One of the benefits of running this site is receiving Forster-related news in the form of e-mails from people all around the globe. Sometimes, I get information about new works that have some connection to Forster.

Sequel to Howards End?

Early in 1999, I received an e-mail from a fellow informing me that a writer called James Prater had written Hilton Junction, a sequel to Howards End. I subsequently lost the e-mail, but recently (2000) someone else -- Tony Ross -- was able to help confirm the sequel's author and title (thanks to Mr. Ross!). As far as I know, the book is not yet available for purchase, but Mr. Ross passed along this piece of film-related info from the Dark Horizons web site:

Hilton Junction: A sequel to "Howard's End" [sic]? 'Joseph' claims to have knowledge of the project and here's what he had to say: "Just wanted to fill you in on a project that Sir Anthony has had his eye on for quite some time. It's called "Hilton Junction", and it's direct follow up to E.M. Forster's "Howard's End" [sic], which Hopkins starred in in 1991-92.

The author is a relative unknown, but the word is that Hopkins has been watching the book's development for some time now (it's still being written) and he has expressed interest in it. There is no word yet from Merchant Ivory on their participation.

The word is that the author (I do not know his name) is somewhat afraid of the backlash that he will receive for the book. A statement that he made (yes, it's a he, that much I do know) was that he in no way wants to copy Forster's style, but that he is just writing a follow up to the first book, the best way he knows how."

(Source: Dark Horizons -- formerly at http://www.darkhorizons.com/news5/99-065.htm -- now a dead link)

Mr. Ross also included in his message this entry (with its spelling errors and all) from the Amazon.com reader reviews of Howards End:

Reviewer: A reader from Atlanta, Georgia June 12, 1999
"James Prater, a new young writer comes a provactive follow up to E. M. Forster's Howard's End [sic]. Hilton Junction continues the lives of the Shlagel [sic] sisters 3 years after the affairs in Howards End. If you have read Howards End yo umust not miss Hilton Junction. Coming soon"

(Source: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/book-customer-reviews/0451174291/)

Of course not having read it, I can't vouch for the sequel and whether it's indeed a "provacative follow-up," but it's nice to know that there are people out there who are fans of the original novel. Plus any kind of news like this gives the original novel and film some publicity. Speaking of film, the rumor posted on Dark Horizon is interesting but it's just a rumor after all.

Shepherd's Bush - a play by Scott C. Sickles

In the spring of 1997, I received an e-mail from Scott C. Sickles, a playwright who happened to run across this site. He wrote to tell me about his play, Shepherd's Bush, which was based upon some events in EMF's later years (specifically his relationship with Bob and May Buckingham).

• Read more about Shepherd's Bush.

Created 3 September 1999 and last modified 27 July 2001, 04:55 PDT.
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