Sea and Sardinia (The Cambridge Edition of the Works of D. H. Lawrence) (Paperback)

by D. H. Lawrence (Author), Mara Kalnins (Editor) "The base-text for this edition is the corrected ribbon typescript (TS) of Sea and Sardinia which DHL sent to his agent Robert Mountsier on 28..." (more)
Key Phrases: second typist, see following entries, textual apparatus, Knight of Britain, Via Maqueda, Monte Pellegrino (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
..".very impressive to read..." Rocky Mountain News

Product Description
Written when he was living in Sicily, Sea and Sardinia records Lawrence's journey to Sardinia in 1921. It reveals his delighted response to a new landscape and people and his uncanny ability to transmute the spirit of place into literary art. But, like his other travel writings, it is also a shrewd enquiry into the political and social values of an era that saw the rise of communism and fascism. This edition restores censored passages and corrupt readings to reveal the book Lawrence himself called "a marvel of veracity".

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Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (April 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521285755
• ISBN-13: 978-0521285759
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,761,889 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DHL and the Queen Bee do Sardinia, May 31, 2005

By	C. Ebeling "ctlpareader" (PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Sea and Sardinia (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) (Paperback)

In 1921, D.H. Lawrence joined the British literary tradition of writing a travelogue. He and wife Frieda, "the Queen Bee," were weary of Sicily where they were staying and selected Sardinia for its promise of unspoiled primitiveness and lack of "tourist-parasites." Though SEA AND SARDINIA follows many of the conventions of the travelogue genre of the time, playing to the market for a foreign experience, moments of wonder mixed with irony and nationalistic-centric sentiments, it is also a self-revealing journal in which Lawrence's passions, rages and perspectives get a frequent work-out.

As travelogues go, SEA AND SARDINIA may be found somewhat lacking in the description of landmarks. Lawrence focuses on encounters with the people, who presented a multi-layered lesson in the collision of the ancient with the 20th century and the recent war. In speaking to the audience back home, Lawrence often expresses himself in literary and historical allusion and his musings ring with a psychological resonance that is both intentional and unintentional. The result is an entertaining and informative experience that imparts much about post-war Europe and this particular traveler.

This is a fine critical edition. The annotations are discretely listed at the back of the book, with no disruptive footnotes blotting the page. There are also a good map, a glossary of Italian words and phrases and a brief bibliography following the text. A chronology of Lawrence's career precedes it, as does a critical introduction. Despite the quality of the introduction, I heartily recommend reading it AFTER you've enjoyed the text on your own terms, because it gives away some of the surprises (as critical introductions are wont to do).

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Acutely revealing, of time, place and writer, January 27, 2007

By	J. Cadwallader (Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Sea and Sardinia (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) (Paperback)

As described in the other reviews, and the accompanying comments within the book itself, this is DHL as non-fiction travel writer. Note that it was written after the completion of his major works, and what it says about his views, his relationships, and the immediate post-WWI period in portions of Italy. Particularly fascinating are the local/regional/national and continental attitudes. The more things change, the more they . . .