I read this at university in London in the 70’s. Homosexual acts had been “decriminalized”, note not legalised, when I was in High School, but only for over 21 yrs, in private (student residences were not such) etc. not a hopeful world. And then I read Maurice, the long unpublished masterpiece which had been shared like a holy text amongst Forster’s close-knit circle.
as you say it gave one hope that there could be that one friend there.
I wonder how it reads decades later. The film is lovely but you inspire me to dig out the battered paperback. Thank you so much 😊