Lawrence was always happy to give writers feedback, though was ruthless with his criticisms. As he prepares to move to Mexico, he discovers his father has died.
Aspiring writers could learn a thing or two from Lawrence when it comes
to publishing work. When he submits the essay ‘The Hopi Snake Dance’
to Edith Isaacs, editor of Theatre Arts Monthly, he insists, "I don’t want it
cut down at all: not for anybody" but is prepared to write a "purely
descriptive" piece if this fits her publication better.
One part of being a writer is opening yourself up to criticism and
Lawrence never holds back with his feedback. Poet Bobbie Gillete is
informed his poems are ‘really banal,’ ‘bit of a cliché’ and more
problematically ‘you haven’t got at the real spark of your own feelings’.
And after that mauling, says: "Have you got any more poems? If you
have, let me see them."
He receives news that his father Christopher has died and wires money
towards the funeral costs and so his family can dress in black though
advises "it’s bad to put children in black, in my opinion." Lawrence had a
complicated relationship with his father and towards the end of his life,
accepted he had given him a hard time in his earlier novels.
These video essays are based on the letters of D.H. Lawrence one
hundred years ago and are published monthly as part of the D.H.
Lawrence Memory Theatre project.
To see previous Locating Lawrence videos from 1922, click here.
To see previous Locating Lawrence videos from 1923, click here.
To see previous Locating Lawrence videos from 1924, click here.
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