D. H. Lawrence

The Croydon Years

Helen Corke

• Publisher: University of Texas Press
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9781477300756
• eBook ISBN: 9781477300770
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: English Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

Croydon, England, was the setting of the famous three-way friendship of D. H. Lawrence, Jessie Chambers, and Helen Corke, all of whom made literary records of their association, and all of whom appeared as characters in Lawrence novels. Perhaps the most objective of these records were Helen Corke's, which became difficult to acquire. Their scarcity and their continuing usefulness were the stimulus for publication of this volume, which contains in four statements Helen Corke's "major comment on Lawrence the man and Lawrence the artist." The "Portrait of D. H. Lawrence, 1909–1910," a section from Corke's unpublished autobiography, gives the reader glimpses into the earliest stages of the Lawrence-Corke friendship, when Lawrence worked to bring meaning back into Corke's life after she had suffered a tragic loss. The "Portrait" tells of conversations before a log fire, German lessons, the reading of poetry, and sessions over Lawrence's manuscript "Nethermere," which the publishers renamed The White Peacock. In "Portrait," Corke tells of working with Lawrence on revising the proofs of this book, of Lawrence's encouragement of her own literary efforts, of their wandering together in the Kentish hill country, and of her first meeting with Jessie Chambers. "Lawrence's 'Princess'" continues the narrative of the triple friendship, carrying it to its sad ending, but with the focus on Jessie Chambers. Perceptively and sympathetically written, it throws a clarifying light on the psychology of Lawrence and presents with literary charm another human being—Jessie, the Miriam of Sons and Lovers. In combined narrative-critique method, Corke, in the essay "Concerning The White Peacock," relates Lawrence's problems in writing this novel and gives an analysis of its literary quality. Lawrence and Apocalypse is cast in the form of a "deferred conversation" in which Lawrence and Corke discuss his philosophical ideas as presented in his Apocalypse. Although the book was written to present Lawrence's ideas, its significance reposes equally in Corke's reaction to his thought. As a succinct statement of Lawrence's teachings about the nature of humanity, it has unique value.

INDEX

Abram: 104

Addington, England: 61, 77

Adonai: 103

Alcestis: 8

allegory: Revelation as, 62–63, 64; Helen Corke on, 64–65; Lawrence on, 64–65

Annesley (in “Nethermere”): 50

Anaximander: 112

Apis: 116

Apocalypse. See REVELATION, BOOK OF

Apocalypse (Lawrence’s): Jessie Chambers’ interest in, 40. SEE ALSO Lawrence and APOCALYPSE; Lawrence, D. H., on Revelation

apocalyptist: Jewish, in writing REVELATION, 86, 89, 101, 104, 106; Jewish-Christian, in writing REVELATION, 86, 89, 102. SEE ALSO John of Patmos

Apollo: 101

Appollyon: 101

Apostle’s Creed: initiation ritual in, 99

aristocracy. SEE Corke, Helen, philosophy of; Lawrence, D. H. philosophy of

Arnold, England: 24

Arno Vale (farm): as Jessie Chambers’ home, 24; Helen Corke visits, 25, 26–27, 29–30

Anu: 112

Artemis: 89

Arthur (in “Nethermere”): 54

Assyria: friezes of, 90; mentioned, 88

astrology: symbolism of, in REVELATION, 114, 116

Ave Atque Vale: 9

Babylonia: initiation ritual of, 98–99; significance of seven in, 101; myth of, in REVELATION, 104; scheme of creation of, 112; mentioned, 88

Bach, Johann Sebastian: 97

Beethoven, Ludwig von: 3

Bel: 112

Bel-Marduk: 88, 104

Beowulf: 111

Boaz (pillar): 103

Bordeaux, France: Jessie visits, 36, 37

Bournemonth, England: 31

Brahe, Tycho: 84

Brigit: 102

Brothers Karamazov, The: 35

Book of Incantations’. 101

Boundless: 112

Buddism: 71

Canada: 52

Castor: 103

Chaldea: division of heaven of, 111–112; mentioned, 90, 91

Chambers, Jessie (“Muriel”): as Emily in “Nethermere,” ix, 10, 11, 20–21; quality of sorrow of, 11; as schoolteacher, 24; relations of, with family, 24–25, 30–31; writing of, 26–27, 30, 31–32, 34, 38, 44; on London, 29; on religion, 32; spends holidays in France, 36–37; on Wood family, 37; marries Marc Wood, 37; opinion of, of REVELATION, 40; death of, 45; mentioned, 49 n. SEE ALSO Corke, Helen, relations of, with Jessie Chambers

—, relations of, with Lawrence: Jessie’s relation with Helen, ix, 35, 36; “Miriam” portrayal, ix, 33–34, 35–36; Lawrence discusses, with Helen, 10, 12, 20, 21–22; attitude toward marriage, 10, 15, 21–22; Jessie as “Muriel,” 10, 20; Lawrence’s friendship with Helen, 14, 15, 28;...

Table of contents

• Cover 
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Introduction
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Contents 
• List of Illustrations
• Portrait of D. H. Lawrence, 1909–1910
• D. H. Lawrence’s ‘Princess’: A Memory of Jessie Chambers
• Concerning The White Peacock
• Lawrence & Apocalypse
• Index
• Illustrations