A 'gay' story set before the time the word 'gay' was invented

Maurice (James Wilby) grew up in an otherwise all female household, with no brothers nor father-figure. Is the writer suggesting this is relevant to how he turned out, i.e. nurture not nature? Anyway, at puberty he discovers he is different from other guys, and at uni he strikes up a relationship with Clive (Hugh Grant). This is decades before such relationships would become acceptable in society at large, and maybe in his kind of society it still isn't. Clive eventually turns 'respectable' and marries a woman, while Maurice resorts to psychiatry which, of course, can't alter his sexuality! So he then falls for one of Clive's male servants, which is potentially even more dangerous. Especially if, as appears to be the case, the said male servant isn't being straight (pun intended!) with him and is actually out to blackmail him...? This movie raises important issues while at the same time being very watchable.