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Howards End

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Howards End

By: E.M. Forster
Narrated by: Nadia May
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About this listen

 A vibrant portrait of Edwardian England, Howards End examines personal relationships and conflicting values. The Schlegel sisters, Margaret and Helen, and their brother, Tibby, place their values in civilized living, music, literature, and conversation with their friends. The Wilcoxes, Henry and his children Charles, Paul, and Evie, are concerned with the business side of life and distrust emotions and imagination.

Howards End, a charming country house in Hertfordshire that belonged to Henry Wilcox's first wife, becomes the object of an inheritance dispute between the Wilcox family and the Schlegel sisters. Through romantic entanglements, disappearing wills, and sudden tragedy, the conflict over the house emerges as a symbolic struggle for England's very future.

(P)2006 Blackstone Audiobooks Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Fiction England
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I haven’t read much in this time period but this one is beautifully read by the narrator and offers a fascinating insight into the freedoms of middle class white women in London at that time - many more than I’d expected. The story is foreshadowed by the war, not that the writer knew it and I couldn’t help wondering what happened to them all in the years that followed.

The colonial mindset is pretty strong and poorly examined by the author, perhaps not surprising but very uncomfortable to read and references awful but very influential ideas like the white man’s burden. It is hard to understand how quite likeable characters could accept such thinking without question - particularly these supposed intellectuals. Then again, perhaps the distance helps them stay naive.

My other complaint with the novel is that it often descends into the author lecturing the reader through his narrator, which is irritating and poorly blended with the story.

But, overall I found the story to be enjoyable and interesting.

Fascinating peak into colonial England

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One all time favourite, enjoyment in every phrase.
I will definitely re read it.
Great bedtime wind down and middle of the night binge worthy.

Sublime

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coming back to Howard's End was a real joy, if it's your first time or a return to this classic you will be happy with this investment

the greats

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Not exactly riveting, but a nice little story of two families. It’s the sort of story that often emerges out of reality and is remembered and retold through family generations. The characters felt real and I enjoyed the snapshot of daily life in the early 1900’s. The talk of men and women being considered equal was probably revolutionary for it’s time. I’m glad I stuck with it.

A nice little story

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the narrator accomplished the character voices well. she had nice voice easy to listen to. I loved the story and am following up with another EM Forster book

great Story well told

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