Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Maurice by E.M. Forster is our April 2026 Old School Classic Group Read

This is the Spoiler Thread.

I started the book this evening, and I'm about 50 pages in. I'm enjoying it quite a bit so far. The main character is flawed but sympathetic. The writing flows smoothly and is very engaging (which for me is a big improvement over my experience reading Howard's End). The writing is also sometimes quite lovely. A couple of quotes:

Once inside college, his discoveries multiplied. People turned out to be alive. Hitherto he had supposed they were what he pretended to be - flat pieces of cardboard stamped with a conventional design - but as he strolled about the courts at night and saw through the windows some men singing and others arguing and others at their books, there came by no process of reason a conviction that they were human beings with feelings akin to his own.

Every man has somewhere about him some belief for which he'd die. Only isn't it improbable that your parents and guardians told it to you? If there is one won't it be part of your own flesh and spirit?

I'm about halfway through the book, and this post has spoilers through the end of Part 2.

First of all, the writing continues to impress. Here is one of my favourites:

Twelve o'clock struck, one, two, and he was still planning what to say when there is nothing to say and the resources of speech are ended.

Now, for the ending of Part 2. Okay, I wasn't expecting that. I mean I thought their relationship might not last, but I didn't foresee Clive's sudden switch from only wanting men to only wanting women, and I'm not too sure what I'm meant to make of it. My only theory so far has to do with what he was saying about noticing how much better women respond to admiration. He is attracted to the safety and acceptableness of an interest in women. It's perhaps a societal pressure thing, and it's certainly very convenient for him, since he has an estate and is expected to generate heirs. In this interpretation, his transformation and rejection of Maurice is a social critique. But I'm not sure yet that this is what the author intended, because Clive seems really convinced that it's real and that he couldn't help it. At the same time, he does seem somewhat confused; for example, he seems to have decided he's in love with Ada within a few moments, simply because she's sort of a halfway house between Maurice and women. So far I'm a bit perplexed by him.

I'm over three-quarters done, and this post has spoilers through the end of Part 3 and the beginning of Part 4.

This part has been harder to read, as Maurice is experiencing a lot of doubt and self-loathing. The part where Clive kissed him and asked to be kissed back when they were talking in private has persuaded me that he is still attracted to Maurice. To me this supports the interpretation that he is conforming to what society expects of him and the safer and easier life this offers, and that his abandonment of Maurice is meant as a social critique.

I've stopped reading for the day just at a part where he seems to be starting to accept himself a bit again. In my view, his hypnotist has actually helped him quite a bit, in two ways: he's told him that being gay isn't nearly as rare as he thought it was; and he's told him that there are places in the world where he can live as a gay man without it being illegal.

Gosh, he sure is a social snob though. The product of his upbringing I suppose. I hope he'll be able to overcome that.

Here are a couple of good quotes from this section:

"There has been, is, and always will be every conceivable type of person."

"Will the law ever be that in England?"
"I doubt it. England has always been disinclined to accept human nature.”

I've finished the book, and this post has spoilers through the end of the book.

So first I'll say that I thought this was a terrific novel. For me, it's pretty easily the best-written book I've read by E.M. Forster (I've also read Howard's End and A Room with a View). The writing was smooth, with a lot of beautiful and insightful passages. Although this book could have been read under Old School or New School (written 1914 but published 1971), it felt a lot like an Old School book to me. It falls in nicely with some other British writers of the time who could really turn a phrase (such as A.A. Milne or Arnold Bennett).

I enjoyed the first half better than the second half. This is perhaps inevitable, since Maurice is suffering a lot more in the second half, whereas the first half is almost like a calm dream. The romance with Alec was rocky, and I was really starting to worry when Alec was trying to blackmail him. But Forster surprised me, by having Maurice really understand what Alec was dealing with, and handle it with a lot of grace that brought the situation from the brink of disaster to one of truth and understanding.

