Introduction

A Passage to India is the sixth and final novel by English writer Edward Morgan (E. M.) Forster. It received almost universal acclaim when it was published in 1924. The novel depicts life in British colonial India during the early part of the twentieth century, offering a balanced look at both the English and the Indians they ruled. At the time of publication, its unflattering portrayal of the English caused many to view the book as a critique of the British government's colonial policies. Only later did critics begin to see themes in the novel that transcended the immediate politics of the time.

Forster began writing the book in 1913, the year after his first visit to India. The start of World War I delayed his work, and it was only after another...