Selected Stories (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics) [Paperback]

E. M. Forster (Author), Mark Mitchell (Contributor), David Leavitt (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics | Publication Date: February 27, 2001

Although he is best known for his exquisite novels, E.M. Forster also wrote remarkable short stories. He referred to his stories as 'fantasies' and his attraction to myth and magic is apparent in many of them. Like his novels, the stories - whether they are set in Italy, Greece, India, and other places Forster visited, or in England itself - contrast the freedom of paganism with the restraints of English civilization, the personal, sensual delights of the body with the impersonal, inhibiting rules imposed by society. Rich in irony and alive with sharp observations on the surprises life holds, the stories often feature violent events, discomforting coincidences, and other disruptive happenings that throw the characters' perceptions and beliefs off balance. This volume includes all twelve stories published during Forster's lifetime.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Edward Morgan Forster (1879-1970) wrote six novels - Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905), The Longest Journey (1907), A Room with a View (1908), Howards End (1910), A Passage to India (1924). Maurice , written in 1914, was published posthumously in 1971. He also published two volumes of short stories; two collections of essays; a critical work (Aspects of the Novel); The Hill of Devi; two biographies; two books about Alexandria; and the libretto for Britten's opera Billy Budd.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (February 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141186194
• ISBN-13: 978-0141186191
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #966,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Short Fiction Of E. M. Forster, May 12, 2009

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Dave_42 "Dave_42" (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Selected Stories (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics) (Paperback)

Edward Morgan Forster (January 1st, 1879 - June 7th, 1970) is best known for novels like "A Room with a View", "Howards End", and "A Passage to India". For a different side of Forster, one can look at his shorter works, and "Selected Stories" contains the short fiction of Forster's which was published in his lifetime. It differs greatly from his novels, as most of the stories contain fantasy elements, and one could easily stand as a foundation of science fiction. At the same time, these works are rather uneven. The earlier ones in general tend to be better and more direct, the later ones are more abstract and more difficult for the reader to follow.

All in all there are twelve works included in this collection, all of which would be considered either short stories or novelettes. Forster pulls from Greek mythology in a number of these stories. He also uses Christian theology as he pursues a secular humanist agenda for some of them. Only one of the stories appears to be completely devoid of some kind of fantasy or futuristic element. The stories included are:

"The Story of a Panic" - a novelette which was first published in March of 1904 in the "Independent Review". Inspired by a recent vacation in Italy, Forster sets the scene in Rovello. The story is narrated by Mr. Tytler, who is relating incidents which took place eight years in the past. In the story, Mr. Tytler and a party of tourists, including Eustace, a moody boy of fourteen go on a picnic in a secluded valley. There they encounter the spirit of Pan in the wind and flee in terror leaving Eustace behind. Eustace is invigorated by the experience and starts to behave in a manner which the adults try to prevent.

"The Other Side of the Hedge" - a short story which was first published in November of 1904 in the "Independent Review". This story is a bit heavy handed in its message about people being too consumed with trying to meet their goals. The story is about a man who progresses along the road with his pedometer until he becomes too tired to continue, and then he is lured by a light to try to make his way through the hedge which runs along the side of the road.

"The Celestial Omnibus" - a short story which was first published in January of 1908 in the Albany Review. In this story a young boy has discovered a wondrous omnibus which takes him to a land where the great characters of literature are alive. Adults don't believe in its existence, but he does manage to get Mr. Bons, a pompous adult who tries to correct the boy's literary references along the way. The story is a harsh comment on those who ruin the enjoyment of experiencing great literature for the first time, by trying to limit one's imagination.

"Other Kingdom" - a novelette first published in July of 1901 in the "English Review". This is a story which borrows greatly from Greek mythology, and in particular the story of Daphne. In this case the setting is England, and the Other Kingdom Copse which Harcourt Worters gives to Evelyn Beaumont as an engagement gift. But Harcourt has certain demands for what should be done with the woods, and becomes jealous of his ward, Jack Ford, for whom Evelyn appears to be developing feelings.

"The Curate's Friend" - a short story published in "Pall Mall Magazine" in October of 1907. Forster again goes to Greek mythology in this story where a clergyman, Harry, discovers a faun living in Wiltshire. The faun is invisible to the clergyman's secular friends, who mistake Harry's conversations with the faun for clowning around. The faun causes Harry some distress by allowing Emily, whom Harry has feelings for, to fall for another.

