The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. Like the fact that a great many people believe something is no guarantee of its. Collecting the razors edge by maugham, w somerset first. Bbc radio drama the razors edge by w somerset maugham. He thinks that when people are no good at anything they become writers as he did. Maugham last somerset maugham is famous primarily as a short story writer and this full length novel has the feel of a collection of short stories but this is not a criticism, it is a brilliant literally device which brings together his talent in both fields to very good effect.
Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. The razor s edge bill murray biography channel duration. First impression of this vanguard library edition not the true first. 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 of a world war i veteran disillusioned by jazzage values. Somerset maugham kindle edition with audio multimedia cd video hardcover new or used, cheap audiobook pric theres al. The razor s edge is a drama film starring bill murray. Larry darrell is a young american in search of the absolute. Somerset maugham for iphone, ipad txt format version, file with page numbers the razors edge by w. 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.
While much of the novel takes place in europe, its main characters are american, not british. The razor s edge is somerset maugham s masterpiece, although some would give that honor to of human bondage. Published in 1944, it tells the story of a young man who returns from world war i and turns away from society life on a spiritual quest. Mar 21, 20 a group of students interpret their favorite scenes of the razors edge and add their own personal touch. 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. It s 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, 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. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters from sharply different worlds. Somerset maugham has always been one of my most favorite authors.
Though his physical wounds from the war heal, his spirit is changed almost beyond recognition. Katha upanishad maugham opens his novel and gets the title the razor s edge from the katha upanisand. Bill murray stars in this adaptation of the classic novel by w. The novel chronicles the physical and the spiritual sojourn of the main character in the story.
The razor s edge vintage classics new ed edition, kindle edition. Somerset doubleday doran garden city 1944 1st edition. My first introduction to somerset maugham was through the movie the razor s edge 1946 staring tyrone power as larry darrell. This young american man refuses to conform to the social norms of the american society. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Yet the writing is so full that we can feel part of this other world. He was one of the most popular writers of the day, and the razor s edge was an immediate success on both sides of the atlantic. The razor s edge vintage international series by w. This week katie, sky and lauren begin reading a new novel, the razor s edge by w. I like his perspective as he writes this in the first person as himself which is a very unique. The protagonist is a disillusioned veteran of the first world war who abandons his wealthy friends and lifestyle, traveling to india seeking enlightenment. I was told that an english author had come to see bhagavan and had fainted when first coming into his presence.
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. 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. Larry, a sympathetic and bright young man, is on a spiritual journey, as well as a physical one. Publication date 1944 topics iiit collection digitallibraryindia. Dec 05, 2015 the razor s edge, by british novelist w. He was raised by an uncle, who tried to persuade the youngster to become an accountant or parson. The razors edge, while it purports to be a philosophical novel that deals with significant ideas, is largely a novel of character. Theresa russell, catherine hicks, denholm elliott, brian doylemurray and james keach also star in the film.
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. The razors edge ebook epub electronic book the razors edge by w. Save the razors edge maugham to get email alerts and updates on your ebay feed. However, here, the author of the novel and the narrator of the story share the same moral character. Somerset maughams razors edge and human bondage still masterpieces somerset maugham, left, relaxes with winston churchill and hg wells.
The razors edge is regarded as the masterpiece of novels by somerset. Maugham s gift for depicting characters and playing them out. 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. The sage in somerset maugham s book the razor s edge is supposed to be ramana maharshi. Balancing the ones and the others, it stands as a sound, beautiful instance of classic movie. And while it hasnt made my list of greatest books written, it is a good book to read. 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. Maugham s last major novel, the razor s edge 1944, was a departure for him in many ways. Maughams the moon and sixpence and the razors edge. 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. The progress of his spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maughams most brilliant characters his. Download the razors edge ebook pdf free therazorsedgesgs. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by.
It is possible that this is so as a few weeks before my visit to the ramana ashrama somerset maugham had been there. Review of the razors edge by somerset maugham a writers. Somerset maughams razors edge and human bondage still. The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. Maugham is a french author known to be very curious. 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. Download a new drama from radio 4 or radio 3 every week.
