I f sh e tended t o colou r hi s whol e vie w o f woma n an d gender , feminist s critica l o f hi s male chauvinis m shoul d als o take her, an d he r powe r ove r him , int o account . Ye t his writin g wa s alway s mor e tha n imaginativ e compensation , too . Ther e i s a courage o f self-enquiry , read y t o fac e u p t o hi s ow n impulse s an d explor e wherever the y led . XI To o Dar n Ho t Whereas th e thir d wee k i n June ha d bee n 'sunny , wit h a cool wind ' (iii . 553) , th e temperature the n ros e steadily . B y th e en d o f th e mont h h e wa s loungin g abou t in pyjama s al l da y feelin g limp , an d eve n sea-bathin g mad e the m fee l hotte r 593
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
afterwards. Ye t h e fel t h e ough t t o d o somethin g afte r finishing th e essays , an d picked u p th e unfinishe d manuscrip t o f Aaron y s Rod agai n i n th e first fortnigh t of July. x Bu t i n mid-mont h th e day s becam e 'to o ho t t o d o anything , sav e a t morning an d evening ' (iii . 570 ) - othe r tha n loung e th e tim e away , barefoot , an d sometimes no t eve n i n pyjamas . 'W e d o ou r ow n wor k - I prefe r it , can t stan d people about : s o whe n th e floors mus t b e washe d (gentl y washe d merely ) o r when I mus t pu t m y sui t o f pyjama s i n th e tub , behol d m e in puris naturalibus, performing th e menia l labour s o f th e day . I t i s ver y nic e t o she d s o muc h . . . ' (iii. 573) 113 - bu t no t conduciv e t o nove l writing . Almos t a s soo n a s h e ha d started, h e kne w tha t h e woul d no t ge t far . I t fel t lik e a motor car , h e said , tha t has spasm s an d stops ; s o yo u 'pok e it s vital s an d procee d 10 0 yard s - the n al l u.p. . . . I n thi s climat e one' s ver y psych e i s lik e a jell y tha t won' t se t . . . ' (iii . 567). Soo n ther e wa s no more tal k o f the book . He ma y possibl y howeve r hav e starte d t o writ e poetr y again . Syracus e la y i n malarial countr y an d thei r hote l wal l had bee n dotte d al l over wit h blood y marks , a siniste r sigh t fo r a traveller . Th e letter s sho w tha t mosquit o nettin g the n became on e o f the usefu l thing s t o carr y about . H e woul d late r labe l hi s splendi d 'beast' poe m 'Siracusa' , thoug h tha t migh t wel l refe r (again ) t o memorabl e experience o f Monsieu r Mosquito , rathe r tha n t o a precis e dat e an d plac e o f composition. Thi s sustaine d denunciatio n coul d b e though t o f a s a n Africa n praise-song, i n revers e maybe , ye t equall y seekin g t o addres s th e essenc e o f a n extra-human power . ('Snake ' i s als o a praise-son g - i f to o lat e an d t o a go d denied - bu t thoug h i t i s se t o n a broiling Sicilia n da y i n July wit h Lawrenc e i n pyjamas, fetchin g wate r fro m th e cistern , i t to o ma y wel l hav e bee n writte n later , perhaps afte r h e ha d borrowe d fro m Jut a a collectio n o f Sa n - miscalle d 'Bushman' - artistr y an d folklore) . Mainly, however , th e hea t bega n t o encourag e thought s o f escape. Eve n Mar y was plannin g t o leav e now . A t th e en d o f June Lawrenc e hear d tha t Mackenzie , back i n England , ha d actuall y foun d a yacht tha t h e though t idea l fo r th e Sout h Seas, an 8 4 foot 15 4 ton ketc h calle d 'Lavengro' . (Mont y apparentl y though t thi s 'most appropriate ' since , eve n wit h hi s resources , i t woul d hav e t o b e b y Borrow.) Lawrenc e was ver y excited . I t s o happene d tha t Mountsie r - wit h whom h e ha d share d hi s an d Mackenzie' s dream s onl y t o find tha t Mountsie r already ha d the m - chos e thi s momen t t o sen d hi m thre e book s abou t th e Marquesas. Lawrenc e though t Frederi c O'Brien' s White Shadows in the South Seas (1919 ) 'wonderful ' (iii . 567) , thoug h i t nearl y brok e hi s hear t t o discove r what ha d becom e o f Melville' s Typee . Gauguin' s Noa Noa (1900 ) howeve r seemed ' a bi t snivelling ' an d hi s mytholog y 'pathetic' ; an d Somerse t Maugham' s The Moon and Sixpence (1919 ) base d o n Gaugui n i n Tahit i 'no t bad , bu t force ' (iii. 566-7 ) - ye t th e coincidenc e reall y stirre d hi s imagination . Perhap s 'Lavengro' wa s a real opportunity . H e demande d new s fro m Monty , an d a boo k 594
33 Lad y Ottoline Morrell
34 Bertran d Russell, 1916 (by Hugh Cecil)
35 E . M. Forster
36 Dolli e Radford
37 PhilipHeseltine , 1915
38 Juliette Baillot
39 Minni e Lucie ('Puma') Channing
40 Hild a Doolittle Aldington ('H.D.V913
41 Richar d Aldington, late 1917
42 Doroth y ('Arabella') Yorke, 1917
43 Ceci l Gray
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44 Willia m Henry Hocking
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45 Highe r Tregerthen, Zennor, Cornwall
46 Mountai n Cottage, Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Derbyshir e
47 Esthe r Andrews - a stage pose
48 Rober t Mountsier
49 Rosalin d Thorny croft Baynes (byE. C. Beresford)
50 Montagu e Compton Mackenzie, 1915
51 Emil y King with Margaret ('Peggy')
52 Ad a Clarke with Jack
53 Dougla s Goldring
54 Cecil y Lambert and Violet Monk at Grimsbury Farm, Hermitage, near Newbury, Berkshire
5 5 Franci s Brett Young (from a portrait by Cathleen Mann)
56 Jessica Brett Young, 1914
57 Janjuta,c . 192 1
s
58 Mauric e Magnus
59 Fontan a Vecchia, Taormina, Sicily
60 Mari e Hubrccht (who once owned it)
61 Fro m the balcony, Fontana Vecchia
62 Ear l and Achsah Brewster, and Harwood, in Capri, c. 1922
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63 Th e writer at work: 7!fo Rainbow p. 300 (the new cathedral scene)
NOVEMBER 1919-AUGUS T 1 9 2 0 CAPR
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full o f nautical informatio n t o clu e himsel f u p an d mak e hi m 'sea-born ' (iii . 562) . He woul d pra y tha t al l woul d g o well , no t t o Jesus 'becaus e I believ e Jesus i s n o good a t sea' , but t o 'Aphrodit e an d Poseido n an d Dionysos' . Unfortunately i t seem s the y wer e n o better , sinc e n o wor d came . (Mackenzi e was busy wit h hi s mother's pla n t o tak e over a theatre i n Nottingha m a s a vehicle for he r daughters . H e eve n though t o f producin g a Lawrenc e pla y there , bu t nothing cam e o f that , either. ) Lawrenc e gre w sceptica l tha t Mont y woul d eve r leave Britain , an d rightl y so . Fo r whe n new s di d arrive , i t wa s tha t Mackenzi e had secure d th e leas e o f tw o o f th e Channe l Isle s instead , an d wa s t o becom e laird o f Her m an d Jetho u (iii . 594) . Th e Sout h Sea s vanishe d fro m hi s horizon, thoug h no t fro m Lawrence's . Instead h e mad e plan s fo r a holida y i n Augus t an d Septembe r close r a t han d in a coole r Italy , thoug h h e wa s reluctan t i n som e way s t o g o nort h rathe r tha n south. Fried a wa s determine d t o g o t o German y - but , again , Lawrenc e ha d n o intention o f goin g wit h her , takin g advantag e o f he r family' s opinio n tha t h e might stil l mee t wit h som e hostilit y there . Ye t Augus t i n Taormin a migh t b e to o oppressive. A t th e en d o f July cam e a misleading spatterin g o f rai n (iii . 581 ) an d the sk y filled wit h thunderclouds , bu t th e weathe r di d no t brea k an d th e drynes s 'seems t o parc h one' s soul ' (iii . 580) . Politica l storm s seeme d t o b e brewin g too , in Ital y an d elsewhere , thoug h h e wa s careless abou t thos e - Europ e migh t erup t as it liked . Hi s plan s too k shape : h e an d Fried a woul d spen d abou t te n day s wit h Juta wh o no w ha d a hous e i n Anticol i i n th e hill s outsid e Rome , an d perhap s take i n Montecassino . The n h e woul d accompan y he r a s fa r a s Milan, wher e sh e would g o o n t o Baden-Bade n t o se e he r mother , an d h e woul d mee t th e Whittleys fo r a walking tou r aroun d th e Italia n lakes . H e ha d corresponde d wit h Irene an d he r mothe r Mr s Shor t fro m tim e t o time , an d now , b y happ y chance , Irene an d Perc y though t o f comin g t o Ital y fo r thei r holiday . The y wer e th e sor t of peopl e h e coul d bea r t o g o wit h o n th e kin d o f excursio n h e loved , bu t whic h Frieda wa s never likel y t o make again . A very practica l excitemen t ros e i n hi m a s he suggeste d goin g fro m Lak e Com o t o Lak e Ise o an d Garda , keepin g o n th e Italian sid e o f the border , an d the n o n t o Venic e b y wa y of Verona . We should hav e to be economical. We'd trave l 3rd. Class for shor t journeys: that's cheap. We'd carr y a spirit kettl e and littl e saucepan, and a raincoat: fu n i t would b e .. . Brin g as little as you ca n mak e convenient - on e nice dress fo r town , one knock about . I n Venic e I'll try and get rooms, not an hotel or pension s o that we can make our own breakfasts an d lunch - an d only get dinner out. It will be awfully joll y - (iii . 569) He aske d Rosalin d Bayne s (iii . 575 ) an d Jut a abou t room s i n Venic e tha t woul d suit on e wh o (o n hi s own) , wa s ' a gna t o f economy ' (iii . 568) . H e wante d t o se e Rosalind, too . 595
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
It onl y remaine d t o ti e u p odd s an d end s o f business . O n 2 August the y were off , an d jus t a s the y wer e leaving , th e first batc h o f galley s o f Women in Love arrived fro m Seltzer . At long last, the novel really was coming out. A good omen.
596
CHAPTER ELEVE N
•
August 1920-Septembe r 192 1 ON T H E M O V E
Comes over one an absolute necessity to move. (Sea and Sardinia, chap. 1 ) I Becomin g 'unstuck ' With a stop t o le t Fried a se e Montecassino 1 (an d t o bu y a cap fo r hi s ne w bab y niece Joa n King ; iii . 583) , the y wen t o n t o Rom e t o joi n Jut a an d Insole ; and , after a fe w day s sightseeing , wer e take n b y ca r t o thei r friends ' ne w bas e a t Anticoli-Corrado (no w incorporate d int o Fiuggi ) i n th e foothill s o f th e Abruzzi . Lawrence ha d foun d th e trai n journe y hellish , bu t i n th e hill s i t wa s cooler . 'Sa n Filippo' wa s a pleasant hous e wit h trees , a courtyard an d a large fountai n wher e other painter s cam e b y t o bath e nude . Ala n Insol e was Welsh , well-of f an d too k his ar t les s seriousl y tha n Jut a thoug h neithe r depende d o n thei r wor k fo r thei r living. Lawrenc e catche s th e ai r o f privileg e wit h amuse d affectio n i n a late r meeting a t Rom e station , a s the y descen d 'vaguel y fro m a carriage , th e on e [Insole] gazin g inquiringl y throug h hi s monocl e acros s th e tram-lines , th e othe r very tal l an d aler t an d elegant , lookin g a s i f h e expecte d u s t o appea r ou t o f th e air fo r hi s convenience' . Th e relationshi p o f th e tw o was close , bu t als o ha d it s strains. Insol e wa s intereste d i n gettin g abou t rathe r tha n standin g i n fron t o f a n easel al l th e time , bu t Jut a becam e somewha t grump y whe n pulle d away . Insol e could b e jealous , too . Th e tal l Jut a was attractiv e t o wome n i n way s tha t Lawrence agai n regarde d wit h amusemen t a s wel l a s affection : 'A s fo r th e American ladyette , al l i s vanity , o n you r part . I f yo u weren' t a beau garcon , an d if you didn' t kno w it , an d i f you didn' t s o enjoy bein g swee t an d complaisan t lik e anything, why , they' d neve r lov e you . Bu t jus t wir e he r "Enoug h o f thi s slop doodle" ' (iii . 567) . A s hi s affai r wit h Elizabet h Hume s ( a secretar y i n th e American Embassy ) wen t deeper , however , h e an d Insol e foun d themselve s 'no t agreeing ver y well , lik e a married couple ' (iii . 624) , an d Insol e too k of f t o Tuni s - bu t tha t la y ahead , an d the y wer e amusin g compan y fo r th e wee k th e Lawrences stayed . A lette r cam e fro m Rosalin d Baynes , an d thoug h sh e woul d be holidayin g i n th e Apennine s whe n the y cam e through , the y woul d se e he r o n the wa y back, i n th e ramblin g vill a she had foun d i n Sa n Gervasio . On 1 2 August h e an d Fried a se t of f northward s again , breaking th e journe y i n 597
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
Florence befor e arrivin g i n Mila n o n th e 16th . Ther e Fried a lef t fo r Baden Baden; an d Perc y an d Iren e Whittle y arrive d t o begi n thei r holida y wit h Lawrence. He ha d like d the m fro m th e earl y day s i n Zenno r whe n the y ha d helpe d ge t her father' s cottage s ready , an d thei r tim e togethe r no w wa s a great success . Th e banker an d th e schoolteache r mus t hav e mad e intelligen t bu t no t quarrelsom e company sinc e the y see m neve r t o hav e falle n ou t ove r educatio n o r anythin g else. They ha d com e readil y o n th e kin d o f holiday tha t Lawrenc e loved , an d hi s greater comman d o f Italia n mad e i t natura l tha t h e shoul d tak e th e lea d - s o al l was propitious , especiall y sinc e the y foun d Lak e Com o s o attractive . Indee d they see m t o hav e give n u p th e origina l pla n o f walkin g th e souther n tip s o f three lake s t o Verona , an d lingere d fo r mos t o f thei r tim e aroun d Como . Wha t Lawrence remembere d mos t fondl y wa s Argegn o halfwa y u p th e lak e (iii . 591) , and the y ma y hav e take n severa l excursion s b y lak e steamer . Onc e i t poure d with rain , bu t fa r fro m spoilin g anythin g thi s wa s welcom e afte r Sicil y i n July , and late r h e remembere d i t al l a s fun . H e ha d tol d Rosalin d tha t h e fel t 'al l unstuck,' already , 'a s i f I migh t drif t of f anywhere ' (iii . 585) , an d par t o f th e jo y of thes e day s ma y hav e bee n jus t th e driftin g whereve r the y liked , careles s o f plans. By th e evenin g o f 2 5 Augus t the y wer e i n Venice . Gettin g ther e whil e th e Whittleys ha d stil l a week t o spen d ma y hav e bee n thei r idea , bu t Lawrenc e fel t easy: ' I ma y sta y her e a mont h - o r onl y a week ' (iii . 589) . Ther e wa s n o wor d yet fro m Frieda , bu t h e foun d Venic e 'lovely' ; an d besides , som e proof s o f The Lost Girl ha d bee n forwarde d fro m Anticol i (iii . 588) . Whe n h e ha d finished these however / th e imminen t departur e o f th e Whittley s mad e hi m fee l melancholic. (Characteristically , thi s appeare d a s a judgemen t o f Venice , stil l lovely t o loo k at , bu t smelly , an d 'melancholi c wit h it s drear y bygon e lagoons' , iii. 590. ) H e decide d no t t o wai t unti l the y actuall y left , stil l les s linge r o n til l Frieda came . H e woul d g o t o Florenc e an d wai t fo r he r there . H e too k a crowded late-nigh t trai n o n 1 Septembe r an d ha d t o spen d th e journe y i n th e corridor; bu t tha t wa s no t wha t h e dwel t o n a s h e le t th e Whittley s kno w h e ha d arrived: 'a m so sorry ou r picni c a troi s i s al l over : wis h yo u wer e her e . . . fee l quite lost , b y myself , quit e outsid e everything . Wha t a curs e yo u aren' t fre e t o do as you like ' (iii. 591) . He wen t first t o a pension e ru n b y a n Englis h Mis s Georgin a Godkin s an d her sister , nex t doo r t o th e Britis h Institute , bu t h e ha d los t th e address , an d stopping b y Pin o Orioli' s booksho p t o ge t it , was misdirected. Thi s turne d ou t t o be a n omen , fo r h e coul d stan d onl y on e nigh t there : 'to o intimate ' h e said , 'ol d ladies e t c ' (iii . 592) . H e woul d hav e t o find somewher e else . Luckil y a n idea l solution presente d itsel f a s soo n a s h e discovere d Rosalin d was bac k bu t no t i n Villa Canovai a - fo r al l it s window s ha d bee n blow n ou t b y a n explosio n a t a 598
AUGUST 192O-SEPTEMBE R I 9 2 I O
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nearby ammunitio n dump , an d sh e an d th e childre n ha d move d t o Fiesole . Th e rambling ol d vill a i n Sa n Gervasi o - eleve n room s an d a garde n al l t o himself , except fo r a gardene r an d hi s wif e a s caretaker s - wa s a n idea l plac e t o cam p i n while th e weathe r wa s stil l war m (iii . 592). 3 H e ha d hi s beddin g an d hi s spiri t stove, and h e coul d coo k an d d o fo r himsel f a s he like d bes t t o do . He wishe d th e Whittleys coul d hav e joine d him , fo r ther e wa s certainl y roo m fo r three ! Bu t i t was 'grea t fun , eve n alone' ; an d h e wa s no t al l tha t muc h alone , either , fo r soo n he wa s offerin g 'luncheo n an d te a partie s t o elegan t people , mostl y American' , and acceptin g picni c invitation s i n return . Ther e was on e 'gorgeou s rich ' picni c tea o n 8 September , behin d Settignan o wher e th e Trenche s live d - thoug h 'i t wasn't fu n lik e ou r Com o days ' h e hastene d t o add , whe n tellin g Iren e abou t i t (iii. 592) . Eve n a n earthquak e a t 8.3 0 tha t mornin g ha d no t shake n hi s spirits , though h e wa s luckil y fa r fro m th e epicentre , toward s Pisa , wher e 17 4 peopl e were kille d (iii . 59 2 n. 4). Of th e Florentin e expatriate s h e ha d know n before , Dougla s was awa y wit h his 'amico ' Ren e Mari , bu t Reggi e Turne r wa s bac k fro m Capri , albei t 'rathe r shaky' (iii . 594) . Ann a d i Chiara , a convivia l America n h e ha d know n an d like d in Capr i wa s here , 'blooming , an d a littl e ironica l abou t home s an d husbands ' (hers bein g away) . H e ha d clearl y go t t o kno w Pin o Oriol i b y now , bu t doe s no t mention th e Marches e an d Marches a d e Torrigian i - althoug h sh e ma y hav e been on e o f th e picnicker s and , sinc e sh e wa s American , i t ma y hav e bee n through he r tha t h e go t t o kno w anothe r 'charming ' America n Carlot a Thrasher , who ha d live d i n Ital y fo r som e year s (iii . 600). 6 Further ou t wer e th e Trenches , and Rosalin d i n Fiesole . His firs t letter s mak e hi s lif e soun d activel y social ; bu t wha t h e like d mos t about Canovai a wa s onc e agai n th e abilit y t o ge t awa y whe n h e wanted , t o ' a garden an d a lovely vie w an d ai r an d peace ' (iii . 602) . There wa s greenery , an d a fountain. Th e peac e o f th e ol d ramblin g vill a wa s al l th e mor e welcom e becaus e of politica l disturbance s i n th e city , wher e tensio n wa s fas t increasin g betwee n the follower s o f th e Re d Banner , an d th e Fascist i an d supporter s o f th e monarchy, s o tha t widesprea d rathe r tha n sporadi c violenc e seeme d iminen t perhaps eve n a revolution lik e th e Russia n one . A bomb ha d bee n throw n i n th e Via Tuornabuon i i n Februar y 1920 . Mussolin i wa s beginnin g t o mak e hi s bi d for power , an d ther e wer e bi g procession s an d counter-procession s whe n th e shops woul d clos e thei r shutter s fo r fear . Ther e migh t b e sudde n shots , stone s thrown int o cafes , bloo d o n th e pavements . Th e tram s t o Fiesol e ha d poster s which threatene d 'casto r oil ' t o purg e th e socialists , an d eve n Rosalind' s littl e girls wer e affected : Bridge t gettin g int o troubl e whe n sh e refuse d t o giv e th e fascist salut e i n a processio n o f schoolchildre n i n th e city , befor e Mussolin i himself, an d havin g t o b e take n awa y fro m th e villag e schoo l a s a result . Thei r gardener taugh t he r an d Chlo e t o sin g 'Th e Re d Flag' , bu t Nan , th e littles t on e 599
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
who ha d anothe r fathe r an d wa s alway s different , decide d sh e woul d b e a fascist. From al l this , Vill a Canovai a wa s a haven . Eleano r Farjeo n describe d th e thirteenth-century hous e as: like a beautiful ol d picture that is peeling and fading . I t stood i n a lane behind a high wall, but it s terrace d garde n la y behind i t o n th e hill-side , ope n t o th e sunlight . Ther e wa s a great di m squar e cour t wit h a fountain , ston e benches , flowering tree s i n tubs , an d a staircase leading to a deep shady balcony hung with vines. The garde n ha d persimmo n trees , an d roses , wit h weed s an d flowers ramblin g everywhere, a haven fo r lizards , cicada s an d fireflie s a s wel l a s fo r Lawrenc e an d some tortoises . It wa s a goo d plac e t o work . H e wrot e an d sen t of f t o Mountsie r a preface fo r the boo k o n America n literatur e whic h h e entitle d 'America , Liste n t o You r Own' (iii . 59 1 an d n . 3) . Th e Corriere della Sera ha d mad e sniff y fu n o f how , because o f th e lac k o f 'tradition ' an d 'culture-history ' i n America , a grou p o f touring Americans , grandl y title d th e 'Knight s o f Columbus ' ha d foun d themselves quit e 'overcom e wit h admiration ' i n Italy . Thi s migh t hav e bee n les s true o f Lawrence' s America n woman-friend s i n Florence , al l o f who m ha d live d in Ital y fo r man y years . Bu t i f the y to o wen t o n an d o n abou t Europea n an d especially Italia n ar t an d architecture , tha t woul d hav e mad e Lawrence' s poin t even stronger . Fo r h e ha d com e t o se e Americ a a s th e future , whic h ca n onl y come abou t b y freein g itsel f fro m th e past . Eac h ne w wav e of becoming (say s th e author o f Movements) was sniffe d a t a s barbaria n b y som e olde r culture , whic h then ha d t o b e walke d past , o r over , t o mak e wa y fo r th e nex t kin d o f beauty. S o Americans mus t tur n t o thei r ow n 'dark , aborigina l continent' , an d t o th e 'America' insid e themselve s whic h a s 'Europeans ' the y hav e rejecte d an d almos t annihilated: th e spiri t i n th e Fores t whic h th e Pilgri m Father s abhorre d a s th e Devil o r 'th e blac k Demon' , bu t Hawthorn e bega n t o explore ; an d th e Re d Ma n who was also withi n James Fenimor e Cooper . The y mus t 'catc h th e puls e o f th e life whic h Corte s an d Columbu s murdered' , whic h Aztecs , Maya s an d Inca s once knew , an d whic h ca n stil l b e foun d i n th e America n spiri t o f plac e an d hence i n Americans . That migh t no t g o dow n to o wel l i n Bosto n - bu t ther e wer e sign s tha t America wa s beginnin g t o liste n t o Lawrence , thoug h no t uncritically . H e hear d that Am y Lowel l migh t hav e a til t a t th e prefac e t o th e New Poems h e ha d dedicated t o her , an d ha d writte n a revie w o f Touch and Go (iii . 593) . Loui s Untermeyer (wh o ha d sen t tha t ver y welcom e chequ e a s a mar k o f estee m th e previous January ) no w sen t a n intens e piec e h e ha d writte n i n The New Republic. Ther e wa s muc h t o pleas e Lawrenc e i n it : th e prais e o f The Rainbow as 'possibl y th e mos t poeti c an d poignan t nove l o f thi s decade' ; th e recognitio n 600
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of 'rousednes s o f physica l sensation ' a s centra l t o hi s work ; an d th e under standing (eve n befor e th e appearanc e o f Women in Love) o f th e orbitin g star s a s central t o Look! Wha t canno t hav e please d hi m wa s Untermeyer' s emphasi s o n the constan t failur e o f the aspiratio n t o fulfilment , s o that Lawrenc e become s th e poet o f a 'dream ' whic h 'wil l no t merg e int o reality' ; an d o f frustration , o r 'despairing wish-fulfilment' ; eithe r losin g himsel f 'amon g hi s ow n fantasies' , o r 'self-crucified o n a cros s o f flesh' - a powerfull y suggestiv e phrase . Lawrenc e supposed i t might b e true , 'Bu t alway s remembe r I prefe r m y strife , infinitely , t o other people' s peace , havens , an d heavens . Go d delive r m e fro m th e peac e o f this world . A s for th e peac e beyon d understanding , I find i t in conflict ' (iii . 595) . Yet Untermeyer' s wa s a sensitiv e respons e tha t probe d dee p enoug h t o sta y i n his mind . He deal t wit h proof s o f 'Th e Fox ' wit h som e acidity , sinc e h e ha d suppose d the stor y ha d com e ou t lon g ago , lon g enoug h fo r hi m t o hav e forgotte n th e name o f th e magazin e (iii . 596-7) . H e agree d t o le t Seeke r finish th e proo f correction o f The Lost Girl i n th e office , fro m th e revise d carbo n typescrip t (iii. 599-600) . I t wa s clea r no w tha t ther e woul d b e n o serialisatio n anywhere , and Seeke r woul d nee d t o hurr y i f h e wa s t o publis h i n November . Hi s ne w novel, h e tol d Mackenzie , onl y 'jerk s on e chapte r forwar d no w an d then ' (iii. 594) . I t wa s hal f done , bu t no w h e pu t i t asid e again . Fo r wha t cam e ou t o f La Canovai a instea d wa s a stream o f poetr y - includin g som e o f th e bes t h e ha d ever written .
II Rosalin
d
One reaso n fo r thi s ha s onl y recentl y com e t o light . Lawrenc e ha d alway s bee n markedly fon d o f Rosalin d an d care d abou t he r welfare . H e ha d worrie d abou t her stayin g i n th e sam e pension e a s Douglas , les t som e scanda l o f hi s shoul d frighten her . Sh e an d th e childre n ha d no t move d fa r fro m L a Canovaia , onl y u p the hil l t o Fiesole . Ther e h e coul d easil y visi t the m 'climbin g b y a steep trac k u p through th e olive s an d alon g unde r th e remain s o f Fiesole' s Etrusca n walls , an d arriving rathe r jauntily , carryin g somethin g peculia r an d humorou s - a salamander o r a little bab y duc k a s a pet fo r th e children' , an d stayin g fo r dinner , or t o coo k the m a n Englis h Sunda y roast . S o muc h sh e tol d Edwar d Nehls . Bu t a privat e memoir , no w publishe d b y he r daughte r Chloe , reveal s ho w th e relationship changed . Rosalin d describe s how , afte r a modes t suppe r o f morta della an d marsal a o n Thursda y 9 September , tw o day s befor e Lawrence' s thirty fifth birthda y the y walke d 'ou t beyon d th e cypres s wood s wher e ther e wer e th e scents fro m thym e an d marjoram , an d th e nightja r bir d noise s o f th e hillside'. 11 They talked , a little edgily . 601
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E Then h e switche d awa y an d said : 'How d o yo u fee l abou t yoursel f no w withou t sex i n you r life? ' I sai d I wanted i t of course . 'Well, why don' t yo u hav e it? ' says he. 'Yes, why not ? Bu t on e i s so damned fastidious. ' 'Yes, damne d fastidious ! Yes , mos t peopl e on e ca n hardl y bea r t o com e near , fa r les s make lov e with' , say s he . 'Yes', sa y I , 'an d it' s n o goo d jus t makin g love ; ther e mus t b e mor e t o i t tha n a fe w pretty word s an d the n of f t o bed. ' 'Yes ther e mus t b e mor e i n i t than that , bu t Go d sav e u s fro m th e so-calle d Lov e - tha t most indecen t kin d o f egois m an d self-spreading . Le t u s thin k o f lov e a s a forc e outsid e and gettin g us . It i s a force; a god . . . ' H e di d no t se e an y reaso n wh y the y shoul d n o t hav e eac h other . O r wa s i t to o complicated? This wa s al l ver y off-han d an d I like d that . I can' t answe r fo r a while. I a m s o astounde d at my happiness . 'Yes, indeed I want it. ' I say at last . Firenze an d he r light s twirle d aroun d an d I fel t of f th e world . H e s o wonderful ; m y source o f acceptable an d excitin g wisdo m o f a kind unhear d o f until h e came . I said : 'I ha d n o ide a yo u though t abou t m e so. ' He laughed . Heavens , ha d I instantl y disappointe d him ? Wa s it , a s I feared , a laug h o f 'Oh, they'r e al l alike' , plungin g int o persona l slo p fo r al l he r profession s o f somethin g better, determine d t o mak e conscious th e unconscious ? I tol d hi m I guesse d wha t h e wa s thinking o f me, but the n wen t o n somehow : ' . . . bu t nevertheles s ho w d o yo u accoun t fo r th e fastidiousnes s w e hav e bee n talkin g about i f there i s no personalis m i n love? ' 'Oh yes, ' says he 'ther e mus t b e understandin g o f the go d together? We wer e silen t again . I pulled u p th e bramble plant . 'Che forza ' say s he . 'Let' s g o back. ' We stumbl e bac k ove r th e stone s i n th e darkness . 'Tonight yo u won' t hav e me? ' 'No,' thoug h I longed t o das h int o hi s arms . In hal f a n hou r w e ar e home , laughin g o n th e way ; an d i n th e bright , ugl y littl e hal l passage w e embrac e an d kis s ou r promise . The n h e wen t of f dow n th e hil l t o Sa n Gervasio. The nex t da y I spen t i n th e greates t elation , an d th e nex t da y Saturda y h e cam e again . Was thi s ou r day ? Bu t no . I tidie d everythin g i n m y roo m t o mak e i t swee t fo r him ; bu t not then . Sunda y h e cam e t o lunch . W e mad e th e dinne r together , quit e a n Englis h Sunday one , bee f an d batter ; an d everythin g wa s fun . H e laughe d an d playe d wit h m y Nan an d understoo d he r - a s h e di d wit h childre n - wit h delicate , amuse d perception . We walke d ou t afte r th e hea t wa s over , u p behin d Fiesol e tow n throug h th e tree s an d passing th e Sunda y strollers . Italia n girl s i n fluffy voil e dresse s alon g th e countr y roads . We sa w th e blac k grape s - 'blac k t o mak e yo u stare' . W e sa w th e gran d turke y coc k (se e 602
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poems). Th e spiri t o f Americ a a s i t wa s i n th e India n primitiv e Americ a t o whic h European Americ a wa s inevitabl y trending . Plac e Psyche s .. . W e com e dow n th e lon g rather squalid villag e street. Sorb apples we buy - 'Suc k the m and then spi t out the skin!' - an d hom e with thing s t o cook fo r ou r suppe r o n th e terrace, three hundre d fee t abov e Firenze. 'How goo d i t i s here. It i s something quit e specia l an d lovely , the time , the place , the beloved.' My heart jumps with joy. We sit there until it is quite dark, our hands held together in union. And so to bed. It i s strikin g ho w carefu l the y ar e o f eac h other , 'fastidious ' abou t no t rushin g until sur e o f meanin g wha t the y do , therefor e non-exploitative , an d ye t joyous . Rosalind i s n o mer e acolyt e despit e he r echoin g o f hi s idea s (includin g thos e o f his lates t essay) . Th e questio n sh e ask s o n th e Thursda y i s th e pertinen t an d right one , an d hi s answe r a fudge , sinc e he r personalit y s o clearl y entere d int o his feelin g fo r her , an d hi s behaviou r now . Wa s h e perhap s to o carefu l - no t passionately impulsiv e enough , fo r a n advocat e o f the 'blood' ? Ye t hi s carefulnes s shows ho w h e woul d als o have been wit h Esther , i f it ever cam e t o that - unlikel y to hav e bee n carrie d awa y b y a n impuls e o f th e moment . H e ha d refuse d t o lea p into be d o n Frieda' s firs t invitatio n too . Hi s wif e ha d claime d he r freedo m several times ; bu t i n th e manne r o f takin g his , h e show s tha t h e i s stil l seriou s enough abou t marriag e no t t o breac h i t casually . An d thoug h thi s woul d no t b e as impulsive a s one o f Frieda's affairs , i t woul d als o mean more . Rosalin d i s clea r that th e poem s tha t cam e ou t o f the experienc e expresse d it s meaning fo r him , a s her secre t preservatio n o f th e jo y o f i t di d fo r her . A s fo r al l th e speculatio n about hi m - sh e doe s no t soun d a s thoug h sh e ha d foun d hi m impoten t o r frustrating a s a lover. Life doe s affec t art , thoug h no t simply . I t i s no t fancifu l t o hav e a new sense , now, o f th e exultan t an d defian t ton e an d sexines s o f th e 'fruit ' poem s h e wrot e at L a Canovai a i n th e nex t fe w days . Thes e note s wer e alway s there , ye t w e ca n now hea r the m ane w i n thei r ow n time , whateve r w e mak e o f the m wher e th e poems hav e t o achiev e existenc e fo r us , i n ours . Wha t wa s i n th e poet' s min d a s he wrot e i s onl y par t o f wha t th e poe m ca n be ; an d th e poem s hav e go t alon g very wel l fo r sevent y year s o n thei r own . Ye t al l th e poem s date d fro m 'Sa n Gervasio' an d 'Fiesole ' ca n revea l a new , secre t lif e an d significanc e o f language. H e sen t severa l o f the 'Fruits ' t o Mountsier o n 1 5 September, sayin g 'don't b e scare d b y them ' (iii . 596) ; an d suggeste d tha t the y b e offere d t o th e New Republic from whos e editoria l departmen t (eve n befor e Untermeyer' s letter ) he ha d receive d a reques t fo r poetr y (iii . 59 6 an d n . 2) . Anothe r poe m was posted th e followin g da y (iii . 597) . Thi s wa s probabl y th e Orphi c 'Medlar s an d Sorb-Apples', i f only becaus e tha t seem s later , wit h it s sens e o f th e tast e whos e sweetness ha s already th e foretast e o f bitterness an d decay : 603
D . H . L A W R E N C E : T R I U M P H T O EXIL E
A kiss, and a vivid spasm of farewell, a moment's orgasm of rupture Then alon g the damp road alone, till the next turning. And there, another parting, a new partner, a new unfusing int o twain, A new gasp, of isolation, intense, A new pungency of loneliness, among the decaying, frost-cold leaves ; Going down the road, more alone after eac h meeting, The fibres of the heart parting one after th e other, And yet the soul continuing, naked-footed, eve r more vividly embodied Ever more exquisite, distilled i n separation. Perhaps ther e i s mor e irony , too , i n Untermeyer' s havin g mad e Lawrenc e th e poet o f frustration , an d mor e resonanc e i n hi s own defian t acceptanc e o f conflict . For althoug h h e coul d no t regre t wha t h e ha d fastidiousl y an d deliberatel y chosen, i t woul d hav e a n undeniabl e awkwardnes s fo r bot h Rosalin d an d himsel f if i t developed . Ye t h e mus t hav e ha d conflictin g feeling s abou t that , too . I t would hur t the m bot h i f h e ra n away , an d possibl y mak e he r fee l used . O n th e other han d wa s he , havin g worrie d abou t he r bein g frightene d b y Dougla s gossip, t o ris k addin g fue l himsel f t o th e certai n scanda l o f he r comin g divorc e hearing? Th e expatriat e communit y eve n i n Florenc e wa s smal l enoug h fo r gossip t o sprea d quickly . O r again , a s i n 'Medlar s an d Sorb-Apples' , h e ma y have fel t mos t wha t th e poe m declare s th e hellis h ye t 'exquisit e fragranc e o f farewell . . . Th e secre t o f Orpheu s an d Hades ' i n whic h eac h sou l depart s 'i n it s own essence, / Neve r havin g know n it s own essenc e before'. 1 He bega n t o haver . O n th e 17t h h e wrot e a n od d lette r t o Joh n Ellingto n Brooks, sayin g tha t h e didn' t wan t t o han g abou t i n Florenc e waitin g fo r Fried a much longer , an d wa s i t possibl e t o shar e Brooks' s hous e sittin g o f Cas a Solitari a for a fortnigh t o r s o (iii . 599) ? Thi s wa s howeve r a littl e lik e S t Augustine' s 'Lord mak e m e chaste , bu t no t yet' , sinc e h e di d no t propos e t o com e fo r another wee k o r more . Bu t th e ver y nex t da y th e proble m wa s solve d fo r hi m for a letter arrive d fro m Frieda . Sh e wante d hi m t o come t o Baden-Baden whic h she probabl y kne w h e woul d refuse ; bu t sh e suggeste d a s alternativ e tha t the y should mee t wit h Juta an d Insol e i n Venic e o n th e 28th . H e wrot e a n apolog y t o Frieda's mother , pleadin g tha t i t wa s to o lat e i n th e yea r t o com e nort h no w (iii. 601) . H e woul d com e nex t sprin g (whe n thei r leas e o f Fontan a Vecchi a would b e up ) - bu t t o Venice h e woul d go. 15 There i s n o sig n o f ho w ofte n o r o n wha t term s h e sa w Rosalin d i n th e tw o weeks betwee n thei r goin g t o be d an d hi s goin g bac k t o hi s wife. 16 Ther e i s however a n extraordinar y accoun t o f wha t i t i s t o be imbue d wit h th e mos t new born being-alone ; an d t o b e drive n b y desire ; an d als o 'crucifie d i n th e flesh' (Untermeyer's term ) betwee n th e two . Thi s i s displace d an d transforme d wit h extraordinary observatio n an d grea t humou r - bu t als o (on e ca n se e now ) wit h nicely adjuste d fellow-feelin g and self-distancin g - i n si x poem s abou t th e 604
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tortoise famil y i n th e garde n o f L a Canovaia . I t i s no t tha t th e poem s abou t tortoises ar e reall y poem s abou t Lawrence ; bu t somethin g fa r mor e interesting , and mor e extraordinary . Th e 'life ' o f these poem s require d tw o conditions : exac t observation an d perceptio n o f tortoise s an d thei r sexuality , an d th e exclusio n o f what o n tha t evenin g wit h Rosalin d h e ha d calle d 'self-spreading' . An d ye t th e humour come s fro m th e relationshi p betwee n th e ma n observin g fro m hi s poin t of view, and th e beast s inten t o n thei r non-huma n life , a relation tha t i s both gul f and imaginativ e affinity . H e wrot e late r o f Va n Gogh' s mos t famou s paintin g that it s valu e la y neithe r i n th e renderin g o f sunflowers , no r i n th e renderin g o f the painter' s feelings , bu t i n th e 'perfecte d relation , a t a certai n moment , between a ma n an d a sunflower ' o r mor e grandl y betwee n 'ma n an d hi s circumambient universe' . I f on e ma y feel , readin g th e poems , th e essenc e a s i t were o f tortoisenes s caugh t there , tha t i s becaus e Lawrenc e s o firml y kep t hi s eye o n th e beast s an d no t o n himself . An d ye t h e sa w wit h th e sensibilit y h e spontaneously brough t t o bear , an d that ha d a grea t dea l t o d o wit h th e comed y and traged y o f sexuality h e ha d jus t re-experience d fo r himself , an d whic h mad e for th e ton e tha t i s also all important i n th e poems . They ar e unanthropomorphi c in on e sense ; an d ye t onl y the-man-Lawrenc e coul d hav e create d tha t life , i n hi s human language , jus t then . Bein g 'crucifie d i n th e flesh' i s a n idea , bu t th e crosses o n th e tortoise-shel l ar e there, as is the mal e tortoise' s soundles s orgasmi c cry. Moreove r th e 'relatio n a t a certain moment ' als o implies , fo r bot h ma n an d circumambulant beast , a n unrelate d an d quit e distinc t being , outside the poems . Art ca n neve r b e biography , no r biograph y explai n an y wor k o f art . Ye t biography ca n perhap s hel p critic s atten d t o wha t th e thoughtfu l poe t - fo r Lawrence, ' a ma n i n hi s wholeness , wholl y attending' 1 - brough t t o th e tortoises, a t tha t moment , thoug h i t i s th e criti c wh o mus t discove r i n it s ow n detail wha t eac h poe m the n does , and wha t the y d o together . Biography, however , shoul d mak e on e furthe r point : ho w th e sequence o f poems delicately , subtly , an d extraordinaril y balance s th e feeling s o f th e ma n who ha d deliberatel y turne d awa y fro m lov e an d it s dependency , determine d t o stand alon e - bu t wh o no w mus t know , fully , th e fuse d ecstas y an d tortur e o f having succumbe d again . Th e tin y bab y tortoise , alon e withou t knowin g it , i s a living embodimen t o f what th e 'new ' Lawrenc e sai d h e wante d t o be, a self-singl e 'Invincible fore-runner' . Embedde d in the shell , howeve r i s th e inescapabl e sig n of the cross . An d i n 'Famil y Connections ' an d 'Lu i e t Elle ' ther e i s th e certaint y that th e bab y tortoise' s arroganc e o f bein g 'al l t o himsel f wil l b e overcom e b y the imperativ e need s o f sexua l connection : th e mal e driven , irritabl y compelle d to persist , 'Doome d t o mak e a n intolerabl e foo l o f himself, force d continuall y t o run after , sna p at , pester , a femal e muc h bigge r tha n h e i s - wicke d comedy ! Finally however , th e ful l parado x o f th e opposit e desire s - th e longin g fo r singleness, th e longin g fo r completio n - i s brough t ou t i n th e orgasmi c an d 605
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
crucified 'Tortois e Shout' : th e cr y tha t i s both paea n an d agony , deat h an d birth , triumph an d submission , self-laceration , abandonmen t an d fulfilment . Sex, which breaks up our integrity, our single inviolability, our deep silence, Tearing a cry from us. Sex, which breaks us into voice, sets us calling across the deeps, calling, calling for the complement .. . Torn, to become whole again, after lon g seeking for what is lost, The same cry from th e tortoise as from Christ , the Osiris-cry of abandonment, That which is whole, torn asunder , That whic h is in part, finding its whole again throughout th e universe. He lef t fo r Venic e o n 2 8 September . Carlot a Thrashe r ha d offere d t o le t hi m have, rent-free , he r 70-acr e far m nea r th e village o f Westminster , Connecticut , four hour s fro m Ne w York , i f h e woul d liv e ther e an d begi n t o rescu e i t fro m the neglec t i t ha d falle n into , havin g bee n unoccupie d sinc e befor e th e wa r (iii. 605) . Afte r Grimsbur y Far m h e kne w wha t thi s migh t mean , an d ho w muc h energy i t might require , thoug h o f course h e woul d no t nee d o r expec t t o make a living fro m farming . I t wa s o n th e Yanke e sid e o f America , too , whic h h e distrusted - bu t h e wen t t o Venic e thinkin g abou t it , an d wrot e fo r Mountsier' s advice whe n h e arrived. H e als o sen t hi m th e Tortois e poems . Frieda di d no t i n fac t com e unti l 7 Octobe r (iii . 609 ) - writing , sai d Lawrence's postcar d t o Rosalind , 'tiresomel y fro m Germany ' (iii . 604) , thoug h the tiresomenes s seem s t o hav e bee n abou t he r passport . Insol e an d Jut a ha d hired a gondol a fo r a month, s o h e coul d spen d day s wit h the m loungin g o n th e water, bu t h e soo n bega n t o b e 'sic k o f mouchin g about ' (iii . 607) . H e wante d t o get bac k t o Taormina , spi t o n hi s hand s an d ge t o n wit h hi s recalcitran t novel . Also 'Ital y feel s awfull y shak y an d nasty , an d fo r th e first tim e m y unconsciou s i s uneasy o f th e Italians ' (iii . 609) , wherea s h e though t Sicil y migh t b e safer . Still , he tol d Rosalind , th e vie w fro m th e deserte d Lid o wa s 'quit e lovel y now , wit h tall cloud s advancin g ove r th e sea , an d man y burn t sails . I tak e m y lunc h an d si t and watc h fro m th e san d hills , an d bath e . . . Wonde r wher e we'l l mee t next ' (iii. 609) . The ton e i s carefully neutra l - a s hers wa s to be. Ill Bac
k i n Taormin a
When Fried a finally arrive d the y spen t jus t a week mor e o f holiday ther e fo r her , and starte d fo r Sicil y o n 1 4 October. (I f the y brok e th e journe y i n Florenc e the y did no t visi t Rosalind. ) B y th e 18t h the y wer e bac k i n Fontan a Vecchia , afte r a tedious 'struggl e o f a journey' (iii . 612). 20 What struc k Lawrenc e most , afte r th e Italia n cities , wa s th e quiet , an d th e huge chang e fro m whe n the y ha d lef t i n August . No t onl y ha d i t poure d whil e 606
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they wer e away , but rai n se t i n steadil y now , an d kep t o n fo r nearl y tw o months . 'We si t an d se e th e rai n com e straigh t down , silent , isolated , strange , afte r s o much knockin g about : clean , an d fa r of f i t feel s her e - s o fa r of f (iii . 615) . I t wa s astonishingly green , an d flowers wer e comin g out : roses , creeper s an d ros e cyclamens abou t whic h h e wrot e anothe r poe m (iii . 616) . Th e se a wa s yello w with eart h comin g dow n fro m th e hills , and th e strea m i n th e valle y 'impassable ' - bu t h e like d th e isolation , i n a house no w 'stil l an d remot e an d swee t scented ' (iii. 619) . For thre e week s they sough t ou t nobod y an d ha d onl y on e visitor . Frieda ha d com e bac k fro m German y 'flourishing ' (iii . 610 ) an d 'ver y chirpy ' (iii. 616) . As wel l as being wit h he r mothe r sh e ha d visite d Els e Jaffe i n Munich , and enthuse d abou t 'peasan t dram a an d marionette s an d retur n t o innocent bare footed danc e unde r heaven ' (iii . 594 ) - a 'sentimenta l naivete ' he r husban d commented sardonically , thoug h i t wa s a littl e mor e tha n that . (Sh e ha d als o noted th e increasin g ba d feelin g agains t th e Frenc h i n th e aftermat h o f th e Treaty o f Versailles. ) Sh e ha d ''loved it' i n he r homelan d an d extracte d a half promise, now , tha t h e woul d g o bac k wit h he r i n th e spring . A s fa r a s sh e was concerned, 'W e ar e gla d t o be together again ' (iii . 615) . He ha d wante d t o ge t dow n t o seriou s work , an d bega n b y 'correctin g proof s like an angel , and washin g m y clothe s betweenwhiles ' (iii . 615) . The proof s wer e the ful l se t o f Seltzer' s Women in Love, provin g i t reall y woul d b e ou t soo n (iii. 613) . Som e first proof s o f Seeker' s Englis h versio n (intende d fo r February ) also arrived (iii . 617) . He ha d hope d t o finish Aaron's Rod b y Christmas , perhap s getting pas t th e blockag e b y tryin g t o 'sor t o f jum p hi m picaresque ' (iii . 602) . Seeker wa s tryin g t o ge t The Lost Girl ou t o n 1 November an d a n advanc e cop y arrived o n 2 5 October : 'nic e sobe r lad y sh e looks , weight y an d t o b e take n seriously, poo r darling ' (iii . 617) . Ther e ha d arrive d i n Florenc e a n offe r fro m Dr Anto n Kippenber g o f Insel-Verla g t o publis h hi m i n Germa n translation , fruit o f Goldring' s visi t t o Germany , an d anothe r mar k o f bein g take n seriousl y (iii. 597-8) . Oxfor d Universit y Pres s ha d promise d final proof s o f th e history book a t lon g las t (iii . 612) ; an d Joh n Lan e offere d £15 0 fo r a littl e boo k o n Venice, alas just month s to o late (iii . 615) . Things seeme d t o be improving . However, prett y nearl y everythin g the n wen t wrong . A t th e en d o f Octobe r came a n urgen t appea l fro m Seeker . H e ha d boun d abou t ninet y advanc e copie s of The Lost Girl, partl y fo r reviewers , bu t especiall y t o sen d ou t t o th e mai n circulating librarie s o n who m th e commercia l succes s o f the boo k woul d depend . Alas, th e respons e o f th e thre e biggest , Smith's , Mudie' s an d Boot's , threatene d disaster: the y woul d no t circulat e th e boo k unles s change s wer e made . Particula r exception wa s take n t o th e scen e i n whic h Cicci o take s Alvin a i n he r mother' s bedroom (se e abov e p . 576) . Seeke r begge d Lawrenc e t o rewrit e th e passage : 'After al l thes e thre e librarie s shoul d accoun t betwee n the m fo r som e 2,00 0 copies, possibl y more ' (iii . 62 1 n . 1) . Sinc e Lawrenc e wa s n o les s anxiou s tha t 607
D. H . L A W R E N C E : T R I U M P H T O EXIL E
the boo k shoul d mak e mone y h e no t onl y mad e n o difficult y bu t rewrot e a t once , and rathe r cleverly , a t exactl y th e require d length . Howeve r Seeke r di d no t ge t the ne w pag e unti l 9 November , an d publicatio n ha d t o b e delaye d fo r anothe r sixteen day s afte r that , whil e h e tipped-i n page s t o th e copie s alread y boun d and quietl y mad e tw o additiona l cut s withou t tellin g Lawrenc e wha t h e wa s doing. 22 H e finall y publishe d o n 2 5 November . Lawrence, fo r hi s part , wa s rathe r take n abac k b y th e wa y tha t hi s chapter s o f Women in Love ha d bee n broke n u p int o smalle r pieces . (Th e thirtee n origina l divisions becam e thirty-on e i n th e end. ) Soo n Seeker , eve r nervous , woul d b e begging hi m t o mak e som e alteration s i n tha t boo k too , t o mak e th e going s o n i n Halliday's flat les s nude. 2 ' Seltze r publishe d hi s 'private ' editio n o n 9 Novembe r without an y troubl e (yet) ; bu t Seeker' s nervousnes s infecte d Lawrence , an d a s he wa s finishing th e proof s - al l 50 8 pages o f them - a t th e en d o f November, h e began t o thin k i t migh t b e bette r no t t o sen d ou t th e Englis h Women in Love fo r review a t all : ' I d o s o hat e th e critics , the y ar e suc h poisonou s worms , especiall y for a book lik e this' (iii . 625) . By then , however , ther e wa s terribl e new s o f Magnus . I n th e first hal f o f November cam e a brie f not e fro m Do n Maur o Iguane z a t Montecassino . Ha d Lawrence hear d tha t poo r Magnu s ha d committe d suicide ? Shortl y afterward s came a clipping fro m a Maltes e newspaper , addin g onl y tha t th e suicid e wa s b y poison, an d apparentl y cause d b y financial difficulties . The n cam e a n anxiou s letter fro m on e o f the tw o Maltes e wit h who m the y ha d gon e o n tha t moto r tour , asking whethe r Lawrenc e coul d advis e the m ho w t o reclai m mone y tha t Magnu s had borrowed . H e wrot e bac k immediatel y - i n term s w e ca n imagin e - an d then, date d 2 2 November , ther e arrive d a long lette r wit h th e ful l story . Magnu s had conceale d hi s rea l situation . H e ha d persuade d on e o f the tw o t o stan d a s th e financial suret y th e la w require d i f h e wer e t o sta y longe r tha n thre e months . From th e othe r h e ha d borrowe d £5 5 a s well as furniture fo r hi s littl e house ; an d both ha d gon e t o a goo d dea l o f troubl e ove r a schem e fo r th e thre e o f the m t o go int o busines s i n Morocco . Whe n however , Michae l Bor g bega n t o doub t Magnus's abilit y t o repa y hi s deb t - onl y i n October , fo r the y ha d take n hi m t o be ' a perfec t gentleman ' an d wer e slo w t o thin k otherwis e - h e advise d Walte r Salomone (th e 'Salonia ' o f Lawrence' s Memoir) t o b e careful , sinc e Magnu s als o owed a £1 0 grocer' s bill , an d possibl y other s too . Takin g alarm , Salomon e withdrew hi s suret y 'fo r famil y reasons' ; whereupo n Magnu s 'i n hi s resourcefu l way' wrot e directl y t o th e police , askin g onl y fo r a three weeks ' extension , sinc e he woul d b e leavin g th e islan d shortly . (Salomon e wa s t o find hi m a passage o n a tramp steame r t o Gibraltar. ) Bu t n o repl y came , an d o n 4 Novembe r h e wa s stopped i n th e stree t b y tw o detectives , an d aske d t o accompan y the m t o settl e the matte r o f th e surety . Magnu s howeve r suspected , probabl y rightly , tha t th e
608
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fraudulent chequ e a t Anzi o ha d finally caugh t u p wit h him , an d tha t h e wa s facing arres t an d extradition . H e aske d permissio n t o chang e ou t o f hi s sandal s and casua l clothe s - bu t onc e insid e hi s hous e h e locke d th e doo r an d dashe d of f a brie f not e t o Do n Maur o whic h h e persuade d (throug h th e bac k window ) a boy i n th e stree t t o pos t fo r him . ' I leav e i t t o yo u an d [Michae l Borg ] t o arang e my affairs . I canno t liv e an y longer . Pra y fo r me. ' H e dresse d i n hi s whit e suit , lay o n hi s bed , an d swallowe d hydrocyani c aci d (whic h h e mus t hav e bee n keeping read y fo r suc h a n emergency) . B y th e tim e th e detective s becam e suspicious an d brok e in , i t was to o lat e t o d o mor e tha n fetc h a pries t t o administer extrem e unction . Initiall y hi s Maltes e friend s ha d t o pa y fo r th e 'firs t class' funera l requeste d b y th e 'will ' foun d o n hi s desk , thoug h hi s wife , wh o ha d refused t o d o so , late r relente d an d refunde d th e money . H e name d Norma n Douglas a s hi s literar y executor , wh o wa s t o tak e hal f o f an y profit s fro m hi s writings, th e res t t o g o toward s hi s debts . H e ha d clearl y lon g decide d tha t h e would prefe r deat h t o disgrac e an d prepare d accordingly . H e was 44. Lawrence woul d write , a year later , tha t whe n h e read Do n Mauro' s lette r 'th e world seeme d t o stan d stil l fo r me' . H e ha d washe d hi s hand s o f Magnu s - ye t he coul d no t bu t fee l tha t h e migh t hav e save d him , howeve r reaso n migh t demur tha t an y hel p h e coul d hav e give n coul d only , lik e tha t o f th e Maltese , have amounte d t o postponement . (Magnu s seem s neve r t o hav e tol d anybod y how muc h h e ha d owe d a t Anzio , an d whethe r tha t wa s th e onl y reaso n fo r police interes t i n him. ) An d ho w were th e Maltes e t o b e repaid ? Onc e agai n Lawrence fel t someho w responsibl e b y association , thoug h i t ha d no t bee n h e but a letter fro m Do n Maur o tha t ha d introduce d Magnu s t o them . H e wrot e t o Douglas a t Menton . Mos t o f al l i t cam e hom e t o hi m 'wha t i t mus t hav e meant ' to be ' a hunted, desperat e man' . Beside this , his ow n irritation s wer e smal l - ye t the y continue d t o mount . Whe n the long-delaye d final proof s o f th e history-boo k arrive d - th e boo k h e ha d finished i n Februar y 191 9 an d proof-rea d nearl y a yea r late r i n Januar y 192 0 there cam e wit h the m a reques t fo r a n additiona l chapte r o n th e unificatio n o f Italy. S o h e ha d t o ge t dow n t o 'swotting ' (iii . 622) , five books o f Italia n history , rather tha n t o his novel . The chapter , moreover , coul d hardl y escap e th e contras t between th e idealis m o f Mazzini , th e herois m o f Garibald i an d wha t thei r struggle ha d le d t o i n 1920 . For wha t ha d happene d t o th e religiou s idealis m an d the struggl e fo r liberty ? Al l politic s (a s h e ha d argue d i n 'Democracy' ) com e down t o 'arrangin g th e materia l condition s o f life' , an d thoug h important , tha t i s not enoug h t o 'save ' mankind . W e mus t hav e liberty , bu t tha t wil l neve r b e enough eithe r i f i t onl y provide s materia l thing s an d no t 'th e inwar d satisfactio n which th e dee p spiri t demands' :
609
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
And s o Italy wa s made—modern Italy . Fretfulness , irritation , an d nothin g i n lif e excep t money: this is what the religiou s fervou r o f Garibaldians an d Mazzinian s work s out to— in united, free Ital y as in other united, free countries . No wonder libert y so often turn s to ashes i n th e mouth , afte r bein g s o fai r a frui t t o contemplate . Ma n need s mor e tha n liberty.26 He ha d furthe r reason s fo r feelin g rathe r grumpy . I t wa s stil l rainin g 'heaven s hard' i n th e thir d wee k o f November , s o i t fel t lik e bein g 'insid e a n aquariu m all water - an d peopl e lik e crabs an d black-gre y shrimp s creepin g o n th e bottom . Don't lik e it ' (iii . 622-3) . Ther e i s a hin t tha t Fried a wa s gettin g o n hi s nerves , and t o hi s mother-in-la w thre e day s late r h e writes , wit h thi n jocularity , tha t he r daughter 'is , I a m sa d t o say , n o bette r behave d tha n sh e shoul d be ' (iii . 623) . The grumpines s sprea d t o th e Taorminese , 'a s mea n an d creepin g a s ever ' (iii. 624) . Ther e wa s growin g hostilit y t o foreigner s a s th e rat e o f exchang e sho t up i n thei r favour . (I t woul d b e 10 0 to th e £ 1 b y Christmas. ) O n th e othe r han d prices ha d triple d sinc e th e previou s year . H e bega n t o fee l tha t h e mus t leave . Worst o f all , h e was b y no w to o unsettle d t o b e abl e t o wor k o n th e nove l (no w named Aaron's Rod), whic h seeme d t o hav e stuc k absolutely . Hi s lette r t o Kippenberg ha d apparentl y vanishe d int o a voi d lik e th e proof s h e ha d sen t Seeker fro m Venice . An d Seeke r no w infuriate d Seltze r b y sendin g som e copie s of The Lost Girl t o a bookseller i n Ne w Yor k - resultin g i n mor e telegram s an d 27
anger. As h e ha d don e befor e a t moment s o f stasis , h e turne d t o painting , divertin g himself b y copyin g a pictur e the n attribute d t o Lorenzetti , th e La Tebaide, o f 'thousands o f amusin g littl e monk s doin g thing s i n th e Thebaia" (iii. 622 ) - th e tract o f Egyptia n deser t wher e anchorite s suc h a s S t Anthon y settled , i n th e third an d fourt h centuries . Bu t eve n th e painting , afte r initia l success , woul d later prov e disappointing . At last , however , th e incessan t rai n bega n t o clea r a t th e ver y en d o f November. O n th e 29th , th e first clea r day , the y wen t t o a cattl e fai r o n th e beach a t Letojann i jus t u p th e coast ; an d Lawrenc e recorde d a decision . H e had no w firmly place d Aaron's Rod aside , an d ha d begu n ' a comedy ' instead , Mr Noon (iii . 626) . Th e nex t day , give n ' a rainbo w an d tramontan a win d an d blu e sea, an d Calabri a suc h a blu e morning-jewe l I coul d weep ' (iii . 629) , hi s spirit s began t o lift, thoug h ther e was more rai n t o come . He tol d Am y Lowel l tha t anothe r 'book ' o f fre e verse , t o b e calle d Birds, Beasts and Flowers, would shortl y b e comin g bac k fro m th e typis t (iii . 629 ) - thi s time Rut h Wheelock , a secretar y i n th e consulat e a t Palermo , wh o ha d ha d i t since 4 November . O n 1 Decembe r h e sen t tw o poem s destine d fo r i t t o Professor Joh n Metcalf , wh o ha d aske d fo r a contributio n t o a volum e celebrating th e centenar y o f th e Universit y o f Virginia . Th e first, 'Tropic' , 610
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whenever written , hark s bac k t o th e intens e hea t o f Malta whe n h e ha d fel t quit e stunned: ' I shouldn' t wonde r i f m y ski n wen t blac k an d m y eye s wen t yellow , like a negro's ' (iii . 538) . Th e second , 'Slope s o f Etna ' (late r calle d 'Peace') , recalls hi s lette r t o Untermeyer , an d expresse s a growin g pressur e o f turbulenc e in a volcani c heart , which , lik e Etna , 'wil l kno w n o peace / Til l th e mountai n bursts' - bu t whos e settin g agai n int o roc k ca n b e 'peace ' onl y i n a manne r o f speaking. Thoug h h e ha d though t o f a titl e fo r hi s nex t boo k o f poetry , th e typescript - whic h h e sen t t o Mountsie r i n earl y Decembe r (iii . 634 ) bu t whic h does no t surviv e - mus t hav e hel d fa r fewe r poem s tha n th e boo k w e know now . Moreover th e tw o poem s sen t t o Metcalf , alon g wit h 'Th e Revolutionary ' already o n it s wa y t o Mountsie r wit h th e 'Evangelisti c Beasts, ' sho w tha t th e titl e was an approximatio n an d disguise . Ther e wa s only on e rea l bir d an d on e flowe r so far. 31 Wha t hold s poem s lik e 'Cypresses' , th e 'Evangelisti c Beasts ' an d 'Th e Revolutionary' i n close r relationshi p wit h 'Fruits ' tha n ca n b e apparen t i n th e later an d bigge r anthology , ar e th e tumultuou s feeling s o f secre t rebellio n an d the burstin g ou t o f hi s ow n 'dark' , 'wicked ' an d royal-beastl y self , fro m September t o November 1920 . With th e bette r weather , lif e brightene d u p too : 'su n again , blu e sea , lon g mornings, an d quit e warm . W e hav e suddenl y dashe d int o society ' (iii . 636) . There wer e tea-partie s an d ne w acquaintance s - a 'nic e an d comic ' lad y theosophist (Rosali e Bull) , a youn g Balti c Baro n wh o wa s glu m bu t likable , a married pai r o f antiqu e dealers . Lawrenc e foun d himsel f cookin g no t onl y th e Sunday roas t bu t unaccustome d confectioner y fo r ' 3 tea-partie s thi s week ' - an d mocking himsel f fo r hi s mistakes : th e chocolat e cake s h e droppe d whe n h e burned hi s fingers; an d th e 'exquisit e roc k cakes ' h e 'forgot to put the fat in\V (iii. 636-7) . Als o ther e wa s a ne w hote l t o repor t o n t o Mari e Hubrech t an d Mary Cannan . Bu t 'th e societ y i s much mor e broke n an d unstabl e tha n las t year ' (iii. 640) . Fried a wa s increasing th e pressur e t o spen d bot h summe r an d autum n (now) i n Germany ; an d Lawrenc e wa s no t a t al l sur e wha t t o d o abou t Fontan a Vecchia whe n th e leas e ran out . On 1 1 Decembe r cam e te n copie s o f Seltzer' s Women in Love (iii . 635) . Brought ou t a s a privat e editio n i n th e hop e o f escapin g prosecution , an d relatively expensiv e a t $15 , it wa s much mor e handsom e tha n Seeker' s Lost Girl, and Lawrenc e wa s delighted . H e wa s quit e sur e tha t thi s wa s hi s bes t book , th e one h e reall y care d an d wa s 'most anxious abou t . . . th e other s I don' t fre t mysel f about s o much'. I n print , suddenl y i t wa s ' a rea l book' . H e kne w o f course tha t i t 'needs a bit o f getting use d to' ; and s o wa s glad Seltze r himsel f ha d begu n t o lik e it. Indeed , Seltzer' s courag e i n bringin g i t ou t - th e 'bes t Christma s present ' Lawrence coul d hav e - mad e hi m 'fee l i t has made u s friend s fo r life'. 33 The contras t wit h Seeker' s fearfulness , an d hi s 'breac h o f faith ' i n sendin g copies (howeve r few ) o f th e Englis h Lost Girl t o a Ne w Yor k bookseller , wa s 611
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striking. Lawrenc e no w insiste d tha t Seeke r wa s t o protec t Seltzer' s investmen t in Women in Love b y delayin g th e Englis h editio n unti l afte r i May ; an d reminded hi m tha t 'an y tim e yo u ar e no t conten t wit h me , I a m quit e willin g t o dissolve th e agreemen t betwee n us 5 (iii. 638) . Everything seeme d t o confir m tha t hi s futur e la y i n America . Whe n th e London review s o f The Lost Girl came , i t wa s clea r tha t th e boo k woul d hav e t o sell i n spit e o f rathe r tha n becaus e o f the m - an d th e Murry s too k a publi c revenge. True , Edwar d Garnet t praise d th e nove l a s 'fir m i n drawing , ligh t an d witty i n texture , charmingl y fres h i n styl e an d i n atmosphere' , bu t b y wa y o f a rude contras t wit h The Rainbow whic h h e ha d dislike d fro m th e start , s o ther e were weed s i n th e bouque t fo r Lawrence . Th e Murry s howeve r wer e enve nomed. Jack wrot e th e review , bu t {Catherin e ha d lai d it s foundations . Th e note s she sen t abou t i t ar e perceptiv e a s wel l a s prejudice d however , fo r th e nove l touched he r o n th e ra w n o les s revealingl y tha n th e quarrel s o f th e Lawrence s had don e i n Cornwall . Alon e amon g reviewer s sh e sense d som e 'dar k secret ' i n the book . Sh e no t onl y reacte d i n horro r t o character s sh e sa w a s 'mindless', indeed 'animal s o n th e prowl' ; sh e judge d th e boo k a 'sinnin g agains t art ' o f th e same kin d a s writin g abou t earth-closets . I n this , Lawrenc e migh t hav e said , sh e was responding a s a true representativ e o f th e 'pale-faces ' h e wa s indee d writin g against; reacting t o something tha t wa s there; and revealin g somethin g significan t about herself : Am I prejudiced? B e careful! I fee l privatel y a s thoug h L . ha d possesse d a n anima l an d fallen unde r a curse. Bu t I can't sa y that . Al l I kno w is : this i s bad an d ough t no t t o be allowed. I feel a horror of it - a shrinking. But that's not criticism. But this is life when one has blasphemed agains t the spirit of reverence. Lawrence woul d presumabl y hav e retorte d tha t sh e wa s revealin g he r irrever ence fo r an d indee d horro r o f he r ow n bod y an d th e darke r sel f sh e s o vehemently denies ; bu t he r respons e ha s a n honest y i n it s ver y excess . Murry' s review begin s mor e judiciously , an d ha s a point abou t Lawrence' s language , bu t becomes mor e simpl y abusive : Alvina an d Cici o become fo r u s lik e grotesque beast s i n a n aquarium , shu t of f fro m ou r apprehension b y th e miste d glas s of a n esoteri c language , a quack terminology . Life , a s Mr. Lawrence shows it to us, is not worth living; it is mysteriously degrade d b y a corrupt mysticism. Mr Lawrence would have us back in the slime from whic h we rose.34 When thi s an d th e Garnet t notic e arrived , Lawrenc e mus t hav e fel t justifie d i n having suggeste d tha t Women in Love shoul d no t b e sen t ou t fo r review . Eve n the Observer an d TLS notice s * ha d mad e hi m thin k Seeke r shoul d 'inser t another incensorabl e novel ' - Aaron 5 Rod o r Mr Noon - betwee n Women in Love and th e republicatio n o f The Rainbow (iii . 638) . Indee d suc h review s prove d fa r 612
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from impotent . Seeker' s diplomac y wit h th e circulatin g librarie s ha d pai d of f t o the exten t o f advanc e order s o f 1,30 0 copies , whic h h e ha d hope d t o doubl e b y the en d o f th e year . Bu t afte r th e firs t mont h th e sale s onl y reache d 2,000 ; afte r another mont h 30 0 more ; and i n th e nex t thre e month s onl y 30 0 wer e sold / S o the hop e tha t The Lost Girl woul d 'brin g he r egg s saf e t o market ' was onl y partially fulfille d - i n Englan d (iii . 622) . By no w th e socia l jollitie s ha d palle d again . Bot h h e an d Fried a ha d grow n 'already tired ' o f Sicily , s o wer e 'retiring ' (he r pun ) int o thei r solitud e onc e mor e (iii. 642) , fo r a quiet Christmas . Th e lates t notio n wa s t o tak e a trip nex t yea r t o see whethe r Sardini a migh t b e 'simpler , no t s o sophisticate d an d foreigner flooded' (iii . 645) . On th e las t da y o f the year , however , a final annoyance arrive d in a letter fro m Mountsier . H e ha d a t las t manage d t o se e Huebsch, an d ge t fro m him th e fact s abou t th e si x work s o f Lawrence' s h e ha d brough t ou t i n America , and th e natur e o f th e contract s an d accountin g arrangement s i n eac h case . Mountsier's verdic t o n thes e wa s tha t Huebsc h wa s hones t i n business , i f slo w and slipsho d - bu t anothe r anti-Semiti c outburs t a t th e beginnin g o f th e lette r was explaine d b y th e stin g i n it s tail : tha t o n th e matte r o f th e disput e wit h Seltzer ove r Women in Love, Huebsc h ha d accuse d Lawrenc e o f bein g ' a liar ' who 'ha s show n himsel f ungrateful ' (iii . 64 3 n.) . Thoug h Huebsc h coul d no t find th e relevan t letter , h e claime d tha t Lawrenc e ha d tol d hi m h e was 'sendin g him direc t th e manuscript ' o f th e novel . I n fac t n o suc h lette r survives . Tw o days befor e Lawrenc e lef t Englan d i n Novembe r 1919 , havin g writte n t o as k whether Seltze r wa s prepared t o withdraw , h e ha d tol d Huebsch , ' I hop e t o hav e the MS . o f th e nove l t o sen d yo u shortly ' (iii . 413) . A t n o tim e howeve r ha d h e ever suggeste d tha t h e had th e manuscrip t t o sen d - an d i n Florenc e ha d com e Seltzer's refusa l t o relinquis h a n offe r mad e an d accepte d i n goo d faith , an d th e advance o f £5 0 which , Lawrence , shor t o f money , fel t h e ha d t o take , an d tol d Huebsch h e ha d don e so . After furthe r pressur e h e ha d offere d t o repay Seltzer' s advance i f h e woul d agre e t o retur n th e manuscript ; whil e stil l insistin g tha t without suc h agreemen t h e fel t boun d t o stic k t o th e origina l offer . Lawrenc e may hav e bee n disingenuou s i n keepin g th e reques t t o Seltze r going , throug h reluctance t o offen d Huebsch , afte r th e poin t whe n h e mus t hav e bee n fairl y sure tha t Seltze r woul d no t budg e an d wa s himself read y t o consider a contract but a lia r h e wa s not . A s fo r gratitude , thi s wa s indee d no t on e o f Lawrence' s strengths. H e ha d tol d Mountsie r tha t h e di d fee l gratefu l t o Huebsc h 'u p t o a point' fo r riskin g publishin g The Rainbow a t al l (iii . 547) , thoug h annoye d wit h him als o fo r bowdlerisin g withou t hi s consent , an d fo r no t havin g kep t th e boo k in print . A s fo r th e mone y Huebsc h ha d 'secured ' fo r him , h e wa s genuinel y thankful fo r th e chequ e fro m th e Untermeyer s whic h cam e a s a n unsolicite d tribute; bu t cros s abou t th e collectio n undertake n wit h Gilber t Cannan , whic h made hi m see m a n objec t o f charity . Th e iron y o f tw o America n publisher s 613
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fighting ove r th e nove l ever y Englis h publishe r ha d rejected , coul d hardl y hav e escaped him . On th e whol e h e wa s righ t t o tel l Mountsie r tha t hi s letter s woul d prov e th e facts, s o Huebsc h ha d c dished himself . Enoug h o f him ' - bu t h e ha d als o 'ha d two cring y half-offende d letter s fro m Seeke r abou t th e Lost Girl copies ' (iii. 643) . I t wa s enoug h t o sou r hi s feelin g abou t th e whol e o f 1920 , o n 'th e las t day o f thi s unsatisfactor y year' . Nevertheles s on e ha d t o kee p one' s spirit s up . 'It's n o us e givin g in t o the multitude s o f little swin e o f this world ' (iii . 645) . In fac t i t ha d bee n a n outstandingl y vivi d an d creativ e year , ful l o f stimulatin g new place s an d people , an d (i n th e perspectiv e o f tim e an d hi s ow n judgement ) rich wit h achievement . H e ha d finished Pyscho analysis and the Unconscious and 'Education o f th e People' ; ha d writte n The Lost Girl, n bit o f Aaron s Rod, an d most (now ) o f what w e have a s Mr Noon; an d h e ha d produce d a burst o f poetry , some o f the bes t h e ha d eve r done . ('Bar e Almon d Trees ' an d 'Bar e Fi g Trees ' the latte r embodyin g wha t h e though t democrac y quintessentiall y ough t t o b e had bee n adde d i n December. ) H e ha d als o don e th e extr a histor y chapter , an d had recas t severa l o f th e America n essay s wit h a ne w Introduction . Women in Love wa s out a t las t i n Americ a an d comin g i n England , an d The Lost Girl ou t i n England an d comin g i n America . Hi s financial positio n wa s very differen t indee d from th e penur y o f 1919 . (His ban k balanc e i n Novembe r wa s onl y £6/9/0 les s than i t had bee n i n May , hi s best fo r years.) ' Of cours e t o on e wh o live d i n th e moment , th e feelin g o f th e momen t wa s all . But i t i s only , onc e again , b y lookin g a t th e writing lif e tha t alway s underla y th e one th e letter s an d memoir s depict , tha t on e ca n gaug e th e extraordinar y burs t o f comic, sardoni c an d self-explorator y creativit y tha t th e las t mont h o f 192 0 actually held . Fo r betwee n abou t 2 9 Novembe r an d 3 1 December , averagin g a bit mor e tha n 3,00 0 word s a day , Lawrenc e wrot e th e first ninetee n chapter s o f Mr Noon™ IV 'Luck y Noon ' The ne w fiction bega n a s anothe r smac k a t 'love ' (Englis h provincia l variety) , finding refug e fro m th e annoyance s an d upset s o f Novembe r an d Decembe r i n comedy, eve n farc e - an d lookin g als o fo r a new kin d o f novel. There ha d bee n a real-lif e Gilber t Noon , talente d i n musi c an d mathematics , whom Lawrenc e ha d know n a t th e Pupil-Teache r Centr e a t Ilkeston , an d wh o also wen t o n t o teache r trainin g a t Nottingha m Universit y Colleg e an d t o schoolteaching afterwards . Moreove r ther e wa s a hin t o f doub t a s t o hi s moral s in a final report o n hi m b y th e Professo r o f Education . Howeve r th e connectio n between th e rea l Gilber t an d Lawrence' s arch-'spooner ' remain s obscure ; an d there wa s i n an y cas e a mor e dramati c exempla r o f wha t 'spooning ' migh t lea d 614
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to, i n th e fat e o f Georg e Neville . Hi s philanderin g ha d le d t o a hasty marriage , a child thre e month s late r an d th e los s o f hi s teachin g post. 39 Bu t comed y mus t not hav e to o dir e result s (thoug h M r Noo n doe s indee d resign) . I f The Lost Girl became a n increasingl y seriou s rejectio n o f romanti c idea s o f lov e i n favou r o f a darker kin d o f mutua l transformation , th e firs t par t o f Mr Noon i s seemingl y concerned wit h n o mor e tha n sardoni c fun , a t th e expens e o f bot h 'love ' an d 'marriage' i n th e Englis h provinces . Beginning abou t 2 9 November o r a day o r tw o before, Lawrenc e ha d probabl y finished th e first 17 2 noteboo k page s (chapter s i-xn ) b y 9 December , whe n h e told Mountsie r th e fiction ha d com e t o a 'sudde n stop' , thoug h h e though t i t 'may g o o n soon ' (iii . 634) . Thi s i s th e stor y o f ho w 'spooning ' i n th e Co-o p entry afte r chape l lead s t o Emmie's assignatio n wit h Gilber t Noo n i n he r father' s greenhouse; a tumultuou s interruptio n b y sai d father ; th e gir l runnin g awa y from hom e an d sufferin g a 'neuralgi a o f th e stomach ' whic h M r Noo n fear s might b e somethin g else ; an d a final scen e o f utte r paralysi s b y he r sick-bed , where th e triangl e o f Emmie , M r Noo n an d he r (forgotten ) fiance threaten s indeed t o becom e a n eterna l one , froze n int o everlastin g silence . Com e t o a ful l stop th e story certainl y an d farcicall y did . Lawrence experiment s wit h Fielding' s comi c epic , whic h create s no t onl y th e distancing o f comed y bu t als o a teasin g relatio n betwee n showman-autho r an d 'gentle reader' . Al l th e comic-epi c device s ar e present : pervasiv e anticlimax , inflated apostrophe , 'heroic ' sports , battle s wit h monster s o r villain s an d th e learned surve y o f a trac t o f knowledg e (i.e . 'spooning') ; bu t th e eighteenth century genr e alway s ha d a more seriou s purpos e also , behind th e fun , an d use d the comi c distanc e an d th e constan t interventio n b y 'th e author' , t o brin g tha t out. I n Fieldin g moreover , th e relationshi p o f th e reade r wit h a teasin g 'author ' is als o par t o f anothe r leve l o f irony , i n whic h reader s ma y find themselve s suddenly i n th e doc k instea d o f o n th e bench . Thi s certainl y happen s i n Mr Noon, i n whic h moreove r 'th e author ' neve r quit e manage s Fielding' s winnin g geniality. Somethin g o f th e irritatio n o f 1920 , a s wel l a s th e alienatio n fro m England, get s int o th e ton e eve n o f th e first part , muc h mor e i n th e second , an d the iron y i s increasingly subversive , movin g towar d contempt . Cavea t lector . 'Spooning' i s love-making (ironi c phrase ) shor t o f sexual intercourse : a matte r of technique s withou t commitment ; o f romanti c excitement s an d pleasurings up-to-a-limit, betwee n girl s wh o ar e goo d sport s an d lad s wh o mus t no t b e lo w or gross . Victoria n 'sin ' an d 'seduction ' ar e n o more . 'I t doesn' t matte r wha t yo u do—only ho w yo u d o it.—Isn' t tha t th e sinceres t o f modern maxims? ' I t doesn' t matter, tha t is , unti l thing s g o to o fa r an d rea l passion s ar e aroused . Th e first level o f comedy i s provincial. Spoonin g i n alleyway s i n th e rain , b y ordinar y lad s and lasses , has it s 'sweetness ' muc h inflate d b y a n 'author ' wh o pride s himsel f o n expert descriptio n - thoug h 'Non e o f you r bestia l los s o f faculties' , mar k yo u 615
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and i s the n deflate d b y lo w an d farcica l consequences . (Fo r Lawrenc e o f course th e los s of faculty an d oblivio n o f self in se x wa s all-important. ) On th e nex t leve l of irony, spoonin g ha s clearl y nothin g t o do , either, wit h th e practical realitie s o f bourgeoi s marriage , whic h ma y hav e sentimen t enoug h a t first, bu t come s dow n reall y t o soli d prospect s an d funds . No w th e len s expand s to tak e i n th e whol e o f society , fo r bot h spoonin g an d it s shar p distinctio n fro m marriage ar e commo n t o ever y ran k o f Englis h society . Thi s i s th e poin t o f setting of f th e stor y o f Gilbert , Emmi e an d Walte r Georg e Whiffe n th e bank clerk, agains t th e higher-clas s marriag e o f th e Goddards , th e tw o Fabia n Socialists draw n (outwardly ) fro m Willi e an d Salli e Hopkin . Her e ar e th e coupl e of 'Th e Overtone ' again ; an d thoug h th e treatmen t show s al l th e differenc e between th e Lawrenc e o f 191 3 an d th e Lawrenc e o f 1920 , th e diagnosi s o f marital limitatio n i n th e Activ e coupl e i s eve n mor e lethal . The y ar e th e acm e o f civilised consciousnes s - Hampstea d i n Eastwoo d - an d th e bes t o f friends , progressive, tolerant , kind . Bu t Lewie' s restles s egotis m an d Patty' s unawakene d womanhood show , fro m th e beginning , wha t i s missin g fro m thi s marriag e o f true mind s an d uppe r centres . Th e compariso n work s tw o ways . Fo r a moment , walking wit h Patt y acros s th e fields, Gilber t Noo n sense s i n he r th e Aphrodite woman sh e coul d hav e been , an d sh e feel s i t too . Bu t th e farcica l episod e wit h the co w then parodie s th e mos t powerfu l scen e i n The Rainbow whe n Ursul a fled from th e horses , bu t wit h th e sam e significance . Patt y i s terrifie d o f wha t i s animal, an d sh e ha s a kin d o f heart-failure . Sh e ha s spooned , the n married ; bu t 'bestial los s of faculty' - an d rebirt h - ar e no t fo r her , an y mor e tha n fo r Emmie . Yet Gilber t ha s seen , i n wha t sh e migh t hav e become , th e worthlessnes s o f 'al l the Emmie s o f the world' . Now th e bearin g o f th e ne w fiction o n th e Lawrenc e o f Decembe r 192 0 becomes apparent . Fo r th e teasin g relatio n o f 'th e author ' t o hi s 'gentl e reader ' has everything t o do wit h pinpointin g - eve n befor e th e review s o f The Lost Girl arrived - th e natur e o f th e canyo n h e no w fel t separate d hi m fro m Englis h readers. Wickedl y h e invite s hi s gentl e reade r - i.e . gentee l o f course , fo r wha t reader isn't ? - t o shar e th e comi c distanc e fro m hi s provincia l her o an d heroine , apologising fo r th e low-lif e an d language , whil e insistin g tha t 'spooning ' take s place amon g 'Champagn e an d shoulders ' too . Thi s 'author ' wil l not , o f course, lay himself open t o charge s lik e thos e levelle d a t on e D . H . Lawrence . 'Le t non e complain tha t I pr y indecentl y int o th e privacie s o f th e spoon ' - sinc e spoonin g is brazenl y public . H e ma y kno w tha t 'Ther e ar e tricks , dea r reader ' t o mak e things mor e exciting , bu t h e himsel f wil l have nothin g bu t 'pur e simplicity . I a m no deale r i n abnormalities ' - nor , a s w e hav e seen , i n an y 'los s o f faculties' . Above all , i t wil l b e British. Fo r h e wil l sa y thi s fo r Emmi e an d he r futur e husband, tha t the y hav e ' a bed-roc k o f common-sense ' whic h know s perfectl y well tha t th e ros e o f lov e 'bring[s ] belly-aches' , whil e goo d soli d bourgeoi s 616
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Sunday dinne r 'i s th e key-ston e o f th e domesti c arch , o n whic h repeate d arche s all societ y rests ' - a s The Rainbow ha d s o lamentabl y faile d t o pu t it . So , havin g invited hi s reader s t o identif y themselve s wit h 'th e bulldo g breed , ful l o f soun d British sense' , h e hope s t o procee d 'wit h mor e self-satisfactio n tha n heretofore' , the autho r an d hi s gentl e reade r havin g patte d eac h other' s back s s o amicably . But a t th e en d ther e i s a comic trap . Fo r t o youn g Walte r George , embracin g hi s Emmie i n he r thi n nightie , ther e come s a new sur e feelin g o f 'manliness' . (No , i t is no t that, wha t coul d yo u b e thinking? ) Fo r the y ar e takin g th e saf e road , saf e as houses , 'suc h a s yo u hav e taken , gentl e reader , yo u wh o si t i n you r comfortable hom e wit h thi s boo k o n you r knee'. 43 Tha t i s th e happ y endin g al l true Britis h reader s want . Bu t th e rea l endin g i s paralysis : betwee n thos e wh o 'do' (sexually ) bu t wil l no t confes s wha t the y do , an d thos e wh o 'know ' bu t wil l die rather tha n admi t o r fac e u p t o what the y know : thus , froze n silenc e . . . Lawrence soo n bega n t o hop e h e migh t sel l th e stor y a s a littl e boo k o n it s own, sinc e Britis h reader s migh t b e armoure d enoug h no t t o spo t th e iron y (lik e many o f Fielding's) , an d o n th e surfac e th e fiction i s quit e incensorabl e an d comfortably amusing . Rut h Wheelock , a s sh e typed , encourage d thi s ide a fo r America too , finding i t 'so like an America n smal l town ' (iii . 653) . Yet th e lette r o f 9 Decembe r whic h tol d ho w i t ha d com e t o a stop , no t onl y hinted tha t i t woul d g o on soon , bu t mentione d tha t wha t Lawrenc e ha d writte n was onl y a thir d o f wha t h e intende d (iii . 634) : a book , then , o f abou t 51 0 notebook pages . I t woul d hav e t o b e th e ongoin g stor y o f Gilbert , sinc e th e stor y of Emmi e an d Walte r Georg e i s wort h n o mor e words . Withi n thre e day s o r so , the boo k ha d indee d take n of f agai n an d woul d reac h 44 7 page s befor e bein g lai d aside (an d vanishin g fo r fifty year s an d more) . Ther e i s n o wa y o f tellin g whether, whe n Lawrenc e first bega n jottin g i n May o r whe n h e actuall y bega n i n late November , h e alread y ha d th e ide a o f a contras t betwee n Gilbert' s fiasco with Emmie , an d a late r an d ver y differen t affai r whic h woul d dra w o n hi s ow n and Frieda' s experienc e i n 1912. I t i s b y n o mean s unlikely . Tha t parallel , an d contrast, migh t hav e struc k hi m quit e forcibl y eve n durin g hi s weeken d wit h Neville, an d a s h e prepare d t o leav e fo r German y wit h Frieda . (An d h e proceeded t o dra w structura l parallel s betwee n th e tw o part s o f th e nove l t o a n extent tha t suggest s premeditation. ) Here howeve r bot h biographer s an d critic s mus t b e careful , fo r Mr Noon Par t II need s a s much a s Sons and Lovers t o b e rescue d fro m th e assumptio n tha t i t is an autobiographica l nove l whic h ca n provid e accurat e biographica l evidence . The whol e commencemen t o f Par t I I i s fictitious. Lawrenc e spen t onl y on e weekend i n Edga r Jaffe's flat i n Munic h a s far a s we know, b y whic h tim e h e an d Frieda wer e alread y livin g togethe r i n Ickin g - thoug h the y ha d jus t quarrelled . It seem s unlikel y tha t h e an d Edga r wen t t o Irschenhause n i n 1912 . I t ha d no t snowed tha t June ! No r wa s Frieda' s mothe r i n Bavaria . No r coul d Els e hav e 617
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borrowed 'her ' hous e o n th e Starnbergersee , havin g a perfectl y goo d on e o f he r own i n Wolfratshausen . An d thoug h Lawrenc e ma y hav e use d som e trait s fo r hi s characters, ther e wa s a grea t dea l mor e t o th e Bavaria n Ministe r o f Financ e an d connoisseur o f avantgarde ar t tha n th e comi c littl e Alfre d o f the nove l - no r doe s Professor Sartoriu s see m muc h lik e the Alfred Webe r who m Lawrenc e describe d at th e tim e a s 'jolly' . Th e chapter s se t i n 'Detsch'/Met z an d Trie r d o dra w (vividly) o n som e verifiabl e experiences : th e meetin g wit h mothe r an d sisters , the fair , th e wal k t o th e countr y village , th e insistenc e o n writin g a lette r t o th e husband, th e farc e o f th e arrest , th e embarrasse d meetin g wit h th e Baron , th e family embass y t o th e exile d lover . Bu t th e ful l fictional experienc e wil l no t fit the chronolog y an d fact s o f Lawrence' s actua l stay . Th e sexua l episodes , muc h as on e migh t hav e hope d otherwise , wer e ver y probabl y invente d fo r comi c an d ironic purposes , particularl y th e bes t o f the m (i n th e hote l bedroom ) whic h i s classical farc e an d deliberat e paralle l wit h th e previou s 'interrupted ' scen e wit h Emmie. Finally , whe n th e actio n reache s Ickin g an d seem s closes t t o life , th e novel nevertheles s owe s a s much a t time s t o th e subsequentl y worked-u p poem s of Look!, a s t o memory . Th e flat i n Ickin g i s non-fictive , a s i s th e expeditio n t o the Kochelse e (thoug h i t belong s t o th e Ickin g period) , an d Fried a swimmin g i n the Isa r (thoug h no t th e addres s t o th e crucifix , whic h wa s Hobson' s i n Mayer ho fen). Bu t th e episod e o f the fireflies (fo r example ) come s fro m th e poe m as agains t th e quarre l recorde d i n a lette r a t th e time , an d th e visio n o f th e cavalryman wit h blood y spur s di d no t giv e ris e i n Lawrenc e a t th e tim e t o anything lik e Gilbert' s longings , bu t t o a ver y differen t kin d o f imagination . I n any case , t o bas e fiction o n considerabl y revise d poetr y o r o n The Fight for Barbara wa s t o carr y stil l furthe r wha t ha d alread y bee n dramatise d an d fictionalised, ofte n year s afte r th e events . The poin t ma y see m pedantic , bu t i t i s worth makin g fo r a number o f reasons. To suppos e autobiograph y i s no t onl y t o mak e mistake s o f fac t (whic h I hav e tried t o avoi d i n Chapte r One) , i t i s als o t o ignor e significan t aspect s o f Lawrence's fictionalising, whic h hav e biographical referenc e no t t o th e Lawrenc e and Fried a o f 1912 , but t o the Lawrenc e an d Fried a o f December 1920 . He i s abl e t o mak e comi c character s o f hi s lumpe n younge r self , an d o f a comically inflammabl e 'Johanna' , becaus e o f th e wa y tha t h e ha s outgrow n no t only 1912 , bu t 191 7 a s well . Hi s love-bird s o r 'pai r o f finches' seeme d a littl e absurd t o hi m - doesn' t one' s ow n s o seriou s younge r self ? - eve n befor e h e began t o wor k th e comed y up ; particularl y no w tha t h e ha d don e wit h lov e fo r good, an d ha d settle d tha t marriage , thoug h stil l a base , wa s on e fro m whic h a man neede d t o depart . T o restor e th e Lawrenc e o f 191 2 on e woul d nee d t o scour awa y al l the 192 0 comedy, precisel y wha t h e wa s takin g suc h wicke d jo y i n creating. T o suppos e tha t i n Par t I I Gilber t ha s becom e Lawrenc e i s als o t o import a discontinuity betwee n Par t I an d Par t I I whic h reader s wh o kno w littl e 618
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about Lawrenc e d o no t experience . Th e late r Gilber t grow s an d changes , bu t h e does s o i n themati c ways , an d h e i s stil l bein g laughe d a t b y th e end , thoug h b y then h e ha s ha d intimation s o f a 192 0 vision . Moreove r t o loo k outsid e th e fiction i s t o ignor e th e comi c parallel s s o carefull y se t u p withi n i t - th e tw o farcical episode s o f coitus interruptus , th e themati c jok e tha t th e arch-spoone r o f Part I i s actuall y a novic e whe n i t come s t o bed , th e parallel s wit h th e tw o mothers an d th e tw o fathers , th e satiri c crossligh t throw n o n Louis e b y ou r experience o f Patt y - an d man y another . Mos t o f all , i t i s t o destro y th e whol e nature o f th e fiction o f 1920 , whic h i s precisel y a re-seein g o f a n earlie r stat e i n the ligh t o f a late r one ; togethe r wit h a n ope n onslaugh t (now ) o n th e kin d o f reader wh o ha d though t eve n hi s earlie r visio n obscen e an d woul d b e eve n mor e hostile an d uncomprehendin g t o thi s boo k - 'gentl e bu t rathe r cowardl y an d imbecile reader : fo r such , really , I find you' . For whe n h e began t o writ e again , abou t 1 2 December, th e first notice s o f The Lost Girl ha d come ; and a s he wrot e steadil y t o 3 1 December, th e late r one s wer e arriving. S o fro m th e momen t tha t Gilber t wake s u p i n Munic h t o begin hi s ne w adventures, tw o processe s begin . Th e mor e h e begin s t o gro w an d chang e i n ways tha t nee d t o b e take n seriousl y (thoug h th e situation s ar e n o les s comic) ; the mor e th e relation s of'th e author ' wit h th e 'gentl e reader ' deteriorate . Indeed , the first thin g tha t Gilber t mus t gro w ou t o f i s hi s Englis h insularity 46 - an d s o there o n th e first pag e o f chapte r xi n i s 'th e author ' ironicall y throwin g a sop t o the reader-as-English-Cerberus , an d hopin g i t choke s him . A s Gilber t shed s insularity i t i s fastene d o n th e reader , onl y calle d 'gentle ' becaus e (a s on e say s 'Nice doggie' ) 'th e author ' fear s hi s bite . H e ha s fel t it , i n th e critic s wh o snar l that hi s languag e i s low and tha t h e i s intereste d mfleurs du mal instea d o f truth . How i s on e t o b e serious , eve n comically , whe n on e canno t trus t one' s audienc e to listen , le t alon e understand ? 'Th e author ' ma y b e seriou s abou t th e wonde r and valu e o f genuin e sexua l desir e whic h Gilber t experience s fo r th e first time ; but onl y comed y i s safe , an d s o h e swell s hi s seriou s poin t int o a Fieldingesqu e apostrophe rathe r tha n ope n th e bedroo m doo r - bu t h e canno t d o tha t anyway , because o f th e hypocris y o f reader s wh o ar e bot h prurien t an d puritan : 'I'v e been caugh t tha t wa y before . I hav e opene d th e doo r fo r you , an d th e momen t you gav e you r first squea l i n rushe d th e privat e detectiv e yo u ha d kep t i n th e background.' This i s no t howeve r - an d th e poin t i s importan t - merel y Lawrenc e hittin g back a t hi s critics , thoug h i t i s tha t too . No r doe s i t brea k th e comic/ironi c purpose, o f whic h i t i s a n organi c part . Fo r th e nex t mov e i s t o spli t th e gentl e reader ironically , b y gender . 'Th e author ' realise s tha t h e mus t loo k mainl y t o gentle reader s wh o ar e female , fo r th e mal e kin d snap s tha t hi s heroine s neve r show an y spar k o f nobilit y an d neve r will . So , h e suggests , they ha d bette r sto p reading, babie s tha t the y are . Fo r (wickedly! ) onl y wome n wil l sympathiz e wit h 619
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
Johanna's materna l promiscuit y wit h Rudolf , o r agre e o n th e importanc e o f th e virility whic h Gilbert , eventually , manages . (Onc e more , 'thre e time s i n a quarte r of a n hour ' - Bing-bang-bum p - i s heroic-comic, an d par t o f a teas e o f women , not autobiographica l boasting , o r lie. ) I n contrast , mal e reader s ar e overinflate d by idealisti c win d - an d her e th e iron y change s fro m Fieldin g t o Swif t o n th e Aeolists. Th e Lawrenc e o f 192 0 come s int o th e ope n a s 'th e author ' mount s hi s ironic apostroph e t o th e 'sanctifie d win d o f Uplift ' bellowin g ou t ou r trouser s (which contai n n o backsides , o h dea r no) , an d whic h enabl e me n t o loo k dow n on thei r fellow s ('i n lov e o f course') , an d den y an d condem n anythin g belo w o r behind th e bel t buckle. 48 Lawrence eve n anticipate s Katherine' s note s t o Murry , whic h h e neve r saw , on th e si n agains t ar t o f writin g abou t earth-closets . Exemplifyin g th e psycholo gical diseas e o f 'uplift ' i s th e schizophreni a o f Johanna's husband , whos e 'day ' and 'night ' consciousnesse s ar e kep t utterl y incommunicado , s o tha t h e ca n idolise hi s wif e b y da y a s a snowflower, who m h e lustil y violate s a t night . H e i s also a n advance d cas e o f th e Walter-Georgia n wh o wil l g o ugl y ma d i f h e i s forced t o admi t int o consciousnes s wha t h e secretl y knows . H e eve n goe s int o a white fur y whe n Johanna rattle s th e doo r o f th e W.C. , forcin g hi m t o admi t tha t he i s there . W.C. s mus t b e marke d 'OO' , doubl y nought , non-existent , t o th e upper consciousness . Bu t Gilber t an d Johann a mus t experienc e th e interpla y of bot h 'day ' an d 'night ' consciousness ; mus t lear n wha t intolerabl e limitation s men an d wome n ar e t o eac h other , an d ye t ho w conflic t i s necessary, so tha t ou t of th e battlin g o f th e sexe s an d th e shatterin g o f enclose d selve s ther e ca n com e new birth . Th e se x wa r may , indeed , becom e vicious , nightmarish , a horror , before the y ca n com e through . An d just so has i t becom e necessar y t o dro p th e mask an d fight th e reade r wh o want s onl y idyll , wil l no t admi t dar k conscious ness, an d mus t b e stun g ou t o f 'gentle ' (an d genteel ) complacency . 'Gentl e reader' become s a battle-cry: 'Dilly-Dilly-Dilly, come and be killed.'' 'The author ' will defiantl y provok e opposition : 'An d so , gentl e reader— ! Bu t wh y th e devi l should I alway s gentle-reader yo u . . . Tim e yo u to o ha d a change . Tim e yo u became rampageou s reader , ferociou s reader , surly , rabi d reader , hell-ca t o f a reader, a tartar , a termagant , a tanger. ' Onl y afte r thu s havin g i t out , ca n 'th e author' becom e th e Lawrenc e o f 1912-1 7 a n d spea k seriously : 'A h gentl e reader , what hav e w e done ! Wha t hav e w e done , tha t sex , an d th e sacred , awfu l communion shoul d hav e becom e degrade d int o a thin g o f sham e . . . o r th e perversion o f spiritua l unio n . . . [or ] a mere affai r o f comradeship , "pals, " . . . o r prostitution?' Bu t h e i s n o longe r th e Lawrenc e o f Look! We Have Come Through!, eithe r - thoug h h e ha d begu n t o thin k o f calling hi s 'peppery ' comed y 'Lucky Noon ' no w (iii . 645) . Fo r eve n befor e th e notebook s wer e lai d asid e o n 31 Decembe r a t th e en d o f chapte r xix, 51 Gilber t i s havin g thought s tha t belon g to 192 0 - an d lookin g furthe r beyon d th e marriag e o f opposite s tha n Birki n di d 620
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at th e en d o f Women in Love. Th e sam e i s tru e o f 'th e author' , hopin g t o b e shattered an d bor n agai n man y mor e time s still , sinc e nothin g i n lif e i s fina l except (ironically ) ideas , whic h therefor e g o dead , includin g hi s own . S o Gilber t looking a t th e bloody-spurre d ride r an d th e infantrymen , an d th e raft-me n poling dow n th e Isar , an d eve n th e mowers , ha s thought s utterl y differen t fro m those tha t Lawrenc e ha d i n 191 2 and late r worke d u p int o th e poem-sequenc e o f 1917. He doe s no t lon g lik e Birkin fo r a single mal e frien d a s wel l a s hi s woman , but fo r th e lif e o f men together , beyon d women , beyon d lov e an d happines s an d marriage, 't o b e wit h men , wit h me n alone , active , reckless , dangerous , o n th e brink o f death : t o b e awa y fro m woman , beyon d her , o n th e borders ' (a s i n th e conclusion t o th e 'Education ' essays) . An d yet , Gilber t question s himsel f sadly , 'Why coul d h e no t reall y mi x an d mingl e wit h men ? Fo r h e coul d not ' - excep t on a superficial level . He ha s n o comrade , onl y 'friends' , an d whe n suc h sa y the y love hi m hi s hear t close s lik e a trap . No r doe s h e delud e himsel f tha t ther e i s really an y 'wonderfu l secret ' i n th e concerte d activitie s o f me n i n soldierin g o r labour. H e i s a loner, really . He ha s t o make hi s life wit h Johanna an d hi s solitar y work - thoug h i t is a horrible blo w t o hav e t o admit tha t 'hi s ver y bein g depend s upon hi s connectio n wit h anothe r being ' - on e moreove r who m h e canno t 'finally trust\ an d wh o deepl y distrust s hi s readines s fo r 'sou l messing' . There, o n th e las t da y o f the year , Lawrenc e lef t Gilber t abou t t o se t ou t wit h Johanna o n thei r wal k acros s th e Alp s - jus t a s h e an d Fried a wer e abou t t o embark fo r Sardinia . V Sea , a n d Sardini a On Ne w Year' s Da y 1921 , he finishe d hi s paintin g o f th e anchorite s (whic h h e did no t muc h lik e afte r all) ; looke d a t som e picture s o f Taormin a b y Emil y Bland, a friend o f the Mackenzies ; then wen t fo r a walk an d a picnic wit h Rosali e Bull t o watc h th e su n se t behin d Etna . Th e su n wa s hot , mimos a ful l out , an d oranges an d lemon s ripening ; bu t h e wa s restles s an d thinkin g abou t th e trip . The nex t da y ther e wa s ye t anothe r tea-party , the n a da y t o prepar e themselves, an d befor e daw n o n 4 January h e an d Fried a wer e off . They wer e goin g i n mid-winter , quit e th e wron g tim e o f yea r fo r a mor e mountainous an d muc h colde r island . I t wa s th e hop e o f a worl d unspoil t b y expatriates an d tourist s tha t attracte d Lawrence , bu t th e absenc e o f 'civilised ' facilities t o cate r t o suc h peopl e ha d obviou s disadvantage s too . Muc h o f th e experience seem s t o have bee n uncomfortabl e a t best ; an d whe n the y go t bac k t o Sicily he wa s sure tha t Sardini a wa s no plac e fo r the m t o live. The rai l journe y acros s Sicil y t o Palerm o - o n a single trac k fro m Messina , s o trains i n opposit e direction s ha d t o sto p i n on e coincidenza afte r anothe r t o ge t past eac h othe r - too k u p th e whol e o f tha t firs t Tuesda y fro m befor e daw n til l 621
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
after dark , bu t a t leas t ther e wer e Rut h Wheeloc k an d a comfortable hote l a t th e end. Thei r steame r th e nex t da y wa s berthe d nex t t o th e up-to-dat e City of Trieste, heade d bac k t o Naples ; bu t their s - heade d fo r Cagliar i vi a Trapan i a t the sout h o f Sicil y - wa s sixt y year s old , thei r cabi n tiny , th e foo d horribl e i n th e dining-room o f fade d elegance . I n Cagliar i b y earl y Thursda y afternoon , the y found a goo d simpl e hotel ; an d thoug h i t wa s ver y col d i n th e stee p narro w streets, Lawrenc e modifie d hi s first impressio n o f th e capita l a s a plac e lik e Malta, 'los t betwee n Europ e an d Afric a an d belongin g t o nowhere' . Whe n however the y decide d o n th e Frida y afternoo n t o tak e th e narrow-gaug e railwa y up th e centr e o f Sardini a rathe r tha n th e stat e on e u p th e wes t side , the y wer e deliberately movin g of f th e beate n track . Thi s increase d whe n - afte r a nigh t i n the railwa y hote l a t Manda s an d o n b y rai l t o Sorgon o - th e res t o f th e journe y (to Nuoro , Orosei , an d pas t Tavolar a t o Terranova ) wa s b y post-bu s ove r th e mountains, alon g road s precipitous , windin g an d rough . No r wa s beaut y an y guarantee o f pleasure . 'Prett y Sorgono ' wa s s o lik e a villag e i n Hardy' s Wesse x transported t o th e stee p spur s o f th e Gennargent u tha t the y though t the y migh t spend severa l day s there , bu t i t ha d onl y on e appalling , filthy an d ic y inn ; an d the stee p lan e alon g whic h the y walke d t o kee p warm , unti l ther e migh t b e something t o eat , turne d ou t t o b e a n ope n latrine . Eve n whe n the y foun d a clean hotel , a s the y di d i n Nuor o o n th e Sunda y night , th e mea l i t serve d was hardly enoug h t o fee d a child . Sardini a wa s poor , i n way s fo r whic h livin g i n Taormina ha d no t a t all prepared them . Yet t o rea d Sea and Sardinia, begu n jus t a week afte r the y go t bac k t o Fontan a Vecchia, i s no t t o find discomfor t th e mai n impression . Fo r thi s i s on e o f th e most delightfu l o f Lawrence' s books , t o whic h thos e wh o hav e neve r rea d hi m (and fo r tha t matte r thos e prepossesse d agains t him ) shoul d b e sen t first o f all. I t is a travel-book i n a more straightforwar d sens e tha n Twilight in Italy. Moreove r the factor s whic h transfor m rathe r uncomfortabl e experienc e int o somethin g funny an d vital , are also biographically significant . He ha d bee n teachin g himself , i n th e secon d par t o f Mr Noon, ho w t o mak e comic character s ou t o f Fried a an d D . H . Lawrence . Th e character s o f Sea and Sardinia ( T an d 'th e quee n bee ' - o r 'q . b.' ) ar e quit e differen t fro m thos e o f th e novel, bu t th e surenes s o f th e treatmen t come s fro m a han d tha t ha s bee n practising. An d sinc e ther e i s les s personall y a t stak e i n th e material , an d les s likelihood o f hostilit y i n a reader' s response , Lawrenc e i s abl e t o dro p hi s defences an d achiev e tha t artful spontaneity , apparentl y withou t hindsight , which s o ofte n mark s hi s writin g a t it s best . Moreove r i t i s th e comi c self characterisation tha t keep s reducin g th e discomfort s o f the journe y t o a comically grumbling undertone . Fo r T turn s ou t t o b e Lawrence-as-irritable-ma n o r (better) irascibl e worke r bee , burdene d (wit h a hug e knapsac k tha t make s hi m conspicuous) an d bus y wit h responsibilities , constantl y buzzin g testil y a t th e 622
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world's unwillingnes s t o deliver . And , playe d agains t thi s i s the quee n bee , no t a t all sexil y inflammabl e lik e Johanna , an d muc h large r tha n th e worke r be e wh o buzzes roun d her : white , maternal , rathe r sentimenta l an d optimistic , no t easil y moved, bu t formidabl e whe n offended . Th e comi c tone s ar e struc k fro m th e start." Yet wha t i s fun , beautiful , serious , strange , ca n com e throug h thi s comi c irascibility undiminished , whil e wha t i s annoyin g an d uncomfortabl e get s dramatised int o vivacity , o r mad e materia l fo r comedy , o r hel d a t tolerabl e distance b y self-awareness . A person a s o deliberatel y prickl y ca n hel p t o tur n Lawrence's abidin g self-consciousnes s int o livel y drama , wher e hi s perception s and description s o f th e oddnes s o f other s ge t visibl y sharpene d b y awarenes s o f the oddit y h e seem s t o them . Th e observe r i s also observed , th e experienc e mor e than merel y subjective . A n exampl e o f how thi s underlyin g humou r ca n develo p into hig h comed y i s th e scen e a t th e centr e o f Palermo , wher e th e I-narrator' s impatience wit h shops , letha l traffi c an d thei r ow n conspicuousnes s (h e wit h th e beard an d knapsack , sh e wit h th e kitchenin o o f old) , play s of f agains t th e q . b.' s wonderfully imperviou s fascinatio n wit h al l th e colou r an d th e bustle , whic h therefore ge t splendidl y fuse d wit h ou r amusemen t a t hi m - unti l th e momen t when sh e rounds , i n imperiou s fur y now , o n th e hussie s wh o hav e bee n gigglin g and mockin g behin d thei r backs . A n exampl e o f mor e seriou s self-awarenes s i n Lawrence i s th e momen t whe n sh e round s o n him, no t merel y fo r gettin g s o angry i n Sorgon o but , eve n more , fo r convertin g hi s rag e int o suc h mora l superiority tha t h e i s quit e blin d t o th e huma n being , th e innkeeper , i n fron t o f him. Becaus e h e ha s mad e a comic characte r o f himself, h e i s able t o se e hi s ow n irrational absurdities : th e elemen t o f childishnes s i n hi s outrage , whic h i s s o clearly disappointmen t becaus e hi s expectation s wer e to o high ; an d th e risibl e inconsistency, whe n onl y a moment befor e h e ha d bee n singin g th e praise s o f th e primitive. Thes e ar e tellin g point s fo r a write r t o mak e agains t himsel f whe n h e has no necessit y t o do so. Other n o les s telling moments ar e thos e i n whic h th e tri p t o Sardini a becam e a catalyst, precipitatin g ou t wha t til l the n ha d bee n par t o f a comple x flow o f feeling an d impulse . Fro m Picinisc o h e ha d written , half-seriously , tha t hi s movements reall y cam e fro m a constitutiona l restlessness , fa r deepe r tha n th e excuses o f plac e o r condition s whic h h e use d t o explai n them : 'm y fee t itch , an d a sea t burn s m y posterio r i f I si t to o long . Wha t ail s m e I don' t kno w - bu t it' s on an d o n - ' (iii . 435) . Ye t h e ha d als o becom e convince d tha t ther e was a kin d of psychic curren t pushin g agains t fals e stasi s i n life , an d tha t i t woul d eventuall y set willy-nill y i n th e needfu l direction , thoug h tha t woul d li e deepe r tha n al l rationalising, an d coul d onl y b e foun d intuitivel y throug h tria l an d error . H e ha d been happ y an d productiv e i n Sicily ; and Fontan a Vecchi a wa s the mos t pleasan t house h e ha d eve r ha d - bette r eve n tha n thos e i n Gargnan o o r Fiascherino . Bu t 623
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
the tri p t o Sardini a ha d itsel f bee n th e outcom e o f instinc t tha t i t wa s tim e t o move, couple d wit h a desir e t o discove r whethe r anothe r relativel y smal l mov e would do . I t appeare d tha t Taormin a wa s no t isolate d enoug h an d to o ful l o f expatriates fro m furthe r north . Coul d they , then , find somewher e t o liv e i n Sardinia whic h woul d b e open t o neither objection ? 'Comes ove r on e a n absolut e necessit y t o move. ' Bu t thoug h th e first sentenc e of Sea and Sardinia i s followed b y th e apparentl y logica l questio n o f 'where', an d the intuitiv e answer , anywher e awa y fro m th e witchcraf t o f Etna, th e first lesson s of th e tri p ar e propheti c discriminations . Th e acciden t o f hi s ship' s itinerar y would tak e hi m als o withi n th e magneti c field o f anothe r mountain , risin g abov e Trapani, fro m th e littl e tow n o n whos e slopes , Erice , Tuni s i s visibl e o n a clea r day. Moun t Eryx , Erycina ridens t o th e ancients , smilin g Astarte , look s ou t across th e 'great , red , trumpet-flarin g sunset ' t o Afric a th e 'dreaded ' an d 'terrible'. H e ha d playe d wit h th e ide a o f Africa a s a way o f gettin g quit e clea r o f the Englan d an d Europ e whic h ha d create d th e war . Cecily' s brothe r Nip , wh o had com e wit h the m o n th e wagon-picni c fro m Hermitage , was breedin g horse s in Zululand ; an d Franci s an d Jessic a Bret t Youn g woul d soo n b e leavin g Capr i for Cap e Town . Bu t whe n i t came t o the point , now , hi s hear t 'stoo d still' . Th e first effec t o f th e tri p wa s t o mak e hi m quit e quit e sur e - beyon d an y rationa l explanation sur e - tha t tha t directio n wa s th e wron g on e fo r him . Hi s respons e to Africa n ar t ha d show n som e intuitiv e understandin g o f a n ancien t wholl y un European kin d o f culture, an d - howeve r limite d b y ignoranc e - ha d als o show n none o f th e colonialis t arroganc e o f Frobenius , le t alon e tha t o f th e Sout h African white s whos e rank s Ni p an d France s woul d join . Bu t h e flinche d no w from th e gul f whic h separate d hi m fro m th e inne r Afric a o f those carving s whic h so fascinate d Heseltine , Epstei n an d Gertler , an d o f cours e th e artist s o f contemporary Paris . However, absolut e movemen t wa s als o reveale d a s a n impossibl e drea m though Lawrenc e woul d g o o n dreamin g i t fo r a fe w month s yet . Hi s first reponse t o bein g a t se a wa s th e shee r 'jo y . . . t o th e wil d innermos t soul ' tha t caused hi m t o insis t o n puttin g 'Sea ' first i n th e titl e (whe n a t las t h e settle d that): Oh God, to be free o f all the hemmed-in lif e .. . th e long-drawn-out agon y of a life among tense, resistant people on land. And then t o feel the long, slow lift an d dro p of this almost empty ship, as she took th e water s .. . I wished i n my soul that th e voyage might las t fo r ever, that the sea had no end .. . After leavin g Trapan i th e ton e o f thi s longin g fo r 'freedom ' become s eve n mor e lyrically charged , a s h e dwell s o n hi s drea m o f ' a smal l quiet , lonel y ship ' o n which h e coul d wande r fro m lan d t o lan d an d isle t o isl e wit h jus t a fe w (masculine) companions. 57 Bu t immediatel y - b y wa y o f controlle d deflatio n lik e 624
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those o f Mr Noon - u p fro m th e companion-way , a s thoug h b y signal , pop s th e Cagliari youn g woma n wit h he r tw o males i n tow , insistin g o n shoutin g a t hi m i n French an d wantin g t o know ho w hi s wife is . And a s for tha t eve n mor e theoreti c idea (draw n fro m hi s Dan a essay ) o f th e importanc e o f havin g 'a t leas t tw o uneducated sailors ' i n th e cre w (iii . 655) : ther e again , wit h ironi c persistence , i s the talkativ e ship' s carpente r h e come s almos t t o hat e b y th e secon d da y aboard . Lawrence ma y coun t th e sail s o f th e Mediterranea n schooner s i n th e distanc e the 'ladders ' an d th e 'wings ' tha t s o revea l hi s nautica l ignoranc e eve n o f th e names o f se a thing s - bu t o n boar d an y o f those , an d whereve r h e migh t sail , there woul d b e someon e wh o woul d persistentl y saddl e hi m wit h hi s nationalit y and responsibility , o r peste r hi m wit h uneducate d prejudice . The greates t o f al l th e intuitiv e response s however , wit h n o trac e o f iron y o r irritation, come s wit h hi s first glimpse s o f Sardinia n me n i n thei r nativ e costume, whic h seem s t o hi m t o accentuat e a n unapproachable , indomitabl e manliness. Afte r th e 'sof t Italians ' ther e i s somethin g o f 'fierceness ' her e a s wel l as a masculin e kin d o f beauty , a glimps e o f somethin g lost : 'On e realises , wit h horror, tha t th e rac e o f men i s almost extinc t i n Europe . Onl y Christ-lik e heroe s and woman-worshippin g Do n Juans , an d rabi d equality-mongrels . Th e old , hardy, indomitabl e mal e i s gone . Hi s fierce singlenes s i s quenched . Th e las t sparks ar e dyin g ou t i n Sardini a an d Spain. ' Ye t ther e i s muc h mor e t o th e experience tha n a mer e exempla r o r eve n confirmatio n o f hi s ow n idea s abou t manliness an d singlenes s i n 1920 . For ther e stir s i n hi m a kind o f recognition o n a deeper quit e irrationa l level . But tha t curious , flashing, black-and-white costume ! I see m t o hav e know n i t before : t o have wor n i t even : t o hav e dreame d it . T o hav e dreame d it : t o hav e ha d actua l contac t with it . It belong s i n som e way to something i n me—to m y past, perhaps . I don't know . But th e uneasy sens e of blood-familiarity haunt s me . I know I have known i t before. I t is something o f th e sam e uneasines s I fee l befor e Moun t Eryx : bu t withou t th e aw e thi s time. The sens e o f a los t manliness , an d indee d a los t confiden t womanlines s i n th e beautiful regionall y distinc t dresse s an d aprons , run s lik e a colourfu l threa d al l the wa y throug h th e book : th e glimps e o f a singl e mal e workin g i n a mountai n field; th e chantin g processio n outsid e Tonar a wher e i t i s th e wome n wh o hol d the ey e no t th e priest s an d th e ugl y imag e i n procession , somethin g sui generis, older tha n th e Greek s an d Phoenecians , an d befittin g a landscape un-European , untamed, 'remote , ungrappled' , eve n savag e sometimes , speakin g t o hi m agai n o f something fro m anothe r tim e - bu t als o (compare Cooper ) dee p insid e him. 58 Yet th e other , sordi d realitie s o f Sardini a tel l hi m ho w quickl y thos e intimations ar e perishing; and ther e i s no questio n o f making a life fo r themselve s there, an y mor e tha n i n Africa . The y coul d neve r 'belong' . An d ther e i s on e 625
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more sardoni c imag e t o hel p (a s i t were ) triangulat e wha t Sardini a ha d t o sho w him b y wa y o f inne r direction . Fo r th e disreputabl e girovago o r wanderin g pedlar the y mee t i n th e cave-lik e cella r o f the in n a t Sorgono , wh o wander s fro m market t o marke t wit h hi s male-wife , defiantl y outsid e society , i s i n som e way s a kind o f minatory caricatur e o f Lawrence. 5 Th e secre t affinit y i s clear t o him : th e rootlessness the y share , th e bisexuality , th e restles s energy , th e gif t o f th e gab , the defian t freedo m tha t i s a t th e sam e tim e a belongin g nowhere . Th e T narrator i s both attracte d b y th e freedom , an d repelled : fo r anythin g les s lik e th e manliness an d womanlines s o f th e Sardinia n peasant s woul d b e har d t o imagine . To b e lik e that ? So, i n Januar y 1921 , th e tri p t o Sardini a clarifie d bot h th e downsid e o f hi s 'absolute necessit y t o move' , an d th e questio n o f direction . I n Europ e wha t h e was seekin g migh t linge r i n od d corners , bu t no t fo r long . Nowher e i n Europ e northwards, then ; no r sout h t o Africa ; no r anywher e lik e Sardini a o r Sicil y o r Malta, betwix t an d between . No t a littl e shi p wit h a fe w companion s - thoug h that drea m prove d particularl y har d t o giv e up . An d no t a gypsy-like wandering , either, conten t t o b e withou t root s i n an y 'spiri t o f place' . Bu t somewher e t o find a manlines s an d womanlines s t o whic h h e coul d respon d intuitivel y wit h the deepe r affinit y h e ha d fel t fo r th e 'ancient ' Sardi , o r indee d wit h th e 'awe ' he ha d fel t fo r th e wholl y un-Europea n culture s o f Africa , thoug h unabl e t o share thei r spirit . Th e 'absolut e necessit y t o move ' woul d hav e t o b e east , o r westward. More immediatel y the y too k th e overnigh t ferr y fro m Terranov a t o Civit a Vecchia, eac h havin g t o shar e a cabin. VI F o n t a n a Vecchi a - fo r a Whil e The growt h o f Italia n hostilit y t o foreigners , particularl y Frenc h an d English , was brough t hom e t o Lawrenc e agai n an d agai n o n th e trip . Ther e was understandable irritatio n a t ho w stranger s coul d profi t fro m th e collaps e o f th e lira (owin g t o th e growin g politica l instabilit y o f Italy) ; an d th e mor e particula r grievance o f ho w Franc e an d Englan d ha d don e thei r erstwhil e all y dow n i n th e Treaty o f Versailles , an d th e distributio n o f reparations . I t wa s howeve r on e thing t o understand , an d quit e anothe r t o b e continuall y hel d t o accoun t a s a representative o f hi s countr y - whic h h e ha d alread y rejecte d - rathe r tha n th e individual h e fel t himsel f t o be . Th e convictio n tha t h e wa s finished wit h Ital y grew apace . In Rom e the y ha d a brie f meetin g a t th e statio n wit h Juta , an d Insol e (bac k from Tunis) ; an d invite d the m t o com e t o Taormin a whe n th e almond-blosso m reached it s heigh t i n a wee k o r two . Then , resistin g a brie f temptatio n t o visi t Don Maur o a t Montecassin o again , i t wa s th e lon g trai n journe y t o Naples ; a 626
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rush o n foo t throug h th e rai n t o th e harbou r t o secur e a cabi n o n th e crowde d steamer befor e th e trai n wa s shunte d dow n - i t was th e City of Trieste, an d the y succeeded - an d on e mor e nigh t i n Palerm o wit h Rut h Wheelock , watchin g a giant puppet-sho w o f th e Paladins. 60 The n th e tre k bac k t o Taormina , wher e they arrive d o n th e evenin g o f 1 3 January. They wok e u p t o brillian t sun , th e almond-tree s blossoming , th e orange s an d lemons i n th e garde n rip e no w - an d a present o f a new blaze r fro m Ada , muc h needed (iii . 647) ! The new s o n th e publishin g fron t was no t s o welcome : Seeke r was requestin g mor e 'excision s o r paraphrases ' (iii . 647) , i n th e hop e o f extending th e marke t fo r hi s edition . Bu t ther e i s a marked ga p i n th e survivin g letters betwee n th e 14t h an d th e 20th , i n whic h i t seem s certai n tha t Lawrenc e was writin g again . B y th e 21s t h e ha d starte d wha t woul d becom e Sea and Sardinia, thoug h h e woul d no t find tha t titl e fo r som e time . Wha t ha d h e bee n doing i n between ? He ma y hav e writte n 'Almon d Blossom ' - bu t di d h e g o o n wit h Mr Noon, which h e ha d lef t a t th e en d o f chapte r xi x wit h a predictio n tha t h e woul d finish befor e th e en d o f January (iii . 646) ? I t seem s likel y tha t h e di d no w writ e chapter xx , draw n fro m th e first par t o f hi s an d Frieda' s journe y int o th e mountains a s fa r a s Mayrhofen . Indeed , writin g abou t tha t tri p ma y hav e firmed u p th e ide a o f writin g abou t Sardini a a t once , rathe r tha n afte r a secon d look i n th e summe r (whic h h e ha d suggeste d t o Seeke r o n th e 14th ; iii . 648) . Was tha t wh y h e the n pu t Mr Noon asid e agai n - o r di d h e wan t t o pause , an d consider? O n th e 20th , a s i t happened , a sudde n hailstor m threatene d t o smas h the almond-blossom ; th e Lawrence s caugh t heav y colds ; an d h e wrot e t o Eleanor Farjeo n tha t h e woul d lik e t o tal k t o he r bu t fel t 'shu t u p an d I can' t come unshu t jus t now ' (iii . 649) . Tha t ma y hav e bee n because , onc e h e reache d Mayrhofen i n th e fictionalising o f 1912 , ther e was a ver y difficul t decisio n t o b e made. Fo r i t wa s shortl y afte r leavin g there , wit h Bunn y an d hi s friend , tha t Frieda seduce d youn g Hobso n i n th e hay-hu t nea r th e Dominicus-Hutt e an d then thre w thi s i n Lawrence' s fac e - a rea l shoc k an d humiliation , whe n h e ha d just begu n t o believ e he r a t las t committe d t o him . H e ha d bee n abl e t o brin g himself onl y t o hin t a t thi s sidelong , i n on e crypti c poe m i n Look! We Have Come Through! whic h doe s no t revea l th e caus e o f it s 'Misery' . Wa s i t a bothersome question , now , whethe r h e coul d com e 'unshut ' enoug h t o expos e the sor e spo t (an d Frieda ) publicly , t o thos e wh o migh t tak e Mr Noon a s autobiography? An d ho w d o s o withou t bitternes s o r cynicism ? I t ma y hav e seemed preferabl e t o begi n writin g abou t th e tri p t o Sardini a fo r th e moment , leaving himsel f tim e t o thin k th e questio n over . If so , h e seem s t o hav e reache d a decisio n quit e soon . Fo r o n 2 5 January h e says nothin g mor e abou t th e Sardini a boo k bu t doe s sa y tha t Mr Noon wil l b e 'most dangerous' , bu t (significantly ) 'humorousl y so' . H e stil l though t i t woul d 627
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take 'abou t a month'. I n contrast , 'Aaron wil l no t b e dangerou s - i f only hi s ro d would star t budding , poo r dear ' (iii . 653) . 'Dangerous' wa s a wor d h e an d Mountsie r ha d begu n t o us e a s a mock-wor d for wha t publisher s woul d think . H e ha d joke d befor e abou t Aaron' s ro d t o explain hi s blockag e wit h th e book , an d i f i t was no t 'dangerous ' i t wa s becaus e he ha d n o ide a ye t o f th e sexua l affai r wit h th e Marchesa . Moreove r th e sexua l scenes i n Mr Noon tha t h e ha d alread y writte n wer e anaesthetise d b y comedy , not t o sa y farce , an d h e ha d neve r use d th e wor d abou t Mr Noon before . H e ha d coupled 'amusing ' wit h 'rathe r scandalous ' befor e Christma s (iii . 639) , an d ha d said tha t i t ha d becom e 'peppery ' (iii . 645) ; bu t wha t was scandalou s was probably th e plo t itself , th e inflammabl e Johann a runnin g awa y fro m husban d and childre n an d th e spee d o f he r involvemen t wit h Gilbert , an d wha t was peppery wa s th e squarin g u p t o th e reader . However , t o hav e Johanna procee d to coupl e s o casuall y wit h anothe r man , s o ver y soo n afte r throwin g i n he r lo t with Gilbert , migh t wel l intensif y th e epithet . An d i f tha t i s wha t Lawrenc e meant, 'most dangerous ' an d humorou s represen t thre e decisions : t o g o ahea d and trea t it , t o trea t i t comicall y an d t o b e a s ruthles s abou t th e possibilit y o f upsetting Fried a a s h e ha d bee n wit h man y anothe r identifiabl e character . Th e 25 January lette r recorde d th e decisio n t o spli t th e novel , an d th e suggestio n tha t Part I a s ' a littl e boo k al l t o itsel f migh t 'mak e a rathe r funn y serial' . Fo r th e moment, h e said , 'Mr Noon hold s me ' (iii . 653) . If h e the n wen t o n t o writ e th e remainde r o f wha t w e no w have , leavin g th e book unfinishe d i n mid-sentence , i t may hav e bee n i n th e nex t nin e days , despit e the visi t b y Insol e an d Juta . (Fortunatel y the y wer e no t stayin g a t Fontan a Vecchia bu t a t th e Vill a Sa n Pancrazio ; an d Jut a recalle d i t a s a 'brie f visit' , perhaps n o mor e tha n a wee k o r so , an d ove r b y th e 31st. ) B y 4 February , however, Mr Noon ha d bee n pu t asid e agai n fo r ' a littl e rest , i t bein g a bi t o f a strain. Bu t en d i n sight ' (iii . 660) . I f i t was no t ye t i n th e stat e i t i s now , i t may have bee n picke d u p onc e mor e som e tim e afte r 2 2 Februar y - fo r betwee n 4 and 2 2 Februar y Lawrenc e worke d steadil y t o finish Sea and Sardinia - bu t after th e 22n d h e say s tha t h e i s goin g t o tak e ' a rest ' (iii . 667 ) an d ' a bi t o f a holiday' (iii . 671) . Th e likelihoo d i s tha t b y 4 Februar y h e ha d don e wha t w e have now, 63 an d lef t off , a t som e interruption , wit h th e feelin g tha t h e ha d go t over a hump a s well as over th e Alp s t o Riv a i n hi s story . I f the en d wa s i n sight , that wa s probabl y goin g t o com e i n Gargnan o wher e Gilber t an d Johann a ar e about t o go . Perhap s th e conclusio n woul d b e th e climacti c miser y o f Christma s and Hobson/Stanley' s visit , followe d b y th e 'comin g through ' int o ne w lif e a t the Ne w Year , sinc e th e fiction ha d bee n followin g th e poem s o f Look! fairl y closely. He ha d manage d t o d o th e 'most dangerous ' bi t humorously , b y makin g Gilbert comicall y naiv e an d Johann a understandabl y cros s a t bein g s o quickl y 628
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forgiven. Ther e i s nothing funn y abou t th e imaginin g o f the hatre d o f the absen t husband; bu t whe n i t come s t o th e portrai t o f Stanley , sardoni c humou r alread y flickers i n th e juxtapositio n o f th e youn g man' s rebelliou s dependenc e o n hi s mother, hi s wailing s abou t needin g t o be loved , an d hi s sympathy fo r th e mothe r in Johanna. Th e autho r know s exactl y wh y h e wa s s o attractiv e t o he r an d wh y she woul d s o easil y besto w hersel f o n th e youn g man' s 'need' ! He r reactio n t o the misfirin g o f he r confessio n tha t Stanle y ha d 'had ' her , whic h meet s wit h exalted an d naiv e forgivenes s fro m Gilbert , i s nicely done . "Didn't you know} Didn't you suspect anything?' said Johanna, rather gloomy. "No," h e answered, wit h his strange clear fac e of innocence. "No—never. I t wouldn' t have occurred t o me." And half she felt enmeshed , even a little fascinated b y his clear, strange, beautiful loo k of innocen t exaltation . An d hal f sh e hate d hi m fo r it . I t seeme d s o fals e an d unmanly . Hateful unmanl y unsubstantial look of beauty! "Well," she said . "I t wasn' t much , anyhow . I t mean t nothin g t o me . I believe h e was impotent."64 The deliberat e batho s s o characteristi c o f Mr Noon coul d hardl y b e bettered , but th e double-tak e i s eve n funnier . Fo r doesn' t sh e know} Wha t i s i t tha t sh e has confessed ? The final 'sermon ' fro m 'th e author ' t o hi s 'gentl e reader ' ma y sugges t wh y the book woul d b e abandoned. I t underline s th e familia r Lawrencia n lesson s tha t Gilbert ha s learned : th e revelation , a s h e touche s th e flank o f hi s sleepin g bu t tempestuous woman , o f bot h he r utte r Otherness , an d th e ric h depth s o f th e 'sensual soul ' withi n himself ; bu t als o th e knowledg e tha t her e i s onl y a first cracking ope n o f the 'dr y integument ' o f dead attitude s an d feeling s tha t enclose s him. Thi s migh t a s easil y hav e bee n writte n b y th e autho r o f 'Th e Crown ' i n 1915. The nex t lesson , tha t i t i s not throug h 'lovey-doveyness ' tha t th e liberatio n will com e bu t ou t o f bitterl y painfu l an d continuous battle, wit h a woma n wh o i s not 'nice' , i s the insigh t o f Women in Love. Bu t Lawrenc e ma y b y thi s stag e hav e come t o fee l th e sam e sor t o f strai n i n tryin g t o hol d earlie r an d late r selve s together tha t h e ha d fel t wit h 'Mis s Houghton ' - an d ther e ar e severa l sign s o f this. Fo r ther e i s no hin t o f a similar rebirt h i n Johanna, s o the emphasi s i s (eve n if inadvertently ) n o longe r o n th e ol d marriage o f opposites . Moreove r th e language o f struggl e reveal s a curiou s subterranea n resentmen t whic h speak s o f 1920, rather tha n 191 6 even, le t alone 1912 . Its metaphors mov e fro m sheddin g a skin, t o fighting a 'matrix', t o fighting th e 'mothe r o f our days' : ' a bitte r struggl e to th e deat h wit h th e old , warm , well-know n mothe r o f our day s . . . fight he r t o the death—and defea t her—an d the n w e shall burst o u t . . . ' 6 5 I t i s as though th e consciousness tha t ha d com e t o acknowledg e th e nee d t o fight dependenc e o n Frieda a s mother-substitute , was insistin g o n intervenin g a t th e stag e wher e i t 629
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was appropriate t o se e her a s the onl y wa y int o ne w life . Ther e ar e tw o moment s in th e Alp s whic h hav e a resonanc e no t foun d i n Look/, an d whic h poin t asid e from wha t i s otherwis e th e mai n curren t o f Mr Noon. Alon e a t Domenicus Hutte Gilber t look s ou t a t th e flush o f evenin g o n th e peaks , an d ha s a n experience quit e unlik e Gudrun' s communio n wit h the m - a n experienc e o f absolute loneliness . An d ye t th e languag e quickl y move s fro m implie d depriva tion, t o richness an d perfection : The eternal and everlasting loneliness. And the beauty of it, and the richness of it ... Th e heart in its magnificent isolatio n like a peak in heaven, forever. Th e beauty , the beauty of fate, whic h decree s tha t i n our supremac y w e are single an d alone , like peaks tha t finish off in their perfect isolatio n in the ether. The ultimate perfection o f being quite alone. Within th e stor y ther e i s a retrospectiv e plot-iron y here , i n th e reaso n fo r Johanna's absence . Bu t th e language , powerfu l an d quit e unironic , speak s agai n of th e Lawrenc e o f 1920 , wh o ha d com e t o believ e tha t man-woma n relation s were onl y a step toward s somethin g deepe r an d muc h mor e self-sufficient . Les t this see m merel y a momentar y aside , i t i s take n u p agai n eve n mor e powerfull y in Gilbert' s visio n o f th e grea t singl e pea k th e nex t day , whic h h e return s t o three times , careles s o f al l else , an d know s t o b e 'on e o f th e perfec t thing s o f al l his lif e . . . a pure , immorta l satisfaction— a perfecte d aloneness'. 66 Bu t ho w was Lawrence t o develo p thi s withi n a narrative tha t wa s takin g hi m inexorabl y int o marriage, an d ove r groun d alread y well-trodde n an d lef t behind ? Perhap s i t was inevitable tha t h e shoul d befor e lon g decid e no t t o g o o n wit h Mr Noon, bu t (instead) wit h a n Aaron *s Rod fo r whic h h e a t las t foun d a theme tha t woul d hol d its otherwise picaresqu e element s together . On th e las t da y o f Januar y h e ha d writte n anothe r poe m - a politica l on e which i s th e double t o f 'Bar e Fig-Trees' . O n th e 20t h h e ha d tol d Eleano r Farjeon tha t h e though t th e tim e ha d com e fo r a rea l politica l struggle , an d tha t Tf I kne w ho w to , I' d reall y joi n mysel f t o th e revolutionar y socialist s now ' (iii. 649) . This shoul d caus e n o surprise . A t an y tim e sinc e hi s twentie s whe n h e was readin g New Age, h e woul d hav e declare d himsel f a socialis t whe n th e tim e came t o choos e sides , sinc e withou t th e materia l necessitie s o f lif e peopl e coul d not develo p a s individuals , whic h h e care d abou t mos t o f all. I t wa s i n tha t spiri t that h e ha d advocate d nationalisatio n t o Bertran d Russel l i n 1915 , an d though t of contactin g th e leader s o f th e IL P wh o wer e als o oppose d t o th e war , i n 1918 . If anothe r lette r t o Russell , an d hi s respons e t o Gibbon , als o sho w hi m callin g for kind s o f stron g leadershi p tha t soun d mor e 'fascist' , i t woul d b e wel l t o remember ho w ver y closel y intertwine d th e tw o way s o f thinkin g actuall y wer e at tha t time , before th e event s o f the late r 1920 s an d 1930 s drov e the m distinctl y asunder. New Age, fo r instance , wa s a socialist paper , als o devote d t o Nietzsche . (Nothing i s mor e likel y t o falsif y actua l historica l huma n experienc e tha n th e 630
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arrogance o f pinnin g contemporar y parameter s o f though t o n a ver y differen t past.) Bu t mob-behaviou r i n th e war , an d th e ris e o f mob-politics , ha d disillusioned Lawrenc e wit h democracy , whic h seeme d t o leve l dow n t o th e lowest commo n denominato r rathe r tha n fosterin g individua l growth . An d trade-union powe r politic s seeme d t o him to smack to o much o f materialist env y and gree d fightin g fo r a bigger shar e o f worldly goods , an d to o littl e o f a desir e to liv e differently . Since , a s the lette r t o Eleano r confesses , h e di d no t 'car e for ' (or understand ) politics-in-practice , i t is perhaps t o a poem lik e 'Bar e Fig-Trees ' that w e should loo k fo r what h e felt a true 'Demos ' shoul d essentiall y be: ... puttin g forth eac h time to heaven, Each time straight to heaven, With marvellous naked assurance each single twig, Each one setting off straight to the sky As if it were the leader, the main-stem, the forerunner .. . Oh weird Demos, where every twig is the arch-twig, Each imperiously over-equal to each, equality over-reaching itself.. . Still, no doubt ever y one of you can be the sun-socket as well as every other of you. Demos, Demos, Demos! In callin g himsel f a socialist therefore , h e made a very shar p distinctio n betwee n a socialis m o f equa l opportunity , an d a socialis m o f envy , levellin g dow n an d collective bullying . An d s o i t wa s tha t o n th e las t da y o f January h e wrot e hi s own sardoni c 're d flag' poem : 'Hibiscu s an d Salvia Flowers' . Hark! Hark! The dogs do bark! It's the < bolshevists > socialist s com e to town, None in rags and none in tags, < sauntering > Swaggerin g u p and down.6 Were thes e group s o f me n strollin g alon g th e Cors o wit h re d flowers i n thei r buttonholes rea l 'Red, angry men' , seeking t o send th e world u p in flames s o that a ne w purer kin d o f lif e coul d gro w fro m th e ashes ? I f so , h e woul d fly t o joi n them. Bu t wha t righ t hav e thes e gang s o f loutis h youth s wit h thei r 'half threatening envy ' t o thos e exquisit e flames o f flower? The y ma y succee d i n pulling th e world down , a s needs t o be done - ye t he cannot bea r i t tha t suc h a s they shoul d la y claim t o hibiscu s an d salvi a flowers (re d as his popp y i n 'Stud y of Thomas Hardy') . It wa s also on the last day of January tha t Insol e an d Juta left . Th e 'basta ' wit h which Lawrenc e recorde d thi s i n hi s diary 68 usuall y suggest s 'enoug h o f that , 631
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good riddance ' - bu t tha t ma y hav e ha d mor e t o d o wit h th e interruptio n whe n his writin g wa s i n th e vein , an d wit h havin g bee n pulle d b y thei r visi t bac k int o expatriate society , tha n wit h an y rea l dislik e o f th e youn g me n themselve s though the y woul d b e usefu l fo r sardoni c purpose s i n Aaron s Rod. Thi s wa s th e last tim e h e woul d se e Insole , wh o woul d b e leavin g shortl y fo r Japan ; bu t hi s relation wit h Jut a remaine d friendl y an d h e woul d soo n thin k o f goin g o n a n expedition wit h hi m somewhere . The y spen t muc h o f thei r tim e together , now , discussing ho w the y migh t co-operat e o n a n illustrate d boo k a s the youn g Sout h African ha d alread y don e wit h hi s siste r Rene . (Jut a woul d g o b y himsel f t o d o eight painting s i n Sardini a tha t summe r fo r Sea and Sardinia, thoug h fo r som e time after finishing th e boo k i n lat e February, Lawrenc e wa s still trying t o obtai n photographs a s illustrations. ) Also , havin g don e tw o charcoa l sketche s o f Lawrence o n earlie r occasions , Jut a manage d t o persuad e hi m t o si t stil l lon g enough fo r a n oi l painting, whic h h e finished i n a single sitting. 6 Bu t ther e i s an amusing sideligh t o n Lawrenc e an d Fried a i n thei r opposit e reaction s t o th e fancy-dress part y tha t occurre d whil e th e youn g me n wer e i n Taormina . Fried a was alway s bucke d u p b y bein g wit h young , energeti c an d amusin g people , an d for he r i t wa s ' a joll y dance ' (iii . 666 ) - bu t Lawrenc e cas t himsel f agai n a s M r Grump, refuse d t o dres s u p ('t o hel l wit h them') , an d declare d i t ' a pitiabl e display o f ridiculou s imbecility ' (iii . 656) . Perhap s th e sigh t o f Fried a uninhibit edly leapin g abou t wit h th e youn g ha d sharpene d th e memorie s h e was dealin g with, fo r h e added, ' I . . . can' t stan d showin g off . I find everybod y jus t imbecilel y showing off . Lord , ho w nauseatin g an d humiliating. ' Clearl y somethin g ha d put hi s nose ou t o f joint! VII 'Ach , tha t I were ou t o f i t all! ' His desir e no w t o get away took tw o forms , bot h abortive . It ha d bee n a let-dow n when Mackenzi e lease d Herm , an d thoug h Lawrenc e was invite d there , Mont y retreated a s soo n a s h e showe d a n interest . Anywa y th e ide a o f Ranani m a s a n island ha d lon g gone. The drea m o f a boat t o sail the Sout h Sea s was taken u p al l the mor e enthusiasticall y wit h Mountsie r instead , wh o sen t hi m a National Geographic article b y a ma n wh o ha d don e it. 71 Th e ton e o f Lawrence' s letter s was alway s affecte d b y th e perso n h e wa s writin g to , whic h unfortunatel y i n Mountsier's cas e involve d anti-Semitis m an d a degre e o f bitchines s (e.g . abou t Amy Lowell , wh o ha d no t acknowledge d hi s lates t poems, 72 an d Monty , an d hi s publishers) whic h mus t hav e bee n a response t o somethin g i n Mountsier' s tone , since th e letter s t o hi m ofte n contras t quit e strongl y wit h other s writte n a t th e same time . Ye t intersperse d wit h busines s matter s com e no w th e longings , o f which Mountsie r becam e th e essentia l recipient , fo r a sail-boa t wit h a cre w o f five. H e though t o f writin g fo r advic e t o hi s Zenno r landlor d Captai n Shor t 632
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(iii. 698) , wh o ha d starte d befor e th e mast , an d i t was wit h som e env y tha t h e told Bret t Youn g h e woul d watc h fo r th e re d funne l o f thei r Unio n Castl e line r on it s wa y t o Cap e Tow n (iii . 655-6) . I f only h e ha d a spyglass! And 'Ach , tha t I were out o f it all!' In Februar y howeve r th e drea m changed . A lette r ma y hav e com e fro m Carlota Thrashe r t o reviv e th e offe r o f he r far m i n Connecticut , o r perhap s hi s friendship wit h Cicci a (th e siste r o f hi s presen t landlor d Cicci o Cacopardo) , an d her ne w youn g husban d Vincenzo , wa s responsible . The y go t marrie d o n 5 February, wit h Lawrenc e supplyin g th e receptio n win e (iii . 665) . I t mus t hav e reminded hi m o f Fiascherino . The y to o wante d t o leav e Sicil y - al l th e mor e since Cicci o wa s doin g wel l i n Bosto n - bu t wha t coul d the y do ? The y woul d b e no us e i n a boa t an d ha d n o suc h interest ; bu t Vincenz o (23 ) hire d ou t a s a gardener an d Cicci a (26 ) ha d bee n brough t u p amon g orchards . Young , strong , eager, surel y the y coul d hel p Lawrenc e d o mor e tha n clea r th e neglecte d far m they coul d actuall y wor k i t t o ear n a living . Thi s tim e Lawrenc e too k practica l steps: writin g t o Mr s Thrashe r t o confir m a lon g leas e rent-fre e i f the y woul d rescue th e far m (iii . 659) , an d t o Mar y Cannan , no w i n Mont e Carl o (nea r th e Murrys i n Mento n ) t o as k he r t o len d hi m £20 0 a t 5 % (iii . 663-4) . Havin g also £200 i n hi s bank , thi s woul d giv e him abou t £30 0 workin g capita l eve n afte r paying th e passage s - an d b y thi s tim e Seltze r shoul d hav e mad e th e paymen t that Lawrenc e ha d requeste d o n 2 Januar y int o hi s ne w America n accoun t (iii. 646) , s o ther e woul d b e mone y ove r ther e a s well . I t canno t hav e bee n eas y asking Mar y fo r help , give n hi s hat e o f indebtedness , an d ther e ar e sop s t o hi s pride i n hi s letter . H e mad e he r a present o f his anchorit e paintin g (whic h h e di d not finally lik e much , thoug h h e sai d Fried a wante d it) . H e sai d th e schem e wa s only a possibility s o sh e mus t fee l fre e t o refuse ; an d h e ticke d he r of f sternl y fo r gambling a t th e casino . Behind al l that, however , h e ha d goo d reaso n t o trus t he r friendship, an d sh e immediatel y agree d t o hel p onc e mor e - thoug h sh e showe d no interes t i n joinin g the m i n a hous e o f he r ow n an d takin g ove r par t o f th e enterprise, suc h a s bee s an d strawberries , a s hi s nex t lette r suggeste d (iii . 669) . For h e ha d begu n a t onc e t o plan . Mr s Thrashe r confirme d th e offe r o f a thirty year leas e rent-free , an d referre d hi m t o a property agen t wh o kne w al l about th e place (iii . 667-8) . Mountsier wa s to g o to see this ma n an d th e far m - th e neares t station, Balti c Connecticut , wa s four hour s fro m Ne w Yor k - an d advis e o n ho w practicable th e schem e woul d be . Meanwhile Lawrenc e coul d loos e hi s imagina tion - thoug h passin g rathe r quickl y ove r Mr s Thrasher' s warnin g tha t th e wooden hous e woul d b e 'i n ruins' . We intend jus t t o hav e a goat an d begi n t o plant frui t bushes , t o start . I t wil l b e a tight squeeze t o ge t ther e o n th e fund s - bu t we'l l manage . I hop e devoutl y tha t I ca n ear n dollars ove r there . The n I shal l ge t Vincenz o an d Cicci a t o come, an d plan t peac h tree s 633
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
[on Mrs Thrasher's advice, the most profitable loca l crop], and have a couple of cows, and a Ford runabou t tha t ca n tak e the good s t o market - an d mak e a permanent thin g o f it. (iii. 669) If Mary cam e the y woul d b e lik e th e anchorites , bu t i n littl e fram e house s dotte d about th e 9 0 acre s (iii . 664 ; anothe r lette r say s 70 ) o f orchard , woodlan d an d streams; 'Mr s Thrashe r say s i t i s lovely country ' (iii . 669) . B y th e en d o f February, waitin g t o hea r fro m Mountsie r whethe r h e an d Fried a shoul d com e alone, o r al l fou r a t once , o r no t a t all , h e ha d alread y foun d a suitabl e sailin g from Palerm o befor e th e en d o f April . Frieda , sai d he , 'i s s o amuse d b y i t all ' (iii. 673 ) - thoug h on e doe s rathe r wonde r wha t tha t means , sinc e sh e wa s eve n less agriculturally minde d tha n Mar y Cannan . All thi s wa s muc h mor e vivi d t o hi m tha n th e detail s o n th e publishin g fron t with whic h hi s letter s t o Mountsie r ha d mostl y t o b e filled, bu t whic h h e leave s with alacrit y t o tal k abou t th e far m - especiall y sinc e hi s hope s o f sorting ou t th e publishing o f hi s wor k i n Americ a seeme d doome d t o frustration . Afte r hi s quarrel wit h Huebsch , h e ha d hope d t o sho w tha t th e agreemen t ove r The Rainbow ha d bee n broken , s o h e coul d regai n contro l o f th e book , bu t th e term s of th e handove r fro m Dora n t o Huebsc h remaine d obscure , Pinke r was off putting an d i t seeme d ther e wer e n o ground s fo r action . Soo n Lawrenc e wa s suggesting tha t Mountsie r g o easy wit h Huebsc h (iii . 675) , who after al l did hav e a genuin e grievance . Ther e appeare d t o hav e bee n n o lega l agreemen t a t al l about eithe r Sons and Lovers o r The White Peacock i n America , an d th e disadvantage o f no t havin g ha d a professiona l agen t becam e obvious . H e coul d buy bac k th e right s t o th e latte r fro m Duffiel d wh o ha d publishe d i t i n America ; and h e coul d su e Kennerle y t o recove r wha t wa s stil l owe d fo r th e forme r an d The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd, bu t bot h course s woul d requir e mone y h e di d not have . Eve n OU P seeme d unabl e t o tel l hi m whethe r the y woul d arrang e American publicatio n o r whethe r thos e right s wer e his (iii . 701) . Mountsier remaine d suspiciou s o f Seltzer's finances, an d objecte d t o hi s term s for The Lost Girl becaus e the y involve d right s t o mor e books . Lawrenc e als o took offenc e a t precaution s agains t wha t migh t b e 'objectionable ' i n future . O n the other han d h e trie d constantl y t o restrain hi s agent's dislike , because Seltzer' s publication o f Women in Love mean t mor e t o him tha n Mountsie r coul d imagine . When Seltze r wrot e i n Februar y soundin g genuinel y delighte d an d admirin g both abou t i t an d The Lost Girl, an d holdin g ou t th e prospec t o f a cheape r edition o f th e forme r an d goo d sale s fo r th e latter , i t wa s a kin d o f suppor t Lawrence ha d bee n starve d o f sinc e 1913. 75 T o Mountsier' s suggestio n tha t hi s manuscripts woul d gro w i n value , so he shoul d deman d th e retur n o f the Women in Love typescript , eve n i f charged fo r th e typing , h e replie d tha t i t was 'horrible ' with revision s (iii . 675 ) an d tha t whe n possibl e h e alway s burne d suc h things . 634
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Moreover Seltze r no t onl y reprinte d Mrs. Holroyd i n February , bu t was preparing Psychoanalysis fo r May . This mad e al l th e stronge r contras t wit h Seeke r wh o ha d aske d fo r stil l mor e revisions t o Women in Love, 't o remov e an y possibl e chanc e o f misconstruction ' and avoi d a possibl e libe l o f Eleonor a Dus e (iii . 66 0 n . 1) . Eve n s o Seeke r no w thought i t impossibl e t o modif y th e tex t enoug h t o satisf y th e circulatin g libraries, s o th e boo k woul d hav e t o mak e it s wa y solel y throug h th e bookshops . Insofar a s thi s migh t pu t a n en d t o th e tampering , Lawrenc e welcome d i t - bu t not th e suggestio n tha t h e shoul d therefor e reduc e hi s advanc e fro m £10 0 t o £75 (iii . 660) , correspondin g t o a reduce d editio n o f 1,50 0 copies , especiall y annoying whe n h e neede d mone y fo r th e Thrashe r farm . H e woul d no t agree , and bega n t o ru n Seeke r dow n t o others . Perhap s h e ough t t o hav e a n Englis h agent again . H e consulte d Dougla s Goldring , wh o wa s a bus y write r an d char y of taking on someon e h e kne w t o be prickly , bu t wh o talke d i t over wit h Ko t an d Barbara Low . H e though t Lawrenc e shoul d reall y g o t o Curti s Brow n bu t kne w he woul d prefe r a friend t o a professional. Migh t Barbar a d o it ? Lawrenc e asked , and sh e agreed , fo r th e tim e being . H e was stil l determine d t o b e primaril y a n American author , s o th e Englis h arrangement s woul d follo w an d dovetai l wit h the America n ones , which woul d mak e he r tas k easier. 7 There wa s b y Marc h a fai r stoc k o f ne w wor k t o manage . Mountsie r alread y had Mr Noon Par t I i n typescrip t wit h instruction s t o tr y t o serialise , cuttin g i f need be , but keepin g a full tex t fo r th e boo k (iii . 667) . The boo k o n Sardini a was being type d b y Rut h Wheelock , thoug h Lawrenc e stil l ha d no t foun d th e titl e o r enough o f th e photograph s h e wante d - bu t i t woul d soo n g o t o Mountsie r wit h similar instructions . Mr Noon Par t II , thoug h pu t asid e i n mi d sentence , ha d it s 'end i n sight' , an d afte r th e 22n d Lawrenc e wa s takin g hi s littl e holiday . H e ha d written tw o mor e poem s fo r Birds, Beasts and Flowers: th e first version s o f 'Purple Anemones ' o n 4 February , an d o f 'Th e Ass ' o n 2 March. I t was quit e a book now ; thoug h Mountsie r di d no t lik e it s introduction , whic h Lawrenc e agreed t o drop . Moreove r individua l poem s coul d b e sen t ou t profitably , sinc e American magazine s seeme d newl y read y t o tak e Lawrenc e u p i n 1921 . Th e New Republic ha d printe d tw o o f th e ne w poem s i n January , afte r wha t Mountsier calle d th e 'Knight s o f Columbus ' essa y ha d cause d a mini-contro versy i n December , attacke d fo r primitivis m b y Walte r Lippma n an d defende d by Mar y Austin . Wha t woul d becom e a n importan t relationshi p wit h th e Dial had begu n wit h 'Adol f an d continue d wit h 'Rex ' an d 'Pomegranate' . Th e ne w proprietor Scofiel d Thaye r wa s clearl y intereste d i n Lawrence , fo r h e ha d als o taken thre e o f th e 'Evangelisti c Beasts ' fro m Mountsie r fo r th e Apri l issu e though h e ha d no t take n 'Turkeycock ' whic h ha d bee n sen t t o hi m direc t (iii. 677 ; Lawrenc e promise d Mountsie r no t t o d o tha t again) . Moreove r ther e was still Harrie t Monro e o f Poetry, t o who m h e ha d sen t nothin g fo r som e years , 635
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
but who m Mountsie r shoul d try . Migh t 'Tortoises ' sel l a s a 'chapbook' ? - a n idea whic h Harol d Monr o ha d pioneere d i n England . (Th e America n an d Education essay s seemed , fo r th e time , to be i n abeyance. ) Again th e contras t wit h Englan d wa s remarkable . Whil e waitin g t o hea r fro m Barbara Low , Lawrenc e aske d J . C . Squir e whethe r h e woul d welcom e contributions t o th e London Mercury. Thoug h Squir e ha d refuse d th e Educatio n essays th e previou s year , Lawrenc e ma y hav e bee n amuse d b y th e ide a o f appearing i n wha t ha d bee n Murry' s majo r rival . O n receivin g a positiv e lette r and telegra m (iii . 681) , h e sen t of f 'Hibiscu s an d Salvi a Flowers' , 'Purpl e Anemones' an d 'Pomegranate ' (alread y printe d b y th e Dial). H e woul d as k Mountsier t o sen d 'Fann y an d Annie' ; an d tol d Squir e abou t Mr Noon Par t I and Sea and Sardinia. Unfortunately , th e Georgia n edito r turne d dow n th e ver y un-Georgian poems , an d di d no t pursu e th e othe r offering s - bu t Lawrenc e ha d promised no t t o ge t annoye d i f rejected, an d seem s t o hav e kep t t o that . A t leas t Squire ha d no t firs t invite d an d the n 'insulted ' hi m lik e Murr y (iii . 681) . Bu t even befor e h e hear d fro m Squire , th e though t o f actuall y goin g t o Englan d which hi s sisters wer e pressin g hi m t o do - wa s utterly repugnan t (iii . 677) . Not tha t th e though t o f stayin g i n Ital y (o r fo r tha t matte r i n Europe ) wa s an y better. H e ha d stil l no t decide d wha t t o d o abou t th e leas e o f Fontan a Vecchi a which wa s almos t up . H e kep t sayin g h e woul d rene w it , an d failin g t o d o so . This wa s not a worry abou t politica l stability , fo r h e no longe r though t revolutio n would com e quickly , tellin g bot h Rosalin d an d Ko t tha t Ital y woul d probabl y settle dow n t o a constan t dogfigh t betwee n socialist s an d fascist s lik e th e Guelphs an d Ghibelline s o f ol d (iii . 676-7) . Nor , however , coul d h e shar e Kippenberg's hop e o f 'bindin g me n togethe r i n a new spiri t o f Internationalism ' which Insel-Verla g - a s wel l a s commissionin g a Germa n translatio n o f The Rainbow - wa s tryin g t o expres s b y reprintin g Europea n classic s i n man y languages i n a Bibliotheca Mundi. Lawrenc e though t nationalis m ha d develope d far to o strongl y t o mak e th e 191 9 Leagu e o f Nation s anythin g bu t ' a poo r vaudeville'; an d hi s ow n recen t experienc e seeme d t o sho w tha t a t th e botto m o f European heart s ' a rabid , jealou s nationalis m o f hate-your-neighbour i s the basi c feeling'. Ther e migh t b e enoug h menta l cosmopolitan s amon g culture d peopl e t o float Kippenberg' s series ; bu t passionally , h e thought , nationalism s o f self interest, no t t o sa y gree d an d spite , woul d prov e fa r mor e powerfu l tha n an y 'new wav e o f idealis m i n Europe ' (iii . 679-80) . H e ha d grow n 'tire d o f Taormina, o f Italy , o f Europe ' (iii . 664 ) - an d stil l awaited , eagerly , Mountsier' s verdict abou t th e farm . On 3 March, however , hi s hope s wer e dashed . A telegra m arrive d fro m Else : 'Mama schlech t Alfre d seh r kran k Komm ' - an d thoug h Lawrence , enterin g i t in hi s diary , sai d h e believed i t ' a trick', 81 thi s was mostly intens e disappointmen t speaking. H e ha d reluctantl y give n i n t o Frieda' s pressur e t o visi t Baden-Bade n 636
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in th e summer , bu t ha d hope d th e promis e woul d b e overtake n b y th e plan s fo r Connecticut. (Hi s suspicio n o f a set-u p encourage s a sceptica l vie w o f Frieda' s 'amusement' abou t Thrasher' s farm. ) I f howeve r th e Barones s wer e indee d seriously il l and Alfre d Webe r unabl e t o help , Fried a woul d unquestionabl y hav e to g o t o German y - an d th e journe y t o Americ a woul d b e off . Ther e was probably som e heate d argumen t i n th e nex t fe w day s whil e the y waite d fo r further news , bu t b y th e 8t h (iii . 682 ) i t ha d becom e clea r tha t h e woul d hav e t o go with Fried a t o Palermo , tr y t o ge t he r passpor t an d visa s fixe d u p there , the n put he r o n th e boa t t o Naples . An d thoug h h e toye d wit h th e ide a o f goin g o n from Palerm o t o America b y himself - bein g stil l se t agains t goin g t o German y i f he coul d hel p i t - h e soo n realise d tha t thi s woul d no t d o either . Fo r th e Baroness ha d 'hear t trouble ' (iii . 686 ) an d woul d nee d car e fo r som e time , a t least a month , an d probabl y more . H e woul d hav e t o com e bac k t o Fontan a Vecchia an d awai t developments . O n 1 1 March the y lef t fo r Palermo , an d thre e days late r h e wa s bac k - havin g moreove r ha d n o succes s wit h th e passport , which Fried a woul d hav e t o fix fo r hersel f i n Rom e (iii . 683) . All his plan s woul d hav e t o change . Onc e mor e h e though t h e ha d bette r kee p Fontana Vecchi a (an d pa y fo r th e ne w ove n whic h allowe d the m t o coo k upstairs), bu t h e stil l couldn' t quit e brin g himsel f t o mak e th e commitment . H e returned Mar y Cannan' s chequ e fo r 4,00 0 lir e (iii . 683) , sayin g a s h e ha d t o Catherine, afte r burnin g hers , tha t h e was a s gratefu l a s i f he ha d cashe d it . (Sh e had misspel t th e thousands , s o th e ban k migh t no t hav e accepte d i t anyway , bu t that wa s not muc h consolation. ) H e ha d t o tel l Mountsie r tha t th e far m wa s no w 'almost impossible' ; sinc e h e migh t no t eve n b e abl e t o com e t o Americ a 'thi s summer - o r thi s year' . (Onc e Fried a wa s i n Baden-Baden , h e mus t hav e thought gloomily , i t woul d b e ver y difficul t indee d t o ge t he r t o leave. ) Stil l trying t o consol e himself , h e adde d tha t loca l American s ha d tol d hi m i t was 'precisely th e wron g tim e t o thin k o f going', anywa y (iii . 684) . He woul d hav e t o revive th e shi p idea , thoug h wit h les s verv e tha n before . H e ha d see n lovel y two masters i n Palermo , but ha d also , as a result, a more realisti c ide a o f cost, an d hi s dislike of getting int o deb t ha d returned . Moreover i t wa s raining , 'an d no t particularl y nic e bein g alon e wit h th e rain ' (iii. 683) . Migh t th e Whittley s com e fo r Easte r (iii . 683) ? H e migh t g o fo r another walkin g tou r afte r that , wit h Juta , befor e meetin g Fried a somewher e a s they ha d don e las t yea r (iii . 687) . Anything , i t woul d seem , t o avoi d goin g t o Germany himself . Meanwhile h e wa s havin g hi s portrai t don e again , an d ha d borrowe d Mari e Hubrecht's studi o fo r th e purpose . Thi s tim e th e artis t wa s Millicent Beveridge , a Scottis h acquaintanc e o f Catherin e Carswell' s fro m Glasgo w Ar t Schoo l days , who ha d live d an d exhibite d i n Pari s fo r man y years , an d was holidayin g i n Taormina. Sh e ha d mad e a first acquaintanc e wit h Lawrence' s fictio n b y readin g 637
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
The Lost Girl an d wante d t o mee t him ; bu t di d s o o n a n occasio n whic h migh t have prove d distinctl y off-putting . H e ha d bee n 'i n a rag e because , no t mad e aware beforehan d tha t i t wa s a part y an d tha t h e wa s t o b e lionised , h e ha d turned u p barefoo t wit h sandals , and i n hi s "potterin g about " clothes' . Yet 'Mis s Beveridge, amuse d an d astonishe d a s muc h a s sh e wa s charmed , becam e sincerely attache d t o him , an d th e friendshi p remaine d fir m til l hi s death. ' Sh e had bee n suppose d t o star t th e sitting s o n th e 5th , an d ma y o r ma y no t hav e done s o whil e th e marita l debat e an d uncertaint y continued ; bu t no w Lawrenc e had tim e o n hi s hand s an d th e portrai t too k shape . H e di d no t thin k muc h o f th e likeness however : tellin g Mar y tha t thoug h i t ha d 'som e resemblance ' i t was 'jus t somebody else ' (iii . 683) , an d hi s mother-in-la w tha t h e looke d 'quit e a swee t young man ' (iii . 685) , whic h say s muc h th e sam e thing. 83 A t leas t th e su n an d the flowers i n Mari e Hubrecht' s garde n wer e out , thoug h h e foun d th e sitting s tiring. People wer e kind , invitin g hi m t o lunches an d dinners , but h e fel t bette r alon e in Fontan a Vecchi a plannin g escape . H e finished correctin g th e typescrip t o f th e Sardinia boo k (stil l withou t it s final title) , and though t a bit mor e abou t meetin g Juta i n Florenc e i n Apri l an d doin g anothe r 'sketch-book ' an d walkin g tou r wit h him - perhap s Sardini a again , o r better , th e Lipar i an d Egad i island s - thoug h Jan wa s deepl y involve d i n hi s love-affai r wit h Elizabet h Hume s i n Rom e (iii. 688 , 686) . Rut h Wheeloc k ha d bee n aske d t o kee p lookin g fo r a boa t tha t could b e hired fo r a limited period , sinc e buying wa s too expensiv e - bu t ala s he r enquiries woul d sho w tha t eve n thi s woul d b e beyon d hi s mean s (iii . 698-9) . And suddenly , Mountsie r cable d tha t the y shoul d com e t o Americ a a t once , whereupon Lawrenc e ha d t o confes s tha t h e ha d no t com e quit e clea n abou t th e difficulties. No t onl y woul d th e Italia n governmen t n o longe r giv e passport s t o would-be emigrant s - whic h h e ha d though t Cicci a an d Vincenz o migh t b e abl e to circumven t - bu t they ha d coole d t o th e ide a o f th e far m now , havin g bee n encouraged b y Cicci o t o believ e tha t i f the y coul d ge t t o Americ a a t all , the y could d o better fo r themselve s wit h hi s help i n Bosto n (iii . 689 , 709). No wonde r Lawrence fel t 'nose-tied ' (iii . 689) , mor e anxiou s tha n eve r t o go , ye t unabl e t o see how . H e wa s eve n desperat e enough , o n hearin g fro m Barbar a Lo w tha t David Ede r wa s goin g bac k t o Palestine , t o reviv e th e ide a o f doing a travel boo k there (iii . 687) , thoug h h e mus t hav e know n h e coul d no t go . The n cam e a distinctly acerbi c lette r fro m Mountsie r (iii . 68 5 n.) , who ha d pu t a good dea l o f effort int o hi s enquiries , an d though t h e ha d reaso n t o complai n o f Lawrence' s abrupt chang e o f mind . Lawrence distracte d himsel f b y writin g animate d response s t o som e book s h e had bee n sen t b y reques t o f thei r authors . H e ha d opene d Loui s Golding' s Forward from Babylon wit h anticipation , becaus e h e wa s intereste d i n whethe r there wa s a n essentia l Jewishnes s o f sou l tha t distinguishe d Je w fro m Gentile . 638
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He ha d trie d man y time s t o gues s a t this , bein g convince d tha t ther e ha d t o be , and i f s o i t woul d b e a n importan t distinction , no t merel y a n outwor n se t o f habits. Bu t h e fel t disappointe d tha t Golding , thoug h hi s them e wa s a youth' s attempt t o brea k wit h hi s father' s tradition , ha d no t manage d t o creat e an y distinctively Jewish consciousness . Lawrenc e himsel f ha d n o belie f no w i n ideal s of universality , bu t preferre d 'th e sacre d an d ineradicabl e differences betwee n men an d races : th e sacre d gulfs' . Ye t eve n Zionist s (read , Eder ) seeme d a s English a s himself , 'jus t doin g a Zio n stunt ' (iii . 690) . 'Sacre d differences ' wer e presumably par t o f th e riche s o f life ; anothe r manifestatio n o f ho w eac h uniqu e twig on th e tre e o f creation shoul d reach , i n its own way , toward s th e sun . His respons e t o Cyri l K . Scott' s Blind Mice pointe d anothe r critiqu e o f idealism, eve n mor e sharpl y becaus e th e autho r wa s American . Lawrence' s 'wicked amusement ' wa s tempere d b y hi s distrus t o f th e uncharitabl e natur e o f satire, an d a dislike, a s a reader, o f bein g mad e t o fee l to o superior , 'a s i f I wer e Jove: o r i n th e dres s circle' . Bu t mos t o f al l h e fel t tha t Scot t ha d no t diagnose d where th e rea l blam e lay : wit h 'America n Idea l Sympathy , tha t superannuate d and rickett y god' . Fo r i t i s 'th e lov e stunt , th e lov e idea l whic h cause s th e blindness an d th e mouseyness ' which , confronte d wit h egoism , lead s t o avoidable traged y (iii . 691) . O n th e othe r han d Evely n Scott' s poem s seeme d t o enforce Lawrence' s othe r centra l ide a o f ho w fa r American s ha d gon e ahea d o f the Englis h i n th e necessitie s o f wha t h e ha d calle d 'corruption' , th e comin g apart o f things . ' I tel l you , i t scare s me . Tal k abou t "alread y dead " - "thos e already dead" . Gruesom e business . "Deat h enjoyin g life. " Ther e i t is . I a m gla d you sa y it . I t seem s t o m e s o American ' (iii . 694) . Resurrectio n howeve r woul d be th e hardes t pan g o f all . 4 ' I doub t the y neve r tol d u s th e trut h abou t Jesus ' the first hin t o f what woul d late r becom e hi s final rewriting o f the Gospe l stor y 'There's a lot lie s behind tha t noli me tangere? This wa s hi s sermo n o n Goo d Friday , a s th e villag e ban d wa s 'howlin g an d wallowing i n lugubriousnes s dow n th e Corso , i n processio n afte r th e coffi n o f Jesus'. Lawrenc e wa s rathe r lugubriou s too . H e wa s no t sur e no w o f wantin g t o go t o Americ a a t all , o r whethe r t o kee p o n Fontan a Vecchia , o r o f anything . 'This i s a sor t o f crisi s fo r me' , h e tol d Mountsier , askin g hi m t o b e patient . 'I've go t t o com e unstuc k fro m th e ol d lif e an d Europe , an d I can' t kno w beforehand' (iii . 693) . H e wen t o n a picni c t o Castrogiovann i b y ca r (iii . 695) , but tha t wa s onl y anothe r distraction . No w h e though t h e woul d giv e u p th e house, tak e al l th e luggag e t o Florence , an d jus t drif t throug h th e summe r before tryin g t o decide . H e ha d caugh t anothe r cold , an d fel t stupid . Then suddenl y h e mad e a numbe r o f decision s wit h th e ai r o f a ma n cuttin g Gordian knot s t o lef t an d right . H e woul d tak e Dougla s Goldring' s advic e an d go t o Curti s Brown , promisin g fo r hi s par t t o b e patient , fair , an d t o ac t onl y through hi s agent ; bu t askin g als o t o b e tie d onl y fo r five years , an d no t to o 639
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
tightly les t h e ge t restive . H e woul d als o tak e th e plung e an d retai n Fontan a Vecchia, thoug h onl y unti l Septembe r (iii . 696-7 , 700-1) . Th e Barones s wa s better bu t woul d nee d care , and Fried a wa s determine d t o sta y al l summe r s o h e would hav e t o sto p tryin g t o avoi d Baden-Baden , bu t h e woul d tak e hi s tim e going there : som e day s i n Palermo , an d Capri , the n Rom e an d Florence , an d perhaps (still ) a walking tou r - leavin g Taormina o n 9 April. Whe n h e could , h e would ge t o n an d finish Aaron's Rod thi s summer , befor e turnin g bac k t o Mr Noon (iii . 702) . VIII T o G e r m a n y , No w By 1 5 April h e wa s in Capri . Though Mont y wa s still on Herm , Fait h Mackenzi e was i n Cas a Solitari a an d h e sa w he r briefly , a s wel l a s John Ellingha m Brooks , and Ferdinand o an d Ann a ('Nan' ) d e Chiara . I t was throug h a gues t a t th e d e Chiaras, Nelli e Morrison , tha t h e no w me t th e tw o gentl e an d Buddhis t American painter s Ear l an d Achsa h Brewster , an d forge d a n importan t ne w friendship tha t woul d hol d life-long . Afte r lookin g a t Achsah' s paintin g o f S t Francis feedin g th e birds , Nelli e Morriso n exclaime d tha t th e sain t wa s th e image o f Lawrence , who m Achsa h mus t meet . S o sh e brough t hi m t o thei r house Quattr o Venti . 5 Lawrenc e woul d laug h a t th e resemblanc e later , sayin g Nellie wa s 'a n as s who woul d sa y a pudding o n a dish looke d lik e Buddha, i f only you crosse d th e spoo n an d th e for k i n fron t t o loo k lik e tw o cross-legs ' (iii . 720 ) - an d tha t Achsah' s Sain t wa s no t lik e hi m a t all , bu t a miserabl e fello w wh o needed a bo x o n th e ea r an d ' a pin t o f Chianti' . Bu t h e too k t o th e Brewster s immediately, an d the y t o him . The y ha d a grea t dea l i n common : mos t remarkably tha t th e Brewster s ha d spen t thei r honeymoo n i n Fontan a Vecchia , which seeme d extraordinar y enough , unti l the y mentione d anothe r favourit e house o f theirs , Sa n Filippo , i n Anticoli-Corrad o (wher e th e Lawrence s ha d stayed wit h Jut a an d Insole) ! Th e Brewsters ' account s o f th e meeting 86 sho w them t o hav e ha d genuin e artisti c perceptiveness . The y share d th e sensitivit y t o and reverenc e fo r th e natura l worl d o f Lawrence (an d S t Francis) ; and hi s letter s to the m prov e tha t the y als o share d hi s sens e o f fun . The y migh t b e Buddhis t and therefor e theoreticall y other-worldly , bu t the y (an d thei r 8-year-ol d daughter Harwood , o f who m Lawrenc e becam e ver y fond ) mad e excellen t companions i n a worl d supposedl y illusory . A t th e sam e tim e the y wer e temperamentally ver y differen t fro m Lawrence , whic h mad e the m interestin g t o one anothe r whil e riskin g n o dangerou s tension , sinc e th e Brewster s wer e wholl y unthreatening. Lawrenc e wa s no t slo w t o teas e the m abou t gap s betwee n theor y and practice . Ye t the y wer e no t a t al l dominate d b y hi m either , an d woul d g o their ow n quie t way . After tha t first meetin g h e accompanie d the m t o th e Piccol a Marin a thoug h h e 640
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would no t swim , h e wen t fo r a long wal k wit h Ear l anothe r afternoo n an d spen t a happy evenin g wit h the m i n Quattr o Ven d - a goo d par t o f hi s shor t stay . A s a result th e Brewster s store d u p a numbe r o f vivi d impression s whic h sho w aspects tha t othe r account s d o no t - an d i t i s interesting t o hav e a more animate d 'portrait' o f hi m i n 192 1 b y traine d observers . The y ha d bee n le d t o expec t a 'tormented sou P (Achsah) , 'haggard , brooding , an d sensua P (Earl) . The y foun d him lively , eve n debonair , vivid , laughing . 'Springtim e seeme d muc h mor e springtime becaus e h e was there. ' (H e wa s clearl y happ y t o b e o n th e mov e again, and intereste d i n ne w people . He wa s always at his most winnin g earl y i n a friendship, whic h ala s ofte n faile d t o continu e a s i t ha d begun , thoug h no t thi s time.) The y spea k a s others d o o f how hi s hai r fel l ove r hi s brow , th e rednes s o f his beard , th e bluenes s o f his eyes . The y to o tr y t o catc h th e od d qualitie s o f hi s voice an d d o s o bette r tha n most : th e flexibl e variation s whic h mad e hi m suc h a good mimic ; the 'ree d timbre ' whe n lo w (Achsah) 'wit h ofte n a curious, plaintiv e note' (Earl) ; an d th e tendenc y t o ris e 'hig h i n key ' whe n excited . But , bein g painters, bot h o f the m als o watche d hi s hands , an d sa w ho w long , narro w an d capable the y wer e (Earl) , an d als o ho w the y fel l int o repos e a s simpl y a s a ca t (Achsah). Hi s blun t nos e an d th e heigh t o f hi s brow , i n profile , reminde d he r o f the famou s bus t o f Socrates; but sh e als o noticed ho w th e 'curiousl y unmodelled ' mouth coul d mak e hi m loo k lik e Pa n o r a satyr . Sh e notice d hi s 'tric k o f drooping th e hea d pensively' , an d hi s 'silen t littl e laug h whe n h e woul d jus t open hi s mout h an d swallo w i t down' , a s wel l a s the 'shor t snor t o f indignation' , and 'mostly ' a lo w infectiou s chuckl e - n o mentio n o f th e hig h whinn y other s describe. The y als o noticed hi s spring y step . They argued . H e diagnose d Ear l a s no t a n intellectua l typ e 'mean t t o b e governed b y th e centr e betwee n you r eyebrows ' ( a compliment) , an d urge d him t o 'Loo k dee p int o th e centr e - t o you r sola r plexus' , thoug h i t was som e years befor e Brewster , fo r al l hi s knowledg e o f Hinduism , discovere d wha t h e meant. Agains t Buddhism , Lawrenc e maintaine d (a s i n hi s poem ) tha t th e rea l peace wa s th e aftermat h o f molte n lava ; tha t on e 'shoul d not pas s beyon d suffering' thoug h on e migh t tr y fo r equilibrium ; an d tha t th e tige r i n u s was not t o b e overcome , suppresse d o r sublimated . Les s seriously , sittin g o n th e floor wit h hi s hand s claspe d roun d hi s knees , h e brough t a whol e serie s o f people aliv e i n mimicry . H e mad e th e Brewster s shar e hi s fantas y o f bein g of f in a two-master . T o 'lugge r aroun d th e world' , i s a fin e expression , whoeve r coined it . H e tol d the m abou t Aaron 5 Rod an d aske d fo r suggestion s o f wha t to d o wit h hi s protagonist , no w tha t h e ha d lef t hi s famil y an d broke n wit h hi s past. The y sai d Aaro n shoul d eithe r g o t o Montecassin o an d repen t o r 'g o through th e whol e cycl e o f experience' . Lawrenc e chuckle d wit h surprise , an d said tha t h e ha d indee d considere d sendin g hi m t o th e grea t monastery , 'bu t found instea d tha t Aaro n ha d t o g o t o destructio n t o fin d hi s wa y throug h fro m 641
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
the lowes t depths' . Tol d tha t the y planne d t o trave l t o th e Orien t tha t autum n to lear n mor e abou t Buddhism , h e promise d t o com e bac k t o se e the m befor e they went . On 1 9 Apri l h e lef t fo r Rome , wher e h e sa w Juta an d me t Elizabet h Hume s (who woul d provid e hint s fo r Lo u Carringto n i n 'St . Mawr ' later , a s Juta woul d for Rico) . Jan wa s undetachabl e fo r a walkin g tou r jus t then , bu t woul d g o b y himself t o Sardini a late r an d d o som e paintings , t o tak e th e plac e o f th e photo s that ha d prove d s o difficul t t o collect . Lawrenc e wen t o n t o Florence , probabl y on 2 1 April . He ha d tol d Dougla s (back , i n a ne w eyrie) , an d Reggi e Turner , tha t h e wa s coming. I t s o happened tha t Rebecc a Wes t wa s havin g a long lunc h wit h th e tw o of the m whe n the y decide d t o pa y thei r respect s t o Lawrenc e an d introduc e he r to him. 88 O n th e wa y - accordin g t o he r - Dougla s entertaine d the m wit h a n account o f how Lawrenc e n o soone r arrive d anywher e bu t h e wen t straigh t fro m the railwa y statio n t o hi s hote l an d immediatel y bega n t o 'hamme r ou t article s about th e place , vehementl y an d exhaustivel y describin g th e temperamen t o f th e people'. S o whe n the y foun d hi m 'tappin g away ' Dougla s 'burs t ou t i n a grea t laugh' an d aske d i f h e wer e writin g abou t Florence , laughin g al l th e mor e maliciously whe n Lawrenc e answere d seriousl y tha t h e was . H e ma y hav e bee n revising 'Lookin g Dow n o n th e City' , sinc e th e sketc h ha s detail s nea r th e en d which sugges t experienc e o f 1920 , adde d t o tha t o f 1919 . Bu t Dougla s migh t have laughe d o n th e othe r sid e o f his fac e if , a s seems equall y possible , Lawrenc e had alread y begu n t o wor k o n th e Florentin e scene s o f Aaron J s Rod. H e ha d promised t o ge t on wit h th e nove l a s soon a s he could . When h e pushe d hi s wor k asid e an d turne d t o entertai n them , Rebecc a Wes t found hi m 'on e o f the mos t polit e peopl e I had eve r me t i n bot h naiv e an d subtl e ways . . . H e mad e friend s a s a child migh t do , b y shyl y handin g m e funn y littl e boxes h e ha d brough t fro m som e strang e plac e h e ha d recentl y visited. ' Bu t sh e also noticed , a s th e Brewster s had , ho w h e seeme d t o respec t th e othe r person' s being - thoug h he r wor d was 'personality ' a s Lawrence' s woul d no t hav e been . As h e tol d the m abou t hi s recen t journeying s sh e coul d find n o rhym e o r reaso n in the m (o r fo r tha t matte r wh y h e wa s goin g t o Baden-Baden) bu t though t the y must b e lik e th e wandering s suddenl y undertake n b y Russia n saint s o r India n fakirs. (Perhaps , mor e mundanely , Lawrenc e ha d conveye d hi s ow n sens e o f lacking direction. ) A s th e thre e visitor s sa t sid e b y sid e o n th e bed , 'W e nodde d and wer e entranced. ' Th e nex t da y sh e wen t walkin g wit h Lawrenc e an d Douglas ou t int o th e country . Sh e paint s a vivi d pictur e o f th e sprin g day , an d the contras t betwee n he r tw o companions : Dougla s lumberin g alon g 'stockily' , Lawrence ver y white-skinned , an d s o thi n 'tha t hi s shoulde r blade s stoo d ou t i n a pai r o f almos t wing-lik e projections' , ye t movin g 'quickl y an d joyously ' along . She wa s awar e o f thei r opposit e temperaments , bu t als o ho w wel l the y go t o n 642
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together, a t tha t time . Ove r lunc h a t a n in n th e tal k wa s al l of Magnus, wit h (sh e thought) 'th e pitifulnes s tha t me n wh o hav e foun d i t difficul t t o accommodat e themselves t o thei r fello w me n fee l fo r thos e wh o hav e foun d i t impossible' . Th e only discordan t note s cam e whe n Lawrenc e claime d t o detec t th e animosit y o f the Sout h fo r th e Nort h i n th e innkeeper , wit h who m (h e insisted ) Dougla s should not hav e shake n hands ; the n spok e o f th e 'blac k loathing ' h e ha d see n i n the eye s o f peasants , a s whe n h e ha d caugh t som e ol d Sicilia n crone s tryin g t o cheat hi m b y passin g of f jar s o f las t year' s honey . Rebecc a Wes t though t thes e were paranoi d over-reaction s t o wha t wa s n o mor e tha n th e natura l behaviou r o f the have-not s toward s th e haves ; and therefor e a n 'unsatisfactor y ending ' t o thei r first an d las t encounte r - thoug h sh e late r foun d i n he r ow n cas e ho w accuratel y sensitive hi s intuitio n coul d be . He lef t Florenc e o n 2 3 April , an d b y th e 26t h afte r a 'devi l o f a journey ' (iii. 706) , arrived i n Baden-Baden . X Ebersteinbur g - a n d Aaron y s Rod He decide d no t t o sta y clos e t o th e Ludwig-Wilhelmstif t bu t t o g o thre e mile s out o f town t o th e village of Ebersteinburg, dominate d b y th e reddis h ruin s o f its old castle . Here , i n th e Gasthau s Krone , Lawrence' s roo m looke d bac k ove r black-and-white house s t o th e woode d hill s o f th e Blac k Forest , whil e Frieda' s faced ou t acros s th e grea t ope n spac e o f the Rhin e plai n t o th e Vosge s mountain s in th e fa r distance . Ther e wer e flower y meadows , gees e an d chicken s an d pigs , and grea t yello w oxe n pullin g wagons . Th e Gasthau s provide d thei r tw o comfortable an d separat e bedrooms , wit h board , fo r 3 5 mark s (abou t 3/- ) eac h per day , s o the y coul d actuall y liv e mor e cheapl y tha n i n Ital y - whic h wa s a s well, sinc e fund s ha d begu n t o ru n lo w again . A s ofte n i n a ne w place , an d especially sinc e h e ha d no t wante d t o come , Lawrenc e fel t mainl y dislocate d a t first. H e foun d German y 'depresse d an d empty feeling ' an d it s inhabitant s 'silen t and dim ' (iii . 711) , especiall y afte r th e populou s an d volubl e south . H e notice d particularly th e absenc e o f young men , presumabl y becaus e o f th e decimatio n o f the wa r an d becaus e th e survivor s wer e lookin g fo r wor k i n th e cities . H e wa s also struc k b y th e disappearanc e o f militarism, th e starkes t contras t wit h hi s pre war experience . Th e onl y uniform s t o b e see n wer e th e postman , th e tw o policemen an d th e drive r o f th e tra m int o town ; an d (unlik e Met z befor e th e war) ther e seeme d a t first t o b e almos t n o sourc e o f authority , thoug h th e Germans wer e astonishingl y orderl y an d law-abiding . Havin g use d th e fea r o f hostility toward s th e Englis h a s a n excus e fo r no t comin g earlier , h e foun d himself treate d wit h grea t courtes y an d kindness , an d graduall y bega n t o lik e th e place bette r an d better . Ou t i n th e countr y ther e wa s goo d foo d i n plenty . Th e days o f blockad e an d shortag e wer e past , an d thoug h man y peopl e wer e 643
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impoverished, th e rat e o f exchang e mean t tha t th e Lawrence s coul d liv e quit e comfortably. Eve n th e poores t household s wer e scrupulousl y clea n an d tidy . Nobody trie d t o swindle , an d n o childre n swarme d roun d beggin g - indee d th e children wer e childlike , an d no t prematur e adult s lik e Sicilia n an d Neapolita n urchins. Althoug h th e village was utterly quiet , tha t woul d b e goo d fo r th e wor k he meant t o do. In an y cas e h e ha d n o choic e bu t t o mak e th e bes t o f things. Though Frieda' s mother was bette r sh e ha d bee n badl y shaken , an d ha d becom e ver y dependen t on havin g on e o f he r daughter s t o loo k afte r her . 'Suddenl y sh e ha s broke n up , after bein g s o wel l fo r al l thes e year s - al l he r lif e - sh e i s just seventy . No w sh e can't b e lef t alone ' (iii . 711) . Perhaps , later , a nurse-companio n coul d b e hired , but i n th e meantim e th e Barones s clun g t o Frieda , an d woul d no t hea r o f the m going befor e th e en d o f th e summe r (thoug h Lawrenc e immediatel y bega n t o wonder ho w lon g he could stan d i t - h e hate d bein g compelled) . Els e was havin g to settl e he r ow n affairs ; fo r Edga r Jaffe ha d collapse d an d die d o f pneumonia o n 29 April . Eve r sinc e hi s politica l caree r ha d ende d i n tha t hai l o f gunfir e i n 1919 h e ha d becom e increasingl y depressed , an d seeme d t o hav e los t th e wil l t o live. Wit h a blun t honest y tha t coul d b e mistake n fo r callousness , Lawrenc e wrote tha t h e wa s 'gla d Edga r died : bette r deat h tha n ignominiou s livin g on ' i n a world whic h ha d 'n o place ' fo r him ' (iii . 717) , an d i n whic h h e ha d 'gon e cracked' (iii . 728) . Meanwhil e th e younges t sister' s marriag e wa s breakin g up , but Nusc h to o ha d childre n t o loo k after , thoug h sh e di d com e t o visi t he r mother, accompanie d b y th e Berli n banke r Emi l vo n Kru g who m sh e wa s t o marry tw o year s late r afte r divorcin g vo n Schreibershofen . Altogethe r therefore , however 'impossible ' i t migh t see m t o Lawrenc e tha t on e o f the daughter s coul d always be wit h thei r mother , Fried a (an d he ) woul d clearl y hav e t o stay pu t fo r a t least another month . Baden-Baden mus t hav e bee n a shado w o f it s pre-191 4 grandeu r an d h e di d not car e fo r it , thinkin g i t alread y relegate d t o histor y alon g wit h it s fashionabl e pre-war clientele . Ther e wer e stil l goo d orchestra l concert s a t th e Kurhaus , though h e di d no t thin k muc h o f th e conductin g o f Siegfrie d Wagner . 'Grea t men shoul d never have sons. ' Bu t th e Lichtenthale r Alle e wa s ful l o f 'Scheibers ' (racketeers), and th e big hotels similarl y swarmin g wit h profiteer s payin g inflate d prices, 'mone y hog s i n motorcars , mostl y Jews' (iv . 33) . As ha d happene d whe n he firs t cam e t o Germany , hi s anti-Semiti c tendencie s wer e encourage d b y thos e in th e ai r aroun d him . Th e contras t o f th e ostentatiousl y ric h wh o ha d profite d by th e war , a numbe r o f who m n o doub t wer e Jewish , wit h th e povert y o f th e peasants an d th e gentee l povert y o f the Ludwig-Wilhelmstift , mus t hav e mad e a fertile breedin g groun d fo r anti-Semiti c tal k i n bot h Gasthau s an d Ol d Gentlewomen's Home , th e shap e o f much t o come . But i f Baden-Baden wa s only fo r dutifu l visit s (thoug h h e becam e fon d o f hi s 644
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mother-in-law), th e grea t tree s o f the Schwarzwal d wer e a n increasin g joy . Ever y morning tha t h e could , h e wen t int o th e fores t b y himself , t o write . Onc e agai n he though t o f Gibbon' s accoun t o f ho w frightene d th e civilise d Roman s ha d been whe n the y first cam e int o th e Hercynia n Wood , bu t fo r hi m th e grea t trees , particularly th e dar k an d tang y firs, wer e a jo y an d a n ai d t o creativity : ' I find a forest suc h a strang e stimulu s - th e tree s ar e lik e livin g company , the y see m t o give of f somethin g dynami c an d secret , an d anti-human , o r non-human . Especially fir-trees' (iv . 25) . Suddenly, Aaron's Rod bega n t o come , an d onc e i t really starte d again , i t cam e with a rush . O n 2 Ma y h e wa s stil l unsur e whethe r h e coul d finish, bu t b y th e 6th h e ha d 'som e hope ' (iii . 711 , 714) , b y th e 12t h i t wa s two-third s don e (iii. 717) , and a t mid-month th e en d wa s wel l withi n sigh t (iii . 722) . Now h e wa s confident enoug h t o as k Viole t Monk , wh o ha d show n a n interes t i n th e boo k i n 1919, t o typ e th e first hal f fo r hi m (iii . 724) . B y 2 7 Ma y onl y th e final chapte r was still t o do, and b y th e en d o f the mont h i t too wa s finished (iii . 729 , 730). Why di d i t suddenl y becom e unblocked ? I t canno t hav e bee n onl y th e firtrees! Ther e ha d bee n propitiou s workin g condition s befor e - ye t th e boo k ha d stuck twice , an d ha d obstinatel y refuse d t o tak e off . Somethin g quit e importan t must hav e becom e clea r t o it s author , bu t sinc e n o manuscript(s ) survive , th e novel's developmen t ca n onl y be inferre d fro m remark s abou t i t in th e letters . He 'began ' a t Mecklenburg h Squar e (iii . 728 ) a t th e en d o f 1917, 92 thoug h this ma y mea n littl e mor e tha n havin g th e ide a then . Ther e i s n o furthe r mention befor e 2 1 Februar y 191 8 a t Hermitag e wher e h e say s h e i s workin g 'very spasmodically ' o n anothe r 'daf t novel ' (iii . 216) , as well a s on th e America n essays whic h wer e hi s mai n concer n fro m lat e 191 7 t o June 1918 . B y 1 7 Marc h 1918 h e ha d writte n 15 0 pages , bu t ther e i s n o wa y o f knowin g wha t wa s i n them; an d thoug h h e tol d Am y Lowel l i n Septembe r tha t h e ha d bee n 'slowly ' working o n anothe r nove l (iii . 280) , h e ma y hav e don e littl e mor e i n fact . H e never name d i t or it s protagonis t i n th e letters ; only sai d tha t i t wa s 'blameles s a s Cranfora" and 'funny ' (iii . 227) . Some thing s canno t hav e bee n i n thos e first 15 0 pages : th e neurastheni c atmosphere o f th e immediat e post-wa r perio d i n Eastwood , o r Tann y (base d o n Frieda) leavin g t o se e he r peopl e a t th e beginnin g o f chapte r i x (i n life , November 1919) . The visi t t o Hermitag e b y th e real-lif e Captai n Whit e (chapte r vin) wa s probabl y sometim e i n Marc h 1918 , bu t i t woul d hav e bee n extra ordinarily promp t t o hav e go t tha t in , and i t is by n o mean s certai n tha t Lill y wa s in th e boo k ye t - o r eve n tha t i t started wit h Aaro n leavin g hi s wif e an d children , which woul d hardl y hav e bee n 'funny' . Relation s wit h Fried a ha d bee n straine d in Cornwal l an d Hermitage , an d Lawrenc e migh t hav e bee n tempte d t o explor e such a n ide a i n imaginatio n - bu t ther e ma y hav e bee n n o mor e tha n a ma n
