Sons and Lovers is primarily an autobiographical novel by D.H. Lawrence. It was published in 1913.
Gertrude Coppard becomes a schoolteacher to escape her harsh and overbearing father. She is fascinated by the miner, Walter Morel, whose earthly liveliness is in stark contrast to the Puritan atmosphere of her home. She and Morel married and live happily for a time; but he is a heavy drinker and resists her efforts to change him.
Mrs. Morel concentrates all her energies on her children, three sons and a daughter, and seeks some stimulus for her mind at the Co-operative Women's Guild.
Her eldest son, William, goes to work and helps support the family financially. Later he moves to London but while there, he dies. Mrs Morel is shocked by William's untimely death. When Paul, her second son, also falls ill, she nurses him to health. She also focuses her emotions and aspirations to Paul.
Walter Morel feels left out by his wife and children.
Paul starts work as a junior clerk in Nottingham. He falls in love with Miriam Leivers, a reserved and spiritual young woman. Gertrude Morel becomes possessive and jealous of Paul's relationship with Miriam. Their relationship dies down. Paul meets and has an affair with a married woman Clara Dawes, at the same time was also drawn to her husband Baxter.
Mrs. Morel gets sick, suffering a long and painful illness. In the end, Paul decides to relieve her pain by administering morphine to his mother. She eventually dies, and Paul determines to set out and make a new life on his own.