A Bildungsroman in 700 pages, Maugham's most autobiographical novel - a classic tale of wrong turnings - will have you silently shouting 'No!' at the page at all too regular intervals in an effort to keep its main character Philip Carey from self-inflicted harm.
An orphan brought up by his stultifying and remote uncle and aunt in a vicarage in coastal Kent, Philip leaves school to rattle around Europe, studying in Heidelberg and Paris, savouring life 'in the raw', but with an eye on an ideal future which is always just beyond his grasp. Back in London, and now a medical student, he meets a woman over whom he loses all sense. How will he survive the spiral of misfortune into which his ill-judged association with the dreadful Mildred takes him, and how, ultimately, will he ever find contentment?
My favourite Maugham so far is The Razor's Edge (the book group's thoughts on it are here), but this one comes a close second. I was quickly engrossed in Philip's story, willing fate to treat him kindly and hoping he would find an accommodation with life. I picked up the book because Abraham Verghese cited it (and A.J. Cronin's The Citadel) as the two novels which drew him to a medical career; I wanted to see in what way it was so formative, and I found that part particularly interesting.
I've yet to read The Summing Up (on the shelf above) "a classic avowal of a professional author's ideas about style, literature, art, drama and philosophy, but also an illuminating insight into this great writer's craft", and Selina Hastings' biography of Maugham which I'm sure will similarly analyse and illustrate his gift, but I look forward to both.
I admire how you find time to read so much and knit those wonderful socks!
Secret please...
Posted by: Kathleen | 20 July 2023 at 04:02 PM
Well, Kathleen, I love doing them! I read before breakfast, then later in the day if I can, and always before I go to sleep. The socks get a few rounds in the evening usually. I wish I were faster at both reading and knitting, though!
Posted by: Cornflower | 20 July 2023 at 09:46 PM
I’ve heard of this one, not read it though.
Posted by: Mystica | 21 July 2023 at 01:11 PM
I wonder how much Maugham is read nowadays, e.g. I doubt this book is on any school curriculum as I believe it used to be.
Posted by: Cornflower | 21 July 2023 at 09:48 PM
Thank you for the heads up to Maugham.It’s years since I read him.Way back when my children were small we would walk to the library in a little park.While they perused the book box I hovered by the nearest shelves!
On offer was H.E.Bates and Anita Brookner, middle shelf was W.S.Maugham and below Nevil Shute.I have recently reread my Vintage Shute so now I’m taking a lead from you and I’m a few chapters in ‘Of Human Bondage’. Looking forward to more.
Posted by: Catherine | 23 July 2023 at 07:25 PM
That's great, Catherine!
Bates and Brookner are very much worth a re-read, Shute I've yet to read.
My husband, meanwhile, is galloping through the Maugham!
Posted by: Cornflower | 23 July 2023 at 09:55 PM
"I wonder how much Maugham is read nowadays ..." I suspect you are correct in guessing very little. Although I am very aware of his existence, so far I have not (to my knowledge) read anything by him. I had to look up Bildungsroman as my knowledge of German is virtually zero!
Posted by: Dark Puss | 25 July 2023 at 02:37 PM
Mr. C. has just this afternoon finished the book and he was as impressed by it as I was. Maugham is definitely worth trying!
Posted by: Cornflower | 25 July 2023 at 07:13 PM