In this sophisticated tragi-comedy EM Forster takes a group of well-bred English people and exposes them to violent and unexpected reactions. The catalyst is the marriage of the widowed Lila Herriton to an uncouth and indolent Italian, twelve years her junior. When she dies in childbirth her relatives and friends are impelled, by a variety of motives, to rescue her baby from the dubious environment of its father. The quandaries which they subsequently land themselves in are observed with sympathy and wit; and, in this his first novel, Forster’s mastery of character drawing and dialogue is already fully apparent.

This edition includes an introduction and notes by Oliver Stallybrass.

The cover shows a detail from 'Paesaggio 1928' by Marino Marini, in a private collection (photo Scala, Florence).