Alec: A Novel

For fans of classics who wish for sequels by other authors, this book should probably be on the list. A companion/sequel to E.M. Forster's "Maurice," the story is now told from Alec's point of view. The first two sections cover the same territory as the original book, while the remainder takes the characters to about 1920.

Of the two parts, the second is significantly the better. Telling the story of Alec and Maurice as they slog through the First World War, the writing here really hits its stride. The first hundred pages, though, didn't sound right to me. Especially when compared to the exquisite composition of the original novel, now the characters sounded distractedly modern in tone rather than turn of the century. Particularly show more jarring was the overuse of the word "queer," at a time when "gay" would have been the more common term. Perhaps more unconvincing, after a full volume of Maurice's conflicted attitude toward his homosexuality, nary a wisp survives in this new story. Scudder is also retconed into a frustrated scholar, who nonetheless continues to write awkwardly phrased and misspelled notes. The incongruency is offputting. There's perhaps an unintended message in that it takes a world war to get the personalities convincingly structured.

I did enjoy the book, and it should be said that it was written with the permission of Forster's estate. It doesn't compare with the original, but is a solid if slow-starting response to the question, So what happened after Maurice found Scudder in the boathouse? (P.S.: Maurice never sees nor speaks to Clive again). show less

Maurice by E.M. Forster is a literary classic, and Maurice and Alec are a beloved, iconic couple.
So I was ecstatic to learn of this sequel to the classic novel.
It was authorized by Forster's estate, so I knew the material would be treated with reverance.
This is primarily Alec's back story and then it gives us a retelling of their first
meeting and declarations of love.
It's a new world for our boys as they balance their love within the confines of the law and then the heartbreaking separation by the war.
It's a sexy, brilliant, heartfelt, beautifully written reimanging of a classic.
This is highly recommended, a must read for anyone who has ever wondered what happened to Maurice and his beloved "Scudder".
I loved it.

Lovely, joyous, heart-rending, brilliant. Based on Forster, but just as reminiscent of Proust. If you’ve read Maurice, this is a true gift.

So wonderful. For anyone who wondered what might have befallen Alec and Maurice after the events of Forster's "Maurice", this lovely book suggests a possibility.

a serious love story about overcoming adversity and surviving a war..... also someone's dick is mentioned like every 10 pages???

Di Canzio’s novel, published in 2021, is the story of Alec and Maurice, the lovers of E.M. Forster’s novel Maurice, written in 1913 but only published in 1971, the year after his death.

Where Forster’s novel is written from the viewpoint of Maurice, Di Canzio’s is from of Alec’s point of view. And he tells the story of what happens after the ending of Forster’s book. What follows is, In my opinion, one of the greatest love stories in literature. This is a story of how strong and deep love can be and all the hardships it can overcome.

Di Canzio’s writing style breathes that of the period where the story is set in, early twentieth century. The story deals with class, war, shellshock, found family, but above all: fierce show more love.

Reading this sublime novel made me think of David Leavitt’s While England Sleeps and also, near the end, of Home at the End of the World by Michael Cunningham who wrote about Alec: “Just when it began to seem that I couldn’t read E. M. Forster’s Maurice one more time, as much as I love it, here’s Alec, William di Canzio’s brilliant reimagining of Forster’s classic. Alec extends Maurice, delivers it to us intact but refreshed and reconsidered. I, for one, am extremely grateful." show less