Showing results by author "W. Somerset Maugham" in All Categories

Liza of Lambeth delves into the struggles of an 18-year-old factory girl navigating the harsh realities of slum life in 1890s London. The story revolves around Lizas romantic entanglements and the profound consequences they bring. Drawing inspiration from W. Somerset Maughams own experiences as a trainee doctor during this era, the novel offers a poignant glimpse into the challenges faced by the working class. This debut work marked the beginning of Maughams journey as a novelist, steering him away from medicine and into the world of literature. - Summary by Hatton43

Listen to Cakes and Ale, one of W. Somerset Maugham’s most beloved and subtly provocative novels. First published in 1930, this classic explores love, marriage, art, hypocrisy, and the cost of respectability in English society. Told with Maugham’s trademark wit and clarity, the novel reflects on memory, morality, and the tension between social conformity and personal freedom. Inspired in part by real literary figures, Cakes and Ale is both a sharp social satire and a deeply human story.

"Tired of the everyday grind? Ever dream of a life of… romantic adventure? Want to get away from it all? We offer you… Escape!" Radio Spirits is pleased to present 20 classic tales from one of radio's greatest action and adventure series. This collection will bring you tales of black pearls, headhunters, volcanoes, Nazi convoys and cargos of gold in exotic settings and locales - from South of the Border to Dutch East India, Paris, North Africa and points unknown!

In The Moon and Sixpence, William Somerset Maugham crafts a captivating tale inspired by the life of the renowned painter Paul Gauguin. Through the eyes of a first-person narrator, we delve into the tumultuous journey of Charles Strickland, a middle-aged English stockbroker who makes the shocking decision to leave behind his family in pursuit of his true passion art. This episodic novel offers profound insights into Stricklands mind and soul, exploring the complexities of creativity and the sacrifices made for artistic fulfillment. (Summary by Wikipedia)

A celebrated writer by the time the war broke out in 1914, Maugham had the perfect cover for living in Switzerland. Multilingual and knowledgeable about many European countries, he was dispatched by the Secret Service to Lucerne - under the guise of completing a play. An assignment whose danger and drama appealed both to his sense of romance and of the ridiculous. Ashenden is a collection of stories rooted in Maugham's own experiences as an agent, reflecting the ruthlessness and brutality of espionage, its intrigue and treachery, as well as its absurdity.

This is a non-fiction collection of Maugham's observations of life in Asia in the early 20th Century. (Summary by BellonaTimes)

Enter the fascinating world of colonial-era China with W. Somerset Maugham's 'The Painted Veil.' Follow the story of Kitty Fane, a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage, as she navigates the complexities of love, betrayal, and redemption in a foreign land. Experience the power of literature to transport us to another time and place and to illuminate the human experience with depth and nuance.https://www.solgood.org - Check out our Streaming Service for our full collection of audiobooks, podcasts, short stories, & 10 hour sounds for sleep and relaxation at our website W. Somerset Maugham, ...

Kitty Garstin, joven y bella londinense, cumple veinticinco años sin haber alcanzado el objetivo para el que fue educada por su madre: un buen casamiento. Por temor a que su hermana menor se case antes que ella, contrae matrimonio con un bacteriólogo inteligente, educado y moralmente intachable, que la adora pero de quien no está enamorada.

The W. Somerset Maugham Works Collection compiles his complete literary works, offering a deep exploration of his timeless storytelling and insightful reflections on life.

En esta novela que es considerada, creo que con razón, como una de las más importantes del siglo XX, el autor nos cuenta como una experiencia vivida, la historia de Larry Darrel. Joven americano nacido en una familia bien situada en Chicago. Cuando Larry vuelve de la guerra, no encuentra sentido a la vida que le espera, y que todo el mundo cree que aceptará encantado: casarse con Isabel, una joven de familia bien de Chicago para anquilosarse en un trabajo que no le interesa, pero que sin duda perpetuaría esa clase de vida de la alta sociedad....

