Misery by D.H. Lawrence (1917)
Misery is a novel by D.H. Lawrence, first published in 1915. It tells the story of a young woman, Miriam, who is struggling to find her place in the world. She is a talented artist, but her family and society do not recognize her worth. She is constantly belittled and put down, and her attempts to find love and acceptance are met with rejection. The novel follows Miriam as she moves from her home in England to Italy, where she meets a man who she believes could be the one to finally accept her. However, her hopes are dashed when he turns out to be a cruel and manipulative man. Miriam is forced to confront her own feelings of worthlessness and insecurity, and she must decide whether to stay with him or to find her own path. The novel is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and it is a testament to Lawrence's skill as a writer. It is a story of love, loss, and ultimately, hope.
By D.H. Lawrence · First published 1917 · Genre: Drama, Romance, Realism · 110 words
First lines
OUT of this oubliette between the mountains five valleys go, five passes like gates; three of them black in shadow, two of them bright with distant sunshine; and sunshine fills one high valley bed, green grass shining, and little white houses like quartz crystals, little, but distinct a way off.
Why don't I go? Why do I crawl about this pot, this oubliette, stupidly? Why don't I go?
But where? If I come to a pine-wood, I can't say Now I am arrived! What are so many straight trees to me!
STERZING
What this Textopian page supports
Misery is listed on Textopian as a short story by D.H. Lawrence, dated 1917 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: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Realism, Fiction
- Length: 110 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Misery 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Misery?
- How does this short story by D.H. Lawrence fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- And Oh That The Man I Am Might Cease To Be by D. H. Lawrence
- First Morning by D. H. Lawrence
- Don Juan by D. H. Lawrence
- Winter Dawn by D. H. Lawrence
- New Years Eve by D. H. Lawrence
- Valentines Night by D. H. Lawrence
Genres
- Drama — The book follows the story of a young woman's struggle with poverty and her attempts to find a way out of her misery.
- Romance — The book follows the story of a young woman's romantic relationship with a man who she believes can help her escape her misery.
- Realism — The book is written in a realistic style, focusing on the struggles of everyday life and the difficulties of overcoming poverty.
- Fiction — The book is a work of fiction, with a narrative that follows the story of a young woman's struggles with poverty and her attempts to find a way out of her misery.
Tags
black · crawl · distant · distinct · fills · grass · green · oubliette · passes · pine-wood · poetry · pot