The Rainbow

by Lawrence, D H

D.H. Lawrence’s The Rainbow follows three generations of the Brangwen family, with a particular focus on the sexual dynamics of, and relations between, the characters. Tom Brangwen, who is… let’s say “not the brightest,” succeeds to his father’s farm and falls in love with Lydia Lensky, a Polish widow; Anna, Lydia’s daughter (and Tom’s stepdaughter), marries Will, a distant relative of Tom’s; Anna and Will’s oldest daughter, Ursula, is a modern working woman.

For Tom Brangwen’s generation sex happens, but between the lines. For Anna and Will, bodies are alluded to and desires described. By the time Ursula Brangwen is a young woman, sex is frequent and directly addressed. This depiction of sexual desire as a natural force — perhaps spiritual, even! — caused quite a stir upon The Rainbow’s publication. The novel was almost instantly removed from the shelves of bookstores across the UKcountry and was then prosecuted in an obscenity trial in a British Magistrates’ court in November 1915, just two months after its release. As a result, roughly half of the copies of the novel’s original print run of were seized and burnt. The Rainbow was unavailable in the UK for 11 years following.

Lawrence initially conceived The Rainbow and what became its sequel, Women in Love, as a single novel titled The Sisters. However, after much revision, that manuscript became two of the author’s greatest novels. The Rainbow is ranked 48th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century; Women in Love is ranked 49th.

First Edition Identification

Methuen & Co. first published The Rainbow in London in 1915. Signed first editions have sold for upwards of $8,000.

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

B.W. Huebsch published the first US edition of The Rainbow in New York in 1915.

Reviews

Review this book!

Available Copies

THE RAINBOW

THE RAINBOW

by Lawrence, D.H.

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
Reprint
Published
1980
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Buffalo, Wyoming, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$33.78

Show Details

Description:
New York: Modern Library, 1980. Reprint . Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. Book is in NF condition with trace edge wear noted, light bumping to spine ends else a bright & solid copy. Dust jacket is in VG condition - price clipped, light rubbing to edges, light bumping to spine ends, small… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$33.78
The Rainbow
More Photos

The Rainbow

by LAWRENCE, D.H.

Condition
Used - near fine
Edition
First
Published
1915
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
New York, New York, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$3,378.40

Show Details

Description:
London: Methuen, 1915. First. hardcover. near fine. 8vo, blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt, and title in blind on the front cover. London: Methuen, 1915. First Edition.<br/> <br/> Near fine copy of a early Lawrence title, scarce, as half the edition was withdrawn due to obscenity charges.<br/> <br/>
Item Price
NZ$3,378.40
The Rainbow
More Photos

The Rainbow

by Lawrence, D.H.

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1915
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Woodstock, Illinois, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$2,964.55

Show Details

Description:
London: Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1915. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Very Good, lacking the jacket. Blue-green buckram, toned at the spine, rubbed and slightly frayed at the edges, with gilt lettering on the spine, white ink library call at the foot. Square, bound with some reading wear, foxing at the endpapers, small bookplate from the Institute for… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$2,964.55
The Rainbow [with] Women in Love. [First appearances in Penguin.] THE BRANGWEN DUOLOGY: FIRST APPEARANCE IN PENGUIN

The Rainbow [with] Women in Love. [First appearances in Penguin.] THE BRANGWEN DUOLOGY: FIRST APPEARANCE IN PENGUIN

by LAWRENCE D. H.

Condition
Used
Published
[1949, 1960]
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Thakeham, West Sussex, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$238.58

Show Details

Description:
Penguin [with] Heinemann; Penguin, [Harmondsworth],, [1949, 1960]. 2 vols., 8vo., First Edition thus; original printed wrappers, page edges very slightly tanned else a near fine set. Penguins 692, 1485 respectively. The Brangwen duology comprises The Rainbow (1915) and Women in Love (1921). VERY SCARCE INDEED AS A SET IN THIS CONDITION.
Item Price
NZ$238.58
The Rainbow

The Rainbow

by D H Lawrence

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1915
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Petworth, West Sussex, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$1,863.92

Show Details

Description:
London: Methuen, 1915. Hardcover. Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. The Colonial Library Edition - aproximately 500 were published for the Colonial Library, and these books escaped the pulping of copies of The Rainbow after the court obscenity ruling. Bound in rust cloth with gilt lettering and decoration to spine. There is slight staining to the… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$1,863.92
The Rainbow

The Rainbow

by Lawrence, D. H.

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1949
Binding
Paperback
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Port Colborne, Ontario, CAN
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$33.78

Show Details

Description:
Harmondsworth: Penguin Books / William Heinemann , 1949. - first printing of the first Penguin edition - rare Canadian issue with the .65 cent rubber-stamped price on the dust jacket - 502 pages - 10 pages of ads - about fine in vg dj, small nicks & tears at the edges, but quite bright .. First Edition. Original Wraps.… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$33.78
The Rainbow
More Photos

The Rainbow

by Lawrence, D. H.

