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Somerset Maugham
A volume in the Writers and Their Work series, which draws upon recent thinking in English studies to introduce writers and their contexts. Each volume includes biographical material, an examination of recent criticism, a bibliography and a reappraisal of a major work by the writer.
48 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 6, 2020
Somerset Maugham by Anthony Curtis a little bookshop in San Pedro had this on their shelves and I just had to have it, Maugham is one of my favorite writers having read his best known works On Human Bondage and The Razor Edge years ago but The Painted Veil just last year. Recently another one of my favorite British writers Philip Kerr his book The Other Side of Silence the entire story revolved around a blackmail attempt and spy vs spy drama during the cold war set during the early 1950's much of the action takes place at Villa Mauresque on the Mediterranean and I wanted to see how accurate Mr. Kerr was in bringing this part of Maugham story to life. I now have to say he's probably pretty spot on in his depiction just a small example I know it's from another book but nice to slip into the feeling and mood of Villa Mauresque at least to give you a taste.
"I slipped the perfectly mixed gimlet that Maugham's stone-faced butler had just brought up to the rooftop writing aerie and winced a little as I felt the navy-strength gin entering my hardening arteries like a good quality formaldehyde. Why else does anyone drink? Then I lit a cigarette, pulled hard on the filter, and wiated for the sweet Virginia tobacco to deliver the Coup de grace to my senses after the dulling effect of the alcohol. Why else does anyone smoke? Meanwhile, a thin black cat had entered the room, and something about its stealthy, careful movements suggested that it was my own soul's dark relation, come to make sure that I didn't tell the old English writer too much. Never trust a writer, the cat seemed to be telling me; they write all sorts of things down. Things you didn't mean to tell them. Especially this one. He already knows your name; don't give him any more information. He'll use it in some book he's writing.
"I'd be grateful if you kept all that to yourself," I said. "Me being a former detective from Berlin. It's not something I want people to know about."
"Of course. You have my word."
"Anyway it's not a story in which anyone comes out with very much credit," I said, "Myself included."
"That's rather the point of a good story," said Maugham. "I dislike heroes at the best of times and I much prefer men with flaws. Believe me, that's what sells these days.""
((I think that sums up Maugham literally philosophy fairly well))
One of the great writers born during Victorian times at the height of the Fin-De-Siecle culture a famous Polyglot (French English Latin German Italian and Spanish) he and Roger Kipling stand as the two greatest writers of his era the Kobe Bryant and Micheal Jordan of his day.
What is apparent from both Philip Kerr's The Other side of Silence and Anthony Curtis Somerset Maugham is that like any media obsessed pop star of today Maugham was fiercely private and protective of his public image which makes this biography of him doubly important a rare and accurate picture although Mr. Curtis does shy away from dwelling too much on Maugham's homosexuality. I just find Maugham a very good writer who lived a fairy tale exciting life having had a wealth of advantages but didn't take that for granted he worked hard and placed himself and numerous dangerous situations to reach far beyond where someone from his class normally would advance themselves. If I was to do a mashup of personalities I would take the ambition determination and intellectual curiosity of a Bill Gates added to the passions moral codes and desires or a 1920's movies Star like a Marlene Dietrich and now throw in a touch of rock super star who helps direct the public zeitgeist with their artistic focus between Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift I'll go with Taylor Swift although he has a bit of both of their characters I just think in the end his prickly nature towards others in his industry and especially towards those who were jealous or critical of his efforts he returned fire in more the Taylor Swift manner so Maugham is kind of a old school version of a Gates-Dietrich-Swift persona a powerful enough force of energy that a half century after his death it can still be thought of as a human force of nature of rare qualities and abilities. Fun book more informative in nature a logos rather than pathos story but I believe Maugham himself was a writer very much in the Pathos method of storytelling. Three stars because it's just a bit dry and shy about the more scandalous parts of his life.
"I slipped the perfectly mixed gimlet that Maugham's stone-faced butler had just brought up to the rooftop writing aerie and winced a little as I felt the navy-strength gin entering my hardening arteries like a good quality formaldehyde. Why else does anyone drink? Then I lit a cigarette, pulled hard on the filter, and wiated for the sweet Virginia tobacco to deliver the Coup de grace to my senses after the dulling effect of the alcohol. Why else does anyone smoke? Meanwhile, a thin black cat had entered the room, and something about its stealthy, careful movements suggested that it was my own soul's dark relation, come to make sure that I didn't tell the old English writer too much. Never trust a writer, the cat seemed to be telling me; they write all sorts of things down. Things you didn't mean to tell them. Especially this one. He already knows your name; don't give him any more information. He'll use it in some book he's writing.
"I'd be grateful if you kept all that to yourself," I said. "Me being a former detective from Berlin. It's not something I want people to know about."
"Of course. You have my word."
"Anyway it's not a story in which anyone comes out with very much credit," I said, "Myself included."
"That's rather the point of a good story," said Maugham. "I dislike heroes at the best of times and I much prefer men with flaws. Believe me, that's what sells these days.""
((I think that sums up Maugham literally philosophy fairly well))
One of the great writers born during Victorian times at the height of the Fin-De-Siecle culture a famous Polyglot (French English Latin German Italian and Spanish) he and Roger Kipling stand as the two greatest writers of his era the Kobe Bryant and Micheal Jordan of his day.
What is apparent from both Philip Kerr's The Other side of Silence and Anthony Curtis Somerset Maugham is that like any media obsessed pop star of today Maugham was fiercely private and protective of his public image which makes this biography of him doubly important a rare and accurate picture although Mr. Curtis does shy away from dwelling too much on Maugham's homosexuality. I just find Maugham a very good writer who lived a fairy tale exciting life having had a wealth of advantages but didn't take that for granted he worked hard and placed himself and numerous dangerous situations to reach far beyond where someone from his class normally would advance themselves. If I was to do a mashup of personalities I would take the ambition determination and intellectual curiosity of a Bill Gates added to the passions moral codes and desires or a 1920's movies Star like a Marlene Dietrich and now throw in a touch of rock super star who helps direct the public zeitgeist with their artistic focus between Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift I'll go with Taylor Swift although he has a bit of both of their characters I just think in the end his prickly nature towards others in his industry and especially towards those who were jealous or critical of his efforts he returned fire in more the Taylor Swift manner so Maugham is kind of a old school version of a Gates-Dietrich-Swift persona a powerful enough force of energy that a half century after his death it can still be thought of as a human force of nature of rare qualities and abilities. Fun book more informative in nature a logos rather than pathos story but I believe Maugham himself was a writer very much in the Pathos method of storytelling. Three stars because it's just a bit dry and shy about the more scandalous parts of his life.
February 2, 2018
A good source book for learning more about Maugham (although you did feel the author only touched on his life and works). It sometimes didn't flow well, but it did provide valuable information about Maugham.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews