Search advanced search
 
Books
Search:
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

Lady Chatterley's Lover
  • Rated 0 stars
Read Lady Chatterley's Lover

Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928) (edit title/settings)

by D. H. Lawrence (Author) (edit contributors)

Share this book on:
see page history

Description edit see section history

Lyric and sensual, D.H. Lawrence's last novel is one of the major works of fiction of the twentieth century. Filled with scenes of intimate beauty, explores the emotions of a lonely woman trapped in a sterile marriage and her growing love for the robust gamekeeper of her husband's estate.... read more

Summary edit see section history

In the beginning of the novel the reader is introduced to Connie and her sister Hilda, educated women with understanding and modern parents. Connie marries Sir Clifford Chatterly because of their mutual intellectual attraction, and moves into her husband's ancestral home, Wragby Hall, but... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

In the beginning of the novel the reader is introduced to Connie and her sister Hilda, educated women with understanding and modern parents. Connie marries Sir Clifford Chatterly because of their mutual intellectual attraction, and moves into her husband's ancestral home, Wragby Hall, but finds it dismal. Shortly after, Clifford goes off to war and becomes injured. He no longer has the use of his legs or the ability to produce an heir. Nonetheless, the Chatterlys are happy together for as long as they can share their intellectual pursuits.

Sir Clifford becomes a writer of some note, and Connie enjoys being his sounding board for his stories. Connie is confused but unaffected when her father declares Clifford's stories to be "empty". As a popular writer, Clifford plays host to many of his contemporaries, including Michaelis. Michaelis and Connie become lovers, and although Clifford never discovers the liaison, it is done with his (abstract, non-specific) blessing.

Eventually, Connie becomes worn out. She has come to agree with her father about the emptiness of Clifford's writing and feels her attachment to him waining. She is overworked taking care of Clifford and sapped of energy by her intense dislike for her surroundings. When Hilda visits, she declares that Clifford must hire an attendant, because Connie can no longer stand to be his only caretaker. Eventually, Clifford gives in and hires Ivy Bolton, a nurse from the village.

Under Mrs. Bolton's guidance, Sir Clifford takes a more active role in the coal mining operation on his land. He and Connie grow to have even less in common. No longer responsible for her husband's care, Connie takes to walking Wragby's grounds on a regular basis and becomes somewhat acquainted with the grounds keeper, Mellors. Although she does not particularly seem to like him at first, she is nonetheless physically attracted to him. Eventually, the two develop a physical relationship, and later on even an emotional one. Mrs. Bolton discovers their romance, but decides to keep the information to herself.

Connie suspects that she is pregnant, and decides to use her upcoming trip to Venice as a cover. She and Clifford had previously discussed the idea of her taking a lover for the sake of producing an heir to Wragby. She knows that he would not approve of Mellors fathering the child, but some unknown lover in Venice would seem both appropriate and non-threatening. While Connie is in Venice with her father and sister, however, Mellors' estranged wife returns, enraged by his request for a divorce. She uncovers evidence of a woman in his cottage and begins to search for answers and share information with the other villagers. She even begins to suspect Lady Chatterly, and Clifford, enraged by the suggestion, fires Mellors.

Connie meets up with Mellors in London upon her return from Venice, and declares her intentions to leave Clifford. Mellors is introduced to Connie's family, and welcomed at least warmly enough that both her father and sister are willing to assist in Connie's efforts. Hilda suggests that Clifford will be more willing to agree to a divorce if he feels that Connie has a better chance at happiness with someone else in their social caste, and an old family friend is convinced to play the part. Clifford, however, will not give in and Connie is forced to divulge the truth of her affair.

