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Maurice

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1971

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Book Brief

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E. M. Forster

Maurice

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1971
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • Early 20th Century

Publication Year

1971

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In E. M. Forster's Maurice, Maurice Hall navigates his feelings and relationships from adolescence to adulthood in early 20th-century England, marked by his pivotal friendship and romantic involvement with Clive Durham, his subsequent depression and search for a "cure," and his eventual fulfilling connection with gamekeeper Alec Scudder, transcending societal norms and personal turmoil. The book deals with themes of homosexuality and mental health struggles.

Romantic

Contemplative

Emotional

Bittersweet

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.3

52,606 ratings

77%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Maurice by E. M. Forster is lauded for its ahead-of-its-time LGBTQ+ themes and rich character development. Readers appreciate its deep emotional resonance and critique of societal norms, though some find the pacing slow and the narrative slightly dated. Despite this, it remains a significant work for its brave exploration of love and identity.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Maurice?

Readers who will enjoy Maurice by E. M. Forster typically appreciate early 20th-century literature, LGBTQ+ themes, and social critique. Similar readers also gravitate toward works like Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh and A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood, which share similar themes and cultural contexts.

4.3

52,606 ratings

77%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Character List

Maurice Hall

A suburban middle-class Englishman who is the protagonist of the story, characterized by his handsomeness and mental torpidity, and works as a stockbroker.

An upper-class man and classical scholar whom Maurice befriends at Cambridge, known for his intellectual pursuits and political aspirations.

A charming and flirtatious gamekeeper at Penge with dark hair and eyes, who comes from a family of respectable tradesmen.

Maurice’s mother, a middle-class widow with traditional views on life, living comfortably in the London suburbs.

A retired medical doctor and neighbor to the Hall family, characterized by his worldly advice and former reputation as a lady killer.

An orthodox teacher at Maurice’s elementary school who discusses sex with Maurice before his transition to public school.

A hypnotist sought by Maurice in hopes of a cure, known for his slightly American accent and open-mindedness about his practice.

A devout Christian rector installed near Penge by Anne, with strong theological beliefs that slightly unnerve Maurice.

Maurice's sisters; Kitty is perky and outspoken, while Ada is demure and eventually marries a man named Chapman.

Maurice’s grandfather, a retired businessman who develops his own intellectual interests and eccentric cosmology.

Clive’s fiancée and later wife, sharing Clive’s cultural refinement and coming from an upper-class family.

Clive’s strong-willed and intelligent mother, who is preoccupied with respectability and tradition.

A student at Trinity College related to the dean of Maurice's college, characterized by his dark, tall, and affected demeanor.

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • Early 20th Century

Publication Year

1971

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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