Howards End: EM Forster
Only connect! Isn’t that one of the most famous phrases in literature. But before last week, I wasn’t even sure where it came from.
Full disclosure here, even though it makes me look extremely bad.
First, I always get EM Forster confused with Evelyn Waugh. Don’t know why. I just do.
Second, I gave up both ‘A Passage to India’ and ‘A Room With A View’ after a couple of chapters. I did not ‘only connect’ with them at all. This is what I got out of them: caves blah; Baedeckers, blah blah blah. (Insightful, no?)
So I was extremely wary of ‘Howards End’. But after I read ‘Howards End is on the Landing’ I figured I had better read it for myself in order to work out whether the landing is really an appropriate place for it.
Given my previous experience with Forster, I thought it would probably end up being the shed. Or the bin. But HOW WRONG I WAS. It should be in pride of place in the middle of the room, constantly being picked up and re-read. I think this may now be one of my all time favourite novels.
At first, the story reminded me of ‘Sense and Sensibility’. There are two sisters, Margaret and Helen Schlegel, who are intelligent, educated, and independent women. But this is not a story about man-catching. It is about their relationship with the Wilcoxes and the Basts. Each family represents a different class: the literary and cultured types, the imperialist worker bees, and those struggling to keep their heads above the abyss. Howards End illustrates the differences between them but also how they need each other. It could be a boring exercise in compare and contrast, except for the beautiful plain writing.
This book is both a microscope and a telescope. It looks into people’s innermost motivations, and then swings right out to ask some basic, essential questions. What is art? What is beauty? What is England?
And while every character represents something different; they are still real people. They aren’t just there to make a point. This is an immensely difficult thing to achieve, and I can’t remember another example where it works so well.
Also, I’m in love with Margaret Schlegel. She is true to her values but does not believe they are the only values worth having. And even when she makes what I think is a horrible decision, Forster makes you understand why she did it.
But don’t read this book. Or don’t read it yet. Apparently, it is one hundred years old on October the 18th. It would be a marvellous thing to read it the week before, and see how relevant it still is, wouldn’t it?
I did not actually read Howards End. I listened to it through audiobooks. Which has changed my life. Or if not my life, certainly my bus rides, as now I can have stories without feeling sick. Thank you Yvette and Amanda for bringing me into the 21st century.
Howards End on audiobooks is read by a lady called Elizabeth Klett (she’s a blogger too…all the best people). I can’t recommend her highly enough and she has an extensive list of librivox readings which is going to keep me happy for a long time. I was sceptical about an American voice reading this very English novel aloud, but her intonation and characterisation is pitch-perfect.
I love Howards End. I’m going to watch the film this week. I love Emma Thompson too. All about the love today.
Posted on September 28, 2010, in Uncategorized and tagged a passage to india, a room with a view, bloomsbury, book review, book reviews, books, classics, e m forster, howards end, literature, only connect, reading, reviews, women. Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.
I’m so glad you didn’t give up on Forster! Howard’s End is a favorite of mine, too…. and it deserves a reread soon.
I always confuse Forster and W. Somerset Maugham!
Glad to hear that you had a great experience; I’ve never read any Forster but he’s on my list. Maybe I will try to read it for October 18 (okay I probably won’t have time but eventually I’ll read it).
Have you read any Somerset Maugham? He’s one of those writers who I instinctively don’t want to read without any rational reason…
The only Forster I’ve read through to the end is MAURICE and ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL. I admit I simply could not get through A PASSAGE TO INDIA, primarily because I just couldn’t figure out what the novel was really about. Same thing with the movie – I mean, what DID happen in that cave? Anyway, I’ve had some Forster books sitting on my bookshelves forever, but now I think it’s time to get serious. HOWARD’S END is now officially on my TBR list, thanks to you, Tea. (ROOM WITH A VIEW might be next.) I’m so glad, by the way, that you’ve discovered my audio book solution.
I’m LOVING the audio books. Currently on Virginia Woolf’s Night and Day. I haven’t quite got the knack of doing something else while I’m listening (unless it’s driving) because my mind wanders and then I forget what’s going on. But I think this is actually better – I skim books too much.
Whoa. I forced my way through A Passage to India for my book club, and I gave up on A Room With a View halfway through, so I’d given up on Forster. I guess I should try Howard’s End then?
I really would recommend it, Amanda: it’s so much better than the other two books.
Try his short stories.
Bring them in to work then. And put the kettle on.
I’m so glad to hear that you liked this! It’s one of my all-time favorites as well. I did also like Room with a View and A Passage to India, but they don’t hold a candle to Howards End. I love what you say about how it’s a microscope and a telescope. Forster so masterfully takes all those details and uses them to make larger points. A glorious book!
Lisa, Teresa, JoAnn – am totally with you!
Howard’s End is one of the most beautiful books ever written in the English language! This is definitely a book to reread again and again….
I have never read anything by Forster (yet) and although I had the other two on my wishlist, it makes me wonder if I shouldn’t start with this one instead.
I think so. It is very easy to read for being such a subtle story. I just watched the film; but it is nowhere near as good (though apparently Emma Thompson won an Oscar for it).
I loved Howards End but I have to say that I’ve enjoyed all of the books mentioned. I like Maugham too, I’m beginning to think I’m not very discerning!
you are just more open minded and less shallow than I am!
Happy 100th Anniversary! I am behind in catching up on my teadevotee due to a month-long work training in the absence of a computer. But now it is my 10:30 coffee break, so I thought I would catch up. I also read Howard’s End later in life and also loved it. Did you go back and read On Beauty to determine whether Zadie Smith’s homage is worthy?
How is school and life?
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