"India is not a promise, only an appeal"

The writing is first-rate and the book is probably worthy of its place in the classics, as it was outstanding throughout. There is great artistry in the narration by Sam Dastor as he mimics various accents effortlessly and keeps the flow of the story going. The book examines the prejudices we all hold in some very realistic settings, against the backdrop of colonial India in the 1920’s. A closer peek into the bare bones of human interactions is no doubt fascinating at most times, but with the author’s richly nuanced style of writing there is an added aspect. It makes you ponder without being preachy, and that to me is a hallmark of great novels.

There were some passages which were outright brilliant. They punctured the air and created a stillness after I had listened to them. I could listen to them again and again, and never cease to draw something out of them. Consider this example where he talks about men yearning for poetry and India failing to accommodate them:

"Making sudden changes of gear, the heat accelerated its advance after Mrs. Moore's departure until existence had to be endured and crime punished with the thermometer at a hundred and twelve. Electric fans hummed and spat, water splashed on to screens, ice clinked, and outside these defences, between a greyish sky and a yellowish earth, clouds of dust moved hesitatingly.

In Europe life retreats out of the cold, and exquisite fireside myths have resulted—Balder, Persephone —but here the retreat is from the source of life, the treacherous sun, and no poetry adorns it because disillusionment cannot be beautiful. Men yearn for poetry though they may not confess it; they desire that joy shall be graceful and sorrow august and infinity have a form, and India fails to accommodate them. The annual helter-skelter of April, when irritability and lust spread like a canker, is one of her comments on the orderly hopes of humanity. Fish manage better; fish, as the tanks dry, wriggle into the mud and wait for the rains to uncake them.

But men try to be harmonious all the year round, and the results are occasionally disastrous. The triumphant machine of civilization may suddenly hitch and be immobilized into a car of stone, and at such moments the destiny of the English seems to resemble their predecessors', who also entered the country with intent to refashion it, but were in the end worked into its pattern and covered with its dust."

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enjoyable but rather too long

I enjoyed listening to this book the narration was good. I found it rather too long and should have finished closer to the court case but overall the story was good and gives a good insight to India at that time.

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A Passage to Deeper Understanding

I previously read this story in the early 1960's when I was in my early 20's. Now that I have listened to the audio version, my fuller and deeper appreciation of its meanings have been a revelation to me.

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Excellent presentation

A challenging novel, superbly narrated. Great writing brought to life with skill and sensitivity. Highly recommended.

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7 people found this helpful

A wonderfully crafted story, wrought in beautiful prose

The last peaceful days of the British Raj is the pretext, but the language and imagery is what makes this book unforgettable.

The last 12 chapter endings all could easily have ended the book. Poignant, and emotive.

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2 people found this helpful

A story of British racism & hypocracy

This is a story of British racism, bigotry, prejudice, entitlement and hypocracy in India at the time of the Raj.

The story starts slowly and uneventfully exploring the privileged lives of the British in India and their relationships with the Indians over whom they rule.

Then there is a day trip to see some caves where the central characters, Cyril Fielding, his Indian friend Dr. Azuz and a visiting British lady Miss Adela Quested, become separated.

Essentially nothing happens here but Miss Quested panics and believes she has been assaulted. Dr Aziz is blamed for the incident and he is arrested and charged. There is an assumption of guilt because he is Indian.

Subsequently there is an extremely devisive show trial at which the issues of colonialism and racism are exposed. Fielding is the only British person supporting Aziz and is ostracised accordingly. We see how the process of colonialism works.

However, the trial collapses when it becomes apparent that Miss Quested was mistaken.

Following the trial Feilding tries to mediate between Aziz and Miss Quested, seeking forgiveness from one and reparations from the other. But a gap grows in the friendship between Fielding and Aziz who asserts they can't be friends until India is free.

This book is an uncomfortable because of its themes. Forster writes dismissively about women (calling Miss Quested an ugly hag) whilst writing lustfully about young, semi-naked Indian men. But he is an accomplished writer and this book is a comprehensive study of how prejudice, racism and bigotry operate.

The reader does his best with a variety of voices.

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Undecided

For the most of this story I wanted to connect with the characters and feel enveloped in their tangled tale, instead I found myself annoyed with the pomp and prejudice bluster of the colonial rule, only in the final few chapters did I actually feel a connection and warming to this story, well that's probably the genius of a novelist, I'll probably go on to read Howard's End after this so it obviously hasn't been a failing.
The audible narration was well suited to this too

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Brilliant!

Beautifully narrated, extraordinary modern classic, which is extraordinarily perceptive about the uncomfortable relationship between coloniser and colonised in India.

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classic on India in British raj

Average listen though Sam has done justice in his voice over. story is flat. English simple and easy. Foster is typical of himself. No knowledge gained, none lost either. avoidable.

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E. M. Forster at his finest

A triumph - this story will stay with me for a very long time. Brilliantly read.

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