Author: David Lawrence
Genre: Novel, Romance, Erotic Literature
Publication: 1928
Number of pages: 453
Synopsis
The book begins with the story of Constance and Hilda, the daughters of Sir Malcolm, and their carefree youth—the time when they were 18 or 19 years old. It describes their relationships with the young men they met during those years. But when World War I broke out, those young men were sent to the front lines, and many of them never came back.
The story then shifts to Constance—Connie—who meets Clifford. The two move to Wragby, but soon after, Clifford is also sent to war. He was a writer and not at all prepared for battle and when he returns, he is paralyzed from the waist down and has to rely on a mechanized wheelchair.
Life with Clifford settles into a monotonous and dull routine in their large house, where Connie finds herself more of a caregiver than a wife. Clifford begins writing short stories and publishing them, and Connie is expected to proofread and type them on the machine.
One day Clifford has a conversation with Connie and suggests that having a baby would be a good idea—not only for her, but also to provide an heir for his family. Since Clifford is unable to have intercourse, he isn’t against Connie having a child from another man, as long as it’s someone he considers “worthy,” and under the condition that he never learns the identity of the father.
As Clifford starts socializing with friends and intellectuals, Connie meets a man named Michaelis. She finds him attractive enough for a short affair. They spend a few nights together, but after some intimate conversations, Connie realizes Michaelis is self-centered and emotionally distant—he doesn’t truly care for her.
Connie longs for genuine affection, care, and emotional intimacy—something she can’t find with either Clifford or Michaelis. This is when Connie meets Mellors—Oliver Mellors—who is Clifford’s gamekeeper. With frequent visits to Mellors, Connie started developing feelings for him, and soon these meetings grew into deep affection. The author describes in great detail the kind of physical relationship they begin to have, and before long, it turns into a secret affair between Connie and the gamekeeper.
Ending with spoilers
So, these affectionate meetings continue, and Mellors and Connie spend days making love in his cottage. They explore each other’s bodies and slowly discover what brings pleasure to both of them.
Soon, Connie’s sister Hilda arrives, and they plan a trip to Venice. At first, Connie doesn’t want to go because she doesn’t want to be separated from Mellors. Mellors doesn’t insist, but eventually Connie agrees—it might be good for her to have a change of scenery and spend some time abroad with Hilda.
Meanwhile, Connie and Mellors start thinking about how they can be together, because by that time Connie is already pregnant with Mellors’s child.
It was a complicated situation because, at that time in England, you had to be separated or divorced in order to be with another person—otherwise, even society wouldn’t accept such a relationship. But Mellors’s situation was even more difficult because he was legally married to a woman—Bertha—who refused to grant him a divorce. They also had a child together.
While Connie is away in Venice, Bertha returns and reclaims her place as Mellors’s wife. When Mellors tries to file for divorce, she refuses. Soon, it comes to light that Mellors had a lover because she had left behind a few belongings in his cottage, including a bottle of perfume.
Connie learns about this from letters written by Clifford and Mrs. Bolton, Clifford’s caretaker. When she returns from Venice, she realizes she no longer wants to live the kind of life Clifford has created for both of them. She confesses that she is pregnant with Mellors’s child. Clifford refuses to grant a divorce, and Mellors is forced to leave Wragby.
The book ends with Connie, now pregnant, reading a letter from Mellors. He writes that he’s working in Scotland, and that while the time isn’t right yet, he hopes to find a way for them to be together in the future.
My Review and Prediction of the Ending
If you’re looking for something spicy and hot, yet at the same time blended with meaningful conversations about relationships—especially the different perspectives men and women have on sexual intimacy—then this book is perfect for you.
I think it was a big hit at the time it was published because it describes, in great detail, how men and women can create pleasure with each other. But as a book, I found the beginning stronger than the rest. At first, there were many thoughtful conversations and deep explorations of relationships, and that’s what really intrigued me.
Later, when Mellors and Connie’s relationship begins and the narrative shifts into very detailed physical descriptions, it wasn’t bad—but I kept trying to connect it all to a deeper literary idea or message, which I didn’t really find.
As for the ending—it wasn’t exactly what I expected. Honestly though, the book does close on a positive note, with the hope that Connie and Mellors will eventually be together.
But in my own opinion, Connie and Mellors didn’t truly end up together. Throughout the book, when Connie talks about her feelings, it seems like she’s affectionate and very much in love—but that love feels more physical than emotional or meaningful on a deeper level. It felt like a “physical love,” more about touch and desire than about a true emotional or intellectual connection.
They didn’t really have deep conversations or learn much about each other’s lives or interests. And for me, a real relationship includes not just physical connection, but also emotional and intellectual closeness—and that simply wasn’t the case here.
Also, I don’t think Mellors was very proactive or committed to building a life with Connie. He didn’t seem eager to take initiative or create real possibilities for them to be together. He already didn’t seem to care much about the child he had with his legal wife, and he was just… okay with living in his small gamekeeper’s cottage. That was enough for him. He didn’t seem to yearn for more—he didn’t show much desire to build a future or raise a child with Connie. That’s why, in my view, they don’t end up together in any real sense.
I personally think Connie either ends up alone or meets someone new who accepts her and her child. Or maybe—even unexpectedly—she goes back to Clifford. I believe Clifford was already in love with Connie in his own way. It was a kind of conditional love, but he clearly felt good in her presence. And I think there’s a possibility that Clifford would accept the child too.
I personally think this book deserves a 5 out of 10. It’s more suited for a 25+ audience—readers who are looking for a blend of classic literature with something a bit spicy. It’s not just about romance or physical attraction; it tries to say something about relationships, but in my opinion, it doesn’t go deep enough emotionally or intellectually to leave a lasting impact.