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rebelling agains t Eastwoo d (lik e Alvina ) an d encounterin g th e Bohemia n characters o f the firs t seve n chapters . After Movements, an d th e burs t o f ne w stories , th e dangerou s illnes s an d th e pieces fo r Murry , h e tol d Huebsc h i n June 191 9 tha t h e ha d picke d u p th e nove l and hope d i t migh t b e don e befor e h e cam e t o Americ a (iii . 364 ) - bu t thi s wa s whistling i n th e wind . (Wha t h e actuall y proceede d t o wor k o n wa s Shestov. ) H e may hav e talke d abou t i t t o Violet Mon k a t Grimsbur y Far m i n Augus t 191 9 an d even hav e writte n a bit more , whic h woul d explai n ho w h e cam e t o as k he r t o type fo r hi m later . Howeve r al l th e evidenc e suggest s tha t th e nove l i n thi s firs t version neve r reall y too k off . It i s therefor e likel y tha t i n July 192 0 - a s ha d happene d wit h The Lost Girl his takin g i t u p agai n wa s bot h a n attemp t t o recast , and a new beginnin g wit h a fresh idea . Thi s woul d explai n ho w h e coul d tal k o f 'workin g wit h ever diminishing spasm s o f fitfulness ' o n a nove l h e di d no t expec t t o ge t muc h further wit h (iii . 567) , an d o f havin g 'begu n anothe r novel ' (iii . 565 , 571) . By 1 8 July howeve r i t wa s one-thir d done , an d albei t temporaril y a t a standstil l (iii. 572) , h e though t i t migh t stea m ahea d onc e i t go t starte d again . Ye t b y September i t ha d onl y jerke d 'on e chapte r forwar d no w an d then ' t o half-wa y (iii. 594) , and h e ha d n o ide a wher e th e secon d hal f might com e from . H e hope d to 'sor t o f jum p hi m picaresque ' (iii . 602 ) whe n h e go t bac k t o Taormina , an d managed b y 2 5 Novembe r a t Fontan a Vecchi a t o hav e writte n 'mor e tha n hal f of what wa s now name d Aaron's Rod, bu t h e stil l ha d n o ide a ho w t o en d i t - an d began Mr Noon instea d (iii . 626) . Whethe r o r no t th e ide a o f a ma n leavin g hi s wife ha d bee n th e origina l starting-point , i t seem s fairl y certai n tha t i t wa s s o now - perhap s th e easie r t o imagin e afte r hi s ow n impuls e t o leav e Fried a i n early 1919 , an d hi s determinatio n t o mak e himsel f les s dependen t o n he r though Aaron' s marriag e i s quit e unlik e Lawrence's . A marke d impuls e o f hi s new storie s wa s an affirmatio n o f manhood; th e Whitma n essa y ha d declare d tha t the nex t ste p beyon d marriag e wa s a relatio n betwee n men ; an d Lawrenc e ha d gone off , deliberately , t o Ital y b y himself . The novel' s ne w developmen t ra n counte r t o an y mer e drea m fulfilmen t however, b y contrastin g Aaro n wit h a Lawrence-figure wh o di d not want t o leav e his wife , thoug h h e to o ha d n o tim e fo r dependenc e o n a woman . Lawrenc e seems t o hav e divide d himsel f an d hi s feeling s abou t singlenes s an d commitmen t to relationship , an d t o hav e playe d the m of f imaginativel y agains t on e another , t o see where tha t led . Whethe r o r no t Rawdo n Lill y mad e a n appearanc e i n th e firs t version, th e mov e fro m th e Eastwoo d an d Mecklenburg h Squar e materia l o f 1917-18 t o hal f th e nove l w e no w hav e migh t wel l hav e consiste d o f th e Lill y chapters vm , i x an d x ; followe d b y Aaron' s secon d rejectio n o f marriag e i n x i and hi s determinatio n t o hav e n o mor e union s befor e th e achievemen t o f 'singleness'; an d the n th e journe y t o 'Novara ' t o mee t Lilly . T o th e en d o f 646
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chapter x n i s hal f th e nove l now . chapte r xin , completin g th e visi t t o 'Novara' , might wel l hav e mad e th e 'mor e tha n hal f o f Novembe r 192 0 - bu t ther e i s stil l no en d i n sigh t fo r th e nove l othe r tha n t o kee p jumpin g Aaro n picaresqu e o n further journeyings . Hi s relatio n t o th e laye r dow n o f the la w wa s unresolve d and ther e wa s as yet n o Miriam , temptres s t o another altar , t o complicat e it . So th e nove l had jerke d forward , bu t ha d stuc k again . Sinc e Lawrenc e kep t saying tha t i t woul d no t b e 'dangerous ' (i n hi s and Mountsier' s specia l sense) , h e had clearl y n o ide a ye t o f th e Marches a o r o f wha t woul d happe n t o Aaron . Should h e tak e hi m t o Florenc e and/o r Montecassino ? Meanwhile , blocke d again, an d a s alway s needin g t o writ e somethin g tha t woul d sell , Lawrenc e turned t o Mr Noon, initiall y awa y fro m himsel f an d hi s comple x feelings . What, then , cause d th e transformatio n i n th e fores t a t Ebersteinburg ? - fro m 2 Ma y whe n h e wa s 'tryin g t o g o o n . . . thoug h Go d know s i f I a m goin g t o succeed' (iii . 711) ; throug h 1 2 Ma y whe n th e boo k wa s two-third s done ; t o 1 6 May whe n i t wa s no t onl y 'wel l unde r weigh ' bu t it s 'en d i n sight ' (iii . 722) ? I f the previou s guesse s hav e an y accuracy , takin g Aaro n t o Florenc e wa s stil l i n itself merel y picaresque . Th e en d o f chapte r x v i s roughl y two-third s o f th e book w e no w have , bu t wheneve r chapter s xi v an d x v wer e done , th e rea l take off poin t seem s t o b e th e encounte r o f Aaro n an d th e Marches a whic h begin s i n chapter xvi , an d i s a s decisiv e fo r Aaro n i n on e directio n a s th e bom b whic h destroys hi s flute i n chapte r x x wil l b e i n another . Thos e fou r chapter s wer e written b y 2 7 May, leavin g onl y th e last , 'Words ' betwee n Aaro n an d Lilly , t o b e done b y th e en d o f the mont h Those wh o see k straightforwar d autobiograph y i n Lawrence' s fiction ma y suspect a liaiso n wit h th e Marches e Carl o Torrigiani' s America n wife , t o on e o f whose musica l at-home s Reggi e Turne r too k hi m i n 191 9 o r 1920 , and wh o ma y have bee n amon g th e American s h e sa w whil e stayin g a t L a Canovaia . However , the recreatio n o f lif e int o literatur e wort h th e nam e i s seldo m s o simple . I f th e Torrigianis wer e th e tw o 'well-know n residents ' t o who m Lawrence , i n turn , introduced th e Carswell s late r tha t year , ther e seem s littl e resemblanc e betwee n Aaron's Marches a an d Catherine' s 'larg e America n woma n wh o wa s studyin g singing' an d he r stou t so n wit h hi s Fascis t cudgel. 9:> I f an y autobiographica l material wen t int o th e imaginin g o f Aaron's relationship , i t was much mor e likel y to hav e bee n Lawrence' s brie f affai r wit h Rosalin d - bu t i t shoul d no t b e assumed tha t th e fiction o f 192 1 embodie d hi s 'true ' feeling s abou t th e experience o f 1920 . Fo r t o whateve r exten t h e though t o f himsel f an d Rosalind , his imaginatio n clearl y transpose d an d selecte d (th e disguis e als o suggestin g a careful tendernes s toward s her , still , tha t h e di d no t alway s sho w t o others , an d that Aaro n doe s no t fee l fo r th e Marchesa) . Moreove r th e ide a o f centrin g th e whole episod e o n music , an d th e selection , i n response , o f on e stran d fro m a complex we b of feeling an d memory , wa s above al l thematic. Seriousl y t o attemp t 647
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any kin d o f formul a fo r th e working s o f imaginatio n woul d b e foolish . Ye t i t i s possible t o glimps e (crudely ) ho w th e ide a o f makin g hi s 'Miriam ' a musician , together wit h som e o f Lawrence' s ow n feeling s abou t musi c (a s in th e concer t i n Taormina an d on e o f th e rea l Marchesa' s concert s ) and some elements (bu t no t others) i n hi s feeling s abou t wha t ha d happene d wit h Rosalind , migh t sugges t the wa y to draw Aaro n t o a first decisiv e crux . The flute i n th e firs t sixtee n chapter s o f the boo k ha d bee n a way fo r Aaro n t o go on makin g a living an d sendin g mone y bac k t o hi s wife ; an d a way o f drawin g the attentio n an d respec t o f th e character s wit h who m Lawrenc e wante d t o involve hi m - equivalen t t o hi s ow n writing , bu t usefull y non-verba l i n contras t with Lilly' s wordiness . I t ha d potentiall y bee n muc h more : a sig n o f potentia l individuality, livelines s an d fertility , i n a ma n ou t o f th e ordinar y - an d als o a n expression o f hi s loneliness . A s Aaron' s ro d o f divin e power , however , i t ha d shown littl e sig n o f buddin g lik e th e on e i n th e Bible ; presumabl y becaus e Lawrence ha d no t quit e see n wha t t o make of it. No w howeve r th e flute become s a wa y o f precipitatin g ou t th e majo r conflic t withi n Aaro n himself , an d the n o f bringing hi s debat e wit h Lill y th e marrie d ma n t o a final question . Aaro n ha d s o deeply not wante d a sexua l relationshi p wit h Josephin e i n Londo n tha t whe n drawn int o on e h e ha d collapsed , hi s lowe r centre s (lik e Jim's) almos t paralysed . He ha d realise d i n Novar a tha t h e ha d neve r intende d reall y t o surrende r himsel f to his wife, and therefor e tha t hi s whol e ide a of himself as lover an d husban d ha d been a fals e mask . No w th e flute - a s oppose d t o th e piano , le t alon e th e orchestra - become s a symboli c showing , bot h t o himsel f an d th e woman , o f what entir e singlenes s o f lif e woul d b e like : 'It wa s a clear, sharp , lilte d run-and fall o f notes , no t a tun e i n an y sens e o f th e word , an d ye t a melody : a bright , quick soun d o f pur e animation : a bright , quic k animat e noise , runnin g an d pausing . . . th e note s followe d clea r an d singl e on e afte r th e othe r . . . a wil d sound.' 7 I t ha s n o artisti c form , ye t i s naturall y harmoniou s an d spontaneou s as fo r Lawrenc e ar t shoul d be . I t i s blessedl y fre e fro m mora l meanin g o r responsibility, an d als o fro m th e burde n o f emotion , 'ponderou s chain s o f feeling'. Instea d o f drawin g listener s int o intens e nervou s emotio n an d consciousness a s (t o Lawrence ) a violin o r cell o does , i t liberate s it s heare r fro m consciousness o f self, givin g he r freedo m jus t t o be . I t need s n o accompanimen t or combination , an d it s note s ar e separat e an d single , unlik e th e piano' s chords . It als o embodie s Lawrence' s continua l searc h fo r a 'language ' olde r tha n ou r present culture : Medieva l rathe r tha n Renaissance , bu t actuall y mor e archai c than Medieval , indee d mor e ancien t still , behin d eve n Apoll o t o Marsya s an d Pan, somethin g wil d rathe r tha n civilise d - i n ou r sense , that is . The Marches a i s abl e t o sin g again , t o Aaron' s fluting - th e tw o singlenesse s in on e whic h a n earlie r Lawrenc e woul d hav e endorsed . Bu t now , an d stil l mor e in th e awakenin g o f desir e throug h th e musi c o f singleness , ther e seem s a clea r 648
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and ironi c contradiction . Th e buddin g o f Aaron' s ro d no t onl y expose s doubl e meanings an d contradictor y power s - phallu s a s opposed t o flute - bu t begin s t o complicate wha t ha d seeme d th e primar y contras t betwee n Aaro n an d Lilly . I t must hav e becom e clea r no w tha t th e flute woul d hav e t o be split , an d th e debat e between a longin g fo r singlenes s an d belie f i n marriag e (th e contradictio n i n Lawrence himself ) restate d mor e complexly . If Lawrenc e use d hi s experienc e wit h Rosalin d i n imaginin g Aaron' s crisis , what h e chos e t o emphasis e thematically , fro m amon g complicate d feeling s an d memories, wer e thos e element s alon e whic h woul d thro w int o th e highes t relie f the challeng e o f se x t o singleness . Look! ha d bee n intensel y gratefu l fo r desire , and bot h ther e an d i n Women in Love Lawrenc e ha d imagine d singlenes s a s increased by th e kin d o f lov e tha t wa s lik e star-equilibrium . Now r however , fo r Aaron, th e relatio n wit h th e Marches a i s th e catalys t whic h decisivel y separate s out iove ' (particularl y he r tendri l kind ) fro m 'singleness' , an d reveal s the m a s mutually exclusiv e fo r him . Sexua l excitemen t rob s hi m o f hi s wil d alertness , a s of a single creature , s o tha t th e soldier s ca n ro b hi m o f hi s note-cas e an d violat e his being . Whe n h e sleep s wit h th e Marchesa , th e fiction brutall y rewrite s th e earlier Lawrencia n accoun t o f th e rebirt h afte r Ne w Yea r i n Look!: th e ritua l sacrifice o f sex ; th e femal e love r becomin g ' a child , Almost' , an d ye t ' a woman , knowing All' ; th e mal e lover' s tendernes s toward s th e 'littl e one ' curle d o n hi s breast i n 'Wedlock' ; th e ne w sens e o f responsibility . A s imaginatio n no w concentrates th e elemen t i n Lawrenc e tha t longe d fo r singlenes s abov e all , coition become s a victimisation o f th e god-in-Aaron ; an d ecstas y no t death-and rebirth bu t a n extractio n o f hi s passionat e power , leavin g hi m 'withered ' o r 'carrion'; th e child-woma n o n hi s ches t a n intolerabl e clinging . Throughout , 'there wa s al l th e tim e somethin g har d an d reckles s an d defiant , whic h stoo d apart'. Afterward s h e feel s only wha t 'Medlar s an d Sorb-Apples ' ha d expresse d - on e emotio n amon g man y poem s - th e gladnes s o f bein g alone . H e tell s th e Marchesa tha t fo r goo d o r il l h e feel s himsel f a married ma n wh o mus t hav e n o other liaisons . (Thi s i s obviously a n importan t conclusio n fo r Lawrenc e too , an d with Aaro n an d Lill y unite d i n tha t respect , resolve s par t o f th e book' s exploration. Ther e ar e husbands , an d ther e ar e lovers . Autho r an d bot h protagonists, i t seems , ar e husbands. ) Aaro n write s a lette r tha t i s reall y t o himself: renouncin g al l kind s o f lov e an d declarin g hi s belie f onl y 'i n th e fight and nothin g else' , agains t woman , agains t th e world , agains t lov e whic h i s o f al l things 'th e mos t deadl y t o me'. 100 This goe s much deepe r tha n th e questio n o f who 'uses ' who m i n love , and th e male complaining s o f ho w me n use d t o initiat e se x bu t wome n expec t t o b e sexually ministere d t o now , o n whic h th e congregatio n o f male s i n Argyle' s flat seem t o agre e thoug h Lill y remain s tactfull y reticent , stil l hopin g fo r balance . This ha d bee n Lawrence' s complain t agains t Frieda , wh o (h e ha d privatel y 649
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
confessed) fel t fre e t o refus e hi m whe n h e wante d her , bu t expecte d hi m t o satisfy he r o n demand ; an d h e ma y hav e use d th e Marchesa' s husban d an d Aaron t o dramatis e thi s a s par t o f th e mal e rebellio n agains t overweenin g womanhood i n whic h hi s fiction ha d bee n engage d sinc e 1918 . But th e general isations o f sexua l politic s (o f an y kind ) seldo m hol d mor e tha n a ver y partia l truth a t best . An d Aaron' s feeling s ar e neithe r t o b e take n uncriticall y Lawrence i s awar e o f thei r one-sidednes s - no r a s a final verdic t o n th e episod e with Rosalind . Fo r Aaro n i s onl y par t o f Lawrence . Moreove r th e powerfu l imagining o f th e repudiatio n o f th e Marchesa , s o fiercely contradictin g th e Lawrence o f 1913-17 , no w force s th e Lawrenc e o f 192 1 t o debat e th e contra diction betwee n th e Aaro n an d th e Lill y i n himsel f a t a deeper leve l tha n before . This ma y b e wha t h e mean t b y confessin g tha t hi s protagonis t wa s 'misbehavin g and puttin g te n fingers t o hi s nos e a t everything ' (iii . 720) ; but als o tha t th e en d was in sight . For i n fac t th e whol e o f Aaron' s stor y reveal s a characte r wh o coul d not liv e alone. Thoug h h e ha s wandere d lik e a picaro , a numbe r o f episode s an d characters (Lottie , th e Bohemians , th e lin k betwee n Aaron' s collaps e an d Jim's , the quarre l i n Coven t Garden , Aaron' s ne w insigh t int o himsel f a t Novara , Argyle's affirmatio n o f th e nee d t o lov e an d th e discussio n i n hi s flat) no w revea l a cumulativ e significanc e whic h help s t o pul l th e nove l bette r togethe r tha n ha d ever seeme d likel y fro m th e histor y o f it s growth . Th e musi c o f singlenes s ca n only b e a momentary liberatio n fo r al l those (th e vas t majority , i t seems ) wh o ar e forever pulle d betwee n desir e an d resistance , th e abidin g nee d t o giv e themselve s to another , an d th e recoilin g nee d t o b e themselve s alon e - whic h Tortoises had also treated . Moreover , th e fantas y o f bein g abl e t o exis t apar t fro m societ y receives th e mos t violen t o f al l awakening s whe n th e bom b goe s of f i n th e cafe . Between interna l contradictio n an d externa l violatio n Aaron' s ro d ca n onl y b e split apar t - unles s an d unti l (Lill y says ) h e coul d lear n t o liv e by th e impuls e o f the uniqu e an d individua l 'Tre e o f Life ' withi n him , neve r losin g himself 'i n woman no r humanit y no r i n God' . l Lill y tell s hi m tha t th e er a o f lov e i s over , and wha t matter s no w i s powe r - no t howeve r i n Nietzsche' s sense , an d no t an y imposition o f th e sel f o n anothe r o r others , bu t rathe r th e instinctua l potenc y within th e self , abl e (onc e liberated ) t o crac k ol d bondag e an d fre e ne w life . If , having learne d t o liste n t o it s promptings , Aaro n i s stil l impelle d t o relat e himself t o someon e o r somethin g other , i t shoul d no t b e i n an y selfles s mod e o f love, or religiou s o r socia l idealism , bu t rathe r a recognition o f superior powe r i n another individual , abl e t o lead , liberat e an d strengthe n hi s ow n selfhood . S o says Lilly, implyin g tha t h e himsel f i s such a one. But Lill y i s not t o be regarded uncriticall y either . Lawrence' s titl e fo r th e final sermon i s 'Words ' - an d Lill y a s word y Salvationis t ha s alread y bee n pu t i n hi s place by Jim's punc h i n th e wind . Lawrenc e use s th e mos t obviousl y Lawrencia n 650
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figure i n th e book, no t onl y t o tr y ou t som e o f his ow n ideas , but als o t o diagnos e what i t wa s i n himsel f tha t s o pu t u p th e back s o f othe r peopl e - a n accurat e Lawrencian phrase , an d i n hi s sens e no t somethin g t o regret ! I n Jim' s visit , Lilly's readines s t o se e himsel f a s a saviou r i s sardonicall y pinpointe d first, an d then hi s tota l inabilit y t o imagin e ho w hi s diagnose s wil l affec t thei r recipient . There i s comedy i n th e scene , especially a s Tanny's Lill y i s not muc h mor e abl e to live alon e tha n Aaron . A s h e massage s th e lowe r centre s o f th e sic k man , trying t o brin g the m bac k t o life , h e see s ho w i t i s hi s ow n over-readines s t o involve himsel f tha t tempt s betrayal , a s Chris t produce d Judas , bu t h e goe s ahead al l the same. 102 However Lill y als o ha s a n aloneness ; i s indee d a s dua l a s his friend , thoug h i n the opposit e proportion . Th e littl e ma n continue s t o believ e i n marriage , an d i n male friendship , bu t bot h com e secon d t o hi s essentia l solitude . H e denounce s the dange r o f turnin g marriag e int o a n 'Egoisme d deux'; h e insist s tha t i n lov e one i s 'mos t intensel y o f all , alone' ; an d maintain s tha t i n al l relationship s th e heart 'beat s alon e i n it s ow n silence' . Ther e ma y b e som e wishfu l self-flatter y i n Lawrence imaginin g wha t wit h hal f his mind h e wante d t o be: Lilly wa s alone—and ou t o f his isolatio n cam e hi s words , indifferent a s to whethe r the y came o r not . An d h e lef t hi s friend s utterl y t o thei r ow n choice . Utterl y t o thei r ow n choice. Aaro n fel t tha t Lill y wa s there, existin g i n life , ye t neithe r askin g fo r connectio n nor preventing any connection. He was present, he was the real centre of the group. And yet h e aske d nothin g o f them , an d h e impose d nothing . H e lef t eac h t o himself, an d h e remained just himself: neither more nor less. But i f thi s b e wishful , i t i s als o n o mor e tha n a half-trut h o n th e book' s ow n evidence. Suc h self-sufficienc y moreover , especiall y whe n combine d wit h Lilly' s sense o f himsel f a s a saviour, hi s apparen t friendliness , hi s constan t involvemen t with others , mak e hi m objectionable - indee d 'perhap s th e mos t objectionabl e person' Aaro n knows . Ther e i s somethin g horribl e abou t th e wa y tha t Lill y offers friendship , see s deepl y int o o r 'through ' people , an d the n withdraws . 'I t was then , afte r hi s departure , tha t the y realise d hi s basi c indifferenc e t o them , and hi s silen t arrogance. ' Peopl e fee l tha t 'Nothin g ca n touc h hi m o n th e quick , nothing ca n reall y get a t him' ; an d thi s fills the m 'wit h resentment , almos t wit h hate'. Imaginin g fro m Aaron' s poin t o f view , Lawrenc e ca n b e a s ruthles s i n diagnosing wha t i t i s i n himsel f tha t make s peopl e dislik e him , a s h e i s i n diagnosing wha t i s wron g wit h others . S o whe n th e Lilly-in-hi m let s g o wit h a torrent o f 'Words ' i n th e final chapter , thes e ar e certainl y ope n t o question , an d should b e see n a s a challenge t o one' s ow n tre e o f lif e rathe r tha n a s supposedl y conclusive. However som e o f wha t Lill y say s (i n a settin g tha t recall s th e lunc h outsid e Florence wit h Dougla s an d Rebecc a West ) i s wha t th e Lawrenc e o f 192 1 651
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
believes: tha t ther e i s no Go d outsid e th e livin g centr e o f eac h individual , wh o therefore mus t neve r los e o r giv e awa y tha t innermos t sel f i n an y relationship . Indeed, i f on e i s impelle d t o see k relationship , i t mus t b e o f a kin d whic h strengthens an d liberate s th e sacre d powe r o f individua l lif e an d growth . (It s unique life-sa p i s wha t make s th e lil y o f th e field considerable. ) S o far , thi s i s consistent wit h th e Lawrenc e o f The Rainbow an d Women in Love, barrin g th e reaction no w against any, eve n temporary , los s o f self, whic h ha d formerl y bee n seen as preliminary t o rebirth. Bu t consequently, wha t i s most significan t i n 1921 is the radical hostility , no w (though i t has been growin g steadil y sinc e 1918) , to all form s o f love whic h involv e los s o f self. Wha t i s newly formulate d a t the end of thi s nove l i s th e resultin g oppositio n betwee n lov e an d power : primaril y empowerment o f other s rathe r tha n powe r ove r the m (thoug h tha t to o ha s its fascination), th e ability t o liberate th e unique god-quic k within . Thi s implie s tha t some hav e greate r power s o f soul , an d tha t i n relationship s smalle r soul s mus t submit t o greater . I t canno t b e forced , bu t mus t happe n voluntarily . Ye t sinc e neither Aaro n no r Lilly ca n live alone, and since Aaro n ha s seen somethin g mor e powerful i n th e littl e ma n than i n himself, Aaron's ow n livin g centr e (say s Lill y in th e final line) wil l tel l hi m what t o do - thoug h i t remains a question whethe r this b e true , le t alon e whethe r Aaro n wil l brin g himsel f t o d o it . Lawrenc e ca n not, i t seems, confidentl y imagin e th e true mal e friendshi p h e told Katherin e h e had neve r experienced . Lilly i s talking o f individual relationshi p - an d his idea i s not extraordinary i f one thinks o f the mor e powerfu l individual s t o whom on e does submi t one' s sou l in literature , art , philosophy , religion , fo r awakenin g an d growth . Howeve r objections ma y aris e whe n thi s i s generalise d int o politics . I n th e precedin g discussion i n th e cafe , Argyl e contend s tha t civilisatio n require s a basi s o f slavery, an d this i s taken u p by a Lilly seemingl y willin g t o advocate once-for-al l political submissio n t o a 'superio r being' , backe d b y military powe r - a notio n which wa s jus t beginnin g t o mak e itsel f heard . (Benit o Mussolini , wh o woul d make hi s bi d fo r powe r i n 1922 , was alread y talkin g o f th e nee d fo r stron g leadership; an d th e first mas s meetin g o f th e Nationa l Socialis t Germa n Workers' Part y ha d taken plac e i n Munich i n February 192 0 - thoug h th e idea s of Part II , chapter i v of Mein Kampfphytd n o part ye t in the announcement o f its twenty-five principles , or in the anniversary meetin g i n February 1921. ) Lilly i s of course reactin g t o Levison's assertio n tha t th e logic o f history lead s inevitably t o Bolshevism , t o which Lill y clearl y intend s a counter-provocation but havin g throw n u p hi s ide a h e refuse s t o pursu e it , an d dissolve s th e argument int o eve n mor e provocativ e laughter . Befor e labellin g Lawrenc e a 'fascist' howeve r on e should als o perhap s atten d t o wha t Lill y the n says , wit h a much stronge r weigh t o f feeling: 'I'l l tell you the real trut h . . . I think ever y man is a sacre d an d hol y individual , never t o b e violated . I thin k ther e i s onl y on e 652
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thing I hat e t o th e verg e o f madness , an d tha t i s bullying.' 1 I n th e novel , mob processions an d mo b violenc e b y oppose d faction s ar e equall y dehumanising , and th e bom b whic h immediatel y follow s Lilly' s word s no w i s 'bullying' t o th e nth degree , whethe r throw n b y Bolshevist , Fascis t o r Anarchist . (Eve n t o labe l this a 'leadership ' nove l i s seriousl y misleading . Th e wor d i s use d jus t once , o n the las t page , an d i s immediatel y restricte d fro m a politica l t o a n individua l sense.) Ye t Lawrenc e ha s le t hi s characte r flir t wit h idea s tha t woul d prov e disastrous - i n answe r t o other s tha t woul d prov e n o les s so. There i s also a question i n sexua l politics . Fo r i f Lilly stand s b y hi s marriag e as h e doe s (an d Aaron , mor e reluctantly ) - wh o i s t o d o th e submittin g t o th e superior bein g there ? Thi s migh t b e a matte r o f showing , i n thi s particula r fiction, whic h wa s whic h - thoug h w e d o no t se e enoug h o f Tann y t o know . Instead, Lill y insist s tha t wherea s i n idealisti c lov e th e ma n i s th e love r an d th e woman th e beloved , i n th e worl d o f power thi s must b e generally reversed . "... Th e woma n mus t submit , bu t deeply , deepl y submit . No t t o an y foolis h fixed authority, no t t o an y foolis h an d arbitrar y will . Bu t t o somethin g deep , deeper . T o th e soul in its dark motion of power and pride .. . A deep, unfathomable fre e submission. " "You'll never get it," said Aaron. 105 Aaron i s surel y righ t abou t Tanny , bu t tha t seem s onl y hal f th e question . Fo r why shouldn' t i t b e th e woma n wh o i s th e superio r sou l i n it s dar k motio n o f power an d pride ? No w i t i s Lill y wh o trie s t o posi t a historica l la w - withou t convincing Aaron . Th e dramatisin g o f tw o side s o f Lawrenc e allow s th e on e which longe d fo r Fried a t o acknowledge hi s leadershi p t o speak ou t openly , now , of wha t h e ha d privatel y admitte d t o Katherin e i n Decembe r 191 8 - an d t o b e answered b y th e sid e whic h kne w bette r b y experience ; leavin g a questio n ope n in marriage , a s i n friendship . Yet , thoug h ther e ar e stil l hopefu l murmuring s about 'balance' , Lawrence ha s greatly change d sinc e th e day s of star-equilibrium . X Lif e o n th e Surfac e - an d th e Unconsciou s Meanwhile, throug h May , whe n h e wa s no t sittin g wit h hi s bac k t o a fir-tre e imagining Aaro n an d Lilly , dail y lif e wen t o n al l th e mor e sunnil y becaus e Frieda wa s happy . I t was goo d fo r he r t o b e needed , eve n whe n th e Baroness' s health improved ; an d th e givin g ove r o f a whol e chapte r o f Frieda' s autobio graphy t o he r husband' s affectionat e relatio n wit h he r mothe r woul d sho w ho w much tha t mean t t o he r too . Th e foundatio n ha d bee n lai d eve n i n th e scoldin g at Icking , an d strengthene d o n th e Baroness' s visi t t o Englan d befor e th e wa r t o stand b y he r daughter . Sh e probabl y (wit h Else ) helpe d the m financiall y i n th e early days . Afte r th e war , a s soo n a s h e could , Lawrenc e returne d th e kindness , with foo d parcel s i n th e ba d time s an d present s fo r th e children . H e ha d als o 653
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written regularly . No w th e friendshi p gre w - no t withou t humour , on e guesses , at th e proble m o f translatin g t o th e ol d ladie s i n th e Ludwig-Wilhelmstif t wha t sort o f thing s i t wa s tha t th e Englis h son-in-la w wa s famou s for . Luckil y the y could b e tol d tha t h e was goin g t o b e publishe d i n Germa n b y Insel-Verlag , without anythin g bein g availabl e yet . I t wil l hav e bee n goo d fo r Fried a t o se e he r sisters too , o n les s unequa l term s tha n i n 1912-13 . I n additio n t o Nusch' s visi t with he r ne w man , Fried a wen t briefl y t o Munic h t o b e wit h Els e whe n Edga r died. A recovere d Alfre d Webe r cam e t o pa y hi s respects , thoug h h e seem s t o have foun d th e Ludwig-Wilhelmstif t a bi t to o muc h fo r hi m (iii . 716) . Ther e will als o hav e bee n som e societ y i n Baden-Bade n o f whic h w e kno w nothing . Frieda ha d socia l standin g here , wit h he r ow n languag e i n he r ear s an d livin g o n the edg e o f the Fores t wher e he r famil y use d t o holida y (an d wher e sh e ha d me t Weekley). No w i t was Lawrenc e wh o was th e outside r - an d afte r al l he r year s away i t mus t hav e bee n a huge relie f t o b e wit h hi m i n her homeland again , eve n though German y wa s onl y slowl y recoverin g unde r th e burde n o f 'reparations' . The fac t tha t ever y mornin g Lawrenc e woul d g o of f happil y int o th e wood s t o write, an d tha t th e writin g wa s goin g well , mus t hav e mad e hi m easie r t o liv e with - thoug h i t come s a s n o surpris e t o lear n tha t sh e 'hated ' Aaron's Rod (iv . 124). Ho w lon g al l thi s coul d las t mus t hav e becom e a sharpe r question , o f course, afte r th e first mont h o r so . As Lawrenc e bega n seriousl y t o tal k o f hirin g a nurse-companion , an d t o pla n th e nex t move , domesti c argument s mus t hav e started again . Ther e i s a n amusin g giveawa y i n a letter t o D r Kippenber g o n 2 3 June, whe n Lawrenc e believe s tha t German y i s stil l inwardl y stron g becaus e 'She ha s a n almos t feminin e powe r o f passiv e resistanc e an d stubbornness ' (iv. 40-1) . But all-in-all , Fried a wa s happier tha n sh e had bee n fo r years . Lawrence's pleasur e i n hi s ne w acquaintanc e wit h th e Brewster s show s itsel f in a sprightl y exchang e o f letters . T o Earl , h e 'finall y an d forever ' renounce s loving anythin g o r anybod y (iii . 718-19) . No r wil l h e hav e an y 'Nirvana ' whic h excludes pain , sorro w an d th e passion s (or , a differen t argument , Hume' s clai m that huma n natur e i s universall y th e sam e ) . Hi s lette r t o Achsa h i s ful l o f jokes, teases and vivi d description , an d a warm affectio n fo r the m both . (Ther e i s also an interestin g sidelight , droppe d casuall y amon g remarks o n Sons and Lovers which th e Brewster s ha d bee n reading : 'A s fo r Miriam , I dreame d o f he r tw o nights ago' ; iii . 720 . H e ma y no t believ e i n love , bu t hi s dream s ofte n sho w deeper feeling s tha n h e woul d outwardl y admit. ) Mountsier ha d no w decide d t o mak e anothe r journe y t o Europe , bu t was stil l consumed b y th e ide a o f a yacht t o the Sout h Seas , and ha d save d £ 1,000 fo r th e purpose. H e lef t Ne w Yor k a t the en d o f April fo r Paris , after whic h h e woul d g o to Londo n befor e comin g t o se e the m i n Germany . Lawrenc e stil l wen t alon g with th e dream , thoug h hi s hear t wa s les s i n i t no w an d i t seeme d wel l beyon d his reach . (Hi s Englis h ban k accoun t o n whic h h e was determine d t o live , 654
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keeping hi s America n earning s fo r a safet y net , was runnin g lo w again . I t stoo d at les s tha n £5 0 whe n h e reache d Germany ; iii . 714 , an d eve n afte r h e go t Seeker t o pa y a t leas t £5 0 o f th e ful l advanc e fo r Women in Love, onl y £7 5 remained b y 1 1 June; iv . 3.) 107 However , a s wa s hi s wont , h e di d no t sa y n o a t once, bu t too k vo n Krug' s advic e an d hel p t o hav e enquirie s mad e i n Hambur g where boat s migh t com e mor e cheaply ; an d whe n Captai n Shor t wrot e o f on e i n Cornwall, h e arrange d fo r Mountsie r t o se e i t whe n h e go t t o Englan d (iii . 712) . Then, however , h e ha d t o admit tha t the y ha d nowher e nea r enoug h t o bu y suc h a boat, refi t a n engin e an d finance a crew; an d a s wel l a s being anxiou s no t t o ge t into debt , h e ha d becom e unwillin g t o b e 'nose-tied ' i n an y direction . Moreover , Frieda wa s 'terrified ' o f th e whol e ide a (iii . 729) . I t coul d stil l b e playe d wit h from tim e t o time , but reall y tha t bubbl e ha d burst . The ne w relationshi p wit h Curti s Brow n starte d edgily . Lawrenc e di d no t much lik e hi s 'impertinent ' ton e (iii . 710) , perhap s becaus e Brow n was les s easygoing tha n Pinke r abou t hi s dealin g directl y wit h publishers . H e ha d promised t o ac t throug h hi s agen t bu t soo n reverte d t o previou s habits . Oxfor d University Pres s ha d decide d agains t tryin g t o publis h Movements in European History i n th e USA , thoug h i t sol d quit e wel l i n Britain . Whe n El y no w suggested h e d o a n illustrate d children' s boo k o n Europea n paintin g fro m Giott o to Constable , fo r OU P wit h th e Medic i Society , Mountsie r was tol d no t t o mention thi s t o Curti s Brow n (iii . 725) . Onl y whe n requirement s an d term s were clea r di d Lawrenc e infor m hi s Englis h agent : 'Thi s kin d o f business I mus t do alone' , h e tol d Mountsier , 'Ho w doe s a n agen t kno w what I wan t t o do? ' (iv. 27 ) - bu t tha t wa s hardl y th e point . Then , havin g ha d Brow n dra w u p a n agreement, Lawrenc e first suggeste d confinin g th e scop e t o Italia n painting , an d then decide d t o kee p th e agreemen t i n hi s ow n hand s til l h e ha d a reactio n t o a more restricte d scope , fro m Nige l d e Gre y o f th e Medic i Societ y (iv . 47-8) . H e thought h e migh t g o t o Florenc e t o d o i t (iv . 41) , bu t als o feare d i t migh t tak e quite a lon g time . I n fac t th e ide a seem s simpl y t o hav e lapsed ; an d on e reaso n may hav e bee n tha t hi s agen t fel t n o inclinatio n t o pres s it . Whe n Michae l Sadleir wante d 'Wintr y Peacock ' onc e mor e fo r a new antholog y - th e periodica l it ha d bee n bough t fo r havin g com e t o nothin g - Lawrenc e go t Mountsie r t o send it , agai n withou t tellin g Brown . H e ha d th e excus e tha t i t ha d alread y bee n bought (iv . 36 ; thoug h h e hope d fo r a littl e mor e money ) - bu t thes e wer e hardly th e way s t o cemen t th e ne w relationship . An d whe n Curti s Brow n discovered tha t Lawrenc e ha d bee n correspondin g wit h Seeke r abou t whethe r Mr Noon Par t I o r Aaron y s Rod shoul d b e don e first, h e objecte d sharpl y enoug h to ge t Lawrence' s attentio n (iv . 27) . Lawrenc e ha d though t hi s ne w agen t mor e 'obedient' tha n Pinke r (iv . 29) ; but now , thoug h continuin g t o dea l wit h Seeker , he warned : 'Fo r th e Lord' s Sake , don't le t Curti s Brow n imagin e I write yo u an y business. I t i s high treaso n i n hi s eyes ' (iv . 35) . 655
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Relations wit h Seeke r wer e stil l uneve n too . A t last , afte r mor e dela y i n th e printing, th e Englis h Women in Love wa s publishe d o n 1 0 June - five year s afte r it wa s originall y written . Moreove r bot h Curti s Brow n an d Seeke r wer e please d with Par t I o f Mr Noon (iii . 710) , an d despit e it s brevity , Seeke r though t h e could sel l i t as a short nove l a t 6 / - (iii . 71 7 an d n . 2) . However, h e propose d no t to coun t thi s a s on e o f th e five book s o f hi s contrac t wit h Lawrence , bu t a s a pleasant extr a - whereupo n Lawrenc e preferre d Seeke r t o bring ou t Aaron's Rod instead, an d wai t fo r th e completio n o f Mr Noon (iii . 730) , whos e prospectu s h e now expande d t o three parts , takin g th e stor y o f Gilber t an d Johann a t o 191 9 (iii. 667 ; iv . 35) . I t wa s thi s correspondenc e tha t raise d Curti s Brown' s hackles ; but al l three finally agree d tha t th e rearrangemen t woul d b e sensibl e - thus , a s i t turned out , ensurin g tha t Par t I o f Mr Noon woul d no t b e publishe d i n Lawrence's lifetime , sinc e h e neve r finished Par t I I (whic h wa s no w t o en d i n 1914), an d neve r starte d Par t II I a t all . An d t o Lawrence' s shar p annoyance , Seeker rejecte d th e psycholog y book , increasin g th e contras t wit h Seltze r wh o published i t tha t May . Unfairly , Lawrenc e calle d Curti s Brow n 'a n idiot ' fo r even offerin g i t t o Seeker , who m h e no w though t 'absolutel y useless a s a publisher, sav e o f novels o r librar y books ' (iv . 27-8) ; thoug h h e sensibl y di d no t say suc h thing s t o them . I f Seeke r woul d no t d o th e psycholog y book , h e sai d crossly, h e shoul d no t ge t Sardinia either . There was now als o a problem abou t th e latter . Fo r thoug h Jut a ha d don e hi s trip t o th e islan d an d produce d eigh t illustration s fo r th e boo k i n suitabl y 'flat ' colours (iv . 35) , whic h Lawrenc e an d Fried a like d ver y muc h indeed , i t seeme d that colou r printin g migh t b e prohibitivel y expensiv e (iv . 42) . However , Lawr ence discovere d a German printe r wh o woul d d o th e block s fo r les s than hal f th e price whic h th e Medic i Societ y woul d expec t t o pay . Rathe r tha n omi t Juta' s work, h e wa s willing no t onl y t o giv e Seeke r th e boo k afte r all , but eve n t o tak e a smaller royalt y (iv . 34 , 35); though a t th e Germa n price s h e though t i t would no t be necessary. Wit h al l this however , th e publicatio n o f the book hun g fire. When th e first Englis h review s o f Women in Love bega n t o com e in , th e contrast wit h th e America n one s wa s ver y plai n t o see . I n th e TLS ( 9 June ) Edmund Blunden , no w a regula r visito r a t Garsington , though t Lawrence' s conception o f se x a 'jubilan t brutality ' an d th e boo k otherwis e dul l an d disappointing - wit h th e exceptio n o f Hermione , tha t is . An unsigne d revie w i n the Saturday Westminster Gazette wa s jocular . 'Mr . D . H . Lawrence' s ne w an d very lon g nove l Women in Love i s no t unlik e a seriou s elaboratio n o f th e well known advertisement , "Mr . an d Mrs . Smith , havin g cas t of f clothin g o f al l descriptions, invit e inspection . Distanc e n o object." ' Lawrenc e ha d expecte d hostility, bu t wha t mos t characterise d th e Englis h reviewer s (wit h th e excep tions o f Fran k Swinnerto n an d Rebecc a West ) wa s thei r extraordinar y dismissive condescension 109 - apart , tha t is , fro m Murry , wh o ha d gon e t o
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Switzerland wit h a no w ver y il l Katherine , an d whos e revie w di d no t com e until August . Whereas th e America n reviewers , thoug h b y n o mean s uncritical , ha d give n Lawrence's boo k som e seriou s though t an d respect . John Mac y i n th e New York Evening Post Literary Review, whil e preferrin g The Rainbow, sa w th e ne w nove l as a work o f tragic power , an d if'dangerou s t o publi c morals' , onl y a s Hardy an d Meredith wer e so . As 'tragi c poet ' Lawrence' s pros e ca n b e over-lyrical , an d th e emotions o f hi s character s 'mor e frequen t an d violen t tha n th e ordinar y huma n soul ca n enjo y an d endure' , bu t Lawrenc e know s 'accuratel y wha t goe s o n insid e the huma n head' , an d ther e i s firm groundin g i n tha t dail y lif e i s studie d 'wit h a fidelity no t surpasse d b y Mr . Bennett' . Evely n Scot t wrot e th e DiaPs review ; i n some way s mor e critical , bu t n o les s respectful . Sh e allie d hi m wit h artist s wh o affirm a remarkabl y individua l visio n rathe r tha n interrogatin g commo n exis tence; but i f the mos t individua l b e th e pures t ar t i n on e way , ther e i s somethin g deathly abou t i t i n another , sinc e th e mor e intensel y 'romantic ' th e vision , th e more absolut e i t becomes . Lawrence' s character s hav e n o capacit y fo r 'th e pla y of relations' ; an d thoug h th e boo k purport s t o b e a novel , Lawrenc e migh t a s easily 'tur n philosophe r o r priest' . A t th e sam e tim e sh e ha d perceptiv e thing s t o say abou t th e characters, 110 unlik e Murr y wh o woul d clai m t o b e unabl e t o tel l them apart . It seem s Lawrenc e wa s righ t t o hop e fo r a bette r audienc e i n America . Hi s new poem s continue d t o appea r there : 'Hummin g Bird ' i n th e New Republic i n June (base d no t o n experienc e bu t Crevecoeur) , an d i n July 'Snake ' i n th e Dial and 'Mosquito ' i n th e Bookman. Whe n a t th e en d o f Jul y howeve r Mountsie r told Lawrenc e tha t Curti s Brow n wa s havin g troubl e placin g wor k i n England , he wa s s o resentfu l tha t h e wante d n o mor e sen t ou t withou t rea l likelihoo d o f acceptance (iv . 55) . Yet ne w prospect s wer e openin g u p eve n there . Fo r th e first time i n te n month s h e hear d fro m Cynthi a Asquit h wit h new s tha t he r husban d had give n u p th e la w t o tak e a jo b wit h Hutchinso n & C o th e publishers . Lawrence a t onc e arrange d t o hav e 'Fann y an d Annie ' sen t t o hi m (iv . 32) , hoping fo r a n ongoin g relatio n wit h Hutchinson's Magazine whic h ha d alread y printed 'Th e Fox' . Moreove r Kot , aske d t o ge t a ne w ni b fo r a Swa n pen , sen t also a Russia n stor y fo r Lawrenc e t o improv e hi s translatio n (iv . 37) . Thi s wa s Bunin's sardoni c 'Th e Gentlema n fro m Sa n Francisco' , abou t a ma n visitin g Capri i n th e prid e o f riches , an d bein g carrie d ou t i n a coffin. Lawrenc e grinne d with deligh t an d wa s very read y t o oblige. 111 Most inspiritin g o f all , th e arriva l o f Seltzer' s Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious set hi m thinkin g abou t expandin g it . N o soone r ha d h e finished Aaron tha n h e bega n t o mak e notes . Di d Seltze r thin k th e sale s woul d justif y a second psycholog y boo k (iii . 732) ? (Barbar a Low' s littl e boo k o n Freu d ha d done quit e well , h e ha d heard ; iv . 27.) 112 Bu t befor e an y repl y coul d com e h e 657
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had gon e ahea d anyway , becaus e 'i t is in my head' (iv . 28). It was after a week of work o n it that h e wrote abou t th e fir trees i n the letter o f 7 June; by which tim e he expecte d t o finish withi n th e month. O n 2 0 June h e was indeed 'nearl y done' , and h e hope d t o b e quit e don e i n anothe r eigh t day s (iv . 39), apparentl y knowing hi s rate o f progress exactly . Fo r he was expanding an d setting ou t anew from materia l no w thoroughly familia r - includin g th e unpublishe d 'Education ' essays - an d s o must hav e bee n abl e t o writ e severa l o f the chapter s eve n faste r than usual . Since th e origina l manuscrip t ha s no t survive d on e ca n onl y restor e th e boo k Lawrence wrot e b y ignorin g hi s extensiv e revisio n o f th e typescript s later , i n a very differen t mood . Th e origina l versio n was probably muc h mor e genia l tha n the late r ones . H e wa s happ y i n himsel f an d brimmin g wit h confidenc e afte r finishing hi s novel , an d kne w nothin g ye t o f th e review s o f Psychoanalysis. T o get th e original ton e th e Foreword mus t b e removed fro m th e book w e know. 113 Moreover, thoug h ther e wa s a goo d dea l o f joshin g o f th e 'gentl e reader ' wh o might nee d persuadin g tha t (s)h e had suc h a thing a s a solar plexus ; an d a half playful half-aggressiv e insistenc e tha t 'ther e i s no straight pat h betwee n yo u and me, dea r reader' , s o that misunderstandin g an d disagreemen t ar e inevitable, i t is highly likel y tha t a mor e corrosiv e ton e entere d onl y afte r hearin g abou t th e reviews, i n a las t run-throug h o f th e manuscrip t befor e havin g i t typed . Th e most aci d sentenc e i n th e boo k - whic h woul d lea d t o th e ide a o f callin g i t 'Harlequinade o f the Unconscious ' befor e th e final titl e was arrived a t - occur s very nea r th e beginning o f the typescript , an d is very revealin g o f the connectio n between aggressio n o r jocosity, and defensiveness. I t is easy to imagine Lawrenc e writing i n Ebersteinburg, 'Hel p m e to be serious, dear reader' , sinc e much o f the typescript i s playful; bu t not so easy t o imagine hi m going o n (in his mood then ) 'I thin k it' s becaus e I detes t yo u s o tha t I kee p o n jinglin g thes e sill y bells' . l That note , unfortunately , woul d gro w mor e pervasiv e a s he gre w t o distrus t hi s American reader s almos t a s much a s the English ones . What was th e unrevise d versio n like , i f w e pee l of f th e revisions ? Sinc e th e first page s o f chapte r 1 are autograp h revision , w e canno t kno w ho w th e boo k originally began ; bu t whe n th e typescrip t page s start, 115 Lawrenc e i s rejectin g both th e Freudia n cellarag e an d th e Pisga h o f idealism , an d assertin g tha t th e First Caus e i s unknowable. H e prefers a mystic 'Om ' to any pretension t o know ; and wil l no t tal k abou t God , though h e doe s no t thin k Go d woul d mind . Wha t he doe s insis t o n (a s agains t th e scienc e whic h confine s lif e t o a bio-chemica l phenomenon occurrin g lon g afte r th e accidenta l beginnin g an d subsequen t evolution o f th e materia l universe ) i s tha t lif e itsel f i s primary , an d tha t matte r and energ y com e fro m th e death o f living 'plasm' . Moreove r h e believes tha t 'th e dead pas s awa y direc t int o lif e itself , thoug h w e kno w no t how , and tha t the y 658
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'come hom e t o th e living' . Th e reade r ma y believ e i t o r no t - bu t th e lif e tha t i s in th e tinies t creatures , lik e the caterpilla r h e i s just no w pushin g wit h hi s pencil , was ther e a t th e beginnin g an d indee d mas th e beginnin g o f everythin g else , constantly renewe d b y deat h - a ne w Lawrencia n versio n o f th e Gospe l according t o S t John. If lif e itsel f i s primary, the n i t i s essential t o identify , withi n th e growt h o f th e fertilised cel l an d th e interactio n o f differen t impulse s i n th e creatio n o f individuals, ho w the y ma y bot h becom e mor e harmoniousl y creativ e i n them selves, an d interactivel y fulfi l th e creativ e purpos e i n al l things . Th e purpos e o f this secon d boo k goes , then, beyon d psycholog y t o a much mor e radica l differin g from Freud . Wher e Freu d i s scientis t an d sceptic , researchin g wit h no t over much optimis m th e possibilit y tha t rationa l ma n ca n lear n t o understan d th e workings o f th e psyche , an d becom e socialise d a s fa r a s humanl y possible ; Lawrence i s already implicitl y insistin g tha t a 'creative o r religiou s motive ' i s th e primary impulse , an d th e sexua l motiv e onl y secondary , thoug h i t wil l b e th e revised Introductio n tha t make s tha t poin t crispl y fro m th e start . Hi s familiar , sometimes throwawa y ton e trie s t o tak e th e religiosit y ou t o f thi s an d kee p pulling himsel f back t o earth , an d abov e al l to th e individua l huma n bein g wit h a backside i n hi s trouser s - bu t fo r hi m th e livin g individua l i s th e centr e o f a living universe . H e i s please d t o find , i n Einstein' s 'popula r exposition ' o f hi s theory o f relativity whic h h e ha d aske d Ko t t o sen d hi m befor e h e bega n t o writ e (iv. 23), 117 tha t th e ne w theor y subvert s th e ide a o f a univers e governe d b y a unitary syste m o f scientifi c laws , an d substitute s instea d th e ide a tha t cosmi c forces ca n onl y b e know n i n relatio n t o on e another . Thi s seeme d t o reinforc e his ow n denia l (sinc e 1914 ) o f an y on e absolut e principle , an d henc e hi s belie f that lif e wa s alway s a matter o f relationships - betwee n opposit e impulse s withi n the self , and betwee n selves , none paramount , al l 'purel y relativ e t o one another' , in an essentiall y creativ e pluralism . This i s therefor e th e Jun e 192 1 testamen t o f a stil l 'passionatel y religious ' Lawrence, thoug h modifie d b y wha t h e ha d foun d ou t abou t himsel f an d hi s relation wit h hi s wif e - an d b y extensio n abou t th e psych e an d relationship s generally - sinc e writin g 'Th e Crown ' an d Women in Love. I t follow s tha t muc h of it i s implicitly autobiographical . Indeed , anothe r sig n o f the ne w confidenc e o f June 192 1 i s ho w clos e t o th e surfac e th e hin t o f autobiograph y i s allowe d t o come. Ther e i s moreove r a criticis m o f th e Lawrenc e o f 1913-1 7 whic h ha s become explicit , an d i n som e respect s extreme : a repudiation o f a previous sel f as fervent a s that sel f had been . The ne w confidenc e als o show s itsel f polemically . Th e mai n argument s ar e a s before, s o i t woul d b e otios e t o trac e i n detai l ho w th e ne w boo k expand s th e earlier idea s o f th e prope r harmon y o f th e uppe r an d lowe r centres ; th e disastrous effect s o f overdevelopmen t o f th e former , especiall y throug h mother 659
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love an d prematur e consciousness ; an d th e implication s o f thi s fo r chil d rearin g and education , especiall y th e holdin g bac k o f mental knowledg e unti l th e chil d i s ready fo r i t an d want s it . Th e commonsens e abou t parenthoo d o f th e ma n wh o was remarkabl y goo d wit h children , an d th e realis m abou t educatio n o f th e Croydon teacher , whic h ha d bee n th e strength s o f th e essay s o n Educatio n an d the earlie r psycholog y book , ar e muc h i n evidenc e again : on chil d ar t a s evidenc e of ho w a chil d sees , an d thu s th e foll y o f tryin g t o forc e prematur e 'under standing'; o n spankin g (a s distinct fro m bullying ) fo r th e sak e of both paren t an d child; o n th e importanc e o f th e father' s rol e i n upbringing ; o n th e foll y i n se x education o f reducin g sex t o anatomy , o r attemptin g t o creat e awarenes s fo r which th e chil d i s no t ready ; o n th e crim e o f involvin g childre n i n th e relatio n between parents ; o n ho w moder n parent s damag e thei r children , an d moder n upbringing produce s s o man y faile d marriages . Thes e ar e wha t giv e th e boo k it s permanent valu e and challenge . Yet ther e is , eve n i n Jun e 1921 , a pushin g t o extremes , a goading . Ther e should b e no schooling befor e th e ag e of ten, thump s th e ne w polemi c (a s agains t the mor e carefu l curriculu m fo r th e 'Educatio n o f th e People') . Onl y a few hav e any rea l capacit y fo r menta l education ; s o th e vas t mas s o f peopl e shoul d no t b e taught eve n t o rea d o r write . Hierarchica l class - an d gender-thinkin g become s overt. Ther e i s a small clas s wh o ar e 'bor n t o think' , bu t th e 'mas s o f th e peopl e must not think . I t blast s al l thei r lif e an d thei r fulnes s an d thei r happiness ' an d this i s eve n true r o f women . Th e 'distracte d Brunnhild ' shoul d b e 'pu t t o slee p again withi n th e rin g o f fire' . Fo r onl y b y obeyin g one' s instinctiv e nature , fre e from th e ideolog y o f equality an d universality , ca n 'th e sou l wak e and live' . Boy s and girl s ar e differen t b y nature , shoul d b e kep t apar t a s lon g a s possible , an d should b e educate d ver y differentl y fo r a wholl y differen t for m o f life . Th e germs o f suc h idea s ha d appeare d speculativel y before , bu t the y ar e throw n down no w a s gauntlet s - whic h man y wil l wan t t o thro w back . Fo r eve n i f i t i s realised tha t th e pugnacit y i s a reactio n t o wha t Lawrenc e sa w a s a dangerou s overbalance i n th e opposit e direction , a raising o f th e voic e t o ge t th e necessar y attention, a gadfl y stinging , suc h idea s wil l appea r t o man y peopl e 'reactionary ' in a much mor e pejorativ e sense . However i t i s whe n th e Lawrenc e o f 192 1 proclaim s th e opposite of wha t th e Lawrence o f 1912-1 7 ha d believed , tha t w e begin t o se e how suc h idea s relat e t o what h e ha d com e t o thin k th e mai n challeng e o f hi s life : th e nee d t o overcom e his ow n dependenc e o n woma n (mother , mother-substitute , wife) , an d t o stan d primarily fre e an d alone , thoug h married . Fo r now , a s autobiographica l confes sion loom s jus t belo w th e surface , i t i s also possibl e t o gaug e th e strengt h o f hi s reaction agains t himself, through hi s precis e sense , now , o f th e exten t o f th e damage h e ha d suffere d throug h love-of-woma n - an d no t onl y i n hi s childhood . One migh t perhap s star t fro m wha t look s on e o f th e oddes t o r eve n th e mos t 660
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rubbishy feature s o f th e psycholog y here : hi s readines s no w t o diagnos e hi s ow n physical defect s an d stat e o f healt h i n psychologica l terms . H e ha d alway s instinctively believe d tha t on e go t il l becaus e one' s lif e was wrong . No w (legibl y between th e lines ) w e ca n se e hi m pinnin g dow n th e exac t reason s i n hi s ow n case. I t wa s throug h bein g brough t u p b y hi s mothe r t o b e to o lovin g (t o her ) that h e i s no w vulnerabl e t o consumption , an d als o t o feve r an d constipatio n because th e heart , lung s an d live r ar e mainl y controlle d b y th e uppe r centres , and overdevelopmen t o f these cause s hyperactivit y an d burning-up , o r blockage . To underdevelo p th e voluntar y centres , o n th e othe r hand , i s t o hav e troubl e with one' s teeth . Hi s 'thick ' an d 'squat ' nos e show s hi m t o b e 'sensua l sympathetic', rathe r tha n 'sensua l voluntary ' whic h woul d hav e give n hi m a nos e high an d arched . (Lawrenc e ma y b e th e firs t sinc e Walte r Shand y t o tak e th e nose a s a sympto m o f healt h o f character. ) An d i t i s als o livin g to o muc h fro m the uppe r centre s tha t cause s peopl e t o g o shortsighte d - th e revisio n wil l ad d 'in a n endles s objectiv e curiosity' . (H e alway s conceale d hi s nee d fo r readin g glasses an d wa s neve r photographe d o r describe d a s wearin g them. ) Defect s i n the sel f brin g abou t defect s i n relationship , wit h od d physica l consequences : such a s th e strang e feeling s i n th e wrist s (describe d i n The Trespasser, Sons and Lovers an d The Rainbow) whic h com e fro m dislocatio n o f th e 'psychi c current ' between individuals . Al l o f whic h ma y soun d curiou s - bu t th e importan t point i s no t th e validit y o f th e causa l explanation s bu t rathe r th e natur e o f Lawrence's self-criticism , th e dept h o f his feelin g abou t havin g been damage d b y being to o loving , an d no t independen t an d singl e enough . (Wil l Brangwe n an d Skrebensky a s wel l a s Aaro n fal l int o perspective , agains t Birkin' s warines s o f love an d th e importanc e o f th e ful l curren t a t th e bas e o f hi s spine. ) I t follow s that Lawrence' s reactio n agains t dependin g o n Fried a a s mother-substitut e i s again n o mer e anti-femal e prejudic e bu t a worr y abou t hi s ow n nature : tha t being alread y to o lovin g an d to o read y t o giv e himself , h e woul d b e increasin g the damag e t o himsel f an d hi s lung s i f h e wen t o n succumbin g t o Frieda' s constant deman d t o b e loved , a s h e ha d t o hi s mother's . H e no t onl y ha d t o become mor e independent , stiffenin g hi s backbon e an d hi s whol e 'posture ' towards th e worl d - a s h e argue d wa s ver y importan t fo r parent s t o ensur e i n their childre n - bu t h e als o had t o become les s vulnerabl e t o love , becaus e o f th e existing overdevelopmen t o f hi s ow n 'sympatheti c centres' , an d underdevelop ment o f his 'voluntary ' ones . From th e perspectiv e o f 1921 , the vie w o f gende r tha t ha d pervade d 'Hardy ' and The Rainbow was dangerous, i n tha t i t allowed th e psycholog y appropriat e t o the unitar y impuls e (i n 'Hardy' , female ) t o invad e th e individua l man . Nothin g is mor e strikin g i n th e ne w psycholog y tha n th e tota l repudiation , now , o f th e idea o f bisexualit y tha t ha d bee n a t th e centr e o f th e majo r work . Th e 'Hardy ' had occasionall y slippe d int o apparentl y identifyin g wha t i t calle d 'Female ' wit h 661
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women, an d 'Male ' wit h men , bu t th e ide a tha t ever y individua l perso n was actually a mixture an d conflic t o f 'male ' wit h 'female ' was th e centra l one , fro m which suc h slip s wer e momentar y aberrations . I n The Rainbow moreover , h e ha d not onl y deliberatel y reverse d th e previou s gende r typin g bu t ha d als o ensured , after a 'choric ' preamble , tha t al l th e individua l character s wer e differin g mixtures o f what coul d jus t a s well be called 'Go d th e Father ' an d 'Go d th e Son ' as 'male ' an d 'female' . No w howeve r h e radicall y denie s wha t h e ha d affirme d before. No t a single cel l i n a man, h e no w insists , i s female , no r a single cel l i n a woman male . An d h e totall y denie s th e existenc e o f an y intermediat e sex whic h had s o intereste d hi m fro m hi s firs t readin g o f Carpente r wit h Jessie , t o th e thoughts abou t hi s ow n homosexua l elemen t firs t expresse d i n 1913 ; an d the n through th e year s o f questionin g an d self-challeng e whic h culminate d i n th e 1918 essa y o n Whitman . No w h e declare s (rathe r implausibly ) tha t eve n th e most effeminat e mal e o r mannis h femal e i s mal e o r femal e throug h an d through. Thi s ne w intransigenc e agai n betray s anxiety , thoug h les s abou t hi s sexuality no w tha n hi s excessively unitar y an d 'sympathetic ' impulses . The furthe r consequenc e o f a n absolut e divisio n o f gende r i s a matchingl y absolute divisio n no w betwee n th e role s o f me n an d wome n - wit h agai n a repudiation o f the emancipate d womanhoo d whic h ha d mad e th e heroine s o f hi s major wor k s o interesting . H e ha d see n thei r desir e fo r greate r individuality , activity an d freedo m a s a necessary par t o f thei r nature , whil e deplorin g som e o f the effect s - particularl y o n thei r abilit y t o giv e themselve s an d marr y - o f overdeveloping thi s a t th e expens e o f th e othe r side . H e ha d regarde d hi s wor k as striking a blow fo r wome n 'bette r tha n th e suffrage' , an d woul d certainl y hav e proclaimed himsel f a feminist . W e hav e howeve r bee n watchin g th e desir e fo r greater mal e freedom , singlenes s an d creativ e purpos e culminat e - i n th e Education essay s - i n a correspondin g desir e t o limi t th e rol e o f women . I n th e new boo k h e i s wholly intransigent . Girl s mus t b e kep t altogethe r separat e fro m boys fo r a s lon g a s possible , an d educate d fo r domesticity . Th e creatio n o f th e modern independen t woma n ha s prove d a disaster . (Her e i s wher e moder n feminist enmit y t o Lawrenc e ha s on e o f it s roots , ofte n withou t realisin g ho w opposed i t is to the visio n o f his two greates t novels. ) Again, moreover , on e ma y detec t behin d thi s a n anxiet y abou t himsel f an d a deep-seated grievanc e abou t Frieda . I t woul d appea r (readin g betwee n hi s line s on moder n women ) tha t her defective upbringin g - whic h ha d ensure d als o tha t Else's an d Nusch' s marriage s woul d g o wron g - ha d combine d wit h Weekley' s Victorian adulatio n an d Gross' s idealisatio n o f he r a s th e Ne w Sexua l Lifegive r to giv e he r a n altogethe r wron g an d inflate d ide a o f herself . (Perhap s Lawrenc e had als o contribute d t o thi s i n hi s wor k betwee n 191 3 an d 1917 , havin g bee n s o deeply i n lov e wit h th e woma n h e wa s now criticising , an d s o awakened int o ne w life b y an d throug h her. ) Thi s ide a o f herself, moreover , wa s th e majo r facto r i n 662
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her stubbor n refusal , a s h e sa w it , t o giv e hi m th e recognitio n a s a ma n an d acknowledgement a s a leader whic h h e fel t hi s ver y bein g require d i f he wer e t o believe i n himsel f an d achiev e hi s life' s work , i n th e fac e o f a hostile world . Th e more isolate d an d vulnerabl e h e ha d becom e sinc e 1915 , and th e mor e lackin g i n recognition outside , th e greate r hi s nee d t o b e acknowledge d a t home . (Sh e o f course appeare d neve r t o doub t he r ow n wort h - thoug h he r rag e whe n sh e fel t herself dismisse d a s merel y th e artist' s wife , o r exclude d a s a lesse r intelligence , might mor e subtl y sugges t otherwise. ) Som e clas s feelin g als o wen t int o Lawrence's view . Th e ne w boo k als o cast s a n interestin g ligh t backwar d o n Sons and Lovers. Th e mai n charg e stand s o f cours e agains t th e mothe r - bu t th e charge agains t th e father , now , woul d b e tha t h e ha d no t stoo d u p t o an d fough t against hi s wif e enough , ha d no t playe d hi s fatherl y rol e i n stiffenin g th e backbones o f hi s childre n an d (th e revisio n adds ) abov e al l ha d no t uphel d the collectiv e purpos e i n lif e whic h al l me n nee d t o have , agains t th e domesti c claims o f th e woman . I f Lawrenc e ha d writte n th e boo k i n 192 1 i t woul d hav e come ou t ver y ver y different . Bu t w e ca n als o se e i n Walte r Morel' s clums y an d inarticulate attempt s t o asser t himsel f - 'It s m a a s bring s th ' mone y whoam , no t thee' - th e clas s basi s o f Lawrence' s feelin g tha t a ma n ha d t o b e maste r i n hi s own househol d i f h e wer e t o respec t himself , an d continu e t o b e a ma n amon g men wit h som e backbone . Revealingly, a fascinatin g chapte r o n dream s adde d anothe r dimensio n t o hi s disagreement wit h Freu d o n th e inces t motive . H e insist s tha t mos t dream s ar e mere debri s fro m th e day , brough t abou t b y physica l processes , an d o f n o significance. Ther e ar e howeve r dream s s o intens e a s t o b e sign s o f som e dee p scotch i n th e psyche , and recurren t dream s o f a mother o r a sister ar e likel y t o b e such. H e clearl y ha d thes e himsel f (compar e th e drea m i n Kangaroo). Howeve r he doe s no t se e the m a s product s o f th e 'inces t desire' . Indeed , h e believe s tha t what i s significan t i s th e revulsio n fro m th e drea m whe n on e wakes ; an d therefore tha t suc h dream s usuall y wor k b y inversion , meanin g th e opposit e o f what the y suggest . Thu s a sexual fantas y wit h mothe r o r siste r a s objec t implie s a stron g desir e t o escap e thei r power , whic h one' s wakin g revulsio n accom plishes. A Freudia n woul d se e thi s a s naiv e rationalisation , thoug h ther e ca n b e no doub t o f Lawrence's desir e t o escap e mother-fixatio n an d woman-love , o r hi s struggle t o succee d i n doin g so . Bu t mos t significan t o f al l i s th e thinl y veile d confession i n th e origina l versio n tha t suc h dream s ca n also come abou t becaus e a moder n wif e 'doe s no t giv e t o he r husban d th e tru e wifel y connection . Sh e i s too muc h th e man , th e cigarette-smoker , th e independen t an d authoritativ e party' 12 - s o th e unconsciou s ma y substitut e th e perso n o r person s wh o firs t gave him th e vita l support tha t hi s wif e refuses . What begin s t o com e mor e an d mor e int o focu s i n al l thi s i s th e elemen t o f truth i n Franci s Bret t Young' s theor y abou t Lawrenc e - onc e cleane d o f it s 663
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crudity an d condescension . Thoug h thi s coul d neve r b e a formul a t o explai n somebody s o comple x an d changeful , i t doe s see m possibl e t o understan d Lawrence's reactio n i n 1918-21 , fro m wha t h e ha d previousl y upheld , i n term s of somethin g lik e self-revulsio n i n it s ver y exces s an d extrem e contrariness . I t was no t becaus e h e wa s unlovin g tha t Lawrenc e proclaime d himsel f anti-lov e and determine d t o fre e himsel f fro m dependin g o n Frieda , bu t becaus e h e fel t himself t o b e too loving, an d henc e a living exampl e o f ho w overdevelopmen t o f the sympatheti c centre s produce d disease . I t was becaus e h e ha d com e t o se e himself (partl y throug h Frieda' s scorn ) a s to o subjec t t o menta l consciousnes s and 'soul-mush ' tha t h e ha d becom e suc h a spokesma n fo r th e lowe r centres , and s o anti-intellectua l i n hi s idea s o n education . Ye t w e canno t simpl y revers e the term s a s Bret t Youn g did . Lawrenc e wa s also, always, th e contrar y o f wha t he no w denounce d i n himself . H e alway s ha d i t i n hi m t o b e a loner . Everyon e who me t hi m wa s immediatel y impresse d b y hi s quit e extraordinar y sensuou s vitality an d perceptiveness . Similarl y i t was becaus e h e kne w onl y to o wel l wha t u sex-in-the-head" wa s tha t h e fulminate d agains t it ; bu t h e kne w also , b y experience, ho w th e "religious " experienc e o f sexua l deat h an d rebirt h coul d change on e utterly , an d mak e on e obliviou s an d free . I t was becaus e h e was sic k and tire d o f endles s conflic t withi n himsel f - thoug h recognisin g it s necessit y that h e could wis h s o much fo r homogeneit y an d tota l maleness . The typescrip t end s wit h a n accoun t an d affirmatio n o f renewa l throug h sex , the 'polarisatio n o f th e individua l bloo d i n ma n toward s th e individua l bloo d i n woman', whic h shoul d als o b e th e dynami c activatio n o f th e lowe r centre s without interferenc e fro m th e highe r ones , dee p callin g t o deep . Alas , much sex is unsuccessfu l no w becaus e 'uppe r an d menta l consciousnes s s o powerfull y overlays th e spontaneou s dynamism ' tha t matin g become s chiefl y companion ship, me n an d wome n ge t sex i n th e hea d 'an d a sa d tim e afte r it' , an d th e se x roles ar e becomin g reversed . 'Th e goo d tim e fo r emancipate d wome n i s alread y over', partl y becaus e the y canno t b e happ y goin g agains t thei r tru e selves , an d partly becaus e 'th e sou l o f ma n ha s t o b e stron g an d reall y fearless , i f woma n i s to res t dee p an d seren e i n th e beaut y o f he r ow n nature' . Ma n mus t 'burs t ne w bounds int o ne w consciousness , ne w activity , ne w being' ; 'read y t o live fo r something beyon d himsel f an d woman ' fo r onl y the n ca n h e mak e hi s woman trul y happy . XI Of f Agai n - t o Zell-am-Se e About 1 8 June , Frieda' s mothe r cam e t o spen d som e tim e wit h the m i n Ebersteinburg, thoug h te n day s late r sh e becam e unwel l agai n an d ha d t o g o back t o th e Stif t (iv . 44) . A t th e beginnin g o f July, Els e an d he r thre e childre n would arriv e fro m Bavaria . Lawrenc e wa s fond o f them al l - bu t h e ha d go t use d 664
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to tim e b y himself , an d 'On e ca n hav e enoug h o f relation s a t clos e quarters ' (iv. 46) , as h e ha d fel t abou t hi s ow n famil y a t Mountai n Cottage . Whe n h e ha d finished th e ne w boo k o n th e unconsciou s h e wa s restles s an d kee n t o mov e even i f onl y t o pa y th e promise d visi t t o Nusc h a t th e vo n Schreibershofe n holiday vill a in Austria , a move tha t woul d hav e Frieda' s approval . He ha d bee n expectin g Mountsie r fro m London , bu t instea d hi s agent ha d se t off t o Irelan d (repeatin g th e patter n o f hi s fatefu l travel s i n 1916 ) an d th e Ara n Isles (iv . 38) . No w h e was read y t o come ; onl y t o find tha t th e Lawrence s wer e about t o leave . He showe d som e irritatio n a t ye t anothe r sudde n chang e o f mind , until reminde d tha t hi s own plan s ha d no t bee n exactl y stable , and tha t Lawrenc e had bee n expectin g hi m sinc e Ma y (iv . 46 ) - bu t ther e wa s a simpl e solution . Lawrence intende d t o wal k throug h th e Blac k Fores t t o Constanc e (wher e h e thought visa s fo r Austri a woul d b e eas y t o arrange) , the n cros s th e lak e t o th e Austrian borde r a t Bregen z an d g o t o Zell-am-Se e b y train . S o Mountsie r coul d come fo r a fe w day s a t Ebersteinburg , d o th e wal k an d th e journe y t o Zell , an d set out thenc e t o Vienna an d point s east . He cam e o n 5 July, bearin g gifts . Sinc e Lawrenc e ha d bee n utterl y unwillin g to g o t o Englan d eve n t o se e hi s sisters , h e ha d hope d tha t Ad a (a t least ) migh t come acros s t o German y wit h Mountsier ; an d thoug h tha t ha d no t happened , she ha d arrange d t o sen d wit h hi m (fro m th e Clarkes ' tailorin g an d outfittin g stock) a n overcoa t fo r Lawrence , an d som e blu e serg e fo r a coa t an d skir t fo r Frieda (iv . 50) . Lawrenc e ha d als o aske d Mountsie r t o brin g tea , an d Kolyno s toothpaste, an d som e cotto n underpant s (iv . 39 , 46 ) - friend s comin g fro m England wer e always pressed int o servic e a s couriers, as the Whittleys ha d been . Two day s late r the y wer e off . (I t i s unclea r whethe r Fried a walke d too , or me t them a t Constance . Lawrenc e ha d hope d t o persuad e he r t o d o a tou r i n th e Forest i n June, bu t sh e di d no t shar e hi s deligh t i n walkin g tour s an d ma y hav e left th e tw o me n t o themselve s fo r tha t part , wit h som e relief. ) Th e wal k too k five days , an d othe r tha n tha t i t was Tearfull y hot ' (iv . 52 ) n o accoun t o f i t ha s been left . Thi s suggest s i t wa s les s pleasan t tha n Lawrenc e ha d hope d - an d certainly whe n i t wa s ove r i t becam e clea r tha t Mountsie r ha d no t improve d o n closer knowledge . It i s a small shoc k t o realis e afte r al l th e agenc y correspondenc e tha t Lawrenc e had onl y eve r bee n a t close quarter s wit h Mountsie r twice , ver y briefly , fou r an d a hal f year s before , an d i n th e charmin g compan y o f Esthe r Andrews . Esther' s letters t o Mountsie r i n earl y 191 7 sho w he r stun g b y hi s criticis m o f he r work . They sugges t a man o f very positiv e opinion s an d som e sharpnes s o f tongue; an d he had twic e ticke d Lawrenc e of f quit e sharpl y fo r inconveniencin g him . Tha t i n itself woul d no t hav e mattered , sinc e Lawrenc e rathe r like d peopl e wh o stoo d u p to him withi n a context o f real sympathy . Wha t h e canno t hav e like d however , a s they walke d an d talke d throug h five day s now , abou t wha t Lawrenc e ha d bee n 665
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doing an d hi s hope s fo r th e future , wa s t o fin d tha t Mountsie r ha d n o sympath y at al l wit h hi s lates t work . H e dislike d th e firs t hal f o f Aaron's Rod an d too k i t upon himsel f t o 'lecture ' Lawrenc e abou t it , certai n tha t i t woul d b e unpopular . He als o ioathe s me ' - Lawrenc e woul d tel l Seltze r - 'becaus e I wil l develo p m y Unconscious ideas' (iv. 57) . Moreover, whe n the y go t to Zell Mountsier produce d a list fro m hi s luggage , obtaine d fro m Curti s Brown , whic h seeme d t o sho w ho w difficult Brown' s 'magazin e man ' ha d foun d i t t o plac e Lawrence' s wor k i n England. I n fac t - i t becam e clea r late r - ther e ha d als o bee n a fe w successes , more tha n fo r som e tim e i n hi s nativ e land . Th e Nation and Athenceum, wit h Murry n o longe r a t th e helm , publishe d th e modifie d Whitma n essa y i n July ; and th e English Review woul d prin t 'Pomegranate ' an d 'Medlar s an d Sorb Apples' i n August , an d 'Th e Revolutionary ' i n October . Bu t Lawrenc e tol d Curtis Brow n t o sto p tryin g Englis h magazine s unles s h e though t ther e wa s a real chanc e o f a sympatheti c reception , whic h agai n wasn' t conduciv e t o goo d relations - an d h e had t o apologize late r whe n h e learne d th e truth . Mountsier ma y hav e though t h e wa s only doin g hi s dut y a s an agent , t o war n his autho r agains t a wron g turnin g i f h e hope d fo r a n audienc e i n America . Bu t to persuad e an y write r t o accep t suc h medicine , howeve r well-intended , require s a certai n tact , an d al l th e mor e s o wit h Lawrence . Tac t doe s no t see m t o hav e been on e o f Mountsier' s stron g points , an d thoug h Lawrenc e seem s t o hav e taken th e lecturin g withou t rag e (i f also wit h n o intentio n o f changin g hi s ways) , he di d fin d hi s agent 'rathe r overbearing ' (iv . 61) , as he tol d Am y Lowell . S o ha d she, ove r th e placin g o f Lawrence' s ne w poems . Mountsie r ha d indee d mad e a little troubl e betwee n Lawrenc e an d Amy , thoug h i t wa s soo n cleare d up . Sh e denied tha t sh e ha d eve r said , a s Mountsie r ha d reported , tha t onl y 'Th e Mosquito' o f th e ne w poem s wa s wort h publishing , thoug h sh e ha d indee d urged th e edito r o f th e Bookman t o tak e it ; an d sh e ha d onl y refraine d fro m pushing th e other s becaus e Mountsie r ha d mad e i t plain tha t h e though t thi s wa s his business . Indee d sh e though t Lawrenc e on e o f th e fe w exception s t o th e decline i n Englis h poetry. 1 Mountsie r ma y hav e take n a cu e fro m Lawrence' s resentment - characteristicall y a s fleeting a s it wa s intemperat e - o f Amy's dela y in respondin g t o th e poems , (befor e h e hear d th e reason) ; but i f so h e wa s muc h mistaken. Fo r Lawrenc e like d Amy , had grea t reaso n t o be gratefu l an d woul d i n fact admir e he r ne w poem s i n Legends as much a s she liked his . Indeed, proximit y t o Mountsie r bega n t o pu t hi m of f th e ide a o f Americ a again: ' I go t suc h a strong distast e fo r Yankees, ' h e confessed , 'seein g hi m ever y day, tha t a t th e momen t wil d horse s wouldn' t dra g me ' (iv . 67) . Th e 'fearful ' heat canno t hav e helped a s they trudge d toward s Constanc e - an d no r woul d th e debacle whe n the y go t there . Fo r fa r fro m bein g abl e t o obtai n Austria n visa s o n the spot , the y ha d t o sen d thei r passport s t o Berlin , an d wai t ove r th e weeken d to ge t the m back . I t was no t unti l th e Monda y evenin g tha t the y coul d cros s th e 666
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lake an d ge t int o Bregen z - 'afte r muc h wrat h spen t o n passpor t officials ' (iv. 53) , an d appropriatel y ami d a thunderstorm . Ther e the y too k a n overnigh t train t o Innsbruck . I t wa s no t unti l th e Wednesda y tha t the y arrived , wearily , i n Zell-am-See. Mountsie r staye d i n a hote l fo r a fe w days , befor e leavin g fo r Vienna an d Budapest . H e lef t hi s heav y luggag e behind , intendin g t o retur n briefly o n hi s wa y bac k t o Paris , whic h h e di d i n mid-Augus t (iv . 69) . There wa s no quarrel , bu t Lawrenc e wa s not sorr y t o se e him go . Fortunately Zel l wa s delightfull y restorative . Th e vo n Schreibershofen s ha d a villa ('Vill a Alpensee' ) an d a far m i n Thumersbac h o n th e othe r sid e o f th e lake , facing snow y mountains . Fried a ha d a room wit h a balcony, visibl e o n postcard s (e.g. iv . 56) . I t wa s warm , bu t no t to o ho t becaus e th e mountain s wer e s o close . They swa m ever y da y fro m th e boathouse . Ther e wer e fou r boat s i n whic h t o row acros s th e lake , o r jus t g o boating ; an d ther e was a pon y tra p fo r expeditions int o th e mountain s an d th e valleys . Ther e wer e Nusch , he r husband Max , thei r daughte r Anna , age d 2 0 an d engage d t o b e married , an d son Hadubran d age d 16 . (Attractiv e mother , so n an d daughte r ar e vividl y described i n 'Th e Captain' s Doll' . ) Lawrenc e ha d alway s like d Nusch . H e cannot hav e ha d muc h i n commo n wit h th e Prussia n Majo r an d ex-aide-de camp - bu t thoug h th e marriag e wa s abou t t o end , an d Nusc h t o marr y Emi l Krug, ther e wa s nothin g bu t kindnes s i n thei r reception . The y climbe d th e Hundstein - twic e th e heigh t o f Snowdon , Lawrenc e tol d hi s niec e Pegg y (iv. 60) . They wen t i n th e pon y tra p t o Ba d Fusc h an d the n o n foo t t o Ferleite n to loo k a t th e grea t slopin g whit e mas s o f th e glacie r belo w an d th e wate r rushing strong , fas t an d lou d (iv . 56) . Muc h o f th e sno w ha d melted , an d ther e were beautifu l flowers highe r up . Austria' s econom y wa s i n ruin s wit h rampan t inflation, bu t ou t i n th e countr y supplie s wer e plentifu l i f yo u ha d money ; th e exchange rat e wa s 3,00 0 schilling s t o th e poun d wher e pre-wa r i t ha d bee n about 2 3 (iv . 67) ; an d nobod y seeme d t o care . A rathe r inebriate d se t o f messages wen t of f t o Frieda' s mothe r fro m a festiv e lunc h i n whic h fou r chickens wer e 'gobbled ' an d fou r litre s o f peach-punc h 'guzzled ' befor e th e women go t uppity ; an d Lawrence , certai n tha t sh e wa s muc h clevere r tha n he r daughters, begge d th e Barones s t o protec t he r 'littl e son-in-law ' agains t the m (iv. 63) , while youn g Ann a feare d sh e migh t b e sick . By th e sam e token s i t was no t a plac e t o work . H e ha d though t h e migh t typ e the res t o f Aaron's Rod y but ther e wa s no typewriter , s o the secon d hal f ha d t o b e sent o n 2 1 Jul y t o b e type d i n Curti s Brown' s offic e an d returne d fo r a final revision (iv . 54) . Havin g bee n sen t a proo f o f 'Wintr y Peacock ' b y Seltze r h e made som e alteration s an d forwarde d i t t o Sadlei r fo r hi s ne w collectio n o f stories The New Decameron (iv . 5 7 an d 3 1 n . 1) . (H e reserve d th e righ t t o include i t i n a secon d collectio n o f hi s stories , bu t late r tol d Sadlei r h e woul d delay bringin g the m togethe r fo r a yea r o r more. ) Havin g no w hear d th e ba d 667
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
news o f th e America n review s o f Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious, h e aske d Seltzer t o sen d the m fo r hi m t o answe r i n a n introductio n t o th e ne w boo k defiantly threatenin g als o t o writ e ye t anothe r psycholog y boo k i n thre e years ' time, despite Mountsier (iii . 57) . 'The Gentleman fro m Sa n Francisco' had gone to Violet Monk t o be typed: now he wrote to ask Thayer t o print i t in the Dial, saying how good it was, and asking whether he would not like also to do extracts from Sea and Sardinia (iv . 58-9) . (A later letter claim s - perhap s a fiction - tha t it wa s partl y becaus e h e hear d Thaye r wante d 'trave l sketche s a l a Twilight in Italy' tha t h e ha d writte n it ; so should no t Thaye r liv e up t o hi s responsibilit y now? - iv . 73) Here, it turne d out , wa s another misunderstanding . Thaye r ha d never see n th e typescrip t Mountsie r though t h e ha d rejected. 128 Lawrenc e thought tha t give n a good moo d h e migh t writ e a novella se t i n Zell ; but apar t from proof s and the revisions of Aaron's Rod when he got it back in early August (iv. 65) - an d perhap s anothe r loo k a t hi s ne w psycholog y book , h e di d n o creative work in his month in Austria. After a while , tha t bega n t o bothe r him . T o Rosalin d h e wrot e tha t i t wa s 'impossible t o wor k i n thi s country : n o wit s left , al l gon e loos e an d scattered ' (iv. 67). (Only no w di d h e lear n tha t sh e ha d bee n divorce d i n April ; bu t ha d taken Bridge t amicabl y t o se e Godwin i n Zurich , wher e h e ha d becom e Jung's assistant and was about to marry a second time - ' a fool', Lawrence thought.) T o Catherine h e wrot e tha t h e wa s feelin g th e pressur e o f peopl e again . Kin d though th e von Schreibershofens were , 'I fee l I can't breathe. Everything i s fre e and perfectl y easy . An d stil l I fee l I can' t breathe . Perhap s i t i s on e can't liv e with peopl e an y mor e - e n menage . Anyhow, ther e i t is . Frieda love s i t an d i s quite bitte r tha t I sa y I wan t t o g o away . Bu t ther e i t i s - I do ' (iv . 63-4). Though ther e mus t hav e bee n rea l difficult y wit h Frieda , h e wa s adamant tha t he woul d g o by himself i f necessary. H e talke d o f going to Mera n (t o mak e u p perhaps fo r neve r havin g go t there i n 1912 ) before goin g on t o Florence wher e Perceval wa s arranging fo r the m t o hav e Nelli e Morrison' s flat. The Carswell s were hesitating between Austri a and Ital y fo r thei r holidays . Would Donal d ge t forms t o renew the Lawrence passports, and certify them , since he was a lawyer and Lawrence knew no such responsible person , doctor or clergyman i n Austria (iv. 56) . Frieda's wa s so full o f visas that h e di d no t kno w how she woul d fit in another t o ge t he r int o Italy ! Soo n i t wa s decided tha t the y woul d mee t th e Carswells in Florence in September, and soon also the problem of getting Frieda to leave was solved. The vo n Schreibershofen househol d wa s breaking up at the end of the month, and on the 1 5 August the weather broke. It began to rain, and became quite chilly (iv. 70). Summer seeme d ove r - an d nowher e wa s worse in the rain than the Alps. On the 18t h he sent the revised typescript of Aaron's Rod off t o Americ a (iv . 74), havin g alread y sen t Seltze r a Foreword , presumabl y defending th e book against th e criticisms h e had hear d fro m Mountsier . (I t has 668
AUGUST 192O-SEPTEMBE R 1 9 2 I O
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not survived. ) H e tol d Seltze r tha t i t wa s a s h e wante d i t t o be , 'th e en d o f th e Rainbow-Women in Love novels : an d m y las t word ' (iv . 71) . Mountsie r ha d lef t Zell fo r th e secon d tim e o n th e 16th : 'Than k goodness' , sai d Lawrence , 'w e shal l not b e trouble d wit h hi m i n Italy ' (iv . 72) . More sno w fel l o n th e mountains ; an d he longe d no w fo r th e sout h again . A lette r cam e fro m Thaye r invitin g hi m t o stay a t Westerland-Sylt u p o n th e Nort h Sea , but h e refuse d wit h a mock-horro r that was no t entirel y pu t o n (iv . 72-3) . 13° He woul d die , h e sai d i f he di d no t ge t to wher e yello w figs were , withi n th e nex t fortnight . T o th e Whittley s h e wrot e details abou t Austri a shoul d the y wan t t o holida y there , bu t agai n suggeste d tha t they mee t instea d i n Florenc e (iv . 77-8) . He ha d hope d t o leav e b y Saturda y th e 20th , bu t wa s persuaded t o sta y longe r for a las t Alpin e expeditio n wit h Frieda . Sh e wanted , sai d he , 't o se t foo t o n a glacier' (iv . 76) . So , soo n afte r daw n o n th e 20t h the y rowe d of f acros s th e quie t lake t o Zell , wher e fro m th e tow n squar e a touris t limousine , bi g enoug h fo r eight passengers , too k the m ou t pas t th e en d o f th e lak e an d u p a valley , t o th e picturesque blac k an d whit e village o f Kaprun , an d the n u p anothe r deepe r an d darker valle y t o th e bi g touris t hote l wher e th e roa d ended . Ther e was the n a three-and-a-half-hour trai l u p t o th e Mooserboden , th e hig h valle y tha t stretched t o th e foo t o f th e Karlinge r glacier . Lawrenc e woul d recreat e th e excursion i n th e mos t vivi d detai l whe n h e go t roun d t o writin g hi s 'Tyrolean ' story 'Th e Captain' s Doll ' on e o f hi s ver y finest - a t th e en d o f th e year . The coupl e i n th e stor y hav e a picni c lunc h o f sausage , ne w brea d an d Hungarian win e b y a n ic y strea m i n th e flattis h 'desolate ' valle y o f th e Wasserfallboden, 'i n th e changin g sunshin e . . . wit h mountai n flowers scentin g the snow-bitte n air' , watchin g riche r tourist s g o by wit h a mule-drawn chai r an d thinking fo r a moment tha t th e worl d seeme d o n holiday , almos t lik e befor e th e war. Ye t i t woul d neve r b e th e sam e again . The n ther e wa s a stee p clim b fro m the en d o f that valle y u p t o a third level , th e Mooserboden , slopin g t o th e foo t o f the glacier , whic h stretche d it s paw s ou t toward s the m lik e an immens e blu e ice bear lyin g acros s th e height . O n thi s las t clim b i t rained , col d rai n - an d Hannele/Frieda (accordin g t o th e story ) ha d lef t he r coa t dow n belo w i n th e limousine. Fortunatel y ther e wa s a las t touris t lodg e u p ther e wit h ho t coffee , but als o o f cours e (th e stor y says ) wit h al l th e othe r tourists , includin g 'man y Jews o f the wron g sor t an d th e wron g shape' , al l in Tyrolea n costume . An d s o t o the grea t glacie r - sweatin g wate r i n th e lat e summe r an d thu s slipper y an d dangerous t o clim b on , bu t amazin g an d frightenin g i n it s worl d o f deathl y ice , its 'fearfu l depths , an d th e colou r burnin g tha t acid , intens e blue , intense r a s th e crack wen t deeper'. 132 Ther e i s no wa y o f tellin g whethe r o r ho w fa r th e tensio n between Hepbur n an d Hannele , o r hi s half-humiliatin g an d half-heroi c scrambl e in ordinar y shoe s ont o th e glacier , o r th e flaming ro w i n th e limousin e o n th e way home , migh t hav e ha d a basis i n fact , sinc e al l wer e demande d b y th e story . 669
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
But whateve r th e trut h o f those, th e expeditio n brough t th e mont h i n Austri a t o an unforgettabl e conclusion . He ha d mean t t o leav e o n th e Monday , bu t thei r departur e was pu t of f onc e more. Finall y o n Thursda y 2 5 Augus t the y di d se t of f fo r Florenc e an d Nelli e Morrison's quie t fla t a t 3 2 Vi a de i Bard i - th e hous e traditionall y pointe d ou t a s Romola's. I t prove d coo l an d dar k an d the y wer e b y themselve s again , al l t o hi s delight, sinc e h e wa s tired afte r th e journe y - bu t possibl y no t t o Frieda's , facin g a lon g separatio n fro m he r famil y again . Bu t i n an y cas e compan y bega n t o arrive, and soo n ther e wa s so much socia l lif e tha t wor k agai n becam e impossible . Mary Canna n cam e at th e en d o f the month , Juta a t the beginnin g o f September , the Carswell s abou t te n day s late r fo r a week an d th e Whittley s fro m th e 12t h t o the 20t h whe n the y wen t wit h th e Lawrence s t o Siena . Mar y like d th e flat an d the meal s o n th e terrac e s o muc h tha t sh e though t sh e migh t ren t th e extr a bedroom - though , muc h a s h e like d her , Lawrenc e hinte d broadl y i n hi s obedient enquir y t o Nelli e tha t h e woul d prefe r thing s t o remai n a s the y wer e (iv. 81) . Sh e di d howeve r ren t a roo m o n th e to p floor, jus t above . Moreove r they als o picke d u p wit h Florentin e acquaintances , thoug h Rosalin d was away i n the Apennine s agai n - whic h wa s jus t a s wel l perhaps , sinc e the y woul d otherwise hav e bee n boun d t o visit , an d Fried a ha d shar p eye s an d ear s a s fa r a s he wa s concerned . He introduce d th e Carswell s t o th e Marches a d e Torrigian i an d he r family , but unfortunatel y thi s wa s on e o f severa l way s i n whic h th e reunio n wit h Catherine an d Donal d di d no t g o a s pleasantl y a s bot h side s ha d expected . I t began i n misadventure , wit h Lawrenc e meetin g severa l train s i n vain , onl y fo r the Carswell s t o arriv e unmet . The y di d howeve r hav e suppe r togethe r th e nex t evening, th e n t h , Lawrence' s thirty-sixt h birthday , an d wer e happ y 'i n a quie t sort o f way' . Bu t Catherin e wa s no t draw n t o th e d e Torrigianis , o r t o anothe r young woma n who m sh e coul d no t late r identif y (perhap s Iren e Whittley ) wh o tried t o preven t he r fro m takin g a snapsho t o f a laughin g Lawrenc e o n th e balcony, fearin g i t migh t irritat e him . Sh e though t Mar y Canna n - no w white haired bu t a s elegan t a s eve r - ha d 'exquisitel y prett y features ' an d charm , bu t when i n he r absenc e Fried a insiste d o n showin g he r Mary' s expensiv e clothes , Catherine wen t ver y Scot s an d refuse d t o fee l thei r texture ; an d wheneve r sh e walked wit h Mary , fel t he r eleganc e suc h a reproac h t o he r ow n dowdines s (i n the clothe s sh e ha d brough t fo r a walkin g tour ) tha t sh e almos t bega n t o dislik e her. I f Lawrence' s aristocrati c Italia n friend s prove d n o attractio n t o Catherine ; Catherine's prove d eve n les s s o t o Lawrence . Sh e ha d Anglo-Italia n cousin s i n and nea r Florence , bu t the y 'showe d themselve s blin d alik e t o Lawrence' s genius an d hi s char m an d h e dislike d wha t h e sa w o f them' . A pla n fo r th e Lawrences t o visi t a cousi n i n he r Castell o Rugger o som e te n mile s ou t o f Florence, wher e th e Carswell s wer e spendin g th e weekend , prove d a disaster . 670
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The Lawrence s faile d t o arrive ; bu t tha t turne d ou t t o b e becaus e Catherine' s cousin ha d quit e forgotte n t o sen d th e carriag e fo r the m t o th e tram-terminus . By th e tim e the y wer e remembere d - apparentl y withou t a qual m b y thei r hostess - th e Lawrence s ha d go t tire d o f waitin g aroun d o n a very ho t day , an d had gon e bac k t o Florence . Lawrenc e mad e n o fus s abou t this , but i t continue d to bothe r Catherin e wh o nagge d o n an d o n abou t i t t o Donald , unti l h e complained 'good-naturedly ' t o Lawrence : ' "You ough t t o hi t her! " sai d Lawrence fiercely - "Hi t he r hard . Don' t le t he r scol d an d nag . Yo u mustn' t allow it , whatever i t i s yo u hav e done! " W e al l laughe d an d fel t refreshe d . . . ' (said Catherine) . A final misunderstandin g happene d i n Siena , wher e the y wer e supposed t o mee t u p again , bu t di d not . Catherin e say s tha t Lawrenc e suddenl y hated th e plac e an d left ; Lawrenc e tha t th e Carswell s ha d no t com e whe n arranged (probabl y th e sourc e o f th e temper) , an d h e ha d t o leav e i f h e wer e t o catch th e Brewster s i n Capr i befor e the y saile d fo r Indi a (iv . 89 ) - a pity, eithe r way!13 Bu t thoug h th e reunio n ha d no t bee n a great success , Lawrenc e assure d her tha t th e friendshi p remaine d constant : 'i t seeme d onl y a moment w e sa w yo u - bu t th e sympath y i s there' (iv . 91) . There wa s a goo d dea l o f festivit y i n Florence . O n th e ev e o f th e Festiva l o f the Blesse d Virgi n ( 8 September) th e Arn o wa s crowded wit h boat s and coloure d lanterns. The y wen t t o Fiesole , wit h it s marvellou s vie w ou t t o th e Apennines , the Arn o comin g dow n th e valle y a s i f in steps , th e cit y s o feminin e o n th e plai n below, th e hill s dotte d wit h pin k an d whit e villa s an d th e blac k flames o f cypresses, abou t whic h h e ha d writte n hi s poe m th e yea r before . Th e Dant e festival wa s celebrate d tha t yea r wit h a re-enactmen t i n costum e an d armou r o f the triumphan t processio n hom e fro m th e battl e o f Campodin o abou t 126 0 (iv. 84-5) , tha t Lawrenc e ha d writte n abou t i n Movements. ' I can' t wor k here' , he complaine d (iv . 83) , and n o wonder . H e projecte d a collection o f stories se t i n Italian citie s (iv . 80) , beginnin g wit h a Venetia n on e whic h h e actuall y starte d (iv. 83) , but th e ide a cam e t o nothing . Thre e fine poem s wer e al l he ha d t o sho w for hi s mont h i n Florence : 'Fish ' whic h i s partl y se t i n an d labelle d Zel l bu t was written i n th e flat b y 9 Septembe r (iv . 83) ; an d 'Bat ' an d 'Ma n an d Bat ' whic h were bot h se t i n th e Vi a de i Bard i an d sen t of f o n th e 17t h (iv . 88) . Afte r that , however, h e go t nothing done . Worse, ther e arrive d thre e annoyin g an d disquietin g bit s o f news . I n lat e August cam e wor d fro m Ko t o f Murry's scathin g attac k o n Women in Love i n th e Nation (iv . 79) . Th e novel , wrot e th e erstwhil e friend , i s 'a n underworl d whos e inhabitants ar e know n b y thi s alone , tha t the y writh e continually , lik e th e damned, i n a frenzy o f sexual awareness' . Th e autho r seem s t o thin k tha t h e ca n distinguish on e fro m another , bu t th e reade r cannot . Lawrenc e als o seem s t o believe tha t 'Thes e writhing s ar e th e onl y real , an d thes e convulsiv e raptures , these ooz y beatitude s th e onl y en d i n huma n lif e . . . h e i s deliberately , 671
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
incessantly, an d passionatel y obscen e i n th e exac t sens e o f th e word. ' Lawrence , not havin g rea d th e piec e yet , wa s dismissive . Ye t Murr y kne w tha t th e prosecution o f The Rainbow fo r obscenit y ha d bee n se t i n trai n b y reviews . Tha t he ha d hal f a mind t o encourag e a prosecution, whil e typicall y coverin g himself , became eve n cleare r whe n h e fel t 'sur e tha t no t on e perso n i n a thousand woul d decide tha t [th e experience s o f th e lovers ] wer e anythin g bu t th e crudes t kin d o f sexuality, wrappe d u p i n . . . th e languag e o f Highe r Thought ' - thoug h (h e back-pedalled) th e exceptio n migh t jus t perhap s b e right . H e ende d wit h th e charge tha t Lawrenc e ha d 'murdere d hi s gifts ' an d tha t hi s visio n wa s 'sub human an d bestial , a thing tha t ou r father s ha d rejecte d whe n the y bega n t o ris e from th e slime' . * Bu t thoug h vengeanc e an d th e desir e t o damag e ma y wel l have playe d a par t i n this , ther e seem s n o reaso n t o doub t tha t Murr y fel t genuine horro r a t a visio n o f huma n being s s o differen t fro m hi s ow n - thoug h the iron y o f this, i n th e admirer o f Dostoevsky, i s also apparent . And thre e week s late r (cam e new s no w fro m Seeker ) Horati o Bottomley' s jingoistic gutte r pape r John Bull ha d mad e n o bone s abou t demandin g tha t th e police shoul d ac t agains t Women in Love. Seeke r wa s no t to o worrie d abou t that . But mor e dangerou s (h e thought ) wa s the threa t o f a lawsuit b y Phili p Heseltine , claiming a libel o n hi m an d Pum a i n th e character s o f Hallida y an d th e Pussu m (iv. 87 , 8 8 an d n . 2) , whic h Seeke r too k seriousl y enoug h t o withdra w th e boo k for th e momen t (iv . 87 , 8 8 an d n . 2 ; havin g sol d 1,12 3 copie s b y 1 1 July, tw o months before) , an d t o sugges t tha t Lawrenc e shoul d alte r th e nove l again . Then o n th e 15th , th e sam e da y a s the new s abou t Heseltine , ther e arrive d fro m Seltzer th e hostil e America n notice s o f Psychoanalysis. Probabl y throug h gritte d teeth, Lawrenc e calle d thes e 'quit e amusing ' (iv . 86) ; and determine d mor e tha n ever t o answe r them . Thi s wa s bad new s howeve r fo r hi s hope s o f a ne w audience i n America , th e wors t o f all these blows . Perhaps Aaron's Rod ha d bette r wai t unti l th e spring , thoug h Lawrenc e wondered whethe r magazine s migh t prin t extracts , lik e th e Novar a episode , o r the riot . An d wha t abou t th e ne w boo k (whic h h e wa s thinkin g o f callin g 'Chil d Consciousness' o r 'Th e Chil d an d th e Unconscious' ; iv . 93) , i f it s predecesso r had bee n receive d s o badly ? H e wa s havin g i t type d i n Florence , an d woul d i n any cas e need t o revise. But al l would hav e t o wait until h e got back t o Taormina . Now Florenc e seeme d nois y an d tiresome , an d h e longe d fo r th e peac e o f Fontana Vecchia . First, however , ther e woul d b e Capri , t o hav e Fried a mee t th e Brewsters , an d to bi d the m good-bye . Afte r th e brie f loo k a t Sien a o n th e 21s t the y wen t t o Rome wit h th e Whittleys , wher e the y ha d a 'lovel y day ' an d drov e ou t int o th e Campagna (iv . 105) , an d the n t o Naple s wher e the y lef t the m rathe r th e wors e for wea r afte r wha t Lawrenc e calle d thei r 'battering ' holida y (iv . 92) . (Iren e seems the n t o hav e falle n ill. ) B y th e 23r d th e Lawrence s wer e wit h th e 672
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Brewsters i n Capri , finding th e mutua l likin g confirme d an d deepened . Ear l thought Fried a jus t th e righ t wife : 'Onl y a woma n a s stron g an d generou s a s Mrs. Lawrence , wit h he r lov e fo r vita l experience s an d indifferen t t o th e smal l things, woul d hav e suite d Lawrence. ' Lawrenc e fo r hi s par t like d an d wa s amused b y Achsah' s siste r wh o wa s stayin g wit h them . Onc e agai n th e Brewster s were touche d b y hi s friendshi p wit h Harwood . H e wen t carefull y ove r th e girl' s herbarium, treatin g he r collectio n wit h du e dignity . H e listene d t o a stor y sh e had written ; an d tol d he r a long an d amusin g yar n o n th e sam e subjec t i n return . There wa s another ridiculou s Lawrenc e mim e o f an aestheti c lad y playin g o n th e psaltery. The y left , wit h 'thei r arm s ful l o f present s fo r th e contadina famil y a t Fontana Vecchia' . The final journe y howeve r wa s disastrous . No t onl y wa s th e trai n t o Giardin i two hour s late , bu t the y ha d bee n turne d ou t int o th e rai n twice , onc e fo r a n overheated axl e an d the n t o discar d thei r carriag e altogether . Whe n the y finally arrived, o n th e nigh t o f 28 September, i t was in a storm o f wind an d rai n - an d i t went o n rainin g fo r days . Bu t a t leas t i n Fontan a Vecchi a ther e was peace , an d silence. 'Never again' , Lawrenc e vowe d 'wil l I das h abou t a s w e dashe d thi s year ' (iv. 91-2) .
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CHAPTER TWELV E
• October 1921-Februar y 192 2
A SENSE O F F I N A L I T Y
I can't belong any more. (iv. 125 )
I 'Th e thread s ar e broken ' To wak e u p i n Fontan a Vecchia , eve n i n th e rain , was t o b e newl y awar e o f it s loveliness: 'th e grea t windo w o f th e easter n sky ' (iv . 90) ; 'th e se a ope n t o th e east, t o th e hear t o f th e east , awa y fro m Europe ' (iv . 91) ; th e peac e an d quiet ; and befor e lon g th e sunshine , th e hibiscu s flowers comin g an d 'Suc h a lovel y morning world : foreve r morning . I hat e goin g nort h - an d I hat e sno w grinnin g on th e top s o f mountains. Jamais plus ' (iv . 97). It was still 'bette r tha n an y o f th e other places ' (iv . 92). Yet i n hi s first lette r afte r arrivin g back , Lawrenc e tell s th e Brewster s tha t 'm y heart - an d m y sou l ar e broken , i n Europe . It' s n o use , th e thread s ar e broken . I will g o east , intendin g ultimatel y t o g o west , a s soo n a s I ca n ge t a ship : tha t is , before March ' (iv . 90) . He ha d bee n threatenin g t o leav e Europ e fo r year s - bu t this time , thoug h h e migh t ye t wave r abou t th e direction , h e neve r wavere d about going . H e woul d tak e Fontan a Vecchi a fo r anothe r quarte r only , henc e that decisiv e 'befor e March ' - determine d tha t thi s leas e should b e th e last. l If onl y th e Brewster s wer e goin g t o Indi a an d Ceylo n i n January rathe r tha n October, h e wrote , h e woul d hav e gon e along . Hi s ne w Ranani m woul d b e t o settle somewher e nea r the m - no t t o meditat e o f course, but t o d o ' a bi t o f quie t manual wor k together' , ye t eac h 'i n ou r ow n solitud e an d labour . There , I thin k that's th e ultimat e o f wha t I want ' (iv . 95) . Tha t suggest s Nort h Americ a i n th e end (perhap s recallin g hi s ide a o f takin g Carlot a Thrasher' s farm) , bu t h e woul d wait t o hea r abou t Ceylon . Ultimatel y then , eas t di d poin t west , h e though t onc e more: perhap s t o a far m nea r th e Rockies , o r Britis h Columbia , o r Mexico . ' I would muc h rathe r approac h Americ a fro m th e Pacific ' (iv . 95) . H e woul d hav e to be i n o r nea r th e US A i n orde r t o liv e by hi s writing ; bu t th e journe y eas t was not onl y th e mor e decisiv e brea k wit h Europe , i t woul d als o avoi d th e Yanke e industrialised an d urbanise d sid e of America tha t h e dreaded . The pos t tha t wa s waitin g i n Fontan a Vecchi a wa s no t welcoming . Ther e wa s the cuttin g fro m John Bull: whos e banne r headlin e denounce d ' A BOO K T H E 674
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POLICE S H O U L D BAN' , an d 'LOATHSOM E STUD Y O F SEX DEPRAVITY - M I S LEADING YOUT H T O UNSPEAKABLE DISASTER' . Ther e wer e th e page s Seeke r
wanted hi m to chang e i n the light o f Heseltine's threa t o f legal actio n - and letters fro m bot h Curti s Brow n an d Mountsier, 2 i n agreement 'tha t Aaron y s Rod can't be accepted' (iv . 90) . Lawrence's reactio n t o that wa s to affirm, t o Seltzer, tha t th e book wa s 'th e last of my seriou s Englis h novel s - th e end of The Rainbow, Women in Love line . It ha d to be written - an d had to come t o such a n end' (iv. 92-3). If Seltzer als o thought i t 'dangerous' , h e should identif y exactl y wha t wa s so; and Lawrence would conside r 'small ' alterations , an d write anothe r explanator y forewor d t o ease its way. He was still toyin g wit h th e idea of the Venice stor y whic h h e no w thought migh t eve n mak e a novel: n o sex, no problems, n o love an d not meant for Englan d eve r (bu t in all these respects , i t turned out , not interesting enoug h to ge t itself written) . I n th e meantime h e had set to wor k revisin g th e ne w psychology book , an d had written a 'rathe r funny ' Forewor d answerin g th e American critic s of its predecessor . The sam e day , 8 October, h e sent Seeke r th e alterations t o Women in Love which th e publisher ha d suggeste d migh t avoi d a prosecution. H e reversed the colouring of Halliday an d the Pussum, s o she became blue-eye d an d fair instea d of lookin g lik e an Egyptian princess , an d he became dar k an d swarthy instea d of pale and blond. The man-servant becam e Ara b not Hindu, th e flat was now in St John's Wood , an d its statuettes becam e Sout h Pacifi c rathe r tha n Africa n - wit h some strain o n credibility . Lawrence stil l though t Aaron migh t b e offered t o Seeke r afte r Seltze r had seen it , bu t tol d Mountsie r h e di d no t muc h car e abou t th e verdict , sinc e 'English publicatio n n o longer interest s m e much' (iv . 96). Th e next da y he went further, tellin g Am y Lowel l ho w 'in direction ' h e thought o f himself no w as 'more tha n hal f American . I always writ e reall y toward s America : m y listener is there' (iv. 97). H e asked Mountsie r wha t wa s in his USA account afte r deductin g the agent' s percentage , ho w much ough t t o be left t o cover expense s i n America and henc e ho w much woul d b e available fo r the journey h e now firmly mean t to take (iv. 96) . In mid-October , havin g finished revisin g wha t h e had now named Fantasia of the Unconscious, h e began sortin g an d collecting hi s short stories , hopin g t o make a volume tha t woul d clea r hi s desk fo r departure, an d help to earn a s much as possibl e befor e the y left . Ther e ha d arrived ou t of the blue a lette r fro m Edward Garnett , askin g fo r an opinion o n a book b y Emil Luck a (iv . 99-100). 4 Lawrence wa s quite intereste d i n the book, whic h divide d humanit y int o thos e who live d o n the frontiers o f human understandin g t o widen them , an d those who staye d i n the middle territor y - bu t he would no t provide th e professional opinion. H e now had absolutely n o idea, he said, wha t Englis h reader s woul d or 675
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wouldn't like . H e too k th e opportunity , however , t o enquir e afte r Bunn y (no w married) bu t als o afte r 'Th e Primros e Path' , finishe d i n Kingsgat e i n 191 3 an d never published . A t first , no t feelin g 'muc h lik e work ' (iv . 103) , h e was 'jus t pottering' wit h th e ne w collectio n (iv . 105) , bu t i n lat e Octobe r h e revise d another unpublishe d piece , turnin g 'Th e Miracle ' int o 'Th e Horse-Dealer' s Daughter'; an d b y 24t h Octobe r h e ha d begu n t o writ e anew . Or , mor e accurately, a n earlie r stor y ('Th e Morta l Coil' ) ha d rekindle d hi s imagination , and wa s changing , extraordinarily , int o somethin g fa r bigge r an d muc h better . An enquir y t o Donal d Carswell , abou t th e wearin g o f tarta n trew s b y officer s o f the Scottis h regiments , show s tha t Lawrenc e ha d embarke d o n 'Th e Captain' s Doll'. So hi s firs t mont h bac k i n Taormin a ende d muc h bette r tha n i t ha d begun . Looking bac k fro m th e 26t h indeed , Lawrenc e confesse d t o his diar y tha t h e ha d 'felt seed y & hateful al l this month' . Th e summe r o f dashing abou t ha d lef t hi m 'worn t o ribbons ' (iv . 92), and ha d onl y serve d t o pu t hi m 'i n a perfect fur y wit h everything . . . Th e olde r I get , th e angrie r I become , generally . An d Ital y i s a country t o keep yo u i n a temper fro m da y t o day : the people , I mean' (iv . 98). The earl y autum n rain s als o coincide d wit h th e retur n o f th e expatriates , an d the recommencemen t o f th e roun d o f tea-parties . Lawrenc e make s thes e soun d more Mad-Hatteris h tha n ever . H e mimic s th e Brewsters ' mannis h frien d Mis s Elizabeth Fisher , o n th e madness of thei r easter n journey , an d o n he r 'AW-ful ' neighbours: 'Di d yo u EVER ! I hat e th e place . I simpl y HAT E th e place . An d I hate th e PEOPL E - O h my ! - An d th e flies ! . . . ' I n Wood' s house , 'mor e gilde d and stuccoe d ever y day' , a widowe r violinis t playe d 'Th e Rosary ' wit h suc h sentiment tha t hi s ver y fiddle-string s swelled , whil e th e unfortunat e Bowdwi n (who ha d bough t Rocc a Bell a fro m Mari e Hubrech t an d ha d bee n mugge d nearby) looke d on , 'i n a pal e yello w summe r sui t an d a blac k vulcanit e kin d o f port-hole ove r hi s lef t eye ' (iv . 101-2) . Ther e was a gatherin g o f expatriate s i n which 'Th e Duca ' exhorte d the m t o rais e £25,000-^30,00 0 t o buil d a n Englis h Church - onl y t o hav e th e piou s Mabe l Hil l refus e t o hav e anything whateve r t o do wit h it , unles s i t wer e buil t o n her lan d (iv . 105 , 139) . Fried a woul d hav e enjoyed al l thi s - Lawrenc e break s of f a lette r becaus e sh e i s 'raging ' t o g o t o a party a t Rosali e Bull' s (iv . 102 ) - bu t Lawrenc e vowe d i t ha d al l pu t hi m i n another tempe r fo r thre e weeks . Thi s wa s no t improve d b y Rut h Wheeloc k coming bac k fro m th e US A wit h a cop y o f th e Octobe r Dial whic h ha d 'ver y much cu t up ' a n extrac t fro m Sea and Sardinia; an d th e new s tha t Seltze r wa s about t o publis h th e boo k itself , an d Tortoises, and neithe r publishe r no r agen t had deigne d t o tel l the author (iv . 107) . By 2 November , however , h e wa s recovere d enoug h t o mak e fu n o f himself : how h e ha d begrudge d Baro n Stempe l hi s te a an d ha d bee n s o disagreeabl e t o poor Grazi a tha t sh e crep t abou t i n fea r an d tremblin g (bot h o f hi m an d o f he r 676
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husband's ghost , afte r th e Da y o f th e Dead) , ho w h e ha d writte n 'suc h ver y spiteful letter s t o everybod y tha t no w th e postma n neve r comes ' an d ho w eve n the goa t was scare d t o hav e he r kid , s o of course ther e wa s no mil k (iv . 108) . Bu t apart fro m gettin g th e revise d Fantasia of the Unconscious away - s o named , h e said, 't o preven t anybod y tyin g themselve s int o knot s tryin g t o "understand " it ' (iv. 109 ) - i t ha d bee n mostl y a miserable mont h unti l th e end . He di d no t wan t to understand anybod y an y more , or b e understood , h e sai d - bu t h e di d wan t t o work no w and finish clearin g the desk , s o they coul d go . He ha d no t weakene d i n tha t resolve . Indee d a s hi s ba d moo d lifte d whe n hi s creative imaginatio n bega n t o flow again , h e joke d tha t h e wa s thinkin g o f making a will : 'No t tha t I' m goin g t o die . Bu t t o giv e mysel f a nic e sens e o f finality' (iv . 105) . II Grump y 'comedy ' - an d a Ne w Prospec t The review s o f Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious were i n trut h a bitte r blow , since h e ha d ha d suc h hope s o f a new audienc e i n America . H e claime d t o hav e found hi s critics amusing , an d tha t hi s new Forewor d answerin g the m was funn y - bu t hi s irritatio n showe d through . H e trie d t o laug h of f on e revie w b y makin g a cartoo n o f himsel f accordin g t o it s recip e - thoug h missin g its jest o f how , lik e the practica l jok e i n Owe n Wister' s The Virginian, h e ha d 'mixe d thos e babie s up'. H e pretende d t o mistake another' s headline , 'Dumb , Unabl e t o Read, Writ e Man i s Lifer ' a s referrin g t o him , instea d o f someon e sentence d t o gao l i n Colorado - befor e finding himsel f o n th e bac k pag e unde r 'Umbilica l Secrets ' and s o on. Bu t h e woul d hav e don e bette r t o ignore th e savant s o f the Pittsburg h Dispatch, th e S t Loui s Star, th e Sa n Francisc o Bulletin, th e Portlan d Evening Press, etc . Hi s boo k wa s caviar e t o th e general , an d th e primnes s o f reviewer s who obviousl y coul d no t understan d whe n the y di d no t activel y mistak e shoul d not hav e bee n a surprise , howeve r annoying. 6 H e migh t hav e hope d tha t th e New Republic would b e les s 'sarky' , an d i t wa s a jolt t o b e tol d b y someon e o f th e calibre o f Mencken tha t hi s idea s ha d bee n anticipate d i n a pamphlet b y Mothe r Elizabeth Towne , whic h h e ha d turne d int o highfalutin ' nonsens e - bu t hi s gri n comes ou t a s a grimace. Worse, hi s irritatio n bega n t o affect hi s imaginin g o f the reade r h e was writin g to. H e becam e openl y aggressive : ' I war n th e generalit y o f readers , tha t thi s present boo k wil l see m t o the m onl y a rathe r mor e revoltin g mas s o f word y nonsense tha n th e last . I woul d war n th e generalit y o f critic s t o thro w i t i n th e waste paper baske t withou t mor e ado.' 7 The troubl e wit h tha t i s that he ma y be take n a t his word . Seltzer ver y sensibl y decide d tha t i t wa s n o advertisemen t fo r th e ne w boo k thus t o cal l attentio n t o th e poo r receptio n o f it s predecessor , s o th e answer s t o 677
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the critic s wer e cut . Th e initia l not e o f ba d tempe r remaine d howeve r i n th e Foreword a s printed, an d a reader wh o ha s onc e bristle d a t it , ma y kee p doin g s o at th e othe r 'dea r reader ' passage s i n th e tex t itself , whic h tel l hi m t o tak e i t o r leave i t alone . Th e anouncemen t o f Lawrence' s belie f i n th e los t wisdo m o f a pre-Atlantean worl d an d hi s disbelie f i n moder n scienc e i s followe d b y anothe r finger t o th e nose : 'I f m y reade r finds thi s bos h an d abracadabra , al l righ t fo r him. Onl y I hav e n o mor e regar d fo r hi s littl e crowing s o n hi s ow n littl e dunghill.' I t i s acut e disappointmen t speaking , al l th e mor e becaus e h e ha d hoped s o much fro m Americ a - bu t reader s canno t b e expecte d t o realis e that . More noteworth y i s th e statement , 'On e las t wear y littl e word' , tha t hi s philosophy - o r 'pollyanalytics ' (i.e . al l m y ey e an d Pollyanna ) i f hi s America n critics insis t - ha d bee n a product o f his imaginative writing , no t th e reverse . The novel s an d poem s com e unwatche d ou t o f one' s pen . An d the n th e absolut e nee d which on e has fo r som e sort o f satisfactory menta l attitud e toward s onesel f and thing s in general make s on e tr y t o abstrac t som e definit e conclusion s fro m one' s experience s a s a writer an d a man . Th e novel s an d poem s ar e pur e passionat e experience . Thes e 'pollyanalytics' are inferences mad e afterwards, fro m th e experience. In fact , eve r sinc e th e 'Stud y o f Thoma s Hardy ' le d t o The Rainbow, wha t Lawrence describe s i s bot h tru e an d les s tha n a fulle r truth . Hi s philosoph y came ou t o f hi s imaginativ e work , bu t the n regularl y becam e a spu r t o ne w imagining, i n a continual dialecti c betwee n exploration , understandin g an d fres h exploration. Th e wor d pla y whic h convert s a reviewer' s America n jib e int o a term, both playfu l an d serious , for th e analysi s of complex experienc e graspe d b y imagination, als o gav e hi m a clu e t o anothe r defensiv e strategy . H e decide d t o call th e boo k 'Fantasia' , hopin g t o disar m hideboun d mind s b y callin g i n mor e imagination an d play o f ide a - thoug h wit h n o les s underlyin g seriousnes s (o r challenge). This becam e on e o f th e thre e majo r feature s o f hi s final revisio n o f th e typescript i n Octobe r - th e other s bein g a counterpoin t o f increase d intransi gence toward s hi s readers, and a new readines s t o appea r i n th e tex t i n person . He ha s no w realise d (perhap s fro m Barbar a Low' s book ) tha t i t wa s unfai r t o write a s thoug h Freu d ha d describe d nothin g bu t th e unconsciou s - thoug h h e does no t specif y wha t mor e wa s involved , an d stil l seem s t o thin k tha t Freu d attributed a sexua l motiv e t o al l huma n activity . Howeve r h e no w underline s their crucia l differenc e b y insistin g tha t 'th e essentiall y religiou s o r creativ e motive' i s th e original one i n al l livin g things , th e sexua l motiv e bein g secondar y and i n conflic t wit h i t - a radicall y religiou s rathe r tha n scientifi c vie w o f th e world. Bu t instea d o f th e origina l argument , tha t th e materia l univers e spran g from creativ e lif e rathe r tha n th e othe r wa y round , h e no w tell s a parabl e (o r fantasy) abou t th e first littl e livin g creature . Similarly , i n on e o f th e mos t 678
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memorable passage s o f th e book , h e no w interrupt s hi s discussio n o f th e bab y with a dramatise d outburs t o f impatienc e - an d turn s t o imagin e th e inhuma n life o f the tre e agains t whic h h e i s sitting, an d th e vas t fores t o f which i t i s a part . (This insertion , a t thi s stage , i s a dramati c reminde r o f ho w spontaneit y i n Lawrence i s a spontaneity i n th e ac t o f writing.) Th e boo k become s mor e vividl y personal, bu t a t th e sam e tim e th e 'unconscious ' i s firml y budge d fro m Freud' s limitation t o huma n beings . I n severa l othe r place s th e revisio n become s mor e lively, and imaginative . Conversely, however , th e receptio n o f the earlie r boo k ha s made Lawrenc e fa r readier t o challeng e o r eve n possibl y outrag e hi s readers , bot h sexuall y an d politically. Th e gende r typin g become s eve n stronge r i n revisio n - an d th e reaction agains t th e insistenc e o n love , and particularl y mother-love , a s a kind o f bullying i s eve n fiercer, eve n violent , a s i n th e adde d conclusio n t o chapte r iv : ' "You lov e mother , don' t yo u dear—? " Just a piec e o f indecen t tricker y o f th e spiritual will . A ma n shoul d smac k hi s wife' s fac e th e momen t h e hear s he r sa y it. Th e grea t emotion s lik e lov e ar e unspoken . Speakin g the m i s a sig n o f a n indecent bullyin g will.' 11 Seltze r cu t th e sentenc e tha t seeme d boun d t o offend . In anothe r direction , Lawrenc e become s fa r mor e explici t abou t sexua l matters . At th e en d o f chapte r i x a long insertio n deal s wit h th e birt h o f sexuality , givin g a ne w titl e t o th e chapter . Dissatisfie d wit h th e breadt h o f Freud' s ide a o f se x which permit s hi m t o ascrib e sexualit y t o infants , Lawrenc e insist s tha t se x i s a dynamism leadin g t o coition , th e frictiv e interactio n o f surcharge d mal e an d female sea s of blood. (Seltze r mad e som e cut s i n th e analysis. ) Afte r thi s th e ma n is liberate d t o ne w purposiv e an d collectiv e relation s wit h othe r me n whic h ar e not sexua l i n tha t prope r sense , an d whic h Lawrenc e passionatel y advocates . Indeed, me n wh o centr e thei r live s o n sexua l relationshi p ma y drif t int o purposelessness an d anarch y - a dange r i n unstructure d America . O n th e othe r hand w e must ensur e tha t i n th e proces s o f pubert y childre n ar e no t mad e over conscious o f o r guilt y abou t th e dawning s o f sexualit y i n them . Father s mus t speak openly , eve n bluffl y an d dismissivel y abou t erections , we t dream s an d masturbation - Seltze r snippe d a phrase o r tw o agai n - bu t se x educatio n shoul d be neithe r lovey-dove y no r biological . Se x shoul d b e a grea t an d convulsiv e mystery whe n peopl e ar e read y fo r it , no t poisone d wit h s o calle d 'knowledge ' and 'understanding' . Before w e kno w it , thi s ha s becom e political . Th e chapte r end s wit h a longin g that th e mas s o f peopl e shoul d rever t t o 'living , spontaneous , origina l being' , leaving though t an d responsibilit y t o thos e capabl e o f seein g th e directio n t o th e future - suc h a s Lawrence . Indeed , i n th e mos t remarkabl e insertio n o f al l i n chapter vn , h e ha d take n u p earlie r revision s abou t th e nee d fo r a societ y structured i n term s o f levels of consciousness an d responsibility , an d ha d spelle d out hi s belie f i n hierarchica l leadershi p an d obedienc e a t ever y level . H e calle d 679
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for ' a grea t leagu e o f comrades , al l ove r America ' t o sto p i t slidin g int o anarchy , 'Each te n comrade s t o hav e a leader, th e leadin g sou l amon g them , t o who m the y will give lif e an d deat h obedience' , eac h te n decurion s t o choos e a centurion, an d so presumabl y u p (thoug h h e doe s no t explicitl y sa y so ) t o a suprem e leade r a t the head. 12 (Thi s wa s eigh t month s befor e th e creatio n o f th e ex-servicemen' s army alon g thos e line s i n Kangaroo.) Onc e agai n Seltze r wielde d hi s scissors , t o preserve th e chance s o f th e boo k i n democrati c Americ a - bu t th e effec t o f th e reception o f it s predecesso r ha d obviousl y mad e Lawrenc e mor e politicall y aggressive an d challengin g too . Much mor e genial , however , wer e hi s dramatisation s o f himsel f wit h a 'gentl e spouse' a t hi s sid e 't o di g on e i n th e rib s occasionally' . I n chapte r x h e ha d extended hi s previou s accoun t o f th e damag e don e b y mother s wh o mak e son s their lovers , int o a n accoun t o f ho w se x the n get s int o th e hea d i n narcissisti c introversion an d fascinatio n wit h one' s ow n sexualit y - wherea s fulfilmen t onl y comes throug h an d afte r lov e fo r th e other , i n purposefu l activity . Now , i n chapter x i h e i s gratefu l fo r bein g abl e t o b e alon e wit h hi s wife , eac h possessin g their ow n soul s i n peace , after thei r fierce struggle . They sa y i t i s better t o trave l tha n t o arrive . It' s no t bee n m y experience , a t least . Th e journey of love has been rather a lacerating, if well-worth-it journey .. . ... Al l the fight till one is bled o f one's self-consciousness an d sex-in-the-head . Al l the bitterness of the conflict wit h this devil of an amiable spouse, who has got herself so stuck in he r ow n hea d .. . Bu t on e fights one' s wa y throug h it , til l on e i s cleaned : th e self consciousness and sex-idea burned ou t of one, cauterised out bit by bit, and the self whole again, and at last free . But th e struggl e mus t g o on . Revisio n i n th e final chapte r positivel y encourage s men an d woma n t o fight, t o fight eac h othe r ou t o f self-consciousnes s an d falsehood, neve r inhibitin g thei r ange r o r eve n violenc e i f i t come s t o that . (Seltzer cu t bit s onc e more. ) Th e rewritin g i s again biographicall y suggestive . A man mus t no t stan d fo r hi s woma n 'flirting ' - Lawrenc e himsel f mean s mor e o f course - o r sh e fo r hi s bein g 'to o swee t an d smarm y wit h othe r people' , a recurrent complain t o f Frieda's. A man mus t tea r dow n hi s wife' s 'lovel y idea ' o f herself an d sto p he r lookin g o n hi m a s essentiall y he r lover . Sh e mus t (h e i s really addressin g himself ) b e mad e t o 'believ e i n yo u again , an d i n th e dee p purpose yo u stan d fo r . . . Comba t he r i n he r sexua l pertinacity , an d i n he r secre t glory o r arroganc e i n th e sexua l goa l . . . Mak e he r yiel d onc e mor e t o th e mal e leadership', thoug h onl y i f the man ha s somewhere t o lead to . It wa s because hi s onl y mean s o f being purposiv e wa s his writing , tha t h e ha d come t o argu e s o strongl y tha t creativ e wor k was th e centra l valu e i n life . Th e new paragrap h whic h show s wha t h e no w wante d fro m hi s marriage , ma y no t have bee n wishfu l thinkin g s o muc h a s nostalgi c memor y o f Ebersteinburg , an d 680
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what h e ha d experience d (fo r once ) a s h e cam e bac k t o th e hote l ever y da y fro m the woods , t o find a Frieda contente d wit h he r lif e o n he r ow n ground , an d gla d that h e wa s working well . Ah ho w goo d i t i s t o com e hom e t o you r wif e whe n sh e believes i n yo u an d submit s t o your purpos e tha t i s beyond her . Then , ho w wonderfu l thi s nightfal l is ! How ric h yo u feel, tired, with all the burden o f the day in your veins, turning home! Then yo u too turn to you r othe r goal : t o th e splendou r o f darknes s betwee n he r arms . An d yo u kno w th e goal is there fo r you : how rich tha t feelin g is . And yo u fee l a n unfathomabl e gratitud e t o the woma n wh o love s yo u an d believe s i n you r purpos e an d receive s yo u int o th e magnificent dar k gratification o f her embrace. That's what it is to have a wife. To whic h ther e i s a n obviou s rejoinde r - thoug h Fried a was th e las t woma n t o feel burdene d b y th e weigh t o f domesti c labour , o r frustrate d i n a desir e fo r a career o f he r own . Ye t Lawrenc e als o kne w wel l enoug h th e limit s o f he r belie f and submission . Belie f i n hi m woul d depen d no t onl y o n havin g hi s 'sou l filled with a profoun d an d absolutel y unalterabl e purpose' , bu t als o o n finding hi s male purpos e fulfille d i n collectivit y wit h othe r men . Thi s mad e i t eve n mor e important fo r hi m t o find a n audience , an d recognitio n - an d perhap s thereb y convince th e 'amiabl e wife ' o f hi s claim s t o leadership . Th e boo k was writte n for America , an d th e hop e o f confirmin g a ne w audienc e an d recognitio n ther e had bee n ver y muc h i n hi s min d a s he penne d th e origina l winsom e Epilogu e t o Columbia. But th e final one , date d Taormin a 1 5 October 1921 , a wee k afte r th e dat e o n the Foreword , share s it s defensive-aggressiv e tone . H e i s sensitiv e no w t o a n imagined charg e tha t h e i s afte r America n dollars ; thoug h a numbe r o f asse s (such a s Canna n an d Nichol s perhaps ) hav e crosse d th e Atlanti c an d bee n welcome t o nibbl e a t th e gree n (o r golden ) carro t tha t th e Statu e o f Libert y holds up . But , h e admonishe s her , hi s wor k i s no t commercial : 'Yo u can' t pa y for it , darling . I f I didn' t mak e yo u a present o f i t yo u coul d neve r bu y it. ' Ho w nice i t woul d b e i f she like d hi s bouque t o f ideas . Bu t i t i s lunatic s lik e Professo r Pickering (wh o claim s t o have detecte d lif e on th e moon) , tha t ge t he r attention . By 5 Novembe r however , a ne w an d realisti c prospec t o f Americ a ha d opened . Though Lawrenc e ha d bee n irritate d a t th e wa y th e Dial ha d cu t u p Sea and Sardinia, i t ha d bee n enoug h t o determin e Mabe l Dodg e Sterne , a ric h woma n from Buffal o wh o ha d use d he r wealt h fo r literar y an d artisti c patronag e i n Florence, Ne w Yor k an d no w i n Taos , Ne w Mexico , t o invit e hi m t o com e an d live there . O n th e edg e o f th e India n reservatio n whic h containe d th e larges t remaining puebl o community , sh e ha d buil t a room y adob e house , an d nea r i t another smalle r on e whic h sh e no w offere d Lawrenc e an d hi s 'quee n bee' . Th e Dial extrac t containe d th e vibran t passage s abou t th e Sardinia n peasants , thei r 681
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costume, an d thei r manlines s an d womanlines s whic h ha d struc k Lawrenc e s o forcibly a s amon g th e las t survival s fro m a finer ye t almos t forgotte n world . Surely suc h a write r coul d d o th e sam e fo r th e Tao s Indian s t o brin g thei r culture an d thei r predicamen t hom e t o a n unsympatheti c America ? (Sh e ha d no t only intereste d hersel f i n th e India n communit y an d it s culture , bu t ha d forme d a liaiso n wit h Ton y Luhan , a puebl o India n wh o woul d becom e he r thir d husband.) Sh e tol d Lawrenc e abou t th e Indian s an d thei r religion , wit h it s veneration fo r th e su n an d th e force s o f th e natura l world ; an d sh e sen t hi m a little 'medicine' 15 whic h sh e hope d woul d dra w hi m acros s th e wate r an d th e great Ne w Mexica n space s t o Taos , 6,00 0 fee t u p o n th e edg e o f a plain , overlooked b y th e southernmos t spu r o f th e Rock y Mountains . S o w e ar e t o picture hi m collectin g he r lette r fro m th e pos t offic e an d readin g i t a s he walke d the Corso , smelling th e herb s an d nibblin g th e medicin e a s he wen t (iv . n o ) . There i s an iron y here . Wha t mus t hav e annoye d Lawrenc e particularl y abou t the Dial extrac t wa s no t merel y th e bittiness , bu t th e consisten t purpos e o f th e cuts. Wha t ha d bee n excised , agai n an d again , wa s th e whol e characterisatio n o f himself an d th e quee n be e (mentione d jus t once ) whic h s o enliven s th e book . The Dial wa s onl y intereste d i n th e trave l material . Eve n th e scen e a t th e crossroads i n Palerm o wa s excluded , presumabl y a s to o personal , thoug h i t i s one o f the finest things . Consequentl y th e extrac t coul d hav e give n hi s would-b e patroness ver y littl e ide a o f wha t h e was lik e a s a person. Th e boo k itsel f woul d not b e publishe d unti l 1 2 December . Howeve r th e extrac t wa s no t he r onl y source o f information . Sh e kne w tw o peopl e wh o coul d tel l he r more , abou t hi s work, and abou t th e man himsel f When Huebsc h ha d sough t advic e abou t th e possibl e risk s i n publishin g The Rainbow h e ha d sen t i t t o John Ree d wit h who m Mabe l ha d ha d a love-affai r i n New York . Ther e i s n o knowin g whethe r sh e rea d The Rainbow o r whethe r Reed eve r talke d t o her abou t it , but i f he di d h e woul d hav e told he r ho w deepl y he ha d bee n move d an d tha t onl y th e grea t Russian s coul d riva l it. 16 Sh e woul d of course als o hav e bee n abl e t o rea d 'America , Liste n t o Your Own ' i n th e New Republic, togethe r wit h th e repl y t o Lippman' s critiqu e b y Mar y Austin , bot h o f whom sh e knew ; an d 'Snake ' i n th e Dial - al l o f whic h mus t hav e struc k he r a s having precisel y th e righ t kin d o f message t o white Americans . The testimon y abou t Lawrenc e an d Fried a a s person s cam e fro m Esthe r Andrews, an d (se e abov e pp . 375-6 ) presente d the m i n ver y sympatheti c an d affectionate a s wel l a s admirin g terms . (Th e remar k abou t ho w th e Cornis h 'peasants' adore d hi m - whic h Stanle y Hockin g late r though t ' a bi t much ' becomes cleare r now , a s a n answe r t o th e questio n 'Ho w woul d h e ge t o n wit h Pueblo Indians?' ) Mabe l mus t hav e me t Esthe r i n Greenwic h Villag e wher e sh e had settle d wit h Canb y Chambers , an d mus t hav e hear d tha t Esthe r ha d twic e spent som e time wit h th e Lawrence s i n Cornwall . 682
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Lawrence an d Mabe l als o share d a n interes t i n psychology , thoug h tha t was likely t o prov e a tricky subjec t sinc e sh e ha d bee n unde r analysi s b y th e foremos t American Freudian , Abraha m Brill , an d was probabl y bette r acquainte d tha n Lawrence wit h th e variou s school s o f psychoanalysis . Lawrence fo r hi s par t wa s no t hearin g o f Taos (o r perhap s eve n o f Mabel) fo r the firs t time , havin g see n photograph s o f th e plac e a t Le o Stein' s hous e i n Settignano (iv . i n ) . Mabe l ha d bee n a patro n o f Leo' s siste r Gertrud e Stei n i n earlier day s i n Florence , an d Le o ha d spen t si x months o f 191 7 in Taos whic h h e loved. Moreove r Lawrenc e ha d hear d throug h Jut a o f a n artis t Mauric e Stern e who cam e t o Anticoli , thoug h h e ha d no t me t him , an d di d no t kno w ye t tha t this wa s Mabel's secon d husband , no t he r brothe r (iv . 126) . He wrot e bac k th e sam e day , obviousl y greatl y interested , thoug h fain t alar m bells wer e als o ringing . Wa s ther e (horri d thought ) ' a colon y o f rathe r dreadfu l sub-arty people ' i n th e town ? Wer e th e Indian s 'dyin g out , an d i s i t rathe r sad? ' And wha t di d 'th e sound , prosperous American s d o i n you r region? ' - hopin g presumably t o b e answere d 'the y ranch , ther e ar e n o dam n Yankee s dow n here' . But Mabel' s majo r argumen t was absolutel y attractive : ' I believ e wha t yo u sa y one mus t someho w brin g togethe r th e tw o end s o f humanity , ou r ow n thi n end , and th e las t dar k stran d fro m th e previous , pre-whit e era . I veril y believ e that . I s Taos th e place? ' (iv . i n ) . I t seeme d tha t i t migh t be . Wa s i t a porten t tha t th e name eve n sounde d lik e Taormina? S o h e replie d tha t th e q.b . an d h e woul d lik e to come , an d tha t ther e wer e 'n o littl e bees' . Mabe l ha d writte n lyrically : wha t Lawrence wante d no w wer e practica l detail s o f wha t i t woul d cos t pe r mont h t o keep house , doin g thei r ow n wor k sinc e the y like d t o d o i t an d hate d havin g servants. An d wha t woul d b e th e bes t wa y o f gettin g there ? An d th e climate ? Not withou t it s importance, obviously , thoug h mentione d lat e and b y th e way . Garnett ha d no w sen t 'Th e Primros e Path' , an d som e advic e (t o rea d Homer ) which Lawrenc e firmly bu t humorousl y rejected : 'N o m y dea r Garnett , yo u ar e an ol d criti c an d I shal l alway s lik e you , bu t yo u ar e als o a tiresom e ol d pontif f and I shan t liste n t o a wor d yo u say , bu t shal l g o m y ow n wa y t o th e dog s an d bitches, jus t a s heretofore. S o there ' (iv . 115) . What h e had been readin g wa s th e Sicilian write r Giovann i Verg a who m h e though t 'extraordinarily good ' an d wondered whethe r h e migh t translate . Coul d Garnet t find ou t wha t translation s of Verga ther e ha d been ? Unfortunately ther e als o cam e a lette r fro m Seeke r enclosin g on e fro m Heseltine's lawyer , refusin g t o accept th e alteration s a s enough t o hal t th e action . In reply , Seeke r ha d decide d t o cal l wha t h e hope d was bluff. O n 1 8 October h e replied tha t Lawrenc e ha d agree d t o 'eliminat e an y fancied resemblance ' an d th e circulation o f th e boo k ha d bee n suspende d 'a t considerabl e pecuniar y los s t o u s both' (iv . 9 4 n.) ; s o no w i f Heseltin e remaine d dissatisfied , le t hi m sue . Ye t Seeker wa s obviousl y worrie d abou t wha t migh t happen . Lawrenc e though t 683
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Heseltine wa s mos t likel y 'tryin g t o blackmai l you ' (iv . 113 ) an d 'dra w som e limelight o n t o himself ; an d woul d 'se e hi m i n severa l hells ' rathe r tha n hav e him ge t an y money . H e wa s i n n o moo d t o imagin e fro m Heseltine' s poin t o f view wha t readin g Women in Love mus t hav e bee n fo r him , afte r th e renewe d relationship i n Cornwal l an d hi s attempt s t o ge t Lawrenc e publishe d i n Dublin . He too k onl y th e most cynica l vie w of Heseltine's motivation. 18 Angry again , h e wa s i n n o moo d t o hea r abou t ne w book s b y Murr y an d th e 'long-dying blossom ' Katherin e (iv . 114). Ko t ma y hav e tol d hi m tha t i n a favourable revie w o f Fran k Swinnerton' s ne w nove l Cocotte in October , Murr y had liste d Lawrence , b y contrast , amon g novelist s o f who m n o mor e coul d no w be expected , an d wh o 'appea r t o hav e passe d thei r prim e lon g befor e reachin g if.19 Suddenly th e weathe r change d too : fro m bein g 'ver y war m an d scirocco , an d one's hea d feelin g a s if it wer e goin g t o float away . No w suddenl y i t i s very cold , and sno w o n Calabria ' (iv . 114) . Sure enough , h e caugh t cold , an d fel t 'disguste d with everybod y an d everything ' (iv . 116 , 122) . Hi s Englis h mone y wa s almos t gone. I n a sor t o f hiatus , h e painte d tw o pictures , on e o f 'fou r plum p nic e blonde female s wh o hav e bee n bathin g i n a gree n pool , an d ar e suddenl y frightened, an d flee' (iv . 121) , and a copy o f Masaccio's Visit of the Magi} 0 In fou r day s howeve r hi s nose cleared, and th e islan d burs t int o flower: masse s of roses , citru s tree s i n blossom , grea t whit e trumpe t flowers i n hundreds , an d the firs t narciss i an d crocuse s (iv . 122) . The garde n was suddenl y crowde d wit h birds newl y com e sout h an d 'th e stork s ar e passin g i n th e night , whewwin g softly an d murmurin g a s the y g o overhead ' (iv . 124) . Fried a ha d som e ne w dresses mad e fro m th e chequere d loca l cloth , an d aske d Lawrenc e t o assur e he r mother tha t sh e di d no t loo k fa t i n them . An d hi s imagination , whic h ha d kep t the splee n a t bay wit h 'Th e Captain' s Doll ' - finished b y 6 November (iv . 1 1 2 ) sprang t o life again . Ill A
Burst o f Creativit y
By 1 6 Novembe r h e coul d declar e tha t h e ha d brough t hi s collectio n o f storie s 'up t o th e scratch ' (iv . 126) , though th e proces s was no t finished yet . Withi n th e next mont h howeve r h e produce d no t on e volum e o f stories , bu t two , wen t through Aaron's Rod onc e more , and als o Maurice Magnus' s accoun t o f his tim e in th e Frenc h Foreig n Legio n - conceivin g a ne w ide a fo r makin g i t saleabl e despite earlie r failure s t o interes t publishers . The n h e fel l il l again , mor e seriously thi s time , with anothe r attac k o f flu, and wa s in be d fo r a fortnight ove r Christmas an d Ne w Year . Bu t betwee n th e tw o bout s o f seedines s h e worke d very hard an d concentratedly . Before 1 0 Novembe r h e ha d alread y revise d 'Th e Miracle ' (writte n i n 1916 ) 684
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into 'Th e Horse-Dealer' s Daughter' ; an d ha d recovere d 'Monke y Nuts ' (1919 , left behin d a t Grimsbur y Farm) , an d 'Th e Primros e Path ' (1913) . Thes e thre e had neve r bee n published . Seve n storie s ha d com e ou t i n magazines : 'Samso n and Delilah ' (writte n i n Cornwal l i n 1916) , an d 'Th e Blin d Man' , 'Fann y an d Annie', 'Ticket s Please ' an d 'Yo u Touche d Me ' (fro m lat e 191 8 t o summe r 1919). H e aske d Sadlei r wha t th e positio n woul d b e i f h e di d no w wis h t o include 'Wintr y Peacock ' (earl y 1919 ) i n a n Englis h editio n (iv . 117) . (Blackwel l finally release d i t fo r a nomina l fee , bu t no t befor e th e whol e volum e ha d bee n delayed.) Th e las t t o b e revise d bu t b y n o mean s least , 'England , M y England ' (1915) woul d giv e it s nam e t o th e whol e collectio n eventually , thoug h i n mid November h e ha d no t ye t mad e u p hi s min d abou t th e stor y - stil l perhap s feeling som e disquie t abou t th e Meynell s an d th e deat h o f Perc y Lucas . O f th e stories writte n betwee n hi s retur n t o Englan d i n th e summe r o f 191 3 an d hi s departure i n lat e 1919 , onl y tw o remained. 21 Their s wa s t o b e th e greates t transformation o f all. He ha d certainl y mean t t o includ e 'Th e Fox ' (lat e 1918) ; but a s h e looke d a t the stor y again , it s endin g seeme d fa r to o simple . B y 1 6 November h e ha d 'pu t a long tail ' t o it . 'No w h e career s wit h a strang e an d fiery brush ' (i v 126 ) - bu t with tw o novella s ther e wa s to o muc h fo r a singl e volume , s o th e practica l solution seeme d t o b e t o writ e a third an d mak e anothe r book . B y 2 3 Novembe r he ha d 'practicall y go t read y th e boo k o f short stories ' (iv . 129) , and thoug h fou r had neede d t o be type d b y Mr s Carmichae l i n Florence , b y 1 2 December nin e o f the eventua l te n wer e ready . B y 1 December h e wa s 'doin g a thir d lon g story ' (iv. 134) , transforming 'Th e Thimble ' eve n mor e radicall y tha n 'Th e Fox' . B y 3 December i t ha d bee n rename d 'Th e Ladybird' , an d b y 1 7 Decembe r i t wa s finished. Onl y th e final revisio n o f 'England , M y England ' remaine d t o b e done , and tw o books woul d b e ready. I t ha d bee n a remarkable seve n weeks . As Lawrenc e collecte d an d revise d th e shor t stories , the y becam e a muc h mor e homogeneous an d interrelate d volum e tha n The Prussian Officer. The natur e an d extent o f his revisio n varies . 'Th e Blin d Man ' an d 'Yo u Touche d Me ' h e hardl y changed a t all , excep t t o renam e th e latte r 'Hadrian' . 'Wintr y Peacock ' ha d already bee n revise d fo r th e Metropolitan, replacin g th e soldier' s sentimentalit y about th e Belgia n gir l an d he r bab y wit h a muc h mor e bruta l unconcern , an d therefore accentuatin g th e questio n mar k agains t th e narrator' s conspiratoria l laughter. Other s change d ver y little ; an d sinc e n o origina l manuscrip t survive s for tw o o f th e thre e unpublishe d ones , ther e i s n o knowin g whethe r o r no t the y were altered . Bu t th e revision s tha t ar e known, 22 whil e the y heighte n an d improve, do no t (wit h th e on e importan t exceptio n o f the titl e story) re-conceive , as ha d happene d t o som e i n The Prussian Officer, accentuatin g th e ga p betwee n one Lawrenc e an d another . Her e th e earlie r storie s fit curiousl y wel l wit h th e 685
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later ones , an d ar e sometime s improve d b y thei r context . 'Th e Primros e Path' , for example , i s fa r fro m Lawrence' s best , bu t a s a depictio n o f chao s i n a ma n apparently unabl e t o com e t o term s wit h hi s ow n stor y o r rec k hi s ow n rede , i t gathers poin t fro m juxtapositio n wit h storie s o f me n wh o can ; reinforce d b y th e other tale s o f returnin g prodigals , 'Samso n an d Delilah ' an d 'Fann y an d Annie' , whose mal e character s ar e notably strengthene d i n revision . Thes e tw o also mak e an amusin g contrast , undreame d o f i n thei r origina l compositio n thre e year s apart; an d 'Th e Horse-Dealer' s Daughter ' goe s ver y wel l wit h 'Hadrian ' a s a 'you touche d me ' story , thoug h th e latte r i s muc h th e better . 'Ticket s Please ' becomes mor e complex , wit h a new sens e o f hur t an d damag e i n it s apparentl y virago heroin e - increasin g th e questionin g o f th e femal e reveng e a t th e end , a s much a s th e change s t o th e mal e conspirac y i n 'Wintr y Peacock ' do . Moreover , though th e assertio n o f malenes s agains t superio r o r dominatin g female s run s through man y o f these , th e presenc e besid e the m o f feist y an d life-enhancin g women i n earlie r storie s redresse s wha t migh t otherwis e see m to o grea t a n imbalance i n thos e of 1918-19 . In th e thre e novella s however , w e watc h a dramati c embodimen t o f th e chang e from th e Lawrenc e o f 191 7 to th e Lawrence o f 1921. He ha d alread y revise d 'Th e Morta l Coil ' i n Cornwal l i n 191 7 after recoverin g the 191 3 origina l whic h h e ha d lef t behin d i n Fiascherino. 2 Base d o n a n anecdote tol d b y Frieda' s father , i t ha d becom e b y 191 7 a sharpl y ironi c exposure o f it s mal e protagonist , whos e Gerald-lik e inabilit y t o lov e i s under scored b y th e accidenta l asphyxiatio n o f th e woma n wh o mean t les s t o hi m tha n his prid e an d hi s caree r - whic h th e discover y o f th e tw o dea d wome n i n hi s lodging finally ruins . (I t i s thus th e opposit e o f 'Th e Thor n i n th e Flesh' , wher e sexual lov e restore s a ma n ashame d an d disgraced. ) Unfortunately , wha t ha d happened i n lif e seem s rathe r melodramati c fo r fiction. No w i n 192 1 howeve r Lawrence's imaginatio n reawakene d t o th e gir l i n th e re d dres s i n th e bachelor' s attic room , writin g he r nam e ove r an d ove r a t his des k whil e sh e waits , and wait s - reproache d b y friend s fo r s o compromisin g herself ; frustrate d b y th e seemin g impenetrability o f th e ma n whe n h e doe s arrive . I n 'Th e Captain' s Doll' , Lawrence proceed s t o d o somethin g altogethe r differen t wit h th e origina l situation an d indee d reverse s it s import , explorin g a rejectio n o f lov e (i n th e usual sense ) no t unlik e hi s ow n afte r 1917 . Ye t i t i s no t ideolog y tha t matters ; what make s thi s muc h finer tha n th e origina l i s mor e comple x characterising , better dialogu e an d abov e al l a flickerin g probin g comedy . Hi s lon e publishe d novella, 'Th e Daughter s o f th e Vicar' , ha d alread y suggeste d tha t thi s migh t b e an idea l for m fo r Lawrence , wit h scop e fo r greate r developmen t tha n th e shor t tale bu t imposin g stil l a salutar y concentration . Th e stor y als o reverse s th e ending i n ic e of the loveles s ma n i n Women in Love. 686
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We ar e no w i n a post-wa r worl d an d a defeate d territor y unde r occupation ; and Lawrenc e transform s th e openin g episod e int o a comedy o f the Absurd . Th e impenetrability whic h constantl y defeat s Hannel e - th e odd , strayin g voic e o f Captain Hepbur n tha t contrast s s o curiously wit h hi s sexua l magnetis m - i s no w not s o muc h heartlessnes s a s nihilis m i n a post-wa r collaps e o f value . Hepbur n cannot believ e eve n himsel f t o b e o f an y rea l importance ; an d no t valuin g himself, h e lack s criteri a fo r decidin g o n a futur e o r re-establishin g continuit y with a past. Onl y hi s presen t sexua l relatio n t o Hannel e i s rea l t o hi m - an d hi s feeling fo r th e cleane r remote r worl d o f the stars , int o whic h h e escape s wit h hi s telescope o n th e roof . Hannele' s portrait-dol l i s really al l sh e ha s o f him whe n h e is not there : a gentlemanly lookin g exterior , an d th e suggestiv e memor y o f a sexy body unde r close-fittin g tarta n trews . He r frustratin g inabilit y t o ge t an y purchase o n him i s a comed y o f manner s als o - hi s ar e perfec t - bu t on e wit h sombre undertones . The arriva l o f th e 'littl e lady ' hi s wif e produce s comed y o f misunder standing, 25 beginnin g i n farc e bu t endin g wit h realitie s o f power . Sh e i s a n Edwardian surviva l bot h i n fashio n an d i n mores , an d sh e comicall y mistake s the identit y o f he r husband' s mistres s becaus e he r min d work s i n pre-wa r operatic cliche . Th e 'doll ' she make s o f he r husband , he r imag e o f th e Edwardian mal e kneelin g a t he r fee t t o promis e he r happiness , an d th e pictur e of hi m now , obedientl y runnin g he r errands , ar e almos t enoug h t o demolis h Hannele's attractio n t o hi m altogether , di d sh e no t recal l th e myster y o f th e man an d hi s magnetism . Bu t th e littl e lady' s clas s an d nationalit y stil l hol d th e keys t o power , an d (i n a conversatio n whos e menac e i s onl y partl y veile d b y it s silky tone ) sh e make s i t quit e clea r ho w sh e mean s t o kee p possessio n o f he r husband an d hi s image : he r contact s ca n ru n Countes s an d Barones s ou t o f town a t twenty-fou r hour s notice . Eve n worse , fo r Hannele , i s th e casua l revelation tha t Hepbur n i s quit e prepare d t o slee p wit h hi s wif e again , ou t o f husbandly dut y - lov e a l'anglaise . (Ther e i s a n ar t o f implicatio n here , especially i n dialogue , whic h ca n see m t o blen d Jan e Auste n wit h Iv y Compton Burnett.) Only th e littl e lady' s death , severin g th e hol d o f th e past , make s a futur e possible fo r Hepbur n an d Hannele . Bu t thoug h i t i s almos t to o convenient , ar e we to suppos e i t mere accident ? - a question fro m Women in Love. I t is importan t that Hepbur n (an d Lawrence ) d o he r justice , i n bringin g ou t th e traged y behin d the previou s farce : th e traged y o f those whos e inne r bein g ha s n o rea l relatio n t o the socia l role s i n whic h the y ar e caged , an d wh o ar e doome d t o parro t a language quit e othe r tha n th e son g of the mysteriou s selve s the y wer e neve r able , or allowed , t o be . Alread y th e stor y i s a n earl y probin g o f th e post-wa r malais e that woul d b e see n a s characteristi c o f th e twenties . I t show s (blessedl y i n bot h genders) wh y Lawrenc e ha d com e t o believ e tha t th e abilit y t o stand , balance , 687
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value onesel f alone, wa s th e necessar y preconditio n for , rathe r tha n th e desirabl e result of , an y satisfactor y relationship ; and ho w it s absence coul d destroy . It i s onl y now , however , tha t h e ca n pursu e th e questio n tha t ha d becom e s o important t o him , o f th e prope r imbalanc e betwee n th e individua l ma n an d th e individual woman , whic h ha d replace d th e 'star-equilibrium ' o f Women in Love. Being alon e make s Hepbur n lear n abou t himself , an d wha t h e trul y values . Fo r no mor e tha n Aaro n (o r hi s creator ) ca n h e live alon e - an d onl y a woma n a s individual a s Hannel e coul d satisf y him , sinc e h e doe s no t wan t t o b e pu t o n a pedestal b y som e adorin g maiden . S o h e goe s i n searc h o f Hannel e agai n - onl y to discove r portent s o f ho w sh e migh t valu e hi m now : th e dol l amongs t bric-a brac i n a shop window , an d th e modernis t still-lif e i n whic h doll-ma n i s no mor e significant tha n th e poache d egg an d th e sunflower s wit h whic h h e i s s o sardonically juxtaposed . Thi s force s Hepbur n t o examin e wha t valu e h e put s o n himself. Hannel e ha s becom e engage d t o a n officia l wh o seem s t o embod y th e chaos o f post-wa r Austri a wit h a certain panach e an d dignit y o f acceptance - bu t one glimps e o f Hepbur n i s enoug h t o mak e everythin g unrave l fo r he r again , except th e challeng e o f thei r relationship . I n a splendi d recreatio n o f Thumers bach, Zel l an d th e clim b t o th e glacier , Hepbur n make s i t ver y clea r wha t (fo r him) tha t relationshi p mus t be . 'Romantic ' lov e i s rejected , becaus e i t make s a doll o f a man , a s hi s wif e an d Hannel e i n thei r differen t way s ha d done , presuming t o kno w an d posses s him . O n thei r wa y u p t o th e glacie r Hepbur n insists, wit h un-Teutoni c an d unromanti c stubbornnes s (a s agains t th e spiritua l Bergheilers wit h thei r fange d boots ) tha t a ma n i s greate r tha n a mountain , which make s Hannel e thin k hi m megalomania c an d ridiculous . Finally , a t th e cost o f undignified scramblin g an d som e danger , h e insist s o n climbin g o n to p o f the slipper y glacier , whil e Hannele look s up . H e wil l not sa y he ioves ' her . A s h e explains i n thei r comicall y wind-blow n an d shoute d argumen t i n th e ca r o n th e way down , h e ha s learne d b y bitte r experienc e abou t love : o f a mother , an d a sister, an d th e lover s wh o mak e a doll o f a man. I f h e an d Hannel e ar e t o marry , he demand s a reorderin g o f th e vow s i n th e Boo k o f Commo n Prayer : tha t sh e should honou r (abov e all ) an d obey , whil e h e promise s th e kin d o f lov e an d cherishing appropriat e t o suc h a wife . Moreove r (lik e th e Lawrenc e o f 1917-21 ) he wil l fulfil himsel f i n creativ e work , wif e o r n o wife . Hepburn i s a dramatised figure, ofte n see n a s comi c an d ineffectua l - thoug h he (crucially ) become s les s an d les s s o - an d Hannel e i s use d (a s Ursul a was ) t o question an d proportio n hi s claims . A t th e end , indeed , ther e i s stil l a questio n about honour . Sh e ha s no t give n i n t o hi m o n that , o r no t yet , thoug h i n sayin g she wil l g o t o Eas t Afric a wit h hi m sh e ha s probabl y alread y fulfille d th e onl y kind o f obedienc e tha t wa s obtainabl e fro m Frieda , whic h s o fa r sh e ha d alway s given, thoug h no t withou t th e occasiona l rumpus , followin g hi s lea d i n th e decisions tha t affecte d hi s furthe r an d creativ e life . (Give n tw o stron g people , i n 688
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the las t resor t eithe r on e o f the m doe s lead , o r bot h slowl y o r quickl y par t though Lawrenc e seem s neve r t o hav e imagine d tha t ther e migh t b e a woma n whose creativ e claim s wer e th e greater. ) Bu t i t wa s th e honourin g o f him , i n he r heart o f hearts , whic h Lawrenc e alway s fel t Fried a faile d hi m in ; an d tha t wa s the mos t importan t o f all. I f he rea d thi s stor y t o he r - a s sh e say s h e alway s di d - i t might wel l have seeme d a declaration abou t thei r ow n marriage . The greatl y enlarge d an d develope d 'Th e Fox ' woul d explor e a goo d dea l further. Th e Lawrenc e o f 192 1 clearl y fel t tha t Henr y ha d wo n Marc h fa r to o easily (give n he r apparen t mannishnes s an d th e pul l o f he r relatio n wit h Banford); an d tha t Banfor d ha d give n i n to o easil y also . Moreove r th e equatio n of boy wit h fox , whe n re-imagined , turne d ou t t o hav e bee n oversimpl e fo r al l its power. Eve n i n it s compresse d stat e Hutchinson y s ha d considere d th e shor t stor y too long ; but no w th e increase d scop e o f a novella allowe d Lawrenc e t o imagine to-the-end, wit h fa r greate r thoroughnes s an d depth . U p t o th e first wooin g o f March i n th e woodshed , however , hardl y anythin g neede d t o b e don e - excep t to mak e th e bo y a bi t more foxy an d sly , a s th e ide a o f gettin g hol d o f th e far m dawns o n him . Ye t th e ne w 'tail ' i s no t jus t a n extension . A s wit h 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums' i n 1914 , the new endin g make s th e whol e stor y different . In makin g Marc h harde r t o wi n over , Lawrenc e first intensifie s th e likenes s of Henr y t o th e fox , the n question s it , an d the n make s a ne w an d crucia l distinction. Befor e th e scen e i n th e woodshed , now , h e show s th e bo y a s a hunter, no t merel y stalkin g Marc h carefull y but , lik e primeva l man , s o projecting hi s wil l a s a powe r field upo n hi s quarr y tha t th e hun t become s ' a supreme ac t o f volition' . Henry' s first attemp t partl y misses , bu t eve n th e extent t o whic h h e succeed s i n 'producin g hi s voic e i n he r blood ' bring s abou t a chang e i n th e physica l presenc e o f both , t o whic h Banfor d instinctivel y reacts. Marc h i s se t broodin g o n th e fo x again , an d equatin g th e first brus h o f Henry's lip s wit h th e experienc e i n he r dream . A s soo n howeve r a s th e bo y learns o f he r 'impression ' o f thei r likeness , h e begin s t o questio n it . An d although h e eavesdrop s foxil y o n th e conversatio n i n whic h Banfor d voice s he r full socia l an d sexua l hostility , hi s horro r a t bein g regarde d a s a predator y animal i s wha t send s hi m ou t i n th e darknes s t o shoo t th e fox . Tw o crucia l points ar e i n fac t bein g mad e i n tha t 'killing' : Henry' s rejectio n (despit e fellow feeling) o f th e predator y i n himself ; an d the n March' s realisatio n i n conse quence, a s sh e dream s no w o f interrin g a dea d Banfor d i n th e woo d box , wrapped i n th e fox' s skin , tha t that par t o f her , too , mus t di e an d b e pu t away . As Henr y watche s th e smal l figure o f Banfor d comin g acros s th e fields, an d March runnin g ou t a s alway s t o serv e her , h e begin s t o realis e th e hatefu l degree t o whic h she , an d th e relatio n betwee n th e women , stand s i n th e wa y o f his hopes . Bu t t o se e Marc h i n a dres s i s t o complet e th e distinctio n betwee n boy an d fo x tha t ha s no w becom e a s importan t a s th e likeness , an d t o defin e 689
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E manhood (an d womanhood ) i n th e term s o f 1921 . Ther e i s a ne w wor d tha t had no t figure d a t al l i n th e stor y o f 1918 : He fel t a man, wit h al l a man's grav e weigh t o f responsibility . A curious quietnes s an d gravity cam e ove r hi s soul . H e fel t a man, quiet , wit h a little o f th e heavines s o f mal e destiny upon him. She wa s sof t an d accessibl e i n he r dress . Th e though t wen t hom e i n hi m lik e a n everlasting responsibility. Once ou t o f th e armou r o f he r mal e clothing , Marc h i s reveale d a s a differen t being, an d h e mus t begi n t o gro w u p int o a man's responsibility . Moreove r sh e too mus t complet e he r ne w sens e o f him , b y feelin g th e myster y o f hi s mal e heart unde r he r fingertips - no t a fox , no t a boy , bu t a ma n whos e bloo d beat s strangely, 'terrible , lik e something fro m beyond' . Already th e novell a ha s gon e fa r deepe r tha n th e shor t story ; bu t i t i s i n Lawrence's realisatio n o f the nee d fo r a new kin d o f 'death ' tha t hi s tal e acquire s a mor e terribl e an d challengin g resonance . Fo r no w Lawrenc e sees , truly , tha t the Banfor d h e ha s imagine d wil l never giv e Marc h up , an d tha t Marc h ha s s o grown int o th e relatio n betwee n th e wome n tha t sh e canno t escap e b y herself . I t is not enoug h fo r a newly maturin g Henr y t o hol d he r bac k fro m rushin g t o he r 'darling' whe n Banfor d burst s int o hysterica l weeping , t o le t her cr y hersel f ou t if she must. Fo r Banfor d wil l fight hi m 't o th e death ' a s the sayin g goes . And i t is the courag e o f th e fiction no w - howeve r disturbin g - tha t i t i s prepare d t o imagine wha t tha t migh t mean . For almos t a s soo n a s Henr y ha s gon e bac k t o hi s regimen t t o complet e hi s demobilisation, March' s lette r prove s tha t i n hi s absenc e Banfor d ha s take n he r over again . (Th e lette r i s a triumph o f epistolar y ar t i n th e certaint y wit h whic h one ca n detec t Banfor d comin g throug h th e languag e o f March. ) An d when , after hi s headlon g rus h back , Henr y finds the m besid e th e dea d tre e tha t Marc h has bee n tryin g t o cu t down , onc e agai n metapho r get s challengingl y mad e literal. I n th e deat h o f Banfor d - perhap s th e mos t chillin g scen e Lawrenc e ha d yet written , becaus e s o muc h cooler , an d consciousl y willed , tha n th e attempte d strangling o f Gudru n - al l thre e ar e implicate d i n differin g degrees . Takin g th e axe t o dea d woo d i s instinctiv e i n March , thoug h ineffectua l b y itsel f (despit e her dream) . Banfor d dare s Henr y t o d o hi s worst/best , welcomin g a battl e o f wills withou t realisin g he r danger . Onl y Henr y act s i n ful l realisation , an d tha t makes his action terribl e - gambl e thoug h i t must b e i n all but th e strengt h o f hi s will, locke d agains t Banford's . H e take s th e responsibilit y o f life-or-deat h fo r al l three. What ha d bee n partl y evade d i n 'Th e Captain' s Doll ' i s brough t ou t full y here, t o th e horro r o f som e readers . Lawrenc e face s squarel y an d severel y th e possibility tha t individual s an d relationship s ma y b e s o inimica l t o th e tru e 690
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growth o f others tha t i t ma y literall y becom e a matter o f lif e o r deat h - an d h e i s prepared t o imagin e tha t t o it s logica l an d horribl e end , t o se e ho w i t woul d be . The deat h o f Banford canno t b e take n metaphoricall y a s merely th e deat h o f par t of March , thoug h o f cours e i t i s tha t too . No r ca n w e pas s i t of f a s a judgemen t on lesbianism . (Th e deat h o f th e 'littl e lady ' an d he r relatio n wit h he r husban d was jus t a s necessar y fo r th e marriag e o f Hepbur n an d hi s Hannele. ) Onc e agai n the natur e o f a relationship seem s wha t i s important t o Lawrence , no t merel y th e gender o f th e participants , thoug h tha t ma y hel p t o defin e th e nature . Th e poin t is clarifie d a t th e end , thoug h i t i s disturbin g t o b e presente d wit h suc h a n extreme, an d allowe d n o evasion . For eve n whe n Marc h an d Henr y ar e married , sh e remain s unhapp y an d h e unsatisfied. I n a long meditation , sh e voice s he r realisatio n o f wha t Henr y want s and needs : tha t sh e 'submerge ' hersel f i n thei r love , indee d i n him , givin g u p entirely he r independen t self-directio n - bu t sh e canno t quit e brin g hersel f t o d o that, thoug h i t i s wha t a grea t par t o f hersel f als o want s an d needs . I n Henry' s consciousness th e sam e realisatio n dawns : 'H e wante d t o vei l he r woman' s spiri t as Orientals vei l th e woman' s face . H e wante d he r t o commi t hersel f t o him , an d put he r independen t spiri t t o sleep. ' Unti l sh e doe s so , h e feel s (chafin g a t th e delay) h e ha s not go t an d ca n neve r hav e hi s ow n life , hi s ow n maleness . He would neve r have it till she yielded an d slep t i n him. Then h e would hav e all his own life a s a young ma n an d a male, and sh e woul d hav e al l he r ow n lif e a s a woman an d a female. Ther e woul d b e n o mor e o f thi s awfu l straining . Sh e woul d no t b e a ma n an y more, an independent woman with a man's responsibility. Nay, even the responsibility fo r her ow n sou l she would hav e to commit t o him. H e kne w it was so, and obstinatel y hel d out against her, waiting for the surrender. The consciousnes s o f bot h character s seem s no w t o b e nearl y i n agreemen t more s o tha n a t th e en d o f 'Th e Captain' s Doll ' - bu t March , too , ha s no t quit e surrendered a t th e end . Ther e i s less o f a question mar k tha n usua l i n Lawrence ; but w e ar e stil l (just ) allowe d t o respon d t o thi s boy , an d thi s woman , a s characters i n dramatise d tension . Yet ther e i s also a n elemen t o f generalisatio n whic h betray s th e author' s over involvement. Whethe r o r whe n Marc h wil l surrender , i n orde r t o 'hav e al l he r own lif e a s a woma n an d a female' , become s a substantiall y differen t questio n from whethe r o r whe n Hannel e wil l accep t th e old-fashione d marriag e vow s a s condition fo r marryin g Hepburn . No r doe s th e poin t see m limite d t o wrongnes s in th e woman-to-woma n relationshi p a s such ; bu t rathe r tha t bot h wome n hav e so mad e th e happines s o f th e belove d thei r goa l tha t the y hav e ha d t o 'strain' , t o 'exert' themselves , t o 'know ' an d 'consider ' an d 'strive ' an d b e 'responsible ' fo r the other . That seem s t o b e fo r Lawrenc e th e deathl y element , whic h woul d have bee n ther e ha d Banfor d marrie d a man, an d i s ther e eve n whe n Marc h ha s 691
D. H . LAWRENCE ! TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
done so . This i s clearly no w a matter o f gender definition : tha t wha t i s life-givin g for a woma n i s tha t sh e shoul d b e trul y 'female' , i.e . takin g he r directio n fro m and livin g i n th e lif e o f he r ma n - a s a 'male ' lif e depend s o n hi s woma n doin g so. No t onl y i s happines s a fals e goa l i n itsel f fo r bot h partner s (a s i n Hepbur n with hi s wife) ; bu t unhappines s i s rendere d certai n b y th e wa y moder n wome n try t o tak e on th e directio n o f life, thinkin g t o make thei r partner s happy . An d s o important doe s al l thi s see m t o Lawrenc e a s h e near s th e en d o f hi s rewriting , that hi s authoria l voic e break s throug h th e characterisin g one , t o propound . I t i s often a difficult y i n readin g hi m tha t th e narrativ e voic e i s s o 'given ' t o a character tha t th e reade r i s i n dange r o f mistakin g th e character' s poin t o f vie w for th e author's . Bu t ther e i s als o th e convers e danger , tha t th e strengt h o f th e author's feelin g ma y overwhel m th e autonom y o f th e character , a s happen s a t one poin t i n The Rainbow fo r example , whe n Ursula' s consciousnes s get s drowned ou t b y a surg e o f authoria l feelin g abou t resurrection . Here , wha t ha s been threatenin g t o happe n doe s so , betwee n tw o sigh s o f 'Poo r March' . W e cease t o b e i n March' s consciousness ; th e generalisation s abou t wome n an d happiness ar e Lawrence's , an d ten d t o imperi l th e dramatise d experienc e o f th e final pages . On e become s awar e o f hearin g th e prompte r whe n on e shoul d b e listening t o th e actors . An d wha t migh t b e acceptabl e a s th e response s o f thi s man an d thi s woman , t o thei r particula r situation s - he r dee p nee d o f 'rest' , hi s deep nee d t o b e 'th e man ' i n relatio n t o a much olde r woma n - see m offere d fo r acceptance (o r rejection ) a s universa l truth s o f gender . Wha t tha t shows , however, i s the pressur e o f their importanc e t o th e Lawrenc e o f late 1921. 'The Thimble ' o f 191 5 ha d it s ger m i n imaginin g wha t i t mus t hav e bee n lik e for Lad y Cynthi a whe n Be b cam e hom e fro m th e front , wounde d i n th e mouth. Sh e acknowledge d Lawrence' s disconcertin g perceptiveness , an d sh e was no t offended . Fo r h e ha d importe d th e ide a o f a wa r marriag e (whic h her s was not ) i n whic h th e coupl e reall y kne w eac h othe r s o littl e tha t the y mee t a s strangers now , an d ha d als o intensifie d th e horro r o f th e mutilation ; s o tha t th e story wa s clearl y pointe d a t Lawrence' s grea t them e o f 191 5 rathe r tha n a t hi s friends. I n thei r strangenes s an d helplessnes s th e Activ e coupl e hav e t o star t completely anew , t o be new-born , resurrected , ou t o f th e brus h wit h death . Th e throwing o f th e thimbl e ou t o f th e windo w - whos e meanin g puzzle d Cynthi a is th e discardin g o f a dead , insentient , second-han d pas t which , indeed , ha s n o meaning i n th e present . Though Lawrenc e ha d bee n quit e please d wit h th e stor y a t th e time , onc e again h e rerea d wit h ver y differen t eye s at th e en d o f 1921 . Moreover, thoug h h e thought th e other tw o novellas wer e no w 's o modern , s o new: a new manner ' (iv . 132), a s indee d i n man y way s the y are , i t was i n th e transformatio n o f 'Th e Thimble' tha t h e wa s most experimental . Th e origina l ha d bee n ver y muc h fro m the life , transpose d an d heightene d b y imagination , a s indee d 'Th e Captain' s 692
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DolP an d 'Th e Fox ' remaine d t o begi n with , thei r centra l symbol s the n actin g a s catalysts t o ope n u p dimension s withi n th e character s i n a familia r Lawrencia n way, thoug h wit h a ne w laconi c (American? ) narrativ e tone . I n 'Th e Ladybird ' however, Lawrenc e use s symbolis m les s t o explor e 'character ' tha n t o articulat e his radica l antagonism , now , t o th e Englan d an d Europ e h e i s abou t t o leave . The othe r tw o novella s stil l focuse d o n th e centra l concer n o f 1913-17 , th e relation o f comple x mal e an d femal e individuals , thoug h see n i n th e ne w perspective o f 1921 . Th e thir d neede d a different kin d o f characterisation, a ne w rhetoric an d a more pervasiv e symbolism , i n orde r t o indic t a whole civilisation . It begin s realisticall y enoug h i n wartim e England , bu t almos t immediatel y th e characters ar e seen a s representative, and withi n a few page s th e reade r i s involve d in a n outlandis h languag e an d a pervasiv e symbolism , mor e importan t tha n th e characters-as-such, an d designe d precisel y t o crac k ope n th e steril e rea l worl d o f 1918 Europe, an d allo w a strange subversiv e vitalit y t o come through . So, t o th e nerve-tor n an d wounde d wartim e coupl e o f th e origina l stor y Lawrence begin s b y addin g Lad y Beveridge , visitin g a hospita l bu t embodying , herself, a dyin g pre-wa r world . Sh e represent s bot h th e bes t o f th e Christia n ethic o f sufferin g love , returnin g goo d fo r evil ; an d a n Edwardia n liberalis m which fo r Lawrenc e ha d die d whe n Asquit h wa s overthrow n b y Lloy d George . But i n a worl d a t war , he r son s ar e tragicall y dea d an d he r tim e ha s passed . Moreover - i n a n economica l inversio n o f Thoma s Cric h an d hi s wif e i n Women in Love - he r civilisatio n o f lov e an d benevolenc e alread y ha s agains t i t the dar k questio n mar k o f he r antisocia l husban d th e Earl , withdraw n fro m her, dissatisfied , hi s tru e bein g repressed ; a s wel l a s th e fai r on e o f he r daughter, th e beaut y wh o ha s los t he r mother' s certaintie s bu t ha s nothin g t o put i n thei r place , an d suffer s fro m nerve s an d suspecte d consumption . (Lawrence ha s use d wha t Cynthi a ha d tol d hi m o f he r parents , an d o f herself , and late r o f he r favourit e home , Stanway. ) Alread y th e stor y i s enquirin g les s into relationship s tha n values : this migh t jus t a s wel l (s o far ) hav e bee n calle d 'England, thei r England' . Th e pas t i s dying , th e presen t sick . Wha t i s th e future t o be ? Lawrence's majo r transformatio n o f hi s origina l story , however , i s th e invention o f Coun t Johan n Diony s Psane k t o voic e a subversiv e challenge , no t just t o 'England ' bu t t o Europea n 'civilisation ' a s a whole . Clos e t o deat h a t th e beginning, h e i s a reminder tha t th e whol e o f Europe i s a casualty o f war. A s h e slowly recovers , however , wha t h e ha s die d t o i s th e civilise d Austro-Czecho slovak manniki n h e ha d appeare d t o b e befor e th e war , an d wha t i s bein g resurrected i n hi m i s somethin g fa r olde r an d pre-European , Slav , perhap s gypsy even , wit h it s deepes t root s i n Egyp t rathe r tha n i n Greec e an d Rome . A s John h e i s a voice cryin g i n th e wildernes s fo r change ; a s Dionyso s h e i s a foe o f Apollonian enlightenment ; a s Psane k h e i s a n outlaw , a rebel , a subversive . Th e 693
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outlandishness o f hi s rhetorica l an d symboli c languag e enable s Lawrenc e t o dramatise an d explor e hi s ow n rejectio n o f Europ e withou t havin g t o tak e direc t authorial responsibilit y fo r hi s character' s ideas ; and als o t o ge t int o th e stor y hi s awareness o f the seemin g weaknes s an d isolatio n o f his own voic e i n th e post-wa r world, bu t als o hi s confidenc e i n it s ultimat e power . Fo r th e Coun t i s also a kind of caricature o f Lawrence mad e int o a little man , bearde d an d odd-looking ; a sick man, an d a n outsider , wh o say s weir d i f curiousl y poeti c things ; a prou d an d prickly man , wh o i s rather ridiculou s really , isn' t he ? Or i s he ? Th e succes s o r failur e o f th e stor y depend s o n th e powe r o f th e Count's strang e language , no t onl y t o undermin e th e Apollonia n i n Daphn e an d Basil - whos e name s no w revea l thei r representativ e statu s a s character s - bu t also to d o thi s i n th e reader . T o th e nymp h belove d o f Apollo, and enamoure d o f her ow n fai r an d idea l beauty , th e Coun t respond s wit h a n insistenc e tha t i t conceals quit e a different nature : th e ver y differen t beaut y o f th e pola r bear , th e wild-cat, th e delicat e adde r - an d sh e responds . Whe n he r wounde d wa r her o returns, sh e become s eve n mor e nerve-wor n a s th e recipien t o f hi s blen d o f idealism an d desire . H e place s he r o n a pedesta l a s Aphrodite-Isis-Astarte ; bu t at th e sam e tim e alway s desire s her , wit h 'adoration-lust' . I n contrast , th e Coun t refuses altogethe r t o idealise . T o him , th e moder n woma n i s a decaden t lil y ignoring he r root s i n th e mud . H e call s fo r a n olde r womanhood , a s i n th e women o f hi s blood , wh o sewe d shirt s fo r hi m wit h th e sig n o f th e Ladybir d upon the m (a s on th e scara b thimbl e wit h it s twining serpen t h e ha d give n he r a s a girl) . The scara b wa s th e sig n o f the su n t o th e Egyptians , an d th e Psane k cres t stands fo r a sun-wisdom: th e dark invisibl e su n (a t th e hear t o f al l flame) , whic h constantly fertilise s th e dungball-eart h i t roll s throug h th e sky , an d whos e ligh t is only a refraction cause d b y dust . The Coun t i s fille d wit h anger . Moreover , pun y an d ineffectua l thoug h h e seems, h e i s convinced o f th e powe r o f hi s angr y heart , a little hamme r o f Thor , to crac k ope n th e apparen t solidit y o f th e worl d h e opposes . H e ca n alread y hea r it cracking . A s th e novell a develops , h e expose s th e fundamenta l oppositio n between hi s vie w o f bein g an d Basil's ; an d s o probe s th e disconten t o f Daphn e that eventually , i n he r ow n ancestra l home , sh e i s draw n a s b y a magne t t o th e darkness o f hi s room . Basi l believes , a s th e Lawrenc e o f 1913-1 7 ha d believed , that th e essenc e o f lif e lie s 'i n th e dynami c contac t betwee n huma n beings' , i n the man y form s o f love . The Coun t denie s thi s absolutely . Fo r hi m th e essentia l relationship come s fro m th e instinct , i n peopl e 'wh o ar e reall y living' , t o pu t their live s i n th e hand s o f thos e wh o ar e fi t fo r 'th e sacre d responsibilit y o f power', an d 'abl e t o b e alone , t o choos e an d t o command' . Havin g don e s o (say s the anti-democrati c littl e man ) the y mus t giv e u p foreve r thei r righ t t o judge , and mus t obey . S o th e centra l value s ar e 'Obedience , submission , faith , belief , responsibility, power' / Basi l wil l no t accep t this ; an d Basi l i s give n hi s due . 694
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True t o hi s Greekness , h e wil l spen d th e res t o f hi s lif e i n thought , Platoni c friendship an d love , an d th e effor t toward s understandin g - an d onc e h e ha s shed th e lus t tha t consort s s o il l wit h hi s idealism , h e i s treate d wit h respec t a s the dayligh t husband , Basileus , th e kin g o f th e Daytime . Bu t Daphn e i s drawn , irresistibly, toward s th e weir d almos t inhuma n son g th e Coun t sing s i n hi s bedroom lat e a t night , an d i n th e pitc h darknes s ther e sh e kneel s a t hi s feet , t o become (lik e Proserpine ) th e night-tim e wif e o f the Kin g o f the Underworld , th e dark sid e o f th e huma n psyche . Th e Coun t sings , i n hi s unintelligibl e words , a folksong o f the swan-maide n wh o fel l i n lov e wit h a man bu t wa s calle d hom e b y her swan-husband , a swan-song no t o f deat h bu t o f retur n t o he r deepe r nature . It i s the essenc e o f the myt h o f Proserpine, too , that th e ne w Sprin g o f the worl d depends upo n renewa l fro m th e underworl d source s o f life . Th e ne w stor y i s a myth - whic h canno t b e rea d i n simpl y realisti c terms . However , th e Coun t i s even mor e intransigen t tha n Hepbur n o r Henr y i n hi s sexua l politics , extende d now (a s in th e revise d Fantasia), t o a social politic s too . Yet, a t th e end , Basi l an d the Coun t agre e tha t ther e ca n b e n o layin g dow n th e la w - onl y th e necessit y o f following one' s 'ow n inmos t need' / Politically, Lawrence' s contemp t fo r th e democrac y whic h ha d bestowe d leadership o n Lloy d Georg e i n it s enthusias m fo r th e prosecutio n o f th e war , and allowe d Horati o Bottomle y t o clai m t o b e th e Voic e o f th e People , ha s le d him t o le t a characte r flir t onc e mor e wit h anti-democrati c idea s (obedience , submission, belief , power ) tha t wer e beginnin g t o gai n influenc e i n Ital y an d Germany, fuelle d b y th e failur e o f democrac y t o produc e goo d government . (H e read th e newspaper s i n bot h countries , h e kne w abou t Ital y first-han d an d h e probably kne w abou t wha t wa s beginnin g t o happe n i n Munic h fro m th e wido w of Edga r Jaffe. ) Al l ove r Europe , democracie s seeme d t o b e plungin g int o anarchy. Bu t (again ) w e shoul d no t assum e to o easil y tha t th e Coun t speak s fo r Lawrence i n som e definitiv e sense . Basil makes a good retor t abou t th e disastrou s results o f th e authoritaria n rul e o f th e Kaise r (thoug h h e woul d b e prove d wrong, i n time , fo r mockin g th e ide a tha t million s o f men coul d voluntaril y plac e their destinie s i n th e hand s o f on e man , an d giv e u p thei r righ t t o sa y 'no'. ) Rather, i n bot h th e revise d Fantasia an d 'Th e Ladybird' , Lawrenc e carrie s o n a n internal exploratio n whic h woul d b e take n a long ste p forwar d i n Kangaroo, an d would issu e finally , bot h ther e an d i n th e Epilogu e t o Movements, i n a rejectio n of bot h socialis m an d fascism . A s h e wa s beginnin g 'Th e Ladybird ' h e wa s wondering whethe r a n allianc e i n Ital y o f th e Churc h an d th e socialist s an d communists migh t produc e stability . H e wa s no t b y an y mean s a supporte r o f the Fascisti . Wha t howeve r doe s nee d emphasi s i s th e degre e t o whic h h e wa s now conceivin g himsel f a s a subversive antagonist, a gadfly t o stin g audience s t o question thei r assumptions , no t onl y i n Englan d bu t als o (afte r th e receptio n o f Psychoanalysis) i n America . Thi s burs t o f creativit y a t th e en d o f 192 1 no t onl y 695
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provides a kin d o f summar y embodimen t o f hi s developmen t sinc e Women in Love, i t i s also a shaking o f dus t of f th e sandals , a s fa r a s Europe i s concerne d and a conscious flingin g ou t o f a challenge t o th e ne w audienc e h e stil l hope d t o find overseas , though no t a s optimistically now . It onl y remaine d t o rewrit e 'England , M y England' , t o strik e th e keynot e o f the volum e o f shor t storie s too . B y 7 Decembe r (iv . 144) , a s h e was finishing 'The Ladybird' , hi s intransigen t moo d decide d him . H e would includ e th e Greatham stor y i n th e ne w collection , an d crus h an y lingerin g remors e abou t th e Meynells. IV A
Question - o f Dishonour ?
