Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence – Folio Society 1982

📖 Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence (1982, The Folio Society) — the landmark modernist novel that continues to challenge readers with its unflinching exploration of love, power, and the human psyche in post-industrial England. This Folio Society edition features striking line illustrations by Charles Raymond and is set in elegant Garamond type on fine paper, a collectible from one of Britain’s premier fine press publishers.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930)
• Publisher: The Folio Society, London
• Year: 1982 (first published 1921 by Martin Secker)
• Format: Hardcover in orange Redbridge Iris cloth, blocked with a design by the artist
• Pages: ~500 | ISBN: None (Folio Society edition, not a trade ISBN)
• Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+) — full report below

THE STORY

Serving as a sequel to Lawrence’s The Rainbow (1915), Women in Love follows the Brangwen sisters, Ursula and Gudrun, as they navigate love, desire, and creative ambition in the coal-mining Midlands of England. Ursula’s intense, intellectual relationship with school inspector Rupert Birkin mirrors the passionate and destructive affair between Gudrun and the industrialist Gerald Crich. The novel’s frank treatment of sexuality, psychological depth, and radical critique of modern industrial society made it one of the most controversial and influential novels of the 20th century. Lawrence completed it in 1916, but it was not published until 1920 after being suppressed by wartime censors.

THIS EDITION

The Folio Society’s 1982 edition of Women in Love reflects the society’s commitment to fine craftsmanship. Printed by Western Printing Services Ltd, Bristol, on Sommerville Dalmore Smooth Wove paper with illustrations printed by Westerham Press Ltd, and bound by Camelot Press Ltd, Southampton. The text is set in 11pt Garamond leaded 1pt with Egmont for display. The volume includes an introduction by noted literary critic Richard Hoggart, whose scholarship on British working-class culture provides valuable context for Lawrence’s Midlands milieu.

COVER ART AND ILLUSTRATIONS

The striking orange cloth binding, blocked in Redbridge Iris cloth, features a line-art design by artist Charles Raymond depicting a stylish woman in a wide-brimmed hat facing a suited male figure, rendered in clean, modernist lines. The spine carries gold-blocked “WOMEN IN LOVE” lettering with additional figure-line decorations. Inside, Raymond contributes seven full-page pen-and-ink illustrations capturing key scenes and characters: a profile sketch of a woman, a bridge-like structure with woodland, and character studies of Ursula and Gudrun. The illustrations balance literary formality with expressive sensitivity, complementing Lawrence’s passionate prose without overwhelming it.

FOR COLLECTORS

• Folio Society editions are renowned for their quality materials and craftsmanship — this copy remains clean, tight, and well-preserved
• Features an introduction by Richard Hoggart, the influential cultural critic and author of The Uses of Literacy
• Charles Raymond’s illustrations are in the classic line-art style that distinguished Folio Society literary editions of this period
• The novel was adapted into a celebrated 1969 film directed by Ken Russell, starring Glenda Jackson (Academy Award winner) and Alan Bates
• Ranked among the 100 greatest novels of the 20th century by the Modern Library editorial board

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? This is the 1982 Folio Society edition of Women in Love — a fine-press hardcover with an introduction by Richard Hoggart and illustrations by Charles Raymond. It is not a mass-market reprint but a carefully produced collector’s edition.

What condition is it in? Very Good Plus (VG+). The orange cloth boards are clean with a crisp line-art design; spine is lightly sunned with a bumped tail. Pages are clean, bright, and free of markings — top edge has foxing and dust, outer edge foxed to a lesser extent, bottom edge clean. Full condition details in the report below.

Does this edition have a dust jacket? No, this Folio Society edition was issued without a dust jacket. The cloth binding itself carries the full cover design.

CONDITION REPORT

Overall Grade: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Cover and Spine: The orange cloth boards feature a clean, black line-art design on the front cover. The spine features crisp gold-blocked lettering and remains straight. Spine is lightly sunned, tail bumped.

Dust Jacket: Not applicable (issued without a jacket).

Text Block and Pages: Pages are clean, bright, and free of inscriptions or markings. The paper tone is a uniform off-white/cream, typical of this fine press publication. Top edge of block is dusted and has foxing, outer edge also foxed to a lesser extent, bottom edge is clean and uniform.

Binding: Tight, square, and structurally sound.

See accompanying images for full condition details.

SHIPPING

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