Howards End

Howards End

E. M. Forster

What is Howards End about?

Howards End (1910) follows the intertwined fates of three families representing different strata of Edwardian England: the intellectual Schlegels, the business-minded Wilcoxes, and the working-class Basts. At the center is Howards End, a country house that becomes a symbol of England itself. Famous for its epigraph: “Only connect.”

auto_stories44 chaptersENFiction

Main themes in Howards End

Class divide

In Howards End, class divide provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.

Only connect

The theme of only connect weaves through Howards End, adding depth to its narrative.

Edwardian England

The presence of edwardian england in Howards End connects readers to its enduring relevance.

Country house

The theme of country house weaves through Howards End, adding depth to its narrative.

Why Howards End is still relevant today

One of the defining novels of Edwardian England, exploring class and connection with extraordinary insight. “Only connect” became one of literature’s most quoted phrases.

About the author

E. M. Forster

More by this author

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Howards End about?

Three families from different classes collide around a country house — a portrait of Edwardian England with the famous motto "Only connect."

Where can I read it?

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