E. M. Forster’s Aspects of the Novel (1927) gathers the Clark Lectures he delivered at Cambridge, offering one of the most readable works of literary criticism in English. Forster examines the novel through seven aspects — story, people, plot, fantasy, prophecy, pattern, and rhythm — illustrating each with examples from the great novelists.
Famous for distinguishing “flat” from “round” characters and for his wry, conversational manner, the book remains a staple of courses on fiction and the craft of writing. It is both an analysis of how novels work and a writer’s reflection on the form. Download the free EPUB of this enduring guide to the art of the novel.