E.M. Forster wrote novels that often examined English society. He had a real interest in class and human relationships. Think about novels such as *A Room with a View* with its story set in Italy and England, or *Howard’s End* which looks at different social groups in England.
If you enjoy Forster’s novels and want to discover authors with similar interests and styles, this article is for you.
Henry James was an American-British writer famous for his profound understanding of character psychology and social dynamics, themes readers of E. M. Forster usually appreciate.
His novel “The Portrait of a Lady” tells the story of Isabel Archer, a spirited young woman from America who inherits a large fortune.
Isabel travels through Europe, eager for adventure and freedom, but soon encounters complex romantic and social entanglements that challenge her ideals. James carefully builds Isabel’s inner world. He explores how choices, ambition, and society shape personal identity.
Forster readers who enjoy nuanced characters and thoughtful plots would find this story rewarding.
Readers who enjoy E.M. Forster’s exploration of characters and thoughtful examination of society may find Virginia Woolf equally fascinating. Woolf’s novels often portray characters’ inner thoughts, capturing their subtle emotions and day-to-day experiences.
In “Mrs. Dalloway,” Woolf tells the story of Clarissa Dalloway, a woman who is preparing for a party in post-World War I London. The book weaves seamlessly through memories, friendships, and the quiet moments that make up a single day.
Woolf’s skillful portrayal of Clarissa and other characters, including war veteran Septimus Warren Smith, presents readers with a touching reflection on life’s joys and sorrows and the complexities hidden within ordinary moments.
George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, a thoughtful Victorian novelist known for detailed character studies and sharp insights into human relationships.
If you enjoy E. M. Forster’s books like “Howards End” and “A Room with a View,” you may also appreciate Eliot’s classic novel “Middlemarch.”
Set in an English town during a time of political and social change, the story follows Dorothea Brooke—an idealistic and intelligent young woman who hopes to make a meaningful impact on the world.
Eliot explores marriage, ambition, family tensions, and moral choices with empathy and depth. “Middlemarch” brings the characters’ choices vividly to life and captures how their personal lives intertwine with larger social forces.
Eliot’s sharp observations, emotional depth, and skillful character portrayal might appeal to readers drawn to Forster’s thoughtful and perceptive novels.
Books by Elizabeth Bowen often explore deep emotional truths beneath everyday social interactions, similar to the nuanced novels of E. M. Forster.
In her novel “The Death of the Heart,” Bowen introduces readers to Portia, a sixteen-year-old who goes to live with her half-brother and his wife in London.
After her mother’s death, Portia finds herself in an elegant but cold household, struggling to understand adulthood, love, and betrayal. Bowen skillfully captures the tensions beneath polite society, focusing on Portia’s sensitive attempts to navigate a confusing adult world.
Readers who appreciate Forster’s attention to subtle human drama and quiet emotional conflicts may find Bowen’s insight into 1930s London society especially rewarding.
Thomas Hardy was an English novelist well known for powerful stories that explore complex social themes, personal relationships, and the harsh realities of rural life in Victorian England.
If you enjoy E. M. Forster’s novels with their thoughtful portrayal of society and human connections, Hardy’s work will likely appeal to you.
A great starting point is “Tess of the d’Urbervilles,” a story about Tess, a young woman facing difficult challenges due to family hardship and social pressures in rural England.
Hardy skillfully weaves Tess’s personal tragedy with a critique of social customs and morality, creating a story that stays compelling and emotionally powerful from start to finish.
If you enjoy E. M. Forster’s thoughtful exploration of human relationships and social conventions, you might find D. H. Lawrence equally captivating. Lawrence wrote boldly about love, class tensions, and the pressures of society in early 20th-century England.
His novel “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” tells the story of Constance Chatterley, a woman trapped in a cold marriage with an aristocratic husband injured in the war. She finds passion and emotional escape in a quiet romance with Oliver Mellors, the estate’s solitary gamekeeper.
Lawrence portrays their affair candidly, examining desire and intimacy alongside sharp critiques of rigid social structures. If you’re drawn to novels that honestly portray emotional complexity and societal conflict, Lawrence is well worth exploring.
Anthony Trollope was a Victorian novelist known for his insightful social commentary and vivid characters. If you appreciate the thoughtful portrayals of society and relationships found in E. M. Forster’s works, Trollope may appeal to you as well.
In his novel “The Way We Live Now,” Trollope presents the story of Augustus Melmotte, a mysterious financier who shakes up London society with questionable schemes and irresistible charm.
The characters around Melmotte navigate ambition, love, greed, and scandal in engaging ways that echo the depth and social awareness of Forster’s writing. Through sharp portraits of both upper and lower classes, Trollope captures timeless issues that still resonate today.
Readers who enjoy the thought-provoking novels of E. M. Forster may appreciate Iris Murdoch and her novel “The Sea, The Sea.” Murdoch explores complex human relationships and moral questions with clarity and depth.
