Heimweh by D.H. Lawrence (1918)
Heimweh is a novel by D.H. Lawrence, first published in 1925. It tells the story of a young man, Paul Morel, who is struggling to find his place in the world. Paul is the son of a miner in a small English town. He is intelligent and sensitive, but his father is a harsh and demanding man who does not understand his son's needs. Paul's mother is a gentle and loving woman, but she is also struggling with her own problems. Paul's life is further complicated by his growing love for two women: Miriam, a childhood friend, and Clara, a woman he meets at a dance. Torn between his feelings for both women, Paul is unable to make a decision. As Paul's life becomes increasingly difficult, he begins to feel a longing for something he cannot name. He eventually realizes that he is homesick for the place he once called home. Heimweh is a story of love, loss, and the search for a place to belong.
By D.H. Lawrence · First published 1918 · Genre: Modernist Literature, Romance, Psychological Fiction · 133 words
First lines
FAR-OFF the lily-statues stand white-ranked in the garden at home. Would God they were shattered quickly, the cattle would tread them out in the loam. I wish the elder trees in flower could suddenly heave, and burst The walls of the house, and nettles puff out from the hearth at which I was nursed.
It stands so still in the hush composed of trees and inviolate peace, The home of my fathers, the place that is mine, my fate and my old increase. And now that the skies are falling, the world is spouting in fountains of dirt, I would give my soul for the homestead to fall with me, go with me, both in one hurt.
What this Textopian page supports
Heimweh is listed on Textopian as a short story by D.H. Lawrence, dated 1918 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: D.H. Lawrence
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Modernist Literature, Romance, Psychological Fiction, Drama, Literary Fiction
- Length: 133 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Heimweh by D.H. Lawrence
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Heimweh?
- How does this short story by D.H. Lawrence fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Modernist Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Ballad Of Another Ophelia by D. H. Lawrence
- Piano by D. H. Lawrence
- Excursion by D. H. Lawrence
- Coming Awake by D. H. Lawrence
- A Pang Of Reminiscence by D. H. Lawrence
Genres
- Modernist Literature — Heimweh is a modernist novel by D.H. Lawrence, which is characterized by its exploration of the inner consciousness of its characters and its use of symbolism and imagery to convey its themes.
- Romance — Heimweh is a romantic novel that follows the story of two lovers, Paul and Miriam, and their struggles to find love and acceptance in a world that is hostile to their relationship.
- Psychological Fiction — Heimweh is a psychological novel that explores the inner workings of its characters' minds and the psychological effects of their experiences on their lives.
- Drama — Heimweh is a dramatic novel that follows the story of two lovers, Paul and Miriam, and their struggles to find love and acceptance in a world that is hostile to their relationship.
Tags
nostalgia · longing · identity · home · alienation · nature · self-discovery · emotion · memory · relationships · cultural conflict · existentialism