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  • Published: 15 September 1999
  • ISBN: 9780375753732
  • Imprint: Random House US Group
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 752
  • RRP: $49.99
Categories:

Sons and Lovers




Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time

With a new Introduction by Geoff Dyer
Commentary by Anthony Burgess, Jessie Chambers, Frieda Lawrence, V.S. Pritchett, Kate Millett, and Alfred Kazin

Of all Lawrence's work, Sons and Lovers tells us most about the emotional source of his ideas," observed Diana Trilling. "The famous Lawrence theme of the struggle for sexual power--and he is sure that all the struggles of civilized life have their root in this primary contest--is the constantly elaborated statement of the fierce battle which tore Lawrence's family."

Sons and Lovers is one of the landmark novels of the twentieth century. When it appeared in 1913, it was immediately recognized as the first great modern restatement of the oedipal drama, and it is now widely considered the major work of D. H. Lawrence's early period. This intensely autobiographical novel recounts the story of Paul Morel, a young artist growing to manhood in a British working-class family rife with conflict. The author's vivid evocation of the all-consuming nature of possessive love and sexual attraction makes this one of his most powerful novels.

For the critic Kate Millett, "Sons and Lovers is a great novel because it has the ring of something written from deeply felt experience. The past remembered, it conveys more of Lawrence's own knowledge of life than anything else he wrote. His other novels appear somehow artificial beside it."

  • Published: 15 September 1999
  • ISBN: 9780375753732
  • Imprint: Random House US Group
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 752
  • RRP: $49.99
Categories:

Other books in the series

Russian Thinkers
The New Penguin Book Of American Short Stories, From Washington Irving To Lydia Davis
When You Are Old
The Black Tulip
The Lady of the Camellias
The Good Soldier
Selected Poetry
Venus in Furs
Man and Superman
Military Dispatches
The Prelude

About the author

D.H. Lawrence

D.H. Lawrence was born as David Herbert Lawrence. He was born on September 11, 1885, in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England, to a working-class family. His early life experiences and the social environment he grew up in greatly influenced his writing. In his childhood, Lawrence witnessed the struggles and tensions within his family and the surrounding mining community. His father worked as a miner, and his mother’s unhappiness and frustrations in her marriage left a lasting impact on Lawrence. Despite the challenges, Lawrence showed an early aptitude for education and was awarded a scholarship to Nottingham High School. Lawrence’s time at school exposed him to a broader world of literature and ideas. He excelled academically, developing a passion for literature, poetry, and art. His intellectual pursuits led him to study classics at Nottingham University College (now the University of Nottingham) in 1906. At university, Lawrence encountered a vibrant literary and artistic community, which further fuelled his creative aspirations. During his university years, Lawrence began writing poetry, short stories, and essays. He explored themes of human relationships, sexuality, and the profound connection between man and nature. After leaving university, Lawrence experienced a period of restlessness and uncertainty. He held various jobs, including working as a schoolteacher and a clerk, while continuing to write. His early works were not commercially successful, and he struggled financially. However, Lawrence’s breakthrough came with the publication of his novel Sons and Lovers in 1913. It received critical acclaim for its psychological depth and vivid storytelling. The success of it marked the beginning of Lawrence’s rise to literary fame. In the years that followed, Lawrence published several notable works, including The Rainbow (1915) and Women in Love (1920). Both faced censorship and controversy due to their explicit depictions of sexuality. Lawrence’s writing challenged societal norms and conventions. It explored the complexities of human desires and relationships in a candid manner. Lawrence’s reputation as a groundbreaking writer grew, but he faced ongoing struggles with censorship and public reception. His works continued to delve into themes of passion, individuality, and the clash between nature and industrialization. Sadly, Lawrence’s life was cut short when he succumbed to tuberculosis on March 2 1930, in Vence, France. He was 44 at that time. His literary legacy, however, lives on, and his works have had a profound and lasting impact on 20th-century literature. D.H. Lawrence’s fearless exploration of human emotions and the complexities of relationships continues to captivate readers to this day.

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Praise for Sons and Lovers

The Modern Library of the World's Best Books