A Room with a View

In the early 20th Century, a group of well-off English holidaymakers, "the better class of tourist", meet in a hotel in Florence, Italy. Young Lucy is travelling with her cousin Charlotte. They strike up a conversation with Mr Emerson and his son George, whose crudeBasic, rough. manners offend Charlotte. Lucy takes a fancy to George, but social norms dictate that she should marry Cecil, a stiff and snobbish gentleman back in England. EM Forster's wickedly funny romance (published in 1908) dissects the values of the time, but remains popular today thanks to its vivid characters and enduring portrayal of the trials of love. As Forster writes: "Life is easy to chronicle, but bewilderingCompletely confusing. to practice."