Abinger Harvest

This critical edition brings back the 1936 collection of essays by E. M. Forster. The collection aimed at representing the variety of Forster's interest and the purpose is fully achieved - we move from commentary on current political situation, literature both classical and contemporary, history of art and numerous subjects that Forster took fancy to from the beginning of the 20th century until mid-1930s. The critical value of the volume lies in its careful editing - collating British and American edition as well as the surviving manuscripts and supplementing them with notes. There is also a double bonus for the reader. This is the first edition which brings back the essay "Flood in the Office" suppressed in the original edition (and for the publication of which Forster was sued for libel and had to pay £750 fine) and adds one more pageant, "England's Pleasant Land", fairly difficult to access as previously it was published only once in 1940.

I've only read this one essay from Abinger Harvest. The essay is "My Wood." I highly encourage everyone to read this essay. Forster reflects on materialism vs ownership in and intriguing and amusing way. The essay is also chock-full of wonderful literary allusions. I took an advanced writing course at university and one of the assignments was to track down the sources of these allusions. It was both fun and educational. Cool stuff.