'Howards End' is a novel by E.M. Forster about social and familial relations in turn-of-the-century England. It is considered by some to be Forster's masterpiece. First published in 1910, it is the novel that earned E.M. Forster recognition as a major writer. Set in Edwardian England, the novel is the portrait of a lost era, a deceptively golden time before the First World War that would change values and lifestyles forever.At its heart lie two families—the wealthy and business-minded Wilcoxes and the cultured and idealistic Schlegels. It tells the story of the idealistic Schlegel sisters and their turbulent relationship with the Wilcoxes, who care only about money and have no qualms about trampling others to get it. Meanwhile, the sisters seek to help the destitute clerk Leonard Bast, but their well-intentioned meddling ultimately does more harm than good. The novel cemented Forster's reputation as one of the leading novelists of the early 20th century and remains one of his most acclaimed works.
