Book Reviews

Book Blurb

"Maurice" by E.M. Forster is a groundbreaking novel that explores themes of love, identity, and self-discovery in the context of early 20th-century England. Set against the backdrop of a society bound by rigid social conventions and expectations, the story follows Maurice Hall, a young man grappling with his emerging homosexuality.

As Maurice navigates the complexities of his desires in a society that condemns same-sex relationships, he forms a deep connection with Clive Durham, a fellow student at Cambridge University. Their passionate love affair unfolds in secret, offering a glimpse into the hidden world of queer desire in Edwardian England.

However, as Maurice and Clive confront the realities of their forbidden love, they must reckon with the consequences of living authentically in a society that rejects their very existence. Their journey of self-acceptance and personal liberation challenges the norms of their time and paves the way for a more inclusive and compassionate future.

With its sensitive portrayal of same-sex desire and its exploration of the human longing for connection and belonging, "Maurice" remains a poignant and relevant work of literature. E.M. Forster's lyrical prose and empathetic storytelling offer readers a timeless meditation on the enduring power of love and the struggle for personal freedom in the face of societal oppression.

 

Book Review

‘Maurice’ is a book I have been wanting to read for a long time, but somehow always got distracted. I was also not sure whether a novel written in 1913/14 might not be too bleak for me – I do like my happy endings! Also, a lot has been written about this book already – it has been analyzed by literary critics, and many readers have commented and shared their thoughts. I am not sure I can add anything new to what has been previously said, but it left an impression on me that I want to share.

 

Maurice is a fascinating character and was definitely a son of the early twentieth century. He is taught certain attitudes about gay men that include the fact that being gay made him a criminal in the UK back then (decriminalization in the UK did not start until 1967). It is one of the reasons why E.M. Foster did not want the book to be published before his death (in 1970), so it did not see readers’ eyes until 1971. Yet Maurice has a very natural attitude toward his own sexuality that means it is not less natural to him than being heterosexual. It is simply who he is. I liked that a lot.

 

The story comes in four parts, each centered around a phase in Maurice’s life. His friendship with Clive Durham is seen by many as a normal kind of friendship male boarding school and college boys had in the 1910s and 1920s. But while Clive adores the Greek idea of male love, once he travels to Greece and “grows up,”, he claims to snap out of being gay and “becomes heterosexual” – turning his back on Maurice and everything they shared.

 

Maurice has a hard time accepting this and needs to redefine himself. He visits a doctor and later a hypnotist, trying to become heterosexual like his friend. But he fails miserably and the rest of the story deals with him learning to accept himself and even finding a new man to love. In secret, but still, Maurice stays true to himself. As such, the ending is unusual for a novel written just over 100 years ago but I was very relieved.

 

The language of the novel, at least the version I read, is “old-fashioned” and while that made parts more difficult to read for me, it also supported my understanding that this was, in many ways, a historical document I was reading. In one way it increased the distance between me and what was happening, but on the other hand there was the clarity of Maurice’s thoughts and the way he went about his life. In the end, I felt very close to him and was definitely interested in what happened to him.

 

If you like historical novels, if you want to read a fairly-unusual-for-its-time novel about a gay man who struggles with his identity in a time that regarded men like him as criminals, and if a (sort of) happy ending against the odds is your thing, then you will probably like this novel.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book was purchased by the reviewer.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 238 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	28-April-2024
Price	$0.99 ebook, $5.99 paperback, $30.78 hardcover
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Maurice-M-Forster-ebook/dp/B0DQ8W43CY