Glad ghosts

"Glad Ghosts" by D. H. Lawrence is a novella likely written in the early 20th century. This literary work blends themes of love, loss, and the spectral effects of the past on the present, exploring the complexities of human relationships, particularly amid the constraints of social class and personal tragedy. The narrative examines the lives of its characters as they grapple with their identities and connections in a world marked by both physical and emotional estrangement. The story unfolds through the perspective of Mark Morier, who reflects on his past friendship with Carlotta Fell, an artist from a wealthy aristocratic background. As Carlotta marries Lord Lathkill and navigates the challenges of her new life, including tragic losses during and after World War I, Lawrence delves into the emotional turbulence of their lives. The plot explores themes of haunting memories, particularly through the figure of Colonel Hale, whose dead wife, Lucy, seems to linger in their lives, affecting their well-being. The characters confront their inner struggles, unveiling desires for connection and the repercussions of unfulfilled love, leading to moments of profound realization about life, death, and the intertwining of spirits. The novella closes with a note of bittersweet hope, as Carlotta gives birth to a son, signaling a new beginning amidst the echoes of the past. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

David Herbert Lawrence was an English novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright, literary critic, travel writer, essayist, and painter. His modernist works reflect on modernity, social alienation and industrialization, while championing sexuality, vitality and instinct. Four of his most famous novels — Sons and Lovers (1913), The Rainbow (1915), Women in Love (1920), and Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928)— were the subject of censorship trials for their radical portrayals of romance, sexuality and use of explicit language.