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The Rainbow

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The Rainbow

By: D. H. Lawrence
Narrated by: Maureen O'Brien
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About this listen

Set in the rural midlands of England, The Rainbow revolves around three generations of Brangwens, a family deeply involved with the land and noted for their strength and vigour. When Tom Brangwen marries a Polish widow, Lydia Lensky, and adopts her daughter, Anna, as his own, he is unprepared for the conflict and passion that erupts between them. Their stories continue in Women in Love.

©1995 The Estate of Frieda Lawrence Ravagli (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Classics

Critic Reviews

"O'Brien reads the Brangwens, both women and men, as vital people, with instinctive lines that are both sensual and spiritual; always they are whole and organic as they are drawn inexorably into the Rainbow. Both book and reading give us Lawrence at his best." ( AudioFile)
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Unlike Lady Chatterley….. which was thought provoking, this was very dark and destructive. One minute I feel elevated to the heavens, then deep in despair. I cannot attest to ever feeling so conflicted in my 70 years of living, DH Lawrence must have had many demons. The reader is left with thoughts of Ursula rather than the generations before her who were just as complex but able to eventually settle for existing. I’ve had quite deep discussions with my soul mate about how complex the world has become since mechanisation and our depleted choices of avoiding the daily roundabouts. Twenty hours is a long read over several hours each night, however I felt compelled to hear it right through. Much is too complex for my mind so I will file it away and accept there are many confused souls in this life.

It may well be a classic by a well respected author, but it’s very deep and dark.

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