Sea and Sardinia (Warbler Classics Annotated Edition)

By David Herbert Lawrence and D.H. Lawrence

Book Overview

Sea and Sardinia is a penetrating study of a time and place as seen through the thoughts and expectations of one of the most candid, eloquent writers of the twentieth century. It chronicles the brief excursion from Taormina to Sardinia that Lawrence and his wife Frieda (affectionately known as Queen Bee) undertook in 1921. With stops in Cagliari, Mandas, Sorgono, and Nuoro, Lawrence keenly observes the intricacies of everyday existence and the distinctive cultural fabric of the region's inhabitants. Blending personal experiences with a broader commentary on the profound connections between people and their environment, his poignant narrative oscillates between vividly descriptive passages and profound philosophical insights. This Warbler Classics edition includes an extensive biographical timeline.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1959891936
• ISBN13: 9781959891932
• Release Date: August 2023
• Publisher: Warbler Classics
• Length: 164 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Acutely revealing, of time, place and writer

As described in the other reviews, and the accompanying comments within the book itself, this is DHL as non-fiction travel writer. Note that it was written after the completion of his major works, and what it says about his views, his relationships, and the immediate post-WWI period in portions of Italy. Particularly fascinating are the local/regional/national and continental attitudes. The more things change, the more they . . .

DHL and the Queen Bee do Sardinia

In 1921, D.H. Lawrence joined the British literary tradition of writing a travelogue. He and wife Frieda, "the Queen Bee," were weary of Sicily where they were staying and selected Sardinia for its promise of unspoiled primitiveness and lack of "tourist-parasites." Though SEA AND SARDINIA follows many of the conventions of the travelogue genre of the time, playing to the market for a foreign experience, moments of wonder mixed with irony and nationalistic-centric sentiments, it is also a self-revealing journal in which Lawrence's passions, rages and perspectives get a frequent work-out. As travelogues go, SEA AND SARDINIA may be found somewhat lacking in the description of landmarks. Lawrence focuses on encounters with the people, who presented a multi-layered lesson in the collision of the ancient with the 20th century and the recent war. In speaking to the audience back home, Lawrence often expresses himself in literary and historical allusion and his musings ring with a psychological resonance that is both intentional and unintentional. The result is an entertaining and informative experience that imparts much about post-war Europe and this particular traveler. This is a fine critical edition. The annotations are discretely listed at the back of the book, with no disruptive footnotes blotting the page. There are also a good map, a glossary of Italian words and phrases and a brief bibliography following the text. A chronology of Lawrence's career precedes it, as does a critical introduction. Despite the quality of the introduction, I heartily recommend reading it AFTER you've enjoyed the text on your own terms, because it gives away some of the surprises (as critical introductions are wont to do).