Tortoises (eBook)

D. H. Lawrence's 'Tortoises' manifests the confluence of the natural world with profound human experience through his quintessential poetic mastery. This collection of poems reverberates with Lawrence's keen observations of the titular animal, embodying themes of resilience, timelessness, and a deep connection to the earth. Presented within a context of Modernist literature, 'Tortoises' reflects the disillusionment of the post-World War I era, yet captures a sort of timeless contemplation, noteworthy for its striking imagery and the intense physicality for which Lawrence's works are celebrated. The literary journey invokes a sense of contemplative stillness, mirroring the nature of the tortoises themselves, and is a testimonial to the author's fascination with the symbiosis between humanity and the larger cosmos of beings.

A literary figure at the vanguard of 20th-century fiction, D. H. Lawrence was as prolific in poetry as he was in prose. His engagement with themes around human sexuality and the human condition often led to scrutiny and censorship. 'Tortoises' stems from the same profound inquiry but shifts the focus onto the non-human, allowing Lawrence to explore interconnectedness devoid of societal constraints—a natural progression from the emotional depths charted in his novels like 'Women in Love' and the boundary-pushing 'Lady Chatterley's Lover.' His personal life and experiences, deeply entwined with the natural environment, significantly influenced the reflective and at times, starkly intimate musings that populate this collection.

Recommended for both aficionados of Lawrence's more famous works and newcomers to his literary landscape, 'Tortoises' stands as a testament to the author's versatility and depth. The collection offers a meditative retreat from the chaos of modern life, inviting readers to a space of quietude and philosophical rumination. Engaging with these poems is to walk alongside Lawrence in a journey of discovery, to see through his eyes the wonder and paradox of life encapsulated in the slow, deliberate movements of the tortoises. It is an essential read for those who seek to comprehend the breadth of human emotion through the lens of the natural world.