Liza Of Lambeth (Vintage Classics)
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One of the most interesting and least patronising accounts of cockney life in the late 19th century The Times A picture of such squalor and deprivation that it caused an uproar and made Maugham famous Sunday Times He evolved a quality possessed only by master story-tellers - that of making the reader greedy for more Economist
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Stunningly rejacketed as part of a major reinvention of this neglected 20th century master
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Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A tale of adulterous love between a feisty, fun-loving young woman and a charming but rough, married man, is the focus of W. Somerset Maugham's debut novel, the engaging 'Liza of Lambeth'. Maugham's novel is a cautionary tale of sorts, with his titular character Liza seeming to turn down the affections of her adoring suitor Tom, for the ruggedly enticing Jim Blakeston; an experienced, older man new to the area. The normally carefree Liza soon finds herself in over her head with the burgeoning relationship with Jim, in a novel which expertly balances the natural comedy and bitter sadness of the lives of the poor in the capital. Maugham's prose is excellent here, especially for that of a debuting writer, and both the novel's romantic elements and its strains of tension are handled with a surprising maturity and honest unsentimentality. Liza's complex relationship with the simple but devoted Tom is perhaps the novel's most impressive facet, and hints at the excellent analysis of human relationships which Maugham honed and developed in later novels such as 'Of Human Bondage'. The novel's central characters, such as Tom, Liza and Blakeston are all excellently written; but Maugham shows a little too much desire to dip into caricature, for example in the figure of Liza's selfish mother, Mrs. Kemp.
The novel's main flaw is its dialogue. Like Dickens in 'Hard Times', Maugham tries to evoke a working-class dialect in his novel; and fails. The phrases used by the central characters are often almost embarrassingly hackneyed, and annoyingly repetitive. Still, this can be forgiven considering how deftly Maugham writes some of the novel's key scenes, in particular a nervy, emotionally-wrought and hugely impressive 'fight scene' of sorts involving Liza (not to give too much away!). As a first effort, 'Liza of Lambeth' seems a surprisingly assured, honest and heartfelt depiction of working-class London (besides some of the dialogue). For Maugham fans interested in giving one of his lesser known novels a read, or just for those looking for a moving and well executed Victorian novel, I'd definitely recommend 'Liza of Lambeth'.
The novel's main flaw is its dialogue. Like Dickens in 'Hard Times', Maugham tries to evoke a working-class dialect in his novel; and fails. The phrases used by the central characters are often almost embarrassingly hackneyed, and annoyingly repetitive. Still, this can be forgiven considering how deftly Maugham writes some of the novel's key scenes, in particular a nervy, emotionally-wrought and hugely impressive 'fight scene' of sorts involving Liza (not to give too much away!). As a first effort, 'Liza of Lambeth' seems a surprisingly assured, honest and heartfelt depiction of working-class London (besides some of the dialogue). For Maugham fans interested in giving one of his lesser known novels a read, or just for those looking for a moving and well executed Victorian novel, I'd definitely recommend 'Liza of Lambeth'.
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this story of the spirited 18 year old Liza and what happens when she falls for the attractions of an older [married] man. All the action takes place within a few months and [mostly] within the environs of Lambeth during 1895.
As the previous reviewer mentioned, the cockney language is irritating but Maugham wanted to give his novel as much realism as he could and he felt that he'd done his best with the dialect. I don't think he pulled it off convincingly but it's possible to overlook that.
However, the novel does show how people lived in those times, and though we may be glad it's not us, many people will have ancestors [great grandparents perhaps] whose lives were not dissimilar to those depicted in this novel. It's worth reading just for its historical value.
As the previous reviewer mentioned, the cockney language is irritating but Maugham wanted to give his novel as much realism as he could and he felt that he'd done his best with the dialect. I don't think he pulled it off convincingly but it's possible to overlook that.
However, the novel does show how people lived in those times, and though we may be glad it's not us, many people will have ancestors [great grandparents perhaps] whose lives were not dissimilar to those depicted in this novel. It's worth reading just for its historical value.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Liza of Lambeth is W Somerset Maugham's first published novel. The story records the life of a young eighteen year old girl who lives with her mother (Mrs Kemp) in the slums of Lambeth. She is seen as the life and soul of her street, being held in high regard by all her friends and neighbours and is much-loved by Tom, a local resident. However, changing events contrive to change her life irrevocably. The arrival of a new family to the street and Liza's attraction to the father soon create a recipe for disaster.
Even though this is Somerset Maugham's first published novel the storyline move along at a nice pace, keeping the reader engaged throughout the novel to the dramatic climax. Another feature I enjoyed was the author's use of the local vernacular for the conversations between the main characters. In fact some of the exchanges between Liza and her mother are very amusing and give the reader some light relief amid the main storyline.
As this novel is approximately 140 pages long I feel it is a good place to start if you are unfamiliar with the author. W Somerset Maugham has written prolifically so if you enjoy this one and want to try some of his longer novels there are plenty more titles to choose from. He has also written many collections of short stories.
Even though this is Somerset Maugham's first published novel the storyline move along at a nice pace, keeping the reader engaged throughout the novel to the dramatic climax. Another feature I enjoyed was the author's use of the local vernacular for the conversations between the main characters. In fact some of the exchanges between Liza and her mother are very amusing and give the reader some light relief amid the main storyline.
As this novel is approximately 140 pages long I feel it is a good place to start if you are unfamiliar with the author. W Somerset Maugham has written prolifically so if you enjoy this one and want to try some of his longer novels there are plenty more titles to choose from. He has also written many collections of short stories.
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