E M Forster
2011-06-09
Forster's classic novel, with a new introduction by Kamila Shamsie, author of Home Fire, winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction
'There's no writer better than Forster at portraying the genuine feelings that are born from the interaction between one human being and another'
KAMILA SHAMSIE
'Forster's last and greatest novel'
DAMON GALGUT, GUARDIAN
'His great book . . . masterly in its prescience and its lucidity'
ANITA DESAI
'The first time I saw you, you were wanting to see India, not Indians, and it occurred to me: Ah, that won't take us far.'
The Indian town of Chandrapore seems to change dramatically season by season, day by day, offering different impressions from each angle it is viewed. Vulnerable to flooding, but blessed by glorious sun, it is surrounded by vast, flat expanses, except for hills to the south that house the extraordinary Marabar Caves.
When Mrs Moore and her younger travelling companion Adela arrive in town, they are frustrated and disappointed that all they can find is the claustrophobia of British colonial culture. Then a chance meeting with the charming and well-respected Dr Aziz seems to present the perfect opportunity to fulfil their desire to see the 'real India'.
But during a guided tour of the Marabar Caves, a strange incident occurs, resulting in a shocking accusation that throws Chandrapore into a fever of racial tension and the doctor straight into the heart of a scandal from which he might never recover.
E.M. Forster's 'A Passage to India' is an exquisite exploration of cultural collision and the intricacies of colonial tension. The narrative structure, with its intertwining fates, offers a rich tapestry of human emotions and societal challenges. The dialogue is sharp, the characters are vividly drawn, and the themes of misunderstanding and the search for connection resonate deeply. It's a poignant reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the barriers we erect between us.