"The Road from Colonus" - a short story which was first published in the "Independent Review" in June of 1904. Forster once again goes to Greek mythology for the story of Oedipus, though in this case the man who would be Oedipus, Mr. Lucas is forced from Colonus. Some have suggested that this story is a veiled reference to Lord Byron's death.

"The Machine Stops" - a novelette which was first published in November of 1909 in "The Oxford and Cambridge Review". It is the one science fiction story in this collection, and what a story it is. One can only assume that writers like Huxley and Orwell referred to it in part for its dystopian future, where machines, or in particular "the machine" has taken over the lives of men. Some would say that Forster has predicted the internet as well in this wonderful piece.

"The Point of It" - a short story which was first published in November of 1911 in the "English Review". This is one of Forster's stories which has moved away from a more direct story line. The key characters of the story are Harold and Michael, who some have suggested are T. E. Lawrence and Forster. Harold's life is one of purpose and action, while Michael, after pushing Harold perhaps to his death, is respectable, but not particularly exciting.

"Mr. Andrews" - a short story which was first published in 1911. In this story Forster's secular humanism is apparent in the story of a Christian, Mr. Andrews, who meets a Muslim on his way to heaven. He fears that the Muslim will not be allowed to enter, and so he asks not if he (Mr. Andrews) may enter, but rather if his friend may. The Muslim does likewise, and both are allowed in, but neither finds what they expect, and they realize that heaven should be more than what they expected.

"Co-Ordination" - a short story which was first published in 1912. A confusing story in which the efforts at a school are directed towards teaching about Napoleon. From history to music he is the focus. In the music area the students are learning to play Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. At the same time, Beethoven and Napoleon become aware of the efforts of the students and teachers, and attempt to reward them. Forster appears to be making a comment about this type of planned teaching among other things.

"The Story of the Siren" - a short story which was first published in 1920. Forster returns to mythology and the Siren for an unusual story about a man who tells a tale of his brother seeing the Siren and how it changed his life. This story deals with the repressive force of Christianity, and is set against pagan ideas of the peasants.

"The Eternal Moment" - a novelette which was first published in June of 1905 in "The Independent Review". One can only believe that this story was put at the end of the collection because unlike the rest of the stories there is no element of fantasy in it. It is the story of a woman who returns to the scene of her best moment in life, only to find that it has changed, both the area as well as the significant people who were there. The moment is eternal though, because it will forever be with her.

Due to the uneven nature of the stories, I cannot give this collection more than three stars. However, stories like "The Machine Stops", and "The Road from Colonus" are well worth reading, and a few of the others are decent as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars The short stories that Forster wanted collected - in a handsome volume, August 2, 2011

By 

Robert Moore (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Selected Stories (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics) (Paperback)

First, the low reviews given by the previous two reviewers are patent nonsense. This volume collects a number of outstanding and in many cases classic short stories by one of the greatest Edwardian writers. I use "Edwardian" despite the fact that Forster lived until 1970. For the most part, the major phase of Forster's writing career was finished before the beginning of WW I. His only major fictional work after the war was A PASSAGE TO INDIA (1924). All but one of the stories in this collection were also completed prior to the war. ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL was published a bit later.

These stories are amazingly different from Forster's novels, with a fantastical, imaginative element missing from his other fiction. The most curious is his famous short story, "The Machine Stops," his only SF tale. But nearly all of these stories show a major writer working at the height of his powers as a writer.

If you wanted to build a Forster library, you would want to add this to the novels and ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL. Forster did write other stories, but he chose not to include them with these, which are the only stories he felt should be contained in a collection of his short stories. A strongly recommended collection.

0 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dissapointed, November 29, 2008

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Lindy (Washington State) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Selected Stories (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics) (Paperback)

Having read his novella, "the machine stops", and of course, the books "howard's end", and "a passage to india", I ordered this. Omigosh, dreadful...what a wast of time. Self indulgent, pedantic, written it seems to wallow in personal sociopolitical issues. while one might empathize, it just goes to show you----every painter who has done a great work doesn't always produce a masterpiece, so every writer whose written stellar works of wide appeal, can write terribly as well! don't bother with this one.