Themes

• Complex relationships between men and women

• Industrialization and its impact on society

• The nature of love and desire

• Tension between intellect and passion

• Class dynamics in early 20th-century England

• Exploration of sexuality and gender roles

• The search for meaning and fulfillment in modern life

Setting

Set in the early 20th century, primarily in the years leading up to World War I, Women in Love unfolds against the backdrop of England's industrial Midlands. The novel captures a society in transition, with the old rural ways giving way to increasing industrialization and modernization.

The story largely takes place in and around Beldover, a fictional mining town based on Lawrence's native Eastwood in Nottinghamshire. Key scenes occur at Shortlands, the Crich family's country manor, symbolizing the fading aristocratic order. The narrative also ventures to London, where Gudrun has studied art, reflecting the cultural contrasts between provincial and metropolitan life.

In the latter part of the novel, the setting shifts dramatically to the Austrian Alps. This change in scenery provides a stark contrast to the industrial English Midlands and serves as a backdrop for the climactic events of the story. The pristine, snow-covered mountains offer both a sense of escape and isolation, intensifying the psychological drama between the characters.

Characters

• Ursula Brangwen: One of the two main female protagonists. A schoolteacher in her late 20s, Ursula is intelligent, passionate, and searching for meaning in life. She develops a relationship with Rupert Birkin and grapples with questions of love, independence, and fulfillment. Ursula represents a modern woman trying to break free from societal constraints.

• Gudrun Brangwen: Ursula's younger sister and the other main female protagonist. An artist in her mid-20s, Gudrun is more cynical and restless than Ursula. She becomes involved with Gerald Crich but struggles with emotional intimacy. Gudrun embodies the artistic temperament and a darker, more destructive approach to relationships.

• Rupert Birkin: A school inspector and one of the main male characters. Philosophical and introspective, Birkin pursues a relationship with Ursula while also seeking a deep bond with Gerald. He often expresses Lawrence's own views on society, relationships, and human nature. Birkin represents the intellectual seeking both heterosexual and homosocial connections.

• Gerald Crich: The other main male character, heir to a coal mining empire. Physically powerful and emotionally repressed, Gerald is drawn to both Gudrun and Birkin. He struggles with intimacy and his own violent impulses. Gerald embodies industrial modernity and its dehumanizing effects on the individual.

• Hermione Roddice: An aristocratic woman and Birkin's former lover. Intellectual and domineering, she represents a type of sterile intellectualism that Birkin rejects.

• Thomas Crich: Gerald's father and owner of the coal mines. His decline and death significantly impact Gerald's character development.

• Loerke: A German sculptor who becomes involved with Gudrun later in the novel. He represents decadent art and serves as a catalyst for the final confrontation between Gudrun and Gerald.

• Diana Crich: Gerald's sister who drowns early in the novel. Her death foreshadows themes of destruction and the power of water in the story.

Quick facts

• D.H. Lawrence wrote much of Women in Love while living in Cornwall during World War I.

• The author originally conceived Women in Love as the second half of a larger work called The Sisters, with The Rainbow being the first part.

• Women in Love was first published privately in the United States in 1920 due to censorship concerns in the UK.

• The character of Rupert Birkin is largely based on D.H. Lawrence himself.

• The famous nude wrestling scene between Gerald and Birkin was highly controversial when the book was released.

• Lawrence faced a libel suit from Lady Ottoline Morrell, who believed her likeness was negatively portrayed in the novel.

• The book was banned in the UK for 11 years after its initial publication.

• Women in Love was ranked at 49 on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best  English-language novels published during the 20th century.

• Glenda Jackson won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Gundrun Brangwen in the 1969 film adaptation.

• Lawrence considered Women in Love to be his best novel.

About the Author

D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930) was a prolific and controversial English writer of the early 20th century. Born in Nottinghamshire, he drew heavily on his working-class upbringing in the coal mining region for his early works. His most famous novels include Sons and Lovers, The Rainbow, Women in Love, and Lady Chatterley's Lover. Lawrence's frank and explicit depictions of sexuality in his writing were considered shocking for the time and led to censorship of some of his works.

In addition to novels, Lawrence was an accomplished poet, essayist, playwright, and painter. His poetry collections like Birds, Beasts and Flowers showcased his keen observations of nature. Lawrence's literary criticism, including Studies in Classic American Literature, offered influential interpretations of writers like Herman Melville. Though less well-known, Lawrence's paintings became another important creative outlet, especially in his later years.

Lawrence lived a nomadic lifestyle for much of his adulthood, traveling extensively with his wife Frieda. They spent time in Italy, Australia, Mexico, and the American Southwest, among other places. Lawrence's travels inspired works like Sea and Sardinia and Mornings in Mexico. His time in New Mexico led to the acquisition of a ranch near Taos that is now preserved as the D.H. Lawrence Ranch.

Though controversial in his lifetime, Lawrence's literary reputation grew after his death. The obscenity trial over the uncensored publication of Lady Chatterley's Lover in 1960 marked a turning point in how his work was received. Today, Lawrence is recognized as a pioneering modernist writer who explored themes of sexuality, instinct, and humanity's connection to nature in innovative ways. His influence can be seen in authors ranging from Anaïs Nin to Doris Lessing.