Where Angels Fear to Tread — E.M. Forster

When the widow Lilia Herriton marries the much younger, disreputable, and pitiable Gino, events of poignancy and pathos play themselves out. The mores of a narrow and lifeless society present a solemn background. Told with sympathy, a lightness, and a radiant atmosphere of humor, Forster's first novel is a supreme example of his masterful touch.