Anonymity : an enquiry by E. M. Forster
QR code
"Anonymity: An Enquiry" by E. M. Forster is an essay published in the early 20th century that explores the concept of authorship and the significance of knowing an author's identity in relation to the experience of literature. This work is part of "The Hogarth Essays," a collection featuring various literary critiques and reflections from different authors. Forster's essay delves into the implications of anonymity and signed works, suggesting that the nature of
literature often leads to a condition where the work itself transcends its creator, and the appreciation of art is less about the individual and more about the collective experience it offers. In "Anonymity: An Enquiry," Forster embarks on a thoughtful examination of how the knowledge of an author's identity influences our engagement with their work, contrasting songs and poems that exist anonymously, such as "The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens," with signed works like Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." He argues that creative literature often wants to exist without the author's signature to allow readers to fully immerse themselves in the emotional and atmospheric realms created by the text. Forster contends that the essence of literature lies in transcending the personal identity of the author, inviting readers to lose themselves in the artistry instead of being preoccupied with the authorship. Throughout the essay, he discusses the roles of information and atmosphere in writing, ultimately emphasizing that true literary appreciation arises when readers engage with the work's creative spirit rather than the external identity of its creator. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Upload it on the Amazon site your Kindle is registered with: amazon.com/sendtokindle for the US, amazon.co.uk/sendtokindle for the UK etc.
- It appears on your Kindle and in the Kindle app
Kobo, Nook etc. → Transfer via USB
- Download the EPUB3 file on your computer
- Connect your e-reader by USB and tap "Connect" on its screen
- Drag the file onto the e-reader drive
Phone, Tablet or Computer → Online or Reading App
Easiest: read online in your browser. Nothing to install.
Or use a reading app:
- Find and install one you like, for example Apple Books, ReadEra or Thorium Reader
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Open it in the app
More help: iPhone / iPad · Android · Computer
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Forster, E. M. (Edward Morgan), 1879-1970 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 26022696 |
| Title | Anonymity : an enquiry |
| Original Publication | London: Hogarth Press, 1925. |
| Series Title | The Hogarth essays. XII |
| Credits | Laura Natal Rodrigues (Images generously made available by The Internet Archive). |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 71.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PN: Language and Literatures: Literature: General, Criticism, Collections |
| Subject | Authorship |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 74818 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-74818-4 |
| Release Date | Nov 30, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 504 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!