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Princess September and the Nightingale
The illustrated version of W. Somerset Maugham's Princess September and the Nightingale was originally published in 1939 by Oxford University Press. Long out of print, it is now reissued with the original text and illustrations.
The story is a classic tale of Siam (now Thailand), one of the few available that portray this culture. It is a sophisticated fairy tale about the nightingale that belonged to the ninth daughter of the King of Siam, and brought good luck to her, but not to her eight envious sisters. The sisters
nearly bring about the bird's death by a mean trick, but its life is saved and its mistress grows up to be very beautiful and marry a splendid prince. The characters, despite their royal titles, are very human--including the king, who has the laudable habit of giving presents on his own birthday.
Booklist said of the original "Richard C. Jones...has provided precisely the right pictures, large and small, brilliant in color, delicately humorous in design, and one of the most decorative picture books of the season results." Library Journal said, "The format is outstanding." The New
Yorker 's 1939 children's book roundup called it "the most notable children's reprint of the season."
The story is a classic tale of Siam (now Thailand), one of the few available that portray this culture. It is a sophisticated fairy tale about the nightingale that belonged to the ninth daughter of the King of Siam, and brought good luck to her, but not to her eight envious sisters. The sisters
nearly bring about the bird's death by a mean trick, but its life is saved and its mistress grows up to be very beautiful and marry a splendid prince. The characters, despite their royal titles, are very human--including the king, who has the laudable habit of giving presents on his own birthday.
Booklist said of the original "Richard C. Jones...has provided precisely the right pictures, large and small, brilliant in color, delicately humorous in design, and one of the most decorative picture books of the season results." Library Journal said, "The format is outstanding." The New
Yorker 's 1939 children's book roundup called it "the most notable children's reprint of the season."
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1939
14 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
W. Somerset Maugham
2,140 books6,145 followersWilliam Somerset Maugham was born in Paris in 1874. He spoke French even before he spoke a word of English, a fact to which some critics attribute the purity of his style.
His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in Of Human Bondage, Maugham became a qualified physician. But writing was his true vocation. For ten years before his first success, he almost literally starved while pouring out novels and plays.
Maugham wrote at a time when experimental modernist literature such as that of William Faulkner, Thomas Mann, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf was gaining increasing popularity and winning critical acclaim. In this context, his plain prose style was criticized as 'such a tissue of clichés' that one's wonder is finally aroused at the writer's ability to assemble so many and at his unfailing inability to put anything in an individual way.
During World War I, Maugham worked for the British Secret Service . He travelled all over the world, and made many visits to America. After World War II, Maugham made his home in south of France and continued to move between England and Nice till his death in 1965.
At the time of Maugham's birth, French law was such that all foreign boys born in France became liable for conscription. Thus, Maugham was born within the Embassy, legally recognized as UK territory.
His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in Of Human Bondage, Maugham became a qualified physician. But writing was his true vocation. For ten years before his first success, he almost literally starved while pouring out novels and plays.
Maugham wrote at a time when experimental modernist literature such as that of William Faulkner, Thomas Mann, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf was gaining increasing popularity and winning critical acclaim. In this context, his plain prose style was criticized as 'such a tissue of clichés' that one's wonder is finally aroused at the writer's ability to assemble so many and at his unfailing inability to put anything in an individual way.
During World War I, Maugham worked for the British Secret Service . He travelled all over the world, and made many visits to America. After World War II, Maugham made his home in south of France and continued to move between England and Nice till his death in 1965.
At the time of Maugham's birth, French law was such that all foreign boys born in France became liable for conscription. Thus, Maugham was born within the Embassy, legally recognized as UK territory.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 9, 2020
Thucydides, the ancient Greek historian and writer once said that the secret of happiness is freedom. The nightingale is a free bird flying freely over the trees lakes rice fields etc. This makes him happy and he sings charming songs of joy. Even when he visits the palace to sing for the princess he has the freedom to fly in and out at his own sweet will.
