The razors edge by w somerset maugham originally published in 1944. The razors edge by somerset maugham 1944 book no d. Set in chicago, paris, and india in the 1920s and 30s, it involves characters. Collecting the razors edge by maugham, w somerset first. 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. World war, 19141918, fiction, veterans, upper class, travel. Nov 28, 2011 i first read the razor s edge when i was in college, in 1978, in an early book club edition i found in my grandmother s attic and still possess. W somerset maugham the razors edge doubledaydoran wartime conditions 1st 1944. What made the razors edge especially appealing to those of us in india was that larrys quest ultimately drew him to india and that he found the answers to what he was looking for in an ashram there under the guidance of a guru. Maugham 1944 the razors edge somerset w download bok.
The novel was the story of a young american war veteran s quest for a satisfying way of life, and once again maugham put great amounts of his own personal experience with his disenfranchisement with life and the way society lived it. While much of the novel takes place in europe, its main characters are american, not british. 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. 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. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. Larry lives like a pauper, but is able to loaf around europe and india while searching for enlightenment. I first read the razors edge when i was in college, in 1978, in an early bookclub edition i found in my grandmothers attic and still possess. Oct 11, 2016 what made the razors edge especially appealing to those of us in india was that larrys quest ultimately drew him to india and that he found the answers to what he was looking for in an ashram there under the guidance of a guru.
I can say that the 1946 version of the razors edge is good. Somerset maughams 1944 book about a young american disenchanted with the way of the west. The razors edge william somerset maugham the razor s edge is a novel by w. The razor s edge by somerset maugham 1944 w jacket. The razor s edge by somerset maugham 1944 book no d. While he s still in print, his reputation seems to have diminished. Apr 10, 2016 the razor s edge was first published in 1944. Free download or read online the razors edge pdf epub book. The razors edge is a drama film starring bill murray.
I found the performance to be excellent and the story to be tragic yet well written. In fact, the name of the book comes from a verse in the katha upanishad which says the sharp edge of a razor. The novel is concerned in large part with the search for the meaning of life and with the dichotomy between materialism and spirituality. The razors edge by somerset maugham, w good hardcover 1944. The reason why the film was good is because the book is good. The novel was the story of a young american war veterans quest for a satisfying way of life, and once again maugham put great amounts of his own personal experience with his disenfranchisement with life and the way society lived it. Thirtythree years ago is about half the age of the novel itself at this point. While hes still in print, his reputation seems to have diminished. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are elliott templeton, larry darrell. 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. It tells the story of larry darrell, an american pilot traumatized by. The protagonist is a disillusioned veteran of the first world war who abandons his wealthy friends and lifestyle, traveling to india seeking enlightenment. Wwii had a great effect on maugham, and from his enforced domicile came the novel the razor s edge 1944. 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.
Somerset maugham, first published by doubleday doran in the united states in 1944, relates the experiences of a. 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. The reason why the book works is because of the writing. The razors edge by w somerset maugham book chat youtube. This signed limited edition of the book was printed with only 750 numbered copies, and features a. The razor s edge by somerset maugham, w good hardcover 1944 webuybooks. Chicago turabian author date citation style guide maugham, w. It was released in 1946 and stars tyrone power, gene tierney, john payne, anne baxter, clifton webb, herbert marshall, supporting cast lucile watson, frank latimore and elsa lanchester.
The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. An acclaimed best selling novel, it was brought to the screen in 1946 starring tyrone power, gene tierney, anne baxter and clifton webb. Its epigraph reads, the sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over. New listing first edition 1944 the razors edge by w. Those who look to him for a colorful, romantic story will find this slowpaced at the start. Feb 17, 2018 the razor s edge by w somerset maugham originally published in 1944. The novels title comes from a translation of a verse in the katha upanishad, given. 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. Kathaupanishad arguably somerset maugham s most popular and enduring book, the razor s edge 1944, like much of his work, has not aged well. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned.
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. Jan 02, 2017 bill murray interview the razor s edge letterman duration. Kathaupanishad arguably somerset maughams most popular and enduring book, the razors edge 1944, like much of his work, has not aged well. Dust jacket is chipped along periphery and front fore edge. Zanuck and fox spared no expense in translating the sprawling book to the silver screen. For in larry dornell he has drawn a character symbolic or many we shall meet in the. The razors edge by somerset maugham, w good hardcover.
However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The razors edge is a frustrating and fascinating film from 1946. If i was told to read the razors edge specifically and watch the film over a decade ago then that would have saved a lot of time. Somerset maugham, was published in london and new york in 1944. The razors edge by maugham, william somerset and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Bill murray interview the razors edge letterman duration. This book challenges the cultural ideals of the 1940s, and disregards. Dust jacket is chipped along periphery and front foreedge, rubbed. The dust jacket is missing, but the book is in good to very good condition, considering the age 75 years old book. New listing first edition 1944 the razor s edge by w. The razor s edge william somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten.
Dust jacket is chipped along periphery and front foreedge. Maugham s last major novel, the razor s edge 1944, was a departure for him in many ways. The razors edge william somerset maugham was born in 1874 and lived in paris until he was ten. Maugham was seventy years old when the book was published, and it was to be the last of his major novels. You sound like larry darrell, i said, referring to the razors edge, w. May 04, 2014 the razors edge is a frustrating and fascinating film from 1946. But is it better than the 1984 version with bill murray. To my mind, it is a wonderful book which offers philosophical perspectives years ahead of its time. British storyteller william somerset maughams 1944 speculative novel the razors edge, as did his earlier semiautobiographical of human bondage, won a devoted following when it hit the book shelves, and so 20th centuryfox wasted no time in securing the screen rights to this mammoth warera adventure into existentialism. W somerset maugham leaving wealth and loved ones behind, larry darrell journeys to the mountains of india in search of spiritual wisdom.
Somerset heinemann the razors edge 19441944 abebooks. Former owners bookplate sticker affixed to front pastedown endpaper. Dust jacket is chipped along periphery and front fore edge, rubbed. The razors edge 1944 my maugham collection concordance. Jan 18, 2009 you sound like larry darrell, i said, referring to the razors edge, w. Theresa russell, catherine hicks, denholm elliott, brian doylemurray and james keach also star in the film. It is your sole responsibility to make sure that material on this site belongs to the public domain in your country before readingusing them. The razors edge project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. The first edition of the novel was published in 1944, and was written by w. Former owner s bookplate sticker affixed to front pastedown endpaper. Maughams last major novel, the razors edge 1944, was a departure for.
This book is probably not for everyone, with a somewhat dated style, but i loved the story of larry darrell, a man relentlessly pursuing a meaningful life, despite. Wwii had a great effect on maugham, and from his enforced domicile came the novel the razors edge 1944. He was educated at kings school, canterbury, and at heidelberg university. Maughams last major novel, the razors edge 1944, was a departure for him in many ways. The novel had been a massive best seller and the public anxiously awaited the film adaptation. One of the most challenging books somerset maughan has given us. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide maugham, w. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 314 pages and is available in paperback format.