The White Peacock is the first novel by D. H. Lawrence, published in 1911, though with 1910 on the title page.[1] Lawrence started the novel in 1906 and then rewrote it three times. The early versions had the working title of Laetitia.[2]
Maurice Greiffenhagen's 1891 painting "An Idyll" inspired the novel. The painting had "a profound effect" on Lawrence, who wrote: "As for Greiffenhagen's 'Idyll', it moves me almost as if I were in love myself. Under its intoxication, I have flirted madly this Christmas."
The novel is set in the Eastwood area of his youth and is narrated in the first person by a character named Cyril Beardsall. It involves themes such as the damage associated with mismatched marriages, and the border country between town and country. A misanthropic gamekeeper makes an appearance, in some ways the prototype of Mellors in Lawrence's last novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover. The book includes some notable description of nature and the impact of industrialisation on the countryside and the town.
The novel is set in Nethermere (fictional name for real-life Eastwood) and is narrated by Cyril Beardsall, whose sister Laetitia (Lettie) is involved in a love triangle with two young men, George and Leslie Temple. She eventually marries Leslie, even though she feels sexually drawn to George. Spurned by Lettie, George marries the conventional Meg. Both his and Lettie's marriages end in unhappiness, as George slides into alcoholism at the novel's close.
Publication historyedit
The White Peacock was published on January 19, 1911 by Duffield & Co. in the United States and a day later by Heinemann in the United Kingdom.[1]
Maddox writes in that The White Peacock reflects the influence of the German philosophers Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche, and that its theme is "that Christianity has alienated humankind from nature and destroyed pagan wisdom". Maddox describes it as "an uneven early work obscured by Lawrence's later books", but praises it for its "beauty and power" and for being "rich in images of a nature red in tooth and claw." She argues that while Lawrence's works have been seen as Freudian, the "primitive rage against mothers" in The White Peacock better fits the ideas of the psychoanalyst Melanie Klein. She maintains that the novel has homoerotic elements, apparent in the relationship between George and Cyril, and notes that the novelist E. M. Forster saw it as having sexual implications unrecognised by Lawrence.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcbiblio.co.uk:The White Peacock by Lawrence, D H
^Maddox, Brenda (1994). D. H. Lawrence: The Story of a Marriage. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 34. ISBN0-671-68712-3.
^Maddox, Brenda (1994). D. H. Lawrence: The Story of a Marriage. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 75-77. ISBN0-671-68712-3.
^Maddox, Brenda (1994). D. H. Lawrence: The Story of a Marriage. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 34-35, 63, 76, 199. ISBN0-671-68712-3.
Editionsedit
The White Peacock (1911), edited by Andrew Robertson, Cambridge University Press, 1983, ISBN0-521-22267-2
The White Peacock public domain audiobook at LibriVox
Facsimile of the 1st edition (1911)
January 01, 1970
white, peacock, 1920, silent, film, film, first, novel, lawrence, published, 1911, though, with, 1910, title, page, lawrence, started, novel, 1906, then, rewrote, three, times, early, versions, working, title, laetitia, cover, first, american, editionauthord, . For the 1920 silent film see The White Peacock film The White Peacock is the first novel by D H Lawrence published in 1911 though with 1910 on the title page 1 Lawrence started the novel in 1906 and then rewrote it three times The early versions had the working title of Laetitia 2 The White PeacockCover of the first American editionAuthorD H LawrenceCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishPublisherHeinemann UK Duffield amp Co US Publication date1911 1 Media typePrint hardback amp paperback Pages496Followed byThe Trespasser TextThe White Peacock at Wikisource Maurice Greiffenhagen s 1891 painting An Idyll inspired the novel The painting had a profound effect on Lawrence who wrote As for Greiffenhagen s Idyll it moves me almost as if I were in love myself Under its intoxication I have flirted madly this Christmas The novel is set in the Eastwood area of his youth and is narrated in the first person by a character named Cyril Beardsall It involves themes such as the damage associated with mismatched marriages and the border country between town and country A misanthropic gamekeeper makes an appearance in some ways the prototype of Mellors in Lawrence s last novel Lady Chatterley s Lover The book includes some notable description of nature and the impact of industrialisation on the countryside and the town Contents 1 Plot 2 Publication history 3 Reception 4 References 5 Editions 6 External linksPlot editThe novel is set in Nethermere fictional name for real life Eastwood and is narrated by Cyril Beardsall whose sister Laetitia Lettie is involved in a love triangle with two young men George and Leslie Temple She eventually marries Leslie even though she feels sexually drawn to George Spurned by Lettie George marries the conventional Meg Both his and Lettie s marriages end in unhappiness as George slides into alcoholism at the novel s close Publication history editThe White Peacock was published on January 19 1911 by Duffield amp Co in the United States and a day later by Heinemann in the United Kingdom 1 Reception editAccording to the biographer Brenda Maddox The White Peacock received generally positive reviews in The Observer The Morning Post and The Daily News 3 Maddox writes in that The White Peacock reflects the influence of the German philosophers Arthur Schopenhauer and Friedrich Nietzsche and that its theme is that Christianity has alienated humankind from nature and destroyed pagan wisdom Maddox describes it as an uneven early work obscured by Lawrence s later books but praises it for its beauty and power and for being rich in images of a nature red in tooth and claw She argues that while Lawrence s works have been seen as Freudian the primitive rage against mothers in The White Peacock better fits the ideas of the psychoanalyst Melanie Klein She maintains that the novel has homoerotic elements apparent in the relationship between George and Cyril and notes that the novelist E M Forster saw it as having sexual implications unrecognised by Lawrence 4 References edit a b c biblio co uk The White Peacock by Lawrence D H Maddox Brenda 1994 D H Lawrence The Story of a Marriage New York Simon amp Schuster p 34 ISBN 0 671 68712 3 Maddox Brenda 1994 D H Lawrence The Story of a Marriage New York Simon amp Schuster pp 75 77 ISBN 0 671 68712 3 Maddox Brenda 1994 D H Lawrence The Story of a Marriage New York Simon amp Schuster pp 34 35 63 76 199 ISBN 0 671 68712 3 Editions editThe White Peacock 1911 edited by Andrew Robertson Cambridge University Press 1983 ISBN 0 521 22267 2External links editThe White Peacock at Project Gutenberg nbsp The White Peacock public domain audiobook at LibriVox Facsimile of the 1st edition 1911 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The White Peacock amp oldid 1177212806, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