The book ends with Connie and Mellors reaffirming their love for one another and working towards their mutual divorces.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Sir Clifford Chatterly: A nobleman, writer, owner of a coal mining operation. Connie's husband. Son of Sir Geoffrey Chatterley
  • Lady Chatterley: aka Connie/Constance, an occasionally "modern" woman; formerly Constance Stewart Reid
  • Oliver Mellors: Sir Clifford's gamekeeper at Wragby. Lady Chatterley's lover. She ends up falling in love with him and carries his baby.
  • Michaelis- "Mick": A popular writer who spends some time with the Chatterlys at Wragby Hall. He was Connie's first lover after being married To Clifford. Connie was upset with him because he complained about men giving pleasure to women
  • Mrs. Ivy Bolton: A servant/nurse who tends to Sir Clifford after Connie gets tired of doing it. She becomes a mother to sir Clifford. Wife of Ted Bolton
  • Sir Malcolm Reid: Connie and Hilda's father
  • Mrs. Flint: a tenant and gossip on Sir Clifford's land
  • Bertha Coutts: Mr. Mellors' estranged wife. Finds out that Oliver had women in the cottage, which creates a scandal and Oliver loses his job as gamekeeper of the Chatterley's estate.
  • Duncan Forbes: Artist; childhood friend of Constance. Was willing to take the blame of Connie's pregnancy. Never married because he could not find a woman that matched his intellect. Vacationed in Venice with the Reids.
  • Sir Geoffrey Chatterley: Clifford's father
  • Flossie: Mellors' dog
  • John Thomas: A joking name Mellors uses for his genitalia.
  • Lady Jane: A joking name Mellors uses for Connie's genitalia.
  • Hilda Reid: Connie's elder sister
  • Giovanni: A gondola driver employed by Connie and Hilda during their trip to Venice.
  • Tommy Dukes: Brigadier-General; an intellectual friend of Sir Clifford from Cambridge. He was part of the circle that met at Wragby, the Chatellier's estate
  • Charles May aka Charlie: Irishman writer; an intellectual friend of Sir Clifford and part of the cultural Elite that met with Clifford.
  • Daniele: A friend and co-worker of Giovanni, the gondola driver at the vacation in Venice
  • Julia Hammond: Married to Arnold B. Hammond. They were part of the literary circle that Clifford surrounded himself with.
  • Emma Chatterley: Clifford's sister
  • Lady Bennerley: aka Aunt Eva; Clifford's aunt
  • Alexander Cooper: Part of the parry at Venice's Villa Esmeralda where the Sir Malcolm Reid takes his two daughters on vacation..
  • Mrs. Betts: Housekeeper at Wragby Hall
  • Mr. Lind: Retired chaplain, took care of Sir Alexander while they were vacationing in Venice
  • MRS Arnold B. Hammond: Writer and Julia's husband., Part of the elite that hung with Clifford.
  • Harry Winterslow: Writer and part of Clifford's intellectual circle.
  • Jack and Olive Strangeways: Part of the elite that hung with Clifford.
  • Mester Ashby: Methodist Minister to Clifford and Constance
  • Ted Bolton: Mrs. Bolton dead husband
  • Constance Stewart Reid: Daughter to Oliver Mellows and wife, Bertha. Lived with her grandmother and Oliver talked a lot about his two Connies
  • Josephine Flint: Daughter to Mrs. Flint and her husband, Luke.
  • Leslie Winter: Clifford's godfather
  • Herbert Chatterley: Clifford's elder brother. Died in WWI.
  • Lady Cooper: An artist. Part of the lot staying at Villa Esmeralda in Venice while Hilda and Connie vacationed.
  • The Gouthries: Edinburgh middle class couple, vacationing at Villa Esmeralda with their two kids while Hilda and Connie were in Venice.
  • Luke: Add a description of this character.
  • Clifford Chatterley: The knight of Wragby and crippled husband of Connie.
  • Berry
  • Aunt Eva: Clifford's old aunt; she occasionally visits Wragby.
  • James Allsopp
  • Mr Linley: The nearest doctor to Wragby.
  • Edward
  • Lloyd George: The prime minister during the First World War.
  • Socrates: The ancient philosopher.
  • Field: The manservant at Wragby.
  • Mary
  • Miss Bentley
  • Appen
  • Michaelis: Connie's first lover; he is an Irish writer with a loathing for the English.
  • Squire Winter: Clifford's uncle. He owns a nearby estate called Shipley.
  • Tevershall: The nearest town to Wragby.
  • Constance Chatterley: The wife of Sir Clifford Chatterley; she has a longing for a child which her disabled husband cannot provide.
  • Mick
Show all 53 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Quotes edit see section history

