Edward Morgan Forster

The Longest Journey Illustrated Edward Morgan Forster

The Longest Journey is a bildungsroman set in England at the beginning of the 1900s. The central character is Rickie Elliot. He is an orphan, and he limps. We meet him first at Cambridge. What should he do with his life? He enjoys writing stories-maybe he should become an author! We follow his journey through life--the stumbling blocks put in his way, the inevitable sidetracks have taken, and where he finally ends up. The novel has autobiographical content. The book has numerous themes-being an orphan, bullying, physical disabilities, schooling, finding and then sticking with an occupation that satisfies one's personal goals. The marriage of mismatched partners is another theme. The themes overlap. Moral and philosophical questions tie the whole together.