"Canon Spratte saw himself as he thought others might see him: mediocre, pompous, self-assertive, verbose." Maugham could have added ambitious, hypocritical, and vain. In this engrossing social satire, Theodore Spratte, a cleric, motivated by an obsessive desire to be elevated to bishop, embellishes his family history and intrudes upon his son's and daughter's courtships. A reviewer in 1906 wrote, "The whole book is an admirable blend of cynical gaiety and broadly farcical comedy; it is the smartest and most genuinely humorous novel that the season has yet given us." -- Lee Smalley

The Moon and Sixpence is a 1919 short novel by William Somerset Maugham based on the life of the painter Paul Gauguin. The story is told in episodic form by the first-person narrator as a series of glimpses into the mind and soul of the central character, Charles Strickland, a middle aged English stock broker who abandons his wife and children abruptly to pursue his desire to become an artist. (Summary by Wikipedia)

The Magician follows Oliver Haddo as he attempts to create life. He has a fight with a friend, Arthur, after kicking his fiancees dog. Following this fight, he seduces the fiancee, Margaret, with magic and the newlyweds away to Italy. Arthur returns to England to lick his wounds. Meanwhile, Margaret's former roommate, Susie, has fallen for Arthur, although she knows it is hopeless. Eventually, all four meet up at a dinner party and Arthur rescues Margaret from her loveless marriage. After this novel was published in 1908, he was accused of plagiarism by magician Aleister Crowley. It was ...

In Rain, we delve into the gripping tale of a missionary whose moral compass unravels as he attempts to convert Sadie Thompson, a captivating prostitute from a Pacific island. This poignant narrative explores themes of faith, temptation, and the complexities of human nature. (Introduction by an excerpt from Wikipedia)

I thought it was you I saw coming up the hill,” she said, extending her hand. He paused, shaking it gently; the warmth of his strong fingers sent a shiver through her. His grip was powerful, as if carved from solid stone. Looking up at him, she smiled, “Isn’t it cold?” The tension of unspoken desires filled the air, as they both yearned to express their feelings, yet were bound by the constraints of convention to utter only the most ordinary of words. (Excerpts from chapter 1.)

In this early novel by W. Somerset Maugham, the intricate dance between self-integrity, familial devotion, and romantic entanglements unfolds. Lucy Allerton and Alec MacKenzie find themselves at a crossroads, torn between the pursuit of happiness that feels rightfully theirs and the moral values that shape their identities. Join us as we explore their emotional journey, narrated beautifully by Lilith Branda.

James Parsons returns to Little Primpton after his service in the Boer War, hailed as a local hero for earning the Victoria Cross by courageously saving a fellow soldier. Yet for Jamie, the homecoming is bittersweet; his experiences have profoundly altered his perspective, leaving him struggling to reconcile his newfound beliefs with the expectations of his family and community. Maugham skillfully captures Jamies internal conflict and the societal pressures that challenge his quest for individual freedom. - Summary by OCTL7

The Magician, a captivating novel by British author W. Somerset Maugham, was first published in 1908. It follows the enigmatic magician Oliver Haddo, a character inspired by the infamous Aleister Crowley, as he embarks on a dark quest to create life itself. Crowley, in turn, critiqued the novel under the pseudonym Oliver Haddo, accusing Maugham of plagiarism. Written during Maughams time in London, after his encounters with Crowley in Paris, this intriguing tale was later republished with a foreword by Maugham titled A Fragment of Autobiography.

Dive into a captivating collection of short stories set against the enchanting backdrop of the South Sea Islands. Among these tales are the renowned Red, Rain, and The Fall of Edward Barnard, the latter serving as a foundational narrative for one of W. Somerset Maughams most celebrated novels, The Razors Edge. Experience the vivid landscapes and complex characters that make this anthology a must-listen. - Summary by Lilith Branda

In Merry-Go-Round, Basil Kent finds himself in a whirlwind of emotions when he marries Jenny Bush out of a sense of duty after an unexpected pregnancy. However, his heart truly belongs to the enchanting Hilda Murray. Meanwhile, Grace Castillyon, a respected married woman, is captivated by the charm of the much younger Reggie Bassett, who is merely toying with her affections. Bella Langton is determined to marry Herbert Field, who is gravely ill, believing that their union will enable him to escape his suffering during the winter months. As these intertwined relationships unfold, the observant ...