This book demonstrates how D.H. Lawrence's prophetic ambitions impelled him to create novels that would radically transform the consciousness of his readers. Charles Burack argues that Lawrence's major novels, beginning with The Rainbow, are structured as religious initiation rites that attempt to break down the reader's normative mindset and to evoke new, numinous experiences of self and world. Through careful analysis of narrative structure, literary technique, and sacred discourses, Burack shows that Lawrence tries to initiate the reader into his own version of religious vitalism. Unlike most initiations that conclude with powerful affirmations, Lawrence's novels generally end with an attempt to subvert the formation of new religious dogmas and to encourage sacred-erotic exploration.

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Springer Verlag GmbH
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CHARLES BURACK is on the faculty of Naropa University, USA, where he specializes in integrative approaches to literature, writing, religion and psychology. He also teaches at UC Berkeley, St. Mary's College, John F. Kennedy University and California Institute of Integral Studies, USA. A widely published scholar, writer and poet, Burack received the biennial New Scholar Award 2000-2001 (first recipient) of the D.H. Lawrence Society of North America. He is on the Editorial Board of Tikkun magazine and is a reviewer for Mosaic journal and the D.H. Lawrence Review.