Howards EndHowards End
Score Classic
What it's about
In Edwardian England, three families meet: the Schlegel sisters, Margaret and Helen, cultured and idealistic; the Wilcoxes, practical, wealthy business people; and Leonard Bast, a poor clerk who longs for culture. When Mrs. Wilcox dies and leaves her beloved country house, Howards End, to Margaret, a woman she barely knew, the families' lives become entangled, with consequences for all three.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Modern Library list of the best novels. Forster's motto, 'Only connect', is the book's heart, and the 1992 Merchant Ivory film is a classic.
You'll love it if you liked
A Room with a View
Middlemarch
The Remains of the DayGood to know
It's leisurely and full of the narrator's commentary. There's a sudden death near the end.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller23 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #179 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #430 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1474 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by E.M. Forster
If you like this, read next
G.
The French Lieutenant's Woman
The Red and the Black
Jude the Obscure
Sentimental Education
PossessionExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Howards End worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Modern Library list of the best novels. It ranks #1,474 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Howards End about?
In Edwardian England, three families meet: the Schlegel sisters, Margaret and Helen, cultured and idealistic; the Wilcoxes, practical, wealthy business people; and Leonard Bast, a poor clerk who longs for culture. When Mrs. Wilcox dies and leaves her beloved country house, Howards End, to Margaret, a woman she barely knew, the families' lives become entangled, with consequences for all three.
How long does it take to read Howards End?
About 7 hours (286 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Howards End?
If you liked it, try A Room with a View by E.M. Forster, Middlemarch by George Eliot or The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.