The Terminal Note at the end, where Forster explained his thoughts around the book and why it wasn't published in his lifetime, actually got me teary-eyed. It was heartbreaking. Even though it took over half a century after he first wrote Maurice, I'm so glad that he lived to see the decriminalization he was hoping for.

Some favourite quotes from the end of the book:

You care for me a little bit, I do think, but I can't hang all my life on a little bit.

After all, is not a real Hell better than a manufactured Heaven?

I'm so glad the group read gave me the push to read this one.

Finally started reading this book and this post contains spoilers to the end of chapter 8.

I love the two quotes you chose from this first section, Wobbley. I also highlighted both of those. I’m enjoying the book quite a bit up to this point, too. Sometimes I find the writing a little bit disjunct, particularly in conversations between characters, and there’s definitely a quiet hidden sort of way that the author is trying to get at concepts of sexuality (I suppose somewhat necessary for the time), but the writing is really lovely overall and I agree that the main character is sympathetic enough, if flawed. I think the author does a really good job up to this point showing that unclear kind of confusion that can arise for someone who knows that they’re different from expectation but hasn’t quite figured out how yet. There are also a couple of side characters (who may in fact become other main characters) that I like so far, particularly Durham (who appears to be the growing love interest) and Risley (who I expect might turn out to be either a queer mentor or a distraction). Aside from the two great quotes Wobbley chose, here are a couple of others I liked from these early chapters:

The school clapped not because Maurice was eminent but because he was average. It could celebrate itself in his image.

A trouble – nothing as beautiful as sorrow – rose to the surface of his mind, displayed its ungainliness, and sank. Its precise nature he did not ask himself, for his hour was not yet, but the hint was appalling, and, hero though he was, he longed to be a little boy again, and to stroll half awake for ever by the colorless sea.

No more was said at the time, but he was free of another subject, and one that he had never mentioned to any living soul. He hadn’t known it could be mentioned, and when Durham did so in the middle of the sunlit court a breath of liberty touched him.

These are terrific quotes, Svenna -- I especially like the second one. I feel the author is trying to get at sexuality in a hidden way because, as you say, Maurice hadn't figured things out yet. I'm glad you're enjoying the book. I'll be curious to hear your thoughts as you progress.

I'm just through Chapter 15, so have only read Wobbley's and Svenna's first posts. Wonderful quotes you both highlighted. That "breath of liberty" in Svenna's last quote comes across so well in the writing--the reader feels the intensity of it.

I too am finding this lovely reading. It feels simple, yet with a complexity underneath, as illustrated by this partial quote, from Chapter 5, when Maurice had just move into college:

"... he saw that while deceiving others he had been deceived, and mistaken them for the empty creatures he wanted them to think he was."

I found the Maurice/Clive outing in Chapter 13 incredibly romantic.

Yes Kathleen, I agree that you could feel how his tension fades as he starts figuring things out. I enjoyed these early scenes with Clive too; for me the very ending of Part 1 was perhaps the most romantic, as well as the equivalent part from Clive's perspective at the end of Chapter 12.

I am finding the comments to this book to be very interesting because I have had a very different reading experience than a lot of other people. While I did enjoy the book I found it to be a little dryer in reading than other E.M. Forester’s books.

I also struggled with Maurice’s character. I did not find him as immediately likable or sympathetic as many people have. At the start of the book I honestly found Maurice to be rather bland and lacking a personality. I thought when he entered college he would grow into himself more and start to develop but I didn’t feel that really happened. It was interesting to watch the development of his relationship with Clive.

It wasn’t until later in the book that I began to sympathize more with Maurice. I still do not know if I can say I found him likable. He was a rather unpleasant person really. But I could understand the great isolation he suffered. Being so conflicted with himself and having no one he can confide in.

I agree that I think the hypnotist was actually helpful. It gave him someone he could confess to and I think it did help reveal the truth about himself and helped him learn to accept the truth about himself.

That's really interesting, Silver! I agree that Maurice wasn't pleasant to his sisters/mother. But I find it hard to tell who is to blame in a dysfunctional family, especially since very little time was spent on his home life. Apart of that, I found him quite sympathetic, and his reactions to his circumstances very human. Isn't it interesting how differently different people respond to art?

