di Canzio, William - Alec (2021)

[Pigy]

   

William di Canzio's Alec, inspired by Maurice, E. M. Forster's secret novel of a happy same-sex love affair, tells the story of Alec Scudder, the gamekeeper Maurice Hall falls in love with in Forster's classic, published only after the author's death.

Thank you William di Canzio for this gorgeous gift for fans of E.M. Forster's classic Maurice like myself. It's obvious from page one that this passion project means a lot to the author as it undoubtedly will to the reader. Di Canzio's approach is full of deference, passion and a tender adoration for the source material. Alec was my favorite character in one of my all-time favorite novels so this really felt like a personal piece of fiction that was written specifically for me. I am 100% the target audience for this, so bear that in mind as I gush about how beautiful the experience of reading this delicious treat of a novel was.


This could have been indulgent, derivative or even a parody in less capable hands but Di Canzio's prose mimics Forster's just enough to provide continuity while adding his own original flourishes. Alec is written over a century after its predecessor and yet is able to capture so much of the style and feel of the original while taking full advantage of the modern sexual candor and sensibility that the twenty first century affords it. Make no mistake, this ain't your grandpa's period British romance. Alec is unrestrained in it's sexual freedom and it's a joy to revel in it's liberated abandon. Di Canzio utilizes one hundred years of hindsight to imagine what might have happened after Maurice ends while also reframing the original novel and giving the reader Alec's perspective. I have always preferred working class stories to those of the super rich and have always been more fascinated by the underbelly inner-workings of the Downstairs more than the tip of the iceberg frivolity of the Upstairs. I'm more intrigued by the cogs making the clock tick than its glittery golden face. So Alec's perspective appeals to me much more than Maurice's and I found his version of the events to be refreshing and illuminating in interesting ways. Forster is well-known for his dialogue and Di Canzio emulated the punchy back and forth between the characters with effortless and endearing banter. This actually makes perfect sense when you take the author's background as a playwright and extensive experience in theatre into account.

This theatrical toolbox also provides Di Canzio with a clear gift for great characters. He deftly revives some old favorites from the original novel along with adding fresh, lovable new personalities to the story. I particularly loved Morgan, the Baroness, and Llewellyn. Even some old favorites like Maurice's sister Kitty get fleshed out with new storylines and character development. Of course, Alec and Maurice are the true stars of the story and I love them even more deeply and fully now than I did after reading the first novel. Alec has a refreshing acceptance and ease with his sexuality that contrasts Maurice's stifled and conflicted relationship with his nature in a wonderful and enjoyable way.

The setting starts off much as we have seen in Maurice and, if I'm honest, that was favorite portion of the novel. It makes perfect sense that Di Canzio had to navigate the first World War and the two men's experience of it but I can see why Forster struggled with and ultimately scrapped the continuation of their story once it was clear that the War would have to be addressed. These chapters are written well and include some moving and memorable scenes but Maurice and Alec's story was really one that belonged to the edges of civilization and in the freedom that they found for themselves outside of society.

The ending beautifully expanded the entire narrative (both the original and this one) to include elements that I won't spoil here but that served the overall themes perfectly. I can't say that Alec surpassed the classic source material but it doesn't feel like eclipsing the original was ever Di Canzio's intention. Instead he celebrates the progressive and rebellious hope of Forster's beloved classic and restores it to public consciousness while presenting it's glorious love story in new technicolor brilliance.