"Where Angels Fear to Tread" is originally a 1905 novel by E. M. Forster, whose title is derived from a line in Alexander Pope's poem An Essay on Criticism : "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread"

. The novel centers on Lilia Herriton, a young, free-spirited widow who travels to Italy and marries an Italian dentist, Gino Carella, against the wishes of her English in-laws. The story explores themes of cultural clash, class consciousness, and the consequences of impulsive actions in a foreign land

. The novel has been adapted multiple times:

• A BBC television adaptation in 1966.
• A 1991 British drama film directed by Charles Sturridge, starring Helena Bonham Carter and Judy Davis, which portrays the cultural tensions between Edwardian English characters and Italians

• A radio adaptation on BBC Radio 4.
• An opera premiered in 1999 and professionally in 2015

The phrase "where angels fear to tread" metaphorically suggests a place or situation so risky or dangerous that even angels would hesitate to enter. In Forster's novel, it reflects the reckless and naive decisions of the English characters venturing into unfamiliar cultural territory, leading to tragic and complex outcomes