I just finished (so spoilers through the end) and think I'll be processing this for a while! Such an interesting blend of gentle and powerful, and ever so subtle in places but the end strongly triumphant.

We definitely get mixed feelings about Maurice. I found it so interesting that in the "Terminal Note" Forster says he "tried to create a character who was completely unlike myself ...", including making him "rather a snob." So I think it's okay that we don't find him always likable, but what we can relate to is his struggle to be himself. He can't at first try, and many tries after that, and then finally he can, which is very satisfying. So I think I liked the last third best for that reason.

I'm just so happy to have the Terminal Note. The last line, in the paragraph titled "Homosexuality" affirms this is more than an individual's story, more than insights into a persecuted group. Forster is always making broader points about class and society and humanity. "... police prosecutions will continue and Clive on the bench will continue to sentence Alec in the dock. Maurice may get off."

I'm glad you enjoyed it Kathleen. I definitely noticed that Maurice was a snob, but he was able to overcome that in the end. I agree about the Terminal Note - very important.

Thanks, Wobbley, and yes, he did overcome it. And I think having Maurice himself be a snob made the final confrontation with snobbery work all the better.

I just loved this. Made me want to go back and re-read his other books. But I still need to get to Where Angels Fear to Tread, so that will be first.

I'll be curious to see others' reactions, and if you go on to read more Forster, what your thoughts on those will be, Wobbley!

I just read your review of the book, Kathleen. It was perfect.

Wobbley wrote: "I just read your review of the book, Kathleen. It was perfect."

Thanks so much, Wobbley. I so appreciate you bringing this to my mind to read this year--I think it will be a real highlight!

These comments are on Maurice's Character in general: Assume spoilers until you've finished the book

Kathleen wrote: "...We definitely get mixed feelings about Maurice. I found it so interesting that in the "Terminal Note" Forster says he "tried to create a character who was completely unlike myself ...", including making him "rather a snob." So I think it's okay that we don't find him always likable, but what we can relate to is his struggle to be himself..."


I thought Maurice's character, warts and all, was a powerful argument against the view in the early 20th century that "Homosexuals are depraved / unnatural monsters".

Maurice came across to me as a uninspiring product of his time and upbringing. To me he was a typical example of a middle class, rather unimaginative, not particularly bright, man. Someone who would plod his way through life, doing the things people expected, without thinking about the rights and wrongs of that (e.g. not challenging his snobbery because that was "just the way things were"). Pretty much the opposite of how people thought of gay men in those days.

I thought it was a powerful argument that gay men are not "monsters" , they are just men, who happen to be attracted to other men.

This is a really good point, KeenReader!

I agree with Wobbley--very important point, KeenReader! I'm guessing this was on purpose on Forster's part. If so, he pulled it off really well, for all the reasons you explain.

I thought that the character of Mr. Borenius was an interesting one to bring into the story to represent the Church and its hypocrisy. I wondered from the time that he met with Alec in the kitchen if there wasn't a love interest there rather than what he said was an attempt for affirmation of religion. Mr. Borenius clearly didn't like Maurice. Was it jealousy? He seemed to understood too well what was going on between Maurice and Alec for it to be just a casual observation.

Since I was way behind others reading the book, and now I have finished, I have just now read through all the posts.

This book reads more like an Old School novel in its style as do the other books of his. This my fifth Forster novel and I do like his writing, although I agree about some of the dialogue disconnection. Where Angels Fear to Tread got five stars from me, perhaps my favorite, although all the others got 4.

It seems very sad that he couldn’t get a publisher when this was written, but since 1970, attitudes have advanced further towards acceptance, although not everywhere. If it had been published earlier, perhaps it would have helped social progress.

KeenReader wrote: "These comments are on Maurice's Character in general: Assume spoilers until you've finished the book

Kathleen wrote: "...We definitely get mixed feelings about Maurice. I found it so interesting ..."

