Tenderness

More about the book

Set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean in 1928, a dying author in exile races to finish his final novel, a bold love story that confronts class distinctions and explores sensuality. D. H. Lawrence knows his work will face censorship, leading him to publish it privately, only to lose his copies to customs before his death. Fast forward thirty years, Jackie Kennedy, in her final days before becoming first lady, discovers that publishers are attempting to bring Lawrence’s long-censored novel to American and British readers. The government responds by taking the book to court. Determined to honor a novel she cherishes, Jackie attends the trial, where her presence is quickly recognized, drawing the attention of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Through the narrative of Lawrence's writing process, the obscenity trial that followed, and the individuals who fought for its publication, the author captures the sweeping changes of the twentieth century, from war and censorship to sensuality and freedom. This exquisite and evocative tale is a testament to the transformative power of fiction, highlighting the enduring impact of literature on society.