When Adela and her elderly companion Mrs Moore arrive in the Indian town of Chandrapore, they quickly feel trapped by its insular and prejudiced British community. Determined to explore the real India', they seek the guidance of the charming and mercurial Dr Aziz, a cultivated Indian Muslim. But a mysterious incident occurs while they are exploring the Marabar caves with Aziz, and the well-respected doctor soon finds himself at the centre of a scandal that rouses violent passions among both the British and their Indian subjects. A masterly portrait of a society in the grip of imperialism, A Passage to India compellingly depicts the fate of individuals caught between the great political and cultural conflicts of the modern world.
It took me while to get into the story. I knew what was going to happen (I watched the movie a long time ago), so I was dreading certain areas of the book. But I got over that and I inhaled it. I loved the way the author brought India to life for me, it was beautiful and scary. The prejudices that the British had towards the natives was shameful and ignorant. I felt for Aziz and for Fielding, and particularly their friendship.
I read this book as part of the Book Awards III challenge, A Passage To India won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction in 1924.
A Passage To India by E.M. Forster (4/5) Classic Literature; Published: Edward Arnold (1924); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (127); Book Awards III (4);
1 comment:
I've read a few Forester books, but not his one. Thanks for the recommendation.
Post a Comment