Who was E. M. Forster? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In January

Also Known As: Edward Morgan Forste

Died At Age: 91

Novelists Essayists

Died on: June 7, 1970

place of death: Coventry, United Kingdom

Cause of Death: Stroke

Grouping of People: Gay

Notable Alumni: King's College, Cambridge

City: Marylebone, England

More Facts

education: King's College, Cambridge

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1

What are some common themes in E. M. Forster's works?

Some common themes in E. M. Forster's works include class struggle, the conflict between personal desires and societal expectations, the importance of human connection, and the impact of cultural differences.
2

How did E. M. Forster's sexuality influence his writing?

E. M. Forster's sexuality, as a gay man in a time when homosexuality was not widely accepted, influenced his writing by exploring themes of love, desire, and the struggles of individuals in repressive societies.
3

What is the significance of the title A Passage to India?

The title "A Passage to India" by E. M. Forster symbolizes the physical and metaphorical journey taken by the characters in the novel, highlighting the complexities of colonialism, cultural misunderstandings, and the search for connection.
4

How did E. M. Forster's experiences in India influence his writing?

E. M. Forster's experiences in India, where he worked as a private secretary, influenced his writing by providing him with firsthand observations of colonialism, cultural clashes, and the complexities of human relationships, which are evident in his novel "A Passage to India."
5

How does E. M. Forster's writing style reflect his views on society?

E. M. Forster's writing style, characterized by its subtle irony, psychological depth, and focus on individual relationships, reflects his views on society as a complex network of interpersonal connections shaped by social norms, class distinctions, and personal desires.

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Childhood & Early Life

Born on January 1, 1879, in Middlesex, England, E. M. Forster was the only child of Alice Clara "Lily" Forster and Edward Morgan Llewellyn Forster. Officially called Henry Morgan Forster, his name Edward was accidentally given during his baptism.

Before Forster was two years old, his father, an architect, passed away from tuberculosis. He was then raised by his mother and paternal great-aunt, Marianne Thornton. Through her, he is the great-great-grandson of abolitionist, Henry Thornton.

Forster inherited £8000 from Marianne Thornton when she passed away in1887.. This amount was enough to live on and help him pursue his dream of becoming a writer.

He enrolled at Tonbridge School in Kent as a day student. This phase would later go on to form the basis of many of his criticisms of the English public school system.

He studied history, philosophy, and literature at King's College, Cambridge. He welcomed the intellectual depth here and he developed a sense of uniqueness and healthy skepticism that were a far cry from his early years.

During his years at King’s College, he was an active participant of groups such as Cambridge Conversazione Society, also known as the Cambridge Apostles. He became a founding member of the Bloomsbury Group.

After his time at college, he used his inheritance to travel to Europe, Egypt, Germany, and India with his mother, and classical author, Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson.

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Career

Being raised by two families completely polar to each other gave E. M. Forster an insight into family tensions. This and his experience at Tonbridge formed the basis of his early novels that showcased the struggle to be free from Victorianism.

His first novel was ‘Where Angels Fear to Tread’ (1905). It was a dialogue with his audience that urged them to stay in contact with the Earth and cultivate their imagination. The same theme is followed in ‘The Longest Journey’ (1907) and ‘Howards End’ (1910).

His first visit to India was in 1912, at that time he was writing ‘Maurice’. The novel was officially published in 1971, a year after his death. This was done at his request due to the overtly homosexual theme of the novel.

He volunteered for the “International Red Cross” as a conscientious objector and served for three years in Alexandria, Egypt. His observations there inspired ‘Alexandria: A History and Guide’ (1922) and ‘Pharos and Pharillon: A Novelist's Sketchbook of Alexandria through the Ages’ (1923). During this time, he wrote many short stories for local newspapers under the pseudonym ‘Pharos’.

On his second visit to India in the early 1920s, the country was in a state of revolution. He became the private secretary to “Tukojirao III”, the Maharajah of Dewas. A non-fictional account of this period is chronicled in ‘The Hill of Devi’ (published in 1953).

His last novel was also his most successful one, ‘A Passage to India’ (1924). It explores British colonial occupation in India. Rather than present a conflict between the two nations, the novel examined a friendship between the two protagonists.

Though he no longer wrote novels after ‘A Passage to India’, he did write many short stories and continued to do so till the end of his life. Several of his anthologies saw publication which included his collection of short stories ‘The Eternal Moment’ (1928).

In the 1930s and 1940s, he became a broadcaster for the BBC radio and presented a weekly book review during the war.

His honorary fellowship at Cambridge allowed him to live and spend time at the college. He occasionally gave lectures and became a respected member on campus.

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Major Works

‘A Room with a View’ (1908) was his most optimistic work. Set in Edwardian England, the book is a critique of English society. It ranks 79th on the ‘100 best English-language novels of the 20th century’ compiled by Modern Library.

His masterpiece was ‘Howards End’ (1910). The novel explores many themes such as social conventions in England, codes of conduct, and personal relationships. The epigraph narrates his impulse towards understanding and sympathy. It ranks 38th on the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century’ compiled by Modern Library.

Perhaps his greatest work was ‘A Passage to India’ (1924) based on his experiences in India. With the British Raj and Indian Independence Movement as the backdrop, this novel went on to become a part of the ‘All Time 100 Novels’ list by ‘Time Magazine.’

Awards & Achievements

While working at the BBC, E. M. Forster was awarded the “Benson Medal” in 1937 for his weekly book reviews.

The theater at Tonbridge School, his alma mater, is named in his honor. He was voted as an honorary ‘Fellow’ of King’s College in 1946.

He was given an ‘Order of Companions of Honor’ in 1953 and was awarded ‘Queen Elizabeth's Order of Merit’ in 1969.

Personal Life & Legacy

Not many at the time knew of Forster’s homosexuality. He confided it to his close friends but not to the public. Thus, he remained a bachelor throughout his life.

He was involved with many men throughout his life. In Alexandria, he fell in love with Mohammed el Adl, a tram conductor. He had a brief fling with Harry Daley, a member of the Bloomsbury group. A bus driver named, Arthur, was the subject of his affections till his wife found out and put an end to the relationship.

When Forster was 51, he met 28-year-old Bob Buckingham at a party thrown by JR Ackerley. Buckingham was a policeman who was married at the time. They shared a long loving relationship that extended to a secret domestic life at Forster’s Brunswick Square flat.

He was the godfather of Robin Morgan, the son of Bob Buckingham and his wife, May Hockey. Robin succumbed to Hodgkin's disease in 1962.

During the mid-1960s, he suffered from strokes that weakened him greatly. May Hockey was his nursemaid at this time. His last stroke on June 7, 1970, ended the life of this remarkable literary genius.

Facts About E. M. Forster

Forster had a lifelong love for the game of cricket and often incorporated references to the sport in his writings.

Forster was known for his quirky habit of carrying a small, portable inkwell wherever he went, ensuring that he could always jot down his thoughts and ideas on the spot.

Despite his reserved and private nature, Forster had a mischievous sense of humor and enjoyed playing practical jokes on his friends and acquaintances.

Forster had a deep appreciation for nature and often took long walks in the countryside, drawing inspiration for his writing from the beauty of the natural world.

In addition to his literary pursuits, Forster was a talented musician and had a particular fondness for playing the piano, finding solace and creative inspiration in music.

E. M. Forster Biography

You wanted to know

What are some common themes in E. M. Forster's works?

How did E. M. Forster's sexuality influence his writing?

What is the significance of the title A Passage to India?

How did E. M. Forster's experiences in India influence his writing?

How does E. M. Forster's writing style reflect his views on society?