D.H. Lawrence.

David Herbert Lawrence David Herbert Richards Lawrence

Born 11 Sep 1885 Eastwood, United Kingdom

Died 2 Mar 1930 Vence, France

Citizenship United Kingdom

7 min read

Reading time

1,301

Words

Jul 10, 2026

Published

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TL;DR

D.H. Lawrence was born September 11, 1885 in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. He wrote Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which sparked a landmark obscenity trial in 1960. He died of tuberculosis on March 2, 1930 in Vence, France.

Identity & family.

KIN · 3

Names, aliases, and relatives of D.H. Lawrence — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name David Herbert Richards Lawrence

Native Name David Herbert Lawrence

Parents: Arthur John Lawrence
Spouses: Frieda von Richthofen
Siblings: Lettice Ada Clarke

At a glance.

STATS

D.H. Lawrence by the numbers — life, work, and family.

44 Years lived

1 Award

1 Marriage

Who was D.H. Lawrence?

BIOGRAPHY

D.H. Lawrence — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Arthur John Lawrence, a coal miner, and his wife had a son, David Herbert Lawrence, on September 11, 1885 in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. Lawrence attended Nottingham High School and studied at the University of Nottingham and the University of London, earning a teaching degree. That upbringing in a mining community and his mother’s push for education shaped his literary themes.

Career

Lawrence began publishing poems and short stories while still a student. The novel Sons and Lovers, published in 1913, drew heavily from his life through character Paul Morel. Women in Love came in 1920, continuing his exploration of relationships with the autobiographical character Rupert Birkin. His most controversial work, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, faced obscenity charges after his death, leading to a 1960 trial that changed censorship laws. He also wrote The Man Who Died and St. Mawr.

Personal life

Lawrence met Frieda von Richthofen Weekley, the wife of a professor, while she was still married. She left her husband and three children to elope with Lawrence in 1912. They married on July 13, 1914 and remained together until Lawrence’s death. He had one sibling, a sister named Lettice Ada Clarke.

Legacy

Through works like Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Lawrence pushed literary boundaries with themes of sexuality, emotional freedom, and family relationships. The posthumous obscenity trial for that novel in 1960 became a pivotal moment for free speech and censorship in the UK. He won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. His novels Sons and Lovers and Women in Love have been adapted into films in 1960 and 1969, and they remain subjects of literary study.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 1

Every award, honor, and recognition received by D.H. Lawrence — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

James Tait Black Memorial Prize

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 4

A wall of memorable lines from D.H. Lawrence — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

How Beautiful Maleness Is, If It Finds the Right Expression.
The Cruelest Thing a Man Can Do to a Woman Is Portray Her as Perfection.
The Proper Function of a Critic Is to Save the Tale from the Artist Who Created It.
Nobody Knows You. You Don’t Know Yourself. and I, Who Am Half in Love with You, What Am I in Love With? My Own Imaginings?

Did you know?

FACTS · 6

Little-known facts about D.H. Lawrence — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

In 1960, Penguin Books released the first unexpurgated edition of Lady Chatterley’s Lover in England, leading to obscenity charges. The publisher was found not guilty, and the novel has been adapted into multiple films.
A publisher once returned Lawrence’s manuscript with a rejection slip that read, For your own good, do NOT publish this book!
During the obscenity trial, the prosecutor asked the jury, Is it a book you would wish your wife or servants to read? This question was considered out-of-touch and contributed to the loss of the case Regina v. Penguin Books Ltd.
A biography and bibliography of Lawrence appears in Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series, Vol. 131, pages 237-254, published by Thomson Gale in 2005.
An IMDb filmography incorrectly claims that D.H. Lawrence wrote over 150 scripts for the American TV series The Plainclothesman. Lawrence died in 1930, before television existed, and the series began in 1949, making the claim impossible.
Lawrence’s autobiographical style is evident in characters like Paul Morel in Sons and Lovers and Rupert Birkin in Women in Love. Dean Stockwell portrayed Morel in the 1960 film, Alan Bates played Birkin in the 1969 adaptation, and Ian McKellen starred as Lawrence himself in the 1981 film Priest of Love.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 25

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about D.H. Lawrence.

