Women in Love

Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence (1920)

Two sisters — Ursula and Gudrun Brangwen — pursue relationships with two friends — Rupert Birkin and Gerald Crich — through a radical exploration of love, power, sexuality, and modern industrial civilization.

Historical Significance:
Lawrence completed Women in Love in 1916 but could not find a publisher until 1920 — it was considered too sexually explicit and too critical of English society during wartime. The novel is now regarded as Lawrence's greatest achievement: a fierce, visionary work that rejects both Victorian repression and modern mechanization. The wrestling scene between Birkin and Gerald is one of the most famous and analyzed passages in English literature. Ken Russell's 1969 film adaptation, starring Glenda Jackson and Oliver Reed, won Jackson the Academy Award for Best Actress.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1920. Free to read and share.