Alvina Houghton is the daughter of a widowed Midlands textile merchant James Houghton. Despite her father's best efforts the business is failing. In a desperate attempt to regain his fortune and secure his daughter's proper upbringing, James buys a theatre. There, Alvina meets the sensual Italian performer Ciccio. Together they flee to Naples, Italy. Their relationship leads to Alvina's sexual awakening. She embraces a world of desire with Ciccio while leaving her safe, ordinary life behind. "The Lost Girl" is often described as D. H. Lawrence's forgotten novel, and is a passionate coming-of-age tale of longing and sexual defiance, devastation, and destitution.