The razor's edge book somerset

While much of the novel takes place in europe, its main characters are american, not british. 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. All of the characters in the razors edge are searching for something and in the end they all achieve their desired end the authors words not mine. I have no idea as to how much it was adapted from the book. The razor s edge vintage international series by w. Book fine, dust jacket with only slight expert restoration to spine ends and minor rubbing to edges. Of human bondage follows philip on his travels to paris, london, and germany, taking the listener on an adventure of. 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.

Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters. The first edition of the novel was published in 1937, and was written by w. Buy the razors edge vintage classics by maugham, w. The reason why the book works is because of the writing. 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.

The reason why the film was good is because the book is good. 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. The razor s edge william somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. This book consists of my recollections of a man with whom i was thrown into close contact only at long intervals, and i have little knowledge of what happened to him in between. Somerset maugham books when you shop the largest online selection at. 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 progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with so. My time spent reading somerset maughams the razors edge coincided with. Theresa russell, catherine hicks, denholm elliott, brian doylemurray and james keach also star in the film. Bbc radio drama the razors edge by w somerset maugham. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s, and disregards. Somerset maugham, the razors edge you know, the philistines have long since discarded the rack and stake as a means of suppressing the opinions they feared. Larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. The razors edge study guide contains a biography of w.

Publication date 1944 topics iiit collection digitallibraryindia. And while it hasnt made my list of greatest books written, it is a good book to read. Somerset maugham 1978, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. My first introduction to somerset maugham was through the movie the razors edge 1946 staring tyrone power as larry darrell. Somerset maugham, 9780099284864, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.

I found the performance to be excellent and the story to be tragic yet well written. The razors edge became one of the biggestselling books of maughams career, and in 1946 was made into a successful hollywood film. The razor s edge is a drama film starring bill murray. A classic story by a master, the razors edge is so wellwritten that the reader glides through the story easily. One such book i just finished rereading is the razors edge by somerset maugham. Maughams last major novel, the razors edge 1944, was a departure for him in many ways. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some. 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.

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 book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 304 pages and is available in paperback format. The main characters of this classics, fiction story are julia lambert, michael gosselyn. My favourite part of the book which also appears in the film of the razors edge is the scene in which larry uses the healing power of hypnosis a skill he has picked up in his travels to cure his old friend gray of excruciating headaches. This is the tale of philip carey, who is orphaned at a young age and raised by his uncle. Its tough to give a synopsis of the book, since like so many other british writers there isnt much of a plot, more of a portrait of a group within society. Somerset maugham is about a character named larry darrel. 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. The razors edge us maugham william somerset download.

The first edition of the novel was published in 1944, and was written by w. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 314 pages and is available in paperback format. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. 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. While this is not his most famous novel, it remains one of my enduring favorites, and rereading it brought into sharper focus why i had liked it so much in the first place. The razors edge is somerset maughams masterpiece, although some would give that honor to of human bondage. The razors edge came recommend to me from a source i trust. Somerset maugham developed an interest in indian spirituality. When somerset maugham published the razors edge in 1944, the world was weary and battered after five years of war. Oct 11, 2016 one such book i just finished rereading is the razors edge by somerset maugham.

Maugham s last major novel, the razor s edge 1944, was a departure for him in many ways. 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 first read this book when i was a child of thirteen. First published in 1915, of human bondage is widely considered to be somerset maughams masterpiece and is believed to have been at least partially based on maughams own life. Somerset maughams novel the razors edge, published in 1944, sold over three million copies and spent almost a year on the bestseller list. The progress of this spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maugham s most brillant characters his fiancee isabel, whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions, and elliot templeton, her.

Jul 25, 2010 somerset maughams novel the razors edge, published in 1944, sold over three million copies and spent almost a year on the bestseller list. The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. If i was told to read the razors edge specifically and watch the film over a decade ago then that would have saved a lot of time. Who larry darrell was in real life, what happened to him, etc. One of the most challenging books somerset maughan has given us.

The razor s edge study guide contains a biography of w. I watched the movie a few months ago and decide to listen to the classic book by somerset maugham. Published four months before the first english edition and simultaneously with the signed limited edition of 750 copies stott 50. Maughams hero is one of those romantic figures of literature that we all want to think really exists out there in. To my mind, it is a wonderful book which offers philosophical perspectives years ahead of its time. Free download or read online the razors edge pdf epub book. The razors edge william somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are elliott templeton, larry darrell.

Then in 1984 we watched bill murray as larry darrell. Somerset and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Maughams hero is one of those romantic figures of literature that we all want to think really exists out there in the real world, but probably doesnt and, if. I read this book at the right moment in my life it really struck a cord. The razors edge is a drama film starring bill murray. The razors edge by w somerset maugham was broadcast on bbc radio 4 in 2005 first published in 1944, w somerset maughams novel dramatised in twoparts by ronald frame. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the razors edge by w. Great modern reading ed by w somerset maugham 1943 hardcover. He was educated at king s school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters from sharply different worlds. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razors edge is a novel by w. The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality.

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. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Aug 10, 2014 when somerset maugham published the razors edge in 1944, the world was weary and battered after five years of war. 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. This book is probably not for everyone, with a somewhat dated style, but i loved the story of larry darrell, a man relentlessly pursuing a meaningful life, despite. 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. Larry, a sympathetic and bright young man, is on a spiritual journey, as well as a physical one. An acclaimed best selling novel, it was brought to the screen in 1946 starring tyrone power, gene tierney, anne baxter and clifton webb. Larry darrell is the type of character that get a reader in a lot of trouble if that reader comes into contact with somerset maughams novel the razors edge at the wrong time. The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life. The protagonist is a disillusioned veteran of the first world war who abandons his wealthy friends and lifestyle, traveling to india seeking enlightenment. John byrum directed the film, which was cowritten by murray and byrum. Next morning i started down the mountain and the day after arrived at the ashrama.

I suppose that by the exercise of invention i could fill the gaps. Aug 23, 2019 the razors edge by w somerset maugham was broadcast on bbc radio 4 in 2005 first published in 1944, w somerset maughams novel dramatised in twoparts by ronald frame. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in. Nov 01, 2001 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. Free download or read online theatre pdf epub book.

Maughams tale of larry darrell, a traumatised first world war flying ace. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by. Kathaupanishad arguably somerset maughams most popular and enduring book, the razors edge 1944, like much of his work, has not aged well. The razors edge this book is a classic and should be on the bookshelf of every thinking person who questions. Those who look to him for a colorful, romantic story will find this slowpaced at the start. 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.