The New classics

In his last novel, published less than a year before his death, D. H. Lawrence takes up the theme of Christ's resurrection and his final days on earth. Lawrence recounts Christ's agonizing journey from death back to life with alarming realism: his initial painful awakening, the utter disillusionment of living beyond his brutal death, his bewildering encounters with strangers and friends, and finally, his redemptive sexual relationship with the priestess of the pagan goddess Isis. The story expands from its Christian roots to embrace Lawrence's abiding faith in the life-force apparent in every aspect of the natural world. The combination of a pure idealism with a pure physicality enriches these characters both as human beings and as symbols of beliefs too often held in opposition. The language of this book is indulgent for Lawrence - it contains the sharp focus and lyrical intensity of poetry without losing the subtlety of detail that characterizes his prose. For his final work, it seems that Lawrence has encapsulated a lifetime of extraordinary vision into one profound and exquisite parable.

"At Nightwood's center are the love affairs of Robin Vote - a character based on Barnes's lover, Thelma Wood. Robin marries Felix Volkbein, an eccentric aristocrat, whom she meets in Paris, and whom she abandons years later for the American Nora Flood. But Nora cannot contain Robin, either, and Robin in turn deserts her for the larcenous Jenny Petherbridge. Rich in irony and symbolism, Nightwood depicts the all-consuming power of erotic obsession in language that twists and turns, drawing the reader into a labyrinth of meaning and revelation. This edition also includes T. S. Eliot's Introduction to the 1937 American edition."--BOOK JACKET.