TAKE a mining townlet like Woodhouse，with a population of ten thousand people，and three generations behind it.This space of three generations argues a certain well：established society.The old"Count"has fled from the sight of so much disemboweled coal，to flourish on mineral.rights in regions stillidyllic.
A well established-society in Woodhouse，full of fine shades，ranging from the dark of coal.-dust to grit of stone-mason and sawdust of timber-merchant，through the lustre of lard and butter and meat，to the perfume of the chenust and the disinfectant of the doctor，on to the serene gold-tarnish of bank-managers，cashiers for the firm，clergymen and such-like，as far as the automobile refulgence of thegeneral-manager of all the collieries.
這部小說出版于1920年，主題也是勞倫斯頗為喜愛的：出身于富商家庭的阿爾維娜拒絕他人的勸告，嫁給了比自己低得多的男人，而她在婚姻中所獲得的則是更多的溫馨和理解。為了挽回已呈頹勢的產(chǎn)業(yè)，父親購進一家劇院，雇用了風(fēng)流俊逸的意大利演員西喬，這名皮膚微黑、性格奔放的演員立刻吸引了女主人公阿爾維娜的目光。阿爾維娜身上所具有的原始的性意識被喚醒，與西喬一同私奔到了那不勒斯。本書當(dāng)年即獲得布萊克傳記文學(xué)獎。
英國著名作家、評論家伍爾芙評論說：勞倫斯是個“對物質(zhì)世界，對其顏色、質(zhì)地及形狀格外敏感的作家；在他看來，身體是活生生的，而有關(guān)身體的問題既急切，又十分重大�！�
D.H.LAWRENCE（1885-1930），one of the greatest figures in 20th-century English literature.Lawrence saw sex and intuition as ways to undistorted perception of reality and means to respond to the inhumanity of the industrial culture.From Lawrence's doctrines of sexual freedom arose obscenity trials，which had a deep effect on the relationship between literature and society.
In 1912 he wrote："What the blood feels，and believes，and says，is always true."Lawrence's life after World War I was marked with continuous and restless wandering.
INTRODUCTION TO D.H. LAWRENCE， OUR CONTEMPORARY
CHAPTERI THE DECLINE OF MANCHESTER HOUSE
CHAPTER II THE RISE OF ALVINA HOUGHTON
CHAPTER III THE MATERNITY NURSE
CHAPTERIV TWO WOMEN DIE
CHAPTER V THE BEAU
CHAPTER VI HOUGHTON'S LAST ENDEAVOUR
CHAPTER VII NATCHA-KEE-TAWARA
CHAPTER VIII CICCI0
CHAPTER IX ALVINA BECOMES ALLAYE
CHAPTER X THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE
CHAPTER XI HONOURABLE ENGAGEMENT
CHAPTER XII ALLAYE ALSO IS ENGAGED
CHAPTER XIII THE WEDDED WIFE
CHAPTER XIV THE JOURNEY ACROSS
CHAPTER XV THE PLACE CALLED CALIFAN0
CHAPTER XVI SUSPENSE
But let us retreat to the early eighties，when Alvina was a baby：or even further back，to the palmy days of James Houghton.In his palmy days，James Houghton was crême de la crême of Woodhouse society.The house of Houghton had always been well-to-do：tradespeople，we must admit；but after a few generations of affluence，tradespeople acquire a distinct cachet.Now James Houghton，at the age of twenty-eight，inherited a splendid business in Manchester goods，5 in Woodhouse.He was a tall，thin，elegant young man with side-whiskers，genuinely refined，somewhat in the Bulwer style.6 He had a taste for elegant conversation and elegant literature and elegant Christianity：a tall，thin，brittle young man，rather fluttering in his manner，full of facile ideas，and with a beautiful speaking voice：most beautiful.Withal，of course，a tradesman.He courted a small，dark woman，older than himself，daughter of a Derbyshire squire.He expected to get at least ten thousand pounds with her.In which he was disappointed，for he got only eight hundred.Being of a romantic-commercial nature，he never forgave her，but always treated her with the most elegant courtesy.To see him peel and prepare an apple for her was an exquisite sight.But that peeled and quartered apple was her portion.This elegant Adam of commerce gave Eve her own back，nicely cored，and had no more to do with her.Meanwhile Alvina was born.
Before all this，however，before his marriage，James Houghton had built Manchester House.It was a vast square building?vast，that is，for Woodhouse?standing on the main street and highroad of the small but growing town.The lower front consisted of two fine shops，one for Manchester goods，one for silk and woollens.This was James Hough-ton?s commercial poem.
For James Houghton was a dreamer，and something of a poet：commercial，be it understood.He liked the novels of George Macdonald，7 and the fantasies of that author，extremely.He wove one continual fantasy for himself，a fantasy of commerce.He dreamed of silks and poplins，luscious in texture and of unforeseen exquisiteness：he dreamed of carriages of the?County?arrested before his windows，of exquisite women ruffling charmed，entranced to his counter.And charming，entrancing，he served them his lovely fabrics，which only he and they could sufficiently appreciate.His fame spread，until Alexandra，Princess of Wales，and Elizabeth，Empress of Austria，8 the two best-dressed women in Europe，floated down from heaven to the shop in Woodhouse，and sallied forth to show what could be done by purchasing from James Houghton.
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