It i s just possibl e tha t durin g thi s burs t o f hard wor k an d creativit y a cruel iron y had com e about a t his expense . To loo k agai n a t Hepburn' s condition s fo r hi s marriag e a t th e en d o f 'Th e Captain's Doll' , an d the n pursu e th e treatmen t o f wha t i t mean s t o 'honou r an d obey' throug h th e thre e novella s i n th e orde r o f their composition , i s to notice a n unmistakable hardenin g an d pushin g t o extremes . Fro m Hannele' s laughin g question abou t th e marriag e vows , t o Henry' s insistenc e tha t Marc h shoul d entirely giv e u p he r new-womanl y independence , t o Daphn e kneelin g a t th e little Count' s fee t i n absolut e submission , an d bathin g the m wit h he r tears , th e underlining get s stronge r an d stronger . On e migh t als o notice a throwback there , as i n th e creatio n o f Daphn e an d th e whol e mytho s o f th e underworld , t o Lawrence's defenc e o f hi s relation s wit h hi s 'women ' agains t th e attac k b y Gra y and Fried a a t th e en d o f 1917 . Though muc h detai l i n 'Th e Ladybird ' i s draw n from Lawrence' s knowledg e o f Cynthi a Asquith , an d thoug h th e woma n i n 'Th e Thimble' wa s clearl y a 'word-picture ' o f her , th e fairnes s an d willowines s o f Daphne, an d th e classica l fram e o f referenc e i n whic h sh e i s created , ar e quit e foreign t o Cynthi a bu t strongl y reminiscen t o f Hild a Aldington . Th e them e o f the underworld , an d th e imag e o f th e kneelin g woma n a t th e fee t o f he r Lord , relate directl y t o hi s answerin g th e scor n i n Gray' s lette r a t th e en d o f 191 7 (iii . 179-80 an d se e abov e pp . 414-16) . Moreove r Gra y ha d dare d t o questio n Lawrence's claim s abou t hi s marriag e i n Look!, an d ha d ver y possibl y don e s o because he had ha d a n affai r wit h Frieda . In Marc h 199 0 - i t ha s bee n claime d - a n ol d ma n o f 92 fro m nea r Taormin a died i n Pittsburgh , an d hi s famil y release d a secre t tha t (the y said ) h e ha d spoken o f onl y t o intimat e friends : h e ha d slep t wit h Lawrence' s wif e i n a brie f affair, whic h sh e confesse d t o he r husband . A t a tim e whe n Lawrenc e wa s s o involved wit h hi s writin g a s t o hav e littl e attentio n t o spar e fo r her , sh e ha d taken t o visitin g a ne w friend , a ric h lad y whos e husban d owne d vineyard s o n the neighbourin g hills , an d wh o ha d a hous e i n th e mountai n villag e o f 696
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Castelmola hig h abov e Taormin a an d abou t five o r si x kilometre s b y mul e pat h from Fontan a Vecchia . Thi s lad y (th e stor y goes ) use d t o send dow n a mule wit h a comfortabl e sid e saddl e fo r Frieda , i n th e car e o f a young ma n o f 24 , Peppin o D'Allura, wh o worke d fo r he r husband . On e da y ther e wa s a sudden downpour , and the y wer e ver y lat e i n arriving . The y ha d take n shelte r i n on e o f th e storag e cabins i n th e vineyards ; an d Fried a ha d proceede d t o stri p of f he r dam p clothe s to dr y them , invitin g th e youn g ma n t o d o th e same . Running ou t nake d int o th e rain an d darin g hi m t o follow, 'sexua l games ' too k place . There i s n o evidenc e t o suppor t thi s story . A s tol d i n th e gossip y an d scandalous page s o f The Sins and Love Affairs of Taormina th e suggeste d dat e i s quite wrong ; an d i t seem s quit e a s likel y tha t th e cavorting s i n th e rai n ar e rea d back fro m Lady Chatterley's Lover a s tha t th e episod e wa s thei r source , a s i s claimed. Th e boo k repeat s a n absur d tal e o f th e encounte r o f Lawrenc e wit h King Georg e V b y th e ancien t fountain , whic h ha s n o trut h whatsoever . I t i s not a n accoun t which , i n it s notio n o f evidence , o r it s motivation , inspire s an y confidence - an d eve n th e surnam e o f the youn g ma n look s suspicious . On th e othe r hand , on e o f th e test s fo r claim s abou t sexua l occurrence s i n Lawrence's lif e i s whether trace s ar e lef t i n th e wor k tha t canno t b e pu t dow n t o back-reading. Lawrence' s muc h late r Sicilia n stor y 'Sun ' (writte n i n 1925 ) may be a plac e wher e h e converte d ol d hur t int o ne w creativit y - thoug h th e wife' s affair wit h th e peasan t take s plac e onl y i n thought . I t mus t als o b e admitte d tha t as a respons e t o neglec t o r a n ac t o f rebellion , quit e a s muc h a s a n impuls e o f desire, Fried a wa s capabl e o f committin g suc h a n actio n (an d confession) , though i n thi s cas e i t woul d hav e t o hav e bee n wit h a new socia l carelessness . If it eve r happened , i t woul d probabl y hav e bee n betwee n abou t 2 4 Octobe r whe n Lawrence's potterin g wit h th e storie s an d no t feelin g lik e wor k gav e wa y t o th e start o f th e burs t o f creativity , an d abou t mid-Decembe r whe n th e thir d novelette wen t t o the typis t afte r seve n week s of intense work . If so , i t woul d hav e bee n a devastatin g iron y a t th e expens e o f th e vie w o f marriage th e novella s explore , an d migh t conceivabl y explai n thei r growin g intransigence abou t th e prope r relatio n betwee n a man an d hi s wife . I t migh t (fo r example) bea r o n th e differenc e betwee n th e endin g o f 'The Captain' s Doll' , an d that o f 'Th e Fox ' wit h it s authoria l intrusion , an d it s extremis m abou t th e nee d to 'submerge ' femal e independenc e altogethe r befor e ther e coul d b e rea l conten t in th e departur e t o a ne w lif e overseas . I t migh t als o explai n th e intransigen t reminder o f a n earlie r unhappines s i n th e conclusio n o f ' T h e Ladybird' . Bu t (i f so, again ) Lawrenc e di d no t respon d o r retaliat e wit h a confessio n o f hi s own . Nor woul d suc h a n episod e hav e bee n likel y t o sugges t a breach wit h Frieda . H e would hav e remembere d hi s lette r t o Godwi n Baynes , whic h ha d argue d tha t Godwin an d Rosalin d coul d kee p ' a lastin g relationship ' i n spit e o f wha t ha d happened. 697
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One ha s t o lear n tha t lov e i s a secondar y thin g i n life . Th e firs t thin g i s t o b e a free , proud, singl e bein g b y oneself : t o b e onesel f free , t o le t th e othe r b e fre e .. . It s a n ignominious thing , eithe r exactin g o r chasin g afte r love . Lov e isn' t al l tha t important : one's own free sou l is first, (iii . 478) There i s n o reaso n t o suppos e tha t h e woul d hav e though t o r acte d an y differently no w - thoug h h e woul d hav e fel t i t deeply / But th e stor y mus t remai n a question mar k a t best .
V A n En d t o 1921 , and Englan d About th e tim e h e was finishing 'Th e Fox ' ther e was goo d new s bot h fro m America an d Englan d - bu t no t fo r long . Havin g no w rea d Aaron's Rod, Seltze r cabled tha t h e though t i t 'wonderful , overwhelming ' (iv . 121 , 125) . Lawrenc e was no t unawar e tha t thi s migh t b e wha t h e calle d ' a publisher' s pat ' (iv . 124) , but a t leas t i t seeme d t o ensur e tha t th e nove l woul d b e publishe d i n America , and determine d hi m finally t o hav e Curti s Brow n offe r i t t o Seeke r also . I n England, Bottomle y ha d falle n int o greatl y merite d disgrac e wit h th e exposure , in a libel trial , tha t thousand s o f subscriber s t o hi s Grea t Victor y Bon d Clu b ha d been swindled . I n Marc h h e woul d b e formall y charge d wit h fraud , an d i n Ma y would b e sentence d t o seve n year s i n jail . H e an d hi s gutte r pres s woul d pos e n o further threa t t o Women in Love. However, th e nex t lette r fro m Seeke r reveale d tha t h e ha d though t i t bes t t o offer Heseltin e £5 0 an d 1 0 guinea s cost s a s a settlemen t ou t o f cour t - whic h made Lawrenc e 'sic k wit h rage ' (iv . 129) , thoug h i t was unclea r whethe r Seeke r proposed t o charg e thi s agains t royalties , o r pa y th e mone y himself . A t least , however, th e nove l a s altere d coul d no w g o bac k o n sal e - thoug h Lawrenc e begrudged Heseltin e hi s triump h an d 'loathed ' Seeker' s givin g i n (iv . 130) . A letter fro m Heseltin e t o hi s solicitor , however , show s tha t Heseltin e believe d th e alterations amounte d t o a n admissio n o f guilt , an d wa s mainl y prevente d fro m going t o cour t b y lac k o f money . 3 H e wa s stil l dependen t o n hi s mother , wh o would no t hav e pai d fo r th e publicit y o r th e exposur e o f th e pre-marita l birt h o f the grandchil d sh e wa s no w bringin g up . Also , h e ha d no w finally separate d from Puma , wh o woul d certainl y no t hav e welcome d bein g dragge d int o cour t a s a witness . Howeve r h e urge d hi s solicito r t o contac t Scotlan d Yar d an d tr y t o persuade th e polic e t o seiz e th e boo k instead , fo r 'i f eve r a boo k afforde d grounds fo r prosecutio n o n a charg e o f morbi d obscenit y i n genera l an d th e glorification o f homosexualit y i n particular , thi s on e does' . Considerin g tha t i t was Heseltine' s ferven t oppositio n t o th e prosecutio n o f The Rainbow tha t ha d cemented th e friendshi p i n th e first place , thi s i s a sou r iron y too . I t doe s however loo k a s though i t was as well t o hav e i t settled . 698
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'Overwhelmed' o r not , Seltze r soo n aske d fo r change s i n Aaron's Rod an d indeed Lawrenc e worrie d tha t ther e migh t b e troubl e ove r Argyle' s derivatio n from Douglas , muc h a s he ha d don e abou t Hallida y an d th e Pussu m i n 1916 . H e also kne w wel l enoug h tha t th e episod e wit h th e Marches a was 'dangerous' . H e had onl y hi s handwritte n manuscrip t no w 'whic h luckil y I haven' t ye t burned ' (iv. 131) , but h e wen t throug h i t t o loo k a t wha t Mountsie r ha d calle d th e 'foul mouthed Englishman ' an d a t th e scene s wit h th e Marchesa . However , a postscript t o the sam e lette r confesse d tha t h e coul d no t alte r it : But i f yo u lik e t o follo w th e type-script , whic h I hav e ofte n writte n over , i n th e scene s you mention, and if you like to leave out what is written over , I don't think yo u need fea r the public much. And i f you like to leave out a sentence o r two , or alter a phrase or two, do so. But I can't write anything different, (iv . 132) He wa s annoye d t o fin d tha t Mountsie r ha d returne d t o Americ a onl y recently, instea d o f three week s before. Whil e thi s explaine d wh y ther e ha d bee n no new s abou t Sea and Sardinia an d Tortoises, n o direc t new s i n fac t sinc e Lawrence ha d lef t Zell , h e shoul d surel y hav e bee n tol d o f hi s agent' s chang e o f plan. Lawrenc e wa s n o longe r intereste d i n havin g bit s o f Aaron publishe d i n magazines, bu t wondere d whethe r th e Dial migh t tak e 'Th e Captain' s Doll ' (iv . 130). (The y di d no t - i t wa s to o long. ) H e was als o cros s t o hea r fro m Curti s Brown tha t Seeke r wa s agai n tryin g t o clai m tha t a ne w volume , th e stories , should no t coun t toward s th e tota l Lawrenc e wa s contracte d fo r (iv . 12 9 an d n. 3) - thoug h th e contrac t specifie d 'books ' no t 'novels' . Amid al l thes e annoyance s th e intentio n o f goin g t o Tao s remained , eve n though Mountsie r warne d tha t h e migh t no t lik e it , o r Mabe l Sterne , o r it s artis t colony (iv . 150) . Characteristically , Lawrenc e go t ove r th e difficult y o f tellin g Brewster abou t hi s chang e o f min d b y presentin g i t a s a decisio n agains t Buddha, a s too 'finishe d an d perfecte d an d fulfille d . . . Th e glamou r fo r m e i s i n the west , no t i n th e fulfille d east ' (iv . 125) . H e feare d Brewste r migh t b e angr y with him , bu t Ne w Mexic o seeme d hi s fate . H e fel t som e responsibilit y toward s Frieda's mothe r too , a s h e planne d t o tak e he r daughte r acros s th e Atlantic . Fortunately a gestur e o f concer n becam e possibl e becaus e o f th e collaps e o f th e exchange valu e o f th e Germa n mar k i n lat e 1921 , whe n i t becam e 1,00 0 t o th e £1. Kippenber g ha d bee n sendin g hi m section s o f th e translatio n o f The Rainbow, i n proof , thoug h non e ha d com e fo r som e time . Bu t no w Lawrenc e thought i t woul d b e goo d bot h fo r Insel-Verla g an d fo r th e Barones s if , instea d of losin g heavil y o n th e exchang e wit h sterling , Kippenber g wer e t o pa y fo r The Rainbow i n mark s (iv . 117) , directl y t o th e Ludwig-Wilhelmstift . Kippenber g promptly agree d t o sen d th e Barones s 18 , 00 0 mark s b y Christma s (iv . 132 ) though Fried a the n intervene d t o insis t tha t 6,00 0 b e distribute d amon g he r German nephew s an d niece s (iv . 136) . 699
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He was also worrie d abou t thei r ow n finances, an d th e immediat e cos t o f thei r passages, thoug h h e ha d don e al l h e coul d b y wa y o f seed-cor n fo r 1922 . Ther e would b e quit e a larg e bil l fo r typing , fro m Mr s Carmichae l an d fro m Rut h Wheelock, no w typin g th e secon d par t o f Mr Noon. H e wrot e t o as k Seeke r t o pay th e las t o f th e royaltie s fo r The Lost Girl int o a Londo n accoun t tha t was now runnin g ver y lo w indee d (iv . 148) , and h e bega n t o thin k h e woul d nee d t o get a cheque-boo k i n orde r t o dra w o n th e America n accoun t Mountsie r ha d opened, thoug h h e ha d hope d t o liv e o n hi s Englis h one . I n th e nic k o f tim e came th e bes t piec e o f new s ye t - wholl y unexpecte d - tha t The Lost Girl ha d won th e 192 1 James Tai t Blac k Memoria l Prize , a t tha t tim e probabl y th e mos t prestigious priz e fo r Britis h fiction. I t wa s i n th e gif t o f th e Professo r o f Englis h Literature a t th e Universit y o f Edinburg h - the n Herber t Grierso n - an d a t £100 i t was a real windfall . Moreover , a s Lawrence coul d no t resis t sayin g i n hi s letter o f thanks , i t wa s especiall y pleasin g t o hav e 'a t las t som e spar k o f friendl y recognition ou t o f Britain . I t ha s bee n mostl y abuse ' (iv . 146) . Al l th e mor e credit t o th e occupan t o f the earlies t Chai r o f English i n th e island . As Decembe r wen t on , th e letter s sho w a marke d sens e o f transience . T o Mary Canna n h e wrot e o f ho w ther e weren' t man y tourist s now , 'al l afrai d o f strikes an d railwa y smashes ' (iv . 143) . A trai n ha d falle n int o a river i n Calabria , and violenc e wa s mounting betwee n th e communist s an d th e fascists . Th e Cors o had becom e 'thousand s o f antique shop s wit h door s wid e ope n an d nobod y t o g o in'. Stil l th e plac e remaine d beautifu l an d fascinating . Thei r plo t o f lan d wa s being ploughed : 'Come s a black , Sarace n man , a littl e youn g woma n i n yello w kerchief, a barefoo t boy , tw o cows , a youn g silve r bul l wit h blac k eyebrows , a fine merin o sheep , a black-and-brown goat , an d a yellow dog : and a n ass , oh dea r Lord, tha t sing s fo r twenty ' (iv . 137) . Bu t h e was increasingl y tire d o f th e Taormina expatriates ; an d th e younge r Cacopardo s al l seemed discontented , an d indeed a s read y t o leav e th e islan d a s h e was . I n a farewel l lette r t o Mari e Hubrecht h e tol d he r th e gossi p bu t h e was bore d wit h i t al l no w (iv . 139-41) . The onl y ne w interes t was th e visi t of Juta's girlfrien d Elizabet h an d he r mother , who cam e fo r tw o month s i n th e Hote l Bea u Sejou r (iv . 143 ; an d whos e sta y certainly wa s usefu l fo r Lawrenc e later) . A s Christma s approache d an d h e sen t off hi s customar y postcard s h e fel t les s Christmas y eve n tha n usua l - an d h e wa s a man wh o neve r care d muc h fo r Christmas . O n 2 1 December h e tol d Mountsie r he woul d finish tha t da y o r th e nex t th e ne w 'England , M y England ' - an d the n his tw o volume s woul d b e complet e (iv . 150) . H e though t tha t h e ha d abou t $2,000 i n hi s America n accoun t (iv . 152 ) - whic h woul d d o fo r th e passage s an d some lef t over . O n 2 8 Decembe r h e wrot e t o confir m t o Mabe l tha t the y wer e indeed coming , perhap s eve n o n a boa t fro m Bordeau x t o Ne w Orlean s o n 1 5 January i f the y coul d ge t read y i n time . H e als o mad e tw o characteristi c points : that h e intende d t o pa y 'th e usua l rent ' an d hope d no t t o b e al l hi s lif e 's o 700
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scrubby poo r a s w e hav e been ' - an d thoug h h e wa s prepare d t o believ e i n Indians, 'the y mus t d o half 'the believing: i n me a s well as in th e sun ' (iv . 152) . So 'England , M y England ' wa s anothe r final rejection . Th e majo r chang e fro m the earl y versio n wa s t o mak e i t mor e representative , mor e a story o f Englan d a s a whol e tha n before . Bu t becaus e i t becam e a final farewel l no w t o Lawrence^ England, a t it s best , th e emotion s th e rewritte n stor y pack s int o it s titl e becom e more complicate d tha n th e earlie r iron y agains t patriotism . Fo r h e ha d love d Greatham, an d ha d bee n creativ e an d (mostly ) happ y there . An d wherea s 'Th e Ladybird' ha d rejecte d a culture , a Graeco-Christia n civilisatio n tha t wa s characteristic o f Europe a t large , no w h e wa s rejecting 'his ' England , specifically , at its most attractive . So, a s h e expande d th e pre-wa r sectio n o f th e stor y t o five time s it s previou s length, i t fills wit h vivi d an d intimat e detai l tha t als o (unfortunatel y fo r th e Meynells) mad e i t fa r more recognisable tha n th e earlie r stor y ha d been . On e would hav e ha d t o kno w the m ver y wel l t o recognis e i n th e origina l versio n Wilfrid's Quake r upbringin g i n Newcastle , o r mak e anythin g o f the hal f sentenc e about th e numbe r o f hi s children . Onl y th e acciden t t o th e chil d (thoug h i n th e first versio n i t i s nobody' s fault) , an d th e unforesee n deat h o f Perc y Luca s afte r the stor y ha d bee n published , pointe d hurtfull y t o th e family . Bu t no w th e mor e Lawrence localise d hi s sens e o f th e quintessentia l Englishnes s o f th e settin g an d its people , th e mor e identifiabl e i t al l became : th e cottag e h e no w name s 'Crockham', th e expande d characterisatio n o f th e fathe r an d th e brie f glimps e now o f hi s poetes s wife , th e cluste r o f cottage s fo r th e daughter s roun d th e ol d farmhouse, th e Roma n Catholicism , th e expande d detai l o f th e Crockha m cottage family , th e interes t o f Egber t i n folk-son g an d morris-dancin g an d th e fuller accoun t o f th e maimin g o f th e child , al l made i t muc h mor e likel y tha t th e story coul d b e take n a s a portrait o f Perc y Lucas , hi s family , hi s dependenc e o n his father-in-law , hi s responsibilit y (quit e unfactual ) fo r th e acciden t t o hi s chil d and hi s reason s fo r enlistment , followe d b y hi s deat h i n action . I t i s little wonde r that th e famil y i n Rackha m cottag e stil l resen t toda y ho w Lawrenc e repai d th e Meynell hospitality . Yet i t i s no t a portrait , howeve r ruthlessl y detail s fro m lif e ar e used ; an d i t would b e a mistak e t o suppos e an y malice . Indee d th e dela y i n rewritin g thi s story til l th e ver y las t suggest s som e scruple ; thoug h i f so , th e goin g ahea d i n even greate r detai l underline s ho w ruthlessnes s prevailed . Bu t eve n i f the adde d detail inevitabl y increase d th e possibilit y o f identification , tha t wa s no t it s purpose. Onl y th e stor y a s a whol e ca n sho w wha t tha t purpos e was , and ho w i t had change d sinc e 1915 . The first versio n mad e Evelyn' s garde n th e beautifu l drea m o f a n unworldl y man optin g ou t o f societ y - til l th e deadl y 'iron ' whic h lie s hidde n (a t a tim e o f 701
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destruction) i n th e conflic t o f marriag e an d th e family , an d i n th e worl d itself , catches u p wit h hi m an d finally make s hi m bot h doome d an d lethal . Bu t i n th e rewriting, th e garde n an d th e ancien t yeoman' s cottag e i n th e ol d 'savage ' plac e become a final an d beautifu l flowering o f a lon g English history . Th e spiri t o f place linger s o n primeval , snake s an d all , i n th e ancien t setting . Th e lover s inherit a dar k hom e wher e generation s hav e love d an d couple d befor e them . Egbert i s rename d an d redescribe d t o brin g ou t a blen d o f th e Saxo n an d th e Viking element s i n Englishness , whil e Winifre d i s mad e eve n mor e ancient Briton-like tha n before . Godfre y Marshal l i s a n ancien t typ e o f father , patri archal, Christmasy . Thi s graftin g togethe r i n th e twentiet h centur y o f th e grea t stems o f Englishness , highl y cultivate d now , bu t roote d i n th e past , ough t t o produce a sort o f quintessenc e o f English civilisation . S o i n a sense i t doe s - an d the sens e i s loving and nostalgic . However i t i s not a t all sentimental, fo r th e stor y resemble s th e novella s als o i n being a re-enactmen t o f Lawrence' s ow n changin g vision , fro m The Rainbow, through 'Th e Crown ' an d Women in Love, t o 1921 . Havin g establishe d a Rainbow-like marriag e o f opposites , i n highl y economica l richness , Lawrenc e follows th e insigh t o f 'Th e Crown ' int o a time o f comin g apart , an d end s wit h a will-to-die lik e Gerald' s (removin g th e frenz y o f slayin g i n th e earl y version) . But th e proces s o f thing s comin g apar t a t th e centr e o f Englis h cultur e i s diagnosed wit h th e eye s o f 192 1 - an d create d i n th e ne w laconi c ('American' ) style tha t Lawrenc e wa s developing , s o tha t th e linguisti c experience , too , i s lik e moving fro m The Rainbow t o on e o f th e bette r part s of Fantasia. A s th e conflic t of opposite s i n th e marriag e turn s fro m creatio n t o destructio n i t i s importan t not t o se e thi s a s merel y a matte r o f individua l characte r (thoug h i t i s tha t too ) but a s als o a matte r o f th e times , o f whic h th e character s ar e representative . Behind th e voice s o f th e childre n an d th e attitude s o f parents , behin d th e hardening battl e betwee n husban d an d wife , behin d th e 'accident ' whic h maim s the chil d an d confirm s th e unbridgeabl e rif t tha t rupture s th e marriag e an d help s to send Egber t int o th e army , ther e i s a sharper sens e no w o f a time of dissolutio n - pittin g liberalis m (an d finally anarchy ) agains t authority , individua l cultivatio n against socia l responsibility , magn a mate r agains t rebelliou s male , on e 'people ' against another . I f w e see k th e caus e o f th e maimin g o f th e child , i t i s more tha n Egbert's carelessness , fo r tha t i n a deepe r sens e i s a t th e cor e o f hi s nature , hi s aloofness, hi s refusa l t o work , hi s anarchic individualism . Hi s ver y 'cultivation ' i s the cause . Why didn' t Egber t d o something , then ? Wh y didn' t h e com e t o grip s wit h life ? Wh y wasn't h e lik e Winifred' s father , a pillar o f society , eve n i f a slender, exquisit e column ? Why didn't he go into harness of some sort? Why didn't he take some direction? Well, you ca n brin g a n as s t o th e water , bu t yo u canno t mak e hi m drink . Th e worl d 702
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was th e wate r an d Egber t wa s th e ass . An d h e wasn' t havin g any . H e couldn't : h e jus t couldn't. Sinc e necessity did not force him to work for his bread and butter, he would not work for work's sake. You can't make the columbine flowers nod in January, nor make the cuckoo sing in England a t Christmas. Why? It isn't his season. One ca n als o howeve r detect , whe n Egber t become s Ishmael-lik e a s hi s wif e turns agains t him , th e mixe d sympathie s o f th e Lawrenc e o f 1921 . On th e on e hand th e individualis t respond s t o th e rebe l agains t th e magn a mate r an d th e society tha t stand s behin d her . O n th e other , ther e i s a shar p sens e no t onl y o f the futilit y bu t th e destructiveness that mus t buil d u p i n a ma n whe n h e denie s the man' s responsibilit y proclaime d i n 'Th e Fox' ; an d stil l mor e i f h e denie s what Fantasia insiste d wa s an impuls e mor e primar y eve n tha n sex : th e religiou s motive o f hi s maleness , th e desir e t o wor k creativel y fo r work' s sake , an d discover th e futur e rathe r tha n reliv e th e past . Bu t destructivenes s i s als o i n th e times: in th e rebelliou s chil d runnin g ou t t o where ther e ar e snakes a s much a s in the careles s fathe r wh o leave s th e sickle , an d th e complacen t doctor , an d th e hardening mothe r an d wife . An d wh y doe s Egber t voluntee r fo r th e war , eve n a t the cos t o f subjectin g himsel f t o a disciplin e h e hates ? No t fo r an y hatre d o f Germans, o r mob-feeling , o r imperialism , o r patriotis m o f any kin d - h e i s muc h too civilised fo r those . Not those , but rathe r th e destructiv e impuls e t o wa r itself : 'War! Just war ! Not righ t o r wrong , bu t jus t wa r itsel f For Lawrence , a s fo r everybod y else , i t wa s 'th e flower o f England ' tha t perished i n th e trenche s - bu t unlik e other s h e sa w nothin g heroi c i n that . A s Egbert serve s th e gun s a t th e end , h e i s acting ou t hi s ow n destructiveness . An d when h e i s hit , i t i s becaus e h e n o longe r ha s an y desir e t o liv e tha t h e will s t o die, i n thi s ne w versio n o f th e stor y - embodyin g th e deat h wis h o f a generation . For Lawrenc e indeed , 'England , my England ' did wil l itsel f t o di e i n th e war . Ironically juxtapose d t o th e dea d fac e i n th e final line s i s a half-glimpse , th e instant befor e death , o f a hug e hors e loomin g abov e . . . lik e th e one s tha t challenged Ursul a t o renewa l a t th e en d o f The Rainbow, wit h it s covenan t o f hope. Bu t Lawrenc e sa w n o hop e o f renewal , now , i n th e Englan d tha t ha d destroyed The Rainbow an d disdaine d Women in Love; o r indee d i n th e Europ e which create d th e war , an d wa s stil l mire d i n anarchi c violenc e i n 192 1 - an d which h e wa s no w leavin g fo r eve r (h e thought) . Onl y superficiall y i s this a stor y about Perc y Lucas , thoug h t o sa y a wound i s relativel y superficia l i s no t t o den y how muc h i t ca n hurt .
VI Layin g th e Ghos t o f Magnu s By 2 1 Decembe r h e ha d als o mad e anothe r end . Shortl y afte r finishing th e ne w 'Fox', h e ha d tol d Mountsie r h e wa s 'doin g a Magnu s MS . abou t th e Foreig n 703
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Legion' (iv . 127) , i n th e hop e o f gettin g i t publishe d i n America . Walte r Salomone ha d appeale d t o hi m immediatel y afte r Magnus' s suicide , an d h e ha d had t o repl y tha t h e to o ha d bee n a victi m an d ther e was n o othe r hop e o f recovering wha t Magnu s ha d borrowe d tha n gettin g 'Dregs ' (a s i t wa s the n called) int o print . Thoug h th e correspondenc e ha s no t com e t o light, 41 i t seem s clear tha t Lawrenc e fel t som e responsibilit y t o d o somethin g abou t th e continuing distres s o f the me n wh o ha d take n hi m an d Magnu s drivin g i n Malta . He ha d no t introduce d Magnu s t o the m - th e lette r fro m Do n Maur o Inguane z had don e that . H e ha d n o direc t responsibilit y fo r wha t ha d happened , bu t h e had go t t o kno w them , an d ha d no t warne d the m agains t Magnus , an d tha t wa s enough t o mak e hi m wan t t o d o somethin g t o repai r th e damag e Magnu s ha d done. Eve n befor e th e suicide , h e an d Norma n Dougla s an d Goldrin g ha d mad e a numbe r o f effort s t o interes t publisher s i n Magnus' s work . Lawrenc e ha d commended 'Dregs ' t o bot h Seeke r an d Fishe r Unwin , an d ha d enliste d Goldring's hel p t o plac e on e o f Magnus's translate d plays . Douglas , havin g see n Goldring i n Rome , ha d go t Magnu s t o sen d hi m bot h 'Dregs ' an d a memoi r o f his travel s whic h ha s subsequentl y disappeared . Goldrin g though t wel l o f 'Dregs', an d recalle d late r tha t Douglas , wit h hi s help , ha d take n 'a n infinit y o f trouble' t o tr y t o ge t i t into print 42 - bu t al l withou t success . Now, however , Michae l Bor g an d Do n Maur o pleade d agai n wit h Lawrence . Douglas ha d bee n name d literar y executo r i n Magnus' s will , but th e Maltes e ha d refused t o releas e th e book , thei r onl y possibl e recompense , t o him . The y kne w Lawrence personally , an d mus t hav e believed tha t h e woul d b e th e mor e likel y t o make a seriou s effor t t o recove r th e mone y the y ha d lost . I t seem s likel y tha t having bee n sen t i t now, Lawrenc e wa s going righ t throug h th e boo k fo r th e firs t time, havin g onl y see n th e firs t hal f before . Th e manuscrip t show s a fe w mino r revisions i n hi s hand . I t becam e ver y clea r t o hi m tha t th e materia l itself , thoug h remarkable, wa s not th e most pleasan t o f reading, an d wa s very unlikel y t o attrac t a publishe r o n it s own , a s pas t experienc e confirmed . Th e bes t hop e la y - h e thought - i n America , an d th e bes t chanc e o f makin g i t mor e saleabl e ther e would b e fo r hi m t o writ e an introductor y memoi r o f the autho r a s he had know n him. S o h e embarke d o n hi s onl y attemp t a t biography , an d produce d wha t h e later though t 'th e bes t singl e piece of writing, as writing^ tha t h e ha d eve r done . There remaine d th e nee d t o ge t Douglas' s consent . O n 2 0 Decembe r Lawrence wrot e t o explai n hi s plan . H e ha d writte n 'a n introductio n givin g al l I knew abou t M - no t unkindl y I hope' , an d sough t Douglas' s agreemen t t o a n attempt t o sell manuscrip t an d introductio n outrigh t t o an America n publishe r a t an askin g pric e o f $40 0 'o r mor e i f possible' . Ou t o f thi s th e Maltes e wer e t o b e paid thei r £60 first , the n th e £2 3 Magnu s owe d Lawrence , an d Dougla s coul d have anythin g tha t remained . '[E]ve n i f you onl y go t abou t £20. i t i s better tha n a sla p i n th e eye. ' I f o n th e othe r han d Dougla s woul d d o i t instead , Lawrenc e 704
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would stan d asid e - thoug h hi s ton e suggest s h e though t tha t unlikely . Dougla s of cours e woul d figure, thoug h 'unde r a disguise d name' , i n th e accoun t o f Magnus i n Florence , bu t 'Th e onl y vic e I giv e yo u i s tha t o f drinkin g th e bes t part o f the bottle of whiskey' . Though Dougla s ha d a lega l righ t t o al l th e proceeds , an d migh t no t hav e agreed s o readil y i f h e ha d see n wha t Lawrenc e ha d writte n abou t Magnus , 'Dregs' clearl y ha d fe w prospect s o n it s own . H e replie d o n 2 6 Decembe r an d disclaimed al l interest, financial o r an y other , i n th e manuscript . 'Whoeve r want s it may hav e i t & may ra m i t up hi s exhaus t pipe' , h e said , tellin g Lawrenc e t o d o what h e like d wit h it , t o pu t him i n 'drun k an d star k nake d i f yo u like' , an d t o 'Pocket all the cash yourself (hi s emphasis). 45 Lawrence finally sen t bot h memoi r an d boo k t o Mountsie r o n 2 6 January , warning tha t h e migh t find th e latte r a s disgusting an d horrifyin g a s Magnus ha d found th e experience , bu t h e shoul d b e patien t an d no t giv e u p (iv . 178-9) . Perhaps a big publishe r lik e Doran , wh o ha d brough t ou t Three Soldiers b y Do s Passos whic h was als o hardl y pleasan t ligh t reading , migh t giv e $40 0 fo r th e book outrigh t - an d thu s hel p repa y th e £10 0 Magnu s owed . I f h e coul d obtain an y offer , Mountsie r wa s t o dea l directl y wit h Borg . He migh t als o tr y fo r an additiona l su m fo r th e memoi r i f h e coul d ge t i t - bu t i t i s quit e clea r tha t Lawrence's essentia l concer n wa s t o enabl e Magnus' s manuscrip t t o und o th e harm tha t th e ma n himsel f ha d done , t o th e Maltes e wh o ha d trie d t o hel p him . Though Gran t Richard s migh t bu y th e Englis h rights , Lawrenc e wa s reluctan t to hav e hi s introductio n publishe d i n England . H e suggeste d agai n tha t Dougla s should b e aske d t o introduc e an y Englis h editio n instead ; bu t i f h e refuse d an d Lawrence's piec e wer e wanted, s o be it . Goldring, wh o neve r me t Magnus , professe d himsel f 'no t i n a positio n t o judge whethe r Lawrence' s depreciation , o r Douglas' s appreciation , wa s neare r the truth' . Douglas' s ton e o f pseudo-affectionat e contemp t fo r 'm y youn g frien d Lawrence' an d hi s habi t o f caricature i s effective, bu t i f one wer e t o trea t th e tw o portrayals a s pur e fictions, ther e coul d b e littl e doub t whic h i s th e mor e vividl y animated o r sharpl y an d clearl y focused . Th e questio n o f biographi c trut h however - alway s impossible , ye t alway s t o b e sough t fo r tirelessl y - i s muc h more complicated . I t ha s bee n suggeste d abov e (se e pp . 538-9 , 566-7 ) tha t eve n Lawrence biographer s shoul d no t tak e th e memoi r a s th e 'truth ' o f hi s feeling s about Magnu s i n 1919 , o r eve n 1920 , sinc e i t was obviousl y writte n wit h th e hindsight an d th e mor e comple x an d mixe d feeling s o f Decembe r 1921 , whe n the en d o f th e stor y wa s known . H e probabl y fel t mor e fascinate d an d charme d by Magnu s i n Florence , an d mor e friendl y toward s hi m eve n i n Montecassino , than appear s whe n th e encounter s wer e recreated an d th e opposition s clarifie d i n 1922. Th e trut h on e ca n b e confiden t abou t i s th e trut h o f Lawrence' s comple x feelings as he wrote. 705
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Moreover Lawrence' s on e attemp t a t biograph y resemble s hi s literar y criticism i n workin g lik e a n X-ray , renderin g a goo d dea l o f 'body ' shadow y i n order t o ge t 't o th e bone ' - a s focuse d b y a powerfully individua l sensibility . S o his memoir care s littl e fo r th e inclusiveness , th e painstakin g inquiry , th e effor t t o imagine fro m th e subject' s poin t o f vie w (an d tha t o f th e othe r actor s i n th e story), th e attemp t t o blen d objectivit y wit h sympatheti c understanding , whic h seekers afte r suc h biographi c trut h a s i s obtainable migh t deman d o f themselves . When Dougla s late r charge d Lawrenc e wit h ignorin g Magnus' s capacit y fo r friendship, fo r har d wor k an d fo r generosit y whe n h e wa s i n funds , ther e wa s some trut h i n th e charg e sinc e thes e ar e i n fac t visibl y ther e i n Lawrence' s portrait, thoug h the y ar e give n littl e emphasis . Ho w muc h more , however , i s no t there a t all , whic h migh t hel p on e t o understan d wha t Magnu s wa s 'reall y like' ? What a pity i t seem s - i f we wan t 'th e whol e truth ' - tha t th e autho r o f Sons and Lovers, impatien t o f th e sor t o f thin g h e kne w onl y to o well , shoul d hav e discouraged Magnu s fro m speakin g o f hi s beautifu l mother , hi s only-so n relationship wit h he r an d wit h hi s eve n mor e shadow y father , hi s upbringin g obviously i n conflic t wit h hi s desir e not t o b e American , bu t cosmopolita n an d pan-European, wit h onl y th e slightes t trac e o f accen t lingerin g i n hi s speech . How di d h e com e t o know th e bes t theatre s i n ever y capita l i n Europe , includin g Russia, an d t o hav e edite d a revie w i n Rome ? Why , havin g obviousl y bee n ver y well-off an d prosperou s - fo r loo k a t his possession s an d hi s habit s - wa s he no w so down o n hi s luck? An d (thoug h thi s wa s obviously o f no interes t t o Lawrence ) how di d h e com e t o conver t t o Roman Catholicism , i n Englan d i n 1902 , possibl y at th e tim e o f hi s marriage ? An d wha t wa s th e tensio n betwee n tha t an d hi s homosexuality? As i t happens , th e sketc h o f a n answe r t o som e o f these question s ca n sugges t what Lawrence' s memoi r i s not. O f Magnus' s famil y an d upbringin g i n Americ a almost nothin g i s know n - excep t tha t hi s clai m abou t hi s mothe r canno t hav e been altogethe r Active , sinc e h e offere d t o persuad e th e the n Kaise r t o visi t Gordon Craig' s exhibitio n i n Berlin , an d quit e clearl y ha d influentia l contact s there. Ou r firs t glimps e o f him , indeed , i s i n Berli n i n 1905, 49 whe n ' a small , dapper man ' turne d u p a t tha t exhibition , studie d ever y pictur e a s thoug h h e were a connoisseur , praise d th e artistr y i n mos t flattering term s an d offere d t o write t o variou s paper s i n Americ a abou t it . H e impresse d Crai g b y hi s charm , intelligence an d dignity , an d th e fac t tha t 'h e seeme d t o kno w everyon e i n Berlin'. H e was jus t 2 9 an d ha d a n apparentl y inexhaustibl e ambitio n t o collec t celebrities, whic h ha d brough t hi m t o Europ e wher e h e though t anythin g was possible: 'On e onl y ha s t o kno w th e righ t people. ' H e ha d bee n supportin g himself b y actin g a s Berli n corresponden t t o America n papers , an d teachin g i n the Berlit z schoo l - bu t afte r tal k wit h Crai g ove r martinis , was ver y read y t o become hi s busines s manager , an d Isador a Duncan' s a s wel l whe n sh e wa s 706
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having he r affai r wit h Craig . H e organise d a n office , an d a secretary - bu t non e of th e thre e wa s reliabl e o r carefu l wit h money . Th e relationshi p ha d man y up s and down s ove r th e nex t fe w years , but Magnu s wa s genuinel y usefu l t o th e tw o artists, an d ofte n hi s contact s seeme d t o work . (A n interestin g sideligh t i s cast , however, b y hi s habi t o f pocketin g visitin g card s fro m th e silve r salver s o f houses h e visited , sinc e the y migh t com e i n usefu l on e day. ) However , a taste fo r luxury o n n o assure d income , an d a lac k o f scrupl e i n financial affairs , d o see m to hav e bee n characteristi c o f hi m fro m th e start . Yet , thoug h hal f a trickster , he als o ha d som e genuin e organisationa l talent . I t wa s throug h him , a s intermediary, tha t Stanislavsky' s proposa l tha t Crai g shoul d com e t o Mosco w was negotiated , an d Magnu s organise d a successfu l tou r o f Switzerlan d fo r Isadora immediatel y afte r th e war . A n inclusiv e biograph y woul d no t b e shor t of interest . Unfortunately th e post-wa r worl d wa s a very differen t on e fo r Magnus . Afte r he ha d escape d int o Ital y fro m hi s ill-fate d servic e i n th e Frenc h Foreig n Legion, h e mad e hi s wa y t o Rome , wher e Crai g ra n int o hi m i n 1917 . I n som e ways h e wa s exactl y th e same . Hi s openin g remar k was , 'M y dea r Craig , yo u can't liv e in a hotel - that' s no t th e righ t backgroun d fo r you ' - an d 'withi n days ' he ha d persuade d Princ e Wolkonsk y t o len d Crai g hi s studi o flat, ordere d hi m some visitin g cards , an d introduce d hi m t o th e King' s tailor . Bu t i n 191 9 Crai g met Magnu s agai n an d foun d hi m ' a ver y change d man . S o man y o f th e "names" wit h whic h h e ha d conjure d i n th e pas t wer e n o more , o r n o longe r meant anything . H e coul d se e n o futur e fo r himsel f H e wa s indee d thinkin g o f entering a monastery. So Lawrence' s memoi r ca n b y n o mean s tel l 'th e whol e truth ' o r anythin g lik e it; or she d ligh t o n th e formativ e proces s b y whic h Magnu s becam e wha t h e was . And yet , no t onl y doe s nothin g i n i t conflic t wit h wha t w e ca n lear n fro m Craig , who kne w Magnu s fo r fifteen years , an d fro m Craig' s so n wh o me t hi m man y times, but thei r portrayal s full y bea r ou t th e mixtur e o f sophisticate an d trickster , elegance an d sleaze , wistfu l char m wit h suspec t flattery, tha t Lawrenc e recreate s so cogently . Ther e to o i s th e mincin g gait , thoug h Craig' s statemen t tha t Magnus woul d tak e fou r step s t o anyon e else' s on e i s no t nearl y a s graphi c a s Lawrence's unforgettabl e descriptio n o f birdlik e perkiness . Eve n th e unctio n with women , combine d wit h waspis h dislik e (whic h Lawrenc e pu t int o The Lost Girl a s wel l a s th e memoir ) appear s i n Craig' s account . Thoug h w e canno t b e sure tha t th e argumen t abou t th e peasan t a t Montecassin o too k plac e a s Lawrence dramatise s it , Magnus' s late r concer n t o b e wit h 'firs t class ' peopl e suggests tha t th e scen e i s a fai r reflectio n o f hi s views . Th e mor e telling , then , are th e sign s o f wearines s an d desperatio n i n Lawrence' s portrai t o f suc h a ma n down o n hi s luc k an d almos t a t th e en d o f hi s tether . Th e flattering char m an d friendliness, th e makin g an d keepin g u p o f contacts , th e capacit y fo r busynes s 707
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and pullin g strings , th e knowledg e o f a numbe r o f citie s an d theatre s an d th e best restaurant s an d hotels , wer e th e 'body ' o f the ma n - bu t ther e i s little doub t that Lawrenc e di d ge t t o th e skeleton . Crai g sum s u p hi s fifteen years ' acquaintance, whic h h e has describe d wit h som e affection, a s follows : Later on , wheneve r h e again di d anythin g fo r me , he alway s managed t o disappear wit h most, if not all, of the money. He was not dishonest - h e was merely very hard u p - ver y involved - an d stil l fa r to o snappy . H e neve r deliberatel y cheate d me , but h e coul d no t resist helping himself, any more than he could resist helping me.33 But Lawrence' s final judgemen t goe s a grea t dea l deeper , an d i s actuall y mor e compassionate i n th e en d tha n eithe r Crai g o r Douglas , because i t face s u p t o th e deeper an d darke r thing s i n Magnus' s life , an d stil l come s ou t wit h considerabl e admiration fo r hi s ultimat e courage , an d hi s carryin g o f huma n consciousnes s 'unbroken throug h horribl e experiences' . Th e manuscrip t ha s grea t difficult y i n organising it s feeling s a t th e end . Ther e i s a n impassione d denunciatio n o f Magnus's priss y separatio n o f himsel f fro m th e degradin g homosexualit y h e sa w in th e Legio n - a passag e whic h ha d t o b e cu t fro m hi s book , a s Lawrence' s denunciation o f i t ha d t o b e cu t fro m hi s memoir. 54 Lawrenc e i s enrage d b y Magnus darin g t o si t i n judgemen t - h e wh o tol d Lawrenc e 'Oh , I alway s tr y t o keep m y physica l friendship s a s decent as possibl e - whil e the y last' , bu t whos e decency consiste d o f 'Filchin g th e blood-warmt h fro m th e lowe r class ' an d paying the m off , despisin g the m al l th e whil e a s hi s inferiors . Lawrence , regarding th e 'passionat e blood ' a s sacred , woul d rathe r hav e th e reckles s homosexual depravit y o f th e 'poo r devil s o f legionaries ' tha n thi s genteell y purchased gratification , tha t the n washe s it s hand s an d goe s o n quickl y t o tal k o f things o f th e min d an d th e spirit . Moreove r i t i s clea r - thoug h thi s to o ha d t o go - tha t Lawrenc e see s som e relatio n betwee n Magnus' s sexua l habit s an d hi s treatment o f hi s friend s i n Malta . Michae l Bor g fel t no t onl y cheate d bu t confused an d distressed , becaus e 'sol d i n th e bes t par t o f himself . Magnu s 'came u p s o winsomel y t o appea l fo r affection . H e too k th e affection , an d pai d back twent y francs . Bargain ! - Later , h e too k th e affection , an d borrowed twenty francs, an d cleare d ou t i n triumph . An d h e t o si t i n judgemen t o n th e Legionaries!' But i t i s no t onl y t o repa y Bor g an d th e othe r 'me n wit h war m blood ' fro m whom Magnu s filched mone y an d affectio n tha t Lawrenc e wishe s t o publis h Magnus's boo k an d hi s ow n memoir . Fo r th e brutalit y an d depravit y Magnu s experienced i n th e Legio n wer e fo r Lawrenc e onl y par t o f th e brutalit y an d depravity o f th e wa r a s a whole . I t i s necessary to kno w wha t sex , an d war , an d crime, an d corruptio n ca n b e an d do ; an d t o fre e ourselve s b y experiencin g these, lik e a n inoculation . Tha t i s finally wha t h e respects , i n spit e o f all : tha t Magnus 'realised ' wha t h e feared . 708
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He ha d hi s points , th e courag e o f hi s ow n terrors , quick-wittedness , sensitivenes s t o certain thing s i n hi s surroundings . I prefe r him , scam p a s h e is , t o th e ordinar y respectable person . H e ra n hi s risks : h e had t o b e runnin g risk s wit h th e police , apparently. An d h e poisone d himsel f rathe r tha n fal l int o thei r clutches . I lik e hi m fo r that. An d I lik e hi m fo r th e shar p an d quic k wa y h e mad e us e o f ever y on e o f hi s opportunities to get out of that beastly army .. . Let hi m hav e hi s place , le t hi s wor d b e heard . H e wen t throug h vil e experiences : h e looked them in the face, braved them through, and kept his manhood i n spite of them .. . Magnus wen t wher e I could neve r go . He carrie d th e huma n consciousnes s unbroke n through circumstances I could not have borne. Lawrence canno t forgiv e hi m fo r tradin g o n th e generosit y an d affectio n o f others. Bu t a 'lonely terrifie d courag e o f th e isolate d spirit ' Magnu s ha d - an d to that Lawrenc e finally doe s justice , which i s all (he said ) tha t th e dea d require . VII B a l a a m ' s As s Shortly afte r h e ha d writte n t o Dougla s Lawrenc e fel l ill , an d remaine d i n be d for a fortnigh t ove r Christma s an d Ne w Year . I t wa s no t a chil l thi s time , sinc e the day s befor e Christma s wer e war m an d sunny , thoug h i t turne d col d i n th e first wee k o f January. H e sai d i t wa s flu again , an d i t kep t comin g back , bu t h e may als o hav e bee n fretting , an d ha d certainl y bee n workin g ver y hard . (H e was however gla d t o hav e go t ou t o f goin g t o a 'horrible ' Christma s dinner ; iv . 151. ) On 2 9 Decembe r h e wrot e t o Curti s Brown' s office , t o sa y tha t h e was onl y waiting fo r 'Th e Ladybird ' an d 'England , M y England ' t o com e bac k fro m th e typist now ; an d t o as k the m t o chec k a detail i n Seeker' s agreemen t fo r The Lost Girl (iv . 153) . (H e though t h e ha d bee n underpaid. ) H e ha d ha d copie s o f Tortoises from Seltze r - bu t di d no t min d whethe r Seeke r publishe d i t o r no t he lef t tha t t o Brown's discretion . S o ended 1921 , on a downbeat onc e again . It i s strang e t o thin k tha t i f i t ha d no t bee n fo r hi s illness , Lawrenc e migh t wel l have saile d o n th e Frenc h shi p La Salles o n 1 5 January 192 2 fro m Bordeau x t o New Orleans , an d the n o n t o Taos, wher e h e ha d onc e agai n confirme d t o Mabe l that h e intende d t o come . Ther e woul d hav e bee n n o Kangaroo; n o The Boy in the Bush. Bu t th e flu lingere d on , wit h ba d headaches , an d whe n h e bega n t o fee l a little better ther e wa s neither th e energ y t o pac k no r th e time . His nex t though t was t o catc h th e Fabr e Line r Providence fro m Palerm o t o Ne w Yor k o n 5 February, thoug h h e stil l hated th e ide a of going t o Ne w Yor k (iv . 156) . At Ne w Yea r h e hear d fro m Brewster , an d though t wistfull y tha t Ceylo n sounded reall y rathe r lovely . Ye t i t stil l seeme d th e wron g directio n fo r him ; an d he stil l gav e a s reaso n a decisio n agains t Buddh a - thoug h wit h a ne w tan g o f pain an d acceptanc e o f pain behin d a n olde r argument . 709
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More an d mor e I feel tha t meditatio n an d th e inne r lif e ar e not m y aim, but som e sort of action an d strenuousnes s an d pai n an d frustratio n an d strugglin g throug h .. . An d th e tight an d th e sorro w an d th e los s of blood, and eve n th e influenza s an d th e headache are part of the right and th e fulfilment , . . ... I do not wan t plac e nor beaut y no r even freedo m fro m pain . I want t o fight an d to feel ne w god s in the flesh, (iv. 154) Instead o f me n tryin g t o becom e seren e a s Buddha , an d godlike , h e though t that 'Go d mad e ma n i s th e goal . Th e god s ar e uneas y unti l the y ca n becom e men. An d me n hav e t o tigh t a wa y fo r th e ne w incarnation. ' Th e plac e fo r th e tight seeme d th e USA . On 9 January wit h th e fl u stil l o n him , an d feelin g distinctl y unwell , h e sen t away th e typescript s o f 'Th e Ladybird ' an d 'England , M y England ' t o Mountsier an d Curti s Brown ; an d als o tw o autograp h manuscripts 56 t o Mount sier 's o tha t I needn' t car t the m about ' (iv . 155-6 , 159) . H e ha d no w hear d tha t the accoun t Mountsie r ha d opene d fo r hi m i n Charleroi , Pennsylvani a stoo d a t $1,800, and h e no w ha d a cheque-book t o us e i f necessary; thoug h thi s advantag e was diminishe d b y th e collaps e o f th e Banc o d i Scont o o n 2 9 December , whic h made i t impossibl e t o cas h cheque s i n Taormina . H e tol d Seltze r h e though t th e three novella s woul d mak e ' a reall y interestin g boo k - perhap s eve n a real seller ' (iv. 157) , bu t now , onc e h e ha d looke d throug h th e clea n typescrip t of Aaron which Seltze r wa s sendin g him , h e woul d b e 'finishe d wit h writin g fo r a bit , thank god . I am sic k o f the sigh t an d though t o f manuscripts.' T o amus e himsel f on shipboar d h e woul d translat e Verga' s Mastro-don Gesualdo - a 'grey ' nove l which seeme d t o hi m 'on e o f th e genuin e emotiona l extreme s o f Europea n literature' (iv . 157) , an epitom e o f the poo r south , showin g ho w 'blac k an d heav y and hopeless ' th e Sicilian s were , inwardl y (iv . 162) , amids t thei r beautifu l oute r world. Fo r th e moment , however , h e wa s throug h wit h working , depresse d an d sick o f everything . I t ha d turne d col d again , wit h sno w comin g dow n th e hill s towards the m an d Etn a shrouded , bu t the y ha d a suppl y o f oliv e woo d t o kee p the salott a war m — an d tw o day s late r th e su n shon e onc e more , th e almond blossom cam e ou t an d th e garde n wa s ful l o f bird s whic h ha d com e dow n nea r the coas t t o escap e th e snow . H e wrot e t o consol e Frieda' s mothe r abou t thei r going: afte r all , i f h e coul d mak e dollar s i n America , the y coul d ge t bac k t o Baden almos t a s easil y fro m ther e a s fro m Taormina . The y wer e sitting , h e tol d her, 'war m an d still , wit h th e lam p o n th e table ' (iv . 162) , lookin g ou t throug h the Bougainvillae a leave s o n th e terrac e t o th e moonli t se a i n a dee p stillness , broken onl y b y th e cracklin g o f th e woo d i n th e stove . I f ther e ha d bee n trouble , there was now a surface calm . Yet stil l th e flu lingered , int o a thir d week , an d wit h it , depression . Lik e Ko t (he tol d him) , h e fel t h e wa s 'messin g abou t o n th e edg e o f everything ' (iv . 165) . He looke d bac k wit h nostalgi a t o th e Buckinghamshir e cottag e o f 191 4 - bu t 710
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'Meanwhile on e i s eigh t year s older , an d a thousan d year s mor e disconnecte d with everything , an d mor e frustrated. ' Bu t wha t t o do ? Th e typescrip t of Aaron came; but onc e mor e an d finally h e foun d himsel f absolutel y unabl e t o expurgat e the scene s wit h th e Marchesa . H e tol d Seltze r h e coul d d o wha t h e liked , prin t another privat e edition , cu t chunks , mak e hi s ow n substitutions , bu t Lawrenc e would hav e nothin g mor e t o d o wit h changin g wha t h e ha d written . 'The n sa y no mor e t o me . I a m tire d o f thi s miserable , paltry , hafflin g an d cafflin g worl d dead sic k o f it' (iv . 167) . There wer e mino r consolations . Copie s o f Sea and Sardinia arrive d fro m America - satisfactory , thoug h h e though t th e red s o f Juta' s illustration s ha d come ou t a bit 'weary ' an d h e di d no t lik e th e wrappe r (iv . 157 , 158) . (An d wa s not Tortoises too expensivel y go t u p fo r a chapbook? ) H e hope d poo r Juta , wh o had ha d a painfu l acciden t t o hi s foo t climbin g Tabl e Mountai n a t th e Cape , would b e please d - thoug h Lawrenc e ha d t o tur n dow n hi s invitatio n t o g o wit h him t o Nyasalan d an d Tanganyika . Seeke r ha d no w decide d t o bu y sheet s fo r a n English editio n o f the travel-book , an d Lawrenc e ha d caugh t hi m ou t i n a n erro r in calculatin g th e royaltie s o n The Lost Girl o n whic h anothe r te n guinea s wer e owing - a doubl e satisfactio n (iv . 169) . O n 1 4 January h e apologise d t o Cecil y Lambert fo r bein g unabl e t o welcom e he r an d he r frien d Monic a Furlon g t o Sicily, sinc e h e an d Fried a woul d b e gon e b y th e tim e the y came . H e wa s no w 'booked t o leav e nex t month ' (iv . 166) ; though h e ha d probabl y no t finalised th e booking. However, fou r day s late r h e tol d Mountsie r tha t suddenly , 'o n th e poin t o f coming t o Americ a I fee l I can V come . No t yet . I t i s somethin g almos t stronge r than I am . I woul d rathe r g o t o Ceylon , an d com e t o Americ a later , fro m th e east' (iv . 168 ) - a reversion t o his original pla n th e previou s October . This seem s t o hav e bee n a gu t feeling , deepe r tha n an y rationa l explanation . He talke d o f Balaa m an d hi s ass , implyin g a preterhuma n forc e blockin g th e wrong direction , thoug h invisibl e t o th e ordinar y an d mistake n eye . H e als o fel t the ridiculousnes s o f hi s position , waverin g s o betwee n eas t an d wes t - thoug h he wa s no t shor t o f reason s a s h e bega n t o giv e wa y t o hi s instinct . Howeve r there i s a thread tha t connect s the m all , though i t i s never spoke n quit e aloud . The first hint , t o Kot , wa s o f increase d revulsio n agains t th e whol e ide a o f proximity t o a colon y o f Ne w Yor k artist s i n Taos , thoug h h e stil l fel t h e ough t to try, eve n i f onl y t o find ou t tha t h e hate d i t (iv . 165) . T o Mabe l later , confessing hi s chang e o f mind , h e spok e o f hi s hatre d o f th e intellectual s wh o seemed t o interes t her : 'th e analyti c therapeuti c lot ' lik e Brill; and 'al l tha t "arty " and "literairy " crew ' o f 'shits ' lik e Le o Stei n - a n unpleasantr y tha t show s ho w much Stei n ha d annoye d hi m b y sendin g a skittis h chan t abou t hi s Psychoanalysis, an d a reproach fo r hi s emphasi s o n th e belly . (I n th e aftermat h o f all th e 711
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other attack s o n hi s boo k Lawrenc e wa s no t amused , an d indee d though t Stei n slyly malicious , a s a t on e poin t h e undoubtedl y was. ) Th e Indian s wer e on e thing, bu t 'unreligious* (in hi s sense ) America n artist s an d intellectual s quit e another (iv . 181-2) . H e ha d hope d t o avoi d 'Ne w York ' b y goin g t o Ne w Mexico, and di d no t loo k forwar d t o meeting i t there . At a deepe r level , however , i t was a lette r fro m Brewste r whic h di d mos t t o cause th e chang e o f mind - an d i t was once agai n characteristi c tha t a suggestiv e point shoul d b e conceale d i n a discussio n o f Buddhism . Suddenly , Lawrenc e wrote back , h e fel t tha t Brewste r was righ t afte r al l i n takin g th e Buddhis t vie w that 'Lif e i s sorrow' ; an d h e himsel f ha d bee n 'kickin g agains t th e pricks ' i n resisting thi s a s a final truth , rathe r tha n acceptin g i t as a foundation t o build on . The groundwor k o f life i s sorrow. But tha t onc e established , on e can start t o build. And until tha t is established on e can build nothing : no life of any sort. I begin t o agree. I took it on e mus t finish with th e fac t tha t Life is sorrow. No w agai n I realise tha t on e mus t ge t there, and having arrived, then begin to live. Good then: as a basis, Life is sorrow. But beyond that, one can smile and go on: Only - onl y - I somehow hav e an imperativ e nee d t o fight. I suppose i t depend s how one fights, (iv. 170) In fact , Buddhis m hold s tha t lif e canno t but b e sorro w a s lon g a s peopl e pursu e desires tha t i n a worl d o f illusio n ar e boun d t o b e transitor y an d delusive ; an d until the y see k t o fre e themselve s fro m desire , b y followin g th e wa y t o enlight enment. Lawrenc e coul d neve r agre e wit h Buddhis m i n that , a s indee d hi s ostensible agreemen t shows . Ye t - reinforcin g th e emphasi s o n pai n i n hi s previous lette r t o Brewste r - hi s acceptanc e o f sorro w a s a starting-poin t fo r truer livin g is , on th e fac e o f things , a n extraordinar y turn-aroun d fo r him , eve n if not a Buddhist one . Thoug h h e alway s ha d a sense o f th e potentia l traged y i n life - 'I , wh o se e a traged y i n ever y cow ' - al l hi s wor k sinc e 191 2 ha d bee n a kick agains t tragedy , a n assertio n (eve n i n Women in Love) o f th e possibilit y o f rebirth an d resurrectio n fro m apparen t deathlines s - thoug h th e condition s fo r renewal alte r i n emphasi s fro m Sons and Lovers t o The Rainbow an d Women in Love, an d fro m ther e t o Aaron y s Rod an d th e thre e novellas . Eve n now , i n thi s letter, th e smiling an d goin g o n i s Lawrencian - ver y differen t fro m th e Buddha smile an d sittin g stil l - an d h e canno t fo r th e lif e o f him giv e u p hi s 'imperativ e need t o fight' , i n th e hop e o f an y Buddhis t serenity . Ye t th e acceptanc e o f sorrow as the necessar y groun d bas e of existence i s a quite ne w emphasis . Again thi s conceivabl y hint s a t somethin g painfu l enoug h t o see m a n irremediable fac t o f life , bu t havin g t o b e accepte d onc e an d fo r al l befor e on e could buil d an y 'lif e o f an y sort' . I f ther e i s anythin g i n th e D'Allur a stor y dubious thoug h tha t i s - i t ma y hav e seeme d tha t thoug h ther e ha d bee n n o affairs o f Frieda's fo r som e years , they woul d kee p happening . Afte r 191 7 he ha d 712
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determined t o becom e les s dependen t o n her , an d ha d begu n t o renounc e lov e (though no t marriage) . Bu t a s the definitio n o f maleness develope d fro m 1920 , it brought wit h i t a definitio n o f tru e femalenes s o n whic h i t seeme d t o depend . Now, however , i t ma y finally hav e com e hom e tha t thi s wa s a n impossibl e dream. On th e othe r han d i t i s b y n o mean s essentia l (especiall y withou t firmer evidence) t o mak e th e ne w pai n depen d o n a sexua l infidelity . Ther e wer e quit e probably fierce argument s abou t leavin g Europ e an d Taormin a - whic h Fried a had littl e reaso n t o welcome , a s a drasti c separatio n fro m he r famil y - an d thes e might eve n hav e go t t o a poin t o f threatene d refusal , underlinin g th e unlikeli hood tha t sh e woul d eve r accep t a n obligatio n t o 'honou r an d obey ' accordin g t o the marriag e vows , let alon e 'submerge ' he r lif e i n his , or offe r th e submissio n o f Daphne t o th e Count . Eithe r way , he r attitud e t o marriag e - an d t o 'honouring ' and 'obeying ' i n hi s term s - woul d remai n utterl y an d probabl y scornfull y opposed t o his , and th e final realisatio n o f that, i n som e dramati c an d undeniabl e terms, woul d hav e bee n undoubtedl y painful . Whateve r ha d cause d th e ne w intransigent fictionalising o f his view , an d hi s ne w acceptanc e o f pai n a s th e necessary foundatio n o f life , i t produce d a ne w decision . Afte r signin g of f t o Brewster Lawrenc e pause d fo r thought , an d the n tol d hi m h e woul d writ e fo r passages t o Colomb o (iv . 171) . I f ther e wer e a deepe r persona l significanc e behind th e discussio n o f Buddhis t Eas t versu s irreligiou s America , hi s othe r apparent rationalisation s migh t als o mak e mor e sense . T o accep t th e Brewsters ' invitation woul d b e t o sta y wit h sympatheti c friends , wh o like d the m bot h (an d whom Fried a liked) , an d wh o wer e gentl e an d scrupulou s bot h b y natur e an d conviction - a s oppose d t o strangers , pridin g themselve s o n sharpnes s an d analysis, an d read y t o gossi p an d mock , a s 'intellectual ' circle s ar e pron e t o do . Hence 'i t seem s s o muc h easier ', mor e peacefu l t o com e east ' (iv . 170) , thoug h a t the sam e tim e h e distruste d peace , an d th e fighter i n hi m feare d tha t th e desir e for i t migh t b e ' a sor t o f weaknes s an d givin g in' . O n th e othe r hand , Brewste r had writte n tha t th e Buddhis t peac e o f Ceylo n wa s 'heavy ' - whic h Lawrenc e liked, becaus e i t sounde d seriou s rathe r tha n escapist , a challeng e t o com e t o terms wit h things , bu t i n a conduciv e atmosphere . H e tol d Ko t tha t Americ a would b e 'to o ra w fo r me , an d I to o tende r fo r it . W e mus t wai t a bit . . . I fee l I can fortif y mysel f i n th e east , agains t th e wes t . . . I d o inten d late r t o g o t o America. Bu t first I mus t hav e somethin g els e insid e me ' (iv . 171) . Gradually h e came close r t o saying wha t tha t was . ' I thin k on e mus t fo r th e momen t withdra w from th e world' , h e tol d Catherin e Carswell , 'toward s th e inne r realities' , i n order t o become 'quie t an d sure . I am tire d o f the world , an d wan t th e peac e lik e a river' . H e insiste d tha t h e stil l ha d n o belie f 'i n Buddhisti c inactio n an d meditation. Bu t I believ e th e Buddhisti c peac e i s th e poin t t o star t fro m - no t our striden t frettin g an d squabbling ' (iv . 175 ) - perhap s a significan t aside . T o 713
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Mary Canna n h e repeate d tha t h e fel t Ceylo n woul d giv e hi m 'rest , peace , inside' wherea s 'Ne w Mexic o woul d onl y b e mor e excitin g an d afterward s wearing' (iv . 180) . To Mabe l h e wrot e tha t h e neede d 't o ge t quit e cal m an d sur e and stil l an d strong ' befor e h e cam e t o a n America , wher e Mabe l hersel f seeme d ^harried* (iv . 181) . Perhap s a yea r woul d b e enough . H e hope d sh e woul d no t think hi m 'vile ' fo r wha t wa s onl y a postponement , a 'detour' . Al l thes e ma y o f course b e rationalisation s o f sudde n an d inexplicabl e instinc t - bu t the y ma y b e more. He applie d fo r berth s o n th e Orien t Line r RMS Osterley, sailing fro m Naple s to Colomb o o n 2 6 February . VIII 'Fillin g i n time ' The las t mont h i n Taormina , naturall y enough , wa s mainl y a tyin g u p o f loos e ends. Lawrenc e no w wante d Curti s Brow n t o handl e all hi s Englis h affair s (iv . 187). Havin g establishe d tha t Chatt o an d Windu s di d no t inten d t o reprin t Look! h e obtaine d a formal reversio n fro m them , an d als o persuade d Pinke r an d Duckworth t o relinquis h contro l ove r th e pre-Pinke r book s (iv . 180-1) , al l o f which wer e no w t o come unde r Curti s Brown' s control . (Pinke r also , at lon g last , found 'Witc h a l a Mode' , thoug h to o lat e fo r th e volum e o f stories ; iv . 193. ) Curtis Brow n wa s 'piqued ' (iv . 201 ) tha t afte r al l hi s wor k h e ha d ye t t o se e ' # penny' - a n exaggeration , albei t a n understandabl e on e - bu t Lawrenc e ha d hopes tha t thing s wer e changin g now , eve n i n England . Fo r Seeke r no w agree d to brin g ou t th e storie s (an d th e novella s too ) thoug h despit e Curti s Brown' s efforts h e adamantl y refuse d t o coun t the m toward s hi s fiv e unde r contract . However h e late r agree d tha t th e novella s woul d d o s o (iv . 199-20 0 n . 2) . (H e told Brow n that , fa r fro m i t bein g an y favou r t o b e offere d th e stories , h e ha d only 'accepte d th e collectio n ou t o f m y genera l interes t i n th e author' s mor e serious work' ; iv . 18 3 n . 5) . H e als o bough t sheet s o f Seltzer' s Women in Love and aske d Lawrenc e t o sig n the m i n orde r t o mak e a 'de luxe edition ' - thoug h again h e refuse d t o pa y an y mor e fo r th e signature s tha n th e 15 % royalty h e ha d already agree d (iv . 200) . Relation s consequentl y remaine d coo l thoug h Law rence's positio n wa s no t stron g enoug h t o thin k o f breakin g wit h Seeker . However, a s th e ide a revive d o f doin g somethin g wit h hi s essay s o n America n literature - tha t las t bit o f unfinished busines s - i t was Jonathan Cap e h e though t of whe n h e aske d Brow n t o borro w fro m Mountsier , an d hav e copied , th e essay on Moby Dick tha t wa s missin g fro m hi s manuscrip t (iv . 197) . H e no w als o centralised hi s American affairs . H e arrange d wit h Dora n tha t i n futur e Huebsc h should rende r al l account s an d payment s direc t t o Mountsier , wh o shoul d hol d all th e agreement s (iv . 182) . H e als o mad e a final adjustmen t t o th e Whitma n essay fo r Mountsier , t o mak e i t altogethe r inoffensiv e (iv . 197-8) . O n th e othe r 7H
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hand h e bega n t o understan d fro m Mountsier , wh o ha d bee n s o suspiciou s o f Seltzer's economi c viability , tha t th e boo k busines s wa s goin g throug h a ver y difficult phas e i n Americ a (iv . 201) , whic h mad e Seltzer' s commitmen t i n publishing Lawrence' s non-fictio n al l the mor e telling . Seltze r indeed , wit h th e DiaPs assistanc e i n makin g Lawrenc e a name , ha d mad e suc h a revolutio n i n Lawrence's circumstance s tha t h e coul d eve n affor d t o regre t tha t th e magazin e was publishin g th e Mila n episod e fro m Aaron's Rod, fo r 'Wha t goo d ar e 3 5 dollars anyway ? - on e cheapen s onesel f (iv . 187) . Altere d day s indee d particularly a s the passage s t o Ceylo n wer e goin g t o cos t £7 0 each ! Lawrence di d no t sto p writin g altogether , eve n a s h e prepare d t o go . 'She Goat', tha t embodimen t o f imperiou s an d libidinou s femalenes s - ' See me? She says, That's meP - probabl y date s fro m abou t thi s time , an d possibl y 'He-Goat ' as well , sinc e bot h ar e labelle d Taormina , thoug h th e secon d poe m i s muc h les s specifically locate d an d ma y hav e bee n writte n later . Certainl y h e bega n hi s translation o f Verga's Mastro-don Gesualdo; and indee d ha d finished an d sen t of f to Mr s Carmichae l abou t hal f o f i t b y th e tim e h e se t sai l (iv . 196) . H e discovered, belatedly , tha t Verg a wa s actuall y stil l aliv e an d i n Catania , bu t before h e coul d g o to se e him th e ol d ma n died , age d 82 . After a correspondenc e with Verga' s Mila n publishers , Lawrenc e learne d tha t the y di d no t hol d an y legal copyright , tha t ther e di d no t see m t o b e a copyrigh t treat y betwee n England an d Ital y a t al l an d tha t onl y Verga' s nephew s coul d hav e an y clai m t o rights i n hi s work s (iv . 19 7 an d n . 2 , 200 ) - s o th e wa y seeme d ope n t o publis h the translatio n whic h h e intende d t o finish o n th e Osterley. As thei r departur e bega n t o see m real , h e wrot e a strang e lette r i n Italia n t o Kot, wh o perhap s ha d bee n critica l o f his decision. I t may hav e been easie r t o sa y in Italia n tha t h e preferre d t o ris k anythin g rathe r tha n stagnat e lik e Ko t i n hi s cave. Tired , an d sa d a t hi s nee d t o chang e hi s ski n lik e a snake , h e stil l fel t th e world ful l o f unsee n power s - th e ol d angel s an d cherubi m h e ha d discusse d with Forste r i n 191 5 - an d h e had t o brea k awa y fro m th e 'yellin g wit h al l o f these people ' here , in orde r t o attach himsel f t o th e hidde n force s (iv . 185) . There i s a glimps e o f hi m a t thi s tim e throug h th e eye s o f a stranger , a n American journalis t Henr y Jame s Forma n wh o cam e t o se e Lawrenc e earl y i n February, an d wa s a guest a t a farewel l tea-part y a t Fontan a Vecchi a jus t befor e Forman wen t t o Malt a i n lat e February , arme d wit h a n introductio n t o Michae l Borg. Lawrenc e was stil l convalescen t whe n the y met , o n a rain y da y wit h swirling mist . Forma n ha d hi s winte r coa t o n an d wa s astonishe d t o find Lawrence i n sandal s an d a thin jacke t - hi s lip s blu e wit h cold , bu t sardonicall y amused a t 'Sunn y Sicily' . Lawrenc e though t hi m 'dul l bu t nice ' (iv . 187 ) - an d was remarkabl y nic e i n return , especiall y i n respons e t o severa l well-meanin g remarks o f the kin d tha t mak e th e polit e smile s congea l o n a n author' s face . Wh y didn't h e g o o n writin g lik e Sons and Lovers} Wouldn' t i t b e bette r t o stic k wit h 715
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
the firs t draf t o f hi s wor k rathe r tha n revis e twic e mor e a s Lawrenc e sai d h e often did ? Shouldn' t h e hav e tone d dow n Women in Love, wher e th e episod e with th e lapi s lazul i seeme d 'to o preposterou s fo r fiction'? A t whic h a wicke d Frieda tempte d fat e b y solemnl y agreein g - sh e wh o ha d hi t he r husban d o n th e head wit h somethin g soli d o n a t leas t tw o occasions . Bu t Lawrenc e was o n hi s best behaviou r an d hi s gues t neve r notice d tha t ther e ha d bee n an y danger . Frieda bake d quantitie s o f cake s - a new accomplishmen t usin g th e ne w ove n and 'Lawrence' s chie f concern wa s that w e should consum e al l of it.' A s he stoo d with th e plat e i n fron t o f her, Mr s Forma n aske d wh y h e ha d lef t Pau l More l s o hopeless a t th e end , s o strippe d o f everything . ' "Ah, bu t h e ha d hi s courag e left," laughe d Lawrenc e - "d o hav e som e o f thes e cakes." ' Forma n wa s impressed b y Lawrence' s courag e an d integrity . Th e las t sighting , anothe r day , was of him o n th e beach a t Letojann i al l alone, gazing out t o sea . His farewel l lette r t o Mari e Hubrech t spok e o f th e awfu l win d an d rai n an d cold (iv . 192) . Eve n i n mid-Februar y h e di d no t fee l quit e himsel f yet , afte r hi s flu. A youn g America n calle d Whitne y Warre n ha d agree d t o tak e Fontan a Vecchia, whic h o f cours e ha d bee n Marie' s house . Sh e wa s o n th e lis t o f thos e who shoul d ge t presentatio n copie s o f Seeker' s Sardinia - a lis t whic h Law rence's sister s n o longe r headed , fo r the y ha d irritate d hi m b y bein g 'loftil y disapproving' abou t Tortoises (iv. 174) . H e ha d alread y sen t Mar y a cop y o f th e American edition . Now , afte r Marie , Kot , Cynthia , Catherin e an d Rosalind , th e surprising nam e i s Elsa Weekley (iv . 193 ) - a bit o f bridge buildin g wit h Frieda' s eldest daughter , no w 20 ; afte r wha t seem s t o hav e bee n a successfu l reconcilia tion wit h he r younge r siste r Barbara , wh o ha d writte n he r mothe r a livel y lette r in th e sprin g o f 1921 . Anothe r surprisingl y grown-u p voic e fro m th e pas t was Enid Hilton , writin g t o tel l Lawrenc e o f he r marriag e (iv . 194-5) . Bu t th e tw o most touchin g o f th e las t letter s fro m Taormin a are , naturall y enough , thos e t o Rosalind, an d t o Mary Cannan . Mar y ha d sen t a s a good-bye present , despit e hi s forbidding he r t o ge t hi m anythin g expensive , no t onl y th e fountain-pe n h e ha d asked for , bu t a 'wildl y expensive ' sea l o f lapi s lazuli . H e love d th e wa y th e blu e 'seems t o liv e insid e a film o f crystal' an d vowe d tha t i t woul d alway s 'sea l all m y affairs o f stat e an d solemnity' . T o Mar y h e coul d confes s tha t eve n thoug h h e had s o wante d t o leave , 'Th e though t o f goin g give s m e a sinkin g feeling : th e wrench o f breakin g of f (iv . 190-1) . S o h e joke d abou t ho w quickl y h e propose d to develo p a new persona , drape d i n a sheet an d smilin g a t hi s ow n paunch ; an d promised her , i f sh e woul d com e t o Ceylon , a n alternativ e visio n o f hi m an d Frieda o n th e dock-sid e t o mee t her , 'i n pit h helmet s an d blac k goggles' , a s sh e stepped of f a t Colomb o unde r he r parasol . 'Don' t thin k o f goodbyes , onl y o f parasols an d P . an d O . liner s an d pit h helmet s an d pal m tree s an d u s shoutin g "There sh e is!" ' T o Rosalin d h e laughe d a t tha t 'lump ' Godwi n marryin g 'int o th e church' , 716
OCTOBER 192I-FEBRUAR Y 1 9 2 2 A
SENS E O F FINALIT Y
the niec e o f the Archbisho p o f Canterbury. T o he r reques t fo r suggestion s abou t holidays, h e suggeste d retracin g hi s an d Frieda' s step s a t Gargnano . Bu t tw o statements whic h wer e quie t enoug h t o pas s muste r wit h a wif e wh o habituall y read hi s letters , ar e rathe r mor e resonan t betwee n th e lines . 'F . send s love' , say s one. An d th e othe r i s a promis e t o sen d a cop y o f Tortoises, which woul d sa y more tha n an y letter . 'We'l l mee t agai n somewhere, ' h e ends , 'that' s certain ' (iv . 189-90). By Frida y 1 7 Februar y the y wer e 'i n th e throe s o f packin g up ' (iv . 194) . O n Sunday, h e tol d th e Baroness , the y sa t read y t o travel : fou r trunk s (on e fo r household things , on e fo r books , on e othe r each) , tw o valises , a hatbo x an d tw o pieces o f han d luggage : 'jus t lik e Abraha m farin g fort h t o a new land . M y hear t quivers now , mostl y wit h pai n - th e goin g awa y fro m ou r hom e an d th e peopl e and Sicily . Bu t I wan t t o forge t it , an d onl y thin k o f palm s an d elephant s an d apes an d peacocks ' (iv . 198-9) . Abou t th e futur e h e refuse d t o speculate : 'I' m settling nothing' , h e maintained . O n 2 0 February the y se t off . Frieda ha d a final surpris e fo r him . A t th e las t momen t sh e insiste d tha t the y should tak e a bi t o f Sicil y wit h them : on e o f th e painte d woode n panel s whic h are s o colourfu l a featur e o f Sicilia n carts , fou r t o five fee t wide , mor e tha n tw o feet dee p an d inche s thick . Their s wa s 'ver y colourfull y painte d wit h tw o scene s from th e lif e o f Marco Visconte ' (iv . 206), the Milanes e General . Afte r a last visi t with Rut h Wheeloc k a t th e Hote l Panormus , th e pane l to o ha d t o b e lugge d t o Naples. O n 2 6 Februar y i t mad e the m conspicuou s a t th e dock s as , loade d stil l more wit h basket s o f apple s an d oranges , the y go t themselve s aboar d th e Osterley. There wa s certainl y a goo d dea l mor e 'baggage ' tha n ther e ha d bee n i n Ma y 1912. But, onc e stowed , th e aler t quic k ste p alon g th e dec k was th e same . Fried a had caugh t a n annoyin g col d i n Naples , havin g bee n fre e fro m tha t al l winter . But Lawrenc e watche d 'ou r own ' Etna , 'whit e witch' , magicall y beautiful , sinking slowl y int o th e sea : ' I nearl y wept , o f course, bu t hardene d m y hear t an d said n o m y lady! ' (iv . 207 ) Soo n h e mus t hav e move d t o th e bo w again , wher e h e liked t o be. IX A
Conclusion - i n Whic h Nothin g I s Conclude d
It seem s appropriat e t o 'end ' o n a ship : a voyag e tha t i s equall y a n en d an d a beginning, a break wit h al l tha t ha d bee n and a bodily carryin g - 'Ecc o l a Sicili a in viaggi o pe r l'lndia ' (iv . 206) , a s th e porter s shoute d - o f th e colourfu l an d heavy pas t alon g wit h them : th e candlesticks , th e blu e rug , th e 'countrypair' , th e blue jackets and al l the equivalent s i n min d an d memory . To compar e thi s Lawrenc e wit h th e youn g beardles s fello w o n th e Osten d ferry te n year s befor e i s t o measur e dramati c differences : fro m hi s hopes , then , 717
D. H . LAWRENCE : TRIUMP H T O EXIL E
of persuadin g Fried a t o commi t hersel f t o him , hi s conceptio n o f marriage , hi s belief tha t th e relatio n betwee n ma n an d woma n wa s th e centr e o f life , hi s conviction tha t h e ha d somethin g importan t t o sa y tha t woul d b e a n answe r t o the rea l want s o f Englishmen . Photograph s sho w ho w hi s fac e ha d changed ; an d there ha d bee n a deeper chang e i n temperamen t an d manners . H e ha d learne d t o be mor e spontaneou s i n behaviou r an d careles s o f convention , throug h livin g s o much alon e wit h Frieda , sheddin g inhibitio n fo r goo d o r ill , becomin g mor e irascible an d violent , bu t als o mor e confident , charismati c an d entertaining . B y courageous probin g o f hi s ow n contradiction s h e ha d com e t o term s wit h hi s bisexuality, an d ha d show n ho w read y h e was t o gro w i n ne w directions , an d t o let n o ide a harde n int o unchangeabl e conviction . Wartim e Englan d ha d damage d his health , indee d nearl y kille d him , bu t bein g i n Ital y agai n ha d bee n goo d fo r him an d nobod y h e ha d me t i n Capr i o r Sicil y ha d though t hi m consumptive . Yet h e wa s restless now , a compulsive wandere r i n spac e a s well as an adventure r in though t an d expression . H e ha d becom e a n alien , antagonist , subversive , exile, a 'traveller ' wh o n o longe r belonge d i n Englan d o r Europe , o r anywhere , and certainl y didn' t thin k h e woul d belon g i n Ceylo n (wit h it s 'molar monastery' ; iv. 207 ) o r i n Taos . Ye t h e kne w h e ha d t o b e a n 'American ' write r no w becaus e his 'listeners ' wer e there . He seem s greatl y altered , havin g reacte d almos t t o th e 'opposite ' o f his forme r self an d ideas . Ye t i n man y way s hi s inne r contradictions , an d hi s belie f i n growth throug h conflict , ha d merel y shifte d thei r balanc e an d emphasis . T o loo k back i s t o se e continuity , i n change . Moreove r thi s make s i t certai n tha t h e wil l change again , i n th e ne w worl d toward s whic h h e i s pointed . Th e pas t i s wit h him indelibl y - an d so , ami d al l th e excitemen t o f th e new , i s th e poignan t awareness o f loss , separatio n an d uncertainty . H e i s 36 ; hardene d i n som e ways , more embattled . Ye t abou t hi m nothin g i s settle d o r fixed . O n a ship , o n th e move, going osterly i n orde r t o g o westerly, h e i s ready fo r th e new , but painfull y aware of'the wrenc h o f breaking off . Abov e all , he continue s lively .
718
Cue-titles and Abbreviations
C U E - T I T L E S AN D ABBREVIATION S
Note Th e cue-titles and abbreviations are used i n the Appendices and i n the Notes (the abbreviations in Section A and Sectio n F are also used i n the text). Place of publication is London unless otherwise specified, her e and elsewhere. A Letter s o f Lawrenc e (i.) Jame
s T. Boulton, ed. The Letters ofD. H. Lawrence, Volume I. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1979.
(ii.) Georg
e T . Zytaru k an d Jame s T . Boulton , eds . The Letters of D. H. Lawrence. Volume II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982.
(iii.) Jame
s T . Boulto n an d Andre w Robertson , eds . The Letters of D. H. Lawrence, Volume III. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984.
(iv.) Warre
n Roberts , Jame s T . Boulto n an d Elizabet h Mansfield , eds . The Letters of D. H. Lawrence, Volum e IV . Cambridge : Cambridg e Universit y Press, 1987.
(v.) Jame
s T . Boulto n an d Lindet h Vasey , eds . The Letters of D. H. Lawrence, Volume V. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
B Work s o f Lawrenc e A AR Aaron's
Apocalypse and the Writings on Revelation. Ed . Mar a Kalnins . Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1979. 1988.
Rod. Ed. Mar a Kalnins . Cambridge : Cambridg e Universit y Press ,
E[+no.] Manuscrip t [+no. ] liste d i n Warre n Roberts . A Bibliography of D. H. Lawrence. 2n d ed . Cambridge : Cambridg e Universit y Press , 1982 , Section E. EmyE
England, My England and Other Stories. Ed. Bruc e Steele . Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Fox
The Fox, The Captan's Doll, The Ladybird. Ed . Diete r Mehl . Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1992. 721
CUE-TITLES AN D ABBREVIATION S FU
Fantasia of the Unconscious. New York : Thoma s Seltzer , 1922 . [Fo r th e convenience o f readers , pag e reference s t o th e Pengui n edition , Harmonds worth, 1971 , etc. are also supplied. ]
Hardy
Study of Thomas Hardy and Other Essays. Ed . Bruc e Steele . Cambridge : Cambridge Universit y Press , 1985 .
K
Kangaroo. Ed . Bruce Steele . Cambridge : Cambridge Universit y Press , 1994 .
LAH
Love Among the Haystacks and Other Stories. Ed . John Worthen . Cambridge : Cambridge Universit y Press , 1987 .
LCL
Lady Chatterley's Lover an d A Propos of "Lady Chatterleys Lover*'. Ed . Michael Squires . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press , 1993 .
LG
The Lost Girl. Ed . John Worthen . Cambridge : Cambridg e Universit y Press , 1981.
MEH
Movements in European History. Ed . Phili p Crumpton . Cambridge : Cam bridge University Press , 1989 .
MMM
D. H. Lawrence: Memoir of Maurice Magnus. Ed . Keit h Cushman . Sant a Rosa: Black Sparro w Press, 1987 .
MN
Mr Noon. Ed . Lindet h Vasey . Cambridge : Cambridg e Universit y Press , 1984.
P
Phoenix: The Posthumous Papers of D. H. Lawrence. Ed . Edwar d D . McDonald. Ne w York : Viking Press, 1936 .
PII
Phoenix II: Uncollected, Unpublished and Other Prose Works by D. H. Lawrence. Ed . Warren Roberts and Harry T. Moore . Heinemann , 1968 .
PO
The Prussian Officer and Other Stories. Ed . Joh n Worthen . Cambridge : Cambridge Universit y Press , 1983 .
Poems
The Complete Poems of D. H. Lawrence. Ed . Vivian d e Sol a Pint o an d Warren Roberts . Revise d edn . Harmondsworth : Pengui n Books , 1977 . [Th e widely availabl e paperbac k editio n publishe d b y Pengui n - an d b y Vikin g i n the USA - ha s been cite d rathe r than the identical revise d text , wit h slightl y different pagination , publishe d i n tw o hardbac k volume s b y Heineman n i n 1972.]
iWms (1928) The Collected Poems ofD. H. Lawrence. Martin Seeker , 1928 PU
Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious. Ne w York : Thomas Seltzer , 1921 .
R
The Rainbow. Ed . Mar k Kinkead-Weekes . Cambridge : Cambridg e Univer sity Press, 1989 .
RDP
Reflections on the Death of a Porcupine and Other Essays. Ed . Michae l Herbert. Cambridge : Cambridge Universit y Press , 1988 .
722
CUE-TITLES AN D ABBREVIATION S SEP Sketches
of Etruscan Places and Other Italian Essays. Ed . Simonett a d e Filippis. Cambridge : Cambridg e Universit y Press , 1992 .
SL Sons
and Lovers. Ed . Hele n Baro n an d Car l Baron . Cambridge : Cambridg e University Press , 1992 .
SM St.
Mawr and Other Stories. Ed . Bria n Finney . Cambridge : Cambridg e University Press , 1983 .
SS Sea
and Sardinia. Ne w York : Thoma s Seltzer , 1921 . [Fo r th e convenienc e of readers , pag e reference s ar e als o supplie d t o th e Pengui n edition , Harmondsworth, 1944 , reprinte d i n D. H. Lawrence and Italy, Harmonds worth, 1985. ]
TI Twilight
in Italy and Other Essays. Ed . Pau l Eggert . Cambridge : Cambridg e University Press , 1994 .
TSM The
Symbolic Meaning. Ed . Armi n Arnold . Fontwell , Arundel : Centau r Press, 1952 . [Fo r th e convenienc e o f readers , pag e reference s t o th e essay s on America n literatur e publishe d i n th e English Review Novembe r 1918 June 191 9 are als o supplied t o thi s reprint. ]
WL Women
in Love. Ed . Davi d Farmer , Lindet h Vase y an d Joh n Worthen . Cambridge: Cambridg e Universit y Press , 1987 .
WP The
White Peacock. Ed . Andre w Robertson . Cambridge : Cambridg e Uni versity Press , 1983 .
C Othe
r Printe d Work s
BMTL H.D
. [Hild a Doolittle] . Bid Me To Live. Ne w York : Grov e Press , i960 ; reissued London : Virag o Press , 1984 .
BTW Joh
n Middleto n Murry . Between Two Worlds: An Autobiography. Jonatha n Cape, 1935 .
Damon S
. Foste r Damon . Amy Lowell: A Chronicle. Bosto n an d Ne w York : Houghton Mifflin , 1935 .
Delavenay Emil e Delavenay . D. H. Lawrence, The Man and His Work: The Formative Years. Heinemann , 1972 . Delavenay, Emil e Delavenay . D. H. Lawrence: UHomme et la Genese de son Oeuvre. Les ii. Annees de Formation 188^-igig. Volum e II . Paris : Librairi e C . Klincksieck , 1969. DHLR D. Diaries Lad
H. Lawrence Review (1968 - ) . y Cynthi a Asquith . Diaries 1Q15-1Q18. Hutchinson, 1968 . 723
CUE-TITLES AN D ABBREVIATION S Draper Ronal
d P . Draper . D. H. Lawrence: The Critical Heritage. Routledg e an d Kegan Paul , 1970 .
E.T. E.T
. [Jessi e Chamber s Wood] . D. H. Lawrence: A Personal Record. Jonathan Cape, 1935 ; reprinted Cambridge : Cambridg e Universit y Press , 1980 .
EY Joh
n Worthen . D. II. Lawrence: The Early Years 1885-1Q12. Th e Cam bridge Biography , Volum e I . Cambridge : Cambridg e Universit y Press , 1991. a Lawrence . "Not I, But the Wind . . . " Sant a Fe : Ryda l Press , 1935 .
Frieda Fried
Memoirs Frieda Lawrence: The Memoirs and Correspondence. Ed . E . W . Tedlock . Heinemann, 1961 . Nehls Edwar
d Nehls , ed . D. H. Lawrence: A Composite Biography. 3 volumes . Madison: Universit y o f Wisconsin Press , 1957-9 .
SP Catherin
e Carswell . The Savage Pilgrimage: A Narrative of D. H. Lawrence. Chatto an d Windus , 1932 ; reprinte d Cambridge : Cambridg e Universit y Press, 1981 .
Tedlock E
. W . Tedlock . The Frieda Lawrence Collection of D. H. Lawrence Manuscripts: A Descriptive Bibliography. Albuquerque : Universit y o f Ne w Mexic o Press, 1948 .
TWSUA Rosalin d Thornycroft . Time Which Spaces us Apart. Complete d b y Chlo e Baynes. Batcombe: Privat e Publication , 1991 .
D Manuscrip BL Britis Eton Eto Hilton Hilto
t Source s
h Librar y n Colleg e Librar y n Hall , Hilton, Huntingdo n
H U Harvar
d Universit y
Lazarus Georg
e Lazaru s
LC Librar
y o f Congres s
McMaster Mill s Library , McMaste r University , Hamilton , Ontari o (Bertran d Russel l Archive) NCL Nottingha
m Count y Librarie s
N W U Northwester NYPL Ne TuftsU Tuft
n Universit y Library , Evanston , Illinoi s
w Yor k Publi c Library , Ne w Yor k (Th e Ber g Collection ) s Universit y Librar y 724
CUE-TITLES AN D ABBREVIATION S
UCB Bancrof
t Library , University of California a t Berkeley
UCLA Librar
y of the University of California, Los Angeles
UI11 Universit UInd Lill
y of Illinois y Library, University of Indiana
UN Universit
y of Nottingham Library
UNM Librar
y of the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
UT Harr
y Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin
YU Beineck
e Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
E Peopl e AH Aldou
s Huxley
BR Bertran CA Lad
d Russel l y Cynthia Asquith
Frieda Fried JMM Joh
a Lawrence (formerly Weekley ) n Middleton Murr y
KM Katherin OM Lad
e Mansfiel d y Ottoline Morrell
PH Phili
p Heseltine F Textua
< > Deletio rn
DH
n L insertio n
[ ] Author'
s insertion
[etc] Endnot b. Bor
e n
m. Marrie d. Die ed. Edite
l Symbol s
d d d
tr. Translate
d
rev. Revise
d
T.A. Textua
l Apparatos 725
Appendices
APPENDIX I
• THE WRITIN G L I F E , 1912-1922 : PROS E
Note I n th e followin g table , th e thir d colum n list s publicatio n 1912—35 . T h e final column contain s th e subsequen t collectio n i n whic h stories , essay s an d sketche s appeared and , i n roun d brackets , th e relevan t Cambridg e Editio n or , i f on e ha s no t ye t been published , th e lates t alternative . Thei r publicatio n date s wil l b e foun d i n th e Chronology Additional Cue-Title s ER Haystacks
English Review D. H. Lawrence, Love Among the Haystacks and Other Pieces. Ed. Davi d Garnett. Th e Nonesuc h Press , 1930 . Hutchinson Hutchinson s Story Magazine Huxley The Letters of D. H. Lawrence. Ed . Aldou s Huxley . Heinemann , 1932. Lovely Lady D . H . Lawrence . The Lovely Lady. Seeker , 1933 . Miscellany A D. H Lawrence Miscellany. Ed . Harr y T . Moore . Carbondale , Southern Illinoi s University Press , 1959 . Modern Lover D . H . Lawrence . A Modern Lover. Seeker , 1934 . Plays The Complete Plays o/D. H Lawrence. Heinemann , 1965 . SWG Saturday Westminster Gazette DATE FINA
G MS 7 EARL Y COLLECTION
L TITLE SURVIVIN
TS OR PROOFS PUBLICATIO
c. 7 May 191 2 'Th
e Englis h an d (Lazarus )the Germans ' c. 8-9 Ma y 191 2 'Ho w a Spy i s (Lazarus )Arrested' c. 9 May 191 2 Trenc h Son s o f (Lazarus ) SWG Germany' i 5 M a y i 9 i 2 'Hai l i n th e (Lazarus ) SW Rhineland' 191 i 6 M a y - 9 j u n e 'Pau l Morel'Ill b E373 e 1912 June 191 2 'Th e Christening ' (E68.2 ) -
729
S
N
(TI) (TI) 3 Aug. 191 2 P , (77 ) G 1 0 Aug. P 2
(PO)
, (77 )
\PPENDIX I
1
June-? Sept. 1912 3-31 Jul y 191 2
'Delilah an d M r Bircumshaw' (1910, E95a , fragment) 'The Fl y i n th e Ointment' (1910 , 'ABlot',Ei35.5a) 'Once—!'
Sons and Lovers begun 'A Chape l Amon g Aug. 191 2 the Mountains ' 'A Hay-Hu t Among th e Mountains' early Sept . 191 2 'Christs i n th e Tirol' by Marc h 191 3 'Christs i n th e Tyrol' (revised ) Sons and Lovers 7 Sept.-1 8 completed Nov. 191 2 by 3 0 Oct. 191 2 The Fight for Barbara 17-24 Dec . 191 2 'Burns Novel ' (fragments) 'Elsa Culverwell ' c. 29 Dec. - ? (fragment) by 1 2 Jan. 191 3 The Daughter in Law by 1 7 Jan. 191 3 'The Insurrectio n of Miss Houghton ' pp. 1-8 0 by 2 0 Jan. 191 3 'Foreword t o Sons and Lovers' 'The Overtone ' c. 27-31 Jan . 1913 by 1 Feb . —c. 5 April 191 3
March 191 3
'The Insurrectio n of Miss Houghton ' (put asid e a t 200pp.) Review o f Georgian
E90.5
PII, (LAH, revised)
(Ei 3 5-5b)
(LAH, revised) Haystacks
PII,(LAH, revised)
(PP- i-75 ) E66a
Haystacks
/> 77,(77)
Ei57
Haystacks
PII,(TI)
E8i.5a
-
(TI)
—
SWG 2 2 Marc h 1912
7>,(77)
76-540) E130
-
(Plays)
E59-3
-
E209a
-
Nehls, i. , (LAH) (LG)
E84a
—
(Plays)
—
Huxley
(SL)
E298
Lovely Lady
(SM)
Rhythm Marc h
P
E296a E373e
E373e (pp .
-
—
Poetry IQII-IQI2
1913
730
1 9 1 2 - 1 9 2 2 PROS E by c. 18-1 9 March 191 3
'By th e Lag o d i Garda' ('Th e Spinner and th e Monks', 'Th e Lemon Gardens' , 'The Theatre' ) by 5 April-earl y 'The Sisters ' I June 191 3 2 May 191 3 'Thomas Mann ' 'Honour an d Arms ' (later 'Th e Prussian Officer' ) 'New Ev e an d Ol d Adam' by i 6 J u n e 191 3 'Vin Ordinaire ' (later 'Th e Thor n in th e Flesh' ) July 191 3 Revision o f stories: (1907-13) 'The Shado w i n the Ros e Garden' ('Th e Soiled Rose' ) (1907-13) 'The Whit e Stocking' (1910-13) 'The Fl y i n th e Ointment' (1911-13) 'The Witc h a la Mode' ('Intimacy', E.438a ) (1911-13) 'Two Marriages' / 'Daughters o f th e Vicar' (1911-13) 'Love Amon g th e Haystacks' (1912-13) 'Strike Pa y I : He r Turn' 'Strike Pa y II : Ephraim's Hal f Sovereign' (1912-13) 'A Sic k Collier ' by 1 0 June 191 3
£294.53
ER Sept . 191 3
E44ia (fragment)
(77 revised)
(R) Blue Review Jul y
P
E326.5
1913 ER Aug . 1914
(PO)
E 2 68a
Modern Lover
(LAH)
£/?June 1914
(PO)
E3595b
Smart Set Marc h 1914
(PO)
E430.3
Smart Set Oct . (PO) 1914 New Statesman 1 6 PI I, (LAH) Aug. 191 3 Modern Lover (LAN)
—
Ei35-5b E438b, c
E86a,b,d
(PO)
E2iia
Haystacks
Ei59<5a
SWG 6 Sept. 191 3 (LAH) Modern Lover SWG 1 3 Sept . (LAH) 1913, Modern Lover New Statesman 1 3 (PO) Sept. 191 3
E381
E36i.3a
731
(LAH)
\PPENDIX I
1
(1912-13)
'The Christening '
'Once—!' 'Honour an d Arms' 'Vin Ordinaire ' (1913) by July 191 3 'The Primros e Path' c. 1 1 Aug. 191 3 [Eastwood sketc h lost] The Widowing of (1910-by 2 4 Aug. 1913 ) Mrs. Holroyd revised 4 Sept . 1913-2 9 'The Sisters ' I I Jan.1914 c. 31 Oct. 191 3 'The Morta l Coil ' (1912-13) (1913)
31 Jan. -c. 1 1 May 1914 1—17 July 191 4 (1913-14)
(1912-14)
'The Weddin g Ring' The Prussian Officer 'The Prussia n Officer' 'The Thor n i n th e Flesh' 'Daughters o f th e Vicar' 'A Fragmen t o f Stained Glass ' 'The Shade s o f Spring' ('Th e Soiled Rose' ) 'Second-Best' 'The Shado w i n the Ros e Garden ' ('The Vicar' s Garden') 'Goose Fair ' 'The Whit e Stocking' 'A Sic k Collier '
(1912-14)
'The Christening '
(1911-14) (1907-14) (1911-14)
(1911-14) (1907-14)'
(1909-14) (1907-14)'
Smart Set Feb . 1914 Haystacks ER Aug . 1914
(PO)
E322.7a
ER Jun e 1914 (EmyE) (1922 )
(PO) (EmyE)
-
-
-
E68.2 E296a E326.5
-
(LAH) (PO)
(Plays)
E44ia (fragment) E246.8
(R) Seven Arts Jul y 1917
PII
[E326.5]
[ER Aug . 1914 ]
(PO)
-
[£/?June 1914 ]
(PO)
[E86d]
—
(PO)
[Ei4oa, b , c ]
[ER Sept . 1911 ]
(PO)
[E3594a,b]
[Forum Marc h 1913, Blue Review May 1913 ] [ER¥tb. 1912 ] [Smart Set Marc h 1914]
(PO)
[ £ # F e b . 1910 ] [Smart Set Oct . 1914] [New Statesman 13 Sept. 1913 ] [Smart Set Feb . 1914]
(PO) (PO)
E33ia (fragment)
[E356-5] [E359-5]
[Ei50.7a, b ] [E430-3] [E361.3] [E68.2]
732
(PO) (PO)
(PO) (PO)
1 9 1 2 - 1 9 2 2 PROS E (1909-14) Sept. 191 4
'Odour o f Chrysanthemums' 'With th e Guns '
'Study o f Thoma s Hardy' ('L e Ga i Savaire') late Nov. 1914- 2 The Rainbow March 191 5 'Morgenrot' ('Th e March-8 Jun e Signal', 'Th e 1915 Phoenix') [abandoned] April-May 191 5 The Rainbow revised c. 5 June 191 5 England, M y England
5 Sept.-lat e Nov. 191 4
July 191 5
by 2 9 July-26 Oct. 191 5 by 2 9 July 191 5
by 2 0 Aug. 191 5 by 2 4 Aug. 191 5 by 6 Sept. 191 5 by 1 1 Sept. 191 5 by 2 8 Sept. 191 5
by 8 Oct. 191 5 by 1 2 Oct. 191 5 by 1 9 Oct. 191 5
?Oct. 191 5 by 30 Oct. 191 5
The Rainbow proofs an d self censorship) Twilight in Italy 'The Crucifi x Across th e Mountains' 'The Spinne r an d the Monks ' 'The Lemo n Gardens' 'The Theatre ' 'San Gaudenzio ' 'The Crown '
'11 Duro' 'Italians i n Exile ' 'The Retur n Journey' ('O n th e Road')
'John'
'The Thimble '
[E284a,b,c]
E384a,b
[ER Jun e 1911 ]
(PO)
Manchester Guardian Sept . 1914
(TI)
-
Py (Hardy)
E33ia
(R)
E33ib E114.5
ER Oct . 191 6 (EmyE) Metropolitan Apri l 1917
(UN) (TI)
(UN)
(UN)
—
(TI)
E294.5b, (UN) (UN) (UN)
—
(TI)
Signature 4 , 1 8 Oct., 2 Nov . 1915(3 essays ) -
(TI) (TI) PII,(RDP)
Seven Arts Marc h 1917
(TI) PI I, (EmyE)
(UN) (UN) (UN)
(UN) E396.7
733
(TI) (TI) (TI)
APPENDIX I early Jan. - ? 6 Nov. 191 6 5 Jan. - 2 7 Feb . 1916 by 2 6 April-2 9 June 191 6 c. ?i2july-2 0 Nov. 191 6
'Samson an d E3527 Delilah' ('Th e Prodigal Husband' ) 'Goats an d Compasses' [lost ] 'The Sisters ' II I E44ib,c
'The Sisters ' III / Women in Love typed an d revise d by 3 1 Oct. 191 6 'The Morta l Coil ' (revised) by 1 2 Jan. 191 7 'The Miracle ' (late r 'The Horse Dealer's Daughter') late Feb. - 7 The Reality of March 191 7 Peace 1. 'Whistling o f Birds' 2. (titl e unknown, lost ) 3. (titl e unknown, lost ) 4.'The Tranference' 5. (untitled ) 6. (untitled ) 7 .'The Orbit ' 28 March 1917 - Women in Love retyped, an d c. 7 Sept. 191 9 revised 'Love' (cf . 'Th e ? April 191 7 Orbit') 'Life' (cf . no . 2) ?by 1 1 Ma y 1917 c. 10 June-*:. 27 'At th e Gates ' [lost ] Aug. 191 7 Works o n Women July 191 7 in Love Studies in Classic ante 1 5 Sept. American Literature 12 Oct. 191 7 'Henry S t John de Crevecoeur '
ER Marc h 191 7 (EmyE 1922 )
(EmyE)
Seven Arts Jul y 1917
P11, (EmyE)
E44ic,d,e
—
(EmyE)
—
Athenceum Apri l 1919
-
-
[E 3 38a]
ER Ma y 191 7
P, (RDP)
[E 3 38a] [E 3 38a] [E 3 38a] E44if
ER Jun e 191 7 ER Jul y 191 7 ER Aug . 191 7
P, (RDP) P, (RDP) P, (RDP) (WL)
[E20ia]
ER Jan . 191 8
P, (RDP)
[E20oa]
ERFeb. 191 8
P, (RDP)
(WL)
[E44if]
-
ER Jan. 191 9
734
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1 9 1 2 - 1 9 2 2 PROS E
by 5 Nov. 191 7
Oct. -Nov. 191 7
late Nov. 191 7 by 2 8 Jan. 191 8
by 2 0 Feb. 191 8 Feb. -Marc h 1918 (by 1 7 March 1918
by 7 May 191 8 ? May-June 191 8
by 3 June 191 8 c. 3 June 191 8 Aug. 191 8
by 2 6 Aug. 191 8 late Aug. -Sept . 1918
P'Benjamin Franklin' P'Fenimore Cooper's Anglo American Novels ' PTenimore Cooper's Leather stocking Novels ' 'The Limi t t o th e British Novelist ' [lost] Begins wha t wil l become Aaron's Rod Works o n Women in Love agai n Studies in Classic American Literature resumed 'Edgar Alla n Poe' (ha d begun ) 'Nathaniel Hawthorne' Has don e 15 0 pages o f what wil l become Aaron's Rod New expande d ide a otSCAL 'The Tw o Principles' 'The Spiri t o f Place' 'Dana' 'Melville' 'last essay' : 'Whitman' Movements in European History begun, (chs. 1- 3 afte r split) Revising SCAL
—
8
TSM
ER Feb . 191 9
TSM
ER Marc h 191 9
TSM
-
ER Apri l 191 9
TSM
E382g
ER Ma y 191 9
TSM
—
ER Jun e 191 9
TSM
—
£7? Nov. 191 8
TSM
UN UN
-
ERDtc. 191
E44if
-
-
£255*
735
{MEL
APPENDIX I by 2 9 Oct. 191 8 c. Nov. -4 Dec . 1918
Touch and Go 'The Blin d Man '
E401.6 (Lazarus)
E112 'Education o f the People' (essays 1-4 ) Ei39a by 1 0 Dec. 191 8 'The Fox '
by 7 Dec. 191 8
by 2 0 Dec 191 8
6 Jan. - 3 Feb . 1919 by 1 5 Jan. 191 9
by 3 Feb. 191 9 14 March- 7 April 191 9
'John Thomas ' (later 'Ticket s Please') Working o n MEH
E255a
'Wintry Peacock '
E437a(UN)
MEH completed but £2553 for one later chapter 'Adolf E3-3a,c
'Rex' 'Clouds' by 3 1 Marc h 1919 Topical essay ? o n before 7 Apri l strike [lost ] 1919 3-22 Apri l 191 9 MEH revise d by 1 4 May 191 9 'Fanny an d Annie '
P
Hutchinson Nov . Miscellany, 1920 (Fox) Strand Apri l 1919 ; (EmyE) Metropolitan Aug . 1919 (MEH) Metropolitan Aug . 1921; New Decameron III 1922
(EmyE)
(MEH) Dial Sept . 1920 ; New Keepsake 1921 Dial Feb . 192 1
P, (EmyE)
-
P, (EmyE) RDP
-
Hutchinson Nov .
(EmyE)
-
Sovereign 2 2 Aug . (EmyE) 1922 Land and Water 2 9 (EmyE) April 192 0 People's Plays 192 0 PII
'Monkey Nuts '
?June 191 9
— 'Hadrian' ('Yo u Touched Me' ) Preface t o Touch and Go Shestov, All Things E n Are Possible, translated 'Verse Fre e an d E269.6 Unfree' (Prefac e t o Huebsch New Poems)
29 Aug. 191 9
—
(Plays) (EmyE)
E349-5* E68.7
by 2 0 May 191 9
June (?July ) 1919 Aug. 191 9
ER]\Ay 192 0 Living Age Aug . 1920
736
Voices Oct. 1919 ; Playboy 4 & 5, 1919
P
1 9 1 2 - 1 9 2 2 PROS E 7-12 Sept . 191 9 9 Sept . - 6 Oct . 1919
Women in Love las t revision Democracy
'The Average ' 'Identity' 'Personality' 'Individualism' Foreword t o 12 Sept. 191 9 Women in Love by 1 5 Sept. 191 9 Preface t o All Things Are Possible by 2 6 Sept. 191 9 Revises SCAL (1 3 essays) 'Hawthorne: Blithedale Romance' 'Dana' 'Melville F 'Melville II : Moby Dick ' 'Whitman' 3-10 Dec . 191 9 'David' 'Looking Dow n o n the City ' by 1 7 Jan.1920 Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious 'The Insurrectio n 13 Feb. -2 2 of Miss Houghton ' Mar. 192 0 II by 2 2 Mar. - 5 The Lost Girl May 192 0 31 May-Sept . AR begu n again , 1920 advances fitfull y by 1 7 June 192 0 Education of the People (12 chapters) by 2 3 July 192 0 'Whitman' (revise d into publishabl e form) by 7 Sept. 192 0
E44if
E9ia E9ia E9ia E9ia E442
Word 1 8 Oct. 191 9 Word 25 Oct. 191 9 Word} Dec . 191 9 Seltzer leaflet , 1920
P, (RDP) P, (RDP) P, (RDP) P, (RDP) PII,(WL)
En
-
P
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E382f
E382n E382I E 3 82i
-
E382b E88a E206
-
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-
TSM TSM (shortened] SEP SEP
E326.7
E209b
(LG)
Eii2a
P, (RDP)
E 3 82d
'America, Liste n t o £382.53 Your Own '
111
Nation and TSM Athenaeum 2 3 July 1921; New York Call Aug . 192 1 New Republic Dec . P 1920
APPENDIX I Unification o f Ital y chapter fo r MEH by 2 9 Nov. 192 0 AR stuc k agai n more tha n half way) c. 29 Nov. - 9 Mr Noon Par t I Dec. 192 0 12-31 Dec . 192 0 Works o n MN Par t II by 2 1 Jan. -2 5 Sea and Sardinia (revised March , Feb. 192 1 pub. Dec. ) MN (las t 7 5 pages ) Feb. 192 1 2-31 Ma y 192 1 AR complete d Fantasia of the y-c. 2 8 June Unconscious 1921 by 1 5 Aug. 192 1 Foreword t o AR [lost] Story se t i n Venic e ?Sept. - 8 Oct . [lost] 1921 FU revise d Oct. 192 1 'Foreword: A n Answer t o Som e Critics' (shortene d by Seltzer ) c. 24 Oct. - 1 England, My England revision s Dec. 192 0 [Jan. 1919 'Wintry Peacock ' March 192 0 from Metropolitan] 'The Horse (Jan. 1917 Dealer's Daughter ' 1920) 'The Primros e (July 1913 Path' 1920) (Nov. 1916 'Samson an d Delilah' 1920) (Nov. 1918 'Tickets Please ' 1920) (July 1919 'Hadrian' 1920) 'Monkey Nuts ' (May 1919 1920) 'Blind Man ' (Dec. 1918 1920) c. 1 6 Nov. 192 0
(MEH)
E24oa,
Modern Lover
P II , (MN)
E240 a
-
(MN)
E355*
Dial (extracts ) Oct. an d Nov . 1921
E24oa E2 Ei25a, b
(MN)
Ei26a
FU (1922)
[E437*]
-
(EmyE)
-
-
(EmyE)
[E322.7a]
-
(EmyE)
[E352.7]
-
(EmyE)
-
-
(EmyE)
-
-
(EmyE)
-
-
(EmyE)
[Lazarus]
-
(EmyE)
738
1 9 1 2 - 1 9 2 2 PROS E (May 1919 'Fanny an d Annie ' 1920) (Junei9i9-29 'England , My Dec. 1920 ) England '
EmyE
c. 24 Oct. - 6 Nov. 192 1 c. 13 Nov. 192 1
'The Captain' s Doll' T h e Fo x - wit h new endin g
E6o.5a
c. 1-1 7 Dec . 1921 by 2 6 Jan. 192 2
The Ladybir d
E187
'Memoir o f Maurice Magnus '
E233.7
Trans, hal f of Verga, Mastro-don Gesualdo
E230-9a
by 8 Feb. 192 2
E139C
739
(1922 )
{EmyE)
EmyE (1922 )
{EmyE)
The Ladybird
Fox
(1923) Dial (May-Aug . 1922); The Ladybird (1923 ) The Ladybird (1923) Memoirs of the Foreign Legion (1924)
Fox
Fox PII
APPENDIX I I
• THE WRITIN G LIFE , 1912-1922 : POETR Y
Though D H L ' s firs t collection , Love Poems and Others, wa s publishe d i n Feb . 1913 , Walter d e l a Mar e ha d alread y mad e hi s selectio n an d submitte d i t t o Heineman n befor e D H L lef t Englan d wit h Frieda . Heineman n refuse d th e poems , bu t the y wer e immedi ately submitte d t o Duckworth . Sinc e the y essentiall y belon g (wit h th e notabl e exceptio n of 'Be i H e n n e f ) t o th e perio d befor e Lawrenc e me t Frieda , an d ther e i s no evidenc e tha t he di d mor e tha n correc t proo f i n Octobe r 1912 , the y ar e omitte d fro m thi s table , whic h begins wit h th e earl y poem s substantiall y rewritte n fo r Look! We Have Come Through!, and wit h ne w poem s writte n fro m Sprin g 1912 . Earlier poem s subsequentl y rewritte n fo r 'Al l o f Us' an d Bay appea r unde r th e date s o f those collections . Earlier poem s revise d fo r Amores an d New Poems appea r unde r th e titl e o f thos e collections a t th e en d o f the table . There i s n o mean s o f establishin g th e dat e o f poem s i n Look! fo r whic h n o versio n earlier tha n 191 5 exists, or, indeed , mor e tha n approximat e date s fo r thos e earlie r version s that hav e survived . Wher e th e existenc e o f a n earlie r versio n indicate s th e possibilit y tha t it wa s compose d sometim e nea r th e dat e (an d place ) wit h whic h i t i s labelled , th e dat e appears i n roun d brackets . Wher e n o suc h versio n exists , th e dat e appear s i n squar e brackets, bu t ther e ca n b e n o certaint y tha t i t i s accurate , an d a stron g possibilit y - b y analogy wit h wha t happene d t o th e earl y version s tha t surviv e - tha t mos t ma y hav e bee n substantially recas t i n 1917 . DATE NA
T MS 7 EARL
L TITLE EARLIES
TS PUBLICATIO
(?Dec. 1910 - Marty 1917) (E227a
r a la Mode E320.
2, E229.5, E214.3) 4 no . 29 -
(Jan. 1912-1917 ) Moonris e E320. ('Bournemouth') (Jan. 1912-1917 ) T h e Se a E320. 4 no . 29 ('Bournemouth') [Pearly 1912 ] Eleg y ('Eastwood' ) - [? 1912 or later ] Nonentit y (Pearly 1912 ) Th e Chie f Myster y E320. 4 no . 40 Assuming th e E320. 4 no . 43 Burden 740
Y
FIRST N
COLLECTION
Look! 4 (revised)
Look! 1 (revised) Look! 6 (revised) Look! 2 Look! 3 Poems 886- 7 Poems 885- 6
I 9 1 2 - I 9 2 2 POETR Y (PSpring 1912 ) [PSpring 1912 ]
(? April 1912 ) late April 191 2 late April 191 2 (PApril-May 1912) (9-11 Ma y 1912)
Pear Blosso m Hymn t o Priapu s (cf. (i . 369)) ('Constancy o f a Sort') She Wa s a Goo d Little Wif e At th e Cearn e Other Wome n Hav e Reared i n M e Don Jua n
Ballad o f a Wilfu l (Wayward) Woma n ('Trier') (11 May 1912 ) Bei Henne f ('Hennef a m Rhein') [Plate May 1912 ] First Mornin g ('Beuerberg') And O h . . . Migh t Cease To B e ('Wolfratshausen') She Look s Bac k (June-Aug. On th e Balcon y 1912) ('Icking') ('Illicit' )
[?6 June, o r late r Frohnleichnam 1912] [PJune-Aug. In th e Dar k 1912] Mutilation (cf . (i . 421)) ('Wolfratshausen') Humiliation A Young Wif e (June-Aug. Green ('Icking' ) 1912) River Rose s ('Kloster Schaftlarn') Gloire d e Dijo n ('Icking')
E320.4 no . 42 -
Poems 890- 1 Look! 7
E320.4 no . 4 4 —
Poems 89 0
E320.4 no . 41 E320.4 no . 45 -
Poems 891- 2 Poems 892- 3
E320.6
-
E320.6
-
E213
Love Poems
Poems (1928) (added to )
—
—
Look! 9
Look! 5 (revised) Look! 8 (revised)
Look! 1 0
-
-
E318 no . 7
Poetry Jan. 1914 , Some Imagist Poems 191 5
-
-
Look! 1 3
-
-
Look! 1 4
—
—
Look! 1 5
—
—
-
-
E318 no . 2
Poetry Jan. 1914 , Some Imagist Poets
E3i8no. 3
E3i8no. 3
741
Look! 1 1 Look! 1 2
Look!16 Look! 1 7 Look! 1 8
1915 Frieda 67 ; Poetry Jan. 191 4
Look! 1 9 (revised)
Frieda 67-8 ; Poetry
Look! 2 0 (revised)
APPENDIX I I Roses o n th e Breakfast Tabl e All of Roses I V
E3i8no. 3 E3i8no. 3
[Probably later ] I am lik e a Rose [Probably later ] Ros e o f All th e World A Youth Mowin g E31 8 (June-Aug. 1912) Quite forsake n [?June-Aug. 1912] Forsaken an d Forlorn Fireflies i n th e Cor n E31 8 Song o f a Man Wh o E320.6 is Love d
[?7 Aug. 1912 ]
[?n-i5 Aug . 1912] (?i 1-25 Aug . 1912)
by 1 3 Augus t 1912 (?3i Augus t 1912) [?Oct-Dec. 1912]
?2 Nov. 191 2
Song o f a Man Wh o is Not Love d ('Glashiitte') Sinners ('Mayrhofen') Meeting Amon g th e £233-5 Mountains ('Tuxtal') The Youn g Soldie r with th e Blood y Spurs Misery ('Sterzing' ) Sunday Afternoo n in Ital y ('Gargnano') A Bad Beginnin g Why Doe s Sh e Weep? Giorno de i Mort i ('Service o f All th e Dead')
E446.5
Frieda 68 , Poetry Jan. 191 4 Frieda 68 , Poetry Jan. 191 4
Look!21 (revised) Poems 946 Look!22 Look!23
Poetry Jan. 1914 'The Mowers '
Look!24 (revised) Look!25 Look!26
Frieda 6 3 ('Isertal')
Look! 2 7 (revised) Poems (192%), (restored t o Look!and revised) Look! 2 9
-
Look! 3 0
Frieda 70-1; Georgian Poetry
Poems (1928), (restored t o Look!, misplaced) Poems 732
1913-1915 ER Feb . 191 4 (i. 434)
-
-
Look! 3 1
-
-
Look!32
-
—
-
Look!34 Look!35
New Statesman 15 Look! 3 6 Nov. 1913 ; Poetry Dec. 1914 ; Georgian Poetry 1913-191 5
742
I 9 I 2 - I 9 2 2 POETR Y
- Look! - Look!
Look! 3 7 New Poems 30, Poems (1928), adde d to Look! Look! 3 8 33 39
- Look!
40
- Look! - Look! - Look!
41 42 43
1913] [?2-i4 Feb .
- Look!
44
1913] [PFeb. 1913 ]
- Look!
45
- Look!
46
- Look!
47
[Probably later ] Al l Soul s (?mid Nov . Everlastin g Flower s E320. 2 no . 1 9 1912)
Lady Wif e Winter Daw n [Plate Dec. 1912 ] Both Side s o f the Medal Loggerheads ('Deadlock') Dec. Nigh t [?3i Dec . 1912 ] New Year' s Ev e [? 1 January New Year' s Nigh t
[? Winter 1912 ]
Valentine's Nigh t ('Candlemas') Birth Nigh t ('Eve' s Mass') [Probably later ] Rabbit Snare d i n E33 0 the Nigh t ( ' . . . i n the Dark' ) [Pearly 1913 ] Paradise Re-entere d E320. 6 ('Purity') [? April 1913 ] Spring Mornin g ('San Gaudenzio' ) [PSpring 191 3 o r Wedlock later] [PApril/May A Doe a t Evening E9 7 1913 or later ] ('Irschenhausen') PJune-July History ( T h e Cearne') 1913] [Pi914 or later ] Song o f a Man Wh o Has Com e Throug h One Woma n t o All [Pi914 or later ] Women ('Kensington') Eloi, Eloi, Lama E113. 2 17 Nov. 191 4 Sabachthani (ii . 132) ('Ecce Homo' , Ei 13.2b ) ) early 191 5 Resurrection o f the (E346. 5 Flesh unlocated )
743
Look! 48 - Look!
49 Look! 2 8
- Look!
50
- Look!
51
- Look!
52
Egoist, Ma y 191 5 Poems
741
Poems 737
APPENDIX I I Oct. 191 5 o r ?Sept. 191 5 by 1 Nov . 191 5
P1915-17] Jan .-July 1915 1917 by 2 8 June 191 6 [PSummer 1916 ] [? Autumn 1916 ] Nov.-i 1 Dec. 1916 Dec. 1910-191 6 (cf.£F487)
Resurrection (cf . (ii . E346 417; "• 455); lost letter t o Lowell ) Erinnyes ('Th e Turning Back' ; cf . Part II I (ii . 421-6) ) She Sai d A s Wel l To M e New Heave n an d Earth ('Greatham' ) (Terranova) Elysium ('Th e Blind', 'Eden' ) Manifesto ('Zennor') Autumn Rai n BITS (AL L O F US): Message t o a Perfidious Soldier ('Lov e Message', E319.3 ) Mother's So n i n Salonika ('A t Midnight', E319.5 ) Land-Worker ('Beloved', E319.5 ) The Gre y Nurs e ('The Prophe t i n the Ros e Garden' , E3I9-5) Neither Mot h No r Rust ('Mot h an d Rust', E319.5 ) Maiden's Praye r ('Irreverent Thoughts', E319.5 ) Casualty ('Tw o Fold', E319.5 ) The Jewess an d th e
Poetry June 191 7
The New Poetry 192 3 (revised) Poems 739
E4iia
Some Imagist Poets 191 6
—
—
-
Some Imagist Poets Look! 5 6 (revised) 1917
Eii3-3
—
Look! 5 7
—
-
Look! 5 8
-
Egoist Feb. 191 7
Look! 5 9
E49a no . 1 4
Poetry July 191 9
Poems 754
4
/ W r y Jul y 191 9
Poems 750
20
—
Poems 756
12
Poetry Jul y 191 9
Poems 753
29
Poetry July 191 9
Poems 759
Look! 5 5
Poems 751
6
5
Poetry July 191 9
Poems 750
17
Poetry Jul y 191 9
Poems 755
1
-
Poems 749
V.C. ('Elixir' , Nov.-i 1 Dec. 1916
E3I9-3) The Las t Minut e
744
I 9 I 2 - I 9 2 2 POETR Y Vicar's So n Drill i n th e Hea t Man Haulin g a Wagon Sighs Daughter o f th e Great Ma n T h e Chil d an d th e Soldier Pieta Litany o f Gre y Nurses Dust i n th e Eas t T h e Gir l i n Cair o Zeppelin Night s Munitions Mourning Mesopotamia Tales ('Th e Gazell e Calf) Foreign Sunse t Prisoner a t Work i n a Turkish Garde n Swing Son g o f a Girl an d a Soldie r Prisoners a t Wor k in th e Rai n T h e Wel l i n Afric a
-
Poems 749 Poems 750 Poems 751
9
Poetry July 191 9 Poetry July 191 9
Poems 752 Poems 752
10
Poetry July 191 9
Poems 752
13
-
Poems 753 Poems 753
15 16
-
2
3 7 8
11
25
Poetry July 191 9
Pom* 75 4 Po^ms 754 Poems 755 Poems 756 Poems 756 /Wms 75 7 Poems 757 Pansies (revised) Poems 757 /Wws 75 8
26
-
/Wms 758- 9
27
-
Poems 759
28
-
Poems 759
18
Poetry July 191 9
19
-
Poetry July 191 9
21
23
-
24
-
22
TVflte Fo r 'AL L O F U S ' E49I 3 (46c) Lawrenc e create d longe r narrativ e title s [?Winter 1916 - Fros t Flower s E14 2 ER Sept . 191 7 Look! 60 1917] [? 1910 rev. Peopl e ('Th e Stree t E320.i,cf . / W r y Jul y 191 8 Look! 53 1917] Lamps' ) E320. 4 Street Lamp s E320.1 , The Egoist Jan. Look! 5 4 1917 18-23 Feb . 191 7 Cravin g fo r Sprin g Look! 6 1 31 Jan. 191 8 Labou r Battalio n E18 5 New Paths 1918 Poems 746 No New s (cf . (iii . E272. 5 New Paths 1918 Poems 748 202-5)) c. i - i 8 A p r il BA Y 1918
745
APPENDIX I I (1909-19i8)
(c. 1906-1918 )
(c. 1906-1918 )
?Nov. 191 8
April 191 8 (c. 1908-1918 ) (c. 1910-1918 )
April 191 8
(1909-1918)
April 191 8
Guards!/A Revie w in Hyde Park , 191 3 ('The Revie w o f th e Scots Guards' ; 'Review . . . i n Hyd e Park, 1910' ) The Littl e Tow n a t Evening ('EastwoodEvening') Last Hour s ('Th e Last Hour s o f a Holiday') Town i n 191 7 ('Town') After th e Oper a Going Bac k On th e Marc h ('O n the Road' ) Bombardment ('Spring i n th e City', 'Apprehension') Winter Lul l The Attac k Obsequial Od e ('Obsequial Chant' ) Shades ('Pentecostal') Bread Upo n th e Waters Ruination ('SCHOOL I . Morning/The Waste Lands' ) Rondeau o f a Conscientious Objector ('Comin g home fro m School , T H E SCHOOL MASTER II I Evening') Tommies i n th e Train
E317, E155C , E320.1, E320.2
Bay 1
E3I7E204.5C
Bay 2
E317
Bay 3
E320
ER Jun e 191 8
Bay 4
E319 E320 E3i7,E295b
—
£7? July 191 8
Bays
E320.1, E320.2
-
E320
-
-
E283C E359-3a E 2 83a E319
Bay 6 Bay j (revised) BayS (revised)
Bayg Bay 1 0 Bay 1 1
Poetry Feb . 191 9 Voices ]u\y 191 9 Poetry Feb . 191 9
Bay 1 2
Poetry Feb . 191 9
Bay 1 3
E317, E320.1, E320.2, E352.3C
Bay 1 4
E317, E35I-3C, E35i-3b
Bay 1 5
E4oob, E31 9
746
Poetry Feb . 191 9
Bay 1 6
1 9 1 2 - 1 9 2 2 POETR Y
1 June 191 8
Nostalgia
E276b, E31 9
Poetry Feb . 191 9 Voices July 191 9
Bay 1 8
Death Paea n o f a Mother War Bab y
(UN)
—
-
E319
ER Jun e 1918 ; Poetry Feb . 191 9
Bay 1 7
April-June 191 8 Coming Awak e
[Plate April Aug. 192 0 June-July 192 0 July 192 0
[?July 1920 ] by 2 8 Jan. 192 1 10-15 Sept . 1920
I O - ? I 6 Sept .
Seven Seal s
-
The Mosquit o (Siracusa) (cf . (iii .
