Frieda Lawrence, born Frieda Freiin von Richthofen, was a German literary figure mainly known for her marriage to the British novelist D. H. Lawrence.
Background
Emma Maria Frieda Johanna Freiin (Baroness) von Richthofen (also known as Frieda Weekley, Frieda Lawrence, and Frieda Lawrence Ravagli) was born in Metz. Her father was Baron Friedrich Ernst Emil Ludwig von Richthofen (1844-1916), an engineer in the German army, and her mother was Anna Elise Lydia Marquier (1852-1930). Though their last common ancestor was born in 1661, the Red Baron"s fame nonetheless attached to Frieda"s reputation in wartime England.
Career
She was a distant relation of Manfred von Richthofen, the "Red Baron". She was a fifth cousin, once removed, of German air ace Manfred von Richthofen. They settled in Nottingham, where Ernest worked at the university.
During their stay, was arrested for spying and, after the intervention of Frieda"s father, the couple walked south, over the Alps to Italy.
They intended to return to the continent, but the outbreak of war kept them in England, where they endured official harassment and censorship. They also struggled with limited resources and Doctorate.H. "s already frail health.
Leaving post-war England at the earliest opportunity, they travelled widely, eventually settling at the Kiowa Ranch (now Doctorate H Ranch) near Taos, New Mexico and, in "s last years, at the Villa Mirenda, near Scandicci in Tuscany. The ranch is now owned by the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque.
By her approving the dramatization for the theatre of "s Lady Chatterley"s Lover—thought to be based partly on her own relationship as an aristocrat with the working class —it became his only novel ever to be staged.
John Harte"s play was the only dramatization to be accepted by her, and she did her best to get it produced. He only relinquished it in 1960. John Harte"s play was first produced at The Arts Theatre in 1961, five years after her death.
Frieda died on her 77th birthday in Taos.
She is an important character in On the Rocks, a play by Amy Rosenthal which deals with her sometimes difficult relationship with Doctorate. H.