Written in D. H. Lawrence's most productive period, 'Psychoanalysis and the Unconscious' (1921) and 'Fantasia of the Unconscious' (1922) were undertaken initially in response to psychoanalytic criticism of his novel Sons and Lovers. They soon developed more generally to propose an alternative to what Lawrence perceived as the Freudian psychoanalytic theory of the unconscious and the incest motive. The essays also develop his ideas about the upbringing and education of children, about marriage, and about social and even political action. Lawrence described them as 'this pseudo-philosophy of mine which was deduced from the novels and poems, not the reverse. The absolute need one has for some sort of satisfactory mental attitude towards oneself and things in general makes one try to abstract some definite conclusions from one's experiences as a writer and as a man'. These conclusions form an illuminating guide to his works and therein lies their peculiar value.

This volume contains two essays which present D. H. Lawrence's ideas about Freud's philosophy, and wider social and political issues.

About the Author
Bruce Steele is Senior Honorary Research Fellow at Monash University, Victoria. He has edited four volumes in The Cambridge Edition of the Works of D. H. Lawrence, and currently, with Clive Probyn, he is directing Monash University's Henry Handel Richardson project which is producing the first complete critical edition of Richardson's works.

Reviews
"This is a fine new edition of two important books and one can only hope that it will encourage a more widespread discussion of them than we have had so far." - English Literature in Transition, Garry Watson, University of Alberta



Book Information
ISBN 9780521327916
Author D. H. Lawrence
Format Hardback
Page Count 356
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 600g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 140mm * 24mm