That is a very apt point. The intention was to show him as hum drum as possible as a way of showcasing homosexuals as being normal regular people.

Terry wrote: "It seems very sad that he couldn’t get a publisher when this was written, but since 1970, attitudes have advanced further towards acceptance, although not everywhere. If it had been published earlier, perhaps it would have helped social progress."

Though I haven't read a lot about it, it's my understanding that he didn't even try to get it published, because he knew it would destroy his career and probably result in his imprisonment. I believe I've read that he only even showed the manuscript to a few trusted friends. Remember, this is all less than 20 years after Oscar Wilde's imprisonment, and the laws hadn't changed.

My review of Maurice: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I wrote the review before reading the quite interesting comments in this thread and, while I do think somewhat better of the book and Maurice himself after reading the comments here, not enough better to change my overall rating or opinion.

I've read the book now, but does anyone have any recommendations on how to better understand books written from this time period / in this style? I really struggled at times comprehending the slang (I'm Gen-z) and it got really tiring having to look up old timey words all the time. This was my first time reading anything from this era since high school.

Alex, even though I'm much older, I had a hard time with that too. I don't know if you're reading hard copy or audio, but what has helped me in the past, especially the first time reading about a certain period, is a copy with great footnotes that will often define the terms and historical references for me. I've had good luck with Norton Critical Edition, and Oxford World Classics before.

I should have read Maurice, but my library copy had no footnotes, and I really missed out.

Brian, you make a great point in your review about the very simplistic plot. I think enjoyment of this one may depend on both an affinity for Forster's writing and for slower plot novels.

Brian E wrote: "My review of Maurice: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I wrote the review before reading the quite interesting comments in this thread and, while I do think somewhat be..."

I think that Maurice's uninspiring qualities, being a typical upper elite educated man in all capacities other then his homosexuality was by far the most interesting part of this book.

For one, it enables further character development besides the happy ending with Alec. The ideas of class struggle become clear in the last quarter of the book - Clive chooses to stay in a loveless marriage because he's too afraid of leaving his cushy country estate whereas Maurice recognizes that love conquers all and leaves his broker job. Seeing his internal growth around this was for me, one of the better parts of the book, as I was getting frustrated with the repetitiveness of his depression post Clive leaving him.

Additionally, Maurice becomes increasingly more congenial with his family, servants, and other people in his life even before he meets Alec. In his defeat and depression, he resolves to not kill himself and to at least try and help others. From his mental cage, he resolves to enjoy himself even in his dire circumstances.

"After all, is not a real Hell better than a manufactured Heaven"

"You can when you mean to,' said Maurice gently. 'You can do anything once you know what it is."

I still gave this book three stars for other reasons, but I think Maurice's initial boringness does more then the surface level analysis of having a progressive representation of homosexuality (of which has already been lauded on Goodreads)

I finally finished last night, so only now catching up with comments.

Like Wobbley I have read Howards End and A Room with a View, and agree this is an easier read. I think Forster wrote this very much from the heart and that may be the reason. The Terminal Note is very useful where he sets out his motivation for the characters.

The concept of the greenwood which describes a wilder England is interesting at the end. I read After London: or, Wild England a few years ago and it also had the greenwood, wildness of England as a place to be lost in it.

I agree that this feels more Old School and Forster himself admits in the Terminal Note that some of the language is dated - the slang of the era. My copy (Penguin Classics) had end notes which was useful for some of the more archaic bits.

Really enjoyed it, I need to read his other novels.

Carolien, I recommend A Passage to India and Where Angels Fear to Tread, both very good.

I read the first half. The novel is good but I think its merit is historic cultural rather than literary since the novel gives an clear, early portrayal of LGBTQ issues at the time and place of the writing. Other than that, the novel has yet to hook me like Howard's End did, but still worth the read.

Terry wrote: "Carolien, I recommend A Passage to India and Where Angels Fear to Tread, both very good."

Going to find both, thanks for confirming, Terry.

Such diverse reactions to this one! I personally really enjoyed the writing, and do think the book has literary merit (and of course, as mentioned, cultural merit).

