E. M. (Edward Morgan) Forster

Born in London on January 1, 1879, Edward Morgan Forster became one of the most admired English novelists of the 20th century. He studied at King's College, Cambridge, and went on to write fiction, essays, criticism, talks, and broadcasts, but his reputation rests most strongly on a handful of novels that are still widely read today.

His best-known books include A Room with a View (1908), Howards End (1910), and A Passage to India (1924). These works often look closely at class difference, personal freedom, and the difficulty of making real contact across social and cultural boundaries. Readers also return to Forster for the memorable phrase "Only connect," which captures a central feeling in his writing.

Forster died on June 7, 1970. Alongside his novels, he left a large body of shorter writing, and his work has continued to attract new generations of readers because it is intelligent, humane, and deeply alert to the tensions of modern life.