Regarded by numerous critics as Forster's masterpiece, Howards End is a novel that explores the many intricacies of class relations in English society during the turn of the century. Centering around three families representing England's working class and wealthy elite, the novel weaves a complicated tapestry of misunderstandings, careless impulses, and, ultimately, tragedy. Like many of Foster's works, Howards End concerns the nature of class and social status and how they affect one's relationships and well-being, for better or for worse.