Right here on Arlington Park Mansions a blue plaque marks the London residence of E. M. Forster. The plaque silently proclaims E. M. Forster Novelist lived here. But who was E. M. Forster and why does he deserve such recognition?
E. M. Forster was one of Britain’s greatest novelists. Born Edward Morgan Forster in Marylebone in 1879 he penned six novels. All were hugely successful upon release.
Forster is best remembered for his novels A Room with a View and Howards End. Another of his masterpieces is A Passage to India. These books found new life as popular films in the 1980s and 1990s.
Forster moved here to Arlington Park Mansions in 1939. He sought to escape central London during the war. Also he wanted to be nearer to his friend Bob Buckingham. Buckingham lived in Shepherd’s Bush.
This building was built in 1905. Forster’s flat was on the top floor. It was number 9. He enjoyed a lovely view over Turnham Green.
Though elected a Fellow of King’s College Cambridge in 1945 Forster kept this flat. He would spend a day or two each week in London. Forster always traveled by bus and train. He considered taxis a vulgar extravagance. He kept this flat until his death.
Forster was already a well-known literary figure when he moved to Chiswick. He was 60 years old. Even at this stage of his life Forster kept writing short stories. He continued writing until he was 82. He died at 91. His last novel A Passage to India was finished fifteen years earlier. He was only 45.
Beyond novels E. M. Forster was a dedicated broadcaster. He started broadcasting at the BBC in 1928. The BBC was only six years old then. He reviewed books and advocated for more literature on the radio. Producers found him reliable. Listeners said that you went on thinking as soon as he had stopped talking.
During the war Forster reluctantly contributed to wartime propaganda. He made sure every script aligned with his conscience. He even gave talks to India. He spoke about London theater audiences continuing to enjoy Shakespeare. This happened despite the wartime destruction.
Forster stood up against censorship. He protested a wartime blacklist of performers at the BBC. The government promised to stop the blacklisting after protests from figures like Bernard Shaw and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Also Forster was the first President of the National Council for Civil Liberties. He campaigned for freedom of speech and individual liberty. He fought against racism. He also supported penal reform.
He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature 16 times. Sadly he never won.
This blue plaque is only twelve inches in diameter. It was specially made to fit the narrow space. It serves as a reminder of E.M. Forster’s contributions to literature. It also highlights his dedication to social justice. As you pass by take a moment to reflect on the legacy of this great novelist.