Edward Morgan Forster (1879-1970)
Great
British literary critic and novelist E.M.Foster (Edward
Morgan Forster) on 1st January 1879 in London in
a rich family . His Father was an architect who died young but left
enough money for his family to live happy life .Every writer has his own touch
in writing so was Foster . His all works have direct or indirect relation with
society . His greatest novel 'A Passage to India' is a master piece which
gradually became the basic text related to post-colonial era .Here
in the novel Foster has advocated 'the equality' among the people of
this world. Last words of one of the protagonists Dr Aziz expressed his
earnest desire for independent nation so that he can be equal
to Fielding . Foster was active member of literary ‘Bloomsbury set
and a critic . According to Virginia Woolf ‘he says the simple
things that clever people don't say; I find him the best of critics for that
reason’.Foster studied in Tonbridge School which he hated. He
criticized "public school culture " in number of his novels. On
the other hand his collage life was great and he enjoyed greatly.
Soon
after his collage Foster began to write short stories . For some time he lived
in Italy .Influence of Italian culture is visible in his early novels :Where
Angels Fear to Tread and A Room with a View . Howards End is considered as the
most mature work publishe in 1910. He visited India in 1911 along with
G.L.Dickinson .After First World War he returned to London as a
journalist .
In 1921 Foster went
again to India as a secretary to the Maharaja of Dewas State.
After viewing the
social unevenness and complexities in Indian society he started preparations
for writing A passage to India . Though he wrote this book after his arrival to
England. This novel is known as ' master piece' which has won the Femina Vie Heureuse
and the James Tait Black Memorial prizes for Foster .
Foster wrote a
collection of short stories under the title 'The Eternal Moment' in 1928. His
articles and reviews published in 1936 with name 'Abinger harvest '. His number
of essays broadcast on BBC during 2nd world war .He has written a libretto Billy
Budd. Also wrote a pageant play 'England's Pleasant Land , two biographies
in 1934 G.L. Dickinson and in 1956 'Marianne Thornton . He has written
reminiscences of his experience in India in a book 'The Hill of Devi'.
June 7 , 1970 Foster
died.
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