When was D.H. Lawrence born?

D.H. Lawrence was born on September 11, 1885 in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England. His father was a coal miner and his mother valued education.
Where was D.H. Lawrence born?

He was born in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England, UK. This mining town greatly influenced his literary work.
When did D.H. Lawrence die?

He died on March 2, 1930 at the age of 44. His death was due to tuberculosis while he was in Vence, France.
How old was D.H. Lawrence when he died?

D.H. Lawrence was 44 years old when he died. He died of tuberculosis in Vence, France on March 2, 1930.
Where did D.H. Lawrence die?

He died in Vence, France. He had moved there to improve his tuberculosis condition but succumbed to the disease in 1930.
How did D.H. Lawrence die?

He died of tuberculosis. The disease had been diagnosed in the 1920s and ultimately caused his death on March 2, 1930.
What was D.H. Lawrence's birth name?

His full birth name was David Herbert Richards Lawrence. He is commonly known by his initials D.H. Lawrence.
What was D.H. Lawrence's occupation?

He was a writer. He authored novels, poems, and short stories, many of which explored controversial themes.
What nationality was D.H. Lawrence?

He was British. He was born in England and held United Kingdom citizenship.
Who were D.H. Lawrence's parents?

His father was Arthur John Lawrence, a coal miner. His mother, though not named in the source, was a genteel woman who sought education and refinement for her son.
Who was D.H. Lawrence married to?

He was married to Frieda von Richthofen, the former wife of a professor. They married on July 13, 1914 after she eloped with Lawrence, leaving her previous husband and three children.
Did D.H. Lawrence have any siblings?

Yes, he had a sister named Lettice Ada Clarke. She was his only sibling mentioned in biographical records.
Where did D.H. Lawrence go to school?

He attended Nottingham High School. He then studied at the University of Nottingham and the University of London, earning a teaching degree.
What awards did D.H. Lawrence win?

He received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. This is one of the oldest literary awards in Britain, honoring his contributions to literature.
How tall was D.H. Lawrence?

He was 5 feet 9 inches tall, or 1.75 meters. This was his height as recorded in biographical entries.
What was D.H. Lawrence known for?

He is best known for his novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which faced obscenity charges. He also wrote Sons and Lovers and Women in Love, which are considered autobiographical.
What is D.H. Lawrence's most famous novel?

His most recognized novel is Lady Chatterley’s Lover. It sparked a landmark obscenity trial in 1960, years after his death.
Which of D.H. Lawrence's novels was involved in an obscenity trial?

Lady Chatterley’s Lover was the center of the obscenity trial Regina v. Penguin Books Ltd in 1960. The trial tested the boundaries of obscenity laws in England.
What was the outcome of the Lady Chatterley's Lover obscenity trial?

The publisher Penguin Books was found not guilty. This allowed the unexpurgated edition to be published and marked a victory for free speech.
How did D.H. Lawrence meet his wife?

He met Frieda von Richthofen while she was married to a professor. They fell in love and she eloped with Lawrence in 1912, leaving her husband and three children.
What themes did D.H. Lawrence explore in his writing?

He explored themes of myth, freedom, redemption, emotional and erotic expression, and the difficulties of family relationships. These themes recur throughout his novels and poetry.
Are there film adaptations of D.H. Lawrence's works?

Yes. Sons and Lovers was adapted in 1960 with Dean Stockwell, Women in Love in 1969 with Alan Bates, and Priest of Love in 1981 with Ian McKellen portraying Lawrence. These films bring his stories to a wider audience.
What influenced D.H. Lawrence's writing?

His upbringing in a coal-mining community and his mother’s emphasis on education influenced his work. This gave his writing an autobiographical element, as seen in characters like Paul Morel.
What is the significance of the year 1960 for D.H. Lawrence?

In 1960, the Lady Chatterley’s Lover obscenity trial took place. Penguin Books published the first unexpurgated edition, and the trial changed censorship laws in the UK.
Where can I find a biography of D.H. Lawrence?

A detailed biography and bibliography appear in Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series, Vol. 131, pages 237-254. This was published by Thomson Gale in 2005.

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Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on July 10, 2026

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