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 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. He was born in paris but grew up in england and served as a secret agent for the british during world war i. 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. Buy the razors edge vintage classics by maugham, w.
Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters from sharply different worlds. If you enjoy this kind of article make sure to like this post and tag along every tuesday. His father worked as a legal secretary in the british embassy, in paris. 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. 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. Bbc radio drama the razors edge by w somerset maugham. Somerset maugham 1079 downloads the trembling of a leaf. Somerset maugham, sri ramana maharshi, guy hague, and zen. The razors edge by w somerset maugham essay example. Two additional, concise biographies, each from a different perspective. October 11, 2016 january 2, 2019 books weve read admin leave a comment. 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.
I saw the old movie 1946 when i was a kid and that made me look up the book and read it. The razors edge is a novel set in the 1920s and 1930s, tracing the intimate lives of representative british and american upper class. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razors edge is a novel by w. Former owners bookplate sticker affixed to front pastedown endpaper. Though his physical wounds from the war heal, his spirit is changed almost beyond recognition. 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. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brillant characters. Somerset maugham written by therazorsedgecommunity. I like his perspective as he writes this in the first person as himself which is a very unique. To save embarrassment to people still living i have given to the persons who play a part in this story names of my own contriving, and i have in other ways taken pains to make sure that no one should recognize them. 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. There was a remake 1984 that was surprisingly good. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razor s edge is a novel by w. Larry darrell is an incredibly finely drawn character.
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. Buy cheap the razors edge by w somerset maugham essay w. The announced intent is to highlight the experiences of an american war verteran who rejects the society of the rich to. The razors edge by william somerset maugham download eub. Dust jacket is chipped along periphery and front foreedge, rubbed. Maugham was seventy years old when the book was published, and it was to be the last of his major novels. 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. For men and women are not only themselves, they are also the region in which they are born, the city apartment or the farm. I first read this book when i was a child of thirteen. 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. Somerset maugham has written many classics, but this one could also be called a book of philosophy. Both maughams parents died before he was 10, and he was raised by a. Katha upanishad maugham opens his novel and gets the title the razors edge from the katha upanisand.
A group of students interpret their favorite scenes of the razors edge and add their own personal touch. Larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. Support epubbooks by making a small paypal donation purchase. Free download or read online the razors edge pdf epub book. Somerset maugham was a french writer born in 1874 in paris to english parents. Somerset maugham developed an interest in indian spirituality.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the razors edge. 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. For in larry dornell he has drawn a character symbolic or many we shall meet in the. 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. Somerset maugham larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. Somerset maugham 1412 downloads of human bondage w. So far as i know, there is only one place in maughams voluminous output where he mentions the razors edge. Publication date 1944 topics iiit collection digitallibraryindia. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Somerset maugham the razors edge vintage classics, paperback 2000 8vo. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. All our ebooks are free to download, but first you must sign in or create an account. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s.
If you are familiar with somerset maugham then youll recognize razors edge as one of his best books. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Somerset maugham, was published in london and new york in 1944. Its epigraph reads, the sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over.
Lots of maugham graphics, from early childhood to late adult. This series of blog posts will provide summaries of the main events of every part of the novel. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. It is well worth reading and i would suggest it to any serious razors edge buff or maugham fan. The razors edge vintage classics new ed edition, kindle edition by w. Those who look to him for a colorful, romantic story will find this slowpaced at the start.
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 is somerset maughams masterpiece, although some would give that honor to of human bondage. Maughams last major novel, the razors edge 1944, was a departure for. Somerset maugham has always been one of my most favorite authors. The first edition of the novel was published in 1944, and was written by w. Somerset maugham was one the twentieth centurys most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright, critic, and short story writer. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 314 pages and is available in paperback format. Somerset maugham, was an english playwright, novelist, and short story writer. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The razors edge by somerset maugham can be a tricky novel to follow. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by. Collecting the razors edge by maugham, w somerset first. One of the most challenging books somerset maughan has given us. The progress of his spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brilliant characters his.
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