Saturday, April 24, 2010

Book # 8 - The Virgin and the Gypsy

D. H. Lawrence is not exactly my favorite author but there is something about his writings that makes me seek his books. I was quite excited to come across this novella at Sunday bazar and it was a perfect read for my very busy Friday.

Although the title sounds very exciting, the story was quite stereotypical. It revolved around two girls, Lucille and Yvette, who are daughters of a rector. Their mother had run away with a gypsy when they were very young and their dreadful grandmother (Mater) plus a spinster aunt had come to run the house.

Sounds quite the Cinderella story? Not really. The protagonist of the novella was the younger sister, Yvette, who seemed to have acquired her mother's taste as far as men are concerned. She, too, fell in love with a gypsy (whose look was enough to ignite the fire inside of her which all the other boys around her failed to do!). The one difference between the mother and daughter was the fact (which Lawrence mentioned in a slightly off hand way) that Yvette was willing to give herself to the gypsy without an elopement.

So we have the trapped young girl, a handsome prince (somehow all gypsies are dark and handsome!), an evil grandmother, a frustrated aunt, an affectionate sister and a confused father. There are horses and carriages, fortune tellers and even a heroic act right at the end which rids the heroine of the evil old woman and brings to light the pure intentions of her prince charming!

All of this in under a hundred pages, a perfect book for the project! And it affirms one thing - women are attracted to tall, dark and handsome men with an air of mystery around them. It is only men like these who lead to (quote) 'an emotional awakening in their elemental presence' (unquote). Point to ponder ladies?

Photograph: Google Images

2 comments:

  1. Sounds like it had a great deal of veiled sexuality in it.

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  2. Gosh, I haven' read any DH Lawrence in forever. He would be a good choice for a challenge like this--he has several short works.

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