D.H. Lawrence. First edition thus. Softcover. New York: Viking Compass Edition, 1974. The book is in Very Good condition. There is some underlining and writing, in pencil, in some of the margins, 372 pp.
John Thomas and Lady Jane is an alternate, more romantic version of D.H. Lawrence’s infamous novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover. In this telling, Lawrence softens the raw eroticism and emotional conflict of the original, offering a more affectionate and idealized relationship between Lady Chatterley (Connie) and her lover, the gamekeeper John Thomas (also known as Mellors).
Written in 1927 but published posthumously, the novella reveals Lawrence’s struggle to balance sensuality, social critique, and emotional authenticity. While the characters and setting remain familiar—an upper-class woman and a working-class man breaking social and sexual taboos—the tone is more tender and less explicit than Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
This rare text offers fascinating insight into Lawrence’s evolving vision for his most controversial love story. It stands as a companion piece that reflects both literary daring and emotional nuance, making it a vital work for Lawrence collectors and students of 20th-century literature.
