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D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930)

The University of Nottingham's collection of Lawrence works has grown from a few items in the early 1950s to become one of the major library strengths. It contains manuscripts, published works, and a wide range of supporting research materials.

An image of Lawrence and his wife Frieda, showing them at Chapala in Mexico in 1923, is part of a series of photographs taken by the American writer Witter Bynner, their friend and travelling companion. In many of the surviving illustrations of the author, Lawrence is seen in a serious pose. The Bynner images show him relaxed and, in this case, smiling.

Shelves of books from the George Lazarus library indicate the significance of this major addition to the Lawrence Collections. Lazarus began collecting Lawrence manuscripts in the 1930s. By 1997, when the library came to the University, he had amassed a substantial holding of original texts, supported by first or rare editions and secondary critical literature.

A large quantity of news cuttings in the Lazarus collection records the famous 1960 trial of Penguin Books when the firm published an unexpurgated version of 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'. This coverage illustrates changing attitudes in the 1960s towards literature and obscenity.

Further sources relating to this subject area are held by Manuscripts and Special Collections at King's Meadow Campus. See our website for information about our collections and catalogues.