8 - Kangaroo

Summary

Perhaps because it was written with extraordinary rapidity and hence shows some of the imperfections of hasty construction and nervously eager leaps of thought, Kangaroo has tended to have a bad press from its critics. Lawrence wrote the book whilst wandering the globe. Though he flirted with the possibility of staying in Australia, we know from the correspondence of the period (May to August 1922) and from the edginess even of the opening pages of the novel that Lawrence had no intention of stopping in the Antipodes and little compulsion to go there at all.

We are going to Australia – Heaven knows why: because it will be cooler, and the sea is wide … Don't know what we'll do in Australia – don't care.

(Letter to Lady Cynthia Asquith, 30 April 1922)

We shall probably go on from Sydney across the Pacific, and I want to stop in the South Sea Islands a bit, if I can: and ultimately land in Taos, New Mexico – where I was going first.

It's queer here: wonderful sky and sun and air – new and clean and untouched – and endless hoary ‘bush’ with no people – all feels strange and empty and unready. I suppose it will have its day, this place. But its day won't be our day.

(Letter to Curtis Brown, 15 May 1922)

And I shan't be able to leave till July – the Marama, July 6th at the earliest – and a pokey little steamer. God, how I hate new countries.

(Letter to Mrs A. L. Jenkins, 28 May 1922)