Buy the razors edge book online at low prices in india the. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in. At the beginning of the book, he states that he invents nothing and that his main purpose while writing is to set down his knowledge and experience. The razor s edge came recommend to me from a source i trust. Larry darrell is an incredibly finely drawn character. One of the most challenging books somerset maughan has given us. 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. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 314 pages and is available in paperback format. Download torrent deepwater horizon legendado 1 deepwater horizon movie torrent deepwater horizon 2016 download. The razor s edge has outstanding merits and, unfortunately, remarkable defects. The first edition of the novel was published in 1944, and was written by w. Jun 12, 2014 i was starting college, and i was facing the sort of existential crisis that comes with that large shift in identity. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s.
Start reading the razors edge vintage international on your kindle in under a minute. October 11, 2016 january 2, 2019 books weve read admin leave a comment. 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. So far as i know, there is only one place in maughams voluminous output where he mentions the razors edge. I have no idea as to how much it was adapted from the book. There are none of the jarring grammar or punctuation gaffes included in most of today s selfpublished books, although some of the english usage is archaic and obviously british. Maugham instead trained as a doctor, although he never practised professionally, as his first novel. Having first begun reading the book the summer before i left for college at 19, i unfortunately never got around to finishing it and. A story set on the offshore drilling rig deepwater horizon, which exploded during april 2010 and created the worst oil spill in u. Two additional, concise biographies, each from a different perspective. 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 razor s edge by w somerset maugham call me ishmael. Instead of marrying a rich, pretty chicago girl, he goes to paris searching for answers to questions about man, god and the. The story, based on somerset maugham s novel, is certainly original, although some twists of the plot are hardly believable, others are naive and predictable. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the razor s edge by w. Lots of maugham graphics, from early childhood to late adult.
The razors edge us maugham william somerset download. The razor s 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. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Somerset maugham the razors edge vintage classics, paperback 2000 8vo. The razors edge by w somerset maugham essay example. It was released in 1946, and stars tyrone power, gene tierney. Born in the british embassy in paris, where his father worked, maugham was an orphan by the age of ten. It is about a man who lives his life on the razor thin edge between good and evil. Apr 14, 2015 listen to razor s edge audiobook by w. He relates his story in a first person participant account just like a typical first person narrator. It was released in 1946, and stars tyrone power, gene tierney, john payne, anne baxter, clifton webb, and herbert marshall, with a supporting cast including lucile watson, frank latimore, and elsa lanchester.
I first read this book when i was a child of thirteen. Those who look to him for a colorful, romantic story will find this slowpaced at the start. Somerset maugham is about a character named larry darrel. Somerset maugham 1874 1965 was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer. Maughams last major novel, the razors edge 1944, was a departure for. 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. Free download or read online the razors edge pdf epub book. John byrum directed the film, which was cowritten by murray and byrum. The progress of his spiritual odyssey involves him with some of maugham s most brilliant characters his fiancee isabel whose choice between love and wealth have lifelong repercussions. Buy the razors edge vintage classics by maugham, w. The razors edge by william somerset maugham download eub. Celia copplestone is a uniquely spiritual person surrounded by a group of people who have no notion. Free download or read online theatre pdf epub book. A classic story by a master, the razor s edge is so wellwritten that the reader glides through the story easily.
The razor s edge by w somerset maugham was broadcast on bbc radio 4 in 2005 first published in 1944, w somerset maugham s novel dramatised in twoparts by ronald frame. 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. Both maugham s parents died before he was 10, and he was raised by a paternal uncle who was emotionally cold. Somerset maugham developed an interest in indian spirituality. If you are familiar with somerset maugham then youll recognize razors edge as one of his best books. Like i dont think i shall ever find peace till i make up my mind about things, he said gravely. Almost from the very second the razor s edge was made available to the reading public there has been a raging controversy as to if the storyline as presented by somerset maugham in what has turned out to be one of the bestselling novels of the 20th century was true or false, fact or fiction, real or not real.
Razor s edge by maugham abebooks passion for books. Somerset maugham, was published in london and new york in 1944. A group of students interpret their favorite scenes of the razors edge and add their own personal touch. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razor s edge is a novel by w. Abebooks the razors edge by w somerset maugham the razor s edge w.