However when the princess puts him in a cage the bird becomes sad and he simply cannot sing. Human nature is quite complicated and often difficult to understand. It is a natural human tendency to possess something that one likes. Princess September dwells upon this very psychology of human nature.
The princess becomes so fond of the nightingale and his voice that she wants to possess him for herself. The elder princesses tell her to put the bird in a cage as he would be safer inside. Moreover this way Princess September would also be assured that the bird would never leave her. Nature is always seen to have a beneficial effect on living creatures.
The nightingale sings best in the lap of nature. When the princess shuts him inside a cage, he simply refuses to sing, saying that he wants to see the trees and the lake and the green rice growing in the fields. It is these beauties of nature which inspire the nightingale to sing beautiful songs.
The influence of nature is seen in the life of Princess September. After she grants the bird freedom, she keeps the window of her room open day and night, so that the little bird might come into the room whenever he feels to do so.
This proved to be favourable for her.
With the windows open, natural air and sunshine got into the room. The Princess got Nature's nourishment which enhanced her beauty. Thus, the princess grew up to be extremely beautiful. The other eight princesses never slept with the windows of their room open. Naturally no fresh air or light entered the room. Lacking in nature's nourishment, they grew up to be ugly and unpleasant.
While on the one hand, the story speaks of the cordial relationship between humans and animals, as the friendship between Princess September and the nightingale; on the other hand, it also conveys the message of preventing cruelty to animals.
Taming animals for the sake of one's hobby or as a status symbol, often proves to be quite cruel to the dumb creatures. Instead of putting the animals or birds in a cage, or tying them with metal chains, we must let them move around freely. What we feel to be an expression of our love for them sometimes infringes on their freedom and may become destructive or fatal.
However when the princess puts him in a cage the bird becomes sad and he simply cannot sing. Human nature is quite complicated and often difficult to understand. It is a natural human tendency to possess something that one likes. Princess September dwells upon this very psychology of human nature.
The princess becomes so fond of the nightingale and his voice that she wants to possess him for herself. The elder princesses tell her to put the bird in a cage as he would be safer inside. Moreover this way Princess September would also be assured that the bird would never leave her. Nature is always seen to have a beneficial effect on living creatures.
The nightingale sings best in the lap of nature. When the princess shuts him inside a cage, he simply refuses to sing, saying that he wants to see the trees and the lake and the green rice growing in the fields. It is these beauties of nature which inspire the nightingale to sing beautiful songs.
The influence of nature is seen in the life of Princess September. After she grants the bird freedom, she keeps the window of her room open day and night, so that the little bird might come into the room whenever he feels to do so.
This proved to be favourable for her.
With the windows open, natural air and sunshine got into the room. The Princess got Nature's nourishment which enhanced her beauty. Thus, the princess grew up to be extremely beautiful. The other eight princesses never slept with the windows of their room open. Naturally no fresh air or light entered the room. Lacking in nature's nourishment, they grew up to be ugly and unpleasant.
While on the one hand, the story speaks of the cordial relationship between humans and animals, as the friendship between Princess September and the nightingale; on the other hand, it also conveys the message of preventing cruelty to animals.
Taming animals for the sake of one's hobby or as a status symbol, often proves to be quite cruel to the dumb creatures. Instead of putting the animals or birds in a cage, or tying them with metal chains, we must let them move around freely. What we feel to be an expression of our love for them sometimes infringes on their freedom and may become destructive or fatal.
April 9, 2018
Such a sweet and charming story. Filled with innocence.
"The little bird gave her a bow, for artists have naturally good manners, and they like to be appreciated."
" 'They say it in seven different languages', said the Princess. 'I dare say they do', said the King, 'but it reminds me too much of my councillors. They say the same thing in seven different ways and it never means anything in any way they say it.' "
"I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way. "
"The little bird gave her a bow, for artists have naturally good manners, and they like to be appreciated."
