1944 book the razor's edge william somerset maugham

It is the story of a former american world war i fighter pilot who, suffering from what we would today label as ptsd, embarks on a search for some meaning in his life, winding up in india. Minor shelfwear, covers foxed and a mild tan to page edges. To my mind, it is a wonderful book which offers philosophical perspectives years ahead of its time. Aug 01, 2017 the razors edge was first published in 1944. Basis for the 1946 movie starring tyrone power, gene tierney, and anne baxter who won an oscar for her role, as well as the 1984 movie starring bill murray and teresa russell. He was educated at king s school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. Dust jacket is chipped along periphery and front foreedge, rubbed.

It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by his experiences in world war i, who sets off in. Dec 05, 2015 the razors edge, by british novelist w. No, just kidding, but when i read that first sentence of the book i thought it was the foreword or a preface or something. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs. Somerset maugham turns to a religious theme and tells the story of a young americans quest for a faith.

The dust jacket is missing, but the book is in good to very good condition, considering the age 75 years old book. Maugham was a great shortstory writer, but by now his stories have been collected and reassembled in so many different volumes that its very difficult to suggest a particular title. Though maugham had no recollection of visiting the infinite, the event left its mark on him. The razor s edge william somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. Published by doubleday, garden city, new york 1944. 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. Bbc radio drama the razors edge by w somerset maugham. Published by the reprint society, london 1945 used. Corners and edges at head and tail of board spine are rubbed and creased.

Somerset maugham, in full william somerset maugham, born jan. It is the story of a former american world war i fighter pilot who, suffering from. 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 razors edge william somerset maugham read literature. The razors edge by somerset maugham, w good hardcover. First english edition about four months after the american of one of maughams major novels. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razor s edge is a novel by w.

Gerald haxton lovers during wwi and for the following 30 years wife. W somerset maugham larry darrell, a world war i veteran haunted by his memories of the war, abandons his easy life for first paris and then a. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The protagonist is a disillusioned veteran of the first world war who abandons his wealthy friends and lifestyle, traveling to india seeking enlightenment. Somerset maugham, was published in london and new york in 1944.

The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 314 pages and is available in paperback format. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters from sharply different worlds. Aug 15, 2016 the razors edge william somerset maugham 1944. Nov 01, 2001 though maugham had no recollection of visiting the infinite, the event left its mark on him. A remarkably fine copy of the book in like dust jacket wi.

Somerset maugham after channel surfing and finding that the 1946 movie by the same name with tyrone power, gene. 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. The razors edge william somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. Somerset maugham, first published by doubleday doran in the united states in 1944, relates the experiences of. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s, and disregards. Maughams tale of larry darrell, a traumatised first world war flying ace. Ah, the razors edge i have never finished a novel with more misgiving. Collecting the razors edge by maugham, w somerset first. Free download or read online the razors edge pdf epub book. When somerset maugham published the razors edge in 1944, the world was weary and battered after five years of war. Maugham was seventy years old when the book was published, and it was to be the last of his major novels.

W somerset maugham leaving wealth and loved ones behind, larry darrell journeys to the mountains of india in search of spiritual wisdom. Otherwise, fine in dust jacket with slight edgewear and a little age darkening to spine and back panel. William maugham biography facts, childhood, family life. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s.

Somerset maugham has written some magnificent books. There is minor unavoidable offset on the endpapers. He was one of the most popular writers of the day, and the razors edge was an immediate success on both sides of the atlantic. Somerset heinemann the razors edge 19441944 abebooks. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razors edge is a novel by w. W somerset maugham the razors edge sellersupplied images. The story of a former american fighter pilot searching for meaning in his life. Beginning of a dialog window, including tabbed navigation to register an account or sign in to an existing account. The first edition of the novel was published in 1944, and was written by w. I found the performance to be excellent and the story to be tragic yet well written. W somerset maugham larry darrell, a world war i veteran haunted by his memories of the war, abandons his easy life for first paris and then a tibetan monastery. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s, and disregards the. In larry darnell he has created one of his most radiant and appealing characters.

An acclaimed best selling novel, it was brought to the screen in 1946 starring tyrone power, gene tierney, anne baxter and clifton webb. 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. First english edition of one of maughams major novels. Somerset maugham was one the twentieth centurys most popular novelists as well as a celebrated playwright critic and short story writer. Robert ormond maugham solicitor to british embassy boyfriend. Tiny dent in spine, touch of staining to spine and rear board.

I imagine the narrative might have been revolutionary when first published in 1944, but the westerner going to india in search of enlightenment trope has been worn pretty thin over the last 75 years, giving a somewhat hokey feel to some of the. 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. Both maughams parents died before he was 10, and the orphaned boy was raised by a paternal uncle who was emotionally cold. This signed limited edition of the book was printed with only 750 numbered copies, and features a red. 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. Somerset maugham 1944 introduction author biography plot summary characters themes style historical context critical overview criticism sources further reading introduction. 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. The front pastedown has a very small bookstore bookplate.

I watched the movie a few months ago and decide to listen to the classic book by somerset maugham. Somerset maugham after channel surfing and finding that the 1946 movie by the same name with tyrone power, gene tierney, cliffton webb and anne baxter was already at the 10 minute point when i started watching it. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are elliott templeton, larry darrell. Blue cloth covered boards with gold text and graphic on front panel and spine. Abebooks the razors edge by w somerset maugham the razors edge w. Very good first edition book in very good dust jacket.

The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. Maughams last major novel, the razors edge 1944, was a departure for him in many ways. Aug 10, 2014 when somerset maugham published the razors edge in 1944, the world was weary and battered after five years of war. Publication date 1944 topics iiit collection digitallibraryindia. 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. Former owners bookplate sticker affixed to front pastedown endpaper.

Etsy your place to buy and sell all things handmade. He was educated at kings school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. 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. While much of the novel takes place in europe, its main characters are american, not british. A new novel by maugham, william somerset 18741965 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by. Somerset and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles. 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. Maugham 1944 the razors edge somerset w download bok. The moon and sixpence written and published in 1919, cakes and ale 1930, and the razors edge 1944, can also be regarded as some of his most important works, on which maughams reputation as a novelist stands on.