Smith, Zadie: *1975

On Beauty, 2005 - Information about the Book

General Information | Facts | Author | Commentary | Articles | Podcasts | Inspired by "Howards End"

General Information
- Good for Discussing:
  Themes of Race, Class, Family Dynamics, and Cultural Identity
  Complexities of Moral and Aesthetic Judgment
- The story shows an interracial family living in a university town, whose misadventures in the culture wars serve to penetrate everything from family life to political correctness to the combustive collision between the personal and the political. See Summary.
  It is loosely based on Howards End by E. M. Forster.
- Information from Wikipedia
- Information from Britannica
- Zadie Smith’s inspiration for writing “On Beauty.”
  
  Smith’s mixed-race background plays a crucial role in her exploration of identity in “On Beauty.” She has reflected on how reading works like “Their Eyes Were Watching God” helped her understand the experiences of black women, which influenced her portrayal of characters in the novel. (In Conversation with Zadie Smith)
  Smith has also acknowledged the influence of E.M. Forster’s “Howards End” on “On Beauty.” (Zadie Smith’s Use of E.M. Forster in On Beauty)
Facts
- Awards:
  
  Some of the most notable awards are:
  Orange Prize for Fiction in 2006
  Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction in 2006
  
  The Commonwealth Writers' Best Book Award (Eurasia Section) in 2006
  
  The novel was also selected by The New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2005
- General Perception
  
  "On Beauty" has been generally well-received by critics and readers alike. Critics have lauded Smith's writing style, particularly her wit, sharp dialogue, and rich character development.
  
  The novel is celebrated for its exploration of themes such as race, class, politics, and family dynamics. It delves into issues of identity and cultural conflict, which resonate with many readers.
  
  "On Beauty" is seen as a homage to E.M. Forster's "Howards End," and this intertextuality has been appreciated by readers familiar with Forster's work.
  
  Many readers find "On Beauty" engaging and thought-provoking. It has been praised for its readability and the way it tackles serious themes with a light touch. While the novel is generally well-liked, some readers have noted its dense prose and the slow pacing in parts, which may not appeal to everyone.
  
  Overall, "On Beauty" is regarded as a significant work in contemporary literature, admired for its insightful exploration of social issues and its richly drawn characters. Zadie Smith's ability to blend humor with serious themes has made the novel a standout piece in her oeuvre.
- Reader Rating:
Author
- An Evening with Zadie Smith. Host: Georg Diez. SwissEduc. Zurich; October 2, 2006
- Zadie Smith talks to John Mullan about "On Beauty." The Guardian Podcast; July 17, 2006
- Audio (37:27)
  "On Beauty" and Difference: "The audio provides thematic insights like cultural clashes and aesthetics". NPR Radio; October 17, 2005
Commentary
- Zadie Smith’s "On Beauty" is a rich, multilayered exploration of family dynamics, identity, and the concept of beauty in a modern, multicultural world. Inspired by E.M. Forster’s "Howards End,"" the novel juxtaposes two ideologically opposed families: the liberal Belseys and the conservative Kippses. Through their interactions, Smith examines themes of race, class, art, and morality.
  The narrative centers on Howard Belsey, a Rembrandt scholar grappling with personal and professional failures, and his wife Kiki, whose grounded perspective contrasts Howard’s abstract intellectualism. Their children—Jerome, Zora, and Levi—navigate their own struggles with identity and belonging. The novel’s humor and emotional depth are balanced by its critique of academia, cultural clashes, and the fragility of human relationships.
  
  Smith’s prose is both satirical and compassionate, offering a nuanced portrayal of flawed characters while questioning societal values and the nature of beauty itself.
Articles: General Information | Detailed/Scholarly Information
- General Information:
- Book Review: ""The article offers a personal, enthusiastic overview." A Little Blog of Books; January 12, 2025
- A thing of beauty: "The article by Zadie Smith offers a personal, reflective take on On Beauty through its Forster parallels and themes of identity, but lacks deep plot detail or critical analysis". Stephanie Merritt. Guardian Unlimited; September 4, 2005
- Two descriptions of the same place, which appear at different stages in the novel. Although the place is the same, Smith is able to advance the story just by changing the sensory details on which she and her characters focus.
  "The video offer a general discussion, touching on themes like identity and aesthetics."
- Detailed/Scholarly Information:
- Book Review: "The article provides a highly informative analysis, delving into its themes of aesthetics, perception, cultural tensions, and multifaceted character perspectives". Created to Read; May 23, 2017
- Campus Novel Book Review: "The article provides a highly informative analysis, detailing its ties to E.M. Forster’s Howards End, themes of morality, racism, relationships, and beauty." York University
- A Thing of Beauty?: "The article provides a highly informative analysis, detailing its homage to E.M. Forster's Howards End, key character dynamics like Howard Belsey and Montgomery Kipps, and themes of human disconnection, beauty, and gender roles across families and academia". Andrew Hay, Balliol College
- Race and Class in Zadie Smith's On Beauty: "The article delivers a focused, insightful analysis of race and class dynamics, highlighting how class barriers eclipse traditional racial divides through nuanced character studies and thematic depth." Research Gate; January 2023
Podcasts:
- Recreation of the social world of an elite liberal arts college, exploring issues through nuanced satire on race, class, and beauty.
  "The podcast offers a general overview of themes like beauty, family dynamics, race, and academic rivalries."
Inspired by "Howards End"
- Zadie Smith used Forster’s novel "Howards End" as a structural and thematic model, adapting its exploration of social class and personal relationships to address contemporary issues of race and beauty.
- "On Beauty" compared to "Howards End."
- Zadie Smith’s Use of E.M. Forster in "On Beauty": "Smith updates Forster’s themes and blends the "Howards End" material with the generic conventions of the campus novel." Lourdes Lopez-Ropero, University of Alicante, Spain; 2010
- Zadie Smith imitates more than the plot of "Howards End": "The verbal parallels lead the reader into an episode where imitation is painstaking." The Guardian; July 8, 2006
- A Classic Couple: Howards End and On Beauty: "Both of these novels primarily focus on dynamics between different families as well as between members of the same family." Nut Free Nerd; March 14, 2018
- Zadie Smith’s Use of E.M. Forster in On Beauty: "Smith’s concern for England is nowhere more evident than in On Beauty." Open Edition Journal; 2024