Howards End

The Schlegel sisters — the heroines of the novel by English writer E. M. Forster (1879-1970) — receive an invitation to visit the country house of the prosperous industrialists, the Wilcoxes. Helen's trip to Howards End nearly ends in an engagement, leading to confusion and a cooling of relations between the families. Over time, Mrs. Wilcox and the elder of the sisters renew their friendship. The rapidly fading Ruth sees in the sensible and kind-hearted Margaret a kindred spirit and decides to leave Howards End to her. Henry destroys his late wife's will, but guilt compels him to seek out Margaret again and again. Meanwhile, the rebel Helen grows close to Leonard Bast, a young bank clerk. Leonard is poor and not free, but the passion that ignites between them is overwhelming and has the power to destroy them both...