The Art of the Awkward Kiss: Finding Rest in Forster’s Social Satire
There is a particular kind of magic in hearing high-society awkwardness narrated in a voice designed to lull you into a deep slumber. In the latest installment of Send Me To Sleep: Books and stories for bedtime, host Andrew brings us into the ninth chapter of E.M. Forster’s A Room With A View, titled “Lucy as a Work of Art.” It is an episode that balances the sharp, often uncomfortable edges of Edwardian social climbing with the soft, rhythmic cadence required for a night of rest.
The Tension of Cecil Vyse
This chapter is a masterclass in character study, focusing heavily on Cecil Vyse, Lucy Honeychurch’s new fiancé. Cecil is a man who views life through the lens of a gallery curator rather than a participant. Andrew’s narration captures Cecil’s refined snobbery without making the character so grating that he wakes you up. We see Cecil struggling to reconcile his “cosmopolitan naughtiness” with the reality of a country garden party, treating Lucy less like a partner and more like a painting he has recently acquired.
One of the most effective segments of this reading is the dialogue between Cecil and Mrs. Honeychurch regarding the “ugly little villas” of Summer Street. The clash between Cecil’s intellectual posturing and Mrs. Honeychurch’s practical, slightly chaotic energy provides a perfect narrative texture. It is engaging enough to hold your attention as you settle in, but predictable enough in its classic structure to let your mind drift.
The Sacred Lake and the Failed Embrace
The heart of this episode lies in the walk through the woods toward the “Sacred Lake.” Forster’s description of the pines and the shallow pool is inherently peaceful, playing perfectly into the podcast’s mission. However, the scene culminates in one of literature’s most famously botched romantic moments: Cecil’s request for a kiss.
The humor of the dislodged pince-nez—flattened between the couple during their stiff embrace—is handled with a gentle touch. As a listener, you feel the weight of Cecil’s failure and his subsequent internal monologue about “manliness” and the “curses of a refined nature.” It is a quiet, internal sort of drama that fits the bedtime format far better than a high-stakes thriller ever could.
The Golden Nugget: "Passion should believe in itself irresistibly. It should forget civility and consideration and all the other curses of a refined nature. Above all, it should never ask for leave where there is a right of way."
Why This Episode Works for Sleep
What makes this specific reading of A Room With A View stand out is the pacing. Andrew understands that the listener needs a steady, unwavering flow. Even when the characters are arguing about clergymen or village architecture, the vocal delivery remains grounded.
- Atmospheric Consistency: The transition from the introductory relaxation breathing into the story is seamless.
- Vivid Imagery: Forster’s descriptions of the “August wood” and the crimson leaves provide a rich visual backdrop for the drifting mind.
- Subtle Irony: The episode ends on a poignant note, with Lucy finally remembering the name of the man who actually matters—Emerson—just as she leaves her stiff encounter with Cecil.
By the time the chapter closes on Lucy’s realization, the social anxieties of the Honeychurch family feel distant and unimportant, eclipsed by the slow, steady rhythm of the narration. It is a reminder that even the most cluttered social lives of the past can provide a pathway to a quiet mind today.