The Life to Come and Other Stories [Import] [Paperback]

E. M. Forster (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books; New Ed edition (1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140038523
• ISBN-13: 978-0140038521
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,500,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Early gems from the master, March 16, 2002

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"ivan1138" (Tallahassee,FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life to Come: And Other Stories (Paperback)

There is a real dichotomy between Forster's novel "Maurice" and the homosexual stories collected in "The Life to Come." The novel, while it does focus on the trials and tribulations of a gay man coming to terms with his sexuality, ends on an optimistic note. By contrast the stories collected in "The Life to Come," especially "The Other Boat," "Arthur Snatchfold" and the title piece, reflect the author's own obsession with the negative consequences of exposure and perfectly illustrate his reticence to coming out either personally or professionally. This is a man who witnessed the grossly indecent prosecution of both Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing, is it any wonder he was reticent? Don't miss these early gifts from the master.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do NOT dismiss the non-homosexual stories out of hand!, August 27, 2009

By 

Julie M. Vognar "Julie" (Berkeley, California United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Life to Come and Other Stories (Abinger Edition 8) (Abinger Edition of E.M. Forster) (Hardcover)

There are 4 or 5 of these. I think "Ansell," (1903)--the first story in the book--is one of the best, short as it is. "The Helping Hand" is also very entertaining...though it doesn't leave ripples and waves, like the first one. One would suppose that these stories, (apparently)submitted to publishers and (apparently) rejected)--would be genuinely poor pickins'--but some are really good. Since Forster wasn't interested in heterosexual romance, he intelligently wrote about other things, quirky things, odd happenings, and so on.

And while it's true that most of the homosexual stories are dark, and some very affecting ("Dr. Woolacott," "Arthur Snatchfold," "The Other Boat" "The Life to Come"--why didn't he stop this one after the first part? It would have been so funny!), the hilarious "The Obelisk" is one of my favorite stories ever.

But first, of course, you must read Maurice, A Passage to India, Howards End, and A Room with a View. None of the short stories are as good as his novels.

"I want to love a strong young man of the lower classes and be loved by him and even hurt by him. That is my ticket, and then I have wanted to write respectable novels"....(personal memorandum, 1935)

"I should have been a more famous writer if I had written or rather published more, but sex has prevented the latter." (Diary, 31 December 1964)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Forster, May 14, 2009

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Music Is Everything "Music Is Everything" (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Life to Come: And Other Stories (Paperback)

This is a fine set of short stories by Forster at a very reasonable price. "The Life to Come" was one of many short stories dealing with homosexuality that Forster didn't publish in his lifetime, sharing them only with a small circle of friends. Like many gay authors, he developed a lack of sympathy for straight characters which dramatically cut his production of novels. At the end of his life, Forster sorted through some of these stories, noting that they were now, "publishable, but worth it?" He realized that times were changing quickly and homosexuality was no longer the scandal it once was. Nonetheless, these are stories by a great literary figure, writing about things that actually mattered to him. If you love Forster, you'll love this collection.