Completed in 1914, Maurice remained unpublished until after Forster's death. Although its homosexual content was the reason for this, the novel cannot be defined simply by its theme. It was written by a great novelist at the height of his powers, as those who read it will surely discover. As a typical product of middle-class suburbia, Maurice finds it difficult coming to terms with his homosexuality. He first glimpses the possibilities of an unconventional life when he meets and falls in love with Clive, a fellow Cambridge undergraduate, but when Clive turns to women, Maurice feels betrayed. Close to despair, he meets Alex and in their ensuing love affair Maurice finds fulfilment, ultimately causing him to reject his entire inherited system of values and conduct.
