He was raised by an uncle, who tried to persuade the youngster to become an accountant or parson. Those who look to him for a colorful, romantic story will find this slowpaced at the start. Apr 10, 2018 the razors edge by somerset maugham can be a tricky novel to follow. Start reading the razors edge vintage international on your kindle in under a minute. The razors edge by william somerset maugham download eub.
Jan 09, 2014 the razors edge is no different and i rate it as his best novel but for his masterpiece of human bondage. The razor s edge by somerset maugham can be a tricky novel to follow. At the beginning of the book, he states that he invents nothing and that his main purpose while writing is to set down his knowledge and experience. Review of the razors edge by somerset maugham a writers. Somerset maugham for iphone, ipad txt format version, file with page numbers the razors edge by w. In fact, such is the richness of the plot and depth of characterization that one begins to suspect that the razors edge is so much more than just a work of fiction but possibly intended as a vehicle for a serious philosophical inquiry into such issues as the nature of evil and the meaning of human existence. The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life. A group of students interpret their favorite scenes of the razors edge and add their own personal touch. William somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. The razor s edge is somerset maugham s masterpiece, although some would give that honor to of human bondage. 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. Aug 01, 2017 in fact, such is the richness of the plot and depth of characterization that one begins to suspect that the razor s edge is so much more than just a work of fiction but possibly intended as a vehicle for a serious philosophical inquiry into such issues as the nature of evil and the meaning of human existence. The razors edge tells the story of an american who, having prepared himself by acquiring a deep tan and donning indian garb, visits the guru shri ganesha and at his hands has an ecstatic spiritual experience, an experience of the same order as the mystics have had all over the world through all the centuries.
For in larry dornell he has drawn a character symbolic or many we shall meet in the. Somerset maugham was born in paris as the sixth and youngest son of the solicitor to the british embassy. The razors edge ebook epub electronic book the razors edge by w. Former owners bookplate sticker affixed to front pastedown endpaper. This symbol appears in a great deal of maughams books, regardless of editor. Download the razors edge ebook pdf free therazorsedgesg. 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. Mar 21, 20 a group of students interpret their favorite scenes of the razors edge and add their own personal touch. 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. Publication date 1912 topics north collection digitallibraryindia.
The razor s 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. Bbc radio drama the razors edge by w somerset maugham. Somerset maugham william somerset maugham and other ebooks from all genres of literature, both fiction and nonfiction, historical documents and sheet music, all of which are available on a subscription basis. And i was delighted to find that the film screenplay written by lamar trotti followed the novel closely, retaining much of the most memorable lines and pieces of dialogue. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razor s edge is a novel by w. Somerset maugham pocket selling prewiew mobile acquire for ipad pc. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Somerset maugham developed an interest in indian spirituality. William heinemann ltd read download a new earth ebook. This series of blog posts will provide summaries of the main events of every part of the novel. If you enjoy this kind of article make sure to like this post and tag along every tuesday. A remarkably fine copy of the book in like dust jacket with only the slightest toning to the spine.
The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. 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. Somerset maughams razors edge image courtesy alchetron angkor wat at sunrise image courtesy of j frasse. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters from sharply different worlds. Like the fact that a great many people believe something is no guarantee of its truth. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by. Somerset maugham, was an english playwright, novelist, and short story writer. The sunday times london it is very difficult for a writer of my generation, if he is honest, to pretend indifference to. 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.
Even before i began to read it, i knew a few things about it viz. The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. Maughams last major novel, the razors edge 1944, was a departure for. Yet, somehow its dilapidated condition enhanced my reading enjoyment. He thinks that when people are no good at anything they become writers as he did. I saw the old movie 1946 when i was a kid and that made me look up the book and read it. The razor s edge was maugham s third attempt at writing a book with the exact same plot even down to having characters with the same name. Somerset maughams razors edge and human bondage still. Though his physical wounds from the war heal, his spirit is changed almost beyond recognition. One of the most challenging books somerset maughan has given us. Celia copplestone is a uniquely spiritual person surrounded by a group of people who have no notion. Instead of marrying a rich, pretty chicago girl, he goes to paris searching for answers to questions about man, god and the. Unfollow the razors edge maugham to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. His father worked as a legal secretary in the british embassy, in paris.
Guy hague some people think guy hague was the real life role model for larry darrell. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. Although the author has his critics, he enjoyed huge success as a writer jeffrey, 21. 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. Somerset maughams razors edge and human bondage still masterpieces somerset maugham, left, relaxes with winston churchill and hg wells. Somerset maugham, 9780099284864, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. The razors edge by somerset maugham can be a tricky novel to follow. I first read this book when i was a child of thirteen.
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. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in. The story begins through the eyes of larrys friends and acquaintances as they witness. Maugham instead trained as a doctor, although he never practised professionally, as his first novel. Dust jacket is chipped along periphery and front foreedge, rubbed. There was a remake 1984 that was surprisingly good. The razors edge is somerset maughams masterpiece, although some would give that honor to of human bondage. The razors edge is regarded as the masterpiece of novels by somerset. Somerset maugham, was published in london and new york in 1944. That is mainly because the story takes places in an artistic community and that one of the main character s, elliott templeton, is a wealthy art collector.
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. The razor s edge is an unusual amalgam threequarters witty social commentary about american and european society, onequarter eastern philosophy bound together by maugham s impeccable prose almost as though henry james and hermann hesse had collaborated. Your purchase supports more than words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. At the age of 10 maugham was orphaned and sent to england to live with his uncle, the vicar of whitestable. Theodore dreiser maughams excessively rare gift of storytelling. 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. The razors edge is an unusual amalgam threequarters witty social commentary about american and european society, onequarter eastern philosophy bound together by maughams impeccable prose almost as though henry james and hermann hesse had collaborated. This symbol appears in a great deal of maugham s books, regardless of editor. Somerset maugham has always been one of my most favorite authors. 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 was a french writer born in 1874 in paris to english parents. Somerset maugham 1874 1965 was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer. October 11, 2016 january 2, 2019 books weve read admin leave a comment. Both maughams parents died before he was 10, and the orphaned boy was raised by a paternal uncle who was emotionally cold. Artworks found in the razors edge the razors edge by w. In this paper, i evaluate the themes, the style of writing, the lessons learned from the characters in the maugham novel the razors edge. 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. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razors edge is a novel by w. Born in the british embassy in paris, where his father worked, maugham was an orphan by the age of ten.
Buy the razors edge vintage classics by maugham, w. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Maugham was seventy years old when the book was published, and it was to be the last of his major novels. 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. Artworks found in the razors edge throughout his whole narration of the novel, maugham mentions various works of art. If you missed out on the summary of part 3, click here. Somerset maugham has written many classics, but this one could also be called a book of philosophy. He was educated at kings school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university.
Download the razors edge ebook pdf free therazorsedgesgs. Somerset maugham kindle edition with audio multimedia cd video hardcover new or used, cheap audiobook pric theres also other available format to download. He was educated at king s school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. Buy the razor s edge vintage classics by maugham, w. Both maughams parents died before he was 10, and he was. Somerset maugham october 11, 2016 january 2, 2019 books weve read admin leave a comment somerset maugham has always been one of my most favorite authors. Dec 05, 2015 the razors edge, by british novelist w. Buy cheap the razors edge by w somerset maugham essay w. 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. Maugham is a french author known to be very curious. It is also a chronicle of the birth of the united states as a world power. Its epigraph reads, the sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over.
So far as i know, there is only one place in maughams voluminous output where he mentions the razors edge. First impression of this vanguard library edition not the true first. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s, and disregards. 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. Larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute.
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