Lost Girl (novel)

Lost Girl is a 1920 novel by D. H. Lawrence. It tells the story of Alvina Houghton, a young woman living in a declining coal-mining town in the English Midlands, and her struggle for independence and self-discovery in the face of societal expectations and economic hardship.

Alvina inherits her father's failing business, a music hall and later a chemist's shop, and attempts to modernize and revitalize it. However, she feels trapped by the stifling atmosphere of the town and yearns for a more meaningful existence.

She eventually becomes involved with a travelling troupe of Italian performers, including a Romani man named Ciccio. Alvina is drawn to Ciccio's exoticism and unconventional lifestyle, and she ultimately abandons her former life to run away with him, seeking a new beginning and a deeper connection.

The novel explores themes of social class, female agency, the impact of industrialization, and the search for personal freedom and fulfillment. It also delves into the complexities of relationships and the conflict between traditional values and modern desires. Lost Girl was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1920.