the page says, "Copyright 1947 E.M. Forster". Maybe he re-registered the copyright?)

If it had been renewed in 1975 (1947 + 28) then it would still be under copyright because of the changes in copyright law. If it wasn't, then it's in the public domain.

Geodesic250,
I still don't quite understand (but since It's a Wonderful Life fell into the public domain in the 1970's and NBC could somehow got exclusive rights to it in 1994, I have realized I have admitted that I undertand copyright and public domain anymore, so please excuse my obtuseness).

If the story was written and originally copyrighted in 1909, how does the "renewed in 1975 (1947 + 28)" equation fit in? Are you saying it was renewed in 1947, or 1975? And if 1975, what is the "Copyright 1947 E.M. Forster" doing there? I don't get it.