Howards End examines the intersecting lives of the intellectual Schlegel sisters and the conventional Wilcox family in early 20th century England. The narrative addresses themes of class conflict and social change, sparked by Helen Schlegel's brief engagement and the family's subsequent entanglements with the Wilcoxes. A pivotal series of events at the Wilcox family home, Howards End, leads to a tragic outcome, reflecting on forgiveness and the past's influence on the present. The story concludes with a resolution that aligns personal values with societal expectations.
Howards End explores the social stratification and cultural shifts in early 20th-century England, capturing the class tensions and economic transformations of the Edwardian era. The novel juxtaposes the ideals of the cultured, cosmopolitan Schlegel sisters against the materially wealthy but culturally shallow Wilcox family, embodying the era's conflicts between traditional values and modern capitalism. This masterful portrayal of societal changes, including issues of gender and class, cemented its status as a pivotal work in English literature.
This cloth-bound book includes a Victorian-inspired dust jacket.