WAS E. M. FORSTER a coward? A case could be made. He was deferential to a domineering mother, fearing her censure of his gay-themed writing as well as the men he loved, regretting he was unable to become the “authoritative male” who might have lessened her depression after the early death of his father. Short of falsely declaring himself to be a conscientious objector, he did everything he could to avoid conscription into the British Army during World War I until …