In "The Horse Dealer's Daughter" by D. H. Lawrence, after her financially ruined family is forced to sell their home, Mabel Pervin faces a bleak, uncertain future and attempts to drown herself in a pond, only to be rescued by Dr. Jack Ferguson, who, after a series of intense interactions, comes to realize that he loves her. There are themes involving attempted suicide and emotional trauma.

Reviews for D. H. Lawrence's The Horse Dealer's Daughter praise its exploration of human emotions and complex characters. Lawrence's masterful prose and vivid imagery are highlighted as significant strengths. However, some critics note the story's slow pacing and heavy symbolism. Overall, it offers a deep, thought-provoking narrative that remains impactful but may not appeal to all readers.

Readers who enjoy deeply emotional character studies and explorations of human relationships will be captivated by D. H. Lawrence's The Horse Dealer's Daughter. Fans of psychological depth akin to that in Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome or Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles will find similar themes of love, despair, and redemption.

Melancholic / Mysterious / Contemplative / Emotional / Bittersweet

- The Horse Dealer's Daughter is part of D. H. Lawrence's collection titled England, My England, which includes other short stories reflecting on post-war England's social issues. 
- The story was first published in 1922, during a time when Lawrence was heavily criticized and even censored for his exploration of psychological and emotional themes.
- D. H. Lawrence uses rich symbolism throughout the story, notably employing water as a motif for transformation and rebirth, a common technique in his broader body of work.

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