Written before the devastation of the First World War, these twelve stories by E. M. Forster are masterpieces of fantasy and allegory. Dedicated to Hermes, the messenger of the gods and escort of souls, the stories - for example 'The Road from Colonus' and 'Other Kingdom' - contrast those who represent a stultifying respectability with those living a life of passion. The themes introduced here are developed in Forster's later work - belief in self-expression, the need for spiritual honesty, the battle to overcome repression - making these stories not only enjoyable works in themselves but also a valuable introduction to the great novels.