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The Rainbow was published in 1915 and was the prequel to Women in Love (1920). It is set in rural England in the early 20th century, and is the story of three generations of the Brangwen family. It deals with themes like love, relationships, family, homosexuality, social mores, religious rebellion, just to name a few. It was originally banned in England for it's frank portrayals of sex in nontraditional manners, something that Lawrence would encounter throughout his career.

I read Women in Love first and became enthralled with the character of Ursula, and I think this enhanced my enjoyment of The Rainbow. The Brangwen family history starts in the mid 19th century with young Tom Brangwen. Tom falls in love with and marries a polish immigrant, Lydia, who already has a daughter, Anna, from a previous relationship. Anna is adopted by Tom and the story progresses through Anna's growth and her eventual marriage to Tom's nephew, Will Brangwen. The birth of Anna's and Will's daughter, Ursula, is when the novel really comes to life. Her vibrant personality and unique views of love, sexuality, and religion make her one of literatures most interesting characters.

Some readers struggle with it, while some critics consider it a work of genius. Either way, you have to acknowledge the quality of Lawrence's writing. It's uniqueness puts it in a category of it's own and may be more appreciated today than it was a century ago.