Maurice by E. M. Forster is lauded for its ahead-of-its-time LGBTQ+ themes and rich character development. Readers appreciate its deep emotional resonance and critique of societal norms, though some find the pacing slow and the narrative slightly dated. Despite this, it remains a significant work for its brave exploration of love and identity.

Readers who will enjoy Maurice by E. M. Forster typically appreciate early 20th-century literature, LGBTQ+ themes, and social critique. Similar readers also gravitate toward works like Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh and A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood, which share similar themes and cultural contexts.

In E. M. Forster's Maurice, Maurice Hall navigates his feelings and relationships from adolescence to adulthood in early 20th-century England, marked by his pivotal friendship and romantic involvement with Clive Durham, his subsequent depression and search for a "cure," and his eventual fulfilling connection with gamekeeper Alec Scudder, transcending societal norms and personal turmoil. The book deals with themes of homosexuality and mental health struggles.

Romantic / Contemplative / Emotional / Bittersweet / Challenging

- Maurice was published posthumously in 1971, despite being written by E. M. Forster between 1913 and 1914, primarily due to concerns about the novel's then-controversial subject matter.
- The novel's dedication reads "To a Happier Year," symbolizing Forster’s hope for a future where the themes of love and identity explored in Maurice would be better understood and accepted.
- While writing Maurice, E. M. Forster was notably influenced by his own personal experiences and relationships, reflecting his desire to create a narrative with a positive outcome for a gay protagonist.

**Maurice Hall**  
A suburban middle-class Englishman who is the protagonist of the story, characterized by his handsomeness and mental torpidity, and works as a stockbroker.

**Clive Durham**  
An upper-class man and classical scholar whom Maurice befriends at Cambridge, known for his intellectual pursuits and political aspirations.

**Alec Scudder**  
A charming and flirtatious gamekeeper at Penge with dark hair and eyes, who comes from a family of respectable tradesmen.

**Mrs. Hall**  
Maurice’s mother, a middle-class widow with traditional views on life, living comfortably in the London suburbs.

**Dr. Barry**  
A retired medical doctor and neighbor to the Hall family, characterized by his worldly advice and former reputation as a lady killer.

**Mr. Ducie**  
An orthodox teacher at Maurice’s elementary school who discusses sex with Maurice before his transition to public school.

**Mr. Lasker-Jones**  
A hypnotist sought by Maurice in hopes of a cure, known for his slightly American accent and open-mindedness about his practice.

**Mr. Borenius**  
A devout Christian rector installed near Penge by Anne, with strong theological beliefs that slightly unnerve Maurice.

**Kitty and Ada Hall**  
Maurice's sisters; Kitty is perky and outspoken, while Ada is demure and eventually marries a man named Chapman.

**Mr. Grace**  
Maurice’s grandfather, a retired businessman who develops his own intellectual interests and eccentric cosmology.

**Lady Anne Woods/Anne Durham**  
Clive’s fiancée and later wife, sharing Clive’s cultural refinement and coming from an upper-class family.

**Mrs. Durham**  
Clive’s strong-willed and intelligent mother, who is preoccupied with respectability and tradition.

**Risley**  
A student at Trinity College related to the dean of Maurice's college, characterized by his dark, tall, and affected demeanor.

E. M. Forster

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Novel

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Maurice Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-5

Maurice Part 1, Chapters 1-5 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 6-11

Maurice Part 1, Chapters 6-11 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 12-19

Maurice Part 2, Chapters 12-19 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 20-25

Maurice Part 2, Chapters 20-25 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 26-32

Maurice Part 3, Chapters 26-32 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 33-37

Maurice Part 3, Chapters 33-37 Summary & Analysis

Part 4, Chapters 38-46

Maurice Part 4, Chapters 38-46 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

Maurice Character Analysis

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Themes

Maurice Themes

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Maurice Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Maurice Important Quotes

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Maurice Essay Topics

Maurice

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