Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
🎨

D. H. Lawrence

arts Maturity 11-13 Next article →

David Herbert Lawrence was a famous English writer.

D.H. Lawrence (4624457121)
D.H. Lawrence (4624457121)

He was a novelist, poet, and even a painter. His books often explored deep ideas about modern life. He wrote about how industry and cities changed the world. He also championed human instinct and the power of life. Some people found his ideas very radical. This made him a controversial figure in his time.

Books-aj.svg aj ashton 01
Books-aj.svg aj ashton 01

Lawrence's life was shaped by his early years in Eastwood.

DH Lawrence birthplace museum - geograph-1814503
DH Lawrence birthplace museum - geograph-1814503

He was born on 11 September 1885. His father was a miner at Brinsley Colliery. His mother worked in a lace factory. He loved the hilly country and Felley woods nearby. These woods helped him love the natural world. He often used this scenery in his fiction. His mother wanted him to avoid manual labor. This helped him pursue a life of learning.

He began his career as a teacher.

He studied at University College, Nottingham. In 1907, he won a short story competition. This gave him his first real recognition. Later, he moved to London to teach. A story called "Odour of Chrysanthemums" helped him get published. This started his journey as a professional author. He eventually left teaching to write full-time. His mother's death in 1910 was a major turning point.

Lawrence lived a life of travel and change.

David Herbert Lawrence & Frieda von Richthofen 1914
David Herbert Lawrence & Frieda von Richthofen 1914

He met Frieda Weekley in 1912. They eloped and lived in Germany and Italy. While in Italy, he finished his novel *Sons and Lovers*. This book was published in 1913. It was a vivid look at working-class life. He also wrote *The Rainbow* and *Women in Love*. These books were sometimes banned for being too bold. They spoke openly about romance and attraction.

Many different people viewed his work in different ways.

DH Lawrence floor stone, Westminster Abbey
DH Lawrence floor stone, Westminster Abbey

Some people called him a pornographer. Others thought his work was tasteless. However, the writer E. M. Forster called him a great novelist. Another critic, F. R. Leavis, praised his moral seriousness. His life was a "savage enough pilgrimage." He died on 2 March 1930. Today, we remember him as a powerful voice in literature.

Statue of D.H. Lawrence, Nottingham castle, uk
Statue of D.H. Lawrence, Nottingham castle, uk
344 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (12)
File:Speaker Icon.svg
Speaker Icon.svg
File:DH Lawrence floor stone, Westminster Abbey.jpg
DH Lawrence floor stone, Westminster Abbey.jpg
File:D.H. Lawrence (4624457121).jpg
D.H. Lawrence (4624457121).jpg
File:Statue of D.H. Lawrence, Nottingham castle, uk .jpg
Statue of D.H. Lawrence, Nottingham...
File:DH Lawrence plaque.jpg
DH Lawrence plaque.jpg
File:D H Lawrence passport photograph.jpg
D H Lawrence passport photograph.jpg
File:D H Lawrence - 1 Byron Villas, Vale of Health, Hampstead, London, NW3 1AR.jpg
D H Lawrence - 1 Byron Villas, Vale of...
File:David Herbert Lawrence & Frieda von Richthofen 1914.jpg
David Herbert Lawrence & Frieda von...
File:DH Lawrence birthplace museum - geograph-1814503.jpg
DH Lawrence birthplace museum -...
File:D.H. Lawrence, 29 November 1915.jpg
D.H. Lawrence, 29 November 1915.jpg
File:DH Lawrence 1906.jpg
DH Lawrence 1906.jpg
File:Books-aj.svg aj ashton 01.png
Books-aj.svg aj ashton 01.png
More to explore

🔗 What's this?

Concepts mentioned in this article

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.