Howards End

Howards End is a novel written by E. M. Forster and originally published in 1910. The book is considered to be Forster's masterpiece.

The novel examines social norms and codes of conduct in early 20th-century England through three families from different social classes.

The main plot revolves around the following three families:

• The Wilcoxes: a wealthy capitalist family whose fortune was built through colonial business.
• The Schlegel siblings: idealistic, intellectually curious, and devoted to literature and the arts.
• The Basts: a young, lower-class couple.

The Schlegels try to help the Basts escape poverty and overcome social barriers, while their relationship with the Wilcoxes exposes deep differences in class and values.

The novel emphasizes the difficulty of overcoming these social barriers, even when its characters act with good intentions. The book also examines society’s double standards toward women and sexual morality.