  • “And that is how we are. By strength of will we cut off our inner intuitive knowledge from admitted consciousness.”
  • “Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically. The cataclysm has happened, we are among the ruins, we start to build up new little habitats, to have new little hopes. It is rather hard work: there is now no smooth road into the future: but we go round, or scramble over the obstacles. We've got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.”
  • “The only unfortunate thing was that men lagged so far behind women in the matter. They insisted on the sex thing like dogs.”
  • “A woman could take a man without really giving herself away. Certainly she could take him without giving herself into his power. Rather she could use this sex thing to have power over him. For she only had to hold herself back in sexual intercourse, and let him finish and expend himself without herself coming to the crisis: and then she could prolong the connection and achieve her orgasm and her crisis while he was merely her tool.”
  • “But that is how men are! Ungrateful and never satisfied. When you don't have them they hate you because you won't; and when you do have them they hate you again, for some other reason. Or for no reason at all, except that they are discontented children, and can't be satisfied whatever they get, let a woman do what she may.”
  • “All the great words, it seemed to Connie, were cancelled for her generation: love, joy, happiness, home, mother, father, husband, all these great, dynamic words were half dead now, and dying from day to day. Home was a place you lived in, love was a thing you didn't fool yourself about, joy was a word you applied to a good Charleston, happiness was a term of hypocrisy used to bluff other people, a father was an individual who enjoyed his own existence, a husband was a man you lived with and kept going in spirits. As for sex, the last of the great words, it was just a cocktail term for an excitement that bucked you up for a while, then left you more raggy than ever. Frayed!”
  • “...the young ones get mad because they’ve no money to spend. Their whole life depends on spending money, and now they’ve got none to spend. That’s our civilization and our education: bring up the masses to depend entirely on spending money, and then the money gives out. If you could only tell them that living and spending isn’t the same thing! But it’s no good. If only they were educated to LIVE instead of earn and spend...”
  • “There's lots of good fish in the sea...maybe...but the vast masses seem to be mackerel or herring, and if you're not mackerel or herring yourself you are likely to find very few good fish in the sea.”
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • There's lots of good fish in the sea...maybe...but the vast masses seem to be mackerel or herring, and if you're not mackerel or herring yourself you are likely to find very few good fish in the sea.
    Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers
  • The beautiful pure freedom of a woman was infinitely more wonderful than any sexual love.
    Highlighted by 9 Kindle customers
  • The only unfortunate thing was that men lagged so far behind women in the matter. They insisted on the sex thing like dogs.
    Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers
  • It's the life-long companionship that matters. It's the living together from day to day, not the sleeping together once or twice.
    Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers
  • Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically. The cataclysm has happened, we are among the ruins, we start to build up new little habitats, to have new little hopes. It is rather hard work: there is now no smooth road into the future: but we go round, or scramble over the obstacles. We've got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.
    Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers
  • The world is supposed to be full of possibilities, but they narrow down to pretty few in most personal experience.
    Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers
  • And here lies the vast importance of the novel, properly handled. It can inform and lead into new places the flow of our sympathetic consciousness, and it can lead our sympathy away in recoil from things gone dead. Therefore, the novel, properly handled, can reveal the most secret places of life: for it is in the passional secret places of life, above all, that the tide of sensitive awareness needs to ebb and flow, cleansing and freshening.
    Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers
  • Sex and a cocktail: they both lasted about as long, had the same effect, and amounted to about the same thing.
    Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers
  • Oh, intellectually I believe in having a good heart, a chirpy penis, a lively intelligence, and the courage to say 'shit!' in front of a lady.'
    Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers
  • They lived freely among the students, they argued with the men over philosophical, sociological and artistic matters, they were just as good as the men themselves: only better, since they were women.
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers
Show all 18 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

  • England: The vast majority of the story takes place here.
  • Venice: Connie, Hilda and their father vacation here with a number of other people.
  • London: Connie visits a friend in London, and later returns after her trip to Venice.
  • Midlands
  • Sheffield: the town surrounding Wragby Hall.
  • India: The story does not actually take place in India at all, but it is discussed that Mellors spent time here during the war.
  • Uthwaite: a mining town
  • Stacks Gate: a beautiful residence in Uthwaite
  • Scotland: where Connie and Hilda are born
  • Italy: Connie's family visits Italy on a fairly regular basis.
  • Wragby: The ancestral home of the Chatterlys.
Show all 11 settings

First Sentence edit see section history

Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Chronology
Introduction
Further reading
A note on the texts
Chapters 1 - 19
A propos of Lady Chatterley's Lover
Appendix

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Penguin Classics. (publisher edition list)
This is book 50 of 213 in Best English-Language Fiction of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
This book is in Penguin's Top 100 Classics. (authoritative list)
This is book 20 of 29 in Biblioteka XX. stoljeće (Jutarnji list). (publisher edition list)
This is book 81 of 97 in Waterstone's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
This is book 39 of 99 in Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century. (authoritative list)
This is book 5 of 10 in Publishers Weekly Bestselling Novels in 1959. (authoritative list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 676 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. D. H. Lawrence (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: Add the language.
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 1928
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 364

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

There's sex, but beyond that I don't think people will likely appreciate this book without having been in a serious adult relationship.

We’re hiding the errata, links to supplemental material, books like this book, books with additional background information, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.

Caroline F

You were just viewing this book on Caroline F’s shelf.

 

© 2006-2013 Shelfari | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy

Close