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Heartlands

A Guide to D.H. Lawrence’s Midlands Roots

 Eighty years after his death D.H. Lawrence has become a celebrity, the subject of passionate dispute, possibly more discussed than read. It is time to put the emphasis back on the novels and short stories, by exploring the context that led to their creation - Lawrence’s upbringing and influences.

 Although he led a wandering life, Lawrence’s best work is located in the countryside of his youth, in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. An understanding of this district can help readers understand and enjoy Lawrence’s work more fully, and this book aims to guide the visitor, either in person or in spirit, around Lawrence’s ‘Heartlands’.

Heartlands also provides the reader with a biography of Lawrence’s early life, and examines the complex cultural forces that inspired the young man, revealing  the profound influences of home, school and chapel in Eastwood that led to such masterpieces as The Rainbow and Women in Love.

 Five key areas are examined in detail, with maps and illustrations:

·         Eastwood and Brinsley

·         Moorgreen and Greasley

·         Cossall

·         Nottingham

·         Derbyshire

 The role of walking in developing Lawrence’s feelings for his ‘Heartlands’ is also explored, and five walks which are described in Sons and Lovers are followed in the modern context, illustrating some of the changes that have affected the district in the past century.

The Authors first met in the 1960s as pupils at Nottingham High School for Boys, which was Lawrence’s old school, although this connection was rarely mentioned at the time.

 Stephen Bailey taught English to international students for many years, in Barcelona, Tokyo, London and Prague. He is the author of Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students, Academic Writing for International Students of Business, and more locally, The Derbyshire Portway. He lives in Whatstandwell with his wife and daughter.

 Chris Nottingham is Emeritus Reader in Contemporary History at Glasgow Caledonian University. He is the author of The Pursuit of Serenity: Havelock Ellis and the New Politics and he writes mainly on the history of health and welfare. He lives in Ilkley with his wife and their well-behaved labrador.

 

Our book is a guide to this district, and these pages give a taste of the contents. The posts on our blog provide extra insights into some places that were important to his development.

Use the 'Pages' links (top right) to see the contents of the book, to read excerpts from Chapters 1 & 4 and to order the book for £9.75, including postage.