The Rainbow is a book written by British author D. H. Lawrence. It was first published by Methuen & Co. in 1915. The story follows three generations of the Brangwen family who live in Nottinghamshire. It focuses on how individuals try to grow and find happiness within the strict rules of English society. Lawrence's 1920 book, Women in Love, continues the story from The Rainbow.

Plot

The Rainbow is a book that follows three generations of the Brangwen family, a group of farmers and skilled workers who live in the East Midlands, near the areas of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The story covers about 65 years, from the 1840s to 1905, and shows how the family's relationships change as Britain becomes more industrialized. The first main character, Tom Brangwen, is a farmer who knows little about the world beyond his home region. His granddaughter, Ursula, the last main character, goes to university and later becomes a teacher in a society that is becoming more urban, focused on business, and driven by industry.

The book begins by describing the Brangwen family line. It then follows Tom Brangwen, one of several brothers, as he falls in love with Lydia, a Polish refugee and widow. Next, the story focuses on Anna, Lydia’s daughter from her first marriage, and her difficult, conflict-filled relationship with her husband, Will, who is the son of one of Tom’s brothers. The longest and most well-known part of the book follows Ursula, the daughter of Will and Anna, as she struggles to find happiness and purpose in a society that values material things and expects people to follow strict rules. Ursula experiences a relationship with someone of the same gender and has a deep but ultimately unsuccessful love affair with Anton Skrebensky, a British soldier of Polish heritage. At the end of the book, after failing to find fulfillment with Skrebensky, Ursula sees a rainbow in the sky, which she interprets as a sign of hope for the future:

"She saw in the rainbow a new way of building the world, with old, broken buildings and factories removed, and a new, living world connected to truth, fitting under the sky."

Censorship

Lawrence's open discussion of sexual desire and its role in relationships as a natural and important part of life led to The Rainbow being charged with a crime in an obscenity trial at Bow Street Magistrates' Court on November 13, 1915. As a result, 1,011 copies were taken and destroyed. After this ban, the book was not available in Britain for 11 years, though editions were available in the United States.

Sequel

The Rainbow was followed by a sequel called Women in Love in 1920. Although D.H. Lawrence originally thought of the two books as one work, he considered different titles, such as The Sisters and The Wedding Ring. However, his publisher insisted they be published as separate novels. After the poor public reaction to The Rainbow, the publisher decided not to publish the sequel.

In Women in Love, Ursula’s inner and emotional journey continues. She remains a main character in the story and begins a relationship with Rupert Birkin, a character often believed to represent Lawrence himself. At the same time, her sister Gudrun is shown in a relationship with Gerald Crich, who is a friend of Rupert Birkin.

Reception

Philosopher Roger Scruton, in his book Sexual Desire (1986), states that "because we live in a world shaped by gender, the other sex remains somewhat mysterious to us. There is an aspect of their experience that we can imagine but cannot truly understand." Scruton explains that the main idea in D.H. Lawrence's novels is that "when we desire to connect with the opposite sex, we are seeking to join with something that is deeply—perhaps fundamentally—not like ourselves. This experience introduces us to a perspective and inner life that feel unfamiliar and challenge us." Scruton claims that the novel The Rainbow supports Lawrence's view. In 1999, the Modern Library listed The Rainbow as the 48th best novel in English from the 20th century among 100 selected works.

Adaptations

In 1988, the BBC made a television version of the story. Stuart Burge directed it, and Imogen Stubbs played the character Ursula Brangwen. In 1989, the book was turned into a movie called The Rainbow in the UK. Ken Russell directed this film, and he also directed the 1969 movie Women in Love.

In 2021, the BBC created a new radio version of the story. It was broadcast in two parts on Radio 4. Cassie Bradley played Ursula, and Karl Collins played Tom in this production.