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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
E.M. Forster completed the manuscript of "Maurice" in 1914. The novel weaves a lyrical tale of queer love in 20th-century England, following Maurice Hall through two formative romantic relationships. For 57 years, Mr. Forster’s stunning manuscript collected dust in his desk drawer, hidden from the world, underneath a hand-scrawled note: “Publishable. But worth it?”
When Forster departed this world in 1970, his unpublished manuscript was left in the hands of a few trusted friends. A year later, "Maurice" finally hit the shelves.
Its dedication reads as follows:
"Begun 1913
Finished 1914
Dedicated to a Happier Year"
In an afterward written in 1960, Forster explains that a happy ending was imperative to his story. “I was determined,” he writes, “that in fiction anyway men should fall in love and remain in it for the ever and ever that fiction allows, and in this sense Maurice and Alec still roam the greenwood… Happiness is its keynote.”
Forster sought queer joy on behalf of generations to come, in a world that had awarded him none. Over a century since he tucked "Maurice" into hiding, we have certainly seen happier years, though, if we’re being honest, not nearly happy enough. But we must remain hopeful. Here’s to remaining hopeful that “happier” will seamlessly morph into “happiest” before our very eyes, without our even knowing. Here’s to the pioneers who have paved the way for us, including Mr. E.M. Forster.
For Mr. Forster and for anyone else who needs a reminder of how far we have come: I invite you to enjoy this timeline of milestones in queer history — in the pursuit of queer joy.
https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1nFI4EJ-reXT0PXpKCwt2CAF_fyXkDPLDtLqNnn32C2s&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650
Know that it will grow. Know that we are worthy of happiness. Know that we deserve to roam the greenwood in the ever and ever that fiction allows.
When Forster departed this world in 1970, his unpublished manuscript was left in the hands of a few trusted friends. A year later, "Maurice" finally hit the shelves.
Its dedication reads as follows:
"Begun 1913
Finished 1914
Dedicated to a Happier Year"
In an afterward written in 1960, Forster explains that a happy ending was imperative to his story. “I was determined,” he writes, “that in fiction anyway men should fall in love and remain in it for the ever and ever that fiction allows, and in this sense Maurice and Alec still roam the greenwood… Happiness is its keynote.”
Forster sought queer joy on behalf of generations to come, in a world that had awarded him none. Over a century since he tucked "Maurice" into hiding, we have certainly seen happier years, though, if we’re being honest, not nearly happy enough. But we must remain hopeful. Here’s to remaining hopeful that “happier” will seamlessly morph into “happiest” before our very eyes, without our even knowing. Here’s to the pioneers who have paved the way for us, including Mr. E.M. Forster.
For Mr. Forster and for anyone else who needs a reminder of how far we have come: I invite you to enjoy this timeline of milestones in queer history — in the pursuit of queer joy.
https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1nFI4EJ-reXT0PXpKCwt2CAF_fyXkDPLDtLqNnn32C2s&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650
Know that it will grow. Know that we are worthy of happiness. Know that we deserve to roam the greenwood in the ever and ever that fiction allows.
REREAD IN 2024:
No matter what valid criticisms I read/have about this book (biggest one probably being: what exactly prompts Clive to faint in that moment? also: I think they happily self describe as misogynists?), this book will always mean so much to me. The endnote always makes me so emotional. The note about the Wolfenden report? :( Tears. And the last scene is so good. GAH!! It's not just the book itself, it's everything it represents that really gets me. A happier year indeed
No matter what valid criticisms I read/have about this book (biggest one probably being: what exactly prompts Clive to faint in that moment? also: I think they happily self describe as misogynists?), this book will always mean so much to me. The endnote always makes me so emotional. The note about the Wolfenden report? :( Tears. And the last scene is so good. GAH!! It's not just the book itself, it's everything it represents that really gets me. A happier year indeed
I never thought I'd enjoy E.M. Forester, but was pleasantly surprised. The characters are sort of miserable and unlikeable, even still, the story never grows tiresome. This book is extremely bold and almost revolutionary considering it was originally written in 1914. I recommend it.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have enjoyed this book immensely despite it being a bit hard for me to read because the language used in the writing is old. I simply couldn’t put the book down after the 50% mark though. The melodrama! The tension! It was utterly delightful to read through. It gave me Dead Poets Society vibe from the start and I love it.
I don’t usually remember the synopsis of a book before starting so I was quite surprised by the turn of event regarding Maurice’s first love. But I like how it turned out very much. Especially in the last chapter whereMaurice told Clive off majorly and even left him hanging by not showing up to the dinner. That was so cathartic after all the shit that Clive has sprung on him ever since his marriage.
I love the introspection of class and societal norms. I’m really glad that Alec laid it all out for Maurice and Maurice responded to it in earnest. The character development of Maurice was just very satisfying to see. It was hard watching Mauricetrying to ‘cure’ himself with hypnosis. So I’m so glad that they have their own happy ending at the end. It truly was them against the whole world. I’d like to not think about the two world wars that follow when imagining their future. But I firmly believe that they’ll make it out alive and together through the struggles.
I don’t usually remember the synopsis of a book before starting so I was quite surprised by the turn of event regarding Maurice’s first love. But I like how it turned out very much. Especially in the last chapter where
I love the introspection of class and societal norms. I’m really glad that Alec laid it all out for Maurice and Maurice responded to it in earnest. The character development of Maurice was just very satisfying to see. It was hard watching Maurice
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Maurice is the story of a man’s sexual awakening (I read that on the back of the book) set in 20th century England. Compared to standards now, (depending on who you are) this novel isn’t as shocking as you think, but still quite good. Besides being a love story it is an examination of British culture during that period, especially class. Most of the character’s views are dictated by where they are supposed to ‘belong’ in society.
There is a point where Maurice considers class in his love of another, which is funny considering that their love fell outside ‘polite’ society.
What is really great about the book is the writing, Forster is a great writer, and most of chapters had amazing last sentences.
My only problems reading this were A) the vernacular of 20th century England, which I don’t get completely. And B) sometimes the writing lost me (I was not sure, what he was talking about and there were small jumps in the story… which seems to contradict what I said about the writing being great, but both are true).
It’s telling that this book was started in 1916 and wasn’t published until the 1970’s after Forester’s death.
There is a point where Maurice considers class in his love of another, which is funny considering that their love fell outside ‘polite’ society.
What is really great about the book is the writing, Forster is a great writer, and most of chapters had amazing last sentences.
My only problems reading this were A) the vernacular of 20th century England, which I don’t get completely. And B) sometimes the writing lost me (I was not sure, what he was talking about and there were small jumps in the story… which seems to contradict what I said about the writing being great, but both are true).
It’s telling that this book was started in 1916 and wasn’t published until the 1970’s after Forester’s death.
Okay I’m gunna come back to it but at this point I’ve taken such a long break I’d need to reread it
There is quite a bit about this book that makes me sad, and considering it actually has a happy ending (sorry - just threw in a massive spoiler there!) that seems an odd thing to say. Essentially this is a coming of age story, and also a romance. Or rather a couple of romances, because the course of love never runs smoothly, and often our first loves turn out to be utter let downs. So there's things here that I think everyone can relate to. It's funny in a way that it's such an engaging read and that you do end up rooting for Maurice because he isn't particularly likeable. This book was written during 1913 - 1914 and he is from the upper classes in England's old hierarchy. He is an utter snob, utterley boring and bland and just focuses on fitting in and being like everyone else. Throughout the book there are constant references to servants and the poor - how they're a sub species essentially: the don't feel or understand as much as the rich, they don't have the intellect, they cope with being poor because of this inferior brain, whereas a rich person pushed into poverty would really suffer. They are beneath contempt and really, even bothering to remember the servants' names isn't a must. Yeah, not my type of people in other words. His entire life is mapped out for him, to be just like his father, as everyone keeps telling him when we first meet him as a teenager. The coming-of-age bit is partly him realising that some of these social norms are actually a lot of crap.
Struggling to learn who you are is tough enough through the teens and twenties, dealing with heartbreak, dealing with people letting you down... but in Maurice's case this is made all the worse because society tells him that no only is what he wants illegal, but it's all the devil's work. Because Maurice likes men. It's chilling to read about such a time, when you think the point we've gotten to now, to see how it was about 100 years ago. Although in fairness these attitudes and legalities continued long after this book was written. Forster wrote a little note at the end in 1960, and even then he was thinking that society couldn't take this book and he wouldn't have it published. It wasn't actually published until the 1970s, after he'd died. The people this was about never got the chance to read it and stop and think that maybe their ideas were wrong. Although I guess I'm being idealistic, and the book wouldn't have changed the world, rather it would have been banned and Forster's name would have been mud.
Even sex between the two sexes isn't talked about much. Maurice's own sex education is the school master drawing a few diagrams in the sand during a beach walk. When his first love from university decides to get married, his new bride, Anne, doesn't even know about sex at all. So I guess how on earth is a society like that ever going to manage a sensible conversation about homosexuality. After the breakdown of his first love, Maurice tries to get help - as in a cure to become "normal". The first doctor won't even speak of it when he tries to bring it up, considering it the devil's work. The second tries to hypnotise him out of it, but admits to him it doesn't work on everyone, and even suggests that he maybe just needs to move to France or Italy where it isn't illegal.
Maurice's snobbery is completely shattered. Not only can he not be cured and made "normal" but in the end the one to claim his love and treat him as an equal is... shock upon shock: a commoner. Interestingly he, Alec, is also a gamekeeper - what it is about these guys and sexual revolutions? And with a few false starts - the snobbery and elitism has to be fought, the two agree to make a go of things. And we can only hope that they found a way to live happily despite the problems of the age.
Struggling to learn who you are is tough enough through the teens and twenties, dealing with heartbreak, dealing with people letting you down... but in Maurice's case this is made all the worse because society tells him that no only is what he wants illegal, but it's all the devil's work. Because Maurice likes men. It's chilling to read about such a time, when you think the point we've gotten to now, to see how it was about 100 years ago. Although in fairness these attitudes and legalities continued long after this book was written. Forster wrote a little note at the end in 1960, and even then he was thinking that society couldn't take this book and he wouldn't have it published. It wasn't actually published until the 1970s, after he'd died. The people this was about never got the chance to read it and stop and think that maybe their ideas were wrong. Although I guess I'm being idealistic, and the book wouldn't have changed the world, rather it would have been banned and Forster's name would have been mud.
Even sex between the two sexes isn't talked about much. Maurice's own sex education is the school master drawing a few diagrams in the sand during a beach walk. When his first love from university decides to get married, his new bride, Anne, doesn't even know about sex at all. So I guess how on earth is a society like that ever going to manage a sensible conversation about homosexuality. After the breakdown of his first love, Maurice tries to get help - as in a cure to become "normal". The first doctor won't even speak of it when he tries to bring it up, considering it the devil's work. The second tries to hypnotise him out of it, but admits to him it doesn't work on everyone, and even suggests that he maybe just needs to move to France or Italy where it isn't illegal.
Maurice's snobbery is completely shattered. Not only can he not be cured and made "normal" but in the end the one to claim his love and treat him as an equal is... shock upon shock: a commoner. Interestingly he, Alec, is also a gamekeeper - what it is about these guys and sexual revolutions? And with a few false starts - the snobbery and elitism has to be fought, the two agree to make a go of things. And we can only hope that they found a way to live happily despite the problems of the age.