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The Celestial Omnibus, and Other Stories

by E. M. Forster (1879–1970)

  • Free to read
  • 2 hours to read
  • 12 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"The Celestial Omnibus and Other Stories" by E.M. Forster is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. The stories explore themes of society, personal inklings of transcendence, and the interplay between reality and imagination. The opening story introduces a young boy named Eustace who is characterized as lazy and poorly disciplined, surrounded by adults who are critical of his nature. The beginning of the collection sets the stage in a picturesque Italian setting where Eustace finds himself on a picnic with family and acquaintances. The narrative delves into the dynamics between the characters, highlighting their interactions, criticisms, and the discomfort Eustace causes due to his unsociable behavior. The story takes an unexpected turn when a shared moment of inexplicable fear strikes the group during their outing, leading to the boy disappearing in a moment of panic. This blend of personal conflict, eerie suspense, and the contrasting beauty of nature hints at the fantastical elements that will unfold in subsequent tales.

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  • Short stories, English
  • English fiction · 20th century

Read the opening

Chapter I

Eustace's career—if career it can be called—certainly dates from that afternoon in the chestnut woods above Ravello. I confess at once that I am a plain, simple man, with no pretensions to literary style. Still, I do flatter myself that I can tell a story without exaggerating, and I have therefore decided to give an unbiassed account of the extraordinary events of eight years ago.

Ravello is a delightful place with a delightful little hotel in which we met some charming people. There were the two Miss Robinsons, who had been there for six weeks with Eustace, their nephew, then a boy of about fourteen. Mr. Sandbach had also been there some time. He had held a curacy in the north of England, which he had been compelled to resign on account of ill-health, and while he was recruiting at Ravello he had taken in hand Eustace's education—which was then sadly deficient—and was endeavouring to fit him for one of our great public schools. Then there was Mr. Leyland, a would-be artist, and, finally, there was the nice landlady, Signora Scafetti, and the nice English-speaking waiter, Emmanuele—though at the time of which I am speaking Emmanuele was away, visiting a sick father.

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Contents

  1. Chapter I
  2. Chapter II
  3. Chapter III
  4. Chapter I
  5. Chapter II
  6. Chapter III
  7. Chapter I
  8. Chapter II
  9. Chapter III
  10. Chapter IV
  11. Chapter I
  12. Chapter II

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About this edition

This free edition of The Celestial Omnibus, and Other Stories by E. M. Forster comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #34089, released 2010-10-17. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Short Stories, British Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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