In Holborn Library, near where E.M. Forster resided for many years (he was part of the Bloomsbury set, of course), is an exhibition chronicling his long-term friendship with the Buckinghams, a working-class family who lived nearby.
In Three Cheers for Democracy, Forster explicitly references the Buckingham’s overcrowded living space. He bequeathed many items to them throughout his life, wrote to them constantly, and crucially, encouraged their artistic proclivities. In particular, he nurtured the artistic talents of Jim Buckingham – who has curated the exhibition. It is wonderful therefore, that said exhibition rounds itself off with a collection of Jim’s painting and collages spanning much of his life. They are genuinely excellent, with a distinct focus of lineage and familial connection. This series of visual art is evidence of and testament to the what encouragement – even from just one person – can actually do. It is hard therefore, to overstate the influence Forster had on this family, especially as a wealthy and influential individual.
A fascinating section within the exhibition features extracts from Forster’s Commonplace Books. They are all available online, but the exhibition includes the loan of physical copies. There is little in this world more delectable than reading the diaries of others. The pages selected are ones where Forster has recorded conversations with members of the Buckingham family – especially Bob (the policeman) – and the philosophies and love they elicited in him.
Items and furniture he happily bequeathed to the family tell the story of a kind of writer’s panpsychism – his writing desk for example has been handed down to generations of friends and family, travelling all over the country – preserved not just for its utility but its legacy.
In a world where every letter required focus and attention, the decades of sustained communication between Forster and the Buckinghams is palpable testament to Forster’s genuine care and dedication not only to this family but to his commitment to equality and access for working class artists.
Forster’s maxim, as the exhibition emphasises, was ‘only connect’. His dedication and long-standing dedication to the Buckingham’s is testament to his integrity. Small but charming, this exhibition – as part of the Bloomsbury Festival – celebrates a history of friendship, chronicled not only through letters and gifts, but also private expressions of intimacy (not a euphemism) and affection.
EM Forster’s Legacy of Connection: Unseen Memorabilia runs until 31st October at Holborn Library. More information is available here.