A Room with a View

First published in 1908, 'A Room with A View' is a coming of age story of a young woman, by E.M. Forster, an English fiction writer, essayist, and librettist. Many of his novels examined class differences and hypocrisy.

Set against the stunning setting of Florence, Italy, during the Edwardian period, young Lucy Honeychurch travels the district with her domineering, old-fashioned cousin, Charlotte Bartlett. When Lucy meets the strange Emerson family, she forms an awkward friendship with their son, George. Through her relationship with the Emersons, and with other tourists, Lucy encounters the criticisms of society and must choose between a life of harmony and one of love.

The lasting pleasure of this tale of romance is embedded in Forster's vibrant characters, including absurd spinsters, superior clergypersons, and candid patriots. It is one of E.M. Forster's earliest and most outstanding works.