42 pages 1 hour read

D. H. Lawrence

The Rainbow

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1915

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence follows three generations of the Brangwen family in Nottinghamshire, England, during the Second Industrial Revolution, exploring their evolving relationships, spiritual lives, and the impact of modernity. The novel traces Tom Brangwen's marriage to Lydia, their daughter Anna's tumultuous relationship with Will, and their granddaughter Ursula's quest for independence and self-fulfillment. The story addresses sexual desire, emotional struggles, and the challenges of societal change.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence is praised for its deep exploration of human sexuality and emotional complexities within family dynamics. Critics appreciate its poetic prose and psychological depth. However, some find its narrative pacing slow and the characters occasionally inaccessible. Overall, it's a richly layered novel that engages and challenges readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Rainbow?

A reader who enjoys The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence would likely appreciate intricate character studies, deep emotional narratives, and explorations of personal and societal changes. This audience might also favor works like Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Middlemarch by George Eliot, which similarly delve into complex human relationships and moral growth.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Classic Fiction

British Literature

Topics

Love / Sexuality

Themes

Relationships: Family

Identity: Femininity

Society: Class

Period

Modernism