The
White Peacock is the first novel by D.H. Lawrence,
published in 1911.
The story is narrated in the first person
by Cyril Beardsall. It describes the relationship of his sister, Lettie, with George Saxton, a son of a tenant farmer, and Leslie Tempest, heir of a wealthy mine owner.
Lettie likes George and Leslie but flirts with both of them. Eventually, she decides to marry Leslie Tempest for material gains and security reasons. Saxton is disquieted, tormented by the knowledge that he could have won her had he been more gutsy and has the will to fight it out. Out of frustration George Saxton marries Meg, an ordinary young girl.
Meanwhile, Lettie is not happy in her marriage but make the most of it despite the feeling of unfulfilment and restlessness.
Cyril, the narrator, shows a mild romantic interest in Emily, Saxton's sister but nothing comes of it. Emily marries someone else
Another character, in the person of Annable, the gamekeeper, supposed to be the precursor of DH Lawrence's famous and controversial novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover" in the character of Oliver Mellors.
The characters of DH Lawrence are based loosely on friends and family members.