Herein lies the thread that Forster so skillfully weaves through his characters and storyline, exposing conflicts of the classes, of conscience and ideals. By chance, the Schlegel sisters come across Leonard Bast, an impoverished man who due to some ill advice from Henry Wilcox, has lost his job and livelihood. This comes as a shock to the rest of the Wilcoxe family, who deliberately disregard the wish. Margaret, her out-spoken sister Helen, and younger brother Tibby who is attending Oxford, represent the new wave of social progressives with a vision of an egalitarian society, and who find their fulfillment in the arts and intellectual pursuits.īefore her passing in a nursing home, Ruth wills that Howards End be left to Margaret Schlegel. Shortly before her death, Ruth finds a new friend in Margaret Schlegel and is introduced to a different world when Ruth visits her in London. He is the new rich, entrepreneurial, business-minded and successful in the London financial circuit.

Her husband Henry Wilcox is a stark contrast. Its owner, Ruth Wilcox, like her property, is untainted and well set in traditions. Howards End is a cozy country home, pristine and idyllic. After reading several contemporary novels, where the everyday vernacular is part of the text, it is immensely gratifying to immerse in the literary and poetic narratives, deep and yet highly amusing story of E. It is a book exploring dichotomies: Rich and poor, male and female, town and country, art and business, life and death. That’s how I savor every page, dig out every gem and delve into every contentious issue it raises.

Howards end kindle