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The Cave and the Mountain: A Study of E. M. Forster
Hardback, ex-library, with usual stamps and markings, in fair all round condition suitable as a study copy.
444 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1966
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March 11, 2025
The start of this was hard to get into — philosophy and history and explaining the outlooks of men I'd never heard of for how they affected Forster — and I thought it might end up being a slog and a mistake. Then it actually got into discussing his literature, and I was captivated. I think I've actually read all of the novels discussed, and remembered most of them well enough — and my strong emotional responses to them — that I was so deeply engaged by the criticism. Books about books! My great passion! I'm going to read more!
It's so interesting that this was written while Forster was alive, and before Maurice was published, and thus before he was publicly out as gay (and a year before homosexuality became decriminalized in the UK!). It is perfectly transparent that the author knows — and perhaps that he expects his readers to know? — but he must skirt around it. (He only mentions the existence of Maurice in a footnote near the end, where he includes some other quotes that make the truth pretty explicit, I think.) Even when he's talking about Forster's "stance" on homosexuality! So interesting. How different of a book would it have been were it written a couple decades later?
Is it universally agreed upon that Passage is Forster's masterpiece? It might be my least favorite of his. I obviously enjoyed the chapters on Room and Howard's End (my babies) the most.
(Wrote this long ass review for no one because no one else cares lolol)
It's so interesting that this was written while Forster was alive, and before Maurice was published, and thus before he was publicly out as gay (and a year before homosexuality became decriminalized in the UK!). It is perfectly transparent that the author knows — and perhaps that he expects his readers to know? — but he must skirt around it. (He only mentions the existence of Maurice in a footnote near the end, where he includes some other quotes that make the truth pretty explicit, I think.) Even when he's talking about Forster's "stance" on homosexuality! So interesting. How different of a book would it have been were it written a couple decades later?
Is it universally agreed upon that Passage is Forster's masterpiece? It might be my least favorite of his. I obviously enjoyed the chapters on Room and Howard's End (my babies) the most.
(Wrote this long ass review for no one because no one else cares lolol)
Displaying 1 of 1 review