Maurice

By: E. M. Forster

Narrated by: Peter Firth

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

'Ah for darkness...not the darkness of a house which coops up a man among furniture, but the darkness where he can be free!'

Maurice Hall knows he must choose between living life in the shadows or denying himself a chance at love and fulfilment. Aware of his attraction to the same sex, in a time where it was considered unlawful and immoral to have homosexual desires, Maurice must decide whether to battle or submit to a prejudiced 20th-century English society.

A passionate and poignant tale, E.M. Forster's Maurice was a masterpiece ahead of its time. Incapable of believing that his contemporaries would accept its content, Forster refused to publish it, fearing that it would expose his sexuality along with his hero's.

Having witnessed, at 16, the very public trial and chastisement of Oscar Wilde, Forster grew up with an acute awareness of the kind of society he inhabited. This affected him immensely and, as such, he refused to publish any further fiction during the last 37 years of his life. Despite being one of the most celebrated authors of British history, Forster's talents were as constrained as his love life. Realising that he could never publically talk or write about the issues he held close to his heart, Forster made A Passage to India his last work.

He wasn't mistaken about his society, and when Maurice was published, posthumously, many were scandalised by the controversial content.

Unfortunately, Forster never experienced the freedom which his protagonist seeks, but Maurice has far outlived an age of bigotry and is now widely celebrated and critically acclaimed.

Narrator Biography

Having started his career as a leading child actor, Peter Firth received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in Peter Shaffer's play Equus (1973) at only 21. He later starred with Richard Burton in its film adaption, earning him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination. His other film work has included roles in Pearl Harbor (2001) and The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005).

He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC show Spooks (2002-2011), appearing in every episode of the show's 10 series. Recent roles have included Jacob Marley in the BBC's Dickensian series (2015) and Ernest Augustus in ITV's drama series Victoria (2016).

He has narrated several audiobooks such as Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Birdsong and Witness. In 2015, Peter starred in Audible's multicast drama Amok.

©2010 E.M. Forster (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Maurice - A must for lovers of classic fiction

Maurice is the intimate story of one man's coming to terms with his sexuality and his desires contrasted by his struggles of living in a suppressive culture and the binding social expectations set by class standards. Bold by the standards of the time that it was written, I found Maurice to be both sad and beautiful. Sad because of the frustration of defeat and the ensuing heartbreak Maurice endures. But beautiful because of the hope and determination that rises from the courage Maurice finds to live his life fulfilled as his heart commands. Peter Firth's narration is really very good; his voice is cultured and rich and he has the emotional power to carry the story to the end. I know that I will listen to Maurice again and again, it's that good.

How far we have come!

Forster's amazing saga of homosexual longing and the societal pressures to conform to a world where being gay was totally sick and unnatural.

Good story, a little hard to follow

I found myself having to rewind and listen again to be able to follow alot of the story line. But once I understood it, it was a great story.

A classic novel

A turn-of-the-century romance where the hero struggles to find himself in a homophobic England. Between the narrator and the novel's punctuation, it's sometimes a little difficult to follow, but overall draws you in. I stopped reading for awhile when I became afraid something bad was about to happen (it did), but couldn't stay away. If you enjoy a Charles Dickens style novel, I think you would enjoy this book. If not, I would go for something more modern.

One for the ages

A beautiful book, performed stunningly by Peter Firth. This novel was written early in the 20th century, but not published until after the author's death. Forster is a master storyteller, and Maurice contains all the seeds of the author's genius. It is a book about gay men, yes; but it is also a book about society, psychology, and love. I highly recommend it. The Merchant-Ivory film of the novel is quite good, too.

Made Gay Men Sympathetic BEFORE Brokeback Mountain

The very fact that this story was conceived in the time period it was is a marvel; even more so when you consider the author himself isn't homosexual. Its only a shame he had to sit on it as long as he did. What's more, he wrote his gay men like real people and not in any stereotypical manner. Some of the cultural references and slang might be difficult for some to grasp, but that's to be expected from a book this old. As to Peter Firth, he gives proper life to all characters within. If you're looking for an audio book for Pride Month, be sure to give this story a look.

Riveting!

Loved it! The narrator is of course, exceptional. I completed the story in one day.

My new favorite book

This novel is perhaps one of the most moving, romantic and emotional pieces of literature that I have read. I might venture to say this is the gay "Jane Eyre"; it is everything I was expecting and more. As a gay man, this novel perfectly captures the feelings and emotions that accompany love in a society that rejects homosexuality, and vividly depicts what it is like to try and live a double life with the longing for what everyone else has– intimacy. The novel is a superb and elegant illustration of romance, love, heartbreak, betrayal and loyalty. Truly one of the best novels in queer literature– a quintessential masterpiece!

I really wanted to like it more but...

It was so boring. I could not get into it. I don't know if it was the writing or the narrator. I would drift off and forget who characters were, which didn't help matters. Everyone was so unremarkable. The titular character in particular was especially boring and average, which I get was part of the point, but still left a bit to be desired.

My atoms are different now

Listen if u like the feeling of free falling with a fist around ur aching heart.

“Maurice did not know that they had thus spent it perfectly — he was too young to detect the triviality of contact for contact's sake. Though restrained by his friend, he would have surfeited passion. Later on, when his love took second strength, he realized how well Fate had served him. The one embrace in the darkness, the one long day in the light and the wind, were twin columns, each useless without the other. And all the agony of separation that he went through now, instead of destroying, was to fulfil.”
My molecules are now in the shape of 🥹