A Passage to India

By: E. M. Forster

Narrated by: Sam Dastor

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

Dr. Aziz is a young Muslim physician in the British Indian town of Chandrapore. One evening he comes across an English woman, Mrs. Moore, in the courtyard of a local mosque; she and her younger travelling companion Adela are disappointed by claustrophobic British colonial culture and wish to see something of the 'real' India. But when Aziz kindly offers to take them on a tour of the Marabar caves with his close friend Cyril Fielding, the trip results in a shocking accusation that throws Chandrapore into a fever of racial tension.

Set against the backdrop of the British Raj and the Indian independence movement in the 1920s it deals with the common racial tensions and prejudices between Indians and the British who ruled India.

Many of Forster's novels observed class difference and hypocrisy in early 20th-century British society including A Passage to India, the novel which brought him his greatest success. A secular humanist, Forster showed concern for social, political, and spiritual divisions in the world.

Time magazine included A Passage to India in its All-Time 100 Novels list and it was selected as one of the 100 great works of 20th century English literature by the Modern Library.

Directed by David Lean, a film adaptation was released in 1984 that won numerous awards including two Oscars.

Narrator Biography

A Cambridge graduate who trained at RADA under the direction of Sir Laurence Olivier, Sam Dastor has long featured on screen and stage. He is best known for The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) and for twice portraying Gandhi in both Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy (1986), and Jinnah (1998).

Sam Dastor has starred in many West End productions with roles such as Ariel in The Tempest, and Orlando in As You Like It. His most recent work has included starring on stage at the Wolsey Theatre in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016). He has narrated a large catalogue of audiobooks including V.S. Naipaul’s A House for Mr Biswas.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[Narrator Sam] Dastor's performance is outstanding. A huge cast of characters of all classes and nationalities comes vibrantly alive as he takes the voice of each.... His eloquent reading transforms into powerful performance literature." ( AudioFile)

Transported

As with all EM Forsters works, the language and descriptions took me to another time and place. Whilst some of the reading was a little too heavily accented to be pleasant listening the reading style in general was perfect, languid where necessary, excited as needed to convey this wonderful novel. The underlying political message was not lost.

History worth remembering novel form

A great story with depth and complexity that could still serve our Global efforts today. We are bound to repeat the history we ignore.

A Classic on Colonialism

I had not read A Passage to India in school, although I understood it was a classic. Now that I’ve listened to it, I’m sorry I waited so long. This was a brilliant tale of conflicting cultures and attempts to “only connect” (using Forster’s epigram from his novel Howard’s End, which I did read in school).

The novel takes place in Colonial India, before Gandhi and independence from the British. Many of the British bureaucrats running the region were openly racist. Forster showed sensitivity and insight in his portrayal of the Indians, both Hindu and Moslem, who responded to British rule with apparent accommodation but deep latent resentment. Characters like Mrs. Moore, Dr. Aziz and Miss Quested were well-drawn and sympathetic. The novel has scenes of high drama and tense interactions, but it also includes lengthy descriptions of landscape and mood.

The narrator was able to distinguish each of the characters’ voices, which was helpful, but sometimes I thought the voices bordered on caricature.

Overall, a beautifully written book that shows the devastating impact of colonialism on a nation, as well as the inevitable frustrations of trying to develop good interpersonal relationships.

"Tribes" within the British Raj - relevant today

Classic by E.M. Forster.

Very insightful about "tribes" - and the cost of "siding with your Tribe" - keeping the line straight and etc. In a different context as relevant today as when it was written - about the difficulties and challenges of Anglo Indian relationships in early 20th Century India.

A charge made (and later withdrawn) by an Englishwoman against and Indian - is a major frame of this story - with the attendant implications to both sides.

Both sides - English and Indian did not like each other - did not trust each other. Very difficult to bridge that gap. A few characters in the book Mrs Morse - Fielding - and Dr. Azziz try to bridge that gap and become 'friends' but it is difficult - very difficult.

Got a feel for the resentment towards the British Raj.

Major takeaways for me:

* When an issue arises - people return to their Tribe's corner - need to support 'their own' - right or wrong isn't the/an issue - just winning showing that our side is right - showing that you are loyal to our side - is what's expected/demanded.

* Paraphrasing - the Mediterranean basis (Sea) is the 'baseline' for Civilization - I interpret this as meaning that the descendants of the (Holy) Roman Empire are the 'baseline for normality' concerning how civilizations flourish. This may have been a very British worldview - that the British Empire was the 'gold standard'. It wasn't widely recognized that the British Empire had peaked in the late 1880's - and had suffered dramatically during WW1 and was in decline - (See "The Weary Titan").

Nevertheless a great read - a classic narrative very descriptive, story and message as relevant today as when it was published - the message is a variant of 'only connect' of "Howard's End".

Carl Gallozzi
[e-mail]

Powerful story marred by awkward narration

This is a powerful story of the destructive impact of colonialism and racism in the British Raj that is almost ruined by the extremely over-exaggerated Indian accents that frequently verge on offensive caricature. It is very uncomfortable to listen to. Moreover the depictions of the voices of the British women are also somewhat jarring. I would instead read the version narrated by Vikas Adam who at the very least doesn’t offer quite as cartoonish depiction of the Indian characters’ accents.

Portrait of an Empire in Decline

I was not terribly enthusiastic about diving into this novel as I had just finished Rudyard Kipling's Kim which also was set in India. But, as it was next on my list from the Modern Library Top 100 and it did provide the perspective from a different era I pushed on despite my misgivings. I am glad I did.

Kim was penned by an author who sincerely loved the British Empire and the important role it played as colonizer of India. Though Kipling loved India he sincerely viewed it as a net plus to its colonies.

Forster takes a wholly different views, seeing the classism and racism endemic in colonization. As Indians make every attempt to be liked and accepted by their English colonizers, the English who find themselves relegated to the an imperial backwater vent their resentment against the masses they are trying to govern. This inevitably leads to conflict.

Originally published in 1924, the novel ultimately reveals the tension and duel disdain and distrust both the English and Indian feel towards each other exacerbated when a respected Muslim Indian doctor finds himself accused and tried for an assault against an English woman. The case finds itself on the forefront of a growing desire for Indian self governance and the desperate intent of England to maintain its hold on the subcontinent. It does prove prophetic as those forces of independence patiently await the time when England no longer has the resources or will to dominate India.

A phenomenal novel and a wonderful preview of what to expect from the other E.M. Forster works on my very long list of future reads.

Excellent performance

I thought Sam Dastor did the most wonderful job as narrator of this epic novel. He brought the characters to life, male and female, Indian and British, with such effortless charm. I felt as if I could see them standing before me they were so vivid. Just magnificent - I was totally gripped.

Disappointed

Loved the narration, with all the accents and easily identifiable characters. Unfortunately, the story was slow and did not pull me in.

Excellent Narration

I Googled the narrator and learned that he’s a noted British actor who has also lived in India. The guy is good, very good, and has obviously had firsthand experience in British India. He also does female voices exceptionally well. For a while I thought an entire cast must have done the narration!

Slow reading but masterful

This is a masterfully crafted novel by a magnificent writer, as I have said in my last two reviews. The writing is perfect. For myself, and it is just me, the story just began slow; I couldn't get into it until the last half when Aziz is charged with sexual assault by Miss Quested. That's when the suspense churned and I found traction. But looking back this is a really a fine novel. Not a spy novel suspense level novel or a mystery or a crime novel but a well written classic novel. One will come away improved by it.