D H Lawrence

The Plumed Serpent D H Lawrence

In this notorious late novel, Lawrence's pagan imaginings burgeon. Kate Leslie, an Irish widow touring Mexico, becomes gradually involved with a charismatic leader, and she enters a sexual relationship with his dark henchman. As the two men conspire to revive the old Aztec religion and seize power, Kate is increasingly implicated in their 'blood consciousness', phallic propaganda and right-wing violence. The Plumed Serpent abounds in the 'politically incorrect' Lawrence retains his power to shock. As a publisher once said, 'Anything to do with D. H. L. is rather dangerous.'It was the Sunday after Easter, and the last bull-fight of the season in Mexico City. Four special bulls had been brought over from Spain for the occasion, since Spanish bulls are more fiery than Mexican. Perhaps it is the altitude, perhaps just the spirit of the western Continent which is to blame for the lack of 'pep', as Owen put it, in the native animal. Although Owen, who was a great socialist, disapproved of bull- fights, 'We have never seen one. We shall have to go, ' he said