Sons and Lovers (1913)

Abstract

THE PRIMARY purpose of any novel is to tell a story that entertains us or compels our interest in some way. This is an obvious thing to say, yet it can easily be forgotten when you have to study a lengthy piece of fiction for essays or exams. The best way into a big novel such as Sons and Lovers is to read it briskly so as to get some sense of the shape of the narrative and to find out what it is about. You are then ready to take the first step in shaping a critical understanding of the novel.