French Literature Reviews - 2026

A. Moreews, James Ivory, and Edward Morgan Forster (1879-1970): Friendship, Two Cultures, Three Continents
Other Literary Studies

Alain Moreews, James Ivory et Edward Morgan Forster (1879-1970) - L'Amitié, deux cultures, trois continents

Paris: L'Harmattan, 2013.

144 p.

EAN 9782296997783

14.50 EUR

Publisher's overview:

Separated by 70 years, the messages of English novelist Edward Morgan Forster and American director James Ivory are remarkably close. They share a common commitment to rejecting whatever hinders friendship and freedom: unspoken rules, conformity, rigid identities, and historical amnesia. They share the same central preoccupation: how to live a dual culture more fully across three continents—India, America, and Europe.

E. M. Forster's Edwardian novels found a remarkable cinematic second life in the late twentieth century through the films of James Ivory. This study contextualizes their shared thematic universe, which spans three continents: Europe, Asia, and North America. Both creators navigated the complexities of cultural hybridity, particularly the British colonial presence in India, the traditional social landscapes of Europe, and the modern American perspective. By exploring these geographical and cultural intersections, the book highlights how both artists challenged the rigid social structures and national boundaries of their respective eras.

This volume is particularly valuable for students and scholars of comparative literature, film studies, and Anglo-American cultural history. It addresses key questions about the nature of adaptation, exploring how literary themes of personal freedom, friendship, and identity translate across different historical periods and artistic media. Readers interested in twentieth-century literature, the dynamics of intercultural dialogue, and the transition from page to screen will find Alain Moreews's analysis to be an insightful and accessible guide to these two influential figures.