Those who look to him for a colorful, romantic story will find this slowpaced at the start. October 11, 2016 january 2, 2019 books weve read admin leave a comment. The razors edge vintage classics new ed edition, kindle edition by w. Maugham was seventy years old when the book was published, and it was to be the last of his major novels. Buy the razors edge vintage classics by maugham, w. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in search of some transcendent meaning in his life. Somerset maugham pocket selling prewiew mobile acquire for ipad pc. The razors edge follows the spiritual and physical journey of larry darrell, a sensitive, intelligent young man who refuses to conform to the prevailing social norms of postworld war i america. The announced intent is to highlight the experiences of an american war verteran who rejects the society of the rich to embrace a vagabond quest. See all 14 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razor s edge is a novel by w. William somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. The razors edge by william somerset maugham download eub.
A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. He was educated at kings school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. Somerset maugham the razors edge vintage classics, paperback 2000 8vo. He relates his story in a first person participant account just like a typical first person narrator. The razors edge asked questions that spoke to a period in history unlike any other and. I am very pleased with this book, and im impressed with the speed in which it was delivered.
Somerset maugham written by therazorsedgecommunity. Somerset maugham after channel surfing and finding that the 1946 movie by the same name with tyrone power, gene tierney, cliffton webb and anne baxter was already at the 10 minute point when i started watching it. The first edition of the novel was published in 1944, and was written by w. Todays blog will be about the social and economic context of the united states and europe around the 1920s, which is when the story of the razors edge took place. This series of blog posts will provide summaries of the main events of every part of the novel. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razors edge is a novel by w. The razors edge by somerset maugham can be a tricky novel to follow. Copyright 1943, 1944 by mccall corporation copyright 1944 by w. It is very difficult to know people and i dont think any one can ever really know any but ones own countrymen. The razors edge was maughams third attempt at writing a book with the exact same plot even down to having characters with the same name. Collecting the razors edge by maugham, w somerset first.
He was a fast driver and the speed at which he went exhilarated them both. The razors edge opening line i have never begun a novel with more misgiving. Somerset maugham larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. Though his physical wounds from the war heal, his spirit is changed almost beyond recognition. Somerset maugham 25 january 1874 16 december 1965 william somerset maugham was born at the british embassy in paris, france, where his father was an english lawyer handling the legal affairs of the british embassy. Signed limited first edition, number 278 of only 750 copies, of this 20thcentury manifesto for human fulfillment, signed by maugham.
It is also a chronicle of the birth of the united states as a world power. Support epubbooks by making a small paypal donation purchase. Somerset maugham, was an english playwright, novelist, and short story writer. Guy hague some people think guy hague was the real life role model for larry darrell. Celia copplestone is a uniquely spiritual person surrounded by a group of people who have no notion. This symbol appears in a great deal of maughams books, regardless of editor. For men and women are not only themselves, they are also the region in which they are born, the city apartment or the farm. A new documentary tells the story of writer somerset maugham, who took on the taboo subjects of adultery and sexual jealousy. He visited india in 1938, and in madras was taken to an ashram to meet a man who, born venkataraman, had retreated to a life of silence, selfmortification, and prayer, and was now known simply as the maharshi.
Thomas hospital with the idea of practising medicine, but the success of his first novel, liza of lambeth, published in 1897, won him over to letters. The razor s edge by somerset maugham can be a tricky novel to follow. Growing up in india at a time when the british influence was still very strong, most of the books written in english were by british authors and they seemed. Somerset maugham, published in 1944 the novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by. The razor s edge by w somerset maugham was broadcast on bbc radio 4 in 2005 first published in 1944, w somerset maugham s novel dramatised in twoparts by ronald frame. Somerset maugham was one the twentieth centurys most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright, critic, and short story writer. He was one of the most popular writers of the day, and the razors edge was an immediate success on both sides of the atlantic. Somerset maugham after channel surfing and finding that the 1946 movie by the same name with tyrone power, gene tierney, cliffton webb and anne baxter. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. Free download or read online the razors edge pdf epub book.
It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s, and disregards. Somerset maughams the razors edge quotes 15 quotes almost all the people whove had the most effect on me i seem to have met by chance, yet looking back it seems as though i couldnt but have met them. Somerset maugham developed an interest in indian spirituality. So far as i know, there is only one place in maughams voluminous output where he mentions the razors edge. All our ebooks are free to download, but first you must sign in or create an account. Somerset maugham, was published in london and new york in 1944. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are elliott templeton, larry darrell. If you enjoy this kind of article make sure to like this post and tag along every tuesday. Larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. When they arrived, isabel, with larry to write down the figures.
Somerset maugham is a novel about a group of young americans who are trying to find their way in the world during the years following world war i. One of the most challenging books somerset maughan has given us. Like the fact that a great many people believe something is no guarantee of its truth. Instead of marrying a rich, pretty chicago girl, he goes to paris searching for answers to questions about man, god and the meaning of life. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters from sharply different worlds. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. He was born in paris but grew up in england and served as a secret agent for the british during world war i. Bbc radio drama the razors edge by w somerset maugham. The razors edge is a novel set in the 1920s and 1930s, tracing the intimate lives of representative british and american upper class. For in larry dornell he has drawn a character symbolic or many we shall meet in the.
If you missed out on the summary of part 3, click here. Somerset maugham, 9780099284864, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Its epigraph reads, the sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass overthus the wise say the path to salvation is hard, taken from a verse in the kathaupanishad. Somerset maugham published the razors edge in 1944 as the world was embroiled in world war ii. A compelling novel of selfdiscovery and the search for meaning from the author of the painted veilthe great war changed everything and everyone, and larry darrell is no exception. Somerset maugham, first published by doubleday doran in the united states in 1944, relates the experiences of a world war i pilot, larry darrell, who chooses to embrace a countercultural lifestyle as a way of dealing with his ptsd, though the syndrome is of course not identified as such in the book. However, here, the author of the novel and the narrator of the story share the same moral character. Somerset maugham has always been one of my most favorite authors. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 314 pages and is available in paperback format.