037 - Chapter 37

Set against the backdrop of early twentieth-century England, Howards End intricately weaves the lives of three families, each embodying different facets of the Edwardian middle class. The wealthy Wilcoxes, who built their fortune in the Colonies, encounter the idealistic Schlegel siblings—Margaret, Tibby, and Helen—who reflect the intellectual bourgeoisie and share a kinship with the real-life Bloomsbury Group. Meanwhile, the struggling Basts represent the lower-middle class. As the Schlegel sisters endeavor to aid the Basts and challenge the prejudices of the Wilcoxes, the poignant motto of the book, Only connect..., resonates throughout their interconnected lives.