Thomass hospital with a view to practice in medicine, but the success of his first novel, liza of lambeth 1897, won him over to letters. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author d. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s. For literary reasons it starts with a vicious portrait of. Maughams masterpiece is generally agreed to be of human bondage, a semiautobiographical novel that deals with the life of the main character. Somerset maughams bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Cakes and ale vintage international kindle edition by. William somerset maugham simple english wikipedia, the. Maugham exposes the misguided social snobbery levelled at the character rosie driffield, whose frankness, honesty and sexual freedom make her a target of conservative propriety.
A novelist, ashenden is befriended by the ambitious, selfserving alroy kear, who has been commissioned to write an official biography of the. Something of his hospital experience is reflected, however, in the. Maugham exposes the misguided social snobbery levelled at the character rosie driffield, whose frankness, honesty, and sexual freedom make her a target of conservative propriety. Cakes and ale is a delicious satire of london literary society betwe. A near fine copy with foxing to the page edges, in a near fine dustwrapper, crisp and bright showing a touch of toning to the spine. Listen to unlimited audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. Somerset maugham and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Somerset maugham,neil hunt for free with a 30 day free trial. Review of cakes and ale by somerset maugham a writers. Somerset maugham audio books, best sellers, author. Somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. Maughams 1930 novel cakes and ale is a thinly veiled portrait of thomas hardy, whose wild inclinations in youth were later tamed into the staid respectability expected of a great novelist by. Somerset maugham william somerset maugham and other ebooks from all genres of literature, both fiction and nonfiction, historical documents and sheet music, all of which are available on a subscription basis. A novelist, ashenden is befriended by the ambitious, selfserving alroy kear, who has been commissioned to.
Short stories by somerset maugham pdf william somerset maugham was born in 1874 and educated at the kings. Twelfth night takes for its theme the doubleness of human character, ranging from the calculated hypocrisy of the virtuous exemplified by literary opportunist and wouldbe biographer alroy kear to the animal weaknesses of the goodhearted yet unreformable rosie. Maugham 18941965 was safely settled in the south of france when the storm broke over this book. Nov 08, 2008 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Theater by william somerset maugham download epub, mobi, pdf. Maugham was not known as a bombthrower, but cakes and ale in 1930 changed that. Cakes and ale is a piercing satire of british literary circles, and features apparently very recognisable portraits of authors thomas hardy, and maugham s erstwhile friend horace walpole. Thomass hospitals medical school, london, but then decided to become a full time writer. Theater is the only one of the most famous works of maugham, where the main character is a woman wrote and remembered pattern cover. The tumult and the shouting soon died down, leaving the story to take its place as one of the finest of maughams novels. Cakes and ale is a delicious satire of london literary society between the wars.
Free downloadable version in various formats including kindle, epub, pdf and others. Buy cakes and ale by william somerset maugham from amazons fiction books store. It is difficult to find a novel that is more of a roman a clef than cakes and ale. Apr 07, 2000 when cakes and ale was first published in 1930, it roused a storm of controversy, since many people imagined they saw in its pages recognisable portraits of literary figures now no more. Mar 14, 2004 maugham s father, robert ormond maugham, was born in 1823. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. Cakes and ale is the latest reading selection for the slaves of golconda group. Cakes and ale, or, the skeleton in the cupboard 1930 is a novel by the british author w. He was among the most popular writers of his era, and reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s. As part of the conversion of the book to its new digital format, we have made certain.
Somerset maugham, published in 1930 the story is told by willie ashenden, a character who previously appeared in maughams shortstory collection ashenden. Although maugham had written short stories early in his career. Somerset maugham ebooks epub and pdf downloads ebookmall. The story is told by willie ashenden, a character who previously appeared in maughams shortstory collection ashenden.
Somerset maugham, collection by somerset maugham ebook. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. He was educated at kings school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. As he traces the fortunes of edward driffield and his extraordinary wife rosie, one of the most delightful heroines of twentiethcentury literature, maugham s sardonic wit and lyrical warmth expertly combine in this. The novel deals with the craft of writing and the foibles of those who do it. William somerset maugham 25 january 1874 16 december 1965 was an english novelist, short story writer and playwright.
Cakes and ale is both a wickedly satirical novel about contemporary literary poseurs and a skilfully crafted study of freedom. And theater is the most stupid of maughams most famous works. William somerset maugham was an english playwright, novelist and short story writer. Cakes and ale is a piercing satire of british literary circles, and features apparently very recognisable portraits of authors thomas hardy, and maughams erstwhile friend horace walpole.
Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. Commercial success with high book sales, successful theatre productions and a string of film adaptations, backed by astute stock market investments, allowed maugham to live a very comfortable life. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Somerset maugham 25 january 1874 16 december 1965 william somerset maugham was born at the british embassy in paris, france, where his father was an english lawyer handling the legal affairs of the british embassy. Definition of cakes and ale in the idioms dictionary. Per doubledays practice of designating first editions, first edition so stated on title page verso.
Somerset maughams cakes and ale dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale. In cakes and ale maugham makes only the slightest of attempts at disguising its autobiographical nature. It is a masterfully structured story, told largely in retrospect, with. William somerset maugham 25 january 1874 16 december 1965, better known as w. As he traces the fortunes of edward driffield and his extraordinary wife rosie, one of the most delightful heroines of twentiethcentury literature, maughams sardonic wit and lyrical warmth expertly combine in this. Includes new facsimile dust jacket in archival brodart sleeve. Her character is treated favourably by the books narrator, ashenden, who understands that she was a muse to. Cakes and ale is a comedy of literary england in the early decades of the 20th century narrated by ashenden. Theater by william somerset maugham download epub, mobi.
Maugham, english novelist, shortstory writer, and playwright is best remembered for his novel of human bondage. As an adventurous young man he traveled to greece, turkey and asia minor as well as to fez, in morocco. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt, in pictorial dustwrapper printed in black and red. Jan 25, 2014 cakes and ale is probably the most cheerful of maugham s works, considering that it comprises chiefly of the narrators recollections of a carefree summer vacation due to a strange friendship with a middleaged writer, driffield, and his sensuous, friendly wife, rosie. Blackstable takes the place of whitstable as it did in of human bondage. Cakes and ale is both a wickedly satirical novel about contemporary heroines of twentiethcentury literature, maugham s sardonic wit and william somerset maugham was born in and lived in paris until he was ten. Somerset maugham tells the story of author william ashendens series of contracts over decades with a greatly renowned novelist, and the need of his wouldbe biographer for details that william alone can provide. Somerset maugham s cakes and ale dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale.
A novelist, ashenden is befriended by the ambitious, selfserving alroy kear, who has been commissioned to write an official biography of the famous novelist edward driffield. Social climber alroy kear is flattered when he is selected by edward driffields. This is particularly true of maughams satire on the english literary scene, cakes and ale which is a charming story of youth and illusions. Two of the principal characters are thought by many critics to be based on famous persons. Social climber alroy kear is flattered when he is selected by edward driffields wife to pen the official biography of her lionized novelist husband, and determined to write a bestseller. Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Somerset maugham, was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer. Somerset maugham somerset maugham by anthony curtis the secret lives of somerset maugham by selina hastings maugham. Mar 04, 2010 cakes and ale is both a wickedly satirical novel about contemporary literary poseurs and a skilfully crafted study of freedom. William somerset maugham 1874 1965 was a british playwright, novelist and short story writer.
756 1621 73 887 1466 1595 1280 707 431 553 629 1350 1357 1346 509 970 706 636 428 905 357 923 72 1364 490 1371 347 959 835 354 1343 1003 875 1061 1267 160 1133 439