E47C
558)) Southern Nigh t ('The Ionia n Sea' ) Tropic
Georgian Poetry 1918-1919 Bookman Jul y 1921
New Poems 2, Poems (1928 ) adds t o Look! New Poems 33 BBF
E47a
—
BBF
E47a
The Enchanted Years June 192 1 (iii. 631 ) 77?^ Enchanted Years June 192 1 (iii. 631 ) Dial July 1921 ; London Mercury Oct. 192 1
BBF
BBF
E47C E47C
Dial Marc h 192 1 ER Aug . 192 1 New Republic 5 Jan. 1921 ; ER Aug. 192 1 New Republic 1 9 Jan. 1921 ; ER Sept. 192 1 Poetry Nov . 192 2
BBF BBF
-
ER Nov . 192 2 -
Tortoises Tortoises
Peace ('Slope s o f Etna')
E47a
Snake (cf . (iii . 573,
E362.7b
657))
BBF
BBF
'Fruit Studies ' Pomegranate
E32o.9b
Peach Figs ('Fig' ) Grapes Medlars an d Sorb Apples
E47C E47C E47C E47C
The Revolutionar y
E47C
1920 15-28 Sep t 192 0 Cypresses Turkey Coc k 15-30 Sept . TORTOISES 1920 Baby Tortois e Tortoise-Shell
1M
BBF BBF BBF BBF
BBF
APPENDIX I I
15 Sept.-? 14 Oct.
Tortoise Famil y Connections Lui e t Ell e Tortoise Gallantr y Tortoise Shou t Evangelistic (Apostolic) Beasts : St. Matthe w St. Luk e
St. John St. Mar k 18-25 Oct . 192 0 Sicilian Cyclamen s 18OCL-4N0V. Humming Bir d (cf . iii. 616 ) 1920 The Evenin g Lan d by 2 8 Jan. 192 1 Bare Fi g Tree s Bare Almon d Tree s Almond Blosso m 31 January 192 1 Hibiscus an d Salvi a Flowers Purple Anemone s 4 Feb. 192 1 2 March 192 1
The As s
by 9 Sept. 192 1 Fish by 1 7 Sept. 192 1 Bat
early 192 2 Pearly 192 2
Man an d Ba t She-Goat He-Goat
-
—
Tortoises
-
-
Tortoises Tortoises Tortoises
E47C
Poetry Apri l 192 3 Dial Apri l 192 1 Dial Apri l 192 1 Dial Apri l 192 1
E352.53 E352.5 E352.55 E47a E47C E47C E39
BBF BBF
-
BBF
New Republic 1 1 May 192 1 Poetry Nov . 192 2
BBF
E47c Ei2a E47a
-
E47a
—
E47a
—
E47C E47b
ER Jun e 192 2 ER Nov . 192 2 Literary Digest Dec. 192 2
E47b E47c E47C
BBF BBF
BBF BBF BBF
ER Feb . 192 2
BBF
-
BBF (revised) BBF (revised) BBF (revised)
-
BBF BBF
BBF BBF BBF
Collections o f (revised) poem s originall y writte n befor e Ma y 191 2 (for mor e detaile d chronolog y se e EY Appendi x I )
Jan.-8Feb. 191 6 AMORES: (c. 1905 ) (c. 1906-8 ) (by Jan 1909 ) (by 2 0 Jan. 191 0 (1909)
The Wil d Commo n Study In a Boat A Winter's Tal e Discipline The Prophe t
E317 E317 E3i7,E320.4 E3i7,E346b E317 E320.1
748
-
Amores 2 Amores 3 ER Oct . 191 0 Amores 7 Egoist 1 April 1914 Amores 1 2 ER Nov . 190 9 Amores 1 5 Amores 1 7 ER Nov . 190 9
1 9 1 2 - 1 9 2 2 POETR Y Dreams Ol d an d Nascent (' A Stil l Afternoon i n School') Baby Runnin g Barefoot Baby Aslee p Afte r Pain Virgin Yout h ('MOVEMENTS. The Bod y Awake' ) Restlessness A Passing Bel l (' A Bell') At th e Windo w
(IQIO)
E3I7
ER Nov . 190 9
Amoves 10 ,
E317
ER Nov . 190 9
Amoves 1 4
E317
ER Nov . 190 9
Amoves 2 3
E317
-
Amoves 5
E317 E3i7,E320.4
-
Amoves 2 2 Amoves 5 5
E317
ER Apri l 191 0 Amoves 2 9 Some Imagist Poets 1916 Amoves 8 -
Week-Night E317 Service E317, E320. 4 Egoist 1 April Turned Dow n 1914, Some ('Fooled', 'Perfidy' ) Imagist Poets The Punishe r SWG 2 5 Ma y E320.1 1912 Disagreeable Advic e E320.1 ('An Epistl e fro m Arthur') Epilogue ('Epilogu e E320.1 from Thelma' ) E320.1 no . 1 8 Discord i n Childhood ('Discord') Monologue o f a Poetvy Jan. 191 4 E320.1 Mother Frieda 76- 7 Malade E320.1 Scent o f Irise s E320.1 Some Imagist Poets Ballad o f Anothe r Ophelia ('Ophelia' ) The Yew-Tre e o n the Down s ('Liaison') Dolour o f Autum n Reproach
E320.1, E3204 E320.1, E320.4 E320.1 E320.1
749
Amoves 4 7
Amoves 2 5 Amoves 9
Amoves 1 3 Amoves 4
Amoves 6 Amoves 3 8 Amoves 1 6
1915 Some Imagist Poets Amoves 2 1 1915 -
-
Amoves 3 9
Amoves 3 2 Amoves 4 4
APPENDIX I I Endless Anxiet y E320. ('Anxiety') Suspense E320. ('Patience')
( P i g n ) Teas
1
- Amores
24
1
- Amores
20
Excursion E31 7 ('Honeymoon') Brooding Grie f E31 7 ('Brooding') Sorrow E31 7 Last Word s t o E31 7 Miriam ( ' L a s t . . . t o Muriel') Submergence E320. 1 e (' A Wis e E320.1 , Man', 'Teasing' ) E320. 4 Brother an d Siste r E320. 1 ('To Lettice , m y Sister') The En d ('T o M y E320. 1 Mother - Dead' , 'Memories') The Brid e ('Th e E320. 1 Dead Mother' ) The Virgi n Mothe r E320. 1 ('My Love , M y Mother') The Shado w o f E320. 1 Death ('Blue' ) E320. 4 The Mysti c Blu e E320. 1 ('Blue') Silence E320. 1 Listening E320. 1 The Inheritanc e E320. 1 Come Spring , E320. 1 Come Sorro w ('Mating') After Man y Day s E320. 1 ('Meeting') Troth wit h th e E320. 1 Dead At a Loose En d E320. 1 ('Dissolute', 'Trot h with th e Dead' )
750
Egoist 1 April 1914 Amores 4 6 Some Imagist Poets Amores 3 6 1916 Poetry Dec . 191 4 Amores - Amores
31 18
- Amores Poetry and Drama Amores Dec. 1914 - Amores
42 1
Poetry Dec . 191 4 Amores
26
- Amores
27
- Amores
28
51
Amores 5 3 Amores 6 0 Amores 3 4 Amores 3 5 Amores 3 3 Amores 4 9
Amores 5 2 Amores 4 0 Amores 4 1
1 9 1 2 - 1 9 2 2 POETR Y
-
Amores 4 3
E320.1 E320.1
-
Amores 5 0 Amores 4 5
E320.1 E320.4
-
Amores 3 0 Amores 5 4
-
E320.6
-
Amores 1 9 Amores 4 8
E320.2
-
Amores yj
E320.2
E320.6
Some Imagist Poets Amores 5 6 1916 Amores 5 7 Amores 5 8 -
E320.6
-
Amores 6 0
Poetry Dec . 1914 ]
Poems 941- 2
ER Feb . 1914 ]
Poems 942
-
New Poems 3
-
New Poems 4
-
New Poems
E320.1 The Enkindle d Spring ('Trot h wit h the Dead' ) A Love Son g The Hand s o f th e Betrothed ('You r Hands') Drunk Snap-Dragon
(?I9II)
(c. 1906-8 )
(c. 1908-8 )
Mystery A Spiritual Woma n (Later: 'Thes e Clever Women' ) Lotus an d Fros t ('Lotus Hur t b y th e Cold') In Troubl e an d Shame Call Int o Deat h Grey Evenin g ('Afterwards') Firelight an d Nightfall ('Afterwards') [Grief ('Afterwards') [Twilight ('Afterwards')
-
NEW P O E M S From a College E3I7 Window Twilight ('Evenin g E317 of a Week Day' , 'Palimpsest o f Twilight') Piano ('Th e Piano' ) E317, E320. 2 Flapper ('Song' ) Tarantella
ER Jun e 1912 , Georgian Poetry 1911-1912
E317, E320.4 , Egoist Apri l 191 4 etc. Poetry Dec . 191 4 E317, E320. 4 —
21 New Poems 4 New Poems 19
751
APPENDIX I I (by Jan. 1909 )
(1909)
Narcissus ('Di m Recollections', 'Neckar') Birdcage Wal k ('Triolet, I n th e Park')
E317
New Poems 40
E317
New Poems 5
School o n th e E317, E320. 2 Outskirts (' A Snowy Da y i n School') ('Th e School o n th e Waste Lands' ) Letter fro m Town : E317 The Almon d Tre e Letter fro m Town : E317 On a Grey Mornin g in Marc h ('Lette r . . . : The City' , 'Letter . . . : O n a Grey Evenin g i n March') Reading a Lette r E317 ('Reading i n th e Evening') Embankment a t E317 Night, Befor e th e War: Outcast s ('After th e Theatre') E317, E320. 4 Embankment a t Night, Befor e th e War: Charit y ('Brotherhood') Hyde Par k a t Night , E317 , E320.4 ER Before th e War : Clerks ('Th e Songless 1' , 'Nigh t Songs 1' , etc. ) Piccadilly Circu s a t E317, E320. 4 ER Night: Street Walkers ('Th e Songless 2' , 'Nigh t Songs 2' , etc. )
IS*
New Poems 28
New Poems 6 New Poems 9
New Poems 34 New Poems 26
New Poems 22
Apri l 191 0
New Poems 11
Apri l 192 0 New
Poems
I 9 I 2 - I 9 2 2 POETR Y
New Poems
Sickness
E320.1
Next Mornin g (' A Day i n November' ) Twenty Year s Ag o ('A Lif e Histor y . . . Third Harmony' ) Autumn Sunshin e ('Amour', 'Earl y Spring') Sigh N o Mor e ('Cuckoo an d Wood-Dove') Late a t Night ('Ne w Wine', 'Phantasmagoria') Reality o f Peac e 1916 ('Unwitting , The Interim , Debacle') Under th e Oa k ('The Appeal' ) A Man Wh o Die d ('Nils Lykk e Dead' , 'Bitterness o f Death') In Churc h ('Th e Crow') T h e Nort h Countr y ('The Crow' ) At th e Fron t ('Th e Crow', 'Engulphed', 'Heimweh') Gipsy ('Sel f Contempt, (i . 196) ) PThief i n th e Nigh t Winter i n th e Boulevard ('Winter') Parliament Hil l i n the Evenin g ('Transformations. 1. Evening' )
E320.1
-
29 New Poems
E320.1
-
New Poems
24
35 E317
Egoist 1 April 191 4 New Poems 4i
E320.1, E320.4
ER Oct . 191 0
E320.1
-
New Poems 15
New Poems 23
E320.1
-
New Poems 39
E320.1
-
New Poems
E320.1, E320.4
Poetry Jan. 1914 , Some Imagist Poets
New Poems
14
32
1915 E317
-
New Poems
E3I7
-
New Poems
E317
-
New Poems
20
3i
38
Ei45-5
-
New Poems
E320.1
-
New Poems New Poems
12
27
E320.1
-
New Poems 17
753
APPENDIX I I
(?l9ll)
Note:
Flat Suburbs , S.W. , in the Mornin g ('Transformations. 2. Morning' ) Suburbs o n a Hazy Day ('Transformations. 4. The Inanimate ' etc.) Noise o f Battl e ('The Inheritance , Apprehension') On Tha t Da y ('He r Birthday') Twofold ('Indoor s and Out' ) Love Stor m ('Storm i n Rose Time') Passing Visi t t o Helen ('An d Jud e the Obscur e an d hi s Beloved, Intime' ) Two Wive s ('White') Everlasting Flower s Seven Seal s Coming Awak e
E320.1 -
New Poems 7
E320.1 -
New Poems 10
E320.1 -
E320.1 Poetry) E320.2 E320.6 -
New Poems 1
an. 191 4 New
Poems
42
New Poems 13
New Poems 16
E320.4
New Poems 36
E320.4 (see Nov. 1912) (see April- June 1918 ) (see April- June 1918 )
754
New Poems 37 New Poems 30
New Poems 33 New Poems 2
Notes and Sources
THE US E O F SOURCE S
The Cambridg e Biograph y i s particularl y fortunat e i n bein g abl e t o cal l unrestrictedl y upon th e tex t o f Lawrence' s survivin g letters , accuratel y establishe d i n th e Cambridg e Edition (i n thi s volum e o f th e Biography , fro m volume s i . t o v . o f th e Letters.) Some additional letters have come to light since, and are to be published in Letters, viii . Several known gaps remain however, and there will be others of which we are not aware. Barbara Low destroye d som e letter s (thoug h sh e kep t th e mor e persona l ones ) becaus e sh e thought, self-effacingly, tha t they were to a person of little importance. Not all the letters to Katherin e Mansfiel d o r t o Joh n Middleto n Murr y hav e survived , an d Richar d Aldington burnt those that Lawrence wrote to his then wife Hilda ('H.D.'). Ther e were almost certainly letter s to Vere Collins, to A. P. Lewis, to William K. Home , tha t have not com e dow n t o us , an d ver y probabl y others . W e need constantl y t o remembe r th e patchiness of our knowledge of Lawrence's range of acquaintances, and to be grateful that the power and interest of his letters made so many people preserve them. The letter s amoun t o f cours e t o a n autobiographical recor d o f a particularly sponta neous and self-revelatory kind, so that to be permitted to quote more fully than is usual, is to plac e Lawrence' s story-of-himsel f uniquel y a t th e centr e o f thi s biography . H e ha d mixed feeling s abou t Samue l Richardson , bu t mus t hav e shared th e eighteenth-centur y writer's belie f tha t th e mor e letter s ar e writte n 't o th e moment' , spontaneou s an d uncensored, the more revealing of the inner self they become. (March's letter to Henry in 'The Fox' is an epistolary masterpiece of a very Richardsonian kind.) Richardson has also taught us , o f course, tha t letter s ar e self-presentatio n an d eve n self-creation , histrionic , and not infrequently deceptiv e and self-deceptive. W e play 'ourselves' to our correspondents - a subtly differen t sel f t o each . I f th e rang e o f recipient s i s wid e enough , th e greater par t o f a spectrum o f th e sel f build s up , bu t w e shoul d alway s o f cours e b e mindful of the limits of the writer's knowledge and self-knowledge an d the distortions of the ego. Letters may also proclaim the very isolation they seek to overcome. As he became more and more estranged from English society, letters became for Lawrence the substance of such friendships as he retained; the pieces of paper were to all intents and purposes his friendship wit h Koteliansky , an d Gertler , an d Lad y Cynthi a Asquith , an d Catherin e Cars well fo r muc h o f th e tim e fro m 191 2 t o 1922 . Consequentl y h e use d letter s sometimes t o relative strangers - t o try out ideas , express emotion s an d blow off steam which i n a more socialised existenc e woul d hav e evaporated o n the instan t i n speec h or shout, or later, have distilled into considered thought or feeling. Nothing is easier than to produce distorted impressions of him by selective quotation. 'I would like to kill a million Germans - tw o million', he would write, not inhumanly, but enraged by inhumanity after
757
T H E US E O F S O U R C E S
the sinkin g o f th e Lusitania; onl y t o add , later , 'Don' t tak e an y notic e o f m y extravagan t talk - on e mus t sa y something ' (ii . 340). Moreover , t o liv e an d writ e 't o th e moment ' wa s to car e muc h fo r momentar y truth-of-feelin g bu t littl e fo r consistency . Indee d h e believe d that huma n being s bot h wer e an d ough t t o b e fluctuating an d changeable , i f they wer e t o remain vitall y alive . H e migh t wel l hav e sai d wit h Whitman : 'D o I contradic t myself ? / Very wel l the n I contradic t myself. / ( I a m large , I contai n multitudes.) ' Consequentl y context an d chronolog y ar e immensel y importan t i n usin g hi s letters . An y genera l statement beginnin g 'Lawrenc e . . . ' ough t immediatel y t o b e followe d b y a modifie r indicating which Lawrence, sinc e (particularl y i n th e year s fro m 191 2 to 1920 , momentou s not onl y fo r him , bu t fo r hi s radicall y changin g world ) hi s personalit y an d hi s view s di d undergo ver y significan t changes , making generalisatio n abou t hi m ver y risk y i f not idioti c (in Blake' s ouvre) . I t i s chronolog y moreove r tha t save s u s fro m analyti c arroganc e - th e belief tha t w e ca n offe r overal l explanation s o f th e factor s whic h determin e characte r an d behaviour, whethe r i t b e i n term s o f tuberculosis , sexualit y o r psychopathology . Thi s biography ha s tried , rather , t o 'live ' wit h Lawrenc e wee k b y wee k an d mont h b y month , avoiding hindsigh t an d it s patternings , no t i n th e hop e o f som e impossibl y definitiv e truth, bu t tryin g fo r som e sens e a t leas t o f wha t i t ma y hav e bee n lik e t o liv e as Lawrenc e did: an d liv e a writing life . Fo r that , hi s letter s i n thei r ver y subjectivit y an d variatio n ar e an unrivalle d source , fa r riche r tha n ca n b e tappe d eve n i n a book o f thi s length . I f it doe s no mor e tha n sen d ne w reader s t o the Cambridg e letters , it s author wil l be wel l satisfied . Edward Nehls' s Composite Biography, compile d fro m th e numerou s memoir s tha t began t o appea r soo n afte r Lawrence' s deat h an d b y persuadin g mor e o f Lawrence' s acquaintances t o contribute , i s th e othe r irreplaceabl e source , providin g a wid e spectru m of respons e i n attractio n o r repulsion , bu t seldo m indifference , fro m thos e wh o kne w hi m - o r though t the y did . Thi s counteract s th e subjectivit y o f Lawrence' s letters , an d th e counteractive biase s ar e als o mutuall y corrective . I t i s n o criticis m o f Nehls' s painstakin g scholarship an d annotatio n t o sa y tha t vastl y mor e informatio n ha s com e t o ligh t sinc e hi s three volume s appeare d i n th e lat e 1950 s - ye t th e freshnes s an d immediac y o f th e kaleidoscope o f views wil l ensure thei r permanen t value . One difficult y howeve r result s fro m th e ver y livelines s o f som e - fo r biographie s o f Lawrence hav e gon e o n repeatin g th e sam e roun d o f gossip y anecdote s wit h (sometimes ) too grea t credulit y an d to o littl e scrupulou s examinatio n o f likelihood an d credibility . Th e stories o f tw o splendi d raconteurs , fo r example , Davi d 'Bunny ' Garnet t an d 'Monty ' Compton Mackenzi e tende d t o gro w ove r th e years , an d i t ma y b e necessar y t o tr y t o rescue th e origina l kerne l o f fac t (o r fiction) fro m late r accretion s an d colouring . Bot h men, moreover , gre w hostil e t o Lawrenc e afte r origina l fascination , an d i n bot h case s there i s a marke d elemen t o f reading-bac k fro m late r hindsight . Similarl y th e letter s between Lad y Ottolin e Morrel l an d Bertran d Russel l i n 191 5 an d 191 6 ar e a muc h safe r guide t o thei r relationshi p wit h Lawrenc e tha n thei r late r accounts . (Th e origina l journa l of Lad y Ottolin e i s muc h terse r tha n it s late r writin g u p - wit h som e recensio n b y he r husband - int o he r tw o volume s o f memoirs.) A s a rule, th e earlie r th e evidence , th e mor e likely i t i s t o b e reliable , thoug h perhap s th e les s colourfu l an d opinionated . A mor e complex cas e i s that o f Murry, wher e a strong late r agend a combine d wit h a poor memor y to produce , a t som e points , a misleading versio n o f events. I am particularl y gratefu l t o hi s
758
T H E US E O F S O U R C E S
son fo r permittin g m e t o rea d an d us e th e journa l contemporaneou s wit h Murry' s firs t years o f acquaintanc e wit h th e Lawrences , whic h i s a muc h mor e accurat e accoun t o f hi s feelings a t th e tim e tha n hi s late r writing s - an d al l th e mor e sympathetic , a s les s supportive o f th e rol e o f th e uniquel y understandin g frien d h e late r wishe d t o claim , which tempt s Lawrencian s t o cas t hi m a s Judas instead . Th e unremittin g hostilit y o f Ceci l Gray o n th e othe r han d spring s fro m a breach whos e tru e natur e h e wishe d subsequentl y to conceal . I n dealin g wit h th e mas s o f anecdotage tha t ha s survive d abou t th e Lawrences , biographers nee d t o weig h evidenc e carefully : th e motivatio n an d credibilit y o f th e witness; th e consistenc y o f th e stor y wit h al l th e othe r evidenc e an d wit h th e character s and motive s o f th e protagonist s a s reveale d elsewhere ; th e questio n o f whethe r trace s ar e to b e foun d i n th e wor k (thoug h mindfu l o f th e dange r o f reading-i n an d reading-back) . Several oft-repeate d storie s abou t Lawrence , an d Fried a (an d a ne w one) , hav e t o b e entertained an d examine d - bu t wit h som e scepticis m too , mor e perhap s tha n ha s alway s been th e case . A spiri t o f critica l enquir y ough t als o t o obtai n i n dealin g wit h th e 'autobiographical ' writings o f th e tw o principa l witnesses . Writer s o n th e Lawrence s hav e tende d t o accep t Sons and Lovers, Look! We Have Come Through!, Mr Noon (an d "Not I, But the Wind... " ) rather to o uncriticall y a s sources o f fac t an d self-portraiture . Al l are Activ e t o a biographically significan t degree , an d i t ha s bee n a principa l ai m o f th e Cambridg e Biography t o measure the m agains t th e contemporar y evidence , and sho w ho w i n al l thre e Lawrence work s especially , h e heightened , transposed , dramatise d an d imaginativel y transformed th e pas t fo r hi s ow n artistic , an d i n th e cas e o f Mr Noon comi c purposes . Here, a s wel l a s disentanglin g wha t doe s remai n relevan t t o biography , th e biographe r may b e o f use t o th e criti c i n th e latter' s concer n t o explor e th e Activ e an d poeti c process . Yet i t remain s tru e tha t i n hi s creativ e writing s Lawrenc e di d confront , t o remarkabl e imaginative dept h an d complexit y bu t seldo m overtly , th e problem s o f his life . I n orde r t o try t o establis h a useful relatio n o f literature an d life , however , i t is vitally importan t t o ge t back t o th e version s writte n a t th e time , behind th e ofte n muc h revise d an d rewritte n late r ones wit h whic h w e ma y b e familia r - an d n o les s importan t t o recognis e an d respec t th e boundaries betwee n biograph y an d imagination , thoug h i t i s n o eas y tas k t o dra w the m properly. Wha t gav e old-fashione d 'Th e Ma n an d Hi s Work ' studie s thei r ba d nam e wa s their willingnes s simpl y t o conflat e th e two . Ye t i t wa s i n hi s writin g tha t Lawrenc e perhaps live d mos t intensel y (an d spen t muc h mor e tim e tha n i n quarrellin g wit h Frieda) . Biography tha t duck s th e challeng e t o deal , sensitively, wit h th e relationshi p o f living ma n to creativ e 'manuscript' , wil l ten d t o produc e a superficial , gossip y an d disproportione d account o f Lawrence' s 'life' . Her e scholarship , biograph y an d literar y criticis m mus t meet, whil e always respecting essentiall y differen t disciplines . In Frieda' s case , too, it is necessary t o detect a n elemen t o f fiction i n he r autobiography , her overtl y fictionalised 'memoirs ' an d he r subsequen t memories . A n absolut e contra diction betwee n tw o storie s abou t he r firs t meetin g wit h Lawrenc e appear s o n th e opening page s o f thi s biography , an d i t i s n o goo d tryin g t o hav e i t bot h ways : th e biographer mus t weig h likelihoo d agains t likelihoo d an d tes t eac h stor y agains t th e othe r evidence. Frieda' s memor y fo r fact s an d date s wa s ver y imprecise . I t wa s als o par t o f he r vitality t o wan t t o mak e hersel f an d he r lif e mor e interestin g - occasionally , on e suspects ,
759
THE US E O F SOURCE S
by drawing on her husband's work. She told some stories to put Lawrence in his place, or to assert herself . (A s a result sh e ha s been regarde d a s more promiscuou s tha n sh e may actually hav e been. ) He r romanti c accoun t o f th e 'elopement ' ha s t o b e considerabl y modified b y evidence that sh e had n o intention o f breaking her marriage let alon e losing her children, and by the rather different stor y of how Lawrence insisted on being straight with Weekley, and had to fight and go on fighting against her family's ongoing pressure to come to a sophisticated 'arrangement' , lik e those in the marriages of her parent s an d he r sisters, and the n agains t he r reluctanc e t o commit hersel f t o him. The stor y o f the row s over 'th e children ' i s far mor e comple x tha n ha s been supposed , an d th e par t playe d b y Frieda's ow n action s i n hardenin g Weekley' s attitud e ha s neve r bee n properl y tol d o r dated - thoug h dates turn out to be significant. A neglected resourc e is Frieda's lively and individual letters, which ought long since to have been collected. Finally, o n th e us e o f source s fo r ' A Life' , thi s biographe r think s summar y an d generalisation should go to the (admittedly more economical) devil; since the life of things tends t o b e foun d i n detail , variatio n an d chang e throug h time ; though tha t stor y take s longer to tell.
760
NOTES
Chapter One: New Lif e i Nehls , i . 162 ; verso o f letter o f 3 0 April (i . 389 n . 1) ; Frieda 25 . Frieda (b . 1 1 Augus t 1879), daughter o f Baron Friedric h an d Barones s Ann a vo n Richthofen , wa s abou t t o turn 33 , six year s olde r tha n D H L . He r father' s activ e arm y servic e ha d com e t o a n end whe n hi s han d wa s badl y wounde d durin g th e Franco-Prussia n war , afte r whic h he serve d a s civi l enginee r i n th e administratio n o f Met z i n (post-1870 ) Germa n Lorraine. Sh e ha d bee n brough t u p i n proximit y t o th e barracks , makin g friend s among th e soldier s whe n little , an d th e officer s late r on . A t 2 0 i n 1899 , whe n D H L was stil l a schoolboy livin g a t home , Fried a wa s gettin g marrie d t o Professo r Ernes t Weekley, 1 4 year s olde r tha n herself . Th e honeymoo n (a t a hote l i n Lucerne ) wa s disastrous, bot h i n th e misfirin g o f he r pran k o f climbin g nake d o n to p o f th e cupboard t o surpris e he r husband , an d i n bed . Bourgeoi s Nottingha m prove d a disappointment also , bu t sh e retaine d he r hig h spirit s mos t o f th e tim e - reactin g against boredo m b y dancin g aroun d he r roo m naked , o r runnin g dow n th e roa d madly a t night . He r boredo m wa s als o broke n b y regula r visit s t o he r siste r Els e i n Munich, wher e sh e move d i n bohemia n circles . Sh e ha d ha d affair s wit h Willia m Dowson, a Nottingham lac e manufacturer (godfathe r t o he r younges t daughter) , wh o used t o tak e he r drivin g i n Sherwoo d forest , cf . Rober t Lucas , Frieda Lawrence: The Story of Frieda von Richthofen and D. H. Lawrence (1973) , p . 3 3 o n informatio n fro m Frieda's younges t daughte r Barbara ; wit h Freud' s turbulen t followe r Ott o Gross , which ha d a dee p an d lastin g effec t o n he r conceptio n o f herself ; an d wit h th e anarchist painte r Erns t Fric k i n 1911 . (Se e note s 4 an d 8. ) He r so n Montagu e wa s born i n 1900 , her daughter s Els a an d Barbar a i n 190 2 an d 1904 . Sh e had , o n 3 May , known D H L fo r betwee n si x and eigh t week s (se e note 90) . 2 A s reporte d i n a memoi r (UT ) b y Phylli s Cahill , wh o type d fo r Fried a afte r D H L ' s death: When Lawrenc e an d I fel l i n lov e I ha d n o intentio n whateve r o f leavin g m y husband an d childre n an d th e comfortabl e & respectable lif e I kne w t o g o off int o certain socia l exil e an d mos t probabl e poverty . I coul d se e n o reaso n wh y w e shouldn't becom e lover s whil e I continue d t o liv e wit h Prof . W . Lawrenc e wa s shocked an d horrifie d a t th e immoralit y o f th e suggestion . 'A s w e lov e eac h othe r we hav e th e righ t t o liv e together. Bu t t o creep int o th e be d o f another man' s wif e while a gues t i n hi s house , no . Eithe r yo u mak e u p you r min d t o leav e hi m an d everything yo u hav e bee n accustome d t o an d giv e hi m th e righ t an d freedo m t o
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N O T E S T O PAG E 6
divorce you , an d marr y me , o r yo u wil l neve r se e m e again. ' S o I wen t t o th e nursery an d kisse d m y childre n good-by e & stepped int o a new life . The las t sentence make s he r see m fa r mor e decisiv e tha n sh e actuall y was . 3 Fried a 22-3 , Cahil l memoir . Mar y Holbroo k wa s Jessi e Chambers' s sister , an d he r and he r husban d Will' s far m nea r Eastwoo d wa s a saf e plac e t o tak e Fried a an d th e children. A tens e D H L perhap s trie d to o har d wit h th e littl e girls . Elsa , wit h something o f he r father' s superio r air , snubbe d hi m fo r imaginin g sh e di d no t kno w about th e armada , an d eve n littl e Barb y wa s inclined t o be snooty , thinkin g hi m a cu t below th e jovia l and professoria l adult s sh e was accustomed t o (Nehls , i . 162-3) . T h e stor y recentl y revive d b y Brend a Maddox , The Married Man (1994) , p . 113 , that Fried a onl y neede d twent y minute s afte r firs t meetin g D H L t o ge t hi m int o bed, i s almos t certainl y fictitious. A choic e mus t b e mad e betwee n tw o Fried a stories whic h directl y contradic t eac h other : he r reporte d boas t t o Mabe l Dodg e Luhan, no t th e mos t reliabl e o f witnesse s anyway , i n Lorenzo in Taos (Ne w York , 1932) p . 103 , an d he r statemen t t o Phylli s Cahill , quote d above . (Whe n Maddo x later als o accepts th e Cahil l repor t tha t D H L refuse d t o slee p wit h Fried a i n he r husband's hous e sh e create s a nonsense , i f h e ha d alread y don e so. ) W e ca n onl y weigh likelihoo d agains t likelihood . Th e first meetin g wa s probabl y o n a Sunda y (see EY 56i-2)whe n th e universit y woul d b e closed , an d he r husban d woul d probably hav e bee n i n hi s study , abuttin g th e stairs . T h e Weekley s ha d servant s and a nurs e fo r th e children , an y o f who m coul d hav e notice d Frieda' s absenc e o r come upstairs . Moreove r th e Luha n stor y i s als o inconsisten t wit h D H L ' s stanc e towards Weekle y i n th e comin g weeks , an d wit h hi s cautiousnes s an d scrupl e wit h Rosalind Bayne s (se e chapte r 11 , pp . 601-3). Maddox' s use , fo r biographica l purposes, o f th e 192 0 comi c nove l Mr Noon show s n o understandin g o f th e comedic fictiveness o f it s characterisation s - it s inflammabl e Johann a i s onl y i n Munich a t al l becaus e sh e ha d almos t succumbe d t o a Japanese strange r o n a train , which w e ar e presumabl y no t mean t t o believ e - o r it s account s o f sexua l scene s i n Munich an d i n Met z whic h ar e unfortunatel y unlikel y t o hav e happene d (se e not e 16 belo w an d pp . 617-19) . Fried a i s howeve r quit e likel y t o hav e boaste d i n exaggerated term s i n orde r t o pu t dow n Mabe l Luhan , wh o ha d no t succeede d i n seducing D H L . Hi s frien d Willi e Hopkin , reporte d dubiousl y a s repeatin g th e story muc h late r an d a t thir d hand , ma y hav e go t i t fro m Mabe l Luhan' s book . 4 Th e stor y o f Frieda' s cruciall y 'liberating ' affai r wit h Gross , th e brillian t followe r o f Freud wh o ha d bee n cold-shouldere d b y th e Maste r becaus e o f hi s idea s o f eroti c therapy, is told i n Martin Green , The von Richthofen Sisters (1974) , pp. 32-73 . Gross' s letters t o Frieda , whic h wer e ver y importan t i n creatin g he r imag e o f herself , ar e printed i n Memoirs 94—102 , and i n a ne w translatio n b y Joh n Turne r wit h Corneli a Rumpf-Worthen an d Rut h Jenkins , 'Th e Ott o Gross-Fried a Weekle y Correspon dence', DHLR y xxi i (1990). See also Frieda 23 . Gross wante d he r t o leave Weekley fo r him - bu t sh e wa s perfectly awar e of his shortcomings. H e wa s fascinating bu t utterl y unreliable, an d increasingl y addicte d t o drug s which , togethe r wit h th e scanda l surrounding th e (assisted? ) suicid e o f tw o o f hi s patients , woul d eventuall y destro y him.
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NOTES T O PAGE S 6 - 8 5 Fo r DHL' s relationshi p wit h Alic e Dax , se e EY 358-70 . Sh e wa s th e independent minded wif e o f an Eastwoo d chemist , an d ha d becom e sexuall y involve d wit h D H L . 6 Fried a 23 ; Alice Da x t o Fried a i n 1935 , Memoirs 245 ; EY 364-8 . Th e poem s 'Pea r Blossom' an d 'Sh e wa s a Goo d Littl e Wife ' possibl y relat e t o Alice , bu t 'Th e Chie f Mystery' probabl y t o Fried a an d 'A t th e Cearne ' clearl y recall s th e weeken d wit h Frieda there . 7 Fried a 22 . D H L ha d bee n rathe r impresse d b y Weekley' s sophisticate d 'Cambridge ' manner an d sarcas m i n hi s classes (E.T . 76) . T he ide a o f going t o German y ha d bee n first mentione d o n 1 2 Januar y (i . 350) , a s suggeste d b y hi s Aun t Ad a an d he r husband Frit z Krenkow , whos e niec e live d i n Waldbrol . 8 Fried a ha d me t Erns t Fric k i n th e bohemia n Schwabin g distric t o f Munic h year s before; cf . Marti n Green , Mountain of Truth (Hanover , 1986) , pp . 38-9 . I n 190 9 h e had gon e t o liv e wit h Fried a Gros s i n Ascona , wit h th e consen t o f he r husban d who considere d Fric k a mor e suitabl e mat e fo r her . I n 1911 , Fried a Weekle y ha d an affai r wit h him , an d cam e t o Ascon a wher e Fried a Gross , despit e he r liberate d principles, becam e jealou s s o tha t ther e wer e rows . Later , i n September-Octobe r 1911, Fric k cam e o n a visit t o England , partl y pai d fo r b y Fried a Weekley , bu t the y were onl y abl e t o correspon d throug h intermediaries , an d t o mee t infrequently , probably i n a friend' s flat i n London . I n 1912 , however , Fric k wa s i n grav e difficulties. H e ha d bee n involve d - t o quit e wha t exten t i s no t to o clea r - i n a n attempt t o rescu e a fellow anarchis t fro m prison , durin g whic h a bomb, plante d a s a distraction, ble w u p an d injure d thre e children ; an d wit h th e derailmen t o f a tram . Frick wa s no w (1912 ) abou t t o stan d trial , a s Fried a Gros s ha d writte n t o tel l Frieda Weekley . Thoug h ther e i s n o reaso n t o suppos e tha t Fried a Weekley' s affai r with Fric k ha d gon e ver y deep , an d i t ha d no w bee n supersede d b y th e affai r wit h D H L , sh e wa s exercise d abou t whethe r sh e shoul d tr y t o se e Fric k i n Zurich . Thi s Frick himsel f ver y sensibl y discouraged . T h e abov e informatio n i s draw n fro m letters fro m Fried a Gros s t o Els e Jaffe, Fried a Weekley' s siste r (Letter s 48-9 , 50-1 , 56); t o Fried a Weekle y (Lette r 54) ; an d fro m Fric k t o Els e (Lette r 53 ) an d t o Frieda Weekle y (Lette r 57) , al l no w a t TuftsU . Fric k wa s subsequentl y convicte d and spen t a yea r i n prison . Fried a Weekle y als o ha d a lette r fro m Gros s bu t wa s 'unmoved' b y i t (Green , Von Richthofen Sisters, pp . 53, 61). 9 Cf . (i . 388 , 409) ; Fried a 23 ; Lucas , Frieda Lawrence, p . 77 ; Fried a Gros s t o Els e Jaffe, 6 Ma y 191 2 (TuftsU ; Lette r 56) , havin g hear d fro m Fried a Weekle y tha t sh e had tol d he r husban d abou t Gros s an d Frick . 10 E.T . 19 1 ff. 11 Fo r DHL' s relationship s wit h Hele n Corke , an d Loui e Burrow s t o who m h e becam e engaged i n Decembe r 1910 , bu t brok e i t of f i n Februar y 1912 , se e EY 253-62 , 288-96, 300-24 . Fried a 23 ; Memoirs 75 . 12 Cf . ( i .390 , 392); EY 56 4 n . 10 ; Green, Von Richthofen Sisters, p . 14 ; MN 180:38-4 0 (Mr Noon, a comi c fiction writte n eigh t year s later , i s onl y reliabl e fo r biographica l purposes i f confirmed b y othe r evidence . Here , se e EY 56 4 n. 10) . 13 Memoirs 389-90 ; (i . 409); MN 177:39-180:17 ; Ei3oa, 'Th e Figh t fo r Barbara' , Ac t 11 (The Complete Plays ofD. H. Lawrence, 1965 , pp. 288-92).
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NOTES T O PAGE S 9 - 1 3 14 Green , Von Richthofen Sisters, pp . 22, 187 ; (i. 395); MN 154:34-5 . 15 Fried a 25-6 ; MN 158:4-159:4 , i79 : 8~3316 Mr Noon expand s th e tim e i n Met z t o mak e roo m fo r tw o sex scenes , on e splendidl y farcical an d i n direc t paralle l wit h a scene i n Par t I - bu t alas , probably fictive i n th e light o f DHL' s complain t here . Tuesda y wa s th e contretemp s o f th e arrest ; Wednesday h e wa s i n Trier . Fried a ha d move d fro m th e hote l bac k int o he r parents ' house i n th e suburbs . 17 7716-20 . 18 Cf . ( i .394-5; ) Fried a 26 ; MN 168:28-169:32 ; 'How a Spy i s Arrested', 7 7 1 1 - 1 5 . 19 MN 144:31- 2 (cf . (i . 409)); Frieda 25 . 20 Cf . (i . 396). The thre e sketche s se t i n Met z ('Th e Englis h an d th e Germans' , 'Ho w a Spy i s Arrested' , 'Frenc h Son s o f Germany' ) rea d a s thoug h writte n there , bu t i t i s not clea r whe n o r i n whic h orde r the y wer e done . 'Th e Englis h an d th e Germans ' may hav e bee n write n i n Metz . O n 9 Ma y fro m Trie r D H L mentione d havin g written a n articl e to o outspoke n t o b e printed , whic h sound s lik e ' A Spy' ; an d som e phrasing i n 'Frenc h Sons ' i s echoe d i n th e letter s t o Fried a fro m Trie r (i . 393-4 , 396). I t ma y howeve r hav e bee n writte n i n Waldbrb l abou t 1 3 Ma y whe n h e ha d begun writin g 'i n th e morning ' (i . 399 ) bu t ha d no t ye t starte d revisin g 'Pau l Morel' . All three hav e th e overal l titl e 'I n Fortifie d Germany' . Se e 7 7 xxvii-xxviii . 21 Thi s detai l onl y i n MN 177:16-17 , bu t seem s likely . An y similarl y unconfirme d bu t likely detail s wil l be place d i n roun d bracket s an d MN note d a s the sourc e (bu t se e n . 64) below). 22 Accordin g t o MN 181:23~4 . 23 Thi s wa s no t th e versio n publishe d i n Look! We Have Come Through!, whic h wa s a significant rewritin g i n 1917 ; se e Mar k Kinkead-Weekes , 'Th e Shapin g o f D . H . Lawrence's Look! We Have Come Through !\ i n Presenting Poetry, ed . Howar d Erskine-Hill an d Richar d A . McCab e (Cambridge , 1995 ) pp . 214-34, o n t n e dange r of simply assumin g tha t th e poem s i n thi s sequenc e wer e i n fac t writte n a t th e place s and th e date s implie d b y DHL' s labellings . 24 Memoirs 180 . 25 Cf . th e brea k wit h Loui e Burrow s (i . 366) ; bot h dramatisation s o f th e scoldin g b y Frieda's mothe r i n The Fight for Barbara an d Mr Noon, cf . (i . 429-30) ; an d D H L ' s reaction t o being correcte d b y th e Baron . 26 MN 160:25-7 . 27 Accordin g t o MN 183:5-31 , h e caugh t a train fo r whic h a surcharge wa s necessary . 28 'Be i Hennef, Poems 203. 29 Se e (i . 404 ) an d Diete r Mehl , 'Lawrenc e i n Waldbrol' , Notes and Queries, ccxxi x (1984), 78-81 . 'Hai l i n th e Rhineland' , th e las t o f th e Germa n sketches , wa s writte n either th e sam e da y a s th e stor m (1 5 May ) o r th e next , whe n i t wa s sen t awa y wit h the othe r thre e t o d e l a Mar e fo r hi m t o submi t t o th e Westminster Gazette, o r 'anybody else ' he though t 'probable ' (i . 405). 30 Th e Westminster Gazette publishe d onl y 'Frenc h Son s o f Germany ' an d 'Hai l i n th e Rhineland', however , o n 3 an d 1 0 August ; rejectin g th e other s a s to o anti-Germa n for a libera l pape r whic h i n Ma y 191 2 wa s 'campaignin g fo r understandin g o f th e
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 3 - 1 4 German poin t o f view ' (7 7 xxx) . A s D H L ha d tol d d e l a Mare , ' I don' t kno w th e papers a bit' (i . 405) . Cf. 7 7 xxvi and n . 7 . 31 N o pag e fro m wha t Jessie sa w in Apri l o f this chapte r ha s survived. Al l that w e have , in th e final manuscrip t o f Sons and Lovers, ar e fourtee n page s datin g fro m Octobe r 1912 i n Italy , includin g th e title , an d anothe r fourtee n datin g fro m Ma y 191 2 i n Waldbrol. Se e Hele n Baron , ''Sons and Lovers: Th e Survivin g Manuscript s fro m Three Draft s Date d b y Pape r Analysis' , Studies in Bibliography, xxxvii i (1985) , 327-8; an d Joh n Worthe n - wh o firs t pointe d ou t th e significanc e o f th e paper s i n this chapte r - 'Ort s an d Slarts' , Review of English Studies, n.s. , xlvi (1995), 36-7 . 32 A Memoir of D. H. Lawrence: The Betrayal, b y G . H . Neville , ed . Car l Baro n (Cambridge, 1981) , p. 4 4 . . . Cambridg e 1981) , p. 44 ; SL xxxv-xxxix . A s will be see n from thei r n . 27 , the Baron s an d I hav e a friendly disagreemen t abou t th e interpreta tion o f Georg e Neville' s extraordinar y statemen t tha t D H L wa s the n 'bus y wit h th e final bringin g int o shap e o f The Rainbow', fro m whic h the y conclud e tha t th e 'scene ' must hav e bee n on e i n tha t nove l (Neville , Memoir, pp . 44-5). Thi s stil l seem s t o m e most unlikely . T he secon d versio n of'Th e Sisters ' (later t o become The Rainbow) wa s begun i n Augus t 1913 ; whereas wha t D H L clearl y had bee n bus y with , u p t o Apri l 1912, wa s th e bringin g int o shap e of'Pau l Morel' , b y thei r numberin g Ilia . Perhap s this alread y containe d a 'bedroo m scene ' tha t looke d lik e causin g troubl e wit h Jessie, and contribute d t o Heinemann' s rejectio n o f th e boo k a s to o 'outspoken' ; o r perhap s there wa s alread y som e versio n o f th e scen e i n whic h Paul , i n th e bedroom , trie s o n Clara's stocking s an d know s h e mus t hav e her : the n creep s downstairs , an d does . Bu t no scene i n The Rainbow whic h cause d it s 'fall' i s imaginable a s having originall y bee n part o f 'Pau l Morel ' Ilia . Ann a Brangwe n dancin g nud e i n he r pregnanc y (th e on e D H L identified ) i s obviously rule d out . Th e magistrat e concentrate d hi s disapprova l on th e lesbia n episode s bu t non e take s plac e i n a bedroom . Th e Barons ' suggestio n that D H L 'late r claime d t o hav e begu n The Rainbow a t abou t thi s time' , i.e . Apri l 1912, turn s ou t t o b e hi s urgin g hi s agen t J. B . Pinke r i n Apri l 191 5 t o 'fight ' fo r th e novel becaus e i t represent s 'nearl y thre e year s o f har d work ' (ii . 327) . Bu t D H L i s trying t o impres s Pinke r wit h th e seriousnes s o f th e book , an d h e ofte n exaggerate d how lon g a work ha d take n him , fo r tha t reason . (H e woul d mak e a similarly inflate d claim fo r Studies in Classic American Literature.) Th e whol e proces s o f writin g an d revising The Rainbow ha d actuall y take n a little ove r tw o year s (mid-Marc h 1913-15 ) of extraordinar y imaginativ e effort . Bu t Nevill e seem s t o sugges t tha t a versio n i s being no t merel y begu n o r worke d o n but finished i n Apri l 1912 ! It i s fa r mor e likel y that h e was momentarily confuse d - an d h e is not always reliable. 33 E.T . 210 . 34 Robert s E373 C (UT) . Fo r a descriptio n an d chronology , se e Hele n Baron , 'Jessi e Chambers' Ple a fo r Justice t o "Miriam"' , Archiv, cxxxvi i (1985) , 63-8 4 (reprinte d i n D. H. Lawrence: The Journal of the D. H. Lawrence Society, iv , 1987-8 , pp. 7-24). 35 Thi s i s presumabl y wh y h e move d th e Miria m an d Agath a an d th e flower scene s back int o th e la d an d gir l chapter , somewha t awkwardly . 36 Letter s t o Professo r Wincent y Lutoslawski , 2 3 Jun e an d 2 3 Jul y 1935 , 'Th e
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NOTES TO PAGES 1 4 - 1 9 Collected Letter s o f Jessie Chambers' , ed . Georg e J . Zytaruk , DHLR, xi i (1979) , 117,114. 37 Th e 'Waldbro P page s tha t surviv e i n th e 'Test ' chapte r describ e Pau l tryin g t o persuade Miria m tha t the y hav e bee n 'to o fierce i n ou r wha t the y cal l purity' , th e cherry-picking scen e an d it s love-making aftermath . I t may have gon e o n t o describ e the scene s i n th e cottage , bu t agai n w e canno t b e sure . (Wha t i s certai n i s tha t th e scene becam e explici t enoug h i n it s final versio n fo r Garnet t t o censo r severa l details.) Se e SL xxxvi i and Explanatory note s t o 325:4, 328:40, 338:24 and 343:3 , and Worthen, 'Ort s an d Slarts' , pp. 37-8. 38 Se e (i . 232) ; Harry T . Moore , The Priest of Love (1974) , p . 129 ; Delavenay 675-6 . Alice Hall recur s i n Sons and Lovers. O n Ernest Humphrey s se e (i. 465) . 39 Se e (i. 401, 403). Louie, too , had had her postcard fro m Trie r (i . 397) . 40 Memoirs 18 0 an d Joh n Worthe n intervie w wit h Montagu e Weekley ; Memoirs 17 9 (misdated: thi s mus t b e May not April). 41 Maud e Weekley (UT) reproached her for her 'strange views of life, selfish views . .. you have somehow missed th e best in life and the best in love, for love that canno t suffe r i s unworthy o f the name of love. Poor Frieda, make the best of the wreck and make for the light.' Lily Kipping , wife of Frederic Kipping , Professor o f Chemistry a t Nottingham , begged her to think of the motherless children, for 'if you don't think quickly remembe r you ough t neve r t o see them agai n - i t would no t in any sense be right fo r them' , and implored he r to come back , sinc e 'N o one knows' (UT) ; MN 188:18 . 42 Se e (i. 399-407). 43 MN 139:13-140:16 ; 169:34-170:7 . I t i s unclea r whethe r Fried a had , o r wa s no w merely threatenin g t o have a sexual relationshi p wit h vo n Henning. A n affair i s quit e possible - an d MN suggest s tha t i t happened , thoug h tha t i s no t trustworth y evidence i n itself . Indee d DHL' s 'I f you wan t Henning , . . . hav e him ' rather implie s that sh e ha d no t (i . 404). She wa s clearly tryin g t o mak e D H L jealous , fo r whic h a threat (e.g . 'I thin k I must giv e myself to him, he needs m e so') might suffice ; thoug h D H L refuse d t o succumb . (A n embarrasse d intervie w betwee n th e tw o me n i s described i n MN 169:34-170:22, ; bu t mentione d nowher e else) . Vo n Hennin g wa s killed earl y i n the First Worl d War . 44 Cf . WL 119:15-22 . 45 Cf . (i . 410, 412); MN 188:28-37 ; 198:2 , 24-5 . No earl y versio n o f th e poe m exist s (see Kinkead-Weeke s 'Th e Shapin g o f Look/', pp . 215-16 , 221-4) ; and the difficult y of regardin g Mr Noon a s corroboration i n suc h case s i s that th e nove l ofte n seem s t o have bee n base d o n th e poems , a s agains t th e evidenc e o f the letter s whic h wer e n o longer availabl e t o D H L - an d woul d hav e reminde d hi m tha t thei r first mornin g was in Munich . Th e poe m attribute s th e 'failure ' t o his inability t o fre e himsel f fro m the past , 'thos e others' . Hi s previou s affair s ma y no t hav e increase d hi s sexua l confidence - bu t pp. 793-4 not e 104 , 798-9 not e 30 ; pp. 551, 850-1 note 3 2 on over eager speculatio n abou t suc h unknowabl e matters . 46 Se e (i. 415); MN i99ff. , 131:19-135:10 ; Frieda 60. 47 Memoirs 181 ; 'She Look s Back ' (n o earl y version) , Kinkead-Weekes , 'Th e Shapin g of Look.T, pp. 215-16 , 222-4 .
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48 Memoirs 355 , 97; Lucas, Frieda Lawrence, pp . 29, 77. According t o Barbar a Barr , he r father dismisse d Id a Wilhelm y whe n h e transferre d hi s househol d t o London . According t o Montagu e Weekley , sh e lef t voluntaril y t o trai n a s a nurse ; cf . Jane t Byrne, A Genius for Living (Ne w York , 1995 ) pp . 117 , 436 n. 14 . 49 Se e (i . 421) and T h e Sister s IP , R 473-9 . 50 Cf . (i . 411) . (I n transcription s pointe d bracket s ( < > ) ar e use d fo r deletions ; hal f brackets (-i ) fo r additions. ) Fo r 'M y Love , M y Mother' , se e EY 411-1 2 an d Illustration 42 . The firs t stanza s read : My littl e love , my darlin g You wer e a doorway t o me , You le t m e out o f the confin e / hate it Into a vast countrie , Where peopl e ar e crowded lik e thistle s Yet ar e shapely an d lovabl e t o see . You love it, you say!!!! My littl e love , my deares t Twice yo u hav e born e me , Once fro m th e womb , swee t mother . / hate it Once fro m mysel f t o b e Free o f the heart s o f peopl e Of each heart' s home-lif e free . Against th e thir d stanz a sh e write s 'Good God!!IIP, befor e returnin g t o ' / hate iP against th e final one . 51 Fried a 73 , 54, 56, 23. 52 MN 213:32-214:29 ; cf . SL 257:7-258:10 . Not e th e quit e differen t treatment s o f th e row i n (i . 420), in th e origina l poe m 'Fireflie s i n th e Corn' , th e late r versio n i n Look! and MN. 'I n th e Dark ' an d ' A Youn g Wife ' howeve r probabl y reflec t he r feeling s fairly accurately , wheneve r writte n (Poems 221; 210-12; 215-16) . 53 I n Ascon a i n 191 1 sh e mus t hav e becom e awar e (i f no t before ) o f th e pioneer s o f contemporary danc e wh o forgathere d there , Rudolp h Laban , an d th e grea t expres sionist dance r Mari e Wigman . 54 Fried a 53 , 61-2; Memoirs 92 ; David Garnett , The Golden Echo (1953) p . 245 . 55 Fried a 2 3 o n he r 'se x i n th e head' ; Memoirs 84-90 ; Green , Von Richthofen Sisters, pp. 47-8. 56 Weekle y (b . 1865 ) wa s on e o f nin e childre n o f a middle-clas s couple ; h e ha d ha d a struggle t o pa y fo r hi s studie s ( a schoolmaste r a t 17 ) an d ha d take n a n externa l degree a t th e Universit y o f London , befor e winnin g a scholarshi p t o Cambridge , then goin g o n t o stud y a t th e Sorbonne , an d t o tak e a Lektorshi p a t Freiburg . H e became Professo r o f Moder n Language s a t Nottingha m i n 1898 , an d me t th e 19 year-old Fried a whe n revisitin g Freibur g tha t year . H e wa s witty , charmin g an d something new ; she wa s hi s child-bride , t o b e protecte d an d idolised . H e ha d writte n several scholarl y book s o n etymology , an d (ironically ) wa s abou t t o publis h hi s mos t
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NOTES T O PAGE S 2 5 - 7 successful, The Romance of Words, as Fried a lef t him . Ye t h e wa s ofte n absorbe d i n his work , an d hi s tendenc y t o sarcasti c put-down s ha d grow n a s hi s wif e ha d show n herself mor e an d mor e independen t minded . Hi s student s wit h who m h e wa s popular, sa w a ver y differen t ma n fro m th e deepl y hur t an d rathe r hysterica l on e whose lat e Victoria n standard s th e defectio n o f hi s wif e ha d outraged , an d whos e world sh e had turne d upsid e down . H e die d i n 1954 . 57 Fried a 53-4 . 58 Cf . (i . 425 ) an d n . 3 . Se e 'Reception' , The Trespasser, ed . Elizabet h Mansfiel d (Cambridge, 1981) , pp. 23-8. 59 ' A Bag of Cakes' (E68.2) wa s revised int o 'Th e Christening ' fo r The Smart Set (1913) , with a new ending (PO xlviii-xlix , 172-80) . The birt h o f Neville's illegitimat e child i n 1906 dwelt i n DHL' s imaginatio n - h e thanke d Go d h e ha d bee n save d fro m that , o n hearing th e new s (E.T. 125-6 ) - an d th e situation wil l recur i n hi s play The Daughterin-Law an d 'Fann y an d Annie ' a s well a s the fals e alar m i n Mr Noon. T h e woma n i n 'Once—!' (E296 ) i s clearl y modelle d o n Nusch ; bu t th e half-dresse d flamboyance (like a n Ego n Schiel e picture ) i s reminiscen t o f Frieda , an d th e distinctio n betwee n romanticised passio n 'once ' an d th e endurin g commitmen t th e 'cocotte ' ha s neve r known i s that o f DHL's letter s t o Frieda fro m Waldbro l (fina l version , LAH 152-60) . 'Delilah an d Mr . Bircumshaw ' (E90.5 ) i s about ho w a woman's mocker y ca n destro y a man's self-respec t {LAH 143-51) . 'Th e Fl y i n th e Ointment ' (E135.5 ) i s abou t th e disturbing effec t o n th e schoolteache r o f the irruptio n o f a street-youth int o hi s worl d (LAH 49-53) . Th e mai n interes t o f th e 191 2 version s i s howeve r negativ e - t o sho w the extraordinar y deepening , b y contrast , o f th e storie s h e woul d writ e i n 1913-14 , including th e ne w en d of'Th e Christening' . 60 Th e te n earl y versions , probabl y writte n i n Bavaria , o f poem s i n Look! We Have Come Through!, were : <earlie r title s thus > [adde d t o th e sequenc e afte r 191 7 thus ] 'Don Juan' , 'Balla d o f a Wilfu l <Wayward > Woman' ; 'Be i Hennef ; 'O n th e Balcony' <'Illicit'> , 'Green' , 'Rive r Roses ' (originall y a se t o f four , on e discarde d from Look!), 'Gloir e d e Dijon ' 'Rose s o n th e Breakfas t Table' , ' A Yout h Mowing ' an d 'Fireflie s i n th e Corn' . Al l excep t 'Be i Hennef , 'O n th e Balcony' an d 'Green ' wer e significantl y change d i n 191 7 - an d those , too , acquir e new significanc e withi n th e sequence . (Cf . wit h th e version s i n Look!, th e origina l 'All o f Roses' , Fried a 67-8. ) T o thes e w e shoul d ad d 'Th e Youn g Soldie r Wit h Bloody Spurs ' sen t t o Garnet t o n 1 3 Augus t (i . 434-7) . Ther e ma y wel l hav e bee n more i n th e brow n 'Tagebuch ' o f Frieda' s whic h wa s subsequentl y lost . T h e troubl e is that w e cannot tel l how many , o r which , thes e ma y hav e been . 61 Frieda' s fathe r dreade d hi s daughter s marryin g eithe r a Jew o r a n Englishman , bu t Else di d on e an d Fried a th e other , twic e (Lucas , Frieda Lawrence, p . 12 , from a BB C broadcast b y Barbar a Barr , 1 4 Novembe r 1961) . Anti-Semitis m wa s widesprea d i n Bavaria. 62 Cf . (i . 388) . Informatio n o n Garnet t fro m Georg e Jefferson Edward Garnett: A Life in Literature (1982 ) and Caroly n C . Heilbrun, The Garnett Family (1961) . 63 Salli e Hopkin , McLeod , an d hi s siste r Ad a (who , however , wa s rathe r hostile ; i . 440 ) and Garnet t (i . 448).
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64 Th e fragment s ar e reproduce d i n Sons and Lovers: A Facsimile of the Manuscript, ed . Mark Schore r (Berkeley , 1977) ; an d cf . Hele n Baron , ''Sons and Lovers: Th e Surviving Manuscripts' , pp . 313-23. 65 SL 15:7-8 , 19-21 . 66 The Golden Echo, pp . 241-3. Th e middl e classnes s o f Garnet t an d th e 'neo-pagans ' (so calle d b y Virgini a Woolf) , eviden t i n th e ful l quotatio n an d it s attitude s toward s the workin g man , i s illuminate d b y Pau l Delany , VW r Noon an d Moder n Paganism' , D//ZJ?, x x (1988) , 258. 67 'Barmaid ' i s a n ech o o f th e Baron , se e Fried a 58 ; an d th e charge s ha d thei r comi c side, sinc e nobod y wa s les s likel y tha n Fried a t o clea n DHL' s boot s an d empt y hi s slops - bu t cf . Nehls , i . 503 , fo r Cecil y Lambert' s surpris e a t D H L emptyin g Frieda's chamberpot . 68 Complete Plays, 288-96 ; ^ ^ 2 1 7 : 2 0 - 2 1 9 : 3 4, 223:14-224:21 ; (i. 427). 69 MN 238-8 6 i s s o accurat e o n thi s journe y tha t D H L ma y conceivabl y hav e kep t notes. I have therefore , i n wha t follows , draw n o n it s trave l accoun t wit h a confidenc e partly confirme d b y experience , an d i t ma y b e take n a s th e sourc e o f detai l unles s otherwise specified . Se e als o F . I . Owen , 'Lawrentia n Places : A Chape l an d a Hay Hut Amon g th e Mountains : 1971' , Human World, xi (Ma y 1973) , 46-9. Th e origina l chapel, no w use d fo r storage , i s still t o b e foun d amon g th e tree s som e distanc e awa y from th e ne w on e (whic h contain s a Christu s i n a red-flanne l coat) . Th e mistak e leaving th e Sterzin g Jaufenhau s i s easil y explicabl e o n th e spot . Cf . ' A Chape l Among th e Mountains ' an d ' A Hay-Hu t Amon g th e Mountain s TI 27-42. 70 MN 247:6 , 248:11 . 71 Se e (i . 441) ; MN 249-54 . Fo r th e earlies t know n versio n o f 'Meetin g Amon g th e Mountains', se e Fried a 70-1 . Th e Christu s o f th e Klam m i s describe d als o i n 'Christs i n th e Tyrol ' an d 'Th e Crucifi x Acros s th e Mountains' , 7 7 44:21-38 , 96:14-97:12. 'Tuxta P i s Frieda's location . 72 Cf . (i . 440); (i . 442-3). Th e ide a o f Lak e Gard a ma y hav e bee n appealin g becaus e o f Goethe's prais e o f it s beauty , o r perhap s Ezr a Pound' s descriptio n o f Sirmion e a s 'the earthl y paradise' , after hi s visi t i n 191 0 (i. 165) . 73 Golden Echo, pp. 244-6; (i. 476). 74 Golden Echo pp. 240, 223, 246; MN 257:20-36 . 75 7796:21-2 ; MN 262:37-40 ; 266:21 . 76 MN 272:33 . Th e 'Christu s im Elend ' a t Wiede n (i n fac t show n 'i n suffering ' afte r the flagellation, i.e . pace D H L , before the crucifixion ) i s describe d i n 'Christ s i n th e Tyrol' an d 'Th e Crucifi x Acros s th e Mountains' , 7/46:21-8 ; 99:1-32 . (Th e in n wa s probably th e Gastho f Elefant. ) 77 MN 275:1-2 ; 276:19 . Bunny Garnet t thric e confirme d th e episode , havin g bee n tol d of i t b y Hobson , befor e th e publicatio n o f Mr Noon: i n hi s 'Memoir ' t o th e Memoi r Club (kindl y len t t o m e b y Richar d Garnett) ; 'Fried a an d Lawrence' , D. H. Lawrence: Novelist, Poet, Prophet, ed . Stephe n Spende r (1974) , p . 39 ; an d Great Friends (1979) , p . 81 . Bunny' s stor y o f Fried a havin g se x wit h a wood-cutte r i n Icking, however , whic h first make s it s appearanc e i n th e secon d o f these , i s muc h more dubious , an d i s quit e likel y t o hav e bee n invente d (o r threatened ) b y Fried a t o
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 5 - 4 3 impress Bunn y (o r DHL ) wit h he r readines s t o behav e a s sh e liked , wheneve r sh e liked. Sh e wa s howeve r ver y consciou s o f he r rank , an d whe n a sexy wood-cutte r i n San Gaudenzi o di d giv e he r th e eye , sh e appear s t o hav e reacte d wit h som e hauteu r ( T h e Dance' , TI 169:24-170:32) , thoug h tha t admittedl y i s D H L ' s story . Ther e i s no evidenc e tha t sh e ha d eve r ha d se x wit h somebod y sh e di d no t alread y know , an d while (i n he r sisters ' eyes an d he r own ) fre e lov e might b e acceptabl e wit h a Dowson , Gross, Frick , vo n Hennin g o r Hobson , woul d sh e ris k gossi p abou t suc h a n affai r with a peasant, spreadin g withi n a few mile s o f Else's house ? Peasant s ar e cann y folk , and apparentl y nymphomania c ladie s emergin g nud e fro m a rive r ar e liabl e t o hav e families wh o can mak e trouble . 78 MN 276:27-277:5 . 79 (i . 445-7). I n 1901 , Frieda an d Ernes t wer e iearnin g Italia n i n th e evening s together ' {Memoirs 166 ) - bu t i t i s very doubtfu l tha t sh e ha d go t far , o r kep t i t up. D H L wa s a much quicke r learner , bu t kne w onl y a word o r tw o yet . 80 Fried a 66 , 72; (i. 455-6); MN 287:1 . 81 Fried a 72 . 82 Se e (i. 452, 455, 456, 464); Frieda 72 . 83 Se e (i . 453-4) ; (i . 460) ; (i . 474) ; (i . 483 ) (thoug h D H L muddle d th e schoolteacher' s name); (i. 466); (i. 474). 84 Frieda' s 'carelessness ' a t this tim e did onc e rebound . Sh e wa s reading Anna Karenina, 'in a sor t o f "Ho w t o b e happ y thoug h livanted " spirit ' an d finding Ann a 'ver y lik e herself, onl y inferior ' (i . 463) . I t seeme d a goo d ide a t o he r t o sen d th e boo k t o Weekley, bu t sh e carelessl y lef t i n i t a lette r fro m Dowso n sayin g 'I f yo u wante d t o run away , wit h someone , wh y didn' t yo u ru n awa y wit h me? ' Weekley promptl y sen t this to D H L. (Lucas , Frieda Lawrence, p . 90 ; information fro m Barbar a Barr. ) 85 Cf . (i . 448) ; e.g . ' I woul d hav e gladl y bee n torture d fo r you , an d laughed , an d no w I'll d o more , I'll live ' (i. 475-6). 86 7743:10-11 . 87 O n Schwabing , se e Green , Von Richthofen Sisters, pp . 88-99; 'Th e Captain' s Doll, ' Fox 78:25- 6 an d note , and Memoirs 83 ; Green, Mountain of Truth p . 36 . 88 MN 117:6-22 ; see (i. 477, 549).See als o note 7 2 above . 89 Cf . (i . 36-7, 39-41) fro m 1907 . 90 7744:14-15 ; 43:14; 46:21, 27-8 . It date s fro m th e seventeent h century . 91 7745:10-11 , 16 ; 45:28; 44:3, 17-21 . 92 EY 10-74 , drawin g als o o n Ro y Spencer' s discoverie s (D. H. Lawrence Country, 1979); 152-63 , 246-53, 262-7. Se e p . 47 . 93 Fried a 74 . 94 D H L ha d begu n t o see , a s earl y a s 1910 , tha t hi s mother' s lov e ha d damage d him ; and ha d tol d th e poe t Rache l Annan d Taylo r tha t 'W e hav e love d eac h other , almos t with a husban d an d wif e love , a s wel l a s filial an d materna l . . . I t ha s bee n rathe r terrible, an d ha s mad e me , i n som e respects , abnormal.. . Nobod y ca n hav e th e sou l of me. M y mothe r ha s had it , and nobod y ca n hav e i t again' (i . 190-1) . What Frieda' s knowledge o f Freu d throug h Gros s ma y hav e contributed , however , wa s th e ide a that thi s was not abnormal , but a widespread conditio n amon g youn g men .
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95 Th e sam e difficult y abou t datin g poem s affect s thos e i n Look! purportedl y date d from Lak e Garda . 'Servic e o f Al l the Dead ' ('Giorn o de i Morti' ) wa s sen t t o Edwar d Marsh a yea r late r (ii . 106 ) an d publishe d i n th e New Statesman o n 1 5 Novembe r 1913. The closel y associate d 'Al l Souls ' share s th e 'flame ' imag e of the firs t encounte r between th e Morels , an d D H L ' s lette r t o Colling s o f January 191 3 (i . 503-4) , bu t was not amon g thos e h e sen t t o Mars h i n 1913 . 'Fro m th e Italia n Lakes' , th e thir d and mor e sentimenta l poe m t o hi s mother , occur s i n E320.2 , a manuscrip t o f 1916 , and wa s first publishe d a s 'Everlastin g Flowers ' i n New Poems (1918) , an d inserte d into th e sequenc e onl y i n 1928 . It woul d howeve r see m t o dat e fro m th e firs t sno w o n the mountain s i n Novembe r 191 2 - whic h woul d mak e th e datin g o f 'Al l Souls ' t o the sam e mont h see m unlikely . I t i s almos t certainl y later , perhap s afte r 1913 . Th e rest i s conjecture, thoug h th e firs t par t o f 'Sunda y Afternoo n i n Italy ' i s reminiscen t of th e travel-sketches . Frieda' s late r clai m (Fried a 74 ) tha t 'Whil e w e wer e a t Vill a Igea Lawrenc e wrot e als o "Twiligh t i n Italy, " an d mos t o f th e poem s fro m "Look , we hav e com e through!" ' i s almos t certainl y mistake n i n bot h cases . I n Decembe r (see pp . 73-4 , 77 2 not e 8 , 77 7 not e 55 ) D H L tol d Garnet t tha t h e wa s unabl e t o write poetr y becaus e o f th e tensio n - whic h b y th e sequence' s ow n accoun t di d no t lift unti l February . 'Purity' , th e origina l versio n o f 'Paradis e Re-Entered ' wa s sen t t o Marsh o n 2 8 Octobe r 191 3 (ii . 94) , a s wa s a n earl y an d muc h inferio r versio n o f 'Song o f a Man Wh o I s Loved' . 96 E.T . 202 ; letter t o Lutoslawski, 2 3 June 193 5 ('Th e Collecte d Letters' , p. 114) . 97 E.T . 203 . 98 Neville , Memoir, pp . 772-5. 99 'Pau l Morel ' II , E373 d (UT ) an d se e Hele n Baron' s stud y o f the paper s i n 'Sons and Lovers: The Survivin g Manuscripts' , pp . 303, 317; E.T. 20 2 an d £ Y 253-61 . 100 Fried a remembere d th e dat e o f thei r meetin g a s i n April , whic h canno t b e right . I t seems t o hav e bee n o n a Sunday , war m enoug h fo r th e window s t o th e garde n t o b e open; an d Alic e Da x i n 193 5 claime d D H L tol d he r abou t Fried a 'th e da y afte r th e event' {Memoirs 245) . Th e Cambridg e Editio n o f th e Letters suggest s Sunda y 1 7 March whe n D H L i s know n t o hav e bee n i n Nottingha m (i . 37 4 an d n . 4) . Joh n Worthen (EY 562-3 ) present s al l th e evidence , an d ha s discovere d tha t 'O f al l th e possible Sunday s i n March , Sunda y 3 Marc h stand s ou t fo r it s particularl y brillian t weather . . . " a typica l Apri l d a y ' " (Nottingham Guardian, 4 Marc h 1912 , p . 4) ' which woul d explai n Frieda' s error . H e conclude s tha t D H L ma y originall y hav e refused Weekley' s invitatio n fo r 3 Marc h becaus e h e wa s goin g t o th e Daxe s a t Shirebrook; bu t the n change d hi s mind , postpone d th e visi t fo r thirty-si x hours , an d told Alic e immediately , a s she reported . 101 5Z , 464:37. 102 E.T . 213 . Easte r Monda y wa s 9 April . Ther e i s a proble m abou t th e dat e o f th e completion o f the manuscript : i.e . whethe r Jessi e ha d i n fac t (a s sh e implies ) rea d al l of i t befor e 2 5 Marc h (E.T . 205) ; a s agains t DHL' s lette r t o d e l a Mar e o n 1 3 March whe n h e expect s t o b e finished 'i n a month' (i . 375) , an d hi s lette r t o Garnet t on 3 Apri l whe n h e say s h e wil l finish th e nove l 'thi s week ' (i . 381) . D H L certainl y got bac k wha t Jessi e ha d rea d o n 1 April , an d first announce s tha t th e boo k i s
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finished o n 1 1 Apri l (i . 383) . Jessie neve r mention s th e deat h o f Mr s Morel , whic h is suprising . Th e discrepancie s ca n b e variousl y explained ; cf . SL xxxvii—xxxviii , which accept s Jessie's accoun t b y assumin g tha t D H L ' s statemen t t o Garnet t mean s 'will finish whe n I hav e looke d throug h it , an d hav e decide d wha t t o d o abou t Jessie's criticisms' . W e cannot , however , i n an y case , assum e tha t Jessi e rea d th e ending w e no w have . 103 Fried a 74 . No w ther e i s n o doubtin g th e effec t o f th e deat h h e ha d decide d t o portray: 'whe n h e wrot e hi s mother' s deat h h e wa s il l an d hi s grie f mad e m e il l too ' (ibid.). Brigi t Patmor e als o remembere d Fried a exclaiming : 'Ho w I suffered , Lorenzo, whe n yo u kille d you r mother ' (' A Memoi r o f Fried a Lawrence' , A D. H. Lawrence Miscellany, ed . Harr y T . Moore , 1961 , p . 137) . Th e evidenc e o f DHL' s distress i s visibl e i n th e handwritin g o f th e manuscript , se e E373e ; cf . Schorer , Facsimile, p . 522 . D H L tol d th e Waterfield s i n 191 3 tha t th e merc y killin g wa s true , see pp. 10 1 and 78 3 not e 114 . 104 7744:19-21 .
Chapter Two : New Utteranc e 1A
not e o n th e lette r b y Loui e (i n UN ) show s tha t sh e onl y discovere d Frieda' s identity fro m a friend o f Ada . 2 Th e picture s see m t o hav e bee n intende d fo r McLeod , wh o wa s tol d t o choos e two , and th e Krenkows . Thre e see m identifiable : Italian Scene With Boat, Landscape with Figure, an d Lago di Gar da. 3 Pseudony m o f Willia m Hal e White , The Revolution in Tanner's Lane (1887) : 'Ho w good h e is ! - s o just , s o harmonious' , an d ' I use d t o thin k hi m dull , bu t no w I se e h e is s o jus t an d pluck y an d soun d . . . ' (i . 481 , 482) . McLeo d ha d als o sen t Edit h Wharton's The House of Mirth (1905) , which D H L admired . 4 Cf . lette r t o Curti s Brown , 4 Apri l 192 1 (iii . 701) . I t i s interestin g t o wonde r wha t difference i t migh t hav e mad e ha d D H L accepte d Brown' s agenc y i n 191 2 rathe r than 1921 . He ha d als o been approache d b y J. B . Pinker i n Novembe r 191 2 (i . 478) . 5 Thi s wa s muc h mor e tha n selfis h rationalisation . Thinkin g abou t th e hidde n pric e o f the 'heroic ' sacrific e Els e wante d hi m t o make , woul d lea d t o th e reflection s o n th e second o f Christ' s tw o Grea t Commandment s i n th e 'Forewor d t o Sons and Lovers' in January; se e p . 62. 6 Se e Constanc e t o Edwar d Garnett , 7 Apri l 191 3 (Eton ) o n 'th e massiv e impene trability o f hi s egoism ' (Richar d Garnett , Constance Garnett: A Heroic Life, 1991 , p. 274); and Edward' s opinio n implie d i n DHL' s ' I notic e yo u ar e rathe r sarcasti c abou t him. I don't thin k he' s s o bad' (i . 489) . 7 (i . 520) ; Hobso n lef t o n 2 Januar y (i . 500) : D H L a t last , i n thi s letter , tell s Ma y Holbrook h e i s livin g wit h Frieda . H e als o tell s he r Hobso n 'wa s awful' . The y see m to have pai d 1 lira pe r nigh t fo r hi m a t th e hote l (i . 520) . 8 Sinc e howeve r D H L sai d i n Decembe r 191 2 tha t h e wa s unabl e t o writ e poetr y a t a time o f tensio n (i . 488) , th e poem s whic h describ e th e renewa l betwee n Ne w Yea r and Valentine' s da y 191 3 ma y no t hav e bee n writte n the n - thoug h the y ar e likel y t o
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be faithfu l t o th e experienc e o f 'comin g through ' a perio d o f stres s an d conflic t a t that time . T h e ide a o f deat h an d rebirt h throug h sexua l relationshi p i s no t howeve r fully articulate d unti l lat e 1914 . 9 Weekley' s petitio n wa s filed o n 1 1 February . I t wa s agree d tha t forma l evidenc e o f D H L an d Frieda' s adulter y woul d b e provide d b y Signor a Samuell i o f th e Hote l Cervo. Rober t Garnet t wa s senio r partne r i n Darley , Cumberlan d & Co . Thoug h Frieda consulte d hi m o n he r visi t t o Londo n i n Summe r 1913 , sh e wa s no t represented a t th e eventua l hearing . I t ma y hav e bee n fel t b y then , afte r th e cour t order take n ou t agains t he r fo r waylayin g th e childre n withou t permission , tha t sh e had n o hop e o f being grante d access . 10 Sh e ha d separate d fro m he r husband , Pe r Joha n Hug o Almgren , i n 1912 . Fo r Constance Garnett' s opinio n se e he r lette r t o Edward , Monda y [?2 4 February ] 191 3 (Eton) (R . Garnett , Constance Garnett p . 273) . Ton y ha d allowe d Bunn y t o hav e se x with he r whe n h e wa s 1 9 (D . Garnett , Golden Echo, pp . 226-7) , a n ( ^ °f - (i - 475) > where th e 'X ' Fried a discusse s i s probably Tony . n D . Garnett , Golden Echo pp . 226-7 ; C . t o E . Garnett , Monda y 3 1 Marc h 191 3 (R . Garnett, Constance Garnett, p . 273). 12 Worthen , 'Ort s an d Slarts' , pp . 33-40 , explain s wha t migh t see m th e apparentl y outrageous decisio n t o sen d th e proof s t o Jessie, wh o woul d undoubtedl y b e deepl y hurt b y the m - especiall y since , a s sh e sai d t o Hele n Cork e i n a lette r o f [1 6 Marc h 1913] (give n thi s dat e i n (i . 527 n . 1) , not [2 3 March ] a s i n 'Th e Collecte d Letters' , p. 27) , 'nothing no w ca n b e altered' . Onc e i t i s realised tha t wha t wa s no w 'Th e Tes t on Miriam ' ha d bee n wholl y rewritten , first i n Waldbro l an d the n i n Italy , sinc e sh e had see n th e manuscrip t i n lat e Marc h 1912 , th e decisio n begin s t o loo k a t leas t somewhat mor e honourable . Thoug h D H L ha d bee n ruthles s i n th e writin g o f th e book, h e coul d no t b e unawar e o f how h e wa s exposing he r t o people wh o kne w the m both, an d indee d riskin g he r reputatio n a s a respectable schoolteacher . Sh e coul d no t be allowe d t o com e upo n hi s boo k lik e an y othe r membe r o f th e readin g public , i n a bookshop. H e wrot e t o hi s sister , t o who m h e ha d aske d Jessie t o sen d o n th e proofs , that sh e woul d immediatel y see , whe n sh e rea d the m 'wh y I sen t the m t o J' (i . 531) . He wa s no t howeve r abl e t o forese e th e natur e an d finality o f Jessie's respons e - a curious blindnes s t o th e possibl e effec t o f hi s ruthlessness , whic h woul d b e repeate d in othe r cases . 13 Memoirs 97-9 . Frieda' s memoir s (a s oppose d t o th e correspondenc e i n th e volume ) are part fictionalised, bu t ther e i s no reaso n t o doub t ho w deepl y thi s disappointmen t affected her . 14 'Th e Collecte d Letters' , p . 27 . 15 Cf . E.T . 220 : I kne w i t fa r to o wel l t o hav e an y desir e t o rea d i t again . Indeed , I didn' t dar e t o risk a secon d reading , fo r I wa s b y n o mean s sur e o f m y capacit y t o recove r a second time . I di d glanc e throug h som e pages , however , hopin g tha t i n th e interval hi s outloo k migh t hav e mellowe d an d le d hi m t o softe n som e harshness . But I found bot h stor y an d moo d alik e unchanged . Though sh e wa s no t on e deliberatel y t o deceive , thi s canno t b e tru e a s i t stands . Th e
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NOTES T O PAGE S 55— 8 hurt wa s such, however , a s to make perfectl y explicable , afte r th e laps e of twenty-tw o years, th e conflatio n o f he r respons e i n 191 2 wit h tha t o f 1913 , into a fuse d sens e o f betrayal an d brutality . I n 193 5 sh e tol d Professo r Lutoslawsk i tha t he r 'association ' with D H L ha d bee n on e the y 'eac h regarde d a s bindin g an d sacre d . . . When , late r on, h e calle d i t a "test " an d pretende d tha t th e "test " ha d failed , h e seeme d t o m e inhuman. H e kille d himsel f i n me ' ('Th e Collecte d Letters' , p . 117) . Tha t ha d no t been s o i n 1912 ; cf. als o Worthen , 'Ort s an d Slarts' . I t i s als o significant , i n th e ligh t of her 193 5 criticisms o f the book , tha t sh e neve r seem s t o hav e taken i n th e exten t o f the critiqu e o f Mrs More l i n th e novel , o r th e exten t o f the revisio n i n tha t respec t o f what sh e ha d previousl y seen . Sh e may no t eve n hav e rea d th e origina l endin g i n 1912 (se e p. 771 not e 102) , let alone th e ne w on e now . 16 Cf . SL 64:38-40 ; (i. 406). 17 'Nottingha m an d th e Minin g Countryside' , P 134 . 18 Ernes t Colling s (1882-1932 ) ha d writte n t o D H L i n Novembe r 191 2 i n admiratio n of hi s first tw o novels , an d ha d sen t a small boo k o f translation s (1910 ) fro m Sapph o illustrated b y himsel f (i . 468) . Late r h e sen t som e drawing s an d manuscrip t poem s (of which D H L recalle d thre e line s i n 'Sprin g Morning') . D H L discusse d thes e i n (i . 472-3, 503 , 518-19) . Colling s dedicate d hi s nex t volum e o f drawings , Outlines (1914), t o DHL : se e p . 78 7 not e 32 . I n 1913 , D HL gav e hi m a se t o f revise d proof s of Sons and Lovers i n gratitud e fo r hi s sketc h fo r th e cover , whic h Duckwort h di d not use , t o DHL' s embarrassmen t (i . 528-9 , 535 , 539 , 547) . The y first me t i n Summer 1913 . 19 'Soone r murde r a n infan t i n it s cradl e tha n nurs e unacte d desires ' (Willia m Blake , 'Proverbs o f Hell' , The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, 1 . 55) . D H L wa s probabl y aware o f Nietzsche' s valuatio n o f th e 'blood ' ove r 'th y littl e rationality ' sinc e hi s reading o f Nietzsch e i n Croydo n i n 1910 : cf . Thus Spake Zarathustra, tr . Thoma s Common (Edinburgh , 1906 ) Par t I , pp . 28-9 , 33 : 'Ther e i s mor e rationalit y i n th y body tha n i n th y bes t wisdo m . . . O f al l tha t i s written , I lov e onl y wha t a perso n hath writte n wit h hi s blood. ' Christophe r Heywood , ' "Blood-Consciousness" an d the Pioneer s o f th e Refle x an d Ganglioni c Systems' , D. H. Lawrence: New Studies, ed. Heywood , (1987) , pp . 104-2 3 suggeste d tha t D H L ma y als o hav e know n o f th e ideas o f Xavier Bichat , wh o emphasise d th e importanc e o f th e hear t abov e th e brain , and o f th e bloo d a s th e vita l intermediary . Thoug h th e lin k wit h D H L seem s t o m e tenuous (throug h th e Nottinghamshire-bor n physiologis t Marshal l Hall , a biograph y of who m wa s i n th e Librar y o f th e Mechanic s Institut e o f Eastwoo d i n whic h D H L read voraciously ; E.T . 93) ; o r alternativel y throug h Bichat' s Germa n translato r Rudolf Boeh m an d Ott o Gross) , i t i s interestin g t o not e th e coincidenc e o f suc h ideas. 20 £373 6 an d Schorer , Facsimile, p . 13 ; cf. SL 593 , entry t o 18:13 . Goin g throug h th e proofs i n February , D H L change d th e first sentenc e t o 'Sh e wa s a puritan , lik e he r father, high-minde d an d reall y stern' , strengthenin g th e contras t betwee n sensuou s vitality an d thought/spirit . 21 E59.3 , publishe d a s ' "Burns Novel " fragments' , LAH 200-11 . 22 Lockhar t i n hi s Life of Burns (1823 ; Everyma n Librar y edition , 1907 ) p . 10 , claime d
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NOTESTO P A G E S 5 8 - 6 4 that Mar y Campbel l wa s 'th e objec t o f b y fa r th e deepes t passio n tha t eve r Burn s knew'. 23 LAH 209:20-1 . 24 E209a , LG 343-58 . 25 E373d . 26 L G 343:2-3 . 27 L G 357:17-18 . 28 Writte n 15-1 6 July 1911 , rejected b y th e Century; se e PO xl . Garnet t probabl y stil l had th e stor y a t this time . 29 Cf . (i . 495), (i. 505) ; cf. 'Th e Theatre ' i n bot h 'B y th e Lag o d i Garda ' an d Twilight in Italy (7 7 69-80 , 133-53) . Th e performance s too k plac e betwee n 2 8 Decembe r an d 16 January. Th e D'Annunzi o pla y wa s La Fiaccola sotto il Moggio (Th e Ligh t Unde r the Bushel ) (1905) . 30 'Th e Daughter-in-Law' , Ac t I V (Complete Plays, p . 267). 31 Letter s t o Rev . Rober t Rei d (October-Decembe r 1907 ) (i . 36-7 , 39-41) ; an d t o Ad a in Apri l 191 1 whe n sh e 'dippe d int o unbelie f afte r th e deat h o f thei r mother , (i . 248), and se e (i . 255-6). 32 SL 467-73. . 33 SL 467:23-3 ; 47040-47i:5; 47o:3-4, 47i:6-9; 472:12-13, 35; 473:1, 5 , 12-14 . 34 Rhythm ha d bee n launche d i n Pari s i n Jun e 191 1 b y tw o Oxfor d undergraduates , Michael Sadlei r providin g th e money , wit h Joh n Middleto n Murr y (b . 1889 ) a s editor. H e ha d bee n joine d b y Katherin e Mansfiel d (ne e Kathlee n Beauchamp , b . 1888 i n Ne w Zealand ) wit h who m h e wa s no w living , bu t th e magazin e - thoug h i t had succeede d i n attractin g contribution s o f a hig h calibre , amon g the m th e first English reproduction s o f Picasso - wa s in financial difficulties , an d K M warne d D H L that the y coul d no t affor d t o pa y contributors . I t wa s replace d b y th e Blue Review i n May 1913 . 35 I n Jul y 1909 . D H L clearl y associate d Forste r wit h Pa n whe n h e corresponde d wit h him i n lat e 1915 , thoug h Forste r himsel f ha d bi d farewel l t o hi s Pa n phas e whe n i n Howards End (1910 ) h e muse d 'O f Pa n an d th e elementa l force s th e publi c ha s hear d a little to o much ' (chap . xin) . I n The Longest Journey (1907 ) Rickie' s stor y i s allowe d to gu y 'Othe r Kingdom ' ( ' "Oh Lord , she' s a Dryad! " crie d Ricki e i n grea t disgust . "She's turne d int o a tree!"') . Fo r th e argumen t fo r datin g 'Th e Overtone ' i n earl y 1913 rather tha n 1924 , see m y articl e i n forthcomin g DHLR. 36 D H L i n hi s earl y twentie s ha d bee n a regular visito r a t th e hom e o f Willie an d Salli e Hopkin i n Devonshir e Drive , Eastwood , picture d (humorously ) a t th e beginnin g o f Mr Noon. Ther e th e Eastwoo d Debatin g Societ y use d t o meet , an d ther e D H L delivered hi s pape r o n 'Ar t an d th e Individual' , i n 1908 . Willia m Edwar d (1862-1951) wa s a note d socialist , an d th e coupl e playe d a par t i n encouragin g th e intellectual developmen t o f th e youn g D H L , an d ha d 'led ' hi m 'ove r som e frontiers ' (iv. 327) . Sara h Anni e (1867-1922 ) becam e th e olde r woma n h e coul d mos t trus t fo r sympathetic advice . I n 1911 , during hi s engagemen t t o Loui e Burrows , h e ha d aske d Sallie t o tel l hi m 'wher e I a m wron g - sinc e yo u pu t you r hea d o n on e sid e an d clos e your eye s s o shrewdly ' (i . 261 ) . H e inscribe d he r cop y of Love Poems t o 'm y ver y
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close friend ' (Eastwoo d Publi c Library) . Bu t bot h i n T h e Overtone ' an d i n MN h e draws character s outwardl y resemblin g he r a s sexuall y unawakened . Thei r daughte r Enid wa s born i n 1896 . 37 E298 ; 57^5:4, 31 , 35-6; 5:37-6:1 ; 7:36-7; 10:37-9 ; 12:5 ; 13:9, 11-12 , 14 ; 16:12. 38 Se e (i . 512 , 517) ; cf . SL xlix-1 , summarisin g Garnett' s cuts , whic h shortene d th e manuscript b y 2,05 0 lines , abou t a tenth. Mos t o f th e reducin g dow n wa s i n th e first eleven chapters , an d ther e wa s som e ligh t censorshi p later , mainl y i n 'Passion ' an d 'The Tes t o n Miriam ' - an d som e more , i n th e Radfords ' house , i n proof . T h e cut s are readil y identifiabl e i n th e Textua l apparatus . Fro m chapte r 3 , Garnet t cu t a number o f 'scene s i n th e lif e o f William , whic h serv e t o diversif y William' s rol e a s a precedent fo r Paul . They includ e William' s banterin g exchange s wit h hi s mother , hi s domineering reactio n t o he r scor n o f hi s girlfriends , hi s prid e i n hi s ow n physique , his amiabl e patronag e o f hi s younge r brother , hi s impatienc e a s a teacher ' (SL xlix) . Garnett als o cut th e four-pag e descriptio n o f the meeting s o f Miriam an d Pau l i n th e Best wood Library . 39 Publishe d i n February . D H L sa w thos e i n th e Morning Post, th e Daily News (bot h rather ambivalent ; i . 528 ) an d The Times Literary Supplement, b y d e L a Mare , whic h he though t 'ver y cautious ' (i . 530) . Fo r late r an d mor e complimentar y review s b y Edward Thoma s an d Ezr a Pound , se e Draper 51-4 . 40 Th e mai n circulatin g libraries , Mudie's, Boots and Smiths , could mak e a difference o f 2,000-3,000 copie s t o th e sale s o f novel s whic h the y agree d t o circulate . Thei r initia l reluctance to take Sons and Lovers undoubtedl y explaine d it s disappointing sales. 41 I.e . 'Frenc h Son s o f Germany' , 'Hai l i n th e Rhineland ' an d 'Christ s i n th e Tyrol ' (2 2 March 1913) . 42 Se e (i . 513-14) , an d cf . 7 7 51-80 , whos e edito r date s th e compositio n i n mid March, (xxxv i an d n . 41) . 'B y th e Lag o d i Garda ' essay s (E294.5a ) ar e writte n o n th e same pape r a s 'The Overtone' , an d a letter o f 22 March (i . 529-31 , Lette r 560) . 43 I t i s interestin g t o compar e DHL' s accounts , particularl y o f th e danc e an d th e Capelli family , wit h thos e b y Ton y Cyria x i n Among Italian Peasants (1919) , whic h confirm man y detail s bu t ar e greatl y inferio r i n animatio n an d descriptiv e power . Se e also chapter 5 , pp. 268-9 . 44 Th e Capell i famil y woul d b e recalle d i n 'Paol o an d Maria ' i n 77 ; an d thoug h Faustino ('I I Duro' ) happen s no t t o b e mentione d i n (i . 535-6) , h e wa s amon g th e handsome me n wh o stoppe d b y Sa n Gaudenzi o t o drin k (h e wa s Maria' s cousin) , and migh t wel l hav e struc k th e autho r o f 'Th e Overtone ' a s one o f th e faun s o f Pan . In 7 7 to o i s 'Th e Dance' . I f D H L ha d writte n thes e experience s u p now , h e woul d probably hav e include d on e fro m si x week s earlier , whe n h e an d Fried a ha d gon e 1 0 miles u p th e lak e to Campione , wher e a drunken fello w too k the m u p a fantastic pat h which climbe d th e gorg e (i . 515) . Havin g scare d Frieda , h e threatene d t o thro w D H L int o th e wate r whe n h e trie d t o ge t ri d o f him ! A t th e nex t villag e in n i n Gardola d i Tignale , however , the y me t th e landlor d late r describe d i n 'John' , hear d the bras s ban d playin g fo r th e majo r wh o ha d returne d fro m Tripol i (h e i s promote d to Colone l i n 77 ) an d me t John. D H L coul d conceivabl y hav e writte n earl y draft s but ther e i s no evidence a t all that h e did .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 6 9 - 7 3 45 Th e reshapin g i s particularl y eviden t i n th e rewritin g o f th e 'B y th e Lag o d i Garda ' sketches, an d i n th e treatmen t o f th e Capelli s (ne w i n 77 ; cf. Among Italian Peasants) and 'I I Duro ' (cf . Andre w Schofiel d i n The Rainbow). Th e assertio n i n 'John ' tha t they 'kne w [th e Colonel ] afterwards ' an d th e accoun t o f hi s deat h (7 7 181:38-182:2 ) seem pur e inventio n o r hearsa y a t best . Pau l Egger t annnotate s othe r evidenc e o f reshaping i n 1915 : see 7 / 2 9 2 - 3 . 46 Memoirs 194 . 47 Readin g thi s mad e D H L 's o miserabl e I ha d hardl y th e energ y t o wal k ou t o f th e house fo r tw o days ' (i . 551) . Jessie believe d tha t 'Th e Miria m par t o f [his ] nove l i s a slander, a fearful treachery . Davi d ha s selected ever y poin t whic h set s off Miria m a t a disadvantage, an d h e ha s interprete d he r ever y wor d an d action , an d though t i n th e light o f Mrs . Morel' s hatre d o f her. ' He r novel , originall y writte n i n 1911 , bu t rewritten i n Winte r 1912-1 3 becam e therefor e no t onl y therap y an d self-defenc e bu t a deliberate rejoinde r whic h sh e 'alway s intended ' D H L shoul d see , ' I fee l i t a matte r of honour ' ([1 6 Marc h 1913] , 'Th e Collecte d Letters' , pp . 27-8) . Th e titl e i s fro m Milton's 'Lycidas ' (1637) : 'th e rath e primros e tha t forsake n dies ' (1 . 142). D H L ha s returned mor e fierily t o th e origina l contentio n ove r 'Lad-and-Gir l Love' , accusin g her o f seein g onl y wha t wa s tru e fo r he r - th e mirro r imag e o f he r complaint , whic h he ha d partl y accepte d i n revisin g th e youn g Miria m (bu t no t th e youn g Paul ) - an d to he r attitud e t o sexualit y whic h might , i f hi s readin g wa s accurate , bea r ou t 'Th e Test o n Miriam' . (That , certainly , wa s wher e th e mai n hur t la y fo r him. ) I t i s impossible t o tell, since Jessie destroye d he r manuscript . 48 Memoirs 194 . 49 N o pla y b y Stanisla w Wyspiansk i ha d ye t bee n translate d int o Englis h i n 1913 , s o she mus t hav e been readin g hi m i n German . 50 I t wa s n o mer e holida y chalet : ther e wer e Persia n rug s o n th e woode n floor an d Diirer etching s (ii . 63) . 51 'Th e Georgia n Renaissance' , P 306- 7 (title d ''Georgian Poetry: igu-igi2 >). O n DHL's appearanc e i n bot h th e 'Georgian ' an d th e 'Imagist ' anthologies , se e chapte r 3, pp . 130 , 134-5 . 52 E44ia , # 4 6 3 - 7 0 . 53 R 467:17 ; 466:40-467:1; 466:12; 464:22-3, 468:14-18, 470:38. 54 Poem s 234 ; 237; 235-6. 55 D H L sai d i n Decembe r tha t h e wa s unabl e t o writ e poetr y then . 'T o writ e poetr y one ha s t o le t onesel f fus e i n th e curren t - bu t I daren't ' (i . 488 ) - whic h migh t suggest tha t th e poem s leadin g u p t o Ne w Yea r wer e no t contemporary . I t i s interesting t o not e tha t th e origina l titl e o f 'Valentine' s Night ' ('Candlemas' ) agai n shows a n interes t i n Catholi c liturg y an d custom , bein g a festiva l whic h D H L would no t hav e know n abou t fro m eithe r hi s ow n Nonconformis t o r Louie' s Anglican background . 'Sprin g Morning ' echoe s a poe m Colling s sen t t o hi m i n November 1912 . Onl y 'Paradis e Re-Entered ' o f th e other s i s know n t o hav e existe d in a contemporar y versio n ('Purity') , agai n muc h change d i n revision . 'Comin g Awake' wa s probabl y ne w i n New Poems 1920 , an d wa s adde d t o th e sequenc e onl y in 1928 . 'Rabbi t Scare d i n th e Night ' seem s relate d t o a chapte r i n WL 1916-17 ,
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NOTES T O PAGE S 7 4 - 8 0 rather tha n t o th e compassio n o f th e la d rescuin g th e rabbi t i n th e 'Burn s Novel ' fragments. 56 Cf . WP 207-1 3 where , despit e Cyril' s overal l narration , th e scen e i n th e orchar d ha s to be i n th e thir d person . 57 E268a ; LAH 161:18-19 ; 165:40 ; 166:4-5 . 58 Delavenay' s treatmen t o f thi s stor y (151-4 ) i s an exampl e o f what ha s give n attempt s to relat e literatur e t o lif e a ba d name . H e assume s tha t th e stor y i s straightforwar d autobiographical evidence , rathe r tha n a n imaginativ e exploratio n o f question s raise d in life . (Similarly , h e use s 'Th e Whit e Stocking ' a s evidence tha t D H L ha d begu n t o beat hi s wif e - whe n al l tha t ca n b e responsibl y inferre d fro m th e fiction i s tha t h e can imagin e wantin g to , an d why. ) Afte r discountin g th e possibilit y o f imaginativ e heightening, dram a goe s next : th e focu s i s entirely o n Peter , withou t referenc e t o an y interactive conflict . I t i s assume d tha t th e accusation s mad e b y Paul a agains t Moes t are, simply , tru e o f D H L . Ther e seem s n o awarenes s o f contradictio n betwee n th e maturity implie d i n suc h self-scrutin y an d th e condescensio n o f th e scholar-criti c who charge s i t wit h immaturity . I t seem s mor e realisti c t o suppos e tha t i t wa s because bein g wit h Fried a ha d broke n throug h th e detachment , th e self-enclosur e and th e Englis h reserv e h e ha d learne d t o drea d i n himself , an d ha d helpe d hi m t o begin t o overcom e th e effec t o n hi m o f hi s lov e fo r hi s mother , tha t h e prove d capable o f self-examinatio n t o the dept h o f 1912-13 . As t o Paula' s charg e tha t Moes t was unabl e t o love , i t wa s certainl y on e tha t Fried a made , an d tha t D H L worrie d about - se e Fried a i n rag e o n hi s poe m t o hi s mothe r (se e pp . 2 1 an d 76 7 not e 50 ) but se e he r als o o n hi s 'generosity ' o f commitmen t (Fried a 35) , which wa s obviousl y true, an d i n contras t wit h he r lac k o f it . H e als o foun d muc h t o quarre l wit h i n he r idea of'love', tha t slipper y word . 59 E268a ; LAH 170:17-18 ; 166:32-3 , 38; 167:9-18 ; 172:16-17 , 20 ; 173:13-15 ; i77 : 3~5; 180:20, 28-9 . 60 A note i n th e Baron' s diar y durin g th e Franco-Prussia n Wa r read s 'Heinric h drunk ; I beat him ' (Lucas , Frieda Lawrence, p . 8). 61 Quotatio n fro m English Review, xvi i (Jun e 1914) , p . 312 ; cf . revisio n fo r PO chapte r 3, pp . 138-9 . 62 Quotation s fro m manuscript , E326. 5 (pp . 2 , 3 , 2) , cu t b y Norma n Dougla s fo r English Review, xvii i (Augus t 1914) ; i t wa s late r revise d int o 'Th e Prussia n Officer ' for PO. D H L ' s titl e cam e fro m th e ari a o f Handel' s Samson (1743) , settin g Milton' s Samson Agonistes. H e objecte d t o th e late r titl e (chose n b y Garnett) , a s th e regimen t is Bavarian . 63 P 312-1 3 Cf . D H L ' s disagreemen t wit h Hueffer' s Flaubertia n sens e o f form (i . 417) , and hi s defenc e (t o Garnet t an d implicitl y d e l a Mare ) o f th e 'form ' o f Sons and Lovers an d it s developmen t 'slo w lik e growth ' (i . 476-7) . Se e als o Fried a t o Garnet t (i. 479) , obviousl y comin g ou t o f he r discussion s wit h D H L . Thi s revie w i s a n important turnin g point , bein g a consciou s brea k wit h hi s mentor s an d (a s i t happened) wit h th e whol e modernis t movement . 64 Informatio n fro m Jefferson , Edward Garnett, pp . 176-7 , R . Garnett , Constance Garnett an d C . Garnett' s letter s (Eton) .
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65 Golden Echo, p . 25 4 (Nehls, i . 196-7) . 66 Constanc e t o E. Garnett , Saturda y ( 5 July) (R . Garnett , Constance Garnett, p . 275) . 67 Nehls , i . 198 . Th e lette r an d telegra m mentione d i n (ii . 37 ) mus t hav e bee n fro m Weekley's siste r Maud e i n anger , warnin g Fried a off , an d threatenin g reprisal s afte r she ha d tol d he r brother . Bot h ma y hav e bee n sen t t o Germany , lackin g a n Englis h address. Fried a neve r receive d th e telegram , bu t ther e wa s tim e fo r th e lette r t o b e redirected an d reac h the m a t the Cearne . 68 Record s o f th e Hig h Court , Divorc e an d Admiralt y Division ; als o Nehls , i . 197-8 ; Memoirs 99—101 . 69 Nehl s i . 198 ; Memoirs 101 . 70 Record s o f the Hig h Court , Divorc e an d Admiralt y Division . 71 Lette r t o KM , t o be publishe d i n Letters, viii ; (ii. 46). 72 Constanc e t o E. Garnett , [ 7 and 8 July] (R . Garnett , Constance Garnett, pp . 275-6) . 73 A lette r fro m Fried a t o Fried a Gros s fro m Leric i i n Septembe r 191 3 (Hoffma n catalogue) reads : 'Think , I wa s i n Margate , ha d t o thin k s o ver y muc h abou t whe n I was there wit h Erns t an d th e children. ' 74 BTW 261 (Nehls , i . 198) ; cf. Reminiscences (1933), p . 33 . KM wa s no t 'waitin g t o b e divorced', an d indee d showe d n o sign s o f wanting t o marr y J MM fo r severa l year s t o come. (The y wer e marrie d i n 1918. ) 75 Se e F . A . Lea, The Life of John Middleton Murry (1959) . 76 Fried a 86 . 77 Anton y Alpers , The Life of Katherine Mansfield (1980 ) i s th e standar d biography ; information o n KM' s medica l conditio n (an d muc h else ) i n Clair e Tomalin , Katherine Mansfield: A Secret Life (1987) ; als o Jeffrey Meyers , Katherine Mansfield (1978). Lette r fro m K M t o Orage, 9 February 1921 . 78 Christophe r Hassall , Edward Marsh (1959) . 79 Nicol a Beauman , Cynthia Asquith (1987) . 80 Remember and Be Glad (1952) , pp. 133- 6 (Nehls , i . 207-9) ; Fried a 86 . Through thei r new friend s the y als o me t Professo r Si r Walte r Raleigh , no w o f Oxford , an d hi s wif e (ii. 51 ; Nehls, i . 209) . Cynthi a describe s ho w the y wer e 'mutuall y fascinated' , talke d and talked , an d ho w Raleig h wrot e afterwards : 'Ho w very , ver y muc h I like d tha t poet an d hi s wif e - a first-rate poet' s wife. ' 81 Cf . J M M , Reminiscences, p. 33 ; Beatrice Glenavy , Today We Will Only Gossip (1964), p. 78 . 82 N e h l s
, i . 210 .
83 Fried a 85 . 84 Se e SL lxiii-lxx i an d Drape r 58-60 . Lascelle s Abercrombie , on e o f the bette r know n reviewers, wa s critica l o f it s mixtur e o f hat e i n love ; fo r D H L ' s reactio n se e (ii . 177) . But th e mai n exceptio n wa s Ethe l Colbur n Mayn e i n th e Nation, wh o praise d Par t I but reacte d strongl y agains t 'th e incessan t scene s o f sexua l passion ' i n Par t II , th e 'morbid broodin g o n th e flesh', th e 'ever-ho t an d heav y lustfulness ' (SL lxix) ; fo r D H L ' s reactio n - 'Fuss y ol d woman ' - se e (ii. 40, 47). 85 Th e 191 3 revisio n o f ' T h e Shado w i n th e Ros e Garden ' i s in som e respect s simila r t o Joyce's grea t stor y 'Th e Dead' . Brend a Maddo x ha s recentl y argue d (The Married
119
NOTES T O PAGE S 8 9 - 9 0
Man, pp . 165-7 1 an d Appendi x 1 ) tha t thes e ma y deriv e fro m DH L havin g see n Joyce's stor y at the Cearne. This i s not impossible , since Dubliners is known t o have been making the rounds of publishers (and therefore publishers ' readers) at the time. It woul d howeve r hav e bee n a remarkabl e coincidence , especiall y a s Garnet t wa s working in London while DHL an d Frieda were staying in his country house. (They saw hi m onl y briefl y o n thei r wa y t o Kingsgate. ) Th e resemblance s affec t onl y th e new fram e t o th e origina l story , an d loo k muc h les s impressiv e whe n replace d i n their substantiall y differen t contexts . DH L neede d n o hel p fro m Joyc e t o thin k o f setting hi s earlie r romanti c an d melodramati c tal e withi n a harshe r frame : th e realisation by a rather complacent husband o f a sexual affair i n his wife's pas t - with , in DHL' s story , a love r no w 'ou t o f hi s mind ' - an d th e consequen t jealou s disturbance an d ange r a t ho w littl e h e ha s know n her , o r thei r relationship . Give n that idea , almos t an y short-stor y write r migh t hav e decide d t o sho w th e man' s complacency b y making hi m loo k i n a mirror; t o punctur e i t by moments i n whic h the wif e seem s locke d i n a worl d o f he r ow n o r disturbe d b y memories , an d t o suggest storm y time s ahead . Th e 'debt ' i s no t impossible , bu t i t i s distinctl y non proven. The furthe r 191 4 revision remove s most of the verbal resemblances , as well as deepenin g th e stor y - thoug h i t remain s minor , compare d wit h th e finest o f Joyce's tales. 86 Se e (ii . 26-57) . Dougla s Clayto n wrot e DH L a list , date d 3 Jul y 1914 , o f th e manuscripts sen t t o hi m i n 191 3 (UN) ; t o b e publishe d i n Letters, viii. Fo r th e problematic datin g o f 'Th e Primros e Path' , sen t t o Clayto n fro m Kingsgat e o n Monday 28 July, see note 89. 87 Fo r 'The Old Adam' see (i. 276, 279); Croydon sketches LAH xx\-xx\'\ an d (i. 383). 88 Cf . (i.478) . 89 O n E211, of which pp . 12-1 6 and 5 9 appear t o be from 1911 , and th e rest th e 191 3 revision, se e LAH xxx-xxxii . Th e displace d woma n i s calle d Lydia , thoug h i t i s Maurice's girl who is Polish and employed by the Vicar. The manuscrip t o f 'Th e Primros e Path ' (£322.73 ) i s partl y take n fro m a notebook o f Frieda's , containin g Italia n exercises , whic h suggest s i t wa s begu n i n Italy. Yet DHL wa s never shor t o f paper there . Even i n Sa n Gaudenzio , away fro m the shops, he had stoc k lai d in for 'Th e Sisters' , on which (an d o n 'Miss Houghton ' before it ) h e ha d probabl y bee n to o concentrate d t o be likel y t o tur n asid e t o write a story . ('Th e Sisters ' ha d no w bee n lef t behin d i n Bavaria. ) However , t o ru n ou t of pape r o n a Sunda y i n Kingsgate , wit h al l shop s shut , woul d necessitat e usin g anything tha t cam e to hand; cf. (ii . 38) on runnin g ou t o f ink. On th e othe r han d i t is no t eas y t o se e wh y th e Italia n exercise s shoul d hav e bee n brough t t o Englan d unless ther e wa s somethin g els e i n th e notebook , an d i t doe s loo k a s thoug h a n earlier beginnin g ha s bee n considerabl y revised . I t i s a puzzle , bu t i t seem s likel y that th e ide a cam e t o hi m - o r revive d - whe n h e ha d goo d reaso n t o b e thinkin g about hi s family , an d returnin g prodigals . Th e stor y wa s certainl y take n u p agai n and revise d i n Kingsgate. 90 Cf . (ii . 58, 57, 67).
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NOTES T O P A G E S 9 1 - 4
91 Cf . (ii . 63, 69). 92 Bunn y late r claime d (Great Friends, p . 81 ) tha t Fried a ha d offere d t o slee p wit h hi m at th e Cearne . I t seem s rathe r od d that , havin g tol d th e stor y o f th e wood-cutte r i n previous reminiscences , h e shoul d no t hav e tol d thi s on e before . Whil e Bunn y probably di d no t inven t storie s altogether , the y di d gro w o n hi m wit h th e passin g o f time. I t i s likel y howeve r tha t ther e wa s a goo d dea l o f kissin g an d cuddlin g t o comfort he r - an d th e stor y i s by n o mean s a s unlikely a s the wood-cutte r one . 93 Lette r t o J M M, 3 0 August 1913 , to be publishe d i n Letters, viii . 94 Noguch i (1875-1947) , a Japanes e poet , wrot e i n English . The Pilgrimage, a two volume collectio n o f hi s poems , ha d bee n publishe d i n 1909 . D H L ma y als o hav e known A . A . Ransome' s essa y o n hi m i n Portraits and Speculations (1913) , se e (ii . 2 7 and n . 5) . 95 'Kisse s i n th e Train ' an d 'Violets ' woul d b e publishe d i n Septembe r 191 3 an d 'Th e Mowers' i n November . Joh n Worthe n i n D. H. Lawrence: A Literary Life (1989) , p. 33 , calculates tha t hi s earning s fro m storie s an d sketche s amounte d t o £10 0 o f th e £150, 'rollin g wealth ' (ii . 89) , h e ha d hope d for . Unfortunately , th e payment s cam e in ver y slowly . A t th e beginnin g o f Octobe r h e ha d onl y 5 0 lir e left , an d i t wa s no t until Novembe r tha t enoug h ha d com e i n t o mak e hi m thin k o f openin g a ban k account i n Spezi a (ii . 99). 96 Frieda' s statemen t tha t sh e ha d gon e 'fro m th e Vill a Ige a t o Baden-Bade n an d sa w my fathe r fo r th e las t time ; h e wa s il l an d broken ' (Fried a 85 ) i s obviousl y confused . She las t sa w he r fathe r o n he r visi t i n 1914 fro m Fiascherino . H e die d i n Februar y I9I5-
97 D H L wa s misrememberin g a muc h mor e complicate d stor y whe n h e tol d Edwar d McDonald how , 'i n a cottage b y th e sea , i n Italy , I re-wrot e almos t entirel y tha t pla y . . . righ t o n th e proof s whic h Mitchel l Kennerle y ha d sen t me ' ('Th e Ba d Sid e o f Books', A Bibliography of the Writings ofD. H. Lawrence, ed . Edwar d D . McDonald , Philadelphia, 1925 ; see P 233) . 98 Cf . th e monologu e wit h 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums' , English Review (Jun e 1911) , 432-3; itsel f t o be transforme d b y a new endin g i n 1914 , for PO. 99 Hi s rea l feeling s abou t Bjorkma n linkin g hi m wit h Flauber t wer e ver y different : se e (ii. 174) . 100 Lette r t o J M M , 3 0 August , se e not e 9 3 above . (H e wa s alread y hopin g tha t th e Murrys coul d joi n the m i n Ital y later. ) 101 Fo r Louie , se e EY 288-341 . Th e omissio n o f anyon e resemblin g he r i n Mellors' s caustic accoun t o f th e wome n wh o ha d damage d hi m i s significan t (LCL 200:18 201:8), a s i s DHL' s lette r t o he r o f 1 9 November 1912 , see above . Hi s tribut e t o he r would b e th e youn g Ursul a o f The Rainbow an d he r family . (He r younges t sister s thought tha t par t o f th e nove l ver y lifelik e - interview s wit h Winifre d Nicholl s an d Nora Haselden. ) 102 Thi s journe y wa s subsequentl y recreate d b y D H L i n th e fina l chapters , 'Italian s i n Exile' an d 'Th e Retur n Journey' , o f Twilight in Italy; an d trace d i n mor e geographi c detail b y Armi n Arnold , 'I n th e Footstep s o f D . H . Lawrenc e i n Switzerland : Som e
781
NOTES T O PAGE S 9 5
_I0
°
New Biographica l Material' , Texas Studies in Literature and Language, ii i (1961) , 184-8; see also TI Explanator y note s an d 245-7 . 103 D H L call s the m 'tramp s an d beggar s an d wanderer s ou t o f work ' (7 7 190:36) ; th e landlady explain s tha t voucher s wer e offered , fo r a night' s boar d an d lodging , t o those prepare d t o seek wor k acros s th e borde r (7 7 191:27-36) . 104 7 7 193:28 ; 207:32, 38; 208:26; 209:17. Ther e ma y b e a n elemen t o f storytelling here . It seem s unlikel y tha t D H L ' s Germa n vocabular y an d accen t woul d hav e passe d a s 'Austrian' fo r mor e tha n a minute o r two . 105 7/209:1-2 , 18 ; 213:16-17; 216:3-4; 221:6 ; 221:17-18, 34-5; 223:14. 106 Golden Echo, p . 254 ; Frieda 57 . 107 I t i s probabl y misleadin g t o thin k o f th e diseas e i n suc h term s anyway . Pulmonar y turberculosis i s a n infectio n i n whic h a bacillu s get s int o an d destroy s lun g tissue . Sometimes th e bod y ca n cur e itsel f b y suroundin g th e bacillu s wit h tissu e (eve n afte r it ha s cause d a littl e bloo d i n th e sputum) , leavin g onl y a scar . I n mor e advance d cases th e bacillu s wil l for m chees y masse s i n th e lun g whic h brea k dow n th e respiratory tissue s int o cavities ; an d i f thi s continue s int o th e bronchia l passage s th e patient's breat h become s infectious . Stil l furthe r advanced , th e diseas e erode s th e blood vessel s an d cause s haemorrhages . (Thi s di d no t happe n t o D H L befor e 1925. ) Lesions ma y com e an d g o leavin g onl y som e scarring ; attack s ma y b e sporadi c wit h long period s o f remission ; an d i n an y cas e th e symptom s ar e ofte n indistinguishabl e from thos e o f bronchiti s (whic h wa s regularl y diagnose d i n DHL ) an d othe r pulmonary disease s suc h a s pleuris y an d pneumonia . Whe n haemorrhage s o f arteria l blood occur , th e diseas e i s a t a n advance d stage . Thi s wa s certainl y no t tru e i n 1913 . Indeed - especiall y i n th e ligh t o f D H L ' s severa l examination s b y doctor s betwee n late 191 1 an d 191 8 (se e pp . 299-301 , 383) , wh o wer e require d b y la w t o notif y case s - i t i s probabl y safes t no t t o thin k o f hi m a s 'havin g consumption ' befor e th e diagnosis i n Mexic o i n 1925 ; thoug h hi s exemptio n fro m militar y servic e wil l hav e depended o n hi s bein g th e 'type' , a s wel l a s sufferin g regularl y fro m bronchitis . (H e also ofte n struc k people , owin g t o hi s habitua l pallor , a s lookin g fa r mor e il l tha n h e actually was. ) KM , however , attemptin g t o comfor t hersel f a t th e onse t o f he r fata l phase, remembere d D H L a s havin g coughe d bloo d i n thei r tim e together , perhap s when force d t o spen d winte r i n Britai n i n 1914-15 . (KM' s mai d i n Cornwall , however, speak s onl y o f her coughing; se e p . 82 2 not e 79) . Nobody remember s D H L coughing blood , o r eve n seriousl y coughin g a t all , i n Italy , Sicily , Australi a o r Ne w Mexico. 108 Lette r t o J M M, 3 0 Septembe r 1913 , to be publishe d i n Letters, viii . 109 Cf . (ii . 82 , 85-6 , 87 , 88) . Th e postmaster' s 'niente , niente ' mus t hav e bee n particularly annoyin g becaus e wha t D H L wa s anxiousl y expectin g wer e th e much needed payment s fro m th e magazines ; withou t whic h th e price s charge d fo r groceries i n Tellar o seeme d robbery ! Fo r th e piano , se e (ii . 107-8) ; fo r Chris t an d his apostles , an d th e stor y o f th e octopu s (ii . 122-3) ; f° r D H L an d Fried a rowin g (ii. 120) . n o Cf . (ii . 90, 123 , 124). i n Id a Wilhelm y ha d though t thes e boot s proclaime d hi m no t a gentlema n (Barbar a
782
NOTESTO P A G E S I O O - 6
Barr, intervie w wit h Davi d Gerard ; NCL) ; bu t thi s opinio n seem s no t t o hav e bee n shared b y th e Fiascherin o peasantry . 112 Lin a Waterfield , Castle in Italy: An Autobiography (1961) , pp. 134-5 . 113 Fo r th e Waterfields ' income , se e Castle in Italy, p . 125 . Th e beast s an d fire imag e found it s way int o R 405:34-6 . 114 Waterfield , Castle in Italy, pp . 137-9 . 115 Weekley , a s was his right, remove d hi s own depositio n fro m th e files. 116 Cf . (ii . 94-5 , 101-2) . Savag e ha d sen t D H L Middleton' s Monologues (1913 ) containing 'Wh y Wome n Fai l i n Art ' an d 'Th e Ne w Sex' . Fo r Frieda' s opinio n o f Middleton, se e (ii . 96-7). 117 Se e Jeffre y Meyer s 'D . H . Lawrenc e an d Homosexuality' , D. H. Lawrence, ed . Spender, pp . 133-46 . 118 Neville , Memoirs, pp . 81-2 , o n DHL' s earl y attempt s a t drawin g imaginar y femal e nudes. Cf . WP 221:30-223:3 , bu t se e EY 156- 7 o n th e reason s wh y a t tha t stag e male relationship s an d affection s migh t hav e seeme d safe r tha n heterosexua l one s and als o o n th e distortio n o f seein g th e youn g D H L a s a 'represse d homosexual' . I t might b e adde d tha t th e expressio n o f affectio n betwee n me n a t tha t tim e ma y frequently b e mistake n nowadays . Se e Chlo e Bayne s o n th e letter s o f he r ver y heterosexual father , TWSUA 39 . 119 Lette r fro m D H L an d Fried a t o J MM an d KM , 1 0 October 1913 , to b e publishe d i n Letters, viii . 120 Se e (ii . 8 1 an d n . 1 , 87, 90 , 127) ; but onl y 'Vi n Ordinaire ' appeare d (Jun e 1914 ) an d 'Honour an d Arms ' (August) . 121 D H L aske d th e Clayton s o n 2 3 Octobe r t o sen d Mars h thre e o f th e fou r 'Ros e Poems', 'Green' , 'Illicit ' (late r 'O n th e Balcony' ) an d 'Th e Wind , th e Rascal ' (ii . 87 ) which woul d b e publishe d i n Poetry (Januar y 1914) ; and the n himsel f o n 2 8 Octobe r sent Mars h thes e six , togethe r wit h 'Purity ' (late r 'Paradis e Re-Entered' ) an d 'Balla d of a Wayward Woman ' o n 2 8 October (ii . 94; neither o f whic h wa s published) . D H L sent Harriso n 'Twilight ' an d 'Meetin g Amon g th e Mountains ' (ii . 90 ) whic h wer e published i n th e English Review (Februar y 1914) . I n Novembe r Mars h passe d o n 'Service o f Al l th e Dead ' t o th e New Statesman (ii . 106 ; appeared 1 5 November) (se e also p . 81 0 not e 64) , an d i n Decembe r D H L sen t hi m 'Grie f (originall y par t o f 'Twilight') a s a somewha t od d 'Christma s card ' (ii . 121) , whic h wa s publishe d i n Poetry (Decembe r 1914) . 122 C f (ii . 90, 96, 97, 132) . 123 Th e Poligna c Priz e o f £10 0 ha d bee n endowe d i n 191 1 b y Princess e Edmon d d e Polignac an d ha d s o fa r bee n awarde d b y th e Roya l Societ y o f Literatur e t o d e l a Mare, John Masefiel d an d Jame s Stephens . Poun d declare d tha t D H L ' s Love Poems showed hi m t o b e a bette r poe t tha n Masefiel d woul d eve r b e - bu t th e 191 4 priz e went t o Ralp h Hodgson , o f whos e talen t D H L ha d no t a high opinion , se e (ii . 92-3 ) (Michael d e Cossart , The Food of Love, 1978 , p. 107) . 124 Cf . (ii . 133) .
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NOTES T O PAGE S I O 7 - 1 6
Chapter Three: The Wedding Rin g 1 Cf . (ii . 137) ; Frieda 87 . 2 (ii . 137) ; Hassall, Edward Marsh, p . 264 . 3 Constanc e t o E . Garnett , ?2 6 January (Eton ) (R . Garnett , Constance Garnett, p . 278) . Vera Volkhovsk y (1881-1966 ) wa s th e daughte r o f Felick s Vadimovic h Volkhovsky , who escape d fro m Siberi a i n 189 9 after th e deat h o f his younges t gir l an d th e suicid e of hi s wife . Ver a wa s smuggle d ou t o f Russi a dresse d a s a boy , i n orde r t o fi t th e specification o n th e passpor t o f a friend. He r stor y 'Th e Idealist ' ha d bee n publishe d in th e sam e issu e of the New Statesman a s DHL's 'Th e Fl y i n th e Ointment' ; bu t sh e never becam e wel l know n a s a write r thoug h sh e translate d Gork y an d Shchedrin . She fel l i n lov e wit h Bertran d Russel l i n 1920 , and twenty-tw o letter s surviv e i n th e Russell archiv e (McMaster) . Constanc e an d he r cousi n Oliv e Garnet t wer e ver y friendly wit h th e Russia n exile s i n London . D H L like d Ver a 'ver y much ' (ii . 143) , and invite d he r t o se e the m i n England , thoug h ther e i s n o recor d o f whe n o r ho w many time s sh e came . 4 H e ha d bee n intereste d i n th e famou s statu e i n th e Vatica n - showin g th e pries t Laocoon an d hi s son s wrestlin g wit h th e sea serpent s sen t t o punis h hi m b y Apoll o and it s legend , fo r som e time ; cf . (i . 5 , 136-7) . Th e Venu s o f Melo s i n th e Louvre , usually know n a s the Venu s d e Milo . 5 SL 398:6 ; 470-1; 402:5-24 . 6 Cf . (ii . 90) ; Jane Harrison , Art and Ritual (1913 , rev . 1918) , p . 2 6 an d passim , fro m which D H L 'go t a fearfu l lot' ; h e though t i t 'stupidl y put , bu t i t let s on e i n fo r a n idea tha t help s on e immensely ' (ii . 114 , 119) . 7 E44ia ; R 473:19-21 , 30 ; 475:23 , 25-40 ; 476:16-22 ; 478:36-8 ; 478:18-20 ; 479:8 12.
8 LAH 179:22-34 ; R 479-36-7 9 Constanc e t o E . Garnett , 2 6 Januar y (Eton ) an d t o Davi d Garnett , 3 1 Januar y (Hilton) (R . Garnett , Constance Garnett, p . 279) . 10 Constanc e t o Davi d Garnett , 3 1 Januar y (Hilton ) (R . Garnett , Constance Garnett, p. 280) . Though Mis s Huntingdo n wa s devoutl y Roma n Catholic , sh e soo n go t ove r the new s (Fried a 89) . He r parent s an d th e Pearse s see m no t t o hav e bee n shocked , and th e relationship s continue d undisturbed . Cf . als o Waterfield , Castle in Italy, P- 137 11 Constanc e t o E . Garnett , 3 1 January an d 5 Februar y (Eton ) (R . Garnett , Constance Garnett, p . 281) . 12 Early Years 388 ; (i. 410); (i. 479) an d Fried a 56 ; (ii. 49); (i. 550); (i. 549) . 13 Constanc e t o E . Garnett , Tuesda y 2 4 Februar y (Eton ) (R . Garnett , Constance Garnett, p . 281) . 14 Se e th e reader' s repor t t o Kennerle y o n 'Th e Weddin g Ring' , R 483 . 15 Amfiteatro v wa s a prolifi c novelist , dramatist , journalist ; Zinovi i Mikhailovic h Sverdlov becam e Zinovi i Alekseevic h Peshkov , takin g Gorky' s nam e whe n h e wa s christened i n orde r t o ente r th e Imperia l Philharmoni c School , bu t wa s neve r adopted b y him .
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NOTESTO P A G E S I I 6 - 2 0
16 R 474:2-3 ; cf. 'Ne w Ev e an d Ol d Adam' , LAH 165:27-8 . 17 (ii . 149) ; (ii. 163) . Gamb a wa s th e pen-nam e o r nicknam e o f th e illustrato r Giusepp e Garuti, a membe r o f Marinetti' s circle ; se e Luig i Russol o t o Umbert o Boccioni , 9 April 191 2 - 'Salut i d a Marinett i e Gamba ' - i n Archivi del Futunsmo, ed . Mari a Gambillo an d Teres a Fior e (Rome , 1958) . Informatio n fro m Ornell a d e Zord o an d Stefania Michelucci . 18 Frederi c Herber t Trenc h (1865-1923 ) ha d als o bee n manage r o f th e Haymarke t Theatre 1910-1 1 - an d ha d onc e offere d Cynthi a Asquit h a rol e i n wha t turne d ou t to b e a highl y successfu l run . H e ha d no w retire d t o Settignan o outsid e Florenc e where D H L an d Fried a visite d th e Trenche s afte r th e War . O f th e Baroness a d i Rescis, probabl y th e 'interestin g Italia n aristocrat ' o f (ii . 168) , nothin g furthe r i s known, excep t tha t D H L too k he r invitatio n seriousl y (ii . 166) , planne d t o accep t i t after thei r summe r i n Englan d an d woul d probabl y hav e don e s o ha d the y bee n abl e to retur n t o Ital y i n September . (Sir ) Thoma s Dacr e Dunlo p (1883-1964 ) wa s British Consu l i n Spezi a i n 191 3 - als o servin g i n Egyp t an d Uruguay . H e becam e Inspector-General o f Consula r Establishments , 1922-4 3 (CMG , 1930 ; K C M G , 1939). D H L sa w mor e o f him whe n h e wa s poste d bac k t o Londo n i n 1919 . Thoug h he refer s t o 'th e Consul ' typin g hi s nove l (ii . 152) , according t o Harry T . Moor e (The Intelligent Heart, Ne w York , 1954 , p . 161) , i t wa s hi s wif e 'Madge ' (Margare t Morris, m . 1911 ) who actuall y di d so . 19 A batch o f paper wit h the von Richthofen cres t was given to Frieda by her mother afte r the mov e t o Baden-Baden. D H L apologise d fo r usin g i t to answer Ivy' s first lette r (ii . 160), but used it again for his next, causing some amusement at what she took to be a sign of snobbery. (In fact , thoug h h e was proud o f Frieda's famil y statu s - albei t only mino r aristocracy - Ivy' s inference ma y have been unfair . H e would no t want her to think tha t he was inviting her t o aristocratic surroundings. Th e onl y other tim e he apologised fo r the pape r wa s to Garnett , wh o wa s anti-establishment an d anti-aristocrat. ) Ivy Teresa Lo w (1889-1977 ) wa s the eldest daughter o f Walter Low , Fabian, Nors e scholar and edito r of The Educational Times, and niec e of Barbara Low and Edit h Eder . Before sh e me t D H L sh e ha d publishe d tw o novel s Growing Pains (1913 ) an d The Questing Beast (1914), the second of which had been refused b y the libraries. In 191 6 Ivy married Maxi m Litvino v wh o becam e Sovie t Commissione r i n Londo n an d subse quently Sovie t Foreig n Minister , an d latterl y Ambassado r t o th e USA . Catherin e Jackson, wh o reviewe d fo r th e Glasgow Herald becam e Catherin e Carswel l no t lon g after D H L me t he r th e followin g summe r (se e pp . 131- 2 an d 78 8 note 48) ; and Viol a Meynell, daughter of the poet Alice Meynell and also a writer, later lent him the cottag e in which he finished The Rainbow. 20 SP 2 , 4-5 (Nehls , i. 213-22) . 21 Lea , Life ofMurry, pp . 35-6 ; Alpers, Life of Mansfield, pp . 162-5 . 22 Kennerle y ha d sen t a cheque fo r £2 5 vi a Garnet t (ii . 99) , and a furthe r £1 0 (ii . 174 ) - bu t th e latte r (whic h D H L ha d promise d Fried a fo r pin-money ) wa s imperfectl y made out , s o i t coul d no t b e cashed . D H L returne d i t t o Kennerle y (ii . 190) , bu t never ha d i t back , whic h h e neve r forgav e o r forgo t (e.g . ii . 279) . Kennerle y no t lon g afterwards cease d t o publish , an d wa s s o chronically shor t o f money tha t plan s t o su e
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 2 0 - 4 him ha d t o b e abandoned . S o £2 5 remaine d th e tota l retur n t o D H L fo r Sons and Lovers i n USA . 23 D H L rathe r overstate s Duckworth' s 'loss' . Publishers coul d no t necessaril y expec t t o make u p th e advanc e t o th e autho r i n th e firs t year , an d onl y anothe r 7 5 sale s woul d have brough t th e break-eve n poin t i n tha t respec t (Joh n Worthen , D. H. Lawrence: A Literary Life, 1989 , p . 32) . Perhap s D H L wa s rationalisin g wha t h e reall y wante d to do, i. e. tak e up Pinker' s offer . 24 Becaus e som e o f th e lon g thi n page s use d i n th e Dunlo p typescrip t hav e survive d a s part o f th e late r manuscrip t o f The Rainbow - whic h D H L though t goo d enoug h t o keep, thoug h revise d an d heightene d accordin g t o a late r conceptio n - w e ca n for m some ide a o f th e increase d lengt h o f 'Th e Weddin g Ring' . Originall y numbere d 219-84, an d havin g bee n part s o f chapter s 1 0 an d 11 , these reuse d page s dea l wit h Ella's experienc e a s a schoolteacher an d th e famil y remova l t o thei r ne w home . Fro m the pagination , an d hint s i n th e letters , w e ca n for m a t leas t a n educate d gues s tha t whereas 'Th e Sister s I F ha d bee n planne d a s a nove l o f abou t 40 0 page s i n DHL' s handwriting, 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' ha d grow n t o a t leas t 47 5 page s foli o typescript, perhaps neare r 500 . Fo r th e calculation s se e R xxxi v n . 27 , an d Charle s Ross , The Composition of'The Rainbow' and Women in Love' (Charlottesville , 1979) , p. 26 . 25 R 483- 5 print s Kuttner' s repor t an d hi s follow-u p lette r t o Kennerley . Fo r hi s review of Sons and Lovers, se e Draper 76-80 . 26 Sinc e Monr o turne d thes e dow n the y canno t b e identified , unles s 'Teasing' , whic h he printe d i n Poetry and Drama (Decembe r 1914) , b e one . Ther e seem s nothin g futuristic abou t it , however . 27 Pau l Egger t identifie d thes e i n 'Identificatio n o f Lawrence' s Futuris t Reading' , Notes and Queries, ccxxvi i (1982) , 342-4 . Filipp o Tomas o Marinett i (1876-1944) , drama tist, novelist , poet , critic , publicist , ha d launche d th e Futuris t Movemen t i n February 1909 , in Figaro, wit h hi s 'Manifest e d u Futurisme ' - an d hel d a celebrate d meeting i n Londo n upstair s i n Monro' s Poetr y Bookshop , henc e th e translations . Paolo Buzz i (1874-1956 ) ha d publishe d tw o volume s o f Futuris t fre e vers e b y 1913 . Ardengo Soffic i (1879-1967) , painte r an d founde r o f th e magazin e Lacerba whic h spoke fo r Futuris t art , thoug h h e brok e wit h th e Movemen t i n 1915 . The 'fa t book ' was / Poeti Futuristi, con un proclamo di F. T. Marinetti e uno studio sul verso libero di Paolo Buzzi (Milan , 1912) . Soffici' s Cubismo e futurismo wa s newl y publishe d i n Florence i n Marc h 191 4 - makin g i t certai n tha t D H L borrowe d i t fro m somebod y very up-to-dat e i n Futuris t work . 28 Early Years 180 , 187 , 208-9 . F ° r hi s teachin g bot h scienc e an d art , se e E . Coulso n Bonner t o Edwar d Nehls , 2 2 Decembe r 195 3 (UT) ; an d fo r a vivi d memor y o f hi s botany lesson s (th e subjec t i n whic h h e ha d achieve d a distinction a t college) , Fran k Turner t o Nehls , 4 Februar y 195 3 (UT) . Compar e als o th e chapte r 'Class-room ' i n Women in Love, an d th e abundan t evidenc e o f his knowledge o f plants . 29 D H L i s translating , fro m Marinetti' s 'Manifest o tecnico ' ( / Poeti Futuristi, p . 20) : 'Le intuizion i profond e dell a vit a congiunt e l'un a all'altra , parol a pe r parola , second o il lor o nascer e illogico , c i darann o l e line e general i d i un a FISICOLOGI A INTUITIVA DELL A MATERIA. ' 'Fisicologia ' ma y b e a printer' s erro r fo r
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'fisiologia' (whic h D H L chooses) , o r 'psicologia ' whic h mos t Italia n reprint s substitute. O r i s i t a defian t portmantea u couplin g o f th e two ? Fo r D H L ' s purpose s it makes littl e difference . 30 'Manifest o tecnico' , p . 18 . Marinetti: Selected Writings, ed . R . W . Flin t (Ne w York , 1972), p. 87 , translates: The solidit y o f a strip o f stee l interest s u s fo r itself ; tha t is , the incomprehensibl e and nonhuma n allianc e o f it s molecule s o r it s electron s tha t oppose , fo r instance , the penetratio n o f a howitzer . Th e warmt h o f a piec e o f iro n o r woo d i s i n ou r opinion mor e impassione d tha n th e smil e or tear s o f a woman . 31 C . P . Ravilious , 'Lawrence' s "Chladn i Figures'" , Notes and Queries, ccxvii i (Sep tember 1973) , 331- 2 explain s th e imag e an d th e physics . A Chladn i figure i s illustrated i n Keit h Sagar , The Life of D. H. Lawrence: An Illustrated Biography (1980), p . 70 .
32 Thi s dedicatio n o f Outlines wa s a mos t pleasan t surprise , particularl y sinc e man y o f the drawing s ar e striking . D H L mad e a serious effor t t o respond , first writin g a brie f acknowledgement an d the n a longe r letter . H e wa s puzzle d t o kno w wha t Colling s was u p t o i n som e o f them ; bu t th e woman/hil l h e discusse s (ii . 157 ) ma y hav e stayed i n hi s min d whe n h e cam e t o writ e abou t Ursul a o n th e Downs , an d severa l others spok e t o hi s ow n concerns , thoug h h e suspecte d Colling s o f bein g over intellectual. (On e wishe s tha t Collings' s repl y ha d survived. ) 33 The y probabl y me t a t th e Dunlops' . Lewi s wa s abou t t o be transferre d b y Vicker s t o their bi g factor y i n Barrow-in-Furness . Durin g thi s walkin g tou r the y planne d another i n th e Lak e Distric t i n th e summer , an d the y wer e togethe r ther e whe n wa r broke ou t (se e pp . 147-8) . Lewi s subscribe d t o Signature i n 1915 , by whic h tim e h e was servin g i n th e army . Afte r th e wa r h e wrot e t o D H L , wh o howeve r decide d no t to respon d t o hi m o r t o othe r pre-wa r friend s wh o ha d enliste d (se e chapte r 8 , p. 462) , feelin g perhap s tha t the y ha d grow n to o fa r apar t ove r th e war . 34 WL 489:6-490:5 . 35 Kar l Baedeker , Switzerland (Leipzi g an d London , 1913) , pp. 416-17 , pull-ou t facin g p. 41 6 (p . 41 3 i n 191 1 edition) . 36 D H L probabl y di d no t g o t o Baden-Baden , sinc e Fried a say s tha t h e neve r sa w he r father agai n - o r indee d probabl y wishe d t o - afte r th e contretemp s i n 1912 . Besides, the Baro n wa s ill. Martin Gree n state s tha t th e majo r publication s o f 191 3 i n 'Germa n philosoph y and politica l economy ' were : Edmun d Husserl' s Phenomenology), Freud's Totem and Taboo, Jaspers's Allgemeine Psychopathologie (whic h refer s t o Ma x Webe r a s a 'majo r modern thinker' ) an d Ma x Scheler' s Zur Phdnomenologie der Sympathiegefiihle; 'Alfred Webe r publishe d a progra m fo r essay s o n th e sociolog y o f cultur e an d a n essay o n bureaucratizatio n . . . Th e Jugendbewegun g hel d a mas s meetin g o n th e Hohen Meissne r an d Alfre d Webe r an d Ludwi g Klage s wer e amon g th e speakers. ' In Sprin g 191 4 Ma x Webe r wa s i n Ascon a (haun t o f Gross , Frick , th e expressionis t dance o f Laba n an d Mar y Wigman , an d hom e o f a n alternativ e culture , hi s letter s from ther e givin g a livel y pictur e o f Fried a Gross , a hippi e fifty year s early) . Th e first par t o f hi s Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft wa s publishe d late r i n 1914 , an d Alfred ,
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 2 8 - 3 3 despite siblin g rivalry , migh t hav e know n an d talke d abou t wha t wa s i n i t (Von Richthofen Sisters, pp . 190-2) . 37 I n wha t i s sai d belo w o f Georgians , Imagist s an d Vorticist s I hav e draw n o n th e useful studie s o f C . K . Stead , The New Poetic (1964 ) an d Ki m A . Herzinger , D. H. Lawrence in his Time igo8~igi^ (Lewisburg , 1982) . 38 Mary , Lad y S t Helier , i n 191 4 i n he r lat e sixties , wa s a well-know n hostes s an d philanthropist, wh o ha d entertaine d Whistler , Millais , Tennyso n an d Brownin g among othe r lions . Sh e als o contribute d t o leadin g reviews . Sh e ha d issue d a n invitation - a sig n o f DHL' s 'arrival ' - i n Februar y (ii . 147-8) ; sh e repeate d th e invitation whe n h e an d Fried a wer e i n England , an d the y lunche d wit h he r a t 5 2 Portland Plac e o n 3 0 June (ii . 189) . See Fried a 9 4 for he r reaction . 39 Christophe r Hassall , Rupert Brooke: A Biography (1964) , pp . 450 , 446 ; Hassall , Edward Marsh , p . 28 6 fo r th e descriptio n quotin g Sassoo n wh o me t Brook e th e sam e week; Frieda 97 . 40 Pau l Delany , The Neo-Pagans: Friendship and Love in the Rupert Brooke Circle (1987); Fried a 97 . John Worthe n maintain s tha t th e nam e 'Pagans ' fo r th e grou p o f young Eastwoo d friend s wa s a n inventio n o f Georg e Neville , an d neve r use d b y D H L , se e Early Years 170 . 41 Cf . (i . 465); (i. 459); (i. 144 , 543-4) . 42 Collected Poems of Rupert Brooke, ed . Edwar d Mars h (1918) , p. liii . 43 Letters From America (1916) , p. 167 . 44 'Th e Georgia n Renaissance' , P 305. 45 Golden Echo, p . 264 . Bunn y ha d bee n a n enthusiasti c visito r t o Adrian , Virgini a an d Vanessa Stephe n i n thei r Bloomsbur y day s - thoug h the y considere d him , non Cambridge a s he was , rather a n outsider . 46 Walte r Lione l George , novelis t an d journalist , wrot e t o congratulat e D H L o n Sons and Lovers i n Ma y 191 3 (ii . 26) ; hi s articl e o n contemporar y fiction, 'Wh o i s th e Man', x x (Februar y 1914) , 244-6 , wa s accompanie d b y a photograph o f D H L take n by W . G . Parke r (se e Illustratio n 3) . James (1 9 Marc h an d 2 April); cf . Henry James and H. G. Wells, ed . Leo n Ede l an d Gordo n Ra y (1958) , p . 180 . Presse d b y a n admirer o f Sons and Lovers abou t whethe r h e ha d actuall y rea d an y o f DHL' s works , James replied , ' I - I hav e trifle d wit h th e exordia ' (Edit h Wharton , A Backward Glance, New York , 1934 , pp. 323-4) . 47 Golden Echo, p. 264 . 48 Cf . Joh n Carswell' s introductio n t o th e Cambridg e reprin t o f The Savage Pilgrimage, pp. vi-vii , ix . Jackson wa s Lad y Raleigh' s son , an d sh e encourage d th e marriage . Fo r Greiffenhagen's Idyll an d DHL' s obsessio n wit h i t see EY 284-6 , 551-2 . 49 SP 17-18 . 50 SP 15-17 . 51 WP 296:12 ; SM 5:31 . Davi d Ede r (1865-1936 ) ha d ha d a n extraordinar y life : se e David Eder: Memoirs of a Modern Pioneer, ed . J. B . Hobma n (1945) . I n hi s younge r days h e ha d bee n a docto r i n a minin g district , an d i n Sout h Africa , an d wen t o n three expedition s t o Sout h Americ a (Colombi a an d Peru) , i n tw o o f whic h h e go t caught u p i n civi l strife . I n a fashio n har d t o imagin e now , bu t no t s o unusua l then ,
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N O T E S T O PAGE S 13 3 - 6
he combine d socialist , Zionist , Freudia n an d occul t interests . H e contribute d frequently t o New Age, an d wa s als o a n earl y champio n an d pionee r o f schoo l hygiene i n London , a s wel l a s a Freudia n psychoanalyst . H e becam e on e o f th e Commissioners t o Palestin e i n 1918 , a membe r o f th e Worl d Zionis t Executiv e 1921-3, an d a founde r o f th e Hebre w Universit y o f Jerusalem. Edit h (ne e Low) , hi s second wife , joine d hi m i n article s o n th e psycholog y o f childre n i n Child Study an d shared hi s interes t i n Zionis m an d th e occult . Barbar a Lo w publishe d PyschoAnalysis: A Brief Outline of the Freudian Theory i n 1920 . D H L i n Octobe r 191 3 wrote tha t ' I neve r di d rea d Freud , bu t I hav e hear d abou t hi m sinc e I wa s i n Germany' (ii . 80) . Littl e i s know n abou t DHL' s meetin g wit h Ernes t Jones , Freud' s most prominen t Englis h follower , bu t Jones' s firs t wif e Morfyd d (ne e Owen) , recalled tha t i t wa s a t a picni c o n Hampstea d Heat h (informatio n fro m Rhia n Davies). Bot h Ede r an d Jone s medicall y examine d D H L durin g th e war . Th e Low s and th e Eder s wer e al l Fabia n intellectuals . Murry , a n intellectua l o f a differen t stamp, recalle d - wit h mixe d feeling s - excite d discussion s o n Freu d i n Selwoo d Terrace {BTW 287, Nehls , i . 231) . 52 BTW 2^ (Nehls , i . 233). 53 BTW 29 1 (Nehls , i . 238—9) . D HL ha d i n fac t wor n a dress-sui t whe n takin g Fried a to th e theatr e i n Nottingha m i n .1912. 54 BTW 291- 2 (Nehls , i . 239) . Agai n J M M i s misleading : D H L ha d me t (an d liked ) Wells i n Novembe r 1909 , hence th e invitation . 55 BTW292 (Nehls , i . 239-40) . 56 Pound , Selected Letters, ed . D . D . Paig e (1961) , pp . 52 , 59 ; Garnett , Golden Echo, p. 245 ; Gle n Hughes , Imagism and Imagists (Stanford , 1931) , pp . 169-7 0 (Nehls , i . 237). I n Decembe r 191 3 D H L tol d Garnett : 'Th e Hueffer-Poun d factio n seem s inclined t o lea d m e roun d a littl e a s on e o f thei r show-dogs . The y see m t o hav e a certain ea r i n thei r possession . I f the y ar e incline d t o spea k m y nam e int o th e ear , I don't care ' (ii . 132-3) . 57 Ezr a Pound , ' A Retrospect' , Literary Essays, ed . T . S . Elio t (1954) , p . 3 ; Charle s Doyle, Richard Aldington: A Biography (1989) , p. 14 . 58 ' A Retrospect' , p . 4 . 59 Pound' s revie w i s reprinted Drape r 53-4 ; Aldington , Life for Life's Sake (Ne w York , 1941), p . 139 ; Jean Gould , Amy (Ne w York , 1975) , p . 128 ; Pound , Selected Letters, ed. Paige , p. 90 . 60 Aldington , Life for Life's Sake, p . 14 2 (Nehls, i . 236). 61 Cf . Stead , New Poetic, p. 99 , quoting F . S . Flint , 'Th e Histor y o f Imagism' , Egoist (1 May 1915) . 62 A point mad e b y Herzinger , D. H. Lawrence in His Time, p . 150 . Fro m thi s poin t o f view eve n 'Green' , whic h i n othe r respect s coul d b e regarde d a s perhap s D H L ' s most strictl y Imagis t poem , barel y qualifies . 63 Lewi s wrote : 'A t th e hear t o f the whirlpoo l i s a great silen t plac e wher e al l th e energ y is concentrated . An d there , a t th e poin t o f concentration , i s th e Vorticis t . . . th e Vorticist i s a t hi s maximu m poin t o f energ y whe n stillest ' (Willia m C . Wees , Vortiasm and the English Avant-Garde, Toronto , 1972 , p . 161) . Poun d spok e o f ' a
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 3 8 - 4 7 radiant nod e o r cluste r . . . fro m which , an d int o which , idea s ar e constantl y rushing ' (Gaudier Brzeska: A Memoir, Ne w York , 1970 , p. 92) . 64 Cf . English Review, vii i (June 1911) , 415-33 wit h PO 181-99 . 65 English Review, pp . 432-3 . 66 PO 196:34 , 197^8 ; 198:6-8 , 13-14 . 67 Cf . English Review, xvi i (June 1914) , 298-315 wit h PO 22-39 . 68 PO 30:29 , 31; 38:15, 28; 39:3-469 Cf . Smart Set, xli v (Octobe r 1914) , 97-10 8 wit h PO 143-64 , an d Mar k Kinkead Weekes, 'Lawrenc e an d th e Dance ' (D. H. Lawrence: Journal of the D. H. Lawrence Society, 1992-3 , 45-62). The 191 3 version merel y rea d She wa s afrai d sh e di d no t danc e well . But h e gav e he r suc h support , sh e seeme d to divin e wher e h e wante d he r t o go . Thi s wa s th e jo y o f it . Hi s han d hel d he r firmly i n th e smal l o f he r back , an d seeme d t o spea k t o her , holdin g her , carryin g her, tellin g he r wha t t o do , and a thousand othe r things . H e wa s a man wh o kne w what h e wa s about . 70 Smart Set, p . 102 . 71 PO 151:7-9 ; 152:39-40 ; 153:6-7 , 9-io, i 3 - x 4 ; 156:15 ; 1497 ; 162:26 ; 164:7-9 . 72 PO 218:15 . Cf. E86 b i n PO 209-4 6 an d 191 3 revision s i n E86 d i n Explanator y notes , pp. 277-82 . 73 PO 232:22-4 ; cf. 72:32-3 ; 73:5-1374 PO 279 ; cf. 82:21 ; 81:13-14, 82:31-2 ; 81:26, 30-1; 81:33; 82:15 ; 82:19-23, 29-30 . 75 Fried a 94 ; J M M, Reminiscences, p. 38 . 76 Fried a 94 ; J M M, Reminiscences, p . 39 ; cf . WL 161:17-27 . H.D. , whos e look s wer e striking (se e Illustratio n 40) , wa s presen t a t Amy' s dinner-part y a t th e Berkele y Hotel wit h he r husban d Richar d Aldingto n (1892-1962) , als o a n Imagis t poe t an d associate o f Pound , an d a t tha t tim e Assistan t Edito r o f th e Egoist. H e woul d late r become eve n bette r know n fo r hi s wa r nove l Death of a Hero (1929) , an d stil l late r wrote a biograph y o f D H L Portrait of a Genius, But . . . (1950) . Hild a Doolittl e (1886-1961) becam e th e outstandin g Imagis t poe t - th e firs t o f severa l collection s being Sea Garden (1916) . He r 'novel ' Bid Me to Live (i960 ) writte n afte r analysi s with Freud , an d o n hi s advic e t o tr y t o tel l he r trut h abou t th e breaku p o f he r five year marriag e wit h Aldingto n i n 1918 , is also witnes s t o th e influenc e o f D HL o n he r (see chapte r 8) . Bor n i n Pennsylvania , sh e me t Poun d a s a n undergraduat e an d wa s persuaded b y hi m t o come t o England i n 1911 . 77 ' A Fin e Play' , revie w i n The Times, 2 4 Apri l 1914 : 'thi s pla y ha s th e qualitie s o f finished craftsmanshi p . . . th e dialogu e i s packed wit h significanc e an d suggestio n . . . it i s finely buil t an d perfectl y shaped . I t rise s t o a grea t heigh t o f emotio n an d sink s from i t swiftl y int o a quie t an d mournfu l close' . Harol d Neilso n 'o f th e Vaudevill e Theatre' (ii . 187 ) an d Len a Ashwel l wh o hel d th e leas e o f th e Kingswa y Theatr e (ii. 201 ) approache d D H L abou t producin g th e play , thoug h neithe r di d so . (I t wa s however stage d i n Californi a a t Christma s 1914. ) 78 Luca s (Frieda Lawrence, p . 100 ) put s thi s incident , remembere d b y Barbar a Barr , i n 1913. I t coul d conceivabl y hav e take n plac e the n - i n reactio n t o hearin g abou t Monty's refusa l t o se e K M (ii . 51) , an d t o th e angr y letter s forwarde d fro m Baden -
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 4 7 - 9 Baden t o the Cearn e befor e the y lef t ther e - bu t onl y o n th e afternoo n o f Tuesday 2 9 July, whe n the y cam e u p fro m Kingsgate . An y earlier , an d ther e woul d hav e bee n n o reason fo r it , give n th e succes s - a s Fried a suppose d - o f th e surreptitiou s meeting s after school , befor e sh e an d D H L wen t t o Kingsgate . Moreover , suc h a disturbanc e would surel y hav e figured i n Maud e Weekley' s depositio n a s mor e reprehensibl e (with th e divorc e stil l pending ) tha n th e othe r incident s sh e described . Howeve r there woul d hav e bee n littl e tim e t o g o searchin g o n 2 9 July , a s D H L an d Fried a probably ha d a lunc h dat e (ii . 51) . Wednesda y i s exclude d becaus e the y ha d aske d the Murry s t o Perc y Avenu e a t 5 p.m . - ii . 5 3 - bu t Barbar a say s th e irruptio n wa s when th e childre n wer e a t supper , an d Fried a lef t fo r German y o n Thursday . Sh e was soo n writin g t o Bunn y t o sa y tha t th e Lor d ha d bee n goo d t o he r 'i n lettin g m e not b e s o miserabl e an y mor e abou t th e children ' (ii . 60 ) - whic h sound s a n od d reaction i f th e disaste r ha d jus t take n place , wit h th e certaint y tha t a n eve n mor e enraged Weekle y would no w forbi d an y furthe r contact , arme d wit h hi s injunction . Moreover, th e chang e i n th e childre n fro m deligh t t o angr y reproache s seem s unlikely i n th e spac e o f a fortnight; wherea s i t i s much mor e explicabl e afte r anothe r year's constan t vilificatio n an d afte r th e inciden t wit h Maud e o n Frieda' s first attempt a t th e ol d strateg y i n Summe r 1914 . Th e likelihoo d o f 1914 i s strengthene d by Frieda' s lette r t o Lad y Ottolin e Morrel l i n Februar y 191 5 (ii . 288) , whic h describes th e even t an d certainl y doe s no t soun d a s thoug h i t ha d take n plac e nearl y two year s before . I t i s no w confirme d b y Barbar a Bar r i n he r unpublishe d memoi r 'Something t o Say' . 79 Whe n th e Barones s arrive d i s unknown , a s Catherin e Carswel l onl y date s thei r meeting t o 'befor e th e War ' (SP 11 3 n.). 80 Leonar d Woolf , Beginning Again (1964) , pp . 249-51 ; Doroth y Brett , Lawrence and Brett (Philadelphia , 1933) , p. 17 . Mark Gertle r painte d a memorable portrai t i n 191 7 (reproduced i n Letters, ii. ) - thoug h D H L fel t i t did no t brin g ou t th e 'colt ' i n him . 81 Fo r 'Rannan i Zadikim , Zadiki m l'Adonoi ' - th e first lin e i n Hebre w o f Psal m xxxii i 'Rejoice i n th e Lord , O ye righteous ' - an d it s meanin g fo r D H L , se e chapte r 4 , pp. 182-3 . 82 Aldington , Life for Life's Sake, p . 128 . 83 Flowers of the Forest (1955), pp. 3-5 . 84 Ibid. , p . 5 . It ha s bee n suggeste d tha t D H L an d Fried a wer e unde r surveillanc e fro m now on , largel y o n th e basi s o f a file numbe r jotte d ont o a briefin g Minut e t o th e Home Secretar y (P.R.O . HO/45/13944 ) date d 2 2 Novembe r 1915 : 'A s t o a Mr s Weekley livin g a t addres s o f D . H . Lawrenc e se e 352857' . H e wa s du e t o answe r questions i n Parliamen t abou t th e Rainbow prosecution . (I t i s reproduce d i n Delavenay, Plate s 16-17 , betwee n pp . 160-1. ) However , a s th e reproductio n canno t show, th e jottin g i s i n re d ink , quit e differen t fro m al l th e rest , clearl y writte n later , and possibl y muc h late r - whic h make s th e not e abou t 'Mr s Weekley ' eve n odde r since Bunn y woul d certainl y hav e tol d th e detective s i n 1914 , amon g hi s 'truthfu l answers', tha t sh e wa s married t o D H L . Moreove r th e file numbe r i s quite wron g fo r 1914 o r 191 5 i n th e Hom e Offic e daybooks , whic h d o recor d man y accusation s against suspected spies , but i n whic h n o such file number i s to be found . I t is possibl e
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 4 9 - 5 1 that th e numbe r date s fro m Frieda' s firs t applicatio n fo r a passpor t afte r naturalisa tion b y marriag e - i t ha s th e righ t numbe r o f digit s - th e designatio n late r update d by som e officia l awar e o f he r relatio n no w wit h D H L (perhap s o n renewa l i n 1913 ) but no t o f its precis e nature . 85 Fo r a more detaile d account , se e R xxx-xxxi . 86 Canna n (1884-1955 ) a t tha t tim e wa s a fa r mor e successfu l write r tha n D H L t o critics an d th e readin g publi c alike , thoug h hi s wor k i s no w almos t entirel y forgotten. A yea r olde r tha n D H L , h e wa s educate d a t Cambridg e an d calle d t o th e bar i n 1908 ; and wa s dramati c criti c fo r th e Londo n Star. H e wrot e successfu l play s and severa l highl y respecte d novels , amon g whic h wer e bot h a n autobiographica l one, an d a story o f severa l generation s o f th e sam e family . Hi s lates t nove l wa s Peter Homunculus (se e als o Murry' s opinion , p . 15 5 below) . H e ha d bee n workin g wit h J . M. Barri e i n a campaig n agains t theatrica l censorshi p whe n h e becam e involve d with Barrie' s ex-actres s wif e Mar y Ansell , wh o wa s a goo d dea l olde r tha n h e (1867-1950). The y wer e denounce d b y a servant , an d Mar y wa s divorce d i n 1910 , Barrie makin g he r a comfortabl e allowance . Sh e too k wit h he r t o thei r ne w windmill-home i n Cholesbur y th e do g immortalise d i n Peter Pan, an d include d i n Gertler's paintin g o f Canna n a t th e mill . Unfortunatel y th e Canna n marriag e di d not las t either , a s wil l b e seen , an d D H L late r quarrelle d wit h hi m (se e pp . 58 0 an d 854 not e 83 , an d fo r Cannan' s late r sa d fate) . Mar y howeve r remaine d a goo d friend. Se e Dian a Farr , Gilbert Cannan (1978) . 87 Se e (ii . 22 4 n . 4 ) fo r extract s fro m th e letter s o f recommendation , an d (ii . 22 6 n . 1 ) for th e approac h t o the Societ y o f Authors, quotin g SP 25- 6 o n D H L ' s meetin g wit h Marie Bello c Lowndes . 88 O n he r concer n no t t o humiliat e him , se e Damo n 271 . Am y entertaine d hi m an d Frieda i n London , an d als o cam e t o visi t the m i n lat e Augus t a t Th e Triangle , i n a large chestnut-coloure d moto r car , wit h he r lifelon g frien d an d travellin g companio n Mrs Russell , a well-known actress . Fro m he r hom e i n Brookline , Massachusetts , sh e continued t o correspon d wit h D H L , t o hel p hi m wit h gift s o f mone y i n emergencie s and - dought y publicis t fo r ver s libre , an d increasingl y respecte d poe t tha t sh e wa s to mak e hi s wor k bette r know n i n lecture s an d article s a s wel l a s i n he r regula r Imagist anthologies . 89 7-/84:3-5 . 90 Gertler , bor n i n 189 2 o f impoverishe d parent s i n Poland ; the y emigrate d t o th e Eas t End o f London , wher e h e gre w up . Hi s artisti c promis e wa s recognised , an d unde r the patronag e o f William Rothenstei n h e studie d a t th e Slade , and bega n t o acquir e a growing reputation . B y 191 4 h e ha d attracte d th e patronag e o f Marsh , wh o se t hi m up i n a studio. Th e Lawrence s firs t me t hi m a t Cholesbur y Mil l (Canna n wa s t o us e his confidence s abou t hi s lif e a s th e basi s fo r hi s nove l Mendel, 1916) ; bu t h e als o became a grea t frien d o f Koteliansky's , an d late r almos t a fixture a t Lad y Ottoline' s Garsington. D H L greatl y admire d hi s The Merry-Go-Round, whic h influence d th e description o f Loerke' s friez e i n Women in Love (se e chapte r 6 , pp . 343-4) , an d thought i t shoul d han g i n th e Tat e - a s i t no w does . Gertle r late r entere d a sanatorium fo r tuberculosis , an d wa s cure d - bu t h e wa s subjec t t o depression , an d
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N O T E S T O PAGE S 1 5 1 - 8
committed suicid e i n 1939 . Se e Joh n Woodeson , Mark Gertler: Biography of a Painter (Toronto , 1973) . 91 Thi s wa s a singl e visit , semi-fictionalise d i n Mackenzie' s The South Wind of Love (Nehls, i . 247-53) . Edwar d Montagu e Compto n Mackenzi e (1883-1972 ) cam e o f a famous theatrica l famil y - hi s grandfathe r wa s on e o f th e first gentleman-actors . Hi s father Edwar d Compto n wa s a notabl e actor-manager , hi s mothe r a well-know n actress, a s wer e tw o o f hi s sisters . 'Monty ' wen t t o S t Paul' s an d Oxford , an d embarked (usuall y successfully ) o n a numbe r o f career s (se e p . 84 9 not e 27) . A t thi s time th e first volum e o f hi s best-know n nove l Sinister Street (1913 ) ha d appeare d t o critical acclai m (thoug h D H L di d no t thin k muc h o f it ; ii . 240 ) an d th e secon d volume cam e ou t i n Novembe r 191 4 - t o b e followe d b y a hos t o f others . Wit h Cannan an d Hug h Walpole , h e wa s widel y considere d th e mos t promisin g o f th e younger generatio n o f novelists . Hi s friendshi p wit h D H L reall y began , however , i n Capri a t the en d o f 191 9 - se e chapter 10 , pp. 550-2 . 92 BTW 296-7 , 305ff ; The Journal of Katherine Mansfield, ed . J . M . Murr y (1954) , p. 61 ; J MM remembere d tha t the y ha d move d i n 'withou t enthusiasm ' becaus e 'I t went agains t th e grai n t o retur n t o a par t o f th e countr y wher e w e ha d live d before. ' They ha d ha d a cottag e i n Cholesbur y i n Sprin g 191 3 befor e the y me t th e Lawrences. H e als o describe d thei r cottag e a s 'lik e a gre y prison ' {BTW 340 ) though thi s i s not echoe d i n hi s contemporar y journa l o r i n Reminiscences. 93 BTW304ft.; J M M , Reminiscences, pp. 39ff ; KM, Journal, p . 61 . 94 KM, Journal, p . 67 ; Tomalin, Katherine Mansfield, pp . 35-8 ; cf. R 314:3 2 an d note . 95 J M M ' s contemporar y journal , i n a typescrip t ver y kindl y len t m e b y hi s so n (hereafter T S journal) , pp . 4 0 - 1 . 96 KM , Journal, pp . 58 , 61; The Letters of John Middleton Murry to Katherine Mansfield, ed. Cherr y A . Hanki n (1983 ) e.g . pp . 21 , 22 , 35 , an d Still Life, pp . 8 , 118-19 ; Alpers, Life of Mansfield, pp . 171—3 ; KM, Journal, pp . 62-3 ; BTW 340 . 97 # 7 ^ 3 1 9 , 3 0 5 . 98 T S journal , pp . 43-5 ; cf. BTW31J. 99 T S journal , pp . 3 3 and 36 ; cf. BTW 312. 100 T S journal , pp . 38-9 . 101 New Statesman and Nation, xli x ( 5 February 1955) , 170 , 17 2 (Nehls, i . 258). 102 Se e (ii . 229-30) ; cf . correspondenc e betwee n Russel l an d Ottolin e Morrell , J u n e August 191 4 (hi s letter s U T , her s McMaster) ; als o Ronal d W . Clark , The Life of Bertrand Russell, (1975) , pp . 236-41 , cf . Russell' s ow n account , Autobiography (1967), i . 212-14 . 103 BTW305 (no t mentione d i n T S journal) . 104 Recen t biographer s hav e bee n read y t o speculat e wit h grea t freedo m o n matter s about whic h ther e ca n b e n o knowing . Wa s ther e a n absenc e o f foreplay , becaus e none i s described i n th e fiction? Wa s Fried a (despit e th e absenc e o f evidence ) multi orgasmic, an d D H L unabl e t o satisf y her ? Ca n w e simpl y assum e equivalenc e between D H L ' s imaginativ e fiction mor e tha n a decad e late r (Lady Chatterley's Lover), an d fac t i n 1912-14 ? (Fo r th e singl e fragmen t o f 'evidence' , a n anecdot e o f Mackenzie's whic h i s itsel f ope n t o suspicion , se e pp . 55 1 an d 850- 1 not e 32. )
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NOTESTO P A G E S 1 5 9 - 6 1
Moreover, wha t i s muc h les s speculative , an d woul d b e relevan t t o an y responsibl e discussion, i s th e differenc e betwee n DHL' s 'religious ' vie w o f wha t se x wa s for, i n which tota l self-abandonmen t t o th e 'littl e death ' wa s everything , an d th e vie w o f se x as pleasurin g whic h ma y wel l hav e bee n Frieda's , an d fo r whic h self-containment , postponement an d techniqu e becom e importan t - ye t eve n tha t involve s arguin g from documentabl e ide a t o undocumentabl e fact . Fo r sexua l humiliatio n i n th e fiction se e R 428:26-3 4 an d WL 443:22-3 2 (neithe r o f which , incidentally , accord s with th e complexit y th e fiction ha s shown) . 105 Die frohliche Wissenschaft (1882-7). Nietzsch e als o refer s t o 'gai saber" a s a n 'amulet ' against unmanl y 'sympathy ' i n Beyond Good and Evil, tr . Hele n Zimmer n (1911) ; and t o 'l a gay a scienza ' a s 'ligh t feet , wit , fire, grace ; th e grea t logic ' i n The Case of Wagner (trans . Osca r Levy , 1888) ; see Hardy 255 , note o n 7:2) . D H L ma y hav e bee n looking fo r a French versio n o f th e titl e tha t coul d bot h sugges t th e Ol d Frenc h an d convey it s meanin g t o a moder n reader , rathe r tha n simpl y mistakin g 'savaire ' fo r 'savoir'. 106 Matthe w vi . 28- 9 (se e als o DHL' s endorsemen t o f Christ' s 't o the m tha t hav e shal l be given ' an d 'Physician , hea l thyself ; Hardy 12:34-5 ; X 5 :I 9-)- Th e 'ruddy' , a s wel l as its jokin g vernacula r an d it s obviou s colour-aptness , carrie s als o th e association s o f flame (se e (i . 503-4 ) an d th e poe m 'Al l Souls') , accordin g t o whic h D H L no w wishe s that 'w e wer e al l lik e kindle d bonfire s o n th e edg e o f space ' {Hardy 18:39-40 ) - wit h a reminiscenc e o f th e openin g o f The Return of the Native (1878) . Rudd y i s als o th e Blakean colou r o f fulfilment , an d Blak e (who m D H L rea d wit h Jessie ) i s quit e a s much behin d DHL' s ide a o f th e creativit y o f th e conflic t o f opposite s a s Nietzsche , e.g. 'withou t contrarie s i s no progression' , 'oppositio n i s true friendship' . 107 Hardy 12:36-7 ; 14:3-4 108 Hardy 21:16 ; 28:34-6; 29:8-11; 28:29-30 ; 41:19. So, D H L goe s on , fro m th e origina l undifferentiated mas s aris e 'order s an d specie s . . . fro m nake d jell y t o enclose d an d separated jelly , fro m homogeneou s tissu e t o organi c tissue , o n an d on , fro m invertebrates t o mammals , fro m mammal s t o man , fro m ma n t o tribesman , fro m tribesman t o me : an d o n an d on , till , i n th e future , wonderful , distinc t individuals , like angels, move a b o u t . . . ' (Hardy 43:3-8) . 109 Especiall y Botticelli' s Mystic Nativity, th e splendi d Madonna with an Iris (no w 'attributed' t o Diire r an d henc e unfortunatel y banishe d t o th e basement) , Raphael' s Ansidei Madonna, Correggio' s Madonna with a Basket an d Rembrandt' s Self-Portrait. Turner's Norham Castle, Sunrise i s i n th e Tat e Gallery . D H L mus t hav e know n Michelangelo, an d Rembrandt' s The Jewish Bride o r hi s Self-Portrait with Saskia (o r both), fro m reproductions . H e wen t t o th e Nationa l Galler y o n th e weeken d o f 21- 2 November. n o Hardy 60:4 . Delavenay' s method s i n derivin g DHL' s though t fro m others , bot h i n D. H. Lawrence (1972 ) an d i n D. H. Lawrence and Edward Carpenter (1971 ) ar e agai n questionable. H e claim s (Delavena y 306 ) - i n a discussio n tha t withi n tw o page s associates D H L wit h th e growt h o f Nazis m - tha t th e argumen t o n th e relativit y o f 'rest' an d 'motion ' her e must hav e com e fro m a readin g o f Housto n Chamberlain . I n fact th e quotatio n i n Chamberlai n i s fro m Leibnitz , writin g t o Pierr e Bayl e i n 1687 ,
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 6 1 - 3 and i s a primary ide a i n physics . (W e kno w tha t D H L taugh t scienc e i n Croydon. ) It i s onl y referre d t o b y Chamberlai n (i n orde r t o mak e quit e a differen t point ) i n vol. ii , 30 1 o f hi s Foundations of the Nineteenth Century - no t th e mos t likel y plac e for a solitary verba l echo . Th e othe r affinitie s Delavena y note s ar e ver y general , an d the 'Jewish ' characteristic s whic h featur e i n 'Hardy ' ar e obviousl y inferre d b y D H L from th e Ol d Testament' s monotheism , an d concer n wit h th e regulatio n o f th e flesh. Th e distinctio n betwee n La w an d Lov e (i n an y cas e La w an d Grac e i n Chamberlain, fa r les s accurately ) i s regularl y taugh t i n Sunda y schools . Similarly , there i s n o evidenc e a t al l tha t D H L ha d rea d Ott o Weininger' s Sex and Character by 1914 . (He refer s t o hi m jus t once , i n 1930 , in a context whic h eve n the n doe s no t necessitate havin g rea d him. ) Th e on e apparen t ech o i n Hardy (81:11-16 ) - o f Weininger's suggestio n tha t i n intercours e th e mal e an d femal e 'plasmas ' becom e more purel y mal e an d femal e - derive s fro m Carpente r quotin g Weininger , i n hi s Love's Coming of Age (1896 ; rev. edn , 1906 ) whic h D H L rea d wit h Jessie, an d whic h incidentally i s the onl y boo k o f Carpenter's w e can b e sur e tha t h e ha d rea d b y 1914 . Weininger's argumen t tha t everyon e i s bot h mal e an d femal e i n differin g propor tions i s analogous t o DHL' s (an d Carpenter's ) - bu t i f D HL ha d rea d Weininge r h e would hav e hate d hi m (a s Delavena y neve r apparentl y notices) , since th e conclusio n Weininger draw s fro m hi s argumen t i s tha t homosexual s ar e th e superio r beings , and wome n ar e s o inferio r tha t thos e wh o unfortunatel y ar e attracte d t o the m ough t as fa r a s possibl e t o avoi d contaminatio n b y intercourse . (DH L woul d surel y als o have note d th e relevanc e o f Weininger' s suicid e a t th e ag e o f 2 1 t o hi s ow n theor y about Middleton. ) 111 Hardy 53:3-4 . I t wa s of course Sapph o (regardin g Lesbia n bein g an d lovin g a s mor e important tha n self-preservatio n o r procreatin g fo r th e future ) wh o leap t of f a cliff' s edge. D H L perhap s recalle d th e poetr y o f her s tha t Colling s ha d sen t him . Th e argument tha t i t i s th e flowering o f th e popp y tha t i s all-important , an d th e see d secondary, i s by n o mean s irrelevan t t o hi s row s wit h Frieda . 112 Cf . o n 'Hardy' , Richar d Swigg , Lawrence, Hardy, and American Literature (1972) ; on DHL' s ar t criticism , An n Fernihough , D. H. Lawrence: Aesthetics and Ideology (Cambridge, 1993) ; an d essay s b y Howar d Mill s i n Davi d Elli s an d Howar d Mills , D. H. Lawrence's Non-Fiction (Cambridge , 1988) , an d i n Tensions and Transitions, ed. M . Irwin , M . Kinkead-Weeke s an d A . R . Le e (1990) . Se e als o Mar k Kinkead Weekes, 'Lawrenc e o n Hardy' , i n Thomas Hardy after Fifty Years, ed . L . S t J . Butler (1977) . 113 Se e Michae l Black , D. H. Lawrence: The Early Philosophical Works (Houndmills , Basingstoke, 1992 ) fo r a n excellen t discussio n o f ho w D H L though t i n images . Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, tr . Zimmern , pp . 1 0 - n . Bu t se e D H L ' s opinio n of Richard Jefferies' The Story of My Heart (1883 ) (i . 337, 353). 114 Thomas Hardy, p . 19 . 115 Th e Calabria n abbo t Joachim o f Fiore (c. 1135-1202 ) an d hi s mystica l interpretatio n of histor y a s a cosmic progressio n toward s a New Ag e an d Apocalyps e o f th e Spiri t were widel y influentia l i n th e thirteent h century , unti l th e overenthusiasti c proclamation b y hi s follower s tha t th e authorit y o f th e Bibl e ha d passe d t o hi s
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 6 4 - 7 1 Eternal Evangel le d t o th e condemnatio n o f hi s writings . Marjori e Reeve s an d Gerald Goul d i n Joachim of Fiore and the Myth of the Eternal Evangel in the Nineteenth Century (Oxford , 1987 ) sho w tha t interes t revived , startin g i n Franc e with Georg e Sand , Michele t an d Renan , an d reachin g Englan d throug h thei r readers, suc h a s Arnold , Georg e Eliot , Pater , Symond s an d Yeats . I t i s no t clea r how Joachim's idea s reache d D H L i n 1913-1 4 - th e historica l emphasi s i n 'Hardy ' differentiates i t fro m th e 'Foreword ' - thoug h h e certainl y rea d abou t hi m i n G . G . Coulton, From St. Francis to Dante (1906) , chapte r xm , i n Februar y 191 6 (ii . 538) , and refer s t o him i n Movements in European History 147:1-4 . 116 Hardy 126:13-14 ; 128:11-15 .
