This book demonstrates how D.H. Lawrences prophetic ambitions impelled him to create novels that would radically transform the consciousness of his readers. Charles Burack argues that Lawrences major novels, beginning with The Rainbow , are structured as religious initiation rites that attempt to break down the readers normative mindset and to evoke new, numinous experiences of self and world. Through careful analysis of narrative structure, literary technique, and sacred discourses, Burack shows that Lawrence tries to initiate the reader into his own version of religious vitalism. Unlike most initiations that conclude with powerful affirmations, Lawrences novels generally end with an attempt to subvert the formation of new religious dogmas and to encourage sacred-erotic exploration.