T H E S I S

Chapter 71
THS IATE IAWBSNCE
(Lady Chatterley's Lover)
In his last phase of writing Lawrence was already a man
condemned by tuberculosis* No medical treatment could really
save him. In this state he wrote the first draft of his last
novel, Lady Chatterley^ Lover*f from October 1926 to February
1927* The first title of the novel, Tendernessf was quite representative
of the feeling that flows between the two lovers - Connie
and Mellors. Subsequently this was changed to My Lady's Keeper.
But this first version is now known by the title The First
Lady Chatterlev. with 253 pages (Penguin Books edition), Lawrence
wrote the novel three times, reformulating scenes, pruning
OUt the four-letter words and even changing the end of the story,
due to forseen problems with censorship. From February to July
1927 he wrote the second version, significantly altered because
of the severe pruning, and he added to it more than a hundred
pages (the total version is 376 pages - Penguin Books edition) -
which later on received the•title John Thomas and Ladv Jane.
(these terms designate respectively "penis'* and "vagina" in popular
language)• The third version, the final draft, was ready
* Henceforth I will use "LCL" for brevity.