Chapter Four : The Rainbow 1 O n E33ia , p . 10 0 little Anna Lensk y confront s th e Mars h Far m geese , with th e ne w confidence To m Brangwe n ha s given . 2 D H L attende d th e Pupil-Teache r Centr e a t Ilkesto n 1904-5 , wher e h e me t Loui e Burrows, an d achieve d th e succes s i n th e King' s Scholarshi p exa m whic h sen t hi m to Universit y College , Nottingha m afte r matriculatin g i n 1905 . Se e Early Years 114-17. Whe n Loui e becam e hi s 'girl ' there , h e often visite d he r i n Churc h Cottage , Cossall. For th e detaile d chronolog y o f the book , se e R 489-92 , an d fo r th e exten t t o which i t i s a n 'historical ' novel , se e Mar k Kinkead-Weekes , 'Th e Sens e o f Histor y in The Rainbow 1, i n D. H Lawrence in the Modem World, ed . Pete r Presto n an d Peter Hoar e (1989) , pp. 121-38 . 3 I t ma y b e tha t th e nove l originall y starte d wit h sectio n 1 1 o f chapte r I 'Abou t 184 0 . . . ' (R 13:19-20) , an d tha t th e prelud e o f th e Brangwe n me n an d women , symbolising 'Go d th e Father ' an d 'Go d th e Son ' i n DHL' s terms , wa s adde d i n early December . Se e belo w not e 14 . 4 Hardy 61:40-62:2 ; 62:13-14 . 5 'Ursula ' suggeste d somethin g mor e heroic : th e leade r o f a brave hos t o f virgin s o n a mission agains t mal e tyranny . 'Charles ' Skrebensk y i s mentioned , jus t once , i n th e surviving sectio n o f typescript o f ' T h e Weddin g Ring' . 6 Soo n afte r DHL' s lette r t o hi m fro m Metz , Weekle y wa s alread y thinkin g i n term s of hi s absolut e lega l rights : 'Sh e mus t understan d tha t sh e ha s n o mor e right s bu t she know s I a m honourable ' (1 3 April) . A mont h late r h e write s chillingl y o f 'm y children' (Memoirs 179 , 181) . 7 Ital y di d no t declar e wa r unti l Ma y 1915 . 8 E33ia , p . 19 9 begins 'Hast e t o th e Wedding ' (R 124:1) . 9 Mr s Henr y Jenner , Christian Symbolism (1910 ) ha s a n illustratio n o f th e phoeni x opposite p . 150 , an d Fr a Angelico' s Entry of the Blessed into Paradise, opposit e p. 74 . The boo k als o lodge d i n D H L ' s min d th e Lam b wit h banne r (p . 32 ) an d Va n Eyck's Adoration of the Lamb, opposit e p . 6 ; the Dov e an d Eagl e (pp . 149 , 151 ) an d the order s o f angels , o f whic h th e innermos t 'ar e utterl y absorbe d i n perpetua l lov e and admiratio n o f God' (p . 66) . 10 Fried a 99-100 ; J M M, T S journal , pp . 46-8 .
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11 KM, Journal, pp . 62-3 . 12 Selected Letters of Mark Gertler, ed . Noe l Carringto n (1965) , pp. 78-9 . 13 J M M , T S journal , pp . 50-1 ; cf . BTW 321- 2 (not e ho w th e latte r write s u p th e former: ther e i s no indignan t interruptio n o f the performanc e o r hustlin g J MM asid e by D H L i n th e journal , thoug h h e doe s tak e J M M ou t o n th e roa d afterward s an d lecture hi m abou t 'exposing ' himself) ; Gertler , Selected Letters, p . 77 . 14 D H L bega n typing , ver y amateurishly , o n Am y Lowell' s machin e (ii . 240) , bu t soo n gave up . Th e firs t seve n typescrip t page s o f E33ia , however , see m t o contai n considerably mor e tha n th e numbe r o f manuscrip t page s the y hav e replace d woul d have required . Th e discrepanc y ma y b e becaus e D H L ha d writte n in , a s a ne w opening now , th e Brangwe n me n an d women ; cf . Ross , Composition, pp . 30-1 . S o the writin g backward s ma y hav e continue d int o th e final version . I t i s t o b e note d that th e 'genders ' o f the Opposite s i n 'Hardy ' hav e bee n reversed , wha t wa s 'Female ' now becomin g characteristi c o f th e Brangwe n me n - salutaril y unsettlin g th e gende r typing h e wa s liabl e to fal l into . 15 Th e 'Polis h woman ' i s mentioned i n Kuttner' s repor t t o Kennerle y (R 483) . 16 R 37:1 2 an d n . D H L , wh o kne w th e Bibl e s o well , mus t hav e bee n struc k b y how , i n its 'history' , th e wandering s o f the Israelite s an d Chris t ar e locate d i n spac e an d time , and moreove r th e sacre d power s o f Jahweh an d Jesu s manifes t themselve s precisel y there, her e an d then . 17 D H L objecte d t o th e titl e whic h Garnet t ha d chose n fo r bot h stor y an d volume : 'what Prussia n Officer? ' (ii . 241) . Th e office r i s i n a Bavarian regiment , an d 'Honou r and Arms ' i s a t leas t a s muc h (i f no t more ) abou t hi s orderly . Garnet t probabl y hoped t o increas e sale s i n a n atmospher e o f hatre d o f th e Hun . H e ha d also , b y entirely changin g th e orde r whic h D H L ha d suggeste d (ii . 197) , reverse d th e emphasis an d progression . D H L woul d hav e begu n wit h th e ver y earl y bu t transformed stor y ' A Fragmen t o f Staine d Glass' , whic h ha s become , first, a miniature 'Honou r an d Arms ' (ho w th e violate d sel f react s i n destructiv e violence) , and the n a miniatur e 'Thor n i n th e Flesh ' (ho w th e sel f ca n b e restore d throug h sexual relationship ) - th e opposit e path s whic h finally disti l ou t i n star k contras t a t the en d o f th e volume . I n relatio n t o these , th e othe r storie s grou p themselve s int o those whic h realis e 'th e flesh' (i n DHL' s sense ) to o late , culminatin g i n 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums'; an d storie s o f choic e an d judgemen t o r misjudgement , se t of f against th e primar y contras t of'Daughter s o f the Vicar' , an d deepenin g t o th e violen t question mar k o f 'Th e Whit e Stocking' ; befor e th e final distille d contras t o f th e life giving wit h th e deathl y i n 'Vi n Ordinaire ' an d 'Honou r an d Arms ' a t th e end. Garnett o f course wa s makin g a judgement o f quality , wit h a n ey e t o th e market , an d defensibly o n bot h grounds ; bu t h e di d tur n D H L ' s boo k int o a n antholog y (rathe r than a sequenc e o f sorts ) - an d one , moreover , whic h wa s likel y t o offen d a t it s beginning b y implication s o f homosexuality . 18 Memoirs 45 ; R 83:39-84:1 . 19 Cf . th e en d o f 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums ' wit h Lydi a an d he r so n To m lookin g a t Tom's dea d body , i n manuscrip t versio n R 610 , entr y t o 233:8 , an d final versio n R 2337-I9-
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20 Se e R 558 , entry t o 57:32 . 21 Th e nove l i s howeve r als o ric h i n loca l rura l culture , folklor e an d dialect , especiall y the weddin g an d th e visi t o f the guysers . 22 E33ia , p . 30 0 i s abou t Anna' s respons e t o th e cathedral , whic h give s poin t t o th e remark. 23 Loui e aske d Ad a t o cut fro m he r memoi r o f her brother : all reference s t o m e an d m y family . Yo u kno w ho w clearl y Cossal l ha s bee n identified wit h th e scen e o f The Rainbow - an d ho w ver y personall y Ber t use d th e characters o f member s o f m y famil y . . . I neve r mad e suc h request s o f Ber t because afte r al l h e wa s a geniu s & I coul d no t contemplat e makin g i t mor e difficult fo r hi m t o earn a living. I know ther e i s no suc h nee d i n you r case . (Quoted i n Ad a Clar k t o Laurence Pollinger , U T ) 24 R 197:18 . Whe n i t cam e t o th e Brangwe n family' s move , however , h e modelle d th e new hous e o n th e Hopkins ' i n Devonshir e Plac e (rathe r tha n th e mor e rura l Quor n which wa s hi s origina l idea) , thoug h wit h 'Burrows ' deco r an d pictures . H e als o changed Will' s appointmen t fro m Leicestershir e t o Nottinghamshire , thoug h tha t hardly helpe d a s disguise ! Fo r Alfre d Burrows' s woodwor k classe s se e R 221:5-1 8 and note ; 387:29-388:14 an d note . 25 Cf . Fried a 54 . 26 Fo r Fried a dancin g almos t nake d i n he r bedroo m se e Early Years 376 ; bu t se e als o the perspective s th e fiction adds : th e prid e i n motherhoo d settin g th e ma n aside ; th e dance o f Davi d i n th e Bible ; an d th e contras t wit h th e corn-stackin g (R 41-8 ; 113— 16; 169-71) . 27 Cf . Hardy 65:31-66:5 . Fo r th e developmen t o f th e episod e i n manuscript , an d i n DHL's subsequen t revision , compar e R 590- 6 wit h 186:10-191:10, , an d se e Mar k Kinkead-Weekes, 'Th e Marbl e an d th e Statue' , i n Imagined Worlds, ed. Ia n Grego r and Maynar d Mac k (1968) , pp. 371-418 . Se e als o p. 220 above . 28 Ann a goe s t o Nottingha m Hig h Schoo l fo r Girls , onl y th e sixt h o f it s kin d t o b e founded, an d i n it s earlies t years . Wil l i s a discipl e o f Ruski n an d Morris . Behin d Anna's scepticis m stan d Spencer , Huxle y an d Willia m James . O f he r brothers , th e young To m goe s t o th e Londo n Schoo l o f Mine s whic h late r becam e Imperia l College; an d Fre d i s see n readin g th e Fabians . Th e contras t wit h To m an d Lydi a i s strongly marked . 29 Judgin g b y th e origina l paginatio n o f th e typescrip t survivin g fro m 'Th e Weddin g Ring', The Rainbow u p t o Ursula' s first da y a s a teache r ha d becom e nearl y twic e a s long as before, cf . R xxxi v an d Ross , Composition, p . 26 . 30 R 205:32-208: 5 an d p . 51 2 not e t o 205:34 . I hav e interviewe d thre e peopl e wh o knew D H L whe n the y wer e childre n - tw o o f Louie' s sisters , an d Mar y Saleeb y t o whom h e gav e private lesson s i n Greatha m (se e chapte r 5 , p. 234). All independentl y stressed ho w carefu l h e wa s no t t o tal k down , bu t rathe r t o trea t the m a s littl e persons i n thei r ow n right . Barbara Bar r ha s bee n reporte d a s recallin g he r mothe r explainin g thei r child lessness a s th e resul t o f D H L sufferin g a n attac k o f mump s i n lat e adolescenc e - o f which howeve r ther e i s n o record . D H L an d Fried a certainl y ha d n o ide a o f thi s i n
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 7 9 - 8 4 their firs t year s together , an d Fried a tol d Cecil y Lamber t i n 191 9 (Nehls , i . 503 ) tha t she hope d t o bea r hi m a child . W e kno w tha t h e use d contraceptive s befor e h e me t Frieda (Delavenay , ii . 701 ; Neville, Memoir, pp . 85-6 ; (i . 286)) ; and ther e wer e goo d reasons t o g o o n doin g s o befor e th e divorc e an d thei r marriage , an d durin g th e poverty-stricken year s tha t followed . Whe n Frieda' s perio d wa s late , i n Metz , D H L made i t clea r tha t h e wa s agains t abortion , an d read y t o welcom e th e chil d i f i t cam e (i. 402-3) . Th e infertilit y ma y a s easil y hav e bee n Frieda's , despit e (o r perhap s a s a result of ) previou s pregnancies . Certainly , whe n Ott o Gros s slep t wit h he r namesake , her siste r an d hersel f i n 1907 , sh e wa s th e onl y on e o f th e thre e no t t o conceive . Again, speculatio n abou t th e unknowabl e seem s futile . Wha t doe s see m sa d i s tha t someone wh o wa s a s goo d wit h childre n a s muc h evidenc e suggest s tha t D H L wa s (cf. als o To m Brangwe n comfortin g littl e Ann a i n th e stable ) shoul d neve r hav e become a father himself . 31 Intervie w wit h Nor a Haseldon , Louie' s younges t sister . Th e embankmen t ha d als o burst i n 182 3 (see ^ 5 1 5, not e t o 230:31) . 32 A ten-pag e erro r o f memor y i n th e paginatio n o f E33i a show s h e wa s abou t t o embark o n th e stor y o f Ursula's 'Firs t Love' . 33 Se e chapte r 3 , p . 79 2 not e 87 . Fo r th e Cannans ' guest s se e (ii . 211-12 , 238 , 254) ; Nehls, i . 259 . S t Joh n an d Mar y Hutchinson , who m th e Lawrence s certainl y kne w by 1916 , were grea t friend s o f th e Cannans , an d ma y hav e com e dow n t o Chesham . She wa s cousi n t o th e Stracheys , siste r t o th e Ji m Barne s wh o ha d com e t o Fiascherino an d woul d becom e Cliv e Bell's mistress . 34 Journal, p . 65 . 35 PO xxxv . O n Boot s se e (ii . 257-8) . 36 Journal, p . 67 . 37 SP 26 . Fo r th e Meynel l settlemen t a t Humphreys , Greatham , se e Viol a Meynell , Alice Meynell: A Memoir (1929) , pp. 274-317 . Viol a (1885-1956 ) wrot e shor t stories , novels an d biographies . 38 Thoug h th e Lawrence s ha d bee n introduce d t o O M (se e p . 80 0 not e 45 ) b y th e Cannans i n August , i t ha d probabl y bee n a t a receptio n i n Bedfor d Square , an d th e acquaintance di d no t ripe n immediately . A t Christmas , however , sh e aske d B R t o send he r The Prussian Officer an d wa s 'amaze d ho w goo d i t i s - quit e wonderfu l most o f th e Storie s - H e ha s grea t passio n - & i s s o aliv e t o thing s outwar d an d inward . . . Al l th e Nottingha m Storie s s o rea l - see m ver y familia r t o m e - Didn' t you thin k "Th e Vicar' s Daughters " ver y good? ' (2 5 an d 3 1 December , McMaster) . She mus t hav e writte n i n simila r term s i n th e lette r t o D H L h e replie d t o o n 3 January (ii . 253) . He r invitatio n t o a mor e intimat e lunc h part y whe n h e wa s nex t in Londo n followed ; an d whe n h e came , o n 2 1 January, sh e 'like d hi m awfully ' - s o much s o indee d tha t sh e aske d hi m t o dinne r a s well . B y contrast , Constanc e Garnett aske d he r husban d not t o invit e th e Lawrence s dow n t o th e Cearn e again : 'I don' t fee l tha t I coul d stan d hi s fervi d intensit y ove r hi s persona l emotion s an d Frieda's trivia l second-han d generalization s jus t no w (thoug h yo u kno w I a m fon d of the m bot h really)' , Constanc e t o E . Garnett , ?2 i Januar y (Eton ) (R . Garnett , Constance Garnett, p . 283) .
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39 D . Garnett , Flowers of the Forest, pp. 33- 4 (Nehls , i. 265-6). For Grant' s relationshi p with Vaness a Bell , and wit h Bunny , se e Frances Spalding , Vanessa Bell (1983) . 40 Flowers of the Forest, pp. 34- 7 (Nehls , i. 266-8) . 41 Nehls , i . 129-30 . (Thoug h Ernes t Rhy s seem s t o hav e conflate d tw o differen t evenings - se e Herzinger , D. H Lawrence in His Time, pp . 183- 5 ~ t n e descriptio n of D HL i s unaffected b y this. ) 42 Flowers of the Forest, p. 3 7 (Nehls, i. 269). 43 I n 'Hardy ' D H L ha d remarke d o n th e whol e tendenc y t o abstractio n i n lat e Turner an d beyond , 'til l th e bod y wa s carrie d away ' {Hardy 86:18-19 ; i n Turner' s case int o pur e light) . Suc h extreme s becam e (h e thought ) a kin d o f one-side d falsehood, inevitabl y producin g reactio n i n th e opposit e direction , bu t D H L call s now fo r mor e inclusiv e vision . H e ma y hav e sai d somethin g o f thi s t o Gran t an d Bunny - who , i f so , ma y hav e ha d littl e ide a wha t h e wa s talkin g abou t an d onl y heard th e phrases , lik e J M M whe n D H L trie d t o expoun d 'Hardy's ' centra l idea s to him . 44 No t seein g th e poin t o f DHL' s 'instances' , Bunn y deride d thi s sentence : 'Lawrenc e was belabouring a figment o f his imagination , a s well as pouring ou t a lot o f nonsense . What woul d a n abstrac t statemen t o f th e instance s o f Rembrandt , Corot , Goy a an d Manet loo k like? ' {Flowers of the Forest, pp. 36-7 ; Nehls, i. 268). 45 Lad y Ottolin e Viole t Ann e Morrel l (1873-1938 ) wa s th e daughte r o f Lieutenant General Arthu r Cavendish-Bentinc k an d hi s secon d wif e Lad y Bolsover . He r half brother wa s th e 6t h Duk e o f Portland . Sh e ha d ha d a lonel y childhood , wholl y ou t of sympath y wit h th e kin d o f country-hous e lif e he r half-brother s an d thei r friends pursued . Sh e ha d nurse d a dyin g mother ; an d ha d foun d inspiratio n i n Thomas a Kempi s an d hi s ideal s o f servic e an d self-sacrifice , followe d b y a n evangelical urg e tha t le d he r t o hol d religiou s classe s fo r th e servant s an d worker s in th e famil y mansion , Welbec k Abbey . Bu t trave l i n Ital y ha d awakene d imagination, a sens e o f beaut y an d a n interes t i n th e arts ; an d sh e ha d trie d t o educate hersel f b y attendin g classe s a t S t Andrew s an d Oxford , thoug h he r schooling ha d bee n patchy . He r writin g an d spellin g remaine d idiosyncratic , bu t she continue d t o rea d voraciously . I n Oxfor d sh e me t an d subsequentl y marrie d Philip Morrell , so n o f th e Solicito r t o th e University , an d devote d hersel f t o helping hi m buil d a caree r a s a Libera l politician , M.P . first fo r Sout h Oxfordshir e (1906-10) an d the n fo r Burnle y (1910-18) . Befor e th e wa r sh e ha d alread y becom e a famou s patrones s o f art s an d letters , a t 4 4 Bedfor d Square , Bloomsbury . Whe n she me t D H L sh e an d Phili p ha d recentl y acquire d Garsingto n Manor , nea r Oxford. Afte r the y move d there , i n Ma y 1915 , i t becam e th e mos t famou s o f al l centres o f wha t ha d becom e loosel y know n a s 'Bloomsbury ' — wher e sh e entertained a hos t o f writer s an d artists . Se e Ottoline: The Early Memoirs of Lady Ottoline Morrell, ed . Rober t Gathorne-Hard y (1963 ) an d Ottoline at Garsington: Memoirs of Lady Ottoline Morrell igi$-igi8, ed . Gathorne-Hard y (1974) ; als o biographies b y Sandr a Jobso n Darroc h (1976 ) an d Mirand a Seymou r (1992) . Before he r relationshi p wit h BR , sh e ha d ha d short-live d affair s wit h Augustu s John an d wit h Henr y Lamb , als o a painter .
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46 Bertran d Arthu r Willia m Russel l (1872-1970 ) wa s grandso n o f th e is t Ear l Russel l and woul d succee d hi s brothe r a s 3rd Ear l i n 1931 . He gre w u p i n hi s grandmother' s home afte r th e deat h o f bot h parent s whe n h e wa s fou r - a lonely childhoo d withou t companions, pla y o r love , an d i n a strongl y religiou s atmospher e agains t whic h h e was t o reac t a s strongly . H e wa s no t allowe d t o g o t o schoo l les t h e b e contaminated , and i n consequenc e becam e a yout h bot h sh y an d priggish . Howeve r h e ha d a precocious intelligence , an d develope d a passio n fo r mathematics , whic h offere d apparent certaintie s t o a sceptical fram e o f mind. H e studie d Mathematic s an d Mora l Sciences a t Cambridge , an d becam e a Fello w o f Trinit y Colleg e i n 1895 . H e wa s steadily drive n toward s th e discover y o f a mor e secur e basi s fo r th e principle s o f mathematics, usin g symboli c logi c fo r thi s purpose . Th e thre e volume s o f Principia Mathematica (1910-13 ) whic h h e wrot e wit h A . N . Whitehead , mad e hi m a world wide reputation . H e marrie d (1895 ) Aly s Pearsall-Smith , o f a Philadelphi a Quake r family whic h ha d move d t o England ; the y separate d i n 1902 , and th e marriag e ende d in 1911 . Afte r a n impossibl e yearnin g fo r Whitehead' s wif e Evelyn , followe d th e affair wit h OM . H e wa s alread y workin g agains t th e wa r i n th e Unio n o f Democrati c Control, an d becam e a leadin g pacifist , eventuall y deprive d o f hi s Fellowshi p an d imprisoned fo r a time (se e pp . 235 , 306). Se e hi s Autobiography, 3 vols. (1967-9 ) an d Clark, Life of Russell. 47 B R t o OM , 1 Jun e 191 4 (UT). O n 6 June, bac k i n Englan d B R wa s quit e take n abac k by OM' s sufferin g an d he r no t wantin g t o se e him ; se e als o discussio n passi m i n letters o f June an d July , b y th e en d o f whic h h e i s beginnin g t o hat e th e gir l (B R t o OM, 2 4 July; UT) . O n 4 Septembe r h e describe s how , locke d i n hi s flat, h e allowe d Helen t o bea t o n th e doo r an d refuse d t o answer . O n Irene , se e letter s earl y t o mid January 191 5 (UT) . 48 O M t o BR, 29 , 30, 31 January, an d thre e telegrams , 3 0 and 3 1 January (McMaster) . 49 O M t o BR , [1 3 February ] (McMaster) ; cf . Fried a t o OM , ?i o February , poste d 1 2 February (UT) . Weekle y apparentl y replie d tha t i f O M kne w Frieda' s histor y sh e would no t befrien d her , se e Frieda t o OM, c. 24 Februar y (UT) . 50 B R t o OM , 'Saturday' , 1 3 Februar y (UT) . B R himself , however , woul d sa y something no t dissimila r i n 1916 , advocating 'abolitio n o f th e whol e wage s system ' a s 'the essentia l preliminar y t o an y successfu l movemen t o f fundamental reform ' (Clark , Life of Russell, p . 366) . O n B R seein g D H L a s prophet , Ottoline, ed . Gathorne Hardy, p . 273 . 51 Hi s fathe r havin g die d whe n h e wa s a n infant , Edwar d Morga n Forste r (1879-1970 ) was a s mother-centre d a s D H L . Miserabl e a t Tonbridg e school , h e blossome d a t King's College , Cambridg e wher e h e becam e a n Apostle , an d kep t a connectio n al l his life . A legac y fro m hi s aun t Mariann e Thornto n mean t h e di d no t hav e t o wor k for a living , an d mad e i t possibl e fo r hi m t o trave l t o Ital y an d Greec e wit h hi s mother; bu t h e tutore d th e childre n o f a Countes s i n German y an d taugh t a t th e London Workin g Men' s College . Afte r th e publicatio n o f Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), The Longest Journey (1907) , A Room with a View (1908 ) an d especiall y Howards End (1910 ) hi s reputatio n a s a novelis t wa s assured ; bu t ther e wa s t o b e a long silenc e afte r hi s volum e o f storie s The Celestial Omnibus (1911) . I n 191 2 h e
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visited Indi a an d forme d a friendship wit h th e Maharaja h o f Dewas , whos e secretar y he woul d late r become . Bac k i n Englan d h e cam e t o term s wit h hi s homosexualit y (still a t tha t tim e celibate ) i n th e (the n unpublishable ) nove l Maurice. D H L ha d rea d and admire d Howards End i n 1911 . 52 Forste r sen t hi s The Celestial Omnibus at DHL's reques t (ii . 262, 275). 53 DHL' s visio n o f Pa n ha s change d i n emphasi s sinc e 'Th e Overtone' , se e chapte r 2 , pp. 64-6 . Ther e i s also rathe r mor e t o th e tempestuou s forc e i n th e 'Stor y o f a Panic' than universa l lov e - thoug h D H L i s also thinking o f A Room with a View. 54 R 655-6 , entry t o 408:40. 55 Forste r sen t Howards End t o Frieda , s o D H L woul d certainl y hav e discusse d i t wit h her, an d ma y possibl y hav e rerea d i t or som e o f it himself . 56 P . N. Furbank , E. M. Forster: A Life (1978) , ii. 5, 7. 57 A s fo r comin g agai n t o Greatham , I lik e Mr s Lawrence , an d I lik e th e Lawrenc e who talk s t o Hild a [th e Meynel l servant] , an d see s bird s an d i s physicall y restfu l and wrote "Th e Whit e Peacock" , h e doesn' t kno w why ; bu t I d o no t lik e th e dea f impercipient fanati c wh o ha s nose d ove r hi s ow n littl e sexua l roun d unti l h e believes tha t ther e i s n o othe r pat h fo r other s t o take , h e sometime s interest s & sometimes frighten s & angers me , but i n th e en d h e wil l bor e m e merely , I know . So I can't ye t tel l about comin g down . (Selected Letters, ed . P . N . Furban k an d Mar y Lago , (1983) , i. 219 ) 58 Lytto n Strachey , interestingly , voice d t o Keyne s th e mirro r imag e o f D H L ' s idea , arguing th e superiorit y o f homosexua l ove r heterosexua l relationshi p precisel y because o f th e greate r likenes s betwee n th e partner s (Michae l Holroy d Lytton Strachey: A Critical Biography, 1967-8 , ii. 208-9). (Holroy d warns , however, tha t th e sodomite languag e o f Strachey' s letter s wa s ofte n hyperbolic , an d nee d no t b e take n always or altogethe r literally. ) 59 Th e word , i n thi s letter , i s DHL' s (ii . 285) . A s I attemp t t o trac e hi s changin g attitude toward s it . I shall continue t o us e th e term , fo r lac k o f a better, bu t intendin g no mora l charge . 'Ana l intercourse ' ma y b e heterosexual , an d 'ana l intercours e between men' , a s a repeated phrase , would becom e tiresome . 60 I t i s sometime s assume d tha t th e scen e i n Aaron's Rod wher e Lill y rub s th e whol e o f Aaron's lowe r bod y wit h oi l indicate s wha t too k plac e betwee n D H L an d J M M i n February 1915 . Apar t fro m restin g o n extremel y crud e assumption s abou t th e relation o f imaginativ e literatur e t o life , thi s i s intrinsicall y unlikely . I n 191 5 J M M was sufferin g fro m a ba d ches t cold , fo r whic h th e rubbin g o f camphorate d oi l int o the ches t wa s (an d is ) a well-known remedy . (Th e insinuatio n o f homosexua l feelin g is also unlikely . Eve n supposin g D H L t o hav e bee n homosexuall y attracte d t o J M M , which i s ver y doubtfu l - th e attractio n bein g predominantl y intellectua l an d 'spiritual' rathe r tha n physica l - it s indulgenc e woul d hav e bee n untimel y an d resented b y th e sic k man , sinc e D H L coul d hav e ha d n o reaso n whateve r t o 'treat ' his lowe r bod y so. ) Th e D H L o f 1921 , by contrast , ha d develope d a strongl y hel d theory abou t th e atroph y o f th e 'lowe r centres ' i n moder n men , show n physicall y i n Jim a s wel l a s Aaron, s o tha t Lill y ha s ever y reaso n t o attemp t t o massag e al l Aaron' s 'lower centres ' bac k int o life . I f D H L remembere d 1915 , i t woul d hav e bee n t o re -
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NOTES T O PAGE S 1 9 3 - 2 0 3 focus an d transfor m th e memor y i n imagination , t o serv e th e specifi c fictive purpose s of 1921 . 61 Alpers , Life of Mansfield, pp . 173-5 . 62 Journal, pp . 66-74 ; The Collected Letters of Katherine Mansfield ed . Vincen t O'Sul livan an d Margare t Scot t (Oxford , 1984) , i. 150 . 63 Glenavy , Today We Will Only Gossip, pp. 63-6 . 64 T S journal , pp . 59-65 ; BTW336. 65 J M M expresses , i n th e journal , hig h annoyanc e tha t whil e h e wa s ou t walkin g wit h D H L , Fried a ha d rea d som e o f his novel withou t hi s permission . H e als o records : 'L . is sad wit h som e ide a o f the approachin g sacrific e o f his personalit y fo r hi s revolution ' (p. 66) . 66 T S journal , pp . 63-7 . A visit t o 'Georg e Banks ' i s one o f the livelies t episode s i n Still Life. 67 Memoirs 20 7 (c. 5 February). 68 Memoirs 204 . 69 Abou t 1 0 February, broachin g th e ide a t o OM , sh e wrote : 'Whe n I sa w th e childre n I kne w tha t afte r al l how infinitel y mor e t o m e Lawrenc e i s and m y lif e wit h him , an d it seem s comparativel y littl e m y miser y o f no t havin g th e childre n - ' ; bu t sh e wa s upset b y th e failur e o f he r scheme . Howeve r he r letter s t o O M continu e ver y war m and friendl y - 'I t i s s o joyfu l t o thin k o f you r goo d an d understandin g dispositio n towards u s both ' - u p t o th e visi t t o Garsingto n i n mid-June . 70 Furbank , E. M. Forster, ii . 11. 71 T S journal , pp. 66-7 . (The news of the death o f Frieda's fathe r i s recorded o n p. 63) . 72 O n E33ia , p . 450 , Ursul a an d Skrebensk y driv e i n a hire d moto r pas t th e Hemloc k Stone. Campbell' s informatio n i s used o n p . 43 2 (R 273:6-11) . 73 R 267:31-2 ; 269:22-3. Von Hub e claime d t o have escape d fro m Polan d b y swimmin g the Vistula , an d wrot e a histor y o f Greasley . Fried a call s he r first bea u 'Ola f (Memoirs 56—62) . 74 Th e episod e wit h Winifre d wa s no t i n 'Th e Weddin g Ring' , sinc e referenc e t o he r had t o b e writte n int o th e reuse d sectio n o f th e 'Weddin g Ring ' typescript . Afte r publication, i n Ada' s cop y (privat e collection) , D H L change d th e titl e fro m 'Shame ' (always Ursula' s rathe r tha n his ) t o 'Schwann' , meanin g a ho t adolescen t feelin g o r 'crush'. 75 'D o bu t rea d on e chapte r calle d a Poem o f Friendship , whic h i s mos t beautiful . Th e whole boo k i s th e queeres t produc t o f subconsciousnes s tha t I hav e ye t struc k - h e has no t a glimmerin g fro m first t o las t o f wha t h e i s u p to ' (Furbank , E. M. Forster, ii. 12) . 76 Se e p . 79 5 note n o abov e on th e derivatio n o f this idea . 77 Hardy 122:11-12 : 'Su e ha d a being , specia l an d beautiful . Wh y mus t no t Jud e recognise i t i n al l its speciality? ' 78 Tomalin , Katherine Mansfield, pp . 35-8 ; cf . R 3i4:32ff . Thre e decade s later , according t o Barbar a Barr , Fried a sai d tha t sh e to o ha d ha d a lesbia n affai r a s a schoolgirl wit h a schoolteacher; cf . Rosi e Jackson, Frieda Lawrence (1994) , pp . 61-2 . It ma y b e s o - bu t thi s come s suspiciousl y late . I t migh t hav e mad e a differenc e t o
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the relationshi p wit h KM , fo r instance , an d he r belie f tha t Fried a ha d betraye d he r confidences t o D H L, i f she ha d tol d K M abou t i t then . On e occasionall y worrie s tha t some o f Frieda' s semi-fictionalise d memorie s ma y b e shape d b y The Rainbow rathe r than th e othe r wa y round. Sh e wrot e o n th e bac k o f a youthful photograp h o f herself , 'Ursula, o f th e Rainbow' , bu t th e youthfu l heroin e wa s originall y draw n fro m Loui e Burrows, thoug h D H L probabl y di d incorporat e memorie s o f Frieda' s late r i n th e book's development . 79 D H L no t onl y sai d thi s t o OM , bu t showe d i t late r b y partl y derivin g a sympatheti c character fro m him , th e Scottis h painte r Dunca n Forbe s i n Lady Chatterley's Lover who agree s t o b e name d a s th e fathe r o f Connie' s child . O f hi s painting , howeve r (conflated wit h th e Italia n painte r Magnelli) , ther e wa s stil l nothin g complimentar y to be said . 80 R 321:2 8 (and entr y o n p . 635) , 321:26-7. 81 Fo r th e vie w tha t thi s i s no t a n unmixe d improvement , se e Lawrenc e Lerner , 'Lawrence's Carbon' , i n The Truth Tellers (1967) , pp . 78-82 . A bod y o f readers , from Edwar d Garnet t onwards , regar d Sons and Lovers a s DHL's majo r achievemen t and rathe r regre t th e proces s I have been tracing . 82 Se e (i . 49-50 , 72) , an d Early Years ch . 7 . Som e o f th e materia l ma y hav e bee n i n 'The Weddin g Ring' , bu t sinc e D H L i s n o longe r reusin g th e ol d typescrip t i t i s impossible t o tell . 83 R 408:39 . 84 Ursula' s los s o f virginit y unde r th e grea t tre e i s indicate d bu t no t described ; th e scene o n th e beac h i s done muc h mor e symbolicall y tha n descriptively ; an d o f cours e the scen e Kuttne r describe d a s rap e ha s disappeare d fro m th e nove l altogether . Nevertheless th e America n publishe r Benjami n Huebsc h foun d i t necessar y t o expurgate th e nove l i n eleve n places , without tellin g D H L . 85 E.T . 125-8 . 86 Cf . R 429:28-430: 3 an d (ii . 282). 87 Letters of a Post-Impressionist (1912) , pp. 9 7 (ii . 298 n. 1) . 88 W e d o no t kno w whic h Blaue Reiter paintin g b y Fran z Mar c hun g o n Edga r Jaffe' s wall, but D H L woul d almos t certainl y hav e seen , i n 191 2 o r 1913 , paintings imbue d with Kandinsky' s ide a tha t th e artis t shoul d tr y t o sho w th e force s withi n things , rather tha n thei r appearanc e - painting s suc h a s Marc's Blue Horses (1911). 89 R 456:20-2 . 90 Fo r th e origina l endin g se e R 669 , an d fo r D H L ' s revisio n see , chapte r 5 , pp . 25 0 and 80 9 note 46 . 91 O M t o BR , 'Saturday' , 6 Marc h (McMaster) . Moore , acknowledgin g a cop y o f Keynes's Two Memoirs o n 1 7 May 194 9 (UT), ha s als o lef t a n accoun t o f the evenin g from whic h i t become s clea r bot h tha t h e ha d n o ide a wh o D H L wa s whe n h e sa t beside him , an d tha t on e o f th e subject s o n whic h Lawrenc e wa s eloquen t afte r dinner wa s Socialism . John Maynar d Keyne s (1883-1946 ) wa s educate d a t Eto n an d Cambridge . Though no t ye t a s famou s a s h e wa s t o become , h e wa s alread y Fello w o f King' s College, edito r o f th e Economic Journal (sinc e 1912) , served i n th e Treasur y an d wa s
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recognised a s a leadin g economis t - thoug h hi s best-know n wor k wa s ye t t o come : The Economic Consequences of the Peace (1919), arising out o f his representation o f th e Treasury a t th e Pari s Peac e Conference , an d propheticall y denouncin g th e heav y imposition o f economi c compensatio n o n German y i n th e Versaille s Treaty , an d th e influential economi c theor y tha t bear s hi s name . Fo r hi s homosexualit y a t thi s time , see Rober t Skidelsky , John Maynard Keynes (1983) , i . xvii , 20 4 (o n hi s sexua l diar y and it s statistic s whic h mad e Jame s Strache y gasp) , 128-9 ; a n ^ Holroyd , Lytton Strachey, i . 208-9, 212. He subsequentl y marrie d th e ballerin a Lydi a Lopokova . 92 B R t o OM, 'Sunday' , 7 March (UT) . 93 B R t o OM, 'Sunday' , 7 March (UT) . 94 Keynes , Two Memoirs (1949) , pp . 78-80 , 10 3 (Nehls , i . 286-8) . Shortl y before , Keynes ha d emphasise d th e importanc e t o 'Bloomsbury ' o f the philosoph y o f Moore , which place d th e highes t valu e o n persona l relationship s - thoug h Moor e (whos e philosophy tende d t o los e it s scrupulousnes s i n Bloomsbury ) woul d hardl y hav e approved o f Keynes's 'libertinism ' an d promiscuit y a t thi s time . 95 Tomalin , Katherine Mansfield, pp . 73-8 . 96 Bessi e Head , th e Sout h Africa n novelis t (wh o admire d DHL) , experience d a similarly terribl e menta l darkening , dissolvin g th e rea l worl d int o horribl e instances , everywhere, o f unlovin g sexualit y an d perversion , i n he r cas e amountin g t o a temporary insanity . Sh e recreate d thi s i n he r finest nove l A Question of Power (1974)97 Se e fo r instanc e th e photograp h wit h Dougla s Gran t i n Holroyd , Lytton Strachey, i. facin g 345 . 98 H e ha d met , an d grow n t o like , Eleanor Farjeo n whe n sh e visite d Viol a a t Greatha m in Marc h - an d subsequentl y offere d t o hel p wit h th e typin g o f The Rainbow, se e below. 99 I n describin g To m Brangwe n junior , D H L ma y hav e draw n o n a simila r anxiet y about Bunny : 'Whe n h e wa s alon e h e seeme d t o hav e n o being . Whe n h e wa s wit h another man , h e seeme d t o ad d himsel f t o th e other ' (E33ia , p . 343 ; R 223:12-1 4 and p . 607 , entry t o 223:12) . 100 Flowers of the Forest, pp. 50- 5 (Nehls , i. 299-302) . 101 Se e (ii . 320 notes) , e.g . 'Ottolin e mus t hav e bee n givin g D H L a luri d accoun t o f m y friendship wit h Franci s Birrell . H e wa s physicall y attracte d b y me , bu t I wa s unabl e to respond , an d durin g ou r friendshi p whic h laste d fro m earl y 191 4 until hi s death , I was quit e incapabl e o f returnin g hi s earl y "fallin g i n love " wit h m e whic h wa s rathe r imagined tha n real. ' H e di d indee d hav e a lifelon g friendshi p wit h Birrell , wit h whom h e opene d a bookshop , bu t thoug h h e wa s no t sleepin g wit h Birrell , hi s journal record s hi m beginnin g t o slee p wit h Dunca n Gran t shortl y afte r 6 Januar y (Spalding, Vanessa Bell, p . 135) . Spaldin g adds : 'Thoug h h e ha d previousl y flirte d with Maynar d an d Lytto n an d enjoye d a sentimenta l attachmen t wit h Franci s Birrell, h e ha d s o far alway s refuse d t o pursu e a male friendshi p int o bed ; tha t h e di d so no w wit h Dunca n greatl y upse t Birrell. ' Bunn y wen t t o liv e wit h Duncan , an d Vanessa, firs t a t Wisset t i n 191 6 an d late r a t Charleston . Unti l th e legislatio n whic h followed th e 195 7 Wolfende n report , homosexua l act s wer e illegal ; s o ther e wa s 805
N O T E S T O PAGE S 2 1 5 - 2 4
justification fo r concealment , bu t perhap s les s fo r attemptin g t o discredi t DHL' s concern whil e concealin g it s cause. 102 R 458:39-459: 1 an d p . 609 , entries t o 458:40. 103 A significan t anecdote , abou t th e violenc e o f hi s respons e a s a bo y whe n lassoe d (Golden Echo 168) , suggests ho w muc h h e hate d an d woul d reac t t o bein g force d i n any direction . Hi s shakin g hand s ma y hav e bee n rage . 104 Delan y discusse s th e paradoxe s o f neo-pagan libert y i n The Neo-Pagans, pp . xvi , 42,
68. 105 Keynes , Two Memoirs, p . 80 . Th e selectiv e quotatio n fro m D H L ' s lette r t o Bunn y begins i n Bunny' s origina l 'Memoir' , delivere d i n privat e t o th e Memoi r Clu b an d worked u p int o hi s late r reminiscence s o f D H L . I a m gratefu l t o Richar d Garnet t for th e loa n o f thi s paper , whic h i s a s vivi d (an d i n man y way s a s attractive ) a glimpse o f a younge r Bunn y a s o f it s subject . D H L did , o f course , hav e a physica l admiration an d grea t affectio n fo r Bunny , an d ma y hav e fel t jealou s a t ho w h e wa s being take n over , bu t hi s reaction s t o hi s youn g friend' s relationship s wen t deepe r than that , a s did th e ton e o f his letter . 106 Cf . allusio n t o Nietzsche' s Morgenrote (The Dawn) (1881 ) i n R 401:35- 6 an d Explanatory note , p. 531 . 107 Ther e ha d bee n discussio n 'o f sendin g he r away , perhap s t o furthe r he r studies ' (Miranda Seymour , Ottoline Morrell: Life on the Grand Scale, 1992 , p. 219) . 108 Cf . R 186-9 1 wit h 590-6 . Se e also Kinkead-Weekes, 'Th e Marbl e an d th e Statue' . 109 E33ia , p . 34 1 (R 604) ; 220:5-6; 219:34; 218:26-7. n o R 220:24 , 33 . Th e iron y thi s tim e i s th e degre e o f hi s success . Th e implicatio n o f anal sex wa s no t spotte d unti l Wilso n Knight , 'Lawrence , Joyce an d Powys' , Essays in Criticism, x i (Octobe r 1961) , 403-17. Will' s longin g t o b e lik e a 'tiger-cat' wa s cu t at proo f stage , perhap s i n self-censorshi p t o mee t a n objectio n fro m Pinker , o r perhaps not , se e R lxviii . Tha t D H L wa s talkin g o f th e significanc e o f Blake' s 'Tyger' a t th e tim e i s clea r fro m B R t o OM , poste d 3 an d 6 Apri l (UT) , whe n h e takes issu e wit h DHL' s vie w that' everybody i s a "Tyger , T y g e r " ' an d hi s failur e t o understand 'ho w Lov e (th e universa l kind ) ma y b e jus t a s deep a s the tiger' . i n R 220:5-8 . Se e als o Colin Clarke , River of Dissolution (1969), pp. 49-52 . [12 I t i s significan t tha t onl y on e o f th e passage s whic h migh t b e argue d a s self censorship, se e R lxiv-lxix , come s fro m thi s final section , thoug h severa l o f th e passages expurgate d fo r Huebsch' s editio n do . 113 An y explanatio n o f th e fifteen-month ga p betwee n th e orde r an d th e mov e t o enforce i t mus t b e speculative , an d th e law' s delay s ar e proverbial . Bu t sinc e i t i s unlikely tha t Weekley' s lawyer s woul d hav e waite d s o lon g t o b e paid , i t seem s possible tha t h e ma y hav e decide d t o pa y th e cost s himself , rathe r tha n ad d t o Frieda's impoverishment . I f tha t wer e so , th e reactivatio n o f th e clai m ma y hav e been cause d b y hi s resentmen t a t he r irruptio n int o hi s house , an d he r subsequen t ambushing o f hi m i n Nottingha m i n Decembe r 1914 . Whateve r non-bankruptin g settlement wa s reached , migh t the n hav e depende d o n Weekley' s unwillingnes s t o pursue th e matte r to o far , an d perhap s o n a n undertakin g b y Frieda . A n orde r fo r costs o f the examination , fo r £ 1 0 / 1 5 / 2 wa s made o n 8 July (ii . 328n.).
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114 D H L als o asked fo r 'On e othe r littl e thing ' - a dedication t o Else, in Germa n an d i n Gothic script . Th e motivatio n wil l hav e bee n complex : partl y a mark o f gratitude fo r all sh e ha d don e fo r the m i n th e earl y days ; partl y a n appropriat e tribut e t o a remarkable Ne w Woma n whos e caree r ha d ru n paralle l t o Ursula's i n man y respects , and rathe r mor e successfully ; bu t partl y als o a vindicatio n o f himsel f an d hi s marriage, t o th e sister-in-la w (now ) wh o ha d no t alway s bee n convince d tha t Fried a ought t o sta y wit h him . Bu t i n th e for m h e wanted , i t woul d hav e bee n intensel y provocative i n 1915 , and Pinke r sensibl y insiste d o n onl y 'T o Else ' - thoug h eve n the Germa n for m o f the nam e wa s a little risky .
Chapter Five : Rainbow' s En d 1 Se e Frieda' s letter s t o OM , e.g . c. 8 April 'Go d b e mercifu l t o u s an d don' t sen d u s any Meynel l whe n yo u come ; c. 20 Apri l 'Th e Meynellag e i s gettin g o n m y nerves , there i s so absolutely nothin g betwee n the m an d me ' (UT) . 2 Nehls , i . 288-9 . Hueffer' s wif e havin g refuse d t o divorc e him , h e wa s livin g wit h Violet Hun t withou t bein g abl e t o marr y her . H e woul d soo n chang e hi s surnam e t o 'Ford' i n orde r t o concea l hi s Germa n antecedents . C . F . G . Masterman , a n ex cabinet Minister , ha d becom e Directo r o f th e secre t propagand a burea u know n a s Wellington House , cf . Delany , Lawrence's Nightmare: The Writer and His Circle in the Years of the Great War (Hassocks , 1979) , p. 101 . 3 Memoirs 208 . 4 Letters of J MM to KM, ed . Hankin , p . 55 . 5 B R t o OM, poste d 3 and 6 April (UT) . 6 Edward Thomas, The Last Four Years: Book One of the Memoirs of Eleanor Farjeon (1958), p. 13 0 (Nehls, i . 293). 7 Davi d Garnet t (Golden Echo, p . 125 ) describe s he r a s 'smal l a s he r nam e suggests ; she ha d prett y brow n eye s an d short , curl y brow n hair , an d thoug h sh e wa s th e mother o f a grown-u p son , sh e wa s stil l a ver y atttractiv e an d vivaciou s creatur e . . . Sh e ha d a n intens e lov e o f life , th e bubblin g vitalit y o f a child. ' Sh e wa s a friend o f Eleano r Marx ; ha d publishe d tw o volume s o f poetr y b y 1910 , an d a pla y in 1915 . He r hom e a t 3 2 Wel l Wal k i n Hampstead , wa s 'lik e a ches t o f drawer s . . . always overflowin g wit h people ' (ibid. ) - an d a constan t refug e fo r th e Lawrences . Ernest Radfor d ha d translate d Hein e an d publishe d severa l volume s o f verse . Fo r his menta l trouble , se e Golden Echo, pp . 124-6 ; h e ha d t o b e place d i n a hom e i n 1918. 8 Farjeon , Edward Thomas, p . 129 . 9 Nehls , i . 292. 10 Farjeon , Edward Thomas, pp . 130-1 . Sh e helpe d Viol a wit h th e typin g o f The Rainbow, he r portio n 'includin g th e stamped e o f horse s whic h seeme d t o m e epic , the wor k o f a genius'(p. 123) . 11 Flowers of the Forest, pp. 51- 2 (Nehls , i . 300). 12 Farjeon , Edward Thomas, p . 13 3 (Nehls , i . 294) ; cf . Fried a t o Kot , ?2 0 Apri l (Memoirs 208) . 807
NOTES T O PAGE S 2 2 9 - 4 2 13 Fried a t o OM , c. 2 0 Apri l (UT) ; Fried a t o Kot , ?2 0 Apri l (Memoirs 208) ; Fried a t o Ottoline, c. 9 April (UT) . 14 O M t o BR , 2 9 an d 3 0 Apri l (McMaster) ; B R t o OM , ?3 0 Apri l an d 1 Ma y (UT) ; OM t o BR, 2 7 April (McMaster) . 15 Edward Thomas, pp . 135- 7 (Nehls , i. 294-7). 16 Letters ofJMM to KM, ed . Hankin , pp . 60 , 62-3. 17 Farjeon , Edward Thomas, p . 130 . 18 Diaries igi$-i8 (1968) , pp. 18-19 . Se e als o chapter 4 , pp. 218-19 . 19 Eve n no w Fried a appear s no t t o have take n i n th e injunction . 20 Nehls , i . 300, 303, 306; Eleanor confirm s hi s motivation (Nehls , i . 306). D H L 's lette r is the on e i n whic h h e say s (abou t th e sinkin g o f th e Lusitania) tha t h e 'woul d lik e t o kill a million Germans ' - the n adds , 'Don' t tak e an y notic e o f m y extravagan t tal k one must sa y something.' I t i s easy t o giv e a false impressio n b y selectiv e quotation . 21 Mar y Saleeby-Fishe r i n Nehls , i . 304 ; als o a n intervie w wit h her ; an d he r noteboo k (UT). Se e als o chapte r 4 , pp . 17 9 an d 79 8 not e 3 0 an d interview s wit h Loui e Burrows's younge r sister s Winifre d an d Nora . 22 Farjeon , Edward Thomas, p . 306 . 23 B R t o OM, poste d 3 1 Ma y (UT) . 24 Diaries, pp. 37-8 . 25 O M t o BR, 1 1 June (UT) ; BR t o OM, 1 1 and 1 2 June (McMaster) . 26 Ottoline at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy , pp . 36-7 ; O M t o BR , 3 1 Ma y (McMaster); BR t o OM 1 5 June (UT) . 27 Ottoline at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy , pp . 37-8 ; O M t o BR , 1 8 Jun e (McMaster). Ther e appear s t o hav e bee n a great dea l o f reworkin g an d expansio n i n hindsight. I am mos t gratefu l fo r havin g been allowe d t o see the origina l ters e entry . 28 Diaries, p. 45 . 29 B R t o OM , 1 9 an d c. 20- 1 Jun e (UT) ; O M t o BR , 2 4 June (McMaster) ; Cf . BR' s reply th e nex t day : 'Yes , Lawrence an d I are curiously alik e i n man y ways ' (UT) ; B R to OM, 1 9 or 2 0 June. 30 Diaries, pp. 45-6 . 31 I t i s no t quit e certai n tha t Frieda' s lette r (UT) , heade d 'Littlehampton ' bu t entirel y dateless, date s fro m th e visi t t o Littlehampto n o n 2 1 June, rathe r tha n th e late r visi t there i n earl y August . Bu t tw o point s mak e th e lat e June dat e muc h th e mor e likely : the possibilit y tha t unburdenin g hersel f t o C A ha d mad e i t possibl e t o writ e t o O M (whereas i n Augus t Fried a wa s newl y enrage d b y th e new s tha t D H L was bein g invited t o Garsingto n alone) ; and tha t ther e i s no mentio n i n OM' s letter s t o B R o f a letter fro m Fried a i n August , wherea s sh e enclose s on e i n he r lette r t o hi m o n 3 July (McMaster) an d ha s hi s comment s bac k th e nex t da y (UT) . 32 BR' s typescrip t an d D H L ' s comment s (UT ) ar e printe d a s Appendi x A i n D. H. Lawrence's Letters to Bertrand Russell, ed. Harr y T . Moor e (Ne w York , 1948) . Cf . Russell, 'Th e disease : disintegration' , p . 79 ; DHL' s comment s o n Section s II I an d IV, pp. 92-3 . 33 Letters to Russell, Russell, pp. 79 , 81, 95-6; D H L, pp . 81-2 . 34 Ibid. , pp . 77 , 8 1 an d especiall y pp . 87-8 , wher e D H L angril y ('no ! no ! no ! no! no!' )
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NOTES T O PAGE S 2 4 2 - 5 7 refuses BR' s clai m tha t moralit y come s fro m wantin g other s t o lik e us , and i s define d by conformit y t o others' wishes . 35 Ibid. , Russell , pp . 85 , 95; D H L, 89 , 85, 84, 95, 85. 36 Ibid. , pp . 82-3 ; 88; 90-1. 37 B R t o OM, 8 July (UT) ; Keynes , Two Memoirs, p . 102 . 38 B R t o OM, 1 1 and 8 July (UT) . 39 Portraits from Memory and Other Essays [1956] (Nehls, i . 282-5) . 40 Heracleitu s fragment s 59 , 32 , 36 , 39 , 46 , 41-2 , 60 , 69 , 8 3 i n Burnet , Early Greek Philosophy (4t h edn , 1930) . 41 Letters to Russell, p . 95 ; Heracleitus fragmen t 43 , in Burnet, Early Greek Philosophy. 42 Letters to Russell, pp . 94 , 82 ; Heracleitu s fragment s n o , i n , 114 , i n Burne t Early Greek Philosophy. 43 DHL' s politica l developmen t i s trace d i n Macdonal d Daly , 'D . H . Lawrenc e an d Labour i n th e Grea t War' , Modern Language Review, lxxxi x (Januar y 1994) , 19-38 . 44 B R t o OM, 3 1 July (UT) ; O M t o BR, 2 5 July (McMaster) . 45 R 408:39-409:2 ; p. 65 6 entry t o 408:40; 409:2-6. 46 R 459*39 ; 459-3; 459:5-8 an d p . 66 9 entries, 459:2, 4. 47 Th e expurgation s ar e listed R xli v n . 34 . 48 Thes e ar e discusse d i n detai l i n R lxiv-lxix . Charle s Ros s i s fa r mor e confiden t o f DHL's intentions : cf . Composition 37-57. 49 Methue n stoc k ledge r (UInd ) an d se e R lvi-lvii . 50 Th e Strand wa s i n fac t on e o f th e leas t likel y magazine s t o tak e suc h a story , a s Pinker wil l hav e realise d straightaway . D H L cam e t o regar d i t a s th e archetypa l 'popular' periodical . 51 Bot h version s ar e printe d i n EmyE (5-33 , 219-32) . 52 EmyE 8:8 . Onl y thos e clos e t o th e famil y coul d kno w tha t Wilfri d Meynel l cam e from a n 'impoverishe d Quake r family ' i n Newcastle , an d Perc y Luca s fro m 'a n ol d south-of-England family ' - thoug h that , too , would appl y t o thousand s (EmyE 221:7 , 21-2). Ther e i s brie f mentio n o f Winifre d havin g si x siblings , an d thre e daughter s (222:36-7; 220:36) , bu t non e i s name d an d ther e ar e n o othe r cottages . Ther e i s n o poet-mother. 53 Se e Barbar a Lucas , 'Apropo s o f "England , m y England"' , Twentieth Century, clxi x (March 1961) , 288-93, which howeve r deal s only wit h th e late r version . 54 Fro m a n entr y i n Mar y Saleeby' s exercise-book , Nehls , i . 304 . 55 Farjeon , Edward Thomas, p . 29 . 56 EmyE 219:3 , 16 , 33; 220:19-20. 57 EmyE 221:1-2 ; 220:13, 23-4, 26 ; 223:25-6. 58 EmyE 224:11-14 ; 224:26 ; 225:11-12, 30-1; 226:13-18; 226:28. 59 Diaries, pp . 56-8 . 60 SP 31-2 ; Murry, Reminiscences, p. 6 7 (Nehls, i. 322). 61 Nehls , i . 320. 62 'H e suddenl y appeare d a t he r doo r whe n sh e wa s alon e i n he r Hampstea d flat, sh e remembered, peeling apples in that Spanish pottery bowl' (BMTL 138) . She goes on t o recall how D HL ha d seemed the only one who knew how she felt about losing her baby.
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Through them , h e also met - thoug h no t unti l th e autumn - thei r clos e frien d Joh n Cournos, write r an d journalis t fro m Philadelphia , whos e famil y ha d emigrate d fro m Russia and wh o had pulled himsel f up fro m condition s of great poverty - an d Morfyd d Owen, wh o woul d marr y th e leadin g Englis h Freudia n Ernes t Jone s i n 1917 . (Information fro m Rhia n Davis. ) 63 Belie f i n equa l opportunit y - wer e tha t achievabl e - doe s somethin g t o reconcil e th e two ideas ; thoug h D H L believe d i n disqualif y - wha t h e woul d late r cal l 'sacre d differences' - rathe r tha n an y intrinsi c equalit y o r egalitarianism . 64 Perc y wa s a n acto r muc h admire d fo r performance s i n Shakespear e an d Shaw . I n 1911 h e joine d Mis s Horniman' s theatr e compan y i n Manchester . Unfortunatel y fo r D H L , h e enliste d i n th e arm y i n Decembe r 191 5 an d remaine d i n i t unti l 1923 ; bu t he di d eventuall y produc e D H L ' s pla y a t th e Kingsway , London , i n 1926 . Mars h printed 'Servic e o f Al l th e Dead ' an d 'Meetin g Amon g th e Mountains ' i n Georgian Poetry igij-igi^ tha t November . T h e forme r woul d als o appea r (a s 'Giorn o de i Morti') i n The Book of Italy, ed . Raffaell o Piccol i an d publishe d b y Fishe r Unwi n fo r the Pro-Itali a Committe e i n 1916 . 65 Ottoline at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy , p . 45 ; Seymour , Ottoline Morrell, pp. 242-4 . 66 I t seem s however , fro m Forster' s unpublishe d diar y a t King s College , Cambridg e (c. 9 September ) tha t D H L wa s mistake n i n this , an d tha t Forste r ha d take n stron g exception o n thi s occasio n t o D H L 's criticism s o f someone h e greatl y admired : 'Afte r Lawrence's remark s abou t Carpente r realis e wit h regre t tha t I canno t kno w him. ' Though DHL' s ide a o f th e bisexualit y o f everyon e wa s indee d influence d t o som e extent b y Carpenter , h e differe d radicall y fro m Carpente r i n tw o essentia l respects . His ide a o f growt h throug h conflic t (an d eve n violence ) differe d markedl y fro m Carpenter's pacifism ; an d h e differe d eve n mor e strongl y fro m Carpenter' s hig h valuation o f 'th e intermediat e sex ' an d hi s justificatio n o f homosexuality . I t ma y hav e been a n attac k o n thi s tha t upse t Forster . O n 2 5 Septembe r D H L aske d Willi e Hopkin t o sen d a Signature leafle t t o Carpente r eve n 'thoug h h e i s not i n m y line ' (ii. 401). Thoug h D H L wrot e t o Forste r a t th e en d o f th e mont h abou t Hug h Meredith's visi t (ii . 403-4) , i t seem s ther e wa s the n a lon g silenc e unti l Ma y 1916 , when correspondenc e recommenced . 67 Collected Papers of Bertrand Russell, xiii . 'Prophec y an d Dissen t 1914-16' , pp. 327-38 . 68 Whe n B R first drafte d hi s Autobiography a yea r afte r DHL' s death , ther e wa s n o mention o f hi m a t all . Fou r year s later , a s hi s biographe r say s (Clark , Life of Russell, p. 265) , hi s 'rea l feeling s surfaced ' i n on e o f hi s las t letter s t o OM , wher e h e wrot e that D H L wa s 'on e o f a lon g lin e beginnin g wit h Heracleitu s & endin g wit h Hitler , whose rulin g motiv e wa s hatre d derive d fro m megalomania' . Tw o decade s later , i n 'Portraits fro m Memory ' (1952) , pp . 104-8 , repeate d i n a broadcas t fo r th e BB C (Nehls, i . 282-5 ) h e allege d tha t D H L 'ha d develope d th e whol e philosoph y o f fascism befor e th e politician s ha d though t o f it', tha t h e use d 'th e languag e o f a fascis t dictator' an d tha t hi s philosoph y o f 'blood ' wa s 'frankl y rubbish ' whic h B R ha d rejected 'vehemently , thoug h I di d no t the n kno w i t le d straigh t t o Auschwitz ' (ibid. ,
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i. 283-4) . 1 ° )68 h e incorporate d th e attac k int o hi s Autobiography, als o chargin g that D H L ha d bee n a mouthpiec e fo r hi s wife' s ideas . Th e Autobiography begins : 'Three passions , simple , bu t overwhelmingl y strong , hav e governe d m y life ; th e longing fo r love , th e searc h fo r knowledge , an d unbearabl e pit y fo r th e sufferin g o f mankind' (i . 20-4) . I t i s clea r enoug h tha t th e motivatio n o f hi s accoun t o f D H L wa s more concerne d t o ja b an d strik e tha n an y o f these , le t alon e th e impuls e t o trut h whose existenc e h e ha d refuse d t o concede ; bu t i t doe s sho w ho w D H L ' s attac k ha d got unde r hi s ski n an d festered . I t woul d hav e bee n bette r t o hav e replie d abusivel y at th e time . 69 Ther e i s n o evidenc e o f earlie r version s o f th e si x essay s whic h no w follow 'Th e Theatre'. Ha d ther e bee n any , D H L i n hi s time s o f penur y woul d certainl y hav e attempted t o publis h them . Th e evidenc e o f th e essay s themselve s suggest s tha t the y were conceive d i n term s of , an d proceede d t o explore , point s tha t th e new 'Lemo n Gardens' an d 'Theatre ' ha d reached ; an d therefor e tha t the y wer e newl y conceive d and writte n i n 1915 . 70 7 7 44:14-15 ; 97:39 ; 99:4-5 ; 100:34-5 . 'Christ s i n th e Tyrol ' an d 'Th e Crucifi x Across th e Mountains ' ar e both i n 7 7 (43-7, 91-100) . 71 7 7 106:24 ; 107:10-11 ; cf. th e tw o versions : 7 Y 51—8, 103-13. 72 77117:1 ; 121:38 ; 122:11-13 ; cf. th e tw o versions : 7 7 59-68, 114-32 . 73 Th e secon d insertio n (cf . 7 7 6 3 wit h 124-6 ) restate s th e Opposites , bu t als o ho w they hav e becom e exhausted . Ther e ca n b e n o goin g back. (Bu t ho w t o g o forward? ) 74 TI 132:28-9 . 75 No w 'I t i s pas t th e tim e t o leav e of f . . . ' , 7 7 125:30-1 ; cf . p . 31 5 an d entrie s t o 125:30. 76 77125:32-3 . 77 TI 137:29-30 , 39-40 ; cf . th e tw o versions : TI 69-80 , 133-53 . 78 TI 149:6-9 . 79 Cf . TI 154-6 6 wit h Cyriax , Among Italian Peasants, pp . 3-13 . Pau l Eggert' s interviews wit h th e so n an d daughte r o f th e Capelli s ('Th e Subjectiv e Ar t o f D . H . Lawrence', unpublishe d Ph.D . thesis , Universit y o f Ken t a t Canterbury , 1981 , pp. 303-17 ) sho w bot h th e factua l base s fo r D H L ' s portrait s an d als o ho w h e transposed som e detail s (e.g . th e blasphemin g wa s Maria's , no t Paolo's ) fo r hi s ow n purposes. Se e als o TI 288-90 . 80 TI 162:35 ; 158:23-4 ; 164:10 , b ; 154:32 ; 165:11 . Cyriax , Among Italian Peasants, P- 13 81 Se e (ii . 418): I. Narodiczk y wa s als o t o prin t an d publis h Isaa c Rosenberg' s poem s i n 1915, agai n n o 'little ' distinction . Unfortunately , th e Cambridg e Editio n doe s no t reprint th e origina l versio n o f 'Th e Crown' , whic h ca n howeve r b e reconstructe d from Appendi x I I i n RDP (469-79) , i n conjunctio n wit h th e heavil y revise d versio n published i n 1925 , pp. 253-306 . 82 RDP 272:6-12 . O n Heracleita n flux se e Burnet , Early Greek Philosophy, pp . i6iff. , though th e ide a o f human bein g a s a process o f continual chang e - a s against th e ide a of a 'stable ' eg o - ha d bee n formulate d b y D H L i n 191 4 befor e readin g Heracleitus , who confirme d an d extende d hi s thinkin g rathe r tha n originatin g it .
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83 RDP 272:27-8 , 293:22 and 476-7 , entries t o 293:2 2 an d 294:25 . 84 RDP 282:37-8 . Th e passag e explorin g homosexualit y (RDP 472-4 , entr y t o 285:1 ) was cu t fro m th e 192 5 version , b y whic h tim e D H L wa s n o longe r intereste d i n homosexuality an d it s significance . 85 RDP 47 6 entry t o 289:29 ; 300:29-30; 302:17. 86 'I I Duro ' wa s poste d 8 October , 'Italian s i n Exile ' o n 1 2 Octobe r an d 'Th e Retur n Journey' (originall y 'O n th e Road' ) o n th e 19t h (iii . 40 8 an d n . 2 ; 410 an d n . 3 ; 41 3 and n . 2) . There i s no mentio n of'Th e Dance ' an d 'John' . Egger t suggests , plausibly , that 'Th e Dance ' ma y originall y hav e bee n par t o f 'Sa n Gaudenzio ' fro m whic h i t obviously lead s on . H e think s tha t 'John ' ma y hav e bee n a n afterthought , writte n between 2 1 an d 2 6 Octobe r whe n D H L sen t awa y th e whol e (iv . 417 ; presumably , then, wit h th e las t tw o essay s i n manuscript) , se e 7 7 xlvi . Sinc e n o manuscrip t o r typescript survive s fo r 77 , it is impossible t o tell fo r sure . 87 7 7 168:17 , 24-5, 34-5; 170:20 . Tony Cyria x describe d a dance i n Muslone , i n whic h she dance d wit h th e one-legge d wood-cutte r (Among Italian Peasants, p . 22) . I t i s however ver y unlikel y tha t th e blond e signor a describe d a s attractin g hi s invitatio n outside, i n DHL' s account , i s Tony , who m Bunn y Garnet t decribe d a s brown skinned an d dark-eyed . Th e 'blonde ' (i n Italia n terms ) seem s certai n t o hav e bee n Frieda (eve n withou t th e privat e joke) . Tha t th e wood-cutte r dance d wit h bot h i s confirmed b y (i . 536) . Eggert wa s tol d b y th e younge r Capelli s tha t dance s too k plac e at both place s (7 7 290-1 , not e t o 167:28) . 88 TI 173:29-30 , 35 , 30-1, 37; 177:7 , 8-10 ; 176:36-7 ; 177: 1 - 2 ; !7 8:5> 6 > a nd s e e 2 9l~2 for note s o n th e real-lif e Faustin o Magri . 89 7 7 180:39-40 ; 185:31 ; 185:4-5 ; 186:16-19 ; 186:40-1 , an d se e 292- 4 fo r note s suggesting tha t 'John ' ha d a n original , bu t ma y hav e bee n conflate d als o wit h anothe r or other s - o r partl y invented ? 90 7 7 198:12 , 26 ; 197:23 , 24-5 ; 200:9 ; 200:12 ; 200:22 ; 204:24 , 31-3 . I n proo f D H L added: ' I di d no t believ e i n th e perfectibilit y o f man' (202:15-16) . 91 77210:38 ; 211:33-4; 22 3 : 39 - 4°;> s e e t n e chang e i n proo f 323 , entr y t o 226:37 . 92 Cf . 'Not e t o Th e Crown' , RDP 24 9 (no t altogethe r reliable! ) an d (ii . 385 , 418 , 409 , 428). 93 Th e informatio n w e hav e abou t subscription s come s fro m D H L ' s letter s (e.g . (ii . 399, 405)) , letter s fro m subscriber s i n th e Koteliansk y paper s (BL ) an d D H L ' s Signature account s i n a notebook (UT) . Se e als o note 96 . 94 Fo r a full accoun t o f what wa s happening t o The Rainbow, se e R xlv-li . 95 Drape r 91-2 ; BTW^\. 96 A t mos t a doze n peopl e cam e t o th e meeting . (Indeed , tha t may b e th e figure, fro m D H L ' s Not e - RDP 24 9 - fo r bot h meetings . Murr y i s equall y ambiguou s Reminiscences, p . 68. ) W e kno w th e name s o f (eventually ) 12 2 subscriber s t o Signature, a numbe r o f the m fo r mor e tha n on e set , an d ther e wer e som e 9 furthe r purchases, bu t th e record s ar e incomplet e sinc e ther e i s n o wa y o f knowin g whethe r sums hande d i n b y Ko t an d other s equat e with , o r cove r mor e peopl e than , th e names w e have . However , th e tota l incom e fro m subscription s u p t o 4 November , a s shown i n D H L ' s account s (se e n . 81 ) wa s £ 1 7 / 1 2 / 6 - equivalen t t o 14 1 subscrip -
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NOTES T O PAGE S 2 7 7 - 8 0 tions (cf . Murry' s 'abou t £15 ' i n Reminiscences) - an d th e account s sho w tha t incom e to hav e covere d th e printin g cost s o f the thre e issues , and als o the postage , roo m hir e and mos t thoug h no t al l o f th e incidenta l expenses . Th e onl y seriou s los s wil l hav e been o f confidence an d pride . 97 Diaries, pp. 88 , 90, 92. 98 Methue n t o Pinker (NYPL) . 99 Drape r 93-5 . Behin d thes e criticism s i s a basi c horro r a t th e novel' s psychologica l revelation o f wha t lie s belo w 'th e ol d stabl e ego' . Bot h Lyn d an d Dougla s hav e a picture o f th e huma n sou l i n conflic t wit h 'lower ' nature ; bu t wher e Lyn d see s reduction t o th e physical , i n Douglas' s rodomontad e thi s become s 'abominations ' and 'putrescence' . Shorte r (Drape r 96-7 ) fo r al l hi s sho w o f liberalism , i s wit h Douglas. I n addition , w e hav e t o imagin e a climat e i n whic h Augustin e Birrell , Frankie's father , ma n o f letter s a s wel l a s a cabine t minister , t o who m Bunn y wrot e in fur y whe n h e hear d wha t ha d happened , coul d sa y o n 1 3 November 191 5 tha t h e 'would forbi d th e us e durin g th e wa r o f poetry' , a s thoug h a t a time o f nationa l crisi s no individual thinkin g o r feelin g coul d b e permitte d t o distract , le t alon e subvert , th e national effort . Th e Observer opined th e sam e da y tha t 'th e wa r ha s practicall y kille d the "proble m novel " and wit h i t th e neuroti c heroine' . 100 Fo r Pinker' s lette r (t o th e Societ y o f Authors) , se e Joh n Carter , 'Th e Rainbo w Prosecution', The Times Literary Supplement (2 7 Februar y 1969) , 216 an d R xlix . M r Muller fro m Methue n telephone d Pinke r t o sa y the y ha d bee n approache d b y Cliv e Bell wh o wa s 'anxiou s t o writ e i n defenc e o f Mr Lawrenc e an d hi s work' , bu t havin g consulted on e o f hi s Directors , Mulle r tol d Pinke r tha t 'the y fel t ver y strongl y tha t the matte r shoul d b e hushe d up ' an d hope d Pinke r woul d d o 'nothin g i n th e matter' . 101 Se e p . 791 note 84 , and nex t not e below . 102 Publi c Recor d Offic e H O 45/13944 , Minut e 210/PB/589 , Prosecution s Branch , Scotland Yar d - whe n i t ha d bee n discovere d tha t Seeke r ha d quietl y republishe d the nove l i n 1926 . I t wa s decide d no t t o prosecut e however , i n orde r no t t o giv e DHL's wor k an y furthe r publicit y i n th e aftermat h o f his death . 103 Letter s fro m Car l Hovey , edito r of Metropolitan, an d Joh n Reed , soo n t o becom e famous fo r hi s boo k abou t th e Russia n revolution , Ten Days That Shook The World, in th e Huebsc h archiv e (LC) . Hove y though t th e boo k 'on e o f th e finest o f literar y performances, an d n o Englishma n ha s equalle d it , i t seem s t o me , sinc e Thoma s Hardy wa s young . I t i s all immensel y real , sincere , an d o f a sustained intensit y whic h compels grea t admiration. ' Ree d wrote : ' I hav e neve r bee n s o deepl y move d b y anything. Th e Russian s com e neares t t o him , bu t afte r all , they ar e differen t fro m us , their spring s o f actio n ar e othe r tha n ours . Bu t thi s boo k i s the lif e o f ou r race , mad e beautiful an d ye t true. ' 104 Diaries, pp. 93 , 86. 105 EmyE 200:15 ; Diaries, p . 95 . 106 Th e first pag e o f th e manuscrip t sen t t o C A i s missing , bu t th e whol e poem , reconstructed fro m a n autograp h versio n foun d i n a noteboo k an d printe d b y Davi d Farmer, 'D . H . Lawrence' s " T h e Turnin g Back" : Th e Tex t an d It s Genesi s i n Correspondence', DHLR, v (Summe r 1972) , 121-31 , ca n b e foun d i n (ii . 421-3) .
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NOTES T O P A G E S 2 8 l - 6
For CA' s reactio n t o th e poe m an d hi s lette r defendin g it , se e Diaries, p . 95 . She wa s amused a t havin g 'godmothered ' a suppressed book , bu t unfortunatel y fo r her , D H L got t o hea r tha t sh e ha d sai d i t wa s 'like th e secon d stor y i n th e Prussia n Officer , onl y much worse" (ii . 432) . H e ha d bee n tol d b y 'tha t littl e snea k Murry , wh o ha d eavesdropped' a t a n exhibitio n whil e 'pretendin g no t t o recognis e me ' (Diaries, p. 98) . Nevertheles s bot h D H L an d Fried a wer e i n fine for m whe n C A too k Mar y Herbert t o mee t the m i n Hampstea d o n th e 12th , an d sh e wa s struc k b y th e contras t between 'th e miser y an d hystericalnes s o f hi s letters ' an d th e 'deliciou s laughte r i n him' tha t seeme d no t t o come ou t o n pape r (Diaries, pp. 97-8) . 107 Brett , Lawrence and Brett, pp . 16-19 . Sh e als o describes he r first meetin g i n th e 'tin y box o f a hous e . . . dar k an d poky ' i n th e Val e o f Health , wher e Gertle r (wh o ha d taken her) , and th e Lawrence s sa t 'tearin g poo r [Ottoline ] t o pieces' . Thi s mus t hav e been i n th e aftermat h o f th e ro w a t Garsingto n an d OM' s subsequen t invitatio n excluding Fried a - probabl y therefor e lat e Septembe r ( a fire wa s burning) , o r October, befor e th e complet e reconciliatio n a t th e en d o f the mont h whe n O M foun d him 'Devine ' again , O M t o BR , 2 8 Octobe r (UT) . Bret t als o describe s a secon d un gate-crashed evenin g o n 7 November ; bu t he r memor y i s a t faul t i n believin g tha t her tw o partie s wer e jus t befor e D H L lef t 'fo r abroad ' - a s opposed t o Cornwal l - a t the en d o f th e year . Strachey' s lette r t o Bunn y Garnett , 9 November , i n Holroyd , Lytton Strachey, ii . 161-2 . D H L di d no t car e fo r Strachey' s writing , bu t hi s disgus t will hav e ha d t o d o wit h wha t h e ha d discovere d abou t Cambridge , th e Apostle s an d Keynes, althoug h (a s Holroy d point s out ) Strache y an d D H L had , despit e importan t and radica l differences , a littl e mor e i n commo n tha n eithe r woul d readil y hav e admitted. 108 Thi s friend , perhap s th e M r Kee n mentione d i n th e lette r t o Dolli e Radfor d o n 1 8 November (ii . 444), 'sai d w e coul d liv e o n hi s littl e estat e i n Florida ' (ii . 429). D H L had bee n annoye d b y hearin g tha t Mars h ha d 'jeered ' a t The Rainbow (an d ha d mad e a comi c tur n o f Eddi e t o CA ) bu t h e wa s muc h move d b y thi s suppor t (ii . 428) . H e would repa y th e loa n i n Septembe r 1922 . At Garsingto n h e ha d tol d O M tha t h e fel t 'much affection ' toward s B R still , an d whe n tol d o f thi s (O M t o BR , 1 1 November , UT), B R contribute d toward s th e £30 , a generou s ac t afte r D H L ' s denunciation . Reconciliation wa s clearl y possible , an d woul d follo w soon . D H L offere d O M th e manuscript o f The Rainbow a s a mar k o f hi s gratitude , bu t late r sh e returne d i t t o him. 109 Quotation s fro m The Times, 1 5 November , p . 3 (Drape r 102-3 ) an d th e Daily Telegraph of the sam e day .
Chapter Six : Mid-winter Lif e 1 Se e chapte r 5 , p. 81 3 not e 100 ; Holroyd, Lytton Strachey, ii . 160 ; Squire: 'I t i s a dul l and monotonou s boo k whic h brood s gloomil y ove r th e physica l reaction s o f se x i n a way s o persisten t tha t on e wonder s whethe r th e autho r i s unde r th e spel l o f Germa n psychologists . . . ' , etc . (New Statesman, 2 0 November; Drape r 104-7) . 2 Bennnet t referre d i n passing , i n th e Daily News o f 1 5 November , t o 'Mr . D . H .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 2 8 6 - 8 Lawrence's beautifu l an d maligne d nove l " T h e Rainbow"' ; se e als o hi s lette r t o Frank Swinnerto n (The Letters of Arnold Bennett igi6-igji, ed . Jame s Hepburn , 1970, iii . i n ) . Fo r Carswell , se e Drape r 100-1 ; cf . SP 41-2. Fo r Watson , se e galle y proof o f review b y 'H.C.W.' , no w i n Nottingha m University , wit h instruction s no t t o print withou t permission . 3 Cf . (ii . 439 an d n . 1 ) quoting Herber t Thring , Secretar y t o th e Societ y o f Authors, t o Pinker (NYPL) . 4 Diaries, p . 101 ; Nehls, i . 333-4 . 5 I t seem s tha t Pinker , agen t t o the m al l an d t o Galsworthy , di d mak e tentativ e enquiries, sinc e D H L reacte d t o wha t soun d lik e comment s fro m Bennet t (ii . 479), and Well s an d Jame s (ii . 451). Galsworthy , h e wrot e later , 'tol d me , ver y calml y an d ex cathedra, h e though t th e book a failure a s a work o f art' (Introduction , Bibliography of D. H. Lawrence, b y McDonald ; P 234) ; bu t Galsworthy' s lette r t o Pinke r wa s much mor e hostile , callin g th e nove l 'aestheticall y detestable ' an d maintainin g tha t the sex-instinc t i s s o stron g 'tha t an y emphasi s upo n i t drag s th e whol e bein g o f th e reader awa y fro m seein g lif e steadily , truly , an d whole ' (Drape r 108-9) . Fo r Ma y Sinclair, se e Nehls, i . 57 9 n. 195 . 6 Watson' s Selected Essays and Reviews (not , however , includin g hi s Rainbow review ) were publishe d posthumousl y wit h a n introductio n b y Alic e Meynell , i n 1918 . H e worked fo r th e Telegraph for eigh t years , the las t fiv e a s a reviewer . 7 Cf . (ii . 417) ; 'Th e Spiri t o f th e Lawrenc e Women' , i n The Writings of Anna Wickham: Free Woman and Poet, ed . R . D . Smit h (1984) , pp. 355-9 . 8 Se e (ii . 402 an d n . 1 , 403-4, 425-6) . Forste r sen t D H L a copy o f Meredith' s poems , 'and o n th e strengt h o f this Meredit h pai d Lawrenc e a visit' (Furbank , E. M. Forster, ii. 3) . Meredit h wa s probabl y th e mos t importan t frien d o f th e youn g Forster , wh o fell i n lov e wit h hi m a t Cambridge . Thoug h i n external s Ansel l i n The Longest Journey resemble s A . R . Ainsworth , hi s rol e a s Rickie' s mento r an d conscienc e recalls Meredith's . Harold Massingham , journalis t an d critic , wa s th e so n o f th e edito r o f Nation, an d had himsel f bee n o n th e staf f o f th e Athenceum befor e th e war . H e me t D H L a t Greatham, an d thoug h i n a letter t o the Nation and Athenceum i n 193 0 (Nehls , i . 274 ) he say s h e los t touc h durin g th e war , hi s wif e remembere d bein g tol d ho w h e visite d 'Lawrence's hous e i n London , an d wa s muc h amuse d b y Lawrenc e hurlin g cushion s at Fried a i f she talke d to o much!' (Nehls , i. 574) . 9 C . Garnet t me t Zinaid a Athanasevn a Vengerov a throug h th e exile d revolutionar y Stepniak, i n earl y summe r 1893 . Then 26 , she ha d com e t o Londo n t o stud y Englis h literature an d wa s translatin g Georg e Meredit h int o Russian . Sh e wa s visite d b y Constance i n S t Petersbur g o n he r visit s t o Russia , bu t continue d t o spen d muc h time abroad . Sh e hel d stron g feminis t views , wa s acquainte d wit h Eleano r Mar x an d after th e revolutio n sh e worke d a s a translator fo r th e almana c Vsemirnaya Literatura, subsequently livin g i n Germany , an d dyin g i n Ne w York . N o proofs , however , hav e survived. 10 Nehls , i . 470-2 , referrin g als o t o ho w h e wa s instrumenta l i n gettin g D H L t o writ e Movements in European History (se e chapter 8 , pp. 462 and 83 9 note 92) .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 2 8 8 - 9 1 11 P H t o Frederic k Delius , 1 6 Novembe r 191 5 (BL) : 'Thi s evenin g I me t an d ha d a long tal k wit h D . H . Lawrence . H e ca n stan d thi s countr y n o longer , an d i s goin g t o America i n a week's time. ' 12 Heseltin e i s bette r know n a s th e compose r Pete r Warlock . Fo r biographie s se e Ceci l Gray, Peter Warlock (1934) ; I. A . Copley , A Turbulent Friendship (1983 ) - a study o f the relationshi p betwee n D H L an d PH ; an d especiall y Barr y Smith , Peter Warlock: The Life of Philip Heseltine (1994) . Letter s t o Delius , 1 8 Octobe r 191 4 (cf . als o t o Viva Smith , 1 6 October), 1 6 November 191 5 (BL) ; and t o Nichols , 1 2 October 191 4 (BL). 13 Rober t Nichol s ha d me t P H i n Oxford ; bu t afte r onl y a yea r a t Trinit y Colleg e h e volunteered, wa s commissione d i n th e Roya l Fiel d Artillery , serve d briefl y i n Flanders an d the n spen t five month s i n hospital . H e publishe d th e firs t o f severa l volumes o f poetry , Invocation, i n 1915 . H e contribute d a chapte r t o Gray' s Peter Warlock, an d woul d se e mor e o f D H L (thoug h h e gre w les s sympatheti c toward s him) i n 1918 . 14 Letter s fro m Deliu s t o PH , 2 4 Novembe r 191 5 (Lione l Carley , Letters of Frederick Delius, p. 155) , and P H t o Delius, 1 5 December (BL) . 15 Suhraward y wa s involve d i n th e episod e whe n K M pu t a stop t o mocker y o f DHL' s Amores i n th e Caf e Roya l i n 191 6 (se e pp . 337- 8 an d 82 4 not e 106) . H e wen t t o Russia an d becam e Professo r o f Englis h a t variou s Mosco w colleges , bu t ha d a precarious tim e durin g th e Octobe r Revolution . Howeve r h e becam e a regisseu r i n the Mosco w Art s Theatre , an d subsequentl y manage d t o ge t ou t o f Russi a an d return t o th e West . Kouyoumdjian , bor n i n Bulgari a i n 1895 , had hi s first bestselle r in The Green Hat (1924) . Afte r thei r quarre l i n 1916 , (se e pp . 29 9 an d 81 8 not e 35) , he an d Lawrenc e me t agai n i n Florenc e i n 1927 , wher e Lawrenc e dre w o n th e renewed acquaintanc e i n creatin g th e characte r o f Michaeli s i n Lady Chatterley's Lover. ( A well-know n photograp h o f D H L i n a doorwa y i n Garsingto n wit h tw o others portray s P H an d Suhrawardy , no t Kouyoumdjia n a s ha s usuall y bee n supposed: see , e.g. , i n ii. ) O f Croustchof f a t thi s tim e w e kno w ver y little , thoug h D H L sa w hi m no t onl y i n PH' s flat bu t late r i n Cornwall , wher e Bori s visite d PH , Gray an d Phy l Crocke r who m h e late r married . 16 'Resurrection' , 7 7 line s i n it s origina l version , wa s publishe d i n Poetry (1917) , an d a final version i n The New Poetry (1923) . 17 DHL' s contac t wit h th e Princ e wa s probabl y throug h CA . H e marrie d Beb' s step sister Elizabet h Asquit h i n 1919 . 18 Nehls , i . 335 . Th e Labou r politicia n wa s Commande r Josia h Clemen t Wedgwood , known a s 'Fathe r o f th e Labou r Party' . Th e questio n o f a politica l motiv e fo r th e prosecution wa s raised b y th e Radica l M.P . Si r Willia m Byle s who aske d whethe r th e proceedings wer e take n 'unde r th e Defenc e o f th e Real m Act' ; whic h th e Hom e Secretary denied . (Ther e was , then , som e contemporar y suspicio n abou t th e motiv e of the prosecution , thoug h perhap s mor e becaus e o f possibl e abus e b y th e authoritie s of the wide powers conferre d b y th e ac t tha n a concern fo r DHL. ) 19 Bor n i n 189 6 i n Neuchatel , Juliett e marrie d Julia n Huxle y i n 1919 , an d becam e friendly wit h D H L agai n i n 1927 . I n he r autobiograph y Leaves of the Tulip Tree
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NOTES T O PAGE S 2 9 1 - 5 (1986), pp . 48-9 , sh e recall s doin g Cophetu a an d th e Begga r Mai d a t Garsingto n with P H a s Cophetua ; als o a s th e Beas t t o he r Beauty , 'wearin g o n hi s hea d a wickerwork waste-pape r baske t . . . I remembe r bendin g ove r hi s reclinin g "dying " form an d releasin g m y imprompt u "lov e chant " an d th e wastepape r baske t flying of f to reveal hi s re d sweatin g face. ' (KM , however , coul d no t hav e bee n present. ) Minnie Luci e Channing , bor n i n 1894 i n Chiswick , wa s th e fourt h daughte r o f Robert Channing , describe d o n he r marriag e certificat e a s a mechanical engineer , an d on he r birt h certificat e a s a hote l waiter . O n PH' s nex t visi t t o Garsington , withou t D H L , h e wrot e (diplomatically , i n German ) t o Croustchof f o n 1 4 December : 'Suddenly thi s evenin g a s I considere d th e littl e overexcitin g Swis s girl , i t cam e t o me tha t I can NEVE R retur n t o Pum a - i t woul d b e quit e impossible . Sh e ha s soile d my whol e lov e - n o mor e ca n I imagin e tha t I lov e he r th e tinies t bit , whe n eve n now, wit h m y whol e heart , I passionatel y lov e th e Swis s gir l . . . ' (BL) . Hi s letter s 'flattered an d bewildered ' Juliette , h e too k he r walkin g o n Hampstea d Heat h an d t o the Caf e Royal , but sh e say s sh e 'becam e frightened ' o f him . 20 Otto line at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy , p . 77 . 21 Pinker' s author s ma y hav e bee n willin g t o donat e somethin g - thoug h Pinke r ma y also hav e 'advanced ' mos t o f i t fro m hi s ow n pocket . D H L wa s no w als o i n touc h with Mr s Bello c Lowndes agai n (ii . 471, 477, 479); cf. pp . 15 0 and 79 2 note 87 . 22 Cf . (ii . 463) , bu t Morrel l wa s discouraging ; Methue n t o Pinker , 9 Decembe r (NYPL). Neithe r no w o r i n 191 9 howeve r di d Bibesco' s genialit y produc e an y help . For Collins , see (ii . 463) and Nehls , i . 470. 23 Introduction , The Letters of D. H. Lawrence, ed . Aldou s Huxle y (1932) , p . xxi x (Nehls, i . 339) . Seymou r say s tha t OM' s invitatio n o f A H t o Garsingto n wa s t o placate he r mother-in-la w fo r havin g introduce d he r 19-year-ol d granddaughte r an d OM's niece , Doroth y Warren , t o th e dubiou s D H L (Ottoline Morrell, p . 247) , whic h OM the n compounde d b y introducin g A H t o hi m also . A H wa s alread y thinkin g o f visiting hi s brothe r i n Texa s i n 191 6 (A H t o OM , Ottoline at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy, pp . 80-1) , s o a n agreemen t t o visi t Florid a woul d no t b e so incautious. 24 Cf . (ii . 447-8) ; Nichol s i n Gray , Peter Warlock, pp . 89-9 0 - thoug h th e match making i s hardl y evidenc e o f ' a peculia r stat e o f mind' . Th e on e wh o di d fal l i n love wit h Dorothy , withou t nee d o f DHL' s intervention , wa s Kouyoumdjian , se e p. 299 . 25 BTW y]2.-j, Alpers , Life of Mansfield, pp . 185-6 . 26 BTW3S0. 27 Se e (ii . 480) , bu t ther e wer e eve n mor e expurgation s tha n D H L ha d spotted ; se e R xliv n. 3 4 which list s the m all . Though th e America n editio n ha d bee n printed , i t wa s not distribute d fo r som e time , an d the n i n a ver y clandestin e fashio n t o escap e prosecution (R lix-lx) . 28 Fo r Bennett' s article , see(ii . 47 9 n . 2) . I t wa s abou t a visi t t o th e Midland s i n whic h he wa s reminde d o f D H L ' s 'memorabl e an d awfu l board-schoo l scenes ' - th e mos t likely sectio n t o appeal t o him . 29 Nehls , i. 470.
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NOTES T O PAGE S 2 9 7 - 3 0 1 30 'Th e Prodiga l Husband ' wa s abandone d a t Porthcothan , bu t revive d i n Zenno r where i t wa s se t i n th e Tinner' s Arms . Th e denouemen t h e ha d bee n unabl e t o conceive befor e (ii . 501), came wit h a new treatmen t o f th e man' s dogge d determina tion, despit e bein g boun d han d an d foo t b y orde r o f hi s wife , an d brough t wit h i t a new ironi c title , 'Samson an d Delilah' . 31 Se e (ii . 525 , 556) : 'mor e tha n hi s share' . Som e account s appea r i n a noteboo k int o which D H L transcribe d poems , man y mean t fo r Amores (whic h P H typed) . B y th e end o f Februar y hal f o f DHL' s £10 0 wa s gon e (lette r fro m P H t o Delius , 1 March ; BL): 'onl y fifty pound s stan d betwee n hi m an d starvation' ; cf . Frieda' s conciliator y letter t o OM , c. 25 February , refusin g th e offe r o f mone y becaus e 'w e hav e a lot lef t still-about 5 o £ ' ( U T ) . 32 P H t o Delius , 1 1 February 191 6 (BL) . Th e child , t o b e calle d Nigel , mus t hav e bee n conceived i n Octobe r 191 5 since h e wa s born i n mid-Jul y 1916 . 33 P H t o Delius , 6 January 191 6 (BL ) (Gray , Peter Warlock, p . n o ) . Gra y liste d PH' s reading i n Boehme , Trismegistus , Paracelsus , Elipha s Levi , t o whic h Nichol s adde d the sexologist s Haveloc k Ellis , Carpente r an d Weininge r (pp . 144 , 67 ) - bu t ther e i s some doub t abou t th e dat e o f thi s reading , sinc e Nichols' s confidenc e abou t PH' s high opinio n o f Weininge r a t Oxfor d i s hardl y born e ou t b y PH' s letters . Thoug h these confir m tha t h e recommende d Elli s an d Carpente r t o Viv a Smit h i n 1914 , an d owned Elipha s Lev i i n 1917 , he onl y mentione d Weininge r t o ad d (i n 1914) : ' I hav e not rea d this , but i t i s considered a very goo d work. ' H e di d howeve r thin k o f joinin g 'a littl e societ y o f Psychica l research ' i n 1914 , an d sen t fo r a catalogu e o f 'Occult , Psychic an d Ne w Thought ' publication s fro m Willia m Rider . Deliu s ma y hav e encouraged thi s interest , sinc e h e ha d mentione d 'tabl e turnin g & spirit rapping ' i n a letter t o P H i n 1912 ; wh o tol d Viv a i n 191 3 tha t Deliu s ha d bee n 'greatl y intereste d in variou s occul t seances' . I t seem s likel y tha t PH' s interes t i n th e occul t an d th e depth o f hi s readin g wer e increase d b y contac t wit h Meredit h Star r i n 1917 , an d reached thei r heigh t durin g hi s yea r i n Irelan d (1917-18) ; bu t ha d certainl y begu n t o develop befor e 1915 . 34 Fried a t o OM, [ 1 January] 191 6 (UT) . 35 Postscrip t i n P H t o Viv a Smith , 1 6 Februar y 191 6 (BL) ; th e 'Rhinoceros ' hid e confirmed b y Fried a t o OM , c. 1 7 January (UT) . Th e New Age ski t accordin g t o P H writing t o Delius , 2 2 Apri l (BL ) - bu t Kouyoumdjia n di d no t becom e a contributo r to New Age fo r som e tim e yet , an d n o suc h sketc h appeare d there . D H L ' s late r reference t o th e debacl e wit h P H a s 'shamefull y fit fo r a Kouyoumdjia n sketch ' (ii . 598) migh t confir m th e threa t - bu t i t ma y als o b e tha t th e ide a an d th e basi s o f th e skit o n P H an d Pum a (se e p . 302 ) wa s Kouyoumdjian' s rathe r tha n D H L ' s , whic h might explai n th e remark . 36 Memoirs 209 . 37 Th e first lectur e wa s o n Tuesda y 1 8 January, an d th e eigh t wer e complete d o n 7 March (publishe d i n Novembe r a s Principles of Social Reconstruction); fo r Torqua y and Vivie n Eliot , se e Seymour , Ottoline Morrell, p . 244 . 38 Tomalin , Katherine Mansfield, p . 163 . 39 Se e (ii . 478 , 506) ; 'M y poetr y wil l sel l soone r tha n m y prose , i f i t i s properl y
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N O T E S T O PAGE S 3 0 3 - 7
marketed' (ii . 513) . Th e volum e wa s dedicate d t o O M an d publishe d i n Jul y b y Duckworth. 40 Gray , Peter Warlock, p . 114 ; O M t o BR , 4 Marc h 191 6 (McMaster) , th e da y afte r receiving anothe r abusiv e lette r fro m Frieda . Accordin g t o Gra y ther e wer e tw o typescript copie s o f whic h D H L destroye d on e befor e leavin g Zennor , an d P H use d the othe r fo r toile t paper , havin g (presumably ) ignore d D H L ' s reques t (ii . 598 ) t o return it . Gra y ma y howeve r hav e confuse d thi s wit h th e fat e o f a typescrip t o f 'A t the Gates' , destroye d i n tha t wa y b y P H (accordin g t o Joseph Hone ) i n reveng e fo r Women in Love (UT ; (ii . 19 6 n. 2)) . 41 Se 42 Se 43 Se 44 Se
e pp . 103-4 ; 161-2 ; 172-80 ; 199-208 . e pp . 190-3 , 209-16 . e pp . 201-4 , 220-2 ; 207; 213-15. e pp . 280 , (ii. 424) t o CA ; 269-71 ('Th e Crown') ; 27 1 an d 81 2 not e 84 ; 297 an d (ii .
447-8). 45 Otto line at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy , p . 93 . 46 Hardy 12:36-7 . 47 The Ajanta Frescoes, forty-two i n all , wer e newl y publishe d b y Oxfor d Universit y Press i n October , an d obtaine d throug h Ver e Collin s (ii . 49 0 an d n. , 505) . T h e frescoes i n th e sacre d Buddhis t cave s o f Ajant a i n Maharashtra , India , dat e fro m th e first centur y B C to th e sevent h AD. 48 B R tol d a frien d o n 1 0 February : 'm y lecture s ar e a grea t succes s . . . a rallying ground fo r th e intellectual s . . . Al l sort s o f literar y & artisti c peopl e wh o formerl y despised politic s ar e bein g drive n t o action ' {Autobiography, ii . 59) . He ma y wel l hav e written i n simila r term s t o D H L, wh o replie d th e nex t da y askin g (rathe r sceptically ) whether the y wer e indee d 'reall y vital' , an d whethe r Russel l wa s 'reall y glad ? - o r only excited? ' (ii . 534). Later, scepticis m increased . 49 I n Also Sprach Zarathustra, tr . Lev y {Complete Works, xi . 25), Nietzsche ha d written : 'Three metamorphose s o f th e spiri t d o I designat e t o you : ho w th e spiri t becomet h a camel, th e came l a lion, th e lio n a t las t a child.' (I t i s unclea r whethe r - give n D H L ' s habit o f not crossin g a final 't ' - th e readin g a fe w line s abov e i s 'dea d meat ' (ii . 547 ) or 'dea d meal' . But doe s on e grin d meat^w^? ) 50 O M t o BR , 2 3 February . Th e thir d readin g o f th e Militar y Servic e Act , imposin g conscription o n al l able-bodie d me n betwee n 1 8 an d 40 , ha d bee n passe d o n 2 3 January an d woul d com e int o forc e i n June. B R wa s t o b e on e o f its majo r opponents . PH wa s greatly worrie d too . 51 Th e pal e blu e an d blac k counterpan e announce d itsel f (a s the y puzzle d ove r OM' s handwriting) a s 'th e countrypair ' (ii . 538) . D H L aske d t o borro w Petronius , an d The Possessed, bu t thereafte r wante d 'somethin g a bit learned ' rathe r tha n literary : Anglo Saxon, Nors e o r earl y Celtic , o r o n Druid s o r th e Orphi c religions , o r Egypt , o r 'really African' , fetis h worship , o r th e custom s o f primitiv e tribe s (ii . 510-11). Sh e sent hi m th e Loe b editio n of Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns and Homerica, trans . Hug h G. Evelyn-Whit e (1915 ) a n ancien t history , an d book s o n Egypt , primitiv e culture s and earl y Gree k religion . (Se e note s 72- 5 below. ) Th e pre-Socrati c an d pre Christian emphasi s i s clear ; thoug h h e als o enjoye d Coulton' s From St. Francis to
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 0 7 - I I Dante whic h ha d a chapter o n Joachim d e Fiore , an d th e accoun t o f th e monasterie s in th e dar k ages , which seeme d t o reflect hi s own situation . 52 Fried a t o OM , 1 January an d n.d . [c. 1 7 January] (UT) ; bu t the n th e denunciatio n [?22/23 January] , enclose d i n OM' s lette r t o B R abou t 2 4 Januar y (McMaster) , which h e returne d o n 'Wednesday ' [26th ] (UT) . 53 Fried a t o O M n.d . [722/2 3 January] ; whic h howeve r begins : ' I hop e yo u wil l com e before lon g an d tha t yo u ar e bette r - I wis h thi s quit e sincerely , thoug h I kno w i n your h e a r t . . . 54 Fried a howeve r woul d tel l OM : 'M y quarre l wit h yo u wa s neve r tha t yo u wer e fon d of Lawrence bu t tha t yo u seeme d t o underrat e me 1 [c. 25 February] (UT) . 55 P H t o OM, 2 8 January 191 6 (UT) . 56 Perhap s t o accompan y DHL' s lette r o f 2 5 Februar y (whic h als o referre d t o thei r purchase o f a green bow l fo r OM , perhap s a s a making-up gift ) (ii.556) . 57 Th e schem e i s firs t mentione d o n 1 1 Februar y (ii . 532) . Th e circula r i s reprinte d i n (ii. 54 2 n . 1 ) an d advertise s tha t 'I f sufficien t mone y i s forthcoming , a secon d boo k will b e announced ; eithe r Mr . Lawrence' s philosophica l work , "Goat s an d Com passes, " o r a new boo k b y som e othe r writer. ' T h e lowis h pric e suggest s tha t a larg e readership wa s envisaged , an d PH' s enthusiasti c lette r t o Viv a Smit h o n 1 6 Februar y (BL) say s h e expecte d t o b e abl e t o prin t 1,00 0 copie s fo r £120 ; sel l the m fo r 7/ 6 post-free; an d tha t th e book s afte r ' "Goats an d Compasses " ( a veritable soul-bomb , a dum-dum tha t wil l explod e insid e th e soul! ' woul d b e ' a seque l t o " T h e Rainbow' " and ' a nove l b y Middleto n Murry' . O M though t th e pla n itsel f good , thoug h perhap s ill-advised t o star t wit h The Rainbow (t o BR , 1 6 February ; U T ) ; bu t foun d th e prospectus 'odious . .. I t make s m e angr y - I hat e disdai n - & contempt. I fee l I mus t tell L I hate it ' (t o BR, 2 9 February). I f she did , thi s ma y hav e contribute d t o anothe r angry lette r fro m Frieda , 'quit e dreadful , abusin g m e lik e anything' , o f whic h O M complained t o BR o n 3 March, bu t whic h seem s no t t o hav e survived . 58 P H t o Nichols , 8 March 191 6 (BL) . 59 P H t o Delius, 2 2 April (BL ) (Gray , Peter Warlock, p . 118) . 60 Juliett e Huxley , i n Leaves of the Tulip Tree, pp . 48-9 , implie s tha t sh e ha d alread y broken wit h P H 'no t gently , bu t finally' before (she confirms ) 'Ottolin e questione d me abou t it , an d I learn t h e ha d a mistres s wh o wa s pregnan t wit h hi s child . W e never me t again , an d I burn t al l hi s letters. ' He r memory , s o man y year s later , ma y not b e accurat e i n detai l o r sequence , bu t sh e ha d certainl y bee n angr y whe n P H wrote t o he r denouncin g 'th e Ott ' fo r malignin g Frieda . Pau l Delany' s gues s (D. H. Lawrence's Nightmare, p . 40 4 n . 55 ) tha t a 'soulful ' documen t i n th e Juliette Huxle y papers i n U T ma y b e a n answe r t o a proposal o f marriage fro m P H seems , on carefu l inspection, ver y unlikely , bu t i t i s clea r fro m OM' s givin g hi m 'Goat s an d Compasses' t o return , tha t h e di d visi t Garsingto n afte r comin g bac k t o Londo n from Cornwall , mus t hav e bee n mad e t o admi t th e facts abou t Puma , an d wa s repulsed wit h finality b y Juliette. 61 Gray , Peter Warlock, p . 114 ; PH t o Delius , 2 2 April : 'whe n I wrot e an d denounce d him t o hi s face , al l h e coul d sa y was : - " I reques t tha t yo u d o no t tal k abou t m e i n London" - s o h e evidentl y ha d a ver y ba d attac k o f guilt y conscience . S o I replie d
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 U - 1 6 with a page o f propheti c review s o f a future boo k " D . H . Lawrence , a Critical Stud y by P.H., " o f whic h th e "Times " wil l say : - "Reveal s th e distorte d sou l o f thi s unhappy geniu s i n al l it s nake d horror" , an d th e "Spectator " wil l gloa t ove r " A monster o f obscenit y tracke d dow n t o it s secre t lair" , "Joh n Bul l alliterate s wit h "Personified perversit y pitilessl y portrayed " . . . etc . etc.' ; cf . Gray , Peter Warlock, pp. 118-19 . 62 E.g . fro m Emma , an d he r siste r sewin g o n a n armlet , th e clai m tha t Cornis h wome n are 'soft' , 'wise' , 'attractive ' an d 'unopposing' , ' a qualit y o f winsomenes s an d rare , unconscious Femal e soothingness ' [unlik e Frieda!] ; an d fro m Beresford' s landlor d Hawken a view of'small-eye d an d mean ' 'cunnin g nosed ' peasantr y (ii . 496-7). 63 Se e (ii . 551) ; still rathe r a lot give n tha t the y ha d onl y £5 0 left . T o find th e cottag e a t Higher Tregerthe n fo r a mere £ 5 a year wa s a huge strok e o f good fortune . 64 KM , Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , i . 250 ; KM, Journal, p . 114 ; JJV1M t o KM , [20 December 1915 ] (Letters of JMM to KM, ed . Hankin , p . 79). 65 J M M t o K M (Letters of JMM to KM, ed . Hankin , p . 88) ; OM t o BR , 2 9 Decembe r 1915 (McMaster) : 'Murr y talke d a lo t abou t hi s wife . I t i s th e mos t wonderfu l devotion'; J M M t o OM , n.d . [?3 i December] , fro m Waterlo o statio n (UT) . Cf . Ottoline at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy , p . 87 . 66 K M t o J M M, Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , i . 233 ; J MM t o OM , 3 1 Decembe r (UT), date d fro m Gar e d e Lyo n statio n i n Paris . K M t o OM , 2 1 Januar y 1916 , Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , i . 244-5 , cf . Ottoline at Garsington, ed . Gathorne Hardy, pp . 87-8 ; J MM t o OM, [2 1 January 1916 ] (UT) . 67 KM , Journal, p . 114 , Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , i . 25 0 (JM M say s th e lette r was no t posted , bu t Frieda' s sound s lik e a reply). OM complaine d o n 3 March abou t another abusiv e lette r fro m Frieda , bu t i t seems t o hav e disappeared , se e n. 5 7 above. 68 Se e BTW 395-6. J M M describe s ho w touche d the y wer e wit h th e lette r i n whic h D H L rejoice d i n thei r happines s ('Car i mie i ragazzi , I a m ver y gla d yo u ar e happy . That i s th e righ t wa y t o b e happ y - a nucleu s o f lov e betwee n a ma n an d a woman , and le t th e worl d loo k afte r itself ; ii . 507 ) - bu t ho w immediatel y chille d the y wer e by th e mentio n o f PH' s presence , befor e an y mentio n o f th e publishin g scheme . Hearing abou t that , o f course, made thing s worse . Fried a tol d Gertle r i n earl y Marc h (HU): 'Th e Murry' s wrot e ver y indignan t tha t Heseltin e starte d abou t thes e Rainbow book s withou t them, sayin g Lawrence wa s treacherous' (ii . 54 9 n . 1) . 69 D H L ha d ver y muc h wante d th e Murry s t o joi n the m i n Fiascherino , se e th e unpublished letter s o f 30 Septembe r an d 1 0 October 1913 , to be publishe d i n Letters, viii. - a s well as the lette r i n Novembe r (ii . 110-11) . 70 Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , i . 247-8. 71 Se e (ii . 543-4 , 545) ; cf. BTW 368-9. 72 Th e fascinatio n o f Hesio d wa s th e glimps e o f th e age s befor e classica l Greece . D H L drew a desig n base d o n th e frontispiec e fo r O M t o embroider . Fo r th e lis t o f book s see n. 51. 73 Perhap s H . R . Hall , The Ancient History of the Near East (1913 ) thoug h it s 62 6 page s made i t n o 'littl e book ' (ii . 528 and n.) . OM sen t Juliette's cop y o f Sir Gasto n Camill e Charles Maspero , Egypte (Paris , 1912) . O n it s usefulnes s fo r Women in Love se e
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 1 6 - 3 1 Delavenay 391-2 , thoug h ther e wer e beautifu l picture s o f gees e i n th e Ajant a fresco s too, an d D H L soo n aske d fo r anothe r smalle r boo k o n earl y Egyp t ('Th e tex t o f Mlle.'s boo k i s impossible'; ii . 529). 74 Se e n. 4 7 above. 75 Si r Edwar d Burnet t Tylor , Primitive Culture: Researches into the Development of Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Art and Custom, 2 vols. (1871) ; Gilbert Murray , The Four Stages of Greek Religion (1912) . For PH' s interes t i n th e occult , se e n. 3 0 above. 76 BTW396. 77 BTW403-4^.; cf . Reminiscences, pp. 77-8 . 78 K M t o Beatric e Campbell , 4 Ma y (Letters, ed . O'SuUiva n an d Scott , i . 260) . K M t o Virginia Woolf , 2 6 Apri l 191 9 (Letters, ed . O'SuUiva n an d Scott , ii . 314) ; K M t o Brett, 2 6 February 192 2 (Letters, ed . Murry , ii . 189) ; Frieda 102-3 . 79 Letters, ed . O'SuUiva n an d Scott , i . 261 . The servan t who m KM' s allowanc e enable d them t o hir e wa s Hild a Jelbert , age d fourteen . Sh e though t D H L 'mood y an d sarcastic', bu t Fried a 'jokey , stou t an d fair ' an d muc h nice r tha n th e othe r thre e (Alison Symons , Tremedda Days: A View of Zennor igoo-ig44, Padstow , 1992 , pp. 131-2) . K M wa s ' a marvellous-lookin g woman , bu t wa s il l a t th e tim e wit h a dreadful cough ' - i t is interesting tha t thi s i s said o f her rathe r tha n o f DHL . 80 Letters, ed . O'SuUiva n an d Scott , i . 262-4 . 81 Fried a t o OM, n.d . [befor e 7 April] (UT) . 82 J M M t o O M (UT) ; th e quotatio n ['monstrous , horrible , shapeless , huge' ] i s Virgil' s description o f the ogr e Polyphemu s (Aeneid, iii . 658). 83 4 May (Letters, ed . O'SuUiva n an d Scott , i . 260-2) . 84 Se e Hardy 71:11-16 ; 'Introduction t o These Paintings' , P 552 , 561, etc. 85 Journal, p . 146 . 86 Journal, p . 67 . 87 Se e The Aloe, with Prelude, ed . Vincen t O'SuUiva n (Manchester , 1982) . 88 E.g . J MM t o KM , 2 9 March 1915 , 1 6 December 1915 ; cf. Still Life, pp . 8 , 119 , 132 , etc. and KM' s stor y o f 191 5 'Somethin g Childis h an d Natural' . 89 J M M t o OM , 1 4 Ma y 191 5 (B R archiv e i n McMaster) ; i?7T F 406-8. Th e effusio n ends: 'Ah , m y philosopher , / M y mouse-haired , intoleran t prophet , / Wha t d o yo u know? . . . shal l yo u tel l m e how / I may lov e . . . ' 90 J M M t o OM, 1 4 May (McMaster) ; BTW 416-17. 91 Letters, ed . O'SuUiva n an d Scott , i . 269 ; Gertle r t o Kot , 2 0 June (BL) ; Letters, ed . O'SuUivan an d Scott , i . 270 . On 3 July sh e ha d plan s t o g o to Denmar k an d tol d Ko t 'at las t I am fre e again' . 92 WL 489:13 , 18 ; 490:7; 489-33, 35; 49o:i3, 15 ; 50i:3793 Delavenay , ii . 693. 94 WL 4 9 4 4 - 5 ; 499:i; 496:20 ; 503:36-8 ; 504:19 ; 505:1 ; 503:39-504:2 ; 5054-7 ; 495:29 30; 496:10-13. 95 Reminiscences, p . 79 , worke d u p i n BTW 409 , 412-13 . DHL' s rag e i n whic h h e accused J MM o f being a n 'obscen e bug ' suckin g hi s lif e awa y (BTW 416), i s the same rage h e fel t a t Fried a - abou t who m h e use d th e sam e imag e (se e p . 319 ) a t time s when h e fel t al l th e givin g an d commitmen t o f life-bloo d wa s comin g fro m him ,
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simply absorbe d b y them . J M M ' s questionin g o f Fried a i n 195 3 abou t D H L ' s 'homosexuality' ( 6 Augus t 1953 , Memoirs 328 ; an d se e chapte r 7 , p . 377 ) wa s a lat e afterthought; an d Frieda , withou t a t al l denyin g th e propensity , promptl y denie d that D H L eve r fel t tha t wa y abou t J M M. J MM neve r though t o f hi s ow n feeling s fo r Campbell a s homosexual , thoug h h e di d imagin e (mistakenly ) tha t D H L woul d sa y they coul d onl y fructif y betwee n a man an d a woman . 96 Pinke r seem s t o hav e aske d whethe r D H L wa s al l righ t fo r money , an d t o hav e bee n reassuring abou t hi s financial prospects . Th e £5 0 wa s probabl y fo r th e publicatio n o f Twilight in Italy i n mid-Jun e an d Amores i n July. 97 K M t o OM, [2 7 July] (Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , i . 272). 98 Cf . Somers' s experience s i n Kangaroo 214:14-215:29 , 218:12-221:16 ; (ii . 626-7 , 628^9); WL 28-30 . 99 This , Frieda' s first visi t fro m Cornwall , mad e possibl e b y th e 'advance ' fro m Pinker , may b e th e on e recalle d b y Barbi e i n 195 4 (Nehls , i . 321), though th e 'appl e blossom ' she remembere d he r mothe r carryin g mus t i n tha t cas e hav e bee n conflate d wit h Frieda's nex t visi t i n Apri l 1917 . I t i s no t clea r o n whic h o f thes e sh e too k th e children t o hea r Figaro an d t o te a a t Lyons , wher e i n th e Ladies ' Room , 'Els a sai d t o me, anxiously , "Yo u ar e no t t o like Mama , yo u know , jus t becaus e w e hav e go t te n shillings." Th e mone y wa s formall y returne d t o Fried a b y m y father. ' D H L tol d C A that afte r thi s visi t Fried a 'bega n t o realise , I believe, tha t th e mother-chil d relatio n i s not s o all-important' (iii . 26). 100 O M showe d neithe r th e possessivenes s no r th e jealous y o f Hermion e (a s he r tolerance o f the affair s wit h othe r wome n o f both he r husban d an d B R proves) ; and i t is hard t o imagin e murderou s physica l violenc e i n OM , thoug h sh e coul d b e verball y destructive. 101 Her e D H L wa s usin g an d indee d intensifyin g th e denigratio n o f Pum a by Heseltine, which h e himsel f though t unfai r t o th e actua l youn g woma n wh o cam e t o sta y a t Porthcothan - bu t wa s just wha t h e neede d fo r hi s novel . 102 WL 77:28-9 . 103 Unlik e The Rainbow whic h i s a historica l nove l packe d wit h verifiabl e detail , D H L deliberately lef t th e dat e o f the ne w nove l vague . Gerald , lik e Skrebensky , ha s serve d as a soldie r i n th e Anglo-Boe r wa r (an d ha s bee n u p th e Amazon , lik e Ede r i n rea l life); and sinc e th e nove l i s a continuation o f The Rainbow whic h end s abou t 1910 , we are presumabl y mean t t o thin k o f i t a s se t i n th e year s immediatel y precedin g th e First Worl d War . However , D H L i s les s intereste d i n 'history ' no w (excep t i n th e chapter abou t Gerald' s technologica l revolution ) tha n i n th e psychologica l hinterlan d of violenc e whic h i s only jus t unde r th e surfac e o f all thes e 'civilised ' characters , an d which wil l soon brea k ou t openl y i n 'world ' war . 104 JMM' s so n say s tha t h e onc e aske d J M M whethe r h e an d D H L di d eve r wrestl e in fact , an d i f s o wh o ha d won . 'Wh o d o yo u think? ' wa s th e reply . Thi s sound s a littl e lik e th e kin d o f stor y father s tel l sons ; bu t i t ma y b e tha t D H L wante d t o try somethin g unfamilia r t o hi m befor e writin g abou t it . Give n hi s recen t illness , however, ther e woul d hav e bee n littl e credi t i n makin g i t a contes t t o b e wo n o r lost. Th e ide a o f Japanes e wrestlin g cam e howeve r fro m a n extrac t fro m Lafcadi o
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0_
43
Hearn i n The International Library of Famous Literature, edite d b y Richar d Garnett (Edward' s father) , 2 0 vols . (1899 ) whic h wa s a cherishe d possessio n o f DHL's brothe r Ernest , an d o f th e Lawrenc e househol d i n Eastwood : se e Early Years i n . 105 1 October 195 2 (Memoirs 316) . 106 Th e inciden t occurre d o n Frida y 1 September. P H wa s no t present , no r wa s Puma . It wa s describe d bot h b y Gertle r writin g o n 2 Septembe r t o O M (UT) , an d b y Suhrawardy (wh o ha d n o ide a wh o th e rapto r was ) t o AH . AH' s lette r t o O M (UT ) dated onl y 'Thursday' , refer s t o th e inciden t a s havin g happene d 'las t night' , bu t may hav e bee n a misunderstandin g o f Suhrawardy . Se e WL 571-2., not e t o 384:3 4 (though th e woma n bear s n o resemblanc e t o Puma) . 107 Stanle y Hocking , Willia m Henry' s younge r brother , a s reporte d b y C . J . Stevens , Lawrence at Tregerthen (Troy , Ne w York , 1988) , pp. 76-8 . 108 Cf . WL 275:28- 9 an d DHL' s ow n gestur e t o Savage , talkin g a t Kingsgate ; Nehls , i. 210 . 109 K M t o OM, [2 7 July 1916 ] (Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , i . 272) ; cf. BTW423. 110 BTW 427-8 an d Lea , Life ofMurry. i n BTW 422 112 BTW421. On e o f these wa s that : Frieda sen t Murr y a tremendou s 'bif f yesterday . 'No w I a m goin g t o hav e m y say' - I t wa s just th e sam e 'Ac h d u hasslich e Augustine ' a s usual - Soone r o r late r all Frieda' s friend s ar e boun d t o po p thei r head s ou t o f th e windo w an d se e he r grinding i t befor e thei r doo r - smokin g a cigarette wit h on e han d o n he r hi p an d a coloure d pictur e o f Lorenz o an d Nietzsch e dancin g 'symbolically ' o n th e fron t of the barre l organ . [12 September ] (Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , i . 280 ) K M di d no t communicat e wit h O M fo r th e nex t fortnight , however , sinc e sh e wa s conducting a flirtation wit h BR . 113 H e ha d rea d abou t the m i n Lor d Rober t Curzon' s Visits to Monasteries in the Levant (1849; 1916) . I n th e lette r i n whic h h e thank s O M fo r thi s book , h e ask s fo r Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, whic h sh e dul y sen t (ii . 572) . He wa s much affecte d b y it s accoun t o f 'war s o f a collapsin g era , o f a dyin g idea ' (ii . 614 ) which mad e i t peculiarl y relevan t - henc e hi s us e o f i t (a s wel l a s o f OM' s gif t o f a lump o f lapis lazuli ) i n th e scen e i n whic h Hermion e attack s Birkin . 114 SP 63 , 71-3 , 78. 115 Mendel als o ha s character s partl y reminiscen t o f D H L an d Frieda , thoug h th e artis t 'Logan' an d 'Nellie ' who m h e murder s wer e primaril y base d o n Gertler' s frien d John Curri e an d hi s mistress . Fo r DHL' s comment s o n Cannan' s 'journalism ' se e (iii. 35, 44, 50), and fo r Frieda' s (iii . 52 n. 1) . 116 Th e ide a tha t onl y a Jew coul d hav e painte d thi s pictur e ha s obviousl y t o d o wit h the lon g histor y o f suffering , disintegratio n an d diaspor a o f th e Jewis h people , experiences tha t wen t t o mak e Jew s different , wit h th e kin d o f 'sacre d difference ' (iii. 390 ) D H L treasure d amon g peoples . Thi s seem s quit e othe r tha n th e routin e racist languag e h e ha d picke d u p i n Germany .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 4 4 - 5 117 Th e descriptio n o f Mountsie r i s base d o n informatio n fro m hi s great-nephe w fo r which, an d fo r th e accoun t o f hi s earl y career , I a m indebte d t o Jeffre y Meyers , D. H. Lawrence: A Biography (Ne w York , 1990) , pp . 199-200 . Se e als o Illustratio n 48. Informatio n abou t Esthe r Andrew s i s fro m m y interview s wit h he r nephe w Andrews Wanning . Se e als o Illustratio n 47 . Mountsie r wa s bor n i n Charleroi , sout h of Pittsburgh, graduate d B.A . fro m th e Universit y o f Michigan i n 1909 , read toward s a doctorat e a t Columbi a thoug h h e neve r finished i t an d joine d th e New York Sun a s its literar y edito r i n 1910 . H e wa s i n Englan d t o writ e article s o n th e effect s o f th e war an d hope d (lik e th e Aldingtons ' frien d Joh n Cournos , fo r th e Philadelphia Record) t o intervie w a numbe r o f prominen t people , writer s an d socialites . H e ha d been introduce d t o D H L a t th e Aldingtons ' i n 1915 , an d ha d bee n give n copie s o f Signature. Esther wa s bor n i n De s Moines , Iowa , bu t move d wit h he r famil y t o Brooklyn an d then t o Connecticut . Sh e studie d ar t a t Yal e (it s Dram a Schoo l no t ye t founded ) an d at Smit h College , bu t seem s no t t o hav e take n a degree . Agains t he r family' s wishe s she wen t o n th e stag e abou t 191 0 and toure d i n repertor y companie s fo r severa l year s before th e war . No t havin g ha d th e succes s sh e wante d o n th e stage , sh e ha d no w taken a jo b a s a fashio n journalis t o n Woman's Wear Daily, bu t thoug h sh e coul d draw, ha d a flair fo r clothe s an d wa s wel l paid , sh e despise d th e women' s clothin g business. Lawrenc e probabl y reflecte d he r opinio n o f herself whe n h e spok e o f her a s 'an artist ' an d 'no t reall y a journalist' - sh e share d hi s admiratio n o f The Merry-GoRound an d wa s 'ver y understanding ' (iii . 27-8) . Sh e stil l dre w mor e seriousl y whe n she coul d - som e animate d sketche s o f character s a t Ke y Wes t an d on e fine portrai t survive - an d wa s hopin g unde r Mountsier' s tutelag e t o wide n th e rang e o f he r journalistic writing . 118 Th e Lawrence s ha d ha d onl y £6 lef t i n July (se e above) . O n th e strengt h o f th e £5 0 which the n cam e fro m Pinker , probabl y fo r th e publicatio n o f Twilight in Italy i n mid-June an d Amores i n July , the y decide d t o pa y a n extr a £ 5 fo r th e Murrys ' unexpended leas e o n th e bigge r cottage , an d Fried a wa s abl e t o g o t o Londo n i n September. However , havin g calculate d tha t the y coul d i f necessar y liv e o n 'abou t £150 a year ' i n Zenno r (ii . 619 ) the y wer e stil l abou t £10 0 shor t o f that , eve n afte r more mone y fro m Pinker , £8 fo r severa l poem s i n th e Some Imagist Poets igi6: An Annual Anthology (ii . 64 3 an d n . 3) , an d £4. fro m Georgian Poetry (ii . 668) . H.D . wrote t o Am y i n Septembe r abou t th e Lawrences ' financial troubles . He r first ide a was secretl y t o augmen t hi s America n royalties , bu t Am y woul d no t deceive , sinc e i t would ange r he r t o b e deceive d i n tha t fashion . Sh e wa s confiden t o f bein g abl e t o offer a gif t i n a wa y tha t woul d 'enabl e hi m t o accep t i t withou t scruple ' (Damo n 385). D H L seem s t o hav e though t tha t Fried a ha d appeale d t o Am y withou t hi s knowledge (iii . 29) , bu t wa s greatl y touche d b y Amy' s help . (H e ha d refuse d t o accept Dunlop' s offe r o f a loan , becaus e Dunlo p wa s a marrie d ma n wit h children ; iii. 20. ) 119 H e sen t 'Th e Morta l Coil ' o n 3 1 October , 're-writte n fro m M S . I go t a week o r tw o back, fro m Ital y - stuf f don e befor e th e war ' (ii . 669 ) - se e chapte r 2 , p . 105 . Th e English Review di d no t prin t it , bu t i t wa s publishe d b y Seven Arts (Jul y 1917) .
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NOTESTO P A G E S 3 4 6 - 8
'Samson an d Delilah ' wa s sen t t o Pinke r o n 6 Novembe r (iii . 2 2 an d n . 3 ) an d published b y th e English Review i n Marc h 1917 . The collectio n o f poem s 'Al l o f Us ' (later calle d 'Bits' ) wa s sent t o Cynthi a o n 1 1 December (iii . 49-50).
Chapter Seven : Orpheu s Descendin g 1K
224:10-38 . 'Th e Nightmare ' chapte r i s par t o f a fiction, an d it s titl e suggest s heightening i n memory , bu t whereve r it s fact s ca n b e checke d the y ar e generall y accurate, though emotion s an d situation s ma y b e intensifie d o r dramatised . 2 Autobiography (Ne w York , 1935) , pp . 282 , 286 . Th e Defenc e o f th e Real m Ac t (1914) require d al l 'aliens ' t o registe r wit h th e polic e an d forbad e the m t o liv e i n prohibited area s withou t a police permit . 3 Fried a 8 2 ('Coastguards'), K 223:13-3 9 ('khak i individuals , officers o f some sort') ; on the inciden t i n S t Ive s se e (iii . 66). Frieda als o says tha t a policeman fro m S t Ive s ha d been t o th e cottag e severa l time s t o inspec t D H L ' s paper s (Fried a 104) ; cf . K 217:31-7. The sam e woul d happe n t o J MM whe n h e arrive d i n Cornwall . 4 Se e (iii . 65) ; K 224:39-225: 3 (not e Mountsier' s correctio n i n TSI I i n K 396 , not e t o 225:2); Esthe r Andrew s t o Mountsier , c. 4 January (UT ) (Lette r 3 ; Louis e Wright , 'Dear Montague : Letter s fro m Esthe r Andrew s t o Rober t Mountsier' , forthcomin g in DHLR. 5 I n 191 6 BR wa s forbidde n entry , unde r th e Defenc e o f th e Real m Act , t o prohibite d areas whic h 'include d th e whol e sea-coast' , becaus e o f th e speeche s h e mad e t o munitions worker s i n Wales . 6 Louis e E . Wright , 'D . H . Lawrence , Rober t Mountsie r an d th e Journalis t Sp y Controversy', D. H. Lawrence: The Journal of the D. H. Lawrence Society (1992-3) , 7-20, t o which I am indebte d fo r muc h tha t follows . 7 Ibid. , pp . 12-16 . Mountsie r publishe d hi s researche s int o foo d supplie s an d price s i n the New York Times o n 2 3 Februar y 1917 , th e da y afte r h e arrive d bac k i n th e United States , quotin g wha t h e ha d 'bee n tol d b y economist s an d shippin g men' . 8 E . Andrew s t o Mountsie r abou t articles , 1 , [4] , 5 , 7 January (UT ) (Wright , 'Dea r Montague', Letter s 2-5) . Lette r 3 reveal s he r suspicio n tha t th e polic e wil l rea d hi s correspondence. Lette r 5 suggests h e g o t o a proposed meetin g o f th e U D C i n Hyd e Park - bu t als o suggests tha t h e i s not 'i n sympathy ' wit h thei r anti-wa r stance . 9 Wright , 'Sp y Controversy' , p . 1 7 quotes Sidne y Theodor e Felstead , German Spies at Bay (Ne w York , 1920) , p . 251 , closing hi s accoun t o f th e conspirac y a s follows : 'I n January, 1917 , we ha d occasio n t o detai n anothe r America n journalist , who m w e ha d every reaso n t o suspec t wa s an emissar y o f Winnenburg' [wh o wa s arrested an d trie d with Sander] . 'It proved extremel y difficul t t o secure any evidence, however, an d afte r a goo d man y examination s " M " , a s I shal l designat e him , wa s sen t bac k t o America , with th e partin g salutatio n tha t h e woul d b e arreste d i f h e eve r attempte d t o lan d i n England again. ' Esther ha d aske d o n [ 4 January] why he was not being allowed t o leave for Franc e 'i f you ar e cleared 1; and o n [1 0 January] 'Wh y i n the world i s Scotland Yar d still pursuin g you ? I can' t understan d it . The y hav e strang e way s o f treatin g thei r friends, thes e English' (UT) (Wright , 'Dea r Montague', Letters 3 , 8).
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 4 8 - 5 2 10 Se e (iii . 147 an d n . 6) . Fried a probabl y addresse d mai l t o he r famil y throug h Fried a Gross i n Switzerland , bu t al l mai l addresse d t o neutra l countrie s wa s certai n t o b e censored. 11 Seeke r t o Pinker , 6 Februar y 191 7 (UI11 ) an d Constabl e t o Pinke r (NWU) : se e WL xxxiv.
12 SP8on . 13 Ottoline at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy , p . 128 . It wa s a pity tha t somebod y wit h the literar y pretension s o f Cliv e Bell , wh o wa s presen t a t Garsingto n whe n th e typescript arrive d an d witnesse d th e ver y rea l pai n o f OM , neithe r dreame d o f persuading he r tha t ther e migh t b e an y distinctio n betwee n literatur e an d portraitur e even i n 'suc h stuff , no r manage d an y sympathy . Her ladyshi p i s beside hersel f wit h fea r an d indignation ; & floats abou t lik e a pur e water-lily o f sixteen , takin g heave n t o witnes s tha t blac k i s no t black . Sh e ha s become utterl y undignifie d b y los s o f nerve an d haver s abou t concoctin g scheme s for th e suppressio n o f th e boo k . . . An d th e poo r gibberin g ol d ha g - thoug h I suppose sh e see s tha t sh e i s playin g Lawrence' s game , th e M S clearl y havin g been sen t t o annoy - hasn' t go t th e self-contro l t o preten d t o be indifferent . (Bell t o Mar y Hutchinson , 3 1 December 191 6 and 2 January 1917 ; U T ) 14 Se e WL xxxii , lviii-lxi . 15 Diaries p . 294 ; Memoirs 219 ; Sandr a Jobso n Darroch , Ottoline (Ne w York , 1975) , p. 195 , an d th e deman d fo r th e retur n o f th e pi n confirme d i n Diaries, p . 294 . O M apparently di d no t deman d bac k th e lum p o f lapi s lazul i sh e ha d als o give n D H L , which h e ha d use d i n th e boo k (alon g wit h he r loane d volum e o f Thucydides ) an d which h e subsequentl y gav e t o H.D . 16 Thi s i s disingenuous ; th e hous e ma y b e a composit e o f Garsingto n an d ' a Georgia n house wit h Corinthia n pillars ' (WL 82:3) , bu t th e garde n an d pon d ar e clearl y recognisable a s Garsington . Howeve r Jessi e Chamber s immediatel y recognise d a n affinity t o Miriam i n th e characte r o f Hermione (Delavenay , L'Homme, ii . 693). 17 Diaries, p . 294. 18 Ottoline at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy , p . 129 , Darroch , Ottoline, p . 197 , Seymour, Ottoline Morrell, pp . 281-3 . (Th e namin g i n th e 191 7 revisio n o f WL o f the characte r base d o n B R 'Si r Joshua Malleson ' wa s definitely malicious. ) 19 Huebsc h ha d publishe d Twilight in Italy i n Americ a i n 1916 , fro m Duckworth' s sheets. Rainbow wa s bein g distribute d b y Huebsc h rathe r surreptitiousl y (se e R lix lx). I t i s no t clea r whe n Pinke r mad e hi s on e attemp t t o find a n America n publishe r for Women in Love, bu t Little , Brow n & Co. rejected i t on 1 1 July 1917 . 20 Probabl y th e stor y mentione d a s 'o n hand ' i n Novembe r 191 6 (iii . 29 ) an d sen t t o Pinker unde r it s origina l titl e 'Th e Miracle ' o n 1 2 Januar y 191 7 (iii . 74) . Se t i n Eastwood, i t i s abou t a famil y gon e bankrupt , th e attempte d suicid e o f th e daughter , and he r rescu e b y a youn g doctor , bu t i t wa s no t accepte d b y an y periodica l until , revised an d retitle d (i n Octobe r 1921) , i t wa s publishe d b y th e English Review i n April 1922 . 21 Canna n ha d mad e hi s wife' s mai d pregnant , ha d ha d a nervou s breakdow n an d ha d then forme d anothe r liaiso n wit h Gwe n Wilson , whic h finally pu t pai d t o hi s
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N O T E S T O PAGE S 3 5 3 - 9 1
marriage, (se e Farr, Gilbert Cannan). ' I woul d writ e t o poor Gilber t an d Mary, ' D H L told Kot , 'bu t I feel I could d o n o good ' (iii . 90) . 22 I n fact , thoug h the y clearl y ha d a clos e relationshi p an d probabl y share d th e smal l cottage durin g thei r stay , they see m no t t o have been literall y livin g together. Esther' s letter o f [ 5 January] (UT ) (Wright , 'Dea r Montague' , Lette r 4) , says tha t sh e 'hate d most th e implicatio n o f thos e nast y minde d men' , bu t i t wa s 'simpl y unfortunat e tha t they ha d t o lan d o n yo u whe n yo u happene d t o b e i n m y flat'. H e wa s stayin g ther e in he r absence , bu t th e lette r als o make s i t clea r tha t h e woul d b e movin g ou t whe n she returned . D H L ma y hav e jumped to o quickl y t o his conclusion also . 23 Thes e - al l in th e Everyma n serie s - wer e Melville' s Moby Dick an d Omoo; Cooper's The Pioneers, The Prairie an d The Deerslayer; Whitman' s 'Leaves of Grass etc' ; Crevecceur's Letters from an American Farmer, Hawthorne' s Twice Told Tales, The Scarlet Letter an d The Blithedale Romance; Rousseau' s Emile; Lincoln' s Speeches; Emerson's essay s ( 3 vols.) , Society and Solitude, Nature an d Conduct of Life; Franklin's Autobiography; Hamilton' s The Federalist; an d Poe' s Tales of Mystery and Imagination. Tha t D H L mad e littl e o r n o us e o f th e politica l writer s i s no t perhap s surprising; bu t i t i s strang e tha t h e di d no t writ e o n Emerso n unti l hi s revie w o f Stuart Prat t Sherman' s Americans i n 1923 . 24 Th e governmen t wa s plannin g a ne w Militar y Servic e ac t whos e term s woul d b e published i n th e Times o n 2 9 March , creatin g power s t o cal l u p fo r examinatio n (among others ) 'me n wh o hav e previousl y bee n rejecte d o n an y ground ' (iii . 10 6 an d n. 2) . Howeve r th e rejectio n wa s probabl y stil l a consequenc e o f th e expulsio n fro m Cornwall. 25 SP 84 . 26 Se e pp . 18-2 3 an d 55 , 73-4 (an d notes ) fo r th e argumen t tha t Look! We Have Come Through! i s most safel y regarde d a s a work o f 1917 , and fo r a list o f the twent y whic h existed b y 191 4 i n usuall y ver y differen t (an d mostl y inferior ) earlie r versions , se e p . 768 not e 60 . ('Terranova', a n earlie r versio n o f 'Ne w Heave n an d Earth' , Poems, 256, was give n t o H.D . fo r Some Imagist Poets i n Octobe r 1916 , bu t ma y wel l hav e bee n written at Greatham.) Pendin g the publication o f the new Cambridge Edition, the early variants ar e t o b e foun d i n Carol e Ferrier , 'Th e Earlie r Poetr y o f D. H . Lawrence : A Variorum Text', unpublished Ph.D . thesis, University of Auckland, 1971 , ii. 27 Poems 212-13; K 226:6-7. 28 Se e Fried a 67- 8 fo r th e origina l versions . 29 Poems 217. 30 Poems 217-18. 31 I t i s possibl e t o argu e tha t som e poem s ma y hav e seeme d to o intimat e an d sexuall y explicit, o r to o liabl e t o compromis e Frieda , t o b e copie d ou t i n 191 3 (whe n sh e wa s still undivorced ) an d sen t fo r typin g an d publicatio n - bu t no t these . 32 Poems 218-19 . Cf . Hardy 12-13 , x ^, 52- 4 an d contras t th e 'Forewor d t o Sons and Lovers', SL 24 0 (itsel f nin e month s late r tha n th e ostensibl e dat e o f the poem ) wher e the emphasi s i s on th e Woma n an d henc e o n th e seed . 33 Damo n 445 : 'It i s t o m y min d a greater nove l eve n tha n Sons and Lovers, fo r al l tha t it is written i n a rather disconnecte d serie s of poems. '
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34 'Moonrise ' an d 'Th e Sea ' ar e bot h carve d ou t o f th e sam e earl y poem , probabl y written i n Bournemout h whe n h e wa s convalescin g i n earl y 1912 , while 'Marty r a la Mode', a s it s titl e indicates , i s adapte d fro m a n earl y poe m t o present a state o f min d D H L ha s lon g grow n beyond . 35 Poems 194 ; 196 ; 198-9 . 'Nonentity ' als o neatl y reverse s 'Th e Wil d Common' , rewritten i n Cornwal l fo r Amores nin e month s befor e th e manuscrip t o f Look! 'Do n Juan' ha s almos t certainl y bee n back-dated , thoug h faithfu l enoug h i n moo d perhap s to the D H L wh o refuse d t o fee l guilt y i n hi s las t meetin g wit h Loui e i n th e Castl e ar t gallery i n Nottingha m i n 1912 . I t wa s writte n befor e Octobe r 1913 , when i t wa s sen t to Marsh ; bu t th e imager y o f mountain s an d river s an d th e conclusio n sugges t Bavaria an d Frieda , rathe r tha n earl y 191 2 before h e me t her . 36 ' A Do e a t Evening ' probabl y date s a t th e earlies t fro m 1913 , sinc e (despit e th e fiction o f MN 109:13-37 ) ther e i s n o evidenc e o f a visi t t o Irschenhause n th e yea r before. A s fa r a s w e know , D H L spen t onl y on e weeken d alon e wit h Edga r Jaff e i n Munich i n 1912 . Eve n supposin g tha t the y di d g o t o Irschenhause n a s i n Mr Noon, t o se e th e sit e o f Edgar' s chale t (thoug h i t wa s probabl y alread y buil t b y then), an d tha t D H L migh t hav e see n a do e a t evenin g an d writte n a poe m abou t it; i t coul d surel y no t hav e bee n this poe m - s o finely balancin g femalenes s an d motherhood wit h malenes s al l mad e 'strange ' (Poems 222) , i n oppositio n an d relation? Woul d The Rainbow an d th e Prussian Officer endin g o f 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums' hav e take n s o lon g t o achiev e i f h e ha d alread y see n s o clearl y i n 1912, o r 191 3 whe n the y staye d i n Irschenhausen ? Bu t i f so , wh y wa s i t no t sen t for publicatio n then ? Agai n non e o f th e reason s fo r cautio n coul d possibl y apply . I t seems t o b e a poe m b y th e autho r o f The Rainbow (a t th e earliest) , bu t ma y hav e been writte n late r still . 37 Poems 200-3. 38 Poems 215; 216. 39 I t shoul d preced e 'Misery' . Letter s fro m Chatt o i n (iii . 14 5 n. 1 , 14 8 n. 1) . 40 Th e us e o f 'oubliette ' i n bot h 'Misery ' an d th e lette r t o McLeo d written , probabl y a t the station , a t Sterzin g (i . 445), might sugges t tha t thi s poe m was probably writte n a t the time , and woul d hav e bee n i n th e Tagebuc h - an d i t i s not difficul t i n tha t cas e t o see wh y D H L woul d no t hav e wante d t o publis h i t then . 'Meetin g Amon g th e Mountains' o n th e othe r han d wa s publishe d i n bot h Georgian Poetry igij-igif an d the English Review i n 1914 , whic h mad e Chatto' s timidit y abou t includin g i t al l th e odder. 41 'Winte r Dawn ' an d ' A Ba d Beginning' , Poems 229-30 ; 230-1 . T h e fou r poem s ('dated' befor e Ne w Year ) ar e ' A Ba d Beginning' , 'Loggerheads' , 'Lad y Wife ' an d 'Both Side s o f the Medal' . 42 'Paradis e Re-entered' , Poems 242-3.Th e origina l 'Purity ' als o recognise d fierceness in desir e an d eve n a 'cleansin g hate' , thoug h passio n quickl y purifie s the m int o 'beautiful an d candi d lovers' . Th e min d ha s fuse d lik e a bea d i n th e flames o f se x the furnac e imag e fro m The Trespasser - bu t incandescenc e i s take n calml y an d th e ensuing darknes s i s passe d withou t fear . I n th e final version , however , t o remai n beautiful an d candid , i n 'steadfas t being' , i s n o longe r enough . No w the y mus t pas s
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 6 1 - 8 1 through a 'death'; dar e th e fiery angel s guardin g th e entranc e t o th e las t garden ; an d storm thos e gate s (beyon d eterna l Go d an d Devil) , to th e tru e temporal Ede n wher e a dishevelled Ev e ma y danc e i n a prima l earthl y bliss . T h e titl e i s change d fro m 'Purity' t o 'Paradis e Re-Entered' . 43 Poems 239 ; 240 . I n earl y 191 3 b y contrast , i n th e '"Burn s Novel " fragments' , D H L had use d th e lad' s takin g pit y o n a snare d rabbi t an d freein g i t a s a sig n o f hi s humanity. 44 Poems 249-50; 245-8; 250. 45 Poems 251-2 . Cf . TSI I (revised ) 285 , 323 , autograp h inser t 402 , 461 , 50 8 'star equilibrium' (WL 177 , 199 , 254, 290, 319); see also discussion o f the revisio n below . 46 Poems 252-4, 254-6 ; 256-61 ; 254-6 . 47 Poems 256-61 . 48 Poems 261; 262-8. 49 Poems 268-9; 269-70; 270-4 . 50 Fo r H.D . th e poetr y wa s insufficientl y 'sublimated ' (iii . 102) ; an d th e criticis m ha s often bee n echoed , usuall y b y reader s judgin g b y lyri c rathe r tha n dramati c criteria . BR sai d h e wa s gla d fo r the m bu t didn' t se e wh y h e shoul d loo k (Ottoline at Garsington, ed . Gathorne-Hardy , p . 94) ; an d W . H . Aude n complaine d (The Dyer's Hand, 1962 , p. 288) o f being mad e t o fee l lik e a peeping Tom . 51 I t i s just possible , considerin g th e affinit y o f 'Cravin g fo r Spring ' wit h letter s late r i n the mont h (iii . 96 , 97), that th e poe m wa s no t i n tha t first manuscrip t - bu t o f cours e the letter s ma y hav e been influence d b y th e poem . 52 Jea n d e Crevecoeur , Letters from an American Farmer (1782) . I n Augus t 191 6 D H L told Am y h e like d th e boo k ''so much ' (ii . 645) . 53 H e wa s stil l carryin g thi s wit h hi m i n Ne w Mexico , se e Knu d Merrild , With D. H. Lawrence in New Mexico (1964) , p. 209. 54 Probabl y Glady s Bradley , a friend fro m he r tim e i n Nottingham , wh o alon g wit h he r sister Madg e ha d encourage d he r relationshi p wit h D H L (se e (i . 388)) , an d wh o (according t o Barbar a Barr' s memoi r 'Somethin g t o Say' ) ha d bee n i n lov e wit h Ernest fo r years . 55 Monda y (Memoirs 220) . 56 Diaries, pp . 293-5 . D H L pushe d th e pra m a t th e zo o an d C A remarke d th e 'perfec t match' betwee n hi s bear d an d th e baby' s hair , an d ho w Michae l like d hi m 'ver y much' - thoug h the y looke d ' a funn y sight' . D H L wa s 'delightfu l an d whimsical ' unlike hi s books i n whic h sh e thought 'ther e i s no glea m o f humour' . 57 Serg e Michaelovitc h Kravchinsky , nickname d 'th e ma n fro m th e Steppes' , wa s on e of th e mos t activ e an d charismati c o f th e Russia n revolutionar y exile s i n London . Both Constanc e an d Olivi a Garnet t wer e smitte n wit h him . Fann y Markovn a Kravchinskaya wa s only thre e year s younge r tha n he r husban d wh o die d i n 1895 , bu t she live d til l 1945 . 58 Fried a issue d th e invitatio n i n a newl y discovere d lette r datin g probabl y fro m 9-1 2 February. I t i s not know n whe n exactl y Esthe r cam e down . Sh e ha d originall y mean t to leav e he r Londo n flat a t th e en d o f February whe n th e pla n wa s fo r the m al l to sai l for Americ a o n 1 March. Bu t i f she cam e dow n i n earl y Marc h i t i s ver y strang e tha t
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 6 8 - 7 9 there i s n o mentio n o f he r i n DHL' s letter s t o Catherin e o n 3 1 Marc h an d 1 1 Apri l (iii. 165-6 , 112-13) , sinc e h e ha d bee n tryin g t o foste r friendshi p betwee n them . I t seems mos t likel y tha t sh e arrrive d whil e D H L wa s away . 59 RDP xxvii . 60 RDP 21:38 , 22:4; 23:20; 23:24; 14:10 , 12-13 ; 23:2. 61 RDP 28:7-8 ; 28:28; 31:8-9, 7-8; 33 : 22-5; 33:21, 28-9 . 62 RDP 34:10 , 11 ; 34:12-13; 34:19-21, 24-6 . 63 RDP 34:37 ; 35-9-20. 64 RDP 36:23-5 ; 36:29-30, 35 ; 37:23, 26-7 ; 37:29-31; 40:1-3 65 RDP 42:6; 42:123; 41:7-8; 41:39-40; 43:14-15; 44:1-4, 6 , 7-8 . 66 RDP 44:20 , 27, 31-3; 45:1-2; 45:6- 9 67 RDP 46:27 ; 48:20-1; 51:20-1 ; 51:30-3 ; 51:39; 52:8-9. 68 Se e Fried a t o Esther , 9-1 2 February ; Esthe r t o Mountsie r (UT ) (Wright , 'Dea r Montague,' Letter s 3 , 7). 69 Se e not e 5 8 above. 70 Luhan , Lorenzo in Taos, p. 40; SP 86-7 . Cf . p . 5 1 on on e o f the tw o time s D H L 'ha d evaded her' , i.e . Frieda , th e othe r bein g wha t Mabe l call s hi s 'thing* wit h Willia m Henry; contras t SP 8 7 n . wher e Catherin e call s Mabel' s accoun t 'bot h misleadin g and incorrect . A t th e tim e I heard th e particular s fro m bot h Lawrenc e an d Frieda. ' 71 Esthe r t o D H L , 2 3 August , newl y discovere d an d t o b e publishe d i n Letters, viii. , described th e Starrs ' ridiculou s concer t a t S t Ives ; PH t o Nichols , [Ma y 1917 ] (BL) ; Esther a s agent fo r Seven Arts 'o n behal f o f her frien d Louise ' (iii . 140 , 142) . 72 H e wa s 5 V . Esthe r actuall y describe d DHL' s hai r a s 'ash-colored' , an d hi s eye s a s 'grey' wherea s mos t observer s agre e tha t the y wer e blue . Neithe r i s howeve r altogether inaccurat e fo r th e bleache d effec t o f th e hair , an d th e kin d o f eye s tha t could var y betwee n grey-blu e an d brigh t blu e i n differen t lights . (Hi s 191 9 an d 192 1 passports describ e the m a s blue-grey. ) 73 Lorenzo in Taos, pp. 40-3. 74 R 19:3-10 , a school friendshi p betwee n th e youn g farme r an d ' a clever.. . consump tive type ' whic h look s bac k t o hi s friendshi p wit h Ala n Chamber s and , Actively , th e friendship betwee n Cyri l an d Georg e i n WP. 75 Memoirs 328 . Obviousl y hur t b y havin g bee n neglecte d i n favou r o f Willia m Henry , Frieda tol d H.D . a t th e en d o f 191 7 tha t 'Lawrenc e doe s no t reall y car e fo r women . He onl y care s fo r men . Hilda , you have no idea what he is like* {Tribute to Freud, Carcanet edn , p . xii) . I t i s als o possible , however , tha t thi s remar k wa s designe d t o counteract th e mutua l attractio n betwee n D H L an d H.D. : se e chapte r 8 , p. 420. 76 WL 505:4 , 6-7 . 77 K 236:29-31 ; 236:14-16, 21-5 . Stanle y tol d hi s doctor , D r Roge r Slack , tha t Willia m Henry kne w abou t thes e feelings , an d ha d warne d hi s younge r brothe r t o b e carefu l (private interview. ) Thi s o f cours e tend s t o confir m tha t Willia m Henr y ha d n o suc h inclination. 78 I t ma y b e tha t callin g Willia m Henr y 'Joh n Thomas ' i n Kangaroo - o f whic h biographers anxiou s t o clai m a consummated homosexua l affai r hav e mad e grea t pla y - wa s a di g (a s i n th e cas e o f th e similarl y name d inspecto r i n 'Ticket s Please' ,
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 8 2 - 9 0 written November-Decembe r 1918 ) agains t a ma n wh o mad e overmuc h o f hi s heterosexual virility . Willia m Henry' s so n believe s tha t hi s fathe r onl y marrie d relatively lat e becaus e h e waite d unti l al l hi s brother s an d sister s coul d tak e car e o f themselves (Stevens , Lawrence at Tregerthen, p . 53) . 79 P H t o Nichols , 'Friday ' [?i 8 o r 2 5 May] (BL) . O n 1 1 May D H L mentione d tha t P H has take n th e Trewe y bungalo w fro m whic h P H addresse s thi s lette r bu t tha t h e ha s seen 'littl e o r nothin g o f him ' (iii . 124 ) - s o th e visi t o f Gra y 'las t week ' whe n D H L met bot h Gra y an d Star r mus t hav e bee n a t leas t on e wee k an d probabl y tw o week s later. Gray' s autobiograph y put s th e ren t a t £ 5 p . a. bu t P H wrot e a t th e time , an d i t is unlikel y tha t Gray' s bi g ex-mine-manager' s hous e woul d cos t n o mor e tha n D H L ' s two-roo m cottage . 80 Th e Ear l ha d bee n a ne'er-do-well clergyman , neve r entruste d wit h a parish, an d ha d been pai d b y hi s aristocrati c famil y t o settl e fa r awa y i n Cap e Town . H e wa s looke d after b y a coloured lad y whom , t o th e outrag e o f th e whit e community , h e marrie d only t o increas e loca l consternatio n b y inheritin g th e titl e o f th e Ear l o f Stamfor d o n the unexpecte d demis e o f th e sevent h Earl ; Marth a splendidl y refuse d t o mak e an y change i n he r life-style . Thei r daughte r Mar y - despise d i n Cap e Tow n a s a 'half caste', wa s sen t t o schoo l i n Europ e an d ha d marrie d Star r o n 1 March 1917 . See R . R. Langham-Carter , 'Lor d Stamford' s Tangle d Affairs' , Familia: Quarterly Journal of the Genealogical Society of South Africa, x i (1974), 8-13, 1 6 and 78-80 ; with thank s to Barr y Smit h wh o brough t thes e t o m y attention . Fo r Meredit h Star r an d hi s interest i n th e occul t se e pp. 386- 7 an d note s 87- 8 below . 81 ^ 2 3 1 : 2 7 - 9 . 82 Se e Smith , Peter Warlock; P H t o Olivi a Smith , 1 3 Ma y 191 7 (BL) ; P H t o Phy l Crocker, 1 9 April 191 7 (BL). (I t wa s while Pin o Oriol i wa s staying wit h Phyl' s famil y that h e briefly me t D H L i n 1917. ) 83 P H t o Nichols , 1 7 June (BL) . 84 Musical Chairs (1948), p. 126 . 85 ^ 2 3 3 : 1 7 . 86 SP 90-1 ; 'Indian s an d Entertainment' , MM. 87 St Ives Times, 2 4 an d 3 1 August ; cf . (iii . 15 8 n. 1) . The referenc e wil l no t hav e don e D H L an y good ! 88 Nichols' s annotatio n t o PH's letter , 1 4 December 191 7 (BL) ; PH t o Coli n Taylor , 2 7 September (BL) . 89 I t i s possibl e tha t D H L ma y hav e attende d a lectur e o n theosophy ; whic h woul d b e enough t o explai n reference s t o th e Myster y o f Isi s an d th e numbe r seve n i n 'Do n Juan' (E320.6 , Poems 196) , or th e referenc e t o th e 'Grea t Breath ' i n 'Ros e o f Al l th e World' (Poems 218-19) - thoug h tha t poe m probabl y date s fro m 191 7 anyway . 90 Fo r D H L ' s us e o f Prys e se e Apocalypse and the Writings on Revelation, ed . Mar a Kalnins (Cambridge , 1980 ) 4-6 . 91 'Th e Spiri t of Place', English Review (Novembe r 1918) , 321; see chapter 8 , pp. 447-8. 92 'T o generalis e i s to be an idiot' , Marriage of Heaven and Hell 93 'Love ' an d 'Life ' ar e i n RDP 7-12 , 15-18 . 94 Moreove r it s pictur e o f man' s lif e alway s poise d betwee n th e 'prima l unknown '
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 9 1 - 7 from whic h h e ha s issue d (RDP 15:4 ) an d th e othe r unknow n int o whic h h e continually passe s - bu t burnin g betwee n th e tw o lik e th e man-candl e o f 'Al l Souls' i n Look! - seem s a n intermediat e ste p i n th e though t o f th e origina l se t o f seven. I t woul d fi t betwee n th e firs t hailin g o f cosmi c life-out-of-deat h i n 'Whistling o f Birds' , an d th e sens e (i n wha t wa s numbe r I V bu t i s no w numbe r I of 'Th e Realit y o f Peace' ) o f th e wa y forwar d alread y there , thoug h i t ca n onl y reveal itsel f o n th e way . (I f thi s wer e so , on e migh t hazar d a gues s tha t th e original II I ma y hav e ha d t o d o wit h th e contras t o f thos e wh o 'fea r th e strang e approach o f th e creativ e unknown ' ('Life' , RDP 18:32 ) an d g o o n willin g th e continuance o f th e ol d unti l the y brin g i t crashin g o n thei r heads , instea d o f accepting th e realit y o f wintr y death , an d waiting , longing , fo r th e first impuls e o f new birt h tha t fulfil s 'th e deepes t desir e o f th e soul ' (origina l numbe r IV ; RDP 27:4). I t i s on e o f th e oddnesse s o f 'Th e Realit y o f Peace ' tha t i t make s s o littl e reference t o th e war ; thoug h Harriso n woul d no t hav e welcome d a n essa y expressing DHL' s view s o n that. ) 95 P H t o Nichols , 1 4 Decembe r 191 7 (BL ) (Gray , Peter Warlock, p . 168 ) an d t o Gray , [n.d. bu t befor e Marc h 1918 ] (BL) . 96 I t wil l take , in an y case , a great dea l o f scholarl y an d scientifi c wor k o n th e ink s i n th e second typescript , befor e th e differen t layer s o f th e rewritin g ca n b e distinguishe d and date d wit h confidence . 97 WL 127:26-7 , 31; 128:32-5, 38-9; 129:3 ; 129:33-8 , 39; TSI, pp . 150-1 , cf . TSII , pp . 195-7. Th e chapte r title s wer e adde d i n th e first Englis h editio n a t Seeker' s request , but wil l be used i n what follows, for convenience . Selection s fro m th e unrevise d TSII , corresponding t o th e revise d stat e o f TSI, ar e reprinte d i n The Making of Women in Love': A Selection from the Typescripts, ed. Pierr e Vitou x (Montpellier , 1988) . 98 TSI , pp . 179-80 , cf . TSII , pp . 237-9 ; WL 150:1-2 , 3 ; 150:34-5 ; 150:39 ; TSI , pp . 209-10, cf. TSII , pp . 277-9 , WL 173:28-9 . Se e als o Selection, ed . Vitoux , pp . 96-8 . 99 Poems 251-2. 100 WL 177:5 , 7; 201:6-7, 20, 21, 16-17; TSII, pp . 285 , 323. 101 TSI , pp . 308-9 , cf . TSII , pp . 397-9 ; WL 251:7 . Th e origina l i s quote d i n m y 'Th e Marble an d th e Statue' , p . 402; see also Selection, ed . Vitoux , pp . 135-7 . 102 WL 173:3 ; 254:3, 5 ; 254:27-31; autograph inser t TSII , pp . 40iff . 103 WL 290:31 ; TSI, p . 356 , TSII, p . 461. See als o unrevise d TS I an d TSI I i n Selection, ed. Vitoux , pp . 160-2 . 104 Fried a sai d tha t th e ro w ove r th e ring s als o 'happened ' ( 1 Octobe r 1952 ; Alemoirs 3i6). 105 WL 312:33 ; 313:12, 14-18 , 20-2 ; TS I , pp. 386-400 , cf . TSII , pp . 496-9 , unrevise d TSII i n Selection, ed . Vitoux , pp . 184-6 . 106 WL 313:39-40 , 314:1-2 ; 314:22-3; 314:30. 107 ^ 3 1 3 : 3 3 ; 320:19-34; 368:32-40 . 108 WL 42:39 ; 65:15-16 ; 67:26 ; 72:37 ; 113:29-36 ; TSII , pp . 5 8 (handwritte n insertion) , 93> 106,173. 109 WL 241:22 , 19 ; 242:34-7; 243:29, 28; TSII, pp . 381- 5 ; cf. Blavatsky , Secret Doctrine, pp. 252-60 , quotin g Lev i p . 259.
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NOTES T O PAGE S 3 9 7 - 4 U n o WL 206:26-7 ; 207:18 , 23-4 ; TSI , p . 252 , cf . TSII , pp . 330-1 ; unrevise d TSI I i n Selection, ed . Vitoux , pp . 112-13 . i n WL 481:20-2 , 28-9, 31-4. TSII, pp . 773-4 . 112 Catherin e describe d thi s a s ' a real , sen t letter , i n prose ' (SP 85) . Sinc e al l but on e o f the survivin g letter s h e ha d writte n t o Fried a i n 191 2 wer e preserve d becaus e the y had bee n lef t i n he r mother' s writing-desk , an d wer e rediscovere d onl y afte r DHL' s death, i t i s possibl e tha t th e on e sh e ha d kep t wit h he r wa s th e firs t - no w los t - o f which al l w e kno w i s tha t h e tol d he r sh e wa s th e mos t wonderfu l woma n i n th e world. I f th e lette r spok e als o o f the pla n t o g o to Germany , an d urge d he r t o mak e a new lif e wit h hi m i n spit e o f husban d an d children , i t woul d hav e serve d th e sam e purposes a s the 'Argument ' i n Look! 113 ^238:40-241:18 ; Stevens , Lawrence at Tregerthen, pp . 108-9 . 114 Fried a 108 ; Stevens, Lawrence at Tregerthen, p . n o ; an d (iii . 167-175). . 115 Cf . A T 245:18-19; Stevens , Lawrence at Tregerthen, p . 112 . 116 K 246:8-30 ; Stevens , Lawrence at Tregerthen, pp . 112-13 . 117 Fried a 10 4 118 Steven s o n Willia m Henr y 'bragging ' abou t th e Lawrence s i n Lawrence at Tregerthen, p. 112 ; Gray , Musical Chairs, p . 126 ; evidenc e o n volunteer s fro m Lt . Col . Whit e
(NL).
119 Musical Chairs, p. 128 . 120 ^ 2 3 3 : 3 7 ; Musical Chairs, p. 127 ; Frieda 106-7 . 121 Fo r th e bannin g o f BR, se e chapter, p . 000. 122 Steven s report s th e Hockin g famil y o n th e enmit y o f th e Vica r (Rev . Davi d Recha b Vaughan, vicar-surrogate ) (Lawrence at Tregerthen, pp . 107-8 , i n ) . Stanle y Hockin g expanded hi s accoun t o f D H L ' s scepticism s i n a n intervie w wit h Roge r Slac k i n A Mere Interlude, ed . Meliss a Hardi e (Newmill , Penzance , 1992) , p. 68 . Alison Symon s describes Parso n Vaugha n o n Dic k Berryman' s authorit y a s 'smal l o f stature ' bu t with 'grea t authorit y i n th e village ' an d 'wel l liked ' thoug h ver y poor ; an d hi s daughter a s ' a goo d organiser ' (Tremedda Days, p . 166 ; bot h ar e show n i n a grou p photograph facin g p . 177) . They lef t th e villag e i n 1919 . Frieda (98 ) wrot e tha t ther e 'is a woman "eve n no w wh o boast s tha t sh e turne d u s ou t o f Cornwal l a s spies"' . 123 4 October 191 6 (Memoirs 216) . 124 Stevens , Lawrence at Tregerthen, pp . 81-2 , Memoirs 223 ; K 238:35 . 125 A T 231:19-21. C h a p t e r Eight : O n a L e d g e 1 ^ 2 4 7 : 3 4 - 7 ; Golden Echo, p. 124 . 2 K 248:24 . Wha t follow s ha s bee n draw n fro m Joh n Cournos , Autobiography (1935) ; Barbara Guest , Herself Defined: The Poet H.D. and Her World (Ne w York , 1984) ; Janice S . Robinson , H.D.: The Life and Work of an American Poet (Boston , 1982) ; Charles Doyle , Richard Aldington; an d H.D.'s Bid Me to Live. 3 K 248:28-9 . Diaries, pp . 355 , 356 - th e poem s wer e Look! 4 Diaries, p . 357 .
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5 Memoirs of a Modern Pioneer, ed. Hobman . 6 Cross , 4 Decembe r (YU ) (iii . 17 7 n . 1) . Sinc e th e Yale Review wa s a quarterly , th e earliest th e articl e coul d hav e appeare d wa s si x month s afte r Katharin e Fullerto n Gerould's 'Britis h Novelists , Ltd.' ; se e (iii . 16 6 n. 2) . Cross's ' I a m particularl y sorr y that thi s i s so , fo r I hav e rea d you r articl e wit h ver y grea t enjoyment ' wa s no t necessarily a polit e fiction, therefore . D H L woul d hav e excepte d fro m hi s stricture s Thomas Hard y an d th e earl y Conrad . 7 P H t o Nichols , 1 4 December 191 7 (BL ) (Nehls , i . 452); Nichols t o Hone, 2 6 January i9i8(NYPL)(iii. 18 5 n. 1) . 8 Wha t 'Rico ' wa s writin g a t th e windo w i n Bid Me to Live (p . 79 ) ma y wel l hav e bee n the articl e fo r th e Yale Review, rathe r tha n Aaron's Rod. D H L ma y hav e don e n o more tha n sketc h a beginnin g t o th e nove l i n Mecklenburg h Square , an d wha t beginning w e d o no t know . I n Februar y h e sai d h e wa s workin g o n 'philosophi c essays, also , ver y spasmodically , anothe r daf t novel ' (iii . 216) . B y mid-Marc h h e ha d written 15 0 pages , but sai d tha t i t wa s 'a s blameles s a s Cranfora r> an d woul d remai n s o (iii. 227) . Fo r th e developmen t o f th e nove l w e hav e now , i n 1920-1 , se e chapte r 11 , PP- 045-539 Fo r Hone' s not e abou t DHL' s lette r t o hi m o f 1 2 January , par t o f whic h ha s disappeared, se e (iii. 19 6 n. 1) : 'The m.s . subsequently passe d int o th e hand s o f Phili p Heseltine ("Pete r Warlock" , th e musician ) wh o i n reveng e fo r bein g caricature d b y Lawrence i n Women in Love pu t th e page s t o th e bas e use s o f th e water-closet. ' Whether P H thu s destroye d tw o work s b y th e sam e method , o r whethe r Gra y confused them , cannot b e known. Hon e adde d tha t a transcript of'A t th e Gates ' mad e by Arland Ussher , t o whom 'th e wor k cam e as a revelation', wa s also lost. 10 Nehls , i . 447. (Galsworthy misdate d th e meetin g a s 1 3 November. ) n Letters of George Moore (1942) , p . 4 2 (iii . 19 6 n . 4) . Fo r Fried a o n Salve, se e (i . 512).
12 TLS, 2 2 Novembe r (iii . 18 7 n . 4) ; Chatto , 3 0 Novembe r (iii . 18 6 n . 1) . D H L commented: ' I sa w th e daint y Timese y Mus e avertin g he r eyes' , and ' I fee l a s if I ha d affronted a white-haired ol d spinste r wit h wea k eyes ' (iii . 186 , 190) . 13 Frieda' s lette r i s unlocated, bu t i s mentioned i n Gray , Musical Chairs, p . 134 . 14 H.D. , Collected Poems, ed. Loui s Mart z (Manchester , 1984) , pp . 51-5 ; Poems 743-6 . See pp . 418-2 0 an d 83 6 notes 23 , 24. 15 Musical Chairs, p . 133 (iii. 17 9 n. 2) . 16 Cournos , Autobiography an d hi s roman-d-clef Miranda Masters (1926) ; H.D. , Bid Me to Live; Aldington , Death of a Hero (1929) ; Aaron's Rod (1922) ; Gray, Musical Chairs; see also Frieda 108 . 17 Fo r th e biographica l source s o f wha t follows , se e not e 2 above . H.D.' s Bid Me to Live, thoug h presente d a s a fiction wit h altere d names , i s th e produc t o f Freud' s advice t o Hilda t o tel l he r trut h o f what ha d happened , whic h sh e struggle d fo r man y years t o do . Whereve r i t ca n b e checke d i n detai l i t i s accurate, thoug h o f cours e i t i s her truth i n he r style . I t doe s no t bea r th e mark s o f late r manipulatio n an d inventio n for Activ e purpose s tha t ca n b e detecte d i n Mr Noon an d Look!; thoug h obviousl y i t must b e use d wit h car e fo r biography . Fo r H.D.' s letter s t o Aldington 1916-1 8 (YU )
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NOTES T O PAGE S 4 1 7 - 2 3 see Richard Aldington and H.D.: The Early Years in Letters, ed . Carolin e Zilbur g (Bloomington, Indiana , 1992) . 18 Th e Lawrence s move d ou t o n 3 0 November . Th e lin e etche d int o Julia's memor y i n BMTL ' I lov e you , I desir e / 'autre' - i s a quotatio n fro m on e o f Richard' s letter s from th e front , 2 0 May 191 8 (Aldington/H.D., ed . Zilburg , p . 57) . 19 K 248:25 . Sinc e aggressio n i s ofte n th e obvers e o f fear , a cancelled passag e i n th e K notebook (385 ) i s revealing . Harrie t taunt s Somers : 'N o wonde r Hild a Harringto n said o f you r chan t [i.e . Whitmanesque ] poems—"On e get s sic k o f hearin g hi m tal k about hi s ow n grea t manliness." ' T o thi s Somer s silentl y rejoins : 'An d i f Hild a Harrington wa s sic k o f readin g abou t hi s manl y greatness , al l right , le t he r writ e he r own poem s abou t he r Gree k mysteriousness . Chacun a son gout.'' 20 BMTL 182 , also 66, 179 . 21 BMTL 163 , 165, 166, 168. 22 p . 39 (YU). 23 Poems 176, 743-6. 24 H.D. , Collected Poems, ed. Martz , pp . 51-5 , stanza 7 lines 1-5 . 25 'O n Tha t Day ' appear s i n th e noteboo k containin g Porthcotha n account s (E320.2) . On Aldington' s conscription , cf . (ii . 644) ; he r letter s fro m D H L , 'Compassionat e Friendship', p . 46; BMTL 52 . 26 BMTL 51-5 , 62, 58, 61, 80. 27 BMTL 77-8 1 - th e corduroy s confirme d b y Stanle y Hockin g (Stevens , Lawrence at Tregerthen, p. 11) , and cf . DHL' s advic e o n the m t o J MM i n 191 6 (i. 522). 28 BMTL 89 , 77-8 , 82 ; bu t fo r anothe r reactio n b y Frieda , se e p . 83 1 not e 75 . Se e H.D.'s 'eloquence ' i n Miranda Masters. 29 BMTL 78-9 , 94. 30 BMTL 79-82 . 31 H.D. , Tribute to Freud, passim, an d Robinson , H.D., p . 24 0 an d n . 22 . Fo r th e visions, see Tribute to Freud an d Robinson , H.D., pp . 235-48 . 32 BMTL 184 , it s final line . Fo r 'Th e Ladybird' , se e chapte r 12 , pp . 692-4 , 696 . Thi s illuminates March' s drea m i n 'Th e Fox ' a s wel l a s th e en d o f 'Th e Ladybird ' an d i s one o f thos e moment s whe n Bid Me to Live seem s mos t authentic . On e woul d otherwise hav e t o suppos e tha t H.D . 'compiled ' thi s fro m th e novellas , bu t i t i s doubtful tha t sh e kep t u p wit h DHL' s pros e (whic h sh e disliked ) t o that extent . 33 Diaries, pp . 359 , 362 , 364 , 369 , John' s studio , pp . 359 , 361 ; Nehls , i . 439-4 0 i n which hi s voic e rises : 'Le t th e DEA D PAIN T T H E DEAD' ; cf . John' s account , Nehls, i . 440. 34 Se e (iii. 179) ; Diaries, pp. 365 , 369, Nehls, i . 441. 35 Musical Chairs, pp. 141- 2 (Nehls , i. 438-9). 36 K 249:6-7 ; Nehl s i . 450-1 . O n Fletche r se e (iii . 190 ) wher e D H L speak s o f meetin g him 'fo r th e first time ' i n Decembe r 1917 . Aldingto n suggeste d (Nehls , i . 236 ) tha t Fletcher wa s presen t a t Amy' s dinne r part y i n th e Berkele y Hote l i n 1914 . Fletche r wrote (Nehls , i . 448 ; place d i n London , 1917 ) tha t Courno s introduce d them , bu t Cournos wa s i n Russi a i n 1917 . DHL' s letter , bein g closes t t o th e event , i s probabl y the mos t trustworthy .
