Sons and Lovers
Summary

Sons and Lovers was the first of Lawrence?s major works, and is still considered to be one of his best. The 1913 novel was partly autobiographical and was set in the coalmining village of Bestwood. The parents of the central character, Paul, are Mr and Mrs Morel who are a vigorous and heavy-drinking miner and a well-educated, pretty intellectual respectively. We learn of Paul?s successful brother and sister, William and Annie, but are soon drawn into Paul?s world. He is still in his teens but works in a factory producing surgical appliances but becomes sick and spends his time with Miriam Leivers who he falls in love with. Their love is made difficult by Miriam?s intense and religious nature and the fondness Paul?s mother has for him that is protective to the point of dependence. As Paul reaches his early twenties he becomes passionate and makes love to Miriam but this ecstasy spells the end for their relationship. The latter stages of the novel concern Paul?s next passion - Mrs Clara Dawes - and her vengeful husband. In the end, with Mrs Morel?s slow death, we find that the closest and most meaningful bond is held between mother and son. The novel is notable for being the first English novel to be genuinely working-class in origin and focus.

Table of contents
Part 1
The Early Married Life of the Morels
The Birth of Paul, and Another Battle
The Casting Off of Morel--The Taking On of William
The Young Life of Paul
Paul Launches into Life
Death in the Family
Part 2
Lad-and-Girl Love
Strife in Love
Defeat of Miriam
Clara
The Test on Miriam
Passion
Baxter Dawes
The Release
Derelict

  By PanEris using Melati.

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