New E. M. Forster Novel Released (Press, 13 November 1970)

A novel by E. M. Forster, titled "Maurice," which was written between 1913 and 1915, is set to be published in 1971 after being suppressed at the author's request due to its homosexual theme. Forster, who passed away in June 1970 at the age of 91, had shown the manuscript to very few of his close friends prior to his death. A representative from Forster's publisher, Edward Arnold, Ltd., indicated that the novel might be released as early as September 1971. The story revolves around a homosexual relationship between two undergraduates at Cambridge and touches on themes that were considered controversial at the time. Professor Walter Sprott, a close friend of Forster and the chief executor of his will, revealed that he was one of the few individuals who had access to the manuscript. He stated that Forster requested the novel not be published during his lifetime to avoid potential controversy and the public attention it might attract. Forster, known as one of the most notable English fiction writers of the century, published only five novels throughout his career, with "A Passage to India" being his first in 1924. The posthumous release of "Maurice" marks a significant moment in literary history, reflecting a broader cultural shift regarding the acceptance and representation of homosexual relationships in literature.

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