"One day a good fortune befell him, for he hit upon Lane's translation of The Thousand Nights and a Night ... Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading: he did not know that he was providing himself with a refuge from all the distress of life; he did not know either that he was creating for himself an unreal world which would make the real world of every day a source of bitter disappointment."
From Of Human Bondage, W. Somerset Maugham.
Gosh. it's a long time since I read any Somerset Maugham. I have read this, but have absolutely no recollection of it! Now I need to take another look at it.
Posted by: Christine Harding | 15 July 2023 at 03:47 PM
It's a long, long book and I'm now within sight of the end, but my goodness it's sad! I am hoping there will be some happiness for Philip Carey before it's over but I fear Maugham may have other ideas. I am enjoying it though.
Posted by: Cornflower | 15 July 2023 at 04:26 PM