New DH Lawrence manuscript acquired by Manuscripts and Special Collections

Manuscripts and Special Collections has recently acquired the manuscript of an important unfinished short story by DH Lawrence.

'The Flying Fish' was written by Lawrence in March 1925 when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis during a stay in Mexico City. It tells the story of an Englishman in Mexico who is called back to his ancestral home in the English Midlands.

According to Dr Andrew Harrison, our Lawrence expert in the School, "Lawrence appears to have stopped working on 'The Flying Fish' at the end of March, on or shortly before his arrival in New Mexico, where he went to recuperate and convalesce at their ranch in Taos". Although the story remains unfinished, the manuscript provides fascinating insight into Lawrence's life and work and the University's acquisition of it will finally make this vivid story available to Lawrence scholars and enthusiasts.

The manuscript can be viewed by appointment at the Manuscripts and Special Collections reading room.

Read the full press release. You can also read the Catching ‘The Flying Fish’ blog about this recent acquisition.