What is available for free

Forster’s pre-1929 novels are all in the US public domain:

• A Room with a View (1908)
• Howards End (1910)
• Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905)
• The Longest Journey (1907)
• A Passage to India (1924)
• Short story collections like The Celestial Omnibus

That covers most of the novels people read him for.

Where to download them

Three good sources, each with a different strength.

Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org)

The original free library. Offers EPUB and MOBI/Kindle downloads for all the titles above. The formatting is basic but clean. If you just want to start reading, this is the fastest path.

Standard Ebooks (standardebooks.org)

Same public domain titles, but hand-formatted with real typography and consistent styling. Downloads as EPUB. If you care about how the book looks on the page, Standard Ebooks is worth the extra click.

Internet Archive (archive.org)

Has scanned copies and EPUBs of the public domain titles, plus borrowable copies of later works through their library lending program. If you want a specific edition or a title that is not in the public domain yet, check here.

Getting them onto your Kindle

Modern Kindles have supported EPUB natively since late 2022, so this is simpler than it used to be. Three ways, pick whichever suits you:

1. Email it. Download the EPUB, then email it to your Kindle’s @kindle.com address (you can find this in your Amazon account under “Manage Your Devices”). It shows up on your Kindle within a few minutes.
2. Send to Kindle app. Amazon has a “Send to Kindle” app and website that lets you drag and drop files. Same result, slightly easier if you are doing several books at once.
3. USB cable. Plug your Kindle into your computer and drop the file into the documents folder. No internet needed.

Your library card is a free ebook machine

Most people do not realize their public library card gives them free access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks they can read on a Kindle, phone, tablet, or computer. No late fees, no trips to the building. The book just disappears from your device when the loan expires.

Here is how it works.

Libby (the main app)

Libby is the app most public libraries use now. It replaced OverDrive (same company, newer app). Here is the setup:

1. Get a library card. If you do not have one, most libraries let you sign up online or in person for free. You just need proof of address.
2. Install Libby. It is free on iOS, Android, and at libbyapp.com in a browser.
3. Add your library. Open Libby, search for your library by name or zip code, and enter your card number.
4. Browse and borrow. Search for a title, tap “Borrow,” and choose how long you want it (usually 7, 14, or 21 days). If it is checked out, you can place a hold and Libby will notify you when it is available.
5. Read it. You can read right in the Libby app on your phone or tablet. For Kindle, tap “Read with Kindle” after borrowing, and it sends the book to your Kindle through Amazon.

Libby works with ebooks and audiobooks. Most libraries carry a wide selection, including new releases, though popular titles sometimes have a wait.

Kindle specifically

Libby has a “Read with Kindle” option that sends borrowed library books directly to your Kindle. It works through Amazon’s system, so the book shows up on your Kindle just like something you bought, except it disappears when the loan ends. You do need to connect your Amazon account the first time, but Libby walks you through it.

Other devices (phone, tablet, computer)

If you do not have a Kindle, Libby itself is the reader. The app works on iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, and in any web browser. You borrow the book and read it right there. No extra steps.

Some libraries also support:

• Hoopla (hoopladigital.com). Similar to Libby but with a different catalog. Some titles are on Hoopla that are not on Libby, and vice versa. Hoopla titles are usually available instantly (no waitlists). Works on phones, tablets, computers, and some smart TVs.
• Palace Project (thepalaceproject.org). A newer, library-run alternative. Fewer libraries use it so far, but it is growing.

Check your library’s website to see which services they offer. Most support at least Libby, and many support two or three.

What is not free yet

Not everything Forster wrote is in the public domain in the US.

Maurice was published in 1971, after his death. It will not enter the US public domain until 2067. For now, you would need to buy it or borrow it through a library. Libby carries it at most libraries.

A Passage to India is public domain in the US (published 1924), but still under copyright in the UK and EU until 2041. If you are in the US, you are fine. If you are traveling or using a UK-based source, the rules differ.

The short version

For the public domain titles: go to gutenberg.org, search for the title, download the EPUB, and email it to your Kindle. Five minutes, no cost, completely legal. If you want nicer formatting, try standardebooks.org instead.

For everything else (and for books by any author): install Libby, add your library card, and borrow ebooks for free. It works on Kindle, phones, tablets, and computers.