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37 Diaries, p . 376 : 'a n overwhelmingly , glisteningl y clea n flat . . . i n whic h Lawrenc e looked ver y ou t o f plac e i n hi s corduro y jacke t an d grey-whit e canva s shoes' ; Nehls , i. 448. 38 Gray , Peter Warlock, p . 91 and n . (Nehls , i. 429); K 249:10-21 ; Nehls, i . 449-50 . 39 BMTL 47 , 93-5, 97, 99-100; Diaries, p . 369 ; AR 45:20-46:32 . 40 1M47 X 84 , 91, 97. 41 BMTL m - 1 3 ; Fried a 108 . 42 BMTL 121 . 43 Nehls , i. 59 3 n. 465,454-7 . 44 Ko t wa s th e contact . D H L ' s lette r t o Leonar d Wool f (iii . 199-200 ) i s th e mos t detailed accoun t o f the cottages . KM' s descriptio n (se e chapter 6 , pp. 317-18 ) wa s i n response t o an enquir y fro m Virginia . 45 Se e (iii . 221, 225, 235, 244, 255, 265-8, 314). 46 K 248:10-11 ; Stevens , Lawrence at Tregerthen, p . 53 . 47 Sadleir , novelist , bibliographer , bibliophile , ha d bee n a contemporar y o f J M M ' s a t Oxford an d ha d pu t u p th e mone y fo r Rhythm. H e joine d th e publishin g fir m Constable & Co . i n 1912 . H e change d th e spellin g o f hi s surnam e t o distinguis h himself fro m hi s fathe r Si r Michae l Sadler , Maste r o f Universit y College , Oxford . For th e poem s se e (iii. 202-5). 48 Bennet t t o Pinker , 6 Februar y (The Letters of Arnold Bennett, ed . Jame s Hepburn , 1970, i . 260) ; se e (iii . 20 5 n . 1) . Late r Bennet t misremembere d hi s offe r a s havin g been £ 3 a week (Nehls , i. 458). For hi s secret help , see SP 97 . 49 Nehl s i . 456 ; 463- 4 whe n th e Lawrence s wer e wit h Bessi e Low e - thoug h Cecil y Lambert dresse s the m i n th e blu e line n jacket s mad e a year later . 50 Diaries, pp . 415-18 . 51 Ibid. , pp . 419,423-4 . 52 BMTL 115 , 120, 135-42 . 53 Musical Chairs, p. 13 9 (Nehls, i. 436); see also Gray, Peter Warlock, p . 120 . 54 Jame s Rober t White , Misfit: An Autobiography (1930) . 55 ^ 7 3 - 8 6 . 56 Whible y wa s howeve r agains t publishin g DHL' s novel , an d ha d tol d C A that , i f th e Fund di d help , ther e shoul d i n hi s vie w b e ' a taci t understandin g tha t h e shoul d write somethin g - an d that , not inevitabl y censorable ' (Diaries, p . 418) . 57 Se e (iii . 213, 227) wher e D H L suppose s i t came fro m th e Authors ' Society . 58 Fried a 109 ; cf. Memoirs 222 , probably lookin g back i n Septembe r t o he r visi t i n Apri l when sh e though t Mont y 'quit e beautiful , suddenl y a youth , nearl y si x foot already ' (ibid., p . 223) . Her ba d le g may hav e kep t he r fro m keepin g a n earl y Septembe r date . 59 Sh e wa s a fauvis t painte r wh o ha d contribute d t o Rhythm. K M ' s stor y o f a part y i n her Pari s studi o wa s adapte d fo r WL (393:22-394:1 6 an d 573 , not e t o 393:22) . Sh e was no w marrie d t o th e ar t criti c Raymon d Drey . D H L di d no t car e fo r he r illustrations, se e (iii . 362 , 366) , bu t agree d t o sig n copie s fo r a n additiona l de-lux e edition o n vellum . 60 Le o Frobenius , The Voice of Africa, trans . Rudolp h Blind , 2 vols. (1913) . Despit e hi s colonialist arroganc e i n man y respects , Frobeniu s wa s amon g th e earlies t t o cal l
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NOTES T O PAGE S 4 3 7 - 5 0 attention t o th e extraordinar y bronze s o f Ife , an d t o th e riche s o f Yorub a wood carving. 61 Lev i (Alphons e Loui s Constant ) Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual, tr . Arthur Edwar d Wait e (1896) , or mor e likel y History of Magic, trans . Arthu r Edwar d Waite (1913) . PH recommende d Lev i t o Coli n Taylor , 2 7 Septembe r 191 7 (BL) . 62 Havin g persuade d Ko t t o typ e h e sen t 'th e first par t o f th e essays ' o n 2 5 Februar y (iii. 217) , an d go t som e bac k o n 2 0 Marc h (iii . 228) . Shortl y afterward s Ko t becam e sick o f th e task , an d afte r 3 Apri l whe n h e returne d anothe r batc h (iii . 231) , di d n o more. O n 3 July D H L tol d Gra y h e ha d 'sen t th e America n Essay s t o a frien d i n London wh o wa s goin g t o pu t the m wit h a "safe " frien d t o hav e the m typed . Th e friend collapsed , an d the y ar e hun g up ' (iii . 261) . I t i s no t clea r wh o cam e t o th e rescue - perhap s Nanc y Henry , sinc e h e sen t thre e chapter s o f Movements in European History t o he r o n 2 6 July (iii . 268) , an d wa s abl e t o promis e Pinke r o n 3 August mor e o f the America n essays . Nanc y ma y hav e agree d t o hav e th e tw o set s o f material type d together . 63 Th e Melvill e essa y wa s late r divide d int o tw o lik e th e Hawthorne ; thi s woul d mak e the eventual tota l thirteen . 64 Th e daring , i n Englan d a t tha t time , o f referrin g t o nineteenth-centur y America n literature a s 'classic ' i s no t obviou s now . D H L ma y b e sai d t o hav e invente d th e subject o f American Literatur e fo r Englis h readers , a s a distinct an d importan t stud y in it s ow n righ t - an d wa s fifty year s ahea d o f hi s tim e a s fa r a s Englis h universitie s were concerned . I t wa s no t unti l th e 1960 s tha t th e teachin g o f America n literatur e began t o becom e respectable , an d no t unti l th e followin g decad e tha t i t becam e a t al l widespread, o r tiptoe d int o Oxbridge . 65 English Review, xxvii i (Januar y 1919) , 10 , 11 , 10 . The Symbolic Meaning, ed . Armi n Arnold (Arundel , 1962 ) 59 , 60 , 61 . TSM reprint s th e versio n o f th e eigh t essay s published i n th e English Review (it s version s o f th e essay s o n Dana , Melvill e an d Whitman dat e fro m som e year s later) . 66 English Review, p . 6 ; TSM 55-7 . 67 Ibid. , xxvi i (Decembe r 1918) , 399, 401, 402, 403, 404-5; TSM 38 , 40, 42, 43, 45. 68 Ibid. , xxvii i (Februar y 1919) , 94, 95, 97, 98, 92; TSM 79 , 81, 82, 84, 86. 69 Ibid. , p . 94 ; TSM 81 ; Eliot i n a talk a t the Universit y o f Washington, 9 July 1953 . 70 English Review, xxvii i (Marc h 1919) , 210-11, 212 , 213, 215, 219; TSM 101 , 103, 104, 106, n o , i n . 71 Ibid. , xxvii i (Apri l 1919) , 282, 280, 286, 287, 286, 287; TSM 118 , 120 , 121 , 125. 72 Ibid. , xxvii i (Ma y 1919) , 410, 408, 410, 409, 411, 413, 415, 416, 417; TSM 140 , 141, 143, 144 , 148 , 149. 73 E382g , pp . 14-24 ; i.e. [17H28] ; pp. [18] , [21], [28]; TSM 150 , 151 , 153, 157. 74 English Review, xxvi i (Novembe r 1918) , 330 , 321 , 322, 319 , 320-1 , 322 , 330 ; TSM 16, 17 , 18 , 16, 19 , 29. 75 Ibid. , xxvii i (Jun e 1919) , 479, 480, 486, 489, 486, 477; TSM 177 , 179 , 185. 76 I t i s howeve r alread y clea r tha t th e 'front ' o f th e bod y 'i s ope n an d receptive ' (ibid. , p. 489 ) t o th e not-self , wherea s th e spina l syste m i s th e sourc e o f wil l an d prou d independence - al l prior t o the conscious mind .
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NOTESTO PAGE S 4 5 1 - 6 8 77 U N M S 5 8 7 / 1 / 6 / 1 unpublishe d (n o Robert s number) , pp . 17-18 , 20 , 12 , 8 [9] , 9 , 10, 27. 78 U N M S 5 8 7 / 1 / 6 / 2 , unpublishe d (n o Robert s number) , pp . 2 , 3, 5, 6, 8 . 79 Frobenius , Voice of Africa, i . 13. 80 M S 5 8 7 / 1 / 6 / 2 , pp . 9 , 12 , 13 , 14, 16 , 17. 81 E328 b resemble s i n paper , forma t an d autograp h scrip t E382 f (Hawthorne) , E382 n (Dana), E382 I an d i (Melville , no w divide d int o tw o essays ) - al l fro m th e Smit h collection an d no w unlocated . Th e fou r ar e no w numbere d Studies in Classic American Literature VIII , X , XI , XI I an d XIII . Th e Hawthorne , Dan a an d Melvill e essays hav e bee n verball y revise d fro m th e origina l unpublishe d version s (E382 g and th e tw o U N manuscripts) , bu t th e structur e an d sequenc e o f th e argumen t remains th e same . Thi s versio n i n thirtee n essays , wit h tw o o n Hawthorne , tw o o n Melville an d endin g wit h Whitman , D H L sen t t o Huebsc h i n earl y Octobe r 191 9 (iii. 400-1) . 82 E382b , pp . 1 , 4, 5 , 8, 9, 10 , 11 , 12, 15 ; MS 5 8 7 / 1 / 6 / 2 , p . 11 . 83 Ibid. , pp . 12 , 13. 84 Se e chapter 4 , p. 80 2 not e 59 . 85 E382D , pp. 13 , 14-15, 16 , 17 , 19-20 , 14 . 86 Adde d t o Look! i n 1928 . 87 D H L als o painte d a portrait o f her - on e o f only tw o tha t w e kno w hi m t o hav e don e - probabl y durin g thi s visi t (reproduce d i n (iii)) . 88 Nehl s i . 469-70 . 89 D H L wrot e 'Wa r Baby ' t o honou r th e birt h o f Joh n Patric k (3 0 May) , an d 'embroidered a littl e cotto n froc k i n re d an d black-cros s stitch , whil e Fried a crotcheted a co t cove r o f th e gayes t rainbow-coloure d stripe s i n wool . I t becam e known a s "Frieda' s Rainbow, " an d wen t everywher e wit h us , unti l wit h roug h outdoor usag e i t fel l t o pieces ' (SP 101) . 90 Th e surnam e o f Willia m Henry' s wif e wa s Edd y (Stevens , Lawrence at Tregerthen, P- 53) 91 Fried a t o Kot , 1 2 February (Memoirs 223) . 92 Nehls , i . 471. 93 MEH 21-4 , 43-52. O n source s se e Phili p Crumpton' s Introductio n (pp . xxxviii-xlv ) and Explanator y notes . 94 SP 10 3 and ff . 95 SP 102 . 96 SP 105-6 . 97 SP 106 . 98 Wha t i s mos t interestin g abou t i t i s th e shif t i n emphasi s fro m hi s mother' s t o hi s father's side . A s against , merely , 'old , well-to-do , purita n famil y - fough t wit h Cromwell - ruine d i n a smas h i n th e lac e industry' , w e ge t a considerabl y longe r story abou t hi s father' s family . Perhap s thi s i s wha t h e ha d bee n talkin g t o hi s fathe r about: great Grandfathe r suppose d t o be Frenc h refugee , fro m th e Revolution : suppose d to have fough t agains t Napoleo n i n Waterloo : grandfather , a t any rate , brought u p
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NOTES T O PAGE S 4 6 8 - 7 2 as a tin y bab y i n som e militar y hospita l - o r home : barracks, m y fathe r says , though tha t ca n hardl y be : taught t o be a military tailor : a tall, silent, strang e man , whom I remembe r - h e live d t o b e 86 . He wa s famou s i n Sout h Nott s a s the bes t dancer an d th e bes t boxer , (iii . 282) The outlin e o f hi s ow n 'poo r bu t honest ' lif e i s sketche d i n withou t muc h interes t apart fro m th e familia r touc h o f pride i n Frieda' s ran k and , now , he r [i n fact , distant ] relation t o th e Re d Baron , wh o ha d bee n sho t dow n an d kille d tha t April . I t ends : 'went t o Ital y - alway s live d wit h n o mone y - alway s shal l - ver y sic k o f th e world , like to die wit h th e nause a o f it' . 99 'Terranova ' ha d appeare d i n th e antholog y fo r 1917 . Fletcher's revie w of Look! wa s a marked contras t t o tha t i n th e TLS: se e Drape r 121-4 . H e wa s b y n o mean s uncritical, bu t castigate d th e Englis h publi c fo r thei r neglec t o f D H L an d pu t hi s worst fault , hi s preachiness , dow n t o reactio n agains t 'th e condition s unde r whic h h e is forced t o write . Wit h a reasonable degre e o f independence, a public neithe r openl y hostile no r totall y indifferent , a n intellectua l milieu capabl e o f finer lif e an d bette r understanding, Lawrenc e woul d becom e nothin g bu t a n artist ' (ibid. , p . 122) . 100 Cf . Aldington' s reply , 3 August (Aldington/H.D. , ed . Zilburg , p . 117) . 101 Musical Chairs, p. 134 . He ha d com e t o London , h e said , because h e 'wa s finding th e burden o f chastit y excessive ' an d goe s on , complacently , 'Thi s violen t intrusio n o f the hair-shirte d mon k fro m th e Cornis h Thebai d cause d a certain disarra y an d havo c in th e rank s o f the Orphic maenad s befor e h e returne d t o his hermitage.' Tha t i s all. 102 BMTL 191-3 . Som e explanatio n i s certainl y necessary . N o reade r of Aaron's Rod would agre e tha t th e descriptio n o f 'Cyri l Scott ' - ' a fair , pale , fattish youn g fello w i n pince-nez an d dar k clothes' , age d 2 2 's o h e coul d affor d t o b e cynical ' (28:1-2 , 31:2 3), glimpse d silentl y sippin g gi n an d water , o r dresse d i n a n overlarg e overcoa t smoking a bi g pip e - i s a n 'objec t o f aversio n an d contempt' , a s Gra y claime d i n Musical Chairs, pp. 136-7 . 103 Tribute to Freud, rev. ed n (Manchester , 1985) , p. 134 . 104 BMTL 7 8 an d passim . Earlie r o n 2 Decembe r h e ha d commente d tha t Hild a 'reall y has los t he r ow n sel f - implyin g tha t th e ol d relationshi p an d immediat e under standing woul d b e impossible; D HL t o Selin a Yorke , to be publishe d i n Letters, viii . 105 Alfre d Satterthwaite , 'Joh n Courno s an d H.D.' , Twentieth Century Literature, xxi i (1976), 407. 106 1 September, Aldington/H.D., ed . Zilburg , p . 137 . He i s clearly talkin g abou t DHL' s letter, no t implying , a s Robinso n argue s i n defianc e o f chronology , an y possibilit y o f D H L havin g been th e father . 107 # 2 5 3 : 5 - 6 ; se e 252-6 .
Chapter Nine : Marking T i m e 1 I n Jun e 191 7 h e ha d £ 7 / 1 5 / 0 fro m Georgian Poetry (iii . 135) . O n 4 Septembe r h e received 2 0 guinea s fo r Look!, b y Chatto' s kindnes s befor e i t wa s du e (iii . 15 5 n.i) ; and ha d £1 5 fro m th e English Review o n 2 2 Septembe r (iii . 161 ) - i n bot h case s les s Pinker's 10 % commission . I n Februar y 191 8 h e ha d a furthe r £ 9 fro m th e English
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Review (iii . 217) , an d ther e woul d hav e bee n a tin y trickl e o f royaltie s fro m th e previous novels , an d som e fee s fro m th e USA . Bu t fro m Jun e 191 7 t o June 191 8 h e did indee d ear n 'considerabl y les s tha n £100 ' a s h e tol d th e Roya l Literar y Fun d less than hal f of what h e ha d ha d eve n i n 1916 . 2 Catherin e misremembere d thi s a s having happene d i n 191 7 (SP 95) . 3 Se e Lea , Life of Murry, p . 57 ; Alpers , Life of Mansfield, p. 263 ; Tomalin , Katherine Mansfield, p. 162 ; BTW 490. 4 Diary of Virginia Woolf i . 108 ; Seymour , Ottoline Morrell, p . 299 ; K M M , Journal, p. 146 ; Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , ii . 279. 5 K M t o OM , [2 2 Octobe r (ed.) , but i t shoul d probabl y b e 2 8 November] , Letters, ed . O'Sullivan an d Scott , ii . 282 ; K M t o Brett , [2 7 October] , Letters, ed. O'Sulliva n an d Scott, ii . 284; Murry, Reminiscences, pp. 92-3. 6 Dolli e ha d gon e t o Lym e Regis , t o b e wit h Maitland , hi s wif e an d he r ne w granddaughter, i n orde r t o recuperat e fro m th e strai n sh e ha d bee n unde r befor e sh e decided t o pu t he r husban d i n a home. I t look s a s thoug h Maitlan d ha d brough t he r back t o Well Walk . 7 Joa n remembere d he r firs t sigh t o f hi m comin g u p th e driv e wit h a bunc h o f wil d flowers (Nehls , i . 459-60) ; i n Septembe r h e passe d o n t o Donal d Carswel l a caro l h e had go t fro m Berti e (iii . 279) ; and se e (iii . 304) fo r th e gre y Everyma n volum e i n th e dining-room. 8 Recen t reacquaintanc e wit h Willi e Hopki n undoubtedl y contribute d t o thi s char acterisation, thoug h D H L wa s fon d o f hi m 9 Ac t III . i i (Complete Plays, p. 383). 10 Ac t I I (ibid. , p . 351). 11 Ac t III . ii (ibid., pp . 384-5) . 12 Damo n 482- 3 (iii . 296 n. 1) . 13 Thi s probabl y explain s Frieda' s misrememberin g (Fried a 105 ) tha t D H L wrot e directly t o Bennet t fo r wor k an d Bennet t refused . Bennet t specificall y denie d eve r writing to , or havin g had a letter fro m D H L (Nehls , i. 458). 14 Th e manuscrip t (Lazarus ) (n o Robert s number ) wa s completed b y 2 3 Novembe r bu t not sen t t o Pinke r b y K M (wh o ha d bee n give n i t t o read ) unti l 4 December (iii . 299 , 301). Pinke r returne d a typescrip t o n 1 5 January 191 9 (iii . 320) . Eightee n month s then wen t b y befor e a revise d versio n wa s publishe d i n th e English Review i n Jul y 1920. I t i s tha t versio n ( P e n ) tha t i s th e base-tex t fo r th e Cambridg e editio n o f EmyE, th e M S a t that stag e no t ye t havin g com e t o light . 15 SP iod. 16 M S (Lazarus) , p . 19 . The Prelude 1799, 1805, 1850, Norto n Critica l Editio n (Ne w York, 1979) , p. 424. 17 M S (Lazarus) , pp . 26-7 , 27. 18 K 257:23-33 . There woul d b e villag e celebrations later , in whic h th e corpora l billete d on th e Browns , Georg e Brewer , wa s dresse d u p wit h hel p fro m Fried a a s a gyps y fortune-teller, lik e Rochester i n Jane Eyre (Nehls , i. 456). 19 Flowers of the Forest, pp . 189-9 0 (Nehls , i . 478-9) . Fo r Osber t SitwelP s account , se e Laughter in the Next Room (1949) , pp . 19-24 . H e add s t o th e lis t o f thos e presen t
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NOTES T O PAGE S 4 8 2 - 9 3 Roger Fry , Cliv e Bell , OM , Gertler , Keyne s an d Lydi a Lopokova . T h e evidenc e o n all side s seem s agains t D H L havin g see n O M o r Keyne s tha t day , wh o presumabl y arrived afte r th e Lawrence s an d Bunn y ha d left . 20 E382 g an d M S S 587/1/ 6 1 and 2 (see chapter 8 , pp. 453, 464). 21 MEH xxii . 22 Se e Ei39 a (Lazarus) , printe d i n A D. H. Lawrence Miscellany, ed . Harr y T . Moor e (Carbondale, 1959 ) pp . 26-46 ; and se e Fox Textua l apparatu s an d 225-9 . 23 Se e Nehls, i . 463. 24 SL 398:6 ; from th e earl y poe m 'Th e Wil d Common ' onward . 25 Ei39a , pp . 5 , 14 , 15-16 ; Fox 11:1 6 (and apparatus) ; 18:24-31 ; 20:5-9 . Cf . t n e drea m related i n Bid Me to Live (se e chapter 8 , pp. 421-2) . 26 Ei39a , p . 22; Fox, 229:18 , 22-3. 27 EmyE 35:18 , 19 , 20-5 ; 38:40-39:2 ; 39:15-16 , 20 ; 45:1 2 (quotation s checke d agains t the periodica l versions , sinc e bot h th e manuscrip t an d Pinker' s typescrip t hav e disappeared. T o compar e th e text s o f Strand magazine , whic h edite d rathe r priml y and change d th e title , an d th e Metropolitan, wit h th e EmyE tex t o f Decembe r 1921 , see th e Textua l apparatu s pp . 256-60 , especiall y th e ending) . O n Neville , Memoir, pp. 89-90 , an d se e Early Years 100 . 28 Car l Jung Psychology of the Unconscious, t o Beatric e M . Hinkl e (London , 1916) . D H L twice wrot e 'submission ' an d crosse d the m out , substitutin g 'precedence ' - leadin g the way , irrespective no w o f whether th e woma n wil l follow . 29 RDP 87-113 . 30 #£> P 95:41; 96:15 ; 98:2; 100:35 ; 109:4-5 ; 110:13-14 ; 109:33-9 . 31 RDP 110:40 . 32 Fro m Cornwal l D H L wante d 'onl y m y book s an d desk , tw o mirrors , th e tw o littl e clocks, all bedding, an d th e fe w ornaments , th e tw o pictures , an d tw o hai r mattresses , one fro m th e cam p bed , on e fro m th e bi g bed , th e primu s stove , th e bras s lamp , th e candlesticks' [o f course! ] 'an d Primu s lamp , an d th e remainde r o f th e boot s o r clothes wort h sending' . Willia m Henr y wa s aske d t o sen d th e Persia n ru g whic h ha d been lef t a t th e farm , an d wa s offere d th e piano ; bu t whe n h e di d no t repl y D H L asked Stanle y t o sen d th e pian o wit h al l th e othe r furnitur e fo r auctio n a t Benney's ; saving 'th e squar e mahogan y table ' a s a keepsak e fo r hi s mother , an d 'th e bi g volumes o f the Geograph y o f the World ' fo r himsel f (iii . 320). 33 Thi s i s probabl y Alfre d Webe r wh o ha d becom e a founde r o f th e Germa n Democratic Party . (Ma x wa s o n th e Commissio n t o dra w u p a new constitution , bu t there i s n o recor d o f D H L eve r havin g me t him , especiall y sinc e Ma x wa s no t o n speaking term s wit h hi s brother o r Els e after sh e ha d becom e Alfred' s mistress. ) 34 Se e (iii . 315, 318, 322-3, 324) . 35 I n th e closin g paragrap h o f th e (then ) final chapter , 'Th e Unificatio n o f Germany' , the tensio n i n Touch and Go, betwee n th e desire s fo r th e prosperit y an d equalit y o f all, an d th e nee d fo r stron g leadership , appear s again . 'I t al l depend s o n th e wil l o f the people . Bu t thi s wil l o f th e peopl e mus t concentrat e i n on e figure, wh o i s als o supreme ove r th e wil l o f th e people . H e mus t b e chosen , bu t a t th e sam e tim e responsible t o Go d alone ' (MEH 252:19-22) .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 4 9 4 - 5 0 4 36 'Tommie s i n th e Train' , 'War-Baby' , 'Obsequia l Chant' , 'Brea d Upo n th e Waters' , 'Pentecostal' an d 'Nostalgia ' - al l subsequently publishe d i n Bay. 37 Th e endin g o f th e origina l manuscrip t E437 a i s t o b e foun d i n EmyE 242-4 ; c f 88-90, base d o n th e revisio n mad e late r i n th e no w recovere d typescrip t M S 5 5 7 / 1 / 2/1 (UN) . 38 Fo r Huebsch' s clandestin e distribution , se e R lix . 39 151,44 6 peopl e die d i n Grea t Britai n (A . Marwick, The Deluge, p . 257). 40 February , 191 9 (Memoirs 225) . 41 'Clouds ' (RDP 55-60 ) i s internall y date d 'th e las t da y o f March ' (58:14) , bu t ma y have bee n begu n o r sketche d ou t before . I t i s als o possibl e tha t h e ma y hav e conceived, perhap s eve n starte d 'Adol f to o (EmyE 201-8) , warme d b y reminiscin g with hi s sister . 42 WL 124:33 , 125:5-7 . Whe n K M wrot e t o as k afte r D H L , Fried a 'replie d tha t Sh e was feelin g a little stronge r & more abl e t o cop e wit h him ' (Letters, ed. O'Sulliva n an d Scott, ii . 303). 43 'Adolf , EmyE 207:14 . J M M , Reminiscences, p . 9 8 begin s b y sayin g tha t 'Nothin g could hav e bee n bette r . . . tha n thi s firs t articl e ["Whistlin g o f Birds" ] bu t th e nex t was different . Doubtles s Lawrence' s moo d ha d changed : anyho w th e articl e wa s embittered an d angry , an d Katherin e an d I bot h agree d tha t w e coul d no t prin t it. ' Later, i n Sectio n 3 , replyin g t o Catherin e Carswell' s insistenc e (SP 108 ) tha t bot h Kot an d Fried a ha d spoke n o f severa l articles , h e say s (p . 146 ) tha t h e remember s rejecting onl y one , 'Adolf , becaus e i t wa s no t 'suitabl e t o th e Athenceum\ W e hav e however DHL' s ow n testimon y abou t th e los t articl e whic h wa s topical , an d s o coul d not hav e bee n eithe r o f th e anima l sketches . I t i s therefor e certai n tha t D H L sen t a t least three , highl y probabl e tha t h e als o sen t 'Rex ' an d possibl e tha t h e sen t 'Clouds ' as well , whic h woul d mak e th e 'shea f o f whic h Ko t spok e (SP, 108) . Th e mos t charitable explanatio n fo r J M M ' s erroneou s accoun t i s tha t hi s memor y wa s unreliable, tha t 'embittere d an d angry ' originall y referre d t o th e topica l piec e an d not to 'Adol f a s ha s bee n suppose d an d tha t i n th e hea t o f controvers y late r hi s memor y conflated th e tw o and forgo t everythin g else . 44 K M t o Ko t (Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , ii . 309). 45 I n a review o f an exhibitio n b y th e Londo n Grou p (p . 272), Goldin g remarked : 'An d of ou r poet s i n th e generatio n o f Roge r Fry , wh o bu t M r D . H . Lawrenc e ha s ha d his fine courag e i n th e tacklin g o f a ne w technique. ' Th e periodica l wa s publishe d i n Manchester an d edite d b y Thoma s Moul t wh o woul d late r publis h tw o o f D H L ' s poems an d hi s first poeti c manifesto , se e pp . 84 4 not e 6 0 an d 514 . Goldin g wa s novelist, poe t an d critic . D H L wrot e hi m anothe r lette r i n Marc h 192 1 abou t hi s novel Forward from Babylon (1920) , whic h Goldin g ha d sen t hi m (iii . 690) . I t i s no t clear whethe r the y eve r met , thoug h D H L sai d h e woul d lik e that (iii . 377). 46 'Th e Las t Straw ' i s i n EmyE 153-6 6 an d 'Monke y Nuts ' 64-76 . Neithe r stor y wa s placed b y Pinker . 47 EmyE 92:2 . Th e hous e an d factor y ar e draw n fro m memor y o f thos e dow n th e hil l from th e Lawrences ' hom e i n Lyn n Croft . I n MEH (29:17 ) th e Empero r Hadria n i s described a s 'merciless' .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 5 0 5 - I I 48 EmyE 93:33 ; 96:22 , 24 ; 107:28 . Th e stor y wa s firs t publishe d i n Land and Water (April 1920) . No manuscrip t o r typescrip t survives . 49 EMyE 106:34 . 50 Sassoon' s collectio n calle d 'Fireflies ' wa s published i n Vanity Fair (Septembe r 1920) . The parod y o f D H L begins : ' I sa y t o yo u m y firefly : Flas h aroun d an d fil l m e t o th e core wit h power ' (p.55) . 51 S P i n ; Nehls , i. 460. 52 SP 110-12 . 53 Nehls , i . 460; J M M, Reminiscences, p. 148 . 54 Nehls , i . 486-7 ; J M M , Reminiscences, p . 99 , bu t i t i s strongl y t o b e doubte d tha t D H L ha d aske d J MM t o visi t him ! Somethin g ough t perhap s t o b e sai d abou t D H L and needlework . Thi s i s onl y on e o f severa l evidence s o f th e interes t h e too k i n trimming hat s fo r Frieda . H e als o (accordin g t o Cecily) , mad e he r underclothin g a t this time , i n rathe r sparta n fashio n ou t o f calico . H e denounce d Cecily' s crepe-de chine a s 'Prostitutey ' (Nehls , i . 465) , bu t i t ma y als o hav e bee n a questio n o f economy fo r him . (Later , i n Capri , th e undergarment s hangin g ou t t o dr y woul d b e the subjec t o f som e amusemen t t o th e Bret t Youngs , se e nex t chapter. ) H e describe d to Helen Thoma s ho w h e ha d ha d t o alte r a model dres s o f Nusch's t o fi t Frieda , an d how i t wa s lik e dismantlin g a cathedral . H e als o too k a n interes t i n embroidery . H e saw nothin g effeminat e i n this : t o hi m i t wa s par t o f bein g independen t an d self reliant, an d h e woul d recommen d i n th e late r Educatio n essay s tha t al l boy s shoul d be taugh t t o be self-sufficien t a s he ha d been . 55 TO'SUd 56 , 58, 60-1. 56 Nehls , i. 501 , 502, 496-7, 460. 57 Damo n 497-9 . Asked late r b y Canna n an d Wald o Fran k t o help arrang e a lecture tou r she was even mor e emphati c tha t i t would b e a mistake fo r D H L . H e ha d n o ide a wha t the USA wa s like, could sel l almost nothin g ther e and migh t ge t n o lectur e date s a t all because o f prejudic e agains t hi s books . Sh e though t h e ha d tuberculosis , an d migh t even b e exclude d fo r tha t reason ; an d i t wa s to o earl y fo r hi s Germa n wif e t o gai n admittance t o th e USA . H e woul d com e onl y t o b e cruell y disappointed , an d migh t die in a foreign lan d separate d fro m hi s wife (pp . 513-14). (Only a year later , however , his American reputatio n an d th e interest i n his work woul d gro w ver y rapidly. ) 58 Hele n Thomas , 'Tw o Piece s o f Advic e fro m D . H . Lawrence' , The Times (13 Februar y 1963) , p. 12 . 59 Nehls , i . 493-6 , quotin g fro m Life Interests (1948) , pp . 83-90 , a n earlie r versio n o f which ha d appeare d i n Odd Man Out (1935) , pp. 249-66 ; Nehls, i . 59 9 n . 541 . Fagan however returne d Touch and Go with th e comment : 'I t i s well writte n bu t I a m afrai d in m y opinio n i t woul d no t succee d o n th e stage ' (iii . 37 4 n . 2) . Onc e publicatio n a s the firs t i n Daniel' s serie s ha d bee n suggested , D H L wrot e a Preface whic h h e date d from Hermitag e i n June , bu t i t wa s probabl y writte n i n Jul y an d back-date d t o correspond wit h hi s revisio n o f the play . Fo r hi s irritatio n a t th e underminin g o f thi s preface whe n Goldring' s pla y becam e th e opene r i n th e series , se e chapte r 10 , pp. 558-9. 60 'Nostalgia ' an d 'Obsequia l Chant ' wer e appearin g i n th e July issu e o f Voices. Nichols
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may hav e bee n th e 'Unidentifie d Recipient ' o f Lette r 177 1 (iii . 377) , sinc e i t wa s o f Marsh tha t D H L ha d enquire d whethe r Nichol s wa s bac k fro m hi s lectur e tou r (iii . 370). 61 Nehls , i. 498-500; TWSUA 57 . 62 All Things Are Possible (1920), pp. 22 , 23, 24, 27. 63 G . M . Hyde , D. H. Lawrence and the Art of Translation (1981) , pp . 22-3 5 show s ho w the final translatio n occasionall y give s a Lawrencia n slan t a s agains t a litera l rendering. 64 All Things Are Possible, pp. 9 , 10 , 11. 65 Prefac e t o the America n Editio n of New Poems, P 182 , 183 , 184 , 185 . 66 Se e (iii . 478) . Thi s undate d letter , know n onl y i n a partia l transcrip t b y a n unidentified person , i s place d b y th e Cambridg e Editio n a s probabl y Marc h 192 0 when th e divorc e ha d finally bee n se t i n motion , thoug h i t woul d tak e som e tim e t o come t o court ; cf . (iii . 488) . Th e lette r ma y howeve r hav e bee n a produc t o f th e discussions a t Pangbourn e a t th e en d o f Augus t 191 9 - an d i s o f interes t i n suggesting D H L ' s attitud e t o his own marriage : One ha s t o lear n tha t lov e i s a secondar y thin g i n life . Th e first thin g i s t o b e a free, proud , singl e bein g b y oneself : to be oneself free , t o le t th e othe r b e fre e . . . I believe i f yo u woul d bot h com e of f th e personal , emotional , insisten t plane , an d would b e eac h o f yo u sel f sufficien t an d t o a degre e indifferen t o r reckless , yo u and Rosalin d woul d kee p a lasting relationship . DHL's referenc e t o Whitman' s 'Calamus ' also , togethe r wit h hi s ow n belie f i n a 'manly love ' i n additio n t o marriage , an d base d o n 'coo l separateness ' rathe r tha n emotion an d personality , als o sugges t a tim e whe n h e wa s thinkin g agai n abou t th e American essay s (cf . iii . 388). 67 D H L ha d me t Cliffor d Ba x som e year s before , ha d recentl y me t hi m agai n a t Bucklebury an d ha d arrange d t o se e hi m o n hi s recen t visi t t o London (iii . 368) - bu t Bax seem s t o hav e dislike d hi m (Nehls , i . 461) . B y Jun e 192 0 D H L seem s t o hav e reciprocated th e feelin g (iii . 542) . 68 TWSUA 62 . 69 E.T . 31. 70 Nehls , i . 503-4 . 71 Nehls , i . 503 . I t i s possible , a s Barbar a Bar r i s reporte d t o hav e sai d he r mothe r ha d told her , tha t a n attac k o f th e mump s afte r hi s pneumoni a a t sixtee n ha d mad e D H L infertile (Meyers , D. H. Lawrence, p . 93 ) - bu t ther e i s n o evidenc e o f this , an d o n Cecily's evidenc e Fried a ha d n o suc h ide a i n 1919 . Barbara Bar r no w think s thi s ma y have bee n mentione d onl y a s a possibility . Sh e als o tol d Joh n Worthe n tha t Fried a probably use d ' a preventative ' durin g he r first marriag e a s well a s afterwards. Fo r th e possibility tha t th e infertilit y migh t hav e bee n Frieda's , se e chapte r 4 , pp. 798- 9 not e 30. Thi s i s another matte r i n whic h knowledg e i s impossible an d speculatio n futile . 72 Nehls , i . 504-6 . 73 Nehls , i . 491-2 (fro m Life Interests, pp . 83-90) . 74 Lucas , Frieda Lawrence, pp . 161 , 158—9. 75 Nehls , i . 505 . N o typescrip t howeve r ha s survived . T h e Forewor d i s date d
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'Hermitage, 1 2 Septembe r 1919 ' (WL 486:19) , th e da y h e returne d t o Chape l Far m cottage; it wa s no t publishe d i n Women in Love (WL xxxi x n . 5 3 and 484-6) . Se e als o p. 86 4 note 93. 76 Bor n i n Russia , Seltze r ha d com e t o Americ a a t th e ag e o f 12 . H e translate d severa l Russian authors , wen t int o publishin g wit h Bon i an d Liverigh t i n 1917 , and se t u p a new firm , Scot t an d Seltzer , i n 1918 . H e wa s t o b e DHL' s exclusiv e publishe r unti l 1926. 77 Cf . Ross , The Composition, pp. 118-19 ; WL xxxvi . 78 Nehls , i . 492. 79 Se e pp . 43 9 an d 838- 9 note s 63 , 81 ; Nehls, i . 497 ; E38 2 b , p , i , 1 , n (th e Melvill e essay no w divide d i n two) ; i n (iii . 405) D H L mentione d tha t th e 'Democracy ' essay s (see pp. 523-6) , which al l begin fro m Whitman , coul d substitut e fo r it . 80 Jan e Bur r wa s th e pseudony m o f Rose Guggenhei m Winslo w (b . 1881) . Her nove l i s set i n th e brittl e milie u o f Greenwic h Village . Sh e als o sen t City Dust (privat e collection). 81 Th e fea r tha t hi s idea s wer e abou t t o b e stole n seem s megalomaniac ; thoug h i f h e knew throug h Barbar a Lo w an d th e Eder s tha t bot h Jone s an d th e Eder s ha d published essay s o n chil d psycholog y i n Child Study i n 1916 , whil e h e wa s i n Cornwall, thi s migh t explai n hi s belie f tha t the y wer e becomin g preoccupie d wit h th e subject - thoug h hardl y hi s estimat e o f th e exten t o f hi s influence . H e ha d recentl y seen Barbara , an d Davi d Ede r th e previou s Februar y whe n h e ha d bee n ill ; he i s no t known t o hav e see n Jones sinc e 1915 . Jones ha d no w lef t t o visi t Freu d i n Vienna , i n the hop e o f organizin g a post-wa r conference . Th e Sixt h Internationa l Psycho Analytical Conferenc e di d no t howeve r tak e plac e unti l Septembe r 1920 . 82 Nehls , i . 492. D HL ha d severa l reason s t o b e gratefu l t o Goldrin g a t this tim e a s wel l as th e agreemen t t o publis h Touch and Go. A s Seltzer' s agen t i n Britain , Goldrin g had persuade d hi m t o tak e a n interes t i n Women in Love. Afte r hi s tri p t o Th e Hague, Goldin g ha d als o succeede d i n gettin g t o Germany , wher e h e intereste d D r Anton Kippenber g o f Insel-Verla g i n publishin g D H L i n Germa n (iii . 392 an d n . 1) , and th e essay s fo r The Word eased D H L ' s wa y t o Italy . 83 Odd Man Out, pp . 253 , 243; cf. K 110:20-6 . 84 RDP 74:6-7 . 85 Th e earlies t survivin g version , almos t identica l t o th e tex t i n The Word take n fro m the ribbo n copy , i s a carbo n typescrip t E9i a fro m whic h th e quotation s ar e taken , rather tha n fro m th e revise d tex t printe d i n RDP. Pag e reference s wil l however b e t o RDP 63-83 , an d se e als o th e Textua l apparatus . RDP 74:13-20 ; 65:28 ; 66:1-2 ; 68:8-9; 66:29-30 . 86 RDP 70:22 , 23; 70:39-40; 72:26-7; 73:7-8, 19-21 , 24-6 . 87 ^ £ ^ 7 4 : 3 3 - 5 ; 74:36-754 ; 75:i5 ; 75:36-7 . 88 RDP 78:27-31 ; 79:14-16 ; 81:34-5; 82:17-18; 82:13-14; 82:31 . 89 RDP 65:24-5 . 90 Nehls , i. 505 ; see (iii. 406). 91 ^ 2 5 8 : 2 3 - 4 . 92 Lucas , Frieda Lawrence, pp . 160-1 . Moreove r whe n th e trun k wa s eventuall y found ,
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the Dutc h Custom s ha d impounde d som e ne w clot h an d tw o woolle n vest s sh e wa s taking t o he r mother , an d thoug h the y release d the m later , the y woul d no t allo w he r to take the m int o German y (iii . 620). 93 Nehls , ii. 5-6. Befor e h e lef t fo r Italy , D H L sewe d sheepski n overcoat s fo r Rosalind' s Bridget an d Chlo e t o keep th e mountai n col d a t bay (Nehls , ii. 5). 94 SP 113 ; Nehls, i. 502 . 95 B y a n od d coincidenc e - bu t on e wit h n o significanc e fo r DHL' s visi t - Lad y Becke r was th e aun t o f Edwar d ('Teddy' ) Seaman , who m Frieda' s daughte r Els a woul d become engage d t o i n 192 6 and marr y i n 1929 . See 'Somethin g t o Say' , p . 42. 96 N o pla y b y Plowma n appeare d i n Daniel' s series , thoug h D H L probabl y di d hel p t o persuade Goldrin g t o accep t fo r i t a translation b y Ko t o f The Green Ring b y Zinaid a Hippius (Merizkowsky) . 97 SP 136 . 98 Nehls , i . 507-8 . 99 SP 114 . 100 ^ 2 5 8 : 3 0 ; 258:30-4 ; cf. LG 294:12-25 .
Chapter Ten : Capr i an d Sicil y 1 Sinc e D H L coul d no t affor d a sleeper , thi s mus t hav e bee n a ver y uncomfortabl e journey. H e woul d urg e Rosalin d whe n sh e cam e t o 'ge t a sleeper from Pari s t o Rom e - wagon-li t — never min d th e expense ' (iii . 415). 2 Nehls , ii . 12-13 , fro m a lette r t o Norma n Douglas ; cf . AR 133-49 . Si r Walte r complained tha t h e appeare d 'a s a kin d o f physicall y decrepi t an d vulgarl y ostentatious plutocrat' , too k Aaron' s bein g reminde d b y hi s wif e ' a littl e o f Quee n Victoria' {AR 135:39 ) a s 'unflattering' , an d objecte d mos t o f al l tha t the y ha d bee n made unintellectua l an d dull . 3 AR 133:31-3 ; Nehls, ii . 12 . 4 Se e (iii . 41 7 n . 1) . Bor n i n 1855 , thu s i n hi s mid-sixtie s i n 1919 , h e wa s hardl y a n 'old man' , thoug h hi s stat e o f health i s unknown. H e lived , however , til l 1927 . 5 No . 5 Piazz a Mentana ; E233.7 , p . 2 (MMM 29-30) ; fo r th e view , se e (iii . 422) . (MMM i s printed fro m E233.7 , as against th e cu t an d bowdlerise d versio n publishe d as th e introductio n t o Memoirs of the Foreign Legion by M. M. b y Seeke r i n 1924 ; reprinted PII 303-61. Thes e ar e howeve r use d a s a check fo r uncertai n readings. ) 6 E233.7 , pp. 1- 2 (MMM 30) ; PII 303-4 , fro m a revised typescript : read s 'ver y clean , very natty , ver y alert' . 7 E233.7 , p. 2 {MMM 30-1) . 8 E233.7 , pp . 4- 6 {MMM 32-5) . Fo r Douglas , se e Mar k Holloway , Norman Douglas: A Biography (1976) . Dougla s wa s bor n i n Austri a i n 1868 , o f a Scot s fathe r an d a Scots-German mother . Educate d a t Uppingha m an d Karlsruhe , h e joine d th e Foreign Office , servin g i n S t Petersbur g i n th e 1890 s befor e havin g t o leav e i n a hurry ove r a n affai r wit h a lad y o f family . H e travelle d widely , mad e a marriag e which ende d i n acrimon y an d the n becam e th e doye n o f the expatriat e communit y i n Capri. Whe n D H L me t hi m i n 191 4 h e wa s assistan t t o Hueffe r o n th e English
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NOTES T O PAGE S 5 3 8 - 4 1 Review, bu t h e late r ha d t o leav e Englan d too , afte r bein g arreste d fo r pickin g u p a schoolboy i n th e Natura l Histor y Museum . (Hi s interes t i n an d knowledg e o f natura l history wa s howeve r ver y considerable , an d scientific. ) H e the n mad e hi s lif e i n Ital y and souther n France . Hi s literar y reputatio n wa s base d o n hi s nove l South Wind (1917) an d hi s trave l book s o n souther n Italy , Siren Land (1911 , abou t Capri ) an d Old Calabria (1915) . Glimpses o f Magnu s appea r i n Gordo n Craig , Index to the Story of My Days (1957), pp . 275-83 , 289 ; Edwar d Craig , Gordon Craig: The Story of His Life (Ne w York, 1968) , pp. 202-13 , 2 32> 2 4°-5°> 2 9 ^ - 9 , 310 ; and Norma n Douglas , A Plea for Better Manners (whic h object s t o DHL' s portrait ; reprinte d i n MMM 109-32) . T h e Craigs' portraya l o f a charmin g an d flattering 'fixer ' wit h a networ k o f contacts , enabling hi m t o ac t a s manage r fo r Gordo n Crai g an d Isador a Duncan , i s quit e consistent wit h D H L ' s wh o kne w hi m onl y i n hi s hand-to-mouth years . He wa s bor n in Ne w Yor k i n 1876 , so n o f Kar l Liebetra u an d Hedwigi s Rosamund a Magnu s (whom h e adored , an d believe d t o b e th e illegitimat e daughte r o f Kaise r Frederic k Wilhelm). A s a youn g ma n h e fel t tha t h e belonge d i n culture d Europ e rathe r tha n America; an d i t wa s i n Berli n tha t h e introduce d himsel f t o Gordo n Craig . H e late r married Luc y Seraphin e Norman ; an d converte d t o Roma n Catholicis m i n Englan d in 1902 ; but b y 190 9 when Dougla s firs t me t him , h e ha d separate d fro m hi s wif e an d his preferenc e wa s homosexual . I n a fit of idealism fo r th e Allie d caus e h e enliste d i n the Frenc h Foreig n Legio n i n 1916 , bu t soo n discovere d hi s horribl e mistake , an d contrived t o desert . H e manage d a las t tou r fo r Isador a i n 1918 , an d wa s tryin g t o resume hi s pre-wa r lif e whe n Crai g me t hi m i n Rom e i n 191 9 - bu t th e worl d ha d changed, man y ol d contact s ha d falle n o n il l day s an d h e wa s lef t wit h a champagn e life-style an d fe w mean s t o sustai n it . Whe n D H L me t hi m h e wa s tryin g t o liv e b y his pen , completin g a memoir o f his day s i n th e Legion , whic h h e title d 'Dregs' ; an d also workin g o n a memoi r o f hi s travels . Hi s impecuniousnes s wa s no t fo r wan t o f hard wor k - h e wrot e voluminously . 9 E233.7 , pp . 1 , 6 (MMM 29 , 35). D HL ha d howeve r almos t certainl y acquire d lir e i n London befor e leavin g (se e n. 15) . 10 Nehls , ii . 14 . E233.7, p. 8 (MMM 38) . 11
(i933) > PP - 282- 7 (Nehls , ii. 15) . 12 Novembe r 191 9 (UCLA ) (Stanle y Weintraub , Reggie: A Portrait of Reginald Turner, New York , 1965 , p. 193) . 13 Se e (iii . 419-20); AR 219:15-20 . D H L certainl y me t Le o Stein , brothe r o f Gertrude , whom h e late r enquire s afte r (iii . 463). Reggi e Turne r ma y als o hav e take n the m t o a musical at-hom e a t th e Torrigianis ' acros s th e river . (Se e pp . 543 , also 599 , 67 0 an d 864 note 96) . 14 AR 215:21 ; 219:20, 22. 15 Thi s wil l hav e include d th e lir e h e ha d obtaine d i n London , fro m whic h h e ha d drawn t o cove r hi s Italia n train-fare s an d th e hote l i n Leric i - leavin g hi m wit h £g sterling a s a reserve i n hi s pocket . Th e pension e i n Florenc e cos t abou t 8 5 lire a week including foo d an d heatin g (iii . 424), but h e ha d bee n eatin g ou t too . Ther e wa s als o the dentist' s fee . H e ha d go t 5 0 lire to £1.
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16 Th e Cambridg e Editio n date s D H L ' s lette r t o K M 24 ? November , bu t whe n sh e mentioned i t t o Ko t o n 1 3 December sh e kne w tha t Fried a ha d arrive d i n Florenc e (Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , iii . 161) . S o D H L mus t hav e writte n soo n afte r 3 December - probabl y th e sam e da y tha t h e sen t th e first articl e t o J MM i n London , i.e. before 6 December (iii . 428). J M M ha d writte n t o K M o n 1 7 October perhap s wit h a twinge o f conscience , tha t he 'woul d lik e t o giv e D . H . Lawrenc e a leg-up ' an d suggeste d sh e migh t lik e t o write o n Sons and Lovers - bu t sh e di d not , se e pp . 56 0 an d 85 2 note s 4 6 an d 47 . O n 9 Novembe r h e ha d hear d fro m Gertle r tha t D H L wa s goin g t o Ital y an d wrot e t o KM: ' I a m goin g t o sen d hi m you r address . H e ma y quit e wel l hav e th e chanc e o f coming t o see you ' (Letters of JMM to KM, ed . Hankin , pp . 188 , 205). 17 SEP 185:3 , 16 ; 185:7-15 ; echoin g i n som e respect s th e descriptio n i n hi s lette r t o Cecily o n 2 6 Novembe r (iii . 422) . (I t i s possibl e tha t th e essa y wa s revise d i n 1921 , see SEP lv-lvi . A typescrip t survives , probabl y fro m 192 1 an d probabl y type d b y DHL.). 18 SEP 188:26 ; 185:18-19 ; 189:12-13 . 19 Se e SEP lvi-lvii . (Agai n onl y a 192 1 typescrip t b y D H L survives. ) 20 Whe n Fried a arrived , however , the y ma y hav e gon e together : the y certainl y di d mee t Trench's wif e an d daughter , se e (iii.463) . 21 Fried a 116-17 . 22 SP 119 ; cf.AR 228:35-230:6 . 23 SP 118 . That bot h robberie s occurre d i n 191 9 i s confirmed i n SS chap , VIII : 'Whe n I first cam e t o Ital y afte r th e wa r I wa s robbe d twic e i n thre e weeks , floating roun d i n the swee t ol d innocen t confidenc e i n mankind. ' D H L probabl y suspecte d Ellesina' s husband wh o ha d becom e senil e an d wa s no t responsibl e fo r hi s action s (informatio n from Joh n Car s well). 24 Cf . LG 30iff . 25 I I Rosai o wa s owne d b y th e enginee r an d architec t Edwi n Ceri o wh o buil t Cas a Solitaria. I t ha d sitting-room , kitche n an d on e bedroo m only , an d ha d bee n occupie d in 191 9 b y th e compose r Respighi . Th e casetta dow n a t th e beac h 'consiste d o f tw o rooms buil t ove r a boathouse'. Se e Compto n Mackenzie , My Life and Times: Octave Five 1915-1923 (1966) , p . 160 ; an d Fait h Mackenzie , As Much As I Dare (1938) , p. 28 3 o n th e strateg y o f th e landlor d t o ge t the m t o giv e u p th e leas e afte r th e war , by encouragin g loca l Capres i t o reliev e themselve s nearby . 26 Cassell s ha d offere d a contrac t fo r si x book s a t a £1,50 0 advanc e fo r each , an d a £4,000 optio n fo r fou r o f th e si x fo r possibl e serialisation . Howeve r Mackenzi e loyally insiste d tha t Seeke r shoul d hav e tw o mor e book s afte r Sylvia and Michael an d Cassells agree d (My Life and Times, p. 146) . 27 Tw o year s olde r tha n D H L , Edwar d Montagu e Compto n Mackenzi e wa s grandso n and so n t o actors . Hi s fathe r 'Edwar d Compton ' an d hi s mothe r heade d a successfu l touring repertor y company , an d hi s tw o sister s wer e actresse s also . Educate d a t S t Paul's an d Oxford , h e ha d se t ou t a s a poet , the n a preache r awaitin g orders , the n a grower o f exotic plant s i n Cornwall . H e ha d writte n a number o f successfu l novels , a successful pla y (t o justif y himsel f t o hi s father) , an d a successful revu e fo r on e o f th e
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NOTESTO PAGE S 5 5 0 - I foremost impresario s o f th e day . H e ha d trodde n th e board s wit h aplom b himself , i n both Englan d an d America . Moreove r h e ha d ha d a n amazin g war . Throug h th e 'old-boy network ' an d withou t trainin g o f an y kind , h e ha d becom e no t onl y a n officer o f marine s bu t a spymaste r i n th e Aegean . Se e My Life and Times an d A. Linklater , Compton Mackenzie (1987) . 28 Poor Relations wa s th e titl e o f Mackenzie' s lates t nove l (1919) , an d th e on e h e wa s about t o star t wa s Rich Relatives (1921) . Faith late r proteste d tha t Monty' s velou r ha t had com e fro m Hilhouse , th e expensiv e Bon d Stree t gentleman' s hatte r (Nehls , ii . 21), More than I Should p . 32 . 29 Fait h Mackenzie , More Than I Should (1940) , p. 25 . 30 Thi s stor y i s firs t tol d i n Literature in My Time (1933) , p . 19 3 an d elaborate d i n My Life and Times, p . 166 . The West Wind of Love fictionalised th e encounte r (Nehls , ii . 24-9), but , Mackenzi e claimed , wa s mostl y 'factuall y an d conversationall y exact ' (Nehls, ii . 455, n. 530) . However , Mackenzie , thoug h a splendid raconteur , ma y no t be altogethe r reliable . I argu e belo w tha t on e o f hi s bes t stories , eve n i f tru e i n outline, mus t hav e mistake n th e gestur e whic h i s it s centra l point , an d misremem bered wha t th e D H L o f 192 0 actually said , b y assimilatin g hi m t o D HL th e autho r o f Lady Chatterley's Lover. Th e accoun t i n My Life and Times, p . 166 , o f D H L denouncing Ulysses as 'muck' , whil e possibl e (i f Mackenzi e ha d len t hi m a n issu e o f the Little Review) i s als o ope n t o questio n sinc e D H L showe d n o memory , whil e trying t o ge t hol d o f th e boo k i n 1922 , o f havin g eve r see n par t o f i t befor e - no t something on e woul d forget . Despit e Mackenzie' s prais e o f th e nove l an d disparage ment o f D H L there , th e stor y wa s no t mentione d i n Literature in My Time (1933 ) and first appeare d i n 1966 . Mackenzi e ma y howeve r hav e talke d abou t Ulysses o n Capri i n 1920 . 31 F . Mackenzi e More than I Should, pp . 31- 2 (Nehls , ii . 21) ; Mackenzie, My Life and Times, p. 165 . Brooks, a brilliant Gree k scholar , neve r produce d th e wor k h e seeme d to promise . A homosexual , h e mad e a marriag e o f convenienc e wit h th e talente d American painte r Romain e Brook s wh o wa s lesbian , bu t the y soo n separated . Fait h Mackenzie describe d hi s lif e a s 'useless ' an d 'selfish ' bu t th e ma n himsel f a s 'picturesque an d lovable , withou t muc h shame , an d wha t i s rarer , withou t sham ' (Nehls, ii . 45 4 n . 39) . Dougla s an d Mackenzi e dedicate d book s t o him , an d als o based character s o n hi m (South Wind an d Vestal Fire). D H L als o like d him , an d continued t o correspond wit h hi m fo r a time afte r leavin g Capri . 32 My Life and Times, pp . 167-8 . Mellor s treat s suc h a failur e philosophicall y i n Lady Chatterley's Lover, whic h howeve r make s i t clea r i n Connie' s case , a s wel l a s tha t o f Mellors's horribl e wife , tha t i t ma y resul t fro m th e woman' s inabilit y o r unwilling ness t o giv e hersel f completely , a s wel l a s fro m th e man' s over-quickness . I t i s possible tha t Mackenzi e ma y hav e back-date d fro m Lady Chatter ley again . H e wa s not well-dispose d t o D H L afte r 'Th e Ma n Wh o Love d Islands ' (wher e D H L mad e use o f Faith' s confidences) . I t i s als o howeve r possibl e tha t D H L di d sa y somethin g resembling Mackenzie' s report , sinc e h e wa s o n othe r occasion s remarkabl y ope n about hi s se x life . Hi s poe m 'Manifesto ' make s explici t a n implicatio n hinte d a t elsewhere, tha t Fried a gav e he r bod y easily , bu t no t herself . On e ste p further : th e
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NOTESTO PAGE S 5 5 2 - 9 fiction sometime s reveal s (fro m Ursul a o n th e beac h t o Mellors' s wife ) a horro r o f 'beaked' woma n who , concentrate d o n herself , tear s a t a ma n - and , particularl y i n the late fiction, resentmen t o f a woma n wh o ha s withhel d hersel f the n 'brough t herself of f afte r th e ma n ha s climaxe d (LCL 202:8 , 3) . However , onc e again , wherever th e 'imperfection' , inadequac y (o r rationalisation ) o f rea l lif e lay , i t i s dangerous t o infe r directl y fro m literatur e t o life . Th e trut h wa s probabl y comple x and i s certainl y unknowable . Th e anecdot e abou t th e comed y o f se x (als o echoe d i n Lady Chatterley 's Lover, als o possibl y back-date d b y Mackenzie ) i s first i n Literature in My Time, p . 210 . 33 Mackenzie , My Life and Times, pp. 168 , 164-5 . For th e fly story , se e als o West Wind of Love, pp . 294-30 1 (Nehls , ii . 27) , an d th e origina l versio n i n Literature in My Time, p . 21 0 (Nehls , ii. 455-6 n . 55) . 34 Mackenzie , My Life and Times, pp. 166-7 . F. Mackenzie, As Much As I Dare, p . 259 . 35 Th e posta l strik e seem s t o hav e broke n ou t o n Monda y 5 January (KM , Letters, ed . O'Sullivan an d Scott , iii . 169) , wa s suspende d fo r a week , the n se t i n i n earnes t th e following wee k (K M gettin g he r las t lette r o n 13th) . D H L go t o n 6 January a lette r from German y whic h ha d bee n poste d o n 2 3 Decembe r (iii . 448) , an d pos t wa s delivered o n 9/1 0 January , bu t h e seem s t o hav e ha d nothin g a t al l fro m the n t o 2 9 January whe n h e returne d fro m Amalfi , sinc e a s soo n a s th e posta l strik e ende d o n the 22nd , th e railwa y strik e bega n (iii . 460-1). 36 Mackenzie , My Life and Times, p. 166 . 37 PU ch. H I [Pengui n (1971) , p. 219] . 38 PU ch . 1 [Penguin , p . 203] . 39 PU ch . 1 [Penguin , pp . 204 , 206]. 40 Se e (iii . 301-2) an d chapte r 9 , p . 491. 41 H e probabl y stil l ha d mos t o f Seltzer' s £50 , an d a presen t o f $10 0 (£25/7/7 ) n a d come unexpectedl y throug h Huebsc h fro m well-wisher s i n America , th e poet s Loui s Untermeyer an d hi s wif e Jea n Starr , an d thei r frien d Emil e Ta s (iii . 445) . H e ha d probably als o been pai d fo r th e Shesto v an d fo r Bay whic h ha d bee n publishe d o n 2 0 November. 42 My Life and Times, pp . 165-6 . H e attribute s he r desir e t o pul l peopl e dow n t o he r experience o f being mad e t o fee l a n outside r durin g th e war . 43 Se e Life Interests, p . 9 0 (Nehls, ii . 37). 44 Th e Cambridg e Editio n (iii . 470 ) date s KM' s lette r 9 Februar y (iii . 470) ; wherea s O'Sullivan an d Scot t ar e surel y righ t t o dat e i t tw o day s earlie r (Letters, iii . 208-9) , since i t i s a repl y t o J M M 's 'Tuesda y letter ' (3 February) , an d letter s fro m Londo n to Ospedalett i wer e no w regularl y takin g fou r days . (K M date d quit e a differen t letter o n th e 9th. ) Alpers , Life of Mansfield (pp . 310-11 ) report s J M M a s adding , twelve year s late r i n hi s 193 2 journal , tha t D H L ha d calle d K M a 'loathsom e reptile ' and hope d tha t sh e woul d die . I t wa s h e wh o destroye d th e letter . O n th e bac k o f DHL's lette r t o him , J MM drafte d a reply date d 8 February: 'Dea r Lawrence , Thi s is to tel l yo u tha t i t i s my fixed intention , whe n eve r o r whereve r I mee t yo u again , t o hit yo u i n th e face . Ther e i s n o othe r wa y o f treatin g you ' (iii . 64 8 n.) . H e coul d no t yet hav e hear d o f D H L ' s lette r t o KM , an d wa s motivate d onl y b y th e insul t t o
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NOTES T O PAGE S 5 5 9 - 6 6 himself. Th e dat e make s i t likel y als o tha t bot h DHL' s letter s reache d thei r destinations abou t th e sam e time , i . e . 6- 7 Februar y i n Ospedalett i an d perhap s 7- 8 February i n J M M ' s case , havin g furthe r t o go . Letter s fro m Londo n t o Taormin a were takin g si x or seve n day s afte r th e strike . 45 E233.7 , p. 5 6 (MMM 101) . 46 Letters ofJMM to KM, ed . Hankin , p . 188 ; Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scot t (iii . 42). 47 Letters ofJMM to KM, ed . Hankin , p . 205 ; KM t o J M M, 1 4 November (Letters, ed . O'Sullivan an d Scott , iii . 92). 48 Fro m Florenc e D H L wa s givin g th e Picinisc o address , expectin g t o b e onl y a wee k in Rome . 49 Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , iii . 135 , 158-60 . 50 Letter s t o Englan d the n (befor e th e pile-u p owin g t o th e strike ) wer e takin g abou t five days ; cf. (iii . 425). 51 Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , iii . 148 . 52 Ibid. , iii . 182-4 . 53 Ibid. , iii . 213. 54 Letters of JMM to KM, ed . Hankin , p . 266 ; Letters, ed . O'Sulliva n an d Scott , iii . 214, 217.
55 Alpers , Life of Mansfield, p . 366 ; the wil l drawn u p o n 1 4 August 1922 . 56 ' A Defens e o f Lawrence' , New York Tribune (1 0 Januar y 1920) , replyin g t o a n interview wit h Si r Ernes t Hodder . Mackenzi e wa s irritate d a t Cannan' s 'imaginar y stories' t o interviewers (My Life and Times, p . 167) . 57 D H L di d no t recognis e Bennet t unde r th e initial s 'E.A. ' i n Pinker' s letter , an d queried th e payment . 58 Seltzer' s telegra m read , whe n transcribe d i n Picinisc o 'Relnquie s fo r atothe r publisher entirel y cabl e ou r ekpense . Selizer ' (iii . 472 n . 3) . It arrive d i n Capr i o n 1 0 February, bu t wha t di d i t mean ? Was i t agreemen t t o relinquish , o r ha d a wor d dropped ou t (suc h a s 'impossible ' afte r 'entirely') ? Certainl y whe n Huebsc h approached Seltzer , th e latte r ha d not change d hi s mind . 59 'Diary ' (Tedloc k 89) . 60 Se e not e 41 above . 61 E233.7 , pp. 9-1 0 (MMM 40) . The letter s hav e no t survived . 62 Th e gif t fro m th e Untermeyer s appear s t o hav e arrive d i n th e storm-delaye d pos t o n 4 January . D H L coul d no t the n hav e hear d twic e fro m Magnu s b y 1 7 Januar y because o f the posta l strike , an d th e onl y ga p i n th e letter s durin g whic h D H L coul d have gon e t o Montecassin o i n Januar y i s 17-21S L Th e railwa y strik e ha d begu n b y 22 January. Ther e i s ever y reaso n therefor e t o discoun t D H L ' s mentio n o f 'January ' in th e memoi r a s misremembering , an d t o prefe r hi s other , contradictor y statemen t that h e returne d fro m Montecassin o 'onl y a fe w days ' befor e leavin g fo r Sicil y (E233.7, pp . 10 , 13 , 24; MMM 40 , 44, 59) . There i s interna l confirmatio n fo r datin g the tri p 19-2 1 February , too , since Magnus , havin g hope d D H L woul d sta y a week , tried unsuccessfull y t o persuad e hi m a t leas t t o sta y 'ove r Sunday' , bu t h e travelle d back o n Saturda y (E233.7 , p . 22 ; MMM 58 ) - whic h fit s 2 1 Februar y bu t no t th e January date s - an d lef t fo r Sicil y o n 2 6 February .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 56 6 - 7 3 63 E233.7 , pp . 11 , 12 , 1 4 (M S read s 'theires' ; MMM 42 , 43 , 46) . T o Magnus , th e monastery wa s a 'Paradise . . . th e onl y plac e - th e onl y life ! I only pra y I ma y b e abl e to settl e al l m y affair s soo n & b e permitte d t o sta y always . Th e peac e - th e quie t the service s - th e monk s a t wor k - i t i s tha t "whic h passet h understanding" ' (Magnus t o Douglas , 5 Octobe r 1915 , YU ; i t describin g a previou s visit , an d recounting th e routin e o f his day. ) 64 Magnu s ha d sun g th e praise s o f Sicil y earlie r an d suggeste d D H L g o t o Agrigento . Moreover Mar y Canna n wa s proposin g t o mov e t o Sicil y too . Th e dat e i s give n i n Francis Bret t Young' s diar y an d confirme d b y Jessic a Bret t Young , Francis Brett Young: A Biography (1962) , pp. 102-5 , on whic h th e accoun t tha t follow s ha s drawn . 65 Thi s i s confirme d b y a lette r o f 4 Ma y (t o b e publishe d i n Letters, viii. ) i n whic h D H L tol d Stanle y Unwi n o f th e missin g trunk , an d ho w h e wa s havin g t o wea r winter clothe s i n ver y ho t weather . 66 J . Bret t Young , Francis Brett Young, pp . 93-100 , 114 . 67 Ibid. , pp . 103-5 , s ee a l s o P - 96 68 Se e Cicci o Cacopardo' s accoun t (Nehls , ii . 32). 69 Indee d D H L tol d Ko t shortl y afterwards , i n respons e t o a suggestio n tha t h e migh t join Gilber t Canna n an d Henr y Mon d i n a new 'left ' periodical , tha t h e no t onl y ha d no desir e t o ente r th e journalisti c worl d lik e J MM an d Squire , bu t als o tha t 'wha t remaining belie f I ha d i n Socialis m die s ou t o f m e mor e an d mor e a s th e tim e goe s by' (iii . 486). 70 SP 130-1 , an d o n th e productio n an d he r revie w 135 , 137-8 . Sh e though t th e production 'creditabl e i f n o more' , bu t t o hav e playe d th e body-washin g scen e realistically - howeve r 'simpl e an d tragic ' i t i s t o rea d - wa s t o sho w tha t th e pla y 'does no t quit e " d o , " ' thoug h sh e though t i t hel d it s ow n agains t th e Iris h People' s Plays whic h wer e it s onl y rival s a s working-clas s drama . Sh e wa s upse t that , havin g written to o lon g a review, th e mor e commendator y par t ha d bee n cut . 71 O n 2 2 Marc h D H L tol d Mackenzi e tha t Duckwort h ha d aske d hi m t o 'cu t pieces ' from The Rainbow includin g a whole chapter , almos t certainl y 'Shame ' (iii . 491, 490), which s o annoyed hi m tha t h e wa s goin g straigh t bac k t o Seeker . Seeke r replie d wit h an offe r o f a shilling a copy o n th e first 2 , 000 , 1/ 6 t o 5 , 000 an d 2 / - thereafter ; an d D H L aske d fo r a n advanc e o f £10 0 o n eac h nove l (iii . 499) . Bu t di d Seeke r wan t t o 'saddle' himsel f wit h The Lost Girl} (iii . 503) . Th e edito r o f LG i s unfai r howeve r t o suggest (xxix ) tha t D H L wa s 'clearl y tryin g t o evad e th e term s o f hi s contract' , sinc e the contrac t containin g a commitment, t o futur e book s (five) , onl y cam e t o hi m o n 7 May, an d h e the n specificall y objecte d t o i t (iii . 519) . Fo r a whil e ther e wa s tal k o f calling i t 'Th e Bitte r Cherry ' afte r Ciccio' s surname , Marasc a - presumabl y t o quieten Seeker' s misgiving . 72 Th e ques t i s a predominan t for m i n America n fiction. I t ha s bee n suggeste d b y L. D . Clark , i n D. H. Lawrence and the Modern World, ed. Pete r Presto n an d Pete r Hoare (Basingstoke , 1989) , pp . 193-216 , tha t D H L was , consciousl y o r uncon sciously, beginnin g t o becom e a n 'American ' write r a s wel l a s seekin g a n America n audience. 73 Se e chapte r 2 , pp . 58-9 , 61 . Photographs o f Flossi e an d he r governes s Mis s Wrigh t
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NOTESTO P A G E S 5 7 6 - 8 5 may b e foun d i n Georg e Hard y an d Nathanie l Harris , A D. H. Lawrence Album (Ashbourne, 1985) , pp. 69-74 . 74 LG 202:26-8 ; 202:23-4 ; Seeker' s cu t 202:26-8 . Th e presenc e o f ana l se x i n thi s novel ha s bee n sensitivel y analyse d b y H . M . Dalesk i i n a paper a t a D HL conferenc e in Montpellie r i n 1990 . 75 LG 234:29 ; 233:36 , 39 ; 202:31 ; 234:4 . Fo r th e chang e D H L agree d t o mak e a t Seeker's reques t se e note t o 234:1 6 (pp . 386-7) . 76 LG 392-3 , not e t o 288:9 ; 288:6-9. 77 Cf . th e scen e i n th e Italia n Consulate , LG 290:32-291:30 . 78 Se e chapter s 3 , p. 15 6 and 4 , pp. 220-2 . 79 LG 3 3 9 ^ - 3 , 9 , 15-16 ; cf. (iii . 307). 80 Th e Hubrech t sketch , signe d b y D H L , i s reproduce d facin g (iii . 322 ) an d th e Jut a charcoal sketc h facin g p . 11 9 of Keit h Sagar , The Art o/D. H. Lawrence (1966) . Th e sketch provide d th e basi s o f a later oi l painting , se e chapte r 11 , pp. 63 2 an d 86 2 not e 6981 Th e followin g accoun t i s draw n fro m Nehls , ii . 31-3 , Letters, iii. , especiall y (iii . 551, 557), an d m y conversatio n wit h Salvator e Gallean o a t Fontan a Vecchia . 82 'Th e Bigge r Hear t o f D . H . Lawrence' , New Republic (2 8 Februar y 1955) . The stor y may b e apocryphal , thoug h i t i s told b y Cicci o (Nehls , ii . 33); and th e Lawrence s di d become acquainte d wit h Cicci o Atenasi o wh o becam e Sindaco , an d spen t thei r las t Christmas o n th e islan d wit h hi m an d hi s wif e (se e postcar d t o Barones s vo n Richthofen, 1 9 December 1921 , to be publishe d i n Letters, viii.) . 83 'Gilbert , th e Filbert , th e colone l o f th e Knuts ' - fro m a pre-wa r music-hal l song , a 'filbert' bein g bot h a nut an d a slang ter m fo r a fashionable ma n abou t town . H e an d D H L neve r me t again , an d a fe w year s late r Canna n ha d a menta l breakdow n fro m which h e neve r recovered , se e Farr, Cannan. 84 Se e postcar d t o Baroness vo n Richthofen , 9 April, to be publishe d i n Letters, viii . 85 Moore , Intelligent Heart, p . 269 . 86 E233.7 , p. 2 4 {MMM 60) ; LG 274:18-20 ; Frieda 130 . 87 Wha t follow s i s take n fro m E233.7 , pp . 24ff . {MMM 6off) , checke d agains t Magnus's accoun t t o Dougla s i n hi s lette r o f 9 Ma y (YU) . Fo r Douglas' s view s se e his Plea for Better Manners i n MMM. 88 D H L clearl y registere d th e pointednes s o f Magnus' s compliment s abou t th e spaciousness o f Fontan a Vecchia . Magnu s complaine d bitterl y tha t 'h e neve r aske d me fo r a meal o r offere d a room i n hi s mos t commodiou s house' . 89 E233.7 , p . 2 4 {MMM 75) . Magnu s give s Cipolla' s nam e an d addres s t o Douglas , letter o f 9 May . I t i s no t clea r whethe r thi s i s th e sam e Pancrazi o a s th e waite r a t th e Timeo, fo r i t i s a common name . 90 Printe d i n Tedloc k 89-99 . Th e ters e factua l entrie s ru n fro m 6 Februar y 192 0 t o 1 7 November 1924 . 'Ma y 5th . Sen t first par t M S . Los t Gir l t o Mis s Wallac e . . . "Los t Girl" finished.' O n 7 Ma y hi s ban k balanc e wa s £171.4. 5 an d h e signe d Seeker' s agreements fo r The Rainbow an d Women in Love an d 'Bega n M r Noon' . 91 E233.7 , pp. 37-4 0 {MMM 78-83) . 92 On e appeare d i n 192 1 as number 1 0 in th e Danie l series .
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NOTESTO P A G E S 5 8 5 - 6
93 Bor g wa s 31 ; Salomone a fe w year s olde r (informatio n fro m Pete r Vassullo) . I n fac t D H L wrot e t o Magnus a t leas t onc e mor e i n July, Magnu s t o Douglas, 1 8 July (YU) , but di d no t answe r letter s fro m Magnu s writte n o n 2 6 July an d 2 5 August , Magnu s to Douglas , 2 October (YU ) - thoug h thes e wer e probabl y lyin g i n Taormina , whic h he ha d lef t o n 1 August. 94 O n 2 8 October (YU ) Magnu s tol d Dougla s tha t D H L ha d opened hi s 'heart ' (! ) t o m e her e accidentally . H e i s lookin g fo r bisexua l type s fo r himself. Spok e o f his innocenc e whe n h e wrot e 'Twilight ' an d 'I I Duro' . Evidentl y innocent n o longer . Didn' t lik e Malt a becaus e h e though t tha t th e religio n o r something prevente d thei r sexua l expression ! I didn' t elucidat e [sic ] hi m a s I could hav e don e eve n afte r a fe w day s stay ! H e revel s i n al l tha t i s no t jus t withi n his reach . H e want s i t t o b e withi n hi s reach . Arrive d to o lat e - regret s it . Neve r speaks o f it unles s bore d t o tear s b y wome n a s here b y Mr s Canna n an d hi s wife . It would be a mistake to interpret this as a confession b y D HL tha t he was on the lookout for a homosexual relationship . It sounds lik e the garbling of an admission o f bisexualit y such as he had made to William Henry, and the familiar declaratio n of his lifelong desir e for blood-brotherhood . I t seem s a s temptin g t o som e homosexuals , confronte d b y a homophobic worl d whic h categorise s everyon e no t exclusivel y heterosexua l a s homo sexual, t o d o th e sam e i n revers e - a s with Forster' s speculatio n abou t D H L . A s t o 'I I Duro', th e D H L o f late 191 5 wa s certainly n o longe r 'innocent ' abou t homosexuality . The suggestio n probabl y cam e from Magnu s an d wa s met by polit e denial tha t this wa s what D H L ha d intended . I t i s indee d a travest y o f wha t h e wrote . Th e on e reall y interesting and revealin g part of DHL's indiscretio n i s the possible implication tha t h e regretted not having had a sexual relationshi p wit h Willia m Henr y becaus e it had com e too lat e - presumabl y becaus e o f his marriag e an d th e Cornishman' s courting . 95 Fo r th e ren t se e diar y entries , Tedlock 89 , 90, etc. D H L di d no t kno w wha t Seltzer' s two cheque s wer e for , an d i t i s no t certai n now , bu t Seltze r wa s bringin g ou t Touch and Go i n th e US A i n Jun e an d no w als o propose d t o republis h The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd fro m th e ol d plate s Little , Brow n ha d bough t fro m Kennerle y (iii . 527) , which migh t explai n th e identica l sums . (I t ma y hav e bee n becaus e o f Little, Brown' s purchase tha t Pinke r ha d sen t Women in Love t o the m i n 1917 , thoug h i t i s stil l fa r from clea r wh y h e shoul d hav e ignore d Huebsch. ) 96 Th e Dial offer s cam e throug h th e agenc y o f Richar d Aldingto n (se e diar y entr y fo r 20 June , Tedloc k 90) ; commencin g a mos t fruitfu l relationshi p wit h th e magazin e which ha d recentl y bee n take n ove r b y Scofiel d Thayer , an d wa s t o publis h D H L regularly, helpin g t o forg e hi s reputatio n i n th e US . Se e Nichola s Joos t an d Alvi n Sullivan D. H. Lawrence and 'The Dial' (Carbondale , 1970) . Diary entr y fo r 2 7 Jun e (Tedlock 91) ; the Metropolitan wa s edite d b y Car l Hove y (no t 'Huffey ' a s D H L first thought; iii . 493 ) wh o ha d bee n consulte d b y Huebsc h a s t o whethe r h e shoul d publish The Rainbow an d whos e lette r o f hig h prais e i s i n th e Huebsc h archiv e (LC) , see chapter 5 , note 103 . 97 Fo r 1 5 June, whe n h e pai d Mis s Wallac e he r 136 0 lir e (abou t £17) , D H L scribble d 'too much'' after th e laconi c not e i n hi s diar y (Tedloc k 90) . Th e origina l estimat e o f 1,000 ha d bee n reaso n enoug h fo r complain t i n lette r afte r lette r (e.g . iii. 521).
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NOTES T O PAGE S 5 8 7 - 9 4 98 3 1 May (Tedloc k 90) ; cf. SP 132 , 134. 99 Alpers , Life of Mansfield, pp . 412-13 . 100 Fo r th e complicate d stor y o f thes e delay s an d thei r textua l consequence s se e LG xxxiii-xxxviii, supplemente d b y letter s t o Fos s o n 2 3 Jun e an d 2 3 July , t o b e published i n Letters, viii . D H L als o though t tha t serialisatio n migh t b e a protectio n against prosecutio n whe n th e boo k appeare d (iii . 537). 101 I t i s no t clea r whethe r h e ha d brough t th e English Review text s wit h him , an d sinc e the 'book ' wa s neve r publishe d ther e i s n o wa y o f tellin g whethe r h e revise d th e published essays . H e certainl y howeve r ha d th e autograp h manuscript s o f th e unpublished essays , E382n , 1 , i, b , f , tha t ha d bee n prepare d i n Septembe r 1919 . I have assume d i n m y discussio n o f th e revisio n proces s no w tha t thre e survivin g typescripts (E382h , m , U T , an d k , UNM) , printe d i n Arnold , Symbolic Meaning, were fro m Jun e 192 0 revision , type d o n Mountsier' s instruction s whe n h e receive d them i n Augus t (iii . 582) . (Arnol d howeve r reprinte d E382J , U T , a s th e Moby Dick essay, th e shortene d carbo n instea d o f th e ful l ribbo n cop y E382k , presumabl y the n unknown t o him.) Fo r th e correspondin g Whitma n essay , see note 103 . 102 E382k , pp . 1-5 . 103 E382d , publishe d i n th e Nation and Athenceum fo r 2 3 Jul y 192 1 an d reprinte d b y Arnold, The Symbolic Meaning, pp . 254-64 , ha s a not e o n pag e 1 'Magazine ' i n Mountsier's hand . A ful l versio n o f thi s essa y survive s i n E382 P (unpublished) . Mountsier t o D H L , 1 0 Decembe r 192 0 (iii . 64 4 n. ) confirm s tha t Mountsie r wa s going t o attemp t t o cu t essay s wit h periodica l publicatio n i n mind . I t i s planne d t o include al l survivin g version s o f th e America n essay s i n th e Cambridg e Editio n volume. 104 E382P , pp. 3 , 8, 10 , 12 , 13 ; E382d, p . 7 ; E382P, p. 13 . 105 Encouragemen t ha d com e fro m Stanle y Unwi n i n March , askin g afte r th e progres s of th e littl e boo k tha t ha d bee n discusse d i n 1919 ; bu t i t cam e whe n D H L ' s trun k containing th e manuscrip t wa s stil l missin g ( 2 April) . O n 1 5 May , whe n th e trun k had a t las t arrived , h e promise d t o ge t o n wit h th e 'Education ' boo k 'a t once' , an d o n 17 Jun e confirme d tha t h e wa s a t wor k o n it . D H L ' s letter s t o Unwi n wil l b e published i n Letters, viii . E i i 2 a i s writte n throughou t o n th e sam e paper , probabl y one o f the block s h e thanke d Mari e Hubrech t fo r sendin g hi m a t th e en d o f May (iii . 533)106 RDP 138:13-14 ; 166:27 . 107 RDP 141:18-19 ; 148:31-149:9 . 108 RDP 133:12-24 . 109 RDP 150:12 ; 138:20-1 . n o RDP 134:23-136:22 . i n RDP 165:27-34 ; 165:40-166:3 ; 166:4-7 , 13-16 , 22-7 . 112 Thi s assumes , along wit h th e Letters editors , that i t was Aaron's Rod tha t D H L wrot e of i n (iii . 565 , 567 , 571) , sinc e tha t wa s wha t h e continue d t o wor k on , wherea s n o more i s hear d o f Mr Noon unti l November , suggestin g tha t th e pre-Malt a ide a ha d failed t o develop . But 'begun ' (iii . 565) could suggest Mr Noon. 113 Fried a remembere d a n episod e i n th e hea t whe n D H L climbe d a mulberr y tre e t o
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NOTES T O PAGE S 5 9 4 - 7 gather berrie s i n hi s bathin g suit , an d th e juic e runnin g dow n hi s bod y mad e hi m look lik e the sufferin g Chris t the y ha d see n i n Wiede n (Fried a 132) . 114 Se e Christophe r Heywood, 'Birds, Beasts and Flowers: The Evolutionar y Contex t an d Lawrence's Africa n Source' , DHLR y x v (1982) , 87-105 . H e ma y als o hav e ha d i n mind th e adde r b y th e sprin g a t Highe r Tregerthe n (recalle d b y Stanle y Hocking , Stevens, Lawrence at Tregerthen, p . 60 ; cf . iii . 40) . Th e spontaneit y o f th e livin g moment (fo r him) , lie s i n th e ac t o f writing , whic h i s mor e likel y tha n no t t o hav e many sources . The comple x o f feelings abou t th e snak e an d it s entrance int o th e dar k underworld gain s additiona l resonanc e whe n place d besid e th e othe r wor k o f th e spring an d summer . However , a s Keith Saga r point s ou t i n D. H. Lawrence: Life into Art (Harmondsworth , 1985) , pp . 216 , 232-4 , D H L ha d no t ye t visite d Venice ; cf . 'Mosquito' {Poems 332, 11 . 9-10); di d no t borro w Specimens of Bushman Folklore, ed . Lucy C . Lloy d (1911) , until August ; an d di d no t mentio n 'Snake ' unti l January 1921 . As i n Look! w e mus t no t assum e tha t th e poem s w e rea d wer e writte n a t th e tim e o f the experience , thoug h the y ma y hav e bee n starte d then . 115 Thi s wa s largel y Seeker' s doing , sinc e th e las t thin g h e wante d wa s t o se e hi s mos t successful autho r disappea r t o No a No a land . So , when h e spotte d th e advertisemen t in th e Times he pu t i t unde r Monty' s nos e an d th e resul t wa s as he hoped . 116 H e ha d ha d Magnu s sen d hi s Foreign Legion manuscrip t t o Seeke r now , wit h a recommendation (iii . 564) ; an d a lette r o f authorit y t o Mountsie r wit h instruction s about th e merry-go-roun d o f Lost Girl manuscript s whic h wa s stil l goin g o n (iii . 575-7). A n enquir y cam e fro m Curti s Brown , bus y buildin g u p hi s agenc y (iii . 566) , and thoug h D H L remaine d convince d tha t h e ha d bee n righ t t o as k Mountsie r t o ac t for him , i t wa s good t o know tha t anothe r professiona l agen t wa s interested. Goldrin g had jus t published , an d sen t hi m now , a collection o f critical essay s calle d Reputations (iii. 573) , on e o f whic h (Drape r 136-40 ) wa s a sympatheti c thoug h no t uncritica l account o f wha t D H L ha d publishe d sinc e The Rainbow. O n 1 Augus t h e sen t Mountsier hi s onl y cop y o f 'Fann y an d Annie ' a s th e stor y nex t mos t likel y t o succeed i n Americ a (iii . 582 ) an d mad e hi s final decisio n agains t Palmer . Th e nex t day h e sen t th e America n essay s t o Mountsier too .
Chapter Eleven : O n th e Mov e 1 The y staye d i n th e monaster y (iii . 602) . Fried a wa s probabl y stil l irritate d a t no t having bee n invite d b y Magnus . 2 SS ch . VII I (i n Lawrence in Italy [Pengui n 1905] , p. 182) . Achsa h Brewste r wh o ha d also onc e live d ther e describe d th e garde n 'wher e th e grea t fountai n spurte d u p through th e ile x trees ' (Nehls , ii . 58) . Aaron's Rod describe d 'Angus ' a s bird-like , with precisel y enunciate d public-schoo l speech , thoug h 'wit h a stron g twan g o f South Wales' . H e come s fro m 'ver y wealth y iro n peopl e nea r Merthyr ' an d wa s a t the Slad e befor e th e wa r (AR 188:1-2 ; 197:23) ; bu t now , wit h hi s monocl e an d cynical air , i s a n ex-subalter n shattere d b y th e trenches . H e i s som e year s olde r tha n his companion . Juta , bor n i n Cap e Tow n i n 1897 , th e so n o f Si r Henr y an d Lad y Helen Juta, als o studied a t the Slade .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 5 9 8 - 6 0 3 3 Seeke r ha d bee n sendin g proof s sinc e th e middl e o f August , bu t thank s t o th e vagaries o f th e pos t ' A goo d dea l tha t h e sen t neve r arrived , an d non e o f wha t Lawrence returne d reache d England. ' D H L seem s t o hav e sen t par t a t leas t o f hi s duplicate se t t o Seltzer , thoug h th e America n editio n wa s se t u p fro m th e Englis h proofs correcte d i n Seeker' s offic e (LG xxxvii-xxxviii) . 4 H e ha d probabl y hear d abou t i t (iii . 59 1 an d n . 1 ) fro m th e Secretary , Dean e Perceval, whom h e ha d me t i n Taormina . 5 Cf . Nehls , ii . 48 . Accordin g t o Eleano r Farjeo n i n Nuts and May (1926 ) - whic h Rosalind illustrate d - 'th e chie f room s ra n alon g i n a suit e a t th e bac k o f th e house , overlooking th e garden ; th e room s wer e silen t an d muffled , wit h old-fashione d chair s and mirrors , table s an d couches , cabinet s an d shelve s o f unopene d books , al l unuse d and growin g must y together ' {TWSUA 71) . 6 Oriol i claime d t o hav e me t D H L i n Cornwal l {Memoirs of a Bookseller, Florence , 1938, p . 192) . Th e meetin g i s place d i n th e contex t o f 1914-1 5 whic h canno t b e right. Howeve r elsewher e Oriol i say s tha t h e wa s als o i n Cornwal l i n 191 6 an d 1917 , staying wit h th e Crocker s who m h e kne w throug h hi s Englis h partne r J . I . Davis . Since P H me t Phy l Crocke r ther e i n 1917 , th e introductio n t o D H L wa s probabl y then. Carlota' s husban d Harr y Thrashe r ha d bee n considere d a highl y promisin g sculptor, bu t wa s kille d i n actio n no t lon g befor e th e en d o f th e war . Ther e i s a memorial t o him i n th e America n academ y i n Rome , (iii . 600 n. 3) . 7 TWSUA 73 ; SEP 196:5- 6 an d 325 , not e t o 196:22 . Th e 'Epilogue ' (1924 ) t o Movements in European History recalle d tha t i n Summe r 1920 : 'Florenc e wa s i n a state o f continua l socialisti c riot : sudde n shots , sudde n stone s smashin g int o th e restaurants wher e on e wa s drinkin g coffee , al l th e shop s suddenl y barre d an d closed . When I cam e back , ther e wa s a grea t processio n o f Fascist i an d banners : Long Live the King' (262:28-32) . 8 £382.53 , publishe d i n New Republic, xx v (1 5 Decembe r 1920) , 68-70 , fo r whic h the magazin e pai d $4 0 (iii . 59 1 an d n . 3) . Th e sam e issu e carrie d a rejoinde r b y Walter Lippman , an d th e issu e o f 5 January a protes t agains t Lippma n b y Mar y Austin. 9 Lowell' s revie w publishe d New York Times Book Review, 2 2 August ; Untermeye r i n New Republic, xxii i (1 1 August 1920) , 314-15 (Drape r 132-5) . 10 'Th e Fox ' ha d bee n take n b y Hutchinson's Story Magazine, no t Nash's. D H L havin g just hear d abou t Her m an d Jethou , th e lette r t o Mackenzi e threatene d 'Th e Lor d o f the Isles . I shall writ e a skit o n yo u on e day ' (iii . 594) , a threat fulfille d si x year s late r in 'Th e Ma n Wh o Love d Islands' ; responsible fo r th e breac h i n thei r friendship , an d much ange r o n Mackenzie' s part . 11 Nehls , ii . 49-50; TWSUA 78-9 . Rosalin d heade d he r accoun t 'September nth ig20. D. H. Lawrence's birthday'; bu t tha t wa s o n Saturday , fittin g neithe r th e suppe r wit h which th e accoun t begins , no r th e 'An d s o t o bed ' wit h whic h i t end s o n 'Sunday' . The mos t likel y explanatio n i s tha t sh e associate d th e experienc e wit h th e birthday , but ha d forgotte n o n whic h o f the day s sh e describe s i t actually fell . 12 Rosalind , i n penci l note s i n he r cop y o f Birds, Beasts and Flowers, label s 'Pome granate', 'Peach' , 'Medlar s an d Sorb-Apples' , 'Figs' , 'Grapes ' an d 'Tortois e Shell '
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NOTES T O PAGE S 6 0 4 - 7 Villa La Canovaia; an d 'Cypresses ' an d 'Turke y Cock ' Villa Belvedere, i . e . Fiesole . Since New Republic late r publishe d 'Th e Revolutionary ' a s wel l a s 'Medlars ' (payin g $20 fo r each ; iii . 59 6 an d n . 1) ; an d Dial thre e o f th e mistakenl y title d 'Apostoli c Beasts' a s wel l a s 'Pomegranate' , thes e poem s mus t hav e bee n sen t t o Mountsier . The Tortois e poem s wer e probabl y finished b y th e tim e h e go t t o Venice , an d wer e sent t o Mountsie r tw o day s late r (1 5 September) . Th e wa y thes e poem s belon g together i s concealed b y thei r distributio n amon g differen t categorie s i n th e eventua l volume. Dere k Britto n Lady Chatterley: The Making of the Novel (1988) , p . 83 , without thi s information , acutel y pointe d ou t th e privat e allusio n t o Rosalin d Thornycroft i n 'Fig ' (Poems 282-4), a s D H L hail s 'the thorn in flower . . . T h e brave , adventurous rosaceae' . Thi s hardl y increase s th e sexines s o f th e poem , thoug h i t does bea r o n th e ongoin g contras t betwee n ros e an d vin e i n thes e poems , fuse d no w in hi s sens e o f her . Perhap s th e 'you ' tha t i s mockingl y challenge d i n 'Pomegranate ' and 'Peach' , th e 'pale-face ' consciousnes s (o r conscience ) tha t woul d repres s th e red dark shameles s sexualit y everywher e 'beneath ' an d disapprov e o f him fo r s o exposin g and enjoyin g it , ca n no w b e rea d wit h a n additiona l sens e o f wha t i s suppose d t o b e 'wrong', an d eve n a reminder , a s th e poe t offer s th e reade r a stone , tha t stonin g wa s the biblica l punishmen t fo r adultery . However , th e ful l complexit y o f feelin g i n thes e poems, an d thei r multipl e relationship s wit h eac h other , ar e fo r th e literar y criti c t o explore, wher e biograph y ends . 13 New Republic ( 5 January 1921) ; cf. Poems 280-1. Bu t th e additiona l poe m migh t hav e been 'Th e Revolutionary' . 14 Ibid . I t end s wit h sorb-apple s 'savoure d perhap s wit h a si p o f Marsala, / S o tha t th e withering, morbi d grap e ca n ad d it s refrai n t o yours. / Farewell , an d farewell , an d farewell.' 15 H e tol d th e Barones s als o o f hi s pla n t o hav e hi s Germa n royaltie s i n mark s pai d t o her. 16 Sh e wa s clearl y wit h hi m however , biddin g hi m good-bye , whe n th e panforte wa s bought tha t h e at e on th e wa y to Venic e (iii . 604). 17 'Moralit y an d th e Novel' , Hardy 171:21-2 , 25-6 ; se e als o D . G . Ellis , 'Lawrence , Wordsworth, an d "Anthropomorphi c L u s t " ' , Cambridge Quarterly, xxii i (1994) , 230-42. 18 'Thought' , Poems 673. 19 Tortoises (New York , 1921) ; Poems 354; 358, 361. 20 Frieda' s Christma s lette r t o Rosalin d regret s (iii . 642 ) no t havin g see n th e children , presumably sinc e leavin g England , henc e presumabl y no t havin g see n Rosalin d either. D H L probabl y preferre d no t t o ris k a visit, sinc e Fried a wa s eagl e eye d a s fa r as h e wa s concerned . I t seem s certai n tha t h e neve r tol d Fried a wha t ha d happened , since sh e tol d Mabe l Luha n tha t i t wa s only wit h Esthe r tha t D H L ha d 'evaded ' her . The journe y bac k ma y hav e bee n th e on e descibe d i n th e 'Epilogue ' t o Movements a s having take n twelv e hour s longe r tha n i t should hav e don e (262:18-19) . 21 Fried a ha d probabl y becom e intereste d i n th e Germa n contemporar y danc e revolu tion pioneere d b y Rudolp h Laba n an d Mar y Wigma n i n Ascona , whic h sh e visite d i n 1911 durin g he r relationshi p wit h Erns t Fric k (Fried a Gros s t o Els e Jaffe , 1 0 Apri l
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1911 (Lette r 48 , TuftsU) . Se e als o Marti n Gree n Mountain of Truth (Hanove r an d London, 1986) . Laban late r cam e unde r pressur e t o stag e dance s an d procession s fo r the Nazis , befor e escapin g t o England . D H L ha d show n som e knowledg e o f expressionist contemporar y danc e i n th e descriptio n o f Gudrun's dancin g i n WL. 22 LG xxxix-xl ; see above chapte r 10 , pp. 575- 6 an d 85 4 note 74 . 23 Seeke r t o D H L, 2 5 November (WL xlvi) . 24 T h e abov e informatio n i s conflate d fro m D H L ' s E233.7 , pp . 44- 6 (MMM 88-91) , his lette r t o Dougla s o f 1 6 November (YU ) t o b e publishe d i n Letters, viii. , his letter s to Michae l Bor g (i n privat e ownershi p bu t fact s checke d b y kin d co-operatio n o f Peter Vassallo) , th e letter s o f th e America n Consu l i n Malt a t o Norma n Dougla s i n December (YU) , an d th e deat h certificate . D H L quote d Salomon e (UT ) a s statin g that Magnu s wa s burie d o n hi s birthday , 7 Novembe r - whic h seem s t o ad d a humorous touc h (i n fact ) t o ho w h e mus t hav e bee n avoidin g givin g th e dinne r h e had promise d i n Florence , whic h wa s hel d o n Sunda y 2 3 November , afte r muc h pressure fro m Douglas . I n tha t case , Douglas' s birthda y presen t wa s a fortnigh t late , too. 25 E233.7 , p . 4 7 (MMM 92) ; D H L t o Douglas , 1 6 Novembe r (YU) . Hi s lette r t o Douglas o f 2 0 Decembe r (YU) , askin g Douglas' s approva l o f hi s pla n t o ge t Magnus's debt s repai d b y publishin g hi s Legio n manuscrip t wit h a n introductor y memoir, cite s th e deb t t o th e Maltes e a s £6 0 an d t o himsel f a s £2 3 - ove r si x months' ren t o f Fontana Vecchi a a t th e 192 0 rate . 26 MEH 239:39-240:4 ; RDP 225:10-19 . 27 Se e (iii . 627 and n. , 629 , 632, 635, 637-8 an d n . 4). 28 T h e paintin g i s in th e Uffizi , Florence . Fo r th e attribution , se e (iii . 622 n . 2 ) 29 Perhap s t o buy a she-goat there . 30 Tedloc k 91 . He probabl y me t Rut h Wheeloc k throug h Juta (iii . 536) . 31 Fo r th e text s o f 'Tropic ' an d 'Slope s o f Etna ' se e (iii . 630-1) . Achsa h Brewste r mentioned tha t th e wor d 'PACE ' wa s indee d inscribe d int o th e threshol d o f Fontan a Vecchia (Nehls , ii . 58) . The rea l bir d (thoug h ther e wa s als o th e symboli c eagl e o f S t John) wa s 'Turke y Cock' ; an d th e flower 'Sicilia n Cyclamens' . Th e 'Evangelisti c Beasts' wer e originall y mistitle d 'Apostoli c Beasts ' i n a rare mistak e abou t th e Bible . 32 On e o f th e tea-partie s ma y hav e bee n thei r entertainmen t o f tw o respectabl e Englis h ladies, tha t wen t badl y wron g whe n D H L , stil l affecte d b y th e whit e win e h e ha d drunk wit h othe r friend s a t lunch , fel l ou t o f a mimos a tre e i n hi s insistenc e o n gathering blosso m fo r hi s guest s (Fried a 132) . Th e nex t da y h e trie d t o apologis e t o one o f th e ladie s bu t 'sh e wa s ver y stif f wit h him' . Fried a say s thi s di d hi s reputatio n no good , bu t wha t i s more interestin g i s this earl y evidenc e o f a n inabilit y t o hol d hi s liquor tha t woul d prov e disastrou s thre e year s later , a t th e famou s dinne r a t th e Caf e Royal. 33 Seltze r also , however , a s h e late r confesse d t o Mountsier , ha d mad e tw o silen t alterations i n D H L ' s tex t (WL xli x and n . 78) . 34 Garnett , Manchester Guardian (1 0 December 1920) , 5 (Draper 146-7) ; The Scrapbook of Katherine Mansfield, ed . J. M . Murr y (1939) , pp . 156- 7 (Drape r 144-5) ; Murry , Athenceum (1 7 December 1920) , p. 836 (Draper 148-50) .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 6 l 2 - 2 2 35 Observer ( 5 December) , 5 , weirdl y accuse d hi m o f bein g 'preoccupie d wit h beauty ' and henc e 'doome d no t t o find truth ' - whic h irritate d hi m enoug h t o provok e a n allusion i n Mr Noon. Virgini a Wool f i n TLS ( 2 December , 795 ; Drape r 141—3 ) treated th e boo k a s thoug h i t actuall y wer e o f th e schoo l o f Arnol d Bennet t rathe r than a n ironi c rejoinde r t o hi s Anna , an d henc e foun d i t lackin g i n th e disturbin g originality expecte d o f DHL. (Sh e ma y no t hav e rea d mor e tha n th e first half. ) 36 LG xlviii . American sale s woul d b e significantl y better ; D H L mad e th e equivalen t o f £250 i n th e first si x months , an d th e review s wer e als o altogethe r mor e favourabl e (LG xlix-1) . 37 Tedloc k 91 , diary entr y 1 November (£164/15/0 ) an d se e chapte r 10 , n. 90 . 38 MN xxii-xxiii . 39 Lindet h Vase y an d Joh n Worthen , 'Mr Noon / Mr Noon' , DHLR y x x (1988) , 186-9 ; the repor t i s also i n EY 529 ; for Nevill e se e (i . 373-4) . 40 MN 62:34 . 41 MN 20:12-13 , 24-5; 23:4; 23:26-7. 42 7 ^ 3 9 : 3 . 43 MN 24:5; 25:3; 25:14, 25-6; 68:40-69:3; 69:4-6; 86:13 ; 86:38-9 . 44 Par t I wa s first publishe d posthumousl y i n P; Part I I no t unti l 1984 in th e Cambridg e Edition. 45 Wher e Mr Noon ma y b e a safer guid e t o 191 2 i s i n th e real m o f remembere d feeling: the sens e o f humiliatio n tha t doe s no t ge t int o th e letter s a t th e time , a t bein g kep t secret an d exclude d whil e th e vo n Richthofe n wome n endlessl y discusse d wha t Frieda shoul d do ; th e resentmen t a t Else' s influenc e exerte d (h e thought ) agains t him; th e arroganc e o f th e Germa n militar y al l around . Th e comed y howeve r come s not onl y fro m DHL' s detachment , now , fro m hi s pai r o f youn g 'finches ' an d thei r viewpoint, bu t eve n mor e fro m hi s freedo m t o invent. 46 MN 292:2-4 . I t i s wort h pointin g ou t tha t 'un-Englishing ' formall y relate s Mr Noon to Lost Girl an d Aaron's Rod. Eac h ha s tw o parts , th e first i n England , th e secon d abroad. Th e tw o part s ar e als o thematicall y related , th e first abou t rebellin g agains t conventional sexua l mores , th e secon d abou t finding somethin g individua l an d renewing. 47 MN 97: 20-1; 118:5-6; 137:18-20 . 48 7^^140:28-141:13 ; 145:40-146:1 ; 157:12; 157:11 . 49 MN 192:20-37 . Extraordinar y thoug h thi s ma y no w seem , i t wa s ver y English . Cf . 'After breakfas t o n thes e occasion s i t wa s m y mother' s dut y t o clea r th e hal l outsid e the dining-roo m o f maid s an d children , s o tha t th e Dea n coul d g o t o th e lavator y unobserved an d emerg e agai n unsee n b y anyone ' (Graha m Greene , A Sort of Life, (1971), p . 67. I owe thi s referenc e (an d a great dea l else ) t o Michae l Black . 50 MN 185 : 6; 204: 39-205:3; 226:14-22. 51 1 January 192 1 entry, Tedloc k 91 . 52 /Vfj V 209:26-8; 227:83; 228:13-14; 231:30-1 ; 231:38-9 ; 236:25. 53 1 and 2 January entries , Tedlock 91 , 92. 54 SS chaps , in , v. (Penguin , pp . 55 , 97). They , too , ha d t o us e th e lane s whil e waitin g for a bus o n th e Sunda y morning : 'An d the n w e to o mus t g o i n searc h o f a side-lane .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 6 2 3 - 3 2 I hav e spie d on e fa r enoug h away , beyond th e sheep , last evening ' - cu t fro m th e tex t by Seltzer . 55 'Wh y doe s on e creat e suc h discomfor t fo r oneself ! . . . The drear y blac k morning , th e candle-light , th e hous e lookin g night-dismal . Ah well , one doe s al l these thing s fo r one' s pleasure . S o ligh t th e charcoa l fir e an d put th e kettl e on . Th e quee n be e shiverin g roun d hal f dressed , fluttering he r unhappy candle . "It's fun, " sh e says , shuddering . "Great," sa y I , gri m a s death . (SS chap . 1 (Penguin, pp . 3-4) ) 56 5 5 chap . 1 1 (Penguin, pp . 33-4 , 42). 57 5 5 chap . 1 1 (Penguin, pp . 26 , 45-6). 58 SS chap , i n (Penguin , pp . 62 , 66-7, 71, 124-6, 143) . 59 SS chap , v (Penguin, pp . 104-13) . 60 5 5 chap , VIII (Penguin , pp . 199-205) . 61 Nehls , ii . 86 . Thi s memoir , however , switche s betwee n Sprin g 192 0 an d Januar y 1921 i n a disconcerting manner . Immediatel y afte r th e paragraph s o n th e 'brie f visit ' comes a n anecdot e abou t D H L havin g faile d t o atten d a part y give n b y th e Duc a which, sinc e Mari e Hubrech t wa s there , mus t hav e take n plac e befor e 1 8 April 1920 . 'How w e laughed' , say s Juta , recountin g ho w th e Duca' s siste r ha d confesse d tha t Lawrence mad e he r fee l uncomfortabl e - onl y t o tel l ho w 'o n tha t ver y evening ' h e had listene d t o DHL' s 'cr y o f almos t desperat e longing ' t o sai l awa y o n a littl e shi p (ibid., ii . 86-9) . Nehl s mad e valian t effort s t o ge t Jut a t o clarif y th e datin g o f hi s three portrait s o f D H L, se e note 6 9 below . 62 2 2 February entry , Tedloc k 92 . 63 MN xxvi . 64 yW7 V 277:37-278:6. 65 MN 291:17, n ; 290:35 ; 291:40; 290:30-4 . 66 MN 264:6-12 ; 266:20-1 ; 267:4-5 . 67 Th e first manuscrip t draf t o f 'Hibiscu s an d Salvi a Flowers ' (E47a ) i s fa r inferio r t o the late r on e i n BBF {Poems 312-18) , stil l incoheren t an d muc h concerne d wit h rejecting 'equality' . Th e quotation s belo w appea r i n both . 68 Tedloc k 92 . 69 Fo r th e charcoa l sketc h i n Ma y 192 0 (iii . 605 ) se e Saga r The Art of D. H. Lawrence, facing p . 11 9 (no w a t UT) . Jut a trie d t o captur e ho w D H L looke d 'wit h hi s penetrating eye s int o th e trouble d futur e . . . lik e anothe r being , remot e an d uplifted ' (Nehls, ii . 85-6), but Lawrenc e though t h e looke d 'lik e th e Wil d Ma n o f Borneo' (iii . 550). Jut a b y hi s ow n accoun t di d anothe r charcoa l sketc h a t Anticol i i n Augus t 192 0 (reproduced i n Letters, ed . Aldou s Huxley , 1932 , facin g p . 534 ) - later , a s h e admitted t o Nehl s (UT) , misdatin g an d signin g i t '1922' . Th e oi l paintin g i s no w i n the Nationa l Portrai t Gallery , London , an d wa s obviousl y base d o n th e first sketch , which i s why i t could b e don e i n a single session . 70 Similarly , th e irascibl e T o f 5 5 (chap , VIII ) ha d bee n irritate d b y a show-of f commercial travelle r o n th e ferr y fro m Naple s wh o 'splashe d ou t nois e o n th e piano '
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and 'wriggle d hi s large , bounder' s bac k upo n th e piano-stoo P - eve n mor e annoyin g since 'th e q.b . sa t bright-eye d an d excited , admirin g tha t a ma n coul d perfor m s o unselfconsciously self-conscious , an d giv e himsel f awa y wit h suc h generou s wriggles . For m y part , a s you ma y guess , I did no t admire ' (Penguin , pp . 196-7) . Th e contras t would b e wit h th e peasan t danc e a t Sa n Gaudenzi o i n Twilight in Italy. 71 Ralp h Stock , 'Th e Drea m Ship : Th e Stor y o f a Voyag e o f Adventur e Mor e Tha n Half Aroun d th e Worl d i n a 47-foot Lifeboat' , xxxi x (Januar y 1921) , 1-52 . 72 (iii . 657 , 669) . H e woul d subsequentl y discove r tha t sh e ha d bee n havin g a serie s o f operations fo r hernia . 73 J M M ha d gon e t o Mento n t o joi n KM . H e ha d give n u p th e editorshi p o f th e Athenaeum whic h woul d b e absorbed int o th e Nation i n Februar y 1921 , but continue d as a reviewer. D H L i s spiteful i n thi s lette r abou t th e prais e K M ha d receive d i n th e periodical i n Januar y fo r he r collectio n o f storie s Bliss, an d abou t th e amoun t o f money tha t ha d reputedl y bee n los t unde r J M M 's editorshi p (iii . 663). 74 Se e (iii . 647, 650-3, 66 1 n . 1 , 673-5). 75 Seltze r though t Women in Love 'no t onl y you r bes t nove l bu t on e o f th e bes t eve r written. I t stay s wit h m e a s fe w literar y work s do. ' An d The Lost Girl i s ' a boo k n o other bu t D . H . Lawrenc e coul d write ' (iii . 635-6 n. ) - thoug h tha t hedge s a little! 76 Fortunatel y th e typescrip t correcte d b y D H L survive d safel y (UT) . 77 Nehls , ii . 56 . DHL' s diar y recorde d tha t h e wrot e t o Barbar a Lo w o n 1 5 Marc h (Tedlock 92 ) but non e o f his letter s t o he r afte r 191 6 has survived . 78 Tedloc k 100 ; (iii. 689). The introductio n ha s no t survived . 79 New Republic printe d 'America , Liste n t o You r Own ' i n Decembe r 1920 , 'Medlar s and Sor b Apples ' an d 'Th e Revolutionary ' i n January 1921 , and 'Hummin g Bird ' i n May. Th e Dial whic h ha d publishe d 'Adol f i n Septembe r 1920 , reviewe d New Poems respectfull y i n Januar y 1921 , printe d 'Rex ' i n February , 'Pomegranate ' i n March, thre e o f th e (mistakenl y titled ) 'Apostoli c Beasts ' i n Apri l alon g wit h Evely n Scott's revie w o f WL an d LG, 'Snake ' i n July, an d extract s fro m Sea and Sardinia i n October an d November . I n Augus t 'Wintr y Peacock ' appeare d i n Metropolitan an d 'Whitman' i n New York Call. Seltzer , havin g brough t ou t WL i n Novembe r 192 0 and L G i n Januar y 1921 , published Tortoises and Sea in Sardinia i n December . B y the en d o f 1921 , therefore, DHL' s standin g i n Americ a ha d bee n transformed , eve n given th e receptio n of Psychoanalysis (May) . 80 7 March entry , Tedloc k 92 . 81 Tedloc k 9 2 ('Mothe r unwell , Alfred ver y ill , come'). 82 n an d 1 5 March entrie s (Tedloc k 92) . 83 SP 133 ; 3 Marc h entry , Tedloc k 92 . Reader s ca n judg e fo r themselve s fro m th e frontispiece t o Nehls , ii.. 84 Cyri l K . Scot t wa s a pseudony m fo r Frederic k Creighto n Wellman , a painter , wh o married Evely n Scot t i n 1913 . DHL' s quotation s fro m he r poem s com e fro m a section o f Precipitations entitle d 'Resurrection' : 'le t u s smil e kindly, / Lik e thos e already dead, / O n th e war m flesh/ An d th e marriag e bed ' fro m 'Th e Tunnel' ; an d the descriptio n o f th e moo n a s 'Deat h enjoyin g Life ' i n 'Autum n Night' . D H L als o wrote t o he r abou t he r nove l Narrow House - a study o f narro w egotism s i n confine d
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space - tha t 'Tw o mor e words , an d th e life-centr e o f al l th e people , an d eve n th e authoress, wil l hav e broken , an d unresiste d putrescenc e se t in. ' He r wor k wa s thu s another confirmatio n t o hi m o f hi s theor y abou t th e las t stage s o f corruptio n bein g nearer i n Americ a tha n England , an d als o o f th e nee d t o hav e don e wit h Lov e 'an d have a shot a t conscious, prou d power ' (iii . 733-4). 85 Keit h Cushman , 'A n Intervie w wit h Harwoo d Brewste r Picard' , DHLR, xxi i (1984) , 210-11. Nelli e Morriso n wa s bor n i n India , th e daughte r o f a Scot s Presbyteria n doctor. Sh e live d i n Florence , i n a n flat o n th e Vi a de i Bard i whic h th e Lawrence s would borro w late r i n th e year , but wa s holidaying wit h th e d e Chiaris . 86 Ear l an d Achsa h Brewster , D. H. Lawrence: Reminiscences and Correspondence (1934) , pp. 241-6 , 17-1 9 (Nehls , ii. 57-61) . 87 Brewster , Reminiscences and Correspondence, p . 244 (Nehls, ii. 59). 88 Nehls , ii. 61-6. 89 Fried a (114 ) tells thi s stor y a s having happene d a t Zell-on-See . 90 I n 192 9 during th e furor e ove r hi s picture s i n th e Warre n Gallery , h e wrot e t o than k her fo r he r support ; bu t als o wit h 'marvellou s sensitiveness ' ha d 'deduce d fro m a page o r tw o i n m y articl e tha t I was troubled b y a certain problem , an d h e sai d word s that i n thei r affectionat e encouragemen t an d exquisit e appositenes s coul d no t hav e been bettered ' (Nehls , ii . 66). 91 Th e dat e i s a s give n i n th e Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels. D H L sai d 28t h (iii . 711).
92 Cf . th e Chronolog y an d xvii-xxi v i n AR. 93 Cecil y Lamber t seem s confuse d whe n sh e write s (Nehls , i . 505 ) tha t D H L 'staye d o n at Grimsbur y far m t o finish hi s boo k whic h h e spen t mos t o f th e da y writin g i n on e room - The Lost Girl I believ e i t was ' an d tha t 'th e manuscrip t wa s sen t o n fo r u s t o type, o r rathe r Mis s Mon k type d an d I read i t t o her , som e week s later' . Thi s canno t possibly b e right . Wha t D H L 'finished ' a t tha t tim e wa s the las t revisio n o f Women in Love, an d mor e particularl y it s 'Foreword ' whic h i s date d 1 2 Septembe r 1919 , th e evening o f hi s retur n t o Hermitag e fro m Grimsbur y Far m (bu t n o typescrip t o f thi s has survived) . I t i s possibl e tha t D H L talke d abou t wha t woul d becom e Aaron 'sRod with Viole t an d eve n wrot e a littl e mor e a t th e farm , an d tha t Cecil y ha s telescope d time, describin g wha t happene d no t som e week s bu t mor e tha n tw o year s later . (I t i s unlikely tha t D H L ha d th e origina l versio n typed. ) 94 Ther e i s a n amusin g iron y i n th e biblica l allusion . Aaro n first cam e t o prominenc e because Mose s distruste d hi s ow n ability , a s a ma n o f fe w word s an d a stammer , t o act a s Jahweh's spokesma n t o Pharao h - wherea s Lill y doe s littl e els e bu t talk . Thi s was certainly deliberate , and anothe r exampl e o f D HL takin g himsel f off . 95 S P 1 4 8 . 96 Th e descriptio n a t th e en d o f 'Lookin g Dow n o n th e City ' o f th e concer t i n th e 'beautiful ol d palace ' acros s th e river , wit h a strin g quintet , an d ' a Florentin e gir l playing a violin concerto ' show s tha t string s ha d almos t to o grea t a n effec t o n D H L , 'causing a pain o f too-intens e feelin g . . . th e hur t whic h i s no w almos t surgical , a s i f our tissu e wer e bein g vivisecte d t o giv e u s consciousness ' (SEP 196:11 , 14-15 , 15— 18; seemingl y adde d i n 1920 , judgin g b y th e referenc e t o th e bom b i n th e previou s
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NOTES T O PAGE S 6 4 8 - 5 7 paragraph). Thi s sensitivit y ma y als o li e behin d th e respons e t o th e cell o concer t i n the theatr e i n Taormin a (a s wel l a s the irritatio n ove r Magnus) , an d D H L ' s sardoni c distancing o f himsel f fro m th e famou s Taormin a violinis t expressin g i n musi c hi s feeling fo r hi s dea d wif e (iv . 101-2) . 97 AR 227:16-19 , 22 , 23 . Not e tha t i t make s th e violi n ' a hatefu l wire-draw n nerve torturer' (227:30) . 98 AR 227:37 . 99 Poems 238-9, 239 , 245-8 ; AR 261:19-262:2 7 an d 263:16 ; 273:31 ; 273:10-1 1 (notin g how D H L emphasise d th e 'victimisation ' o f the god-in-Aaro n i n revision , cf . AR 30 7 with 27 3 - an d contras t 'Ne w Year' s Night' , 'Valentine' s Night' , 'Birt h Night' , an d 'Wedlock' fro m Look!). 100 AR 263:35 ; 263:40-264:1. 101 AR 296:33 ; 294:39-40. 102 Fo r th e differenc e betwee n thi s episod e an d D H L treatin g J MM fo r a chest cold , se e chapter 4 , pp. 19 4 and 802- 3 not e 60 . 103 AR 99:25-6 ; 246:38 ; 247:22; 247:33-40; 289:4 ; 289:30, 289:20-2; 289:10-12 . 104 AR 282:27-9 . D H L late r mad e th e sam e point , i n hi s ow n voice , i n th e reminiscen t 'Epilogue' t o Movements, agains t bot h faction s - an d i n Kangaroo (1923) , Somer s similarly reject s bot h socialis m an d fascism , havin g see n bot h i n action , a s D H L ha d done i n Italy . 105 AR 298:7-14 . 106 Ear l Brewste r quote s th e passag e fro m th e Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (vin. i . 65 ) i n Reminiscences and Correspondence, p . 19 . D HL argue d tha t on e onl y ha s to translat e Hume' s Augusta n abstrac t noun s int o differen t language s t o se e ho w differently the y com e ou t - an d h e i s al l fo r differences , especiall y i n th e iife expressions' o f individuals (iii . 719). 107 Bu t Seeke r pai d th e remainin g £5 0 soo n afterward s (iii . 35). 108 OU P tol d D H L i n Apri l tha t th e first impressio n o f 2,00 0 copie s ha d 'sol d out ' (iii . 707), an d thoug h thi s ma y hav e bee n a littl e premature , a secon d impressio n o f another 2,00 0 copie s wa s produce d i n 1923 , of whic h onl y 36 6 remaine d b y Augus t 1924. Th e America n professo r wh o advise d agains t America n publicatio n fel t tha t the boo k di d no t correspon d t o America n course s i n schools , wa s 'to o narrowl y political' a histor y (i.e . no t socio-economi c enough ) an d als o to o Protestan t i n it s account o f the Reformatio n (MEH xxvii-xxviii) . 109 Fo r Westminster Gazette, vii i (2 July), p. 15 , see Draper 165-7 ; other reviews WL lii-lvi . n o Fo r Mac y (1 9 March) , pp . 3-4 , se e Drape r 157-60 ; Scot t (lxx , April , pp . 458-61) , Draper 161-4 . Sh e though t th e turnin g o f Mr s Cric h o n he r husban d a dramati c revelation; an d sai d o f Hermion e tha t sh e 'remain s fo r eve r withhel d i n he r bitte r intellectuality becaus e sh e dar e no t understan d he r ow n natur e to o well ' - a s goo d a n understanding a s D HL coul d hav e hope d t o see i n a single sentence . 111 Publishe d i n th e Dial, lxxi i (Januar y 1922) , 471-92 an d reprinte d i n PII 195-213. 112 T t woul d b e surprisin g i f Barbar a Lo w ha d no t sen t hi m a cop y o f he r PsychoAnalysis: A Brief Outline of Freudian Theory (1920) . Sh e ha d probabl y tol d hi m something abou t th e sales .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 6 5 8 - 7 2 113 Tw o typescript s survive , Ei25 a an d 125b . The origina l Epilogu e i s only t o be foun d in a manuscript additio n t o Ei25a , whic h ha s a more winsom e addres s t o Columbi a than th e final version . 114 O n 9 October (iv . 97). Ei25b, p . 10 . Seltzer understandabl y cu t th e secon d sentenc e from hi s editio n (October , 1922) . 115 Th e tw o typescript s wer e revise d a t differen t time s an d i n partl y dissimila r way s (see below) . Ei25 a allow s u s t o se e th e typescrip t on e pag e earlie r tha n Ei25b . Th e following discussio n i s of the unrevised state. 116 Ei25a , pp . 2-5; Ei25b, pp . 3-5 . 117 Alber t Einstein , Relativity: The Special and the General Theory. A Popular Exposition, trans . R. W . Lawso n (1920) . 118 Ei25b , p . 108 . I n hi s final revisio n h e woul d insis t tha t 'i n itsel f eac h individua l living creatur e i s absolute : i n it s ow n being . An d tha t al l thing s i n th e univers e ar e just relativ e t o th e individua l livin g creature . An d tha t individua l livin g creature s ar e relative t o eac h other' . FU chap .XV (Penguin , p . 182) . 119 Ei25b , pp . 45-6 , 50- 1 (quotation s fro m unrevise d Ei25b , p . 51) , 61-2 ; cf . FU chaps, vi and vn . 120 Ei25b , pp . 29-34 ; F't/chap . v (Penguin, pp . 59-65) . 121 Ei25b , pp . 57-6 0 (unrevised) ; cf. .Ft/chap . vin . 122 Ei25b , pp . 23-4 ; cf. F t / c h a p , i v (Penguin pp . 49-50) . 123 Ei25b , p . 10 1 (cut i n revision) . 124 Ei25b , pp . 111—1 6 (unrevised) . 125 Damo n 573- 4 (particularl y praisin g 'Turke y Cock ' an d th e Tortois e poems , an d 'Water-Party' i n WL). 126 Se e (iv . 61-2), which delighte d he r (Damo n 573) . 127 Fox 123:25-124:21 . 128 Th e Dial printe d extract s fro m SS i n Octobe r an d Novembe r 1921 , an d th e 'Gentleman' i n January 1922 . 129 Thi s i s n o exaggeration , an d applie s t o th e 191 9 passport s fo r bot h o f them , whic h are now a t U T . 130 Befor e leavin g Baden-Bade n h e ha d als o decline d a n invitatio n fro m Mari e Hubrecht t o visi t her a t Doom (iii . 51). 131 Th e followin g accoun t assume s tha t th e detail s o f geograph y an d timin g ar e accurately reflecte d i n 'Th e Captain' s Doll' , an d draw s o n bot h i t (Fox 1251!. ) an d MehPs annotation . 132 Fox 131:37 ; 134:5-6 ; 135:23 ; 140:8-9; 143:10-11. 133 SP 145-54 . A postcar d t o Frieda' s mothe r o n 2 1 Septembe r (t o b e publishe d i n Letters, viii. ) say s 'Sien a i s ver y beautiful , bu t th e weathe r i s hot ' - th e secon d tim e D H L ha d ha d t o wai t abou t i n th e hea t becaus e a Carswell arrangemen t ha d broke n down. 134 Nation and Athenceum, xxi x (1 3 August), 713-14 (Drape r 168-72) . 135 WL xlviii . PH' s solicitor s ha d writte n t o Seeke r o n 2 Septembe r (iv . 8 7 n . 2) . Th e article b y th e Assistan t Edito r Charle s Pilley , John Bull (1 7 September) , i s reprinte d Nehls, ii . 89-91. Fo r D H L ' s responses , see chapter 12 .
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NOTES T O PAGE S 6 7 3 - 8 2 136 Brewsters , Reminiscences and Correspondence, pp . 26 , 24 5 (Nehls , ii . 76-8) . Th e mimicry o f th e lad y wit h th e psalter y ma y hav e derive d fro m havin g hear d Winifre d Emery ('Florenc e Farr') , actress , compose r an d chante r o f Yeats' s poetry , per forming a t a gathering i n th e hous e o f Ernest Rhy s (Nehls , i . 129) .
Chapter Twelve : A Sense o f Finalit y 1 I t may hav e bee n th e exampl e o f the Brewster s tha t finall y decide d him . I f that gentl e Buddhist coupl e coul d d o it , surel y th e phoenixe s could ? H e ha d alread y ha d t o pa y up t o Christma s t o secur e th e hous e fo r thei r retur n - an d ma y hav e ha d t o giv e notice anyway . 2 Nehls , ii . 89; 26 October entry , Tedloc k 93 . 3 Th e titl e change s represen t shift s o f attitud e t o th e reader , aggressiv e an d defensive . See p . 678. 4 Luck a ha d publishe d Grenzen der Seele i n 1916 , but i t ha d bee n reissue d i n 1920 . 5 Tedloc k 93 . 6 Ther e wa s als o a t leas t on e goo d review . Seltzer' s dus t jacke t fo r FU quote d Do n Marquis i n th e New York Tribune, recommendin g PU: 'becaus e Lawrenc e i s a poet , sees deepe r an d mor e clearl y tha n Freu d an d Jung : h e i s simple r an d fre e o f thei r obsessions an d absurdities . Thi s essa y i s a brav e clutc h a t th e fundamenta l realit y o f human life . I t i s a n outline , a sketch, tha t ma y b e th e beginnin g o f nothin g les s tha n an origina l syste m o f philosophy. ' 7 E126 , pp . 12-1 3 (UT) , th e answe r t o th e critic s havin g bee n 1-12 ; FU Forewor d (Penguin, p . 11) . 8 E126 ; FU Forewor d (Penguin , p . 15) . 9 Ther e ar e i n fac t differen t revision s o f th e tw o typescripts . Apar t fro m th e first thre e handwritten pages , th e revisio n o f th e typescript s seem s t o sho w tha t Ei25 a (UCB ) was a first attempt , whic h di d no t satisf y him , s o that h e began agai n mor e extensivel y (and intensely ) i n Ei25 b (UT) . I t wa s th e latte r fro m whic h Seltze r printed , thoug h he probabl y ha d anothe r typescrip t mad e befor e doin g so , an d consequentl y i t i s Ei25b whic h I discuss . 10 Davi d Elli s howeve r point s out , i n Elli s an d Mills , Lawrence's Non-Fiction, pp . 82-3 , that eve n i n offerin g a n anti-scientifi c idea , suc h a s th e Heracleita n recruitmen t o f energy fro m th e eart h t o the sun , D H L echoe s scientifi c language . 11 Ei25b , p . 26 ; cf. F(7chap . i v (Penguin , p . 54) . 12 Ei25b , p . 51. 13 Ei25b , p . 77; cf. FUchap . x i (Penguin , pp . 137-8) . 14 Ei25b , pp . 115-1 8 (autograp h addition) ; FU chap , x v (Penguin , pp . 189-93) . 15 Mabe l Stern e sen t 'a n India n necklace ' fo r Fried a (whic h di d no t arrive ) 'tha t I thought carrie d som e India n magi c i n it , t o dra w the m t o Taos . I n th e lette r I pu t a few leave s o f desachey, the perfum e th e Indian s sa y make s th e hear t light , alon g wit h a littl e osha, th e roo t tha t i s a stron g medicin e - neithe r o f whic h ar e i n th e botan y books, but bot h o f which ar e potent ' {Lorenzo in Taos, p. 5) . However he r accoun t o f how sh e cam e t o writ e he r lette r i s inaccurat e (a s sh e ver y ofte n is) : sh e coul d no t
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NOTES T O PAGE S 6 8 2 - 9 8 have rea d Sea and Sardinia itself , no r Tortoises no r Birds, Beasts and Flowers, none o f which ha d ye t bee n published . Apparentl y howeve r sh e ha d rea d Sons and Lovers before, an d coul d recentl y hav e rea d suc h o f th e BBF poem s tha t New Republic and Dial had s o fa r published , a s well as 'America, Liste n t o Your Own' . 16 Se e chapter 5 , n. 103 . 17 Sh e ha d als o bee n analyse d b y a D r Jeliff e (Lorenzo in Taos, p . 64 ) bu t complaine d that analyst s mad e n o allowanc e fo r 'exceptiona l people' , eve n 'a t twent y dollar s a n hour'. Sh e sen t D H L a book b y Pou l Car l Bjerre , probabl y The History and Practice of Psychoanalysis, tr . Elizabet h N . Barro w (Boston , 1916 ) (iv. 14 2 and n.) . 18 PH' s instruction s t o hi s solicito r ar e reproduce d i n Smith , Peter Warlock, p . 19 2 (cf. Gray , Peter Warlock, pp . 221-2 ; Nehls , ii . 93) . D H L calle d P H ' a thoroughl y rotten sort ' wantin g 't o advertis e himsel f (iv . 123) ; bu t thoug h bot h h e an d Pum a were 'shits ' tryin g t o 'extor t money ' (iii . 114) , h e though t P H to o muc h o f ' a shad y bird . . . t o ris k himsel f an d hi s preciou s wif e i n court ' (iv . 108) . I n tha t h e prove d right, thoug h not , o r no t only , fo r tha t reaso n (se e p. 69 8 and not e 3 5 below). 19 Nation and Athenceum, 1 October 1921 , p. 122 . 20 Neithe r o f these appear s t o have survived . 21 O f earlie r unpublishe d storie s 1911-13 , h e ha d faile d t o recove r 'Lov e Amon g th e Haystacks', 'Once—! ' an d 'Th e Witc h a l a Mode' , whic h h e ha d writte n abou t t o Pinker i n Februar y 192 0 (iii . 473) . H e seem s t o hav e forgotte n 'Th e Overtone ' altogether. 'Th e Morta l Coil ' ha d bee n supersede d b y 'Th e Captain' s Doll ' - an d i n any cas e was se t i n German y unlik e th e others . 22 Se e th e Textua l apparatuse s o f EmyE. 23 Thi s i s th e onl y survivin g versio n an d wa s publishe d i n Seven Arts, i (Jul y 1917) , 435-48 an d reprinte d i n PII; i t i s included i n EmyE (169-89) . 24 Green , Von Richthofen Sisters, pp . 12 , 347. 25 Fo x 86:13 . 26 Fox 24:20 ; 25:34; 32:11; 49:22-7; 52:23-4 ; 51:30 . 27 Fox 67:20 ; 69:39-70:1; 70:33-40. 28 Fox 68:3 9 and 69:24 . 29 Se e chapter 4 , pp. 238 , 279. 30 Fox 195:38 ; 200:8-9 ; 202:20 , 22-3 , 33 . (Quote d fro m E18 7 rathe r tha n th e blande r formulation o f the first America n edition , cf . Fox 303, entry t o 201:31. ) 31 Fox 221:6. 32 Gaetan o Saglimbene , / Peccati e gli Amori di Taormina (Messina , 1990) , pp . 63-74 . The stor y abou t th e Kin g firs t appeared , accordin g t o Moore , Intelligent Heart, p.268, i n a Milan newspape r th e Corriere d'Informazione i n Decembe r 1947 . 33 Th e knowledg e o f D H L ' s intens e preoccupatio n wit h wor k a t thi s tim e jus t befor e he lef t (eve n thoug h th e yea r i s misdated) , o f whic h a n unscholarl y fabricato r coul d not hav e bee n certain , i s th e onl y externa l suppor t fo r th e story , thoug h i t doe s no t amount t o anything lik e proof- an d coul d plausibl y hav e been guesse d at . 34 DHL' s reactio n t o th e Hobso n affai r i n th e poe m 'Misery' , an d i n th e lingerin g resentment an d tensio n o f Hobson' s visi t tha t Christma s show n i n hi s scribble s o n Frieda's letter , an d late r recreate d i n 'Bot h Side s o f the Medal ' (Poems 235) wheneve r
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N O T E S T O PAGE S 6 9 8 - 7 0 5
written, togethe r wit h hi s hesitatio n abou t treatin g th e affai r i n Mr Noon, al l sho w that h e di d not take suc h thing s lightly . H e accepte d them , knowin g ho w relativel y little the y mean t t o Fried a - bu t i n Fantasia he advise d husband s t o mak e thei r resentment eve n o f 'flirting ' unmistakable . Th e absenc e o f suc h reaction s t o th e wood-cutter stor y an d t o Frieda' s threa t t o hav e Ud o vo n Hennin g rathe r sugges t that D H L di d no t believ e them . 35 Fo r Seeker' s letter s t o PH' s solicito r makin g an d confirmin g thi s offer , 4 an d 8 November, se e (iv . 94 n.i), an d fo r Seeke r t o D H L , 1 5 November, se e (iv . 11 3 n. 1) . For PH' s admissio n tha t h e coul d no t affor d t o g o t o court , bu t als o hi s continuin g desire t o exac t vengeanc e b y persuadin g th e polic e (o r failin g that , th e Nationa l Council fo r Publi c Morals ) t o do s o instead, se e Nehls , ii . 93-4. 36 Nehls , ii . 93-4. 37 I t wa s Douglas' s annoyanc e wit h hi s portraya l i n Aaron's Rod an d th e Magnu s memoir tha t soure d thei r friendship , thoug h i t appear s fro m Douglas' s Plea for Better Manners tha t wha t annoye d hi m mos t wa s th e imputatio n o f meannes s ove r asking a waite r t o weig h wha t remaine d o f a bottl e o f win e an d tak e i t of f th e bill ! However th e hint s o f Argyle' s homosexuality , veile d thoug h the y are , wer e probabl y the rea l trouble . Dougla s b y no w kne w h e ha d t o b e careful , an d tha t kin d o f exposure wa s wha t h e ha d feare d whe n h e introduce d D H L t o Reggie , an d throug h him t o the Florentin e expatriat e circle . 38 H e dre w o n memorie s o f the m fo r th e character s o f Lo u an d Mr s Wit t i n St. Mawr (written i n 1924) . 39 Se e chapte r 5 , pp . 252-4 , an d Lucas , 'Apropo s o f "England , M y England"' , pp. 288-93 , which i s concerned onl y wit h th e 192 1 version . 40 EmyE 5:26 ; 14:15-25 ; 28:19-20. 41 I t appear s tha t letter s hav e survived , bu t thoug h th e presen t owne r i s unwillin g t o have the m publishe d o r consulted , I a m gratefu l fo r th e factua l verificatio n o f m y account throug h th e goo d office s o f Peter Vassallo . 42 DHL' s lette r t o Unwin , 4 Ma y 192 0 (t o b e publishe d i n Letters, viii.) , makes i t clea r that Magnu s ha d no t lon g finished th e secon d half , whic h h e stil l ha d wit h him . Goldring's accoun t i n The Nineteen Twenties, pp . 204-10 , i s reprinte d Nehls , ii . 39-4343 SP n7. 44 D H L t o Dougla s 2 0 Decembe r (YU) . Opposit e thi s sentence , i n whic h 'unkindly ' has been underlined , ther e i s a large exclamatio n mark . 45 Dougla s t o D H L , writte n fro m Volterr a bu t date d 'Florenc e 2 6 Decembe r 1921 ' where h e wa s abou t t o retur n (UT) . Th e lette r show s som e irritatio n a t Bor g fo r no t releasing th e manuscrip t t o him : D H L i s t o pocke t al l th e proceed s becaus e 'Bor g seems to be such a fool that he doesn't deserv e any.' He tell s D HL tha t Gran t Richard s has shown a n interest i n the book. Fortunately D H L kep t thi s letter, and wa s thus abl e in 192 6 entirely t o demolish Douglas' s insinuation , i n Plea for Better Manners whe n i t was reprinted i n Experiments, tha t D H L ha d cheate d hi m ou t o f his dues. Fo r D H L ' s letter to the New Statesman, [ant e 20 February 1926] , see (v. 395-7) . 46 Dougla s (an d others ) hav e trie d t o mak e somethin g o f th e discrepanc y betwee n thi s
869
NOTES T O PAGE S 7 0 5 - 1 6 figure an d th e specifi c deb t t o Borg . Howeve r Plea for Better Manners list s (MMM 117) just over £ 7 7 / 1 0 / 0 a s the certifie d total , which, adde d t o the £2 3 Dougla s kne w Magnus owe d D H L (sinc e DHL' s letter , whic h h e kept , ha d tol d hi m so) , make s DHL's figure prett y exac t fo r th e tota l o f Magnus' s know n debts , thoug h no t al l o f them wer e i n Malta , an d thoug h h e misremembere d th e exac t amoun t tha t wa s owe d to Bor g a s £6 0 instea d o f £5 5 (an d di d no t kno w o f £ 8 od d owe d t o th e consu l fo r the funeral ; whic h howeve r Mr s Magnu s eventuall y refunded) . Th e figure o f cours e does no t includ e th e amoun t fo r whic h Magnu s wa s arrested o r th e furthe r 'nast y bi t of swindling whic h h e di d a few day s befor e h e lef t fo r Malta ' (iv . 188) . 47 Goldring , 77i e Nineteen Twenties, p. 20 5 (Nehls , ii . 40) , cf . Howar d Mills , 'M y bes t single piec e o f writing', Lawrence's Non-Fiction, ed . Elli s an d Mills , pp. 120-45 . 48 MMM in—12 , 120-2 . 49 Th e informatio n tha t follow s i s draw n fro m G . Craig , Index to the Story of My Days and E . Craig , Gordon Craig. 50 Craig' s secretar y i n Florenc e wa s deepl y unhapp y a t th e misrepresentatio n b y Magnus, i n a printe d circular , o f th e circulatio n o f Craig' s periodica l The Mask a s 'ten thousan d copie s whil e sh e kne w i t wa s wel l unde r a thousand'. Sh e though t thi s went beyon d salesmanshi p t o decei t (E . Craig , Gordon Craig, p . 250). 51 Ala n Ros s McDougall , Isadora: A Revolutionary in Art and Love (Ne w York , i960) , P- 17552 E . Craig , Gordon Craig, pp. 299 , 310 . Magnu s ha d joine d th e Legio n becaus e o f hi s growing hostilit y toward s German y an d 'th e lac k o f civilisatio n i n th e Germa n mentality' (Plea for Better Manners, MMM 119) . 53 Gordo n Craig , Index to the Story of My Days, p. 282. 54 Th e passag e fro m 'Dregs ' whic h discusse s homosexualit y i s MMM 141—5 ; DHL' s reaction (E233.7 , pp. 48-51 ) i s MMM 94-7. 55 E233.7 , pp. 55 , 48-^9, 53-5 (MMM 100 , 94-5, 98-101). 56 O f 'Th e Fox ' an d 'Th e Captain' s Doll' . 57 Th e slynes s la y i n th e ambiguou s reference , i n th e contex t o f th e gangli a o f heart , belly, shoulder s an d back , t o 'th e embracin g arm s which , o f course , com e fro m behind, els e woul d w e b e lef t ou t fro m ou r ow n embrace s i f w e embrace d onl y fro m in front ' (iv . i28n.) . Incidentally , Stein' s lette r confirm s tha t whe n D H L me t hi m i n Florence i n 191 9 h e ha d bee n thinkin g o f sendin g t o th e New Republic 'th e thing s you wer e abou t t o writ e on tha t subject' , i . e. Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious. 58 H e woul d b e prove d righ t abou t ho w wearin g t o the nerve s lif e i n 'Mabeltown ' migh t prove t o be , a s wil l b e eviden t i n th e forthcomin g Volum e 3 o f th e Cambridg e Biography. 59 Se e th e discussio n o f th e depressio n o f th e boo k trad e i n 1920- 1 i n D. H. Lawrence: Letters to Thomas and Adele Seltzer, ed . Geral d M . Lac y (Sant a Barbara , 1976) , pp. 174-6 . 60 Poems 383-6. 61 Forman , 'Wit h D . H . Lawrenc e i n Sicily' , New York Times Book Review and Magazine (2 7 August 1922) , p. 1 2 (Nehls, ii. 104-9 ) 62 Memoirs 226-8.
870
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I a m gratefu l fo r th e permissio n o f the Literar y Executo r o f the Estat e o f Fried a Lawrence Ravagli , Geral d Pollinger , an d Laurenc e Pollinge r Limited , a s wel l a s of Lawrence' s publishers , Messr s Willia m Heineman n Ltd . an d Cambridg e University Pres s i n Britai n an d Vikin g Pres s an d Cambridg e Universit y Pres s i n the USA , t o quot e fro m D . H . Lawrence' s an d Fried a Lawrence' s publishe d an d unpublished wor k an d letters . My friend s an d partner s i n th e Cambridg e Biography , Joh n Worthe n an d David Ellis , hav e bee n expert , tireles s an d invaluabl e questioners , critics , annotators, a t ever y stag e o f discussion , writin g an d rewriting . I hav e n o doub t whatever tha t th e collaboratio n (whic h seeme d od d t o som e reviewer s o f Joh n Worthen's Tlie Early Years) has produce d i n m y cas e a fa r bette r boo k tha n I could hav e writte n alone . I a m onl y sorr y tha t feve r an d fir e shoul d hav e s o delayed thi s secon d volume . T o Michae l Black , wh o commissione d th e wor k an d who subjecte d m y rewritte n versio n t o anothe r searchin g inquisitio n an d annotation, I a m deepl y indebte d an d grateful , wit h les s hop e o f bein g abl e t o repay i n kind . I f error s remain , the y ca n onl y b e pu t dow n t o a n ultimatel y incorrigible author . To th e Cambridg e editor s o f bot h Letter s an d Work s I ow e anothe r majo r debt. Her e to o i s a notabl e instanc e o f scholarl y generosit y an d collaboration , since I hav e bee n abl e t o mak e fre e us e o f unpublishe d a s wel l a s publishe d research, an d hav e ever y reaso n t o fee l gratefu l t o severa l editor s o f work-in progress fo r question s promptl y answere d an d advic e freel y given . Withou t th e research an d th e hel p o f James T . Boulto n an d Warre n Robert s (bot h a s Genera l and a s particular Editors) , an d o f Car l an d Hele n Baron , Phili p Crumpton , Pau l Eggert, Davi d Farmer , Simonett a d e Filippis , Michae l Herbert , Mar a Kalnins , Dieter Mehl , Christophe r Pollnitz , Andre w Robertson , Bruc e Steele , Lindet h Vasey, Joh n Worthe n an d Georg e Zytaruk , thi s boo k coul d no t hav e bee n written. ( I a m particularl y gratefu l t o Chri s Pollnit z an d Joh n Worthe n fo r hel p with th e Appendices. ) I f I hav e occasionall y speculate d beyon d thei r meticulou s and scholarl y account s o f th e compositio n o f som e works , an y error s wil l o f course b e m y responsibility . Jame s Boulton , Warre n Roberts , Keit h Saga r an d John Worthe n hav e been mos t helpfu l i n th e collectio n o f the photographs . One stands , o f course , o n th e shoulder s o f countles s scholarl y an d critica l 87i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
predecessors, o f who m onl y a fe w ca n b e mentioned . M y stor y o f th e composition o f The Prussian Officer, The Rainbow an d Women in Love is indebte d to th e wor k o f Keit h Cushma n an d Charle s Ross , a s wel l a s t o scholar s mentioned above . I a m als o indebte d t o th e scholarshi p o f Carol e Ferrie r an d Keith Sagar . I hav e man y obligation s t o remembe r t o thos e fro m who m I hav e sough t information, recollection s o r critica l help . T o spel l ou t eac h i n particula r detai l would tak e a grea t dea l o f space , an d thoug h a lis t o f name s seem s to o bar e a n acknowledgement, the y wil l kno w alread y an d directl y ho w thankfu l I am , an d specific debt s t o severa l o f the m ar e acknowledge d i n th e Notes . I gratefull y enumerate, therefore , Valeri o Arosio , Tony Atkins , Barbar a Bar r ( a specia l wor d of thanks) , Joh n Bishop , Christ y Bonaventura , P . Canovan , Joh n an d Ianth e Carswell, Rhia n Davies , Salvator e Gallean o o f Fontan a Vecchia , Richar d Garnett, Ekaterin a Genieva , Joh n Gibson , Adria n an d Phili p Goodma n (grand sons o f Lad y Ottolin e Morrell) , Chlo e Gree n (daughte r o f Rosalin d Baynes) , Martin Green , Betse y Harries , Nor a Haseldo n (younges t siste r o f Loui e Burrows), Elizabet h Hawkins , Paulin e Holdru p (daughte r o f Ceci l Gray) , Lad y Juliette Huxley , Joan King , Aloi s Kranebitter , Georg e Lazarus , Tany a Litvinov , Howard Mills , Joh n ('Col' ) Middleto n Murry , Margare t Needham , th e lat e Winifred Nicholl s (siste r o f Loui e Burrows) , Vinc e O'Sullivan , Herman n Ritte r von Poschinger , Pa t Rosenbaum , Corneli a Rumpf-Worthen , Mar y Saleeby Fisher, Roge r Slack , Barr y Smith , Clair e Tomalin , Pete r Vassallo , Andrew s Wanning (nephe w o f Esthe r Andrews) , Michae l Waterfield , Sa m Whimster , Louise Wrigh t an d Ornell a d e Zordo . I a m indebte d t o th e Specia l Collectio n Librarian s an d staf f o f th e followin g libraries fo r friendl y guidanc e an d assistance , an d fo r acces s t o manuscripts : th e Bancroft Librar y o f th e Universit y o f Californi a a t Berkeley , th e Beineck e Library a t Yale , th e Ber g Collectio n o f the Ne w Yor k Publi c Library , th e Britis h Library, th e Librar y o f the Universit y o f Chicago, Columbi a Universit y Library , the Librar y o f Congress , th e Huntingdo n Library , th e Lill y Librar y a t th e University o f Indiana , th e Mill s Librar y a t McMaste r Universit y (th e Russel l Archive), th e Librar y o f th e Universit y o f Ne w Mexico , th e Librar y o f Northwestern University , th e Publi c Recor d Office , th e Librar y o f Tuft s University, th e Turnbul l Librar y i n Wellington , Ne w Zealand , th e Librar y o f the Universit y o f Californi a a t Lo s Angeles . I t wil l no t see m invidious , i n term s of frequenc y an d long-standin g relationshi p t o singl e out , especially , Doroth y Johnston an d th e Universit y o f Nottingha m Library ; Cath y Henderso n o f th e Harry Ranso m Humanitie s Researc h Cente r o f th e Universit y o f Texa s a t Austin, an d th e staf f o f th e readin g roo m there , especiall y Pa t Fo x an d Ke n Craven; an d (las t bu t b y n o mean s least ) th e Inter-Library-Loa n staf f o f th e University o f Ken t a t Canterbury , Oliv e Lindstro m an d Angel a Narburgh , wh o 872
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
have bee n a majo r resourc e i n themselves , an d hav e pu t u p wit h m e wit h unfailing courtes y an d helpfulnes s fo r man y years . I hav e bee n singularl y fortunat e i n havin g bee n awarde d a one-yea r Fellow ship t o th e Woodro w Wilso n Internationa l Cente r fo r Scholar s i n Washington , an immensel y usefu l an d enjoyabl e experience , fo r whic h I a m mos t gratefu l t o the Directo r Charle s Blitze r an d hi s Committe e an d staff . A final mont h o f research an d checkin g wa s greatl y ease d b y a Fellowshi p t o th e Harr y Ranso m Research Cente r a t th e Universit y o f Texa s a t Austin , fo r whic h m y thank s ar e also owing t o th e Directo r To m Staley , an d hi s selectors . I mus t thank , fo r acces s t o an d permissio n t o quot e fro m unpublishe d an d published documents , an d t o us e photographs : The Societ y o f Authors (Katherin e Mansfiel d an d John Middleto n Murry ) The Beineck e Librar y The Bertran d Russel l Archive s Copyrigh t Permission s Committe e The Britis h Librar y Eton Colleg e Librar y Salvatore Gallean o The Estat e o f the lat e David Garnet t Richard Garnet t Chloe Baynes Gree n Martin Gree n an d Tuft s Universit y Librar y The Harr y Ranso m Humanitie s Researc h Cente r o f th e Universit y o f Texa s at Austi n Nigel Heseltin e Pauline Holdru p The Executor s o f the Estat e o f Lady Ottolin e Morrel l John ('Cor ) Middleto n Murr y (th e unpublishe d journa l o f his father ) National Portrai t Galler y Random Hous e U.K . (th e Diaries of Lady Cynthi a Asquith ) Andrews Wannin g an d Betse y Harri s Finally, t o Geneviev e Ellis , t o Corneli a Rumpf-Worthe n an d abov e al l t o m y wife Joan (wh o dre w severa l o f th e maps) , ar e du e th e apologie s o f a sometime s obsessive ma n (an d tw o others ) fo r al l tha t thi s projec t ha s pu t the m through , which the y hav e born e wit h unfailin g cheerfulnes s an d patience . I coun t mysel f greatly fortunat e t o hav e ha d suc h support , an d tw o suc h co-biographer s an d friends.
873
INDEX Note Owing to their number, individuals cited in the Notes as sources of information have not been additionally indexed - except for Lawrence biographers - nor have individuals unknown to Lawrence but mentioned in the Notes in connection with other people.
