I've only read this one essay from Abinger Harvest. The essay is "My Wood." I highly encourage everyone to read this essay. Forster reflects on materialism vs ownership in and intriguing and amusing way. The essay is also chock-full of wonderful literary allusions. I took an advanced writing course at university and one of the assignments was to track down the sources of these allusions. It was both fun and educational. Cool stuff.

E.M. FORSTER by Lionel Trilling

When an eminent American scholar and critic takes as subject for a literary analysis a notable English author a reader can expect a tasty feast for the mind. Trilling does not disappoint.

This brief but erudite book is now over half a century old. It still remains an admirable introduction to E.M. Forster whose five novels have become an esteemed part of the western cannon.

"In America Forster has never established a great reputation." Trilling's comment implies the reason for his study of Forster. And indeed, it is this work that is credited with correcting that oversight.

Lionel Trilling's evaluation meets the criteria for excellent criticism. It is impartial in that although overall it praises, it notes faults. "The quaint, the facetious and the chatty sink his literary criticism below its proper level . . . they even touch, though they never actually harm, the five novels . . . " The second criteria, the enlightenment of potential readers as to an author's intentions and techniques, is likewise amply met. All of Forster's novels are discussed. Many illuminating insights are provided. Forster's short stories are summarily treated. Trilling evidently did not consider short fiction Forster's forte. Lastly, a critic should provide in praise as well as admonition comments that might assist authors to create better works. In this Trilling is at a disadvantage since Forster after the publication of PASSAGE TO INDIA in 1924 completely forsook novel writing. Too bad. Trilling is good medicine for an author.

A caution: the book is aimed at an academic audience. Allusions are made to various other significant authors as in "Forster is not taken in by his Gino as Santayana is by his analogous Mario . . . " Georges Santayana a prominent American philosopher wrote only one novel THE LAST PURITAN in which Mario is a key character. A college degree is not necessarily needed to follow Trilling's discussion. One ought to have, however, a nodding acquaintance with the peaks that comprise western literature's breadth and length.

To be frank,I never have the chance to read the book,yet I ever read lots of essays and thesis telling me that the book is really helpful to a student intending to have a in-depth search of Passage,so I wish to get the book for a long time.Although I tried all means, I haven't gotten the book.That's why I've come to the Amazon.

There is a real dichotomy between Forster's novel "Maurice" and the homosexual stories collected in "The Life to Come." The novel, while it does focus on the trials and tribulations of a gay man coming to terms with his sexuality, ends on an optimistic note. By contrast the stories collected in "The Life to Come," especially "The Other Boat," "Arthur Snatchfold" and the title piece, reflect the author's own obsession with the negative consequences of exposure and perfectly illustrate his reticence to coming out either personally or professionally. This is a man who witnessed the grossly indecent prosecution of both Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing, is it any wonder he was reticent? Don't miss these early gifts from the master.

Malcolm Page's slender volume is a very accessible work. It moves around the various criticism that 'Howards End' has received over the years. Page's survey of the criticism is handled sensibly and is a very good starting point for wider reading about the author and his novel. His own critical voice is a very balanced one and Page adopts a reasonable stance on a writer who seems to attract fairly extreme reactions. Of particular note is the short section dealing with E.M.Forster and feminism. This section illustrates Page's ability to survey the criticism and then offer an informed opinion. Overall, this volume serves as a very useful starting point for a study of the novel.

This is a novel about character development. At the same time, the author enlightens the world of a few people. There is not so much story in this book; its strength lies elsewhere. However, having read Forster before, this novel made me a little bit disappointed. To me, the development of Philip is not thoroughly enough described. It does not seem so likely that such a development would occur, either. Philip goes from "blind" to "seeing". He does not take the world as is anymore, but thinks for himself. There is a chain of events that makes him develop, but the events in themselves are not so important. The other characters do not develop at all in my opinion. That is not to say that they are not complex; some are indeed, but they do not develop. Philip is naturally a complex character, too.

England is used to illustrate the world we already know, whereas Italy is used to illustrate "the foreign". This concept works today, still, although "the foreign" would probably have been moved further away. Irony is a big part of Forster's writing: anyone who "loves everything Italian" should laugh. Forster is very subtle here, too subtle in my opinion.

This is not to say that this is not a good book, but not as good as, for instance, A room with a view.

An English family's widowed daughter-in-law marries unexpectedly while on vacation in Italy much to the discontent of the family. The story mostly revolves around the attempts to recover they love child of the deceased child of the daughter-in-law from the assumed rougheon Italian husband so that the child may receive "proper" care and education. The story is detailed but rambles at times. The plot is understood, but not exciting.

"Fools rush in," apparently, to Monteriano in Italy, where beauty triumphs over cold calculation, and-- to paraphrase the end of Johnny Mercer's couplet, not the original of Pope!-- where the heart rules above the head. This novel may not be as subtly polished as _A Room With A View_ nor as deeply serious as _Howards End_ but it does show a great deal of polish and seriousness, and is also a more entertaining story. In fact, I will do my best not to give anything away. While the plot moves forward organically, Forster shapes it with an Austen-like classical symmetry, as well as the conversations, characters, and (above all) the settings: Italy versus England, Monteriano versus Sawston. There are plenty of "juicy" Johnsonian sentences (get out your notebook), but Forster impresses most with his plain, easy style. He is also very funny-- I trust you'll pick up on the many little jokes. But also don't forget that Forster is a satirist with plenty of bite. His attacks are just as effective as Thackeray's, only Forster cares more about people and is remarkably sympathetic to human suffering in all its forms. A few nasty words about Germans wouldn't please the Schlegel sisters very much, but other than that, Forster avoids black-and-white generalizations and veers toward "moral relativism," for lack of a better term. Forster does a good job creating female characters who are unique and complex, who do not come across as manipulated symbols but as living flesh with thinking heads and-- yes-- loving (and hating) hearts. Once in a while Forster falls into his habit of grand poetic statements all flowery and abstract, but somehow he is forgivable (more so here than in _Howards End_). Otherwise, this is a great little story, with a message that hits home and language that ranks among the best of all English novelists. I would say more, but the best part is discovering this for yourself. Still, don't let the crowded opening paragraph get you down! Practically every character is jammed into the first sentence and at first I wondered if I could ever keep them straight. But Forster has a point in doing this: They are seeds in his hands which, tossed randomly, will sprout up as the story goes on. The humor in those opening sentences is also very subtle-- you either find Lilia's own amusement funny or you don't. But some jokes are so clear, as in Irma saying "me three" after an adult says "me too," they are literally infantile. So, this is a fun book, but also very serious-- quite sad when we see how people mistreat each other, and either purposely or accidentally bring misery on family, friends and even strangers (as well as themselves), mainly on account of social conventions. It's also interesting to see Forster's own gay sensibility show through throughout the novel. While _A Room With A View_ remains my favorite book by E.M. Forster, _Where Angels Fear To Tread_ has left me stunned and warmed, thoroughly satisfied from start to finish.