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 was one the twentieth centurys most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright, critic, and short story writer. Theodore dreiser maughams excessively rare gift of storytelling. The progress of his spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brilliant characters his fiancee isabel whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and elliott templeton, her uncle, a classic expatriate american snob. The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. Find more today and rediscover books you never knew you loved. I was advised to read somerset maugham over a decade ago, and went to the. This novel, supposedly based on the life of an acquaintance of maugham, follows the fortunes of an american pilot who, traumatized by war, rejects his former conventional life to search for a more meaningful existence. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are elliott templeton, larry darrell. I come back to this book every 5 to 10 years and i adore it. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razors edge is a novel by w. He was educated at kings school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. The razors edge is a very readable and highly enjoyable classic. The razors edge vintage international kindle edition.
Buy the razors edge vintage classics by maugham, w. The razors edge by william somerset maugham pdf book. Both maughams parents died before he was 10, and he was. All our ebooks are free to download, but first you must sign in or create an account. Bbc radio drama the razors edge by w somerset maugham. World travel, indian philosophy, art history, meditation to name a few.
Somerset maugham is his own narrator as we follow the lives of a diverse group of people around him through many years. He is excellent at showing the dark side of each character, yet in an optimistic light. Inside this book i have never begun a novel with more misgiving. The reason why the book works is because of the writing. October 11, 2016 january 2, 2019 books weve read admin leave a comment. I have no idea as to how much it was adapted from the book. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the razor s edge vintage international. He was born in paris but grew up in england and served as a secret agent for the british during world war i.
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. The razors edge william somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. Having first begun reading the book the summer before i left for college at 19, i unfortunately never got around to finishing it and ended up losing my copy of the book before i could. The razors edge project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Then in 1984 we watched bill murray as larry darrell. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brillant characters his fiancee isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and elliot templeton, her uncle, a classic expatriate american snob. I was first introduced to somerset maugham by my father, who like myself, fell in love with the razors edge at a young age in his early 20s. The razor s edge vintage international series by w. 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. Reading apps kindle ebooks kindle unlimited prime reading deals on kindle ebooks best sellers indian language ebooks kindle exam central kindle etextbooks content and devices. World war, 19141918, fiction, veterans, upper class. 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. If you scroll up a bit and click the third button under other maugham eresources that says nonfiction with my logo on it, you will go to the ebook page of nonfiction, including travel books and essays. 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.
The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brillant characters his fiancee isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and elliot templeton, her. Nov 01, 2001 though maugham had no recollection of visiting the infinite, the event left its mark on him. I like his perspective as he writes this in the first person as himself which is a very unique. The razors edge vintage international kindle edition by w. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with so. Jul 22, 2019 this novel, supposedly based on the life of an acquaintance of maugham, follows the fortunes of an american pilot who, traumatized by war, rejects his former conventional life to search for a more meaningful existence. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the razor s edge. Support epubbooks by making a small paypal donation purchase.
Maughams last major novel, the razors edge 1944, was a departure for him in many ways. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. Penguin random house canada is proud to bring you classic works of literature in ebook form, with the highest quality production values.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the razors edge vintage international. The razor s edge has been adapted for film twice, with the most recent version starring bill murray. While much of the novel takes place in europe, its main characters are american, not british. Somerset maugham was one the twentieth century s most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright, critic, and short story writer. If you are familiar with somerset maugham then youll recognize razors edge as one of his best books. The first edition of the novel was published in 1944, and was written by w. If i call it a novel it is only because i dont know what else to call it. Its epigraph reads, the sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. The protagonist is a disillusioned veteran of the first world war who abandons his wealthy friends and lifestyle, traveling to india seeking enlightenment.
Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters. Publication date 1944 topics iiit collection digitallibraryindia. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brillant characters. Somerset maugham developed an interest in indian spirituality.
This months classic book club selection is razors edge, by w. Somerset maugham from amazon s fiction books store. For my part, except in a few short stories i have never attempted to deal with any but my. A classic story by a master, the razors edge is so wellwritten that the reader glides through the story easily. The razors edge vintage international by maugham, w. Somerset maugham ebook product description larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. There are none of the jarring grammar or punctuation gaffes included in most of todays selfpublished books, although some of the english usage is archaic and obviously british. Pdf the razors edge by william somerset maugham download. Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from thousands of public libraries worldwide. Somerset maugham, was an english playwright, novelist, and short story writer. 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. All of the characters are well drawn, and you get the feeling that maugham is leaving stuff out rather than putting stuff in. Somerset maugham has always been one of my most favorite authors. My first introduction to somerset maugham was through the movie the razors edge 1946 staring tyrone power as larry darrell.
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. The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. The razors edge ebooks read ebooks online free ebooks. The razors edge has been adapted for film twice, with the most recent version starring bill murray. If i was told to read the razor s edge specifically and watch the film over a decade ago then that would have saved a lot of time.
This month s classic book club selection is razor s edge, by w. 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. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 314 pages and is available in paperback format. I was first introduced to somerset maugham by my father, who like myself, fell in love with the razor s edge at a young age in his early 20s. 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. My first introduction to somerset maugham was through the movie the razor s edge 1946 staring tyrone power as larry darrell. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. 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.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A classic story by a master, the razor s edge is so wellwritten that the reader glides through the story easily. If you scroll up a bit and click the third button under other maugham eresources that says nonfiction with my logo on it, you will go to the ebook page of. Somerset maugham and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Free download or read online the razors edge pdf epub book. The razors edge vintage international kindle edition by. The razor s edge vintage international kindle edition by maugham, w. Larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. He was born in paris but grew up in england and served as a secret agent for the british during world wa. The razors edge vintage international kindle edition by maugham, w. Next morning i started down the mountain and the day after arrived at the ashrama. Leaving wealth and loved ones behind, larry darrell journeys to the mountains of india in search of spiritual wisdom. 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.
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