Thread: in point of time & equally so in spirit

E. M. Forster is an Edwardian in point of time, and he is equally so in spirit.


Could you tell me what this sentence means?


in point of time

equally so in spirit.


Source:

E. M. Forster is an Edwardian in point of time, and he is equally so in spirit. His outlook on the _

His response to the explosion of the Victorian dream of benevolent progress has been a modest and orderly retreat to safer ground to a tolerant individualism now unmixed with Utopian dreams, but nevertheless closer to Victorian ideals than to any of the popular creeds of today.

My last question about this article:

Would you please explain the sentence above?

I am very confused.

Many thanks

Originally Posted by nima_persian

E. M. Forster is an Edwardian in point of time, and he is equally so in spirit.
Could you tell me what this sentence means?

It means that not only did Forster live in the Edwardian period (roughly 1900-1910) but also that he (or, more accurately him as evinced by his public persona) embodied the attitudes, mores and outlook of that time.

I can not understand yet.

Some writers are said to be "ahead of their time", in that they use (or create) ideas that foreshadow future trends.
By saying that Forster was an Edwardian in spirit it means that his writing reflected - to a great if not total extent - the conventions and attitudes of the Edwardian period.

The Edwardian era or Edwardian period in the United Kingdom is the period covering the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910. E. M. Forster is an Edwardian in point of time. That means he lived and wrote his books during the Edwardian period, 1901 to 1910. He was an Edwardian in spirit. That means his books were written in a style typical of that period, his beliefs and outlook on life were similar to other people who lived in that period of time.

A really easy example of an Edwardian mind is Mr.Banks from Marry Poppins, one foot in the modern era another in the Victorian torn between Victorian virtues and modern values