In “The Sea, The Sea,” we meet Charles Arrowby, a retired theater director who moves to a remote seaside home. Determined to write his memoirs, Charles’ plan is disrupted by unexpected visitors from his past who stir up old emotions.
Murdoch masterfully portrays the self-deception, jealousy, and obsession of her protagonist. The setting—a lonely coastal house beside a restless sea—echoes the turmoil in Charles’s own mind.
This novel thoughtfully captures the emotional struggles of characters trapped by their own illusions, themes that readers familiar with Forster’s work will find intriguing.
Readers who enjoy the insightful social commentary of E. M. Forster may appreciate Evelyn Waugh’s satirical perspectives.
His novel “Brideshead Revisited” captures the decline of the British aristocracy through the eyes of Charles Ryder, a young artist drawn into the privileged world of the Marchmain family.
Set between the World Wars, this story explores ambition, friendship, and the struggles of faith and identity against a backdrop of fading grandeur. Waugh’s blend of sharp wit and emotional depth makes this novel both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Readers who enjoy the sharp wit and insightful social commentary of E. M. Forster might find Muriel Spark equally enjoyable.
Spark’s novel “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” explores the life of an unconventional and charismatic teacher at a conservative girls’ school in 1930s Edinburgh.
Miss Jean Brodie believes she is in her prime, and uses her influence to encourage her students towards individuality, beauty, and art.
As her influence grows stronger, the complex outcomes of her teachings reveal deeper truths about loyalty, betrayal, and the consequences of manipulation.
With sharp humor, precise writing, and vivid characters, Spark portrays a compelling portrait of ambition and morality set against a changing society.
If you enjoy the subtle wit and thoughtful insights of E. M. Forster, you might want to try Barbara Pym. She has a sharp eye for social manners and small-town interactions, which is clear in her novel “Excellent Women.”
This story revolves around Mildred Lathbury, a gentle, unmarried woman in postwar London. Mildred spends her days involved in church activities and offering support to her neighbors.
When new neighbors move in, she becomes entwined in their domestic dramas and romantic confusion. Through Mildred’s humorous, observant perspective, Pym gently pokes fun at the manners and habits of ordinary English life.
The characters feel relatable, their small concerns reflecting deeper truths about human nature and relationships. Barbara Pym’s writing captures exactly the kind of subtle social observations beloved by Forster fans.
Readers who enjoy E. M. Forster’s thoughtful exploration of human relationships and moral dilemmas may also appreciate Graham Greene. Greene’s novels often focus on characters caught between personal faith, doubt, and complex ethical choices.
In his novel “The End of the Affair,” Greene examines love and obsession in wartime London. The story involves Maurice Bendrix, a writer deeply entangled in an affair with Sarah Miles, the wife of a civil servant.
After their relationship abruptly ends during the war, Bendrix struggles to unravel the truth behind Sarah’s sudden decision and confronts his own jealousy, bitterness, and questions about faith.
Greene’s ability to portray deep emotional conflicts and the complexities of belief provides thoughtful insights into the struggles of love and loss.
Readers who appreciate E. M. Forster’s thoughtful exploration of society and relationships may also enjoy John Galsworthy. Galsworthy’s writing offers a keen observation of English society, particularly in his book “The Man of Property.”
This novel introduces readers to the wealthy Forsyte family, whose lives revolve around appearances, family pride, and economic ambitions. At the center is Soames Forsyte, a man whose obsession with ownership extends to his difficult marriage with the beautiful Irene.
Galsworthy presents a sharp critique of materialistic attitudes of the early 20th century and portrays complex characters whose struggles and desires remain engaging today.
Readers who enjoy the novels of E. M. Forster would find Arnold Bennett equally intriguing.
Bennett, an English author famous for realistic portrayals of everyday life, captures in his novel “The Old Wives’ Tale” the quiet dramas and personal ambitions of two very different sisters.
Set in the English Midlands, the story follows Constance and Sophia Baines through marriage, family, and separate fates, with Sophia’s journey taking her as far as Paris. Bennett skillfully highlights how each woman’s choices shape her destiny.
His sharp insight and gentle humor offer a look at ordinary lives full of meaning and significance.
If you enjoy E. M. Forster’s thoughtful explorations of human relationships and society, Rosamond Lehmann is an author worth exploring. Her novel, “Invitation to the Waltz,” follows seventeen-year-old Olivia Curtis as she anticipates her first dance.
Set in the English countryside of the 1920s, the story captures Olivia’s excitement, insecurities, and vivid impressions of adult society. Lehmann skillfully portrays the complexities of adolescence and the subtle tensions of class and social expectations.
Her writing offers insight into inner lives and delicate emotional landscapes, qualities readers admire in Forster’s work.