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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780891906131
ISBN: 0891906134
Label: Amereon Ltd
Manufacturer: Amereon Ltd
Publication Date: 1940-06
Publisher: Amereon Ltd
Studio: Amereon Ltd

Richard and Harriet Somers flee to Australia to escape the decay of post-war Europe. A disillusioned writer, Richard seeks community in a group and finds himself both attracted and repelled by its enigmatic leader Kangaroo. THE NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS calls D.H. Lawrence's classic" . . . the most truthful and disturbing image one can find of Australia in literature".

Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Difficult introduction
Review: I have just finished reading this book and to be honest I found it quite tough going. Recommended to me by an academic of Lawrence's work, he had to concede afterwards that perhaps it wasn't the ideal introduction to a new reader. What this story lacks mostly is a good old fashioned yarn, but instead seems to be a vehicle for the author to convey many of his thoughts on relationships between men and men, men and women and politics in general.

I can't be too specific on the authors ideas as I freely admit that much of this went "in one ear and out the other" as I frequently found after reading certain paragraphs I was left thinking "I have no idea what he was just talking about". Concentration therefore was fundamental to enjoying this book, and on the few occasions when I was truely focussed and emmersed, some of the ideas were interesting and rewarding.

This is a semi autobiographical account of Lawrence's own experiences in Australia, but strangly I found the most interesting part of the book was the "Nightmare" chapter, dedicated to the character's account of being in England during World War One. This too, mirrors the authors own experiences during this turbulent time.

Maybe I should go for the better known novels next time...

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: wonderful perceptive and complex insight into Australia
Review: Tnis was the book that made me realize just how clever Lawrence was. His spiritual and analytical insight into the nature of a bastardized and inconquerable continent is just breathtaking, and it truly is a work of a supremely sensitive and perceptive individual.

Lawrence explores such depths that there are sometimes sinister truths and realizations that erupts from Lawrences mind, in the guise of the main character. This is a haunting and sad book, that pulls your mind completely into the wonder of Lawrences intellectual capacity and genius for seeing the imperciptible, where so many fail to. I love you Lorenzo, thank goodness for your genius.

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