61 pages • 2 hours read
E. M. ForsterHowards End
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1910A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Howards End by E. M. Forster is set in Edwardian England and follows the intersecting lives of two families, the idealistic Schlegels and the pragmatic Wilcoxes. The story centers on Margaret Schlegel, who inherits the Wilcox country home, Howards End, but faces challenges when her relationship with Henry Wilcox complicates the lives of her family and Leonard Bast, a poor clerk. Issues such as extramarital affairs and manslaughter are present in the book.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
E. M. Forster's Howards End explores class and human connection in early 20th-century England. Praised for its rich character development and insightful social commentary, the novel remains a seminal work in English literature. Critics highlight its slow pacing and dense prose, which may challenge some readers, yet these elements enrich its thematic depth.
Who Should Read Howards End?
Readers who relish complex social interactions and early 20th-century British settings will appreciate Howards End by E. M. Forster. Fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse will enjoy the exploration of class, relationships, and transformation in this novel.