Growth of a Chrysanthemum
D. H. Lawrence's 1914 short story, "Odour of Chrysanthemums", is still in print and considered worth reading in 1999. Perhaps it's printed and reprinted as a matter of habit. Perhaps editors like it because other editors have. But maybe it's a success because it's an exceptional work. Of these three possibilities, the last is certainly the most appealing. Luckily, it seems most likely to be true. Lawrence made a conscious effort to improve and focus the story, as differences between the 1910 draft and the 1914 final version reveal. Lawrence succeeded in this endeavor, carefully revising an already excellent work to create a classic.
The claim that "Odour of Chrysanthemums" is a well-crafted story is hardly brave or risky, for many would agree. For instance, the man who in a sense discovered Lawrence, English Review editor F. M. Ford, said this about "Odour of Chrysanthemums":
The very title makes an impact on the mind. You get at once the......
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Approximate Word Count: 2558
Approximate Pages: 10 (260 words per double-spaced page) |