Wobbley wrote: "Such diverse reactions to this one! I personally really enjoyed the writing, and do think the book has literary merit (and of course, as mentioned, cultural merit)."

Yes and I did not mean to say the book has no literary merit, only that the historical cultural seems more why we'd read it today.

Sam wrote: "Yes and I did not mean to say the book has no literary merit, only that the historical cultural seems more why we'd read it today."

I think in my case you're right in the sense that this is why I picked up the book (historical cultural significance). But in the end it's actually my favourite of Forster's novels (that I've read so far), with, for my own taste, the most literary merit. That's art for you -- everyone responds differently. :)

I have finished and I'm posting a link to Forster's epilogue in case anyone had a copy that did not include it.

https://mauriceficlist.dreamwidth.org...

I

Sam wrote: "I have finished and I'm posting a link to Forster's epilogue in case anyone had a copy that did not include it.
https://mauriceficlist.dreamwidth.org..."

My edition did not include the Epilogue, which was first published in 1999. My edition is from Norton awith the original 1971 copyright. It was reissued as a paperback in 2006 but did not add in the Epilogue.

The Epilogue is included in Abinger editions. It is also referred to as being abandoned by Forster, which may be why Norton chose not to include it.

Forster wrote of this "Epilogue": "…one wants to know more about him and Alec for every reason, and there was an epilogue, featuring them x-years later, but all who read it thought it bad, so did I, so I scrapped it in the final version." –from a letter to Stephen Spender, dated 25 August 1933.

I didn't think the Epilogue was bad. I am glad I read it to find out what Forster's view was on the future of Maurice and Alec. This doesn't seem too far in the future as Kitty is aged 27. She does mention generally about one wanting to be "five years older" which I took as a hint as to the length of time between the book ending and the Epilogue. It seems about right.

Thank you, Sam. Very much.

Brian E wrote: "I didn't think the Epilogue was bad. .."

The last paragraph seems almost essential to the novel as a whole, so I agee. It also adds to the theme of "a separate peace," that became popular in the 20th century.

Hmm, I can't decide whether I should read the epilogue! The ending was quite sudden, but on the other hand I like the book at the moment, and a change to the ending can often change my entire experience with a book. This is a problematic thing about books with multiple editions...

Wobbley wrote: "Hmm, I can't decide whether I should read the epilogue! "

I don't feel like the Epilogue changes the ending, just emphasizes it. What do you think, Sam?

But I do understand Wobbley. You have finished the book which the author intended you to read, one where he chose not to include the 5 year later epilogue. It was a good reading experience. It is good that you want to spend time immersed in that enjoyment and hesitate to spoil it.

I read the Epilogue 14 days after I finished the novel and felt it added something to my experience.
But you might not feel the same way. I didn't enjoy the main book as much as you.
Perhaps you should spend several days, at least, wallowing in the glow of your already splendid reading experience before you decide whether to attempt the Epilogue. If you then do decide to read the Epilogue, try to view as a very brief sequel short story that you can always choose to keep as a separate experience in your brain. A "separate peace"ful experience, perhaps?

I tend to feel like mostly like Brian and can certainly see that you wouldn't want to spoil what you read Wobbley. His suggestion of reading it as a short story sequel is a good one.
I might add that Wikipedia states the decision to cut epilogue was more of a tactical decision based on response of those to whom Forster showed it.
I do feel that the epilogue leaves me with a different feeling than the abrupt end of the novel, otherwise.

Thanks Brian and Sam. That's a good idea, to think of it as a separate follow-up short story. I'll wait a bit, and then see how I feel about giving it a try.

Thanks very much for the epilogue, Sam. It didn't change my feeling about the book, but I think it was important to wait and see it as something separate, so appreciate Brian's suggestion to Wobbley.

I kind of see it as a lovely addition, but nothing that different than what I could imagine after the book. I prefer the ending as it was, but I can see how it does clarify Forster's vision, and appreciate being able to experience it.