First published 1971
Maurice Hall grows up secure in his place among England's privileged class. At Cambridge, he meets Clive, a fellow student who awakens feelings Maurice never expected. Their connection forces Maurice to confront desires that society condemns. When Clive eventually retreats from their relationship, Maurice finds himself drawn to Alec, who works as a gamekeeper on Clive's family estate. Through these relationships, Maurice must choose between the safety of conformity and the risk of living authentically. Forster completed this novel in 1914 but kept it unpublished during his lifetime, releasing it only after his death in 1970. The story captures one man's struggle to accept himself in a world that offers no place for his love.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, gay-fiction, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Cambridge, England
Period: Early 20th Century
232 pages · Paperback · Penguin
Content warnings: homophobia