It was a time when socialist ideas were being discussed, and of course, it was the time of the women’s suffrage movement. Money and progress (symbolised by things like the automobile) were replacing more traditional culture and values (symbolised by things like Howards End). It is set in the first decade of the twentieth century, the Edwardian period, and England was changing. The novel is described as a “condition-of-England” novel. Instead, the novel explores the lives and values of two – well, three, really – families: the business-capitalist-oriented Wilcoxes the more intellectual, idealistic, arts-and-culture-focused Schlegels and the poor, down-on-their-luck Leonard Bast and his ex-prostitute wife. You can surely see in this, where the theme of connection might play out. In fact, almost none of the central plot tensions relate to this little Wilcox family secret. But, of course, this is Forster, so the story is not a simple inheritance plot. The novel tells the story of how this came about and what happened after the owner died and Margaret was not told the place was intended for her. Howards End is a place – and it was left, unbeknownst to her, to a young woman named Margaret Schlegel. Perhaps I’ll just start at the beginning – with its epigraph, “only connect…” That’s a concept that’s sure to get idealists like me in!įirst, though – a quick plot summary. Where to start? Like all great classics, EM Forster’s Howards End has so much to think and write about that it’s difficult to know where to focus, not to mention what new angle I could possibly add.
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