A Passage to India by E. M. Forster — Folio Society 1985

📖 A Passage to India by E. M. Forster (1985, The Folio Society) — E. M. Forster’s landmark modernist novel exploring friendship, cultural collision, and justice in colonial India. This Folio Society second impression features an introduction by Michael Holroyd and expressive illustrations by Ian Ribbons, bound in mustard cloth with a sepia-toned elephant procession design by the artist.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: E. M. Forster (1879–1970)
• Publisher: The Folio Society, London
• Year: 1985 (Second Impression; first Folio Society edition 1983)
• Format: Hardcover in protective slipcase (no dust jacket, as issued)
• Pages: 320+ | ISBN: None (pre-ISBN for this printing)
• Condition: Near Fine / Slipcase Very Good+ — full report below

THE STORY

First published in 1924, A Passage to India is Forster’s final and most ambitious novel, set against the backdrop of the British Raj. The story follows Adela Quested, a young Englishwoman visiting India, and her accusation against Dr. Aziz, a respected Indian Muslim physician, after a mysterious incident in the Marabar Caves. The ensuing trial becomes a crucible for the racial tensions, misunderstandings, and impossible distances that defined Anglo-Indian relations. Forster’s masterful prose navigates themes of imperialism, spirituality, and the limits of human connection with a depth that has kept the novel a cornerstone of twentieth-century literature.

THIS EDITION

This Folio Society edition, the second impression from 1985 following the 1983 first Folio publication, is a fine example of the Society’s commitment to quality craftsmanship. The text is set in eleven-point Times New Roman on white cartridge paper, printed and bound in Great Britain. The introduction by Michael Holroyd — one of Britain’s foremost biographers — provides valuable literary context. The binding in Bamberger Iris cloth, printed with a design by the artist, showcases the hallmark Folio blend of durability and elegance.

COVER ART / ILLUSTRATIONS / DESIGN

The binding features a striking mustard-yellow cloth with a sepia-toned illustration of an Indian elephant procession — riders in traditional attire, ornate howdah, and surrounding figures evoking the novel’s setting. The spine carries the title and author in brown foil. Inside, Ian Ribbons’ illustrations are bold and expressionistic, rendered in earthy browns and ochres with dynamic brushwork that conveys the emotional intensity and cultural landscape of the narrative. The decorative endpapers continue Ribbons’ abstract style, while the pale cardstock slipcase provides clean, functional protection.

WHY IT MATTERS

• Literary landmark: Widely regarded as one of the greatest novels of the modernist period, A Passage to India was ranked among the Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels of the 20th century.
• Cultural significance: Forster’s nuanced critique of colonialism remains urgently relevant, adapted into a celebrated 1984 film directed by David Lean.
• Folio Society collectibility: This edition represents the Society’s high-production standards — cloth binding, artist-designed cover, tipped-in illustrations, and slipcase — prized by collectors of fine press books.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? This is the 1985 second impression of The Folio Society edition of E. M. Forster’s A Passage to India, first published by the Society in 1983. Contains an introduction by Michael Holroyd and full-page illustrations by Ian Ribbons.

What condition is it in? The book is Near Fine: sharp corners, clean cloth, bright spine text, and tight binding. The slipcase is Very Good+ with minimal shelf-wear. Full condition report below.

Does it have a dust jacket? No — this Folio Society edition was issued without a dust jacket, in a plain cardstock slipcase as shown.

FOR COLLECTORS

Folio Society editions from the 1980s are increasingly sought after for their marriage of classic literature and bespoke design. This copy’s Near Fine condition — with crisp boards, clean pages, and intact slipcase — makes it a strong candidate for the serious collector of modernist first editions or fine press books.

#### **Condition Report**

* **Overall Grade:** Near Fine / Slipcase: Very Good+

* **Cover & Spine:** Mustard-colored cloth boards feature a brown printed illustration of an elephant and figures. The binding is clean all around, sharp. Spine text remains bright and unfaded.

* **Dust Jacket:** No dust jacket, as issued. The original slipcase is included, showing some minimal shelf-wear.

* **Text Block & Pages:** The pages are clean, uniform cream-colored, with no significant toning. A single folded corner (dog-ear) is present at the bottom of page 291.

* **Binding:** Square, tight, and appears unread.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

HFB-SEO-v1: 2026-07-15

1 in stock