Condition
Used - Publisher's blue cloth, spine stamped in gilt. Touch of wear to tips, else a fine copy in a custom blue morocco slipcase and che
Edition
First edition
Published
1915
Binding
[viii], 463, [1], [4, ads] pp. 8vo
Quantity Available
1
Seller
New York, New York, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$5,489.90

Show Details

Description:
London: Methuen, 1915. First edition. [viii], 463, [1], [4, ads] pp. 8vo. Publisher's blue cloth, spine stamped in gilt. Touch of wear to tips, else a fine copy in a custom blue morocco slipcase and chemise. Bookplate on front pastedown, Gotham Book Mart ticket on rear pastedown. First edition. [viii], 463, [1], [4, ads] pp. 8vo. A spectacular… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$5,489.90
The Rainbow
More Photos

The Rainbow

by D H Lawrence

Condition
Used - Good
Jacket Condition
None
Edition
1st American Ed
Published
1916
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Hudson, Florida, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$430.75

Show Details

Description:
New York: Bw Huebsh(merged withThe Viking Press 1927), 1916. 1st american edition,unusal publisher with little info,mcmxvi on title page,but the copyright date is 1915,the binding signatures are tight,but weaking hinge after last text page(467 pages),light age toning to pages,inside front cover bookplate(nice one) of pervious owner,light pencil note(book store easily erased),covers are a brownish thick buckham,with black lettering,cover tiltle very… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$430.75
The Rainbow
More Photos

The Rainbow

by LAWRENCE, D.H.

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Published
1916
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$5,067.60

Show Details

Description:
New York: B.W. Huebsch, 1916. Hardcover. Near Fine. First American edition. Beige cloth stamped in black. Slight foxing on the spine, else near fine lacking the rare dust jacket. Author Larry McMurtry's copy, with his small book label, and early neat ink ownership signature: "Larry & Jo McMurtry. San Francisco. 1960", when McMurtry was 24, and a year… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$5,067.60
The Rainbow

The Rainbow

by Lawrence, D. H.

Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140006923
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$3.15

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Item Price
NZ$3.15
The Rainbow

The Rainbow

by LAWRENCE, D.H.

Condition
Used - Fine
Published
1916
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$1,689.20

Show Details

Description:
New York: B.W. Huebsch, 1916. Hardcover. Fine. First American edition. Beige cloth stamped in black. Faintest small stain on front fly, still a lovely, fine copy, lacking the rare dust jacket. An uncommon novel, it was the first of Lawrence's books to be declared obscene, and the English edition was suppressed. The American edition was actually published in… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$1,689.20
The Rainbow

The Rainbow

by D.H. Lawrence

Condition
Used
Published
1957
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Alameda, California, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$25.34

Show Details

Description:
Avon, 1957. Avon G-1028. Very Good condition.
Item Price
NZ$25.34
The Rainbow (Collector's Library)

The Rainbow (Collector's Library)

by Lawrence, D. H.

Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
1904919650
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$42.58

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Item Price
NZ$42.58
The Rainbow.
More Photos

The Rainbow.

by Lawrence, D.H

Condition
Used
Published
1961
ISBN 10
0670000779
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Skibbereen, IRL
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$142.51

Show Details

Description:
1961. New York, The Viking Press, 1961. 12.5 x 19.5cm. (11), 495 pages. Original softcover. Good condition with some signs of external wear, including sunned spine and discolouration to jacket. Text annotations throughout. From the library of swiss - american - irish poet Chuck Kruger. [Compass Books, No. C77]. With its frank portrayal of human passion and sexual desire,… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$142.51
No image available

The Rainbow Lawrence, D. H

by Lawrence, D. H

Condition
Used - Acceptable
Published
1981-03-26
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140006923
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Doncaster, South Yorkshire, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$14.78

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Books, 1981-03-26. Paperback. Acceptable. Pages are tanned. Pages are not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine is faded. There is creasing/wear to the cover.
Item Price
NZ$14.78
No image available

The Rainbow (Wordsworth Classics)

by D.H. Lawrence

Condition
Used; Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
1853262501
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$7.41

Show Details

Description:
Wordsworth Editions Ltd. Paperback. Used; Good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there’s something for every literary palate. All orders are… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$7.41
The Rainbow

The Rainbow

by Lawrence, D.H

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
7th Printing
Published
1987
Binding
Trade Paperback
ISBN 10
0140119809
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Webster, New York, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$8.45

Show Details

Description:
New York: Penguin Books, 1987. 7th Printing. Trade Paperback. Very Good. 7x1x5. Seventh printing. Edges rubbed, small surface tear on front cover. 1987 Trade Paperback. 495 pp. D. H. Lawrence's 1915 novel "The Rainbow" is the story of three generations of the Brangwens family. While tame by today's standards, "The Rainbow", for its frank treatment of human sexuality,… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$8.45
The Rainbow

The Rainbow

by Lawrence, D.H.

Condition
Used - Good
Jacket Condition
No Jacket
Published
1915
Binding
Hard Cover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, USA
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$28.28

Show Details

Description:
N Y: Modern Library, 1915. Hard Cover. Good/No Jacket. A clean, unmarked book with a tight binding. Bright red cloth boards show light wear and tape marks. 468 pages.
Item Price
NZ$28.28
No image available

The Rainbow

by D H Lawrence

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
First printing
Published
1915
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Wellington, NZL
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$1,858.12

Show Details

Description:
London: Methuen & Co Ltd, 1915. First printing. Hardcover. Very Good. 463 pages with 6 pages at rear including rear end papers . Last page has a tear missing but not affecting the text. Very Good. Brick red cloth boards with gilt title and leaf decoration to spine. First edition. The Rainbow, by D. H. Lawrence author of… Read more about this item
Item Price
NZ$1,858.12
No image available

The Rainbow

by D H Lawrence

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
Thirteenth Printing.
Published
1969
Binding
Soft cover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Burlington, Ontario, CAN
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
NZ$11.12

Show Details

Description:
Viking Compass, 1969. Thirteenth Printing. . Soft cover. Very Good. pp.495 clean tight copy with tanning to text edges covers show hinge crease, some corner creases and sunning to back cover Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall
Item Price
NZ$11.12