" 'They say it in seven different languages', said the Princess. 'I dare say they do', said the King, 'but it reminds me too much of my councillors. They say the same thing in seven different ways and it never means anything in any way they say it.' "
"I love you enough to let you be happy in your own way. "
October 8, 2024
ก่อนจะมีทีวี อินเทอร์เน็ต สารคดี การท่องโลกกว้างแล้วเอากลับมาเล่าให้คนในประเทศอ่านก็คงเป็นแบบนี้แหละ นี่ก็คิดว่าถ้ามอห์มกลับชาติมาเกิดใหม่ในยุคนี้ละก็ เขาคงเป็น PR ของอาคเนย์เอเชียแน่ๆ เพราะเขียนเรื่องราวความรักโศกๆ โดยมีเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้เป็นฉากหลัง คือถ้าเอาไปสร้างซีรี่ย์คนก็คงอยากมาตามรอยตัวละครไรงี้อะ 55555 เออ เรื่องที่เขาเล่ามันผัวๆ เมียๆ ชู้ๆ ในแดนห่างไกล มันก็น่าตามดีนะ ถึงแม้เรื่องเจ้าหญิงกันยาจะไม่เกี่ยวอะไรกับชู้ แต่ก็ยังเป็นเรื่องของความรักทีว่าด้วยเมื่อรักแล้วต้องพร้อมที่จะอีกฝ่ายเป็นอิสระด้วยเช่นกัน เออ มันง่ายๆ แต่จับใจดี เพิ่งเคยอ่านงานเขาครั้งแรก จริงๆ ก็ยังงงๆ อยู่ว่าเขาดังจากอะไรนะ แต่สมัยก่อนนักเขียนได้เงินเยอะจังวะ น่าอิจฉา
August 14, 2013
It's amazing how children's fables always illustrate such deep truths like the value of freedom , the eternal beauty of nature and women's envy depicted here .
January 26, 2025
He can write fairytales !!!
A humorous fairytale set in Siam, complete with a happily-ever-after ending and a poignant, timely moral. Question : Since the songbird was feigning death - knowing a servant would carry it outside to its freedom - did the previous parrot do the same? For how did it mysteriously die when the other 7 did not?
An afterthought: I would have had a green parrot flying about the lake and willow, with the walking princess and caged songbird vaguely hearing a “Hello Polly” through the trees. Perhaps even named the story “The laughing parrot.” But who cares? Maugham is still fantastic here.
A humorous fairytale set in Siam, complete with a happily-ever-after ending and a poignant, timely moral. Question : Since the songbird was feigning death - knowing a servant would carry it outside to its freedom - did the previous parrot do the same? For how did it mysteriously die when the other 7 did not?
An afterthought: I would have had a green parrot flying about the lake and willow, with the walking princess and caged songbird vaguely hearing a “Hello Polly” through the trees. Perhaps even named the story “The laughing parrot.” But who cares? Maugham is still fantastic here.
May 17, 2017
A lovely little children's story about Princess September, her envious sisters, and her beloved nightingale. A tale with the moral that if you love someone or something you have to set it free, instead of forcing your good will on it. Many parents and lovers can learn from this story.
August 21, 2022
Interesting little fairy tale about a king with many children who can't decide on his daughter's names and the effect that had on each daughter. Found a vintage copy at our local book sale and was intrigued as it was one I hadn't heard of before.
January 19, 2020
A delightful children’s book by the great Maugham. For children and adults.
January 29, 2024
Read this a loooooooooong time ago and all I remember about it is how annoyed I was by this story at the time. Looking back though, it was a fun, whimsical yet educational tale.
March 6, 2020
tl;dr: if you love something, set it free.
October 22, 2008
Very sweet little story.
May 11, 2011
My first and so far, the only experience with Maugham which left me delighted and cheerful for the next few days!
July 23, 2011
Fine! Read it in my English Textbook.
December 23, 2012
Adorable and thought provoking.
January 23, 2013
One of my favorite children's books! <3
Read
June 19, 2013j
Want to read
May 15, 2015reading
September 17, 2015
Nice short story
January 17, 2016
I love folk tales and I love illustrations. This did both pretty well.
September 17, 2013
A lovely little tale
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews