D.H. Lawrence’s 'Women in Love' is a sequel to The Rainbow, but you can jump right in. It’s 1910s England, a society on the edge of the modern world and the chaos of the First World War. We follow the Brangwen sisters: Ursula, a teacher searching for a deeper connection, and Gudrun, a fiercely independent artist. Their lives become entangled with two friends: Rupert Birkin, a school inspector wrestling with his own philosophy of love, and Gerald Crich, the heir to a coal mining empire who represents the cold, mechanical force of industrial power.

The Story

The plot unfolds through a series of intense encounters—parties in drawing rooms, walks in the countryside, a fateful trip to the Alps. The real drama isn’t in grand events, but in the charged spaces between the characters. Ursula and Birkin try to build a relationship based on a radical idea of two separate stars in balance, rather than one person merging into the other. Meanwhile, Gudrun and Gerald’s attraction is a volatile clash of wills, a destructive dance of control and passion that mirrors the dying world around them.

Why You Should Read It

I keep returning to this book because Lawrence puts feelings I’ve had but couldn’t name right on the page. The conversations between Ursula and Birkin about independence within love feel shockingly modern. It’s not a cozy read—the characters are often unlikeable and their debates can be exhausting—but it’s utterly compelling. Lawrence digs into the big questions: What do we really want from another person? Can love survive when two people are truly equals? The famous scene where Birkin and Gerald wrestle naked by the fire is bizarre, beautiful, and says more about male friendship than a hundred pages of dialogue could.

Final Verdict

This is a book for readers who don’t mind a bit of a fight. It’s perfect for anyone who loves complex characters, has ever argued about the nature of love, or enjoys novels that feel like they’re dissecting the soul of an era. If you prefer fast-paced plots, this might test your patience. But if you’re ready to be challenged by one of the most intense and psychologically raw explorations of human relationships ever written, give it your time. It’s a masterpiece that stays with you.