Abercrombie, Catherine , io o Abercrombie, Lascelles , D H L meet s ioo , revie w of Sons and Lovers ioo , 779 ; D HL dislike s 'The En d o f the World ' 130 ; book o n Hardy 144 , 16 3 Abruzzi (Italy) , 117 , 528, 545- 6 African praise-song , 594 , 857 African sculpture , 437 , 593 , 624, 838 , see also Epstein, Gertler , Heseltin e Ainsley, Henry , 529 Ajanta frescoes , 306 , 822, 31 6 Aldington, Hild a ('H.D.') , 790 ; with Pound , principles o f Imagism 134-5 ; meets D H L at Am y Lowell' s dinne r 135 ; attracted t o him an d hi s wor k 143 ; loses baby , remembers D H L ' s understandin g 809-10 ; introduces Mountsie r an d Esthe r Andrew s to hi m 344 ; asks Am y Lowel l t o hel p hi m financially 344 ; introduces hi m t o Cournos , 810, 824 ; she, Aldingto n an d Courno s liv e in Devo n i n earl y 191 6 346; her poetr y admired an d respecte d b y D H L 353 , elemental 354 ; he want s he r t o rea d Women in Love 349 ; finds Look! no t 'sublimated ' enough 366 , 830; marriage an d situatio n 1915-17: 416--7; relation wit h D H L 417-8 ; reservations abou t hi s wor k 366 , 417, 830, 836; but als o dept h o f response t o poem s and letter s 418-9 ; Bid Me To Live a s source (assesse d 835) : D HL a s understanding, an d wit h va n Gogh , life giving 418; his critiqu e of'Eurydice ' 418 ; relation t o hi s 'Resurrection ' 415 , 418; turns hi s comment s int o runes , Bid Me he r answer t o thes e 419 ; central scen e 420-1 ; later vision s 421, 836; treated b y Freud , urged t o writ e her truth 421 , 790; in th e charade 425 ; tension wit h Doroth y York e
(Arabella) 424 ; Gray attracte d t o he r 424-5; decide s t o g o t o Bosigra n 432 ; tells D H L sh e i s pregnant 460 ; D HL break s with he r an d Gra y 468-9 , more tha n disapproval o r jealousy , h e feel s betraye d 469-70; news o f her shake n nerve s reache s D H L fro m Aldingto n an d Arabella , bu t h e does no t se e her i n Londo n 475 ; news o f her an d th e baby late r fro m Arabell a 502 ; she i s recalled i n 'Th e Ladybird ' 695 ; Bid Me to Live cite d 417 , 419, 420, 421, 432, 434; 'Compassionat e Friendship ' 418 , 836; Tribute to Freud 831 , 836 Aldington, Perdit a (later , Macpherson , m . Schaffner), 469 , 50 2 Aldington, Richard , wit h Pound , principle s o f Imagism 134-5 ; meets D H L a t Am y Lowell's dinne r 135 , 148 ; assistant edito r o f Egoist 215 ; biography o f D HL 790 ; he an d H D introduc e D H L t o Cournos , Mountsier 810 , 824; his marriag e afte r los s of baby, take s u p wit h Brigi t Patmor e 416 ; affair wit h Florenc e Falla s 416 ; conscripte d 1916; trains a t Corf e Castl e 416 ; trenche s 409; officer trainin g a t Lichfiel d 410 , 417; poets' evenin g 422-3 ; obsessiv e affair wit h Dorothy York e (Arabella ) i n Mecklenburgh Squar e 417 , 424; th e charade 425 ; about t o retur n t o th e trenches a s subaltern 424 ; irritates D H L b y thinking o f this a s Christlik e sacrific e 427 ; news o f him reache s D H L fro m Arabell a 465; his reaction s t o H.D.'s pregnanc y b y Gray an d D H L ' s rejectio n 470 , 840; on leave, sees D HL i n Londo n 475 ; 'very fine' (Arabella) afte r Hilda' s bab y bor n 502 ; sees D H L jus t befor e departur e fo r Italy , note s how mutuall y hostil e h e an d hi s
874
INDEX countrymen ar e 530 ; as agent fo r th e Dial helps plac e D H L sketche s 855 ; later burn s D H L ' s letter s t o H.D . 41 9 Alexander th e Great , 52 4 Allcock, Kitty , 46 1 Almgren, Antoni a ('Tony ' Cyriax) , marriage 53 , 773; affair wit h Bunn y Garnet t 53 , 773; visit t o Gargnan o 53 ; F's an d Constanc e Garnett's opinion s of , 53 ; in Sa n Gaudenzio 54 , 69; Among Italian Peasants 69, 776 , compared wit h Twilight in Italy 268-9, 2 72> 811 , 812; described b y Bunn y 812 Almgren, Gisela , i n Gargnan o an d Sa n Gaudenzio 53-4 , 69 ; names 'Lorenzo ' 6 9 Altrincham, Stag e Societ y 54 6 Amain, 55 7 Ambergate (Derbyshire) , 49 2 Amfiteatrov, Aleksander , 116 , 78 4 Ammon, 45 0 Anaxagoras, 24 5 Anaximander, 24 5 Anderson, Sherwood , Winesburg, Ohio 54 2 Andrews, Esther , 824 ; visits D H L , an d come s again fo r Christma s 344-5 ; police sergean t on Christma s Ev e 346 ; Mountsier leaves , i s arrested i n Londo n an d he r flat searche d 347; her letter s t o hi m fro m Zenno r 826 , 828, impl y h e i s sharp an d opinionate d 665 ; D H L ' s likin g fo r 'Hadaffah ' an d fo r the m as 'queer gentl e couple ' 353 ; an America n Rananim no w 352 , 354-5; they hel p hi m t o ideas: of USA furthe r advance d i n 'decadence', an d o f writing o n America n literature 353-4 ; t o rea d Women in Love 349; may no t literall y hav e bee n livin g wit h Mountsier 828 ; friendship wit h Lawrence s after Mountsie r leave s 373 ; relationshi p with Mountsie r deteriorate s 373-4 ; read s and like s Look! 366 ; invited b y F t o Zennor, D H L return s fro m Riple y t o find her ther e an d F il l 830-1 ; F show s th e door, wa s there adultery ? 374-6 ; Mabe l Dodge Luha n versu s Catherin e Carswel l 374, 831 ; letters fro m D H L continue , h e arranges fo r he r t o ren t Heseltine' s fla t 375 ; in Paris , tries t o plac e a story fo r D H L 365 ; descriptive lette r t o Mabe l influence s invitation o f D HL t o Tao s 375-6 , 682 ; in Greenwich Villag e wit h Canb y Chamber s 682
Angelico, Guido d i Petro , Fra , 'sens e o f th e Whole' 175 , 190 ; Entry of the Blessed into Paradise 186 , 796; a Jewish versio n o f 501; copies Journey into Egypt i n hi s ow n colours 49 9 Anticoli-Corrado (nea r Rome) , 595 , 597, 640, 683 Anzio (Italy) , 566 , 581 , 609 Aphrodite, a s sea-goddess 595 ; of Melos, see Venus; Mary Canna n i s her 'type ' 579 ; latent i n Patt y i n Mr Noon 616 ; Aphrodite Isis-Astarte 69 4 Apollo, 'opposite ' t o Dionysos 31 5 an d i n ' T h e Ladybird' 693 ; and Daphn e 69 4 Argegno (Lak e Como) , 59 8 Arnold, Armin , o n D H L i n Switzerlan d 781-2 ; 1918 essays o n Dana , Melville , Whitma n were los t whe n The Symbolic Meaning compiled 45 0 Ascona (Switzerland) , an d Fried a Gros s 95 , 763; F. Weekle y visit s 763 , 767; Max Webe r visits 787 ; contemporary dance , Laba n an d Wigman 767 , 787, 85 9 Ashwell, Lena , 79 0 Asquith, Elizabet h (later , m . Bibesco) , 428, 430, Asquith, H.H . (Liberal , Prim e Minister) , father in-law t o Cynthi a 8 6 (who i s tease d i n th e family abou t The Rainbow 278) ; resist s conscription 293 ; his fal l i s to D H L th e en d of the Englan d h e care s fo r 345 , 693; uses influence fo r Lad y Angel a Forbe s 41 8 Asquith, Herber t ('Beb') , meetin g throug h Marsh 86 ; when wounded , drive n t o visi t at Greatha m 238 ; talks t o D H L o n th e beach a t Littlehampton , wh o insist s soldiers ar e destructiv e a t hear t 240 ; doe s not lik e F 240 ; 'The Thimble ' 279 ; 'England, M y England ' als o 'about ' Asquiths 252 , 256; gives u p law , join s Hutchinson & Co. 65 7 Asquith, John, 'fa t an d smiling ' 87 , D HL o n causes o f malaise 218- 9 Asquith, Katharine , 255 , 277, 409 Asquith, Lad y Cynthia , 86 ; meeting throug h Marsh 85 ; society beaut y 86 ; painted b y Burne-Jones, Sargent , Vo n Gleh n 86 ; income doesn' t matc h lif e styl e 86 ; suspected tuberculosi s 87 ; describes D H L 87; like s F 87 ; visits Greatham , F think s 'poor i n spirit ' 193 ; visited b y D H L an d F
875
INDEX Asquith, Lad y Cynthi a (cont.) at Brighton , astonishe d b y hi s swift , accurate analyse s o f people 232 ; warms t o F again 232 ; D HL diagnose s caus e o f John's malaise, in he r 218-9 , 2 3 2 ; motor s wit h Harold Bake r t o se e D H L, think s h e look s ill, sees 'wa r story ' o n typewrite r 236 ; arrives i n Downin g Stree t moto r wit h wounded Be b 238 ; fetches Lawrence s t o Littlehampton fo r Be b an d D H L t o talk , F unburdens hersel f 240 ; takes Katharin e Asquith an d Bake r t o se e D HL 255 ; D H L values he r stoica l realis m mor e tha n he r beauty 255 ; invites Lawrence s t o Michael' s first birthda y part y 255 ; 'England, M y England' abou t he r an d Be b to o 252 , 256; deep grie f over deat h o f her brothe r Yv o 277; teased abou t The Rainbow an d Signature i n Prim e Minister' s famil y 278 ; lunches wit h D H L , delightfu l despit e troubles 279 ; her opinio n o f the nove l sh e has 'godmothered ' 279 , 814, betrayed t o D H L b y 'tha t littl e sneak Murray' , 814 ; 'word-sketch' o f her i n 'Th e Thimble' , doesn't understan d symbolism , bu t 'character hints ' acut e 279 , 692; takes D H L to tas k abou t 'downin g tools ' when sen t 'The Turnin g Back ' 280 ; takes Mar y Herbert t o visi t in Hampstea d th e da y afte r the Rainbow trial , contrasts hysteri a o f hi s letters wit h hi s laughte r i n perso n 814 ; a 'parting' lette r fro m D H L 282 ; but visit s him i n Hampstea d an d take s hi m t o Hous e of Common s t o se e Morrell 286 ; loses a second brothe r 342 ; told b y D H L h e i s as isolated i n hi s Cornis h towe r a s 'a mon k i n Nitria' 342 ; asked fo r hel p wit h passport s in 1917 : 351; after he r losse s (no w als o Raymond Asquith ) D H L concede s tha t hi s feelings abou t th e wa r ma y b e 'almos t insults' t o other s 351 ; visited b y hi m i n April 1917 : her ne w flat, t o th e Zo o wit h Michael, upbraide d fo r war-wor k 367 , 830; told o f expulsion 400-1 ; ha s no w los t Basi l Blackwood 409 , asked t o hel p revers e expulsion, he r reservation s 411 ; visits an d is visited b y th e Lawrences , take s the m t o operas 422 ; her portrai t an d D H L i n Augustus John's studi o 422 ; plan tha t sh e approach Bibesc o ove r Women in Love scheme 428 , 430; sends D H L mone y 429 ;
Whibley agree s t o as k Roya l Literar y Fun d again 430 ; she lunche s wit h Bibesco , bu t MacCarthy ha s ruine d D H L ' s chance s 430 ; doubtful herself , read s novel , he r opinio n 431; cycle s t o Beaumont abou t 'Al l of Us ' 432; tol d o f D H L 's peacoc k drea m 459 ; becomes secretar y t o Barrie 465 ; asked t o help find D H L a job i n educatio n 471 ; her war an d peac e babie s 503 ; writes t o D H L after te n months ' silenc e 657 ; he r background use d i n 'Th e Ladybird ' 69 3 (but als o H . D. 696 ) Asquith, Michael , 255, 367, 830 Asquith, Raymond , 85 , 86, 255; to th e fron t 277 ; death 35 1 Astarte, 624; Aphrodite-Isis-Astarte 69 4 Atenasio, Francesc o ('Ciccio') , 580 , 85 4 Athenaeum, doe s no t rat e D H L 131 ; Murry becomes editor , invite s contribution s 497 ; prints 'Whistlin g o f Birds', rejects other s 499-500; furthe r rejection s i n 1920 , 559-61; absorbed b y Nation i n 1921 , Murry cease s t o edi t bu t continue s t o review 86 3 Atina (Abruzzi , Italy) , 54 5 Attila, 49 1 Austen, Jane, 68 7 Austin, Mary , 682 , 85 8 Austria, mor e easygoin g tha n German y 32 ; journey fro m Kufstei n t o Riv a 32-6 ; 'Chapel' an d 'Hay-Hut ' sketche s 33 , 39; journey wit h Mountsie r fro m Baden-Bade n to Zell-am-Se e 666-7 ; economy i n ruins , rate o f exchange 667 ; see also Mayrhofen ; Riva; Wieden; Italy , Journey to ; Bregenz ; Innsbruck; Zell-am-See ; Thumersbach ; Bad Fusch ; Hundstein ; Karlinge r Glacie r Authors' Society , see Society o f Author s Azzarini, Ezechiele , weddin g 10 0 Bacon, John Vaux , journalis t sp y conspirac y 34 8 Bad Fusch , 66 7 Baden-Baden: F' s parent s a t 88 ; F visit s i n 1913 : 92; i n 1914 : 126 , 128 ; i n 1919 : 527; in 1920 : 595, 604 ; in 1921 : (mother ill ) 636-7; D H L leaves Sicil y fo r 640 ; arrives 643 , and settles clos e b y i n Ebersteinbur g 643-4 ; post-war Baden-Bade n 64 4 Baedeker, Karl , 3 3 Baillot, Juliette (later , Huxley) , Julian Morrell' s governess 290 ; Heseltine attracte d b y
876
INDEX away 597 ; enforced mov e t o Fiesol e 598 ; lends D H L L a Canovai a t o cam p i n 598-9 ; 'and s o t o bed' 601-4 ; notes poem s i n he r copy 858-9 ; punning referenc e t o he r i n 'Fig' 859 ; sees D HL of f t o Venic e 859 ; careful lette r fro m hi m 606 ; Bridget, Chloe , Nan an d th e politica l divid e 599 ; illustrate s Eleanor Farjeon' s Nuts in May 858 ; divorced 668 , but take s Bridget o n amicable visi t t o Godwi n i n Zuric h 668 ; probably awa y again whe n D H L an d F i n Florence i n 1921 : 670; Godwin' s remarriage 716-7 ; sent Sea and Sardinia, and Tortoises as farewell fro m D H L , wil l meet agai n 71 6
290-1, 816-7 ; charades a t Garsingto n 817 ; they correspon d 297 , 817; seen a s the Juliet figure i n Delius' s oper a 297 ; become s frightened 817 ; angry a t lac k o f respect fo r Ottoline 820 ; may hav e broke n wit h Heseltine befor e learnin g abou t Pum a 310 , 820 Baker, Harol d ('Bluetooth') , 236 , 255, 411 Baker, Ida , 119 , 153 , 560 Balfour, A.J. , 28 7 Balzac, Honore de , 58 9 Bandol, 294 , 312-3, 317 , Barbour, Thoma s Philip , 33 0 Barbusse, Henri , Le Feu 510 ; Clarte 510 ; Goldring unde r hi s 'party-umbrella ' 57 2 Barker, see Granville-Barker Barnes, James Thoma s Strache y ('Jim') , visit s Fiascherino 107 ; on literatur e and politic s H5 Baron, Car l an d Helen , 765 , 772 Barr, Barbara, see Weekley, Barbar a Barrie, James, 79 2 Barrow-in-Furness, 148 , 15 1 Bates, Henry W. , The Naturalist on the Amazon 493 Bax, Clifford, 515 , 845 Baynes, Godwin, 515 ; affectionate letter s b y n o means homosexua l 783 ; break-up o f marriage 507 ; meets D HL a t Pangbourn e 514-5; lette r fro m D H L dissuadin g fro m divorce 515 , 845, 697; opinion o f D H L after hi s death 515 ; becomes Jung' s assistant 515 , 668; divorced 668 ; visited i n Zurich b y Rosalin d an d Bridget , abou t t o marry agai n 668 , daughter o f Archbisho p 716-7 Baynes, Rosalind (ne e Thornycroft), meet s D H L a t Bucklebury , describe d 507 ; stat e of her marriag e 507 ; daughter Bridge t an d D H L 508 ; Lawrences i n he r hous e i n Pangbourne 511 ; returns, bu t ask s the m t o stay t o meet Godwi n 514 ; impressed wit h D H L milkin g goat s 516 ; fair-copies a n American essa y 522 ; considers divorce , ide a of taking children t o Picinisco , Lawrence t o scout 528 ; she an d he r fathe r writ e t o Orazio Cerv i 528-9 ; sheepskin coat s fo r Bridget an d Chlo e sew n b y D H L 847 , an d letters o f advice 536 , 847; asked b y hi m about room s i n Venic e i n 1920 , he hope s t o see her o n journe y nort h 595 , but sh e i s
Beauchamp, Leslie , told a fib by hi s siste r 193 ; at Acaci a Roa d 257 , 276; killed 27 6 Beaumont, Cyri l William, suggeste d b y Michae l Sadleir fo r Women in Love b y subscriptio n 428; meets D H L ; give s estimate an d advic e 430; more intereste d i n poetry , Cynthi a Asquith see s about 'Al l o f U s' 432 ; rejects , but wil l d o Bay 436-7 ; first proofs , D H L doesn't lik e woodcuts 505 ; more proofs , and mistake s 521 ; forgets dedicatio n t o Cynthia Asquit h 52 1 Becker, Si r William , 535-6 , 84 7 Beecham, Si r Thomas , 42 2 Beerbohm, Max , 85 , 537 Bell, Clive , relation wit h Vaness a an d Gran t 184 ; offers t o protes t abou t The Rainbow bu t Methuen wishe s hushe d u p 8 1 3 , ; dance s with F a t Brett' s studi o part y 281 ; goes with Strache y t o persuad e Squir e t o protes t injustice 285 ; D HL rathe r like s hi m 285 ; scheme fo r author-publishin g 309 , 314; likes Murry, say s Murry 312 ; describe s Ottoline's reactio n whe n sh e read s Women in Love 82 7 Bell, Vanessa, 788 , 18 4 Belloc, Hilaire, 15 0 Belloc Lowndes, Mrs , se e Lowndes, Mari e Belloc Bennett, Arnold : criticise d b y D H L fo r resigne d acceptance 40 , 130 ; Anna of the Five Towns 40; Pinker hi s agent 90 ; only well-know n author t o stan d u p fo r The Rainbow i n public 285 , 814-5, 817; a reported criticis m of D H L 's 'construction' , D H L retort s 292 , 295; offers t o giv e D HL £1 pe r wee k i f others wil l join , but ide a drop s 428 , 837;
877
INDEX Bennett, Arnol d (cont.) secretly send s £2 5 fo r emergencie s 428 ; D H L ' s ignoranc e o f this make s hi m unfai r 429, 468, 479; Pinker ma y no t hav e approached hi m abou t findin g wor k fo r D H L 472 , 479, 841; D HL learn s o f secre t loan onl y whe n repai d 564-5 , 852 ; D H L likened t o 657, 861 Benney's auctio n rooms , 317 , 84 2 Beresford, J.D. an d Beatrice , 152 , 295, 311- 2 Berryman, Katie , 318, 338, 462 Berryman, Tom , 33 8 Beuerberg (nea r Munich) , 1 8 Beveridge, Millicent , meet s a cross D H L a t a party 637 ; portrait o f him 637- 8 Bibesco, Prince Antoine , offers hel p wit h The Rainbow, bu t doe s nothin g 291-2 ; plan t o interest hi m i n Woman in Love 428 ; Cynthia Asquit h lunche s bu t MacCarth y dissuades 430 , plan depend s o n initia l subvention, come s t o nothin g 431 ; involved with an d eventuall y marrie s Elizabet h Asquith, thoug h pursue s Cynthi a fo r a tim e 428, 431; D HL call s 'buffoon prince ' 43 1 Bible, Lot's wif e 2 0 - 1 ; Abraham an d th e angel s 73; F reading , like s Jesus 61 ; D H L reverses openin g o f S t John's gospe l 62 , another versio n i n Fantasia 659 ; redefine s 'Father', 'Son ' an d 'Hol y Ghost ' 62-3 , 124, 161 , 163-4, ^ 7 ; invert s Son g o f Solomon 65 ; Garden o f Ede n 124 ; in 'Hardy': Davi d 167 ; Solomon 167 ; Job 167 , 168; in The Rainbow: Genesi s 168 , 175 , the Flood an d th e covenan t o f th e rainbo w 168, 175 , 179 , 207, the journeyin g Israelites 168 , 175 , the danc e o f Davi d 168 , 798, th e fiery furnac e 168 , Lot's wif e 168 , the son s o f Go d an d daughter s o f men 168 , 180; the Citie s o f th e Plai n 204 , 223 ; Bible rewritten i n Look! 361 , 829-30; biblica l cross-references betwee n poem s 362 ; Balaam an d th e as s 478 , 711; Moses, Aaron, Miria m 647 , 864; D HL an d F se t out lik e Abraha m 717 ; see also Jesus Christ , Christianity Bigham, Asst . Commissione r th e Hon . Frank , 4H,423 Birrell, Augustine, 180 , 81 3 Birrell, Franci s ('Frankie') , 131 , 180, 213-5, 805 Bjorkman, Edwi n August , 93 , 781
Black Forest , 645 , 665 Black, Michael , 10 1 Blackwood, Lor d Basil , 40 9 Blake, William, rea d b y D H L wit h Jessie 794 ; ruddy colou r o f fulfilment 794 ; act o n al l desires 56 , 774; contraries ca n chang e valu e 216; Tyger allusion s 221 , 226, 806 , 363; aphoristic 229 , 774, thinking i n contrarie s 245-6, 794 ; D HL argue s friendshi p i n opposition betwee n Ottolin e an d F 308 , and Murr y an d himsel f 382 ; opposite s control an d balanc e eac h othe r 371; everything tha t live s i s holy 380 ; t o generalise i s to b e an idio t 389 ; The Marriage of Heaven and Hell 216 , 774; Newton an d The Ancient of Days 30 5 Bland, Emily , 62 1 Blaue Reiter paintings , 39 , 40, 804; D H L ' s critique o f expressionism 40 ; see also Munich; Jaffe, Professo r Edga r Blavatsky, Helen a Petrovna , theosophi c idea s 387-9; ?Isis Unveiled possibl y allude d t o i n 'Don Juan' 832 ; The Secret Doctrine 387-8 , 389, 394 , 833; D HL recommend s t o Nanc y Henry 48 2 Blue Review, replace s Rhythm 78 , 84; 'Thoma s Mann' 78-9 , 84 ; Marsh's hel p 84 , 86; collapses 10 4 Blunden, Edmund , 65 6 Boccioni, Umberto , friendshi p wit h 'Gamba ' Garuti 117 , 785 Bodmin, 33 2 Bogliaco (nea r Gargnano) , 37 ; recreated i n 'Burns novel ' fragmen t 5 7 Bognor (Sussex) , 234, 280 Bonn, 1 7 Book of Common Prayer, 68 8 Book of Italy, The, 81 0 Bookman, W.L . Georg e articl e o n D H L 88 ; 'The Mosquito ' 657 , 66 6 Boot's library , see Circulating librarie s Borg, Michael , wit h Magnu s 585 , 854; begins t o doubt 608 ; the deat h not e 609 ; appeals t o D H L agai n 704-5 ; in th e 'Memoir ' 708 ; Mountsier t o trea t wit h hi m direc t 705 ; D H L letter s surviv e 869 ; Douglas' s irritation wit h hi m 86 9 Borrow, George , Lavengro 59 4 Botticelli, Sandro , balance d high-poin t o f Renaissance 266 ; Venus 87; Mystic Nativity 162, 17 5
878
INDEX Bottomley, Horatio , symbo l o f England's declin e 345, 352 ; as Voice of the Peopl e a n argument agains t democrac y 695 ; John Bull attack o n D H L 672 , 674-5; disgrace an d imprisonment 69 8 Bowden, George , 8 4 Bowdwin, iM r (Taormina), 67 6 Boxford, nea r Chievel y (Berkshire) , 50 6 Bradley, Gladys , 366 , 83 0 Brahms, Johannes, 7 4 Bramante, Donato , 56 6 Bregenz (Austria) , 66 6 Brett, Hon . Dorothy , o n Ko t 147 ; taken t o Byron Villa s by Gertle r 814 ; party i n he r studio, gatecrashe d 280-1 ; anothe r late r 814, but misremember s D H L ' s departur e 'abroad' 81 4 Brewer, Corpora l George , billeted o n Brown s 426, dresse d b y F a s fortune-telle r 841 , and 'Monkey Nuts ' 50 4 Brewster, Achsah , live d i n Sa n Filippo , Anticol i 857, 64 0 and Fontan a Vecchi a 860 , 640; painting o f S t Franci s 640 ; introduced t o D H L b y Nelli e Morriso n 640 ; descriptio n of and likin g fo r hi m 640—2 ; his comed y and mimicr y 641 , 673; jokey correspondence 654 ; his amused likin g fo r her siste r 67 3 Brewster, Earl , meets , describe s an d form s friendship wit h D H L 640-2 ; talk o f solar plexus 641 ; arguments abou t Buddhis t peace, nirvana, a s against nee d fo r anger , passion, suffering , violenc e 640 , 654; argument abou t Hum e 654 ; thinks F jus t the righ t wif e 672 ; if they hadn' t bee n leaving s o soon, D H L woul d hav e joined , going Eas t i n orde r t o g o West 674 ; Rananim no w t o wor k a farm wit h the m 674; decision t o g o to Taos presente d b y D H L a s decision agains t Buddh a 699 ; Brewster make s Ceylo n soun d lovely , bu t D H L fo r strif e no t meditatio n 709-10 ; however, nex t letter , 'lif e i s sorrow' , changes D H L ' s min d abou t basi s fo r life , and abou t goin g t o Taos 712 ; will see k t o come t o term s i n Ceylo n befor e goin g t o New Mexic o 71 3 Brewster, Harwood , 640 , 67 3 Brighton (Sussex) , 23 2 Brill, Abraham , 683,71 1 Bronte, Emily , 32 6
Brooke, Rupert , an d Mars h 86 , 129 ; and Bunn y Garnett 129 ; in Georgian Poetry an d New Numbers 129 ; on Sons and Lovers 129 ; D H L an d F mee t 129-30 ; affair wit h K a Cox 129 ; emotional lif e a mess 129 , 169 ; poetic aim s 129 , 131 ; contrast betwee n England an d Tahit i 131 ; D HL o n hi s deat h 219; Marsh send s gif t o f money 'fro m Rupert' 50 3 Brooks, John Ellingham , 551 , 556, 604, 85 0 Brown, Curtis , first approac h 50 , 772; D H L should hav e go t mor e fo r Sons and Lovers 120; enquires agai n 857 ; on Goldring' s advice, D HL engage s a s English agen t 635 , 639; edgy start , an d object s t o D H L dealing wit h publisher s direc t 655-6 ; Mountsier mislead s D H L abou t placin g o f work i n Englan d 666 ; typing o f second hal f of Aaron's Rod 667 ; Aaron's Rod unacceptable 675 ; all English right s brought unde r hi s contro l 714 ; but pique d at smal l retur n fo r effor t 714 ; gets Seeke r t o count novella s unde r contrac t 71 4 Brown, Hilda , make s friend s 426 ; musica l evening a t Bessi e Lowe' s 429 ; D HL help s with homewor k 426 , 506 ; visit t o Pangbourne 511- 2 Bucklebury Commo n (Berkshire) , 475, 507, 51 1 Buddha, an d Buddhism , 641 , 654, 699 , 709-10 , 712 Bull, Rosalie, 611, 621, 676 Bunin, Ivan , 'Th e Gentlema n fro m Sa n Francisco', tr . Koteliansk y 657 , 668, 866 Burnet, John, Early Greek Philosophy 245- 6 Burnett, Iv y Compton , 68 7 Burns, Robert , D H L ' s affinit y wit h 57 ; 'Burn s Novel' 57-8 ; Highland Mar y 57-8 , 774-5; Lockhart's Life 77 4 Burr, Jane, see Winslow, Ros e Guggenhei m Burrows family , i n The Rainbow 173 , 176-7 ; Alfred Burrow s 176 , 798; Anna Burrow s x 73> 176 , 179 ; Winifred Nicholl s 781 ; Nora Haseldon 781 , 799 Burrows, Louie : D H L break s engagemen t wit h 7; 'Snapdragon ' an d D H L ' s frustratio n 15 ; kept i n ignoranc e o f F 20 ; half-told, bu t only learn s identit y o f F fro m frien d o f Ad a 50, 772; D HL apologise s 50 ; her suspicio n of T he Cearn e 79 ; in 'Th e Sisters ' I I 94 , 781, 109 ; D H L 's ongoin g respec t an d feeling fo r he r 50 , 781; she ask s Ad a no t t o
879
INDEX Burrows, Louie (cont.) write about D H L ' s us e o f her famil y i n The Rainbow 798 ; the 'Ursula ' o f 'Youn g Love ' 200; remains friendl y wit h Krenkow s 464 ; D H L refuse s suggestio n t o se e her wit h them, fearin g t o 'star t ol d feeling s again ' 502 Butler, R.A.B. , 489 Butterley reservoi r (Derbyshire) , 48 3 Buxton (Derbyshire) , 22 9 Buzzi, Paolo, 121 , 786 Byles, Si r William , 81 6 Byrne, Janet, 76 7 Byron, 9 2 Cacopardo, Carmelo , 57 9 Cacopardo, Emm a ('Gemma' , ne e Motta) , refugee, marrie s Cicci o 579 ; leaves wit h him fo r US A 58 5 Cacopardo, Francesc a ('Ciccia' , m . Testa) , widow o f Giuseppe Test a 579 ; remarriag e to Vincenzo Falang a 633 ; cools t o idea o f Thrasher's far m 63 8 Cacopardo, Francesc o ('Ciccio') , 579 ; own s Fontana Vecchi a 571 ; leaves wit h Gemm a for US A 579 , 585; asked t o tak e typescrip t of The Lost Girl 588 ; prospers i n Bosto n 638 Cacopardo, Grazia , 579-80 , 67 6 Cahill, Phyllis, 761- 2 Cambridge, D H L ' s visi t 208-10 ; Trinit y College 190 , 208, 209-10; terminate s Russell's fellowshi p 236 ; King's Colleg e 190, 209; Apostles; see Brooke, Forster , Keynes, Marsh, Moore , Russell , Strache y Campbell, Beatrice , 87 , 128 , 497 Campbell, Gordon : meet s 87 ; D HL an d F sta y with i n Kensingto n 87-8 ; D HL suspiciou s of 119 ; but stay s with hi m agai n i28ff ; avoids Iv y Lo w 133 ; intense discussion s 143; witness a t L's weddin g 142 ; takes photographs 142-3 ; gloom y abou t 'Areland' 143 ; singing housekeepe r 143 ; 'Hello clumsy! ' 143 ; Murry's hig h ratin g 155, 194 ; mental excitemen t an d mysticis m with Murr y 154-5 , J 94i D H L warn s against 'ecstasy ' 154 ; D HL beg s no t t o en d his novel wit h suicid e 170 ; argues wit h D H L abou t religio n 193 ; Murry's agonise d letter t o 194 ; asked fo r detail s fo r Skrebensky 200 ; asked fo r hel p wit h
passports i n 1917 : 351; in Ministr y o f Munitions 411 ; tries t o fin d ou t reason s fo r expulsion 411 ; D HL meet s agai n i n 1918 , a bit 'disgusted ' 46 5 Campbell, Mr s Patrick , 8 6 Cannan, Gilbert , 792 ; meets a t Bunny' s dinne r 131; introduces t o Lady Ottolin e an d Compton Mackenzi e 131 ; H. James's ratin g of, 131 ; but Murry' s opinio n 155 ; find s D H L 'Th e Triangle' , nea r Chesha m an d his Mil l a t Cholesbur y 149 ; supports hi s application t o th e Royal Literar y Fun d 150 ; parties a t Christma s 1914 : 170-2 ; specia l constable, but move s t o pacifis m 181 ; warns tha t societ y doe s no t liste n 192 ; visit to Greatham , a power fo r goo d i n hi m 226 ; at Garsingto n wit h Lawrence s 236-7 ; marriage end s whe n h e make s Mary' s mai d pregnant, ha s breakdown an d a n affai r wit h Gwen Wilso n 352 , 827; approaches Am y Lowell ove r lectur e tou r fo r D H L 844 , an d for financia l hel p fo r hi m 564 ; defend s D H L agains t Hodde r i n New York Tribune 564; newspaper interview s irritat e Mackenzie 852 ; he an d Huebsc h collec t money, D H L cros s 564 ; warns abou t Seltzer's finance s 572 ; talk o f new 'left ' periodical 853 ; while in USA , Gwe n marries Mond , bu t Canna n tour s wit h them 580 ; annoyed b y D H L letter , arrive s in Taormin a an d dashe s of f chequ e 580 ; they par t a s friends wh o wil l not spea k again 580 ; later menta l breakdow n 854 ; Peter Homunculus 155 , 792; Mendel base d on Gertler' s lif e 792 ; their friendshi p end s in bitternes s 343 ; D HL an d F i n th e nove l 824; F's opinio n 372 ; D HL call s 'journalism' 824 ; Windmills (dedicate d t o D H L ) 37 4 Cannan, Mar y (ne e Ansell), meets D H L 131 ; ex-wife o f J.M. Barri e 131 ; drums u p support fo r D H L applicatio n t o th e Roya l Literary Fun d 150 ; visit t o Greatham , D H L say s rather a dear, i f shallow 226 ; t o Garsington wit h Lawrence s 336-7 ; he r marriage t o Gilber t breaks u p 352 , 827; asked b y D H L t o hel p wit h Roya l Literar y Fund agai n i n 1918 , 459; meets hi m agai n on Capri , hi s likin g fo r he r 551 ; gossip an d Gwen Galat a 556 ; travels t o Sicil y wit h F , lives at Timeo hote l 571 ; regularly invite s
880
INDEX Lawrences t o meal s 578 ; row ove r attemp t to ren t hous e 579 ; Aphrodite t o Mari e Hubrecht's Minerva , 'vendetta ' 579 ; pay s for Lawrence s t o visi t Malt a wit h he r 584-5; fall s fro m mul e o n Etna , bob s hai r 585; planning t o leav e 594 ; settles i n Mont e Carlo, warned b y D H L agains t gamblin g 633; agrees t o len d hi m £20 0 633 ; given hi s anchorite paintin g 633 ; asked t o com e t o Thrasher's far m 633-4 ; D HL return s cheque 637 ; comes t o Florence , take s roo m upstairs fro m D H L an d F , envie d b y Catherine 671 ; F goe s throug h he r wardrobe i n he r absenc e 671 ; gives D H L lapis lazul i sea l i n farewel l 716 ; D H L confesses wrenc h o f leaving, jokes abou t seeing he r i n Columb o 71 6 Cape, Jonathan, 71 4 Cape Town , 624 , 638, 711, 832 Capelli famil y (a t Sa n Gaudenzio) , 69 , 776-7; Paulo, Maria an d childre n i n 'Sa n Gaudenzio' (Twilight in Italy) 268-9 ; details confirmed b y Cyria x 268—9 ; but als o differences fro m lif e 811 ; and heightene d i n post-Rainbow term s 268 , 269 Capri, i n 1919-20 : 547-53 , 556-7, 564-6 , 567 ; Mount Solar o 549 ; New Year' s Ev e a t Morgano's 550 ; Palazzo Ferraro , Piazza , and Cathedra l 547 ; 'Cat Cranford ' 556 ; revisits 1921 : 640-2; and late r wit h F 67 2 Carco, Francis , 154 , 193-4 , 19 6 Carmichael, Mrs , 685 , 700, 71 5 Carpenter, Edward , 662 , 795 Carrington, Dora , 171 , 184, 280; to liv e wit h Strachey 366 ; effect o n Gertle r 435 ; at Adelphi Armistic e part y 48 1 Carswell, Catherin e (ne e MacFarlane , m . Jackson), 132 ; only tailor-mad e 117 ; D H L meets throug h Iv y Lo w 132 ; collapse o f first marriage , remarriag e t o Donal d Carswell 132 ; D HL help s wit h he r nove l 132; describes Fried a 132 ; D HL fo r weekend, tirade s abou t wa r 152 ; visits T h e Triangle 183 ; to Caledonia n marke t an d Camden Tow n t o furnis h 1 Byron Villa s 256; largel y admirin g revie w o f The Rainbow fo r Glasgow Herald, sacke d fo r i t 285; visit s Zenno r 342-3 ; reprimande d fo r appearing i n ves t an d petticoa t 342 ; tol d about th e bif f wit h th e stonewar e plat e 343 ; asked t o commen t o n 'Th e Sisters ' II I 343 ;
881
sent Look! an d recall s reading , impresse d 353-4; persuade s D H L no t t o includ e a n actual lette r 356 ; sees F i n Londo n i n March 1917 : 366; D HL i n Apri l 367 ; 'sad ' after Donal d conscripte d 368 ; told b y D H L sh e mus t sto p wantin g t o shelte r hi m 374; reject s Mabe l Luhan' s stor y abou t Esther Andrews , he r versio n fro m bot h F and D H L a t th e tim e 374 ; in Edinburgh , Donald i n hospita l 409 ; calls o n Mr s Gra y for D H L 410 ; pregnancy 435 ; John Patric k born (1918 ) 461 , 839; invites D H L an d F to Fores t o f Dean 464 , 466-7; ide a o f articles o n educatio n 472 ; intermediar y fo r Touch and Go 479 ; original ide a o f 'Th e Blind Man ' 480 ; leaves wit h D H L fo r th e north 482-3 ; send s muscate l i n hi s illnes s 497; may hav e tol d Barbar a Lo w abou t Touch and Go 505 ; sells D H L ' s typewrite r 522-3; Lawrence s sta y befor e F' s departure 526 ; writes t o Ellesin a Santor o for D H L 529 ; his gif t o f D e Quince y 529 ; takes hi m t o theatre , the y wal k ou t 529 ; sees hi m of f t o Ital y wit h usefu l present s 531; review s Altrincha m Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd 572 , 853 ; Open the Door! win s prize, send s D H L £50 , h e burn s chequ e 586-7; ol d frien d o f Millicent Beveridg e 637; suppe r wit h D H L i n Florenc e o n hi s 36th birthda y 670 ; admires Mar y bu t won' t examine he r dresse s wit h F 670 ; meet s Marchesa Carl o Torrigian i 647 , 670 ; fiasco of invitation t o Castell o Rugger o 670—1 ; Donald tol d t o hi t he r i f she goe s o n nagging abou t i t 671 ; another misunderstanding abou t Sien a 67 1 Carswell, Donald , marrie s Catherin e Jackso n 132; on The Times 150 ; in 191 4 asks Mr s Belloc-Lowndes (Societ y o f Authors) t o help D H L 150 ; in 191 5 studyin g law , thinks a case fo r libe l agains t Dougla s an d Shorter 291 ; now qualifie d (en d o f 1916 ) asked whethe r 'Sisters ' II I i s libellous 343; conscripted 356 , 368; military hospita l i n Edinburgh 409 ; with Lawrence s i n Fores t of Dean 466-7 ; D H L thanks , want s hi m t o read essay s 467; criticism anticipated , bu t likes th e on e o n Moby Dick 467 ; idea o f D H L article s o n education , arrange s interview wit h edito r o f TES 472 ; has flu 491; endorse s F' s passpor t photograp h 515 ;
INDEX Carswell, Donald (cont.) farewell present s t o D HL 531 ; sees i n Florence i n 192 1 670-1 ; tol d t o hi t Catherine t o sto p he r naggin g 671 ; see also Catherine Carswel l Carswell, John Patrick , bor n 461 ; 'Frieda' s Rainbow', D H L ' s embroidere d froc k an d 'War Baby ' 839 ; carried i n Fores t o f Dea n 466; goa t mil k i n Hermitag e 506 ; no ches t trouble fo r hi m 50 6 Cassell & Co., 84 9 Cassino (Italy) , 545, 581 Castelmola (Sicily) , 69 7 Castrogiovanni (Sicily) , 639 Catania (Sicily) , 570-1 , 580-1 , 583 , 717 Century, reject s 'Tw o Marriages ' 775 ; refuse s The Lost Girl fo r serialisatio n 58 8 Cerio, Edwin, 84 9 Cervi, Orazio, 528 , 531, 545 Ceylon, 709 , 711, 713-16, 718; Colombo 713-4 , Cezanne, Paul , 18 4 Chamberlain, Houston , 794- 5 Chambers, Alan , and To m Brangwe n 174 ; and Gerald 331 ; David an d Jonatha n friendship, haymaking , recalle d a t Highe r Tregerthen, an d i n fiction s 332 , 376, 378-9, 831 ; D H L 's neares t t o perfec t lov e (Mackenzie) 55 1 Chambers, Canby , 68 2 Chambers, Edmund , 51 6 Chambers, Jessie, advises D H L t o rewrit e second versio n of'Pau l Morel ' 7 , 42; hope s frustrated 7 , 13 , 44-5; reads thir d versio n and respond s 13 ; 'Miriam papers ' 13-14 ; how muc h o f the nove l di d sh e read ? 13 , 47 > 7 7 I - 2 > 773—4 ; E.T.'s A Personal Record 13, 44-7, 771-2 , 773; letter t o Lutoslawsk i 13, 765, 774; D HL 'you'l l hav e t o g o o n forgiving' 15 ; 'almost hysterica l message ' from D H L 19 ; mistakes D H L ' s attitud e t o Mrs More l 44 , never mention s he r deat h 772; D H L 's selection , distortion , heightening fro m lif e i n creatin g Miria m 42, 45-6, 777; his themati c purpose s i n shaping Miria m 45-6 ; Jessie's attitud e t o sex 46, 70, 777; and t o Loui e Burrow s 46 ; writes t o D H L abou t Love Poems, hi s tactless repl y 54 ; proofs o f Sons and Lovers cause fina l breac h 54 , 773, but doe s no t read agai n 773 ; 'The Rath e Primrose ' 70 ,
78, 777 ; in relatio n t o Hermione 334 , 827; D H L dream s o f her i n Ebersteinbur g 654 ; read Carpente r wit h hi m 795 , 662 Channing, Minni e Luci e ('Puma') , 817 ; Heseltine's involvemen t 290-1 , 297 , but h e prefers Juliette Baillo t 817 ; pregnant b y him 297 ; D HL think s he r physica l profligacy preferabl e t o hi s menta l licentiousness 298 ; comes t o stay i n Porthcothan, D H L like s her 301 ; Juliette told abou t he r an d baby , Heseltine break s with D H L 310-1 ; marriag e an d bab y born , but Heseltin e wil l not cohabi t 384 ; Heseltine change s towar d he r unde r D H L influence i n Zenno r 385 ; lawsuit threatene d by Heseltin e ove r Women in Love 672 ; has separated fro m him , unlikel y t o wan t t o appear 69 8 Charlemagne, 49 1 Chatto & Windus, accep t Look! generou s term s but wan t change s an d tw o poem s cu t 398 ; reassure afte r revie w 414 ; pay earl y 840 ; d o not inten d t o reprin t s o copyright revert s t o D H L 71 4 Chesham (Buckinghamshire) , 'Th e Triangle' , Bellingdon Lan e 149-50 , 169 , 172 , 177 , 178, 180-1 ; dam p 183 , they leav e 18 4 Chichester (Sussex) , 23 0 Chladni experiments , 125 , 787 Cholesbury (Bucks) , Cholesbury Mil l 149 , 170—2, 180-1 , 792 ; D HL remember s 459 ; Murrys i n th e villag e before, 79 3 Christian, Bertram , 158 ; see also Nisbet, James & Co. Christianity: quarre l with , 40 , 145 , 775, 180 ; affinity wit h an d us e o f 40, 62-3, 161, 163-4, J 68; decline of , i n The Rainbow, 178; resurrection th e centra l meanin g 180 ; death an d resurrectio n i n se x 142 ; distinction betwee n Christia n churc h an d creed an d 'th e religiou s idea ' 242 ; afte r reading pre-Socratics , decide s n o longe r needs languag e o f Christianity 245 ; see also Jesus Christ , S t Paul , S t Franci s Churchill, Winston , an d Mars h 85 , back fro m trenches, becomes Ministe r 41 1 Cipolla, Pancrazio , 583 ; Pwaiter a t Hotel Time o 579 Circulating libraries , 89, 251, 572, 576, 776; Boots refus e t o stoc k The Prussian Officer 183; none wil l tak e The Rainbow 275 ; D H L
882
INDEX stories 58 ; cover fo r Sons and Lovers 69 , 774; dedicates Outlines to D HL 774,787 ; D H L gives him proof s o f Sons and Lovers 774 , 787; meets D HL a t the Murrys i n 1913 : 88, 791; writes from hospita l in 1917 : 365
thinks The Lost Girl prope r enoug h fo r Mudie's 573 ; but Mudie's , Boot' s an d Smith's al l refuse t o tak e it , and D H L ha s to rewrit e a passage 607 ; effect o n advanc e orders 61 3 Civitavecchia (Italy) , 62 6 Clarke, John Lawrenc e ('Jack') , a t Mountai n Cottage 458 , 464, 498, 50 1 Clarke, Lettice Ada , tol d abou t F 19 ; taugh t music b y Mis s Wrigh t 58 ; her weddin g 37 , 88; D H L 's letter s whe n sh e 'dippe d int o unbelief 775 ; D HL visit s i n Ripley , December 1914 : 169 ; Christmas 1915 , Emily no w wit h he r 295 ; 1917 : 367; visit t o London an d Portsmout h 425 ; visited b y D H L an d F afte r Christma s 1917 , propose s a cottage nearb y 425 ; will pay fo r Mountai n Cottage an d £2 0 t o tid e the m ove r 436 ; visits with Jack, Emil y an d Peggy , an d he r father 458 ; may hav e sen t mai d Lil y s o Jack could sta y 458 , 464; D HL visit s fro m Mountain Cottag e 463 , 491, 496; ill, an d worried abou t busines s 491 ; Christmas celebrations 492 ; D HL collapse s wit h flu i n Ripley 496 ; to Mountai n Cottag e o n hi s insistence, to loo k afte r hi m 498 , 501 ; boils 502; husband back , famil y gatherin g 502 ; family visi t t o Pangbourn e 511 ; D HL t o say goodbye, finds il l 526; gives F £1 0 fo r Germany 543 , also blue sil k dres s 581 ; a new blaze r fo r D H L 627 ; overcoat fo r D H L an d blu e serg e fo r F 665 ; taken of f presentation lis t after disapprovin g o f Tortoises 716 Clarke, William Edwi n ('Eddie') , neede d fo r business, D HL ask s Campbel l wher e t o write abou t demobilisatio n 491 ; demobilised an d famil y gatherin g 50 2 Clarte, 510 , 524, 559 ; see also Barbusse; Goldring, Dougla s Clayton, Douglas , type s storie s 89 , 780; poem s 783; sends typescript s fo r revisio n int o The Prussian Officer 13 7 Clayton, {Catherin e (ne e Black) , meets D H L 80 , 89; thinks 'Ne w Eve ' unworth y o f D HL 8 9 Cochranes (Lerici) , 101 , 106, 12 6 Colchester (Essex) , 465 Collings, Ernest Henry Roberts, writes to D H L , sends drawings and poem s 774; D H L discusses and use s three lines 774; D HL o n 'the blood' 56, 293; on D H L 's earl y shor t
Collins, Vere Bischoff , write s i n suppor t o f The Rainbow 288 ; advises on privat e publicatio n 292; D HL an d F sta y wit h 295 ; D H L thinks o f escaping relative s b y walkin g wit h 458; suggests h e writ e histor y boo k 462 ; takes hi m t o visi t Hele n Thoma s 509-1 0 Colombo, see Ceylon Columbus, Christopher , 60 0 Como, 97 ; Lake 595 , 598 Conard (publisher) , 290 , 292 Conrad, Joseph: an d Garnet t 27 ; stories goo d but a Writer amon g th e Ruin s 4 1 , 130; and Pinker 9 0 Constable & Co., refuses Women in Love 34 9 Constance (Konstanz , Switzerland) , 1913 : 94; 1921: 665-6 ; see also Switzerland, Journey s through Constantine th e Great , 46 4 Cook, Thoma s & Co., 515, 529 Cooke, Norma n E. , 40 3 Cooper, France s ('Frankie' ) an d Gertrud e ('Grit'), D H L visit s fro m Mountai n Cottage 460 ; Frankie o n death-be d 491 ; buried 49 1 Cooper, James Fenimore , reread s i n 191 6 an d praises 344 , 354, asks fo r The Pathfinder, The Last of the Mohicans 354 ; The Deerslayer bette r tha n th e Russian s an d French 354 ; orders The Prairie, The Pioneers and The Deerslayer 828 ; male friendship: Leatherstockin g an d Chingachgook 377 ; essay o n 442-4 ; travestied i n The Lost Girl 575 , but a serious poin t behind , th e darke r ma n within 575 , 600 Corfe Castl e (Dorset) , 41 8 Corke, Helen , 7 ; contributes t o characte r o f Clara i n Sons and Lovers 47 ; suspicious o f T h e Cearn e 7 9 Cornwall, see Bodmin, Falmouth , Penzance , Porthcothan, S t Ives , Zenno r Corot, Jean Baptist e Camille , 18 6 Correggio, Antoni o Allegri , 79 4 Corriere della Sera, 60 0 Cortes, Hernan , 60 0 Cosmopolitan, 503- 4
883
INDEX Cossall (Nottinghamshire) , 173 , 798 Coulton, G.G., From St Francis to Dante (wit h chapter o n Joachim d e Fiore ) 796 , 819-2 0 Cournos, John, meet s D H L throug h Aldingto n and H.D . 810 ; his background 810 ; needs permission an d identit y boo k t o sta y wit h Aldingtons i n Devon , an d presse d t o enlis t 346; in Devon , an d correspondence , wit h H.D. 416-7 ; room i n Mecklenburg h Square, Doroth y York e hi s first lov e arrives, asks H.D. t o tak e he r i n 410, 417; goes to S t Petersbur g 410 , 417; breach wit h Aldingtons an d 'Arabella ' o n hi s retur n 416, 460; opinion o f Selina York e 42 4 Craig, Edward, 707 , 84 8 Craig, Gordon , theatr e schoo l i n Florenc e 463; Magnus hi s manager 538 , 848; his portrai t of Magnus consisten t wit h D H L ' s 706- 8 Crevecceur, Miche l Guillaum e Jean d e ('Hecto r St John'), reads 365 , 830; the firs t o f th e American literatur e essay s on hi m 399 , 440-1; inspire s 'Hummin g Bird ' 65 7 Criminal Investigatio n Department , 148-9 , 400, 423 Crocker, Phy l (m . Croustchoff) , frien d o f Heseltine 384 ; D HL meet s Oriol i throug h 832, 85 8 Cromford (Derbyshire) , 436, 483 Cross, Wilbur, 413 , 835; see also Yale Review Croustchoff, Bori s de , anthropologist, candidat e for Ranani m i n 1915 : 289, friend o f Heseltine, marries Phy l Crocke r 816 ; D H L invites t o visi t i n Zennor , wit h Gra y 38 6 Crowley, Aleister , praise d b y Meredit h Star r 387 Croydon (Greate r London) , 489 , 66 0 Cullen, Florenc e ('Flossie') , 5 8 Cullen, Georg e Henry , 5 8 Cunard, Lady , 42 2 Curzon, Lor d Robert , Visits to the Monasteries in the Levant 82 4 Cyriax, Tony, see Almgren, Antoni a D'Allura, Giusepp e ('Peppino') , 696-7 , 71 2 D'Annunzio, Gabriele , La Fiaccola sotto il Moggio 775 ; a 'D'Annunzio' Christu s 26 5 Daily News, 275 , 295 Dana, Richar d Henry , Two Years Before the Mast 344 , 354, 828; male friendshi p wit h Aikane 377 ; essay on 45 0 Daniel, C.W. , 'People' s Plays ' series 511 ; Touch
and Go negotiate d throug h Goldring' s agent Walte r Peacock , supposedl y a s th e first 516 ; Max Plowma n introduce d a s candidate 529 ; publishes Goldring' s pla y before D H L ' s 558- 9 Davies, W.H., an d Mars h 86 ; D HL meet s 8 8 Dax, Alice , affair wit h D H L 6 ; D HL break s with he r afte r meetin g wit h Fried a 47 ; contributes t o characte r o f Clara i n Sons and Lovers 47 ; in poem s 763 ; not tol d o f D H L visi t to Eastwoo d 8 8 Dax, Henry , D H L ' s guilt y feeling s abou t 3 , 47 de Chiara , Ann a ('Nan') , 599 , 64 0 de Chiara , Ferdinando , 64 0 de Grey , Nigel , 65 5 de l a Mare, Walter, D H L want s t o chang e 'Pau l Morel' 13 ; D HL send s Germa n sketche s for Westminster Gazette 13 , 16; sent revise d 'Paul Morel ' 25 ; his criticisms 26 ; Poligna c Prize 78 3 De Quincey , Thomas , 52 9 de Rescis , Baronessa, 117 , 545, 785 Defence o f the Real m Ac t (DORA) , Hom e Secretary denie s tha t The Rainbow wa s prosecuted unde r 816 ; Russell banne d fro m prohibited area s includin g th e whol e se a coast 826 ; aliens requir e permissio n t o reside i n certai n areas , particularly coastal , and mus t carr y identit y book s 346 , 82 6 Delany, Paul , Brook e an d th e 'neo-pagans ' 788 ; Hueffer an d Masterma n 807 ; a letter o f Juliette Baillot , but no t t o Heseltin e 82 0 Delavenay, Emile , tol d b y Jessie o f 'hysterical ' message fro m D H L 19 ; treatment o f fictions a s source fo r biograph y 778 ; in Home Offic e briefin g a s evidence fo r political prosecutio n 791 ; on derivatio n o f D H L ' s idea s 794- 5 Delius, Frederick , Heseltin e devote d t o hi s wor k 288; and prais e of D H L 's 288 ; discourage s the ide a o f D HL livin g on hi s Florid a property 289 ; interest i n th e occul t 818 ; Vrenchen i n hi s Villag e Opera 28 7 Dent, E.J. , 20 2 Derby, 459 , Derby, Lord , 293 , 318, 345, 410 Diaghilev, Sergei , Russian balle t imitate d b y Bunny Garnet t an d D H L 30 , 3 3 Dial, 'Adol f an d 'Rex ' 499, through Aldingto n 855, paymen t 586 ; D HL think s migh t serialise The Lost Girl bu t doe s no t 588 ;
884
INDEX taken ove r b y Scofiel d Thaye r 855 , 635; publishes thre e 'Apostoli c (sic ) Beasts' an d 'Pomegranate' 635 , 859; 'Snake' 863 ; but not 'Turkeycock ' 635 ; review o f Women in Love (Scott ) 657 ; 'The Gentlema n fro m San Francisco ' 668 , 866; extracts fro m Sea and Sardinia 668 , 866; D HL dislike s bittiness, hav e cu t characterisatio n 681-2 ; rather regret s givin g Milan episod e fro m Aaron's Rod 715 Dickens, Charles , 58 9 Dickinson, Si r John, 281- 2 Dionysos, o n ship , returning (Loe b Hesiod) 315 ; hence praye r to , to b e sea-born e 595 ; his 'opposition' t o Apoll o 315 ; in 'Th e Ladybird' 69 3 Doolittle, Hilda , see Aldington, Hild a Doran, Georg e H . & Co, 279, 714 Dos Passos , John, 70 5 Dostoevsky, Fyodor , mora l schem e 124 ; D H L disagrees wit h Murr y about , 153 , 315, 325-6; D H L reading , and opinio n of , i n 1915 211 , 227; asks fo r The Possessed in 1916: 819; unfavourably contraste d wit h Whitman i n 1920 : 589; Murry o n characters i n Woman in Love inconsisten t with hi s admiration o f 670; The Idiot 211 , 326; The Brothers Karamazov 211,219 , 326; The Possessed 326, 819; Letters 21 1 Douglas, James, 27 7 Douglas, Norman, 847-8 ; meeting i n 1913 : 83; as assistant editor , cut s D H L storie s fo r English Review 89 , 778; asked t o find hi m a cheap roo m i n Florence , doe s so 529 , 536; portrayed wit h Magnu s i n Florenc e 538—9 ; seeing hi s original impressio n o f D H L through hi s late r opinio n 539 ; was marrie d but no w prefer s boy s 538 , 848; enjoy s D H L ' s shoc k a t th e Florentin e ones , bu t homophobia ha s gone 538 ; introduces hi m to Reggi e Turne r an d circle , wit h misgiving 539-40 ; 'David ' influence d i n style and conten t 542 ; F enjoy s meetin g again, talkin g German , onl y wa y t o kno w him trul y 543 ; was doye n o f Capr i expatriates a s Mackenzie i s now 550 ; Magnus's virtue s neglecte d b y D H L 582 ; D H L ' s worrie s abou t exposin g Rosalin d t o scandal 601 ; off wit h Ren e Mar i 599 ; tol d by D H L o f Magnus suicide , named a s literary executo r 609 ; Maltese refus e t o
release 'Dregs ' 704 ; sees D HL agai n i n Florence 1921 , talk o f Magnus 642-3 ; tol d of D H L 's memoir , tell s hi m t o pocke t al l the cas h 704-5 , 869; the tw o portrait s 705 , 708; Looking Back 539 ; Siren Land 547 , 848; South Wind 538 , 552, 848, 850; A Plea for Better Manners 582 , 705, 708, 86 9 Dowson, Willia m Enfield , affai r wit h Fried a 761; he r boas t abou t D H L 114 ; letter t o he r 770 Drachenfels (Rhine) , 1 7 Drinkwater, John, 29 2 Dublin, 413 , 427 Duckworth, Gerald , Garnet t read s 'Pau l Morel ' for, a s with The Trespasser 27; accepts Love Poems and Others 41; disappointing sale s fo r Sons and Lovers 120 , 786; refuses t o matc h Methuen offer , volum e o f stories t o compensate 128-9 ; refuses Women in Love 349; will not releas e Love Poems for a 'Collected Poems ' 528 ; prepared t o consider The Rainbow, wit h Seeker' s agreement 557 , 565, but demand s cut s an d D H L settle s wit h Seeke r 853 ; relinquishe s rights t o Curti s Brow n 71 4 Dudley, Helen , 15 7 Duffield & Co., The White Peacock i n Americ a 587, 63 4 Dulac, Edmund, 53 1 Duncan, Isadora , 538 , 706-7, 84 8 Dunlop, Si r Thoma s Dacr e an d Margare t ('Madge'), 117 , 785; weekend wit h 117 , 121; she type s 'Th e Weddin g Ring' i 17, 121, 785 ; asked t o recove r poetr y notebooks 301 ; offers t o len d D H L money , he refuse s 825 ; cannot find D H L a ship bu t probably arrange s visi t t o Si r Willia m Becker 529 ; D HL arrange s a present fo r the childre n 53 1 Diirer, Albrecht , 79 4 Duse, Eleonora , 63 5 East Dea n (Sussex) , 23 0 Eastwood, D H L revisit s fo r Ada' s weddin g 88 ; idea o f sketche s 91 ; visits Hopkins fro m Mountain Cottag e 460 , 463; 'for th e first time.. . 1 feel quit e aimiabl e toward s it' , an d visits Cooper s 460 , 491; birthplace an d Scargill Stree t 55 ; London Hous e an d th e Cullens 58-9 ; Devonshire Driv e 88 , 775, 798; tramwa y fro m Riple y t o Nottingha m
885
INDEX Eastwood (cont.) 483; Lynn Crof t 491 , 844; Pottery Hous e 504, 84 3 Ebersteinburg (nea r Baden-Baden) , 643-4 ; wor k takes off i n 64 7 Edenbridge (Kent) , 7 9 Eder, D r David , 788-9 ; meets D H L an d discusses Freu d 133 ; New Age pamphle t o n maternity benefi t 133 ; articles o n chil d psychology i n Child Study 789 ; D HL stay s before movin g t o Greatha m 184 ; consult s about stat e o f mind afte r Cambridg e 212 ; stays wit h befor e movin g t o Cornwal l 296 ; and whe n see s a lung exper t i n 1917 : 383; interest i n theosoph y 388 ; appointed t o th e Commission, D H L : 'Bes t ceas e t o b e Jewish' 389 ; Rananim i n th e Ande s 412 ; visits Mountain Cottag e 497-8 ; a Zionia d by D H L i n Palestine ? 498 ; a state wit h onl y two laws? , and a joke abou t entr y o f Jews into Paradise-Palestin e 501 ; returns t o Palestine i n 1921 : 638; is there a Jewishness of soul? 638- 9 Eder, Edit h (siste r o f Barbara Low , wif e o f David Eder) , meets an d discusse s Freu d with 133 ; articles i n Child Study 789 ; D H L stays wit h 1915 : 184 , 1916 : 296, 1917 : 383; idea o f publishing Women in Love b y subscription, offer s t o se e Pinker 413 ; invited t o Hermitage afte r Davi d goe s t o Palestine 435 ; may hav e supplie d boo k o n magic 437, asked fo r descriptio n o f th e nervous syste m 438 ; weekend wit h Lawrences an d Barbar a o n Merse a Islan d 465 Edinburgh (Scotland) , 41 0 Edward, Princ e o f Wales, 51 6 Egoist, Richar d Aldingto n edit s 790 ; 1914 : 'Song' ('Flapper') , 'Earl y Spring' , 'Honeymoon', 'Fooled' , ' A Winter' s Tale' ; 1915: 'Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani' ; 1917 : 'Street Lamps' , 'Autum n Rain' ; paymen t 224; Hilda Aldingto n edit s 417 ; T.S. Elio t edits 41 7 Egypt, sculpture , 16 0 Einstein, Albert , 65 9 Elcho, Lord (als o Earl o f Wemyss), 8 5 Eliot, Georg e (Mar y An n Evans) , 44 0 Eliot, Thomas Stearns , as modernist 79 , 135-6 ; The Rainbow an d The Waste Land 223 ; student o f Bradley, bu t 'Unrea l City ' als o
valid languag e 244 ; Russell's interes t i n hi m and Vivie n 244 , 261; praises D H L o n Cooper 44 3 Eliot, Vivien , 244 , 261, 299, 81 8 Ely, G . Herbert , 465 , 482 Empedocles, 245 , 449 English Review, 'Snapdragon ' 15 , 71; 'Odour o f Chrysanthemums' 5 8 (contrast ne w endin g 138); Forster's 'Othe r Kingdom ' 64 ; asks for articl e o n Germa n women-poet s 68 ; 'By the Lag o d i Garda ' 68 ; Douglas a s Assistant Edito r 83 , 89; 'Honour an d Arms ' 89, 92; 'Vin Ordinaire ' 89 , 92; reject s 'Once—!' 89 ; idea o f German series , abortive 92 , 105 ; prints 'Twilight' , 'Meeting Amon g th e Mountains ' 783; 'England, M y England ' (1915 ) 252 ; 'Samson an d Delilah ' 327 , 826; 'Th e Reality o f Peace' (fou r o f seven essays ) 365 , 367; 'Love' , 'Life ' 428 ; 'Studies i n Classi c American Literature ' (eigh t o f origina l eleven essays ) 439 , 465, for 5 gns. each 472 ; does no t publis h secon d hal f of 'Hawthorne' 446 ; 'Moby Dick ' to o lon g 453; 'Pomegranate' , 'Medlar s an d Sor b Apples', 'Th e Revolutionary ' 666 ; payments 89 , 92, 398, 428, 494, 840; slo w payment 92 , 105 ; see also Harrison, Austi n Epstein, Jacob, interest i n Africa n carvin g 288 , 437; cited a s authority o n ar t by Meredit h Starr 38 7 Erice (Sicily) , 62 4 Eryx, Moun t (Sicily) , 62 4 Etna, Moun t (Sicily) , 570 , 581, 584-5, 624, 710, 717; 'Slope s o f Etna' ('Peace' ) 61 1 Evening Standard, 27 5 Fagan, J.B., considers Touch and G o 510 , bu t thinks wil l not succee d o n th e stag e 84 4 Falanga, Vincenzo , marrie s Cicci a Test a (ne e Cacopardo), D H L supplie s win e 663 ; idea of Thrasher's far m 633 ; they coo l t o th e idea 63 8 Fallas, Carl an d Florenc e ('Flo') , 41 6 Falmouth (Cornwall) , 33 9 Farbman, Michae l ('Grisha') , 286 , 50 3 Farbman, Sophie , 286 , 50 3 Farjeon, Eleanor , 228 ; meets D H L 220 ; help s Viola typ e The Rainbow 805 , 807; D H L praises t o Bunn y Garnet t 214 ; stays a t Rackham cottag e wit h Radford s 227 ;
886
INDEX charades an d song s ther e wit h he r brothe r Bertie 229 ; describes dinne r wit h Lawrences 227 ; relationship wit h Edwar d and Hele n Thoma s 228 ; walks t o Chichester wit h D H L 230 ; sends D H L poems 235 ; in contac t agai n i n 1919 : 510 ; describes L a Canovai a 600 , 858; told b y D H L h e 'can' t com e unshut ' (Pi n Mr Noon) 627 ; D HL woul d joi n revolutionar y socialists but doesn' t car e fo r politic s 63 1 Farjeon, Herber t ('Bertie' ) an d Joan, mee t a t Greatham 227 ; charades an d song s a t Rackham cottag e 229 ; meet agai n a t Bucklebury 475 , 841; D HL borrow s boo k 483, 841 ; conversation wit h Berti e ma y have encouraged anothe r pla y 475 ; Murr y disconsolate a t Hermitag e 506 ; thei r daughter Joscelyn an d D H L 508 ; Rosalind house-sits fo r the m 511 ; they retur n 51 4 Farr, Florence , 86 7 Feltrinelli, Signorina , school-mistres s i n Vill a d i Gargnano 3 8 Ferleiten (Austria) , 66 7 Feroze, Dr , see Mullan-Feroz e Fiascherino (Italy) , 98-100, 102 , 105 , 106 ; cottage describe d 98 , 100 , 117-8 ; see also Fiori famil y Fielding, Henry , 170 , 615 Fiesole (nea r Florence) , 544 , 599, 601- 3 Fiori cousin s (Luig i an d Gentile) , 99, 101 , 106 Fiori, Ellide, 9 9 Fiori, Felice , servant a t Fiascherino , 9 9 Fisher, Elizabeth , 67 6 Fisher, H.A.L. , 47 1 Fitzgerald, F . Scott , 22 3 Flaubert, Gustave , 25 , 79, 102 , 136 , 781 Flecker, James Elroy , an d Mars h 86 , 92; D H L ' s dislike of'skilled verse ' 92 ; feelin g subordinated t o metr e 13 0 Fletcher, John Gould , meet s 423 , 836; review o f Look/ 468, 84 0 Florence, first sta y 1919 : 536, 538 , 540-3; bridg e over th e Arn o 541 ; F see s b y moonligh t 543; second sta y 1920 : 598 (then Sa n Gervasio), bomb i n Vi a Tuornabuoni 599 ; stopovers 597 , 606, 859; third visi t Apri l 1921: 642-3 ; fourt h visi t August September 1921 : 670-2; see also San Gervasio, Fiesole , Settignan o Florida, USA , 281 , 289, 291, 292, 294, 295, 81 4 Forbes, Lad y Angela , 41 0
Ford, For d Madox , see Hueffer, For d Mado x Foreign Office , 355 , 411 Forest o f Dean, 464- 5 Forman, Henr y James an d Mr s Forman , 715-6 Forster, E.xM. , 801; and Mars h 86 ; and Pa n 64 , 775, 190 , 802; highly rate d 131 , but Murry's opinio n 155 ; meets D H L a t Lad y Ottoline's 184 ; in Grant' s studi o 184 ; will not dea l wit h ' a firm' 191 ; visit t o Greatha m 190-2; his homosexualit y pondere d b y D H L 192-3 ; write s no-thank-yo u lette r 191, 802 ; Frieda replie s an d defend s D H L 199; thinks unacknowledge d homosexualit y in The White Peacock 803 ; D HL send s revised philosoph y bu t i t breaks dow n 217 ; visits Byro n Villa s but take s offenc e whe n D H L attack s Carpente r 262 , 810; hear s from i n 1916 , after a gap 328 ; The Celestial Omnibus 802 ; Howards End 130 , 191 , 206, 802; 'Other Kingdom ' 64 , 775; A Room with a View 186 , 801, 802; 'Story o f a Panic' 190 , 802; Maurice 191 ; A Passage to India 19 3 Forum, 6 4 Foss, Huber t James, Magnu s articl e an d 'Yo u Touched Me ' ('Hadrian' ) 567 ; sent The Lost Girl, doe s no t serialis e 58 8 Francis, St , 37 1 Frank, Waldo , theosoph y 387 ; is he a Jew? 389 ; told abou t essay s o n America n literatur e 399; approaches Am y Lowel l ove r arranging lecture s fo r D H L 844 ; see also Seven Arts Franklin, Benjamin , 441- 2 Frazer, Si r James, The Golden Bough 293 , 316, (Gray cite s inaccuratel y 'Adoni s Atthis , Dionysos [fo r Osiris]' ; Totem and Exogamy 293,316,326 Freeman, G.S. , interview s D H L abou t article s in TES 472 ; rejects Educatio n essay s 489 , 493 Freeman, 553 ; Shestov extract s 58 7 Freud, D r Sigmund , D H L an d F discus s Oedipus 6 ; Gross's brea k wit h 39 ; F know s of through Gros s 39 , 42; D H L 's knowledg e at secon d an d thir d han d 39 , 133 , 789; mother-fixation no t abnorma l 770 ; D H L discusses wit h Barbar a Lo w an d th e Eder s 133; D H L ' s disagreemen t 133 ; Blavatsky on luna r trinit y anothe r approac h t o th e
887
INDEX Freud, Dr Sigmund (cont.) Garibaldi, Giuseppe, 609-10 Oedipal 388; split with Jung 487, 554; Garnett, Constance (nee Black), lives largely criticism of by DHL in Psychoanalysis apart from her husband 27, 79-80; on 553-4; in Fantasia 658-9, 663; 678-9; see Tony Cyriax 53-4; translations from the also Gross, Otto; Kuttner; Jones; Low, Russian 80; F's shilly-shallying 80; first Barbara; Eder, David; Brill; Aldington, response to meeting DHL and F 80-1; Hilda prefers DHL, finds F 'trying' 83; acts as banker 89; comes to Lerici 112-3, ; DHL Freyburg, Brigadier Bernard Cyril V.C., 423 as social creature 112, changeling, perverse Frick, Ernst, F's affair with, 763; she confesses 113; F pours out woes 113; DHL's to Weekley 4; Frick she says 'would not response to Garnett's criticisms of 'The hurt a fly'39; in prison for anarchist attack Sisters' II 113; her criticism 115-6 ; asks 763; writes to discourage F from visiting Edward not to invite Lawrences 799; Dollie 763; lives with Frieda Gross 763 Radford's impression of DHL differs from Frobenius, Leo, The Voice ofAfrica 437; Yoruba 227-8; writes to support DHL over The civilisation and Atlantis 437; civilisation Rainbow 287 before Greece and Rome 440, 447; cannibalism 452; Ife and Yoruba art 837-8, Garnett, David ('Bunny'), Botany at Royal 624; colonialist arrogance 624, 837 College of Science 29, 80; at University of Frost, Robert, 130, 228 Munich 29; while walking with DHL and Fry, Roger, 184 F in mountains 34; meets DHL and F, Furlong, Monica, 711 attracted to and decribes both 29-30; Futurism, first encountered in Harold Monro's imitates Russian Ballet 30, 33; swimming in Poetry and Drama 121 ; DHL discusses Isar 30; joins F and DHL at Mayrhofen, with 'Gamba' Garuti in 1913, reads waiting for Hobson 33; on DHL as mimic Marinetti, Buzzi, Soffici 121-2 , 786; his and self-mocker 33 ; how to sleep in a views on 122-4; American poets in relation hayhut 34; defends F against DHL 34; to, but elemental rather than scientific and leaves with Hobson 34; anecdote of F's mechanical 354; see also Boccioni sleeping with a woodcutter 35, 769-70, 781; and with Hobson 35, 769; Sons and Lovers is Bunny's tragedy too 44; reliability Galata, Gwen, retails gossip to Mary Cannan of anecdotes and accounts of DHL 81-2, 556; DHL gets her The Rainbow 556; in 97, 769, 781; taking examination 1913 : 80; Vestal Fire 556 charges DHL with spite and jealousy 81; Galleano, Signora (nee Cacopardo), 579 blood on a handkerchief 81; on F offering Galsworthy, John: and Garnett 27; 'bony, to sleep with him 781; F thanks for support bloodless drama' 60; F thinks DHL better 91; dinner for Lawrences in Soho 1914: than 114; approached by Pinker over The 131; after supper in Edward's flat, Rainbow, comments adversely 287, 815; detectives investigate 148-9 ; visits Cannans lunches with DHL, mutual dislike 413-4 and Lawrences with Birrell 180; sees Gambrosier, Ettore, DHL's landlord at Lawrences at Lady Ottoline's 184; takes to Fiascherino 98 see Grant's paintings 184-5; visits Garda, Lake (Italy), described 36-7; Campione Greatham with Birrell 213-5; DHL's letter 776; Desenzano 53; Gardola di Tignale about homosexuality ends friendship 776; Salo 53; San Gaudenzio 54, 67, 69; 215-6; prefers friendship with Grant, Muslone 54, 57; Sirmione 769; plan for Strachey, Keynes 214, 805; later annotation walking tour in 1920 595; see also Bogliaco, of DHL's letter disingenuous, he was Gargnano, Riva sleeping with Douglas Grant 805; would Gargnano (Lake Garda), F and DHL arrive at soon go to live with him and Vanessa Bell 36; Villa Igea 36, 51; Cervo inn: Hobson 805; contributes, with others, to creation of stays at 51, cost 772; theatre 59-60, 775; Gerald 331; sees DHL and F at suggests Rosalind holiday there 717; see Shearman's Adelphi Armistice party 481; also Feltrinelli; Pauli, Pietro di; Samuelli
888
INDEX La Mare , Drinkwater , Forster , Gibson , Hodgson, Thomas , Trevelya n
D H L ' s jeremia d 481 ; D HL enquire s after , hears o f marriage 67 6 Garnett, Edward , D H L an d F fo r week-en d a t The Cearn e 6 , 27; may hav e rea d par t o f 'Paul Morel ' ther e 27 ; sends review s o f The Trespasser 26; hears of rejection of'Pau l Morel' 26-7 ; 'reads' fo r Duckwort h a s ha d done wit h The Trespasser 27-8; his qualitie s as reader an d advise r 27-8 ; friend 27-8 ; marriage wit h Constanc e 27 , 79-80 ; relationship wit h Nelli e Heat h 80 ; shorten s Sons and Lovers 50 , cuts summarise d 66 , 776; L's gratitud e 66 ; expected t o hat e 'Miss Houghton ' 66 ; Joan of Arc 77 ; T h e Cearne describe d 80 ; sees D HL i n 1913 : 83, 88 ; changes advic e abou t Pinke r a s agent 90 ; The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd 91 , 92-3; criticism s o f ' T h e Sisters ' II , 108-9 ; of F 113 ; D HL take s second lette r personally 120 ; thinks o f changin g publishers 120 ; response t o 'Th e Weddin g Ring' 123 ; D HL distance s himsel f from , when h e accepts Methuen's offe r 128-9 ; book o f stories t o compensate 128 ; tea wit h 1915: 184 ; willing t o protes t ove r The Rainbow 292 ; reviews The Lost Girl 612 ; asks fo r opinio n o f Emil Luck a 675-6 ; advice humorousl y rejecte d 68 3 Garnett, Richard , The International Library of Famous Literature 35 4 Garnett, Rober t (solicitor) , 53 , 80, 224, 77 3 Garsington (nea r Oxford) , purchase d 800 ; Gaskell, Elizabeth, 'Cranford ' use d pejorativel y 543, 556 ; also 'blameless as ' 64 5 Gaudier-Brzeska, Henri , 85, 13 6 Gauguin, Eugen e Henr i Paul , Noa Noa 59 4 Genoa (Italy) , 53 6 George, Walter L. , D H L an d F din e wit h 88 ; article i n Bookman 88 , 131 , 788; notice s that Methuen s hav e stoppe d advertisin g The Rainbow, tell s D HL 277 ; asks Societ y of Authors t o tak e up cas e 28 5 Georgian Poetry, 1912 : print s 'Snapdragon ' 71 ; D H L review s 71 ; 1913-15 : print s 'Service o f Al l th e Dead ' an d 'Meetin g Among th e Mountains ' 261 , 809 ; 1918-19: print s 'Seve n Seals ' 505 ; payments 1913 : 85 , 1916 : 825 , 1917 : 383 , 398, 840 ; 1919 : 52 3 Georgians, and D H L 129-31 ; see also Marsh, Georgian Poetry, Abercrombie , Brooke , D e
Germany, D H L react s t o militaris m 10 , 12 ; his German sketche s 10 , 12 , 13 , 17 , 33, 39, 40; passion pla y 18 ; first encounte r wit h intellectual lif e an d cultur e 39-40 ; see also Beuerberg, Bonn , Drachenfels , Heidelberg , Hennef, Icking , Kochelsee , Metz , Munich , Waldbrol, Wolfratshause n and Italy , Journey t o Gerould, Katharin e Fullerton , 413 , 835; see also Yale Review; Cros s Gertler, Mark , 792-3 ; meet s a t Chesha m 151 , and Mars h 85 , 151 , 792; pacifism 151 , 181; portrait o f Koteliansky 791 ; portrait o f Cannan a t Cholesbur y Mil l 792 ; dancin g and charade s a t Christma s 1914 : 170-2 ; and Carringto n 171 ; dancing a t Lad y Ottoline's 184 ; introduces Bret t a t Byro n Villas 814 ; party a t he r studi o 280 ; Caf e Royal inciden t 337 , 824; D HL praise s th e 'articulate extremity ' o f The Merry-GoRound 343 ; only a Jew coul d hav e painte d i t 343, 824 ; influences Women in Love 343 ; asked whethe r Hermion e i s like Ottolin e 350; F see s after doubl e shoc k o f death o f his fathe r an d o f Carrington takin g u p wit h Strachey 366 ; sees D HL afte r expulsio n 422; promise d talks , though D H L feel s increasingly unsociabl e 426 ; and al l of the m in tensio n 427 ; asked abou t chance s o f reconciliation wit h Ottolin e 430 ; hedge s 461; D H L sardoni c abou t hi s 'Ottling ' a t Garsington 473 ; after Carringto n wit h Strachey, wor k th e centr e o f life 435 ; owns West Africa n sculptur e 437 ; asked fo r idea s about a job fo r D H L 472 ; asked fo r ar t reproductions D H L coul d cop y 49 9 Giardini-Naxos (Sicily) , 570-1 , 67 3 Gibbon, Edward , D H L read s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 437 ; its influenc e 440 , 447, 448; source fo r Movements in European History 462-3 ; set s D H L thinkin g abou t government 475-6 , 47 8 Gibson, Wilfrid , meet s 88 , visited b y a t Fiascherino 10 0 Giotto d i Bondone , D HL copie s Joachim and the Shepherds 499 ; tower i n Florenc e 54 3 Glasgow Herald, Catherin e Carswel l review s drama fo r 479 ; reviews The Rainbow for , and i s sacked 13 2
889
INDEX Godkins, Georgina, 598 visiting than he later claimed 386; Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 39-40, 529 , 769; Lawrences visit Bosigran 386; Hebridean F on Iphigenie 72 music 386; fateful weeken d with at Bosigran, fined for showing light to sea Goldberg, Newall Braun & Co., 224 402-3; Frieda at Bosigran when cottage Golding, Louis, a compliment to DHL 501; searched; was there an affair? 405 ; asked DHL disappointed b y Forward from by DHL fo r moral support at time of Babylon 638; is there a Jewishness of soul? expulsion 400; later paranoia about locals 638-9 401; cool about Rananim 412; DHL Goldring, Betty, 518, 526 invents his finance 412; tart letter about Goldring, Douglas, 510; English Secretary of Look!, DHL's marriage, and his women Clarte'510; hears of Touch and Go through 414 (DHL replies 415-6, recalls in 'The Barbara Low 510; asks Kot to arranges a Ladybird' 696); but friendship hold s meeting 511; idea of'People's Theatre ' when he comes to London 415, 416; appeals to DHL 510-11 ; hope of introduces DHL to Van Dieren, they production by J.B. Fagan at the Royal have nothing to say 422; (had hit a critic Court, and publication in Daniel series of Van D. in the Cafe Royal 422); 510-1; arranged with his agent Walter attracted to H.D. 424-5; the charade 425; Peacock 516; arranges with McDermott an friendship wit h DHL cool s 427-8, 432-3; option to produce 530; weekend at H.D. decides to move to Bosigran 432; Hermitage 518-9; persuades The Word to his housekeeper objects 462; break with take articles by DHL ('Democracy') 523 ; as DHL over H.D.'s pregnancy 468-9, Seltzer's agent in Britain, interests him in never acknowledges responsibilit y Women in Love 846; also Dr Kippenberg of 468-70; does not see DHL in London Insel Verlag in publishing DHL in German 475; 'behaving wretchedly' (Arabella) 846; DHL visits after F leaves 526; DHL after baby born 502 ; on 'Goats and dislikes The Fight for Freedom and cross Compasses' 303 that it preceded his play and preface 558-9; Gray, Mrs, called on by Catherine Carswell in after explanation , relations restored 559; Edinburgh 410; lends DHL her London political difference betwee n them 572; can flat 422-3 , 837 he do anything with Magnus's play Great War, The, 1914 : losses at Mons, the translations? 567, 585; gets one into Daniel Marne, first battle of Ypres 170 ; brief series 854; remembers he and Douglas took fraternisation i n the trenches at Christmas 'an infinity o f pains' trying to get 'Dregs' 172 into print 704; essay on DHL in Reputations 857; advises DHL about 1915: Neuve Chapelle in March; poison gas at English agency 635, 639 Ypres, sinking of Lusitania, anti-German rioting in London 217; Zeppelin attacks on Goodyear, Frederick, meets DHL 294; visits London 236, 262; battle of Loos 277; Mylor and is brought by Murry to Zennor Dardanelles 293 340 1916: Verdun 315—8, 328, 344; Somme 318, Gosse, Sir Edmund, 85 328, 344; Easter Rising in Dublin 318, 328 Goya, Francesco de, 186, 510 1917: submarine warfare and sinkings 347, Grant, Douglas, patronised by Marsh 85; DHL 403; America enters war 373; French dislikes his work 184-5 , D ut n ^ e s n ^ m 20 3> troops mutiny, third battle of Ypres 804; his homosexuality denounced by (Passchendaele); Italian defeat at Caporetto, DHL 213-4 (unknown to DHL he was collapse of Russian front 409 sleeping with David Garnett 215, 805); at 1918: German offensives 431 , 437; allied the Adelphi armistice party 481 counter-offensive 472 ; Armistice 481 (but Granville-Barker, Harley, 60, 181 blockade of Germany goes on 493) Gray, Cecil, 385-6; visits Heseltine in 1919: Treaty of Versailles 506; Kitchener's Cornwall, meets DHL, takes Bosigran recruitment campaign 1914 : 293; Derby 382, 385; friendship grows , though less
890
INDEX she forward s wartim e letter s fro m F' s family 347 , 82 7
scheme o f attestation 1915 : 293; Militar y Service Act , (conscription ) 1916 : 819; amended an d extende d Marc h 1917 : 828; see also Defence o f the Real m Ac t
H.D. (Hild a Doolittle) , see Aldington, Hild a Hall, Alice , 14,76 6 Hampstead Norri s (Berks.) , 43 5 Hansard, Ren e (ne e Juta), meets 578 ; likes bette r at Randazzo an d o n excursio n 581 ; illustrated boo k wit h Jan 83 1 Hardy, G.H. , 20 8 Hardy, Thomas , Nisbe t commission s 'littl e book' o n 128 , 144 , 158 ; Marsh give s D H L the Wesse x novel s 144 ; Abercrombie' s study 144 , 163 ; D HL begin s hi s 'Hardy ' i n rage 151 , 159; limitations o f Hardy's sens e of tragedy 209 ; Cooper eve n 'lovelier ' tha n 444; H an d 'publi c morals ' 6sj;jfude the Obscure 162-3 , 2 0 2 > The Mayor of Casterbridge 162 ; The Return of the Native 160, 794; Tess of the D'Urbervilles 162-3 , 207; se e als o Lawrence , D.H. , Works , (Prose), Study of Thomas Hardy
Greatham, Humphrey s 183 , 185, 229, 235, 252; Shed Hall : 183 , 185 , 187 ; Forster t o 186 , 190-1; Ottolin e Morrel l t o 187 ; Russell t o 189; Cynthia Asquit h t o 193 ; Murry t o 193-6; The Rainbow finishe d a t 199-208 ; surrounding landscap e int o The Rainbow 206-7; Katherin e Mansfiel d an d Koteliansky t o 210 ; David Garnet t an d Frankie Birrel l t o 213-5 , 2 2 $ ; Eleanor Farjeon t o 220 , 227; Meynell 'invasions ' 225, 229 , 235; Hueffer an d Viole t Hun t t o 225; Cannans t o 226; Murry t o (March ) 226; Russell t o (April ) 226 ; Barbara Lo w and Koteliansk y t o (Easter ) 226-7 ; Viol a Meynell an d Iv y Lo w t o (Whitsun ) 235 ; Rackham cottage : described 227 ; Madelin e lets t o Radfords 227 ; Eleanor Farjeo n a t 227; Bertie Farjeo n a t 229 ; charades an d songs a t 229 ; Lucases bac k fo r Whitsu n 235; D HL work s i n garde n 235 ; setting fo r 'England, M y England ' (1915 ) bu t give n no nam e 252 ; more detai l (1921) , name d 'Crockham' 70 1 Greek sculpture , 108 ; see also Laocoon, Venu s de Milo , Partheno n friez e Greek tragedy , traged y fro m universa l force s 163; Oedipus 6, 42, 48; Oresteia 48 Greiffenhagen, Maurice , D H L ' s obsessio n wit h Idyll 132 , 788; affair wit h Catherin e Carswell 13 2 Grenfell, Julian, 15 2 Grenfell, Yvo , 422 Grierson, Herbert , 70 0 Gross, D r Otto : Else Jaffe hi s mistress 6 ; F hi s mistress 6 ; persuades F sh e i s the Woma n of the Futur e 6 ; F take s hi s letter s t o Met z 7; ideas of psychosexual liberatio n an d break wit h Freu d 43 ; F's knowledg e o f Freud throug h hi m 39 , 42, 770; his wif e handed t o Fric k 763 ; F 'unmoved ' b y hi s last lette r 763 ; D HL pretend s t o be hi m 95 ; he sleep s wit h Els e and bot h Frieda s i n 1907, only Fried a Weekle y doe s no t conceive 79 9 Gross, Fried a (ne e Schloffer) , i n Ascon a 95 , 763; with Fric k 763 ; correspondence wit h F 763 , 779; Max Webe r write s abou t 787 ;
Harrison, Austin , ide a o f a serie s o f Germa n stories fo r English Review a t reduce d pric e 92, 105 ; only print s tw o 105 ; likes 'Th e Reality o f Peace ' 365 , havin g agree d t o take thre e o f th e seve n essays , persuade d to prin t fou r 367 ; eventuall y take s eigh t o f (then) eleve n America n Literatur e essay s 439> a t 5 £ n s e a c n 472 ; U S orde r fo r 2 0 copies containin g th e first essa y help s hi m decide t o prin t th e series , discusse s wit h D H L a t Hermitag e 482 ; impressio n o f coherent argumen t wit h genera l essay s a t start an d finish 447 , 448 , 465 ; sends D H L payment direc t 494 ; se e als o English Review Harrison, Jane, Art and Ritual, 103 , 108, 784 Harwich (Essex) , 7 9 Hawken, Mr , landlor d a t Porthcothan , 82 1 Hawthorne, Nathaniel , 445-6 ; second essa y on, expande d an d fair-copie d 1919 : 522; revised 1920 : 589, 856; the dar k ma n within 60 0 Hearn, Lafcadio , 823- 4 Heath, Nellie , 8 0 Heidelberg (Gemany) , Alfre d Webe r an d 9 , 39; Max Webe r an d 39 ; culture o f rationa l enlightenment 39 ; D HL visit s Alfre d Weber i n 12 8 Heinemann, William : sen t 'Pau l Morel ' 25 ;
891
INDEX Heinemann, Willia m (cont.) rejects a s too outspoken 26 ; effect o n D H L 26-7, 66 ; rejects Love Poems 32 Heiskell, Ann , 55 0 Henley, W.E. , 253 , 254 Hennef (Germany) , D H L change s train s 11 ; poem 'Be i H e n n e f 1 2 (see also Lawrence , D.H., WORK S (Poetry) ) Henning, Ud o von , F's relatio n wit h 17 , 766; D H L o n 16 ; in Mr Noon 16 ; death i n France 15 1 Henry, Leigh , 463 , 494 Henry, Nancy , discusse s histor y boo k a t Mountain Cottag e 462-3; D H L help s select an d arrang e husband' s poem s 463; arranges typing , perhap s o f America n essays to o 464; sees D H L i n London , specimen chapter s bein g considere d 465 ; F's ir e aroused b y he r lette r 467 ; F won' t consider stayin g i n he r room s 475 ; D H L recommends Blavatsky , Occult Review, Rider's booksho p 482 ; advised no t t o giv e up jo b i n order t o write 494; visit s Hermitage 51 0 Hepburn, Ann a (a.k.a . Wickham), and Davi d Garnett 214 , 287; her poem s recommende d by D H L t o Marsh an d H . Monro e 287 ; he r essay on D H L 287 , 81 5 Heracleitus, maxim s an d influenc e 245-6 ; th e idea o f human bein g i n continua l flux formulated b y D H L befor e h e rea d H , bu t reinforced 811 ; opposites balanc e an d control eac h othe r 37 1 Herbert, Mar y (d e Vesci) , 81 4 Hermes, 450, 451 Hermes Trismegistus , 38 7 Hermitage, Chape l Far m Cottage , weeken d recovering afte r illnes s 368 ; Lawrence s move i n fro m Mecklenburg h squar e lat e December 1917 : 424, 426; police cal l 426; leave fo r Mountai n Cottag e Ma y 1918 : 438; weekend befor e Fores t o f Dean, Augus t 1918: 466; a month tha t autum n 475 ; F stays on whil e D H L goe s north 483 ; Lawrences retur n t o Chape l Far m Cottag e April 1919 : 503; temporarily vacat e 511 ; at Grimsbury Far m nearb y 516-8 ; return t o cottage 518 ; D HL finally leave s cottag e November 1919 : 529 Heseltine, Nigel , 297, 384, 698, 818 Heseltine, Phili p (Tete r Warlock') , 288 , 816;
892
meets D H L 816 ; devotion t o musi c o f Delius 288 ; enthusiasm fo r D H L ' s wor k 288; write s t o Deliu s abou t pla n fo r Rananim o n hi s estat e i n Florid a 289 ; take n to Garsingto n b y D H L 289 , 290-1, 816-7 ; goes again wit h Kouyoumdjia n 289 , 291; certified unfi t fo r militar y servic e wit h nervous strictur e 289 ; involved wit h 'Puma' Channin g bu t attracte d t o Juliette Baillot, 290-1 , 816 ; Lady Ottolin e disapproves o f him 291 ; advice fro m D H L 292; arrives i n Porthcotha n 297 ; Puma i s pregnant 297 ; finds D H L autocratic , h e cares to o littl e fo r persona l an d introspective ar t 298 ; interested i n Africa n and Tibeta n carving , Celti c mythology , th e occult 298 ; to Ottoline, D H L diagnose s a split i n hi m 302 ; tells F wha t Ottolin e sai d at Garsington ; F write s a secon d denunciatory lette r 307-8 ; reproached b y Ottoline, he i s unrepentant 309 ; conceive s 'The Rainbo w Book s an d Music ' 309-10 , 820; leaves fo r Londo n wit h Pum a 309 ; h e and D H L stil l friend s thoug h trace s o f a n argument, D H L think s h e react s fro m on e extreme t o another, h e reject s 'reactionar y creed' 310 ; breach follows , probabl y because h e blames D H L fo r hi s rejectio n by Juliette 310-11 , 820 ; destroys 'Goat s and Compasses ' (Gray) , and threaten s reprisals 311 ; marries Puma , birt h o f son , refuses t o cohabi t 384 ; comes t o Cornwal l again an d i s reconciled wit h D H L 381-2 , 384; his flat suble t t o Esther Andrew s 375 ; change of heart abou t Pum a unde r D H L influence 385 ; introduces Gra y t o D H L 385; interes t i n theosophy , magic , occult : Klein, Pryse , Levi , Herme s Trismigistu s 387; high opinio n of'A t th e Gates ' an d hopes Maunse l wil l publish 390-1 ; drum s up letter s o f support 413 ; destroys manuscript of'A t th e Gates ' (Hone ) 413, 835; his interes t i n Africa n ar t and magi c are followe d u p b y D H L 437 ; threatens t o sue over Women in Love 672 , 866; D H L ' s alterations no t enoug h 683 ; Seeker trie s t o call his bluff 683 ; D HL cynica l abou t motives an d i n n o moo d t o imagin e H' s point o f vie w 683-4; Seeke r settles , perhaps wisel y sinc e H vengeful , thoug h D H L furiou s 698 , 868- 9
INDEX
him, an d h e wa s courting a t th e tim e 381; implications o f 'John Thomas ' i n Kangaroo and 'Ticket s Please ' 379 , 831-2; havin g heard fro m D H L abou t hi s bisexuality , warns Stanle y 831 ; D HL angr y a t wai t afte r market i n Penzanc e 399 ; drives t o statio n 400; doesn't answe r tw o letters , 'n o correspondent', nam e vanishe s fro m Rananim list s 427; marries 461 , 839; offered pian o a s keepsake bu t neve r replie s 842; D HL i n conversatio n wit h Magnu s regrets tha t di d no t hav e a sexua l relationship 85 5
Hesiod, Homeric Hymns and Homerica (Loe b edition) 315 , 819, 821 Hewlett, Maurice , 15 0 Hill, Mabel, 578 , 676 Hippius, Z , see Merizkowsky; Koteliansk y Hitler, Adolf , 65 2 Hobson, Harold , 33 ; expected t o joi n Bunn y Garnett i n Munic h 30 ; arrives i n Mayrhofen 33 ; sets out wit h D H L an d F 33-4; leave s wit h Bunn y 34 ; why attractiv e to F 35 ; has slep t wit h he r 35 , 769; arrive s unexpectedly fo r Christma s 51 , 772; F o n his 'tragedy ' 52 ; D H L 's feeling s i n 'Bot h Sides o f the Medal ' 73 ; opinions o f E. an d C. Garnet t o n 772 ; D HL say s 'wa s awful ' 772; Bunny ha s always know n th e wron g people, e.g. 'Harolds ' 214 ; in Mr Noon 618 , 627 Hocking, Henr y (Uncle) , 40 0 Hocking, Mar y an d Mabel , 379 , 384, 399, 427 Hocking, Mrs , D H L think s th e on e t o mis s hi m most 427 ; she ha s t o mov e afte r W.H . marries 461-2 ; D H L 's mahogan y tabl e a s keepsake 84 2 Hocking, Stanley , o n D H L trussin g sheave s 339, 824 ; sees shi p sun k b y submarin e an d crew drow n 347 ; taught Frenc h b y D H L 376; left schoo l a t thirtee n 378 ; told t o b e careful o f D HL advance s 831 ; overhears remark afte r searc h o f cottage 400; drive s their luggag e t o th e statio n 400 ; sings i n Zennor choir , disconcerte d b y D H L questioning Christia n belie f 403; keep s u p sporadic correspondenc e wit h D H L 427 ; arranges sal e of effects, Geography of the World as keepsake 842 ; Esther Andrew s saying tha t peasant s adore d D H L ' a bi t much' 68 2 Hocking, Willia m Henry , no t inspiratio n o f 'Prologue' t o 'Th e Sisters ' II I thoug h som e details fit 331 , 378; the gestur e D H L di d use, suggest s aspiratio n 378 ; somethin g mystical i n hi m 378 ; first mentione d afte r haymaking 332 ; D H L 's mixe d feeling s about i n 1916 , likes, but doesn' t wan t i n th e house 339 ; F like s him , think s h e need s a woman 339 ; helps D H L wit h garden s i n I I : 9 7 3 0 5; to market 376 ; friendshi p deepens 376-8 ; David an d Jonathan 378-9 ; photograph 378 ; was ther e a homosexua l affair? 379-81 ; n o trac e o f homosexuality i n
Hodder, Si r Ernest , 85 2 Hodgson, Ralph , D H L ' s opinio n o f 130 , 783; awarded Poligna c Priz e 78 3 Holbrook, Ma y (ne e Chambers) , F an d D H L a t the far m i n Moo r Gree n 6 ; confesses h e i s with F 772 ; tells her h e wil l marry F 11 5 Home Office , wa s the suppressio n o f The Rainbow political ? 278 ; Home Offic e Minutes 791-2 , 81 3 Homer, criticise d b y Heracleitu s 246 ; Iliad 309 ; Achilles 371 ; D HL read s Chapma n 182 ; advised belatedl y t o rea d 68 3 Hone, Joseph Maunsel , me t D H L a t Selwoo d terrace 413 ; impressed b y Women in Love and 'A t th e Gates' , but fir m turn s bot h down 413 ; story o f how manuscrip t of'A t the Gates ' destroye d b y Heseltin e 413 , 835 Hood, Hon . Alexande r Nelso n (Duc a d i Bronte) , D H L meet s 578 , party give n b y 862 ; his sister say s D HL make s he r uncomfortabl e 862; visited i n castl e at Maniace 871; funding a n Englis h churc h 67 6 Hope-Johnson, John, 19 3 Hopkin, Eni d (m . Hilton) , born 776 , visit s Mountain Cottag e 461 , 465, married 71 6 Hopkin, Sara h Anni e ('Sallie') , 'm y ver y clos e friend' 775 ; consulted abou t Loui e 775 ; among fe w tol d abou t F 19 , 64; suffragis t 64; 'Th e Overtone ' 65 , 775; Mr Noon 776 ; D H L finds somewha t dissatisfie d wit h lif e (April 191 7 on hi s wa y bac k fro m Riple y t o Cornwall) 367 ; asked t o Zennor, bu t doesn't com e 405 ; visits Mountai n Cottag e 458, 461 ; D HL visit s i n Eastwoo d 460 , 463; in Mr Noon 61 6 Hopkin, Willia m Edwar d ('Willie') , relatio n wit h before 1912 : 129 , 775; ' T he Overtone ' 65 ; and Mr Noon 616 , 775; D HL visit s 1913 :
893
INDEX 553; prospec t o f another nove l instea d 553 ; D H L ' s busines s requirement s 557 ; payment o f arrears, and fo r Look! no w 564 ; Women in Love finally t o Seltze r bu t D H L still hope s wil l d o America n an d psychoanalysis essay s 571-2 ; mix-up abou t Shestov 587 ; D HL ultimatu m ove r American essay s produces breac h 587-8 ; in interview wit h Mountsie r call s D HL ' a liar ' and 'ungrateful ' 613 ; will pa y account s an d payments direc t t o Mountsie r instea d o f through Dora n 71 4
Hopkin, Willia m Edwar d (cont.) 88; ide a o f Eastwood sketche s 90 ; visit s Mountain Cottag e 458 , 461; D HL visit s i n Eastwood 460 , 463; talk abou t coalfeld s 475; i n Touch and Go 84 1 H o m e , Maisie , 15 7 H o m e , Willia m K. , frien d o f A.P. Lewi s an d colleague o f Kot 147 ; walk i n th e Lak e District 147 ; visits 'Th e Triangle ' 571 ; D H L see s i n Londo n (fro m Greatham ) 225; writes t o rene w contac t i n 191 9 bu t D H L no t kee n 50 2 Horton, D r Rober t Forman , 27 8 Hovey, Carl , 813 , 855; see also Metropolitan Howell, David , 40 3 Hube, Baro n von , 200 , 803 Hubrecht, Marie , owne d Fontan a Vecchi a 571 ; now Rocc a Bell a and studi o 578 ; introduce s D H L t o othe r expatriate s 578 ; does a portrait o f him 578 ; Minerva t o Mar y Cannan's Aphrodite , 'vendetta ' 579 ; parting presen t t o D H L an d F 580 ; leave s for Hollan d an d Norwa y 585 ; sends hi m paper fro m Europ e 856 ; D HL borrow s he r studio 637-8 ; invites hi m t o Doo m bu t h e does no t g o 866 ; told th e gossi p i n Taormina bu t D H L bore d wit h i t no w 700 ; farewell lette r 71 6 Huebsch, Benjamin , take s over The Rainbow from Dora n 279 ; D HL initiall y suspiciou s 279; gets favourabl e opinion s fro m Hove y and John Ree d 813 ; publishes bu t expurgates 251 , 295, 817; sends D H L a copy 295 ; clandestine distributio n t o escap e prosecution 495 ; had publishe d Twilight i n 1916, but D H L no t informe d 351 , 827; first contac t whe n send s D H L hi s lis t 495; idea of lecture tou r 495 , 503, 511; New Poems negotiated direc t 513-4 , 516 , ne w Preface t o distinguis h fro m Seeker' s editio n 514; sent America n essay s 522 ; let The Rainbow g o out o f print becaus e of'smu t hounds', bode s il l for boo k includin g 'Whitman' 522 ; asked t o ge t essays int o periodicals 528 ; hears of Women in Love 523, attempts, an d fail s t o recove r th e typescript 527 , 543~4, 557~8 , 565; his importance t o D HL 528 , 544; sends £2 0 cheque 530 ; Schaff call s him 'th e onl y "white" publishe r i n America ' 528 ; psychoanalysis article s fo r Freeman 541-2 ,
Hueffer, For d Madox , a s Flaubertian 25 , 778, as modernist 79 ; place as mentor take n b y Garnett 27 ; tells D H L o f Seeker's interes t 32; visit s Greatha m wit h Viole t Hun t 225 ; working fo r C.F.G . Masterma n 225 , may conceivably hav e contribute d t o officia l suspicion o f D HL an d henc e suppressio n of The Rainbow 278 ; Antwerp 22 5 Hulme, T.E. , 13 6 Hume, David , 654 , 86 5 Humes, Elizabet h ('Burr') , lov e affai r wit h Jut a 597, 638 ; meets D H L 642 ; visits Taormin a with he r mother , hint s fo r 'St . Mawr ' 642 , 700 Humphreys, Ernest , 14 , 766 Hundstein, Moun t (Austria) , 66 7 Hunt, Violet , 22 5 Huntingdons (Lerici) , 101 , 106, 126,78 4 Hutchinson & Co., Herbert Asquit h join s 65 7 Hutchinson's Magazine, 504 , 858, 657, 689 Hutchinson, S t John an d Mary , 799 , 280, 481 Huxley, Aldous , 292 , 81 7 Ibsen, Henrik , Ghosts i n Italia n 59 , 267; D H L ' s dislike o f German performanc e 68 , 26 8 Icking (nea r Munich) , sta y i n Alfre d Weber' s flat, abov e th e Leitners , June-August 1912 : 19-31; visite d b y Davi d Garnet t 29-30 ; F' s mother 30- 1 Iguanez, Do n Mauro , warn s Magnu s an d lend s money 581 ; introductions t o Bor g an d Salomone i n Malt a 585 ; tells D HL o f Magnus's suicid e 608 ; last note sen t t o hi m 609; appeals t o D H L agai n 70 4 Ilkeston (Derbyshire) , 173 , 200, 61 4 Imagism, D H L relate d t o and differ s fro m 134-6; Aldington s an d Poun d defin e 134-5; Pound' s brea k wit h 'Amygism ' 135 ; Amy's Imagis t anthologie s includ e D H L
894
INDEX 135; relation t o modernism 135-6 ; T.E . Hulme's classicis m 136 ; spatial for m 13 6 Independent Labou r Party , 470 , 47 6 Innsbruck (Austria) , 32 , 667 Insel Verlag , see Kippenberg, D r Anto n Insole, Alan, meets 578 , 'described' i n Aaron's Rod an d Sea and Sardinia 597 , 857; invite s to Syracus e 581 ; at Rome statio n 597 , 626; relation wit h Juta 597 ; at Anticol i 597 ; wit h Juta an d D H L i n Venic e 604 , 606; goes t o Tunis 595 , 626; brief visi t t o Taormin a 628, 631-2; off t o Japan 63 2 International Library of Famous Literature, 82 4 Irschenhausen (nea r Munich) , Lawrence s sta y in 1913 : 70-9, 90-4; Jaffe's hous e 9 , 70, 71, 777; F's birthda y ther e 9 1 Isar (rive r i n Bavaria) , 19, 24, 30, 31 Isea, Lake (Italy) , 59 5 Italy, D H L 's first impression s o f 37; contras t with Englan d 37 ; see also Abruzzi; Como ; Florence; Garda ; Italy , Journey to ; Lerici ; Milan; Naples ; Rome; Sicily ; Spezia ; Switzerland, Journeys through ; Turin ; Venice Italy, Journey t o (1912) , D HL an d F wal k t o Wolfratshausen, ligh t railwa y t o Bichl , wal k to Bad Tol z 31 ; walk fro m Ba d Tol z t o Lengries, los e way , find pat h t o Rohrlmoos , chapel an d hay-hu t 31 ; down t o Hubertus , Glashiitte, bu s t o Achense e 31-2 ; wal k along lakesid e t o Jenbach, rai l u p t o borde r at Kufstei n 32 ; back b y rai l t o Jenbach , then (perhap s rail ) t o Mayrhofen 32 ; wait there fo r Bunny , the n fo r Hobso n 32-3 ; set out wit h them , find hay-hu t beyon d Ginzling 33-4 ; u p t o Dominicus-Hutte 34 ; cross Pfitzerjoch , t o S t Jakob, Wiede n (Christus i m Elend) , Gasthau s Elefan t nea r Afens 34 ; Garnett an d Hobso n leav e early , D H L an d F wal k t o Sterzin g ( 2 nights) 34 ; head fo r Ital y vi a Jaufenbach, reac h Sterzinger-Jaufenhaus afte r exhaustin g scramble, F confesse s abou t Hobso n 34-5 ; next mornin g wron g tur n take s the m bac k to Sterzing , tak e trai n t o Bolzan o (Bozen ) 35-6; trai n t o Trento, F weep s i n Piazz a d i Dante, train t o Riva 36 ; see also Riva Jackson, Catherine , see Carswell, Catherin e Jackson, Rosie , F youthfu l lesbia n experienc e 803
Jaffe, Professo r Edgar , Professo r a t Universit y o f Munich 8 ; tolerant marriag e t o Els e vo n Richthofen 8-9 ; fla t i n Munic h 9 , D H L ' s week-end ther e 39 ; holiday hous e i n Irschenhausen 9 , 70 , 71, 777, D HL an d F stay ther e i n 1913 : 70-9, 90-4; meet s D H L ' s trai n fro m Waldbro l 18 ; may hav e read 'Pau l Morel ' 25 ; owns Fran z Mar c picture 39 ; more t o hi m tha n comi c portrai t in Mr Noon 39 , 618; F's birthda y presen t 91; talk s abou t capitalis m 91 ; house-hunts for the m i n Leric i 92 , 98; Minister o f Finance i n postwa r Bavaria n Republi c 492 ; career end s i n hai l o f bullets 519 ; his death , and D H L ' s respons e 64 4 Jaffe, Else , Gross' s mistres s 6 , and mothe r o f hi s son 9 ; married t o ric h Edga r Jaffe 8; docto r and factor y inspecto r 8; chooses t o b e mistress o f Alfred rathe r tha n Ma x Webe r 9; house i n Wolfratshause n 9 , 16 , 18 , 19 , 21, F ther e alon e 16 , 21, 23; attitude t o th e relation o f D HL an d F 9 ; D HL regard s a s managing 9 , 23, 54; persuades D H L t o leave Met z fo r Trie r 10 ; helps D H L an d F financially 23 ; ma y hav e rea d 'Pau l Morel ' 26; discarded fragment s lef t wit h he r 28 ; D H L argue s wit h abou t sacrific e 51 ; visits Gargnano, an d Rom e an d Veron a 54 , 67, 69, a t Leric i 116 ; D HL suggest s sh e writ e on Germa n women-poet s 68 ; F want s t o b e near 70 ; 'The Sisters ' I 72; reasons fo r D H L ' s dedicatio n o f The Rainbow t o he r 807; death o f Peter 277 ; visit b y F i n 1920 : 607; and a t deat h o f Edgar 644 ; arrives wit h children a t Baden-Bade n 664 ; may hav e told D H L o f political happening s i n Munich 69 5 Jaffe, Friedric h ('Friedel') , 74 , 80, 91 Jaffe, Peter , 91 , 277 James, Henry, o n th e ne w novelist s 131 , 788; D H L 'i n th e dust y rear ' 131 ; has 'trifle d with th e exordia ' o f Sons and Lovers 788 ; may hav e bee n approache d b y Pinke r ove r The Rainbow 287 , 292, 815; Isabel Arche r in Portrait of a Lady 442 ; post-Jam esian criticism 44 0 James Tai t Blac k Memoria l Prize , 70 0 Jeffries, Richard , 162 , 795 Jelbert, Hilda , 318 , 82 2 Jenner, Mr s Henry , Christian Symbolism 170 , 796
895
INDEX Jesus Christ , orde r (t o be born again ) 21; wayside Christ s 29 , 32, 34, 40; F like s 61; 'the Son ' an d 'Wor d mad e flesh' i n Foreword 62-3 ; 'God th e Son ' i n 'Hardy ' 161, 163-4 ; Christ oppose d t o Pa n 65-6 ; D H L expect s t o se e among th e olive s 99, 782; 'consider th e lily ' 159 , 794; othe r sayings 794; Love th y neighbou r 62 , 159 , 164, 772; 'Father' an d 'Son ' i n The Rainbow 175 ; Magdalen an d th e disciple s 415-6; Jack Whit e slap s hi s wif e ove r 434 ; argument abou t i n Aaron s Rod 434 ; urge t o unify throug h Lov e (opposit e meanin g t o 'Hardy') 524-5 ; 'no goo d a t sea ' 595 ; trut h about resurrection , an d noli me tangere 639 Joachim o f Fiore, 163 , 795-6 John, Augustus , portrai t o f Cynthi a Asquit h 86 , 422; the Slad e Schoo l o f Art 184 ; D H L meets hi s children' s tuto r 193 ; cited a s authority b y Meredit h Star r 387 ; with D H L a s Cynthia's guest s a t th e oper a 422 ; D H L visit s studio , mutters 'mortuu s est ' 422, 43 6 John Bull, symbo l o f mass democrac y 247 ; of England's declin e 352 ; attack o n Women in Love 672 , 674-5, 866 Jones, Ernes t an d Morfydd , meet s i n 1914 : 133, 789, 810; subscribes t o Signature 332 ; gives a medical certificat e fo r attestatio n 789 ; D H L doesn' t us e i t at Bodmi n 332 ; write s on chil d consciousnes s i n 1916 : 846; D H L wants Edit h Ede r t o as k abou t nervou s system 439 ; not know n t o hav e see n D H L since 1915 , but D H L ' s paranoi a abou t plagiarism founde d o n hi s post-war journe y to see Freud 52 2 Jones, Morfydd (ne e Owen) , 133 , 789, 81 0 Joyce, James, contrast i n authoria l distanc e 44 ; attitude t o nationalit y 146 ; modernism 79 , 136; and Poun d 136 ; possible influenc e o n 'The Shado w i n th e Ros e Garden ' 780 ; stances towar d youthfu l protagonist s i n 'Stephen Hero ' an d Look! 364 ; Am y Lowell distinguishe s D H L fro m 'pur e obscenities' perpetrate d b y 509 ; did D H L read Ulysses extracts i n 1920 ? 85 0 Jung, Car l Gustav , allusio n 225 ; Psychology of the Unconscious 487, 542 ; and Godwi n Baynes 507 , 515, 668; disagreement wit h Freud 554 ; but fo r D H L als o at faul t 55 4 Jupiter, 45 0
Juta, Jan, meet s D H L 578 ; Lawrences visi t a t Randazzo, excursio n t o Maniac e an d Syracuse 581 ; at Rom e statio n 597 , 626; relationship wit h Insol e 597 ; D HL an d F in Rom e an d Anticol i 595 , 597, 626; love affair wit h Elizabet h Hume s 597 ; his background 857 ; with Insol e an d D H L i n Venice 604 , 606; visit t o Taormina 628 , 631-2; confuse d chronolog y o f his memoi r 862; two charcoal portrait s o f D H L an d one i n oil s 862 ; plan fo r Sardinia n illustrations, perhap s anothe r illustrate d book 632 ; sees D H L agai n i n Rome , introduces Elizabet h Hume s 642 ; doe s illustrations bu t questio n o f expense 656 ; the red s a bit 'weary ' whe n publishe d 71 1 Kandinsky, Wassily , 80 4 Karlinger Glacie r (Austria) , 66 9 Keats, John, parodie d 50 6 Kennerley, Mitchell , limite d paymen t fo r Sons and Lovers 120 , dud chequ e 785-6 ; Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd 91 , 9 2 - 3 , 781; sells plate s t o Little , Brown & Co. 855 ; offers t o publis h poem s an d plac e storie s i n America 109 ; D HL begin s t o conside r a s alternative mento r 109 ; Kuttner repor t o n 'The Weddin g Ring ' 121 ; wants tonin g down o f love scenes 149 ; D HL think s o f lawsuit 63 4 Keynes, John Maynard , 804-5 ; a n d th e Apostle s 192, 209; sexual diar y 805 ; promiscuou s homosexuality 193 , 209, 805; meets D H L at Cambridg e 209-10 ; D HL quit e like s o n one leve l 209 , 212; but denounce s hi s homosexuality t o Davi d Garnet t 213-4 ; Bunny attribute s attac k t o jealous y 216 , 806; Keynes comment s i n Two Memoirs 210, 805 ; intelligent rattis h fac e 212 , 805; on a illogicality i n Russel l 24 3 King, Emily , taugh t b y Mis s Wrigh t 58 ; D H L sees in Ripley , wher e no w wit h Ada , stomach upse t 368 ; visits Mountai n Cottage wit h Pegg y 458 , scene d e famill e 496; Sa m return s fo r famil y gatherin g 502 ; with Pegg y t o Pangbourne 511-2 ; postcard o f David 543 ; off th e presentation lis t after disapprove s o f Tortoises 716 King, Joan Frieda , 59 7 King, Margare t ('Peggy' , late r Needham) , a t
896
INDEX 463, 838 ; cheque returne d b y D H L 463 ; D H L prefer s t o sta y wit h 462 , 464; relations wit h F bette r 'sinc e ope n enmit y is avowed' 465 ; reacts agains t Katherine' s 'lies and poses ' but reconcile d 473 ; takes D H L an d F t o Shearman' s Armistic e part y 481; readin g Jung, D H L borrow s 487 ; ha s flu 491 ; gets D HL book s 493 ; sends grapefruit, brandy , por t i n D H L illnes s 497; asks D H L t o improv e translatio n o f Shestov 512-3 ; questio n o f prefaces an d terms 521 , 546; D HL worrie s abou t indebtedness, Kot' s advic e t o Goldrin g about helpin g hi m 521-2 ; Goldring , perhaps aide d b y D H L , get s translatio n o f Hippius int o Danie l serie s 847; asked t o fair-copy thre e America n essay s 522 ; afte r last te n day s i n Acaci a Roa d see s D H L of f to Ital y 529 , 531 ; suggestion tha t D H L joi n in a 'left' periodica l wit h Canna n an d Mond 853 ; Huebsch offer s £5 0 fo r Shestov, mix-u p wit h Seeker , s o neve r published i n US A 587 ; when D H L burn s last royalt y chequ e an d offer s money , refuses, replace s chequ e 587 ; sends 'Th e Gentleman fro m Sa n Francisco ' t o polis h 657; send s Einstein' s 'popula r exposition ' 659; h e an d D H L 'messin g abou t o n th e edge o f everything' 710 ; letter i n Italia n about stagnatio n 71 5
Mountain Cottag e 458, 496; her ringlet s 496;at Pangbourn e 511- 2 King, Samue l Taylor , 458 , 50 2 Kingsgate (Kent) , 83 , 84-8; contrast wit h Margate 8 5 Kingsmill, Hugh , 15 2 Kippenberg, D r Anton , D H L recommende d b y Goldring 846 ; offers t o publis h 607 ; silenc e 610; commissions translatio n o f The Rainbow 636 ; idea o f internationa l Bibliotheca Mundi 636 ; to pa y Germa n royalties t o F' s mothe r i n mark s 69 9 Kipping, Lily , 76 6 Kitchen, Robert , 57 8 Kitchener, Lord , 29 3 Klein, S.T. , Science and the Infinite 38 7 Knight, Ivy , 529 Kochelsee (nea r Munich) , 1 8 Koteliansky, Samue l Solomonovitc h ('Kot') , 147-8; Rannan i Zadikim , Zadiki m l'Adonoi 148 , 791; 'tirades' fro m D H L about th e wa r 152 ; reproves F an d refuse s to com e agai n 156-7 ; meets Katherin e Mansfield 156 ; D HL ask s t o ge t thing s fo r him 158 , 170 ; types 'Hardy ' 159 ; Christma s with th e Lawrence s 170-1 ; ha s suggested F write dow n he r 'Xanthipp e lectures ' 198 ; his melanchol y 211 ; visits Greatha m wit h Katherine 211 ; types revise d philosoph y (unfinished) 217 ; to Greatha m agai n fo r Easter 226-7 ; D HL o n hi s 'inertia ' 227 , 715; coolness whe n Lawrence s first i n London 257-8 ; keeps Signature account s 275, 812 ; brings coa l but doesn' t atten d meetings 276 ; at Brett' s part y 280 ; take s over (wit h Farbmans ) 5 Acacia Roa d fro m Murrys 286 ; stays in touc h wit h al l fou r after Murry s leav e Zennor 340 ; enquire s about boys ' book s t o translat e 344 ; pay s £10 fo r right s t o Women in Love i n Russian, bu t perhap s hel p t o a proud ma n 349; borrows book s fo r D H L fro m Mont y Shearman 365 ; gets o n bette r wit h F o n he r London tri p 1917 : 366; D HL stay s o n wa y back fro m Riple y 367 ; is told tha t D H L ha s written fourt h an d final for m o f philosoph y 390; sees the m afte r expulsio n 422 ; whe n D H L i n Hermitage , aske d t o mee t Ad a o n her wa y dow n t o Portsmout h 425 ; send s money 429 , 461; D HL stay s wit h 430 ; immovable 435 ; types America n essay s 438,
Kouyoumdjian, Dikra n ('Michae l Arlen') , 816 ; goes t o Garsingto n wit h Heseltin e 289 ; disliked b y Lad y Ottolin e 291 ; in lov e wit h Dorothy Warre n 299 ; stays a t Porthcotha n 298-9; tensio n rises , asked t o leav e 299 ; threatens a skit o n D H L 299 ; idea o f ski t on Heseltin e an d Pum a ma y hav e bee n hi s 818 Kravchinskaya, Fanny , Markovn a (a.k.a . Stepniak), 367 , 830 Kravchinsky, Serg e Michaelovitc h ('Stepniak') , 830 Krenkow, Ann a an d Fritz , ide a tha t D H L visi t their niec e i n th e Rhinelan d 6 ; visi t Mountain Cottag e 464-5 ; send champagn e in D H L ' s illnes s 497 ; want hi m t o g o sout h via Leiceste r an d se e Loui e Burrows , bu t does no t 502 ; visit Hermitage , giv e D H L £10:523 Krenkow, Hannah , an d Karl , Fritz' s niece , married t o he r cousi n 12 ; brought u p b y
897
INDEX Krenkow, Hanna h (cont.) Opa Stiilche n 12 ; doesn't lov e her goo d bu t dull husban d 12 ; H walk s wit h D H L 12-13; t n e v t a ke D H L t o Bonn an d Drachenfels 1 7 Krug, Emi l von , visit s Baden-Baden wit h Nusc h 644; later marrie s 644 ; advises D H L abou t boats 65 5 Kuttner, Alfred , Freudia n revie w o f Sons and Lovers 121 , 553; reader's repor t o n ' T h e Wedding Ring ' 121 , 797 Lake District , 147- 8 Lambert, Cecily , firs t glimps e and encounter s with D H L 429 ; what D H L use d an d didn' t use fo r 'Th e Fox ' 484-5 ; expedition t o Boxford 507 ; fetches Lawrence s fro m Pangbourne 514 ; Lawrences a t Grimsbur y Farm 516-8 : D HL milk s goat s 516 , curse s pigs 517 ; rows wit h F 517 , 518; F expect s to be waite d o n 517 ; insists o n separat e bedroom 517 ; says sh e want s D H L ' s chil d 518; misses the m whe n the y g o 518 ; at Pangbourne wit h Rosalin d 529 ; urged t o keep u p friendshi p wit h he r an d Joan 529 ; gets D H L 's first postcar d fro m Ital y 536 ; he apologises tha t the y wil l be gon e whe n she and Monic a Furlon g com e t o Sicil y 711 Lambert, Mr , doe s not appea r i n origina l 'Fox ' 484; opposes hi s daughter' s friendshi p wit h D H L 484 ; ensures plac e i n late r versio n 484; but sen t D H L ' s regard s 529-3 0 Lambert, 'Nip' , 507 , 624 Land and Water, Magnu s articl e o n Montecassino 567 , payment 583 ; 'You Touched M e ' ('Hadrian' ) 567 , paymen t 586 Lane, John, 60 7 Laocoon, 10 7 Lawrence, Ada , see Clarke, Lettic e Lawrence, Arthu r John, Walte r More l a composite, not a portrait 42 ; D HL growin g towards, in himsel f 24 , 55-6 ; D H L remembers hi s saying s 56 ; D HL send s a letter an d Christma s presen t 56 ; impetus t o dialect i n 'Th e Daughter-in-Law ' 60 ; 'Grief inscribe d a s by th e 'So n o f 105 ; visits Mountain Cottag e 458-9 ; account of , in D H L ' s potte d autobiograph y 839 ; talk about coalfiel d situatio n i n 1918 : 475
Lawrence, D.H . LIFE, before 1Q12: faile d relationship s 6 , 7 ; home 7 ; collapse i n 1911 : 6; rejection o f Christianity 40 ; youthful squeamishnes s 46 , 104; discussions a t Hopkins 129 igi2\ visit s Weekley fo r advice , meets F 5-6 , date 771 ; refuses t o slee p wit h he r i n husband's hous e 6 ; weekend wit h he r a t T h e Cearn e 6 ; insists sh e tel l Weekle y about hi m 7 ; to Metz wit h he r 5-8 ; frustrations i n Met z 8 , 9-10; lette r t o Weekley 10 ; 'arrested' i n militar y are a 10 ; meets F' s fathe r 10 ; leaves fo r Trie r 10 ; F' s chaperoned visi t 11 ; Weekley's telegra m answered 11 ; leaves fo r Waldbrol , vi a Hennef 11 ; welcomed b y Krenkow s an d Oupa Stiilche n 12 ; village fai r 12 ; walks with Hanna h befor e hail-stor m 12-13 ; sends of f Germa n sketche s an d revise s 'Paul Morel ' 13-15 ; unwilling t o rejoi n Frieda a t once 16-17 ; preparing fo r hi s 'marriage' 16 ; refuses t o b e jealou s ove r vo n Henning 17 ; dreams o f Weekley 17 ; daytrip alon g Rhine 17 ; goes t o Munich 18 ; visits Wolfratshausen 18 ; 'honeymoon' i n Beuerberg 1 8 - 1 9 ; t 0 Ickin g 19 ; tension with F ove r th e childre n 18-21 ; insist s F decide fo r hersel f 20 ; his mother-poe m reviled 21 ; first separations 21 , 23; other tensions 21-2 ; F's decisio n 23 ; plans t o walk t o Ital y 23-4 ; how h e ha s change d 24 ; sends 'Pau l Morel ' 25 ; rejection b y Heinemann 28 ; rescue b y Garnet t 27 ; visit of Bunny Garnet t 29-30 ; visit, scolding b y F's mothe r 3 0 - 1 ; thinks F no w committe d to hi m 30 ; they se t out fo r Ital y 3 1 {see Italy, Journey to) ; crucifixes o n th e roa d 31 , 32, 34; Weekley letter s a t Mayrhofen, hi s face i n a muleteer 32 ; set out wit h Bunn y and Hobso n 33-4 ; F ha s slep t wit h Hobso n 35; wrong turnin g 35 , then train s t o Riv a 36; at th e Vill a Leonardi 36 ; paid fo r The Trespasser, find Villa Ige a i n Gargnan o 36 ; first impression s 37 ; F refuse s Weekle y offers 38-9 , 51 ; Sons and Lovers 42-9 , 50 ; Hobson fo r unhapp y Christma s 51- 2 igij. divorc e paper s serve d 53 ; visit b y Ton y Cyriax 53-4 ; proofs t o Jessie caus e final breach 54 ; no Easte r i n Englan d 54-5 ; getting beyon d Son s an d Lover s 55-67 ; San Gaudenzi o 67 , 69; to Bavaria 70 ; at
898
INDEX Irschenhausen 70-9 ; expecting mora l disapproval 70 ; upset abou t Jessie an d he r novel 7 0 - 1 , 777; finishes 'Th e Sister s V and write s storie s 71-8 ; F break s plat e o n his head 74 ; they sai l fo r Englan d 79 ; at The Cearn e 79-83 ; mee t Murrys , Dougla s in Londo n 83-4 ; at Kingsgat e 84-8 ; at th e beach 84-5 ; meets Mars h an d Asquith s 85-7; Murry s an d Campbel l visi t 87; Savage visits , 88; in Londo n a t Campbells ' 88; see s Murrys, George , Marsh , Davies , Gibson, Collings , Frieda fail s t o se e children 88 ; to Eastwoo d alon e fo r Ada' s wedding 88 ; revision o f stories 88-90 ; returns t o Irschenhause n 90 ; F's birthda y party 91 ; 'friends' wit h F agai n 91-2 ; money fo r Ital y 92-3 ; starts 'Th e Sisters ' I I 93-4; walkin g bac k t o Ital y 92 , 94-7 (see Switzerland); hi s healt h 97-8 ; settles i n Fiascherino 98-101 ; Felic e an d Ellid e 99; F's pian o 99 ; friendship wit h contadin i 99-100, 102 , 106 ; wedding i n Tellar o 99-100; visit of Georgian poet s 100-1 ; friendship wit h Waterfield s 101-2 ; wit h Pearses, Huntingdons, Cochrane s 101 , 106; divorce finalise d (an d publicised ) 102 ; ponders Middleto n an d homosexualit y 102-4; urge s Murr y t o join the m 104-5 ; anxiously await s payment s 105 ; when the y come, feel s lik e loafin g 106 ; slow progres s with 'Th e Sisters ' I I 105-6 ; nominated fo r Polignac Priz e 106 ; happy Christma s 10 6 igi4'. send s first hal f o f ' T he Sisters ' I I 107 ; visits sailors a t Spezia , help s harves t olive s 107; Marsh visit s wit h Jim Barne s 107 ; Garnett's criticism , abandon s nove l t o star t again 108-12 ; Constance Garnet t an d Ver a Volkhovsky visi t 112-3 , 115-6 ; quarre l about F' s attitud e t o hi s wor k 113 ; her attitude change s 113-5 ; they wil l marr y 115; Constance Garnett' s criticis m o f ' T h e Sisters' I I 115-6 ; new Russian , Italia n an d Futurist friend s 116-7 ; Decree Absolut e published 117 ; Ivy Low' s visi t 117-8 ; D H L upse t b y Murry' s gossi p 119 ; sure o f new nove l now , th e wor k 'i s of both o f us ' 119-20; objects t o Garnett' s failur e t o respect hi s deepe r sel f 120 ; 'a passionatel y religious man ' 120 ; if Garnett doesn' t lik e new work , perhap s a new publisher ? 120 ; 'The Weddin g Ring ' finished an d type d
899
121; F want s i t calle d 'Th e Rainbow ' 121 ; Kuttner read s fo r Kennerle y 121 ; D H L ' s response t o Futurist s 121-3 ; onl y re sourcing o f ar t i s man-woma n relationshi p 123; defend s hi s ne w psycholog y an d characterisation 123-5 ; decides t o wal k over Alp s wit h A.P . Lewi s 126 ; part s wit h F i n Turi n 127 ; journey (see Switzerland ) 127-8; Heidelber g wit h Alfre d Webe r ( F in Baden-Baden ) 128 ; stay wit h Campbel l in Londo n i28ff. ; take s Pinker' s offer , stories fo r Duckwort h 128—9 ; little boo k on Hard y 128 , 144 ; London ban k accoun t and affluenc e 129 ; widenin g circle s bu t distance fro m Garnet t 128-9 ; Brook e an d the Georgian s 129-31 ; Bunn y Garnet t an d Bloomsbury 131 ; Ivy Lo w an d 'Hampstead' 131-3 ; meet s Catherin e (Carswell) 131-3 ; discusse s Freu d wit h Eders an d Barbar a Lo w 133 ; Murrys an d Campbell avoi d Iv y Lo w 133 ; to th e H.G . Wells's 133-4 ; meet s Ottolin e Morrel l 134 ; Imagism an d Vorticis m 134-7 ; Pound , Aldingtons an d Am y Lowel l 134-6 ; argue s with Wyndha m Lewi s 136 ; rewrite s storie s into The Prussian Officer 137-42 ; marrie s F 142 ; wedding photograph s 142-3 ; a biographic 'still' , i n July 1914 : 144-6 ; dinner a t th e Berkele y wit h Am y Lowel l and Aldington s 148 ; holiday i n Lak e District wit h Kot , Lewis , H o m e 147-8 ; outbreak o f wa r 148 ; supper wit h Bunn y Garnett, detective s investigat e 148-9 ; Methuen return s 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' 149; financial consequence s 149 ; Canna n finds 'Th e Triangle ' fo r the m 149-50 ; Marsh send s money , als o Sutr o 150 ; appeal t o Roya l Literar y Fund ; humiliating, als o £5 0 no t enoug h 150-1 ; Weekley's lawyer s clai m costs , D H L wil l not pa y 150 ; miser y abou t wa r deepen s 151-2, spea r i n th e sid e 187 ; fall s il l an d grows bear d 152 ; Murrys t o Ros e Tre e Cottage nearb y 152-3 ; discussion s an d differences 153-7 ; n e care s mor e fo r Murry tha n M fo r hi m 154-5 ; confide s intimate sexua l detail s 156 , biographers ' speculations 158 ; quarrels wit h F 156-7 ; visits b y Kot , Homes , Lewi s 157 ; Hele n Dudley t o sta y 157 ; writes 'Stud y o f Thomas Hardy ' 158-64 ; the n begin s t o
INDEX Lawrence, D.H . (cont.) rewrite nove l i n fermen t o f new idea s 167-8, 172-80 ; with F t o Nottingha m hoping t o chang e Weekley' s min d 169 ; preparations fo r Christma s 170-2 ; drunke n charades a t th e Cannans ' 171- 2 79/5: restles s at Chesha m an d alienate d 180-1; 'Rananim ' drea m o f communit y 182-3; Boot s wil l not stoc k The Prussian Officer 183 ; accepts Viol a Meynell' s offe r o f Shed Hall , Greatham 183 ; lunches wit h Lady Ottoline , meets E.M . Forste r an d Douglas Gran t 184 ; dislikes Grant' s paintings 184-5 ; moves t o She d Hal l 185 ; visited b y Ottolin e 187-9 , 196 ; Russell 188-90, 217 ; Forster 190-1 ; write s t o Russell abou t 'sodomy ' 192-3 ; Murr y arrives, miserable an d il l 194 ; limits of thei r relationship 195-6 ; completes The Rainbow 199-208; visits Russell a t Cambridge , meets Keynes , 'on e o f the crise s of my life ' 208-11; sens e o f evil everywhere an d i n himself 212 ; consults Ede r abou t hi s stat e of mind 212 ; visited b y Bunn y Garnet t an d Birrell, th e implication s o f homosexualit y 213-5; end o f their friendshi p 215-6 ; something dangerou s i n Ottoline an d Cynthia Asquit h 217-8 ; nightmare visio n of soldiers at Worthing 217 ; revision o f philosophy break s dow n 217 , 219; revisin g The Rainbow 216 , 219-24; Weekley' s lawyers deman d costs , must atten d hearin g 224, 230; ill again i n Marc h an d Apri l 225 ; quiet broke n b y sequenc e o f visitors (see Greatham) an d Meynel l 'invasions ' 226-9 ; meets Dolli e an d Margare t Radford , friendship wit h Eleano r Farjeo n 227-9 ; tension wit h F growin g 229 , 231, 233; walks t o Chicheste r wit h Eleano r 230 ; attends hearin g at Somerse t Hous e (n o bankruptcy order ) 230 , 232; supper wit h a Murry hostil e t o F 231 ; feels near-suicida l at Brighto n 232 ; F decide s t o loo k fo r a flat in Londo n 233 , 235-6, but D H L stay s t o tutor Mar y Saleeb y 234-6 ; tired o f Greatham, unhappy , irritabl e 234-5 ; v ^ s ^ to Garsingto n an d quarre l wit h F 236-8 ; visited b y Cynthi a an d wounde d Be b 238 ; Russell a t Greatham , the y pla n lectures , D H L threaten s F 239 ; with Cynthi a an d Beb a t Littlehampton 240 ; criticise s
Russell's outlin e 241-9 ; proof s o f The Rainbow, Methue n demand s change s 249-51; write s a war stor y 252-4 ; leave s Greatham 254-6 ; with F o n Littlehampto n beach 255-6 ; settles int o 1 Byron Villas , Vale o f Health, Hampstea d 256 ; furnishings an d contact s wit h friend s 256-8; divergenc e fro m Russel l widen s 258-60; Murry , Russell , Ottoline , F onl y value hi m personally , d o no t respec t hi s ideas 259-61 ; filled wit h ange r 261 ; plans Signature 261 ; Russell send s 'Th e Dange r to Civilisation ' bu t refuse s t o subscribe , fierce denunciatio n 262 ; the Zeppeli n a s Apocalypse 262-3 ; Russel l seek s t o preven t the en d o f this 'civilisation' , behin d pacifism a repressed desir e t o ja b and strik e 263; produce s Twilight in Italy an d 'Th e Crown' 264-75 ; The Rainbow published , good first revie w 275 ; disasters follow : reviewers cal l fo r ba n 275 , 277, Murry s unsympathetic 276 ; discussion meeting s flop 276 ; Signature calle d of f after thre e issues 276 ; hears Methue n hav e withdraw n advertisements 277 ; wants t o emigrat e t o America 276 ; applies fo r passport s 279 ; will the nove l b e publishe d i n USA ? 279 ; responds wit h 'Resurrection ' an d 'Th e Thimble' 279 ; anti-war poe m 'Th e Turning Back ' 280 ; hears abou t polic e a t Methuen, suppressio n 280 ; party a t Brett' s studio, looks 'devoure d b y interna l distresses' 280-1 ; Ottolin e invite s alon e t o Garsington 281 ; Marsh an d Ottolin e sen d money t o ge t t o Florid a 281 ; Bow Stree t trial o f The Rainbow, ordere d t o b e destroyed 281-2 ; impossible t o exaggerat e effect, 'th e en d o f my writin g fo r England ' 282; by 1 6 December firmly plan s t o sai l t o USA 285 ; then postpone s t o fight, throug h Society o f Authors 285-6 ; questions i n Parliament 286-7 , 2 9°> n e w youn g friend s 288-90; t o Garsingto n wit h the m an d F 290-1; hope s o f fight-back collaps e 292 ; passports no t enough , mus t 'attest ' bu t refuses 293-4 ; Murry return s an d ask s Beresford abou t hous e i n Cornwal l 294-5 ; Christmas wit h famil y i n Ripley , painfu l 295-6; t o Porthcotha n i n Cornwall , 3 0 December 29 6 igi6: like s Cornwall , non-English , pre -
900
INDEX Christian, elementa l 296-7 ; Heseltin e comes, then Kouyoumdjian , bu t tension , asks K t o leav e 297-9 ; a ^ t e r l° n g stress , seriously ill , Maitland Radfor d diagnose s acute bronchitis 299-301 ; put s togethe r Amores 301 ; 'Puma' Channin g t o stay , like s her 301 ; diagnoses a split i n Heseltin e 301-2; reflecte d i n ne w philosoph y 'Goat s and Compasses ' 302-5 ; jealous o f Russell' s lectures, irritated b y hi s views , but 'Mak e me.. .you r heir ' 305-7 ; Heseltine tell s wha t was said a t Garsington , F denounce s Ottoline, D HL trie s t o repai r damag e 307-8, bu t friendshi p erode d b y hostilit y between wome n 309 ; 'The Rainbo w Book s and Music ' pla n 309-10 ; Heseltine an d Puma t o London , bu t the n friendshi p breaks u p 310-11 ; Beresford s nee d hous e 311; move t o Zennor 311-2 ; urges th e Murrys t o com e 310 , 313, 314, 316; the y hesitate but finall y arriv e 317 ; how h e ha s changed sinc e the y las t saw him 315-6 , 326; worries abou t conscriptio n no w 319 ; Murry's gossi p enrage s F wit h Ottolin e again, and wit h Murry s a s she discover s alliance 320-1 ; D H L ' s violen t ro w wit h F , beats he r 319-20 ; wh y i t began wit h F 322 ; contrast betwee n hi s attitudes an d thos e o f the Murry s 323-7 ; disagreement wit h Murry ove r Dostoevsk y 325-6 ; Murry' s letters t o Ottolin e 321 , 325; Murrys leav e for Mylo r 327 ; how h e deceives himsel f about peopl e 327 ; begins 'secon d hal f o f The Rainbow' i n unpublishabl e for m 328 ; summoned fo r medica l examinatio n a t Bodmin, rejecte d fo r militar y servic e 332 ; compare hi s situatio n July 1912 , 1914 , 1916: 338-9; types an d revise s nove l July t o November 332-8 ; helps Hocking s wit h hay-harvest, like s William Henr y bu t ma y be nuisance 339 ; visits Murry s a t Mylo r 339-40; illness 332-3 ; rain s fo r nin e week s till lat e November 332 , 342; worries abou t money 331-2 ; typing to o muc h fo r him , remainder i n pencil , Pinker t o have type d 332-3; visite d b y Dollie , Barbara 339 , 342; Catherine Car s well 342-3 ; throug h wit h Murrys 341 ; uneasy abou t Ottolin e an d novel, wil l send i t t o her 341-2 ; ask s Carswells t o ve t 342 ; upset b y deat h o f Percy Lucas , but stor y wil l do goo d 342 ;
901
finances improv e a t year' s en d (Pinker , Amy) 344 ; Robert Mountsie r an d Esthe r Andrews visi t 344 , 824 ; 'jolly' Christma s with the m an d Hockings , bu t gloo m afterwards 34 5 79/7: D H L an d F stoppe d o n cliffs , polic e call to se e Mountsier 346-7 , 826 ; Mountsier arreste d i n Londo n 347 ; U.S. journalist spy-ring , no t suspicio n o f th e Lawrences, thoug h D H L ' s view s n o secret , 347-8, 826 ; discovers mai l bein g rea d 348 ; 'The Sisters ' II I {Women in Love) rejecte d by publishe r afte r publishe r 349 ; Ottolin e horrified b y 'portrait' , husban d threaten s law 349-50, 827 ; D HL irritate d bu t conscience niggle s 350 ; idea o f US A revives, asks advice abou t passports , applie s 351; Englan d stiflin g 352 ; distanced fro m older friends , mostl y 'loathing ' fo r Murr y 352; Rananim no w America n 352 , 354-5; USA ahea d i n 'corruption ' s o neare r rebirth 353-4 ; talking t o Mountsie r an d Esther, ide a o f book o n America n literatur e 354; perhaps a new audienc e 355 ; passport s refused 355 ; thinks o f workin g agains t war , but cultivate s garden s 365-6 ; no t intereste d in fiction now , want s t o be 'abstract ' 366 ; writes 'Realit y o f Peace' 368-72; after tri p to London , Ripley , fall s ill , convalesces a t Hermitage 367-8 ; returns t o Cornwal l t o find sic k F , an d Esthe r Andrew s 368 ; F becomes jealous , Esther leaves , was ther e an affair ? 373-6 ; i n reactio n t o F' s jealousy , withdraws, gardens ; friendshi p wit h William Henr y deepen s 376-7 ; David an d Jonathan again , and America n readin g 376—7; was ther e a homosexual affair ? 377-81; F feel s deserted , he r late r comments 379 , 377, 831; to Londo n fo r medical examination , the n Bodmi n an d rejected agai n 382-4 ; exchange o f letter s with Murrys , but 'yo u shouldn' t sa y yo u love me' 382 ; Heseltine returns , reconciled , D H L ' s influenc e revive s 381-2 , 384-5 ; Cecil Gra y 385-6 ; Meredith an d Lad y Mary Star r 386-7 ; new interes t i n th e occult an d theosoph y 387-90 ; crystallise s philosophy i n 'A t T h e Gates ' 390 ; revise s Women in Love 391-8 , begins America n essays 399 ; then disaste r strikes : while a t Penzance wit h Willia m Henry , cottag e i s
INDEX Lawrence, D.H . (cont.) searched 399 ; next da y officer s arriv e wit h expulsion orde r 400 ; burns manuscripts , i s driven t o Penzanc e statio n 400-1 ; explanations: loca l suspicion s 401-2 ; increased b y associatio n wit h Gra y an d hi s trial 402-3 ; surveillanc e sinc e Mountsie r arrest 403 ; Vicar o f Zennor an d hi s daughter 403 ; wartime London ; Dollie' s little house, the n H.D.' s Mecklenburg h Square 409-10 ; fail s t o discove r reaso n an d reverse decisio n 410-2 ; Rananim i n th e Andes, names eight , Gra y coo l 412 ; hope s for Women m Love b y subscription , o r b y Maunsel, fai l 413-4; Look! published , argument wit h Gra y abou t hi s marriag e and hi s wome n 415—6 ; H.D.'s marriag e 416-7, an d feelin g fo r D H L 417-19 ; menage no w i n Mecklenburg h Squar e 419-22; old friends , operas , ne w acquaintance, poets ' part y 422-3 ; Mr s Gray's flat 422 , 423; followed b y detective s 423; farewell part y an d charad e a t Mecklenburgh Squar e 424-5 ; move t o Chapel Cottage , Hermitage, an d quie t Christmas 425 , then t o Riple y 42 5 IQI8: retur n t o Hermitage 426 ; distancin g himself no w fro m Cornwal l 426-7 ; short o f money again , gift s relieve , but i s cros s 428-9; hope s o f bringing ou t Women in Love privately , throug h Bibesc o an d Beaumont, fai l 428 , 430-2; meets 'far m girls' 429; in Londo n see s Beaumont , Cynthia, hear s H.D . goin g t o Cornwal l with Gra y 430-2 ; letters t o Gra y continue , but friendshi p cool s 432-3 ; visite d b y Jack White 433-4 ; must find ne w home : arguments an d tensio n wit h F , settl e fo r Mountain Cottag e 434-5 , 437-8; black fur y 435, 437; returning ful l circl e 437; something ha s died , somethin g ne w begin s 438; new psycholog y i n America n essays , changed attitud e t o marriage , ne w focu s o n individual (dis)integratio n 440-1 , 444-5 , 457; in Mountai n Cottag e i s surrounded b y family an d ol d friend s 458-9 ; applies agai n to Royal Literar y Fund , give n onl y £5 0 again 459 , 463; visited b y Arabella , Hopkins, newl y awar e o f need fo r huma n warmth 460-1 ; ne w projec t o f history boo k for school s 462-4; Krenkow s com e 464-5;
902
to London , Mersea , Hermitag e 465-6 ; the n Forest o f Dean wit h Carswell s 466-7 ; bac k in Derbyshir e tensio n wit h F ove r Nanc y Henry 468 ; contrast i n fortun e wit h Nichols, send s potte d autobiograph y 468 , 839-40; hears abou t H.D.' s pregnancy , breaks wit h he r an d Gra y 468-70 ; horribl e experience whe n examine d i n Derb y 470-1; i n Londo n t o searc h fo r wor k 472 ; sees Murrys, reconcile d wit h Katherin e 473-4; F ill , fears flu epidemic , the y g o t o Hermitage, mee t Farjeon s 475 ; write s Touch and Go 475-8; relation wit h Pinke r deteriorating 479 , 482; 'The Blin d Man ' begins a change i n hi s fiction 480 ; Armistice i n Hermitag e an d a t th e Adelph i 481; tensio n wit h F , sh e stays , he goe s north 482-3 ; alone , very productive , stories, essays on education , histor y chapters 483-7 , 488-91; write s t o Katherine abou t Jung, thei r marriage s an d male friendshi p 487-8 ; after Franki e Cooper die s o f tuberculosis, tell s Katherin e one mus t will no t t o di e 491 ; on strike , sic k of writing 491 ; F returns , Christma s celebrations 491- 2 1 gig: long s t o ge t out o f England 492-3 ; works har d o n history-book , an d anothe r story i n January 494-5 ; quiet, alone , o r with famil y i n th e sno w 495-6 ; collapse s with influenz a o n visi t t o Ada , nearl y die s 496-8; furiou s wit h F' s lac k o f care, think s of parting, lettin g F g o to German y b y herself 498 ; back t o Mountai n Cottag e 498 ; Murry reject s article s fo r Athenaeu m an d loses topical on e 489-500 ; after famil y gathering a t Easter , bac k t o Hermitag e 500-2; grump y a t first, warm s wit h th e weather 503 ; restriction o n movement s lifted, bu t stil l determine d t o leav e Englan d 492, 501 ; Huebsch's ide a o f a lecture tou r to Americ a 503 , 508-9; devotes si x week s to mor e storie s 503-5 ; friendship wit h Bertie an d Joan Farjeon , an d no w Rosalin d Baynes, visite d b y Carswells , Barbara Low , Murry, expeditio n t o Boxford wit h Cecil y and Viole t 505-8 ; to London , an d wit h Collins fo r weeken d wit h Hele n Thoma s a t Otford 509-10 ; meets Goldring , Touch and Go t o be a 'People's Play ' 510-11 ; mus t leave cottage, g o to Rosalind's hous e i n
INDEX Pangbourne, wher e h e work s o n Shesto v and poeti c manifesto , meet s Godwi n Baynes 511-5 ; then Grimsbur y Far m an d another ro w wit h F , 516-8 ; breach widen s with Pinke r 516 , 523 ; clearing th e decks : last revisio n o f Women in Love befor e sending t o Seltze r 520-1 , Shestov , Bay, American essays , 'Democracy' 521-6 ; visited b y Goldring s an d Krenkow s o n F' s last weeken d a t Hermitag e 518-9 ; sh e leaves 526 ; three-cornered dilemm a whe n Huebsch hear s abou t Women in Love, an d Seeker als o want s it , quickly 527-8 ; decide s to g o t o Italy , perhap s Capri , vi a Turin an d Florence, an d scou t fo r Rosalin d i n Picinisco 526 , 528-9; F seem s likel y t o rejoin i n Turin o r Forence , quit e soo n 529 ; last arrangement s an d meeting s i n London , Aldington experience s th e mutua l hostilit y between D H L an d hi s countryme n 529-31 ; leaves England , a n alien , see n of f b y a Russian an d tw o Scot s 531 ; to Turin , Lerici, Florence 535-6 ; with Dougla s an d Magnus an d expatriate s 536-40 ; nee d t o earn, s o essays on Florenc e an d psycho analysis 541- 2 (hi s fea r o f plagiaris m 522-3); F arrives , also £50 fro m Huebsc h 543, but pocke t picke d 544 ; leave fo r Rome, wher e robbe d agai n 545 ; to Picinisco 545-7 ; when get s to o cold , t o Capri, find room s i n Palazz o Ferraro , mee t Mackenzie 547- 9 7920: New Yea r i n Morgano' s 550 ; friendshi p with Mackenzie , Bret t Youngs , Brook s 550-2; Psychoanalysis (bot h finished an d typed b y 1 7 January) 552-6 ; breaks wit h Pinker 548 ; negotiates wit h Seeker , Seltzer , Huebsch 548-9 , 557-8 ; tiff wit h Goldrin g is resolved 558-9 ; final break wit h Murr y and Katherine , fierce letter s 559 , th e background t o thes e 559-64 ; grow s disenchanted wit h Capr i 556 ; visits Amai n 557; 'Miss Houghton ' arrive s fro m Bavaria , begins t o rewrit e 565 ; visits Magnus i n Montecassino 565-7 , 852 , and trie s t o hel p afterwards 567 ; trunk ha s not com e fro m Turin 568 ; to Sicil y wit h th e Bret t Youngs , Agrigento, Catania , Taormin a 567-70 , Fontana Vecchi a 570-1 , 579-80 ; scrap s 'Miss Houghton' , write s The Lost Girl, hi s new sel f free d fro m th e 191 3 one 572-8 ;
903
Taormina society , expatriat e an d loca l 578-80; trun k ha s stil l no t come , shoppin g trip t o Catani a 580 , 853; Cannan visits , a friendship end s 580 ; excursion t o Randazzo, Maniace , Syracus e wit h Juta s and Insol e 581 ; Magnus i n crisi s 581-4 ; t o Syracuse an d Malt a wit h Mar y Canna n (and Magnus ) 584-5 ; dealings wit h publishers 572 , 587-9; breaks wit h Huebsch 587-8 ; revises America n essays , particularly secon d Hawthorne , Melville , Whitman, send s thirtee n (now ) t o Mountsier 588-9 ; expands 'Educatio n o f the People ' (no w twelv e essays ) develop s ideas o n childhood , th e nee d t o strengthe n lower centres , mal e leadershi p an d comradeship 592-3 ; weathe r get s to o hot , sets ou t fo r Anticol i wit h F 595-6 ; meet s Whittleys i n Milan , t o Como , Venic e wit h them 597-8 ; alone t o Florenc e an d L a Canovaia, sleep s wit h Rosalind , spat e o f poetry 598-606 ; to Venic e agai n t o meet F , then bac k t o Taormina, rai n an d wor k 606-8; ne w boo k o f poems takin g shap e 607, 610-1 , 614 ; news o f Magnus's suicid e 608-9; P u t s Aaron's Rod aside , write s mos t of Mr Noon 610 , 614-21; Women in Love published i n USA , bu t review s o f The Lost Girl an d Huebsch' s accusation s anno y 611-4; socialisin g palls , thinks o f leavin g 611, revie w o f the yea r 614 ; idea o f trip t o Sardinia 62 1 792/: journe y t o an d i n Sardinia , an d ton e o f subsequent accoun t 621-6 ; clarifies th e necessity t o move ou t o f Europe 626 ; back in Taormina , a bit of Mr Noon unti l stor y reaches Mayrhofe n 627 ; writes Sea and Sardinia; return s t o Mr Noon unti l interrupted 627-30 ; his 'Re d Flag ' poe m 631; Juta an d Insol e visit , portrai t i n oils , not sa d t o se e the m g o 631-2 ; visio n o f escape change s fro m yach t t o Thrasher' s farm (borrow s £20 0 fro m Mar y Cannan) , along wit h agenc y instruction s 632-6 ; ended b y new s tha t F' s mothe r ill , arguments, see s F of f fro m Palerm o 636-7 ; alone i n Fontan a Vecchia , portrai t b y Millicent Beveridge , respond s t o book s sent t o hi m 637-9 ; decides t o kee p Fontan a Vecchia, g o t o Baden-Bade n circuitousl y 640; t o Capr i wher e meet s Brewster s
INDEX Lawrence, D.H . (cont.) 640-2; t o Florence , see s Dougla s an d Turner, meet s Rebecc a Wes t 642-3 ; the n Baden-Baden, settle s i n Ebersteinbur g close t o Black Fores t 643-4 ; Aaron Rod, progressed jerkil y sinc e restarte d i n 1920 , takes off an d i s finished 645-53 ; friendshi p with F' s mother , F happy , bu t ho w lon g can h e stay there ? 653-4 ; e dgy w i t n Curti s Brown an d Seeke r 655-6 ; contrast wit h Seltzer, an d betwee n Englis h an d America n reviews of Women in Love 656-7 ; write s first versio n o f Fantasia 657-64 ; Barones s and Els e and famil y come , wants t o move , tension wit h F solve d b y goin g t o Nusc h 664-5; Mountsie r visits , they wal k throug h Black Forest , hi s criticisms 'overbearing ' 665-7; by t r a m t 0 Zell , happy wit h Nusc h and he r children , g o on expeditions , bu t h e can't wor k 667-8 ; off t o Florenc e afte r las t excursion t o glacie r 668-9 ; m Florenc e with Mar y Cannan , Carswells , Whittley s 670-1; 'can' t work' , thoug h thre e poem s 671; bad new s o f reviews of Psychoanalysis, John Bull an d Murr y attacks , Heseltin e lawsuit 671-2 ; to Siena , Rome an d Naple s with Whittley s 672 ; to Capr i wher e F meets Brewster s 672-3 ; horribl e journe y t o Taormina, wil l never agai n das h abou t s o 673; quiet i n th e rain , but finishe d wit h Europe now , wil l only tak e hous e fo r another quarter , want s a farm wit h th e Brewsters, wishe s h e could g o with the m 674; expatriates return , partie s again, bu t wants only t o clear th e des k an d go : a sens e of finality 676-7 ; alters Women in Love fo r Seeker, Heseltin e wil l not accept , Seeke r tells him t o sue , but the n pay s £5 0 t o D H L ' s fur y 675 , 683-4, 698 ; writes answe r to critics of Psychoanalysis, revise s th e typescript wit h ne w grump y jocosit y an d intransigence 677-81 ; wil l not alte r Aaron's Rod 699 ; invited b y Mabe l Dodg e Stern e (Luhan) t o Taos, and agree s t o g o 681-3 , 700; prepares, i n a burst o f creativity, no t only a volume o f stories 684-6 , but anothe r of three novellas , encapsulating th e chang e in hi m fro m 191 7 t o 1921 , 686-96; perhap s F ha s an affai r whil e h e i s preoccupied, bu t no convincing externa l evidenc e 696-8 ; The Lost Girl win s James Tai t Blac k priz e
700; but a t th e en d o f the yea r a rewritte n 'England, M y England ' i s a final rejectio n 700-3; appeale d t o by Bor g and Do n Mauro Iguanez , write s 'Memoir ' o f Magnus t o help sel l Foreign Legion an d repay M' s debts , obtains Douglas' s consen t 703-9; the n fall s il l for a fortnight ove r Christmas an d Ne w Yea r 70 9 7922: illness and depressio n linge r int o thir d week 710 ; suddenly decide s canno t g o t o Taos 711 ; inner reason s 711-3 ; comin g t o to term s wit h 'sorrow ' 712 ; not necessaril y infidelity, argument s wit h F likel y abou t going, his ide a o f marriage vow s delusor y 713; begins translatin g Verg a 710 , 715; last publishing arrangement s 711 , 714-5, visi t by Henr y James Forma n 714-6 ; las t letter s and packin g 716-7; painted panel , trunk s and boxe s t o Naples 717 ; sails on R.M.S. Osterley 717; conclusion i n whic h nothin g is concluded 717- 8 CHARACTERISTICS AND CONCERNS
904
descriptions, Bunny Garnet t 29 ; Cynthi a Asquith 87 ; Aubrey Waterfiel d 100 ; Esthe r Andrews 375-6 , 830 ; Cecily Lamber t 526 ; Helen Thoma s 509 ; Francis Bret t Youn g 568; Brewsters 64 1 portraits: Hubrecht 578 , 854; Juta 862 ; Beveridge 63 7 light, sur e movements , quic k spring y ste p 5 , 641, 642 ; penetrating observatio n 5 , 8, 539 ; sense of honour, hatre d o f deceit o r secrec y 6, 7, 9, 10 , 12 , 81, 310; money worrie s 7 , 13, 16 , 23, 67, 72, 149-50 , 291 , 428, 459, 541, 782, 825, 837; prudence 16 , 24, 69, 89; vitality 8 , 25, 87, 132 ; and sensuou s perception 664 ; eagerness fo r lif e 474 ; mother-dependence 7 , 20, 21, 25, 4 2 - 3, 44, 770, 777, 778; hostility t o Magn a Mate r 20 , 488, 518 ; to th e kin d o f Holy Famil y wher e enthroned woman , adored b y man , adore s her chil d 591 ; to Mater Doloros a 20 ; t o possessiveness i n F' s materna l feelin g 22 , 43; whic h infantilise s 17 ; mother's deman d for lov e a kind o f bullying 679 ; naive 9 , 12 , 553; trustworthy 9 , 30 ; under stress , detachment 10 , 12, 24, 31, 778; antipath y to militarism 12 , 76-7; strongly anti-wa r 151-2, 155 , 158-9 , 160 , 187 , 351; horrors of war 352 ; but no t pacifis t 159 , 162 , 182 , 351; capacity fo r commitmen t 16 , 25, 778;
INDEX religious 16 , 40, 56 , 61-3, 103 , 108 , 120 , 775; as against scienc e 678 ; hatred o f irreligious, irreverenc e 213 , 712; but reject s Christianity 40 , 61; redefines Christia n language 61-3 , 161 , 163, 777; as agains t Freud, religious-creativ e no t sexua l motiv e is primary 659 , 678; critical o f Buddhis m 654, 699, 709-10, 712 ; refuses t o be jealou s 17, 766; jealousy 52 , 81, 118, 299, 806; dreams 17 , 213, 422-3, 459 , 497, 500 , 654, 663, 836 , disagrees wit h Freu d abou t 664 ; nihilism whe n F withdraw s 19 , learns t o cope 156 ; thrift 21 , 96, 99, 104 , 145 , 595; 'English' contro l an d inhibitio n befor e F 22, 24 , 98, 778; can't (won't? ) sa y ' I lov e you' 22 ; F fear s unabl e t o lov e 21 , 778; investigated i n fiction 75 , 111 ; assertive 22 , shouts to o lou d 290 ; gloom, sadness , 22, 24> 39, 155 , 345; broken open , un inhibited, b y F 23-5 , 98, 114 , 145 , 778; to benefit o f health 98 ; temper, rag e 22 , 261, 319, 437, 508 , 518, 559, 561; made comi c 622-3; childish , fro m to o hig h expectation s 623; tirades 26-7 , 152 , 263, 280, 518; jeremiad 481 ; worsened b y illnes s an d stress 152 , 301, 312, 319; gaiety, fu n 22 , 29, 159, 640; distrusts 'passion ' an d 'fre e love ' compared wit h steady , committe d feelin g 22, 25, 81, 768; distrusts ecstas y 154 , 193; self mockery 24 , 33, 40, 425, 434, 618-9 , 864; makes himsel f comi c characte r 618-9 , 622-3; growin g toward s fathe r i n himsel f 24, 55-6 , 295; common, workin g clas s 24 , 29, 118 , 120 ; 'no gentleman ' o r nobilit y 81, 120, 782; but comple x feelin g fo r miner s 296; anti-semitism 27 , 85, 389, 588, 613, 632 (respons e t o others) , but sensitiv e t o Jewish experienc e 824 ; generalises abou t Jews 389 , 522, but i s there a Jewishness o f soul? 638 ; all fo r 'sacre d differences ' 639 ; poor swimme r 30 , 85, 99; wants bot h freedom, singlenes s an d intimacy , commitment 32 , 392, 646, 648-9; write s amid interruptio n 33 ; makes everythin g fresh 38 , 132 ; puritanical 38 , 170 , 215, 375; against traged y 23 , 25, 41, 48, 163 , but (1922) 'lif e i s sorrow' th e basi s fro m whic h to smile, and fight 712 ; illness 51 , 54, 70, 120, 152 , 318, 332-3, 417 , 426, 496-8, 564 , 627, 709-10,; connecte d wit h stress , wrongness i n one' s lif e 98 , 300, 498 (an d
905
many o f above) ; on e mus t wil l no t t o di e (not ste w i n disease ) 491 , 559 ; h e doe s s o himself 496 ; belie f i n 'th e blood ' 56 , 293 , 774; passionat e bloo d i s sacre d 708 ; get s along wit h anybod y 56 , 102 , o r al l thing s to all ? 119 ; affinitie s wit h Rober t Burn s 57; lik e Pa n o r saty r 424 , 530 , 64 1 imagining beyon d hi s gras p 71 , 93, 573 ; extraordinary rang e o f voic e 87 , 229 , 236 , 641; gibing , sardoni c 87 ; satyr-like , satanic, malicious , whinnyin g laug h 424 , 509; vai n o f F' s ran k 85 ; coronete d paper , snobbery? 117 , 785 ; coug h 97 , 112 ; nee d for friend s t o believ e i n hi m 102 , 121 ; feminism mor e tha n suffrag e 64 , 120 , 145, 169 ; doe s th e cleanin g 38 , 53 , 151 ; cooking 53 , 87 , 101 , 153 , 552 , 568 , 611; tuberculosis? 97-8 , 100 , 300-1 , 332 , 383 , 782, pallo r 100 , 107 , 509 , 642 , 782 ; thin , even emaciate d 509 , 642 ; 'scholarshi p boy' an d consequence s 55 ; sympath y wit h 'the commo n people ' 55 ; feeling s strengthen agains t class-syste m 56 , 59 , 60 , 142; agains t self-sacrific e 51 , 772 ; value s courage 709 , 716 ; dange r o f solipsis m 103, 171 , 258 , 778 ; henc e importanc e o f transformation b y th e 'other ' 103 , 142 , 145, 154 , 335 , 340 ; se x fo r transformatio n rather tha n mer e pleasur e 103-4 , 158 , 164; thought s o n homosexualit y 103-4 , 192-3, 202-4 ; m s o w n bisexualit y 104 , 162; White Peacock episod e no t represse d homosexuality 104 , 783 , 803 ; bu t mal e bodies mor e attractiv e tha n femal e 103-4 ; youthful revulsio n a t femal e pubi c hai r 104; homosexualit y a s self-projectio n 103 ; heterosexuality mor e difficul t bu t mor e transformative 103 ; blac k beetl e dream s not simpl y homophobi a 213-6 , associations wit h brittl e tal k self-enclose d intellect, irreverenc e 213 , 303-5 ; tw o kinds o f homosexua l attractio n i n 'Prologue' t o Women in Love, natur e o f 'love' mor e importan t no w tha n gende r 329-31; homosexua l feelin g fo r Murr y unlikely 330 , 823 ; a homosexua l relatio n with Willia m Henr y Hocking ? 376-81 , 831; lon g self-examinatio n 377 ; bearin g o f 'Reality o f Peace ' o n sel f confrontatio n 379-80; th e 'abnormal ' lie s i n self repudiation 379-80 ;
INDEX Lawrence, D.H . (cont.) a questio n o f charactensustained hypocris y unlikely 380-1 ; final analysi s i n regar d t o Whitman, n o mor e homophobia , sodom y of opposites ca n b e creative 456; no sig n o f homophobia i n Florenc e 538 ; to Magnu s regrets tha t di d no t hav e homosexua l experience 855 ; but attac k o n Magnus' s exploitative kin d 708 ; F complain s h e take s her 'lik e a dog' 156 ; question o f his fertilit y 798-9, 845 ; he respect s th e being o f another (West ) 642 ; but bot h Murr y an d F 'bugs' wh o tak e heart' s bloo d bu t don' t giv e 822; in poems , F doesn' t respec t hi s otherness 363 , or giv e herself completel y 364, 851 ; anxiety abou t simultaneou s orgasm, proble m physica l o r i n attitud e t o sex? 551 , 850-1; fea r o f beaked woma n holding back , the n bringin g hersel f off 851 ; complaint tha t wome n (?F ) fee l fre e t o refuse, bu t me n hav e t o satisfy o n deman d 662; marital violenc e 140 , 145 , 319-20, 778, endorsed 671 , 679; stress o n impersona l being an d relationshi p 108 , 197 , 294-5, 313; 'inhuman' force s 124-5 , 160-1 , 448 ; world ful l o f unseen power s 715; importance o f darker part , force , withi n man 576 ; like mother, wil l not acknowledg e suffering 113 ; treatment o f children 179 , 234, 458-9, 508 , 510, 673, 798, 808; ideas on bringin g u p 659-60 ; a social creatur e 112 but ca n d o withou t societ y 145 ; isolation affect s manner s 101 , 145; bonhomous, friendly , kin d 113 , 509; can b e demonic, pervers e 113 , 509; pulls people t o pieces 118 , 814; Mackenzie blame s F fo r encouraging 556 ; easily suspects peopl e ar e against hi m 119 ; on scienc e 122 , 123-5 , 786, evolutio n 794 , turns agains t 388 ; swif t 132; as critic 132 ; unpretentious 132 ; writes to chang e peopl e 136 , not fo r coteri e 136-7, 145 ; intense argue r an d denounce r 145, but respect s i f stood u p t o 145 , 102; 'socialism' 145 , 189-90, 204, 630-1, 804 ; but limit s of interest i n politics 145 , 631, political naivet e 190 , 478; strong reactio n t o humiliation 150-1 , 429 , 459, 487; ingratitude, bu t ofte n connecte d wit h prid e and hatre d o f dependence, deb t 150-1 , 429, 463, 508, 564, 613; both h e and F pla y to audience 157 , 232; alienation fro m
society 160 , 162 ; yet individualis m no t enough 192 , 197 ; thinking i n image s 162 ; admires aristocrac y 182-3 ; religio n no t merely persona l bu t communa l 193 ; no sense o f privac y 215 ; first fictive evaluatio n of heterosexual ana l se x 222 , 576-7 ; sodomy i n 'Whitman'4 5 5-6; monogamou s but a question 233 , 243, 302, 374; marrie d man o r lover , Aaron , Lill y bot h forme r 653; speak s dialec t 230 , 237; slight Midlan d accent 552 ; accuracy o f swift diagnose s 232 ; now agains t mas s democrac y 246-7 , 490, 524-5; ide a o f elective pyrami d t o dictato r 247, 490, 679; though stil l Guil d Socialis m 248, 295 ; are socialis m an d hierarch y reconcilable? 259 ; not equalit y o r inequality, bu t disqualif y an d othernes s 489, 525 ; what's importan t i s to trus t impulse an d b e fre e t o ac t on i t 525; anarchist individualis m t o Eder , a stat e without laws , but mean s o f life fo r everyon e 501, 513 ; what state s ar e fo r 524 ; demos o f the fig-tree 614 ; ideas on educatio n 489-90 , 590-1; religiou s versu s Russell , but n o longer need s Christia n languag e 242 , 245; wants relatio n o f commitment no t personality 259-69 , 294, 313, 326-7; ide a that fierce row s clea r th e ai r fo r renewe d relations 263-4 , 3°7 > 3 22> 3 27> 591; danger of mental consciousnes s tyran t ove r bloo d consciousness, i n hi m to o 293 ; hence Shelley's 'Skylark ' 319 , 322, 822; lecture s people, schoolmasteris h 307 , 310; generalisation fro m narro w base , or fro m himself 311 , 353 , 551, 691, 821; blood brotherhood 316 , 326-7, 376 , 488; need t o get beyond Graeco-Christian-Europea n civilisation 315-6 , 326 , 693, 821; living direction i s West an d Sout h 355 , 447-8; had though t o f corruption/creation a s cyclical, now tensio n i n individua l 370 ; war and peac e als o withi n individua l 369 , 551; idea o f equilibrium o f opposites i n 1917 : 362, 372 ; but the n begin s t o fea r wome n getting to o powerfu l 374 ; 1918-1 9 refocuses o n mal e precedenc e (no t femal e submission) 483-4 , 84 2 (bu t cf . Lill y 653) ; revaluing marriag e 444-5 , 457, 488; base for furthe r committe d mal e comradeshi p 480, 488, 556, 591-2 , whic h fulfil s bu t doe s not replac e 589 ; wife ma y becom e mother -
906
INDEX substitute 487-8 ; hence nee d t o asser t an d advocate mal e independenc e an d selfhoo d (within marriage ) agains t lov e an d dependence 498 , 508, 556, 575 , 845; 1920 : woman a t centr e (bu t dethroned ) ma n scouts ahea d 591-2 ; proud persona l privac y 591; much o f this chang e sinc e 1914-1 5 a reaction t o F and , hi s dependenc e o n he r 592-3; Gilber t Noo n fear s h e i s a loner , can't reall y mi x wit h me n 621 ; has onl y lonely wor k an d on e woma n h e can' t trus t 621; emphasi s shift s fro m relationshi p an d harmony betwee n people , t o redres s o f imbalance withi n individua l 445 , strengthen lowe r centres , recove r dar k hal f of psyche 575 , 590; unity o f mental an d physical mean s psycholog y mus t hav e physical basi s 553 , 661; incest motiv e i n Freud an d Jung fro m menta l ide a 555 ; as against Freu d a radically religiou s rathe r than a scientific vie w of the worl d 678 ; follow inne r promptin g 369 , 448; bu t careful an d fastidiou s wit h Rosalin d (othe r putative 'affairs' ) 603 ; rhetoric ca n ge t ou t of control 371 , 808; David an d Jonatha n relationships i n lif e an d imaginatio n 376 , 452, 831 ; interest develop s i n theosophy , occult, magi c 387-9 , 439-40, 447 ; ability t o take criticism , eve n personal , withou t breach 415 , 666; hatred ca n coexis t wit h love 327 , 416; spirit o f place 447-8; hi s restlessness, wanderin g Jew 546 , but a pedlar wh o belong s nowhere ? 626 ; hi s south sea-longin g 624-5 , ^32ff. , bu t ide a of a smal l cre w includin g a n uneducate d man, undermine d 625 ; 'his ol d merry , ric h self (KM ) 474 , 'naturall y blithe ' (Douglas) 539 ; livel y an d debonai r (Brewsters) 641 ; 'uncomplicated an d charming' (Bret t Young ) 569 ; somethin g elemental 539 ; overestimates hi s influenc e 523, 553 ; for first tim e i n 192 0 n o mone y worries 556 ; relativ e prosperit y 564 , 566 , 580, 583 , 586-7 , 61 4 (bu t stil l carefulnes s ingrained b y povert y 586 , ' a gna t o f economy' 595) ; nudity 594 , 857 ; can' t hol d drink 860 ; i n 1921 : opposite o f forme r stances i n Rainbow, 'Hardy' : no w stereotypes rol e an d characteristic s b y gender 591 , 691-2; denie s admixtur e o f male/female within , bisexualit y o r
907
intermediate sex 661 ; hostile t o al l lov e that involve s los s o r diminutio n o f sel f 652, 688 ; against love , now , obedience , submission, faith , responsibility , powe r 694; mas s o f peopl e shouldn' t b e educate d or thin k 660 ; women' s rol e mus t b e limited, emancipatio n ha s gon e to o fa r 662 , 691-2, 694 ; sto p wome n (F ) thinkin g o f men a s primaril y thei r lover s 680 ; me n centred o n wome n becom e purposeles s 679; me n shoul d hi t wome n whe n the y bully o r nag , fight eac h othe r ou t o f solipsism an d falsehoo d 671 , 679, 680 ; bu t all thi s closel y connecte d wit h reactio n against himsel f a s dependent , damage d b y demands fo r love , henc e overdevelope d intellect an d sympatheti c centres , to o loving, to o read y t o giv e himself , no t manly enoug h 660-2 ; an d reactio n agains t F, brough t u p t o valu e hersel f to o highly , hence unwillin g t o acknowledg e hi m a s man o r leader , wh y al l vo n Richthofe n marriages hav e faile d 662-3 ; somethin g i n Brett Young' s theory , bu t half-truth , als o a loner, vitall y sensual , reactin g agains t soulfulness, sex-in-the-hea d an d solipsis m 664; i n politic s hierarch y strengthens , ide a of tiere d leagu e o f comrade s (befor e Kangaroo) 679 ; but alread y rejectin g bot h fascism an d bolshevis m 695 , 86 5 languages, Frenc h (Mis s Wright ) 58 , blunde r with F' s fathe r 10 ; German 6 , 12 ; Italian (Feltrinelli) 38 , 50, (Rainusso) 11 6 music, singing, acting, Miss Wrigh t 58 ; classical music : effect o f stringe d instruments 584 , 864-5 (eve n Bach , Schubert, Wagner , Brahms) ; music-hal l turns 148 ; mimicry, clownin g 22 , 24, 33, 424, 569 , 641, 673; 'Russian ballet ' 30 , 33; charades, playlets , dramati c turn s 171 , 237, 290, 302 , 425; singing: hymn s 256 , spirituals 229 , German song s 231 , 402, 481, 507, 519 ; The Oxford Songbook 426 ; Hebridean 386 ; French 466 ; Offenbac h 467; English folksong s 461 , 466; particularly noted : 'Presiden t McKinley ' 229; 'Wha t Ar e th e Wil d Wave s Saying ' 466; 'Su n o f My Sou l Tho u Saviou r Dear ' 256; 'Twanky-dillo' an d ' A Cottag e Wel l Thatched Wit h Straw ' 466 ; 'Sally i n ou r Alley' an d 'Barbar a Allen ' 55 1
INDEX Lawrence, D.H . (cont.) needlework 320 , 507, 509, 839, 844, 84 7 WORKS {see also Plays, Poetry and Prose ) Parallels wit h an d difference s fro m lif e D H L ruthles s i n usin g peopl e h e kne w fo r fictive purpose s 14 ; als o F 62 8 Aarons Rod: himsel f i n tw o characters , tension betwee n desir e fo r relatio n and , desire fo r singlenes s 648-51 ; oi l rubbin g 802-3; onl y a part o f H.D. 422 ; a punch i n the win d an d Jack Whit e 434 ; self mocker y 434; Arabella 460 ; Gray 840 ; Becker s 535-6, 847 ; Douglas, Magnus , Reggi e Turner 540 ; pocket picke d 544 ; Torrigiani s 543, 647-9 0> u t Marches a n o physica l resemblance) an d Rosalind , selectivel y 647-9; reversin g Look! 649 ; self-criticis m and -questio n 651- 3 'Adolf, sympatheti c portrai t o f father 49 9 'All Souls' , lays mother t o res t 43 , 48, bu t probably no t 1912 , cf. 'Everlastin g Flowers' 77 1 'At th e Cearne' , weeken d i n 1912 : 763 'Ballad o f a Wilful <Wayward > Woman' , F' s indecision i n Met z an d Trie r 11,1 6 Birds, Beasts and Flowers (1920-1) , 'Pomegranate', 'Peach' , 'Figs' , 'Grapes' , 'Medlars an d Sor b Apples' , ' T h e Revolutionary', 'Cypresses' : D H L an d Rosalind 603-4 , 858 ; 'Snake' : hea t an d pyjamas, Fontan a Vecchia , bu t als o adder an d wel l a t Highe r Tregerthe n 594, 85 7 'Blind Man , The' , trace s o f Catherine 467 , Bertie les s Russell tha n Murr y 'Both Side s o f the Medal' , Hobson' s visi t 73, but probabl y no t writte n the n 77 2 'Captain's Doll' , Nusc h an d family y 667 ; Zell, and expeditio n t o Karlinge r glacie r 688 ; rejection o f love 686, 688; declaration abou t marriage (an d th e onl y obedienc e likel y from F ) 688- 9 'Chief Mystery' , perhap s F ? 76 3 'Elsa Culverwell' , Culle n househol d 58- 9 'England, M y Englan d (1915) , onl y superficially 'about ' Lucase s 252-4 ; als o Asquiths 252 ; a 'war story ' 252-4 ; (1921 ) more detaile d an d identifiabl e 701 , but purpose t o embody th e 'England ' h e i s no w rejecting 701-2 ; re-enacts hi s changin g vision fro m The Rainbow throug h 'Th e
908
Crown' an d Women in Love 702 ; ironic end , no hop e o f renewa l 70 3 'Everlasting Flowers' , hol d o f mother i n 1912 , contrast 'Al l Souls ' late r 77 1 Fantasia of the Unconscious, as autobiograph y 660-4; reactio n agains t himsel f as damage d 660-2; a s too lovin g and 'sympathetic' , to o mentally consciou s 664 ; but h e i s also th e contrary o f what h e denounce s 664 ; a reaction agains t F 662-3 ; hi s dream s 663 ; revised version' s grumpines s an d jocosit y betray dashe d hope s fo r America n audienc e 677-8; greate r readines s t o challenge, eve n outrage reader s (me n an d wome n t o fight, even violentl y 679-80 ; anti-democracy, th e 'league of comrades' before Kangaroo 679) ; but als o making himsel f presen t (th e tre e 679; author an d amiabl e spous e 680 ; resentment of'flirting ' 680 ; not primaril y his wife' s love r 680 ; his own 'smarminess ' with other s 680) ; what h e want s hi s marriage t o be (e.g . Ebersteinburg) 68 0 Fight for Barbara, The, Barones s scoldin g 9 , 30; D H L ' s withdrawa l 31 ; barring th e door, F say s she 'di d no t wobbl e so ' 4 1 'Fireflies i n th e Corn' , i n lif e 22 ; cf. Mr Noon, Women in Love 76 7 'First Morning' , actuall y i n Munic h 1 8 'Foreword t o Sons and Lovers\ failur e o f parents' marriage , producing hi s marriag e in utterance , woma n bear s ma n 62- 3 'Fox, The', Cecily and Viole t 485; no father i n original 484; William Henry margina l t o Cornish bo y 486; F, and he r attitude no w 486; dream of singing 83,486; in 1921, personal pressure causes authorial intrusio n as in The Rainbow 692 ; more intransigent o n 'submergence' of independent womanhoo d before journey t o new country 69 7 'Hadrian', th e Potter y Hous e i n Eastwood , 504 'Humming Bird' , Crevecceu r rathe r tha n lif e 657 'In th e Dark' , probabl y doe s reflec t F 76 7 Kangaroo, 'Nightmare ' ma y b e heightened , but factuall y accurat e 826 ; working i n th e fields 379 ; 'John Thomas'37 9 (bu t cf . als o 'Tickets Please ' 830) ; Bodmin 384 ; Harrie t welcomes bac k 405 ; a jeer i n th e youn g man's voic e 404; visits t o Gra y 386 ; miasm a of suspicion 401-2 ; Dollie and H . D .
