This was, yet again, an improvement on the last volume of short stories that I've read of D.H Lawrence. Particularly, "The Man Who Loved Islands" had some of the best language and description that I have seen in any of Lawrence's short stories. I'm finding that, in this collection, he tries to set a scene and then allow the reader to envision and dive into it- presenting his characters and setting as facets of the overall portraiture that he is trying to, in some terms, explain and describe.

3.25 stars- this one is worth it for Lawrence enthusiasts and those interested in classic literature. ( )

Some of these stories are wonderful. Lawrence is strong on revealing the poverty of lives that are not fully lived, until an awakening moment occurs when both mind and soul respond to a call to be as fully functioning in life as we can be.

In one of the stories from this wonderful compendium, The Man Who Loved Islands, Lawrence has incorporated several themes and many layers of meaning all in less that twenty-five pages. The man who "loved islands" appears Quixotic as he attempts to create an imaginary island world around himself as he sequesters his being in his book-laden library to write about the birds of the classical world. But his dreams were quickly corroded as the corruption of humanity tainted his imaginary Eden. Suggestions of Milton's Paradise Lost - yet can Satan have corrupted humanity so thoroughly that few are honest or loyal enough to continue the journey with the man?
Imaginary though it was it reminded me of Rousseau's attacks on civilization while he wrote of an imaginary state of nature. This state of nature seemed to be close to the reincarnation of our man's island as he tried yet a second time to accomplish his dream. Ultimately the man who loved islands inherits a nightmare as the story veers into a snowy dystopia. What meaning does this hold for the reader? I am not sure, but the thoughts for which this story and others (The Rocking Horse Winner is another favorite) is a catalyst will continually remind me of this strange world. ( )