Sons and Lovers

By: D. H. Lawrence

Narrated by: Jim Killavey

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.

Still in his teens, Paul works in a factory producing surgical appliances but becomes sick and spends his time with Miriam Leivers whom 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.

©1988 Jimcin Recordings (P)2003 Brian J. Killavey

Critic reviews

"[A] book of rare excellence." (The New York Times Book Review)

Great novel

Great development of characters in this novel. Author evokes the time and place very well. Narrator is very good.

Masterpiece spoiled by Narration

After waiting all these months with great excitement, I find this almost impossible to listen to, due to the disjointed and robotic narration. He sounds a lot like the computer generated voice on the NOAA weather radio. What a shame.

Great book and good reading

It always amazes me that people can have such incredibly diverse opinions of the same book. You'd think good was good and bad was bad but... a guess a lot is in the eye ( or ear in this case ) of the beholder. Anyway, I totally agree with the last reviewer ("I believe the narrator's style and pacing works well") - the narrator was very laid back, but that's exactly what was needed. Overdramatizing would have ruined it. This is a reading not an overdone performance and, as such, it is done very well.

Complex Tragedy

Sons and Lovers is not a "feel good" book. It is, in fact, a complex tragedy that lingers long after the listening experience is over. It is a powerful story with some amazing insights into the human condition. I was a bit put off by some of the reviews that praised the book but not the narrator. However, I listened to the sample and it sounded fine. I then got the book and thought the narration was quite good and appropriate for the novel.

Bad narration style

I found that the narrator's reading style detracted from my enjoyment of the story. The narrator e nun ci a ted each syllable to such an exaggerated extent that it spoiled the flow of the narrative.