INDEX 409-10; 'Hilda ' o n Somers' s poem s 836 ; final rejectio n o f love between me n 453 ; examination i n Derb y 471 ; Armistice 481; F's departur e 526 , and D H L ' s 531 ; dreams 663 Lady Chatterley's Lover, Mellors' s diatribe , n o correspondence wit h Loui e 781 ; Duncan Grant 804 ; Mellors o n simultaneou s orgasm 850 ; Mackenzie storie s see m t o back-date fro m 850- 1 'Ladybird, The' , bot h Cynthi a an d background 692-3 , bu t als o H.D. (an d Gray's letter ) 412 , 696, 836; selfconfrontation i n th e Count , puny , ill , single voice, displaced, bu t ha s languag e t o influence chang e 693-4 ; love-relationshi p versus D H L o f 1921 : obedience , submission, belief , responsibility powe r 694 Look! We Have Come Through!, problem s o f dating poems , hence nee d fo r cautio n i n using fo r biograph y o f 1912-15 : 18-19 , 73-4, 356-8 , 764, 768; rather, D H L ' s vie w of marriage i n 1917 , re-seeing an d dramatising hi s ow n 357-64 ; neithe r autobiographical antholog y no r dramati c myth becaus e bot h 364 ; 'coming through ' reversed i n Aaron's Rod 64 9 Lost Girl, The, Cullen s 573-4 ; but D H L ' s own distanc e no w 574 ; parody no t jus t o f Cooper bu t Ranani m 574 ; 'dark' sexualit y needs tac t t o relat e t o Lawrenc e marriag e 577; portrait o f Picinisco 577 ; Mr Ma y a n element o f Magnus 582 ; uses hi s word s t o Katherine a t end 57 8 'Manifesto', charg e tha t F give s her body , bu t not hersel f 364 , 85 1 'Meeting Amon g th e Mountains' , guil t ove r Weekley 35 , 769 'Misery', abou t pai n o f F an d Hobso n (though doesn' t disclose ) 360 , 829, 86 8 Mr Noon, nee d fo r cautio n i n usin g fo r biography 18-19 , 764, 766; follows Look! closely 19 , 357, 618, 766; Henning 17 , 766; quarrel abou t fireflie s 22 , 767; Barones s scolding 31 ; journey t o Ital y 32 , 34, 35; Edgar Jaffe mor e interestin g tha n in , 39, 618; argument abou t Goethe ? 39-40 ; Willi e and Salli e Hopkin 616 , 775-6; Gilber t Noon an d Nevill e 614-5 ; D U t openin g t o Part I I invente d 617-8 ; Fieldingesqu e
909
mock-heroic 615 ; structural parallel s suggest inventio n 618-9 ; e v e n vivi d memory coloure d b y comi c distanc e fro m earlier sel f 618- 9 ( D u t feeling s o f humiliation recapture d 861) ; relation o f 1920 D H L wit h hi s audience 616 , 619-21 ; effect o f reviews 619 ; personal 'misery ' made comi c 628-9 ; intimations o f D HL o f 1920-1 emphasis e ga p fro m earlie r self , perhaps wh y abandone d 629-3 0 'Monkey Nuts' , Viole t Monk , an d Corpora l Brewer 50 4 'My Love , M y Mother' , F o n mother complex 21 , 42-3 76 7 'New Ev e an d Ol d Adam' , D H L an d F' s charges agains t eac h othe r 74-6 ; F's temp o at pian o 7 4 'Once—!', 'Nusch' an d Fried a i n Anita 26,76 8 'Overtone, T h e ' , Willi e an d Salli e Hopkin 65 , 775; Eder' s pamphle t 13 3 'Paul Morel' , Culle n famil y i n secon d versio n 58-9; thir d versio n brough t close r t o lif e 7 ; 'Miriam papers ' 13-14 ; D HL partiall y ignores, partiall y accept s Jessie's criticis m in revisio n 14 ; problems of'th e bedroo m scene' 13 , 765; justice t o Jessie an d justic e to Miria m differen t question s 14-15 ; unfairness t o Jessie 14-15 ; now loathe s Paul More l 2 4 'Pear Blossom' , probabl y Alic e Da x 76 3 'Prussian Officer , T h e ' , th e Baron' s batma n 77-8, 77 8 Rainbow, The, Burrow s famil y 173 , 176-7 , 798; F' s memorie s use d 176 , 177 , 179 , 200, 798; alternativ e scenari o t o th e Morel s 174 ; T o m an d D H L 174-5 ; Lydia an d F 174 ; Anna an d F 177 ; D HL an d Wil l 176-7 ; Louie an d youn g Ursul a 200 ; Katherin e Mansfield's lesbia n experienc e 203 ; Fried a later claim s lesbia n experienc e 803-4 ; school-teaching, experienc e o f Jessie, Louie, an d D H L 204-5 ; Faustino Magr i and Andre w Scofiel d 777 ; Skrebensky an d D H L ' s fea r o f dependency 205-6 ; D H L and Ursul a i n moonligh t 206 ; Bunny an d T o m Brangwe n th e younge r 805 ; imagine s David an d Jonathan friendshi p 376 , 831 Sea and Sardinia, 'Quee n Bee ' and T (irascible an d burdene d worker-bee ) ar e made bot h lifelik e an d comi c character s 622-3; s n e u s e a * t 0 questio n hi s attitude s
INDEX steamer 143 ; picture o f goose 316 ; explore s what wa s reveale d i n th e violen t episod e a t Zennor, tw o kind s o f violence 334-7 ; wrestling 823-4 ; 'Th e Pompadour ' an d th e Cafe Roya l 337-8 ; talk a t Shortland s an d reactions t o Bodmi n 332 ; Birkin 'sick' , a mouthpiece, bu t self-criticis m begin s 337-8; Thucydides , lapi s lazuli , an d F' s stoneware plat e 327 , 343, 824, she wickedl y agrees episod e 'preposterous ' 716 ; scen e with th e ring s 'happened ' 336 , 883; Gertler's pictur e influence s revisio n 343 ; question o f 'sources' o f th e character s i n 'Sisters' III : Gerald 330-1 , Gudrun , Katherine 330 , 337-8; F i n 363 , 421; Hermione 330 , 333-4, 827 , difference s from Ottolin e 333 , 823; Pussum 333-4 , 384, 823 ; Halliday 334 , 384; 'Prologue' les s confession tha n structura l 329-34 ; Willia m Henry probabl y margina l t o 'Prologue ' 331, 378; but hi s gestur e i n nove l 339 , 378, 824 ; only th e offe r o f blood-brotherhood recall s Murry 330-1 , bu t probabl y n o suc h scen e in lif e 397 ; D H L, Willia m Henr y an d th e final questio n 397- 8
Lawrence, D.H . (cont.) 623, ar e ship-boar d character s 624-5 , a n d pedlar 62 6 'She Look s Back' , define s battlegroun d ove r children, wheneve r writte n 20 , 76 6 'She Wa s a Good Littl e Wife' , perhap s Alic e Dax 76 3 'Sisters I , The', Fried a an d Els e 7 2 'Sisters II , The', Loui e Burrow s 94 , 109 , and F 109 , I I O - I I ; F singin g a t pian o 116 ; relation o f new fiction t o hi s marriag e an d change i n himsel f 111 ; adaptatio n fro m lif e in 'Snapdragon', sexua l frustratio n wit h Loui e Burrows 1 5 Sons and Lovers, 'lik e life, but alway s m y theme' 14 , 42, 44; 'The Tes t o n Miriam ' 13-14; F sharpen s sens e o f maternal (an d Miriam-like) possessivenes s 22 , 43; aim o f art t o understan d hi s own suffering , an d g o on 40 , 48; less autobiography tha n writin g new sel f 44; relation of'life ' an d 'theme ' i n Walter More l 42 , 45; Gertrude More l 42-6; Miriam 42 , 45-6, 777 ; Clara 47 ; Baxter Dawe s 47-8 ; death o f Mrs More l
'Young Wife , A' , probabl y doe s reflec t F , whenever writte n 76 7 WORKS Paintings four picture s ('Italia n Scen e wit h Boat', ' Lago d i Garda' , P'Landscap e wit h Figure' , unidentified) 50 ; copies Pier o d i Cosim o Death ofProcris 36 6 (stil l ha s thi s i n Ne w Mexico 830) ; portrait o f Arabella 839 ; copies Fr a Angelico' s Jowrwfy into Egypt and Giotto' s Joachim and the Shepherds (n o note o f colours fro m Gertler , make s hi s own choice ) 499 ; copies Pietr o Lorenzett i (attr.) La Teh aide 610, 621, given t o Mar y Cannan 633 ; copies Masacci o Visit of the Magi an d 'fou r plum p nic e females ' frightened whil e bathing (someone' s Dian a and Actaeon? ) 68 4 WORKS Plays (see also pp. 908-10 )
43,48 'Sun, T h e ' , possibl y a n affai r o f F i n Sicil y 697 'Thimble, T h e ', an d Cynthi a an d Be b 27 9 'Tickets Please' , inciden t a t Jordan's 48 7 Tortoises, La Canovai a an d Rosalin d 604- 6 Touch and Go, Willi e Hopki n 476 ; Doroth y Yorke 477 ; Katherine Mansfiel d 476-7 ; perhaps a n ide a about Murr y 476 ; Oliver' s political naivet e versu s a later D H L 47 8 Trespasser, The, artisti c reaso n fo r 'treatment ' of Ernest Humphrey s 14 , 766; Siegmun d as surrogate 2 4 Twilight in Italy, cf . D H L wit h Cyria x 268-9, 272 , 811, 812; memories reshape d after The Rainbow 70 2 'Vin Ordinaire' , and Baro n vo n Richthofe n 76 White Peacock, The, objection s t o 'portrayal ' of Alice Hal l 14 ; Cyril a s surrogate 24 , bathing scen e an d L' s 'homosexuality' ? 104, 202, 783, 803; Eder's pamphle t 133 ; photo o f William Henr y recall s Georg e
Daughter-in-Law, The, 59-61 , 62 , 76 8 Fight for Barbara, The, 10 , 3 0 - 1, 41, 48 Merry-go-Round, The, 4 1 Touch and Go, 475-8; and Women in Love 475-8; manuscrip t t o Barbar a Lo w 505 ; Goldring, Danie l an d 'People' s Plays ' serie s 510-11, 516 ; J.B. Faga n turn s dow n fo r Royal Cour t 510 , 844; Preface 844 ;
378 Women in Love, th e ferr y 5 , paper boat s an d daisies 6; butterflies matin g 17 ; Thame s
910
INDEX McDermott buy s optio n 530 ; to b e published b y Seltze r 855 ; Amy Lowel l reviews 60 0 Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd, The, 91 , 92-3, 105, 261, 78 1 and cf . 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums' 93 , 781; reviewed 144 , 790; producers intereste d 790 ; produced b y Altrincham Stag e Societ y 546 ; reviewed b y Catherine Carswel l 572 , 853; republishe d by Seltze r 635 , 855 WORKS Poetry (see also pp. 908-10 ) 'All of Roses' (sequence) , 768, 783 'AllofUs', 5f f 'Bits ' 'All Souls' , 43, 48, 361, 771 'Almond Blossom' , 62 7 Amores, 301 , in Caf e Royal , 33 8 'Ass, The', 63 5 'At th e Cearne' , 76 3 'Autumn Rain' , 36 4 'Bad Beginning , A' , 36 1 'Ballad o f a <Wayward> Wilfu l Woman' , 11 , 16,359-60,768,783 Bay, 43 , proofs 505 , 521; dedication forgotten, tippe d i n 521 ; published 55 8 'Bare Almon d Trees' , 61 4 'Bare Fi g Trees', 614 , 63 1 'Bat', 67 1 'Bei HenneP , 11-12 , should hav e ende d Love Poems 41; ne w significanc e i n Look! 356 , 768 Birds Beasts and Flowers, Introductio n (dropped), 63 5 'Birth Night' , 36 1 'Bits' ('Al l o f Us'), 345, 432, 82 6 'Both Side s o f the Medal' , 73 , 361, 868 'Bread upo n th e Waters' , 84 3 'Candlemas', see 'Valentine's Night ' 'Chief Mystery , T h e ' , 76 3 'Coming Awake' , 460, 77 7 'Craving fo r Spring' , 362 , 364, 83 0 'Cypresses', 611 , 859 'Doe a t Evening , A' , 359 , 82 9 'Don Juan', 359 , 76 8 'Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani' , 15 2 'Everlasting Flowers' , 77 1 'Evangelistic <Apostolic > Beasts , 'S t Matthew', 'S t Mark' , 'S t Luke' , 'S t John' , 611, 859-6 0 'Figs' ('Fig') , 858- 9 'Fireflies i n th e Corn' , 767 , 76 8 'First Morning' , 18 , 360, 76 6
QII
'Fish', 67 1 'From th e Italia n Lakes' , see 'Everlastin g Flowers' 'Frost Flowers' , 36 4 'Giorno de i Morti' , 43, 48, 361, 771, 783, 810 'Gloire d e Dijon' , 358 , 768, 783; see also 'All of Roses ' 'Grapes', 602 , 85 8 'Green', 356 , 360, 768, 783, 789; 're-read' b y later poem s 362 , 36 3 'Grief, 105 , 783; see also 'Twilight ' 'He Goat' , 71 5 'Hibiscus an d Salvi a Flowers' , 631 , 636, 86 2 'History', 36 1 'Humming Bird' , 65 7 'Hymn t o Priapus' , 35 9 'I a m lik e a rose', 35 8 'In th e Dark' , 76 7 'Kisses i n th e Train' , 92 , 781 'Labour Battalion' , 42 8 'Lady Wife' , 73 , 361, 829 'Late i n Life' , 46 7 'Loggerheads', 73 , 361, 829 Look! We Have Come Through/, nee d fo r caution i n usin g fo r 1912-1 5 biograph y 18-19, 73~4 > 356—9 , 7°4, 768; survivin g originals o f poems liste d 768 ; dating o f poems 53 , 73-4, 771 , 772-3, 783 ; F inaccurate abou t datin g 771 ; composition i n 1917: 355; Orpheus myt h 355 , 357, 364 , and Persephon e myt h 356 , 364; analog y with Sons and Lovers a s farewell t o a phas e of life 356 ; no knowin g ho w man y i n F' s 'brown Tagebuch ' 357 ; reshaped an d restructured no w int o dramati c sequenc e 357: Rose poem s 357-9 ; Catherin e persuades t o cu t origina l lette r 356 , 398; which wa s it ? 834 ; chapters: 'Moonrise ' t o 'Hymn t o Priapus ' 359 ; 'Ballad o f a Wilfu l Woman' t o ' A Do e a t Evening ' 359-60 ; 'Song o f a Man Wh o I s No t Loved ' t o 'Meeting Amon g th e Mountains ' 360-1 ; 'Sunday Afternoo n i n Italy ' t o 'Wedlock ' 361; 'History ' t o 'On e Woma n t o Al l Women' 361-2 ; 'People' t o 'Cravin g fo r Spring' 362-4 ; a new genr e 364 ; sent 365 ; responses: H.D . 366 , Carswell 356 , Lowel l 828, Russell , Aude n 830 ; accepted bu t Chatto deman d change s an d tw o poem s cu t 398; reviews 414 , 840 ; Preface t o U S ed n o f New Poems really applie s t o Look! 514 ;
INDEX Lawrence, D.H . (cont.) payment fo r Huebsch' s editio n 564 ; Chatt o not t o reprin t 71 4 Love Poems and Others, 41; F's opinio n o f 41 ; Jessie write s abou t 54 ; reviews 66 , 776; poor sale s 71; but Duckwort h won' t releas e 528 'Man an d Bat' , 67 1 'Manifesto', 364 , 85 1 'Medlars an d Sor b Apples' , 603-4 , 649 , 666, 858-9 'Meeting Amon g th e Mountains' , 32 , 360-1 , 398,769,783,810 'Misery', 360-1 , 627 , 829, 86 8 'Moonrise', 359 , 82 9 'Mosquito, The', 594 , 857 'Mowers, The' , see 'Youth Mowing , A ' 'My Love , My Mother' , 21 , 767; F's opinio n 21; sh e reverse s argumen t 42- 3 'New Heave n an d Earth ' ('Terranova') , 363-4, 419 , 828 New Poems, 418, 436-7, 460, 465; publishe d 472, paymen t 472 ; Preface t o U S ed n
'Service o f All th e Dead' , see 'Giorno De i Morti' 'Seven Seals' , 50 5 'Shades' ('Pentecostal') , 84 3 'She Goat' , 71 5 'She Look s Back' , 20 , 362, 76 6 'She Sai d A s Well t o Me' , 362-3 , 39 4 'She wa s a Good Littl e Wife' , 76 3 'Sicilian Cyclamens' , 607 , 86 0 'Sinners', 36 0 'Slopes o f Etna', see 'Peace' 'Snake', 594 , 682, 857, 86 3 'Snapdragon', 15 , 71 'Song o f a Man Wh o Ha s Com e Through' , 362,514 'Song o f a Man Wh o I s Loved' , 360 , 361, 398,771 'Song o f a Man Wh o I s Not Loved' , 360 , 36 1 'Spring Morning' , 77 7 'Street Lamps' , 36 2 'Sunday Afternoo n i n Italy' , 61 , 361, 771 'Teasing', 78 6 'Terranova', see 'New Heave n an d Earth ' 'Thought', 60 5 'Tommies o n th e Train' , 84 3 Tortoises, 'Baby Tortoise' , 'Tortois e Shell' , 'Tortoise Famil y Connections' , 'Lu i e t Elle', 'Tortois e Gallantry' , 'Tortois e Shout', 604-6 , 709, 711, 716-7, 85 8 'Tropic', 610-11 , 86 0 'Turkey Cock' , 635 , 859 'Turning Back , T h e ', 28 0 'Twilight', 783 ; see also ' G r i e f 'Valentine's Night ' ('Candlemas') , 361 , 398,
513-4 'New Year' s Night ' ('Eve' s Mass'), 361 , 398 'No News' , 42 8 'Nonentity', 359 , 829 'Nostalgia', 843 , 844 'Obseqial Ode' , 521 , 843, 844 'On Tha t Day ' ('He r Birthday') , 41 8 On th e Balcony ' ('Illicit') , 356 , 360 768 , 78 3 'One Woma n t o Al l Women', 362 , 36 3 'Paradise Re-Entered ' ('Purity') , 361 , 777, 783, 829-3 0 'Peace' ('Slope s o f Etna'), 611 , 860 'Peach', 858- 9 'Pear Blossom' , 76 3 'Pentecostal', see 'Shades' 'People', 36 2 'Pomegranate', 636 , 666, 858- 9 'Purity', see 'Paradise Re-Entered ' 'Purple Anemones' , 635- 6 'Rabbit Snare d i n th e Night' , 361 , 398, 777,
777 'Violets', 92, 781 'War Baby' , 839 , 84 3 'Wedlock', 50 , 361-2; cf. 'Al l Souls ' 36 1 'Wild Common , T h e ' , 301 , 829, 84 2 'Wind, th e Rascal , T h e ', 78 3 'Young Soldie r wit h Blood y Spurs , T h e ', 33 , 768 'Young Wife , A' , 36 0 'Youth Mowing , A' , 768, 781 'Zennor', 36 4 WORKS Prose {see also pp. 908-10 ) Aaron's Rod, 15 0 pages o f original b y 1 7 March 191 8 835, abandoned June 46 1 (maybe a little more i n September) ; mentioned t o Huebsc h 543 , still abandone d 592; begun agai n July 192 0 but stall s 594 ;
830 'Resurrection', 279 , 289, 415, 418, 81 6 'Revolutionary, The' , 611 , 666 'River Roses' , 356, 76 8 'Rose o f All the World' , 358-9 , 82 8 'Roses on th e Breakfas t Table' , 358 , 76 8 'Schoolmaster, T h e ' (poems) , 2 3 'Sea, T h e ' , 82 9
912
INDEX 'English an d th e Germans , T h e ' , 76 4 'Ephraim's Las t Sovereign' , 8 9
jerks forwar d 601 , hopes t o 'jump.. .picaresque ' 607 ; stuck , an d pu t aside 610 , 628 ; talk s t o Brewster s abou t 641-2; unstuc k an d finished i n Ebersteinburg 645-53 , revalues 'comin g through' i n Look! 865 ; typed 667 , 864 ; revised an d sen t 668 ; F hate s 654 ; foreword 668 , 67 5 (lost) ; after indecision , to preced e Mr Noon I 655-6 ; wai t til l spring 672 ; Seltze r praise s 698 ; but ask s for change s 699 ; D H L goe s throug h bu t cannot expurgat e 699 , 711 ; extract i n Dial
'Fanny an d Annie ' ('Th e Las t Straw') , 768,
715 'Adolf, 499 , 586,84 3 All Things Are Possible, 512-3, 521 , 546, 587-8 'America, Liste n t o You r Own' , 600 , 635, 682, 85 8 'Art an d th e Individual' , 77 5 'At th e Gates' , 390- 1 'Bad Sid e o f Books, T h e ', 78 1 'Blind Man , T h e ' , 467, 479-80, 685 , 841 'Burns Novel' , 57- 8 'By th e Lag o d i Garda' , dat e 776; see Twilight in Italy 'Captain's Doll , T h e ', 667 , 669, 676, 684, 686-9; manuscrip t 870 ; contrast 'Th e Mortal Coil ' and en d o f Women in Love 68 6 'Christening, T h e ' (revise d fro m 'Th e Baker' s Man'), 26 , 89, 76 8 'Chapel Amon g th e Mountains , A' , 33 , 39, 89, 769 'Christs i n th e Tyrol' , 39 , 40, 89 'Clouds', 84 3 Colliery sketches , 55 , 89 'Crown, T h e ' , 269-7 1 'Crucifix Acros s th e Mountains , The' , see Twilight in Italy 'Daughters o f the Vicar ' (revise d fro m 'Tw o Marriages'), 59 , 89, 137 , 141-2 , 775; first suggests novell a a n idea l for m 68 6 'David', 541-2 , 559 , 56 1 'Delilah an d M r Bircumshaw' , 26 , 89, 768; relation t o Sons and Lovers 2 9 'Democracy', 523- 4 'Education o f the People ' ( 4 essays), 483, 488-90; (1 2 essays) 590- 3 'Elsa Culverwell' , 58- 9 'England, M y England ' (1915) , 236, 252-4 , uses 'Wit h th e Guns ' 254 ; rewritten (1921 ) 685,696,700-3,710
913
504, 68 5 Fantasia of the Unconscious, 658-64 ; manuscripts 866-7 ; type d 672 ; forewor d 675, 677-8 , answer t o critic s cut , stil l grumpy 677-8 ; relation o f philosoph y and imaginatio n 678 ; typescript revise d 677-81; titl e 678 ; Epilogue 681 ; contrast 'Hardy', The Rainbow 661-2 , Sons and Lovers 663 ; 'Education o f the People ' 660 'Fly i n th e Ointment , T h e ' (revise d fro m ' T h e Blot') , 26, 768, 89 'Foreword t o Sons and Lovers\ 62-4 , 103 , 108, 122 , 161 , 26 0 'Fox, T h e ' , 483 , 484-6, trie s t o shorte n 504 ; proofs 601 ; rewritten 685 , 689-92; manuscript 87 0 'Fragment o f Staine d Glass , A' , 5 8 'French Son s o f Germany', 10 , 764 'Gentleman fro m Sa n Francisco , T h e ', 65 7 Georgian Poetry, 71- 2 'Goats an d Compasses' , 299 , 302- 6 'Hadrian' ('Yo u Touche d Me') , 504 , 506 , 586, 685-6, 84 3 'Hail i n th e Rhineland' , 12-13 , 17 , 764 'Hay-Hut amon g th e Mountains , A' , 33 , 39, 89, 76 9 'Her T u r n ' , 8 9 'Honour an d Arms' , 77-8; title 778 , see 'Prussian Officer , T h e ' 'Horse-Dealer's Daughter , T h e ('Th e Miracle'), 351 , 676, 684, 686, 82 7 'How a Sp y i s Arrested', 10 , 12 , 764 'Insurrection o f Miss Houghton , T h e ' , 58-9 , 66-8, 72 ; and Bennett' s Ann a 72 ; awaited from Bavari a i n 1920 : 549, 553; arrives, re write begu n 565 ; scrapped 572 ; see The Lost Girl 'Intimacy', see 'Witch a la Mode ' 'Introduction' t o Magnus, M. , Memoirs of the Foreign Legion, see 'Memoir o f Mauric e Magnus' 'Ladybird, T h e ' , 412 , 685, 693-6, 710 ; transforms 'Th e Thimble ' 692- 3 'Last Straw , T h e ' , see 'Fanny an d Annie ' 'Lessford's Rabbits' , 9 0 'Lesson o n a Tortoise', 9 0 'Life', 390 , 428, 832- 3
INDEX Chambers suggest s h e rewrit e 7 ; thir d version show n t o he r 13 ; 'Miriam papers ' in respons e 13-14 ; problem o f what thi s stage containe d 13 , 765-6; problem o f wha t Jessie rea d 13 , 765-6, 771-2; proble m o f when complete d 771-2 ; D HL discusse s with Nevill e 13 , 765; third versio n revise d at Waldbro l 13-14 , 766; sent t o Heineman n 25; rejecte d 26 , 149 ; de l a Mare's criticis m 26; Garnet t read s fo r Duckwort h 27-8 ; surviving fragment s 28— 9
Lawrence, D.H . (cont.) 'Looking Dow n o n th e City' , 542 , 559, 561, 642, 86 4 Lost Girl, The, 572-8 , finished 854 ; title 573; typed 586 ; negotiations 573 , 586, 853; revision an d change s 575-6 ; relationt o Whitman 576 ; to Twilight in Italy 577 ; hopes o f serialisation 588 ; proofs 598 , 601, 858; advance copie s but mus t alte r a passage 607 ; copies sen t b y Seeke r t o Ne w York 610-2 ; reviews 612 ; sales 613, 862; royalties 700 ; James Tai t Blac k Priz e 70 0 'Love', 390 , 428 'Love amon g th e Haystacks' , 89-90 , 780 , 86 8 'Memoir o f Maurice Magnus' , 703- 8 'Miracle, The', see 'Horse-Dealer's Daughter , The' Mr Noon, biographer s shoul d us e wit h caution 18-19 , 7°4> accuracy abou t journe y to Ital y 769 ; first ninetee n chapter s 614-21 ; Part I by 9 December 617 ; Part I I t o chapter xi x b y 3 1 Decembe r 621 ; effect o f reviews 619 ; chap, x x the n paus e 627 ; continues t o wha t w e no w have , 'end i n sight' 627-30 , 635 ; hopes t o serialis e Par t I 635; consequences of Aaron's Rod first , Par t I unpublished i n D H L ' s lifetime , Par t I I never finishe d 656 ; but bein g type d 700 ; un-Englishing relate s t o The Lost Girl an d Aaron's Rod 86 1 'Modern Lover , A' , 9 0 'Monkey Nuts' , 504 , 68 4 'Morgenrot' (unfinished) , 217 , 219, 227-8 , 236, 239; impasse overcom e 267 , 26 9 Mornings in Mexico, 38 6 'Mortal Coil , The', 105 , 345, 686, 825, 868 Movements in European History, 462 ; specimen chapter s (late r i-m ) 464 , anothe r two 483 , has reache d v m 491 , four 'last ' 493, 842 ; revises 501-2 ; payment 503 ; epilogue 858-9 ; proofs 607 , 609; anothe r chapter 609 , 614; sales 865 ; not t o com e ou t in US A 86 5 'New Ev e an d Ol d Adam' , 74-6 , 89 , 778 'Odour o f Chrysanthemums', 58 , 138 ; cf . Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd 93, 781 , cf. Sons and Lovers 93 , 13 8 'Old Adam , The', 89 , 780 'Once —!' , 26 , 89, 105 , 768, 86 8 'Overtone, The' , 64-6 , 90, 775, 86 8 'Paul Morel' , secon d version , 53 , 58; Jessie
914
'Prelude, The' , 9 0 'Primrose Path , T h e ' , 89-90 , 105 , 676, 683, 685-6, 78 0 'Prussian Officer , T h e ' (Honou r an d Arms') , 77-8,89, 150 , 184,77 8 Prussian Officer, The, 137-42 ; D HL o n titl e and orde r o f stories 797 ; anticipations o f The Rainbow 139 , 140 , 174-5 ; proofs 150 ; published 174 ; praised b y Ottolin e Morrel l 182; refused b y Boot s an d sell s poorl y 183 ; false rumou r o f prosecution 20 1 Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious, 542, 552-6, 635 ; published 656-7 ; reviews 667 , 672, 677 , 867; D H L 's 'answer ' 677- 8 Rainbow, The, no t databl e t o 1912 : 765; shaped b y 'Hardy ' 167-8 ; first generatio n 172-6; secon d generatio n 176-8 ; decisio n to remov e Birki n materia l 179 ; transitiona l chapters 179-80 ; re-seeing Sons and Lovers 174; re-seeing Letti e an d Georg e i n The White Peacock 174 , 176 ; the thir d generation 200-8 ; and 'Th e Whit e Stocking' 201 ; and 'Odou r o f Chrysanthemums'174, 797 ; and 'Daughter s of the Vicar ' 174-5 ; 'Shame' an d th e exploration o f homosexuality 201-4 ; schoo l and universit y 204-5 ; Ursula an d Skrebensky 205-6 ; the horses , Marc, Va n Gogh 206-7 ; revision 220-4 : th e cathedra l 220; 'dark ' sensua l relatio n o f Anna an d Will 220-2 ; Ursul a mad e mor e destructiv e 223; relation o f novel t o th e Grea t Wa r 223-4; D u t creativ e force s stil l availabl e 224; proof revisio n 249-50 , so extensive , D H L charged , 249 ; Methuen deman d self censorship 250 ; D H L 's respons e 251; Methuen place s prin t orde r 252 ; review s 275, 277 , 813; for bannin g se e als o Methuen; D H L wil l never forgiv e Englan d 520; negotiations 1919-2 0 t o republish ,
INDEX 'Soiled Rose , The', see 'Shades o f Spring , The' Sons and Lovers, 'Pau l Morel ' fragment s revised t o pp . 1-7 9 i n Ickin g 28-9 ; inn a t Bogliaco as might-have-been 37-8 , 55 ; title announced 42 ; discusses wit h F 4 2 - 3 ; F' s effect o n 42-3,46 , 47 , 48; D HL defend s form an d unit y 43-4 ; 'thousands o f youn g men' 44 , 770; more critica l o f Mrs More l 28, 43; 'oppositions' i n Par t I 45; structura l relations 45-6 ; Paul, Miriam , Clara , way s o f analysing spli t i n himsel f 46; no knowin g what of'Passion ' wa s in 'Pau l Morel ' o r how nove l ende d 47-8 ; D HL mad e il l by writing deat h o f Mrs More l no w 48 , 772; kick agains t traged y 48 ; ways in whic h novel look s forwar d rathe r tha n bac k 49 ; cuts 50 , 776; proofs 54 , 66, 69; sent t o Jessie 54, 773; critical of style and characterisatio n later 67 , 10 6 109 ; 'end o f my youthfu l period' 69 , 78; cover 69 ; F see s 'amazin g brutality' 78 ; sales 89, 120 ; reviews 100 , 779, no contrac t i n Americ a 63 4 Characters: Walte r More l 28-9 , 42 , 55-6 ; Gertrude More l 28-9 , 42-6, 48-9 , 56 , 772; William More l 28-9 , 43-5, 776; Miria m Leivers 11-13 , 4 2 - 3, 45-6, 49 , 777; Clar a Dawes 46-7 , 49, 108 ; Baxter Dawe s 47- 8 Attempts t o ge t beyond 55-66 , 93; different ar t i n ne w fiction 67 , 107-8 ; reseen i n Fantasia 66 3
with Seeke r an d Duckwort h 549 , 557 , 565; praised b y American s 600 , 813 ; D HL can' t recover fro m Huebsc h 634 ; psycholog y reversed i n Fantasia 661- 2 'Reality o f Peace, T h e ', 368-72 , 382-3 ; see also 'Whistling o f Birds, 'Love' , 'Life ' Reviews, see Georgian Poetry, 'Thoma s Mann ' 'Rex', 499 , 58 6 'Samson an d Delilah ' ('Th e Prodiga l Son') , 297,345,685,8i8,826 'Scargill Street' , 55 , 56- 7 Sea and Sardinia, 621—6 , 627-8; comi c characterisation, cf . Mr Noon 622 ; trave l book, cf . Twilight in Italy 622 ; typed 635 ; corrected 638 ; illustrations 656 ; Dial extracts 668 , 676, 681, 866; copies 71 1 'Shades o f Spring, The' , 6 4 'Shadow i n th e Ros e Garden , T h e ' , 89 , 78 0 'Sick Collier , A' , 8 9 Signature, 261 , 262, 264; subscriptions 812-3 ; see 'The Crown ' 'Sisters I , The', 67-8 , 69, 71-4, 89 , 120 ; Ella and Gudru n 72-3 , Gerald 73 , Loerke 7 3 'Sisters II , The' , 93-4 , 105-9 ; S o e s behin d into girlhoo d o f heroine s 93 ; new titl e 106 ; difference fro m Sons and Lovers 107-9 ; Garnett's criticism s 108-9 ; abandone d unfinished 109 ; survivin g fragmen t no—1 ; Ella 108-11 , Birki n n o - i , Templema n HI
'Sisters III , The' , unpublishabl e 'Prologue ' and first versio n 328-31 ; type s an d revises (Jul y t o November ) 331-38 ; typing to o muc h fo r him , continue s i n notebooks, Pinke r agree s t o typ e (together, TSI ) 333 ; finished an d revise d but fo r epilogue , send s t o Pinke r an d t o Carswells t o ve t 342 ; refuse d b y publishe r after publishe r 349 ; ha d bee n apocalypti c from th e star t 328 ; F no w want s i t calle d 'Dies Irae' , bu t D H L want s emphasi s o n love 333 ; retype d b y Pinke r (TSII ) 366 ; Birkin an d Geral d i n discarde d 'Prologue ' 329-30, i n nove l 336 ; Hermion e i n 'Prologue' 330 , i n nove l 333-4 ; Pussu m and Hallida y 334-5 ; them e o f violenc e i n all 334-5 ; Birki n an d Ursul a 335 , 336-7 ; Gerald an d Gudru n 335-6 , 337 ; Geral d and Birki n 336 ; T h e Pompadou r 337-8 ; see comparison s wit h revisio n int o Women In Love 391- 8
'Strike Pay ' I and II , 8 9 'Studies i n Classi c America n Literature ' (original version) , begun 399 , compositio n 438-9; exploratio n befor e ideas , bu t influence o f Pryse, Gibbon , Frobenius , coherence 439-40 ; Crevecoeu r 440-1 ; Franklin 441-2 ; Coope r 442-4 ; Po e 445 ; Hawthorne 445-6 ; Spiri t o f Place 447-8 ; Two Principle s 448-9 ; Dana 450-1 ; Melville 451-3 ; Whitma n 453-7 , 521-2 ; 'Democracy' a s possible substitut e 528 ; manuscripts 839 ; copies mad e 522 , 528; thirteen-essay manuscrip t sen t t o Huebsc h 30 Septembe r 1919 : 522; relationships i n comparison an d contras t wit h 'Hardy ' 439 , 441, 443-4 , 449; 'The Crown ' 444-5 , 449; 1920: ultimatum t o Huebsc h 587 ; the n revises, especiall y secon d Hawthorne , Melville, Whitma n 589 ; manuscripts 856 ; sends revise d whol e t o Mountsie r 2 Augus t
915
INDEX Lawrence, D.H . (cont.) 1920: 589; greatly revise d 'Whitman ' i n magazines 856 , 863, 714; thinking o f Cap e in Englan d 71 4 'Study o f Thomas Hardy' , 151 , 158-64; 'L e Gai Savaire ' 159 ; self-achievement 159 ; th e war an d bein g an outside r 160 , 162 ; ills of society 169, ; consciousness an d wor k 160 ; 'great background ' o f forces 160 ; male an d female i n everyon e 161 ; growth throug h conflict o f opposites, Father , Son , Hol y Spirit 161 , 163-4; m paintin g 162 , 794; Hardy's 'aristocrats ' 160 ; The Return of the Native 160 ; Tess and jfude 162-3 ; Hardy' s pessimism an d tragi c visio n 163 ; suprem e fiction stil l t o be achieve d 163-4 ; stag e towards an d influenc e o n The Rainbow 164 ; 167-8; bisexualit y mean s n o animu s agains t Michelangelo, Sappho , Su e 202 ; work i s life mad e articulat e 260 ; bisexuality , admixture o f male and femal e within , denied i n Fantasia 66 1 'Thimble, T h e ', 279 , 412, 69 2 'Thomas Mann' , 78-9 , 137 , 159 , 778 'Thorn i n th e Flesh , T h e ' ('Vi n Ordinaire') ,
'Vin Ordinaire' , see 'Thorn i n th e Flesh , T h e ' 'Wedding Ring, T h e ', begins now with Ella' s grandparents 116 ; magnum opu s ('Th e Sisters' I and II ) 121 ; Kuttner repor t a s evidence of contents 121 ; Frieda want s i t called 'Th e Rainbow' 12 1 (but i t include s much o f what will be Women in Love); D H L defends psycholog y an d characterisatio n 123-5; changed ton e to Garnett 126 ; length 786; rewritten int o The Rainbow i67ff . Characters: Ell a 121 , 125; Gudrun 121 ; Birkin 121 ; Gerald 12 1
76-7, 89 , 138-9 , 142 , 686 'Tickets Please' , 483, 486-7, 494 , 503 , 685- 6 Trespasser, The, Siegmun d i n 24 ; publishe d 26; 'A reprehensibl e jaunt ' 26 ; Garnet t rescues 27 ; payment fo r 36 ; Georgian 13 0 Twilight in Italy, 'B y th e Lag o d i Garda ' 39 , 68-9; rewritte n int o Twilight 261 , 264-9, 271-4; F . misdate s 771 , 811 : 'Christs i n the Tyrol ' 39 ; rewritten (afte r The Rainbow) int o 'Th e Crucifi x Acros s th e Mountains' 265 ; 'The Spinne r an d th e Monks' 68 , rewritten 261 , 265-6; 'Th e Lemon Gardens ' 68 , rewritten 266—7 , ana * 'Hardy' 266 ; 'The Theatre ' 68 , 775, rewritten 267-8 ; new essays : 'Sa n Gaudenzio' 268-9 , ana * The Rainbow 268 ; 'The Dance ' 271-2 , 812, and The Rainbow 271; 'I I Duro' 272 , 276, 812, and The Rainbow 272 , Magnus o n 855 ; 'John' 776 , 272-3, 812 ; 'Italians i n Exile ' 94-5 , 273-4 , 276, 812 ; 'The Retur n Journey' 95-7 , 274 , 812; 'memories' reshape d afte r The Rainbow 69 , 776, 782; see also Capell i family, Magri , Almgre n (Cyriax ) Verga, Giovanni , Mastro-don Gesualdo, begin s translating 710 , 715
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White Peacock, The ', Cyril i n 24 ; third perso n narrative i n 778 ; bathing scen e 104 , 783; reviews 88 ; as Georgian 130 ; Lettie an d George re-see n i n The Rainbow, 174 , 176 ; E.M. Forste r o n 202 , 803; republished 224 ; no contrac t i n Americ a 63 4 'Whistling o f Birds', 369 , 499, 804; see also 'Reality o f Peace ' 'White Stocking , T h e ', 89 , 139-41 , 778 , 79 0 'Wintry Peacock' , 494-5 , 565, 586, 655, 667, 685-6 'Witch a la Mode', 89 , 714, 86 8 'With th e Guns' , 151 ; used i n 'England , M y England' 25 4 Women in Love (rewritte n 1917-19) , 391-8 , critique o f Birkin 391-2 ; Birkin's ide a o f love gradually free d fro m chauvinis m an d clarified 392-3 , 830 ; 'Moony' expande d t o clarify thre e 'ways ' 393-4 ; 'Excurse ' rewritten usin g Prys e 394-5 ; 'love' no w all inclusive 395-6 ; the destructiv e 'ways ' clarified, als o using Pryse 396-7 ; blood brotherhood scen e 397 ; new epilogu e an d its question 397-8 ; last revisio n (1919 ) 520-1; Forewor d 520 , 845; sent t o Seltze r 520, who advance s £50 : 543 ; Seeker als o wants, now 52 7 (fo r three-wa y dilemm a with Huebsc h se e unde r them) ; ide a o f publishing togethe r wit h The Rainbow a s vols. I and I I turne d dow n b y Seeke r 549 , 557; his contrac t an d advanc e 573 , 586, 854; Seltzer t o pres s 571 ; first galley s 596 , full se t 607 ; published 608 ; Seeker proof s 607-8, ask s fo r change s 608 ; D HL o n chapter division , d o no t sen d fo r revie w 608; Seeke r publishe s 656 ; reviews 656 , 671-2; Seeke r suspend s sal e 672 ; D H L alterations 675 ; deluxe editio n 71 4 Characters now : Ursula an d Birki n
INDEX quoted 5 ; as revised 391-6 , 397-8 ; Geral d and Gudru n 396-7 ; Gerald an d the Pussum 396 ; Hermione 396 ; Gerald an d Birkin 397 Lawrence, Emily , see King, Emil y Lawrence, Ernest, and Gerald, 331; International Library of Famous Literature 82 4 Lawrence, Fried a LIFE, life before 1Q12: brie f biography 761; loving and playful mothe r 20 ; holiday i n Margate 83 , 779; affairs wit h Gros s 6 , 7, 762; Frick 7 , 39, 763; Dowson 7 , 761, 770 1912: first meetin g wit h D H L 5-6, 761-2; in love with hi m at Holbrooks' far m 6 ; weekend a t The Cearne 6 ; tells Weekley abou t former lover s 7; leaves with D H L for Met z 5, 6-7; no intention t o abandon husban d and childre n 5 , 761-2; caught u p in famil y celebration i n Metz 8 ; posts D H L ' s lette r t o Weekley 10 ; strays wit h D H L into militar y area 10 ; telegram fro m Weekle y answere d with confessio n 10-11 ; her father' s reproach 11 ; chaperoned t o Trier, unde r orders t o return 11 ; family pressur e afte r D H L ' s departur e t o Waldbrol 15-16 ; Weekley's vacillations , and hers 15 ; flees to Else's 16 ; Maude Weekle y an d Lil y Kipping be g her to come back 16 , 766; agonies over th e children 16 , 18, 2 0 - 1, 23; momentarily fear s ma y be pregnant 16 ; nowsure she loves D HL but reproaches hi m for not comin g t o her at once 17 ; threatens t o have von Henning 17 ; nightmare of fallin g 17; goes to Wolfratshausen 16 , 18, 21, 23; meets D HL in Munich 18 ; 'honeymoon' i n Beuerberg 18-19 ; tensions wit h D H L ove r the children 2 0 - 1 , 23; contempt fo r D HL poem t o his mother 21 , 767; she runs of f to Else's fro m Ickin g 21 , 23; quarrel ove r fireflies 22 ; Weekley wil l take her back if she renounces D H L , she refuses 23 ; no divorce and must foreg o childre n 23; visited by Bunny Garnet t 29-31 ; visite d by mother, angr y a t D H L 's pusillanimit y 30-1; she and D HL set out for Italy ove r Alps 31-6 {see Italy, Journey to) ; more agonising letter s fro m Weekle y a t Mayrhofen 32 ; joined b y Bunny, the n Hobson 33 ; set out together, F sleep s wit h Hobson a t Dominicus-Hiitte 33-4 , tells D H L an d is forgiven 3 5 (cf. likelihoo d o f
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woodcutter an d von Henning 35) ; weeps in Trento 36 ; happy a t Riva, clothe s fro m Nusch 36 ; colic 36 (cf. 1917 , 1919); to Gargnano 36ff. ; love , passion an d battle s there 38 ; Weekley offer s flat wit h childre n if she renounces D H L 38-9; careless wit h Dowson's lette r 770 ; family pressur e renewed 51 ; refuses Weekley' s new conditions fo r divorce 51 ; idea of marrriage gives her 'creeps' 51 ; Hobson visit s 51; unhappy Christma s 51- 2 1913: Weekle y finally agree s t o divorc e 53 ; Tony Cyria x visit s 53-4 ; no seein g children a t Easte r 54 ; near suicida l miser y 54; mov e t o Sa n Gaudenzi o 55 ; dancing with woodcutte r 69 ; at Campion e 776 ; they joi n Els e i n Veron a 69 ; decide t o g o to Irschenhause n 70 ; her opinio n o f Jessie's nove l 7 0 - 1 , 78; feels a n outcas t 70; argument s ove r seein g childre n 'b y hook o r crook ' 70 , 8 0 - 1 ; sees hersel f i n 'The Sisters ' 72 ; breaks plat e ove r D H L ' s head 74 ; to T h e Cearn e 79 ; Bunny' s sympathy 8 0 - 1 ; clandestin e meeting s wit h children 82 ; D HL involve d 82 ; injunctio n against he r 82 ; Kingsgate an d Londo n 83 , 84-8; fail s t o se e childre n agai n 88 ; returns t o Irschenhause n alon e 88 ; her birthday 91 ; dissension ove r plans , F t o Baden-Baden alon e 92 ; Fiascherino an d Ellide 98-9 ; her pian o 99 ; with th e Waterfields 101 ; rich expatriate s 101-2 ; happy Christma s 10 6 1914: confide s i n Constanc e Garnet t 113; replies t o Garnett's criticis m o f her 113; quarrel wit h D H L over he r attitude t o his work 113 ; vengeanc e fo r his over th e children 113 ; her attitude changin g no w as his wor k doe s 113-5 ; agrees t o marry hi m 115; Ivy Low outstays he r welcome 118; hopes fo r chang e i n Weekley no w 126 ; to Baden-Baden alon e 126 ; father il l and broken 128 ; to London I28ff. ; lunc h wit h Brooke 129 ; Bunny's Soh o dinne r 131; Catherine (Carswell) , mutua l likin g 132-3 ; to th e H.G. Wells's 133 ; marries D H L 142-3; give s Weekley' s rin g t o Katharin e Mansfield 143 ; the wedding photograph s 143; the children mad e t o run fro m he r 146; finds, an d invades , the Weekley hous e in Chiswic k 146-7 ; calls out in Germa n a t
INDEX Lawrence, Fried a (cont.) Bunny's, brings detective s 148—9 ; move t o Chesham 149 ; reproves Mars h fo r view s o n war 151 ; Compton Mackenzi e visit s 151 ; glimpses Weekle y an d th e childre n 152 ; Murrys com e t o liv e nearby 152-8 ; {Catherine's suppor t 153 , 156-7 ; Murry' s antipathy 155-7 ; quarrels wit h D H L 156-7; sexua l complaints , withdrawa l an d retaliation 156 , 158 ; waylays Weekle y i n Nottingham, he r miscalculatio n 169 ; Christmas celebration s 170-1 ; reproache s {Catherine 17 2 79/5: entertaine d b y Lad y Ottolin e 184 ; Grant's painting s 184 ; move t o Greatha m and first reactio n 185 ; asks Ottolin e t o writ e to Weekley 189 , 801, 803; sore point s t o Forster, Kot , Russel l 198-9 ; reads Murry' s novel 803 ; death o f her fathe r 198 ; quarrels with Hueffe r an d Viole t Hun t whe n D H L in Cambridg e 225 ; has irritatin g col d 227 ; letters sho w increasin g irritatio n a t 'Meynellage' 229 , 807; evidence o f quarrel s with D H L agai n 227 , 229, 230, 231; she decides t o loo k fo r Londo n flat fo r hersel f 233, 235-6 , 240 ; visits Garsington , antagonistic, fierce quarre l wit h D H L an d stalks off 237 ; tears u p D H L lette r t o Ottoline durin g Russell' s visit , D H L threatens t o hi t he r 239 ; unburdens hersel f to Cynthia , the n write s t o Ottolin e 240 ; at Michael Asquith' s birthda y party , stil l tension 255 ; D HL invite d t o Garsingto n without he r 255 , but the y g o t o Littlehampton instead , afte r leavin g Greatham 255-6 ; set u p hom e i n Hampstead 256 ; happier a t first bu t stil l tension wit h D H L 257 , 260, and hi s ange r 261; Weekle y allow s meetin g wit h childre n in lawyer' s office , he r disappointmen t 257 ; stories o f D HL attemptin g t o subdu e he r in Byro n villa s 287 , 815; second visi t t o Garsington, react s again t o Ottolin e makin g D H L a 'favourite' 290-1 ; wit h D H L a t Ripley 295 ; to Cornwal l a t year' s en d 29 6 igi6: s o worried abou t D H L ' s collaps e a t Porthcothan tha t appeal s t o Russel l 299 ; later tell s hi m h e ha s no t reall y care d fo r D H L o r respecte d he r 306 ; friendly letter s to Ottoline 307 ; but whe n hear s fro m Heseltine wha t wa s said a t Garsington ,
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another denunciatio n 307-8 ; attempt a t reconciliation, bu t relationshi p erode d b y their hostilit y 309 ; move t o Zenno r 312 ; letters t o th e Murrys , an d he r suspicion s 314; days o f harmony an d companionshi p with {Catherin e 318 ; Murry's gossi p cause s another fierce lette r t o Ottolin e 320-1 ; opens lette r fro m Ottolin e t o Murrys , discovers thei r allianc e 321 ; violent ro w with D H L wh o beat s he r 319-20 ; wh y sh e started i t 322, 327; next da y i t ha s blow n over 320 ; some month s late r sh e hit s D H L with a stoneware plat e 327 ; visit t o Mylo r 339-8; like s Willia m Henr y a t first, h e needs a woman 339 ; is through wit h th e Murrys, send s a 'biff 340-1 , 824 ; goes t o London t o se e children i n September , staying wit h Dolli e 332 , 823; finds D H L il l on retur n 332 ; likes Barbara bette r o n he r visit 342 ; tells Catherin e abou t hittin g D H L o n th e hea d 343 ; Christmas wit h Mountsier an d Esthe r Andrew s 345 ; 'jolly' , but ha d bee n stoppe d o n cliff , polic e cal l Christmas Ev e 346 , Mountsier arreste d a t New Yea r 34 7 79/7: sinc e Murrys ' departur e ha d relativ e domestic peac e 372 ; friendship wit h Esthe r Andrews 373 ; pleased wit h Women in Love (as against Mendel) 372 ; triumphant a t Ottoline's reactio n t o th e nove l 350 ; bits i n her handwritin g becaus e sh e ha d helpe d transcribe revision s 350 ; sees childre n again, get s o n bette r wit h Ko t 366 ; tol d about Ernes t an d Glady s Bradley , no t indifferent 366 ; falls il l while D H L awa y but Esthe r Andrew s visitin g 368 , 374; wa s there the n a n affai r betwee n Esthe r an d DHL? 374-6 ; afterwards h e withdraws , gardens, friendshi p wit h Willia m Henr y deepens 376-7 ; was ther e a homosexua l 'affair' betwee n hi m an d DHL ? 376-82 ; certainly feel s deserte d 379 ; in 195 3 speak s of fighting D H L ' s 'homosexuality ' 377 ; an d to H.D. i n 191 7 on D H L preferrin g me n 831; irritatio n an d jealous y whe n D H L neglects he r 404 ; but als o isolated , n o clos e friends, a social distance fro m Hockin g family an d villag e 404; must hav e feare d what woul d happe n i f D HL lef t he r o r wa s conscripted 405 ; has attac k o f neuritis i n her le g 386; their first visit s t o Gra y 386 ;
INDEX D H L trie s t o ge t Salli e Hopkin a s compan y for her , invite s Mr s Tarr y 405 ; livelier when youn g me n com e 405 ; cottag e searched whil e sh e i s at Bosigran , the n expulsion orde r - wa s she havin g a n affai r with Gray ? 405 ; satirical lette r t o hi m abou t D H L , H.D . an d othe r wome n 414 ; take n up b y Gra y 414-5 ; implications o f this, an d D H L ' s replies ? 414-6 ; i n Mecklenburg h Square, as described b y H.D . 419-20 ; th e serpent i n D H L ' s charade , play s i t good humouredly 42 5
illness infuriate s D H L 498 , 843; he think s of leavin g her , wil l no t com e t o Germany , begins t o sho w an d advocat e independenc e 498, 508 , 845; back a t Hermitag e i n lat e April 503 ; expeditions t o Boxfor d an d Bucklebury 503 , 506-7; in Pangbourn e 511-2, 514-5 ; applies fo r passport s s o as t o be read y a s soon a s Peac e Treat y i s ratifie d 515-6; a t Grimsbur y Farm , anothe r rumpus 516-8 ; last week s at Hermitage , Goldring's vie w o f her 518-9 ; anxiet y about condition s i n German y an d abou t Else an d Edga r afte r th e violenc e i n Munich; frustratio n a t dela y 519-20 ; complex emotion s a s she leave s fo r Germany alon e 526 ; Ada give s he r £10 : 543; conditions i n German y 527 ; loss of he r trunk 527 , 540 , 846—7; 'none to o happy ' i n Baden-Baden an d likel y t o rejoi n hi m soo n 529; wires t o Florence , seekin g trave l permits an d visa , wil l com e o n 3 Decembe r 540; arrives 4 a.m, D H L insist s o n a n ope n carriage roun d th e cit y i n moonlight , he r appreciation o f i t 543 ; pleased t o se e Douglas an d tal k Germa n 543 ; not shocke d by expatriat e homosexual s bu t the y see m old maid s lik e 'Cranford ' 543 ; may hav e been take n t o Torrigian i musica l 'a t home ' by Reggi e Turne r 543 ; certainly visite d Trench's wif e an d daughte r a t Settignan o 849; after carrot s i n Germany , overeat s an d drinks, stomac h troubl e agai n 545 ; in Rome, hav e t o leav e pension e becaus e o f anti-German prejudic e 544 ; robbed a t Ellesina Santoro' s an d leav e Rom e quickl y 544-5; Orazio' s house , an d condition s i n Picinisco 545-6 ; arduou s journe y t o Capr i 547; their beautifu l room s i n Palazz o Ferraro 54 7 ig2o: Ne w Year' s Ev e i n Morgano' s 550 ; retires t o th e bedroo m fro m th e smok e o f neo-platonic argumen t 552 ; once flie s ou t at Mackenzie , call s hi m ' a bore' 568 ; bu t Mary Canna n there , who m sh e alway s like d 551; visi t t o Amalf i wit h D H L 557 ; no t invited t o Montecassino , D H L goe s alon e 566; as also t o Sicil y wit h th e Bret t Young s (who don' t lik e her) 569 , under pressur e t o find he r a house quickl y 569-70 ; F arrive s with Mar y an d immediatel y love s Fontan a Vecchia 571 ; expatriates, locals , meals wit h
IQI8: Jac k White' s visit , please d t o se e husband pai d out ? 434 ; tensions an d arguments whe n the y hav e t o leav e Hermitage 434-5 , 437; she woul d prefe r Berkshire villag e t o Midland s 435 ; sees children again , shock s Mont y b y wantin g to hid e hi m fro m th e arm y 436 ; to Mountain cottage , surrounded b y D H L family an d friend s 457-8 ; D HL say s sh e i s 'about a s happy an d unhapp y a s you migh t expect' 463 ; while h e work s o n histor y book, ha s onl y hi s three-year-ol d nephe w to kee p he r amuse d 464 ; Royal Fun d money allow s trainfar e t o London t o se e the childre n agai n i n August , the n Mersea , Hermitage, Fores t o f Dean 465-6 ; described b y Catherin e i n chec k outfit , an d 'ejaculatory' 466 ; angered b y Nanc y Henry's intensity , anothe r o f D H L ' s women 467 ; London agai n afte r D H L examined i n Derb y 472 ; relationship wit h {Catherine no w 473-4 ; fall s ill , ordered t o bed b y Maitlan d Radfor d 474 ; fears fl u epidemic, the y g o to Hermitag e 474-5 ; tension wit h D H L again , German y losing , she i s worried abou t he r family , h e shoul d be mor e sympatheti c 474 , 482; her reactio n to th e Armistice , the y sin g sa d Germa n songs 481 ; but ha d als o bee n t o Mont y Shearman's part y i n th e Adelphi , sh e mor e friendly toward s Bunn y tha n D H L 481 ; at village celebration dresse s u p Georg e Brewer a s a gypsy fortune-telle r 841 ; doesn't wan t t o g o north again , s o stays , while h e goe s alone 482; arguments ove r male precedence ? 488 ; returns t o Mountai n Cottage 491 ; Christmas celebration s 49 2 igig: F long s t o g o to German y 492 ; her failure t o car e fo r hi m i n hi s dangerou s
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INDEX Lawrence, Fried a (cont.) Mary a t th e Time o 578-80 ; story o f th e mayor an d th e plate-throwin g 580 , 854 ; excursions t o Catani a (t o hav e he r toot h fixed), Randazz o wit h th e Jutas, Maniac e (wears he r blu e silk ) and Syracus e wit h it s death-quarry 580-1 ; hostilit y t o Magnus' s pleas fo r hel p (h e thinks he r a 'bitch' an d 'hard a s nails') 582-3 ; wit h Mar y Canna n to Malta, shoppin g an d lazin g 585 ; 'sun dazed' o n return , begin s t o lon g fo r Germany agai n 585 ; likes Mary wit h he r hair bobbe d fo r th e hea t 585 ; D H L gathering mulberrie s i n bathin g costum e looks like a bloodstained Christu s 856-7 ; since D H L read s he r hi s work , mus t realis e how hi s attitud e t o marriag e ha s change d since 1915-17 , partly a s a reaction t o he r 591-3; b y lat e June eve n seabathin g make s them hotte r 593 ; they prepar e t o g o together t o Anticol i an d Milan , the n sh e t o Baden-Baden, h e o n walkin g tou r wit h th e Whittleys 595 ; leave on 2 August 596 ; visi t Montecassino, mee t Juta an d Insol e i n Rome, sta y wit h the m i n Anticol i 597 , leaves D HL i n Mila n an d t o Baden-Bade n 597-8; 'loved ' i t there, sa w Else i n Munich , enthuses abou t danc e an d folk-dram a 607 , suggests D H L joi n her , o r failin g that , meet u p wit h Juta an d Insol e i n Venic e 604; trouble wit h passpor t 606 , but return s 'chirpy' 607 ; a week i n Venic e 606 ; a tiresome journe y bac k t o Taormina 606 , and alon e wit h D H L i n Font e Vecchi a i n the rain , 'glad ' (sh e says ) 't o b e togethe r again' 607 ; cattle fai r a t Letojann i 610 ; a new hote l t o repor t on , an d hold s tea parties 611 ; increases he r pressur e o n D H L to spend nex t summe r an d autum n i n Baden-Baden 611 ; idea o f trip t o Sardini a in new yea r 62 1 1Q21: journey t o and i n Sardini a 621-6 ; back in Taormina, Juta an d Insol e visi t and a 'jolly dance ' ( D HL grumpy , nos e out o f joint) 632 ; was she 'amused ' b y th e ide a o f Thrasher's farm ? 634 ; had mad e hi m promise to come t o Baden-Baden 636 , now mother's illnes s settles the matter 637 ; must hav e been arguments , but D H L see s her of f at Palermo 637 ; he decide s t o kee p Fontana Vecchi a and follo w t o Baden -
Baden, more leisurel y 640 ; they settl e i n Ebersteinburg o n th e edge of the Blac k Forest 643-4 ; n e r mothe r dependen t now , wants the m t o stay all summer 644 ; F. briefly t o Else at death o f Edgar 644 , 654, Nusch visit s Baden wit h Emi l vo n Kru g 644; F please d t o be needed , an d b y D H L ' s friendshi p wit h he r mothe r 653-4 ; less unequal term s wit h sister s tha n 1913-14: 654; her homelan d now , wher e has some socia l standing i n he r ow n righ t 654; D HL workin g well , easier t o live wit h 654; all this makes he r happie r tha n fo r years, but a s family gathers , D HL want s t o move 664-5 ; tension solve d b y goin g t o Nusch a t Zell, happy agai n 667-8 ; only D H L canno t work , more argument , however th e weathe r an d th e vo n Schreibershofen househol d brea k u p 668 ; last excursion t o Karlingen glacie r 669 ; then t o Florence wit h Mar y Cannan , Carswells, Whittleys 670-1 ; D H L canno t work ther e either , s o to Siena, Rome , Naples wit h Whittley s 672 ; Capri, wher e meets Brewsters 672-3 ; Fontan a Vecchi a after horribl e trai n journe y 673 ; expatriates return, partie s begin again , D H L impatient bu t sh e enjoys 676 ; D H L ' s picture o f the marriag e h e wante d an d perhaps ha d a t Ebersteinburg 681 , but revised Fantasia pinpoint s hi s grievance s 680; they ar e invite d t o Taos 681-2 ; a long way from Germany , an d he r nativ e American necklac e doe s not arriv e 867 ; while D H L wa s deeply preoccupie d wit h stories and novellas , she may hav e fel t neglected; wa s there a n affai r wit h a youn g contadino? 696- 8 ig22\ D H L il l and depresse d fo r thre e week s 709-10; speaks o f sorrow a s a condition o f life tha t mus t b e accepte d 712 ; but coul d b e because sh e wa s unwilling t o go , an d showed th e limit s of her honouring , obeying and submergin g hersel f 713 ; entertains th e journalis t Henr y Jame s Forman an d wife , wickedl y agreein g tha t the blow t o Birkin wa s 'preposterous ' 716 ; in las t tri p t o Palermo , insist s o n addin g a painted cart-pane l t o thei r trunk s an d boxes 717 ; catches col d i n Naples , the y sai l on R.M.S. Osterley 71 7
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INDEX CHARACTERISTICS AND CONCERNS Described by : Bunn y Garnet t 30 ; Catherin e Carswell 132 ; Hilda Jelbert 'jokey , stou t and fair ' 82 2 sexual freedo m 6 , 24-5 , 35 ; affairs rea l an d anecdotal: Gros s 6 , 7 , 762 , hi s ide a o f he r 6, 7 , 22 , 24-5 , 35 , 63 ; Fric k 7 , 39 , 763; Dowson 7 , 761 , 770; vo n Hennin g 17 , 35, 766; Bavaria n woodcutte r 35 , 769-70 ; D H L attitud e t o thes e tw o suggest s h e di d not believ e anythin g happene d 868-9 ; Hobson 35 , 769; Gra y 405 ; D'Allur a 696-8 impracticality 6 , 21, 25, 518; vitality ('geniu s for living ' 25 ) 8 , 24-5; ebullient 366 ; Junolike physiqu e 8; sophistication an d naivet e 8; rebel agains t conventio n 8 , 21, 24; maternal feelin g 6 , 17 , 2 0 - 1, 81; maternal element i n sexualit y 8 , 17 , 20, 488; D H L on dange r o f wife a s mother substitut e 487-8, 628 ; improvidence 21 ; carelessness 21, 38 , 518, 770; playful, prankis h 20 , 761; gives herself u p t o grie f 20 , n o ; spontaneous an d impulsiv e 8 , 21, 232; fea r of not bein g love d 17 , 21, 22, 23, explore d in fiction 75 , 110-1 ; assertiv e 22 , 72; high and might y 6 , 72; seemingly n o self-doub t 663, but unconfiden t unde r 'har d brigh t shell' 22, 24, 25; anger whe n undervalue d also suggests vulnerabl e 663 ; helping me n through se x 6 , 21, 35; effects o f clas s difference 21 , 56, 61, 366, 404, 518 ; expects to be waite d o n 517-8 ; when angry , blin d 22, 23 ; Pattacks lover' s manhoo d 31 , 35, 327; diminished potenc y coul d resul t fro m her refusa l t o giv e herself o r acknowledg e him 'finally ' 577 ; possessive 22 , 25; sunshine sel f fears darknes s 22 ; and D H L self-containment 24 ; dancing 24 , 32, 69, 172, 281, 492, 556 , 607, 761; nudity 24 , 32, 761, 798 ; hinterland o f soul 24 , 113 ; spoilt upbringing 21 , 25; lazy 518 ; lounging i n hammock 30 , 107 ; in be d 151 ; Queen Be e does nothing whil e worke r be e carrie s burden 518 , and Sea and Sardinia 623 ; theorising 32 ; theorising 32 ; needs passio n as well as love 38; claims part-credi t fo r D H L ' s writing s 4 2 - 3 , 101 ; memory no t always reliable 771 , 781; instinct t o evad e comitment 51 , 52, 778, investigated i n fiction 75-6 ; jealou s ove r D H L 53 , 118,
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322, 374 , 414; double standar d 233 , 374; jealous of attention t o D H L 118 , 237, 291, 414, 467 ; jealous o f Else 114 ; lack o f scruple 70 ; secret (cf . D H L ) 421 ; dislikes 'spirituality' 71 , 240, 320, 420; physicall y violent 74 ; self-centred 81 , 133, 843; tactless 81 , especially i n wartim e 148 , 151, 422; won't le t thing s dro p 83 ; more attractive a t hom e an d informall y 113 , 132 ; quick t o pou r ou t woe s and intimacie s t o acquaintances 113 , 156 , 517; religiou s without a creed 113 ; singing an d pian o playing (sketch y tempo ) 116 ; lim p handshake 118 ; not afrai d o f D HL 145 , 239; opposition t o th e war , an d divide d sympathies 148 , 151 ; doesn't believ e tale s of atrocity 151 , 225; both sh e an d D H L play t o audience 157 , 232; sexua l withdrawal an d retaliatio n 158 ; uses contraception 518 , 845 (and di d no t conceive t o Gros s 799) ; but i n 191 9 say s a child woul d b e welcom e 517 ; D HL charge s gives body bu t no t hersel f 364 , 851; something o f her i n Lydi a 173-4 ; m Ann a 177, 178 ; no respec t fo r secret s o r privac y 203; fo r others ' letters , private papers , clothes 239 , 321, 670, 803 ; uninhibited i n private, concerne d fo r D H L ' s manner s i n public 184 , 199 ; a lady 281 , 404; bring s D H L bac k t o eart h 197 ; common sens e 197, 199 ; takes hersel f a s seriously a s D H L 198, 237, 593; won't b e condescende d t o a s mere wif e 198-9 ; or disparage d a s unintelligent 198 , 237; anti-Semitic 225 ; contradicts Lawrence , impatien t o f hi s pontificating 227 , 231; goads int o payin g her attentio n 568 ; impatient wit h illnes s i n him, others , and hersel f 22 9 234, 498, 843; greedy 36 , 231, 545; stomach troubl e 36 , 474, 545 ; neuritis 386 ; thinks hersel f wronged an d aggrieve d 233 ; a good tim e i n spite o f him 231 , 632; needs tim e b y hersel f 233; separate bedroo m 517 ; 'the children ' becomes languag e o f discontent 233 ; destructive tauntin g an d jeerin g 237 , 239; reacts agains t 'unwholesome ' soulfulnes s and intellec t i n Ottoline an d Murry s 320-1 , 322; jealous/scornful abou t D H L ' s 'women' Esther , Hilda , Nanc y 415 , 467; can b e formidabl e 623 ; Xanthippe 198 , Brunhild 225 , 650; happiest whe n ha s
INDEX Lawrence, Fried a (cont.) D H L t o hersel f 322 ; utterly dependen t o n him durin g wa r 366 , 404; laundry th e onl y housework sh e like s 322 ; centred i n hersel f 322; stoutness begin s t o be remarke d o n 321, 323 , 470, 519 , 822; associated wit h Nietzsche 237 , 824; jokey, good-humoure d 425; if one ha s influence , us e it 436; exclamatory 466 ; won't follo w lead , still les s acknowledge mal e precedenc e 486 , 488, 593; but no t on e t o stay alon e fo r lon g 483; by 1918-1 9 show s unhappines s muc h mor e openly 437 , 520; when aske d t o share a bedroom wit h D H L want s no t t o be 'to o much married ' 517 ; tired o f shifting abou t 517; enjoys pickin g peopl e t o pieces an d encourages D H L t o d o so (Mackenzie) 561, 815; tirade a t Mackenzie 568 ; some distast e for homosexual s 543 , 583; changelessly herself 593 ; inclined t o think anythin g tha t goes wrong i s his faul t 569 ; loves partyin g 632, 646, 'showing off (DHL ) an d attracted b y others wh o d o 632 , cf. Sea and Sardinia 862-3 ; D H L think s brought u p t o think to o highl y o f herself, wh y al l the vo n Richthofen marriage s g o wrong 662 ; passive resistance and stubbornnes s 654 ; sex i n th e head, i.e . narcissistic introversio n an d ination wit h he r ow n sexualit y 68 0 (DHL) , 767 (F); on The Fight for Barbara 41 ; on Love Poems 41; o n Sons and Lovers 42-3 , 113-4; on Forewor d 63-4 ; on 'Mis s Houghton' 114 ; on 'Th e Sisters ' I 72-3; on 'The Sisters ' I I 113- 4 WRITING "Not I, But the Wind. .. " , sometime s unreliable 771 , 781; Memoirs, thei r reliability 54-5 , 773; 'Paul Morel , o r Hi s Mother's Darling ' 4 3 Lawrence, Georg e Arthur , 29 5 Lawrence, Lydia , 'M y Love , M y Mother ' 21, 767; D H L 's mother-fixatio n 7 , 20, 21, 25, 42-3, 770 ; re-creation int o Mr s More l 28-9, 42-6 , 48 ; differences fro m Mr s Morel 42 , 45-6; Jessie's hope s o f the nove l frustrated 7 , 46, 47, 777; D HL 'sees ' hi s mother i n a woman o n th e lak e steamer 43; she woul d neve r hav e le t hi m g o 43; 'Everlasting Flowers ' 771 ; mercy-killing 43, 48 , 101 ; symbolic layin g t o rest i n 'Giorno de i Morti ' an d 'Al l Souls ' 43, 48,
771; Tom Brangwen' s 'that' s her ' an d relationship wit h 'Lydia ' a n imagine d alternative t o Sons and Lovers an d it s diagnosis 194 ; D HL resemblance s t o hi s mother: thrif t 21 , 96, 104 ; puritan 3 8 Lawrence, Walter , contribute s t o characte r o f Walter More l 4 2 Lawson, Henry , an d Garnet t 2 7 League o f Nations, 63 6 Leicester, 464 , 50 2 Leitner, Josef an d Walburga , D H L an d F liv e above thei r sho p i n Ickin g 1 9 Lenin, Vladimi r Ilich , 47 8 Lerici, association wit h Shelle y an d Byro n 92 , 99; Edgar Jaffe holiday s an d house-hunt s 92, 98; Albergo dell e Palme : 98, 536 , Constance Garnet t an d Ver a Volkhovsk y there 112-16 ; Fiascherino easies t b y rowboat 99 , 101 ; workmen's steame r t o Spezia 99 ; rich expatriate s 101 , 106; D H L revisits i n 1919 : 53 6 Letojanni (Sicily) , 610, 71 6 Levi, Elipha s (Alphons e Loui s Constant) , History of Magic 387 , 437, 838 ; quoted b y Blavatsky o n 'ether ' a s medium throug h which nervou s centre s communicat e 83 3 Lewis, A.P., 787; over Alp s wit h D H L 126-8 ; walk i n th e Lak e Distric t 147-8 ; visits 'Th e Triangle' 157 ; writes i n 191 8 but D H L does no t repl y 46 2 Lewis, Percy Wyndham , an d Vorticis m 136 , 789; Blast 136 ; meets D H L 13 6 Liberata th e mai d (Capri) , 55 6 Lichfield (Staffs.) , 410 , 41 7 Lincoln Cathedral , 17 8 Lippman, Walter , 682 , 85 8 Little, Brow n & Co, buy plate s o f Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd fro m Kennerley , sel l t o Seltzer 855 ; Pinker send s Women in Love, rejected 82 7 Littlehampton (Sussex) , 240 , 255- 6 Litvinov, Maxim , marrie s Iv y Low , become s Plenipotentiary fo r Revolutionar y government 427 ; D HL think s o f offerin g help 42 7 Lloyd George , David , 293 , 318; becomes Prim e Minister, t o D H L ' s disgus t 345 ; denounce s his first speec h a s P.M. 347 ; symbol o f English declin e 352 , 693; and th e kin d o f leader throw n u p b y democrac y 69 4 Lodge, Si r Oliver , 28 7
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INDEX Loisach (Rive r i n Bavaria) , 1 8 London Mercury, 63 6 London Acacia Road 257 , 286, 367, 430, 465, 526; Adelaide Road , Chal k Far m 475 , 482; Adelphi 481 ; Battersea Tow n Hal l 294 ; Bedford Squar e 184 , 799; British Museu m 121, 160 ; Cafe Roya l 288 , 337, 422; Caledonian marke t 256 ; Camden Tow n 256; Chancery Lan e 86 , 88; Charing Cros s Road 430 ; Charing Cros s Statio n 5 ; Chelsea, Rossett i Mansion s 288 ; Chiswic k 146; Drury Lan e Theatr e 422 ; Earls Cour t 422; Elgin Crescen t 257 ; Fisher Stree t 275 , 276; Golders Gree n 225 ; Guilford Stree t 509; Hampstead: Churc h Ro w 133 , Downshire Hil l 80 , 88, Holly Bus h Roa d 131, Well Wal k 257 , 472, Byron Villas , Vale of Health 236 , 281, 287, 814, 289, 291, 294, 295, Hampstead polic e statio n 410 , underground statio n 133 , Garden Subur b 295, Heath 7 , 133 , 817, Portland Villas , East Heat h Roa d 473 ; Henrietta Stree t 80 ; High Holbor n 147 , 244; Houses o f Parliament 286 , 294; Kensington 134 : Cole t Court Schoo l 82 , Registry Offic e 142 , Selwood Terrac e 87 , 128 , 142-3 , 413 ; Lor d Knutsford Hospita l 288 ; Marylebon e Station 425 ; Mecklenburgh Squar e 410 , 413, 416-9, 423-4, 432-4; National Galler y 161; National Portrai t Galler y 578 ; Paddington Statio n 79 ; Pond Plac e 148 ; Red Lio n Squar e 275 ; Richmond 143 ; Soho 131 ; St James Theatr e 529 ; Somerse t House 224 , 230, 232; Tate Galler y 344 ; Thames Steame r 133 ; Waterloo Statio n 425; Zoo 244 , 367 Lorenzetti, Pietr o (attr.) , La Tebaide 610 Low, Barbara , aun t t o Iv y 117 ; meets D H L through he r 133 ; discussions abou t Freu d 133; D HL t o sta y 225 ; signs o f tension wit h F 225 ; F begin s t o refer t o as 'Princess o f Judaea', think s sh e look s dow n o n he r 225 , 231; visit s Greatha m 226-7 ; D HL o n he r Hampstead manne r 227 ; F stay s wit h t o look fo r room s 235 ; visits Zenno r 339 , 342, both D H L an d F lik e muc h bette r 342 ; reads Women in Love 349 ; visits Hermitag e 435; weekend wit h siste r Edit h an d Lawrences o n Merse a Islan d 465 ; her cop y of Jung 487 ; shows 'Education ' essay s t o
Stanley Unwi n 493 ; visits Hermitage , help s make D H L a blue jacke t 505 ; talks abou t his ne w psycholog y 522 ; D HL visit s i n London 509 ; recommends Touch and Go t o Douglas Goldrin g 510 ; agrees t o be D H L ' s English agent , temporaril y 635 ; PsychoAnalysis: A Brief Outline of the Freudian Theory 657 , 789 Low, Iv y (later , Litvinov) , 785 ; visit s Fiascherino 117-8 ; see s D H L agai n 131 , 133; introduce s Catherin e Jackso n (Carswell), Viol a Meynel l 131 ; Barbar a Low an d Eder s 133 ; Murrys an d Campbell fle e fro m 133 ; visits She d Hal l with Viol a 235 ; marriage t o Maxi m Litvinov 427 , 78 5 Lowe, Bessie, 429, 50 5 Lowell, Amy , an d Poun d 135 ; Imagist anthologies 135 ; Berkeley dinne r 135 , 148; tact i n helpin g D H L , gif t o f a typewrite r 151; visi t t o Chesha m 792 ; asked b y H . D . to hel p D H L , send s hi m £60 : 344 , 825; th e human elemen t almos t los t i n he r poem s (DHL), the y sugges t America n 'decadence ' is near rebirt h 344 , 353; thinks of Look! a s a novel , better tha n Sons and Lovers 828 ; offers th e dedicatio n o f D H L 's essay s o n American literatur e 399 ; praises hi s poetr y in a lecture 460 ; sends antholog y cheque , enquires afte r H.D. , D H L replie s wit h restraint 468 ; sends Can Grande's Castle, and advic e t o be les s sexuall y explici t 479 ; told D H L wishe s t o com e t o Americ a i n 1919: 492; thinks lectur e tou r woul d b e a disaster 844 ; writes t o discourag e 508-9 ; sends $10 0 afte r Canna n appea l 564 ; revie w of Touch and Go, ma y writ e o n Prefac e t o New Poems 600; silence o n hi s lates t (1921 ) poems annoy s D H L til l hears th e reaso n 632, 863 ; misrepresented B y Mountsier , she recommende d 'Th e Mosquito ' t o Bookman, think s highl y o f others 666 , 866; is told b y D H L hi s 'direction ' i s America n now 67 5 Lowes Dickinson , Goldsworthy , 181 , 210, 21 2 Lowndes, F.S. , 15 0 Lowndes, Mari e Belloc , 150 , 81 7 Lucas, Madeline (ne e Meynell), 227 , 252, 25 4 Lucas, Percy , onl y know n opportunit y t o mee t D H L i s after th e origina l 'England , M y England' complete d 252 , 809 ; not a
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INDEX Lucas, Perc y (cont.) portrait, an d onl y partl y 'about ' th e Lucases 252 , 254, 809; news o f deat h upsets D H L bu t th e stor y wil l d o goo d 342; D HL hesitate s (1921 ) abou t includin g it i n 192 1 collection 685 , decides t o g o ahead, increasin g th e detai l i n greatl y rewritten versio n 701 ; purpose stil l no t portrayal, but rejectio n o f England a s h e prepares t o leav e Europe 701- 3 Lucas, Robert, Pdismissa l o f Ida Wilhelm y 767 ; F's invasio n o f Weekley's hous e 191 4 no t 1913: 790-1; condition s i n post-wa r Germany 527 , 846-7; the en d o f Edga r Jaffe's politica l career 519 ; F's trun k 846- 7 Lucas, Sylvia , 25 2 Lucka, Emil , Grenzen der Seek 67 5 Luhan, Mabe l Dodg e (a t thi s time , Sterne) , story o f D HL 'unfaithful ' wit h Esthe r Andrews, contradicted b y Carswel l 374 , 831; lette r fro m Esthe r abou t D H L 375 , 682; affair wit h John Ree d 682 ; and wha t o f D H L sh e migh t hav e rea d 682 ; invites t o Taos 681-2 , 699; D HL replie s 683; confirms the y ar e comin g 700 ; patron o f Gertrude Stein , Le o Stei n ha s been i n Taos 683 ; her knowledg e o f psychoanalyst s 868; apologies fro m D H L fo r hi s chang e o f mind 711 , 714 Luhan, Tony , 68 2 Lynd, Robert , 275 , 276 MacCarthy, Desmond , 229 , 43 1 McDermott, Norman , 53 0 Mackenzie, Edwar d Montagu e Compto n ('Monty'), 793 , 849-50; meets D H L i n 1914 through Canna n 131 , 151, 180; semifictionalises i n The South Wind of Love 151 , 793, and The West Wind of Love 551 , 850; Henry James praise s 131 ; his wif e Fait h falls i n lov e with a young Italian , bu t thei r marriage last s 550 ; his sciatic a 550 ; An n Heiskell hi s mistress 550 ; houses o n Capr i 547, 551-2 , 849; friendship wit h Bret t Youngs 547 , 568; letter fro m D H L i n 191 9 to Capr i 526-7 ; talks with Seeke r abou t changing t o Cassells , and abou t D H L 547-8, 849 ; friendship wit h D H L o n Capr i 550-2; his anecdotes an d thei r reliabilit y 551-2, 850-1 ; a yacht t o th e Sout h Sea s 551-2, 594-5 ; for D H L a friendship o f
opposites 571 ; asked t o tak e typescrip t o f The Lost Girl t o England 588 ; famil y takeover o f Nottingham theatr e 595 ; becomes lair d o f Herm an d Jethou 595 , 857; invite s D H L bu t retreat s whe n h e shows interes t 632 ; later animu s ove r ' T h e Man Wh o Love d Islands ' 85 0 ( D H L ' s playful threa t 858) ; Poor Relations 550 , 850; Rich Relatives 850 ; Sinister Street 547 , 550 , 793; Sylvia Scarlett 552 , and The Lost Girl 573; Sylvia and Michael 552 , 849; Literature in My Time 850-1 ; My Life and Times 8 4 9 - 5 l '•> TheSouth Wind of Love 151 , 850; Vestal Fire 850 ; The West Wind of Love 850-1 Mackenzie, Fait h Compton , affai r wit h youn g Italian bu t marriag e t o Mont y last s 550 ; in England whil e Lawrence s o n Capr i 551 ; meets D H L whe n h e return s i n 1921 : 640; D H L late r use s he r confidence s i n ' T h e Man Wh o Love d Islands ' 85 0 McLeod, Arthur , tol d abou t F 19 ; D H L ' s advice about melanchol y 19 ; D H L paintings fo r 50 , 772; sends hi m book s 50 , 772; D HL need s hi s friendshi p 51 , 102; D H L worrie d abou t hi s reaction t o Sons and Lovers 102 ; appears no t t o hav e see n him i n 1913 : 88; in 191 4 apologises fo r breaking a date wit h hi m 136 ; asks t o gather copie s o f stories fo r revisio n 13 7 MacQueen, William , 22 8 Macy, John, 65 7 Maddox, Brenda , T he 'twent y minute s afte r meeting' stor y 762 ; 'The Shado w i n th e Rose Garden ' an d Joyce's ' T h e Dead ' 78 0 Maeterlinck, Maurice , 122- 3 Magnus, Maurice , 848 ; with D H L an d Dougla s in Florenc e 537-9 ; invites D H L t o Montecassino 539 , thinks th e monaster y a paradise 853 ; D HL intuit s trouble , send s money 565-6 ; invitation renewe d 556 ; visited b y D H L a t Montecassin o 566-7 , 852; article o n th e monaster y recommended b y D H L t o Land and Water, also pu t i n touc h wit h Goldrin g abou t play s 567 ; Goldring an d Dougla s fai l t o find a publisher fo r 'Dregs ' 704 ; crisis and escap e to Taormina, appeal s t o D H L 581-4 , 854 ; then t o Syracus e an d Malt a 584-5 ; wit h Borg, Salomon e an d D H L 585 , 854; settle s there 585 ; how D H L 'opene d hi s heart '
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INDEX
585, 855 ; sends Memoirs of the Foreign Legion t o Seeke r commende d b y D H L 587 ; commits suicid e t o escape arres t 608-9 ; discussed b y D H L an d Dougla s i n Florence 643 ; after appea l b y Bor g an d Don Maur o i n 1921 , D H L 's memoi r written, wit h Douglas' s consent , t o hel p sell Foreign Legion an d repa y Magnu s debt s 704-5; represent s D H L ' s late r an d complex feeling s 705 ; not th e whol e truth , what i t leave s ou t 706-7 ; but consisten t with othe r accounts , as well as more critica l and, seein g th e worst , mor e compassionat e 707-8; passage s abou t homosexualit y cu t i n text an d memoi r 708 ; the dea d deman d justice, not excuse s 709 ; details o f debt s 869-70 Magri, Faustin o ('I I Duro') , 272 , 776 Malta, 584-5 , 622 ; Valetta 585 ; Citta Vecchi a 585 Manchester Guardian, 'Wit h th e Guns ' 15 1 Maniace (Sicily) , 58 1 Mann, Thomas , 78-9 , 102 , 123 , 137 Mansfield, Katherin e (ne e Kathlee n Beauchamp), 84 ; asks D H L fo r a story 64 ; first meeting s 83 ; unreliable anecdote s 83 , 147; visits Mont y Weekle y 82 ; at Kingsgat e 87; reads Sons and Lovers, trie s a n autobiographical nove l 87 ; D HL urge s Murry an d he r t o com e t o Fiascherino , o n her mone y i f necessary 1 0 4 - 5 ; t 0 Pari s instead 119 ; back t o London , Murr y bankrupt 119 ; at Bunny Garnett' s dinne r for D H L 131 ; refuses t o mee t Iv y Lo w 133 ; jibe about visi t t o H.G . Well s 134 ; icy at Lady Ottoline' s 134 ; witness a t th e L' s wedding 142 ; given F' s rin g 143 ; wedding photographs 143 ; Thames steame r 143 ; holiday i n Cornwal l 152 ; Rose Tre e Cottage 152-8 , 193 ; relation wit h Murr y strained 152-4 ; her kin d o f love 152-3 , 154; intimacy an d confidence s wit h F 153 ; her bisexualit y 153 ; relationship wit h Carc o 154; meeting wit h Ko t 156 ; Murry' s notebook entr y determine s he r t o leav e hi m 154, 171 ; Christmas 1914 , a charade goe s wrong 171-2 ; tells brother Lesli e a tale 193 ; leaves t o joi n Carc o i n Franc e 172 , 193-4 ; back t o Murry , an d visit s Greatha m wit n Kot 210 ; her gonorrhoe a 210 ; goes t o Pari s again 230 ; on return , sh e an d Murr y mov e
925
to Acaci a Roa d wit h a servant 257 ; visite d by brothe r Lesli e 276 ; not involve d i n Signature meeting s 275 , but contribute s a s 'Matilda Berry ' childhoo d sketche s ('Autumns') 276 , 294, and 'Th e Littl e Governess' 276 ; at Brett' s part y 280 ; tragi c death o f Leslie 276 ; decides sh e canno t bear Englan d 276 ; leaves with Murr y fo r South o f Franc e 286 ; he returns , sh e take s lodgings i n Bando l 294 ; writes a despairin g letter, D H L criticise s Murry , wh o rejoin s her a t Bando l 312 ; their happines s an d success ther e ('Th e Aloe' ) 313 , at whic h D H L rejoice s 821 ; he urge s the m t o com e to Cornwal l 310 , 313, 314, 316; sh e hesitates, no t th e joinin g kind , thoug h th e offer o f Blutbrtiderschaft i s fo r he r to o 313, 316; the y arriv e i n Zennor , mixe d responses 317-8 ; having cultivate d Ottolin e 313, a row wit h F wh o open s a letter 321; describes t o Ko t a violent ro w betwee n D H L an d F 319-20 ; a characterisation o f the attitude s behin d thi s lette r 322-4 ; lik e D H L i n som e way s 323 ; but th e Murrys ' different kin d o f sexuality 324 ; the ga p between thei r an d D H L ' s attitude s t o personal relations , commitmen t an d restraint 326-7 ; the y leav e fo r Mylo r 327 ; her relationshi p wit h Murr y als o severel y strained agai n 327 , 822; D HL visit s a t Mylor 339 ; Cafe Roya l inciden t 337 , 824; hearing o f it , D H L write s onc e more , offends her , replie s pacificall y 340 ; a 'bif f from F 824 ; tells Ottolin e sh e i s 'villainess ' of D H L 's nove l 340-1 ; 'Katherin e an d he r lies' 352 ; brief flirtatio n wit h Russel l 824 ; a letter fro m D H L a s of old, bu t correspondence fizzles ou t 382 ; interim : haemorrhage, marriage , quie t regim e an d care i n Hampstead , mend s bridge s wit h Kot an d Ottolin e 473 ; dreads seein g D H L and F (1918 ) bu t sh e an d h e mak e friend s again; h e keep s hi s sunnies t fac e turne d 474; Touch and Go 'black wit h miners ' (an d a touc h o f he r i n Annabel ) 477 , 479; letter s from D H L , Jung an d wive s a s mother substitutes, hi s belie f i n eterna l friendshi p 487-8, 'o n n e s e meur t pas ' 491, life track s in th e sno w 496 , a pheasant an d a drea m 500; she attempt s t o laug h off'rumpus ' over rejecte d articles , but ther e i s a breac h
INDEX Mansfield, {Catherin e (cont.) 501; moves t o Ospedaletti, wit h Id a Baker , in order no t t o winte r i n Englan d 560 ; Murry (i n London ) suggest s sh e writ e o n Sons and Lovers, bu t sh e doe s no t 560 ; h e sends D H L i n Florenc e he r ne w address , this i s taken a s an oliv e branch, produce s a reconciling lette r fro m D H L 541 , 560, 849; in a crisis of relationship wit h Murry , sh e thinks o f D HL wit h affectio n 560 ; if h e sent a n articl e o n th e inces t motive , h e would hav e counted o n he r previou s interest i n Jung 561 ; his rag e whe n rejecte d was also at her , henc e hi s terribl e lette r 559 , 851; because th e article s wer e poste d fro m Ospedaletti, th e final decisio n seeme d her s 561-2; sh e must hav e writte n wit h he r ne w nursing-home addres s i n Menton , perhap s self-pitying a s to Ottoline , after posta l strike parce l an d lette r arrive d togethe r 562-3; s o she seeme d t o D H L self absorbed an d careles s o f him, 'stewin g in ' not fighting he r diseas e as he had urge d 563; his lette r a final breach 563 ; apart fro m his one-word postcar d fro m Wellingto n and a remembrance i n he r wil l 563 ; her allowance i n 1920 : 587; response t o The Lost Girl 612 ; taken b y Murr y t o Switzerland, ver y il l 656; D HL callou s about 'long-dying ' 68 4 Mantegna, Andrea , 49 9 Mapledurham (Oxfordshire) , 51 5 Marazion (Cornwall) , 32 7 Marc, Franz , 39 , 80 4 Marconi, Enric o ('Enric o Persevalli') , 6 8 Mari, Rene, 59 9 Marinetti, Filipp o Tommaso , 117 , 121-2 , 123-4,786 Marlowe, Christopher , 17 0 Marquis, Don , 86 7 Marsh, Edwar d ('Eddie') , 85-6 ; send s cheque s from Georgian Poetry 85 , 150 ; the Spence r Perceval mone y 85 ; as patron 84 , 85-6 , 792; secretary t o Winsto n Churchil l 85 , 151; lunch a t Raymond buildings , introduces Davie s an d Gibso n 88 ; D H L argues about rhyth m an d scansio n 91-2 , 102, 130 ; D HL send s poem s 783 ; visits Fiascherino 107 ; introduces D H L an d F t o Brooke 129 ; cannot atten d weddin g 143 ; sends se t o f Hardy a s wedding presen t 144 ;
tells D H L Englan d wil l be a t wa r 148 ; sends tw o mor e cheque s 150 ; support s application t o Royal Literar y Fun d 150 ; his tact 151 ; but reprove d b y F fo r view s o n war 151 ; nevertheless ask s fo r poetr y fo r second antholog y 261 ; mocked b y D H L who hear s tha t h e 'jeered ' a t The Rainbow, but send s mone y fo r America , D H L muc h moved 814 ; helps Murr y t o a post i n th e War Offic e 340 ; D HL ask s fo r hel p an d a reference fo r passport s i n 1917 : 351; Georgian Poetry chequ e 383 ; sees D H L , i s friendly, bu t discouragin g abou t expulsio n 411; send s £2 0 'fro m Rupert ' 503 ; engaged for a Scarlatti concert , bu t D H L unwel l 509; Georgian Poetry chequ e 523 ; avoids walking wit h D H L u p th e Mal l 53 0 Masefield, John , Poligna c Prizewinner , bu t Pound consider s D H L bette r 78 3 Mason, A.E.W. , 15 0 Maspero, Si r Gasto n Camill e Charles , Egypte 821 Massingham, H.J. , 287 , 815 Maugham, W . Somerset , Our Betters 552 ; The Moon and Sixpence 59 4 Maunsel & Co., 391, 413 Maupassant, Gu y de , 1 7 Mayne, Ethe l Colburn , 77 9 Mayrhofen (Austria) , D HL an d F sta y a t 32-3 ; the thre e valley s 32 ; crucifix i n Dornau Klamm 32 ; experience ther e (o r PTuxta l 769) lead s t o 'Meetin g Amon g th e Mountains' 32 ; writes 'Chapel ' an d 'Hay Hut' sketche s 33 ; joined b y Bunn y Garnet t and Hobso n 3 3 Mazzini, Giuseppe , 609-1 0 Medici Society , 655- 6 Melville, Herman, D H L praise s 344 ; asks fo r Omoo or Typee 354 ; orders Moby Dick, Omoo 828; Typee an d 'Ne w Heave n an d Earth' 363 ; male friendship , Ishmae l an d Queequeg 377 ; D H L 's longin g fo r Pacifi c and Sout h Sea s 354, 552, 594 , but wha t ha s become o f Typee 594 ; essay(s) o n 451-3 ; 1919: 522, 528; 1920 : 589, 85 6 Mencken, Henr y L. , 522 , 677 Menton (France) , 560 , 56 2 Meredith, George , 66 , 657 Meredith, Hugh , 287 , 815 Merizkowskv, Zinaid a (Z . Hippius), The Green Ring xx. Koteliansky
926
INDEX 216, 220 ; helped b y Eleano r Farjeo n 208 , 220; brings mothe r t o Humphreys 229 ; stays a t She d Hal l wit h Iv y Lo w 235 ; enthuses ove r Cynthi a Asquith' s beaut y 236; Cynthi a say s V goe s nowhere withou t a copyboo k 25 5
Mersea islan d (Essex) , 46 5 Messina (Sicily) , 62 1 Metcalf, Professo r John , 61 0 Methuen & Co., D HL accept s contrac t fo r 'Th e Wedding Ring ' 128-9 ; manuscrip t returned whe n wa r break s ou t 149 ; accounts o f the reaso n conflict , bu t ar e reconcilable 149 ; a further £9 0 advanc e i n June 224 ; proofs 249 ; D HL change s s o much tha t hi s royalty reduce d 249 ; demands fo r self-censorship , hi s respons e 250-1; afterward s Pinke r give s a n 'assurance concernin g Methuen ' 251 ; apprehensive abou t circulatin g librarie s 275; expect t o be ' a fiasco' 277 ; quietl y remove advertisement s 277 ; police cal l in November t o confiscate copies , Methue n co-operate 277 ; director Mulle r approache d by Cliv e Bell but discourage s protes t 813 ; no attempt t o communicat e wit h D H L 278 ; no defenc e a t trial , apologise 281-2 ; Bo w Street Magistrat e order s boo k suppressed , £10 cost s against Methue n 282 ; claim n o copyright exist s an d sugges t tha t D H L repay advanc e 291 ; cancel contract , wit h option fo r nex t nove l 34 9
Meynell, Wilfrid , 183 , 229, 235, 236, 701, 809 Michelangelo Buonarroti , know n i n reproduction 794 ; no derogatio n o f homosexuality 202 ; regression int o th e body 266 ; David 541 , 543 Middleton, Richard , review s The White Peacock 88; friendshi p wit h Savag e 88 ; suicide 88 ; D H L trie s t o explai n i t 102-4 ; Monologues on wome n 783 ; deadly self-enclosur e 13 7 Middleton-by-Wirksworth (Derbyshire) , 48 2 Milan (Italy) , 97, 595, 59 8 Milton, John, Samson Agonistes 778 ; Satan 29 4 Modernism, 78-9 , 130 , 135-6 , 137 ; see also Eliot, Flaubert , Ford , Futurism , Imagism , Joyce, Mann , Pound , Vorticis m Mond, Gwe n (ne e Wilson) , affair wit h Canna n 827; marries Mon d whil e Cannan i n USA , but h e tour s wit h the m 580 ; angered b y D H L lette r t o Canna n 580 ; Mary Cannan' s joke Mond, Henry , a t Adelph i Armistic e part y 481; suggestion o f a new 'left ' periodica l 853 ; marries Gwe n Wilso n whil e Canna n i n USA bu t h e holiday s wit h the m 580 ; Mar y Cannan's jok e 58 0 Monet, Claude , 186 ; David Garnet t confuse s with Mane t 186 , 800 Monk, Violet , firs t encounter s wit h D H L 429 ; what D H L use d an d didn' t us e fo r ' T h e Fox' 484-5 ; types par t of Aaron's Rod 484 , 646; and 'Monke y Nuts ' 504 ; expedition t o Boxford 507 ; Grimsbury Far m pig s 517 ; feels ignore d i n Acaci a Roa d 526 ; at Pangbourne wit h Rosalin d 529 ; types 'Th e Gentleman fro m Sa n Francisco ' 66 8
Metropolitan, 'Honou r an d Arms ' 150 , 183; 'England, M y England ' 367 ; 'Ticket s Please' 842 ; offers $25 0 fo r 'Wintr y Peacock' 586 , as revised 685 ; D H L suggests migh t serialis e The Lost Girl, bu t does no t 588 ; see also Hovey Metz (Alsace-Lorrain e post-1870 , Germany) , D H L an d Fried a i n 8-10 ; Ma y fai r 9 ; 'arrest' an d meetin g wit h F' s fathe r 10 ; sketches probabl y writte n i n 764 ; Mr Noon Actively expand s tim e an d invent s scene s 764 Meyers, Jeffrey, D H L a s homosexual 783 ; interview wit h Mountsier' s great-nephe w 825; ?DH L infertil e owin g t o childhoo d disease 84 5 Meynell, Alice , 131 , 183, 229, 235, 799 Meynell, Francis , 22 9 Meynell, Madeline , see Lucas Meynell, Monica , see Saleeby Meynell, Olivia , see Sowerby Meynell, Viola , admires D H L 117 ; meets through Iv y Lo w 131 , 785; offers She d Hall a t Greatha m 183 ; writings 228 , 799; takes charg e o f typing The Rainbow 200 ,
Monmouth (Wales) , 46 6 Monro, Harold , meet s D H L 88 , publishe s Marinetti i n Englis h 121 , sent 'Futurist ' poems b y D H L 121 ; publishes 'Teasing ' 786; support s D H L applicatio n t o Roya l Literary Fun d 150 ; idea of poetr y chapbooks 63 5 Monroe, Harriet , se e Poetry (Chicago ) Montecassino (Italy) , 539 , 566-7, 581 , 595, 597, 707, 85 2
927
INDEX health: specia l foods , sweater , counterpan e 301, 307 , 819, sends book s 819 , 824 ; friendly letter s fro m F 307 ; the n denounced ove r repor t o f remarks a t Garsington 307-8 ; send s F' s lette r t o Russell 307 ; and t o Murry s wh o hav e bee n cultivating he r 307 , 313, 821; reproaches Heseltine 309 ; D HL trie s t o repai r damag e 308-9; a reconciling lette r fro m F , bu t relation erode d b y frictio n betwee n the m 309; questions Juliette, tell s he r abou t Puma 820 ; sends mor e book s (includin g Thucydides) 824 ; but 'ver y cool ' i n month s when Women in Love i s taking shap e 345 ; told, probabl y b y Katherine , sh e i s its 'villainess' 340-1 ; enquires , D H L promise s to sen d typescrip t 342 ; horrified a t he r 'portrait' 349 , 827 ; threatens lawsui t 350 ; demands opa l pi n bac k 350 , 827; learns o f Russell an d Colett e Malleson , an d Philip' s infidelities 350-1 ; D H L tell s Ko t h e i s still fond o f her 430 , imagine s reconciliatio n possible and sound s ou t Gertle r 430 ; relapses int o name-callin g 431 ; she return s manuscripts 436 ; a miserable an d self pitying lette r fro m Katherin e 56 2
Moore, G.E. , 'Apostle ' 85 ; dines wit h D H L 208 , 804; influence o n 'Bloomsbury ' 80 5 Moore, George , 414 , 83 5 Morrell, Julian, 188 , 237 Morrell, Lad y Ottoline , 800 ; meets D H L through Canna n 131 ; invites hi m t o Bedford Squar e receptio n 131 , 799; and Helen Dudle y 157 , 188 , 801; writes i n praise o f The Prussian Officer 182 , 799; D H L t o lunc h an d dinner , introduce s hi m to Forster , Gran t 184 ; visits Greatha m 187 ; her relation s wit h Russel l 188-9 ; s n e bring s him t o Greatha m 189 ; writes t o Weekle y for F 189 ; D H L 's hope s fo r revolutio n 190 ; a meeting a t Kot' s 193 ; compared t o Cassandra 197 ; but D H L warn s abou t wil l 218; read s revise d typescrip t o f The Rainbow 222 ; suggests convertin g a building a t Garsingto n fo r D H L 226 , bu t too expensiv e 228 ; Russell disagree s wit h D H L abou t wil l and violenc e i n he r 226 , 229; read s The Rainbow a t Buxton wit h mixed feeling s 229-30 ; having moved t o Garsington, invite s Lawrence s 234 ; D H L helps t o decorate , build s arbour , pros e poem afterward s 237 , 240; F's behaviou r 237; flaming ro w wit h D H L an d stalk s of f 237; Russell tell s ho w F tear s u p D H L ' s letter 239 ; likes 'Morgenrot' , think s i t lik e Russell 239 ; but doesn' t car e fo r Russell' s 'Outline' 249 ; thinks F' s lette r denouncin g 'unholy soulfulness ' i s 'mad' 240 ; invite s D H L alone , he refuse s 255 ; her relationship wit h Russel l deterioratin g 261; Russell an d Vivie n Elio t 29 3 (and Colett e Malleson 350) ; invites D H L t o Garsingto n and Oxfor d t o ge t awa y fro m th e Rainbow furore 281 ; sends mone y t o ge t hi m t o America 281 ; D HL an d F t o Garsingto n with Heseltin e an d Suhraward y 289 , 290-1, 816 ; Heseltine come s agai n wit h Kouyoumdjian 289 , 291, is attracted t o Juliette bu t O M doe s no t approv e 291; introduces D H L t o Doroth y Warre n an d Aldous Huxle y 292 , 817; Christmas presen t of Ajanta frescoe s fro m D H L an d Russel l 306; Murry spend s Christma s a t Garsington 307 ; she dislike s 'Goat s an d Compasses' 303 , 305, and prospectu s fo r 'Rainbow Book s an d Music ' 820 ; Amores dedicated t o he r 307 ; concern fo r D H L ' s
Morrell, Philip , 800 ; Garsington bough t 190 ; urges D H L t o sta y afte r F storm s ou t 237 ; sees D HL a t Westminste r an d wil l rais e case i n Hous e o f Common s 286 ; first Question 286-7 ; written Questio n 290 ; thinks n o basi s fo r lawsui t 292 ; threaten s libel sui t ove r Women in Love 350 ; Ottolin e learns of his infidelitie s 35 0 Morrison, Nellie , meets D H L 640 , 864; lend s flat i n Florenc e 668 , 67 0 Moult, Thomas , edito r o f Voices 843; meets D H L 511 ; promised pros e a s well a s verse , publishes 'Vers e Fre e an d Unfree ' 51 4 Mountsier, Robert , 824 , meets D H L throug h Aldington an d H.D. , read s Signature 824 ; with Esthe r Andrew s visit s D H L an d comes again fo r Christma s 344-5 ; brus h with a constable i n S t Ive s 826 , 347; polic e sergeant call s on Christma s Ev e 346 ; on return t o Londo n (Esthe r stays ) i s arrested , kept overnigh t 347 ; not owin g t o suspicio n of D HL an d F , bu t journalis t sp y conspiracy 347-8 ; interview s o n foo d supplies, subject s o f articles requeste d fro m D H L an d Esthe r 348 ; no evidence , i n fac t
928
INDEX anglophile, support s U S entr y 348 , bu t D H L suggeste d contactin g Russel l an d U.D.C. 348 ; surveillance o f D H L, no w 348; D HL like s as a couple, America n Rananim 352-3 ; discussion s sugges t t o D H L tha t Americ a i s 'older' i n advance d decadence 353-4 ; encourage D H L t o writ e on America n literature , h e asks fo r book s 354, 828 ; relationship wit h Esthe r founder s over attitude s t o her work , an d t o wa r 373; letter t o D H L i n 192 0 prompt s offe r o f agentship 565 ; travelling i n Europe , onl y takes u p agenc y Augus t 1920 , 587; antiSemitic comment s abou t D H L ' s publisher s 588; shares Sout h Se a dreams , send s book s and articl e 594 , 632; told 'don' t b e scared ' of'Fruits' 603 , 'Tortoises' 606 ; quarre l with Huebsc h 613-4 , his anti-semitis m infects D H L 613 , 632; asked t o loo k a t Thrasher far m 633 ; instructions fro m D H L interspersed wit h far m tal k 632-5 ; dislike s Seltzer, suspiciou s o f his finances 634 ; wants introductio n t o Birds, Beasts and Flowers dropped 635 ; cables D H L t o come , irritated a t chang e o f plan 638 ; to Europe , wants t o buy boa t 654-5 ; cross a t anothe r change o f plan 665 ; in Ebersteinburg , an d walk throug h Blac k Fores t wit h D H L 665-6; dislikes hi s lates t work , D H L finds him 'overbearing ' 666- 7 (Esther' s letter s suggested sharp , opinionated 665) ; come s briefly t o Zel l 668-9 ; tells D H L Brow n cannot plac e work , als o misleads abou t Amy Lowel l an d Thaye r 666 , 668; pronounces Aaron's Rod unacceptabl e 675 ; is told D H L n o longe r muc h intereste d i n English publicatio n 675 ; opens Charlero i account fo r D H L ' s trave l (wil l tr y t o liv e on Englis h one ) 675 , 700, 710; owing t o hi s late return t o USA , D H L lack s informatio n 676, 699; warns h e ma y no t lik e Taos, Mr s Sterne, artist colon y 699 ; sent Foreign Legion an d memoir , t o dea l directl y wit h Borg 705 ; told suddenl y tha t D H L no t coming t o Taos 711 ; he i s to receiv e all American royalties , hold al l agreement s 714; tells of hard time s fo r th e boo k trad e 715 Moussorgsky, Modest e Petrovitch , Khovantchina 17 9 Mozart, Wolfgan g Amadeus , The Magic Flute
422; The Seraglio 422 ; The Marriage of Figaro 50 7 Mudie's library , see Circulating librarie s Mullan-Feroze, Dr , Christma s part y 492 ; fear s D H L wil l no t surviv e flu 496 ; attends a t Mountain Cottag e 49 8 Munich (Bavaria) , Edgar Jaffe's flat 9 , 39 ; D H L arrives a t statio n 18 ; sees Secessio n picture s in 1912 : 39; Schwabing 39 , 770; Caf e Stephanie 39 ; Glaspalast exhibitio n 91 ; F t o see Els e i n 1920 : 607; and i n 192 1 whe n Edgar die s 65 4 Murray, Gilbert , The Four Stages of Greek Religion 82 2 Murry, John Middleton , 83-4 ; first meeting s with D H L an d F 83 ; collapse o f Rhythm, then Blue Review 84 ; helped b y Mars h 84 , 86, 153 ; journalism 83 , 104 , 119 , 154 ; at Kingsgate 87 ; admiration of Sons and Lovers 87 ; tea wit h Colling s 88 ; urged b y D H L t o com e t o Fiascherino , 98 , 104-5 , 782-3; goe s t o Pari s instea d 119 ; return s and i s made bankrup t 119 ; passes o n hurtful gossi p 119 ; at Bunn y Garnett' s dinner fo r D H L 131 ; refuses t o mee t Iv y Low 133 ; D HL i n evenin g dres s t o H.G . Wells's 133-4 ; witness a t th e weddin g 142-3; i n th e weddin g photograph s 143 ; enlists wit h Hug h Kingsmill , release d 152 ; Ptuberculosis 152 ; holiday i n Cornwal l 152 ; at Ros e Tre e Cottag e 152-8 , 793; straine d relationship wit h Katherin e 152-4 ; hi s character a t 25 : 154-5 ; self-absorption 154 ; his sexualit y 154 ; discussions wit h an d differences fro m D H L 153-5 ; admire s Campbell mor e 155 ; antipathy t o Fried a 155-6; accounts o f strains an d quarrel s between Lawrence s 156-7 ; thinks D H L idealises hi s marriage 156 , 162 ; drunke n Christmas 1914 : 170-2 ; jealous, attack s D H L o n creatio n o f character 170-1 ; a charade goe s wron g 171-2 ; 'failed ' b y Campbell an d deserte d b y Katherin e 194 ; arrives il l at Greatha m 193-4 ; rubbed wit h oil 193 , 802-3; partl y misleadin g relationship wit h Lawrenc e 195-6 ; guard s his nove l 195 , but F read s i t 803 ; jealousy when Ottolin e visit s 195 ; Katherin e returns, leave s again 195 ; to Greatha m again i n Marc h 226 ; entertains Lawrence s and Procto r 230-1 ; hostilit y t o F , a traito r
929
INDEX Murry, John Middleto n (cont.) 231; move t o Acaci a Roa d 257 ; involve d with Signature (ou t o f an ide a a t Greatham ) 261; but no t wit h meeting s 275 ; his 'Ther e Was a Little Man ' wholl y subjectiv e 276 ; dislikes The Rainbow 275-6 ; drun k a t Brett's part y 281 ; takes K M t o sout h o f France 286 ; returns, Katherine' s despairin g letter, D H L criticise s hi m sharpl y 294-5 , 312; asks Beresford abou t hi s holida y hous e for D H L 295 ; talks of his grand e passio n a t Garsington, an d cultivate s Ottolin e 312-3 , 821; return s t o Bando l 312 ; writing succes s and happines s ther e 313 ; D HL rejoice s fo r them 821 , urges the m t o joi n hi m 310 , 313, 314, 316; but the y hesitat e 310 , 313; offended a t Heseltin e poachin g 'his ' scheme 314 , 821; arrive a t Zenno r 317 ; passes on Garsingto n gossip , F furious , row wit h he r whe n sh e open s Ottoline' s letter 320-1 ; afte r violenc e betwee n D H L and F , decide s t o leave 325 ; checked o n b y policeman 318 ; letters t o Ottolin e 321 , 325; the issue s and th e ga p betwee n hi m an d D H L 324-7 ; last interludes 327 ; move t o Mylor, bu t relationshi p wit h Katherin e als o severely straine d 327 ; Dostoevsky publishe d 339; post i n Wa r Offic e an d soo n rise s 340 ; Still Life publishe d 34 1 (compar e hi s situation 1912-14) ; D HL write s agai n 340 ; Murry bring s Goodyea r t o visi t 340 ; cultivates Garsington , tell s Ottolin e h e i s in love wit h he r 340 ; D HL finished wit h th e Murrys 341 , though 'still , somewhere, I a m fond o f him' 352 ; no repl y t o D H L not e suggesting meetin g 368 ; D H L 's feeling , though no t homosexual , revive s afte r ever y disappointment, a kind o f lov e 377 , 488; writes i n excus e 381-2 ; D HL ask s whethe r coming t o Mylor, bu t 'Yo u shouldn' t sa y you lov e me' 382 ; no repl y agai n whe n D H L t o Londo n fo r medica l 387 ; n o attempt a t contact afte r expulsio n 411 ; falls ill (suspected tuberculosis ) recover s a t Garsington 412 ; Katherine's haemorrhage , their marriage , hous e an d servant s t o car e for her , specialist' s prognosi s 473 ; sees D H L again , but canno t joi n i n Ranani m talk 474 ; invites contribution s t o Athenaeum 497, reject s al l but on e 499-500 , 843 ; edgy visit t o Hermitage, n o tal k of Athenaeum,
expedition t o vie w a house a t Boxfor d 506-7; i n October , think s o f givin g D H L ' a leg up', suggest s Katherin e writ e o n Sons and Lovers, bu t sh e doe s no t 560 ; sends he r Ospedaletti addres s t o D H L i n Florence , taken a s olive branch , D H L send s article s again fo r Athenaeum 541-2 ; a letter o f Katherine's bring s Murr y t o Ospedalett i 560; rejection o f articles enrage s D H L , on e on psychoanalysi s woul d b e especiall y important 561 , perhaps a future irony , Fantasia an d th e Adelphi 561 ; furious an d insulting lette r fro m D H L 559 , 561; in response, threaten s t o hi t hi m a t nex t meeting 563 , 851; at first thi s bring s close r to Katherine , bu t soo n strai n onc e mor e 563; fail s t o carr y ou t he r beques t t o D H L 564; financial positio n i n 192 0 compare d with D H L ' s ne w relativ e prosperit y 587 ; reviews The Lost Girl 612 ; malice fro m D H L t o Ko t abou t Athenaeum losin g money an d puffin g Bliss 863; reviews Woman in Love 656-7 , 671-2 ; compare s D H L unfavorabl y t o Swinnerto n 68 4 WORKS, edit s Rhythm 83-4 , 154 ; edit s Blue Review 84 , 104 ; manuscrip t journa l 154-6; Reminiscences, late r worke d u p i n Between Two Worlds 83 , 153 , 793, discrepancies an d error s amon g thes e 779 , 789, 793 ; misleadin g accoun t o f Athenaeuem rejection s 843 ; Still Life (1916) 154 , 341 ; Fyodor Dostoevsky (1916 ) 339; review s fo r Westminster Gazette 84 , 104, 154 ; Times Literary Supplement 119 , 257 ; ar t criti c fo r Westminster 119 , 257 ; appointed Edito r o f Athenaeum 497 ; ceases whe n absorbe d int o Nation bu t continues t o revie w 86 3 Muskett, Herbert , 278 , 281 Mussolini, Benito , 599 , 65 2 Mylor (Cornwall) , 327 , 339, 340, 38 2 Naples (Italy) , 528 , 547, 581 , 626, 672, 714, 71 7 Narodiczky, I. , 269 , 81 1 Nash, Eveleigh , 36 7 Nation and Athenaeum, absorb s Athenaeum, Murry n o longe r edito r bu t continue s t o review 863 , 666; prints modifie d 'Whitman ' 666; Murry's revie w o f Women in Love 67 1 Neilson, Harold , 79 0 Nesbit, E. , an d Garnet t 2 7
930
INDEX Neville, George , tol d abou t Fried a 7 ; weeken d with D H L 13 ; D HL ma y hav e transferre d his ow n squeamishnes s t o Miria m 46 ; problem of'th e bedroo m scene ' 765; illegitimate chil d 768 ; and Gilber t Noo n 615, 768; young D H L drawin g femal e nude, shocke d whe n tol d o f female pubi c hair 104 ; and Geral d 331 ; D H L 's wan t o f a close male frien d 376 ; reports inciden t a t Jordan's 48 7
204; D H L distinction , powe r t o enabl e a s against powe r ove r 650 ; Beyond Good and Evil 211 , 216 ; Morgenrote 217 , 806; aphoristic thinkin g 245 ; D H L 's differin g from become s apparen t 217-9 , 2 4°i Thus Spake Zarathustra 819 ; influence o n Shestov 512 ; New Age devote d t o 63 0 Nisbet, James an d Co. , 128 , 144 , 158 ; 'Writer s of the Day ' serie s 15 8 Noguchi, Yoni , 92 , 78 1 Noon, Gilbert , 61 4 Nottingham, F finds boring , suffocating , bourgeois 7 , 8, 761; meets D H L i n Privat e Road 5 , 771; bids Weekle y goodby e 5 ; Nottingham friend s be g he r t o retur n 16 , 766; Weekley move s hi s famil y t o Londo n 15; Frieda waylay s Weekle y 169 ; University Colleg e 205 , 614; D HL see s Sallie Hopkin, 1917 : 368; peace meeting i n Victoria Par k 365 ; Nottingham, Eastwood , Ripley tramwa y 483 ; Comptons tak e ove r a Nottingham theatr e 59 5 Nottinghamshire Guardian, shor t stor y competition 90 ; D H L 's lette r t o Weekle y printed i n 10 2 Nys, Mari a (late r Huxley) , 218 , 229
New Age, 84 , 145 , 246; both 'left ' politic s an d Nietzsche 63 0 New Decameron, The, 66 7 New Paths: Verse, Prose, Pictures igi/-igi8, 'Labour Battalion ' an d 'N o News ' 42 8 New Republic, D H L think s o f sending articl e o n pyschoanalysis fro m Florenc e 542 ; print s 'America, Liste n t o Your Own ' 600 ; payment 858 ; Walter Lippma n an d Mar y Austin controver t 635 , 682, 858; request s poems 603 ; publishes 'Th e Revolutionary' , 'Medlars an d Sor b Apples ' $2 0 eac h 859 , 635; prints 'Hummin g Bird ' 657 ; review o f Psychoanalysis 67 7 New Statesman, ' A Fl y i n th e Ointment ' 89 ; ' A Sick Collier ' 89 ; 'Service o f All the Dea d 783 New York Call, 86 3 New York Evening Post Literary Review, 65 7 New York Tribune, 564 , 867 News of the World, reports divorc e 10 2 Newth, H.G., dinne r wit h Bunny Garnet t an d the Lawrences 148 ; calls out i n German 14 8 Nichols, Robert, 816 ; recommends D H L ' s wor k to Heseltin e 288 ; D HL visit s in hospital , reads an d like s his poetr y 288 ; D H L ' s matchmaking 292 ; told Heseltin e no t goin g back t o D H L 310 ; blames Heseltine' s interest i n black magi c o n Starr , describe s him 387 ; writes praisin g D H L t o Maunse l 413, 835 ; sees D HL agai n i n 1927 : 422-3 ; poets' evenin g 423 ; mistakes D H L o n detectives fo r paranoi a 423 ; plans t o mention D H L i n lecture s i n America , ask s for biographica l detail s 468 ; if Nichols ca n do it , why no t DHL ? 509 ; may hav e see n D H L o n hi s retur n 511 , 845
O'Brien, Frederick , White Shadows in the South Seas 59 4 Olivier sisters , Brooke' s lov e fo r Noe l 129 ; D H L meets Daphn e an d Noe l 131 ; thinks the m 'all wrong ' 21 4 Orage, William , 8 4 Orioli, Pino , meets i n Cornwal l 191 7 throug h Crocker famil y an d hi s Englis h partne r J.I . Davis 858 ; sees i n Florenc e 1920 : 598- 9 Orpheus an d Eurydice , 355 , 415, 418-9, 603- 4 Ospedaletti (Italy) , 541 , 559- 2 Ostend (Belgium) , 5 , 717 Osterley, R.M.S., 714-5 , 71 7 Otford (Kent) , 50 9 Oxford, luminarie s 85 ; D HL visit s 281; Ashmolean 281 ; Balliol 86 ; Brasenose 294 ; Christ Churc h 28 8 Oxford Universit y Press , Movements in European History 462 , 464-5, 493, 607, 609, 634, 655, 865; proposed children' s boo k o n ar t 655 ; see also Collins; Ely; Henry , Nanc y
Nietzsche, Friedrich , rea d i n Croydo n 774 ; on 'blood' 774 ; Gay Science an d D H L ' s 'L e Gai Savaire ' 159 , 794; all philosophy i s autobiographical 162 ; will to power 198 ,
Palenzia, Signor a (Capri) , 55 6 Palermo (Sicily) , 621-3 , 02 7> °3 7
93
INDEX Palmer, Cecil , considers, but refuse s Women in Love 391 , 399; D HL think s o f offerin g American essays , but decide s agains t 589 Palmer, John Leslie , 18 0 Pan, i n 'Th e Overtone ' 64-66 ; as opposed t o Christ 66 ; and E.M . Forste r 775 , 802; James Stephen s on , absurd 131 ; in th e shape of'I I Duro ' 272 , 776; as the sourc e from whic h al l grows 19 0 Pangbourne (Berkshire) , 511- 5 Passion Play , D H L an d F se e one i n Bavari a 1 8 Patmore, Brigit, 417 , 772 Paul, St , 369, 37 1 Pauli, Pietro di , rents the m par t o f Villa Ige a i n Villa di Gargnan o 36 ; described 38 ; lends box a t theatr e 59 ; in 'Th e Lemo n Gardens ' ('By th e Lag o d i Garda' ) 68 ; rewritten i n 1915 for Twilight in Italy 266-7 ; n o t a t o n e with hi s eart h lik e 'I I Duro' 27 2 Peacock, Walter , 51 6 Pearses (Lerici), 101 , 106, 12 6 Penzance (Cornwall) , 312, 338; market 345 , 347, 399; station 40 0 Perceval, Deane , 668 , 858 Percy, Esme , 261 , 810 Petronius, Caius , 81 9 Piccoli, Raffaelo, 810 ; see Book of Italy, The Picinisco (Abruzzi , Italy) , 528 , 545- 7 Pickering, Professor , 68 1 Pidsley, Miss, 58- 9 Piero d i Cosimo , 36 6 Pinker, James A. , first approac h 90 , 780; Garnet t changes min d abou t 90 ; agent fo r Conrad , Wells, Bennett, James 90 ; persuaded t o accept les s for 'German ' storie s 105 ; D H L should hav e made mor e fro m Sons and Lovers 120 ; D HL accept s Methue n offe r for 'Th e Weddin g Ring ' 128-9 ; advanc e payments 129 , 147 ; diplomacy whe n manuscript returne d 149 ; 'Honour an d Arms' t o Americ a 150 ; arranges furthe r advance o f £90 fo r The Rainbow 224 ; conveys Methue n reques t fo r self censorship 250-1 ; convey s Methue n 'assurance' afterward s 251 ; Methuen complain tha t owin g t o D H L obstinac y circulating librarie s hav e refuse d 277 ; sen t manuscript o f new trave l book 277 ; D H L ' s rage 280; told tha t Cliv e Bell want s t o help , but Methue n wan t n o protes t 813 ; testifie s to Societ y o f Authors tha t Methue n mad e
no attemp t t o communicat e wit h D H L , o r defend th e book , an d discourage d other s from doin g s o 813; D H L 's lis t of author s who migh t protest : d e l a Mare, Forster , Murry, Beresford , Walpole , Canna n 285 ; tells D H L Societ y o f Authors wil l conside r his cas e 286 ; may hav e approached Wells , James, Galsworth y 287 ; sends £40 : 291; told b y Methue n n o copyright , an d D H L should repa y £300 : 291 ; receives report s about 'Th e Sisters ' II I 328-9 ; agrees t o have type d 333 , sends £5 0 i n July 332 , an d another £5 0 i n Novembe r 344 ; sent th e las t of 'The Sisters ' I I I/ Women in Love (barring epilogue ) 343 ; typescript make s the round s o f publishers an d i s turne d down b y al l 349 ; asked t o giv e busines s reasons fo r D H L passpor t t o US A 351 ; retyped nove l sen t t o D H L , bu t lie s i n drawer 366 ; sent manuscrip t of Look! 367 ; D H L call s to se e in Londo n 367 ; D H L short o f money agai n 383 ; told revisin g Women in Love 391 ; sent poem s delete d from Look! fo r Americ a 399 ; told of'A t th e Gates' 390 ; and expulsio n 400 ; arrange s lunch wit h Galsworthy , a disaster 413 ; approaches Bennet t t o hel p D H L financially, h e agree s i f others will , ide a dropped 428 , 837; Bennett give s £2 5 secretly, fo r a crisis 428; Pinker let s deb t stand 429 , 482; gets English Review t o pay , but D H L rail s at i n privat e 429 ; writes t o Royal Literar y Fun d 459 ; sent Leig h Henry poem s 463 ; negotiates pric e o f American essay s with Harriso n 464-5 , 472; asked t o approac h Bennet t abou t wor k fo r D H L now , but doe s no t 472 , 479; suspicion b y D H L tha t ha s give n u p o n him 479 ; forgoes commissio n o n America n essays 482, 494; and defer s paymen t o f D H L ' s deb t t o hi m 482 ; is not sen t th e ful l American manuscrip t 482 ; sent 'Wintr y Peacock' 492 ; has not tol d D H L abou t Huebsch's Rainbow o r sen t Huebsc h Women in Love 495 ; sends £5 0 i n royaltie s 503; suggests storie s fo r Cosmopolitan, D H L send s tw o 504 ; breach openin g further: arrangement s fo r Touch and Go and New Poems made b y D H L himsel f 516 ; D H L discover s abou t Huebsc h an d Women in Love, make s mor e arrangements , breac h
INDEX by the m t o suppe r wit h Murr y 231 ; F t o the theatr e wit h him , Murr y talk s o f treachery 23 1
imminent 523 ; after discussio n wit h Mackenzie, D H L end s agreemen t 547-8 ; relationship reviewe d 548 ; final settlemen t shows u p America n arrear s 564 ; Bennet t repaid 564 ; finds 'Witc h a la Mode' an d relinquishes completel y t o Curti s Brow n 7H Plato, homosexuality 214 , 455; D H L 's distast e for idealis m 529 ; myth o f the cav e reverse d 591; neo-Platonism 552 ; 'platonic ' friendship an d lov e 69 3 Plotinus, 55 2 Plowman, Max , 52 9 Poe, Edgar Allen , 44 5 Poetry (Chicago) , prints 'Al l o f Roses', 'Green' , 'Illicit', 'Th e Wind , th e Rascal ' an d 'Grie f in 1914 , 783; D HL wil l not ente r war poem competitio n 152 ; sends 'Eloi , Eloi , Lama Sabachthani ' 152 ; prints si x poem s subsequently i n Bay 843 ; payments 224 , 494; Mountsier urge d t o tr y agai n afte r ga p 635; see also Harriet Monroe , Eunic e Tietjens Poetry and Drama (ed . Harol d Monro) , Marinetti i n Englis h 121 ; D H L 's 'Teasing ' 786 Poetry Bookshop , 8 8 Polignac Prize , 106 , 783 Pollard, Emma , 296 , 311, 821 Porthcothan (Cornwall) , described 29 6 Portsmouth (Hampshire) , 42 5 Poseidon, 59 5 Pound, Ezra , meet s D H L 134 , mimicked 33 , 134; praise o f Sirmion e 769 ; as modernis t 79, 135-6 ; agent fo r Smart Set 92 , 134 ; nominates D H L fo r Poligna c Priz e 106 , 783; reviews Love Poems 135 , 776, 789; rates D H L ' s pros e highl y 134 , till prefer s Joyce 135 ; influence wit h magazine s help s D H L 134 , 789; D H L 's relatio n with , before 1914 : 134 ; first principle s wit h Aldingtons 134-5 ; l a t e r definitio n o f Imagism 135 ; quarrels wit h Am y Lowel l and split s with 'Amygists ' 135-6 ; with T.S . Eliot 137 ; and Wyndha m Lewi s 136 ; Vorticism an d Blast 136 , 789; contrast s with Lawrenc e 134- 7 Pre-Socratic philosophers , see Anaximander , Anaxagoras, Empedocles , Heracleitus , Burnet Proctor, Basil , D HL an d F a t hi s flat 230 ; take n
Proserpine, 69 5 Pryse,J.M., The Apocalypse Unsealed 387-8 ; neurology o f chakras i n Women in Love 394-5, 520 ; in essay s o n America n literature 439 , 441, 450; in Psychoanalysis 553 Puccini, Giacomo , Madame Butterfly 42 2 Quorn, Leicestershire , 176 , 798 Radford, Dollie , meet s D H L , an d first impressions 227 ; describe d 807 ; F stay s with he r whil e lookin g fo r a flat 244 ; ha s a friend (?M r Keen ) wit h a n estat e i n Florida 281 , 814; visit s Zenno r 339 , 342 ; F stay s wit h whe n see s childre n i n September 1916 : 342 ; offer s ne w holida y home i n Hermitag e whe n D H L il l i n London (Apri l 1917 ) 368 ; refug e whe n expelled fro m Cornwall , sh e an d he r house describe d 410 ; Lawrence s t o liv e i n Hermitage cottag e fro m 1 8 Decembe r 424 , but temporaril y vacat e fo r he r visi t wit h Ernest 429 ; see s D H L i n London , ha s decided Ernes t shoul d g o int o a hom e 465; visi t t o Maitland , let s D H L an d F use hous e i n Wel l Wal k 472 , 841 ; return s 475 Radford, Ernest , 227 , 429, 465, 80 7 Radford, Maitland , walkin g tou r wit h Bunn y Garnett 227 , 515; friend o f Godwi n Baynes, similar socia l conscienc e 515 ; gets Sylvia Luca s int o hospita l 252-3 ; come s t o Porthcothan t o examine D H L , diagnose s bronchitis no t tuberculosi s 300-1 ; ma y have recommende d Zenno r 312 ; Dolli e visits him , bring s he r back , send s F t o be d 474-5, 84 1 Radford, Margaret , a t Greatha m 227 ; send s D H L poem s 235 ; he send s he r sculptura l plaque 366 ; Lawrences t o liv e in Hermitag e cottage 424 ; joins the m fo r a few day s before Christma s 425 ; D HL begin s t o think he r 'impossible ' 434 , 466; dislike s 'sweetly loving ' ton e 502-3 ; sh e ha s primary righ t t o cottage , s o arrangement s 508,511-2,516 Rainusso, Eva (Fiascherino) , 11 6
933
INDEX views o f D H L ' s relatio n wit h F , 10 , 11, 769; anti-Semit e an d anti-Englis h 768 ; anecdotes th e ger m o f D H L storie s 76 , 105, 778 ; retirement t o Baden-Bade n 70 ; F sees i n 1913 : 92; i n 1914 , il l an d broke n 128, 781 ; Polish mothe r an d grandmothe r Skrebensky, Silesia n estate s 173 ; dies 1915: 198,78 1
Raleigh, Si r Walte r an d Lady , Lawrence s mee t 779; allowed Catherin e Carswel l t o rea d English a t Glasgo w 132 ; her disastrou s first marriage t o Lad y Raleigh' s so n 78 8 Randazzo (Sicily) , 58 1 Raphael (Raffaell o Sanzio) , Ansidei Madonna 175, 79 4 Reading (Berkshire) , 51 1 Reed,John,682,8i3 Reid, Rev. Robert, D H L discusse s th e proble m of pain 40 , Rembrandt va n Rijn , 168 , 186 , 794 Reventlow, Countes s Fann y zu , 3 9 Reynolds, Stephen , 56 , 60 Rhys, Ernest, 800 , 86 7 Rhythm, a story for ? 64 ; review of Georgian Poetry fo r 71-2 ; 'Thomas Mann ' writte n for 78 ; 'daft paper ' 83 ; brief account o f 83-4, 775 ; remarkable fea t fo r undergraduate 15 4 Rice, Ann Estelle , illustrations t o Bay 437 , 505, 558,837 Richards, Grant , 70 5 Richardson, Samuel , 44 0 Richthofen, Ann a von : her marita l situation 8 ; attitude t o D H L i n Met z 8 ; scolds him i n Icking 9, 30 ; then say s lovable an d trustworthy 30 ; might childre n com e t o her? 70 ; retirement t o Baden-Bade n 70 , 88; F t o se e ther e 92 ; sends Weekley' s furiou s letter t o T he Cearn e i n 1913 : 83, 779; visited b y F i n 1914 : 126 , 128 ; comes t o England t o mediate i n 1914 , meet s Catherine Carswel l 147 ; visited b y F i n 1919: 527; in 1920 : 598, 607; falls il l i n 1921, F mus t com e 636-7 ; D HL follows , they settl e i n Ebersteinbur g 644 ; affectionate relationshi p wit h hi m 653-4 ; cannot b e lef t alon e 644 ; visits Ebersteinburg, il l again 664 ; Germa n royalties t o be pai d t o he r i n mark s 699 ; consoled b y D H L , i f dollars i n US A ca n get to German y almos t as easily as fro m Taormina 710 ; told the y ar e setting off lik e Abraham, n o fixed destinatio n 71 7 Richthofen, Els e von, see Jaffe, Els e Richthofen, Friedric h Freiher r von , anniversar y celebration i n Met z 5 , 8-9 ; D H L concealed fro m 8 , 9; mistres s an d illegitimate so n 8 ; doubl e standard s 8 ; gambling 8 , 173 ; D H L 's onl y meetin g 10 ;
Richthofen, Hartma n von , 49 2 Richthofen, Johanna von , see Schreibershofen , Johanna vo n Richthofen, Manfre d vo n (F' s distan t cousin) , 17, 84 0 Rider, William , Occult Review an d booksho p 48 2 Ripley (Derbyshire) , visit s i n 1914 : 169 ; Christmas 1915 : 295; 1917 : 367, 368; 1918: 436, 463, 483, 491-2; 1919 : collapses o n visit 496; to sa y goodby e 526 ; Nottingham , Eastwood, Riple y tramwa y 48 3 Riva (Lake Garda) , description o f 36 ; lodge i n Villa Leoni 36 ; though Austrian , 'Italia n a s an ice-crea m man ' 3 7 Rogers, Dr , 57 8 Rome, 544-5 , 597, 626, 637, 672, 70 7 Rousseau, Jean Jacques, 441- 2 Royal Literar y Fund , 191 4 application an d £5 0 grant 150-1 ; i n 191 8 Whibley think s ca n get hi m £100 : 430; D HL applie s 459; granted £5 0 agai n 46 3 Ruskin, John, Sons and Lovers hi s traged y to o 44 Russell, Ad a (frien d o f Amy Lowell) , 79 2 Russell, Bertrand , 188 , 801 ; 'Apostle' 85 , 192 ; breakup o f marriag e 188 ; relationshi p wit h Ottoline Morrel l 188 ; Hele n Dudle y 157 , 801; Iren e Cooper-Willi s 188 ; take n b y Ottoline t o mee t D H L a t Greatha m 189 ; much impressed , D H L i s lik e Ezekie l 190 ; invites hi m t o Cambridg e 190 ; naiv e D H L thinks wholesal e nationalisatio n wil l resolve th e economi c proble m 19 0 (bu t see Russel l 801) ; Fried a write s he r opinion o f hi m 198 ; D H L ' s visi t t o Cambridge 208-1 0 (talk s abou t socialis m 804); Keyne s an d D H L 209-10 ; th e Union fo r Democrati c Contro l 212 , 248 , but a 'malignan t will ' i n him , to o 212 ; visits Greatha m again , friendshi p hold s 217, 226 ; D H L send s revise d philosophy , but i t break s dow n 217 ; disagree s wit h D H L abou t wil l an d violenc e i n Ottolin e
934
INDEX 226, 229 ; th e pla n fo r join t lecture s 226 , 239; no t sympatheti c t o D H L ' s philosophy 236 ; bu t admire s o n secon d reading 239 ; lose s fellowshi p a t Trinity , likes D H L ' s lette r 235 ; attacks Northcliff e in Labour Leader 236 ; begge d t o hel p entertain Lawrence s a t Garsington , an d does 236-7 ; change s hi s min d abou t DHL's philosoph y 239 ; witnesse s ugl y scene betwee n th e Lawrence s a t Greatha m 239; hi s opinio n o f F 240 ; D H L ' s radica l criticism o f hi s outlin e fo r lecture s 241-3 ; as disturbe d a s b y Wittgenstein , bu t thought hi m righ t an d D H L wron g 243 ; doesn't believ e i n impuls e t o trut h o r desire fo r unit y wit h other s 243 ; goe s wit h D H L t o th e zoo , see s Ko t an d th e Murrys 244 ; D H L irrational , a littl e mad , not quit e hones t 244 ; begin s simpl y t o disqualify D H L ' s criticism s 244 ; lend s Burnet o n th e pre-Socratics , wh o sho w D H L h e doesn' t nee d Christia n languag e 245; ga p widen s ove r democrac y an d 'dictator' 246-8 ; D H L think s hi m immature i n persona l conflic t 248 ; visit s a t Hampstead bu t mutua l imcomprehensio n where migh t hav e supplie d eac h other' s defects 258-9 ; D H L think s Russel l want s to kee p eg o intac t an d separat e 258-9 , bu t hopes th e partin g temporar y 261 ; Russel l sends 'Dange r t o Civilisation ' fo r Signature bu t refuse s t o subscrib e 262 ; th e reasons fo r D H L ' s fierce denunciatio n 263; ho w Russell' s late r denigratio n bear s on thi s 810-1 ; think s o f suicide , the n dismisses th e denunciatio n altogethe r 264 ; interest i n T.S . Elio t an d Vivie n 261 , t o Torquay lookin g afte r he r 299 , 818 ; relationship wit h Ottolin e wanin g 261 ; told o f D H L ' s 'affection' , still , give s money t o hel p hi m t o Americ a 814 ; visit s Byron Villa s an d make s friend s agai n 290 ; D H L o n 'blood-consciousness ' 293 , 810 ; he an d D H L giv e Ottolin e Ajant a frescoe s 306; Fried a appeal s fo r hel p 306 ; Caxto n Hall lecture s 299 , 306 , 818 , 819 ; D H L ' s jeaousy, an d irritatio n a t views , especiall y depreciation o f th e unconsciou s 306 , bu t 'make me. . .you r heir ' 306 ; relationshi p dwindles awa y 306-7 ; think s magi c i s nonsense 43 7
Russian ballet , Mordki n an d Pavlov a 30 ; Diaghilev 481 ; Massine 48 1 Russian La w Bureau , 147 , 244 Sadleir, Michael , brie f accoun t 837 ; Rhythm 775; tw o poem s b y D H L fo r New Paths 428; suggests Beaumon t fo r privat e publication o f Women in Love 428 ; want s 'Wintry Peacock ' 565 , and agai n fo r The New Decameron 655 , 667; D HL enquire s about it s releas e fo r collectio n 68 5 Sagar, Keith , pictur e o f a Chladni figure 787 ; dating 'Snake ' an d 'Th e Mosquito ' 85 7 Saleeby, D r Caleb , 185 , 234 Saleeby, Mary , 234 , 236, 79 8 Saleeby, Monic a (ne e Meynell), 185 , 234, 236 Salomone, Walter , 585 , 608-9, 704, 85 4 Samuelli, Signor a (Gargnano) , F' s Germa n friend, landlad y o f the 'Cervo ' 38 ; D H L scrubs floor s fo r visit s by 38 ; deposition fo r F's divorc e 102 , 773 San Gervasi o (nea r Florence) , 599 , 60 3 San Rem o (Italy) , 560, 56 2 Sander, A.A. , journalist sp y conspirac y 34 8 Santoro, Ellesina , Catherin e write s 529 ; anti German feelin g i n pensione , take s Lawrences i n 544 ; theft i n he r hous e 544-5, 84 9 Sappho,202,774,795 Sardinia, 613 , 622-6; Cagliar i 622 ; Mandas 622 ; Sorgono 622-3 , 626 , 861; Gennargent u mountains 622 ; Nuoro 622 ; Tavolara 622 ; Terranova (Olbia ) 622 , 626; Tonara 625 ; Sardinian costum e 625 ; wandering pedla r 626 Sargent, John Singer , 8 6 Sassoon, Siegfried , Murry' s revie w upset s Ottoline 473 ; collection o f parodie s includes D H L 505 , 844 Savage, Henry, visi t t o Kingsgat e 88 ; friend o f Richard Middleto n 88 ; D HL write s abou t Middleton suicid e an d homosexualit y 102-3 Scarborough (Yorkshire) , 17 0 Schaff, Hermann , 52 2 Scheffel, Josep h Victo r von , Ekkehard 49 3 Schiele, Egon , 76 8 Schopenhauer, Arthur , 163 , 218 Schreibershofen, Ann a von , 66 7 Schreibershofen, Hadubran d von , 66 7
935
INDEX Schreibershofen, Johann a vo n ('Nusch') , meet s D H L 8 , 9; he describe s a s 'cocotte' 9 ; tell s F sh e ca n trus t hi m 9 ; opts ou t o f famil y embassy t o Trier 11 ; contributes t o Anit a in 'Once—! ' 768; gives F fashionabl e clothes 36 , 509; visits her mother , accompanied b y Emi l vo n Kru g 644 ; he r marriage breakin g u p 644 ; visited b y D H L and F i n Thumersbach, Zel l 667- 8 Schreibershofen, Ma x von , aid e d e cam p t o th e Crown Princ e 9 ; marriage t o Nusc h breaking u p 644 ; visited b y D H L an d F 667-8 Scotland Yard , see Criminal Investigatio n Department Scott, Cyri l K. , se e Wellman, Frederic k Creighton Scott, Evelyn , Precipitations 639 , 863; Narrow House 863-4 ; review o f Women in Love (and The Lost Girt) 657 , 86 5 Scott, Harold , 51 0 Scy (nea r Metz) , D HL walk s t o 10 ; in 'Frenc h Sons o f Germany' 1 0 Seabrooke, Elliott , 18 0 Seckendorf, Count , D H L dine s wit h 10 1 Seeker, Martin , interes t i n D H L 1912 : 32; refuses Women in Love 349 ; refuses 'A t th e Gates' 413; will publish New Poems (hi s title) 460, 465, wants on e poe m lef t ou t 467, second editio n 513 ; idea o f a 'Collected Poems ' 516 ; belated interes t i n Women in Love 520 , D HL ask s t o sa y nothing t o Pinker 523 , need t o retriev e manuscript fro m Seltze r 527 ; sent Shesto v 521, proble m o f introduction 546 ; talks with Mackenzi e abou t D H L 547-8 ; offered permanen t agreemen t i f will d o The Rainbow a s Women in Love Volum e I 549; offers t o buy Rainbow copyrigh t instead, D H L refuse s 557 ; agrees tha t D H L shoul d g o back t o Duckworth, no t a commercial propositio n 565 ; settles term s for th e tw o novel s afte r Duckwort h demands cut s 586 , 853; then The Lost Girl 573, 586 , 853; asks D HL t o alte r passage , and make s change s himself , quietl y 575-6 ; Magnus's 'Dregs ' (Foreign Legion) recommended b y D H L 582 ; hopes o f serialising The Lost Girl produc e a merry go-round o f typescripts an d dela y 588 ; vagaries of proofs i n post , mus t b e
finished i n th e offic e 598 , 601, 858; advance cop y 607 ; crisis wit h circulatin g libraries, D HL mus t rewrit e passag e 607-8; copie s sen t t o Ne w Yor k enrag e Seltzer 610 ; the contras t betwee n the m 611-2, bu t diplomac y ove r The Lost Girl pays of f 613 ; proof s o f his Women in Love 607, 608, timidity, ask s for change s 608 , chapter division s 608 ; D HL als o nervous , about sendin g t o critic s 608 ; will not tr y circulating libraries , tries t o reduc e payment 635 ; pays hal f advance 655 ; publishes 656 ; Aaron 5 Rod o r Mr Noon I next? 655 ; bypassing Brow n raise s hackle s 655-6; won' t coun t Mr Noon I unde r contract 656 ; decision fo r Aaron mean s Mr Noon I not i n D H L ' s lifetime , Par t I I no t for 2 3 years 656 ; refuses Psychoanalysis, contrast Seltze r agai n 656 ; now though t 'useless' by D H L excep t fo r fictio n 656 ; un worried abou t John Bull attack , bu t suspends sal e of Women in Love becaus e o f Heseltine threa t 672 ; gets D H L ' s alterations 675 ; when Heseltin e no t satisfied, tell s him t o su e 683 ; but offer s £50 an d costs , D HL furiou s 698 , 869; stories no t t o coun t unde r contrac t 699 ; nor novellas , though change s hi s min d later 714 ; pressed fo r las t payment fo r The Lost Girl 700 ; found t o hav e underpai d 709, 711; buys sheet s o f Sea and Sardinia 711; and o f Women in Love t o b e autographed free , fo r delux e editio n 71 4 Seltzer, Thomas , 846 ; interested b y Goldrin g i n Women in Love 520 ; three-cornere d problem wit h Seeke r an d Huebsch , D H L asks fo r typescrip t bac k 527 ; refuses, D H L accepts £5 0 advanc e 543 ; offere d repayment, bu t D H L als o enquires abou t contract 557 ; asked agai n t o relinquish , D H L object s t o private publicatio n 558 , 571-2; garble d telegra m 565 , 852; nove l goes to pres s 571 ; delay i n gettin g typescript t o Seeker , an d i n receivin g The Lost Girl 588 ; will publish Touch and Go 572 and republis h Mrs. Holroyd 586 , payments 855 ; Huebsch hand s ove r American essay s 588 ; first galley s o f Women in Love 596 , full se t 607 ; published 60 8 (with tw o silen t change s 860) ; copies t o D H L , delighte d 611-2 ; copies o f Seeke r
936
INDEX Lost Girl i n Ne w York , D H L insist s Seltze r be protecte d 610 ; contrast o f the tw o publishers 611-2 , 656 ; Mountsier dislike s and i s suspicious o f S's finances 634 ; bu t publication o f Woman in Love, support , an d praise mea n muc h t o D H L 634 ; Mrs. Holroyd i n Februar y 635 ; Psychoanalysis promised 635 , published Ma y 656-7 ; aske d for an d send s review s 667 , 672; D HL wil l write forewor d t o Aaron's Rod, say s it is th e last of'th e Rainbow , Wome n i n Lov e novels' 668 ; Tortoises and Sea and Sardinia published i n Decembe r 1921 : 863; but D H L no t informe d 676 , 699; if there ar e objections t o Aaron's Rod, D H L wil l mak e small change s 675 ; Seltzer decide s t o cu t D H L ' s answe r t o critics of Psychoanalysis 677; makes cut s i n Fantasia 679-80 ; praise s Aaron's Rod 698 ; but whe n D H L i s asked to make changes , h e canno t brin g himsel f to expurgate , Seltze r mus t d o wha t h e like s 699, 711 ; copies o f Tortoises sent 709 ; and of Sea and Sardinia 711 ; his commitmen t the mor e impressiv e whe n D H L learn s about har d time s i n th e book trad e 71 5 Settignano (nea r Florence) , 542 , 599 Seven Arts, 'Th e Morta l Coil ' 825 ; 'Th e Thimble' 36 7 Shakespeare, William , traged y fro m within , 163 ; Hamlet i n Italia n 59 , 267; D HL dislike s 68, 268; thinks Heseltin e Hamlett y 297 ; Dan a Hamletises 450 ; Macbeth 79 ; Othello 29 0 Shango, Yourub a Thunder-God , 45 0 Shaw, Georg e Bernard , 'bony , bloodles s drama ' 60; did the y meet ? 28 7 Shearman, Montagu e ('Monty') , lend s book s through Ko t 365 ; asked t o hel p discove r reason fo r expulsio n 411 ; meets D H L 422 ; asked agai n fo r hel p ove r detective s 423; sends D H L mone y 429 ; Armistice part y a t the Adelphi48 i Shelley, Perc y Bysshe , and Leric i 92 ; and th e principle o f evil 212 ; 'To a Skylark' an d it s significance 319 , 322, 822 Sheppard, J.T., 34 0 Shestov, Le o (Le v Isaakovitc h Svartsman) , D H L work s o n Kot' s translatio n o f All Things Are Possible 512-3; hi s Forewor d replaces Shestov' s whic h Ko t wishe s t o keep 513 , 521; argument abou t term s wit h Seeker 52 1
Short, Captai n John Tregerthen , like s 317 , 338; ups an d dow n abou t sublettin g afte r the y leave 427, 461; D HL finally surrender s lease 492; started befor e th e mas t 632 ; advice abou t a boat 632 , 65 5 Short, Lucy , 59 5 Shorter, Clemen t King , 27 7 Sicily, see Catania, Castrogiovanni , Erice , Eryx , Etna, Giardini-Naxos , Letojanni , Maniace , Messina, Palermo , Randazzo, Syracuse , Taormina, Trapan i Sickert, Walter , 8 5 Siena (Italy) , 672, 86 6 Silchester (Hampshire) , 50 6 Simon, Si r John, 286 , 290, 292, 81 6 Sinclair, May , 28 7 Sitwell, Osbert an d Sacheverell , 48 1 Slade Schoo l o f Art, see Augustus John, Mar k Gertler, Stanle y Spencer , Dor a Carrington , Jan Juta, Ala n Insol e Smart Set, Poun d agen t fo r 135-6 ; 'Th e Christening' 89 , 768; 'The Shado w i n th e Rose Garde n 89 ; 'The Whit e Stocking ' 89 ; rejects 'Once—! ' 89 ; payment fo r 'Violets ' and 'Kisse s i n th e Train' 92 ; prints 'Th e Mowers' 9 2 Smith, Ernes t Alfre d ('Botany') , 12 2 Smith, Viva , 38 4 Society o f Authors, reaso n fo r refusin g D H L financial ai d 1914 : 150 , 792; in 1915 ; Walter Georg e ask s t o tak e u p Rainbow case an d suggest s D H L shoul d joi n 285 ; D H L applie s 285 ; Pinker write s 149 , 183; committee agree s t o conside r 286 , 815; says can d o nothin g 292 ; see also Belloc Lowndes Socrates, 64 1 Some Imagist Poets, '1915' : seven poem s (se e Appendix); '1916' : 825 ; 'Terra Nuova ' 828 , payment 840 ; H.D. Englis h agen t fo r 417 ; see also Lowel l Sorley, Charles , 15 2 Sowerby, Olivi a (ne e Meynell) , 22 8 Spencer, Stanley , 85 , 18 4 Spezia, Gul f of , ship s pas s alon g 9 9 Spezia, nava l bas e 99 ; workmen's steame r 99 ; F's pian o fro m 99 ; D H L 's ban k accoun t 109, 781; visits sailors wit h Rev . Woo d 107 ; goes t o meet Mars h an d Barne s 107 ; Constance Garnet t an d Ver a Volkhovsk y 112; Ivy Lo w 118 ; weekend wit h Dunlop s
937
INDEX Spezia (cont.) 117, 121 ; Ameglia 100 ; Aulla 101 ; Carrara 116; Levanto 116 ; Magra, Valle y o f 116 ; Sarzana n o , 118 ; seminarian fro m 116 ; see also Fiascherino, Lerici, Tellar o Sphere, 27 7 Squire, J.C. ('Jack') , Strache y an d Bel l ask t o protest a t injustic e t o D H L 285 ; instead writes unfavourabl e revie w 285 , 814; refuses 'Education ' essay s fo r London Mercury i n 1920 : 636; ready t o conside r poems i n 192 1 but reject s als o 63 6 St Augustine , 60 4 St Francis , 371 , 640 St Helier , Mar y Lady , invitatio n t o D HL 128 , 788; had entertaine d Whistler , Millais , Tennyson, Brownin g 78 8 St Ives , 312, 317, 338; stone sho p 347 ; police 346-7, 400 , 423, 826 St Ives Times, 387 , 402-3, 83 2 St John (gospel) , 62, 659 St Paul , 371 , 585 Stanislavsky, Konstantin , 70 7 Star, 277 , 792 Starr, Lad y Mary , D H L joke s abou t transcendence an d th e concer t i n S t Ive s 387; her Cap e Town pas t 832 ; has bab y 502 Starr, Meredith , introduce d t o D H L b y Heseltine 382 ; D HL joke s about, bu t through hi m develop s interes t i n th e occul t and theosophy , especiall y Blavatsk y an d Pryse 387-9 ; described b y Nichol s 387 ; farcical concer t i n S t Ive s 831 ; claims Aleister Crowle y a great artist , cite s D H L , Epstein an d John a s opining tha t Englis h art i s buffoonery 387 ; his 'destructiv e elecricity' i n Women in Love 389 , 39 6 Stead, C.K. , 788 , 789 Stein, Gertrude , 68 3 Stein, Leo , meet s D H L i n Florenc e 848 ; evidence tha t h e wa s writing o n psychoanalysis the n 542 ; may hav e talke d of Taos 683 ; annoys D H L b y ski t o n th e emphasis o n th e bell y i n Psychoanalysis 711-2, 87 0 Stempel, Baron, 611 , 676 Stephen, Adria n an d Karen , 131 , 788 Stephens, James, Polignac Prizewinne r 783 ; absurd o n Pa n 13 1 Stepniak, see Kravchinsky
Sterne, Laurence , 66 1 Sterne, Mabe l Dodge , see Luhan, Mabe l Dodg e Sterne, Maurice , 68 3 Stock, Ralph, 'The Cruis e of the Dream Ship ' 86 3 Strachey, James, 131 , 214, 80 5 Strachey, Lytton , homosexualit y an d th e Apostles 192 ; homosexual adventure s 193 , but se e 802 ; maintains exac t obverse o f D H L ' s reaso n fo r th e relativ e valu e o f homosexual an d heterosexua l se x 802 ; flirtation wit h Bunn y Garnett , whos e affection continue s 214 , 805; sees D H L and F i n Brett' s studi o 280-1 ; D H L doesn't car e fo r hi s writings , but the y hav e things i n commo n 814 ; with Bell , attempt s to persuad e Squir e t o make som e protes t about injustic e an d The Rainbow 285 ; lives with Carringto n 366 ; effect o n Gertle r 435 ; at Adelph i Armistic e part y 48 1 Strand Magazine, 252 , 809; publishes 'Ticket s Please' 494, 50 3 Streatley (Berkshire) , 51 2 Strindberg, August , D H L dislike s 4 1 Stiilchen, 'Oupa' , brough t u p Hanna h Krenko w 12; D H L 's likin g fo r 1 2 Suffragism, Alic e Dax (Clara ) an d 47 ; Sallie Hopkin an d 64 ; D HL an d 64 , 16 0 Suhrawardy, Shahi d Hasan , D H L take s t o Garsington 289 ; argument abou t Indi a 290 ; Ottoline's opinio n 291 ; in th e Caf e Roya l i n 1916, 337, 816, 824; later histor y 81 6 Sutro, Alfred , 15 0 Sutton & Co (seed-merchants) , 36 5 Swift, Jonathan, 62 0 Swinburne, Algerno n Charles , 23 7 Swinnerton, Frank , review s Women in Love 656 ; Murry praise s Cocott e a t D H L ' s expens e 684 Switzerland, Journeys through , 191 3 to Italy : Uberlingen t o Konstan z 94 ; Rhine, Schaffhausen, Egisla u 94 ; Zurich, Adliswi l 95; Albi s pass , Zug 95 ; Rigi pass , Kussnacht, Lucerne , Fluele n 95 ; Altdorf, Erstfeld, Andermatt , Hospentha l 96 ; over Gotthard pas s t o Airolo an d Bellinzon a 96-7; Locarno , Lugano , Com o 97 ; 191 4 from Italy : Turin t o Aosta , Grea t S t Bernard's pass , and monaster y 127 ; to Martigny, alon g Rhone valle y t o Brigue , perhaps side-trac k fro m Vis p t o Zermat t 127-8; Gletsc h glacier , Meiringen ,
938
INDEX Times Educational Supplement, intervie w wit h editor 472 ; 'Education' essay s rejecte d 489 ,
Interlaken, Ber n 127-8 ; 192 1 t o Austria : Baden-Baden t o Konstan z 665-6 ; acros s lake to Bregen z 666 , train t o Innsbruc k an d Zell-am-See Symbolistes, 122-3 ; see a ^° Maeterlinc k Synge, John Millington , 6 0 Syracuse (Sicily) , 581, 584, 59 4 Tacitus, Cornelius , Germania 46 4 Taormina (Sicily) , 570-1 , 578 , 581, 584-6, 595 , 606-7, 624 , 626-7, 632, 636-7; Goo d Friday processio n 639 , 676, 681-3, 7 00> 710, 714, 716; Fontana Vecchi a 570-1 , 578-80, 581 , 594, 606, 622-4, 637 , 639-40 , 673-4, 715—6 , 860; rent 586 , 854; decision s on leas e 640, 67 4 Taos, Ne w Mexico , 681-2 , 711 , 718 Tarry, Mrs , aske d t o Zenno r t o kee p F compan y 405; D HL visit s 47 5 Tas, Emile , gif t t o D H L 566 , 851; see also Untermeyer Taylore, Rache l Annand , 77 0 Tellaro (Gul f o f Spezia), 99, 782; Eva Rainusso , schoolmistress 116 ; Holy Thursda y procession 116- 7 Terry, Marion , 52 9 Thayer, Scofield , take s over Dial in 1920 , 855; publication o f D HL summarise d 635 , 863; sent 'Turkeycock ' direct , refuse s 635 ; encouragement t o writ e Sea and Sardinia} 668; 'The Gentleman ' recommende d b y D H L 668 ; invites hi m t o Westerland-Syl t 669 Thomas, Edward , review s Love Poems 776; an d Eleanor Farjeo n 22 8 Thomas, Helen , an d Eleano r Farjeo n 228 ; D H L visits wit h Collin s 509-10 ; look s a t picture s with eight-year-ol d Mfanw y 51 0 Thornycroft, Si r Hamo , 52 8 Thrasher, Carlota , meet s D H L 599 ; late husband 858 ; offers D H L far m rent-fre e 606, confirms 3 0 years leas e but hous e a ruin 633 , grow peaches , lovel y countr y 634 ; Mountsier goe s t o se e i t 633-4, cable s 638 ; plan droppe d whe n F' s mothe r il l 63 7 Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War 824; in Women in Love 82 4 Thumersbach (Tumersbach , Austria) , 66 7 Tiberius, 47 8 Tietjens, Eunice , D H L define s th e 'abnormal ' 380
493 Times Literary Supplement, Henr y Jame s o n contemporary novelist s 131 , 788 ; revie w of Look! 414 ; D H L ' s respons e 835 ; fantasy tha t h e migh t b e commissione d t o write for , 422 ; revie w o f The Lost Girl (Woolf) 861 ; of Women in Love (Blunden ) 656 Times, The, report s riot s i n Turi n 127 ; law report o n Weekle y divorc e 11 7 Tolstoy, Coun t Leo , mora l schem e 124 ; traged y from society , no t withi n 163 ; D HL o n Anna Karenina 19-20 , 160 , 163 ; F o n Ann a 770; 'Th e Liv e Corpse ' 52 9 Tomalin, Claire , K.M.' s lesbia n experienc e an d The Rainbow 793 , 803; K.M.'s gonorrhoe a 805; on tuberculosi s 78 2 Torrigiani, Marches e Carl o an d Marchesa , a t homes 543 , 647; Marchesa ma y hav e picnicked 599 ; music i n 'Lookin g Dow n o n the City ' 864 ; and Aaron 5 Rod, bu t n o physical resemblanc e t o Marches a 647 ; introduced b y D H L t o Catherin e Carswel l 670 Towne, Mothe r Elizabeth , 67 7 Trapani (Sicily) , 62 4 Tree, Iris , 28 0 Trench, Si r Herbert : offer s Cynthi a Asquit h a part 86 , 785; visits D H L i n Fiascherin o and invite s t o Settignan o 117 , 785; renew s invitation 542 ; wife an d daughte r visite d 1919 by D H L an d F 849 ; perhaps picni c i n 1920,599 Trevelyan, G.M. , 18 0 Trevelyan, R.C . ('Bob') , 10 0 Trier (Germany) , D H L persuade d t o g o t o 10-11; sketche s probabl y writte n in , 11 , 764; F visits , with mothe r an d siste r 1 1 Tristan an d Iseult , see Wagner Tuatha d i Danaan , 357 , 57 1 Tunis, 595 , 624, 62 6 Turgenev, Ivan , mora l schem e 124 ; Cooper eve n 'lovelier' tha n 44 4 Turin (Italy) , 529 , 535-6; D H L ' s trun k stuc k i n 568,571,856 Turner, J.M.W., 100 , 168 , 794, 80 0 Turner, Reginal d ('Reggie') , loya l frien d o f Oscar Wild e 539 ; introduced t o D H L b y Douglas 539 ; his flat i n th e Vial e Milto n
939
INDEX Turner, Reginal d (cont.) (used i n Aaron's Rod) 540 ; his uglines s bu t also his kindnes s 540 ; relationship wit h Douglas 540 ; introduces D H L t o th e Marchese Carl o Torrigian i an d hi s American wif e 543 ; sees him agai n i n Florence i n 1921 : 642
and Unfree ' 514 ; 'Nostalgia' and 'Obsequia l Chant' 844 ; see also Moult, Thoma s Volkhovsky, Vera , 784 ; comes t o Leric i 112 ; stays afte r Constanc e depart s 11 6 Voltaire, Francois-Mari e Arouet , 36 5 Vorticism, 136-7 ; Pound 136 ; Wyndham Lewi s and Blast 136 , 789; Gaudier-Brzeska 136 ; D H L ' s similarit y an d differenc e 136- 7
Tylor, Si r Edwar d Burnett , Primitive Culture 822, 316, 32 6 Ucello, Paolo, 49 9 Union o f Democratic Control , Russell an d 181 , 212, 248 ; Goldsworthy Lowe s Dickinso n and 181 ; Gilbert Canna n an d 181 ; D H L puts Mountsie r i n touc h wit h Russel l an d 348; suggestion tha t h e might atten d a meeting 82 6 Untermeyer, Louis , wit h Jean Star r an d Emil e Tas, gif t o f $100: 566 , 851; D HL send s £ 5 of it to Magnu s 566 ; essay o n D H L 600-1 , D H L ' s rejoinde r 601 ; a phrase recalle d 605; and a n iron y 60 4 Unwin, Stanley , show n educatio n essays , suggests a small boo k 493 ; enquires afte r progress 855 ; D HL promise s t o ge t on wit h it when hi s trun k come s 85 5 Unwin, Thoma s Fisher , 413 , 704 Upper Lydbroo k (Gloucestershire) , 466- 7 Van Dieren , Bernard , 42 2 Van Eyck , Jan, Adoration of the Lamb 79 6 Van Gogh , Vincent , D H L o n hi s failur e t o marry opposite s 207 ; for H.D. , alon g wit h D H L th e reveale r o f the inne r glor y i n things 418 ; D HL ask s fo r reproductio n o f 499; D HL o n Sunflowers 60 5 Vaughan, Rev . Davi d Rechab , and Mis s Vaughan, 403 , 834 Vengerova, Zinaida , 287 , 815- 6 Venice (Italy) , 595 , 598, 606 Venus deMilo , 10 8 Verdi, Giuseppe , Aida 42 2 Verga, Giovanni , 683 , 715; Mastro-don Gesualdo 710,715 Verona (Italy) , 69, 59 5 Via Gelli a (Derbyshire) , 43 6 Vickers-Maxim, A.P . Lewi s work s fo r 126 ; their factory i n Barrow-in-Furnes s 14 7 Virgil, Aeneid 321 , 822 ; Georgics 355 Visconte, Genera l Marco , 71 7 Voices, Golding praises D HL i n 501 ; 'Verse Fre e
Wagner, Richard , Iseul t (th e spellin g howeve r also suggest s Matthe w Arnold ) 296 ; Tristan 296 , 371 (Tristra m i n Malor y an d Arnold); D H L dislike s concer t i n Taormina 584 ; Brunhild 225 , 66 0 Wagner, Siegfried , 64 4 Waldbrol (Germany) , D H L leave s Trier fo r 11 ; village fai r 12 ; village describe d 12-13 ; 'Hail i n th e Rhineland ' 13 , 764 Waley, Arthur , 13 1 Wallace, Miss , charges fo r typin g The Lost Girl 586, 854 , 85 5 Walpole, Hugh , 131 , 181 War Office , 340 , 411, 412 Warren, Dorothy , 292 , 299, 81 7 Warren, Whitney , 71 6 Waterfield, Aubrey ; an d Lina , Aubre y meet s D H L 100 ; the introduc e hi m t o ric h expatriates 101 ; D HL an d F visi t Aull a 101; reaction s t o D H L an d F 101 ; told mercy-killing o f Mr s More l tru e 101 ; lunch a t Fiascherin o 101 ; picnic i n th e hill s 116 Watson, Herbert , revie w fo r Daily Telegraph held over , the n suppresse d 285 , 815; D H L ' s grie f at hi s deat h 287 , 36 5 Weber, Alfred : 'suc h a jolly fellow ' 19 ; Else Jaff e his mistres s 9 ; flat i n Ickin g 9 , offered t o D H L an d F 19 ; house i n Heidelber g 9 , D H L visit s ther e 128 ; possibly read s 'Pau l Morel'?, 26 ; tells D H L abou t Germa n philosophy an d economic s 128 , 787-8; a founder o f th e postwa r Germa n Democratic part y 492 , 842; in Mr Noon 618; ill at sam e tim e a s F's mothe r 636-7 ; visits Baden-Bade n 65 4 Weber, Max : i n lov e wit h Els e Jaffe 9 ; Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft 787-8 ; in Ascon a 787 ; o n the postwa r Commissio n t o dra w u p a ne w constitution 84 2 Wedgwood, Cmdr . Josiah, 81 6 Weekley, Agnes , F take s daughter s to , as sh e
940
INDEX Weekley, Professo r Ernest : lif e befor e 1912 : 767-8; Romance of Words 768; F kisse s goodbye 5 ; told o f forme r lover s 7 ; th e brute i n 7 ; but Fried a Gros s tol d ha d been 'ver y good ' 7 ; D H L 's lette r 10 , cite d in divorc e 102 ; suspects ne w love r 10 ; F and D H L answe r telegra m 11 ; vacillates about divorce : consider s 11 , but damagin g to caree r 15 , judicial separatio n 15 , n o divorce 18 , 23, will hav e F bac k i f sh e leaves D H L , o r mus t forg o childre n 23 , divorce onl y i f complete severanc e fro m children 51 ; suffering an d hysteri a 15 , 23, 32, 38 , 50 , 126 , 770; transfers famil y t o Hampstead 15 ; blames Gros s bu t neve r denies lov e fo r F 23 ; D HL 'ehrlich ' 23 ; idolises F a s pur e wif e an d mothe r 7 , 25, 767; send s phot o o f childre n 38 ; return s children's posta l orde r 5 0 - 1 ; offers F London fla t wit h childre n i f leaves D H L 51; F carelessl y enclose s Dowson' s lette r 770; finally petition s fo r divorc e 53 , 773 (later remove s hi s depositio n 783) ; wil l not le t F se e childre n a t Easte r 54 ; told b y sister o f F' s meeting s wit h childre n 82 ; furious lette r t o Barones s 82 ; injunctio n 82; decre e nis i an d awarde d custod y 102 ; D H L o n histrioni c i n stoc k role s 83 , 126 ; Decree Absolut e 117 , and milde r lette r afterwards 126 ; angered b y invasio n o f hi s house, n o hop e o f acces s no w 146-7 ; Baroness arrive s t o mediat e 147 ; lawyer s claim cost s 150 ; ambushed b y Fried a i n Nottingham 169 ; impervious t o lette r from Lad y Ottolin e 189 , 901; costs pursued agains t D H L 224 , 806 ; ask s Barbie i f she want s t o se e he r mothe r 257 ; finally allow s F t o se e childre n i n lawyer' s office 257 ; returns gift s o f mone y t o the m 823; F no t indifferen t t o tal k o f Glady s Bradley 366 ; D HL dream s o f 17 ; 'Meeting Amon g th e Mountains ' 32 ; Baxter Dawe s 4 7
leaves fo r Met z 5 ; Weekley set s u p hom e for childre n i n Londo n wit h 15 ; invaded b y F 146- 7 Weekley, Barbar a Joy ('Barbie') , F take s t o grandparents befor e leavin g fo r Met z 5 ; goodbye o n Hampstea d Heat h 7 ; F i n tear s outside stud y 7 ; with D H L a t Holbroo k farm 6 , 762; relationship wit h Id a Wilhelmy 20 , Ida's dismissal ? 767 ; year o f birth 761 ; children move d t o London , wit h grandparents an d aun t 15 ; sees F clandestinely 82 ; 'Run, children , run ' 146 ; F's invasio n 146-7 , its date 790-1 ; childre n join i n vituperatio n 147 ; ?DHL infertil e because o f childhood diseas e 798 , 845; F uses 'preventative ' 798 ; father ask s if sh e wants t o se e F 257 ; the lawyer' s offic e 1915 : 257; again i n Septembe r 1916 : 823; again Spring 1917 : 823; on Glady s Bradle y an d her fathe r 830 ; writes t o F i n Sicil y 716 ; 'Something t o Say ' 791 , 830 Weekley, Elsa , F take s t o grandparent s befor e leaving fo r Met z 5 ; goodbye o n Hampstea d heath 7 ; with D H L a t Holbrook far m 6 , 762; relationship wit h Id a Wilhelm y 20 ; year o f birth 761 ; children move d t o London 15 ; sees F clandestinel y 82 ; 'Ru n children, run ' 146 ; F's invasion , childre n join i n vituperatio n 146-7 ; sees F i n lawyer's offic e 1915 : 257; again 1916 : 823, again Sprin g 1917 : 823; on on e occasio n tells Barbie no t t o lik e her mothe r fo r giving money 823 ; sent Sea and Sardinia i n 1921: 71 6 Weekley, Frieda , see Lawrence, Fried a Weekley, Maude , beg s F t o retur n t o he r brother 16 , 766; discovers clandestin e meetings wit h childre n 82 ; letter an d telegram 779 ; affidavit 82 ; urges childre n t o run fro m F 146 ; F's invasio n 146-7 ; threatens th e la w again 14 7 Weekley, Montagu e ('Monty') : F kisse s goodby e in Nottingha m 5 ; and Id a Wilhem y 20 , Ida's 'dismissal' ? 767 ; year o f birth 56 ; secret meeting s wit h F a t Cole t Cour t 82 ; glimpse o f D HL 82 ; brings sister s t o se e F 82; Aunt Maud e finds lette r fro m F 82 ; ha s to refuse t o se e Katherin e Mansfiel d 82-3 ; F's hope s fro m hi s 14t h birthda y 126 ; diplomatic a t first meetin g i n lawyer' s offic e 257
Weininger, Otto , 79 5 Wellington, Ne w Zealand , 56 4 Wellman, Frederic k Creighton , Blind Mice 639 , 863 Wells, H.G., D H L depresse d b y The New Machiavelli 70 ; Pinker's agenc y 90 ; littl e boy a t sho p windo w 130 ; entertains D H L and th e Murry s 133-4 ; comment suggest s
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INDEX Wells, H.G. (cont.) he ma y hav e bee n approache d b y Pinke r over The Rainbow 287 , 81 5 West, Rebecca , see s D H L i n Florenc e 642-3 ; his intuitio n late r 864 ; reviews Women in Love 65 6 Westerland-Sylt, 66 9 Western, Majo r Genera l Si r Willia m Georg e Balfour, 400 , 41 0 Westminster Gazette, sen t Germa n sketche s vi a de l a Mare 13 , 16 ; prints 'Th e Schoolmaster' poem s 23 ; refuses (bu t doesn't return ) 'Th e Englis h an d th e Germans' an d ' A Sp y i s Arrested' 33 , 764-5; print s 'Frenc h Son s o f Germany ' and 'Hai l i n th e Rhineland ' 764 ; sen t 'Christs i n th e Tyrol ' 39 , prints 68 , 776; sent 'Chapel ' an d 'Hay-Hut ' sketche s 39 , but doesn' t prin t 68 ; Murry review s for , 84, 104 , 154 ; prints 'Strik e Pay ' I and I I 89 ; cheque delaye d 92 , 105 ; jocular revie w o f Women in Love 65 6 Westminster, Conn. , 60 6 Whale, Elizabeth ('Li') , 7 9 Wharton, Edith , D H L admire s The House of Mirth 772 ; Henry James an d Sons and Lovers 78 8 Wheelock, Ruth , typin g 610 , 635, 700, 860; thinks Mr Noon I is like US A smal l tow n 617; Lawrences visi t i n Palerm o 622 , 627, 717; asked t o loo k a t boats, reports 638 ; news fro m US A 676 ; D HL an d F las t visi t to Palerm o 71 7 Whibley, Charles , ha d know n Valery , Mallarme, Whistle r i n Paris , influenc e o n T.S. Elio t 423 ; introduced t o D H L b y Cynthia 423 ; influential i n gettin g secon d grant fro m Roya l Literar y Fun d 430 ; bu t against publicatio n o f Women in Love 430 ; D H L mus t writ e somethin g inoffensiv e 435, 83 7 White, Captai n James R . ('Jack') , meet s D H L and F i n Mecklenburg h Squar e 424 ; a punch i n th e win d 433- 4 White, William Hal e ('Mar k Rutherford') , 50 , 57, 77 2 Whitman, Walt , th e poeti c lin e of 92, 130 , 362; camaraderie, mal e friendshi p 332 , 377; echo, young gras s woul d upse t al l th e cannon 368 ; essay o n 453-7 , 1919 : 522-3 , unpublishable 522 ; 1920 : 589, 856; poeti c
affinity i n 'Vers e Fre e an d Unfree ' 514 ; 'Democracy' essay s procee d fro m 524-6 , and suggeste d t o Huebsc h a s a substitut e for th e essa y 52 8 Whittley, Iren e an d Percy , i n Zenno r 338 , 546 ; Irene write s t o D H L i n Picinisc o 546 ; walking tou r wit h D H L i n 1920 : 595, 598; might the y com e t o Taormina? 637 ; mee t again i n Florenc e 1921 : 669-70; g o together t o Sien a 671 , Rome 672 , Naple s where Iren e fall s il l 67 2 Wickham, Anna , see Hepburn, Ann a Wieden, Christu s i m Elen d 34 , 40, 769, 77 0 Wilde, Oscar, 214 , 539-40 , 58 9 Wilhelmy, Ida , beloved nurs e t o Weekle y children 20 ; dismissed b y Weekley ? 767 ; gentlemen don' t wea r paten t leathe r boot s 782-3 Williams, William Carlos , 35 4 Wilson, Gwen , see Mond, Gwe n Winslow, Ros e Guggenhei m ('Jan e Burr') , 522 , 845 Wisbech, 51 5 Wister, Owen , 67 6 Wittgenstein, Ludwig , 24 3 Wolfratshausen, Els e Jaffe an d childre n liv e i n 9 ; F visit s alon e 16 , 21, 23, 74; F an d D H L visit 18 ; Alfred Webe r a t 19 ; Sunda y market 9 1 Wolkonsky, Prince , 70 7 Wood, M r (Taormina) , 67 6 Wood, Rev . John, 106 , 10 7 Woolf, Leonard , describe s Ko t 147 ; story o f a row a t T he Triangl e 156 ; thinks o f rentin g Higher Tregerthe n 427 , 827; reviews The Lost Girl 86 1 Woolf, Virginia , coin s 'neo-pagan ' 129 ; visited by youn g Bunn y Garnet t i n Bloomsbur y 788; asks Katherin e Mansfiel d abou t Higher Tregerthen , sh e describe s 317-8 , 427; i s told b y Ko t of'Katherine' s lie s an d poses' 47 3 Word, The, 523-4 ; 'Democracy' 524- 6 Wordsworth, William , 48 0 Worthen, John, The Early Years 42 , 771, 786, 788; A Literary Life 781 ; 'Orts an d Slarts ' 773 Worthing, 219 , 222 Wright, Fann y (governes s t o Culle n household) , 58-9; teache s Lawrenc e childre n 5 8 Wyspianski, Stanislaw , 71, 777
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INDEX Xanthippe, 19 8 Yale Review, ask s fo r essa y o n contemporar y English novelist s 399 ; see also Cross, Wilbur Yeats, William, mimicke d 33 , view of Easte r rebels anticipate d b y D H L 318 ; D HL to o takes fro m occul t wha t h e need s fo r metaphors 387 , 449 Yorke, Dorothy ('Arabella') , i n Mecklenburg h Square 410,412, 417,420; and Courno s 410,416,424; introduce d b y D HL t o Cynthia a t the opera 422; described 424 ; tension wit h Hild a ove r Richard 412,424 ; the charade 425; visits Mountain Cottag e 460; D HL paint s portrait 839 ; sees in London 465 ; and wit h Richard bac k o n leave 475; news of H.D. (afte r baby ) Richard an d Gray , she herself'in lo w water ' 502; sees D HL jus t before h e leaves 53 0 Yorke, Selina , a s seen b y D H L an d Courno s 424; determined Arabell a shal l b e a succes s 460; D HL pitie s bu t n o longe r trust s H.D . 470, 840 ; sees D H L jus t befor e h e leave s 530 Yoruba, see Frobenius, Shang o Young, Franci s Brett , 568 ; friendshi p wit h
Mackenzie an d house s o n Capr i 547 , 551; wince s a s D H L an d Mackenzi e sing, ha s perfec t pitc h 551 ; description s and opinion s o f D H L an d hi s wor k 568—9; dislik e o f Fried a 568 ; ripost e t o D H L ' s opinio n o f hi s wor k 569 ; tri p t o Sicily wit h D H L 567 , 569-70 ; comprehensive explanatio n o f D H L ' s character 570 , a half-trut h 663-4 ; D H L ' s irritation wit h hi m 570 ; goin g t o Sout h Africa 624 , 63 3 Young, Jessica Brett , devote s hersel f t o Franci s 568; after firs t chapter , goe s o n wit h The Rainbow unde r protes t 569 ; trip t o Sicil y with D H L 567 , 569-70; force d t o shar e a cabin an d a room 567 , 569-70; think s hi m hag-ridden b y Fried a 569-7 0 Zell-am-See, 667-8 ; see also Thumersbach; Ba d Fusch; Hundstein ; Ferleiten ; Karlinge r Glacier Zennor, describe d 312 , 31 7 Tinner's Arm s 312 , 81 8 Higher Tregerthen , 312 , 317-8, 49 2 Zeus, 450 , 451 'Peshkov, Zinovii ' (Aleksande r Sverdlov) , 116,784, 11 8
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